I 



HISTORY 



WORCESTER COUNTY 



MASSACHUSETTS, 



1/G3 
~3^ 



\V ITH 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES 



OF MANY OF ITS 



Pioneers and Prominent Men. 



COMPILED UKUEK THE SUPERVISION OF 



D. HAMILTON H U R D . 



VOL. I. 



I L LTJS T R..i^T E ID . 



PHILADELPHIA: 

J. W. LEWIS & CO. 

1889. 



'■''SHTIgGTO'^ 



FiiEss or 

JA8. B. K0UGEK8 PBINTINQ UOMTANy, 
PHILADELI'IIIA. 






Copt/right, 1889, 
By J. W. LEWIS & CO. 



All Rights Reserved. 



^ 




PUBLISHERS' PREFACE. 



In presenting the within History to tiie people of Worcester County tlie 
Publishers <le-ne to state that when the preparation of the work had been 
finally c- li-icu upon, an earnest efibrt was made to secure the leading literary 
talent o: I'l s section of the Commonwealth to prepare the manuscript. The 
result Avas a gratifying success. Those most familiar with the historic litera- 
ture of the County were engaged, whose names appear at the head of their 
respective chaptei's. These gentlemen approached the task with a spirit of 
impartiality and with a determination to prepare a work which should 
reflect credit alike upon the County, its citizens and themselves, and the 
Publishers feel that no eftort has been spared either by Publishers or 
writers to faithfully present the history of the territor}- embodied herein, from 
its Indian occupancy to the present proud position it occupies among the 
counties of the Commonwealth. 

Philadelphia, Febriiaiy 20, 18S9. 



? 



CONTENTS OF VOL. I. 



GKNERAL HISTORV. 



CHAPTER I. 
-I4CKSTEK COUNTV 



I CHAPTER 11. 
i The Rknch and Bar 



TOWN HISTORIES. 



CHAPTER I. 



,.\N CASTER . 



The Niisliawiiys anil tlieir Home — Kind's Purcliiwe — 
The Nashaway IMantere— The Town Grant— The Cove- 
nant — Lantl Allutnients — Death of Sliowauon. 

CHAPTER II. 



, iNCASTER — (Continued) 

The First Minister — Arbitration— ('ornniissiunei-s Ap- 
pointed to iJirect Town Affairs — The First Highways — 
Nuyes" Survey — Disaffection of the Imlijuis — MonocoV 
Raid — James Quanapaiig's Fidelity — Tlie Destniction of 
Lancaster. 

CHAPTER III. 

, \NCASTER — (Continued) 

The Resettlement — Frencti and Indian Raids — The Gar- 
risoQs — New Meeting-Htmse — The Additiomil Grant — 
Early ;?chool masters — Lovewell's War — Worcester 
Ooniity Formed — Birth of Harvard, Bullon and Leo- 
minster — Siet,'es of Carthagena and Lonisbourg — Tlio 
Conquest of <'anada. 



CHAPTER IX. 

I I Ci.iNTON — (Continued) 

j Tlie Iricori)oration — Favoring Ausiiices — New Enter- 

prises and Oiangos in tlie Old. 

I CHAPTER X. 

I Ci^iNTON — (Contiuued) 



i6 



CHAPTER 

-(Continued) . . 



IV. 



. .NCASTER- 

The Firat Census — Organization for Revolution — Lex- 
ington Al;irni — Bunker Hill :in(l the Siege of Boston — 
War Annals — Separation of OUocksett — Shays' Itehel- 
lion — Bridge Lotteries. 

CHAPTER V. 

, \NCA,STER — (Continued) 

Hon. John Sprague — Cotton and Woolen-Mills— The 
Academy— War of 1812— The Whitings— The Brick 
Meeting-Honse— Lafayette — The Printing Enterprise — 
Dr. Nathaniel Thayer— New Churches— Clinton Set Off 
— Bi -Centennial — Schools — Libraries— Cemeteries. 



25 



31 



CHAPTER 

-(Continued) . . 



VI. 



, ^ .VCASTER- 

The Rebellion — The Town's History Printed— The 

Town's Poor— Death of Nathaniel 'Thayer- General 
Statistics, Etc. 

CHAPTER VII. 



Ll.-*TON 



Prcscott's Mills— Destruction of the Settlement by In- 
dians—The First Highways— The Garrison Census— 
The Firet Families. 



CHAPTER VIII. 
C i.i >}TON— (Continued) 



The Revolution— The "Six Nations" — Immigmtion— 
The Comb-makers— Poignand and Plant— Coining of 
the Bigelows- The Clinton Company— The Lancaster 
(iuilt Company— The Bigelow Carpet Company— The 
Lancaster Mills— Clintonville, its Builders atid its Kntor- 
priaes. 



40 



46 



50 



Clinton in the Rebellion — Soldiers' Rrister. 

CHAPTER XI. 
Clinton — (Continued) 

Horatio Nelson Bigelow — Banks— 'I'own Hall — Bigelow 
Free Libniry — Soldiers' Mununiont — Annals of Manu- 
facturing Corporations — Tho "Wash-out" of ISTO — 
Franklin Forbes — Erastus B. Bigelow. 

CH.APTER XII. 
Clinton — (Continued) 

Schools — Churches —Newspapers — Water Supply — .Sta- 
tistics, Etc. 

CHAPTER XIII. 
Clinton — (Continued) 

Masonic History. 

CHAPTER XIV. 

SOUTHBOROUGH 

Location and Incorporation — Soil and Surface — Waters 
— Productions — Agriculture — Manufactures and Me- 
chanical Industries. 

CHAPTER XV. 
.SOUTHBOROUGH — (Continued) 

CHAPTER XVI. 

Sturbridge 

CHAPTER XVII. 
Templeton 

Location — Boundary — Elevation — Streams — Ponds — 
Soil — Productions — Population — Valuation — Business 
Affairs of the Present Time. 

CHAPTER XVIII. 

Templeton — (Contiuued) 

Grant to the Township — The Proprietors — Kaily Settle- 
ments — Old Houses — Incorporation: Templeton, Phil- 
lipston — County Relatione — State Relations — Political 
Parties. 

CHAPTER XIX. 

Templeton — (Continued) 

MilUarif Affairs: The Revolution — The Currency — ■ 
Second War with England — .\ Militio IMnster — 'I'he 
Civil War— The Sanitary Comniission. 

V 



61 



67 



CONTENTS. 



CHAPTER XX. 

Tkmi'I.ETOn — (Continued) 

BuxineBs Affiui-8: iMamifactiirfH— Early Mills— At Baltl- 
winville — l)n Trout Bruok — Al Partridgeville and East 
Tonipleton — At otter River— Hutfls — Stores— Savii>gs 
Bank — Roads — "Rail roads. 

CHAPTKR XXI. 

Tkmi"I,KTon — (^Continued) 



1.34 



I'ost-f Utiircs — The Common — (Jemeteries — Soeietiee — 
Warning Ont — The iireat Load of \V'ood^( 'liaises — 
Bounties on Wild Ainnials. 

CHAPTKR XXII. 
TemplKTOX — I Continued I 

Kdiu'aliiniiil A^tiairs : Schools — Private Schools — Public 
High Schools — Teachers — Graduates — Lihraries — Boyn- 
ton Public Library. 

CHAPTKR XXIII. 
TemplKTON — (Continued) 

Et:chtfia»tit:id Afi'airs; The First Church — The Baptist 
Church — The Triuitarian Church- The liniversalist 
Church — The Methodist Chnrch — St. SLirtiu's (iiurch 
— Memorial Church — Ministers. 



CHAPTER XXIV. 

Tejiplkton — (Continued) 150 

Lawyers— Physicians — Hospitals — Prominent Men. 

CHAPTKR XXV. 
I'.XIIRIDCK ... . •. 156 



140 



143 



147 



CHAPTKR XX\I. 
U.XURIDCH — (Coiuiiuied) 



CHAPTKR XXVII. 

r.\BRii)(',E — (Continued) 



CHAP'rKK XX\'III. 
r.KBRIDC.K — (Coiitiiuied) 



CH.\PTKR XXIX. 
U.KBRinc.K — (Continued) 

CHAPTKR XXX. 

I'XKKIDC.E — (Continued I 

CHAPTKR XXXI. 



Auburn 



]6i 

'65 
169 

173 
176 
184 



CHAPTKR XXXII. 
\UBliRN— (Continued 1 



I.S6 



CHAPTKR XXXIII. 
Auburn —(Continued I 



i.SS 



CHAPTKR XXXIV. 

.Vuburn — (Continued) 

CHAPTKR XXXV. 

iSHBUUMIAM 



CHAPTKk XXX\I. 

i'lTCHBUKC. 

I>ettcripti\r, 

CHAPTKK XXX\II. 
FiTCHBiiRC— (Continued I . . 

Early History (1764-I7ir.l). 



T90 



193 



20.S 



CHAPTER XXXVIII. 
FiTCHBURG — (Continued) 

History from l.SHd to IK72. 

CH.\PTKR XXXIX. 

FiTCHBURG — (Continued) 

History of the City (1873-lSS.S). 

CHAPTER XL. 
FiTCHBURG — (Continued) 



Histoi'y during the War of the Keliellion. 

CHAPTKR XKI. 
FiTCHBURG — (Continued) 



Kcclesiastical History. 

CH.\PTKR XI.II. 
FiTCHBURG — (Continued) 



Educational History. 

CHAPTER Xl.in. 
FiTCHBURG — (Continued) ..... 

]\Iaunlucturin>r. 

CH.\PTKR XLI\'. 
FiTCHBURG — (Continued) 



24(1 



25'' 



260 



Cominercial History. 

CH.^PTRR XLV. 
FiTCHBiiRG — (Continued) 

Hotels, Public Buildings and Business Blocks. 

CHAPTKR XtVI. 
FiTCHBURG — (Continued) 

Cily llepartnu-nts. 

CHAPTER XI.\II. 

FiTCHBURG — (Continued) 

(H-gani/utions and Societies. 

CHAPTER .XLVIII. 

FiTCHBURG — (Continued) 

Professional. 

CHAPTER XLIX. 
FiTCHBURG — (Continued) 

Literal^' and Artistic. 

CHAPTKR L. 

FiTCHBURG — (Continued) 

.lonriialisiu in Fitchluirg. 

CHAPTKR LI. 
FiTCHBURG — (Continued) 

Cemeteries. 

Karre . . . 



CHAPTKR LII. 
CHAPTKR LIII. 



Wf.bsthr . 



CHAPTKR LI\'. 



Mendon 

Pioneer Life : Mendon the Mother of Towns — (Compar- 
ative Antiquity — Number of Towns once a Part of 
Mendon — The First Movement for a New Plantation — 
The Deed from the Indians -Division of Land— Names 
of Proprietors — The First Map— Incorporation — The 
■lown in lli7S— The Nipmucks' Attack— The Settlers' 
Keturo 



CONTENTS. 



CHAPTER LV. 



Mknpon — (Coutiuued) 377 

Territorud and Polititial Changes: The Town's Poverty 
lifter thf! War— Cliiinia of Ilhode Island Territory— The 
" \orth i'lircliasi- " — Annexation of "The Farms" — 
Towns ChiiniMig to be "ChiUlrenof Mendon " — Men- 
don To-day. 

chaptp:r i.vi. 

.MKxnON — (Continued) 378 

Manii/'irUires : The First Griat-Mill and ?ia\v-Mill — Tlie 
Snccessive Occnpaiits of tlie Old Grist-Mill Site — ('(tn- 
tractswith Milleis and Blacksniitlis — Torrey and Wur- 
fielil Saw-Mills — Factories, Miscellaneons anil Modern. 

CHAPTER LVII. 
Mrndon — (Continued) 379 

Milltaiij llljilorif : Mention in the French ami Indiiin 
War— Tlii^ llevolution— Sliays' Kebelliou— War ot' ixIS 
—The Ueliollion. 

CHAI'TKR I.VIII. 
Mf.ndox — (Continued) 3.S1 

Ministers ami IMeeting-lloiiaes, 



CHAPTER LXX. 



Pktkrsham 



Locality— Topography— Railway Connections— Histori- 
cal Resources— Early Settle?nent— l*etitionei-y and Pro- 
prietors— .Services in the Indian War— Firet Meeting- 
Settlers — Relations with the Indians— Alarm — Armed 
Worshippers. 

CHAPTER I.XXI. 



465 



Ecclifsiasticttl Ili-tUif 
liii'.li to 1818— Tlie Change to linitarianism— The Meet- 
iug-House of 1820 -I'aBtors to 1888— Tlie North Con- 
gregational Cliurcii ami Pastoi^— The M'-thoiiists in 
iMeniinii — Tlie (inakcra. 

CHAPTER LIX. 



Mendon — (Continued) 

KiUu-ali'tnal llbiUny unit Closmg Ih-iimrkf : Earl_v Kei-ords 
aliJ Tradition t'oiiceriiiiif;; Schools — Notices of the 
Earliest Teai-hera and Srliool-llouses— School-Dames — 
Tlie District System — The High School — Some Note- 
worthy Kveiits ill Mendon's Recent llisfoiy and its I'res- 
eiit Stains. 

CHAPTKR LX. 

liRRl.lN 



383 



CHAPTKR I.XI. 



Hoi'KnAT.K 



CHAPTKR LXII. 



NORTHBRIUCIC 

The ItpginniiiiiH. 

CHAPTKR i.xrir. 

NoRTHBRlDGK — (Continued). . . . 
Tlie New Town. 

CHAPTKR I.XI\'. 
XoR'HBRlDGK — (Continued) .... 
Tim i.ater History. 

CHAP'PKR I. XV. 
N'oRTHBRIDCK — (Continued I . . . . 



3S7 
406 

424 
42S 
4,V 



Pi;tkrsh.\m — (Continued) 

Incideiita of tlie Revolution. 

CHAPTER I.XXII. 

Pkter.sham — (Continued) 

shays' Rebellion. 

CHAPTKR I.XXIII. 
Pf,TERSH.\M — (Continued) 



The Churches. 

CHAPTKR I.XXIV. 
Pktersh.\m — (Continued) 

Schools — Intliistries — Weallli — Population — College 
tiradiiates— Congressmen — State Sonatoi-fl — Itepreseuta- 
tives— Town Officers -Selectmen — Town Clerlis — Town 
Treasiii-ers— School ('ommittee — Officers, 188S. 

CHAPTKR I,XXV. 
Pkter.sham — (Continued) 

Itiogntjihical Notes. 

CirAI'TKR I.XXVI. 
Pktkrsham — (Continued) 

The It'ehellion — Puhiic Spirit. 



467 



470 



472 



476 



479 



484 



CHAPTKR I.XXVII. 



Stkri.inc. 



CHAPTKR I.XXVIIl. 



Brook KiKi.n 



CHAPTKR I.XXIX. 

BROOKKiia.n— (Continued) . 

CHAPTKR I. XXX. 

North P.rookfiki.d 



CHAPTER l.XXXI. 

WK.ST I'.RllOKKIlCI.Il . . 



434 



Hi -giyns Societies. 

CHAI>'1'ER I,X\T. 
NoRTHBRiDC.R — ( Continued | . . . . 

Schoolfl ami Iiihrary. 

CHAP'I'ER LXVII. 

NliRTHBRIDGE— (ContiiuK-d) . . . . 
Mmo,, tnre-. 

CHAPTER LXVIII. 

Continued) .... 



CHAPTER I.XIX. 



439 



441 



447 



453 



CIIAI'TER i.xxxir. 



1'axton 



CHAI'TER I.XXXlll. 

Wkst P.ovi.ston 



CHAPTER LXXXIW 



Bi.ackstonk 



CHAP'l'Ek I.X.\X\'. 



Spknckr 



CHAPTKR lAXXNI. 

New Braintri.k 



CHAPTKR LXXXVII. 



Lkick.ster . . 

Settlemeut. 



CONTENTS. 



CHAPTER LXXXVIII. 
Leicester — (Continued) 691 

French and Itovolutimiary Ware. 

CHAPTER LXXXIX. 

LKICESTKR — (Continued) 699 

State ( 'onstitution — Sliays' Insurrection — Fine for Nuii- 
Ilepresenttttiou in tlio General dourt— Slavery in Iit;i- 
cester — "Instructions" — Jews. 

CHAPTER XC. 

Lrickstkr— (Continued) 701 

lurclexiaxtictit : The First Cliiirch — Friends' Meeting — 
Greenville Itaptist Cliurch — Second ( 'utigregational 
Church. 

CHAPTER XCI. 

IvElCESTER — (Continued) 709 

SvUooIa: Fii-st Town Action — Sclioolniasters — Solmol- 
IlonsfS— Town Fines— Pibtrict System— Amount Itaiseil 
fur Srhoola— Districts Abolished — Higli Sdiool — Leices- 
ter Academy — Founding — Buildings — Teachers — Funds 
— Military — Reorgaui/.ation — I'entennial Anniversary. 

CHAPTER XCII. 

IvKiCESTRR — (Continued) 715 

iiiisiiiess : Card Business — Woolen Manwfucture — Boot 
and Shoe Business — Tanning and Currying Business — 
Leicester National and Savings Banks — Miscellaneous 
Industries. 

CHAPTER XCni. 
Leicester — (Continued) 723 

The Ciiil Wiir : Sixth Massachusetts Iteginieut — War 
Meetings — Twenty-fifth Regiment — Fifteenth, Twenty- 
first, Thirty-fourth, Forty-second— Action of the Town 
— Other Soldiers — Expenditures — Casualties — Close of 
the War. 

CHAPTER XCrV. 

TvEiCESTER — (Continued) 728 

31iscdla)iei'ii-s : Individuals and llesidences — Phyaieians 
— Lawyers — Items of Interest — Burying-Grounds — Post- 
litliees — Firo Department— Taverns — Libraries — Cherry 
Valley Flood — Histories- CeU-hrations. 

CHAPTER XCV. 
Charlton 745 

CHAPTER XCVI. 

LUNENBURC; 760 

Locatittn — Pnuds and Drainage— Original Grants— Set- 
tlements— Incorporation— rrui)riefary Affairs— Roads — 
Tlie Town Divided— Personal Notices. 

CHAPTER XCVII. 

IvUNENBURc; — (Continued) 767 

Indian Alarms- The French and Indian Wars— Capture 
of John Fitch— The Revolution— The War of tin- Re- 
hulllon. 

CHAPTER XCVIII. 

LcNENBURd — (Continued) 774 

Kcch'siastical History — Schools — The Cunniiigliain 
Pajiors. 

CHAPTER XCIX. 

Shrewsbury 780 

j'^arly Land (irants. 

CHAPTER C. 

Shrewsbury— (Continued) 7S2 

The Marlborough Men and When Soine of Them Settled. 

CHAPTER CI. 
SiiRp;wsBURY — t^Coiitinued) 785 

(Jiantof Township— Lay-out of Lots — lucorporation — 
Origin of the Name of the Town. 



CHAPTER CII. 
Shrewsbury — (Continued) 787 

The Meoting-IIouse Lot and the Houses that were Built 
Thereon — Tlie Parish Fund— Its Origin and Growth. 

CHAPTER cm. 
vShrewsbury — (Continued) 7^9 

The Fiist Parif.ii and Itn Ministers: Gushing, Sumner, 
IngersoII, Whipple, Geoige Allen, Averell, AVilliams, 
McGinley, Dyer, Scudder, Frank H. Allen. 

CHAPTER CIV. 
Shrewsbury — (Continued) ....... 793 

The Second Parish — The Baptist, Univ*^rsalist ami 
Methodist Societies — The Roman Catholics. 

CHAPTER CV. 

Shrewsbury — (Continued) 796 

The French Wars, the Revolution, the War of 181'2 
and Ihe JMexican M'ar. 

CHAPTER CVI. 
Shrew.sburv — (Continued) 79S 

Showiug the Part wliicli .Shrewsbury tiK>k in the Shuys' 
Rebellion, 

CHAPTER CVII. 

Shrewsbury — (Continued) 800 

The Slaveholders' Robelliou, 

CHAPTER CVIII. 
Shrewsbury — (Continued) 802 

A^rinilturo — T!ie Stage Businesa-The Tanning and 
Currying llnsiuess. 

CHAPTER CIX. 
Shrewsbury— (Continued) 805 

The Medical Profession — Gradnates of Collegi-s— Public 
P^ducation. 

CHAPTER ex. 

G.\RDNER SlO 

.Situation, Topography, Setlteiiiont, Ineorporation, ete. 

CHAPTER CXI. 
G.-VRDNER — (Continued) 820 

Town and County Roads— Fifth Massachusetts Turn- 
pike— Railways. 

CHAPTER CXII. 
G.\rdner — (Continued) S25 

Industrial Interests. 

CHAPTER CXIII. 
G.xrdner — (Continued) 84S 

TMucation — Scluiols and Libraries. 

CHAPTER CXIV. 

G.\RiiNER — (Continued) 852 

Religion, Ilovises of Worahip, Parishes, etc. 

CHAPTER CXV. 

(iARDNER — (Continued) . 862 

Relatitins to the State and Nation. 

CHAPTER CXVI. 
Gardner — (Continued) 

Miscellalietnis Topics. 



HISTORY 



OF 



WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



QENERAL HISTORY. 



CHAPTEK I. 
WORCESTER COUNTY. 

BY WILLIAM T. DAVIS. 

It 13 not proposed to include in this sketch any 
msilter wbicli properly belongs to the histories of the 
towns of which Worcester County is composed. Re- 
ligion, education, niauulactures and Indian history 
will all be treated in the sketches of the various towns 
with who-ie growth and traditions and present condi- 
tion they are inseparably connected. It is proposed 
to confine the sketch strictly to an iitvestigatioa of the 
affairs of the connty proper, its incorporation, its 
geographical character, its boundaries, its courts, its 
otiicers and such associations as have the county for 
both the extent and limit of their operations. 

Worcester County was incorporated by an act which 
was passed by the General Court, April 2d, and pub- 
lished April 5, 1731. The text of the act is as follows: 

An Act for erecting, granting and making a County in the Inland 
piirts of tliis Province, to be ciilk-il tlie County of Worcester, and for es- 
tabUsiiias Courts of Ju>tice witliin the siime : 

Bo it enacted by His ExceUency the Governor, Council and Representa- 
tives, in General Court assembled, and by tbe autliority of the same : 

Sect. 1. Tbat the towns and places hereafter named and expressed; 
That is to say, Worcester, Lancaster, Westboro', Shrewsbury, Soiithhoro', 
Leicester, Rutland and Lunenburg, all in the County of Slidrllesex ; 
Mendon, Woodstock, Oxfurd, Sutton (including Hassiuiamisco), Uxbridgo 
ami the hind lately giaiitod to several petitioners of JledfieUI, all in the 
County of SnfTulIc; BrooUfieUl in the County of Hampshire and the 
Sovith town laid out to tbe Narragansett suldiers ; and all other lands 
lying within said to\vnshi[>s with the inhabitants thereon, shall from and 
after the lOtb day of July, which will be in tbe year of our Lord, 



seventeen hundred and thirty-one, bo and reiiinia ono intiro and distinct 
County by the name of Worcester, of whicli Worcester U> be the Connty 
or shire town ; and the said County to Iiave, use and enjoy all sncli 
powei-s, privileges and immunities us by law other counties within this 
Trovincc have and do ehjoy. 

And be it further enacted liy the authority aforesaid : 

Sect, 'J. That there shaU be hehl and kept within tbe snid County of 
Worcester, yearly, and in every year at the times and places in this Act 
hereafter exiu-cssed, a Court of General Ses-ioiis of the Peace and an In- 
ferior Court of Common Pleas, to sit at Worct-^teron the second Tuesdays 
of May and August, the first Tuesdays of Xovemlier and February 
yearly, and in every year until this Court shall otherwise order, a Supe- 
rior Court of Judicature, Court of AB^ize and General Gaol Delivery, to 
sit on the Wednesday innnediately preceding tiio time by law appointed 
for the holding of the said Court of Judicatun), Court of Assize and 
General Gaol Delivery at Springfiekl, within and for the County of 
Hampshire; and the Justices of the said Court of General Sessions of the 
Peace, Inferior Court of Common Tleas, Superior Court of Judicature, 
Court of Assize and General Gaul Delivery, respectively, wlio are or shall 
be thereunto lawfully commissioned and !ip|iointed, shall have, hoM, use, 
exercise and enjoy all and singular the powers which are by law already 
given and granted unto them within any other counties of the Province 
where a Court of General Sessions of the Peace, Inferior Court of Com- 
mon Pleas, Superior Court of Judicature, Court of Assize and General 
Gaol Delivery are already established. Provided, 

Sect. a. That all writs, suits, plaints, processes, appeals, reviews, re- 
cognizances or any other matters or things which now are, or at any 
time before the said 10th day of July shall be defending in the law 
within any part of the said County of Worcester ; and aho aU matters 
and thinga vhich now are, or at any time before the said luth of July 
shall be defending before (he Judges of Probate within any part of the 
said County of Worcester, shall be heard, tryed, proceeded upon and de- 
termined in the Counties of Suffolk, Middlesex and Hampshire respect- 
ively, where the same are or shill be returnable or derending, and have 
or shall have, day or days. Provided, also. 

Sect. 4. That nothing in this Act contained shall be construed to die- 
annul, defeat, or make void, any deeds or conveyances of lands lying in 
the said County of Worcester, when the same aro or shall be, before the 
said liitb of July, recorded in the Register's office of the respective 
Counties where such lands do now lye ; but that all such deeds or con- 
veyances, so recorded, shall be held good and valid, as they would have 
been had not this Act been made. 

i 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid : 

Sect. 5. Tlirtt the .histices of the Court of General Sessions of the Peace 
at their first meeting in tlie said County of Woioester, sliall liave full 
power and authority to appoint some meet jierson w ithin the Baid Cunnty 
of Worcester to be Ue;;ister of Deeds and Conveyances within the same, 
who shall bo sworn to the faithful discharge of his trust in the said 
office, and shall continue to hold and exertiso the same according to the 
directions of the law, until some person be elected by the freeholders of 
the Baid County of Worcester (who aro hereby empowered to choose euch 
person on the first Thursday of September next ensuing, by the methods 
in the law already prescribed), to take upon him that trust ; and until 
Buch Register shall be appointed by the stiid Justices and sworu, all 
deeds and coiiveyancea of land lying within any part of the said County 
of Worcester, which shall be recorded in the Itegister's office of the re- 
Bpective counties w here such lands do now lye, shall be held aiul deemed 
good and valid, to all intents and purposes, as to the recording thereof. 

And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid ; 

Sect. G. That the methods, directions and proceedings by law, provided 
as well for electing and choosing a Register of Deeds and Conveyances as 
a County Treasurer, which olficei^ shall be appointed in the Bame man- 
ner aa ia by law already provided, on the first Thursday of September 
next, and also for the bringing forward and trying any actions, causes, 
pleaa or suits, both civil and crindnal, in the sevel-al Counties of this 
Province and Courts of .Judicature within the same, and choosing of 
Juries to serve at the Courts of Justice, shall extend and be attended, 
observed and put in practice within the said County of Worcester and by 
the Courts of Justice within the same ; any law, usage or custom to the 
contrary notwithstanding. Provided, always, 

Sect. 7. That the inhabitants of the several towns and places herein 
before enumerated and set off a distinct County, shall pay their propor- 
tion to any County rates or taxes alreaily made and granted in the same 
manner as they would have done had not this Act been made. 

A supplementary act was passed April 12th, and 
published April 14, 1753, providing " that all the lands 
within this Province, adjoining to the County of Wor- 
cester, and not laid to any other County, shall be and 
hereby are, annexed to the County of Worcester." 

Hassanamisco, mentioned in the above act, was the 
Indian name of a territory about four miles square, 
which was reserved by the Sachem, John Wam- 
pus, when he sold to the English settler.^ the tract of 
land which afterwards became the town of Sutton. 
This territory was afterwards also sold and became the 
town of Grafton. 

The South town, laid out to Narragansett soldiers, 
also mentioned in the act, was subsequently incor- 
porated as the town of Westminster. In 1728 and 
1732 the General Court granted seven townships 
to eight hundred and forty survivors of the Narragan- 
sett War and the legal heirs of such as had deceased, 
assigning one hundred and twenty proprietors to each 
township, on conditicn that sixty familits be settled 
in each place with a minister in the space of seven 
years from the date of the grant, reserving in each 
one right for the first minister, one for the ministry 
and one for the school. A meeting of the grantees 
was held in Boston on the Common, in June, 1732, 
and dividing themselves into seven classes, drew lots 
for the townships. The townships were laid out by 
a committee of the General Court as follows : " Num- 
ber one was located back of Saco and Scarborough, 
number two north of Wachusett Hill, number three 
at Souhegan west, number four at Aiuariscogan, 
number five at Souhegan east, number six west of 
number two, and number seven was not located." 
South town was number two and was sometimes called 



Narragansett number two : number six is now Tem- 
pleton. 

The name of the city of Worcester, from which the 
county derived its name, owes its origin to Worcester 
in England, on the banks of the Severn, built on the 
site of the castle of Hwiccia, called Hwic-wara-ceaster. 
The records of Massachusetts colony state that in 
1GS4, " upon the motion and desire ol' Major-Cvencral 
Gookin, Capt. Prentice and Capt. Dan Hinchman, 
the Couit grants their request that their plantation at 
Quinsigamond be called Worcester and that Capt. 
Wing be added and appointed one of the Committee 
there in the room of the deceased and that their town 
brand mark be ^." The conjecture of Mr. William 
H. Whitmore that the name was given as a defiance 
to Charles the Second, who was defeated at Worcester 
by Cromwell, in 1651, has been endorsed inaqnalified 
way by Mr. William B. Harding, in his valuable and 
interesting essay on the origin of the names of towns 
in Worcester County, published in 1883. Though 
it is true that at the time Worcester was named, in 
1B84, the oppressive measures of Charles had rendered 
him unpopular in the colonies, it is more than proba- 
ble that the conjecture had its origin in one of those 
baseless and v;igue traditions which have disturbed 
the current of history, and that, like a large number 
of other towns in New England, some emigrant from 
old England desired to perpetuate the name of the 
place of his birth in the new. 

Worcester County is the largest county in the Com- 
monwealth, occupying the central part of the State 
and extending across its entire breadth from north to 
south. It has an area of about fifteen hundred 
square miles, and is drained by the head-waters of 
Miller's, Chicopee, Quinebaug, Thames, Blackstone, 
Nashua and other smaller rivers, which furnish power 
to a large numbtrof wheels of industry. Its suriace 
is undulating and its soil strong and productive, but 
its farming interes!s have been somewhat impaired 
by the advancing and strengthening wave of manu- 
facturing industry. These interests, however, are by 
no means small. According to the census of 1880, in 
a list of the tsvo thousand four hundred and sixty-one 
counties in the United States, Worcester stands nine- 
teenth in farm values and tenth in farm products. 
The determination of the shire-town of the county 
was not reached without difficulty. Sutton, Lancas- 
ter, Mendon, Brookfield and Woodstock stood higher 
than Worcester, both in population and valuation. 
But the central position cjf Worcester, together with 
the influence of Joseph Wilder, of L'.incaster, who 
remonstrated against the administration of justice in 
that town, settled the question. The first Court of 
Probate was held in Worcester, July 13, 1731, the 
first Court of Common Pleas and General Sessions of 
the Peace the 10th of August, and the Superior Court 
of Judicature on the 22d of Sepeember in the same 
year. The judges of the last court present were 
Benjamin Lynde, chief justice, and Paul Dudley, Ed- 



WOaCESTER COUNTY. 



inund Quincy and John Gushing, justices. Paul 
Dudley, who was a judge from 1718 to 174.5, and chief 
justice from 174.5 to his deatli, in 1751, was the first 
lawyer who had ever sat on the bench. 

At the time of the incorporation of the county nine 
other counties bad been incorporated in what is now 
the State of Massachusetts, — Essex, Middlesex and 
Norfolk incorporated May 10, 1G43; Hampshire, May 
21, 1662; Barnstable, Bristol and Plymouth, June 21, 
1685; Duke-s County, November 1, 168-3, and Nan- 
tucket, June 20, 1695. Norfolk County was composed 
of the towns of Haverhill, Salisbury, Hampton, Exe- 
ter, Dover and Portsmouth (then called Strawberry 
Bank). Upon the separation of New Plampihire in 
1680, the last four towns were included within the 
limits of that State, and on the -Ith of February, 1680, 
by an act of tlie court, the other towns were added to 
Essex County, and Norfolk County ceased to exist. 
At a later date the present Norfolk County was incor- 
porated, March 26, 1793, preceded by Berkshire April 
24, 1761, and followed by Franklin June 24, 1811, and 
Hampden February 20, 1S12. The towns composing 
Worcester County at the time of its incorporatiim 
were incorporated as follows : Brookfield, which had 
borne the Indian name of Quaboag, was granted to 
petitioners in Ipswich in 1660 and incorporated Oct. 
15, 1673, and included in the county of Hampshire 
by the act incorporating that- county passed May 21, 
1662; Lancaster, whose Indian name was Nashwash, 
was incorporated May 18, 1653; Leicester, called 
Towtaid, granted February 10, 1713, to Colonel Joshua 
Lamb and others and incorporated in 1721 ; Lunen- 
burg, the south part of Turkey Hills, August 1, 1728; 
Mendon, called Qunshapauge, May 15, 1607; Oxford, 
granted to Gov. Joseph Dudley and others in 1682, 
May 16, 1683; Rutland, called Nagueag, bought Dec- 
ember 22, 1686, of Joseph Trask, alias Puagostiou, by 
Henry Willard and others of Lancaster, and incorpor- 
ated February 23, 1713; Shrewsbury, December 19 
1 727 ; Soutliboro', set ofl' I'rom Marlboro', in Middlesex 
County, July 6, 1727; Sutton, purcha.sed of Sachem 
John Wampus and incorporated June 21, 1715; Ux- 
bridge, called Waeuntug, June 27, 1727; Wfstboro', 
called Chauncey, November ]8, 1717; Worcester, 
called Quinsigamond, granted to Daniel Gookin and 
others October 24, 1668, October 15, 1684 ; and Wood- 
stock. The last-mentioned town was granted by the 
Colony Court in 1686 to certain inhabitants of Rox- 
bury, in the State of Massachu-etts, and called New 
Roxbury. Judge Samuel Sewall says in his diary, 
under the date of 1690, that on the 18th of March he 
gave "New Roxbury the name of Woodstock because 
of its nearness to Oxford for the sake of Queen Eliza- 
beth and the notable meetings that have been held at 
the place bearing that name in England." 

The transfer of Woodstock from Massachusetts to 
Connecticut was owing to a change in the boundary 
line between those colonies. The first boundary line, 
known as the " Woodward and Safery line," was run 



in 1642. Previous to 1642 Connecticut had claimed 
Woodstock under the so-called charter by Robert, 
Earl of Warwick, dated March 19, 1631. On the 
13th of July, 1713, an adjustment of the old line was 
reached, which declared the Woodward and Safery 
line erroneous, being six or seven miles too far south, 
and nearly all of Woodstock was found to be within 
the territory covered by the charter of Connecticut, 
issued by Charles the Second, April 20, 1652. Under 
the adjustment of 1713 it was agreed that Woodstock 
should remain under the jurisdiction of Massachusetts 
on the condition that Connecticut should receive such 
a number of acres from the unappropriated lands of 
Massachusetts as should be equivalent to thut part of 
the territory which had been found south of the true 
line. Enfield and Suftield were also found to be 
south of the line, and as a consideration for these three 
towns and for some other grants, south of the line, 
made by Massachusetts to individuals, Connecticut 
received one hundred and seven thousand seven hun- 
dred and ninety-three acres of land. But a feeling of 
dissatisfaction grew up before many years among the 
inhabitants of Woodstock, chiefly because the taxes 
in Massachusetts were higher than in Connecticut. 
They claimed that they had been annexed without 
their consent, and insisted on being restored to the 
jurisdiction of Connecticut. In 1748 a memorial, in 
which Enfield and Suffield joined, was presented to 
the General Assembly of Connecticut, of which the 
following is the text. They represented — 

Ttiaf they had, without their consent or even havingbeen consulted iu 
the mutter, been put under the jurisdiction of Massacluisetts ; that a-s 
tliey were within the limits of tho royal charter of Connecticut, they 
liadajustaud legal right to the government and privileges which it 
conferred, and that they were deprived of their rights by that charter ; 
that the Legislature had no right to put them under another govern- 
ment, but tiiat the cliarter required that the same protection, government 
and privileges sliould be extended to them which were enjoyed by the 
other inhabitants of the colony. For these reasons they prayed to be 
taken under tlie colony of Connecticut, and to be admitted to the liberty 
and privileges of its other inhabitants. 

After several attempts on the part of Connecticut to 
negotiate with Massachusetts with a view to reconsid- 
ering theadjustment of 1713, its General Assembly, in 
October, 1752, accepted Woodstock, Enfield, Suftield, 
including the town of Somers, which had been taken 
from Enfield in 1726, and has since held jurisdiction 
over them. Massacliusetts continued to tax the in- 
habitants on the disputed territory, but at the close of 
the Revolution the whole matter was dropped, and she 
not only lost her towns but one hundred and seven 
thousand seven hundred and ninety-three acres of 
land which had been given as the consideration for 
(heir possession. A more detailed account of the 
transaction may be found in " Historical Collections," 
by Holmes Ammiilown, to which the writer is indebted 
for the few incidents concerning it here related. 

Since the incorporation of the county, in 1731, the 
following towns have been incorporated within its 
limits: Ashburnham, granted to Dorchester men 
who joined the Canada expedition and called Dor- 



IV 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS 



Chester Canada, was incorporated February 22, 1705; 
Athol, called Payguage, or Poqtiaig, March 6, 1702 ; 
Auburn, incorporated as Ward April 10, 1778, and 
receiving its present name February 7, 1837 ; Barre, 

33/f, incorporated as Rutland District March 28, 1753, 

incorporated as the town of Hutchinson June 14, 

1774, and receiving its present name in November, 

1776; Berlin, incorporated as District of Berlin 

, • March 1(5, 1784, and as a town February 6, 1812, un- 

«i' der its present name; Blackstone, March 25,1845; 
Bolton, -June 24, 1738; Boylston, March 1, 1788; 
Charlton, November 2, 1754; Clinton, March 14, 
1850; Dana, February IS, 1801; Douglas in 174(5; 
Dudley, called Chabamikongmum, originally granted 
to Paul and William Dudley, February 2, 1731, old 
style ; Fitchbnrg, February 3, 1764, as a town, and as 
a oily March 8, 1872; Gardner, June 27, 1785; 
Grafton, called Hassanamisco, April 18, 1735; Hard- 
wick, bought of the [ndiaus in 1686, by Joshua 
Lamb and others, of Roxbury, and called Lambs- 
town, January 10, 1738, old style; Harvard, June 
29, 1732; Holden, January 9, 1740; Hopedale, 
April 7, 1886; Hubbardston, June 13, 1767; Leo- 
minster, June 23, 1740; Milford, called Wopowage, 
and afterwards Mill River, April 11,1780; Jlillbury, 
June 11, 1813; New Braintree, called Wenimesset, 
granted to certain inhabitants of Braintree, and 
called Braintree Farms, January 31, 1751 ; North- 
borough, January 24, 1760 ; Northbridge, July 14, 
1772; North Brookfield, February 28, 1812; Oak- 
ham, called Rutlands West Wing, incorporated as 
District of Oakham June 11, 1762; Paxton, Febru- 
ary 12, 1765; Petersham, granted to John Bennett, 
Jeremiah Perley and others, called Nitchawog, April 
20, 1754; Phillipston, incorporated as Gerry Octo- 
ber 20, 1786, and receiving its present name Febru- 
ary 5, 1814; Princeton, called Wachusett, April 24, 
1771; Royalston, called Royalshire, February 17, 
1765; Southbridge, February 15, 1816; Spencer, 
April 3, 1753; Sterling, April 25,1781; Sturbridge. 
settled by Medfield people, and called New Medfield 
until its incorporation, June 24, 1738; Templeton, 
called Narragansett No. 6, March 6, 1762 ; Upton^ 
June 14, 1735; Warren, incorporated as Western 
January 16, 1741, and under its present name March 
13, 1834; Webster, March G, 1832; West Boylston, 
January 30,1808; West Bro..kficld, March 3, 1848; 
Westminster, called South Town, and laid out to 
Narragansett soldiers, was incorporated April 26, 
1770 ; and Winchendon, granted in 1735 to the heirs 
of Ipswich men who were in the Canada expedition 
in 1090, and called Ipswich Canada, June 14, 1764. 

According to the essay of William B. Harding, be- 
fore referred to, Ashburnham derived its name from 
John Ashburnham, the second Earl of Ashburnham, 
and Athol from James IMurray, the second Duke of 
Athol. Both of these towns were named by Gover- 
uor Bernard. Auburn was first named Ward, after 
General Artemas Ward, and changed in 1837, in con- 



sequence of its similarity to Ware. Bnrre, first 
named after Governor Hutchinson, was changed to 
its present name in 1776, in honor of Colonel Isaac 
Barre, a friend of the Colonies in Parliament. Ber- 
lin was named after the German city, and Black- 
stone took its name from William Blackstone, the 
first white settler in Boston and an early sttt'er ia 
Rhode Island. Bolton was named by Governor 
Belcher, in honor of Charles Powlet, third Duke of 
Bolton, and Boylston was named after the Boylston 
family of Boston. The name of Brookfield was sug- 
gested by the natural features of its territory, and 
Chariton was named by Governor Bernard, probably 
in honor of Sir Francis Charltoi), Bart. Clinton 
took its name from De Witt Clinton, Dana from the 
Dana family and Douglas was named by Dr. William 
Douglas, of Boston, who gave the town the sum of 
five hundred dollars as a school fund and thirty 
acres of land, with a house and barn, as a considera- 
tion for the privilege. Dudley was named after 
Paul and William Dudley ; Fitchburg after John 
Fitch, one of its active citizens ; Gardner after Col- 
onel Thomas Gardner, who was killed on Bunker 
Hill; and Grafton was named by Governor Belcher, 
in honor of Charles Fits Roy, Duke of Grafton, a 
grandson of Charles the Second. Hardwick was 
named by Governor Belcher, for Phillip York, Lord 
Hardwick, chief justice of the King's bench; Har- 
vard was named for John Harvard, the founder of 
Harvard University ; Holden probaljly for Samuel 
Holden, a dir-ector in the Bank of England ; Hub- 
bardston for Thomas Hubbard, a Boston merchant ; 
Lancaster for the old town in England, Leicester for 
old Leicester and Leominster for the English town of 
that name. Lunenburg took its name from George 
the Second, one of whose titles was Duke of Lunen- 
burg ; Oakham from Oakham in England, Oxford 
from old Oxford, Paxton from Charles Paxton, one 
of the commissioners of customs in Boston ; Peters- 
ham from the English town of that name, Phil- 
lipston, lirst named after Governor Gerry, from 
Lieut. -Governor William Phillips; Princeton from 
Rev. Thomas Prince, the annalist, and Royalston 
from Colonel Isaac Royal, one of the grantees of the 
township, who gave the town twenty-five pounds to- 
wards building a meeting-house. Rutland was 
named after either the Duke of Rutland or Rutland- 
shire in England; Shi'ewsbury in honor of Charles, 
Duke of Shrewsbury, or perhaps after the English 
town of that name; Spencer after Lieut.-Govcrnor 
Spencer Phipps; Sterling in honor of Lord Sterling, 
Sturbridge after Stourbridge in Worcestershire, Tem- 
pleton after the Temple family, Uxbridge after either 
the English town, or Henry Paget, Earl of Uxbridge ; 
Warren alter General Joseph Warren and Webster 
after the great statesman. Westminster took the 
name of the London borough of that name, and 
Winchendon received its name from Governor Ber- 
nard, who was the eventual heir of the Tyringhams of 



WORCESTER COUNTY. 



Upper Winchendon, England. These derivations, 
as given by Mr. Harding, are interesting, and wortliy, 
with proper credit to tlieir aullior, to be inserted in 
this slcetcli. 

Tiie following schedule shows the population of the 
various towns according to the census of 1885, and 
their valuations established by Chapter 73 of the 
Acts of 1880 as the basis of apportionment for State 
and county ta.\es until the year 1889: 

TOW.V. POPfLATIOX. VALUATION. 

Asliburiiliam 2,058 S989,43a 

Alhol 4,728 2,GI:l,3I3 

Auburu 1,2C3 497,8:J;) 

Burro 2,09.1 1,162,114 

Beilin 81)9 492,100 

Btackstonc 0,43'. 2,343,002 

Bolton 870 617,207 

Bojlston 831 499,8 j4 

BlookftL-W 3,013 1,287,011 

Charlton 1,823 98.',44.i 

Clinton 8,945 6,329,252 

Duli.1 093 203,473 

Douglas 2,2C5 1,034,050 

DmllL-y 2,7)2 903,290 

FUd.burg 15,373 13,011,878 

Gardner 7,283 .3,457,018 

Grartoil 4,498 2,354,744 

Hardwick- 3,145 1,333,253 

Harvard 1,184 1,071.965 

HoldiMi 2,471 1,000,357 

Hubbardston 1,3113 7:l.%259 

Laucaslcr 2,0511 2,875,700 

Leicester 2,923 2,010,872 

Leomiiifilcr 5,297 4,030,835 

Lunenburg l,07l fi36,.52> 

Mendon 915 694,033 

Jlilford (including Uopedalc) 9,343 8,711,201 

Millbnry 4,555 2,184,045 

New Brainti-co ; .558 43',472 

North Broolifield 4,201 1,919,273 

Northborough 1,831 1,19',003 

Nortlibridgo 3,7815 2,900,979 

Oakham 749 313,443 

Oxford 2,355 1,394,450 

Paxton 301 278,030 

Polcreham 1,033 {89,700 

Phillipston 630 274,032 

Princeton 1,038 875,809 

Royalslon 1,153 80.1,311 

Rutland 903 401,099 

Shrewsbury 1,453 1,042,445 

Sonthborough 2,100 1,500,838 

Southbridgc 4,.500 3,331,140 

Spencer. 8,247 4,210,985 

Sterling 1,331 9)2,752 

Sturbridge 1,080 9S4,ns2 

Sutton 3,101 1,28.1,235 

Tenipletou 2,027 1,207,125 

Upton 2,205 883,247 

Uxbridge 2,918 2,000,,577 

Warren 4,0.12 2,.i7.3,7.57 

Webster 0,220 2,e02,.570 

WestbmougU 4,880 1,173,443 

West Boylston, 2,927 841,9'.0 

West Brookflcld 1,747 2,007,027 

Westminster 1,556 803,577 

Winchendon 3,872 2,037,308 

Worcester r,8,389 5S,n43,9llO 

Total 244,039 81.59,997,408 

The various courts referred to in the act of incor- 
poration were established by the Court of the Prov- 



ince of Massachusetts Bay soon after the union of the 
Plymouth and Massachusetts Colonies. On the 28th 
of June, 1692, it was enacted as follows: 

Fora.smucli .as the orderly regulation and well-establishment of Courts 
of Justice is of great concernment, and the public occjisious with refer* 
encc to the war and otherwise being so pressing at this season that this 
Court cannot now conveniently sit longer to advise upon and fully 
settle the 8;iuie, but to the iateut that justice be not obstructed or de- 
layed, — 

Be it ordained and enacted, by the Governor, Council and Represen- 
tatives, convened in General AsscDibly, and it is ordained by the 
authority of tlie .'same. 

Sf.ct. 1. That on or before the last Tuesday of July next there be a 
general sessions of the peace held and kept in each respective county 
within this province, by the Justices of the same county or throe of 
them at least (the first justice of the qnornm then present to preside) 
who are hereby empouered to hear and determine all matters relating 
to the conservation of the peace and whatsoever is by them cognizable 
according to law, and to grant licenses to such persons within the Bamo 
county, being firat approved of by the Selectmen of each town, where 
such persons dwell, whom they shall think fit to be enipluyed as inn- 
lloldei^ or retailers of w ines or strong liquors. And that a sessions of 
the peace be successively held and kept as aforesaid within the several 
cotintics at the same times and placets as the county courts or inferior 
courts of common pleas arc hereiuafler ap[K)inted to be kept. 

And it is further enacted, by the authority aforesaid : 

Sc'.-r. 2. That the county courts, or inferior courts of common pleas, 
bo held and kept in each resppclive county by the justices of the same 
county, or three of them at the least (the first justice of the quorum 
then present to presitle), at the same times and places they have been 
formerly kept according to law for the hearing and determining of all 
civil actions arising or happening within the 8:ime, triable at the com- 
mon law according to former usage ; the justices for holding and keep- 
ing of the said court within the county of Suffolk to be purticidarly ap- 
pointed and commis-^ioned by the Governor with the advice and consent 
of the council. And that all writs or ntlachmcnts shall issue out of 
the clerk's office of the .*aid several courts, signed by tl'.o clerk of such 
court, directed unto the sheriff of the coimty, his under-sheriff or dep- 
uty. The Juroi-s to serve at said courts to be chosen according to 
fMrnier custom, by anti of the freeholders and other inhabitants, quali- 
fied ns is directed in their m:^csties' royal charter. 

This act to continue until other provision be made by the General 
Court or Assembly. 

This law was disallowed by the Privy Council 
August 22, 169o. The letter from the Privy Council 
disallowing the act stated that " whereas Inferior 
Courts are appointed to be held by the Justices of 
Peace in each county and the Justices of Peace in 
the county of Suffolk are to be specially appointed 
by the Governor with the consent of the council, 
Whereby the powers of his M.ijesties Charter is en- 
acted and csiablished into a law and distinction made 
by the said Act in the manner of appointing Justices 
for the county of Suffolk and other counties, it hath 
been thought tit to repeal the said Act." 

On the 25th of November, 1692, an act was passed 
which provided, among other things, as follows : 

Sf.ct. 1. That all manner of debts, trespasses and other matters not 
exceeding the value of forty shillings (wheivin the title of land is not 
concerned) shall and may be heard, tried, adjudged and determined by 
any of their majesties, justices of the peace of this province within tbo 
respective conutics where he resi<Ies. . . . 

Si-CT. 4. That there shall be held and kept in each resjiective county 
within Ibis province, yearly at the times and places hereafter named 
and expressed, four courts or quarter sessions of the jwace by justices of 
the Jteace of the same county, who are hereby empowered to hear and 
determine all matters relating to the conservation 4>f the peace and pun- 
ishment of offenders and w hatsoever is by them cognizable according to 
law. , . . 

Sect. 5. That at the limes and places before mentioned there shall 



VI 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



be held iiiiil kept iu each respective county iind ishiiids, befuro named, 
witliin this province an Infeiior Court of Common Pleas by four of tlie 
Justices of and rceidiu}; witliin tlie tame county and islands rcsjyect 
ively, to be appointed and coniinlssiuned tliereto, any tljree of whom to 
bo a quorum, for tlio hearing and determining of all civil actions arising 
or happening within the same, triable at the common law of what na- 
ture, kind or quality soever. , . . 

Sect. G. That there shall be a Superior Court of Judicature over this 
wiiole province, to be held and kept annually at the respective times and 
places as hereafter mentioned, by one Chief Justice and four other jus- 
tices, to be appointed and comnii.s8ioned for the same, three of whom to 
be a quorum ; who shall have cognizance of all pleas, real, personal or 
mixed, as well iu all pleas of the crown and in all matters relating to 
the conservation of the peace and punishment of offendersaa in civil 
causes or actions between party and paity, and between their nuijestiea 
and any of their gidgects, whether the same do concern the lealtyand 
relate to any right of freehold and inheritance, or whether the same do 
concern the personally alal relate to matter of debt, contract, damage or 
personal injury, and also in all mi.xed actions which may concern both 
realty and personalty. . . . 

Sect. 14. . . . that either party not resting satisfied with the judg- 
ment or sentence of any of the said jvidieatories or courts iu personal 
actions wherein the matter in difference doth exceed the value of three 
hundred pounds sterling (and no other), may appeal unto their majes- 
ties in council, such appeal being made in time, and Eecurity given ac- 
cording to the directions in the charter in that behalf. . . . 

This act was also disallowed by the Privy Council 
August 22, 1695, and it was stated by the Council that 

Whereas by the Acti divers courts being established by the said Act, 
it is hereby further provided that if either party not being satisfied with 
the judgment of any of the said courts in personal actions not exceed- 
ing three hundred pounds (ami no other), they may appeal to His Ma- 
jesty iu Council, whicli pioviso not being according to the words of the 
charter and appeals to the King in council in real actions seeming 
thereby to be excluded, it hath been thought fit to repeal the said Act. 

On the 19th of June, 1697, another act was passed 
providing for a Court of General Sessions of the 
Peace, an Inferior Court of Common Pleas, and a 
Superior Court of Judicature, Court of Assize and 
General Gaol Delivery, the tenth section of which 
provided " that all matters and issues in fact arising 
or happening in any county or place within this 
province shall be tried by twelve good and lawful 
men of the neighborhood, to be chosen in manner 
following. . . ." 

This act was disallowed by the Privy Council 
November 24, 1G9S, for the reason that it provided 
ior the trial of all matters and issues in fact by a jury 
of twelve men, while the act of Parliament entitled 
"An Act for Preventing Frauds and Regulating 
Abuses in the Plantation Trade," provided that all 
causes relating to the breach of the acts of trade 
may, at the pleasure of the officer or informer, be 
tried in the Court of Admiralty to be held in any of 
His Majesty's plantations respectively where such 
oifence shall be committed, in which court the 
nniethod of procedure uader the law is not by trial by 

jury 

On the 16th of June, 1699, still another act was 
passed establishing a Court of General Sessions of 
the Peace in each county, " to be held by the Ju.stices 
of the peace of the same county or so many of them as 
are or suail be limited in the commission of the peace, 
who are hereby impowered to hear and determine all 
matters relating to the conservation of the peace and 



punishment of ofl'enders, and whatsoever is by them 
cognizable according to law and to give judgment and 
award execution thereon." 

On the 15th of the same mouth an act was passed 
establishing an Inferior Court of Common Pleas, 
which " shall be held and kept in each respective 
county within this province and at the Island of Nan- 
tucket within the same, yearly and every year at the 
times and places in this Act hereafter mentioned, and 
expressed," " by four substantial persons to be ap- 
pointed and commissioned as justices of the same court 
in each county, any three of whom to be a quorum for 
the holding of said court, who shall have cognisance 
of all civil actions arising or happening within such 
county tryable at the common law, of what nature, 
kind or quality soever." 

On the 26th of the same month an act was passed, 
establishing a Superior Court of Judicature, Court of 
Assize and General Gaol Delivery over the province, 
" to be held and kept annually at the respective times 
and places mentioned in the act by one Chief Justice 
and four other Justices to be app linted and commis- 
sioned for the same, any three of them to be a quorum, 
who shall have cognizance of all pleas, real, personal 
or mixed, as well all pleas of the crown and all mat- 
ters relating to the conservation of the peace and 
punishment of offenders, as civil causes or actions be- 
tween party and party, atid between his majesty and 
any of his subjects, whether the same do concern the 
realty and relate to any right of freehold and inheri- 
tance, or whether the same do concern the personalty 
and relate to matter of debt, contract, damage or per- 
sonal injury, and also all mixed actions which concern 
both realty and personalty, brought before them by 
appeal, review, writ of error or otherwise, as the law 
directs; and generally all other matters as fully and 
amply to all intents and purposes whatsoever as the 
courts of king's bench, common pleas and exchequer 
within his majesty's kingdom of England have or 
ought to have." 

These laws were substantially re-enactments of the 
laws pas.sed in 1692, and disallowed by the Privy 
Council, and with amendments remained in force dur- 
ing the existence of the province. Either by the act 
establishing the General Sessions of the Peace or by 
special acts afterwards passtd, the jurisdiction of this 
court took a wide range. Besides its criminal juris- 
diction it granted licenses to innholders and retailers 
of liquor; it heard and determined complaints by the 
Indians; it provided at one time destitute towns with 
ministers; it determined the amount of county taxes 
and apportioned the same among the towns ; it had 
charge of county property and expended its money ; 
it laid out highways ; it counted the votes for county 
treasurer and audited his accounts ; it appointed mas- 
ters of the House of Correction and made rules for the 
government of the same ; it ordered the erection and 
repair of prisons and other county buildings, and had 
the general care of county affairs. 



WORCESTER COUNTS. 



Vll 



These province laws concerning the judiciary were, 
by a gradual and natural process of evolution, the 
outgrowth of the early laws of the Massachusetts 
colony. At first the General Court, consisting, until 
1634, of the Governor, the assistants and freemen and 
after that date of delegates instead of the whole body 
of freemen, was held monthly " for the handling, or- 
dering and despatching of all such business and occur- 
rences as should from time to time happen touching 
or concerning said company or plantation," "as well 
for settling the forms and ceremonies of government 
and magistracy and for naming and se:tling of all 
sorts of officers needful for the government and plan- 
tation," " aa also for imposition of lawful fines, mulcts, 
imprisonments or other lawful correction according 
to the course of other corporations in this our realm.'' 
Next to the General Court was the Court of Assist- 
ants, which, by a law passed in 1639, was to hold two 
terms in Boston, and composed of the Governor and 
Deputy-Governor and assistants, to hear and deter- 
mine all and only actions of appeal from the inferior 
courls, all causes of divorce, all capital and criminal 
causes extending to life, member or banishment. 
There were also established in 1639 County Courts, 
which had the same jurisdiction as that covered by 
the Courts of Common Pleas and Courts of Sessions 
at a later day. There were also Strangers' Courts 
established in 1639, or, as they were sometimes called, 
Merchants' Courts, designed to meet the wants of 
strangers who were unable to await the ordinary 
course of justice. In addition to these there were 
the Military Court, established in 1634; the Court of 
Chancery, established in 1685; and some lesser courts, 
such as those of the Magistrates', the Commissioners' 
of snail causes, and the Selectmen's Court, from 
which appeals could be taken to the County Courts. 

After the surrender of the charter and the appoint- 
ment of Joseph Dudley as President, the Governor 
and Council were made a Court of Record to try 
civil and criminal matters and authorized to appoint 
judges of such inferior courts as they might create. 
The judicial system under President Dudley consisted 
of a Superior Court and Courts of Pleas and Sessions 
of the Peace. Under his administration Judges of 
Probate were first appointed. 

After the arrival of Andros as Governor of New 
England in 1686 the Governor and Council had full 
powers of making, interpreting and executing the 
laws subject to revision by the crown. He issued an 
order on the day after his arrival, December 20, 1680, 
continuing all officers then in power in their several 
places until further orders and directed the judges to 
administer justice according to the customs of the 
places in which their courts were held. On the 3d 
of March, 1687, an "Act for the establishing Couris 
of Judicature and Public Justice" was passed, under 
which a system was organized, which led to the judi- 
cial system adopted under the charter of the United 
Colonies in 1692. Under this act the jurisdiction of 



justices of the peace was fixed, quarterly sessions 
were established, the Inferior Court of Common Pleas 
and the Superior Court of Judicature were created. 
A Court of Chancery was provided for and a system 
perfected which was not overthrown on the accession 
of William and Mary in 1688 and on the deposition 
of Andro.s, and which was practically continued 
under the charter of the Province of Massachusetts 
Bay. 

Of the judges of the Superior Court of Judicature, 
neither was a native of that part of the Province 
which was included within the limits of Worcester 
County. The first session of the Inferior Court of 
Common Pleas held in Worcester County was held 
at Worcester August 10, 1731, when Rev. John Pren- 
tice, of Lancaster, preached a sermon from 2 Chron. 
19: 6-7 : "And said to the judges. Take heed what ye 
do: for ye judge not for man, but for the Lord, who 
is with you in the judgment. Wherefore now let the 
fear of the Lord be upou you ; take heed and do it: 
For there is no iniquity with the Lord our God, nor 
respect of persons, nor taking of gifts." 

The court was composed of John Chandler, of 
Woodstock, chief justice, who remained in office 
until his death in 1743; Joseph Wilder, of Lancaster, 
who continued to serve until 1757; William Ward, 
of Southboro', who remained on the bench uutil 1745, 
and Wm. Jennison, of Worcester, who died in 1743. 
Joseph Dwight served as the successor of John 
Chandler from 1743 to 1753, and Samuel Willard, of 
Lancaster, as the successor of Wm. Jennison from 
1743 to 1753. Nahum Ward, of Shrewsburj', served 
as the successor of Wm. Ward from 1745 to 1762, 
and Edward Hartwell, of Lunenburg, as the successor 
of Joseph Dwight from 1752 to 1762. Jonas Rice, of 
Worcester, served as the successor of Samuel Willard 
from 1753 to 1756, and John Chandler, of Worcester, 
son of the first Judge Chandler, and who had been 
from the beginning clerk of the court, from 1754 to 
1762. Thomas Steele, of Leicester, served as the 
successor oXJjJnas. Rice from 1756 to the Revolution, 
and Timothy Ruggles, of Hardwick, as the successor 
of Joseph Wilder from 1757 to the Revolution. 
Joseph Wilder, son of the first Judge Wilder, served 
as the successor of Edward Hartwell from 1762 until 
the Revolution, and Artemas Ward, of Shrewsbury, 
as the successor of John Chandler, who resigned in 
February, 1762. The judges appointed for this court 
after the beginning of the Revolution were Artemas 
Ward, of Shrewsbury ; Jedediah Foster, of Brook- 
field ; Moses Gill, of Princeton, and Samuel Baker, 
of Berlin. They were commissioned October 17, 
1775, and their first term was held December 5th of 
the same year. On the 19th of September, 1776, 
Joseph Dorr, of Ward (now Auburn), was appointed 
to succeed Jedediah Foster, who had been appointed 
to the bench of the Superior Court of Judicature, 
and as thus constituted the Inferior Court of Common 
Pleas continued until July 3, 1782, when the Court 



vni 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



of Common Pleas was established, to be held in each 
county at apecilicd times and places, with lour judges 
to be appointed by the Governor from witliin the 
county. Tliis court waa substantially the same as 
the Inferior Court of Common Pleas. The judges of 
the old court were appointed to the new, and no 
changes occurred until 1795, when Michael Gill, of 
Princeton, and Elijah Brigbam, of Westboro', suc- 
ceeded Moaes Gill, who was chosen Lieutenant-Gov- 
ernor, and Samuel Baker. In 1798 John Sprague, of 
Lancaster, succeeded Artemas Ward, who resigned, 
and in 1800 Dwight Foster, of Worcester, succeeded 
Michael Gill. In 1801 Jonathan Warner succeeded 
John Sprague, and at a later date Benjamin Hey- 
■wood, of Worcester, was appointed, completing the 
list of judges of this court up to its abolishment, June 
21, 1811. 

At the above date an act was p.issed providing that 
the Commonwealth, except Dukes Couniy and the 
county of Nantucket, should be divided into six cir- 
cuits as ibilows : the Middle Circuit, consisting of the 
counties of Suffolk, Essex and Middlesex; the West- 
ern Circuit, consisting of the counties of Worcester, 
Hampshire and Berkshire; the Southern Circuit, 
consisting of the counties of Norfolk, Plymouth, 
Bristol and Barnstable ; the Eastern Circuit, consist- 
ing of the counties of York, Cumberland and Ox- 
ford ; the Second Eastern Circuit, consisting of the 
counties of Lincoln, Kennebec and Somerset; and 
the Third Eastern Circuit, consisting of the counties 
of Hancock and Washington ; and that there shall 
be held in the several counties, at the times and 
places now appointed for holding the Courts of Com- 
mon Pleas, a Circuit Court of Common Pleas, con- 
sisting of one chief justice and two associate justices, 
to whom were to be added two sessions ju.stices from 
each county to sit with the court in their county. 

This court was aboli?hed on the 14th of February, 
1820, and the Court of Common Pleas established 
with four justices, one of whom, it was provided by 
law, should be commissioned chief justice. On the 
1st of March, 1843, the number of judges was in- 
creased to five; March 18, 1845, to six ; and May 24, 
1851, to seven. On the 5th of April, 1859, the court 
was abolished, and the present Superior Court estab- 
lished, with ten judges, which number was increased 
May 19, 1875, to eleven, and to thirteen February 27, 
1888. 

The judges of the Common Pleas Court, founded 
in 1820 and terminating in 1859, were Artemas Ward, 
chief justice, commissioned 1820; John Mason Wil- 
liams, commissioned as judge in 1820, and chief justice 
in 1839; Solomon Strong, 1820; Samuel Howe, 1S20; 
David Cummins, 1828; Charles Henry Warren, 1839; 
Charles Allen, 1842; Pliny Merrick, 1843 ; Joshua 
Holyoke Ward, 1844; Emory Washburn, 1844; 
Luther Stearns Gushing, 1844; Daniel Wells, chief 
justice, 1845; Harrison Gray Otis Colby, 1845; 
Charles Edward Forbes, 1847; Edward Mellen, 1847, 



and chief justice, 1854; George Tyler Bigelow, 1848; 
Jonathan Coggsnell Perkins, 1848; Horatio Bying- 
ton, 1848; Thomas Ilopkinson, 1848; Ebenczer 
Rockwood Hoar, 1849; Pliny Merrick, 1850; Henry 
Walker Bishop, 1851; George Nixon Briggs, 1853; 
George Partridge Sanger, 1854 ; Henry Morris, 1855 ; 
and David Aikin, 1856, — the laat five of whom, with 
Judges Mellen and Perkins, composed the bench at 
the time of the abolishment of the court. 

The judges of the Superior Court, since its founda- 
tion, in 1859, have been Charles Allen, commi-saioned 
chief justice 1859; Julius Rockwell, commissioned 
1859 ; Otis Phillips Lord, 1859; Marcus Morton, Jr., 
1859; Seth Ames, 1859, chief justice, 1867; Ezra 
Wilkinson, 1859 : Henry Vose, 1859; Thomas Rus- 
sell, 1859; John Phelps Ptitnam, 1859; Lincoln Flagg 
Brigbam, 1859, chief justice, 1869; Chester Ishain 
Reed, 1867; Charles Devens, Jr., 1867; Henry Aus- 
tin Scudder, 1869; Francis Henahaw Dewey, 1869 ; 
Robert Carter Pitman, 1869; John William Bacon, 
1871; William Allen, 1872; Peleg Emory Aldrich, 
1873; Waldo Colburn, 1875; William Sewall Gard- 
ner, 1875 ; Hamilton Barclay Staples, 1881 ; Marcus 
Perrin Knowlton, 1881 ; Caleb Blodgett, 1882 ; Al- 
bert Mason, 1882; Jamea iVIadison Barker, 1882; 
Charles Perkins Thompson, 1885; John Wilkes 
Hammond, 1886; Justin Dewey, 1886; Edgar Jay 
Shenran, 1887; John Lothrop, 1888; James R. Dun- 
bar, 1888 ; Robert R. Bishop, 1888. 

The Circuit Court of Common Pleaa, founded June 
21, 1811, had a jurisdiction which was at various 
times extended and diminished. Its history was 
closely connected with that of the Court of General 
Sessions of the Peace. The latter court remained 
substantially the same during the life of the Prov- 
ince and up to June 19, 1807, when it was enacted 
that it should consist of one chief justice, or first 
justice, and a certain number of associate justices 
for the several counties, to be appointed by the Gov- 
ernor with the consent of the Council. These jus- 
tices were lo act as the General Court of Sessions in 
the place of the juaticea of the peace. 

On the 19th of June, 1809, the powers and duties 
of the General Court of Sessions were transferred to 
the Court of Common Pleaa, and on the 25th of June, 
1811, it was enacted " that from and after the first 
day of December next, an act made and passed the 
19th day of June, 1809, entitled 'An Act to transfer 
the powers and duties of the Courts of Sessions to the 
Courts of Common Pleas,' be and the same is hereby 
repealed, and that all acta and parts of acts relative 
to the Courts of Sessions, which were in force at the 
time the act was in force, which is hereby repealed, 
be and the same are hereby revived from and after the 
said first day of September next." 

On the 28th of February, 1814, it was enacted that 
the act of June 25, 1811, " be repealed, except so far 
as it relates to the Counties of Suffolk, Nantucket 
and Dukes County, and that all petitions, recogni- 



WORCESTER COUNTY. 



zances, warrants, orders, certificates, reports and 
prnces?e< made to, t:iken for, or continued, or return- 
able to the Court of Ses-ions in the several counties, 
except as aforesaid, shall be returnable to, and pro- 
ceeded in, and determined by the respective Circuit 
Courts of Common Pleas, which was established 
June 21, 1811." It was further provided "that from 
and after the first day of June next, the Circuit 
Courts of Common Pleas shall have, exerci-'e and 
perform all powers, authorities and duties which the 
respective Courts of Se.-sions have, before the passage 
of this act, exercised and performed, except in the 
Counties of Suffolk, Nantucket and Dukes County." 
And it was further provided that the Governor, by 
and with tlie advice of the Council, be authorized to 
appoint two persons in each county who shall be 
session justices of the Circuit Court of Common 
Pleas, and sit with the justices of said Circuit Court 
in the administration of the affairs of their county 
and of all matters within said county of which the 
Courts of Sessions had cognizance. The affairs of 
the county were thus administered until February 
20, 1819, when it was enacted "that from and after 
the first day of June next an act to transfer the 
powers and duties of the Courts of Sessions to the 
Circuit Courts of Common Pleas, passed February 
28, 1814, be hereby repealed," and it was further 
provided "that from and after the first day of June 
next the Courts of Sessions in the several counties 
shall be held by one chief justice and two associate 
justices, to be appointed by the Governor, with the 
advice and consent of the Council, who shall have 
all the powers, rights and privileges, and be subject 
to all the duties which are now vested in the Circuit 
Courts of Common Pleas, relating to the erection 
and repair of jails and other county buildings, the 
allowance and settlement of county accounts, the 
estimate, apportionment and issuing warrants tor 
assessing county taxes, granting licenses, laying out, 
altering and discontinuing highways, and appointing 
committees and ordering juries for that jiurpose." 

The management of county affairs remained in the 
hands of the Court of Sessions until March 4, 1820, 
when that part of its duties relating to highways was 
transferred to a new board of officers denominated 
" Commissioners of Highways." It was provided by 
law "that for each county in the Commonwealth, 
except the Counties of Suffolk and Nantucket, there 
shall be appointed and commissioned by His Excel- 
lency the Governor, by and with the advice and con- 
sent of the Council, to hold their offices for five 
years, unless removed by the Governor and Council, 
five commissioners of highways, except in the Coun- 
ties of Dukes and Barnst.able, in which there shall 
be ajjpoiuted only three, who shall be inhabitants of 
such county, one of whom shall be designated as 
Chairman by his commission." It was further pro- 
vided that the commissioners should report their 
doings to the Court of Sessions for record, and that 



said court should draw their warrants on the county 
treasurer for ihe expenses incurred by the crmmis- 
sioners in conslructiiig mads laid out by them. 

On the 26th of February, 1828, the act establishing 
the Courts of Sessions, passed February 20, 1819, and 
the act in addition thereto, passed February 21, 1820, 
the act increasing the numbers and extending the 
powers of the justices of the Courts of Sessions, 
passed February 6, 1822, and the act in addition to 
an act directing the method of laying out highways 
pa>sed March 4, 1826, were repealed. The repealing 
act provided that " there shall be apijointed and com- 
missioned by His Excellency, the Governor, by and 
with the advice and consent of the Council, four per- 
sons to be county commissioners for each of the 
counties of Essex, Middlesex, Norfolk and Worcester, 
and three persons to be county commissioners for 
each of the other counties of the Commonwealth, 
except the county of Suffolk," " th.at the clerks of the 
Courts of Common Pleas within the several counties 
shall be clerks of said county commissioners," and 
"that for each of the counties in the Commonwealth 
except the counties of Suffolk, Middlesex, Essex, 
Worceter, Norfolk and Nantucket, there shall be 
appointed and commi^sioned two persons to act as 
special county commissioners." Under this law Jared 
Weed, Aaron Tuft-^, William Eaton and Edmund 
Gushing were appointed in 1828, and served until 
1832, when James Draper succeeded Aaron Tufts. 
No further changes occurred in the board until 1835, 
when, on the 8th of April in that year, a law was 
passed providing that in every county, exc<-pt Suffolk 
and Nantucket, the judge of Probate, the register of 
probate and clerk of the Court of Common Pleas, 
should be a board of examiners, and that on the first 
Monday in May, in the year 1835, and on the firot 
.Alonday in April in every third year thcrealter, the 
people should cast their votes for three county com- 
missioners and two special commissioners. Under 
this law John W. Lincoln, William Crawford and 
Ebenezer D. Ammidown were chosen in 1835 ; William 
Crawford, Samuel Taylor and Ebenezer D. Ammi- 
down, in 1838; AV'illiam Crawford, David Davenport 
and Charles Thurbcr, in 1841; William Crawford, 
Jerome Gardner and Joseph Bruce, in 1844; the same 
in 1847 ; Otis Adams, Bonura Nye and Asaph Wooi), 
in 1850, and the same in 1853. On the llih of March, 
1854, it was provided by law that the county com- 
missioners then in oHice in the several counties, except 
in Suffolk and Nantucket, shall be divided into three 
classes, those of the first clat-s holding their offices 
until the day of the next annual election of Governor, 
those of the second class until 1855, and those of the 
third class until the election in 1856, the commis- 
sioners then in office determining by lot to which 
class each should belong, and that at each annual 
election thereafter one commissioner should be chosen 
for three years. Under the new law the office of 
commissioner has been filled by Otis Adams, Bonum 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



Nye, Asaph Wood, Zaclock A. Taft, James Allen, 
Velorus A. Taft, Araory Holman, J. W. Bigelow, 
William 0. Browu, Henry G. Taft, H. E. Eice, George 
S. Duell and James H. Barker. 

The Superior Court of Judicature which was finally 
established June 26, 1699, but which had been in 
operation since the act of November 25, 1692, which 
was disallowed by the Privy Council, formed a part of 
the judicial system of the province until February 
12, 1781. It has been found difficult by some to draw 
the line between the death of the Superior Court of 
Judicature and the birth of the Supreme Judicial 
Court. An act was passed February 12, 1781, fixing 
the salaries of the justices of the Supreme Judicial 
Court, and yet the law establishing that court was not 
passed until July 3, 1782. Sufficient light is thrown 
on this discrepancy to explain it by an act passed 
February 20, 1781, which in its preamble uses the 
language, " Whereas by the Constitution and Frame 
of Government of the Commonwealth of Massachu- 
setts the style and title of the Superior Court of 
Judicature is now the Supreme Judicial Court of the 
Commonwealth of Massachusetts," and which in the 
body of the act uses the further language, " That the 
Court which hath been or shall be hereafter appointed 
and commissioned according to the Constitution as 
the Supreme Judicial Court of the Commonwealth, 
etc." During its existence the judges on its bench 
were : 



GmimUaioned 

William Stougliton 1092 

Thomas Danfurtli 1602 

Wait Winthrop 1692 

Jolin KicharOa 1602 

Saimiel Sowall lG9i 

Elisha Cooks 1605 

John Walley 1700 

John SaHin 1701 

Isiuic AilUingtou 1702 

John Hatliorne 1702 

John Levei-elt 1702 

Jonatiian Corwin 1708 

Benjamin Lynde 1712 

Nathaniel Thomas 1712 

Addington Daven])ort... 1715 

Paul Dudley 1718 

Edmund Quincy 1718 

John Gushing 1720 

Jonathan Remington 1733 

Richard Saltoustall 17.38 



Commiasii^ned 

Thomas Greaves 1737 

Stephen Sewall 1739 

Nathaniel Hubbard 1745 

Benjamin Lynde 1745 

John Cushing 1747 

Chambers Uussell 1754 

Peter Oliver 1750 

Thomas Hutchiuson 1761 

Edmund Trowbridge 1767 

Foster Ilutchineon J771 

Nathaniel Ropes 1772 

William Cushing 1772 

William Browne 1774 

John Adams 1775 

Nathaniel P. Sargent 1775 

William Keed 1776 

Robert Treat Paine 1775 

Jedediah Foster 1776 

Jainea Snllivaa 1776 

David Sewall 1777 



The chief justices of the court were, William 
Stougliton, 1692; Isaac Addington, 1702 ; Wait Win- 
throp, 1708; Samuel Sewall, 1718; Benjamin Lynde, 
1718; Paul Dudley, 1745; Siephen Sewall, 1752; 
Thomas Hutchinson, 1761 ; Benjamin Lynde, 1769 ; 
Peter Oliver, 1772; William Cushing, 1775. 

The Supreme Judicial Court, which superseded the 
Superior Court of Judicature, was established by law 
February 20, 1781. It was established with one chief 
justice and four associate justices, which number was 
increased to six in 1800, and the State divided into 
two circuits — the East, including Essex County and 
Maine, and the West, including the remainder of the 



State except Suffolk County. In 1805 the number of 
associates was reduced to four, and in 1852 increased 
tofive. In 1873 the number of associates was increased 
to six, making the court as since constituted to consist 
of seven judges, including the chief justice. 
The judges of the court have been 



Commissioned 

William Cushing 1781 

Nathl. Pcaslee Sargent 1781 

James Sullivan 1781 

David Sewall 1781 

Increase Sumner 1782 

Francis Dana 1785 

Robert Treat Paine 1790 

Nathan Cushing 1790 

Thomas Dawes 1792 

Theophilus Bradbury 1705 

Samuel Sewall 1800 

Simeon Strong 1801 

George Thacber 1801 

Theodore Sedgwick 1802 

Isaac Parker 1806 

Theoihilus Parsons 1800 

Charles Jackson 1813 

Daniel Dewey 1814 

Samuel Putnam 1814 

Samuel Simmer Wilde 1815 

Levi Lincoln 1824 

Marcus Morton 1825 

Lemuel Shaw 1830 

Charles Augustus Dewey 1837 

Samuel Hubbard 1842 

Charles Edward Forbes 1848 

Tliei-on Metealf. 1848 



Commissioned 

Richard Fletcher 1818 

George Tyler Bigelow 1850 

Caleb Gushing 1852 

Beuj. Franklin Thomas 1853 

Pliny Merrick 1853 

Ebenezer Rockwood Hoar 1859 

Reuben Atwater Chapman 186 

Horace Gray 1864 

James Deuison Colt 1865 

Dwight Foster 1860 

John Wells 1866 

James Denisou Colt 1868 

Seth Ames 18(59 

Marcus Morton 1809 

Wm. Crowninsh ield Endicott..l873 

Charles Devens 1873 

Otis Phillips Lord 1875 

Augustus Lord Sonle 1877 

Wolbridgo Abner Field 1881 

Charles Devens 1881 

William Allen 1881 

Charles Allen 18S2 

Waldo Colburn 1882 

Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr 1882 

William Sewall Gardner 1885 

Marcus Perriu Kuowlton 1887 



The chief justices of the court have been William 
Cushing, 1781; Nathaniel Pcaslee Sargent, 1790; 
Francis Dana, 1791 ; Theophilus Parsons, 1800 ; Sam- 
uel Sewall, 1814; Isaac Parker, 1814; Lemuel Shaw, 
1830 ; George Tyler Bigelow, 1860 ; Reuben Atwater 
Chapman, 1868 ; Horace Gray, 1873 ; Marcus Mor- 
ton, 1882. 

The administration of probate affairs up to the 
accession of President Dudley, in 1685, was in the 
hands of the County Court ; Dudley assumed probate 
jurisdiction, but delegated his powers in some of the 
counties to a judge, appointed by himself. Under 
the administration of Andros he assumed jurisdiction 
in the settlement of estates exceeding fifty pounds, 
while judges of probate had jurisdiction in estates of a 
lesser amount. The provincial charter gave jurisdic- 
tion to the Governor and Council in all probate mat- 
ters, who claimed and exercised the right of delegat- 
ing it to judges and registers of probate in the several 
counties. On the 12th of March, 1784, a Probate 
Court was established by law, of which the judge and 
register were to be appointed by the Governor, until, 
under an amendment of the Constitution, ratified by 
the people May 23, 1855, it was provided by law that 
in 1856, and every fiftii year thereafter, the register 
should be chosen by the people for a term of five 
years. In 1856 a Court of Insolvency was also estab- 
lished for each ccmnty, with a judge and register, and 
in 1858 the offices of judge and register of both the 
Probate and Insolvency Courts were abolished, and 



WORCESTER COUNTY. 



XI 



the offices of judge and register of probate and insol- 
vency were establi-hed. It was also provided that 
the registers of probate and insolvency should be 
chosen by the people for a term of five years, in that 
year and every fifth year thereafter. In 1862 the 
Probate Court was made a Court of Kecord. 

The judges of probate in Worcester County have 
been 

Jolin Clmtidler, of Woodstock 1731 to 1740 

Joseph Wilder, of Liiucaster 174() to 1756 

Joliii Cliaiidlcr, of Worcester 1760 to 1702 

John Chiiiidler, Jr.,of Worcester 1702 to 1775 

Jededinh Foster, of BrooUfteld 1775 to 1776 

Artcliiiis Ward, of Shrewsbury 1776 to 1778 

Levi Lincoln, of Worcester 1770 to 1783 

Joseidi Dorr, of Ward (Anburn) 1783 to ISol 

Niitlinuiel Puine of Worcester ISCJI to 1836 

Ira M. Barton, of Worcester 1830 to 1844 

Benj. F. Tiionias, of Worcester 1844 to 1818 

Thomas Kiunicutt, of Worcester 1848 to 1857 

Dwight Foster, of Worcester 1857 to 1858 

Henry Chapin, of Worcester (P. & In.) 1858 to 1878 

Aden Thayer, of Worcester (P. & In.) 1878 to 1888 

Wm. T. Forbes, of Westboro (P. & In.) 1888 

During the short life of the Court of Insolvency 
the judges were Alexander H. Bullock and W. W. 
Eice, and the register was John J. Piper. The 
registers of Probate have been John Chandler, Jr., 
of Worcester; Timothy Paine, of Worcester; Clarke 
Chandler, of Worcester; Joseph Wheeler, of Worces- 
ter ; Theiiphilus Wheeler, Charles G. Prentice, .lohn 
J. Piper (P. e<c In), Charles E. Stevens (P. & In.) and 
Frederick W. Southwick (P. & In.). 

During the existence of the Massachusetts Colony 
the executive officer of the court was called either 
" beadle " or " marshal," except under Dudley, wlien 
he was called " provost marshal," and under Andros, 
when he was called "sheriff." Since the union of the 
Plymouth and Massachusetts Colonies, and the estab- 
lishment of the province of Massachusetts Bay, in 
1692, he has been called " sheriff." Under the prov- 
ince charter he was appointed by the Governor, and 
continued to be after the adoption of the Constitution 
until 1831. On the 17th of March in that year a 
law was passed providing that the Governor should 
appoint and commission sheriffs for terms of five 
years, and giving him power to remove them from 
office at pleasure. Under the nineteenth article of 
amendments of the Constitution, ratified by the peo- 
ple iu 1855, a law was passed in 1856 providing that 
in that year, and every third year thereafter, a sheriff 
should be chosen by the people of each county at 
the annual election. 

The sheriffs of Worcester County have been as 
follows : 

Appointed 

Daniel Gookin 1731 

Benjamin Flags (^''ce Gookin, deceased) 1743 

John Chandler (rtce Flags, deceased) 1751 

Gardner Chandler (rice C'hundler, made judge) 17ti2 

Simeon Dwisht (under the new order) 1775 

William Greenleaf (vice Dwisht, deceased) 1778 

John Sprasue 1788 

DwigUt Foster {vice Sprague, resigned) 1792 



William Caldwell 1793 

Thomas W. Ward 18115 

Calvin Willard 1824 

John W. Lincoln 1844 

James W. Estabrook 1851 

George W. Richardson 1853 

Choaen 

J. S. C. Knowltou 18i0 

A. B. R. Sprague 1871 

In the colony of Massachusetts the clerks of the 
courts were appointed by the courts. Under the 
Province the clerks of the County Courts and of the 
Superior Court of Judicature, and afterwards of the 
Supreme Judicial Court, until 1797, were distinct, 
and the clerk of the two latter courts had his office 
in Boston. The courts continued to hold the ap- 
pointment of clerks until 1811, when it was trans- 
ferred to the Governor and Council. In 1814 it was 
given to the Supreme Judicial Court, and so re- 
mained until 1856, when it was provided by law that 
in that year, and every fifth year thereafter, clerks 
should be chosen by the people in the several coun- 
ties. The clerks of the courts in Worcester County 
have been as follows: 

Appointed 

John Chandler (id) 1731 

Timothy Paine 1751 

Levi Lincoln 1775 

•loseph .\llen .'. 1770 

William Sledman ISIO 

Francis Blake 1814 

Abijah Bigelow 1817 

Joseph G. Kendall 1832 

Charles W. Hartshorn 1848 

Joseph Mason 18.52 

ClioBen 

Joseph Mason 1856 

John A. Dana 1876 

Theodore S. Johnson 1881 

Timothy Paine, the second on the list of clerks, 
was appointed joint clerk with John Chandler, and 
continued sole clerk after the promotion of Mr. 
Chandler to the bench. 

The assistant clerks have been, — 

William A. Smith 1847 to '04 

John A.Dana 1804 to '70 

Wm. T. Harlowe 1876 to — 

During the colonial period and up to 1715 clerks 
of courts were registers of deeds, but on the 26th of 
July, in that year, it was provided by law "'that in 
each county some person having a freehold within 
said county to the value of at least ten pounds should 
be chosen by the people of the county register of 
deeds for the term of five years." This practice con- 
tinued until 1855, having been confirmed and re- 
newed by a law of 1781. In 18.55 it was provided 
that in that year and every third year thereafter a 
register of deeds should be chosen for the term of 
three years. The registers of deeds in Worcester 
County have been : 

chosen 

John Chandler (23) 1731 

Timotliy Paine 1701 

Nathan Baldwin 1775 

Daniel Clapp 1784 

Oliver Fiske 1816 



xu 



HISTORY OF WOKCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



Artemas Ward 1821 

Alexiiiidcr 11. Wilder 18-10 

Ilaivcy B. Wilder 187:1 

Cliarlca A. Chaso ISTG 

Harvey U. Wilder 1877 

On the 6th of June, 1856, an act was passed provid- 
ingthatthree terms of the Common Pleas Court should 
be held annually in the town of Fitchburg, and thus 
that town became a half-shire. On the 29th of Feb- 
ruary, 1884, it was enacted by the General Court that 
Worcester County should be divided into two dis- 
tricts for the registry of deeds, one of which, includ- 
ing the city of Fitchburg and the towns of Lunen- 
burg, Leominster, Westminster and Ashburnham, 
should be called the Northern District and the other, 
including the remainder of the county, the Worcester 
District; the placfs of registry for the two districts 
being Fitchburg and Worcester. It was also provided 
that the register then in olhce should continue as the 
register of the Worcester District, and that the Gover- 
nor should appoint a register for the Northern District> 
who should serve until a register was chosen and 
qualified in his place. On the 15lh of June, 1885, it 
was provided by law that the County Commissioners 
should cause copies of deeds to be made in one dis- 
trict belonging to' the other not exceeding twenty 
years prior to August 1, 1884. The register at Fitcli- 
luirg, under the new law, has been and continues to be 
Charles F. Rockwood. 

It was provided by law by the Court of the Massa- 
chusetts Colony in 1654, that each county should an- 
nually choose a treasurer. After the formation of the 
province this provision was renewed by an act passed 
in 1C92, and again renewed the 2.3d of March, 1786, 
and remained in force until 1855, when it was pro- 
vided that a treasurer should be chosen in each county 
in that year, and every third year thereafter, for the 
term of three years. The treasurers of Wore ster 
County have been Benjamin Houghton, John Chan- 
dler (2d) and John Chandler (3il) from 1731 to 1775; 
Nathan Perry, from 1775 to 1790 ; Samuel Allen, from 
1790 to 1831; Anthony Chase, from 1831 to 1865; 
Charles A, Chiise, from 1865 to 1876, and Edward A. 
Brown, from 1876 to date. 

The only courts remaining to be mentioned are the 
Police and District Courts. .The only Police Courtis 
that in Fitchburg, of which Thornton K. Ware is 
justice, and David H. Merriam and Charles !S. Hayden 
are the special justices. The Police Court of Worces- 
ter, of which Will. N. Green was justice, no longer 
exists. There are seven District Courts. The First 
Northern Worcester Court is held at Athol and Gard- 
ner, and has jurisdiction in Athol, Gardner, Peters- 
ham, Phillipston, Royalston, Templeton and Hub- 
bardston. Its officers are Charles Field, justice; 
James A. Stiles and Sidney P. Smith, special justices. 
The First Southern is held at Southbridge and Web- 
ster, and has jurisdiction in Southbridge, Sturbridge, 
Charlton, Dudley, Oxford and Webster. Its officers 



are Clark Jillson, justice ; Henry T. Clark and Eli.sha 
M. Phillips, special justices. The Second Southern 
Worcester is held at Jilackstone and Uxbridge and 
has jurisdiction in Blackstonc, Uxbridge, Douglas and 
Northbridge. Its officers are Arthur A. Putnam, jus- 
tice; Zadoc A. Taft, and William J. Taft special jus- 
tices. Tbe Third Southern Worcester is held at Mil- 
ford, and has jurisdiction in Milford, Mendon and 
Upton. Its officers are Charles A. Dewey, justice, and 
James R. Davis and Charles E. Whitney, special jus- 
tices. The First Eastern Worcester is held at West- 
borough and Grafton, and has jurisdiction in West- 
borough, Grafton, Norihborough and Southborough. 
Its officers are Dexter Newton, justice, and Benjamin 

B. Nourse and Luther K. Leiand, special justices. 
The Second Eastern Worcester is held at Clinton, and 
has jurisdiction in Clinton, Berlin, Bolton, Harvard, 
Luncaster and Sterling. Its officers are Christopher 

C. Stone, justice, and Herbert Parker, special justice. 
The Central Worcester is held at Worcester, and has 
jurisdiction in Worcester, Millbury, Sutton, Auburn, 
Leicester, Paxton, West Boylston, Boylston, Holden 
and Shrewsbury. Its officers are Samuel Uiley, jus- 
tice ; George M. Woodward and HoUis W. Cobb, 
special justices, and Edward T. Raymond, clerk. 

It is not proposed to include in this chapter any 
allusion to the judges and members of the bar who 
have illustrated the judicial history of Worcester 
County. Another chapter will be specially devoted 
to sketches of their character and lives. Until 1836 
the bar was divided into two classes, attorneys and 
barristers, though after 1806, under a rule of court, 
counselors, were substituted ibr barristers, and in 
1836 the distinction between ci/unaelors and attor- 
neys was abolished. The writer will be excused if he 
repeats in this place substantially what he has writ- 
ten elsewhere concerning American barristers. 
' The term "barrister" is derived from the Latin 
word barra, signifying " bar," and was applied to 
those only who were permitted to plead at the bar of 
the courts. In England, before admission, barristers 
must have resided three year.s in one of the Inns of 
Court if a graduate of either Cambridge or Oxford, 
and five years if not. These Inns of Court were the 
Inner Temple, the Middle Temple, Lincoln's Inn 
and Gray's Inn. Before tbe Revolution this rule 
seems to have so far prevailed here as to require a 
practice of three years in the Inferior Courts before 
admission as a barrister. John Adams says in his 
diary that he became a barrister in 1761, and was 
directed to provide himself with a gown and bands 
and a tie-wig, having practiced according to the rules 
three years in the Inferior Courts. At a later day 
the term of probation was four years, and at a still 
later, seven. There are known to have been twenty- 
five barristers in Massachusetts in 1768 — eleven in 
SiifTolk County : Richiird Dana, Benjamin Kent, 
■lamcj Otis, Jr., Samuel Fitch, William Read, Samue 
Swift, Benjamin Gridley, Samuel Quincy, Robert 



WORCESTEK COUNTY. 



XllI 



Aiichmntyand Andrew Casneaii, of Boston, and John 
Adams, of Braintree; five in Essex: Daniel Farn- 
liam and John Lowell, of Newburyport, William 
Pynchon, of Salem, John Chipnian, of Marblehead, 
and Nathaniel Peaslee Sargent, of Haverhill ; one in 
Jliddlcsrx : Jonathan Sewell ; two in Worcester: 
James Putnam, of Worcester, and Abel Willard, of 
LaJicaster ; three in Bristol: Saaiuel While, Robert 
Treat Paine and Daniel Leonard ; two in Plymouth : 
James Hovey and Pelham Winslow, of Plymouth ; 
one in Hampshire: John Worthingtoii, of Spring- 
field, then in that county. Fifteen others were added 
before the Revolution — Sampson Salter Blowers, of 
Boston, Moses Bliss and Jonathan Blis?, of Spring- 
field, Joseph Hawley, of Northampton, Zrphaniah 
Leonard, of Taunton, Mark Hopkins, of Great Bar- 
rington, Simton Strong, of Amherst, Daidtl Oliver, 
of Hardwick, Francis Dana, of Cambridge, Daniel 
Bliss, of Concord, Joshua Upham, of Brookfield, 
Shearji\shub Bourne, of Barnstable, Samuel Porter, 
of Salem, Jeremiah D. Rogers, of Littleton, and 
Oakcs Angier, of Bridgewater. How many barristers 
were admitted in Worcester County at later dates the 
writer has been unable to discover, but it is known 
that in 1803 Levi Lincoln had been added to the roll. 
The following entry in the records of the Superior 
Court of Judicature will throw light on the methods 
which prevailed concerning the .admission of barris- 
ters: 

Suffolk SS. Superior Court of Jmlic-iture nt Boston, third Tuesday of 
Febnuiry, 17S1 ; present— Wiiliain Cufibiiip, Xatliiiniel P. Snrgeant. 
David Sewall and .lames Sullivan, Justices ; and now at tliis term the 
following rule is nnide by tile court and ordered to bo entered, viz.: 
wbeleas learning iind liter.ary accolnplislinients are necessary as well to 
proniole the Iiappiuess as to preserve the freedom of the people, and the 
learning of the law when duly encouraged and rightly directed, being as 
well peculiarly subservient to the great and good purpose aforesaid, as pro- 
motive of public and privatejnstice ; and the court being atall times ready 
to bestow peculiar nuirks of approbation nijon the gentlemen of the bar, 
who, by a close application to the study of the science they profess, by a 
mode of conduct w hich gives a convictioli of the rectitude of their minds 
and a faiincss of jiractice that does honor to the profetsion of the law, 
shall distinguish as men of science, honor and integrity^ Do order that 
no gentleuuin shall be called to the degree of barrister until he shall 
merit the same by his conspicuous bearing, ability and honesty; and 
that the court will, of their own mere motion, call to the bar such per- 
sons as shall render themselves worthy as aforesaid ; and that the nuin- 
ner of calling to the bar shall be as follows ; The gentleman who shall 
boa candidate shall stand within the bar; the Chief Justice, or in his 
abseneo the Senior Justice, shall, in the name of the court, repeat to 
him the qualifications necessary for a barrister at law ; shall let bim 
know that it is a conviction in the mind of the court of his being pos- 
sessed of those qualitications that induces them to confer the honor upon 
him ; and shall solemnly charge him so to conduct himself as to be of 
singular service to his country by exerting bis abilities for the defence 
of ber constitutional fieedom ; and so to demean himself as to do honor 
to the court and bar. 

In the act passed July 3, 1782, establishing the Su- 
preme Judicial Coi'irt, it was provided that the court 
might and should from time to time make record and 
establ sh all such rules anil regulations with respect 
to the adiiiissiim of atturneys ordinarily practicing in 
said court and the cic.ition of barristers at law. 
Under the provisions of this act the court adopted 
the following rule: 



Suffolk, SS. At the Supreme Judicial Court at Boston the last Tuesday 
of August, 1TS3 ; present — William Cnsbitig, Chief Justice, and Nathaniel 
I*. Sargeant, David Sewall and Increase Summer, Justices ; ordered that 
harristel-8 be called to the bar by special writ to be ordered by the Court 
and to be in the following form : 

CommoniceaUh of Massachusetts. 

To A. B., Esq., of Greeting: We, well knowing your ability, 

learning and integrity, command you that you ai)penr before our Jus- 
tices of our Supreme Judicial Court next to be holden at in and for 

our County of on the Tuesday of then and there in our 

said court, to take upon you the State and degree of a Barrister at law. 

Uereoffail not. Witness, , Esq . our Chief Justice at Boston, the 

day of in the year of our Lord , and in the year of our 

Independence . By order of the Court. , Clerk. 

Which writ shall bo fairly engraved on parchment and delivered 
twenty d:iys before the session of the same Court by the Sheriff of the 
same County to the person to whom directetl, and being pioduced in 
Court by the Banister and there read by the clerk and proper certificate 
thereon made, shall be redelivered and kept as a voucher of his being le- 
gally called to ttie bar ; and the Barristers shall take rank according to 
the date of their respective writs. 

In 180G the following rule was adopted by the 
court, which seems to h;ive substituted counselors for 
barristers : 

Suffolk SS. At the Supreme .ludicial Court nt Boston for the County 
of SutTolk iind Nantucket, the secolul Tuesday of March, ISDG ; present — 
Fiancis Dana, chief Justice, Theodore Sedgwick, George Thatcher aiid 
Isaac Parker, Justices ; oidered : First. No Attorney shalldothe business 
of a counsellor unless he shall have been made or admitted as such by 
the Court. Second. All attoriu'ys of this Court who have been admitted 
three years before the silting of this Court, shall be and hereby are made 
Counsellois, and are entitled to oil the lights and privileges of such. 
Third. No Attorney or Ckmnsellor shall hereafter be admitted without 
a previous examination, etc. 

The rule of the Supreme Judicial Court, adopted in 
1783, Wiis issued under the provisions of the law of 
1782 establishing that court, but the rule adopted by 
the Superior Court of Judicature in 1781 seems 
to have been made in obedience to no law, but under 
the general powers of the court. It is not known at 
precisely what period barristers were introduced into 
the Provincial courts, but it is probable that until 
1781 the English custom and methods and qualifica- 
tions were substantially followed without any rule of 
court. 

The earliest sessions of the courts were held in the 
meeting-house in Worcester, which was built in 1719 
on the Common. This meeting-house stood until 
17G3. In 1732 it was decided to built a court-house. 
The land for its site was given by Judge Jennison 
and it was erected in 1733. The county tax in that 
year was apportioned as follows: 

£ « d. 

Eutl.ind 7 16 

Westborough 18 2 

Shrewsbury 14 14 

Oxford 14 4 

Sutton 24 10 

Uxbridge 12 8 

Lunenburg 7 IG 



Worcester 22 15 4 

Lancaster C2 16 8 

Mendon 3li 

Woodstock 33 

Brookfield 27 1 4 

Southborough 17 

Leicester 13 19 4 

This court-bouse was situated near the site of the 
prisent brick court-house near Lincoln Square, and 
was opened February 8, 1734. It is believed that its 
dimensions were thirty-six feet by twenty-six. In 
1751 a new building was erected, forty feet by thirty- 
six, on the Court Hill, corner of Greeu and Franklin 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



Streets, and is now used as a residence. The corner- 
stone of the brick building, now in use, was laid Oc- 
tober 1, 1801, under the direction of a building com- 
mittee composed of Isaiah Thomas, William Caldwell 
and Salem Towne. The original building, since en- 
larged, was fifty and a half feet long and forty-eight 
and a half feet wide, and was opened September 27, 
1803, when Chief Justice Robert Treac Paine, of the 
Supreme Judicial Court, delivered an address. At 
the February meeting of the County Commissioners 
in 1842 it wa^j decided to build another court-house, 
and the granite structure, now chiefly in use, was 
erected at a cost of one hundred thousand dollars on 
the site of the house of Isaiah Thomas, which was re- 
moved to the rear and is still standing. This building, 
which was originally one hundred and eight feet long 
and tifty-seven wide, was enlarged in 1878. It was 
opened September 30, 1845, on which occasion an ad- 
dress was delivered by Chief Justice Lemuel Shaw. 

With regard to the erection of the first jail ihere 
seems to be some confusion as to dates. As nearly as 
can be ascertained, what was called a cage was built 
before 1732, and in that year the Court of Sessions or- 
dered that, "in lieu of the prison before appointed, the 
cage, so-called, already built be removed to the cham- 
ber of the house of Deacon Daniel Haywood, inn- 
holder, and be the jail until the chamber be suitably 
furnished for a jail and then the chamber be the jail 
for the county and the cage remain as one of the 
apartments." The inn of Deacon Haywood stood on 
the site of the present Bay State House. In 1734, no 
jail having been built, the Court of Sessions hired a 
part of the house of Judge Jennison for prisoners; 
very soon after this time, probably in 1734, a jail was 
built on the west side of Lincoln Street. In 1753 a 
new jail was built farther down the same street, thirty- 
eight feet long and twenty-eight wide. In December, 
1784, the Court of Sessions provided for the erection 
of a stone jail, sixty-four feet by thirty-two and three 
stories high, on the south side of Lincoln Square, 
which was completed September 4, 1788. This build- 
ing was pronounced by Isaiah Thomas, then the edi- 
tor of the Spy, as in public opinion the most important 
stone building in the Commonwealth, next to King's 
Chapel in Boston. It was built of rough quarry stone 
from Millstone Hill by John Parks, of Groton, who 
gained a high reputation by his work. In 1819 a 
house of correction was built, fifty-three feet by 
twenty-seven, where the present jail stands on Sum- 
mer Street. In 1832 it was rebuilt with forty cells, 
each seven feet by three and a half, and with three 
rooms for close confinement. In 1835 a part of the 
building was arranged for a jail, and in 1873 it was 
altered, remodeled and enlarged to its present dimen- 
sions. A jail and house of correction were also built 
in Fitchburg when that town was made a half-shire. 

Under the Constitution of Massachusetts, adopted 
by a convention of the people at Cambridge, Sept. 1, 
1779, it was provided that there should be forty districts 



in the State, created by the General Court for Council- 
ors and Senators, and until the General Court should 
act in the premises, the several districts, with the num- 
ber of Councilors and Senators, in each should be as 
follows: Suffolk county with six ; Essex, six ; Middle- 
sex, five ; Hampshire, four ; Plymouth, three ; Barn- 
stable, one ; Bristol, three ; York, two ; Dukes County 
and Nantucket, one; Worcester, five; Cumberland, 
one; Lincoln, one, and Berkshire, two. On the 24th, 
1794, Suffolk was changed to four, Essex to five, 
Middlesex to four, Hampshire to five, Bristol to two, 
Plymouth was added to Dukes and Nantucket with 
three, Bristol was changed to two, Norfolk, which 
had been incorporated March 26, 1793, received three, 
and Lincoln was added to Hancock and Washington, 
which had been incorporated with two. The appor- 
tionment was again changed June 23, 1802, when the 
number for Worcester was changed to four; again 
February 24, 1814, February 15, 181G, and at various 
other times, which it is unnecessary to recount. By 
the thirteenth article of amendment of the Constitu- 
tion, adopted by the Legislature of 1839-40, it was 
provided that a census of the legal voters of ihe State, 
May 1, 1840, should be taken, and that on the basis 
of the census the Senators should be apportioned 
among the counties by the Governor and Council, 
with not less than one Senator in each county. By 
the twenty-second article of amendment adopted by 
the Legislature of 1856-57, and ratified by the people 
May 1, 1857, it was provided that a census should 
be taken and forty Senatorial districts created by the 
General Court, and that in 1865 and every tenth year 
thereafter a census should be taken, and a new appor- 
tionment made. From the time of the adoption of 
the Constitution up to the time of the creation of 
Senatorial districts the following persons were chosen 
Senators to represent Worcester County: Moses Gill, 
of Princeton, Samuel Baker, of Berlin, Joseph Dorr, 
of Ward, Israel Nichols, pf Leominster, Jonathan 
Warner, Jr., of Hardwick, Seth Washburn, of Leices- 
ter, John Sprague, Abel Wilder, Amos Singleterry, 
John Fessenden, Joseph Stone, Jonathan Grout, 
Timothy Bigelow, Salem Towne, Josiah Stearns, 
Daniel Bigelow, Peter Penneman, Timothy Newell, 

Elijah Brigham, Taft, Hale, Francis Blake, 

Seth Hastings, Solomon Strong, Levi Lincoln, Jr., 
Moses Smith, Thomas H. Blood, Daniel Waldo, Salem 
Towne, Jr., Aaron Tufts, Benjamin Adams, Nathaniel 
Jones, S. P. Gardner, Silas Holman, John Spurr, 
Oliver Crosby, James Phillips, James Humphrys, 
Samuel Eastman, Lewis Bigelow, John Shipley, Na- 
thaniel P. Denny, Joseph G. Kendall, William Eaton, 
Nathaniel Houghton, William Ci-awford, Jr., Jonas 
Sibley, B. Taft, Jr., Joseph Bowman, John W. Lin- 
coln, Joseph Davis, Edward Cushing, Joseph E-tta- 
brook, Lovell Walker, David Wilder, Samuel Mi.xter, 
AVilliam S. Hastings, James Draper, Rufus Bullock, 
Charles Hudson, Ira M. Barton, Samuel Lee, Rejoice 
Newton, Charles Russell, George A. Tafts, Waldo 



WORCESTER COUNTY. 



XV 



Flint, Charles Allen, Linus Child, Ethan A. Green- 
wood, William Hancock, James G. Carter, Thomas 
Kinnicutt, Artemas Lee, James Allen, Charles Sibley, 
Samuel Wood, Jedediah Marcy, Benjamin Estabrook, 
Nathaniel Wood, Ch. C. P. Hastings, Emory Wash- 
burn, Alexander De Witt, Solomon Strong, Isaac Da- 
vis, Ariel Bragg, Daniel Hill, Joseph Stone, John G. 
Thurston, Stephen Salisbury, Calvin Willard, Jason 
Gouldiug, George Denny, Nahum F. Bryant, Alfred 
D. Foster, Alanson Hamilton, John Brooks, Alexander 
H. Bullock, Ebenezer D. Ammidown, Paul Whitin, 
Ebenezer Torrey, Pliny Merrick, John Raymond, 
Amasa Walker, Edward B. Bigelow, Francis Howe, 
Giles H. Whitney, Moses Wood, Freeman Walker, 
Elmer Brigham, J. S. C. Kuowlton, Albert Alden, 
Sullivan Fay, Elisha Murdock, Ivors Phillips, Charles 
Thurber, Anson Bugbee, Joseph W. Mansur, Joseph 
Whitman, H. W. Benchley, Albert A. Cook, Edward 
Denny, Jabez Fisher, Alvan G. Underwood, F. H. 
Dewey, Velorous Taft, J. F. Hitchcock, George F. 
Hoar, William Mixtcr, Ohio Whitney, Jr. 

Under the new system of Senatorial districts Wor- 
cester County was divided into districts by itself, un- 
connected with other counties until the apportion- 
ment made on the basis of the census of 1885, and was 
represented by Worcester County Senators up to and 
inclusive of the year 188G. During this period the 
following gentlemen represented the various districts 
of the county: J. M. Earle, John G. Metcalf, Oliver 

C. Felton, Charles Field, Goldsmith F. Bailey, S. 
Allen, Dexter F. Parker, Ichabod Washburn, Hartley 
Williams, E. B. Stoddard, Alvah Crocker, Winslow 
Battles, William R. Hill, Moses B. Southwick, Wm. 
Upham, Nathaniel Eddy, Sylvester Dresser, Rufus B. 
Dodge, Asher Joslin, John D. Cogswell, Emerson 
JohusoD, Jason Gorham, Freeman Walker, Henry 
Smith, George Whitney, Charles Adams, Jr., William 

D. Peck, T. E. Glazier, Israel C. Allen, Solon S. Has- 
tings, Joel Merriam, Abraham M. Bigelaw, John E. 
Stone, Thomas Rice, Benjamin Boynton, Charles G. 
Stevens, Hosea Crane, William Eu-sell, Milo Hildretb, 
Lucius W. Pond, Mesas D. Southwick, Ebeuezer Da- 
vis, George S. Ball, F. H. Dewey, George M. Rice, 
Adin Thayer, George F. Thompson, George F. Very, 
Edward L. Davis, John D. Wheeler, Charles A. 
Wheelock, J. H. Wood, S. M. Greggs, Jeremiah Get- 
chell, Aaron C. Mayhew, Luther Hill, Frederick D. 
Brown, Lucius J. Knowles, George W. Johnson, A. 
W. Bartholomew, Henry L. Bancroft, Washington 
Tufts, Emory L. Bates, John G. Mudge, George M. 
Buttrick, Baxter D. Whitney, N. L. Johnson, Moses 
L. Ayers, John H. Lockey, Francis B. Fay, Henry C. 
Greeley, Geurge A. Torrey, Amasa Norcross, C. H. B. 
Snow, Elisha Brimhall, George 8. Barton, Henry C. 
Rice, William Knowltou, Ebenezer B. Linde, James 
W. Stockwell, Alpheus Harding, Charles H. Merriam, 
Wm. Abbott, Charles T. Crocker, Thomas J. Hastings, 
Chester C. Corbiu, John M. Moore, Daniel B. lugalls, 
George W. Johnson, Charles B. Pratt, Charles P. Bar- 



ton, Theodore C. Bates, Edward P. Loring, John D. 
Washburn, Charles E. Whitin, Charles A. Denny, 
Thomas P. Root, Martin V. B. Jefterson, Henry S. 
Nourse, Arthur F. Whitin, William T. Forbes, 
Charles A. Gleason, Allen L. Joslin. 

Under the census of 1885 anew apportionment was 
made, under which the Senators for 1S87 were chosen 
in 1886. Under this apportionment there were four 
districts confined to the county and one other, in- 
cluding Athol, Barre, Dana, Gardner, Hardwick, 
Hubbardston, New Braintree, Oakham, Petersham, 
Phillipston, Rutland and Templeton in Worcester 
County, and Amherst, Belchertown, Enfield, Granby, 
Greenwich, Hadley, Pelham, Prescott, Sjuth Hadley 
and Warein Hampshire County, and called Worcester 
and Hampshire District. Lender this apportionment 
the Senators have been Edwin T. Marble, William T. 
Forbes, Irving B. Sayles, Harris C. Hartwcll, Charles 
A. Gleason, Silas M. Wheelock and George P. Ladd. 

The districts as ibrmed under the census of 1885, 
with a ratio of 11,382 for one Senator, are as follows : 

First Worcester Bisi'ict. — Wards 1, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 
of Worcester, with 10,78G legal voters. 

Second Worcester District. — Berlin, Blackstone, Bol- 
ton, Boylston, Clinton, Grafton, Harvard, Hopedale, 
Mendon,Milford,Northborough,Northbridge, Shrews- 
bury, Southborough, Upton, Uxbridge and West- 
borough, with 11,433 legal voters. 

Third Worcester District. — Auburn, Brookfield, 
Charlton, Douglas, Dudley, Leicester, Milbury, North 
Brookfield, Oxford, Paxton, Southbridge, Spencer, 
Sturbridge, Sutton, Warren, Webster and West Brook- 
field, with 11,217 legal voters. 

Fourth Worcester District. — Fitchburg, Holden, Lan- 
caster, Leominster, Lunenburg, Princeton, Sterling, 
West Boylston, Westminster and Wards 2 and 3 of 
Worcester, with 12,099 legal voters. 

Worcester and Hampshire District. — Athol, Barre, 
Dana, Gardner, Hardwick, Hubbardston, New Brain- 
tree, Oakham, Petersham, Phillipston, Rutland and 
Teinpleton in Wurcester County, and Amherst, Bel- 
chertown, Enfield, Granby, Greenwich, Hadley, Pel- 
ham, Prescott, South Hadley and Ware in Hamp- 
shire, with 11,127 legal voters. 

This sketch of Worcester County would be incom- 
plete without some allusion to the various organiza- 
tions which have the county as the field and boundary 
of their operations. The Worcester County Musical 
Association had its origin in a musical convention held 
in Worcester in 1852. Its officers are, Edward L. 
Davis, president; William Sumner, vice-president; 
A. C. Munroe, secretary, and J. E. Benchley, treasurer. 
The Worcester County Musical School, which has been 
in existence some years, was organized to furnish in- 
struction " in piano, organ, singing, violin, flute, 
guitar, harmony and elocution," with an efficient 
corps of instructor.-'. Besides the Worcester Agricul- 
tural Society there are in the county five distinct 
societies — the Worcester West holding its annual 



XVI 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



exhibitions at Barre ; the Worcester Northwest hold- 
ing its exhibitions at Athol ; the Worcester Nortli at 
Fitchburg; the Worcester Southeast at Milfortl, and 
the South Worcester. The Worcester Horticultural 
Society was formed in 1840. The Worcester County 
Homoeopathic Medical Society was organized in 186G, 
and its present nUicers are : E. A. Murdock, of Spencer 
president ; E. L. Melius, of Worcester, vice-president; 
Lamson Allen, of Southbridge, recording secretary 
and treasurer, and John P. Rand, of Monson, corre- 
sponding secretary. The Worcester County Law- 
Library Association was organized in 1842, and is 
composed of the members of the county bar. 

The Worcester County Mechanics' Association was 
incorporated in 1842. Its ofhcers are: Robert H. 
Chamberlain, president; Ellery B. Crane, vice-presi- 
dent, and William A. Smith, clerk and treasurer. 

The Worcester County Retail Grocers' Association 
was organized in 1881, and its officers are: Samuel A. 
Pratt, presidenc; C. G. Parker, vice-president; E. E. 
Putnam, secretary, and James Early, treasurer. 

The Worcester County Society of Engineers was 
formed in 188U. Its officers are: A. C. Buttrick, 
president ; Charles A. Allen, vice-president ; A. .T. 
Marble, secretary, and E. K. Hill, treasurer. 

The Worcester County Stenographers' Association 
was organized in 1887, and its officers are : Edna L. 
Taylor, president; F. L. Hutchins, vice-president; 
George E. Vaughn, secretary, and John F. McDuffie, 
treasurer. 

The Worcester District Medical Society was organ- 
ized in 1804. Its officers are : George C. Webber, of 
Millbury, president; J. Marcus Reed, of Worcester, 
vice-president ; W. C. Stevens, of Worcester, secre- 
tary, and S. B. Woodward, of Worcester, treasurer. 

Of county religious associations there are five 
belonging to the Orthodox Congregatioiialist denomi- 
nation. The Worcester Central Conference includes 
the Worcester churches and those of Auburn, Berlin, 
Boylston, Clinton, liolden, Leicester, Oxford, Paxton, 
Princeton, Rutland, Shrewsbury, Sterling and West 
Boylston. 

The Worcester North includes the churches of Ash- 
burnham, Athol, Gardner, Hubbardston, Petersham, 
Phillipston, Royalslon, Templeton, Westminster and 
Wiuchendon, with two churches in Franklin County. 

The Worce-ter South includes the churches of 
Blackstone, Douglas, Grafton, Millbury, Northbridge, 
Sutton, Upton, Uxbridge, Webster and Westborough. 

The Brookfield Conference includes the churches 
of Barre, Brookfield, Charlton, Dana, Dudley, Hard- 
wick, New Braintree, North Brookfield, Oakham, 
Suulhbridge, Spencer, Sturbridge, Warren and West 
Brookfield, with four towns outside the county. The 
Middlesex Union Conl'ereuce includes the churches 
of Fitchburg, Harvard, Lancaster, Leominster and 
Lunenburg, with eleven churches in Middlesex 
County. 

Of County Baptist Associations there are two — the 



Wachusett, including the churches in Barre, Bolton, 
Clinton, Fitchburg, Gardner, Harvard, Holden, Leo- 
minster, Sterling, Templeton, West Boylston, West- 
minster aud Winchendon,and the Worcester Associa- 
tion, including the churches of Worcester, Brookfield 
Grafton, Leicester, Millbury, Northborough, Oxford, 
Suuthbridge, Sturbridge, Spencer, Uxbridge, Webster 
and Westborough. 

Of the Methodist denomination there are, strictly 
speaking, no county organizations. The New Eng- 
land Conference, extending from the seaboard to the 
Connecticut Valley, is divided into four districts, 
which include most of the Methodist Churches in the 
county. 

Of the Unitarian denomination there is the Worces- 
ter Conference of Congregational and other Christian 
societies, which was organized at Worcester Decem- 
ber 12, 18C6. It includes the churches of Athol, Barre, 
Berlin, Bolton, Brookfield, Clinton, Fitchburg, Graf- 
ton, Harvard, Milfbrd, Hubbardston, Lancaster, Lei- 
cester, Leominster, Mendon, Northborough, Peters- 
ham, Sterling, Sturbridge, Templeton, Upton, Ux- 
bridge, Westborough, Winchendon and Worcester. 
There is also a Ministers' Association belonging to 
this denomination. 

Of the Episcopal, Universalist and Catholic denomi- 
nations there are no county organizations, aud 
sketches of their various churches will be included in 
the histories of the towns in which they are located. 

The Worcester County Bible Society was organized 
September 7, 1815, under the name of " The Auxili- 
ary Bible Society of the County of Worcester," but 
has been more lately known as the Bible Society of 
Worcester. 

In closing this sketch a list of the present officers 
of Worcester County should be added. It is as fol- 
lows : Judge of Probate and Insolvency, William 
T. Forbes; Register of Probate and Insolvency, 
Frederick W. Southwick, of Worcester; Sheiifi', Au- 
gustus B. R. Sprague, of Worcester; Clerk of the 
Courts, Theodore S. Johnson, of Worcester ; Treas- 
urer, Edward O. Brown, of Worcester; Register of 
Deeds of Worcester District, Harvey B. Wilder, of 
Worcester ; Register of Deeds of Northern District, 
Charles F. Rockwood, of Fitchburg. 

County Commissioners : George S. Duell, of Brook- 
field, ternr expires December 1, 1888 ; William O. 
Brown, of Fitchburg, term expires December 1, 1889; 
James H. Barker, of Milford, term expires Decem- 
ber 1, 1890. 

Special Commissioners: Thomas P. Root, of Barre, 
term expires December 1,1889; Charles J. Bice, of 
Winchendon, term expires December 1, 1889. 

Commissioners of Insolvency : Rufus B. Dodge, Jr., 
of Charlton; David H. Merriam, of Fitchburg ; An- 
drew J. Bartholomew, of Southbridge; Daniel B. 
Hubbard, of Grafton. 

Trial Justices: James W. Jenkins, of Barre; 
George S. Duell, of Brookfield ; Chauncey W. Carter 



THE BENCH AND BAR. 



xvu 



and Hamilton Mayo, of Leominster; Cliarles E. 
Jenks, of Nortli Brookfield; Frank B. Spalter, of 
Winchendon ; Luther Hill, of Spencer; Horace W. 
Bu-h, of West Brookfield ; John W. Tyler, of V.'ar- 
ren, and Henry A. Farwell, of Hubbardstou. 



CHAPTER. II. 

THE BENCH AND BAR. 

BY CHARI.es F. ALDRICH. 

" It 18 not they who are oftenest on men's lips, who are clothed with 
a visihle autliority, who bear tlie swoi-d and tiie ensign of State, that 
culitriliute most to the well-being of a community ; but he, nitUer, wlio 
sits apart in severe simplicity, and, in the supremacy of iutellectuul and 
moral strength, adjusts the relation between man and man; and, with 
an authority mightier than his who wields a sceptre, silently moulds 
the State, and interprets and disjienses the laws that govern it." — Beo. 
Alon^iO HUl^ remarl:s on the life of VUny Mnrrick, 

By the act incorporating this county, passed by 
the General Court of the Province in 1731, provision 
was made for four annual terms of the Court of Gen- 
eral Sessions of the Peace, and of the Inferior Court 
of Common Pleas, and for an annual session of the 
Superior Court of Judicature, Court of Assize and 
General Gaol Delivery. 

Thejurisdiction of justices of the peace and of judges 
of Probate supplemented that of these more formal 
tribunals, and the whole constituted a system of ju- 
dicial machinery which served the needs of the 
community, with but little amendment from 1699 
until the adoption of the State Constitution. With 
several changes of title and some amplification to 
adapt it to the increased business and complexity of 
interests in the modern highly organized society, its 
principal features subsist in the system of to-day. 

The Superior Court was composed of a chief and 
four associate justices. Its jurisdiction covered "all 
matters of a civil and criminal nature, including ap- 
peals, reviews and writs of error ... as fully and 
amply to all intents and purposes whatsoever, as 
the Courts of King's Bench, Common Pleas and Ex- 
t^hequer within his Majesty's Kingdom of England." 
It also possessed very limited equity powers. The 
home government had always exhibited a jealous 
disposition to keep the Provincial courts closely 
hemmed in by the rules of the common law. Ex- 
cept in cases of the breach of the condition of a 
bond or a mortgage, when the court might prevent 
the exaction of the strict forfeiture on payment of 
proper damages, no part of the great system of 
equity jurisprudence, which, in England, was then 
well advanced, was permitted to take root here. 
This early discouragement has seemed, until very 
recent years, to prejudice the minds of our law-mak- 
ers and our courts against the granting or the exer- 
cise of jurisdiction in equity. 



The judges were appointed by the Governor and 
his Council, and might, and frequently did, hold va- 
rious other offices at the same time. Hutchinson, 
when chief justice, was also Lieutenant-Governor, 
member of the Council and judge of Probate for Suf- 
folk. The principle of appointment to judicial 
office thus established has been ever since adhered to 
in this Commonwealth, and it is to be hoped that no 
demand for popular elections will cause a seat upon 
the bench to be set up as a prize of the caucus. By 
the provision of the State Constitution the good 
sense of our judges, and the increase in the number 
of men competent and willing to perform the duties 
of the various offices, our courts have, in the main, 
been presided over by men who held no other public 
office, and gave all their energies to the labors of 
their judicial station. It has thus most happily been 
true of the administration of Massachusetts justice, 
that it has been singularly free even from the suspi- 
cion of partisan bias, and has retained the confidence 
alike of bar and laity. Until the Revolution no res- 
ident of Worcester County attained the dignity of 
justice of the Superior Court. 

The Inferior Court of Common Pleas was com- 
posed in each county of four justices, three of whom 
constituted a quorum for transacting business. Its 
jurisdiction covered civil actions of every nature, ac- 
cording to the course of the common law. From its 
decision an appeal lay to the Superior Court. 

The Court of General Sessions of the Peace was 
held at the same times with the Common Pleas by the 
justices of the peace for the county or such a num- 
ber of them as were designated from time to time. 
Its jurisdiction as a judicial tribunal covered only 
criminal matters, and hence was limited to the trial of 
oflenses for which the punishment did not extend to 
death, loss of member, or banishment. The same 
tribunal had a supervision and control of the admin- 
istration of the county finances, the laying out of 
highways, etc., similar to the present powers of County 
Commissioners. 

Justices of the peace held courts in their various 
places of residence, and were authorized to hear and 
decide in a large variety of civil actions where 
the damage did not exceed forty shillings. When 
the title to land was concerned, however, the issue 
was deemed too important for any court of less dig- 
nity than the Common Pleas. In criminal matters 
their jurisdiction extended to minor breaches of the 
peace and disorderly conduct, and they could inflict 
penalties of small fines, whipping and sitting in the 
stocks. For offences beyond their jurisdiction they 
were authorized to bind over persons accused to the 
higher tribunals. From their decisions appeals lay 
to the Court of Common Pleas. 

In the Governor and Council was vested jurisdic- 
tion over the probate of wills, the settlement of the 
estates of deceased persons, the appointment of guard- 
ians and the like. It was the custom, however, for 



xvni 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



them to appoint substitutes in the various counties, 
who transacted the ordinary business subject to re- 
vision on appeal to the Governor and Council. 
These deputy courts were recognized by several laws 
of the province, though their establishment was 
never specially authorized by any act of the General 
Court. 

Tiie history of the bar of this county is practically 
covered by the professional activity of four of its 
members. Joseph Dwight, admitted at the first term 
of the Court of Common Pleas held in the newly- 
established county, lived until 1765. John Sprague 
was admitted to the bar in 1768, and died in 1800. 
Benjamin Adams admitted in 1792, probably tried 
causes before Judge Sprague, and as he lived in Ux- 
bridge until 1837, it is most probable that the late 
Peter C. Bacon, who was admitted in 1830, knew him 
personally. 

When Joseph Dwight, in 1731, took the oaths 
of an attorney and became the only member of the 
Worcester County bar, there were in the province but 
few educated lawyers. Benjamin Lynde was chief 
and Paul Dudley an associate justice of the Superior 
Court, both of whom were thorough lawyers. Through 
the influence and learning, especially of Dudley, the 
forms of pleading were being brought into intelligible 
shape, and the principles of law were becoming more 
clearly understood by bench and bar. It was not at 
all essential, however, that a judge should be a law- 
yer. Many of those upon the Superior bench had no 
legal education, and of fourteen judges of the Court 
of Common Pleas for Worcester County before the 
Revolution, only three were members of the bar. 
Dwight was born in Hatfield in 1703, and received 
his education at Harvard, where he graduated in 
1722. After his admission to the bar for some years 
he resided in Brookfield, and was repeatedly elected 
its Representative to the General Court. 

For one year during his service he held the position 
of Speaker of the House. In 1743 he was appointed 
to the bench of the Common Pleas, and retained his 
commission until about the time of his removal to 
Stockbridge, in Hampshire County, in 1751 or 1752. 
There he was interested in the efforts which were 
being made, under the direction of Jonathan Edwards, 
to educate the Indians. Judge Dwight was appointed 
a trustee of the schools, and for a year or more 
remained closely associated with the learned divine, 
for whom he always testified the highest regard. He 
soon left Stockbridge for Great Barrington, and re- 
sumed judicial functions in the Hampshire County 
Court until Berkshire was set off, in 1761. For the 
new county he became chief justice, and so con- 
tinued till his death, in 1765. With his duties as 
judge he combined the carrying on of a mercantile 
business and the functions of an active military leader. 
He held the rank of brigadier-general, and won the 
comraend.ation of his superior officers for services 
against the French. 



A contemporary of his, both at the bar and on the 
bench, was Nahum Ward, a resident of Shrewsbury, 
and a judge of the Common Pleas from 1745 to 1762. 
Not much is recorded of him, though he was in active 
practice for several years. His son and grandson, 
each bearing the name of Artemas, filled larger places 
in the public eye, and each became judge of the same 
court. 

The only other lawyer on this bench until after the 
Revolution was Timothy Ruggles, who was born in 
Rochester, in the county of Plymouth, in 1711, and 
graduated at Harvard in 1732. He was judge from 
1757 until the Revolution, and chief justice after 1762. 
His father, the Rev. Timothy Ruggles, endeavored to 
turn the future soldier's thoughts to the study of 
divinity, but it is probable that the combative in- 
stincts of the son, so strongly developed later in life, 
inclined him to a more stirring field of exertion. Whtn 
only twenty-five he represented Rochester in the 
Assembly. There he was instrumental in procuring 
the passage of an act to prohibit sheriffs or their 
deputies from making writs, a useful provision of the 
public statutes to this' day. As a lawyer he must 
have been successful, for while still a residentof Plym- 
outh County, he practiced in other courts, and was 
often engaged in causes in Worcester County before 
he removed to Hardwick, about 1753. 

The fame of the soldier, however, generally obscures 
whatever other reputation its possessor may earn. In 
" Brigadier Ruggles" the judge was almost forgotten. 
Like Dwight, he was actively engaged in several 
military operations, and fairly won his distinction by 
hard service. In 1755 he was next in command to 
General Johnson in the battle in which the French, 
under Dieskau, were badly defeated. Illustrative of 
the brigadier's blunt manners, they say that when 
during the day something was going wrong, he con- 
soled his superior officer with the remark : " General, 
I hope the damnable blunders you have made this 
day may be .'■anctified unto you for your spiritual and 
everlasting good," an expression rather of hope for 
future improvement than of confidence in the present 
abilities of his leader, which amore politic subordinate 
would probably have confined to his own thoughts. 

It was a matter of course that he took an active part 
in political affairs. Hardwick sent him as its represent- 
ative to the Assembly for several years, during two of 
which he was Speaker of the House. He presided over 
the convention of delegates from eight Colonies, which 
met in New York, in 1765, to consider the grievances 
imposed by the home government. His attachment 
to the old order of things here manifested itself in his 
refusal to join in the protest of the convention against 
taxation by Parliament. As his opinions on this sub- 
ject had been openly expressed, it is a singular evi- 
dence of the great respect in which he was held that 
he should have been chosen as a delegate. But 
neither the consistency of his course nor his dignified 
character excused him in the eye of the Provincial 



THE BENCH AND BAR. 



XIX 



Legislature. In accordance with their vote he was 
publicly censured by the Speaker, and from that time 
his separation from the popular cause became more 
and more apparent. When the discontent finally 
became a revolution, he abandoned his property, his 
dignities, and his home, and took up his part with the 
supporters of the Crown. At this point, of course, 
his connection with our county affairs ceased. He 
died in Halifax, in 1798, having lived to see those 
whom he had called rebels firmly established as citi- 
zens of an independent State. 

Eleven other judges of the Court of Common Pleas, 
previous to the Revolution, were taken from various 
vocations. Th«y were men chosen for general good 
sense, for the respect in which they were held by 
their neighbors, and for their integrity of purpose — 
qualities which, in the scarcity of trained lawyers, 
certainly entitled them to superintend the adminis- 
tration of justice. 

John Chandler, of Woodstock, the first chief jus- 
tice, was also the first judge of Probate. He was a 
military oflicer of some distinction, and represented 
his town in the General Court, and was chosen after- 
wards a member of the Governor's Council. His son, 
bearing the same name, was born in Woodstock in 
1693, but removed to Worcester in 1731. He was the 
first clerk of courts, regisier of probate and register 
of deeds for the county in those days when one man 
could discharge the duties of a multiplicity of ofiices. 
While still holding those offices he was appointed 
sheriff of the county, and was for several years elected 
selectman and a Representative to the General Court. 
Later on he was appointed judge of the Court of 
Common Pleas and judge of the Probate Court, thus 
succeeding to the dignities of his father. He died in 
1763. 

Another father and son who occupied seats on the 
bench of the County Court were the two Joseph Wil- 
DEES, of Lancaster. The elder was influential in se- 
curing to Worcester the distinction of being the 
county-seat, as he objected to the selection of Lan- 
caster, lest the morals of its people should be cor- 
rupted by the sessions of the courts therein. He suc- 
ceeded the first John Chandler as judge of Probate 
and held both offices till his death, in 1757. 

His son succeeded the second Chandler in the 
Common Pleas, was Representative of Lancaster in 
the General Court for eleven years, and was actively 
engaged in business operations, in his native town, 
until his death, in 1773. 

Of most of the other judges little is known. Jonas 
Rice was, in 1714, the sole inhabitant of Worcester, 
all others having been driven away by the depreda- 
tion of the Indians. His firm courage secured to 
him, in the rebuilt town, the respect of his neighbors 
and marked him as a man fit for responsibilities. 

Practicing before the court thus composed, beside 
the three who have been mentioned as elevated to 
the bench, there were but fourteen lawyers from 1731 



until the Revolution. Joshua Eaton was the first of 
the profession who settled in Worcester. He was a 
native of that part of Watertown now Waltham, and 
was educated at Harvard, where he graduated in 
1735, in his twenty-first year. He entered upon the 
study of the law in the office of Edmund Trowbridge, 
who was then just beginning his professional career, 
in the course of which, as leader of the bar of the 
Province and as judge of the Superior Court, he con- 
tributed, perhaps more than any one man before the 
Revolution, to the advancement of legal science. 
Trained under this excellent master, Mr. Eaton 
seems to have started upon a successful practice. 
The early desire of his parents had been that he 
should adopt the clerical profession, and after about 
six years at the bar, his own feelings turned him in 
the same direction. He studied for the ministry, 
gave up a good and increasing practice and adopted 
his new calling with such zeal and energy as to sub- 
ject him to the censure of the church, which ap- 
proved of more moderate ministerial devotion. He 
soon, however, by a more quiet walk and conversa- 
tion, commended himself to the church in that part 
of Leicester now Spencer, and .there was settled, 
lived for nearly thirty years, and died, in 1772, re- 
spected and beloved by his peojde. 

A fellow-t')wnsman of Eaton, in Leicester, was 
Christopher Jacob Lawton, a lawyer who had been 
admitted in Hampshire County in 1726. He prac- 
ticed for some years in Springfield and in SufBeld be- 
fore his removal to Leicester. Except that he had a 
clientage of only moderate numbers, little is known 
of his professional attainments, 

Stephen Fessenden was another student of Judge 
Trowbridge, who opened his oiBce in Worcester 
about 1743. But he, too, from some unknown cause, 
does not appear to have long clung to his professional 
pursuits. 

Perhaps the most learned and able lawyer of this 
bar previous to the Revolution was James Putnam, 
who came here in 1749, fresh from his studies with 
Judge Trowbridge, of whose encouragement and ad- 
vice he seems to have profited more than those we 
have mentioned. He was born in Danvers in 1725, 
and after graduating at Harvard in 1746, betook 
himself to the law with a zeal and industry that re- 
sulted in placing him with the leaders of the bar in 
the Province. Dwight was then the only lawyer re- 
siding and practicing in the county, but Putnam had 
to contend with the leaders from other counties, and 
was proved a worthy opponent. He obtained a large 
clientage not only at home, but in Hampshire and 
Middlesex, and rose, by merit, to the position of At- 
torney-General of the Province. This office he was 
holding when the Revolution called upon men to 
choose between King and country. Like most of the 
other men of prominence and wealth, Putnam stood 
by the old order, and like them he thereby lost his 
home. He was rewarded for his loyalty to the Brit- 



XX 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



ish government by an appointment to the bench of 
the Supreme Court of New Brunswick. There he 
added to his reputation as a sound lawyer, and ac- 
quired such a name for learning and impartial justice 
that when a friendly biographer described him as 
" the best lawyer in North America," the praise did 
not seem unwarrantably extravagant. He lived un- 
til after the inauguration of the first President of the 
United States of America. 

One of the judges of the Common Pleas for ten 
years was Samuel Willard, of Lancaster. His son, 
Abel Willaed, bom in that town in 1732, may, from 
his father's position, have been naturally inclined to 
the law. After graduating at the university, he 
studied in Boston, and was admitted to this bar 
in 1755. In his native town, then a rival of the 
county-seat for population and business activity, he 
found ample opportunity for the exercise of his tal- 
ents. He illustrated the truth, too often forgotten, 
that modesty, kindliness and aversion to strife are 
not inconsistent with the successful practice of the 
law. He performed. the true function of the lawyer 
in allaying rather than fomenting strife, in endeav- 
oring to keep his client out of threatened difficulties — 
methods which in no degree interfered with asserting 
and maintaining his just rights when litigation could 
not properly be avoided. In 1770 he formed with 
John Sprague the earliest law partnership in this 
county. During the war he too left the country and 
died in England in 1781. 

Ezra. Taylor, of Southborough, is to be included in. 
this list of lawyers, though whether he was regularly 
admitted to the bar is uncertain. He at any rate 
practiced law in Southborough, from about 1751 until 
the Revolution, and continued so to do in Maine, 
where he removed during the progress of the war. 

A pupil of James Putnam was Joshua Atherton, 
who was born in Harvard in 1737, and graduated at 
Cambridge in 1762. He began his practice in Peters- 
ham, but did not long remain in this county. After 
several changes of domicile, he settled in Amherst, in 
New Hampshire. There he became a leader at the 
bar, and Attorney-General of the State after the Revo- 
lution, and died in 1809. 

In 1765, the same year with Atherton, two other 
young men began their professional careers in this 
county. Daniel Bliss was a native of Concord, and 
a graduate of Harvard in 1760, in his twentieth year. 
Like Eaton, he was urged towards the ministry by his 
parents, and somewhat by his own inclination. Some 
influences turned him aside, and he studied law in the 
office of Abel Willard. He made Rutland, where he 
found his wife, the field of his early ventures in busi- 
ness. About 1772 he returned to his first home in 
Concord. He gained a good position at the bar, and 
an enviable reputation as a thorough gentleman, but 
he did not sympathize with the cause of the colonists 
against the Crown. Thus he, too, became an exile 
from the country that he evidently loved, and the 



friends who had honored him. After the war he was 
appointed a judge in New Brunswick, and fulfilled its 
duties with credit, as he seems to have discharged all 
other duties until his death, in 1806. 

Contemporary with Atherton and Bliss was Joshua 
Upham, of Brookfield. Born in 1741 ; like nearly all 
the lawyers we have mentioned, he had the advantage 
of a college education at Harvard. His class-mate 
and intimate associate was Timothy Pickering, with 
whom he maintained a friendship that was interrupted,' 
not broken, by the war. After his graduation, in 1765, 
he completed his professional studies in two years, 
and was admitted to the bar a few months later ihan 
Bliss. In Brookfield he built up an excellent practice, 
continually increasing until 1776. It then became no 
longer possible for one who was not heartily with the 
popular cause to remain, and he removed to Boston, 
and later to New York. Either from the failure of 
some business enterprises in which he was engaged, 
or perhaps, more probably, on account of his Tory 
predilections, he left the country after the peace and, 
like Putnam and Bliss, found opportunity for the 
exercise of his professional acumen on the bench of 
New Brunswick. In the last year of his life he was 
occupied in England in perfecting with the home 
government a reorganization of the judicial system of 
the British American provinces. This work he lived 
to complete, but died in London in 1808. 

Two sons of the second Judge John Chandler be- 
came members of this bar. Rufus was born in 1747, 
graduated in 1766 and admitted to the bar in 1768. 
He studied with James Putnam and practiced in 
Worcester until the laws became silent in the midst 
of arms. He naturally imbibed the principles of his 
father and his preceptor, and his name was included 
with theirs in an act of banishment, passed while the 
war was still in progress. He had already left the 
country, and resided till his death, in 1823, in 
London. 

His brother, Nathaniel, born in 1750, followed 
closely in his footsteps. After graduating at Harvard 
in 1768, he took the place of Rufus in Putnam's office, 
where he studied during the next three years. He 
chose Petersham for his residence and practice, until 
at the beginning of the war he took service with the 
British in New York. Though he thus seems to have 
taken a much more decided stand against the colonies 
than his brother, or several others whom we have 
mentioned, he was able to return to Petersham in 
1784 and engage in mercantile pursuits. He did not 
renew the practice of the law, nor long continue in 
business, but soon came back to Worcester, where he 
died in 1801. 

Of the lawyers heretofore mentioned, not one 
remained in practice in this county after the Revolu- 
tion. Nearly all of them cast in their lot with the 
supporters of the old regime, and the new condition of 
affairs left them no place in their wonted sphere. 
Some of them, as has been shown, found room for 



THE BENCH AND BAR. 



XXI 



increased activity and usefulness in the provinces that 
still remained subject to England. Some found a 
refuge in the mother country. 

John Sprague forms a connecting link between the 
bar of the province and that of the independent State. 
He was born in Koehester, Plymouth County, the 
birth-place of Timothy Ruggles, in 1740. In the year 
1765, when Joseph Dwight, the first member of this 
bar, died, Sprague graduated from Harvard. His first 
choice was the profession of medicine, but it evidently 
did not suit his tastes, for after a few months' trial he 
abandoned it for the law, and commenced studying 
in James Putnam's office. Like a host of our New 
England professional men, he taught school while 
pursuing his studies, a kind of discipline whose bene- 
fits appear in the acquired patience and facility in I 
imparting knowledge of those who have tried it suc- 
cessfully. After his admission to this bar in 1768, he 
removed to Newport, Rhode Island, and thence to 
Keene, New Hampshire. Finally he m'ade Lancaster 
his home, and in a business connection with Abel 
Willard began a most extensive practice. Thus he 
continued until it became necessary for him and his 
partner to decide whether they would become rebels 
with their countrymen, or cleave to their foreign alle- 
giance. Willard, as has been seen, chose for the 
latter. Sprague hesitated, as many a conscientious 
and thoughtful man must have done. He went so far 
as to leave Lancaster for Boston before the actual out- 
break of hostilities. There, however, the advice of 
friends at home, and his own reflection, induced him 
to espouse what seemed the weaker cause, and he 
returned to take his chance with the resisters of 
oppression. 

The end of the June term, 1774, brought to a 
close the sessions of the Provincial Court of Common 
Pleas for this county. During the interval before 
the opening of the new court, in December, 1775, it may 
Well be that no one had time or thought for contests so 
comparatively trivial as those of the forum. But this 
state of things could not long continue. The every- 
day affairs of life must receive attention, though the 
fate of nations is in suspense. The Provincial Gov- 
ernment commissioned judges, and before them 
Sprague resumed his practice. 

After the adoption of the Constitution he repre- 
sented the county in the State Senate for two years, 
and among his other public services he was one of 
the few early advocates of the ratification of the 
Constitution of the United States. Later on he be- 
came high sheriff of the county. Two years before 
his death, which occurred in 1800, he was appointed 
chief justice of the Court of Common Pleas, the first 
lawyer on that bench after the Revolution. 

Sprague appears to have taken no prominent part 
in the stirring scenes that were being enacted about 
him during the war. The name of another judge, 
whose career lielps us to bridge this interval, is most 
frequently remembered in connection with his military 



achievements. Artemas Ward was a justice of the 
Common Pleas both before and after the Revolution. 
He was born in Shrewsbury and graduated at Harvard 
in 1748. His father, Nahum Ward, has already been 
mentioned as one of the earliest in practice in the 
county. This is the third instance of a son succeed- 
ing his father on the bench of the Common Pleas 
of this county before the Revolution. That judicial 
honors and the capacity worthily to wear them may 
often be transmitted to descendants seems to be a 
well-established fact in the history of this Common- 
wealth. Whether Judge Nahum Ward continued in 
office until the appointment of his son is not certain, 
but it is stated by one authority that he died in 1762, 
which was the year in which Artemas became a judge. 
The latter had not adopted the profession of his 
father, but soon after leaving college was actively 
engaged in public affairs. He represented his native 
town in the Legislature, and was a member of the 
Governor's Council in 1774, when the home govern- 
ment undertook to remove from the electors of the 
Province the right to choose councillors and to vest 
their appointment in the Crown. His acceptance of 
such an appointment by Brigadier Ruggles had 
been the final act which placed him in a position 
entirely hostile to the popular cause. The manda- 
mus councilors, as they were called, were among the 
latest irritants of an exasperated public sentiment. 
Before this time, however, Ward had served his ap- 
prenticeship as a soldier. He was with Abercrombie 
in the disastrous expedition against Ticonderoga, 
and in the hardships and defeat of that campaign 
his firmness and soldierly qualities seem to have been 
well tested and approved. Soon afterwards we find 
him a colonel of militia and busily engaged in mat- 
ters of drill and evolution. All the while, however, 
he shared in the growing popular discontent and openly 
avowed his sentiments. So far did he go in publicly 
stating his opposition to the measures of Parliament 
that Sir Francis Barnard publicly deprived him of 
his commission, and when his constituents elected 
him a member of the Council, did him the honor 
promptly to veto the choice. 

The first Provincial Congress, of which he was a 
member, elected him the first of three general officers 
to whom they committed the charge of the motley 
assemblage of volunteers which then represented the 
military power about to engage in strife with Great 
Britain. When General Ward assumed this com- 
mand it certainly must have seemed that the result 
most probable for him was defeat and a rebel's death. 
He continued as general-in-chief until Washington 
arrived and took command, when Ward for a time 
assumed a subordinate position. He soon retired 
from the service, however, on the plea of ill health. 
His withdrawal resulted in a breach with Washington 
which was never healed. 

When the courts were re-opened, in 1775, he was 
made chief justice of the Common Pleas, and in this 



XXll 



HISTOKY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



office he continued until two years before his death, 
which took place in 1800. Soon after the war the bur- 
den of taxes, necessitated by the great debt contracted 
during the conflict, the depression of business, so long 
impaired and interrupted, the sudden release from 
service of a large number of men who had become 
almost unfitted for peaceful vocations, combined to 
produce a feeling of discontent among the people, 
which in Massachusetts culminated in "Shays's Re- 
bellion." A principal ground of their complaints 
was the machinery of justice, which compelled the 
payment of debts, and courts and lawyers were the 
objects of the bitterest hatred. They adopted as one 
method of remedying their grievances the plan of 
preventing the sessions of the courts. 

In September of 1786, Judge Ward was to preside 
over the regular session of his court in Worcester. 
Threats had been freely made that he would not be 
permitted so to do, and on the morning when, accord- 
ing to custom, the judges and officers of the court pro- 
ceeded in a body to the court-house, they found the 
hill on which it was situated filled with a mob, and 
the court-house itself with armed men. The judge 
was too old a soldier to run away from bayonets, and 
he stoutly pressed on through the throng, and up to 
face the small body of insurgents who were under 
the command of an officer, and maintained some ap- 
pearance of discipline. His entrance to the court- 
house was prevented, and neither by expostulation or 
threat was he able to convince the insurgents of the 
folly and danger of their course. It was impossible 
to accomplish any useful purpose by carrying his 
persistence further, and when, on the next day, it 
was evident that the militia .sympathized rather with 
the insurgents than with the Government, the attempt 
to hold court was abandoned. Somewhat similar 
scenes were enacted in other counties, though we 
do not re.id of other judges who so resolutely met the 
law-breakers. The insurrection was rather of a 
nature to fall to pieces by itself than to require a 
great show of force, and it was not long before its 
inherent weakness resulted in its entire collapse. 

Timothy Euggles and Thomas Steele, the associates 
of Judge Ward on the bench of the Common Pleas 
just before the Revolution, were loyalists, and by the 
progress of events became expatriated. When, in 
1775, the Provisional Government issued its commis- 
sion to General Ward as chief, Jedediah Foster, 
Moses Gill and Samuel Baker were named associates. 
Of the four, not one was a member of the legal pro- 
fession. 

Mr. Foster was born in Andover, and obtained at 
Harvard a college education. He early made Brook- 
field his home, and there was associated in mercantile 
business with Josepb Dwight, who combined with his 
professional occupation several other activities. Mr. 
Foster married the daughter of General Dwight, and 
three of their direct descendants will hereafter require 
honorable mention as members of this bar, of whom 



two were promoted to the bench. Although not edu- 
cated for the bar, it may be supposed that his associa- 
tion with Judge Dwight gave him some insight into 
legal principles. At any rate he became sufficiently 
skilllul as a conveyancer to command a considerable 
business. His judgment was greatly relied upon by 
neighbors and residents of other towns. Before he 
was on the bench he was often appealed to to decide 
controversies or to give advice on perplexing ques- 
tions. For these services he made it a practice lo 
take no fees, a custom by which, perhaps, many a 
young attorney might speedily build up a tremendous 
clientage. In Foster's case, however, it was not true 
that that which costs nothing was worth nothing. 
His reputation for probity, wisdom and impartiality 
was wide-spread, and caused his selection for numer- 
ous positions of trust and responsibility. He was at 
the same time judge of the Common Pleas and of the 
Probate Courts, a delegate to the Provincial Congress 
at Concord and a colonel of the militia. In 1776 he 
was promoted to the bench of the Superior Court of 
Judicature, the first Worcester County resident who 
had that honor. A funeral sermon, preached in 1779 
by his pastor, Nathan Fiske, testifies to his services to 
the church, the town and the State. 

Judge Moses Gill lived on a magnificent estate in 
Princeton, which was described by President Dwight, 
of Yale College, as more splendid than any other in 
the interior of the State. These lands were the in- 
heritance of his wife. His own fortune, accumulated 
in mercantile pursuits in Charlestown, his native 
place, had enabled him to improve and maintain an 
establishment of extensive proportions. He was born 
in 1733, and lived in the place of his birth until about 
1767, when he began to spend a portion of each year 
amid the beauties of the Princeton hills. That town 
he represented in the General Court, and was suc- 
cessively State Senator, Councillor and Lieutenant- 
Governor. From 1775 until his election to the office 
of Lieutenant-Governor he was an associate justice 
of the County Court. Both he and his associate, 
Samuel Baker, of Berlin, were of the original board 
of trustees of Leicester Academy. To have been in- 
strumental in establishing an institution which has 
contributed so largely from among its alumni to the 
service of the State, and especially to the leadership 
of the bar of this county, must be counted, perhaps, 
the greatest of Judge Gill's distinctions. 

Of Samuel Baker little can be added, save that for 
twenty years, until his death in 1795, he faithfully 
discharged his judicial duties. During a portion of 
this time he represented his town of Berlin, and was 
several years a State Senator. 

When Judge Foster was promoted to the Superior 
Court, .losEPH Dorr took his place in the lower tribu- 
nal. His father, bearing the same name, was the pas- 
tor of the church in Mendon for many years, a man 
repected for his public spirit as well as for his faith- 
ful discharge of ministerial duties. The son grad- 



THE BENCH AND BAR. 



XXlll 



uated at Harvard in his twenty-second year in the 
class of 1752. He was never ordained, but he evi- 
dently had some intontion of adopting his father's 
profession, for he preached in the pulpit occasionally. 
He was a most earnest patriot and fully in sympathy 
with the principles animating the Revolution. He 
devoted almost the whole of his time for seven years 
to the public service without any compensation, and 
was one of those non-combatants who largely aided 
the success of the cause by efficient moral support at 
home. In any conflict all cannot be on the lield of 
action. It is the part of some to foster and preserve 
the prize of the battle, — the institutions whose exist- 
ence is at stake. Mr. Dorr was the town clerk and 
treasurer of Mendon for a number of years. On the 
records the Declaration of Independence is spread at 
length in his handwriting, so beautifully legible as 
to suggest at once the thought that he was not a law- 
yer. On this bench, however, he presided with dig- 
nity and acceptance for twenty-tive wars, and was 
also judge of Probate from 1782 to 1800. During the 
last years of his life he removed to Brookfield, where 
he died in 1808. 

The Court of Common Pleas, presided over in this 
county by the gentlemen of whom we have spoken, 
survived almost without change the political disturb- 
ances of the time. Appointed in 1775 by the de facto 
government, Ward and his associates continued to 
discharge the same duties after the Declaration of 
Independence and under the Constitution of the 
State. 

No mention of this court appears in the Constitu- 
tion, but in 1782 an act was passed " establishing 
Courts of Common Pleas." This was in effect a 
statute declaratory of the law as it was then adminis- 
tered. The jurisdiction granted was the same; the 
right of appeal, the power to make rules and the 
regulation of the business of the court were the same 
as under the province charter. 

The court was to consist of " Four substantial, dis- 
creet and learned persons, each of whom to be an in- 
habitant of the county wherein he shall be ap- 
pointed,'' and these requirements were well fulfilled 
by those who were upon the bench in this county 
when the statute passed. 

In the same year with the act just referred to were 
passed statutes establishing " a Supreme Judicial 
Court" and "Courts of General Sessions of the 
Peace," both of which tribunals had been exercising 
their functions before either Constitution or statute 
were adopted. 

In the convention which formed our State Consti- 
tution, it was decided to simplify the rather cumber- 
some title of the Provincial Court of last resort. Ac- 
cordingly, all through the Constitution reference is 
made to a Supreme Judicial Court, instead of the 
Superior Court of Judicature, Court of Assize and 
General Gaol Delivery. Among the early enactments 
of the first Legislature under the new order of things 



was a statute giving jurisdiction to the Supreme 
Judicial Court of " all such matters as have hereto- 
fore happened or that shall hereafter happen, as by 
particular laws were made cognizable by the late 
Superior Court of Judicature, etc., etc., unless where 
the Constitution and frame of Government hath pro- 
vided otherwise." After this very explicit recogni- 
tion of its existence, an act establishing a Supreme 
Judicial Court passed in 1782 seems, to some extent, 
a work of supererogation. That act provides for one 
chief and four associate justices, and grants very 
broadly jurisdiction over all civil actions and all 
criminal offences. It further authorizes the 
control and correction of the proceedings of 
the inferior courts by writ of certiorari and manda- 
mus. A full bench was to consist of at least three 
of the judges. From the rulings of one justice at 
nisi priics exception might be taken to the full bench, 
which alone had the final decisions of questions of 
law. Before three judges also were to be decided all 
capital cases, divorce matters, and probate appeals. 

Courts of General Sessions of the Peace, with juris- 
diction over minor offeaces and with power to bind 
over to the proper tribunals persons charged with 
graver crimes, were provided for by another act of the 
same year. Of the numerous justices of the peace 
who exercised jurisdiction in this court it would be 
impossible to obtain record or to make mention. 
Some one or more of the Common Pleas Court usually 
sat with them at the trial of offences. In 1803 the 
criminal jurisdiction was transferred altogether from 
the Sessions Court to the Common Pleas Court, leaving 
to the former the supervision of county finances, the 
laying out of highways and the like. After several 
experiments in giving these latter powers also to the 
Common Pleas, and after the Court of Sessions had 
been twice abolished and twice revived, in 1827 the 
act defining the power of county commissioners was 
passed, and the Sessions Court finally disappeared. 
Until 1811 the County Court of Common Pleas re- 
mained the tribunal in which was carried on the 
great bulk of ordinary litigation. 

Upon the election of Moses Gill to the Lieutenant- 
Governorship and his consequent resignation of his 
seat on the bench, the position was offered to Dwight 
Foster, but was declined. Michael Gill was there- 
upon appointed. Of him I learn nothing, save that 
he was probably a nephew of his predecessor ; that 
he resigned in 1798, and that he was living in 1826. 
Elijah Brigham took the place left vacant by Judge 
Baker's death in 1795. He was born in Northborough 
in 1751 and graduated at Dartmouth College in 1778. 
The study of divinity at first engaged his attention, 
but that was soon abandoned for mercantile pursuits. 
Senator, councillor and member of Congress success- 
ively, he discharged the duties of each station with 
propriety, though without leaving a great impress up- 
on the times. He held the office of judge until the 
abolition of the County Court in 1811. In 1816, 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



■while atlending the session of Congress at Washing- 
ton, he very suddenly died. 

r>\viGHT Foster accepted an appointment to this 
hench in 1801. He was a son of the earlier judge, 
and was born in Brookfield in 1757. His classical 
studies were pursued at Brown, where he graduated 
in 1774. After studying his profession he commenced 
its practice at home. At that time there was no 
other lawyer within twenty miles of Brookfield. As 
a consequence he early gained a very great practice, 
which his own abilities enabled him to keep and in- 
crease. His health was never robust, so that all 
through life he was obliged to husband his physical 
resources. Yet by diligence during his working 
hours, by a systematic arrangement of hi.s time and 
by powers of application natural and cultivated, he 
accomplished an enormous amount of labor. As a 
conveyancer he was noted for accuracy and neatness, 
— qualities of whose importance he was no doubt im- 
pressed by his father, who had been obliged to acquire 
w hat knowledge he had of that branch without the 
aid of such an education as the son had enjoyed. It 
was noted of the latter that he made it a constant 
practice to rise and be at work early, invariably by 
candle-light in winter. This discouraging propensity 
is the only fault recorded of him. 

His father had been chosen as a delegate to the 
convention for framing the Constitution, but died be- 
fore the session began. Dwight, then but twenty- 
two, was chosen to fill the vacancy, — a proof of the 
confidence which his townsmen already reposed in 
his sound judgment and discretion. In 1792 he held 
the office of high sheriff of the county, and was the 
same year elected to Congress, where he sat for three 
terras. Later, he was a member of the United States 
Senate. For ten years he was the Chief Justice of 
the Common Pleas, succeeding Judge Sprague, and 
lived until 1823, active until the last. His manners 
are described as extremely courteous, and he exer- 
cised a generous hospitality at his country home. 

In the same year with Judge Foster, Benjamin 
Heywood was elevated to a seat on this bench. He 
was the son of a Shrewsbury farmer, and had learned 
and practiced in early life the trade of a carpenter. 
His strong desire for an education overcame the diffi- 
culties in his way, and he prepared for college and 
entered Harvard in 1771. But here hindrances to the 
pursuit of knowledge still met him. The country 
was aroused to arms. With the other young men of 
the institution, he felt the duty of bearing his share 
in the impending conflict. At the opening of hos- 
tilities he laid aside his books, followed the retreating 
British forces after Concord fight, and was soon after 
regularly commissioned an officer of the Provincial 
Army. He rose to the rank of captain, and discharged 
the difficult and responsible duties of regimental 
paymaster with scruixilous fidelity and accuracy. 
When, at the close of the war, the Coutinental Con- 
gress found itself with a great debt, an army whose 



pay was largely in arrears, and an empty treasury, a 
most serious danger threatened the stability of the 
independence which had been won. The soldiery 
were naturally discontented and conscious of ill 
treatment, and conscious also of their strength as a 
united body. Captain Heywood was one of those 
who at this juncture assisted Washington to allay 
the growing impatience and to persuade the men to 
disband peaceably, in the hope of justice from the 
tardy jieople who had profited by their sutferings. 
When, after peace was finally established, he returned 
to his native town, he found himself called upon to 
devote much of hia time to the public. His neigh- 
bors had learned to appreciate his integrity and the 
soundness of his judgment. Later, he removed to 
Worcester, where he cultivated a large farm, portions 
of which remain in the hands of his descendants to 
this day. In 1801 he succeeded Judge Dorr, and held 
office so long as the court existed. He is the last 
judge of any of the higher courts of this county who 
was not educated for the legal profession. 

John Sprague, who succeeded Artemas Ward as 
chief of the Common Pleas, was, as has been 
said, the only member of the bar before the Revolu- 
tion who continued for any length of time to practice 
in the courts under the new establishment. His first 
competitor was Levi Lincoln, who was admitted 
to the bar in Hampshire County, and began prac- 
tice here as soon as the courts were opened in 1775. 
Joshua Upham had not then abandoned his Brook- 
field clientage, but remained only a few months 
longer. Lincoln was the son of Enoch Lincoln, a 
farmer of Hinghara, and had been apprenticed in 
youth to a trade. In this employment he evidently 
found he had no pleasure, and he succeeded, with the 
assistance of friends who were impressed by his man- 
ifest desire and aptness for learning and his serious 
determination to obtain an education, in fitting him- 
self to enter Harvard College. There he graduated 
in 1772, in his twenty-fourth year, and began the 
study of the law in Newburyport. Later, he entered the 
office of Joseph Hawley, of Northampton, who was 
then of the highest rank in the profession, as well as 
in the councils of the patriotic party. His studies 
were interrupted by the call to arms in April, 1775, 
but he soon returned to his books, and opened his 
office in Worcester. At once he was made clerk of 
the courts, and held the office a little over a year. No 
doubt the duties interfered too seriously with the 
great opportunity for professional business whicli lay 
before him. Those who had been the leaders in every 
walk in life, judges of the courts, lawyers, men of 
wealth and cultivation, had in large numbers adhered 
to the British cause, and were then in self-imposed 
exile. To a man of Lincoln's superior ability it was 
inevitable that the people should look for leadership 
and advice. His powers matured early under the re- 
sponsibilities which he was thus compelled to assume. 
He possessed naturally great firmness of purpo.se and 



THE BENCH AND BAR. 



XXV 



a sober judgment, and throughout his long career, 
much of which was passed prominently before the 
public eye, what he accomplished was largely due to 
the fact that what, on sufficient reflection, he felt to 
be his duty, that he unfalteringly strove to do. 

He had none of that long period of weary waiting 
for clients which serves to some extent to winnow out 
the wheat from the chafl" of modern aspirants for legal 
honors. After the long vacation and the cessation 
of general business natural to the beginning of so tre- 
mendous a struggle as was then inaugurated, with 
the first breathing space people realized that their 
affairs at home still must receive attention. Lincoln 
at once was overwhelmed with business. In 1779 he 
was "specially designated to prosecute the claims of 
government to the large estates of the Refugees, con- 
fiscated under the Absentee Act." Mr. Willard says 
of him : " He was without question at the head of the 
bar from the close of the Revolution till he left our 
courts, at the commencement of the present century. 
His professional business far exceeded that of any 
other member of the bar. He was retained in every 
case of importance, and for many years constantly 
attended the courts in Hampshire and Middlesex." 
His great success shows that he made the best use 
of his excellent opportunities. He was a most skill- 
ful advocate before juries, pleasing in his address, 
popular from his known public spirit, eloquent and 
keen. It must have been a task most congenial to his 
■temperament when, as counsel in the celebrated case 
involving the liberty of a negro, he was called upon 
to maintain the equal rights of all men under the laws 
of his native State. The suit was brought by one 
Jennison against two of the name of Caldwell, for 
enticing away a negro slave. Sprague was of counsel 
for the plaintiff. Lincoln's argument, deduced from 
the laws of God and nature, from the principles for 
which the Colonies were even then contending, and 
from the first article of the Massachusetts Bill of 
Rights the proposition that in this State at least no 
man could have the right to say that he was the 
owner of another. So the court decided, and so, from 
that day, has been the undisputed law. 

With public duties and honors Lincoln's life was 
replete. He sat in the convention to frame the Con- 
stitution of the State, and in the Congress of the Con- 
federation. He was State Senator, Councillor, Lieu- 
tenant-Governor. In 1800 he was chosen to represent 
his district in the Congress of the United States, but 
had hardly taken his seat when President Jefferson 
called upon him to enter the Cabinet as Attorney- 
General. The duties of that station he discharged 
with ability and faithfulness so marked as to cause 
Jefferson to accept with the utmost reluctance and 
with every evidence of regret his resignation, after 
four years of service. 

In the more limited sphere of his native town he 
was active for good. In the support of the freedom 
of religious worship, of common-school education, of 



advancement in the arts and sciences, in support of 
government against faction and misrule, his voice and 
influence were ever ready. The latter years of his 
life he spent in a well-earned retirement, enjoying 
the delights of literature, which his busy life had 
only permitted him to sip. In 1820 he died, trans- 
mitting to a line of descendants, as an especial legacy, 
which they have never surrendered, his great quality 
of faithfulness to duty. 

In 1776 Mr. Lincoln was appointed judge of the 
Probate Court for this county, and held the office for 
six years. It was not until after the adoption of the 
State Constitution that a law was passed establishing 
and defining the jurisdiction of this court. As haa 
been said, the judges appointed from time to time had 
been in theory the deputies of the Governor and 
Council, in whom the jurisdiction really resided. In 
1783 an act passed providing that an " able and 
learned person" should be appointed in each county 
for " taking the probate of wills and granting admin- 
istration on the estates of persons deceased," for the 
appointment of" guardians to minors, idiots, and dis- 
tracted persons," "examining and allowing the ac- 
counts of executors, administrators, or guardians," and 
other kindred matters. 

One year after Lincoln, William Stearns, of Lu- 
nenburg, entered upon a brief career at the bar, 
which was cut short by his death in 1784. Before he 
decided upon making the law his profession he had 
studied divinity and made a beginning in journalism. 
He was a lovable man, who, even in the short time 
he lived, made friends of all about him, and left a 
reputation for kindness of heart, joined with talents, 
that promised him a successful career. He was asso- 
ciated with Sprague for the plaintiff in the case of 
Jennison Jigainst Caldwell, to which reference has 
been made. 

The next admission was not until 1780. In that 
year Dvvight Foster, Daniel Bigelow and Edward 
Bangs took the oath. Bigelow was a Worcester man, 
born in 1752. After graduation at Harvard he tried 
his hand at pedagogy for a few months. Then, with 
Stearns, he carried on a newspaper, which lived about 
a year, when both its editors betook them to the law. 
Bigelow settled in Petersham, and there won the con- 
fidence of the community as a counsellor whose ad- 
vice it was safe to follow, and as a suitable person to 
be entrusted with legislative functions. For eight 
years in House and Senate he represented bis con- 
stituents with fidelity, and until his death, in 1806, 
retained the respect which he had fiiirly earned. 

Edward Bangs, a native of Hardwick, was pursu- 
ing his studies at Harvard when the news spread of the 
British expedition to Concord, on the 19th of April. 
He was a member of a company recruited from the 
undergraduates, which had been drilled in anticipa- 
tion that their services might be needed in some such 
emergency. In the irregular warfare of that mem- 
orable day he bore his part courageously. With true 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



chivalry he made no waron the defenceless, and saved 
the life of a wounded enemy whom others were about 
to put to death. Although the regular course of 
studies was interrupted by the exciting scenes that 
followed, he continued to use his books at home, so 
that when the recitations were resumed he was ready 
to proceed with his class, and graduated in 1777, at 
the age of twenty-one. Chief Justice Parsons, then 
practicing in Newburyport, became his guide through 
the mazes of the law, his college classmate, Rufus 
King, being then also his fellow-studeut. After ad- 
mission to the bar, in 1780, he formed a partnership 
with Mr. Stearns for practice in Worcester, but after 
two years concluded to try his fortunes alone. In 
this he achieved a moderate success, though a biog- 
rapher, from whom most of the material for these 
sketches is drawn, says of him that " In his arguments 
on questions of law ... he conceived the matter well, 
and was methodical in his arrangement, and made 
strong points, but was not sufficiently lucid in their 
enunciation." 

In 1805 he formed a partnership with William E. 
Geeen, which continued till his elevation to the 
bench, in 1811. 

For several years he held the office of prosecuting 
attorney for the county. From the asperities and dry 
detail of his profession he found relief in the study of 
the classics, in art, in music and in poetry. He was 
a great admirer of tlie beauties of nature and a de- 
voted horticulturist. At one time he tried his hand 
at editing a newspaper, and was one of the eleven 
members of this bar who, at different periods of its 
precarious and stormy existence, endeavored to bear 
up the ^■Eqis which Francis Blake had intended should 
throw its protection about the national policy of Mr. 
Jefferson. 

During the disturbance of 1786 and '87, known as 
" Shays's Rebellion," he contributed by pen, voice and 
arm to the upholding of the cause of order and good 
government. When the rioters gained such numbers 
and cohesion as to threaten some serious danger to 
the State, he felt it his duty to enlist. The privations 
of the campaign in the winter of 1786-87— brief 
though it was — were a severe strain upon his health, 
the effects of which were felt through life. 

In 1811 the old system of County Courts was abol- 
ished, and the State divided into six circuits, for each 
of which a Court of Common Pleas was established. 

The Western Circuit consisted of Worcester, Hamp- 
shire and Berkshire Counties. Each court consisted 
of a chief and two associate justices, any two of whom 
might hold the court. The jurisdiction was the same 
as that of the County Courts which were superseded. 
Mr. Bangs, who was then county attorney, was pro- 
moted to a seat on the new tribunal, and retained that 
position till the time of his death, in 1818. 

The predecessor of Judge Bangs, in the office of 
county attorney, was Nathaniel Paine ; born in Wor- 
cester ; graduated at Harvard, and through life iden- 



tified with the town of his birth. Hestudied law with 
John Sprague, in Lancaster, who was then in himself 
the bar of the county. That year (1775), however, 
saw Levi Lincoln's entry upon his professional career, 
and young Paine had before him most excellent ex- 
amples in his instructor and his young rival. With 
the exception of the four years immediately following 
his admission to the bar, in 1781, when he lived in 
Groton, Mr. Paine spent his life in Worcester. There, 
one says of him, he " acquired a practice at one time 
greater in extent, it is believed, especially in the col- 
lection of debts, than was ever enjoyed by any other 
professional man in the county." For thirty-five 
years he discharged the delicite duties of judge 
of the Probate Court for this county, succeeding 
Judge Dorr, in 1801. In that court, where the widow 
and the fatherless, the hapless victim of insanity and 
the reckless prodigal are brought, in order that the 
rights, which their own weakness is insufficient to 
maintain, may be secured to them, it is needful that 
a man of wide sympathies, of patience and of sound 
judgment should preside. These qualities Judge Paine 
possessed, and in his long term of service, which has 
not its equal for duration in this county, and proba- 
bly not in the state, they were ripened into the char- 
acter of a model judge. Some one has observed that, 
broadly speaking, in the course of a generation, less 
than Judge Paine's official term, all the property of a 
county passes through the processes of the Court of 
Probate. 

In 1817 an act was passed " to regulate the jurisdic- 
tion and proceedings of the Courts of Probate," by 
whicli all provisions of previous statutes were codified 
and the methods of transacting the business of the 
court established much as they are in vogue at the 
present time. In 1823 the system of remuneration by 
fees was abolished, and fixed salaries established for 
judges and registers. In Worcester County the judge 
was allowed six hundred dollars, and the register 
eleven hundred dollars, the latter office, though of less 
dignity, commanding a greater salary, inasmuch as it 
occupied more thoroughly the time of the incumbent. 
Judge Paine was distinguished for courtesy of man- 
ner, for a habit of observation, a faculty of retaining 
in his memory what he saw or heard, and great facility 
in communicating his stores of anecdote thus treas- 
ured up. He was accordingly a most deliglitful com- 
panion — one who could entertain^ by his own collo- 
quial power, or who was ready to add to his acquisi- 
tion by listening to others. He lived several years 
after resigning his judicial functions, and died in 1840, 
at the ripe age of eighty-two. 

One of Levi Lincoln's students who obtained a 
good standing at the bar was Seth Hastings, of Men- 
don. He was born in Cambridge, in 1762, and gradu- 
ated at its university twenty years later. After com- 
pleting his professional studies, he opened an office 
in Mendon, and made that town his home till the 
close of a useful life of just three-score years and 



THE BENCH AND BAR. 



XXVll 



ten. He was not a graceful orator, but a well- 
grounded lawyer, in whom courts and juries recog- 
nized a man who understood his subject, and rea- 
soned it out in logical order. He was a member of 
Congress for three terms and a State Senator later. 
In 1819 he was made chief justice of the Court of 
Sessions. Two of his sons adopted his profession, 
and practiced in this county. 

William Stedman was another Cambridge man 
who settled in this county. He graduated from Har- 
vard at nineteen in 1784, and entered the office of 
Chief Justice Dana to fit himself for practice. Admit- 
ted in Essex in 1787, he immediately chose Lancaster 
for his field, and there obtained a considerable practice 
as a counsellor. He filled the offices successively of 
member of the Legislature, member of Congress and 
clerk of the courts. He was well versed in the 
learning of his profession, and greatly relied upon as 
a counsellor, but did not obtain eminence as an 
advocate. In Congress he was a general favorite and 
one of the wits of the House. His easy, aflTable man- 
ner, cheerful disposition and ready fund of humor 
made him popular in every circle. He was a strong 
supporter of Federalist doctrines. At one time, in 
retaliation for the imprisonment of some British-born 
subjects who had become naturalized as American 
citizens, a party of British oflHcers were arrested in 
this country. Ten of them were brought by the 
United States marshal to Worcester for lodgment in 
the county jail. The affair aroused considerable ex- 
citement, and earnest protest was made by Francis 
Blake, Stedman and others against the use of the 
jail for such a purpose. Lincoln, on the other hand, 
supported the demand of the marshal, and, after 
some hot debate, persuaded the sheriff to permit the 
incarceration of the prisoners. The sympathizers of 
the latter endeavored to make the confinement as 
tolerable as possible, and on one occasion gave them 
an elaborate dinnerparty within the jail. Shortly 
afterwards the prisoners overpowered their guard, 
and effected an escape, and suspicion was not unnat- 
urally directed to their late hosts as connivers at the 
deliverance. This charge was many years later re- 
futed by one of the officers themselves, who declared 
that no assistance was rendered them by any Ameri- 
cans. Mr. Stedman removed to Newburyport in the 
latter part of his life, and there died in 1831. 

Pliny Merrick, the elder, was the son of a clergy- 
man in Wilbraham, and, after graduation from Har- 
vard, studied divinity, and for some years preached 
occasional sermons. He had not sufficient health to 
undertake the constant labors of a settled minister, 
and felt obliged to try the milder climate of Vir- 
ginia. There he was employed as a private tutor, 
and improved his leisure in the study of the law. 
Whether he thought the exactions of this profession 
less arduous does not appear; but he returned to 
Massachusetts, completed his studies, was admitted 
to the bar in Plymouth County, and announced his 



readiness to receive clients in his native town. From 
there he removed to Brookfield in 1788, and con- 
tinued in practice till his death in 1814. He gave 
evidence of fine talents as an advocate, and had 
much of that rhetorical skill for which his son, the 
late Judge Merrick, was distinguished. It has been 
remarked that an unsuccessful lawyer often made a 
good clergyman, but that one who left the pulpit for 
the forum rarely bettered his condition. Mr. Mer- 
rick seems to have been an exception to this general 
statement ; for he gained a reputation as a sound 
lawyer, while of his clerical efforts we learn little. 

A rival of Merrick for the clientage of Brookfield 
and its vicinity was Jabez Uphasi. He was born in 
that town about the year 1764. His father was a 
Revolutionary officer, holding the rank of captain at 
the close of the war. The son more easily, if less glori- 
ously, earned the title of major for peaceful service on 
the staff of a general of militia. He showed his pluck 
and persistence, however, by earning his way through 
the collegiate course. His class graduated in 1785, but 
Upham disagreed with the faculty as to the just 
rank which should be assigned him at commence- 
ment, and left the college without the degree for 
which he had made such exertions. He had, how- 
ever, the more important acquisition, a mind well 
trained and restored, and later received the diploma 
which testified to the fact. After three years of 
study in the office of Judge Foster he entered the 
ranks of the profession, and looked about him for a 
place in which to make essay of his powers. One or 
two attempts in other towns convinced him that on 
his native heath he was strongest, and in Brookfield 
he passed his life, too early closed in 1811. Some 
years before his death he met with an accident which 
necessitated the amputation of a leg, an operation 
from whose effects he never fully recovered. He was 
twice chosen to a seat in Congress, succeeding Seth 
Hastings as the representative of the Worcester 
South District. Although he died at forty-seven, 
when a lawyer is supposed to be at his best, he had 
obtained a high position, and is spoken of with great 
respect by contemporaries and men who knew his 
reputation. His strength lay in a most painstaking 
investigation of his case, and a persistence in bring- 
ing out every point of law or fact on which he relied. 
Nothing that he thought contributed to the strength 
of his argument was omitted, even though the pa- 
tience of his auditors was at times severely tested. 
Not brilliancy, but unflagging effort was the means 
of his success. 

Not all the members of this bar have been high 
examples of what is best in character and attain- 
ments. Perhaps it is as well to remember by way 
of warning that in the past, as now, men who have 
set out with hopes as eager, with ambitions as lofty 
and with opportunities apparently as favorable as 
the most successful whom we have called to mind, 
have fallen in the race or lagged very far behind the 



xxvui 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



wisners of the prizes. A very eccentric character 
was a law3'er in Leominster. Of that town its local 
historian remarks that it had been most fortunate in 
the number of members of the bar there resident, 
and follows this with the inexplicable non-sequitur 
that for the first half-century of its existence there 
were no lawyers in the place. 

Whatever subtle meaning may have lain in the 
writer's mind, one of the lawyers must have furnished • 
some topic for tea-table gossip in the quiet village. 
Asa Johnson graduated at Harvard in 1787, at an 
age when most men are established in life. But his 
career had theretofore been an exciting one. During 
the Revolution he had served in the navy of the 
Confederation, and had come out with quite a hand- 
some share of prize money. With this he determined 
to secure an education, and fitted himself for the bar 
with credit. At one time he acquired a sufficient 
practice to lay by a competency, and was apparently 
on the road to a respectable position as a country 
counsellor. He was thoroughly honest, a good clas- 
sical scholar and fond of his books. He possessed 
an active intellect, and is described as an agreeable 
conversationalist, quick at repartee when he could 
be drawn into any social intercourse. But he was 
one of those men in whom the social instinct seems 
either never to have existed or to gradually disap- 
pear. His religious views separated him widely 
from the sympathy of his neighbors in that God- 
fearing community. He was called an Atheist in 
the days when a man who doubted the least of the 
generally received dogmas was looked upon as in 
serious danger of eternal punishment. Becoming 
more and more a recluse, and permitting no one to 
become intimate, with him, the most fanciful stories 
were told of his methods of life. It is said that he 
cooked and ate cats, owls and reptiles in his lonely 
home. His only intercourse with his fellow-men, at 
length, was at the gaming table, and there he dissi- 
pated the property he had laid by. In 1820, poor, 
almost friendless and miserable, he died, an illustra- 
tion, too often repeated, that man cannot fulfill the 
aim of his being either to his own satisfaction or 
with worldly success v/ho lives wholly in and for 
himself. 

Peentice Mellen, who practiced law in Sterling 
from 1789 to 1791, deserves a passing notice in these 
chronicles, from the fact that in later years he be- 
came chief justice of the highest court of the State of 
Maine, and in that capacity reflected credit on the 
State where he was educated, and the bar at which 
his early impulse in the path of success was received. 

The professional life of Benjamin Adams, cover- 
ing close on to half a century, is one of those level 
stretches of beautiful meadow which seems to span 
the interval between our point of departure and our 
standing-ground, and to bring nearer to us the lofty 
hills which we have left, and enable us to compare 
them with the eminences close at hand. When Ad- 



ams was admitted to the bar, in 1792, John Sprague 
held the office of high sheriff, but that same year 
resigned its duties to give his entire attention to his 
large professional business. A few years later, as 
chief justice of the Common Pleas, he doubtless in- 
spired the young advocate with admiration for his 
learning and dignity. Levi Lincoln was in the full 
tide of a large and increasing practice, and was 
already known as the man whose arguments had 
abolished slavery on Massachusetts soil. The rugged 
honesty of Artemas Ward secured for him the re- 
spect on the bench even of the counsel, who appre- 
ciated their superiority in knowledge of the law to 
the old general, whose profession was rather of arms 
than of briefs and writs. 

Born in Mendon in 1764, Mr. Adams received a 
liberal education at Brown University. He studied 
law in Uxbridge with Colonel Tyler, who had been a 
Revolutionary officer and was the first lawyer practic- 
ing in the south part of the county. Tyler does not 
seem to have obtained much eminence, or to have 
long remained in practice. Soon after Adams was 
admitted to the bar he succeeded to the business of 
his preceptor, who then disappears from history. 
Possessed of fair abilities and a steady purpose to 
make the most of them, he acquired a substantial 
practice and, what was better, the confidence of his 
townsmen. On the death of Judge Brigham he was 
elected to fill the vacant seat in Congress, and by suc- 
cessive re-elections retained the office until 1823. In 
that year he was defeated as a candidate by Jonathan 
Russell, because of a speech made by Adams in favor 
of the principle of protection. At that time Daniel 
Webster had not seen the light which afterwards so 
clearly illuminated his pathway as to cause him to 
retrace his steps and forswear his logic. The great 
statesman lent his matchless powers to exposing the 
fallacies which Adams upheld, in so forcible a manner 
that neither he nor any one who has come after him 
has been able to answer the argument, and the result 
was Adams's defeat. In very truth he was before his 
time. An ample fortune which he had accumulated 
he lost by unfortunate investments in manufacturing 
enterprises, and it may not be an unwarrantable in- 
ference that his own ill success caused him to feel 
more deeply the need of some protection by the State, 
for business that in itself was profitless. 

He is described as a man of peculiarly even tem- 
perament, who did not suffer prosperity or adversity 
to throw him from his balance. An upright Christian 
gentleman, he did the duties that lay near him, use- 
fully serving his community in whatever way his 
hand found to do. In a county whose bar boasted be- 
fore his death of the fame of the second Levi Lincoln, 
of Charles Allen and of Emory Washburn ; his attain- 
ments were not of an order to be loudly heralded. 
None the less they were a distinct contribution to the 
welfare of his neighborhood. His talents were hon- 
estly put to their best use, so that it could be said the 



THE BENCH AND BAR. 



world was better for his life. In 1837, a few years 
after the late Peter C. Bacon came to the bar, he died 
in Uxbridge, where his active life had been spent. 

Of the fame of an orator only one who has listened 
to the magic of the living voice, and felt his own en- 
thusiasm aroused beneath the spell of the vivid elo- 
quence, is fitted to speak with authority. Francis 
Blake was pre-eminently a master of the art of 
speech. His other titles to remembrance have been 
subordinated to this in the minds of those who have 
spoken and written in his praise. The late Judge 
Thomas, a critic qualified by his skill in the same art, 
has said of him: "In theCourt-House . . . he won by 
his sweetness and commanded by his dignity; where 
his learning and logic convinced, where his wit and 
humor convulsed Bench, Bar and Jury; where his 
passion aroused to indignation or melted into tears; 
where now his genius, his eloquence and his name 
even are but a tradition; where the orb has sunk long 
since below the horizon ; and the eye catches only 
the last lingering, fading hues of twilight. Such is 
the history and the fate of forensic eloquence." 

Mr. Blake was the son of a Revolutionary oflicer 
who lived in Rutland until the boy was five years old 
when he removed to Hiugham. In that town the 
Reverend Joseph Thaxter, afterwards a distinguished 
clergyman, taught the pupils of a grammar-school. 
Under his excellent instruction Blake made such 
rapid progress in preparation for college that he en- 
tered Harvard much the youngest member of his 
class and graduated in 1789, when only iu his six- 
teenth year. He was considered one of the brightest 
and most accomplished scholars of his class; nor do 
his faculties seem to have been unduly stimulated nor 
his brain turned by his rapid advancement. He soon 
began the study of the law in Mr. Sprague's office in 
Lancaster, and at twenty was admitted to the bar, 
thoroughly equipped for the race for legal distinction. 
For a few years he tried the quality of his metal in 
Rutland, his native village, where he obtained a busi- 
ness sufficient to warrant his entering a larger field. 
In 1802 he came to Worcester, and there practiced 
until, in the year preceding his death, his failing 
health compelled him to give up his severe labors and 
assume the less exacting duties of clerk of the courts. 
At the time that he came to Worcester the contest of 
parties which had resulted in the defeat of the Feder- 
alists was still exciting the public mind. Mr. Jeffer- 
son's policy was fiercely attacked by the opposition, 
and Blake's ardent temperament impelled him to 
eagerly support the administration whose success he 
had desired. The publication of a newspaper called 
the National ^yis was begun, principally as a result 
of his efforts, and he undertook the editorial duties. 
Through a large part of President Jefferson's first 
term Blake's pen and influence were constantly de- 
voted to the promulgation and defence of the doctrines 
of the Republicans, as they were then called. In 
1804 he retired from the field of journalism, leaving 



the paper to other hands. Under the editorial guid- 
ance of several different members of the bar it passed 
through various experiences of the uncertainties of 
newspaper life until its mission ended. 

For two years Mr. Blake represented the county in 
the State Senate, but aside from this held no political 
office. His real triumphs were in the court-room. 
For his success there it is instructive to learn that he 
did not depend upon his abundant resources of intel- 
lectual gifts. 

Mr. Willard says, "It is a wrong impression that 
Mr. Blake made but slight preparation in his causes. 
But few could have discovered more investigation, or 
have given more satisfactory proofs of diligent and 
thorough study in the management of his causes. . . . 
His briefs were remarkably full," and showed "that 
mental effort had been tasked in a degree to which 
few in full and successful practice are willing or able 
to submit." 

With powers apparently just developed to their 
highest value, and the brightest prospect of an hon- 
orable career, his physical health gave way. In 1817, 
when only forty-two, he died poor, as is the lot of most 
great advocates, but rich in friends and reputation. 

One of Mr. Blake's law students and ardent ad- 
mirers was a Worcester boy, Samuel Brazer, born in 
1785. At the outset of his career he was placed in 
the employ of a mercantile house in Boston, where 
it was intended that he should fit himself to become 
one of the substantial merchants of that thriving 
town. He evinced, however, so decided a taste and 
aptitude for literary pursuits, that he was allowed to 
enter Leicester Academy to prepare fur college. He 
had that treacherous facility iu acquiring knowledge 
from books which often leads its possessor to rely on 
hasty and superficial attention to his tasks. His 
ready wit and spirit of mischief led him into seme 
pranks which resulted in his incurring the displeas- 
ure of his instructors and the abandonment of his 
plans for a college course. 

Entering Blake's office, he found himself in the 
midst of political turmoil, rather than an atmosphere 
adapted to profound study, such as so volatile a char- 
acter most required. He entered with zeal into the 
exciting controversies of the day, contributed to the 
jEgis, and evidently acquired a taste for politics, 
which overcame every other interest or ambition. 
He was by no means unfitted for public life. Numer- 
ous prose writings and occasional addresses show a 
considerable ability, and a few ventures in the realms 
of poetry prove his command of language and active 
imagination. 

After admission to the bar he began practice in 
New Salem, but its detail soon became distasteful. 
He could not reconcile himself to the quiet life of 
the country lawyer, waiting for clients. He moved 
to Baltimore, and died there in 1823, without having 
realized the hopes of his friends or the promise of 
his youth. 



XXX 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



One of the justices of the Supreme Court in the 
first j'ears of the century was Simeon Strong, who 
had been distinguished as a lawyer before the Revo- 
lution, and had continued practice not only in his 
county of Hampshire, but in our courts after the 
war. His son, Solomon Strong, adopted his father's 
profession, and was admitted to the bar in 1800, just 
before his father was appointed to the bench. He 
was born in Amherst in 1780, and received his educa- 
tion at Williams College. Somewhat of a rolling- 
stone, we find him practicing successively in Eoyal- 
ston, Athol, Westminster and Leominster. Notwith- 
standing his apparent instability, he had acquired a 
competent knowledge of the law and retained a good 
clientage for many years. Two terms in Congress, 
besides several in the State Legislature, showed that I 
he had the confidence and esteem of his constituents, 
and his qualifications as a lawyer were recognized by 
his appointment to the bench of the Circuit Court of 
Common Pleas upon the death of Judge Bangs, in 
1818. 

By an act of the General Court, which took eff'ect 
in 1821, the system of Circuit Courts was abolished, 
and the Court of Common Pleas for the Common- 
wealth established. By its provisions four justices 
were to be appointed, any one of whom could hold a 
session of the court. The terms were to be held at 
the same times and places as had previously been 
provided for the Circuit Courts, and the jurisdiction, 
rules, and methods of procedure of the new court 
were changed in no essential particular. The act 
provides " that the chief justice of said Court of 
Common Pleas shall, during his continuance in office, 
receive from the treasury of the Commonwealth, in 
full, for his services, the sura of twenty-one hundred 
dollars annually," and the associates in like manner 
the sum of eighteen hundred dollars. All fees there- 
tofore paid to the justices of the Circuit Courts are 
directed to be paid into the treasury of the Common- 
wealth. The change seems, on the whole, to have been 
principally in the interests of economy, for under the 
new statute four judges at fixed salaries took the 
place of ten under the circuit system, who received 
an uncertain rate of compensation, dependent largely 
on fees. 

The first chief justice was Artemas Ward, then of 
Newton, son of the old general and judge. Judge 
Strong was appointed the senior associate, and for 
twenty-two years, until his resignation, continued to 
discharge his judicial functions with dignity and 
credit. He died in Leominster in 1850. During the 
last years of his life, after his retirement from the 
bench, his patience was tried by disease and suffer- 
ing. His cheerful courage sustained him through it 
all, and added another to his titles to our respect. 

When in the first year of the present century Levi 
Lincolu assumed the duties of Attorney-General of 
the United States he was in command of the most 
extensive practice in this vicinity, often called into 



adjoining counties, and in the foremost rank of advo- 
cates in the Commonwealth. During his four years 
service in Washington he could not have retained 
the same control of his great clientage as formerly. 
In 1805 he stated as one of his reasons for resisting 
the urgent request of President Jefterson that he 
would remain in the Cabinet, that his duties to his 
family required his presence at home, and it appears 
not improbable that he may have been thinking of 
his son just completing his studies and ready to enter 
upon a inofessional career, iu the outset of which the 
father's experience and established business connec- 
tions would be of infinite value. The son taking up 
the name, the profession, and the position in the 
community of his father added, as time went on, new 
dignities to each. 

Born in Worcester in 1782, his reputation is the 
peculiar pride of the city in whose growth and wel- 
fare he always took the profoundest interest, and 
where he made his home. 

He graduated from Harvard in 1802, and studied 
law in his father's office, though without the advan- 
tage of the daily presence and advice of the busy 
Attorney-General. When he began his practice, 
however, the senior Lincoln had returned from Wash- 
ington, and for several years thereafter continued to 
practice in our courts. The young counsellor needed 
no outside iuHuence to recommend him to those in 
search of a sound legal adviser and earnest advocate. 
He very early made his qual ifications apparen t,and with 
such rivals as Jabez Upham, Francis Blake and John 
Davis, the position of leadership at the bar, to which he 
attained, was not won without many a hard-fought con- 
test. The power of incessant application and a most 
determined will were his, and by these he overcame 
obstacles that sometimes seemed too great for him to 
cope with. He left the practice of the law at forty- 
two, and survived all of his cotemporaries in the pro- 
fession, so that we have uot the testimony of those who 
had heard him as an advocate. But he told friends 
of " the overwhelming labor which his successes 
cost him ; bow he would watch the night out in the 
study of his cases, and then go in the morning into 
the court-room, with a throbbing brain, and speak for 
hours." Efibrts of such a character could only be 
sustained by vigorous physical health, which to the 
last years of his life Governor Lincoln possessed. As 
a result of his careful preparation, he acquired a com- 
plete mastery of his faculties, so that in the vicissi- 
tudes of trials he was ready to use to the best advan- 
tage all his mental resources. He had a great com- 
mand of language and of admirably clear statemen', 
which entitled him to be called an eloquent speaker. 
Certainly he was a most convincing one. His style 
was not encumbered with rhetorical ornaments, but 
plain, substantial and direct. When, in the year of 
his appointment to the bench of the Supreme Court, 
he gave up business, he had acquired a position at the 
bar second to none in the Commonwealth, and a 



THE BENCH AND BAR. 



competent fortune, which raised him above the need 
of anxiety during the years which he devoted to the 
public service. 

His political honors are naturally those which have 
most prominently been associated with the memory of 
his name. In 1812 be was a member of the State 
Senate, add was a strong supporter of the administra- 
tion in its measures which resulted in the war with 
Great Britain. The majority in this State were in- 
tensely opposed to the war, and here at the outset of 
his career Lincoln exhibited his independence of judg- 
ment and courage in supporting his convictions. He 
was rewarded by seeing a strong sentiment built up 
in favor of sustaining the war after we were engaged. 
In 1814, as a member of the House of Representa- 
tives, he protested with vigor against the resolution 
which resulted in our participation in the famous 
Hartford Convention. Defeated by a large majority 
in the General Court, he drew up a protest which was 
signed by the minority, and widely circulated through 
the country, bringing its author into national repute. 
The convention was held, but its action, beyond fur- 
nishing a text for secessionists' arguments in later 
years, had no result, and aroused but short-lived 
interest. 

For several years Mr. Lincoln represented Wor- 
cester in the Legislature — -always with credit. In 
1822 he was elected Speaker of the House, in which 
a majority were of the opposite political party. This 
is an evidence of that remarkable freedom from par- 
tisan bias which he displayed on all occasions. Many 
years afterwards, when a member of Congress, he felt 
it his duty to reply to an attack which a member of 
his own party had made upon the President, to whom 
he was politically opposed, and did it with so much 
dignity and effect that the supporters of the adminis- 
tration published his remarks. He would not win l>y 
any but the fairest means and the most direct argu- 
ments. 

His promotion was rapid. He left the Legislature 
for the Lieutenant-Governorship, and while in that 
office was appointed anassociatejusticeof the Supreme 
Court. On that bench he remained only a year, but 
brought to the performance of its duties a learning 
and a dignified urbanity, which gave evidence that 
there also he would have added to his reputation, and 
to that of the court, already distinguished for its high 
character. In 1825 he received the nomination for 
the office of Governor of Massachusetts from both 
political parties. He said that, owing to his judicial 
position, this was the only way in which he should 
have considered it proper to accept the nomination. 
For nine years he held the office by successive re- 
elections, most of them practically uncontested, and 
no more faithful or efficient officer has filled the chair. 
Interested in everything that could contribute to the 
welfare of the Commonwealth, he imparted a stimulus 
to internal improvements of all kinds. Canals and 
railroads, the improvement of agriculture, the up- 



building of manufactures, reforms of the prisons and 
of hospitals for the insane, the establishment of 
Normal Schools, all received his energetic attention. 

Declining to accept a tenth term as Governor, he 
was persuaded to take the seat in Congress left vacant 
by the election of John Davis to the gubernatorial 
office. There he remained during four Congresses, 
and again sought to retire among his friends and his 
home enjoyments, free from the constant turmoil 
of public life. 

During the rest of his life this retirement was 
broken only at intervals. In 1848 Worcester, having 
received a charter, organized its municipal govern- 
ment, and called upon him, as its first citizen, to 
occupy the mayoralty. This duty he cheerfully per- 
formed for one year. For twenty years thereafter he 
lived amid its growing population and thriving indus- 
tries, always interested in every movement of progre,-s, 
and contributing by his management of his large 
landed property to rendering it a city of beautiful 
streets and home-like residences. Much of his time 
was devoted to the encouragement of agriculture. In 
his own fine farm and herd of cattle he took infinite 
delight, and the Worcester Agricultural Society, of 
which he was president for thirty years, owed much 
to his constant care. Though eminently a man of 
aftairs rather than of books, he took a deep and 
rational interest in scientific and literary investigations. 

The American Antiquarian Society acknowledges 
its indebtedness for his contributions to its library, 
and his own share in its proceedings. 

His pastor, the Rev. Alonzo Hill, speaks of him as 
a deeply religious man, constant in every good word 
and work for the church and society which his father 
had been largely instrumental in establishing. Regu- 
lar in his attendance on public worship, his erect 
figure was every Sunday to be seen on his way to the 
church, a mile from his home, until the infirmities of 
age in the last year of his life prevented. 

One who knew him well says that his great charac- 
teristic was faithfulness — a thoroughness in whatever 
matter, large or small, that he undertook. He had 
an ambition to possess the respect and good-will of 
the public, but this ambition was subordinate to the 
determination to deserve that esteem. No consider- 
ations of present advantage or of personal friendship 
were sufficient to deter him from the course which 
seemed to him the proper one. This was well illus- 
trated when, as Governor, it became necessary for him 
to appoint a chief justice of the Supreme Court to 
succeed Judge Parker. Resisting the claims of an 
intimate friendship, the urgency of influential sup- 
porters and a natural desire to gratify long-standing 
expectations, he selected a man whom his judgmenc 
a-sured him was best qualified for the office. Long 
afterwards he used to say that the act of his Governor- 
ship on which he looked back with the most complete 
satisfaction was the giving to the judicial history of 
the Commonwealth the services of Lemuel Shaw, and 



xxxu 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



every lawyer must sympathize with this self-congratu- 
lation. 

During the Civil War he was a most earnest sup- 
porter of tlie government by word and act. Too far 
advanced in years himself to take the field, his elo- 
quent words incited others and his steady courage 
sustained the drooping faith of those who doubted 
our ultimate triumph. His last public service was to 
act as one of the electors-at-Iarge, and to cast a ballot 
for Abraham Lincoln in 1864. A patriot to the core, 
with a son and grandson in active service, he never 
felt that he had done enough for his country while 
there remained any service which in its hour of need 
he could perform. 

Judge Washburn has well summed up his virtue 
when he says : " I have little hesitation in saying 
that I have never known one whose life and character 
had more of completeness in its composition than 
his. Among his characteristics were a steadiness of 
purpose, a quickness in e.xpedients, a judgment cool 
and well-balanced, discriminating nicely in the selec- 
tion of agents and the application of means, and withal, 
a courage that shrunk from no responsibility, and an 
industry that was alike incessant and unwearied." 

Long may such citizens be found among us, long 
may we recognize and honor them, and God will sSiVe 
the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. 

In 1868, the year of Governor Lincoln's death, 
there passed away a life-long friend who had arrived 
at an equal length of days. Rejoice Newton was a 
native of Greenfield, and a graduate of Dartmouth Col- 
lege in 1807. After studying law for three years he 
was admitted in Hampshire County, and was so for- 
tunate as to form a partnership with Francis Blake, 
then at the height of his successful practice in Wor- 
cester. This connection continued for four years, 
which must have been full of instruction and inspi- 
ration to the younger man, while the latter's method- 
ical habits and calm judgment must have been of 
service to the brilliant orator. After the dissolution 
of the partnership the friendly relations were still 
maintained, as is evinced by letters written by Mr. 
Blake in the last year of his life. 

For seven years Newton discharged with efficiency 
the duties of prosecuting attorney for the county. 
At the end of that time, in 1826, he formed a part- 
nership with Wm. Lincoln, the scholarly historian, a 
brother of Governor Lincoln. As a lawyer, he was 
respected as a safe and careful adviser. In the House 
and Senate of the State he served usefully several 
terms. In numerous business enterprises of the city 
he took an active interest, and his services were in 
request on boards of directors of financial institu- 
tions. By attention to business and judicious invest- 
ments he accumulated a handsome property, and was 
able to retire from active pursuits and enjoy his books 
and his farm during the last ten or fifteen years of 
his life. Like Governor Lincoln, he had a great fond- 
ness for 



Heath and woodland 
Tilth and vineyard, Live and horse, and herd. 

His tastes in this respect he was able to gratify, for 
his broad acres were his only care for many years. 
One of the beautiful hills which overlooks the city of 
his adoption still bears his name, and now, annexed 
to an adjacent park, reminds us that the farms of a 
few years ago are becoming the city locations of to- 
day. 

It was remarked of Mr. Newton that, winning or 
losing in the court-room, his imperturbable temper 
was never disturbed. Such a command over one's 
self is invaluable to any man, but to none more than 
to the advocate, when, in the sharp contests of jury 
trials, a keen opponent is ready to take advantage of 
every lapse, and the twelve men are observing as 
carefully the conduct of the counsel as the statements 
of the witnesses. 

At the ripe age of eighty-five Mr. Newton com- 
pletely withdrew from that world whicli had become 
accustomed to his absence by the strictness of his 
retirement from active life. The papers of the day, 
in alluding to his death, spoke of him as one not 
known to their modern generation. 

This bar has contributed largely from its numbers 
to the ranks of historical scholars. In the case ©f 
Isaac Goodwin the taste for investigation of the rec- 
ords of the past and for literary work was so strong 
as to make the ordinary business of the lawyer a dis- 
tasteful drudgery. Born in the town of Plymouth in 
1786, and pursuing his studies there until he was ad- 
mitted to the bar, in 1808, it would have been strange 
if he had not imbibed a love and reverence for the 
tradition of olden time. He did not receive a colle- 
giate education, but, after passing through the com- 
mon schools, entered the office of Joshua Thomas, a 
distinguished counsellor in his native town. His 
first office he opened in Boston, but, after a trial of 
less than a year, sought a less thoroughly occupied 
field for his unpracticed eflTorts in the town of Ster- 
ling, in this county. There he undertook such busi- 
ness as came to him, and found leisure for his favorite 
studies. His contributions to legal literature were 
works of considerable value. The first, a treatise on 
the duties of town officers, was a much-needed guide 
for the conduct of country selectmen through diffi- 
culties that not infrequently perplex them. In later 
years it was the foundation of a larger and more com- 
plete work on the same subject by Judge Thomas, 
which for years remained a standard reference book. 
Whether such compilations do not as often mislead 
the lay reader who relies on his own interpretation of 
their language as they assist him may be doubted, 
but in the hands of the trained student they prove 
most useful tools. "The New England Sheriff"" was 
his second venture in this field, and till this day that 
work is a valued part of a lawyer's library. 

In 1826 he removed to Worcester, where he had al- 
ready formed strong literary friendships with William 



THE BENCH AND BAR. 



lyiucoln and Christopher BaldwiD, the editors of 
Tlie Woreeater Magazine, and other gentlemen of like 
tastes. For this periodical he wrote a general history 
of Worcester County, which continued through sev- 
eral numbers, and also a history of Sterling. Both 
these writings gave evidence of painstaking investi- 
gation, and the earnest desire of the author for im- 
partial accuracy. His style is not enlivened by 
many of the graces of diction, but the plain tale is 
set down with admirably terse exactitude. To state 
the facts was the aim he set before him, and to do 
that well is more than ludf the power of the success- 
ful advocate. 

He was often called upon to deliver addresses of an 
historical nature. His oration on the one hundred 
and fiftieth anniversary of the destruction of Lancas- 
ter by the Indians, was one of the most noteworthy 
of these. His death occurred in 1832, when in his 
forty-seventh year. 

For more than twenty years a most prominent fig- 
ure at all sessions of the higher courts in this coun- 
ty, adding dignity to every occasion, was that of 
Sherift' Willard. He was a native of Harvard, born 
in 1784, and entered the bar in 1809, after a course of 
study in the office of Richard H. Dana, in Boston. 
For a short time he practiced in Petersham, but soon 
removed to Fitchburg. 

In 1824 Governor Lincoln, with his usual sagacity, 
selected him for the office of high sheriff of the 
county. His manner of discharging the duties of 
that position was a model for all who should come 
after him. Courteous and respectful to all, he in- 
sisted that the decorum which he observed on public 
occasions should not be infringed by others. With 
the instincts of the old-school gentleman, he was 
most careful in his regard for the etiquette to be 
maintained in his relations to court and bar. To a 
greater extent than in our modern haste we are apt 
to imagine, a respect for forms assists rather than re- 
tards the proper dispatch of business, and the digni- 
fied sheriff, Calvin Willaed, ever entered his ear- 
nest protest against any attempt to override the estab- 
lished order, on the plea of a more expeditious re- 
sult. After resigning his office in 1844, he lived in 
Millbury and Worcester until his death, in the latter 
city, in 1867. 

For forty years of Worcester's steady growth in all 
the arts of peace her prosperity was shared by Sam- 
UEE M. BuRNSiDE. The contrast between the sur- 
roundings of his birthplace and of his mature life is 
striking. He was born in 1783, in Northumberland, 
then a frontier town in New Hampshire. There his 
father, a typical frontiersman, who had fought in the 
French and Indian Wars, had established a home in 
the wilderness, and had maintained his foothold 
despite rude climate and desolating savage. Through 
the Revolution he served in military expeditions, 
and in the intervals cultivated the land which 
he bad so hardly secured. From .such environ- 
C 



ments the son went out to the life of a steady law- 
yer, in a community remarkable for the quiet of 
its every-day life, where nothing more terrible than 
the sham battles of training-day disturbed the seren- 
ity of the inhabitants. He brought with him to his 
work the same persistent energy which carried the 
father over difficulties, and placed the son in posses- 
sion of fortune and reputation. After graduating 
from Dartmouth in 1805, and a year or two of peda- 
gogic experience, he entered the office of Artemas 
Ward, then practicing in Charlestown. Mr. Burn- 
side says that the practice of Judge Ward was then 
immense, and that he was so much of the time ab- 
sent from his office that his students were left much 
to their own discretion in their course of study. He 
had, however, an opportunity to draw conveyances 
and pleadings under the supervision of his preceptor, 
which was of great value in forming habits of accu- 
racy and conciseness of expression. In 1810 he was 
admitted as an attorney in the Supreme Court with- 
out having, as was the usual rule, been previously 
sworn at the bar of the Common Pleas. In the same 
year he came to Worcester, and commenced business 
with an excellent preparation for success. 

Those who knew him speak of his great industry 
and his mastery of fundamental principles as the con- 
spicuous elements of his power. Well read in the 
learning of his profession, he wisely diversified his 
pursuits by a continued attention to the classics, and 
in the latter years of his life, during which he gave 
up active labors these studies provided a constant 
source of enjoyment for his well-earned leisure. He 
died in 1850, but his name is still associated with the 
business interests of the city, where are the evidences 
of his prosperous career. 

Edward D. Bangs was the son of Judge Edward 
Bangs, who has been mentioned. He was born in 
Worcester in 1790 and studied in his father's office. 
Admitted to the bar in 1813, he at once formed a 
partnership with William E. Green, who had been 
associated with his father previous to the latter's ele- 
vation to the bench. Though esteemed a good law- 
yer and careful of the interests committed to him, he 
never acquired a fondness for professional labors. 
His mind rather turned towards purely literary in- 
vestigations, and in his position as Secretary of State, 
to which he was elected in 1824, he found duties 
much more fitted to his tastes. He always seemed to 
take pleasure in assisting the inquiries of others in 
his department, and spent the happiest years of his 
life in the Boston State-House. He was elected a 
member of the Constitutional Convention of 1820, 
and was associated in the representation of Worces- 
ter with Levi Lincoln. His youth and modesty pre- 
vented his taking an active part in the proceedings 
of that body or of the House of Representatives, 
where he sat for several years. He succeeded Re- 
joice Newton in the office of county attorney, but re- 
signed in a few months to assume the Secretaryship 



XXXIV 



HISTUllY OF WORCESTER COUJSfTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



of State. His healtli had become so impaired in 
1830 as to cause his retirement from ofDce, and he 
lived but two years longer. He was distinguished 
for his gentlemanly bearing and invariable courtesy 
of manners — qualities which he inherited from his 
father. Like him, also, he was a devoted horticul- 
turist — a taste which seems naturally associated with 
gentle breeding. 

Massachusetts was most fortunate in having in her 
public service, at the same time, two such men as 
Levi Lincoln and Johx Davis, and that they were 
trained to command the applause of listening senates 
in the forensic contests of the Worcester Court-house 
will always remain the pride and the incentive of the 
young aspirant for legal honors at our bar. Born in 
Northborough in 1788, some six years later than Gov- 
ernor Lincoln, and finding more obstacles to his 
rapid progress in youth than the son of the Attorney- 
General. Mr. Davis, through life, pressed close upon 
the footsteps of his [U'edecessor, and in generous 
rivalry left it doubtful which should deserve best of 
the republic. He was descended of a line of sturdy 
yeomen, the first of whom in this country was Dolor 
Davis, whose name is found upon the Cambridge 
records in 1634. His father, Isaac Davis, a respected 
farmer of Northborough, found it a task sufficiently 
laborious to force from the reluctant soil a comfort- 
able living for his large family, and he of them who 
would secure an education must struggle for it him- 
self. Until he was nineteen years old John Davis, 
by his own account, was employed most of his time 
upon the farm. He, however, found sufficient time 
for study by himself and in the district schools to fit 
himself for Leicester Academy, where he made good 
use of the short time at his disposal, and entered 
Yale College in 1808. There he graduated in due 
course with high honors. Francis Blake was, at that 
time, in the very zenith of his brilliant power, and 
his reputation attracted to his office the youth emu- 
lous of his fame. After three years of study with 
Mr. Blake, Davis was admitted to the bar in 1815. 
For a few months he tried the worth of his acquire- 
menbi in Spencer, and no doubt was satisfied that he 
could bear his part in a more crowded forum, for he 
soon came back to Worcester and there set up his 
standard. 

The next year Mr. Blake's failing health compelled 
him to withdraw from active practice, and Mr. Davis 
succeeded to his office and his business. Undertak- 
ing the task of wearing such a mantle and called 
upon at once to contend with antagonists so formid- 
:ible as Lincoln, Newton, and Burnside, his powers 
were put to proof and rajndly developed. In the ten 
years that elapsed before he entered Congress and 
Lincoln became a judge he had attained a com- 
manding position, and hud increased the large client- 
age which he inherited from Blake. As a lawyer it 
was said of him that he did not possess a considerable 
familiarity with reported decisions, but that his well- 



trained judgment and clear perception of the funda- 
mental principles of law generally brought him to a 
correct conclusion as to what the law ought to be, 
and he then proceeded to sustain his position by the 
arguments which had convinced his own mind, apd 
by precedents illustrative of the principles which he 
maintained. Courts learned to know that his argu- 
ments were based on careful reasoning aud might be 
relied on to contribute something towards the deci- 
sion of the issue, even though they might fail to 
carry complete conviction. Before juries his evident 
candor, his plain statement of the facts as he viewed 
them, and entire comprehension of the way in which 
his array of evidence would impress the mind of the 
unprejudiced auditor, givehiiua power which pressed 
strongly towards a favorable verdict. Judge Paine 
remarked of him that he had more common sense 
than any three lawyers of his acquaintance, and this 
saving grace was conspicuous in all his actions and 
utterances. 

For a year previous to Mr. Lincoln's promotion 
to the Supreme Court he joined forces with Mr. 
Davis in practice. Afterwards the firms of Davis & 
Charles Allen and Davis & Emory Washburn trans- 
acted a large share of the Inisiness of the county, and 
proved most formidable allies until 1834, when Gov- 
ernor Davis finally retired from the courts to give his 
attention exclusively to public duties. In the dis- 
charge of these, as was most natural, he won his most 
wide-spread distinction. 

His political career began with his election to Con- 
gress in 1824. During his first term he was rather 
an observer than an active participant in debate, but 
in 1827 he attracted attention by his earnest advocacy 
of the so-called American system. From that time 
onward he was an able champion of the protective 
tariff" on every occasion, and whatever may be thought 
of the soundness of his deductions, it is certain that 
he handled his facts with skill and presented with 
utmost vigor the now hackneyed arguments which 
have prevailed with the majority of New Englanders 
to the present time. His speech in reply to McDuflie, 
of South Carolina, the leader of the free trade party 
in the House, was esteemed his most powerful pre- 
sentation of the ease, and gave him a national repu- 
tation. 

A declaration made in one of his speeches is re- 
markable by contrast with what any member of Con- 
gress at the present day would be able to say on the 
same subject. In defending his constituents from 
the charge of self-seeking in their demand for tariff" 
legislation, he says: " During the seven years I have 
held a seat on this floor, no one has applied to me to 
ask any favor of the Executive for him, nor has any 
one sought my assistance in procuring an appoint- 
ment of any kind, unless it is to be the deputy of 
some little village post-office." If our representa- 
tives could obtain a like exemption from vexatious 
importunity, their undistracted attention to purely 



THE BENCH AND BAR. 



legislative duties might bring forth at least some re- 
sult. 

In 1833 Governor Lincoln announced that he 
should not again be a candidate, and the Whig Con- 
vention, with practical unanimity, selected Mr. 
Davis as their nominee. He accepted with evident 
reluctance, feeling that his usefulness in Congress 
was assured, while the new honor brought with it 
untried responsibilities. His loss to the service of 
the whole country was deplored outside of Massa- 
chusetts, one of the influential journals declaring 
that he was the right arm of the Massachusetts dele- 
gation in Congress. 

The Anti-Masonic party, then at the culmination 
of its strength in this State, had put in nomination 
John Quincy Adams, and Davis was made to feel it 
his dut}' to accept the leadership of his party in a 
dubious conflict, and such it proved to be. In the 
popular election there was no choice, but in the 
Legislature Davis received a majority. The difficult 
task of acceptably filling the chair which his friend 
Lincoln had so long adorned he accomplished with 
credit, and was elected for a second term, but re- 
signed when chosen to fulfill the more congenial du- 
ties of United States Senator. In that august body, 
where he sat from 1835 to 1841, and from 1845 
to 1853, he was cotemporary with the triumvi- 
rate, Webster, Calhoun and Clay, whose overshad- 
owing greatness tradition continues to magnify. But 
reading the plain story of the times, it is evident 
that Senator Davis was a i)otent factor in moulding 
legislation, and that his grasp of national questions 
was in most cases liberal and always strong enough 
to make itself felt. Not only on the tariff, but ou 
our commercial relations, the fisheries, financial 
topics and our intercourse with foreign powers, he 
made his opinion respected by making his knowledge 
evident. 

His two terms of service in the Senate were di- 
vided by two years in the State Governorship and 
two years of private life. He lived but one year 
after retiring from the Senate, in 1853, to enjoy that 
contemplation of a life well spent, which he might 
so deservedly anticipate. 

Two years after Mr. Davis' admission to the bar 
there applied to the examiners for this county a tall, 
slender youth, whose clear-cut profile, close curling 
locks and keen glance gave to his countenance an 
almost classic beauty. As his examination pro- 
ceeded, the questioners became so interested in the 
thoroughness of the knowledge he displayed, and the 
aptness of his replies, that for their own gratification 
they prolonged their inquiries after they were satis- 
fied of the qualification of the candidate for en- 
trance to the bar. 

The young man was Charles Allex, then in his 
twenty-first year. His father, Joseph Allen, was 
clerk of the courts for this county for thirty-three 
years, succeeding the elder Levi Lincoln in that ca- 



pacity. He was a fine scholar, and a gentleman of 
that refined and elegant school of manners often 
spoken of as old, but by no means obsolete at the 
present day. Charles Allen was born in Worcester 
in 1797. Three generations back he counted as his 
ancestor a sister of Samuel Adams, and the stead- 
fast independence of that old patriot was clearly re- 
flected in his kinsman of the later day. After pre- 
paring for college at Leicester Academy he entered 
Yale when only fourteen. There he remained only 
a year, severing his connection tor reasons that were 
said by his pastor to reveal " the delicateness of his 
sensibility, but reflected no dishonor upon him." 
Immediately he entered the office of Mr. Burnside, 
then in full practice, and so diligently improved his 
youthful powers as to meet the examination in 1817 
with the result described. 

For six years he practiced in New Braintree, and 
a discriminating eulogist says : " When, some twenty- 
five or thirty years later, I commenced practice in the 
same community, the reputation he had won there, 
in those early years, was still spoken at with ad- 
miration and pride by those who had beeii the clients 
and friends of the young lawyer, and who had fol- 
lowed him through all his subsequent and more con- 
spicuous public career." In 1824 he removed to 
Worcester, and became associated with John Davis, 
who, though ten years his senior, had been but two 
years longer at the bar. He was not a case lawyer 
nor a reader of many books. Thoroughh' well 
grounded in leading principles, it was his habit to 
think out his line of reasoning while pacing his of- 
fice or walking in the open air. It was said that the 
definitions of Blackstone were impressed upon his 
memory almost verbatim, and although he gave to 
every case most careful preparation, it was rather a 
process of reflection and logical deduction from es- 
tablished premises than a resort to the writings or 
decisions of jurists who had preceded him. His 
great power lay in cross-examination. In the use of 
this most dangerous weapon, more fatal to the un- 
skillful wielder than all the armory of his opponent, 
he was an adept whose superior, by the testimony of 
living witnesses, most competent to judge, has not 
arisen in this Commonwealth from his time to the 
present. ' Terrible is the word used by one to describe 
his treatment of a witness whom he believed to be 
testifying to an untruth, and with merciless direct- 
ness question would follow question till the best fab- 
ricated story was exposed. He realized, too, the 
danger of attempting too much with an adverse wit- 
ness, and never committed the mistake of strength- 
ening the direct testimony of his opponent by per- 
mitting its repetition in reply to cross-questioning. 
His general rule was never to examine an adverse 
witness ; the exception he chose carefully and for 
sufficient reasons. His intellectual processes were 
rapid, and all his faculties and stores of knowledge 
ready at any moment for their best service. With a 



XXXVl 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



remarkable mastery of the rules of evidence, he was 
able, in the course of trials, as questions arose, to 
take up his position and defend it by cogent argu- 
ment upon the instant. 

His public services included four years in the lower 
and three in the upper branch of the State Legislature 
and four years as a Representative in Congress. In 1848 
he was a delegate to the Whig National Convention. 
The representatives of Massachusetts voted steadily 
for Daniel Webster, but the leading candidates were 
Clay and Taylor. Mr. Allen, though up to that time 
acting with the Whig party, was a stern Abolitionist 
in faith and word. Hating slavery as a sin, and 
convinced that the nomination of General Taylor 
was a truckling to the power of the slaveholders, up- 
on the announcement of the vote, he arose in his 
place, denounced the act in incisive language, and 
left the hall and the party, to go home and earnestly 
engage in the formation of the Free-Soil party. 

In 1853 he was a member of the convention called 
to revise our State Constitution, and there his coun- 
sels were sought by the leading lawyers of the State 
who were found in that body. 

But as Judge Allen he was best known and is still 
remembered in this community. His first judicial 
appointment was to the Court of Common Pleas in 
1842. Two years later he, with most of his associates, 
resigned, in consequence of a legislative spasm of 
economy, which reduced their already modest sala- 
ries. In 1858 he was appointed chief justice of the 
Superior Court for Suffolk County, and in the follow- 
ing year was fitly chosen to preside over the newly- 
commissioned Superior Court of the Commonwealth, 
which was substituted for the old Court of Common 
Pleas. On this bench he remained until failing 
powers induced his resignation in 18G7, two years 
before his death. Twice he was offered promotion to 
the Supreme Court, and again on the retirement of 
Chief Justice Shaw, but he preferred to remain 
where he was. His physical health was not robust, 
and he hesitated to assume duties that to him might 
be more laborious. He was admirably fitted to pre- 
side atnisiprius trials, where the quick grasp of the 
facts, as they are for the first time presented, the 
ability readily to conceive and apply the rules of 
evidence and facility in clear, impromptu statement 
of the law for the guidance of the jury, are essentials. 
He was never fond of the patient reading and writing 
necessary to the preparation of the elaborate opin- 
ions of the Supreme Court. One of his friends and 
admirers says of him that he was an indolent man, 
never making more than just the absolutely neces- 
sary exertion for his purpose, and ever ready to post- 
pone, if possible, the undertaking of new eflbrt. His 
own explanation of this apparent sloth is found in a 
remark to Judge Foster: " Few know how much phys- 
ical weakness I have had to contend with through 
life, and how much has been attributed to indolence 
in me, that was caused by the necessity of nursing 



my health." He possessed, however, an energy of 
will that roused his latent powers to a height com- 
mensurate with any obstacle, as opponents learned to 
know full well. 

Judge Allen was not a scholar. His reading was 
confined in its scope, yet his mind seemed to broaden 
and deepen by its own innate law of growth. The 
concurrent testimony of those who knew him well, 
with singular unanimity, dwells upon his intel- 
lectual strength. " I think . . . for force of intellect 
he was above any man whom I have known in this 
commonweath ;" '' No one who has ever lived in this 
community was his equal in pure intellectual power ;" 
"He never called any man his intellectual master;" 
"Among intellectual masters ranked with the very 
first, not second to Daniel Webster himself," are the 
expressions of four lawyers, who have had opportu- 
nity to form correct opinions of the man. 

Though reserved and dignified in manner and little 
apt to display his feelings, he showed to his chosen 
friends a kindly nature, ready to share in social inter- 
course or extend the hospitable hand. Conscientious, 
independent, reverent of the religious truths in which 
he firmly believed, fearing his own disapproval and 
else no mortal man, his was a proud position — as of 
that 

Promontory of rock 
That, compassed round with turbtdent sound, 

In middle-ocean meets the surging shock, 
Tempest buffeted, citadel crowned. 

Mr. Allen's most formidable antagonist before the 
jury for many years was Plixy Merrick, the son of 
the gentleman of the same name, of whom we have 
spoken. He was born in Brookfield in 1794, and 
graduated from Harvard in the class with the historian 
Prescott in 1814. He had the advantage of studying 
his profession in the office of Levi Lincoln, then just 
entering upon his political career in the State Legis- 
lature and in the midst of active practice. After his 
admission to the bar in 1817, Mr. Merrick made sev- 
eral attempts at settlement before adopting Worcester 
as his home. For four years he practiced in Taunton, 
and for a portion of that time was a partner of Gov- 
ernor Morton. In 1824 he returned to Worcester to 
undertake the duties of prosecuting attorney for the 
county. In this capacity he acted until the division 
of the State into districts under an act of 1832. 
Governor Lincoln thereupon appointed his former 
pupil attorney for the Middle District, which con- 
sisted of Worcester and Norfolk Counties, and he 
held the otlice until his promotion to the bench in 
1843. 

During these nearly twenty years of service in 
conducting cases for the government in the criminal 
courts his general practice was continually increas- 
ing. He was on several occasions called into the 
courts of Vermont, New Hampshire and Rhode Isl- 
and, where his reputation had become known and 
valued. 

His arguments are spiiken of as masterpieces of 



THE BENCH AND BAR. 



rhetorical skill. His command of language was un- 
surpassed by any of his cotemporaries, and his elo- 
quent perorations are still vividly impressed on the 
recollections of some who have listened to them. 
With a keen wit and great quickness of apprehension 
he united an impulsiveness of temperament which 
sometimes hurried him beyond the positions which he 
had intended to maintain,but his readiness and his good 
humor never failed him in these emergencies. Judge 
Washburn says of him that " it was sometimes difii- 
cult for an antagonist to determine whether he was 
the most effectually subdued by his adroitness or his 
courtesy." 

One of the most conspicuous trials in which he was 
engaged was that of Professor Webster for the murder 
of Dr. Parkman. His defence of the prisoner, though 
somewhat criticised at the time, is now admitted to 
have been well conducted and a good struggle in a 
hopeless cause. 

In 1843 Mr. Merrick was appointed a judge of the 
Court of Common Pleas, and held the office until 
184S, when he resigned and undertook the presidency 
of the Worcester and Nashua Railroad. In 1850 he 
returned to the bench, and after three years was pro- 
moted to the Supreme Judicial Court. It was appre- 
hended by many of his associates that the brilliant 
rhetoric, keen wit and swift mental processes which 
had formed great part of his strength at the bar 
would unfit him for the duties of the judge, who must 
often " halt between two opinions," till he is possessed 
of all that can be said on either side. 

But as a nisi prius judge he exibited a most accu- 
rate knowledge of the rules of practice and evidence, 
which facilitated the progress of trials by avoiding 
the nece.ssity of long arguments as objections were 
raised. He was quite apt to form a decided opinion 
on the merits of the case, and in his charge to the 
jury to make that opinion manifest with a distinc- 
ness that the judge of to-day would consider excep- 
tionable. 

The present theory is that the presiding judge is 
to be absolutely without sympathies and without 
opinions on the right or wrong of the controversy, 
but to state to the jury the rules of law which shall 
govern them, in any conceivable aspect of the facts, 
which may impress them as the true one. To so 
austere a view of the functions of the judge Mr. 
Merrick was never able to conform himself. His 
statements of complicated series of facts were always 
clear and of assistance to a proper understanding of 
their relative value, but often of their value in the 
mind of the judge. In the reports of decisions of the 
Supreme Court, his opinions, especially upon the 
criminal law of Massachusetts, are held in high re- 
spect. For ten years his services became more and 
more valuable, and he was recognized as a worthy 
associate of Lemuel Shaw, our great chief justice. 
He was an energetic worker and ready to assume 
even more than his share of the labors of the benrh. 



In 1856 he removed to Boston, and there resided 
till his death, in 1867. The last three years of his 
life were spent in retirement occasioned by disease. 
Paralysis had suspended the use of some of his limbs. 
But through it all he sustained his cheerful disposi- 
tion and powerful will. When his right hand was 
disabled, he learned to write with his left. Pr6- 
vented from going abroad, he found in the converse 
of friends at home the means of keeping his mental 
faculties in active use. 

Mr. Merrick belonged to the political party which 
was in the minority in this State, and held few elec- 
tive offices. He served in both branches of the State 
Legislature at intervals ; but, aside from that, his 
whole attention was devoted to his profession. 

Joseph Thayer was an exa;nple, of which the law 
does not furnish many, of a lawyer who, without 
inherited property or remarkable legal attainments, 
acquired, in the course of an honorable and useful 
career, a handsome competence. He was born in 
Douglas in 1792, graduated at Brown University in 
1815, and after studying in the offices of Levi Lin- 
coln and of Bezaleel Taft, of Uxbridge, he began 
practice in that town. Without great learning in 
the law, he possessed good practical judgment, on 
which he was accustomed to rely, and which others 
soon learned to respect. His perception of the real 
gist of a controversy was seldom at fault, though 
generally arrived at without the aid of labored rea- 
soning. In financial matters his judgment was re- 
markably accurate. He became interested in a large 
number of business enterprises in his community. 
Both the Blackstone Canal and its successor, the 
Providence and Worcester Railroad, received, in 
their inception and progress, his encouragement and 
assistance. 

His townsmen found in him one ready to use his 
capital in sustaining those under temporary embar- 
rassment, and to risk something rather than see his 
neighbors go to the wall. He accordingly received 
and retained their confidence, and was honored by 
elections to various positions of trust. His political 
services outside of Uxbridge were in the Constitu- 
tional Convention of 1853, to which he was chosen a 
delegate by general consent, and in the Legislature 
of the State. He rounded out nearly four-score years 
of honored and useful life, and died at the residence 
of Judge Chapin, his son-in-law, in 1872. 

It is proper to mention among the prominent men 
who have been members of this bar, one whose life 
was spent in other than professional pursuits, but 
who always felt a pride in his connection with the 
law, and who so well fulfilled the duties of his sta- 
tion that the bar may well be proud to number him 
among their honored dead. 

Stephen Salisbury, the son of a Worcester mer- 
chant bearing the same name, was born in 1798. His 
father had been successful in establishing in the 
small town an extensive business and a home where 



XXXVIU 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



a refined and generous hospitality was exercised. 
From the intiuence ol' the hitter the son went out to 
Leicester Academy and Harvard College, where he 
graduated in 1817, carrying with him everywhere 
the evidence of that home culture in his dignified 
courtesy and unswerving integrity. He studied law 
with Samuel Buruside, and was admitted to the bar, 
though he had no need and probably no intention of 
making professional labors his life-work. For seve- 
ral years he assisted in the care of his father's prop- 
erty, and in 1821), when he became its sole owner by 
inheritance, he assumed the duties which he felt that 
the possession of wealth devolved upon him, with an 
earnest desire to conscientiously discharge every re- 
sponsibility. Absolved from the necessity of any 
labor if he had so chosen, he was one of the most 
industrious of men. A diligent student, he made 
himself familiar not only with classic authors, which 
were perhaps his favorite recreation, but with a great 
variety of lines of scientific and literary research. 
For thirty years he presided over the American An- 
tiquarian Society, and frequently contributed from 
his pen to the publications of that body. His 
wisdom was sought for in the conduct of financial, 
charitable and scientific institutions, and to whatever 
duties he assumed he applied the same conscientious 
attention. His constant endeavor was to faithfully 
perform that which he felt it right to undertake. The 
Polytechnic Institute located in Worcester was a pecu- 
liar object of his bounty and his care. As president 
of its Board of Trustees he was unfailing in his atten- 
tion to its interests. Till the latest period of his life 
he was constantly growing in mental breadth, and 
did not allow age or even later infirmity to repress 
his eager interest in intellectual pursuits. Elsewhere 
in these volumes his deeds will more fitly be described, 
but as he always wished to be counted with the law- 
yers when they gathered for any occasion of general 
interest, so we cannot omit to claim some share in 
liis good fame whose training as a law-student nuist 
have aided in making him what he was. 

For the facts contained in most of the earlier 
sketches in this chapter the writer is principally 
indebted to the scholarly address delivered by Joseph 
WiLLARD before the bar of the county in 1829. He 
was then but a little over thirty years of age, but the 
address is characterized by thorough investigation, by 
philosophical refiection and by inspiring views of the 
nobility of the profession which he represented. His 
father was president of Harvard College, and from a 
line of ancestors he inherited a scholar's love for the 
classics and for literary and historical investigation. 
Born in Cambridge in 1798, he graduated in his nine- 
teenth year, and at once began the study of law in 
Amherst, New Hampshire. At this time he formed 
the acquaintance of John Farmer, a zealous antiqua- 
rian scholar, whose friendship and advice no doubt 
gave a bent to the tastes of the young man towards 
similar studies. After completing his professional 



studies in the Cambridge Law-School, lie began prac- 
tice first in Waltham, and in 1821 in Lancaster. 
There for ten years he gave attention to business 
with considerable success. He could not forego liter- 
ary work, however, and was one of the writers for the 
Worcester Magazine, a periodical devoted to historical 
and literary topics, especially those of a local charac- 
ter. His most elaborate work, which appeared in 
those pages, was a history of the town of Lancaster, 
which exhibits his habits of careful and minute 
investigation .and his excellent taste and judgment 
in the selection of his material. 

In 1830 he married a Boston lady, and soon after- 
wards removed to that city, continuing to practice 
until 1840. In that year he was appointed, by Gov- 
ernor Everett, clerk of the Court of Common Pleas 
for Suflblk County. This office, through the changes 
of the style of the court, and after the clerkship be- 
came an elective position, he held till a short time 
before his death. With its duties he made himself 
thoroughly conversant. On the great multi[)licity of 
questions of practice constantly arising, his opinion 
came to be regarded as almost equal to a Supreme 
Court decision. His methodical habits kept the large 
accumulation of papers and records in perfect order 
and available for instant reference, and he seems to 
have transmitted to his son the same capacity for 
the successful administration of that difficult position. 

He found in retirement from practice more leisure 
for his favorite historical studies. The Proceedings 
of the American Antiquarian Society and the Massa- 
chusetts Historical Society, of both of which learned 
bodies he was an active member, are enriched by his 
papers on a variety of topics. A work upon which 
he was engaged at the time of his death was a life of 
General Knox. The manuscript materials entrusted 
to him were in a chaotic state, and the labor of ar- 
ranging the letters and documents taxed his powers 
for a long time. He became intensely interested in 
the work, and after his strength was insufficient lor 
any other exertion he insisted on the attempt to go 
on with this labor of love. But it was not permitted 
him to complete the task. In 1865 he died, amid the 
closing scenes of the conflict of arms which had 
aroused his fervent patriotism and in which had been 
sacrificed the life of his eldest son. 

Mr. Willard had early connected himself with the 
Free-Soil party. His conscience deeply felt the sin 
of slave-holding, and he welcomed the war as the 
means of deliverance from that burden. A letter 
which he wrote to an English friend, in reply to 
some liostile criticisms of the English press, was 
widely circulated and largely instrumental in inform- 
ing public opinion in England on the true merits of 
the Northern position. 

Twenty-seven years after Mr. Willard's historical 
sketch of our bar from its beginning, the tale was 
taken up and carried on in graceful diction, with ad- 
mirable skill, by Emoey Washburn, a cotemporary 



THE BENCH AND BAR. 



and literary associate of Mr. Willard. From this 
address are borrowed many of the details that have 
appeared in these jjages. Its author was born in Lei- 
cester in 1 800, and prepared for college in that admir- 
able school, which has been the chief glory of the 
town. His father died in the lad's seventh year, 
leaving him to the care of his mother, to whom, 
through her life, he manifested a most devoted at- 
tachment, and of his pastor, Dr. Moore. This, gen- 
tleman was called to a professorship in Dartmouth 
College, and took with him his proUcje, then only 
thirteen years old. In 1815 Professor Moore became 
president of Williams College, and thither Mr. Wash- 
burn followed his fortunes, and there graduated in 
1817. His experience in small colleges made him 
a firm believer in the superior advantage of the more 
intimate association of pupils with instructors there 
possible. He was always a stanch and useful friend 
of his alma mater. Part of his professional studies 
were pursued in the office of Judge Dewey in Wil- 
liamstown, and for a year he attended the Harvard 
Law School. Soon after his admission, in 1821, he 
opened an office iu Leicester, where he remained for 
seven years. During this period he served his town 
as clerk and as Representative in the General Court. 
Becoming interested with the founders of the Wor- 
cester Magazine in preserving the memorials of the 
past life of this vicinity, he wrote with great fidelity I 
and published in various numbers of that periodical ( 
a history of Leicester and of its academy. In 1828 
his mother died, and the chief tie which bound him 
to the village having thus been broken, he removed 
to Worcester. That town then had a population of 
some four thousand, but among them was Lincoln, 
the Governor of the State ; John Davis, dividing his 
time between the duties of a member of Congress and 
a lawyer in active practice ; Charles Allen and Sam- 
uel Burnside. 

Mr. Washburn's clients followed him from Leices- 
ter and he soon attracted others. In 1831 he formed 
a partnership with John Davis, succeeding Mr. Allen 
in that relation. His faculty of making every man 
who came to him for advice feel that he had found a 
personal friend, that his cause was in the hands of 
one who had not only the ability but the sympathetic 
interest to make the most of it, secured to Mr. Wash- 
burn in a remarkable degree the affectionate adher- 
ence of hosts of clients. His industry was incessant 
and untiring, and his success proportionate. Gov- 
ernor Bullock says of him, " His leading competitors 
at the bar were clearer in statement, more incisive in 
their arguments. Governor Washburn was never a 
rhetorician. I perceived, however, that there was a 
moral power of confidence behind him which was 
equal to the power of eloquence." "His great source 
of influence over juries was the kindliness, the 
genuineness of his nature." Juries believed in the 
honesty of the man. He was able so thoroughly to 
identify himself with his client's view of the facts, as 



to impress others with the sincerity of his own con- 
victiion of its truth. 

In 1838 he was again a member of the House of 
Representatives, and presented and ably supported 
the first report in favor of a railroad from Boston to 
Albany. In 1841 and 1842 he was chairman of the 
Judiciary Committee of the Senate. For three years 
he assumed the duties of a nisi prius judge in the 
Court of Common Pleas, and for two years more re- 
sided in Lowell as the agent of a manufacturing cor- 
poration, but the practice of the law in the county 
where he was best known and best beloved was his 
real vocation, and to it he returned with added zeal 
and undiminished succes?. "^ 

One of the large number of tasks in which he found 
pleasure and recreation, in the midst of his most ex- 
acting professional cares, w.as the preparation of the 
" Judicial History of Massachusetts " down to Revo- 
lutionary times, a work involving a vast amount of 
research and containing most valuable information 
for the student of the growth of our modes of legal 
procedure. 

While absent in Kurope in 1853 he was nominated 
by the Whigs for Governor of the State, and was 
elected by a narrow majority. The nest year he was 
defeated by the "Know-Nothings," and returned to 
the calling for which he was most fitted. 

Whether his success was greater as an advocate or 
as an instructor in the law, may be open to question. 
In the year 1S5<; he became Bussey professor of law 
in the Dane Law School at Cambridge, and for twenty 
years lectured before successive classes of students 
with ever-increasing reputation, and adding to the 
ranks of his devoted admirers every disciple who had 
the opportunity to listen to the kindly counsel which 
he mingled with his instruction. It was said of him 
that " Few professors have enjoyed in so full a meas- 
ure the confidence and afleetion of the students of 
that renowned seat of learning. None have been 
more fortunate in the effort to inspire the young men 
of the bar with lofty ideas and pure purposes, It was 
not his power as a lecturer upon legal topics, though 
respectable, by which he exerted the greatest influ- 
ence on the mind and future course of the student, 
but his private conversations and advice based on 
long experience . . . and an earnest, unafl'ected in- 
terest in the welfare and prospects of every young 
man to whom he stood in the relation of instructor 
and adviser." During his professorship he published 
a treatise on the "American Law of Real Property,'' 
which has passed through several editions, and is the 
text-book of students and the reliable reference of 
the practitioner to-day. Both this work and his vol- 
ume on "Easements," are marked by the most careful 
investigation of authorities and the presentation in 
the fullest manner of every phase of the subject. In 
the effort to cover the whole ground, the writer some- 
times becomes prolix, but whatever of force is lost in 
repetitions is compensated by the addition of prece- 



xl 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



dents and citations. In 1876 he resigned his profes- 
sor's chair, but even then did not give up his 
ambition to be useful. As a Representative in the 
General Court during the last year of his life, he was 
actively at work in the chairmanship of the judiciary 
committee, and as senior member of the House ex- 
hibited the same fresh interest in public matters as 
when one of its youngest members he represented 
Princeton, half a century before. In 1877 he died 
with mental powers in full activity, and the afi'ection- 
ate eulogies which were pronounced by his fellows in 
every relationship of his busy life testified to the 
deep impression which his genial manners and uni- 
versal sympathy had made upon the hearts of all who 
knew him. 

When Judge Nathaniel Paine retired from his long 
and honerable service of thirty-five years in the Pro- 
bate Court he was succeeded by Ira M. Baeton", a 
counsellor practicing in O.Kford. In that town he was 
born in 179l). During a portion of his course at 
Brown University he was a room-mate of Horace 
Mann, whose friendship he enjoyed in their subse- 
quent careers. After graduating in 1819, he studied 
law with Sumner Bastow, in Oxford, with Levi Lin- 
coln, and at the Harvard Law School, then recently 
established. He was one of the first three to graduate 
from that institution. In 1822 he opened his office 
in his native town, and there continued practice for 
fourteen years. As an adviser he was careful and con- 
scientious, desirous rather of avoiding danger for his 
client than of risking his interests by over-boldness. 
As an advocate he attained consideralile success. Not 
a brilliant orator, his efforts were characterized by an 
earnest endeavor to perform his duty to the fullest 
extent, and his well-known integrity secured to him 
always respectful consideration by courts and juries. 
Prom 1836 to 1844 he presided with impartiality in 
the Probate Court, and by his kindly sympathy 
maintained the traditions of that tribunal as the 
guardian and pi'Otector of the helpless and the 
afflicted. Upon his resignation he formed a partner- 
shij) with the late Peter C. Bacon, to which Mr. 
Barton's son was admitted later, and for several years 
the business of the firm was of extensive proportions, 
:iiul its name familiar beyond the limits of the county. 
In 1849 his feeble health compelled his retirement 
Iruui active practice, but did not prevent his acting 
as counsel in chambers during many years. In this, 
perhaps the most agreeable branch of legal practice 
to one of non-combative instinct, he found his judg- 
ment sought and relied upon by a large circle of 
client-'. He took his fair share of the responsibility 
in matters of public interest. For three years he 
represented Oxford in the Legislature, and was Sena- 
tor in 1832 and 1834. In the latter year he was 
appointed one of the commissioners to I'evise the 
.statutes of the State, and bring into shape, available 
for use, the mass of public legislation which had 
grown to be an almost chaotic tangle of repeals and 



amendments. The plan of this first revision has been 
substantially adhered to in subsequent codifications. 
His addresses on several occasions gave proof of tastes 
for historical investigation, which were not, however, 
developed to a considerable extent. He lived until 
1867. 

Alfred Dwight Foster should be included in 
these sketches as one of a line of lawyers who have been 
ornaments of this bar. His father and grandfather 
have received notice as judges of our courts, and his 
son attained the same title with even greater distinc- 
tion. Mr. Foster was born in 1800, in Brookfield, the 
residence of his ancestors. After graduating from 
Harvard, in 1819, he studied with Mr. Burnside, and 
was admitted to the bar in 1822. After only two 
years attention to practice, he withdrew from business, 
and lived a life of quiet and useful leisure until his 
death, in 1852. He served in one or two public capaci- 
ties after his removal to Worcester, in 1828, and 
acquired and retained the entire respect of the com- 
munity. 

One of Judge Washburn's most intimate friends 
through a score of years, until death severed the ties, 
was Thomas Kisnicutt. Born in Rhode Island in 
1800, the same year with Jlr. Washburn, he graduated 
with high honors from Brown University in 1822. 
His law studies were pursued in the school at Litch- 
field, in the offices of Francis Baylie, of Taunton, and 
of Governor Davis. In 1825 he was admitted and 
began business in Worcester. His physical power* 
were never of the strongest, and his gentle nature 
shunned the contests of the court-room and the politi- 
cal arena. He did, however, serve several terms in 
both, branches of the State Legislature, and was twice 
chosen Speaker of the House. He found his true 
sphere on the bench of the Probate Court, where he 
succeeded Judge Thomas in 1848, and presided until 
a short time before his death, ten years later. His 
winning presence, gentle manners and affectionate 
disposition endeared him greatly to all with whom he 
came in contact. With several of the financial insti- 
tutions of the city he was connected, and his sagacious 
judgment in their conduct was constantly approved. 
His was one of those characters which, courting no 
publicity, by its sweetness and purity helps to 
brighten the aspect of a world sometimes too busy to 
even notice the shadows which overspread it. 

Isaac Davis ' was born in Northborough, an agri- 
cultural town in the eastern part of this county, June 
2, 1799. His ancestors, for seven generations, had 
been inhaliitants of Massachusetts, and possessed 
marked faniily traits; conspicuous among them were 
rugged honesty, energy, independence of character, 
industry and public spirit. 

His earliest progenitor in New England was Dolor 
Davis, the precise time of whose arrival on these 
shores is not known, but he is believed to have been 

1 By J. Evarts Greene. 



THE BENCH AND BAR. 



xli 



one of the earlier settlers in the Plymouth colony. 
He is known to have dwelt in Cambridge in 1634, to 
have married Margery Willard, sister of Major Simon 
Willard, formerly of Kent, England, and a distin- 
guished soldier in the Indian wars of this colony, and 
to have died in Barnstable, in the Plymouth colony, 
in 1G73. 

Samuel, the younger of Dolor Davis' two sons, mar- 
ried Mary Meads. Simon, the youngest of Samuel's 
five sons, was born August 9, 1G83, and attained the 
age of eighty years. Of his sons, the oldest — bearing 
the same name — was born in 1713, married Hannah 
Grates, lived in the town of Holden and was the 
father of eleven children. Isaac, the ninth of these, 
was born February 27, 1749, married Anna Brigham 
and lived in Northborough. Phiueas, the eldest of 
his eleven children, was born September 12, 1772, 
married Martha Eager, October 12, 1793, and, like his 
father and grandfather, was blessed with a family of 
eleven children. 

Isaac, the subject of this sketch, was the fourth of 
this numerous progeny. In his bdvhood the industry 
of the inland towns of Massachusetts was almost 
wholly confined to farming, with some few primitive 
manufactures. Even Boston, the metropolis of New 
England, and the seat of a large foreign commerce, 
had scarcely one-fourth as many inhabitants as Wor- 
cester has now. Hampshire County, with its rich 
farming lands, was by far the most populous county 
in the State, Worcester and Esse.x approaching it 
most iiearly. Mr. Davis' father was a tanner and 
currier, an upright and respected citizen. In his 
household the homely virtues of piety, industry and 
frugality were cultivated and flourished. The educa- 
tion of the children, begun and continued at home by 
the example and conversation of their parents, the 
reading of a few but good books, and the early study 
of the Bible, was pursued in the district school. The 
time not so employed was given to the tasks of the 
shop and the farm. 

The district schools of those days laid a substantial 
foundation for the building of a serviceable and 
comely edifice of mental attainment and culture, but 
they did not carry the acquisition of knowledge very 
far. A boy of an inquiring and eager mind soon 
learned what they had to teach. The course of school 
studies having been early completed, Isaac Davis 
went to work in his father's shop, and might probably 
have adopted his trade, but for au injury whicli dis- 
abled him for a time from bodily labor. While re- 
covering from this hurt, conscious of mental powers 
to which the mechanical occupation of his father 
would not give full scope, even if he should ever be 
sound enough in body to resume it, his ambition, 
stimulated, doubtless, by the example of his uncle, 
John Davis, then beginning the practice of law, in 
which, as in polities and statesmanship, he made an 
illustrious reputation, the young man resolved to pre- 
pare himself for professional life. The obstacles in 



his way would now be thought great, but they were 
not greater than those which the young men of that day 
who entered the professions were accustomed to sur- 
mount, and Mr. Davis' energy and perseverance were 
amply adequate to the task which he proposed for 
himself His parents, burdened with the support 
of a large family of young children, could give him 
little assistance, and he depended largely on his own 
exertions for support and the cost of his educa- 
tion. 

He began his preparation for college at Leicester, 
and completed it at Lancaster Academy, and entered 
Brown University in 1818, where he was graduated 
with credit in 1822. Giving lessons in penmanship 
and teaching school in winter were among the means 
by which he paid his way through college. After his 
graduation he accepted the office of tutor in the uni- 
versity, at the salary of four hundred dollars, and at 
the same time began the study of law in the office of 
General Carpenter, then one of the leaders of the 
Rhode Island bar. After a few months' trial of this 
divided employment he resolved to give his whole 
time to the law, and, removing to Worcester, entered 
as a student theoffice of Lincoln & Davis. The busi- 
ness of the office was large and varied, and gave the 
student excellent opportunities for learning the prac- 
tical details of professional work in all its branches. 
While pursuing his studies Mr. Davis earned some- 
thing toward his support by employing the time 
which a young man, less patient of continuous labor 
and less eager for independence, might have given— 
and perhaps wisely — to recreation, in copying deeds 
in the office of the register. 

Soon after he entered the oflice Mr. Lincoln, the 
senior partner, was chosen Lieutenant-Governor, and 
the year after was appointed a justice of the Supreme 
•Judicial Court. This appointment and the distin- 
guished political honors, which soon followed, re- 
moved him permanently from practice, and upon Mr. 
Davis' admission to the bar, in 1825, he proposed to 
his uncle, then conducting the business alone, to be- 
come his partner, receiving as his share of the income 
one-third of the profits of the business in the Court of 
Common Pleas. This offer was declined, and the 
uncle advised his nephew to begin practice in one of 
the smaller towns of the county, where the competi- 
tion would be less active, with the purpose of remov- 
ing to Worcester when he had established a business 
and reputation. But the young lawyer had no liking 
for a timid policy. He preferred to face the greatest 
difficulties at once and had no distrust of his ability 
to surmount them. He therefore opened an oflice in 
Worcester, and it was not long before his talents were 
discovered and employed by clients in such numbers 
as amply to justify his confidence in himself 

The Worcester bar at that time was very strong. 
It is doubtful whether in any county in the United 
States was there then a group of lawyers more 
remarkable for native ability, legal attainments and 



fliv 



HISTORY OP WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



And now, with an affectionate reverence inspired by 
personal association, and cultivated from boyhoood 
through the changing years, until the writer was him- 
self launched upon his professional career, it becomes 
my delicate duty to speak of one who, for more than 
fifty years of progress in the science of the law, kept 
ever abreast of change and improvement, and whom 
death found still faithful to his chosen calling, as 
when, with youthful ardor, he first essayed its arduous 
pathway. 

, Peter Child Bacon was born in Dudley in 1804. 
His father, Jeptha Bacon, though not a lawyer by 
profession, was, in his day, when every town had not 
its resident attorney, resorted to by his neighbors for 
advice in their affairs, wherein his judgment and ex- 
perience were recognized as valuable assistance. Like 
many other justices of the peace, he was often called 
upon to draft conveyances and wills, and in the obser- 
vation of his father's really considerable practice, it is 
probable that Mr. Bacon acquired his first inclination 
towards his life-work. After graduating at Brown in 
1827, the latter entered the New Haven Law School, 
and supplemented his studies there by reading in the 
office of Davis & Allen, in Worcester, Judge Barton, 
in Oxford, and George A. Tufts, in Dudley. 

During these preparatory years it was his practice 
to devote sixteen hours of the twenty-four to his 
books. Blackstone he read and re-read with earnest 
attention, and for years after he had entered the bar 
he annually reviewed the classic pages. For these 
commentaries he always entertained the highest 
opinion as a groundwork for a thorough knowledge 
of the law, placing it first in the hands of each of his 
students, commending them to learn its definitions 
ipsissimis verbis, and failing not to test their obedi- 
ence to the injunction by his questions. For two 
years he kept his ofiice in his native town and for 
twelve years more in the adjoining town of Oxford. 
In 1844 he removed to Worcester and there, till with- 
in four days of his death, with an interval of only 
one year of rest, devoted himself exclusively to the 
law. 

It will be noticed that he came to the bar seven 
years before the death of Benjamin Adams, of Ux- 
bridge, whose professional life carried us back to the 
time of Judge Sprague, and thus connected the story 
with the earliest stages of the county's progress. 

Upon coming to Worcester Mr. Bacon formed a 
partnership with his former instructor, Judge Barton, 
who had just resigned the i)robate ju<lgeship. Levi 
Lincoln was then occupied with the duties of the 
gubernatorial chair. Pliny Merrick and Emory 
Washburn had just taken seats on the bench of the 
Common Pleas. Charles Allen, from the same bench, 
in that year resumed his practice. Rejoice Newton 
and Samuel Burnside were still at the bar. Isaac 
Davis had begun to interest himself more extensively 
in other than professional employments. Alexander 
H. Bullock, Henry Chapin and Francis H. Dewey 



had recently established their offices. Of those now 
in active practice only Joseph Mason, Esq., was then 
admitted, and he was then in Templeton. Mr. Bacon 
preferred to associate with himself in business some 
brother lawyer to share the responsibilities of the 
trial of causes, and especially after 1865, on his re- 
turn from a needed rest in Europe, he left to younger 
partners the transaction of the blisiness before the 
courts. After Judge Barton retired from the firm of 
Barton, Bacon & Barton, in 1849, he was for a short 
time connected with the late Judge Dwiglit Foster. 

For eighteen years the firm of Bacon & Aldrich 
carried on business in the most uninterrupted har- 
mony and friendship between the partners, until the 
junior member accepted his present position in the 
Superior Court. W. S. B. Hopkins and Mr. Bacon's 
son made up the firm of Bacon, Hopkins & Bacon, 
which existed at the time of the veteran lawyer's 
death. 

When he came to the bar the whole number ot 
Massachusetts Reports was but twenty-five. Making 
himself familiar with these, he read with care each 
new volume as it was published, and his one hundred 
and forty volumes are filled with marginal notes and 
hieroglyphics, showing where his eye had marked an 
important decision or a questionable dictum. He 
made it a practice, which he recommended to his 
students, to read the statement of facts in cases in- 
volving vexed questions, work out his own solution 
by investigation of earlier authorities, and then com- 
pare his result with the reasoning of the opinion. 
No question of law ever was suggested to him that he 
did not endeavor to solve either at the time or at the 
next leisure hour. He loved nothing better than to 
sit with his students posing them with legal conun- 
drums, or listening to the problems which perplexed 
them and arguing out their moot cases. His office 
thus became a model law-school, to whose instruc- 
tions multitudes of lawyers still look back with affec- 
tionate gratitude. 

During his professional life almost the whole of 
our system of equity jurisprudence was brought to 
its present advanced condition. By piecemeal equity 
powers were conferred by statute on the Su|)reme 
Court, but it was not until 1857 that full jurisdiction 
was granted, according to the usage and practice of 
Courts of Chancery, and since that time, by the slow 
process of judicial decisions and supplementary stat- 
utes, great advances have been made in this most in- 
teresting and valuable method of legal procedure. 
Mr. Bacon was an equity lawyer, and owned and read 
a valuable library of text-books on the subject long 
before there was ojiportunity in our courts to avail 
himself of most of its remedial processes. 

Three times he saw the statutes of the State codi- 
fied after growing to unwieldy proportions, and his 
copies of the Revised, General and Public Statutes 
each show his careful noting of subsequent amend- 
ments. '■ Always consult the statutes; never give an 





^^^^^/^ 




THE BENCH AND BAR. 



opinion without seeing what the statutes say," was 
his frequent admonition to his students. His learn- 
ing covered every branch and phase of the wide field 
of legal doctrine. Perhaps the law of real property 
in general, and especially the Massachusetts doctrine 
of the rights of mill-owners in the streams which 
turn their wheels, and the law of corporations, m.iy 
be mentioned as having attracted a large share of his 
attention. 

During the operation of the United Stales Bank- 
rupt Law, from 18G7 to 1878, Mr. Bacon was register 
in bankruptcy for this district. Its complicated du- 
ties he thoroughly mastered, and with patient fideli- 
ty discharged its functions, which were principally 
of a judicial character. It was the habit of his mind 
to cautiously weigh the arguments on each side of a 
question on which his opinion was sought, and so 
many were the possible objections which his wide 
knowledge suggested to either view that his final de- 
cision was long in maturing, and generally given 
with some reservation of a possible modification. 
Like Lord Eldon, ho knew so much law that he 
knew how little of it was absolutely uncontro- 
verted. 

His most valuable services were rendered as coun- 
sel in chambers, where the whole wealth of his learn- 
ing and experience were at the service of his clients. 
Yet, as an advocate before juries in the first thirty 
years of his practice, he obtained a large influence 
by the thoroughness of his preparation, and by that 
evident sincerity which characterized his every utter- 
ance. His arguments on questions of law were sure 
to bring to the aid of the court all that could, by 
research and logic, be found to sustain his posi- 
tions. 

Notwithstanding his enthusiastic devotion to his 
profession. Dr. Bacon, as we loved to call him, — for no 
man more worthily bore the title of Doctor of Laws, — 
was interested in all that goes to make up a broad 
and liberal citizen. His studies in metaphysics, in 
history, in mathematics were the enjoyment of his 
leisure hours. With the latest advances in modern 
thought he kept himself familiar, and the writer re- 
membere listening with some surprise to remarks 
which showed profound reflection on the latest de- 
velopments of the theory of evolution. 

For public oflice he was not at all ambitious, and 
one term in the State Legislature and two years as 
mayor of the city left him with a desire to do his 
duty as a private citizen, and this he conscientiously 
performed. During the war his patriotism was lofty 
and courageous. Three sons he gave to the service 
of his country, of whom but one returned. Deeply 
as his affectionate nature felt the loss, he was never 
heard to murmur at tlie sacrifice. His nature was 
singularly open and kind. It did not seem that the 
thought of the possibility of adopting any but the 
straightforward course ever occurred to his mind. 
Duplicity and cunning were with him simply impos- 



sible. His strong emotional tendencies he kept in 
check by seldom speaking of the topics that aroused 
them ; but when he did have occasion to allude to a 
friend who was no more, or any of the deep convic- 
tions of his heart, it was evident that his feelings 
were warm and tender as a woman's. In 1883, with 
only a few- hours interval, the Nestor of our law 
p-issed from his busy ottice to the rest that remain- 
eth for such righteous mortals. With firm and ra- 
tional faith, he had never shrunk from the last great 
change, and, whatever that change betokens, no 
man's life gave greater cause for calmness in await- 
ing it than his whose kindly face in portraiture now 
lends it8 silent inspiration among the books he 
loved. 

Benjamin Fkanklin Thomas." — The subject 
of this sketch was a grandson of Isaiah Thomas, the 
patriot-printer of the Revolution, and was born in 
Boston, February 12, 1818. 

He was educated at Brown University, where he 
graduated in 1830, at tlie early age of seventeen. He 
studied law in Worcester, and was admitted to the 
bar in 1834, acquiring, while still young, a large and 
excellent practice and growing influence in the 
county. 

In 1842 he represented the town of Worcester in 
the State Legislature, and from 1844 to 1848 was 
judge of Probate for Worcester County. Next to 
Governor Washburn, he attained the largest practice 
of the Worcester bar, at the time when eminence at 
that bar was an exceptional distinction. Governor 
Lincoln and Governor Davis were still among the 
older members. Pliny Merrick, Charles Allen, Emory 
Washburn, Henry Chapin, Peter C. Bacon, Ira M. 
Barton were his contemporaries; while a score of 
younger lawyers, now achieving high distinction in 
professional and public life, were just entering into 
active practice. 

Upon ihe resignation of Mr. Justice Fletcher, in 
1853, Judge Thomas was appointed, when barely forty 
years of age, a justice of the Supreme Judicial Court, 
holding that position for six years, and gaining a dis- 
tinguished reputation as an able and learned jurist. 

In 1859 he resigned his seat on the bench on ac- 
count of the great inadequacy of the salary, and 
removed to Boston, where he practiced and held a 
position in the front rank at the bar. In 1801-63 he 
served one term in Congress, and in 1868, upon the 
retirement of Chief Justice Bigelow, he was nomin- 
ated, by Governor Bullock, to the Council for chief 
justice of the Commonwealth, but, after an unpleasant 
controversy, failed of confirmation. 

This is but a slight outline of the relations Judge 
Thomas held to the public at large. 

The greater part of his active life was spent in the 
discharge of professional duties which have small 
place in history, and will pass from memory to tradi- 

1 By Delano GoiKliiid. 



xlvi 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



tion with the generation that knew and trusted and 
honored liira. 

He was particularly skilled in the law of wills and 
trusts, and in this branch of the law had no rival. 
On tlie bench he was distinguished for the tenacity 
with which he defended the constitutional privileges 
secured by the Declaration of Rights, and especially 
trial by jury. 

His most celebrated opinion is the powerful dis- 
senting judgment delivered in the case of the Cora- 
monwealth vs. Anthes, 5 Gray, in which he vindicated 
the right of juries to determine, under the general 
issue, the law as well as the facts in criminal trials. 
His view was subse(iuently sustained by the Legisla- 
ture, which re-enacted the statute in 18(50. 

His studies, both in law and government, took a 
wide range, and he was well read in history and in 
English literature. With the bar he has ever been 
very popular. 

His associates, and especially those younger than 
himself, were attracted to him not more by his varied 
learning and talents than by his pure and amiable 
character. The greatest regrets were expressed when 
he left the bench, and no man has ever been more 
highly respected at the bar. 

In the heat of controversy excited by his nomina- 
tion as chief justice, he was opposed on grounds 
chiefly political, but also on the ground of a habit of 
dissenting, which at that time was looked upon as a 
serious disqualification. 

But Governor Bullock, in justifying his nomination 
to the Council, replied that, of the nineteen hundred 
cases reported during the six years that Judge Thomas 
held a seat upon the bench, he dissented in only four, 
not by pride of opinion, but by the interests of truth 
and justice. And a member of the Suffolk bar, then 
and now one of its wisest and most learned members, 
writing upon tlie same objection, said : 

" It is undoubtedly desirable that the court should 
stand together. Division is sometimes an indication 
of weakness. But it is a much greater weakness to 
insist upon this point to the exclusion of the qutstion 
of what is right ; and when a judge is held up to 
ridicule merely because he differs from his associates, 
it will be the saddest sign of all. We have yet to 
learn that the honest dissent of an able magistrate, 
although repeatedly exercised, is ever regarded with 
contempt by honorable associates, by the public, or 
by the legal profession." 

This, however, was but a pretext brought up by zealous 
opponents to re-enforce tlie political and personal rea- 
sons on which their opposition was mainly grounded. 

But it is not worth while to revive the memory of 
these forgotten strifes. The wounds inflicted then 
were long ago healed. And among those who followed 
Judge Thomas to the grave, there were none who did 
so with more sincere and unaffected sorrow than those 
who questioned the wisdom of his nomination, and 
joined in the effort to defeat it. 



In politics Judge Thomas was, in early life, a 
Whig, and when the dissolution of that party came, 
and the war suddenly presented grave problems of 
government for immediate solution, it was harder for 
him, than for most men in public life, to look with 
patience upon the torture to which the Constitution 
was exposed. 

He was always conservative, with a tendency to 
the technical side of disputed questions, always re- 
strained and controlled by a quick moral sense and an 
unfailing love of justice. 

His brief term of political service happened to fall 
upon a period of intense and exciting feeling, when 
constitutional scruples were looked upon with little 
patience, and were indulged at much j^ersoual peril. 
But no man ever took the unpopular side of grave 
public questions under a more commanding sense of 
public duty than Judge Thomas took his upon the 
constitutional questions forced upon him by the ex- 
igency in which he was placed. 

As an orator. Judge Thomas seemed born to high 
distinction, if his ambition in that direction had been 
equal to his rare gifts. 

His formal addresses on anniversary and other mem- 
orial occasions, are of a very high order of excellence ; 
but, besides these, there are many among us who will 
remember the brilliant and sometimes electric elo- 
quence with which, in his earlier days, he took part 
in the political and other public interests of the time. 
His command of language was always pure, rich and 
abundant ; his manner was spirited, fervent and stim- 
ulating ; and when he finished there was always, 
among those who listened, regret; that one endowed 
with such gifts was so little inclined to exercise them. 

Judge Thomas received the degree of Doctor of Laws 
from Brown University in 1853, and from Harvard 
College in 1854. He was, at the time of his death, 
September 27, 1878, vice-president of the American 
Antiquarian Society, a member of the Massachusetts 
Historical Society and of the American Academy of 
Arts and Sciences. 

(Jur county has been singularly fortunate in the 
character and ability of the gentlemen who have 
presided in its Probate Court. In 1858, the year of 
Judge Kinnicutt's death, the offices of judge of the 
Court of Probate and of the Court of Insolvency were, 
by act of the Legislature, united in one per.son in each 
county. To this double trust Hexey Chapin was ap- 
pointed, and for twenty years most admirably dis- 
charged its functions. He was born in Upton in 1811, 
and left at fourteen to provide largely for his own sup- 
port. For some months he was engaged in learning a 
trade. The necessity for such an occupation of course 
rendered it difficult for him to procure an education, 
but he was not driven from the undertaking, and 
succeeded in fitting for college, and in graduating 
from Brown in 1835. After gaining some exper- 
ience and a small financial capital as a teacher in 
the common schools of Upton, he began his legal 




^^^^ 



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^i^^-td-^ >a-^ c-^^ /i/: ::y^-i^^^_^ „_t^^ 



THE BENCH AND BAR. 



xlvii 



studies with Emory Washburn, and followed them at 
the Cambridge Law School. On admission to the 
bar he chose Usbridge for his opening career, and 
remained there till his removal to Worcester in 1846, 
when Rejoice Newton made him a junior partner. As 
an advocate he obtained a large and profitable prac- 
tice. He possessed a shrewdness, a homely, kindly 
method of address, and an entire absence of stiffness 
or formality which procured him great influence with 
Juries. For the duties of Probate judge he was ex- 
ceptionally fitted. His fund of patience seemed 
inexhaustible. In that court no strict rules of pro- 
cedure are maintained; much of the business is trans- 
-acted without the aid of counsel, and by persons who 
come to the judge to learn what they ought to do, and 
how to do it. For all such he had a kindly reception, 
listened to their statements (generally involved, and 
often incoherent), and let them feel that they had 
found a friend as well as a help out of their diflicul- 
ties. Towards members of the bar also, and especially 
the younger element, his manners were courteous, and 
commanded in turn respect. In the law governing 
the cases under his consideration he was thoroughly 
versed, and his decisions stood tlie test of appeal, with 
but a small proportion of adverse rulings by the 
higher court. Althougli for the last six months of 
his life he was unable to attend in the court-room, his 
courage did not permit him _te surrender, and up 
till the very day before his death, in 1878, he con- 
tinued occasionally, at his house, to attend to matters 
of routine, hoping constantly that his usefulness was 
not yet to end, and determined that it should con- 
tinue with his life. Mr. Cliapin was a public-spirited 
citizen, alive to the importance of the performance by 
every man of his political duties. He was an early 
member of the Free Soil party, and an effective 
speaker during the anti-slavery agitations. For one 
year he represented Uxbridge in the General Court, 
and in 1853 he was its delegate to the Constitutional 
Convention. 

Worcester made him its mayor in 1849 and 1850, and 
would have had him serve again had he not declined 
the honor. In 1870, when, by the sudden death of 
Mayor Blake, a vacancy occurred during a terra, the 
City Council turned at once to him as the man most 
suitable to fill the emergency, and he consented so to 
do until a successor could be chosen by the usual 
methods of election. He was not ambitious for 
political office, and declined to stand as a candidate 
when nominated by the Republicans for Congress in 
185G. As a speaker on public occasions he was fre- 
quently in demand, and his quaint humor and well- 
told stories interested his audiences and impressed his 
meaning on their minds. 

With various business organizations he was actively 
connected, and, by the exercise of a sagacious judg- 
ment in investment, added to his accumulated prop- 
erty. To the religious organization with which he 
was connected he gave earnest support and valuable 



assistance in many ways. His religious convictions 
were deep and sincere, though rarely brought into 
notice, except with intimate friends ; but their fruit 
was shown in his discriminating and kindly benevo- 
lence and readiness to further charitable organiza- 
tions which commended themselves to his judgment. 
An exemplary citizen, an upright judge and an hon- 
esL man. 

Alexander Hamilton Bullock.' — Governor 
Bullock stands conspicuous in the list of Massachusetts' 
chief magistrates ; even in the whole list, extending 
through Colonial, Provincial and Constitutional 
times; conspicuous in respect to patriotism, ability 
and conscientious devotion to the public interest. 
And for the very reason that he occupies so promi- 
nent a position in our history, the writer is spared the 
attempt at any extended delineation in this place, where 
space is so limited. But with the portrait, in which his 
features are so faithfully and so artistically presented, 
it is necessary that something should appear respect- 
ing his various characteristics and family connections, 
with allusions at least to certain passages in his pub- 
lic career. 

He was born in Royalston, Worcester County, on 
the 2d of March, 181G, and was the son of Rufus and 
Sarah (Davis) Bullock. His father, who was born on 
the 23d of September, 1779, was a school-teacher in 
his early manhood, but soon became a country mer- 
chant. Quitting that vocation in 1825, he engaged 
in manufacturing, and in due time amassed a hand- 
some fortune. He was somewhat in public life ; was 
five years a Representative in the General Court, and 
two years a Senator ; was a member of the conven- 
tions of 1820 and 1853 for revising the State Consti- 
tution ; and was Presidential elector in 1852. 

Alexander H. Bullock, the subject of this sketch, 
entered Amherst College in 1832, was a diligent 
student, and on his graduation, in 183G, delivered the 
salutatory oration at commencement. In the cata- 
logue of his college contemporaries are found the 
names of Rev. Richard S. Storrs, Rev. Henry Ward 
Beecher, Bishop Huntington and others of wide 
reputation. After graduating he taught a school for 
a short ]ieriod, but, partly by the urgency of his father 
and partly from his own inclination, he applied him- 
self to the study of law, entering Harvard Law School, 
then under the presidency of Judge Story. After 
leaving the Law School he spent a year in the law- 
office of the well-known lawyer, Emory Washburu, of 
Worcester, where he gained a good knowledge of the 
various details of legal practice. He was admitted to 
the bar in 1841, and soon began practice in Worcester. 
As a pleader he does not seem to have aimed to 
become conspicuous. Senator Hoar says: "He dis- 
liked personal controversy. While he possessed 
talents which would have rendered him a brilliant 
and persuasive advocate, the rough contests of the 

1 By Hon. J. E. Newball. 



xlviii 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



court-house could never have been congenial to him. 
He was associated with Judge Thomas as junior coun- 
sel in one important capital trial, in which he is said 
to have made an eloc|uent opening argument. He 
had a considerable clientage for a young man, to 
whom he was a safe and trustworthy adviser. But he 
very soon established a large business as agent of 
important insurance companies, and withdrew him- 
self altogether from the practice of law.'' 

In 184-1 Governor Bullock married Elvira, daughter 
of Col. A. G. Hazard, of Enfield, Ct., founder of the 
Hazard Gunpowder Manufacturing Company. Their 
children were Augustus George; Isabel, who married 
Nelson S. Bartlett, of Boston ; and Fanny, who 
married Dr. William H. Workman, of Worcester. 
The widow and all the children are yet living. 

From early manhood Governor Bullock took a de- 
cided interest in politics, but did not allow it to ab- 
sorb an undue portion of his time till the period ar- 
rived when he could safely make it a leading object. 
In constitutional law he was particularly well versed, 
and that fact, in connection with his decided opinions 
on all public questions, gave him in debate and in 
action very great advantage. In party affiliation he 
was of the old Whig school. 

A brief recapitulation of some of his efficient pub- 
lic services may here be given. He was a member of 
the Massachusetts House of Representatives for eight 
years: first in 1845, and last in 1865. In 1862, 'G3, 
'64 and '65 he was Speaker. And what Governor 
Hutchinson says, in his history of Speaker Burrill, 
may well be said of him, namely, that the House 
were as fond of him " as of their eyes;" the historian 
adding, in a note, " I have often heard his contempo- 
raries applaud him for his great integrity, his ac- 
quaintance with parliamentary forms, the dignity 
and authority with which he filled the chair, and the 
order and decorum he maintained in the debates of 
the House." 

Governor Bullock w.is also, in 1849, a State Sena- 
tor. He was judge of the Worcester County Court 
of Insolvency for two years, 1856-58, having, under 
a previous jurisdiction, served as commissioner of 
insolvency from 1853. He was mayor of Worcester 
in 1859. But the most prominent event in his public 
life was his election to the gubernatorial chair, which 
he occupied three years — 18G6, '67 and '68. At the 
first election he received nearly fifty thousand votes 
more than the opposing candidate. 

He undoubtedly could have held prominent posi- 
tions in national affairs had he been so disposed; but 
his ambition seems not to have run in that direction. 
He never held office under the general Government, 
and all the incidents of his political life must be 
looked for in the history of his native State, where a 
rich store is to be found. 

On the 5th of January, 1879, Hon. George F. Hoar 
was authorized by President Hayes to ask Governor 
Bullock if he would accept the then vacant Eng- 



lish mission. In answer the following letter was re- 
ceived : 

WoucESTBit, Dec. S, 1S79. 

My D€<ir Sir: I received yesterday yotir favor of the ."itli inat., in 
wliicli yuu kindly iiuniire, in behalf of tiie President, wliether I 
wonld undertulce the Mission to England. I liave felt at liberty to 
take to myself t«e[ity-four hours to consider this question, and I 
now apprise you of the conclusion to which uiy retlection has, with 
much reluctance brought me. I am compelled, by the situation of 
my family, to reply that it would be practically iini)ossible for nie to 
accept this appointment. 

1 [larticularly desire to express to the President my profound and 
grateful acknowledgment of the high distinction he has offered to 
confer upon me, and to assure him of my purpose in every way as a 
private citizen to uphold him in bis wise and patriotic administration 
of the government. 

Your communication has been and will cuntinue to be treated by 
me as confidential. 

I remain with great respect and esteem, 

Tru y aud faitliluUy yours, 

Alexaniiee H. Bullock. 

The Hon. Geo. F. Hoar, U.S.S. 

In financial, humane, and all reformatory move- 
ments Governor Bullock was active and efficient. He 
was president of the State Mutual Life Assurance 
Company, and of the Worcester County Institution 
for Savings, a director in the Worcester National 
Bank, chairman of the Finance Committee of the 
Trustees of Amherst College and a life-member of the 
New England Historic-Genealogical Society. He was 
a writer of much more than ordinary ability, aud 
while editor of the ^E(/is newpaper, which position he 
held for several years, established an enviable repu- 
tation as a journalist. The degree of LL.D. was con- 
ferred on him by Harvard and by Amherst. 

During the Civil War Governor Bullock was an 
efficient co-laborer with Governor Andrew, so appro- 
priately called the " War Governor of Massachusetts.'' 
His eloquent voice was often raised to cheer the 
gathering crowds of patriots in various places, and 
Faneuil Hall, too, resounded with his stirring ap- 
peals. 

He was a great friend of learning ; and all institu- 
tions of instruction, from the elementary common 
school to the best endowed college, had his counsel 
and encouragement. 

And there was in him a vein of true democracy, 
often manifesting itself in anxiety to guard against 
any attempt by legislative, judicial or any other 
power to override the soverign right of the people ; 
and hence, as might naturally have been expected, 
he^'emained a firm friend to the principle of " Local 
Option," in law, so far as it could in any way be made 
expedient. He vetoed, to the surprise of many of his 
party friends, one or two enactments, considered 
important, for the simple reason that he viewed 
them as trenching on some general right of the 
people. 

In 1869 he visited Europe with his family, and on 
his return the following year the civic authorities and 
citizens of Worcester gave testimony of their appreci- 
ation of his character and his services by a public 
reception. After his retirement from the Governor- 




^^ 



r^ ^^-f^^OlL^. 



. .^ 



c^S^k^CC'^^ 



THE BENCH AND BAR. 



ship he held no other public office, and declined to 
entertain any of the suggestions made to him of 
furtlier political service, which would involve, to 
some extent, the abandonment of those studies and 
employments which were so agreeable to him. 

Governor Bullock was an orator of great power, and 
the volume of his addresses recently published con- 
tains many models of pure style and elegant scholar- 
ship. Speaking' of him in this connection. Senator 
Hoar says : " Above all, he possessed, beyond any of 
his living contemporaries, that rare gift of eloquence 
which always has been and always will be a passport 
to the favor of the people where speech is free." 

He was a lover of scholarship, a citizen of many 
resources and large usefulness, whose life diffused all 
around it an influence and charm, which elevated 
the standard of the domestic and moral life of the 
community. In January, 1882, with startling 
suddenness, he died amid the scenes of his activities. 

The world owes much of its brightness and beauty 
to the people whose cheerful disposition and faculty 
for cordial greetings make others ashamed of melan- 
choly dullness and drive away worry and vexation 
from their presence. 

Such a blessing to his friends was the companion- 
ship of the late Judge Dewey. 

In 1814 Daniel Dewey was appointed to the bench 
of the Supreme Judicial Court, and held the office 
only about one year until his death. In 1837 his 
son, Charles A. Dewey, received a like distinction, 
and for nearly thirty years discharged his duties 
with learning and fidelity. Francis H. Dewey, with 
this distinguished legal lineage, was born in Wil- 
liamstown in 1821. A few years later his father re- 
moved to Northampton. In that town and in Amherst 
his studies preparatory to college were pursued. 
From Williams College, where his ancestors for 
three generations had held office as trustees, he 
graduated in 1840, and proceeded at once to fit 
himself for his inherited profession in the law schools 
of Yale and Harvard College. He also gained prac- 
tical experience in the office of Charles P. Hunting- 
ton, in Northampton, and of Emory Washburn, in 
Worcester. With the latter he formed a partnership 
soon after his admission to the bar, in 1843, a fact 
which testifies to the elder man's appreciation of Mr. 
Dewey's abilities even at that early stage. The man- 
ner in which he entered upon the work of this es- 
tablished office, and assumed its responsibilities alone 
upon Judge Washburn's promotion to the bench in 
the very next year, tested his powers and gave him a 
high standing at the bar in the earliest years of his 
practice. During this time his utmost diligence was 
constantly required to attend to the multitude of 
causes in which Mr. Washburn had been engaged. 
It would have been most natural if clients who had 
sought out so distinguished a counsellor to whom to 
entrust their important affiiirs should have desired to 
place them in other hands than those of an inex- 

D 



perienced young attorney ; but Mr. Dewey gave such 
evidence of fitness for the task and of devotion to 
business, that he retained almost the whole of the 
clientage, and increased it as the years went by. In 
1850 he associated with himself in practice Hartley 
Williams, then just admitted to the bar, and contin- 
ued the connection for thirteen years. From 1866 
till 1869 Frank P. Goulding, Esq., was his junior 
partner. During his whole life, and in all his varied 
lines of employment, Judge Dewey was incessantly 
active. No other adverb can describe the nature of 
his activity. Always brisk, apparently in a hurry, 
yet with his faculties alert and undisturbed, he went 
from one task to another, without apparent thought 
or need of rest. In the trial of causes before juries 
his manner was restless, almost nervous ; but his 
watchfulness of every movement, his quick seizure of 
every slight advantage and his thorough familiarity 
with the facts proved to opposing counsel that there 
was nothing to be hoped from the inattention of his 
adversary. Throughout the most heated controver- 
sies he preserved his courteous tones, his pleasant 
smile and his real composure. Some men are able 
to hide beneath immovable features and thoroughly 
controlled muscles disturbed feelings and discomfited 
plans of action. But Mr. Dewey's mental quiet was 
preserved under what seemed a physical necessity 
for movement. 

His closing argument was always to be dreaded as 
likely to present some unexpected view of the evi- 
dence or some shrewd suggestion which his opponent 
had left unobserved and unanswered. He seemed to 
take the jury into his confidence, to talk to them in 
a friendly, common-sense manner, without attempt 
at eloquence, but with remarkably convincing effect. 

In 1860 Governor Claflin appointed him an asso- 
ciate justice of the Superior Court, — a position which 
he occupied until 1881. There he became a most 
useful presiding officer, despatching the business of 
the courts with the celerity which characterized his 
private business, treating with courtesy and patience 
counsel and witnesses, and assisting the jurymen by 
impartial, lucid statements, summing up the evi- 
dence and explaining the legal principles which 
were to guide them. 

Mr. Dewey's energies were by no means confined 
to professional employments, exacting as those were. 
The number of business enterprises and charitable 
institutions in which he was interested as an officer, 
and to each of which he gave faithful atteniion, 
would seem to have furnished sufficient occupation 
for the whole time of an active man. Yet he did not 
seem to be oppressed by the burden of responsibili- 
ties. He possessed the happy faculty of laying aside 
all worry over affairs, when he had done the best 
that his judgment dictated for their proper conduct. 
He was president of one railroad company and a 
director in another, and acquired a considerable 
familiarity with the methods of nanagement of these 



lii 



HISTOKi' OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



was the brightest ornament, ia not yet extinct. 
Though the Worcester bar cannot claim his sous as 
members, they still uphold the ancestral reputation 
in other scenes. 

George F. Verry was one of the best illustrations 
which this bar has furnished of the value to a lawyer 
of the qualities of self-reliance and perfect imper- 
turbability. His success may be as fairly traced to 
his possession of these traits as to any other cause. 
He was born in Mendon in 1826, and had the advan- 
tage of his father's care for only two or three years. 
His education was obtained in the common schools 
and during a partial course at the Andover Academy. 
From that preparatory school he had hoped to enter 
college, but his plans were interrupted, and he left 
his studies to engage in learning the business of a 
manufacturer. After a few years' trial, however, he 
determined to fit himself for the bar, and began his 
studies in the office of Henry D. Stone in the year 1849. 
Admitted to the bar after the usual three years of 
preparation, he was in a short time received as a part- 
ner by Mr. Stone, and so continued until 1857. Thus 
entering upon a business already well-established, he 
had the opportunity to learn, by actual use, the value 
of his acquirements. This was largely the process of 
his attainment to that degree of forensic skill and 
knowledge of the law which secured his high rank 
among our advocates. He was not a learned student 
of books or precedents, but to the questions involved 
in each case in which he was concerned he gave close 
attention and consulted the books with reference to 
those particular topics. With a retentive memory 
and a clear common-sense judgment, he thus became 
familiar with the current of decisions upon almost the 
whole of the great variety of controverted doctrines 
which have been debated in our courts. After the 
dissolution of his connection with Mr. Stone, he con- 
tinued business alone with a rapidly increasing 
clientage until 1875, when he formed a partnership 
with Francis A. Gaskill, the present district attorney, 
and Horace B. Verry, his adopted son, which con- 
tinued till his death. 

A large part of Mr. Verry's reputation was won in 
the conduct of the defence of criminal causes. In 
several capital trials which attracted wide attention, 
his skill in the examination of witnesses, bis readi- 
ness to meet sudden emergencies, and his thorough 
grasp of the bearing of evidence were shown in a 
manner which placed him among the leaders in that 
department of practice. On the civil side of the 
court, also, the possession of the same resources 
brought to him, perhaps, the most lucrative clieutage 
of any of his contemporaries during the ten years 
before bis death. In the progress of the most excit- 
ing trial he preserved a most absolute control of all 
his faculties. Forcible in the presentation of his 
own views, keen, and often severe in his examination 
of witnesses, he never allowed any exhibition of 
temper to weaken his influence with the jury, or ob- 



scure his calm watchfulness of every manoeuvre. 
His arguments seldom appealed to the emotional 
nature, but were admirably lucid in their logical pre- 
sentation of the facts. From the very outset of his 
career he boldly confronted every adversary, however 
more ample his experience, and learned even in defeat 
to reserve for his client whatever of advantage there 
remained to him. In social life he was a most genial 
comrade. Especially towards younger members of the 
profession were his manners and expressions of friend- 
ship cordial at all times. The writer well remembers 
many words of kind encouragement which helped to 
make his student-days and first years of practice more 
hopeful and less irksome. Mr. Verry did not hold 
many public offices. In 1872 he was mayor of the 
city of Worcester. The problem of the proper a.ssess- 
ment of the expense of a great system of sewers had 
long been deferred ; with characteristic energy he 
sought a .solution. Principally under his direction, a 
plan was adopted which was finally sustained by the 
courts, though opposed by leading citizens and able 
counsel. His acceptance of this responsibility cost 
him his re-election the next year, but stands as an 
evidence of his independence and sagacity. He served 
two terms in the State Senate, the second year as 
chairman of the Judiciary Committee. As a Demo- 
crat during the last ten years of his life, he was most 
frequently in the minority in the State, and though 
several times a candidate, held no other elective 
office. 

In 1883 he died, leaving, it is believed, only friends 
among the members of the bar, and only firm ad- 
herents among his host of clients. 

The death of Judge Adis Thayer is still so deeply 
felt, not only in the community where he lived, but 
in the councils of the leaders of the State, where his 
presence had become well-nigh essential, that it 
seems unnecessary in so brief a sketch iis is here pos- 
sible to rehearse the well-known story of his life. 
But neither the history of our bar nor that of the 
Commonwealth for the past forty years can properly 
be written without the mention of his share in the 
progress of each. He was the son of Caleb Thayer, 
a farmer of Mendon, not rich in material possessions, 
but with a sturdy independence and an innate love 
of liberty, which evinced itself in the early espousal 
of the anti-slavery cause when the unpopularity ol 
its adherents amounted to ostracism. His grand- 
father was a Eevolutionary soldier, and the combative 
tendencies of the descendants seem to have come by 
right inheritance. Born in 1828, his early life was 
spent upon the farm, with only the occasional oppor- 
tunities for education afforded by the district schools. 
Later on he attended the Worcester Academy, and, 
with some thought of adopting the profession of a 
teacher, he took a course in the Normal School at 
Westfield. After short trial of school-room life, how- 
ever, he made up his mind that he could not be satis- 
fied with that career, and began the study of the law 





t^-tf ^^7 i(/^i>' 




I 



THE BENCH AND BAR. 



liii 



with Henry Chapin, whom he was destined to suc- 
ceed upon the bench. In 1854 he entered upon his 
practice in the city of Worcester, and attained a good 
success as an adviser, especially in the management 
of business concerns. His judgment was clear and 
reliable, and marked by the plainest common sense. 
As an advocate he did not appear with great fre- 
quency before the courts, but his management of 
causes entrusted to him was careful and intelligent, 
tenacious of his clients' interests and mindful of de- 
tails. 

Though he gave diligent attention to his profes- 
sional pursuits and acquired a lucrative clientage, it 
was in political life that he found his greatest useful- 
ness and rose to his greatest eminence. He was an 
early and influential member of the Free-Soil party, 
eager in his opposition to the encroachments of the 
slave-power, and roused to indignation by the pro- 
ceedings under the Fugitive Slave Law on the soil of 
his native State. With Charles Sumner and John 
A. Andrew he formed an intimate friendship, and 
was their active co-worker and enthusiastic supporter 
throughout their political contests. In his devotion 
to the principles which he believed should govern 
the State and Nation he was unselfish and consistent. 
Though undoubtedly he would have been gratified by 
the evidence of the appreciation of his services and 
abilities, which an election to important office would 
have afforded, he never faltered in his exertions for 
the success of his party because others were assigned 
to more conspicuous stations. He enjoyed the pos- 
session of influence over the minds of his fellow- 
citizens, and to that influence he was justly entitled, 
since it was always exercised in the cause of what he 
believed to be the truth. He was the friend and ad- 
viser of all the prominent leaders of the Republican 
party from its formation, and to liis powerful assist- 
ance the State owes in a large degree the fact that 
she has been able to retain in lier service some of her 
ablest representatives. In the best sense or the term 
he was a partisan. Thoroughly convinced of the 
righteousness of his cause, conscientiously believing 
that it was the duty of every good ciiizen to take part 
in the decision of public questions, he threw himself 
into a canvass with the spirit of a soldier, determined 
that failure should not result from any lukewarmness 
on his part. He was a great believer in the necessity 
for organization in political work. The campaigns 
which he directed were marked by the most thorough 
attention to details and by the seizure of every hon- 
orable method of securing victory. He did not often 
appear as a public speaker, but when he did his lan- 
guage was forcible, clear and charged with his earnest 
convictions. Some of his addresses upon general 
political topics are admirable in style and logical 
completeness. 

His ofiices were few. For several years under Lin- 
coln, and again under Grant, he was collector of 
internal revenue [^for this district. For two years lie 



served in the State Senate. Perhaps his most promi- 
nent political service was as chairman of the Repub- 
lican State Committee in 1878, when, with all his 
power, he successfully combated what he believed to 
be a great danger to the welfare of the State. 

Upon Judge Chapin's death, in 1878, he was ap- 
pointed to succeed him in the Probate Court. The 
nomination excited some opposition among those who 
had become accustomed to regard Mr. Thayer as solely 
a [Kditician. But by his ten years of impartial, faith- 
ful disciiarge of the duties of the oflice, he approved 
the wisdom of the selection, and earned the approba- 
tion of the bar and the public. 

His natural disposition was genial and sympathetic. 
A fund of quiet humor made him a most agreeable 
companion in hours of relaxation. Towards the latter 
part of his life ill-health from time to time clouded 
the usual brightness of his temper, and induced 
periods of depression, through all of which, however, 
he preserved his kindly interest in others and his 
affection for his friends. He had interested himself 
in several of the business enterprises of the city, 
where his foresight had been of great service. But 
these cares, added to his other activities, were too 
great a strain upon his physical and mental powers. 
He was oppressed by the thought of gradually losing 
his capacity for usefulness on the stage where he had 
filled so honorable a part. In the summer of 1888, 
when his friends were looking forward to his restora- 
tion to health as the result of a contemplated season 
of rest and travel, in a moment of aberration he died 
by his own hand. Massachusetts has lost no more 
devoted lover, no more staunch defender. 

In several instances to which our attention has 
been attracted the honors of the profession, together 
with the mental traits befitting the wearers of those 
honors, have seemed to be transmitted from father to 
son as a natural inheritance. Others, from the most 
unpropitious antecedents, have achieved success and 
high position. In truth, the pathway is open to all ; 
to all it presents difficulties hard to overcome. Few 
have had to contend with greater obstacles, or have 
done it with so good courage, as Matthew J. McCaf- 
FERTY. Born in Ireland in 1829, his parents brought 
him to this country during his infancy. They were 
poor, hard-working people, and at an early age the 
lad must assist in his own support. In 1841 the 
family moved to Lowell, and Matthew began as an 
operative in the great mills there. Later on he 
learned the trade of a machinist. While so employed 
he was inspired with the ambition to become a law- 
yer, and devoted his evenings and spare moments to 
reading such law-books as he could obtain. In 1852, 
having saved some little capital from his trade, he 
entered the oiJice of Brown & Alger, in Lowell, and 
regularly devoted himself to study. After two years 
he found it necessary to replenish his funds, and be- 
took himself once more to his trade in Worcester. 
With his determination still unchanged he spent his 



liv 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



evenings reading in Mr. Bacon's office. A fellow- 
student at that time was Hamilton B. Staples, now 
an associate justice of the Superior Court. 

For a short time Mr. McCafferty tried the rule of an 
actor, but soon found it neither agreeable nor remu- 
nerative, and returned to rely upon his shop to fur- 
nish him the means of living until better times. His 
generous, filial di.'iposition is illustrated by the fact 
that, after having with some difficulty saved money 
enough to carry him through college, he gave it all 
to his mother, wlioih he visited in Lowell and found 
lacking some of the comforts to which her age and 
infirmities entitled her. Soon after this Benjamin F. 
Butler became interested in the young man's sturdy 
struggle, and assisted him through a partial course in 
the College of the Holy Cross at Worcester. In 1857 
he was admitted to the bar in Lowell, and soon after 
opened his office in Worcester. He was a natural 
orator, warm-hearted, impulsive, sympathetic, and 
came to be regarded as the special champion of his 
race in the city of his adoption. When the call for 
volunteers was issued in 18(31, he enlisted as second 
lieutenant in the Emmet Guards, a company com- 
posed of men of Irish descent, in which he had pre- 
viously served as captain. After its three months' 
service had expired, he received the commission of 
major in the Twenty -fifth Massachusetts Regiment. 
With this command he rendered gallant service in 
several battlts until March, 1862, when he resigned 
on account of some difference with his colonel which 
could not be adjusted. Returning home, he con- 
tinued to support the government by his eloquent 
speeches on public occasions. He served four terms 
in the Legislature, and one as alderman of the city. 
In 1883 his early friend and constant political ally. 
Governor Butler, appointed him an associate justice 
of the Municipal Court of Boston. In this capacity 
his impartiality and his kindness of heart made him 
an excellent police magistrate. In the short time 
before his death, in 1885, he had approved himself to 
the jirofession in his new sphere of action, where at 
first there had been a disposition to cavil at the ap- 
pointment of a judge from another county. 

The career of Francis T. Blackmer compressed 
within less than twenty years an amount of profes- 
sional labor which might well have formed the em- 
ployment of an additional decade, and would then 
have left him but little of that leisure he so much 
neglected. He seems to have felt that his time for 
work was short, and that in the days allotted him he 
must accomplish what would suffice for the years of 
a longer pilgrimage. He was born in Worcester in 
1844, but passed his boyhood in the towns of Prescott 
and Hardwick, where his father carried on the oc- 
cupation of a farmer at successive periods. 

In the district schools and at Wilbraham Academy 
he received all the instruction which he obtained be 
fore beginning his legal studies. In later life he 
keenly appreciated the advantages bestowed by a 



more extended course of education, and expressed 
his regret that he was unable to receive a college 
training. Yet the reflection is inevitable that it is 
not the schools that make the man. We cannot be 
sure of the effect of the same discipline upon differ- 
ent minds, and Mr. Blackmer certainly profited ad- 
mirably by the limited facilities which he enjoyed. 
When twenty years of age he returned to Worcester, 
and entered the office of William W. Rice. During 
his studies, and for some years after his admission to 
the bar, he was employed by Mr. Rice, on terms con- 
tinually more advantageous, as he demonstrated his 
capacity for work and his mastery of the law. Sub- 
sequently a partnership was formed under the name 
of Rice & Blackmer, which continued until after Mr. 
Rice's Congressional duties called him away from 
regular attention to professional employments. 

Mr. Blackmer had a remarkable facility in forming 
acquaintances. There was not the slightest formality 
or diffidence about him. In the same easy, off-hand 
manner he met every new-comer, and inspired him 
with confidence in his own ability to conduct his 
business. His addresses to the jury were marked by 
the same familiar style. Brought up like many of 
them, in a farming region, familiar with the habits 
of thought of our New England country people, he 
talked to them as a friendly adviser, citing homely 
incidents of country life to illustrate his meaning, 
and in language and accent showing clearly that he 
was one of them. It was here that he achieved his 
principal success. Day after day during the sessions 
of the court he appeared on one side or the other, ot 
almost every case, and probably became personally 
known to more of the inhabitants of the county 
than any other of the advocates at the bar during 
his later years. 

His arguments did not pursue a logical order; but 
neither did the usual train of thought of the majority 
of his hearers in the jury-box. He went over the 
story of the evidence as it arranged itself in his 
mind, and when he had finished, there was no point 
which he had forgotten, no inference which had not 
been suggested. In his examination of witnesses he 
showed a remarkable knowledge of human nature 
and an adroitness which was rarely matched. Never 
losing his temper, he was prepared to meet any sur- 
prising development of testimony with unruffled 
composure and the best resources at his command. 
His profession thoroughly interested him. He loved 
to talk over his cases with students or brother law- 
yers, and was ever ready to receive new suggestions 
or to state his own views when they were called for. 
Before the Supreme Court he argued questions of 
law with care and skill, thoroughly appreciating the 
value of the distinctions on which he relied and the 
effect of earlier decisions upon the point in issue. 

In 1875 he was chosen city solicitor, and so con- 
tinued until 1881, when he resigned, to take the 
place, as district attorney, of Judge Staples, then 




X^^ .^.a^ ^_^ ^.y.2^ 



THE BENCH AND BAR. 



Iv 



promoted to the bench. In both these capacities, 
calling for the exercise of quite different talents, he 
acquitted himself with credit. 

His interests outside of his profession were few, for 
he gave himself little time for otlier pursuits. In 
local jjolitical contests he took part from time to time. 
The parish to which he belonged was always an object 
of his attention. In his brief hours of social relaxa- 
tion he showed liimself an affectionate and sunny- 
tempered friend. But his constitution was not strong 
enough to endure the strain to which he subjected it. 
In 1883 he was obliged to give U[) work, and seek in 
absolute rest the reinvigoration of his enfeebled 
energies. During the fall he returned to his office, 
and was so far encouraged to believe in his restora- 
tion to health as to accept a le-election to tlie district 
attorneyship. The apparent im|)rovement was but 
temporary, however. His tasks were done, as his 
brethren at the bar sadly noted when he appeared 
among them at the opening of the December term of 
court. Again he left his clients, and, hopeful to the 
last, took his way toward a Southern climate. But 
his disease had taken too firm a hold while he had 
refused to leave his post of duty, and in January of 
188-1 he died in the city of Washington. 

He came to the bar the latest of those whom we 
have mentioned. Many who saw his earliest efforts 
are still in the full vigor of their usefulness, but as 
we close these records with his name, let it be said 
that none among them all more diligently followed 
the injunction : " Work while the day is, for the night 
Cometh." 

In these imperfect sketches an attempt has been 
made to preserve some memorial of a few of those 
who have completed their life-work and are to be re- 
membered as representatives of that ability and in- 
tegrity which has characterized the administration of 
justice in this county and Commonwealth. Neces- 
sarily the names of many who have largely contrib- 
uted to the establishment of this reputation are 
omitted. The records of a lawyer's life are too often 
written in water. The writer has mainly selected 
those who have seemed to him to leave some lasting 
impression on their times and to furnish examples 
for the edification of their successors in the same 
field of enterprise. To learn that the qualities which 
secured their successes are still exhibited among us, 
it needs only to glance over the honored list of names 
which now adorns the roll of this bar. A Senator of 
the United States, a justice of the Supreme Court of 
the State, two justices of its Superior Court and one 
of the United States District Court, and two recent 
members of Congress figure in the list. In active prac- 
tice are advocates as skillful and eloquent, counsel as 
sagacious and learned as any who have gone before. 

LIVING LAWYERS. 

Charles Devens.' — Prominently identified with 



1 Bj the Editor. 



the military and judicial history of the State of Massa- 
chusetts is the Hon. Charles Devens, one of the 
justices of the Supreme Judicial Court. General 
Devens was born in Charlestown, !Mass., April 4, 1820. 
He graduated at Cambridge in 1838. He studied law 
at the Harvard Law School, and subsequently with 
Messrs. Hubbard & Watts, in Boston, and was admitted 
to the bar in 1840. He first commenced practice at 
Northfield, where he remained until 1844, when he 
removed to Greenfield and formed a co-partnership 
with Hon. George T. Davis, which continued until 
1849, when he was appointed by President Taylor 
United States marshal for the district of Massachu- 
setts. This office he held until his resignation in 1853. 
While residing at Greenfield he represented Franklin 
County in the State Senate. Upon resigning the office 
of marshal, he located in Worcester and resumed the 
practice of his profession, forming a p.artnership with 
Hon. Ge(nge F. Hoar and .1. Henry Hill. Soon after 
Mr. Hill retired, and the firm of Devens & Hoar 
continued until 1861. During his residence in Wor- 
cester he served as city solicitor in 1856, 1857 and 
1858. 

Upon the breaking out of the Rebellion, Mr. Devens 
promptly responded to the President's call for troops, 
and entered the service as major of the Third Battalion 
of Infantry. He soon after became colonel of the 
Fifteenth Massachusetts Regiment, and from thi-i date 
until the close of the war he was in active service. 
He received his baptism of fire on the disastrous field 
of Ball's Bluff, and in 1862 was made a brigndier- 
general for gallantry on this memorable field of car- 
nage. From the very beginning General Devens saw 
severe service. In the battle of Fair Oaks he was 
severely wounded, also at Chancellorsville, in 1863, 
and at Antietam his horse was shot under him. His 
distinguished bravery before Richmond was especially 
commended by General Grant, and he was commis- 
sioned major-general for gallantry at the capture of 
the city. At the close of the war he was appointed 
military governor of the Eastern District of South 
Carolina. This position General Devens held until 
June, 1866, when he was mustered out of the service. 

Civil honors seemed to await him upon his return 
to his native State, and in the following year, 1867, he 
was appointed a judge of the Supreme Court, and in 
1873 became an associate justice of the Supreme 
Judicial Court, and remained upon the bench until 
1877, when he was appointed Attorney-General of the 
United States by President Hayes. At the expiration 
of four years he returned to Massachusetts, and in 
1881 was re-appointed to the bench of the Supreme 
Court. Notwithstanding the exacting duties of a 
judicial life Judge Devens finds time to manifest his 
interest in military affairs, and has been president of 
the Society of the Array of the James ; president of 
the Society of the Array of the Potomac, and of the 
Sixth Army Corps. He has been National Com- 
mander of the Grand Army of tlie Republic, and was 



Ivi 



HISTORY OP WORCESTEE COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



for nine years Commander of the Military Order of 
the Loyal Legion for Massachusetts. 

Judge Devens is eminently an orator, and his public 
addresses and eulogies have been many and varied. 
He is a member of various societies and clubs, and as 
statesman, judge and general ranks among Massachu- 
setts' most distinguished citizens. 

George Fkisbee Hoar ' was born in Concord, 
Mass., August 29, 182{;. His ancestors, from the early 
days of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, were men of 
action and courage, humane, and always in advance 
of their times, but not so radical as to be parted in 
sympathy from their contemporaries, and to lose 
the influence which their character, talents and pub- 
lic spirit deserved. John Hoar, Senator Hoar's ear- 
liest ancestor in Massachusetts, was one of three 
brothers who came, with their widowed mother, from 
Gloucestershire, England, among the early colonists. 

He was a friend and co-laborer of Eliot, the apos- 
tle to the Indians, and after the massacre at Lancas- 
ter, in King Philip's War, followed Philip's band into 
the wilderness with a single Indian guide, and ran- 
somed Mrs. Rolandson, one of the Lancaster captives. 

His brother, Leonard Hoar, was one of the early 
presidents of Harvard College. Senator Hoar's 
father, Samuel Hoar, was one of the great Massachu- 
setts lawyers, contemporary with Mason, Webster and 
Choate. His aspect inspired reverence, which was 
increased by knowledge of his character. He was a 
Representative in Congre.«s, and was chosen by Mas- 
sachusetts to protect in the courts of South Carolina 
her colored ci)izens unjustly imprisoned there. He 
was expelled from the State by force, and was not 
allowed to discharge his mission ; but his conduct 
throughout was marked by dignity, tirmness and 
courage. Senator Hoar's mother was the youngest 
daughter of Roger Sherman, of Connecticut. 

The village of Concord, where Mr. Hoar's boyhood 
was passed, was full of fine influences. No place 
could have been better for the forming of character 
and preparation for a life of public or private useful- 
ness. After his school-days there he entered Harvard 
College, and was graduated in 1846. Choosing the law 
for his profession, he studied at the Harvard Law 
School and in the oflice of the late Judge Thomas, in 
Worcester. Upon his admission to the bar in 1849, 
he began practice in Worcester, and this city has 
ever since been his home. 

He was for a time associated in practice with the 
late Hon. Emory Washburn, and later with the Hon. 
Charles Devens and J. Henry HiH, Esq. Mr. Hoar 
rapidly rose to a very high rank in his profession. 
The native capacity of his mind, disciplined by edu- 
cation and superbly equipped by study, was supple- 
mented by uncommon industry and assiduous devotion 
to the business of his clients. 

His practice when he entered Congress in 1869, 



By .1. Evai-ts Greene. 



after twenty years at the bar, was probably the largest 
and most valuable in the State, west of Jliddlesex 
County. Mr. Hoar married, iu 1853, Miss Mary 
Louisa Spurr, whe died a few years after, leaving a 
daughter and a son, both of whom are now living. 
He married, in 1862, Miss Ruth Ann Miller. 

Mr. Hoar's first appearance in political life was as 
chairman of the committee of the Free-Soil party for 
Worcester County in 1849, which was more efficiently 
organized here than in any other county of the 
United States. In 1851, at the age of twenty-five, 
Mr. Hoar was elected a representative to the General 
Court. He was the youngest member in that body, 
but became the leader of the Coalitionists in law 
matters, and to him was given the task of drawing 
resolutions, protesting against the compromise meas- 
ures of the National Government in 1850. 

So manifest at this time to the people of this dis- 
trict was Mr. Hoar's fitness for public service that the 
way was open to him to succeed the late Hon. Charles 
Allen as the Representative of this district in Con- 
gress. 

But he put aside all suggestions fending that way, 
because it seemed to him that to enter Congress then 
would be to make politics instead of the law his pro- 
fession. If his decision had been otherwise, his ener- 
gy, courage, eloquence and firm grasp of constitu- 
tional principles would doubtless have placed him in 
the very front rank of the statesmen of the civil war 
and reconstruction period. Although refusing Con- 
gressional service, he did not decline such duty in 
the State Legislature as was pressed upon him. In 
1857 he was a member of the Senate, and chairman of 
its Judiciary Committee. In tliat capacity he drew a 
masterly report, defining the boundaries of the exec- 
utive and legislative authority. 

He made many political addresses, as varying occa- 
sions called for them, and was always ready with ser- 
vice in behalf of enterprises for the public welfare in 
his own city. He aided in the establishment of the 
Free Public Library and reading-room, was a member 
of the board of directors and one of its early presi- 
dents. His counsels and efforts were of great value 
in the founding of the Worcester County Free Insti- 
tute of Industrial Science, now the Worcester Poly- 
technic Institute, whose usefulness as a pioneer in a 
new field and conceded eminence now are due to the 
wisdom with which its foundations were laid by that 
group of sagacious and public-spirited men of whom 
Mr. Hoar was one. His argument for technical edu- 
cation before a committee of the Legislature in 1869 
was, if not the first, among the earliest adequate pub- 
lic statements of the claims of this branch of educa- 
tion. He was also an early advocate of woman suf- 
frage, having made an address on that subject in 
Worcester in 1868 and before a legislative committee 
in 1869. 

In 1868 Mr. Hoar was elected a Representative in 
Congress, as the successor of the late Hon. John D. 



"^®t 




e^ 



> c^\. 



'-C-- 



THE BENCH AND BAR. 



Iv 



Baldwin. In this, the Forty-first Congress, he was a 
member of the Committee on Education and Labor, 
and his chief work was tlie preparation and advocacy 
of the bill- for national education. The bill dittered 
widely in its details from that now pending and 
known as the Blair Bill, but its purpose — to give 
national aid to education where illiteracy most pre- 
vails and where, through poverty or indiiference, the 
State and local governments inadequately provide for 
public schools — was the same. The bill did not pass 
in that Congress, and Mr. Hoar reported it with some 
changes in the Forty-second and again in the Forty- 
third Congresses, when it was passed by the House, 
but failed in the Senate. In his first term in Congress 
Mr. Hoar, by a timely and convincing speech, saved 
the Bureau of Education when the Committee on Ap- 
propriations had reported it ought to be abolished. 
f* In this Congress, too, he vindicated General Howard 
from the charges preferred by Fernando Wood, sup- 
ported Sumner in his opposition to President Grant's 
scheme for the annexation of Santo Domingo, and be- 
came known as a formidable antagonist in debate by 
his prompt and severe treatment of Mr. D. W. Voor- 
hees and Mr. S. S. Cox, of New York, who ventured 
to " draw" the new member. His retort upon Mr. 
Cox was much relished by his associates. Mr. Cox, 
then the triumphant wit of the House, had been carp- 
ing at Massachusetts and daring Mr. Dawes, already 
a Congressional veteran, to come to her defence, assur- 
ing him that her stoutest champion was needed. 
" Troy," said Mr. Cox, " was defended by Hector, yet 
Troy fell." Mr. Hoar's reply was quick and scathing. 
" Troy," said he, " did not need her Hector to repel 
an attack led by Thersites." 

In the Forty-second Congress Mr. Hoar, as a mem- 
ber of the Committee on Elections, drew the report 
in the case of Cessna against Myers. Many ques- 
tions of great interest were discussed and decided in 
this report, which has been an authority ever since, 
being frequently cited in election contests both here 
and in England. In this case the report assigned the 
seat to Myers, the Democrat. Mr. Hoar's dealing 
with election cases in this Congress and in the next 
was recognized by his associates of both parties as 
judicial and conscientious, and when the charge of 
undue partisanship was afterwards brought against 
him, he was defended by Mr. Giddings, a Texas 
Democrat. In this Congress Mr. Hoar made an elo- 
quent appeal for the rebuilding, at the national ex- 
pense, of the College of William and ilary in Vir- 
ginia, which was destroyed by fire while national 
troops were encamped in its neighborhood during the 
Civil War. 

In the Forty-third Congress Mr. Hoar, besides ob- 
taining the vote of the House for his Education Bill, 
reported and carried through the House a bill to es- 
tablish a Burfau of Labor Statistics, and was chair- 
man of a special committee to investigate the polit- 
ical disorders in Louisiana. The fairness of the in- 



quiry and report of this committee was conceded 
even by the Democratic counsel employed jn the 
case. In this Congress Mr. Hoar delivered his eulo- 
gy of Senator Sumner. 

By the elections of 1874 the Republicans, who had 
held undisputed control of the House of Kepresenta- 
tives for fifteen years, were outvoted in so many dis- 
tricts that in the Forty-fourth Congress the Demo- 
crats were a majority of the House. In this Congress 
Mr. Hoar made a number of notable speeches. At 
his suggestion the Eads' Jetty Bill, which was in 
danger of failure, was put into such form as to win 
favorable action from the committee and Congressi 
and thus, as Captain Eads himself testified, it was 
through Mr. Hoar's efforts that New Orleans was 
opened to ocean commerce. He wjs one of the man- 
agers of the impeachment of Secretary Belknap, and 
as such made an argument so convincing and pow- 
erful that it not only changed the opinions of several 
Senators on the question of jurisdiction, but it awoke 
the conscience of the people and gave the initial im- 
pulse to the wave of official and political reform, 
which has not yet spent its force. But Mr. Hoar's 
most distinguished service in this Congress was that 
with which it closed — his work for and as a member of 
the Electoral Commission. He was a member of the 
special committee which prepared the bill establish- 
ing the commi.s-sion, was its advocate in the House, 
and was chosen by the House a member of it, his 
associates being General Garfield, Judge Abbott, of 
Massachusetts, General Hunton, of Virginia, and 
Mr. Payne, of Ohio. In 1872 and again in 1874 Mr. 
Hoar had given notice to his constituents of his wish 
to retire from public life, but had yielded to the gen- 
eral and imperative demand for his further service. 

In 1876 his resolve not to be a candidate for re- 
election to the House was announced as final, and 
the people, accepting it, elected his successor. But 
in the winter following the Legislature chose him as 
Mr. Boutwell's successor in the other branch of Con- 
gress, and he took his seat in the Senate in March, 
1877, at the opening of President Hayes' administra- 
tion, of which he was one of the few steadfast Sena- 
torial supporters. In the Senate Mr. Hoar has been 
a member, and for some years chairman of the Com- 
mittee on Privileges and Elections and a member of 
the Committee on Claims, on the Judiciary, on the 
Library, and others of less importance. Besides con- 
ducting many inquiries, preparing many reports, in- 
volving large pecuniary interests or deciding weighty 
questions of individual right or public polic-y, he is 
the author or was the leading advocate of several 
measures of first-rate importance. Among them are 
the bill for distributing the balance of the Geneva 
award, the Lowell Bankruptcy Bill, the bill for 
counting the electoral votes for President and Vice- 
President, the Presidential Succession Bill, the repeal 
of the Tenure of Office Act and the resnlution for 
amending the Constitution so as to make the Presi- 



Iviii 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



dential term aiid the term of eacli Congress begin 
witli tjie liiith (lay of April instead of the 4th day of 
Martli. All of these measures passed the Senate, 
and most of them became laws. 

In general Mr. Hoar has occupied himself in Con- 
gress with matters of wide scope and of fundamental 
importance rather than with those measures of nar- 
rower range and temporary application, upon which 
most of the labor of Senators and Representatives is 
spent. His success in gaining for so many of these 
larger measures the attention and favorable action of 
a body somewhat dilatory, apt to be engrossed with 
the affairs of the moment, and seldom looking farther 
forward than to the next Presidential campaign, is 
proof of his powers of convincing and persuading 
and of the confidence of his associates in his wisdom 
and the purity of his motives. 

Mr. Hoar was re-elected to the Senate by the 
Legislature in January, 1883, and again in 1889. 
His election for the third time by the unanimous 
vote of his party in the Legislature, without a note 
of dissent or the public suggestion of any competi- 
tor, was a distinction not accorded to any man in 
Massachusetts for many years before, and proof that 
the people have learned to set a value upon his ser- 
vices not less than that which they assigned in ear- 
lier days to those of Webster and Sumner. 

Mr. Hoar has four times been chosen to preside 
over Republican State Conventions. In 1880 he was 
president of the National Convention at Chicago by 
which General Garfield was made the Republican 
candidate for President of the United States. His 
dignity and courtesy, his prompt and impartial de- 
cisions, and the easy mastery by which he held the 
great convention to its work amid the enthusiasms 
for rival leaders and the disturbing hopes and fears 
and other strong excitements of the occasion, com- 
manded general applause, and gave to the public of 
the United States a better knowledge of his strength 
and breadth of character. 

Besides his political, legislative and professional 
activity, which has been briefly outlined above, Mr. 
Hoar has been and is usefully busy in other ways. 
He has written valuable papers for the magazines; 
has delivered many addresses on other than political 
subjects ; has been a member of the Board of Over- 
seers of Harvard College; an active member and for 
some years the president of the American Antiqua- 
rian Society; a trustee of the Worcester Polytechnic 
Institute; a regent of the Smithsonian Institution, 
and was selected by Mr. Jonas G. Clark as one of 
the corporators of Clark University. He has re- 
ceived the degree of Doctor of Laws from William 
and Mary College, Amherst, Yale and Harvard. 

P. Emory Aldrich,' of Worcester, an associate 
justice of the Superior Court of Massachusetts, is a 
native of New Salem, Bias*. His familv is of the 



I B.v tlip Editor. 



early New England stock, he being a lineal descend- 
ant of George Aldi-ich, who emigated from England 
in 1G35 and settled at first in Dorchester, but after- 
wards became one of the original founders of the 
town of Mendon. Members of this family in the 
seventh and eighth generations from the founder are 
now living in nearly every State of the Union; it has 
had its Representatives in both Houses of Congress 
and in all the learned professions; several of the 
lineage have been judges in the courts of different 
States. The family, in some of its branches, has been, 
and is, honorably known in literature and commerce; 
but a great majority of the race have been farmers. 
As a race they are distinguished for longevity and 
vigor of physical constitution and an inflexible will 
in tlie pursuit of the objects of their choice. 

The subject of this notice attended the district 
school in his native village until he was sixteen years 
old, and then became himself a teacher. He received 
an academical education, and thereafter taught in the 
schools of this State and Virginia; pursuing at the 
same time a course of studies, such as were at that 
day usually found in the curricula of New England 
colleges. While teaching in Virginia he began the 
study of law, which he continued at the Harvard Law 
School in 1843-14, and graduated with the degree of 
LL.B. 

After that, returning to Virginia and resuming 
there for a definite period his former vocation of 
teaching, he was admitted to the bar upon examina- 
tion by the judges of the Court of Appeals at Rich- 
mond in 1845. He did not, however, enter upon prac- 
tice there, but returned the same year to his native 
Slate, and after six months' study in the then well- 
known office of Ashman, Chapman & Norton, of 
Springfield, he was admitted to the bar at the spring 
term of the old Common Pleas Court for Hampden 
County in 1846. 

Subsequent to his admission he passed a few months 
in Petersham in the ofBce of F. A. Brooks, Esq., who 
had been a fellow-student of his at Cambridge ; and 
in December, 1846, he began practice in the town of 
Barre, Worcester County, and continued there during 
the following seven years. For about three years of 
the seven he was editor and publisher of the Barre 
Patriot. He represented the town of Barre in the 
Constitutional Convention of 1853. In May, 1853, 
he was appointed by Governor Clifford district attor- 
ney for the Middle District, which office he con- 
tinued to hold, with an interval of a few months in 
1856, until 1865. In the spring of 1854 he removed 
to Worcester and opened an office in that city, and in 
January, 1855, he formed a law partnership with the 
Hon. P. C. Bacon, which partnership continued until 
he left the bar for the bench in October, 1873. He 
was mayor of Worcester for the year 1862. 

Upon the organization of the Slate Board of Health, 
in 1870, Mr.- Aldrich was appointed a member of the 
board by Governor Claflin, and remained a member 





6<Ht4; 




^^ 




THE BENCH AND BAR. 



lix 



till his appointment to the bench of the Superior 
Court. While he was a member of the Board of 
Health he prepared an historical paper, relating to the 
use of and the legislative regulation of the sale of in- 
toxicating liquor, which was published in one of the 
annual reports of the board. He was one of the 
Representatives from Worcester in the State Legisla- 
ture in the years 1866 and 1867 ; he took an active 
part in the debates and business of the House. In 
1866 he was one of the minority dissenting from the 
decision of the Speaker of the ■ House upon the 
question of the right of an interested member to vote. 
Mr. Aldrich prepared at that time an elaborate report 
upon the subject, wliich was published under the title 
of "The Right of Members to Vote on all Questions 
of Public Policy Vindicated." The principles of 
parliamentary law and practice contended for in that 
report were, at a later date, held to be correct, both 
in the Federal House of Representatives and in the 
British House of Commons. Judge Aldrich is a 
member of the American Antiquarian Society and 
one of the council of that venerable and learned 
body. 

As a member of the society and council he has pre- 
pared several papers on historical, legal and literary 
subjects, which have been published with the proceed- 
ings of the society. He has written and delivered 
addresses before other societies and associations upon 
various aspects of social science and education, and 
upon the right of the State to provide not only for the 
elementary education of its children, but also for their 
higher education in high schools, etc. For the last few 
years he has given much time and study to the cause 
of technical education. He has long been one of the 
trustees of that admirable institution — the Worcester 
Polytechnic Institute. 

Since he left the bar he has written a work on 
" Equity Pleading and Practice," which was pub- 
lished in 1885. In 1886 he received the honorary 
degree of LL.D. from Amherst College. In 1850 he 
married Sarah, the eldest daughter of Harding P. 
Wood, Esq., late of Barre. 

William W. Rice,' son of Rev. Benjamin Rice, a 
Congregational clergyman, was born in the historical 
old town of Deerfield, Mass., on the 7th of March, 
1826. His collegiate education was acquired at 
Bowdoin, whence he graduated in 1846. And 
it may be mentioned, in passing, that his alma 
mater in 1886 conferred on him the degree of LL.D. 
After graduating he spent four years as preceptor of 
the far-famed Leicester Academy, and in 1851 com- 
menced the study of law in the office of Emory Wash- 
burn, then in full practice in Worcester. After the 
usual course of three years' study he was admitted to 
the bar; and from the first year of his professional 
life to the present time has been a prosperous and 
highly-esteemed practitioner. His courtesy of man- 



1 By Hon. J. R. Newliall. 



ner, his fairness towards opposing parties and uniform 
deference to the court have marked him as a gentle- 
man as well as advocate. 

The career of Mr. Rice as a lawyer, successful as it 
has been, by no means exhibits his whole character — 
perhaps not the most useful or conspicuous part. He 
has been almost constantly called by his fellow-citi- 
zens to iill positions of honor, trust and responsi- 
bility. 

In the municipal administration of Worcester he 
has served in various capacities, particularly in those 
connected with the educational interests. In 1860 he 
was mayor, and administered the duties of that high 
ofiBce with efficiency and universal satisfaction. In 
the capacity of special justice of the Police Court 
and as occiipant of the bench of the County Court of 
Insolvency his course met with marked approval. 

The duties of the office of district attorney or pub- 
lic prosecutor tor the Worcester District, to which he 
was elected in 1868 and which he held five years, he 
discharged with signal ability, with fidelity to the 
State and a manly regard for the rights of those 
whom it became his duty to prosecute. Few offices 
are beset liy more difficulties and annoyances, the 
duties being always arduous, often disagreeable and 
sometimes of doubtful justice ; and he who success- 
fully discharges them is worthy of the highest praise. 

But perhaps it was as a member of Congress that 
Mr. Bice has become most widely known. He was 
for ten years a member of that august body, having 
been first elected in 1876. In the discussions there 
his speeches had much influence and his committee 
work was often of the greatest importance. There, as 
well as at, the bar, he was courteous and forbearing, 
though never shrinking from the enforcement of his 
convictions with ardor and eloquence. By his fellow- 
members of all parties he was regarded with great 
respect, for every one recognized him as honest and 
patriotic. He was able in debate and not liable to 
be taken unawares on any current suliject, was intelli- 
gent, earnest and persistent as a worker in the inter- 
est of his constituents, and exhibiting the same zeal 
that characterized his efforts for clients at the bar. 
. But it would savor a little of ostentation and at the 
same time add nothing to the reputation of jNlr. Rice 
to further pursue this jdiase of his career. 

Some men possess such magnetic power that they, 
without a particle of self-assertion, draw to them- 
selves the sympathy and confidence of all with whom 
they are brought in contact. And such have a 
controlling influence in the common affairs of 
life. There are others, on the contrary, who seem 
always surrounded by a chilling atmosphere, impene- 
trable to any brotherly feeling or confidential near- 
ness. Those who best know Mr. Rice will have no 
difficulty in which class to place him. Assuredly he 
does not belong to the latter. 

Politically, Mr. Rice is a member of the Republi- 
can party, and ranks as the first Republican mayor of 



h 



HISTOKY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



the city. In the War of the Rebellion his voice gave no 
uncertain sound in urging upon every one the duty of 
doing their utmost to preserve the integrity of the 
Union ; and it was not by speech alone that he forti- 
fied his patriotic sentiments. In his religious senti- 
ments he is a Unitarian. 

Mr. Rice was united in marriage November 21, 
1855, with Miss Cornelia A. Moen, of Stamford, Conn., 
by whom he had two sons, — the eldest, William W. 
Rice, Jr., dying in childhood, and the youngest, 
Charles Moen Rice, a graduate of Harvard, is now a 
member of Mr. Rice's law firm. His first wife died 
June 16, 1862. In September, 1875, he married Miss 
Alice M. Miller, daughter of Henry W. Miller, Esq., 
of Worcester. 

Fraxk Palmer Goulding.' — The .subject of this 
sketch is descended from Peter Goulding, who lived 
in Boston in 1665, and afterwards in Worcester and 
Sudbury. Palmer Goulding, son of Peter, had a son 
John, who was born in Worcester, October 3, 1726, and 
inherited from his father the business of tanning. He 
removed early in life to Grafton, and died November 
22, 1791. His wife, Lucy Brooks, of Concord, died 
at the age of thirty-eight, the mother of ten children. 
Ephraim Goulding, one of the children, was born 
September 4, 1765, and married, March 6, 1792, 
Susannah, daughter of William and Sarah (Prentice) 
Brigham. He was a prominent man in the town, 
serving as moderator of annual town-meetings eleven 
years, as selectman six, as assessor one year and as 
member of the School Committee six years. He died 
January 14, 1838. Palmer Goulding, son of Ephraim, 
was born October 11, 1809, and died in Grafton, 
March 22, 1849. He married, first, Fanny W. May- 
nard, who died August 9, 1839, having had three 
children — JohnC, who was born in 1832, and died in 
1839 ; Susan E., born in 1835, and Frank P., the sub- 
iect of this sketch, who was born in Grafton, July 2, 
1837. By a second wife, Ann Cutting, whom he 
married June 2, 1842, he had Fanny A., born May 4, 
1843. 

Frank Palmer Goulding while a boy lived in Graf- 
ton, Holden and Worcester, his father having at 
various times occupation in those places, but on the 
death of his father, in 1849, returned to Grafton, and 
at the age of twelve years was apprenticed to learn 
the liusiness of making shoes. From 1853 to 1857 he 
worked at his trade in Worcester, and at the latter date, 
at the age of twenty, entered the academy at Thetford, 
Vt., and prepared for college. He graduated at Dart- 
mouth in 1863, and at once began the study of law in 
the office of Hon. George F. Hoar, in Worcester. A 
year at the Harvard Law School completed his pre- 
liminary law studies, and in 1866 he was admit ted to the 
Worcester County bar. In the same year he became 
a partner with Hon. Francis Hensbaw Dewey, then 
in full practice, and remained with him until Mr. 

1 l(j' W. 'f. Davis. 



Dewey was appointed a justice of the Superior Court 
in 1869. Mr. Goulding then formed a partnership 
with Hon. Hamilton Barclay Staples, which con- 
tinued until Mr. Staples was appointed a Superior 
Court justice in 1881. Since that time he has been 
alone, enjoying a large and increasing practice, to 
which has been added the performance of the duties 
of city solicitor, which office since 1881 he has con- 
tinued to hold. 

It is not difiicult to form an estimate of the charac- 
ter and intellectual powers of a man who, with slen- 
der educational advantages in early life, has reached 
the professional position enjoyed by Mr. Goulding. 
At a bar excelled by none in the State beyond the 
limits of Suffolk County, he at an early day in his 
career secured a rank which he has not only sus- 
tained, but steadily advanced. His appointment as 
one of the trustees of the new Clark University at- 
tests both the confidence of the community in which 
he lives in his business methods and sound judg- 
ment and their respect for his mental attainments 
and culture. 

There are other evidences of the regard in which 
he is held. He was one of the Presidential electors 
chosen on the Republican ticket at the last election ; 
he is also one of the trustees of the Worcester 
County Institution for Savings, a director in the 
First National Fire Insurance Company, and either a 
present or retired member of the Worcester School 
Board. With the pressure of professional business, 
his political aspirations have been satisfied by two 
years of service in the House of Representatives. 

Mr. Goulding married, March 29, 1870, Abbie B. 
Miles, of Pitchburg, and lias two children of fifteen 
and tea years of age. 

Hon. Johx D. Washburn.'-' — John Davis Wash- 
burn is a native of Boston, where he was born March 
27, 1833, being the eldest son of John Marshall 
Washburn, who married, in 1832, Harriet Webster, 
daughter of Rev. Daniel Kimball (Harvard Univer- 
sity, 1800). 

His parents removed to the grand old town of Lan- 
caster, in Worcester County, when he was five years 
old, and his early youth was passed amid those beau- 
tiful surroundings. 

At the age of twenty he graduated in 1853 from 
Harvard University, and entered the profession of law, 
studying first with Hon. Emory Washburn and 
George F. Hoar in 1854, and later receiving a diplo- 
ma from the Harvard Law School in 1856. 

He practiced law in Worcester, in partnership with 
Hon. H. C. Rice, and, by a development of his pro- 
fessional business and inclinations, made a prominent 
place, first, as an insurance attorney, and lastly, suc- 
ceeding the late Hon. Alexander H. Bullock as gen- 
eral agent and attorney of the insurance companies, in 
1866. 



= I!v the Kditi.r. 





ixJly^-yukJ^'l 



lA^'Vi^W 





^:^^^Cu^^Z^-^-yZ' 




^/^c/ 



THE BENCH AND BAR. 



Ixi 



By his friendship with Governor Bullock he became 
associated witli his military family as the chief of his 
staff, from 18G6 to 1S69, receiving a colonel's com- 
mission. 

During the period from 1871 to 1881 he was a trus- 
tee of the Worcester Lunatic Hospital, and from 1875 
to 1885 filled the same relation to the Massachusetts 
School for the Feeble-minded. He was a member 
of the House of Representatives from 1876 to 1879, 
and a Senator from the city of Worcester in 1884, 
rendering the excellent public service to be expected 
from his knowledge of affairs and his general sympa- 
thies with all matters of care and concern in the Com- 
monwealth. 

His association has always been sought in corpor- 
ate and financial affairs. From 1866 to 1880 he was a 
director of the Citizens' National Bank. 

He has been a member of the Board of Investment 
of the Worcester County Institution for Savings since 
1871, and a trustee and treasurer of the Memorial 
Hospital since 1872. 

He has been a director of the Merchants' and Far- 
mers' Insurance Company since 1862, and succeeded 
the Hon. Isaac Davis as president in 1883. 

His large humanitarian instincts and tastes, taking 
hold on all matters that have to do with educational 
and intellectual advancement, have made for him a 
congenial field where associates have warmly wel- 
comed him in the numerous relations he has sustained 
to our higher institutions and learned societies. Since 
1871 he has been a councilor and secretary of the 
American Antiquarian Society, and is a councilor of 
the Massachusetts Historical Society. 

He is also an original member of the American 
Historical Association, and has been, since 1884, a 
corresponding member of the Georgia Historical So- 
ciety. It is much to say of one that he stands high 
with his own alma mater. Colonel Washburn is a 
member of the overseers' committee on the govern- 
ment of Harvard University, and one of the directors 
of the Alumni Association of the same institution. 
He is one of the Board of Trustees and secretary of 
the new Clark University of Worcester. 

This is a good record for any man to have won in 
middle life, and opens a field of service worthy of the 
best ripened powers, such as promises to give the 
subject of this sketch many years of useful citizen- 
ship. 

Colonel Washburn is a man of commanding pres- 
ence, with a kindly dignity always open to approach. 

He married, in 1860, Mary F., daughter of Charles 
L. Putnam, Esq. (Dartmouth College, 1830), and has 
one daughter, Edith, who married, in 1884, Richard 
Ward Greene, Esq., of Worcester. 

Edward Livingston Davis,' sou of Isaac and 
Mary H. E. Davis, was born in Worcester, April 22, 
1834. He began his education in the public schools 



' By J. Eyarts Greene, 



of his native town, completing his course at the High 
School in 1850 and was graduated at Brown University 
in 1854. Having studied law in the office of his father 
and at the Harvard Law School, he became a mem- 
ber of the Worcester County bar in 1857. 

He gave up the practice of the law the following 
year, and associated himself with Nathan Washburn 
and George W. Gill in the manufacture of railway 
iron, locomotive tires and car-wheels, a business es- 
tablished in 1857 in Worcester, which soon gave 
profitable employment to a large capital. In 1864 a 
corporation was formed, under the name of the 
Washburn Iron Company, for carrying on the same 
business. Mr. Davis was the treasurer and one of 
the chief stockholders in this company, and contin- 
ued to hold that office until 1882, when, upon the 
death of his associate, Mr. Gill, he sold his interest 
and retired from the corporation. 

Since that time, as indeed before, he has been 
much occupied with various business engagements 
and public and private trusts, which the care of his 
own property and the confidence of others in his 
capacity and faithfulness imposed upon him. He 
has been a director of the Boston and Albany, the 
Norwich and Worcester, and the Vermont and Mas- 
sachusetts Railroad Companies, president of the pro- 
prietors of the Rural Cemetery, president of the Wor- 
cester County Musical Association, member of the 
Council of the American Antiquarian Society, and 
director and trustee of many other institutions and 
companies in his native city, and actively and help- 
fully concerned in all enterprises designed to promote 
the welfare of the city and its people. 

While not ambitious of official honors or political 
influence, Mr. Davis has not refused to bear his part 
when his services were required iu responsible posi- 
tions in the government of the city or State. He 
was elected a member of the Common Council for 
1865 and held the office for three years, for the last 
year being president of the board. He was mayor of 
Worcester in 1874. During his administration im- 
portant public improvements were carried out, nota- 
bly the construction of a portion of Park Avenue, 
whose value has since been recognized. While 
holding this office Mr. Davis saw the growing need 
of the city for additional parks and play-grounds, 
which he has since in another official capacity and 
privately, so efficiently helped to supply. 

While he was mayor, the Soldiers' Monument on 
the Common was publicly accepted by him on behalf 
of the city, and it was formally dedicated with ap- 
propriate ceremony. It is an interesting coincidence 
that his father, the Hon. Isaac Davis, accepted for 
the city the monument erected on the Common in 
memory of Colonel Timothy Bigelow, Worcester's 
most distinguished soldier of the Revolution. This 
dedication took place on the 19th of April, 1861, at 
the moment when other Worcester soldiers, among 
the first to be in arms in defence of the Union against 



Ixii 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



foes of its own household, were attacked in the 
streets of Baltimore, and the first blood was shed in 
the great Civil War, whose heroes are commemorated 
by the monument dedicated by the second Mayor 
Davis thirteen years later. These two monuments in 
memory of the soldiers of two wars — for independ- 
ence and for union — are the only memorial structures 
on the Common. 

Mr. Davis was a member of the State Senate in 
1876. He has since repeatedly declined to be the 
candidate of his party for various positions, includ- 
ing that of Representative in Congress, preferring 
private to political life. 

He has not, however, declined employments of a 
public nature other than political, and has been 
chairman of the commissioners of the city's sinking 
funds, an office of financial responsibility, and a 
member of the Parks Commission. In this latter ca- 
pacity, as well as by his gift of a portion of the Lake 
Park and a fund for its improvement, he has con- 
tributed materially to devise the present comprehen- 
sive scheme of public parks and play-grounds, and to 
secure its adoption, as well as to remove obstructions 
from the Common and prevent encroachments upon 
it, and thus to preserve it for the free use of the people, 
as a place of recreation and an adornment of the city. 

Mr. Davis is a member of the Protestant Episcopal 
Church and has long been senior warden of the parish 
of All Saints. When the present church was built, 
from 1874 to 1877, he was chairman of the building 
and fijiance committees, and contributed in time and 
money more than any other member of the parish. 
He has repeatedly represented the parish in the Dio- 
cesan Convention, has been for several years a mem- 
ber of the standing committee of the diocese, and 
twice one of the four lay deputies of the diocese to the 
general convention of the church. 

Mr. Davis has been twice married. Hannah Gard- 
ner, daughter of Seth Adams, Esq., of Providence, 
Rhode Island, to wliom he was married in 1859, died 
in 1861, leaving a son, who survived her but a few 
days. He married, in 1869, Maria Louisa, youngest 
daughter of the Rev. Chandler Robbins, D.D., of 
Boston. They have two daughters, Eliza Frothing- 
ham and Theresa, and a son, Livingston. 

James Edward Estabrook.' — For nearly sixty 
years the name and title " Colonel Estabrook," de- 
scending from father to son, has been familiarly 
known and respected, both within and beyond the 
borders of this community. 

" Colonel '' James Edward Estabrook, the subject 
of this sketch, may be said to have inherited the 
title, by courtesy, from his father, Colonel James Es- 
tabrook, of the State Militia, the gallant commander 
of the last Worcester County Regiment of Cavalry, 
and who had the honor of leading the escort at the 
reception of Lafayette in 1824. 



1 By John J. Jewett. 



The genealogy of the family is easily and clearly 
traceable as far back as 1413, to the Estebroks in 
Wales. 

The American line begins with the Rev. .loseph 
Estabrook, born in Enfield, England, who came to 
Concord, Mass., in 1660, was graduated from Harvard 
College in 1664, and soon after was settled as a min- 
ister in Concord, Mass., where he was a colleague for 
many years of the famous Rev. Edward Bulkeley, 
remaining there during a pastorate of forty-four 
years until his death, in 1711. Shattuck's " History 
of Concord " refers to him as : 

" A man of great worth, and eminently fitted for 
his oflice. His appearance carried with it so much 
patriarchal dignity, that people were induced to love 
him as a friend and reverence him as a father. These 
distinguished traits obtained for him, in the latter 
part of his life, the name of The Apostle." 

In an obituary notice, the Boston News Letter of 
September 18, 1711, says: " He was eminent for his 
skill in the Hebrew language, a most orthodox, 
learned and worthy divine, of holy life and conver- 
sation." 

Three of his four sons became ministers, the eld- 
est, Joseph, settling in Lexington, Mass., and refer- 
ence is made to this branch in Hudson's " History of 
Lexington," as "the noted ministerial family." 

Ebenezer Estabrook, the father of Major James 
Estabrook, and grandfather of James Edward, of 
Worcester, removed from Lexington to the neighbor- 
ing town of Holden about the time of the Revolu- 
tion and founded the Worcester County branch of 
the family. 

Colonel James Estabrook removed from Holden, 
his native place, to Rutland and thence to Worcester 
in 1828, and, with the exception of a few years spent 
in Bostion, his active business life was closely identi- 
fied with the rapidly developing town and city of 
Worcester until his death, in 1874. 

During the administration of Governor Boutwell 
he was appointed sheriff of Worcester County, from 
which office he was removed, for political resisons 
only, on the return of the Whig party to power. 

Colonel Estabrook was a devoted and distinguished 
member of the order of Free Masonry, and as early 
as 1825, on the organization of the Worcester County 
Commandery of Knights Templar, he was elected 
the first Eminent Commander of that honorable 
body. Always a respected citizen, he was entrusted 
with many local interests, was an honored and in- 
fluential member of the Old South, and later of the 
Union Church, and was among the first to take an 
active and leading part in the early development 
of the real estate and mechanical interests of the 
city. 

As one of the well-known men whose lives form an 
important part of the history of their times, we quote 
the following extract from an extended tribute in the 
records of that honorable and exclusive organization 





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THE BENCH AND BAR. 



Ixiii 



known as the Worcester Fire Society, of which he was 
a member, being tlie only person selected for this dis- 
tinction at the annual meeting in 1830 : 

" Colonel James Estabrook was a man of marked 
intelligence, who accomplished more by knowledge 
later acquired than have many men, whose education, 
begun at college, seems to have been absolutely dis- 
continued theu and there." 

From the same authority, the Hon. John D. Wash- 
burn, we also quote the following paragraph, not only 
as a faithful description of the founder of the Worces- 
ter branch of the family, but also as a remarkably 
terse and vivid pen-picture of his son. Colonel James 
E. Estabrook, the present postmaster of Worcester, in 
whom the type and characteristics are faithfully per- 
petuated : 

" In stature he was below middle height, but made 
the most of such height as he had by the erection of 
his figure and military bearing. His complexion was 
very dark, and in this, as well as his features, he re- 
sembled the great Democratic leader, Stephen A. 
Douglas. His manner was quick, his eye bright and 
intelligent. Opposed to the party usually dominant 
here, he held few offices, though counted a politician, 
but he never adopted the coarser modes of warfare in 
politics, was courteous to his opponents, refrained 
from the imputation of unworthy motives, and carried 
none of the bitterness of party contest into the rela- 
tions of private life." 

This latter trait is especially true of his son, James 
Edward, who has been a life-long Democrat and a rec- 
ognized leader and oracle of his party, not only in 
Worcester County, but also prominent in the party 
councils of the State and nation for a quarter of a 
century. 

He has been a delegate to every National Conven- 
tion of his party since the close of the war to the time 
of his appointment to a Federal office in 1887. He 
has served as chairman of the State Executive Com- 
mittee, and of the County, District, Congressional and 
City Committees through many years of his party's 
minority in the State, and has ever been held in high 
esteem as an honest and honorable politician even by 
his political opponents. 

In this connection, his life-long friendship with the 
late lamented Judge Adin Thayer, one of the ac- 
knowledged leaders of the Republican party in the 
State, will be recalled by their fellow-townsmen, among 
whom it had been long a matter of common remark 
that these two natural leaders of opposing forces only 
suspended their intimate social relations for a few 
weeks, during the active hostilities of a State or na- 
tional campaign. 

Colonel Estabrook has served his party in every 
capacity that choice or party exigency imposed upon 
him, with or without hope or prospect of reward, and 
his selection by President Cleveland to fill the office 
of postmaster, to succeed General Josiah Pickett, was 
received with a very general expression of approba- 



tion from his fellow-citizens, without regard to politi- 
cal affiliation, as a well-deserved recognition of his 
long and faithful devotion to the principles of his 
party. 

As a member of the School Board, president of the 
Common Council and for two years, 187-1 and 1875, as 
a representative of the city in the General Court of 
Ma.ssachusetts, Colonel Estabrook rendered able and 
faithful service, and discharged his duties with credit 
to his constituents and with honor to himself 

He is now one of the directors of the Free Public 
Library of Worcester, an honor peculiarly in harmony 
with his tastes and acquirements, and his long famili- 
arity with the good society of books. 

Born in Worcester October 29, 1829, he prepared 
for college in the Worcester High School, and was 
graduated from Yale in 1851. He then studied law 
with Judge Benjamin F. Thomas, attended the Har- 
vard Law School, and was admitted to the Worcester 
bar in the autumn of 1853, at the age of twenty-three. 
Later he became the law partner of Judge Dwight 
Foster, of the Supreme Court, and practiced his pro- 
fession until the breaking out of the War of the 
Rebellion. 

Early in that critical period of the nation's life 
Colonel Estabrook promptly tendered his services to 
the government, and was assigned to duty on the staff" 
of General Charles Devens, and later on the statf of 
General Butler, in the Department of the Gulf. 

Compelled to resign from active service, by reason 
of sickness, in 1862, he returned to Worcester, and 
has since devoted his time to the care of his valuable 
estates, the duties of political life, the genial society 
of his chosen friends and the daily companionshiii of 
his library of classic, historical and standard authors. 

Few, comparatively, of his many friends and ac- 
quaintances know or appreciate the fact that this 
modest, genial and unassuming gentleman is still, at 
three-score years, a familiar student of the classics, 
and is the owner of one of the largest and choicest 
libraries of rare editions of both ancient and modern 
literature in the city. 

Colonel James Estabrook, the father, married Al- 
mira Read, of Rutland, Mass., and to them were born 
five children — ^one daughter and four sons. Two of 
these children are now living— the present postmaster 
and his brother, Arthur Edgar Estabrook, an esteemed 
citizen of Worcester, who shares with his brother the 
care of their joint interest in the family projierty. 
Colonel James Edward Estabrook remains a ripe and 
genial bachelor, having never married. 

Hon. E. B. Stoddabd.' — Elijah Brigham Stod- 
dard, the son of Col. Elijah Stoddard, a worthy and 
esteemed citizen of Upton, Mass., was born in that 
town on June 5, 1826. 

At tlie age of twenty-one he was graduated from 
Brown University, and soon after came to Worcester, 

> By .J. H. Jewett. 



Ixi 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUiNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



where he studied law with Hon. John C. B. Davis, 
and was admitted to the Worcester County bar in 
June, 1849. 

For nearly forty years he has been a widely- 
recognized factor in the professional, political and 
social life of Worcester, and has filled many public 
trusts with distinction. 

"Colonel" Stoddard, as the subject of this sketch 
is familiarly known, was the first commander of the 
Third Battalion of Worcester County Rifles, organized 
in 1858, and was later a member of the military staff 
of Governor N. P. Banks, in 1860, and on the occa- 
sion of the reception to the Prince of Wales, during 
that year, Colonel Stoddard was one of the officers 
assigned to duty as personal escort to the prince. 

On his admission to the bar in 1849 he began 
the practice of law in partnership with Hon. John 
C. B. Davis, under the firm of Davis & Stoddard, 
which continued until 1S52. 

He then became the law-partner of his father-in- 
law, Hon. Isaac Davis, a man of great prominence 
and large estates in the community, which association 
continued until 1857, when Colonel Stoddard was 
appointed district attorney for Worcester County, 
succeeding John H. Matthews, Esq., deceased in 
office. This position he held for about six months, 
until the expiration of the term. For nearly twenty 
years he was engaged in the regular practice of his 
profession, withdrawing somewhat from active prac- 
tice in the courts in 1866, to accept the responsible 
duties of secretary and business manager of the Mer- 
chants' and Farmers' Fire Insurance Company, a 
position whicli he has ably and faithfully filled for 
the past twenty-two years and which he still holds. 

Colonel Stoddard has, in fact, always been a man 
of affairs, prominent and helpful in the public con- 
cerns of the city, dealing with the affairs of men and 
property on a large and varied scale, and intrusted by 
his fellow-citizens with the care of large corporate 
and individual interests. 

Beginning his public duties as the Representative 
of the city of Worcester in the Legislature of 1856, 
he has since ably served the city and State in many 
capacities. He was president of the Common Council 
in 1858; later, a member of the Board of Aldermen 
for two years ; twice elected to the Massachusetts 
Senate (1863-64), and served two terms as State 
Councilor of this district (1871-72). 

Elected mayor of Worcester in 1882, his adminis- 
tration was able and dignified, and his judgment in 
matters of grave importance to the city has been 
confirmed by subsequent events as both broad and 
judicious. 

Always actively interested in the progress of popu- 
lar education, he has been a member of the School 
Board for nine years, and for the past ten years has been 
a member of the State Board of Education, where he 
has rendered zealous and lasting service. His native 
tact and business discretion has been recognized by 



thirty years of continuous service as a director of the 
Providence & Worcester Railroad, as a solicitor and 
trustee for many years of the State Mutual Life In- 
surance Company, and as the trusted counselor of 
various public and private enterprises. 

In addition to his other duties, he is now the presi- 
dent of the t^uinsigamond National Bank, and also 
president of the Worcester Five Cent Savings Bank. 

Personally Colonel Stoddard is a gentleman of pure 
and upright life, uniting a kindly disposition with a 
natural dignity of manner. 

He has been a life-long Republican, an earnest 
worker and a faithful friend and ally of moral and 
political progress. 

He married, in 1852, Mary E., the eldest daughter 
of Hon. Isaac Davis, by whom he has three children 
now living — two daughters and a son. 

Edwin Conant. ' — One of the earliest European 
lodgments in Massachusetts, as distinguislied from 
Plymouth, was made in the year 1625, at Cape Ann. 
It was a little planting and fishing station, under the 
superintendence of the sturdy Roger Conant, who 
liad previously been at Plymouth and Nantasket. He 
was a native of Budleigh, in Devonshire, England, 
born in 1593, and came to America in 1623, soon be- 
coming a prominent character among the settlers. He 
was a remarkable man — remarkable for firmness, for 
self-reliance, and, it may be added, for utter contempt 
of the common and smaller hardships and annoyances 
of life, that so distress some and trouble most of us. 

The fishing and planting were not successful, and 
the station was broken up in the autumn of 1626, 
and Conant, with most of the company, removed to 
the territory now forming Salem, and settled on the 
tongue of land through which Bridge Street now 
runs. This settlement was permanent, and made 
before Endicott or Winthrop came.^ 

' By J. R. NewhaU 

2 The severity of the winter, added to the privations they endured, so 
diBCoiiraged the little band that some of them proposed abandoning the 
enterprise. Not so with Conant. His mind was fixed, and go ho would 
not. He had suffered hardships in other places and surmounted many 
difficulties, but liere be bad set his foot, and wiis determined to make iu 
this vicinage a permanent stand. He says in a petition to the court, 
May, 1671 : " I was .... one of the first, if not the very first, that re- 
solved and made good my settlement in matter of plantation with my 
family in this colony of Massachusetts Bay, and have bin instrumeutal 
both for the founding and carrying on of the same, and when, iu the in- 
fancy thereof, it was in great hazard of being deserted, I was a means, 
through grace assisting me, to stop the flight of those few that there 
were heire with me, and that by my utter deniall to goe away witli them 
who would have gon either for England or mostly for Viiginia, but 
thereupon staid to the hazard of our lives."' It is stated, on very good 
authority, that bis son Roger was the first white child born in Salem ; 
but an ancient record says that at a church-meeting, in 17o3, the old 
church Bible wiis presented to John Massey, a son of Jeffrey Massey, a 
companion of Conant, as the " first town-born child." 

Conant was likewise among the first settlers of Beverly, which is just, 
on the other side of Bass River — Beverly, whose beautiful shores have 
now for years been the summer resort of the wealthy and refined from 
far and near, and which, during the last year or two, has so agitated 
our Legislature on the question of territorial division. Beverly was set- 
tled im a part of Salem about 1(530, and by 1649 the settlers were suffi- 
ciently numerous to ask of the Salem Church "that some course be 




■^'""^'^o, 




THE BENCH AND BAR. 



Ixv 



It is interesting to dwell upon the life of Roger 
Conant, so grand a type of the primitive and true New 
England character; to trace along the line of descent 
from him, the headof oneof our largest and best New 
England families. 

Edwin Conant, the subject of this sketch, and 
many other well-known individuals can trace their 
lineage directly to him, and well may they be proud 
of their descent, though better, perhaps, that they 
should endeavor to emulate his virtues. 

Edwin Conant, whose portrait appears in connec- 
tion with this sketch, was born in Sterling, Worcester 
County, on the 20th of August, 1810. After pursuing 
the u>ual course of preliminary academic training, he 
entered Harvard College, where he graduated in 
1829. Proposing to make the law his life business, 
he prepared himself for the duties of that honorable 
though often perplexing profession, under the direc- 
tion of well-qualified instructors, and in 1832 com- 
menced practice. After continuing in that calling 
lor some ten years, his attention was directed to other 
pursuits, and he did not return to the law. 

In his religious views Mr. Conant has been a con- 
sistent Unitarian, thus swerving from the rigid Cal- 
vinistic faith of his early ancestors. Politically he 
was an adlierent of the old Whig party, but on the 

taken for the means of grace among themselves, because of the teilious- 
nesa and difliculties over the water, and other inconveniences." The 
town was incorporated in IGU8 by its present name— a name, however, 
which was not satisfactory to several of the principal settlei"S, especially 
to Conant, who, in the petition above referred to.saj's : " Now my umble 
suite and request is unto this honourable Court onlie that the name of our 
town or plantation may he altered or changed from Beverly, and be 
called Budligh. I have two reasons that have moved me unto this re- 
quest, — the first is the great dislike and discontent of many of our peo- 
ple for this name of Beverly, because (wee being but a small place) it 
liatli caused on us a constant nickname of beggtcrli/ being in the 
mouths of many, and no order was given, or consent by the people to 
their agent, for any name until they were shure of being a town granted 
in the first place. Secondly, I being the first that had house in Salem 
(and neither had any hand in naming either that or any other towne), 
and myself, with those that were then with uie, being all from the west- 
ern part of England, desire this western name of Budligh, a market 
town in Devonshire, and neere unto the sea, as we are heere in this 
place, and where myself was borne." 

Roger Conant appears by every one to have been regarded as a very 
upright man ; and the Rev. Mr. White, who took so active an interest 
ill the settlement of Massachusetts, styles him " a pious, sober and pru- 
dent gentleman." That he was deeply pious, no one can doubt on re- 
viewing his course. The petition for the change of name from Beverly 
to Bndleiiih ends in this strain : " If this, my sute, may find acceptation 
with your worships I shall rest umbly thankfull, and my praiers shall 
not cease unto the throne of grace fo.- God's guidance and his blessing to 
be on all your weightie proceedings, and that iustice and righteousness 
may be uverie where administered, and sound doctrine, truth and holi- 
ness everie where taught and practised throughout this wilderness to all 
posterity, which God grant. Amen." The court, however, did not 
grant the " umble petition," and Beverly the name is to this day. 

It has been claimed that, strictly speaking, Roger Conant was the firet 
colonial Governor of Massachusetts. Probably the Eudicotts and AVin- 
throps would not concede that. Yet there is no doubt that he was Gov- 
ernor of the little colony that first made a permanent settlement within 
our borders. 

The picturesque little island in the bay, now generally known as Gov- 
ernor's Island — sometimes as Winthrop's — was firet named Conant's 
Island, in hi>nor of the worthy old Roger. In 1632 it was granted to 
Governor Wiuthrop for a garden. Thence it was called Winthrop's or 
Governor's Island. 
E 



disruption of that he joined the Democratic ranks 
and still maintains his Jefforsouian principles. He 
has not been much in public office, though always 
interested in public affairs; has been something of a 
military man, though not exposed to the "shocks of 
war," as he served in peaceful times; has held 
brigade and staff offices, and been a judge advocate. 

Sterling, Mr. Conant's native place, is much in- 
debted to him in various ways, especially for the 
generous gift of the funds for the erection of the brick 
edifice for the Free Public Library, and offices for the 
town authorities. The building was dedicated to the 
memory of his eldest daughter, Elizabeth Ann 
Conant. 

Mr. Conant has been twice married. His first wife 
was Maria Estabrook, daughter of Hon. Joseph Esta- 
brook, of Royalston, whom lie married in October, 
1833, and by whom he had two daughters, neither of 
whom are living. His second witie was Elizabeth 
S. Wheeler, granddaughter of Rev. Joseph Wheeler, 
Unitarian minister and register of probate. She was 
also a granddaughter of Rev. Dr. Sumner, so long the 
able minister of the First Church of Shrewsbury. 

A genealogy of the Conant family has been pub- 
lished, by which the lines may be traced to the good 
old settler Roger, and wherein the notable achieve- 
ments of some of the later members may be found 
recorded. 

Hon. Charles Augustus Dewey.' — Judge Dewey 
is deservedly pre-eminent among Milford's most dis- 
tinguished, honored and trusted citizens. His pedi- 
gree, heredity and education gave him an auspicious 
introduction to public life, which he has worthily 
justified by his own exertions. He was born in 
Northampton, Mass., December 29, 1830. His father 
was Hon. Charles Augustus Dewey, for nearly thirty 
years judge of the Supreme Court of Massachusetts, 
and his mother a sister of Governor De Witt Clin- 
ton, the pride of New York's executive chair. He 
was fitted for college at Williston Seminary, East- 
hampton, and graduated from Williams College in 
1851. He first studied law with his brother, the late 
Hon. Francis H. Dewey, of Worcester; then a year 
at the Harvard Law School, and afterward in the 
city of New York, where he was admitted to the bar 
in 1854. Having practiced law there till the fall of 
1856, he went to Davenport, Iowa, and pursued his 
practice for two years. He came to Milford in 
March, 1859, and for the next two years was a pro- 
fessional partner of Hon. Hamilton B. Staples. 

In 1861 he was appointed trial justice. In 1864 
the Police Court of Milford was established, and he 
was appointed judge. He held this office till the 
Third District Court of Southern Worcester was or- 
ganized, in 1872, when he was appointed judge of 
said court, and has since discharged the duties of 
that office down to the present time. Meanwhile he 

iBy Bev. Adin Ballou. 



Ixvi 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



has served seven years on the School Committee of 
Milford, and for some time as its chairman. For 
nearly twenty years he has heen a trustee of the 
town library and of late chairman of the board. 

In all these professional and official positions 
Judge Dewey has discharged his responsible duties 
not only with admirable ability, fidelity and prompt- 
itude, but to such complete satisfaction of all parties 
concerned as rarely falls to the lot of one obliged to 
deal with so much conflicting mentality and interest. 
He has won for himself a remarkable amount of 
approbation and very little censure even from those 
whose passions and prejudices he has crossed. He is 
learned in legal lore, wears an inherited mantle of 
judicial rectitude, and holds the scales of legal equity 
with a firm hand of clemency. At his bar the inno- 
cent and guilty are alike sure of both justice and 
kindness. In public and private intercourse he is 
intelligent, candid, conscientious and courteous, and 
therefore universally respected. Id social life he is 
urbane, genial, modest and dignified, and so welcome 
to every reputable circle. In politics he is a stanch 
Republican, in religion an exemplary Congregation- 
alist, and in literature an amateur of the best. He is 
simple in his personal habits, temperate, physiologi- 
cally circumspect and averse to all forms of extrava- 
gance. In social and domestic affairs he is unosten- 
tatious, prudent and economical, without stinginess, 
and puts intellectual entertainments far above sensu- 
ous luxuries. His health is delicate rather than 
robust, and he watches over it so as to make the best 
of it, thereby managing to execute a large amount of 
business on a small capital of physical strength. He 
is a man of strong convictions on subjects he deems 
important, and pronounces his opinions without 
equivocation when properly necessary, but is not a 
controversialist from choice, and never puts on airs 
of dogmatic assumption or offensive severity towards 
opponents. He evidently desires to be the friend 
and well-wisher of his race, and, so far as compatible 
with true moral integrity, to live peaceably with all 
men. Of the many commendable ways in which he 
is practically exemplifying this laudable desire, it 
will hardly be expected that a brief biographical 
sketch should make detailed mention. Perhaps the 
few already indicated may suffice. 

Judge Dewey was married to Miss Marietta N. 
Thayer, daughter of Alexander W. and Marietta 
(Dustan) Thayer, born in Worcester, June 22, 1847; 
ceremony in Milford, March 12, 1867, by Rev. George 
G. Jones. She has the ancestral honor of being a 
descendant of the celebrated Hannah Dustan, of 
Indian captivity renown. This marriage was one of 
mutual, intelligent affection, and has been a happy 
one. Mrs. Dewey has proved herself worthy of her 
husband, and their connubial house has been a plea- 
sant one. They have one promising daughter, — Maria 
Thayer Dewey, born in Milford, August 8,1872. May 
many divine benedictions rest on this family group. 



Thomas H. Dodge' was born September 27, 
182.3, in the town of Eden, county of Lamoille, 
State of Vermont, being the fourth son of Malachi 
F. Dodge and his wife, Jane Hutchins, who were 
married in Belvidere, Vt., Jan. 9, 1812. His father, 
Malachi F., was born in New Boston, N. H., Aug. 
20, 1789; his grandfather, Enoch Dodge, was born 
in Beverly, Mass., 1762, and where his great-grand- 
father, Elisha Dodge, was born May 19, 1723, and 
who was the fifth and last child of Elisha Dodge, of 
Beverly, and his wife, Mary Kimball, of Wenham, 
Mass., who were published Oct. 8, 1709. Young 
Dodge had the advantages of good district schools, 
his father being a well-to-do farmer. The family 
subsequently moved to the town of Lowell, Vt., and 
resided on a farm there until Thomas was about four- 
teen years old, when his eldest brother, Malachi F., 
Jr., having secured a desirable position with the 
Nashua Manufacturing Co., of Nashua, N. H., a 
change of residence was made by the family to that 
place. 

At Nashua, Thomas H. attended for a time the 
public schools, and then entered Gymnasium Insti- 
tute, at Pembroke, N. H. At this institution he 
made rapid progress, and ranked among the first in 
his class. 

Returning to Nashua, he secured a position in the 
spinning and weaving departments of the Nashua 
Manufacturing Co., which gave him an opportunity 
to become familiar with those departments, in the art 
he was desirous of fully understanding. In this po- 
sition he remained until he gained a full knowledge 
of the processes while at the same time earning money 
sufficient to permit him to take a course of study in 
the Nashua Literary Institute, then under the charge 
of Prof. David Crosby. In the meantime he had 
been pursuing a course of study in elementary law, 
the books being obtained from one of the leading 
law firms of the place, who encouraged him in his 
studies. He also continued his studies in Latin un- 
der a private tutor. 

Diligent and careful investigations and study into 
the early rise and progress of cotton manufactures in 
the United States had also engrossed his attention, 
as being intimately connected with the business in 
which he was engaged, — he was, in fact, an enthusiast 
in those early years upon the great good and national 
prosperity that would result from mechanical and 
manufacturing industries if properly encouraged, and 
in the year 1850, he published his " Review of the 
Rise, Progress and Present Importance of Cotton Man- 
ufactures of the United States; together with Statis- 
tistics, showing the Comparative and Relative Renriin- 
eration of English and American Operatives." 

When he first became a resident of Nashua, the 
Nashua Onzette was printed in a rear room iu which 
the post-office was located, and young Dodge would 

1 Extracts from extended biography. 




5S=SsSS~ ^X S>, 



T^^y^. 



^C^_j^ 



THE BENCH AND BAR. 



xvii 



go in and watch the operation of the hand-press used 
for printing the paper, and his quick mind at once 
• ran to devising some way to print on a plane surface 
and yet use a rotary motion, so as to print (rom a roll 
of blank paper. The Nashua and Lowell Railroad 
was something new, and he took an interest in look- 
ing at trains as they came in, and one day he noticed 
that the parallel-rod, which connected the driving- 
wheels, had the very motion which he wanted, and 
he drew the plan of a press, and later made one 
which worked perfectly and attracted much notice. 
One day, shortly after a description of the press had 
appeared in the public journal.s, a gentleman called 
to see Mr. Dodge, who found him to be a Boston 
manufacturer by the name of John Bachelder. Mr. 
Bachelder frankly made known his business and the 
object of his visit. He was largely engaged in the 
manufacture of cotton bags for salt, flour and similar 
materials. He said he had seen the notice of the 
press and came to see it, since he thought it was just 
what he wanted. Said he wanted to print the cloth 
direct from the bale, and should like to see it work. 
The press worked perfectly, was bought by Mr. 
Bachelder and patented, and came into very general 
use. 

The publicity of this invention was the beginning 
of a new era in machinery for printing paper, which 
resulted in the production of the lightning presses of 
the present day. Being now in the possession of suf- 
ficient funds, he decided to study law. 

In 1S51 he entered the office of Hon. George Y. 
Sawyer and Colonel A. F. Stevens, of Nashua, N. H. 
As an illustration of the quick appreciation and util- 
ization by Mr. Dodge of favorable opportunities, he, 
while a law student, saw that the prospective city of 
Nashua must necessarily extend in a short time to 
the south, and with two other gentlemen purchased 
a large part of the Jesse Bowers farm, lying on the 
west of South Main Street, and had it surveyed and 
platted as an addition to Nashua. 

The lots were in demand as soon as offered, and 
this investment proved very profitable, while, at the 
same time, adding much to the prosperity of the new 
city, which was soon after chartered, Mr. Dodge 
being elected a member of the first City Council. He 
was admitted to the bar December 5, 1854, and com- 
menced practice in Nashua. Aside from his position 
as a lawyer, he was extensively and publicly known 
as a skilled manufacturer, a meritorious inventor and 
a man of science, and which attainments having at- 
tracted the attention of Hon. Charles Mason, then com- 
missioner of patents, he was, in March, 1855, appointed 
to a position in the examining corps of the United 
StatesPatentOflice, Washington, D.C. Atfirstheheld 
the position of an assistant examiner, but was soon 
promoted to the position of examiner-in-chief. 

When the famous Hussey Guard patent for mowing 
and reaping-machines came up for an extension, 
many of the ablest lawyers in the United States were 



engaged as counsel, either for or in opposition to the 
extension. Judge Mason referred the application to 
Mr. Dodge, who reported the invention both new and 
novel at the date of the patent, and that, under the 
law, Hussey was entitled to the extension. This re- 
port and decision was confirmed by Judge Mason, 
and the extension granted. Litigation in the Fed- 
eral Courts soon followed, to test the validity of such 
action and the patent, and both were fully confirmed 
in the Circuit Courts of the United States, and which 
decisions of the Circuit Courts were subsequently 
sustjiined, on appeal, by the Supreme Court of the 
United States. 

While Judge Mason remained at the head of the 
Patent Oflice the assistance of Mr. Dodge was con- 
stantly required in appeal cases, and upon the ap- 
pointment of Judge Holt his services were still relied 
upon by the new commissioner of patents. 

Judge Holt, in the administration of the office, 
reached the conclusion that a permanent court or 
board of appeals ought to be established to meet the 
public wants, and he appointed the three chief ex- 
aminers, viz. : Thomas H. Dodge, DeWitt C. Law- 
rence and A. B. Little. The establishment of this 
board was a movement of great importance. 

The decisions of the Board of Appeals, under the 
direction of Mr. Dodge, changed the entire aspect of 
the business before the Patent Office ; order, justice 
and promptness in its official actions were recognized 
by applicants throughout the country, while a stimu- 
lus was given to the inventive skill and ingenuity of 
the nation that resulted largely, no doubt, in the 
production of many of the great and valuable inven- 
tions of the past thirty years. He resigned Novem- 
ber 2, 1858. 

Mr. Dodge was admitted to practice in the Supreme 
Court of the United States, and for twenty-five years 
and more, thereafter, he had a very large and profita- 
ble law practice in patent causes, and was, during 
that time, actively engaged in the great suits relating 
to the sewing machine, mowing and reaping machine, 
corset, horse hay-rake, wrench, loom, barbed wire, 
machines for making the same, and numerous other 
valuable patented inventions involving millions of 
dollars. 

In the early part of 1864, Mr. Dodge located in 
Worcester, where he had previously had a law-office 
in the city, and besides was one of the active man- 
agers of the Union Mowing Machine Company. 

It was while residing in Washington that Mr. 
Dodge devised the present plan of returning letters 
uncalled for to the writers thereof, and on the 8th of 
August, 1856, submitted in writing a detailed state- 
ment of his plan to the Postmaster-General, Hon. 
James Campbell, and in due time it received the 
sanction of law, and the present generation receives 
and enjoys advantages resulting from the change. 

Mr. Dodge was a strong supporter of the Union 
cause during the Rebellion, and while he remained 



Ixviii 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



in Washington bis house was open to those engaged 
in relieving the sicli, wounded and dying soldiers ; 
Mrs. Dodge, too, also joining with others in visiting 
the hospitals to distribute food aud delicacies sent 
from the North to Mrs. Harris and Miss Dix, lor the 
sick and wounded. His youngest brother, Capt. 
Eli!-ha E. Dodge, of the Thirteenth New Hampshire 
Regiment, fell mortally wounded in the assault on 
Petersburg, Va., in June, 1864, and died at Fortress 
Monroe, June 22, 1864. 

In 1881 he, in connection with Mr. Charles G. 
Washburn, organized the Worcester Barb Fence 
Company, he being president and Mr. Washburn sec- 
retary and manager, and for which company the late 
Stephen Salisbury, Esq., built the large factory at 
the corner of Market and Union Streets. The plant 
and patents were subsequently sold to the Washburn 
& Moen Company. 

Mr. Dodge was married, June 29, 1843, to Miss 
Eliza Daniels, of Brookline, N. H. 

In the grounds of Mr. Dodge is the "Ancient 
Willow." (See illustration and poem by Harriett 
Prescott Spofford, elsewhere in this work.) 

AuGUSTu.? George Bullock.^ — Mr. Bullock is 
a son of the late Governor Alexander H. Bullock, 
whose portrait, with a biographical sketch, appears 
elsewhere in this work. He was born in En- 
field, Conn., on the 2d of June, 1847, and was edu- 
cated in private schools, being fitted for college by 
the late E. G. Cutler, who was afterwards professor 
of modern languages in Harvard College. He en- 
tered Harvard in 1864 and graduated in 1868. 

After traveling a year in Europe he commenced 
the study of law, pursued the usual course, and in 
due time was admitted to the bar in Worcester. He 
soon went into practice, occupying offices with Sena- 
tor Hoar. 

In 1882 his father. Governor Bullock, who had 
then recently been elected president of the State 
Mutual Life Assurance Comp.any, died ; and during 
the year it was determined to change the policy of 
the company, which had been of a somewhat limited 
character, and make it one of the leading institutions 
of the kind in the country. 

It was in January, 1883, that the affairs and inter- 
ests of this now widely-known and popular assurance 
company were submitted to the management of the 
subject of this sketch, he being elected president and 
treasurer. He accepted the responsible position, en- 
gaged earnestly in the work, arduous as it promised 
to be, and has been eminently successful. The sug- 
gestions for extended usefulness were efficiently and 
rapidly carried forward, and new life and healthful 
growth became visible in every department. Since 
his instalment, which was but about six years ago, 
the business of the company has been more than 
quadrupled, and is adding to its assets accumulations 

> By Jamos R. Newball. 



of nearly half a million dollars annually. Its opera- 
tions and reputation are not now by any means lim- 
ited to Massachusetts or New England, it having 
attained a large business, especially in the Middle 
and Western States. 

But it is not alone as president and treasurer of the 
State Mutual Life Assurance Company that Mr. Bul- 
lock is well and widely known. He is a director in 
the Worcester National Bank, in the Worcester Gas 
Light Company, in the Norwich and Worcester Bail- 
road, in the Worcester County Institution for Sav- 
ings, and president of the State Safe Deposit Com- 
pany. He is also a trustee of the State Lunatic 
Hospital and of the Free Public Library, and a mem- 
ber of the American Antiquarian Society. 

For an intelligent appreciation of literary and 
social observances of the higher order Mr. Bullock is 
well fitted by education and taste. And few places 
afford better opportunities for the development of 
refined sentiment than cultured Worcester. He has 
many of the genial traits of his honored father, 
many of his common-sense views and approachable 
amenities — traits and habits that never fail of leading 
to high social position. So then we find him, now 
in middle life, sustaining in the business world a high 
reputation for financial skill and ability, and in so- 
cial life a position well worthy of aspiration. 

In religious sentiment Mr, Bullock ranks with the 
Unitarians, having departed somewhat from the 
chosen faith of his fathers. His grandfather was of 
the rigid old New England "orthodox" type; but 
his father, after reaching manhood, embraced the 
faith of the Protestant Episcopal Church, and to the 
end of his life delighted in its ch.arming liturgical 
form of worship. In political sentiment he ranks 
with the Democratic party. 

Mr. Bullock was united in marriage, October 4, 
1871, with Mary Chandler, daughter of Dr. George 
and Josepbiue Rose Chandler, and four male chil- 
dren have been born to them, one of whom died in 
infancy. 

Feancis Almon Gaskill ^ was born in Black- 
stone, Worcester County, on the 3d day of January, 
1846. Until the year 1860 he lived in that town. In 
1860 he moved to Woonsocket, R. I., and in the High 
School of that town, under the instruction of Howard 
M. Rice, Esq. (now one of the proprietors of the well- 
known Mowry and Goflf School in Providence), he 
fitted for college. In the autumn of 1862 he en- 
tered Brown University, and was graduated in 1866. 
He was occupied as private tutor to the sons of Mr. 
Clement B. Barclay, of Newport, R. I., from October, 
1866, till June, 1867, and thus had the advantage of 
that most excellent mental instruction which comes 
from teaching others. 

In September, 1867, he entered the Law School 
of Harvard University, and remained there, a close 



2 By Herbert Paikor. 




/p 




^2.J^^^ 




THE BENCH AND BAR. 



Ixix 



student, till October, 1868, when, at the request of the 
late Hon. George F. Verry, he entered his office as 
clerk, and was duly admitted to the bar of this county 
March 3, 1869. Later he was associated with Mr. 
Verry as his partner, and so continued till Mr. 
Verry's death, in 1883. 

Mr. Gaskill was married, October 20, 1869, to Miss 
Katherine Mortimer Whitaker, of Providence. For 
a considerable time Mrs. Gaskill was an invalid, and 
for the last few years of her life suffered almost con- 
stantly from a paiaful illness, which she bore with a 
truly beautiful fortitude and cheerfulness. She died 
January 25, 1889, leaving two children. 

In 1875-76 Mr. Gaskill served as a member of the 
Common Council of the city of Worcester. In 1876 
he was chosen one of the trustees of the Worcester 
Academy, and has served in that capacity contin- 
uously till the present time. He was elected a 
trustee of the Free Public Library of Worcester for 
six years from 1878 to 1884. and in 1886 was elected 
to fill a vacancy in that board, of which he was presi- 
dent in the year 1888. 

In 1884 he was elected one of the trustees of the 
People's Savings Bank, and still serves on that board. 
In 1888 he was elected one of the trustees of Brown 
University. He is also a director of the State Mu- 
tual Life Assurance Company of Worcester, an insti- 
tution whose standing and reputation in the financial 
world is such as to make a position in its directorate 
one of great honor and importance. 

In 1883, during the illness of the district attorney, 
Hon. Frank T. Blackmer, Mr. Gaskill filled that 
office by appointment. In 1886 he was elected dis- 
trict attorney, to serve from January, 1887, to January, 
1890, succeeding Col. W. S. B. Hopkins, whose bril- 
liant and distinguished abilities and character had 
made his administration memorable. 

It will thus be seen, from the preceding recital 
of some of the various positions of importance and 
responsibility to which Mr. Gaskill has been called, 
that he has possessed in a large measure the confi- 
dence and esteem of those to whom he has been 
known. In the discharge of the duties of educa- 
tional, charitable, financial and professional trusts, it 
is obvious that he has had a training and experience 
that has fitted him to deal judiciously with the mul- 
titudinous interests which may be involved in the 
discharge of his existing official duties. 

He has had personal and continuous acquaintance 
with and has shared in the direct management of 
affairs which make up and are essential elements in 
our complex industrial, social and governmental sys- 
tem. He has had an active and successful pro- 
fessional life. 

Mr. Verry, with whom he was long associated, was 
one of the acknowledged leaders of the bar: his cool 
judgment, marvelous readiness in the crisis of a case 
and his brilliant powers as an advocate rendered him 
almost invincible, in the trial of causes. Mr. Gaskill 



was far too apt and able a pupil to fail to profit from 
his close professional and personal intimacy with Mr. 
Verry. The opportunity for study thus given him 
in the practice of the law has abundantly equipped 
him for his arduous and responsible duties as prose- 
cuting officer. While Mr. Gaskill was acting dis- 
trict attorney the now famous case of Commonwealth 
vs. Pierce came before our Criminal Court. The de- 
fendant was a so-called physician, and, by reason of 
treating a patient with baths and poultices of kero- 
sene oil, finally produced her death. He was in- 
dicted for manslaughter. It was extremely doubtful 
whether the defendant Pierce could be convicted, by 
reason of a much questioned decision of the Supreme 
Court in an early cise. It was, however, of grave 
moment to bring this vexed question again to the bar 
of the Supreme Court for revision. The indictment, 
a remarkably skillful piece of criminal pleading, was 
drawn by Mr. Gaskill, with the able assistance of C. 
F. Baker, Esq., then assistant district attorney. Later, 
after a closely contested trial. Col. Hopkins, then dis- 
trict attorney, managing the government's case, a ver- 
dict of guilty was rendered ; and after exh.austive argu- 
ments of the law questions before the Supreme 
Court the conviction of the defendant was sustained, 
largely through the courage and confidence which 
Mr. G;iskill had in the righteousness of this cause, 
the original prosecution of which was instituted by 
him. We now have the decision of the Supreme Court 
that homicidal medical pretenders shall not escape 
responsibility for the fatal results of their incompe- 
tency on the plea that ignorance and not malice 
caused the death of their victim. 

In a large number of the important legal contro- 
versies in our county Mr. Gaskill has been of coun- 
sel. His clients, no less than his opponents, know 
the zeal, the energy and the learning which he dis- 
plays in the preparation and trial of his cases. To 
the discharge of the duties of the office of district 
attorney he has brought all the fidelity and ability 
which have given him .success and honorable reputa- 
tion at the bar, on the civil side of the court. With 
unflagging constancy and integrity he has conducted 
the affiiirs of the people entrusted to his hands. 

In the two years now expired of his current term of 
office, prosecutions of great interest have been con- 
ducted by him, one among many being that of a no- 
torious mal-practitioner, whose victim had made a 
dying declaration charging the crime upon the ac- 
cused ; but, by reason of the inapt phraseology of the 
statute, it was held by the court upon the trial that 
the dying declaration could not be used in evidence 
upon a trial for abortion ; the case was given to the 
jury without this evidence, and a verdict of guilty 
followed, which, for insufficiency of evidence, was set 
aside. Thereupon an indictment was found for 
manslaughter by negligence, which was a sagacious, 
but by many lawyers thought a futile, effiirt to pre- 
vent the escape of a guilty person, by reason of an 



Ixx 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



inefficient statute. Mr. Gaskill brought the accused 
to trial on the charge of manslaughter, and, though 
defended with great zeal and ability, the prisoner 
was convicted ; for in this case the dying declaration 
was unquestionably admissible, and was admitted. 
After mature consideration by the counsel for the de- 
fense, the exceptions were waived, and sentence was 
imposed upon the defendant. 

This successful prosecution is adverted to as dem- 
onstrating the vigilance and energy of Mr. Gaskill's 
methods, manifested as well in his prompt and sys- 
tematic management at each term of the Criminal 
Court, where everything upon the docket which can 
be tried is brought forward and disposed of. In this 
district at least, there exists no complaint of an ac- 
cumulation of untried ca.ses. 

Sureties, who have pledged themselves to secure 
the attendance of an accused person for his trial, 
have learned that a bail bond is a stern and inex- 
orable compact, which they cannot evade ; no less 
have persons who appeal from sentences in the 
lower courts learned that they must speedily answer 
on trial in the Superior Court. 

It is a noteworthy fact, and one upon which Mr. 
Gaskill may well look with legitimate pride, that in 
the two years of his term of office as district attorney 
no indictment drawn by him has been quashed for 
any insufficiency in form. 

Happily, the time has not yet come for writing a 
completed biography of the subject of this sketch ; his 
life-work is not yet done, and it may be confidently 
hoped that many years of usefulness are yet before 
him ; here only brief mention can be made of some 
of the events (and those chiefly professional) of his 
past life. 

The biographer of one still in active life must 
carefully observe a due consideration for him whose 
life and character is under discussion, and so scrupu- 
lously avoid anything by way of seeming eulogy, 
however well deserved and just such eulogy may be. 

The mf^re recital of the events of Mr. Gaskill's life, 
the positions of honor and trust to which he has 
been called, the distinguished reputation he has 
gained in his profession, the respect and esteem in 
which he is held by his cotemporaries, all make up a 
more eloquent eulogy than the pen of any biographer 
could frame. 

It is fitting to add, however, what no one can or 
would wish to gainsay, that Mr. Gaskill has fully 
maintained the high moral and professional standard 
established by his most distinguished predecessors in 
the office. In him the county and the people may 
see the realization of those rare qualities of mind and 
character which are required of him, who is at once 
prosecuting officer of the Commonwealth, but no less, 
in accordance with the merciful and just considera- 
tion of our criminal jurisprudence, " the prisoner's 
attorney." 



TnEODORE S. Johnson.'— Worcester County has 
been exceptionally fortunate during its history in 
securing for clerk of the courts men of high character 
and pronounced ability. It is an office of dignity 
and of great responsibility, requiring exact legal 
knowledge, and a ready fund of fertility upon which 
instant drafts must frequently be made. It is en- 
riched with ample compensation, only slighly below 
that established for a justice of the Superior Court. 

Some of the incumbents of the office have yielded 
to its attractions after distinguished service in Con- 
gress, others after effective labors in other capacities, 
while still others have relinquished it for a seat in 
Congress. 

The term of service of most has been long. Since 
the incorporation of the county, in 1731, a period of 
nearly one hundred and sisty years, there have been 
but eleven different persons holding the office. No 
fairer test than this can be applied to determine the 
measure of satisfaction with which the affairs of the 
office have been administered. 

The incumbent is judged by two standards— one 
adopted by the judges and lawyers, with whom he is 
brought into closest relations ; the other, proceeding 
from parties in causes, jurors and the public at large. 
The former is applied more particularly to his legal 
capacity and general administration of the office; the 
latter to his characteristics. The combination of 
qualities to satisfy both tests is not often found. 

The eleventh clerk of the courts for Worcester 
County is the subject of this sketch. 

Theodore S. Johnson was born in Dana, in this 
county, in 1843. After attendance in the common 
schools of his native town and at the High School and 
Wilbraham Academy, he came to Worcester in 1864, 
and entered as a student the law-office of Dewey & 
Williams. He was admitted to the bar in 1S6G, and 
immediately began the practice of his profession in 
Blackstone. In 1867 he was appointed trial justice 
by Governor Bullock, and held the office till 1871. 

In the latter year Hon. Hartley Williams, in whose 
office Mr. Johnson had studied law, was judge of the 
Municipal Court of Worcester, and a vacancy occur- 
ring in the office of clerk of that court, he quickly 
turned to Mr. Johnson as admirably qualified to fill 
the position ; he was at once appointed and continued 
as such and as clerk of the Central District Court of 
Worcester till 1881. The sagacious treatment of the 
great volume and variety of business in those courts re- 
quiring the action and attention of the clerk during 
those years certainly justified the judgment of his 
friend and instructor, Judge Williams. 

In 1881 Mr. Johnson was elected to his present 
office as clerk of the courts for Worcester County 
for the term of five years, and in 1886 was re-elected 
for a similar term. 

Mr. Johnson's activities have not been confined 

1 By F. A. Gaskill. 



,^s*e. 



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' ^ - S^CN/VWQJSVxJ 



THE BENCH AND BAR. 



Ixxi 



solely to these duties, though never for an instant 
neglecting them. 

He was captain and judge advocate on the staff of 
the Third Brigade Massachusetts Volunteer Militia 
from 1874 to 1876, inclusive. He was selected in 1878 
by Governor Talbot as colonel and aide-de-camp up- 
on his Gubernatorial staff. 

Mr. Johnson's discriminating political judgment, 
as well as his prominence as a citizen of Wor- 
cester and his earnest belief in the Republican party, 
led naturally to his selection as Worcester's represen- 
tative on the Republican State Central Committee 
from 1881 to 1884, inclusive. 

In 1883 he was elected a director of the Quinsiga- 
mond National Bank, and has retained the position 
ever since. 

In 1873 he married Miss Amanda M. Allen, of 
Blackstone. 

Valuable as his other service have been, honorable as 
the other positions are which he has held, identified 
as he has been with other material and social inter- 
ests of Worcester and Worcester County, yet his ad- 
ministration of the office of clerk of the courts has 
been by far his most significant and successful 
service. 

The writer of this sketch can best apply the legal 
test hitherto spoken of, and Mr. Johnson can securely 
rest in the confidence and approbation ofthe bar 
when that is invoked. His generous courtesy and 
ready service to his brethren of the bar and to others, 
and his unimpeachable character never fail to satisfy 
the other test. 

JUDGES OF THE HIGHER COURTS RESIDENT IN 
WORCESTER COUNTY. 

Superior Court. — Jedediah Foster, on the bench 
1776-79. 

Supreme Judicial Court. — Levi Lincoln, on the 
bench 1824-25; Benjamin F. Thomas, 1853-59; 
Pliny Merrick, 185.3-54; Dwight Foster, 1866-69; 
Charles Devens, 1873-77, 1881-. 

Coiintij Court of Common Pleas. — Artemas Ward, 
on the bench 1775-99 (Q. J.); Jedediah Foster, 177-5- 
76; Mosea Gill, 1775-94; Samuel Baker, 1775-95; 
Joseph Dorr, 1776-1801 ; Michael Gill, 1794-98; Eli- 
jah Brigham, 1795-1811; John Sprague, 1799-1801 
(C. J.); Dwight Foster, 1801-11 (C. J.); Benjamin 
Heywood, 1801-11. 

Court of Comnmn Pleas for the Western Circuit. — 
Edward Baugs, on the bench 1811-18 ; Solomon 
Strong, 1818-20. 

Court of Common. Pleas for Commonwealth. — Solo- 
mon Strong, on the bench 1820-42 ; Charles Allen, 
1842-44; Pliny Merrick, 1843-48, '50-53; Emory 
Washburn, 1844-47 ; Edward Mellen, 1854-59. 

Superior Covrt for the Commonweaith. — Charles 
Allen, on the bench 1859-69 (C. J.); Charles Devens, 
1867-73 ; Francis H. Dewey, 1869-81 ; P. Emory 
Aldrich, 1873- ; Hamilton B. Stapler, 1881-. 



Probate Court. — John Chandler, on the bench 
1731-40; Joseph Wilder, 1740-56; John Chandler 
(2d), 1756-62; John Chandler {3d), 1762-75 ; Jede- 
diah Foster, 1775-76 ; Artemas Ward, 1776 ; Levi 
Lincoln, 1776-82 ; Joseph Dorr, 1782-1801 ; Nathan- 
iel Paine, 1801-36; Ira M. Barton, 1836-44; Benja- 
min F. Thomas, 1844-48 ; Thomas Kinnicutt, 1848- 
57 ; Dwight Foster, 1857-58. 

Court of Probate and Insolvency. — Henry Chapin, 
on the bench 1858-78; Adin Thayer, 1878-88; W. 
Trowbridge Forbes, 1888-. 

List of Members of the Bar. — In the follow- 
ing list it is intended to give the names of all persons 
who were members ofthe Worcester County bar Jan- 
uary 1, 1889, and of those who had been members of 
it at any time since the establisliment of the county, 
with the date and place of the birth and graduation 
of each (if graduated), the date of admission to the 
bar, and the place or places where they have prac- 
tised, so far as it has been practicable to obtain tlie 
facts. 

Explanations. — The ' indicates that the person was 
dead January 1, 1889; r., removal from the county. 
The colleges at which persons named were graduated 
or attended are indicated by initial letters, thus : 
H. C, Harvard College ; B. U., Brown University ; 
A. C, Amherst College; Y. C, Yale College; AV. C, 
Williams College; D. C, Dartmouth College ; M. U., 
Michigan University ; W. U., Wesleyan University ; 
U. v., University of Vermont ; U. C, Union Col- 
lege; B. C, Bowdoin College; N. U., Norwich Uni- 
versity; U. of C, University of Cal.; H. Cr., Holy 
Cross College; McG., McGill University; C. U., . 
Colby University ; T. C, Tuffs College ; St. M., St. 
Michael's College ; N. D., University of Notre Dame. 

Thomas Abbott, r., born in Canada; admitted 1849 ; 
practised in Millbury and Blackstone. 

Benjamin Adams,' born in Mendon, 1764; gradu- 
ated at B. U., 1788; admitted 1792; practised in Ux- 
bridge. 

Cliarles L. Adams, born in Westboro', 18G1 ; ad- 
mitted 1887 ; practised in Westboro', 

Henry Adams,' graduated at H. C, 1802; practised 
in Ashburnham. 

Zabdiel B. Adams,' graduated atH. C, 1791; prac- 
tised in Lunenburg. 

Henry W. Aiken, born in Millbury, 1857; gradu- 
ated at Y. C, 1880; admitted 1884; practised in 
Millbury. 

Charles F. Aldrich, born in Worcester, 1858 ; grad- 
uated at Y. C, 3879; admitted 1881; practised in 
Worcester. 

P. Emory Aldrich, born in New Salt ni, 1813; ad- 
mitted 1846 ; practised in Barre and Worcester. 

Charles Allen,' born in Worcester, 1797; admitted 
1818; practised in New Braintree and Worcester. 

Frederic H. Allen,' graduated U. V., 1823; ad- 
mitted 1818; practised in Atliol. 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



S.imuel H. Allen,' born in Mention, 1790 ; gradu- 
tfil !it U. C, 1814 ; practised in Mendon and Graf- 
ton. 

j.iseph Allen,' born in Leicester, 1773 ; graduated 
fit •; C, 1792; admitted 1795 ; practised in Worcea- 
i r, Varren and Charlestown, N. H. 

Aliert H. Andrews, born in Waltham, 1829; ad- 
1] ii 1 1856 ; practised in Nebraska, Minnesota, Ash- 
iiLiiilam and Fitchburg. 

William S. Andrews,' r.,born in Boston; graduated 
al H C, 1812; admitted 1817; practised in Spencer 
and '.Worcester. 

'"fiua Atherton,' born in Harvard, 1737 ; gradu- 
iii'i at H. C, 1762; admitted 1765; practised in 
'■ .1 r ham. 

1] .yard Avery, r., born in Marblebead, 1827; ad- 
niiiti-il 1849; practised in Barre, Worcester and Bos- 
ton. 

Erasmus Babbitt,' born in Sturbridge, 1765 ; grad- 
ual f at H. C, 1790 ; practised in Cliarlton, Grafton, 
0>. : .id, Sturbridge and Westboro'. 

I ' t iiry Bacon, bom in Oxford, 1835 ; admitted 1859 ; 
praci sed in Worcester. 

i ■ . jr C. Bacon,' born in Dudley, 1804; graduated 
A '• U., 1827; admitted 1830; practised in Oxford, 
'. l.y and Worcester. 

' ' Jsmith F. Bailey,' born in AVestmoreland, Vt., 
l^ . admitted 1848; practised in Fitcbburg. 

[1^1 rison Bailey, born in Fitchburg, 1849; gradu- 
[• 1 at A. C, 1872; admitted 1874; practised in 
i-'J!. : ourg. 

Ciiarles F. Baker, born in Lunenburg, 1850; gradu- 
t.;i(i at H. C, 1872; admitted 1875; practised in 
I'itclburg. 

Cluistopher C. Baldwin,' born in Templeton, 1800 ; 
admiited 1826; practised in Sutton, Barre and Wor- 
cester. , 

George W. Baldwin, r., born in New Haven ; grad- 
uated at Y. C, 1853; admitted 1858; practised in 
Worcester and Boston. 

Isaac Baldwin, admitted 1853 ; practised in Clin- 
ton. 

Grirge H. Ball, r., born in Milford, 1848 ; gradu- 
aiHtl at H. C, 1869; admitted 1871 ; practised in 
Worcester. 

<;corge F. Bancroft,' admitted 1874 ; practised in 
Brookfield. 

James H. Bancroft, born in Ashburnham, 1829 ; 
admiited 186S ; practised in Worcester. 

Allen Bangs,' r., born in Springfield ; graduated at 
T'. , 1827; pnirtised in Springfield and Worcester. 

,vard Bangs,' born in Hardwick, 1756; gradu- 
stoil H. C, 1777; admitted 1780; practised in Wor- 
iesltT. 

E'hvard D. Bangs,' born in Worcester, 1790; ad- 
miti. d 1813; practised in Worcester. 

William B. Banister,' r., born in Brookfield, 1773 ; 
1 ated at D. C, 1797; practised in Brookfield and 
luryport. 



Forrest E. Barker, born in Exeter, N. H., 1853 ; 
graduated at W. U., 1874; admitted 1876; practised 
in Worcester. 

Merrill Barlow, r., admitted 1848 ; practised iu 
Southbridge and Columbus, O. 

Frederick J. Barnard, born in Worcester 1842 ; 
graduated at Y. C, 1863; admitted 1867; practised in 
Worcester. 

L. Emerson Barnes, born in Hardwick, 1843; grad- 
uated at A. C, 1871; admitted 1873; practised in 
North Brookfield. 

Andrew J. Bartholomew, born in Hardwick, 1833 ; 
graduated at Y. C, 1856; admitted 1858; practised 
in Southbridge. 

Nelson Bartholomew,' born in Hardwick, 1834 ; 
graduated at Y. C, 1856 ; admitted 1858 ; practised 
in Oxford. 

William O. Bartlett, r., born in Smithfield, R. L; 
admitted 1843 ; practi-sed in Worcester and New York. 

Ira M. Barton,' born in Oxford, 1796 ; graduated at 
B. U., 1819 ; admitted 1822 ; practised in Oxford and 
Worcester. 

William S. Barton, born in Oxford, 1824 ; gradu- 
ated at B. U., 1844 ; admitted 1846 ; practised in 
Worcester. 

Ezra Bassett, practised in New Braintree. 

Snmner Bastow,' born in Uxbridge; graduated at 
B. U., 1802; admitted 1811; practised in Sutton and 
Oxford. 

Liberty Bates,' graduated at B. U., 1797 ; practised 
in Grafton. 

Robert E. Beecher, r., born in Zanesville, O., 1839 ; 
graduated at W. C, 1860; admitted 1868; practised 
in North Brookfield. 

Joshua E. Beeman, born in Westboro', 1844; ad- 
mitted 1879 ; practised in Westboro'. 

Felix A. Belisle, born in St. Marcelle, P. Q., 1857; 
admitted 1888; practised in Worcester. 

Daniel H. Bemis, born in Billerica, 1831; admitted 
1860 ; practised in Clinton. 

Abijah Bigelow,' born in Westminster, 1775 ; grad- 
uated at D. C, 1795 ; admitted 1817 ; practised in 
Worcester and Leominster. ' 

Daniel Bigelow,' born in Worcester, 1752 ; gradu- 
ated at H. C, 1775; admitted 1780; practised in Pe- 
tersham. 

George P. Bigelow, admitted 1881. 

Lewis Bigelow,' born in Petersham ; graduated at 
W. C, 1803 ; practised in Petersham and Peoria, 
111. 

Tyler Bigelow,' graduated at H. C, 1801 ; practised 
in Leominster and Waltham. 

Arthur G. Biscoe,' horn in Grafton; graduated at 
A. C, 1862 ; admitted 1864 ; practised in Westbor- 
ough. 

J. Foster Biscoe, r., born in Grafton ; graduated at 
A. C, 1874 ; admitted 1877. 

Jason B. Blackington, r., graduated at B. U., 1826 ; 
practised in Holden. 



THE BENCH AND BAK. 



b 



Francis T. Blackmer,' born in Worcester, 1844; 
admitted 1867 ; practised in Worcester. 

Fred. W. Blackmer, born in Hardwick, 1858 ; ad- 
mitted 1883 ; practised in Worcester. 

Francis Blake,' born in Rutland, 1774; graduated 
at H. C, 1789; admitted 1794; practised in Rutland 
and Worcester. 

Jesse Bliss,' born in Brimfield ; graduated at D. C, 
1808; admitted 1812; practised in W. Brookfield. 

Daniel Bliss,' born in Concord, 1740; graduated at 
H. C, 1760; admitted 1765; practised in Rutland 
and Concord. 

Willian) Bliss,' graduated at H. C, 1818; practised 
in Athdl. 

Jerome B. Bolster,' born in Uxbridge ; admitted 
1865 ; practised in Blackstone. 

Frederick W. Botham,' born in Charlton, 1811 ; 
admitted 1835 ; practised in Southbridge and Douglas. 

Frederick W. Bottom,' born in Plainfield, Conn., 
1785; graduated at B. U., 1802; practised in Charl- 
ton, Southbridge and Sturbridge. 

Lewis H. Boutelle, r , practised in Westborough. 

Charles D. Bowman,' born in New Braintree, 1816; 
graduated at H. C, 1838; admitted 1845; practised 
in Oxford. 

Lucian C. Boynton,' admitted 1847 ; practised in 
AVorcester. 

Albert E. Bragg, r., admitted 1884 ; practised in 
Worcester and Boston. 

Samuel Brazer,' born in Worcester, 1785 ; practised 
in Worcester. 

Benjamin Bridge, practised in Uxbridge and Win- 
chendon. 

O. L. Bridges,' r., born in Calais, Me. ; practised in 
Boston and Worcester. 

William H. Briggs, born in Andover, 1855 ; ad- 
mitted 1876 ; practised in Worcester. 

David Brigham,' r., born in Shrewsbury, 1786 ; 
graduated at H. C, 1810; practised in Fitchburg, 
Leicester, New Braintree and Shrewsbury. 

David T. Brigham, r., born in Shrewsbury, 1808 ; 
graduated atU. C, 1828; admitted 1831; practised 
in Worcester. 

Charles Brimblecom, born in Sharon, 1825 ; ad- 
mitted 1848 ; practised in Barre. 

Aaron Brooks,' born in Petersham ; graduated at 
B. U., 1817 ; practised in Petersham. 

Calvin M. Brooks, r., graduated at Y. C, 1847 ; ad- 
mitted 1848 ; practised in Worcester, Boston and N. 
Ashland, Conn. 

Francis A. Brooks, r., born in Petersham, 1826 ; 
attended H. C. ; admitted 1845 ; practised in Peter- 
sham and Boston. 

Bartholomew Brown,' graduated at H. C, 1799 ; 
practised in Sterling. 

John F. Brown, admitted 1880. 

Luke Brown,' graduated at H. C, 1794 ; practised 
in Hardwick. 



William E. Brown,' born in Sidney, Me., 1831 ; ad- 
mitted 1868 ; practised in Fitchburg. 

Nahum F. Bryant, r., born in New Salem, 1810; 
admitted 1835; practised at Barre and Bangor, Me. 

Walter A. Bryant,' born in New Salem, 1817; ad- 
mitted 1839; practised in Barre and Worcester. 

Alexander H. Bullock,' born in Royalslon, 1816 ; 
graduated at A. C, 1836 ; admitted 1841 ; practised 
in Worcester. 

Augustus George Bullock, born in Enfield, Conn., 
1847; graduated at H. C, 1868; admitted 1875; 
practised in Worcester. 

Gardner Burbank, graduated at B. U., 1809; prac- 
tised in Worcester. 

Silas A. Burgess, born in Goshen, 1826 ; admitted 
1852; practised in Blackstone and Worcester. 

Henry M. Burleigh, r., practised in Athol. 

Samuel M. Burnside,' born in Northumberland, N. 
g., 1783; graduated at D. C, 1805; admitted 1810 ; 
practised in Westborough and Worcester. 

Albert C. Burrage, r., born in Ashburnham, 1859; 
graduatedat H. C, 1883; admitted 1884; practised 
in Boston. 

Charles D. Burrage, born in Ashburnham, 1857; 
graduated at U. of C, 1878; admitted 1882; prac- 
tised in Baldwinville and Gardner. 

Stillman Cady,' practised in Templeton. 

Joseph B. Caldwell,' born in Rutland ; graduated 
at H. C, 1802 ; practised in Grafton, Rutland and 
Worcester. 

William Caldwell,' graduated at H. C, 1802 ; prac- 
tised in Rutland. 

George W. Cann, born in Easton, Pa., 1849; at- 
tended Pa. C, 1869; admitted 1872; practised in 
Fitchburg. 

James B. Carroll, r., born in Lowell, 1856 ; grad- 
uated at H. Cr., 1878 ; admitted 1880 ; practised in 
Springfield. 

Peter T. Carroll, born in Hopkinton, 1857 ; attend- 
ed H. Cr. ; admitted 1882 ; practised in Worces- 
ter. 

Chauncey W. Car ter, born in Leominster, 1827 ; 
admitted 1857 ; practised in Leominster and Gardner. 

Frederick H. Chamberlain, born in Worcester, 
1861 ; admitted 1886 ; practised in Worcester. 

Leon F. Chamecin,' born in Philadelphia, 1861 ; 
admitted 1882 ; practised in Boston and Templeton. 

Nathaniel Chandler,' born in Worcester, 1750; 
graduated at H. C, 1768 ; admitted 1771 ; practised 
in Petersham and Worcester. 

Rufus Chandler,' born in Worcester, 1747 ; grad- 
uated at H. C, 1766; admitted 1768; practised in 
Worcester. 

Charles S. Chapin, r., born in Westfield, 1859; 
graduated at W. U., 1880; admitted 1884; practised 
in Worcester. 

Henry Chapin,' born in Upton, 1811 ; graduated at 
B. U., 1835; admitted 1838; practised at Uxbridge 
and Worcester. 



h 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



J^inus Child,' born in Woodstoclc, Conn., 1802 ; 
graduated at Y. C, 1824; admitted 1826; practised 
in Southbridge and Boston. 

F. Linus Childs, born in Millbury, 1849; graduated 
at B. U., 1870 ; admitted 1873 ; practised in Wor- 
cester. 

Ambrose Clioquet, born in Varennes, P. Q., 1840 ; 
graduated at McG., 1865; admitted 1865; practised 
in Montreal, Rochester and Worcester. 

Charles W. Clark, r., born in Worcester, 1851 ; 
graduated at Y. C. ; admitted 1876; practised in 
Worcester. 

Edward Clark,' born in Charlton ; practised in Sut- 
ton and Worcester. 

Henry J. Clarke, born in Southbridge, 1845 ; grad- 
uated at Boston U., 1875 ; admitted 1875 ; practised in 
Webster. 

Samuel Clark, born in Dedham, 1809 ; graduated 
at B. U., 1836 ; admitted 1841 ; practised in North- 
borough, 

Peter Clarke,' graduated at H. C, 1777 ; practised 
in Southborough. 

Hollis W. Cobb, born in Boyiston, 1856 ; graduated 
atY. C, 1878; admitted 1881; practised in Wor- 
cester. 

John M. Cochran, born in Pembroke, N. H., 1849; 
admitted 1870 ; practised in Palmer and Southbridge. 

John B. D. Cogswell, r., born in Yarmouth, 1829 ; 
graduated at D. C, 1850 ; admitted 1853; practised 
in Worcester, Milwaukee, Wis., and Yarmouth. 

James D. Colt, r., born in Pittsfleld, 1862 ; grad- 
uited at W. C, 1884 ; admitted 1887 ; practised in 
Boston. 

Joseph B. Cook, r., born in Cumberland, R. I., 
1837 ; admitted 1860 ; practised in Blackstone. 

Edwin Conant, born in Sterling, 1810 ; graduated 
at H. C, 1829; admitted 1832; practised in Sterling 
and Worcester. 

John W. Corcoran, born in New York, 1853 ; gradu- 
ated at H. C, 1875; admitted 1875; practised in 
Clinton. 

Oliver S. Cormier, r. ; admitted 1884 ; practised in 
Worcester and Manchester, N. H. 

Mirick H. Cowden, born in Rutland, 1846 ; admitted 
1875 ; practised in Worcester. 

John G. Crawford, born in Oakham, 1834; admitted 
1865 ; practised in Michigan, New Hampshire and 
Clinton. 

Austin P. Cristy, born in Morristown, Vt., 1850; 
graduated at D. C, 1873 ; admitted 1874; practised 
in Worcester. 

Samuel M. Crocker,' graduated at H. C, 1801 ; 
practised in Douglas and Uxbridge. 

Amos Crosby,' born in Brookfield, 1761 ; graduated 
at H. C, 1786 ; admitted 1804 ; practised in Brook- 
field. 

Eph. M. Cunningham,' graduated at H. C, 1814; 
practised in Ashburnham, Lunenburg and Sterling. 

Albert W. Curtis, born in Worcester, 1849 ; gradu- 



ated at Y. C, 1871 ; admitted 1873 ; practised in 
Worcester and Spencer. 

Wolfred F. Curtis, admitted 1878. 

Elisha P. Cutler, graduated at W. C, 1798 ; prac- 
tised in Hardwick. 

Louis Cutting,' born in West Boyiston, 1849 ; 
admitted 1888 ; practised in West Boyiston and Wor- 
cester. 

Samuel Cutting,' graduated at D. C, 1805 ; practised 
in Templeton. 

Appleton Dadmun,' born in Marlborough, 1828; 
graduated at A. C, 1854; admitted 1857; practised 
in Worcester. 

John T. Dame, born in Orford, N. H., 1817 ; gradu- 
ated at D. C, 1840 ; practised in Clinton and Marl- 
borough. 

Richard H. Dana,' born in Cambridge, 1787 ; gradu- 
ated at H. C, 1808 ; admitted 1811 ; practised in 
Sutton. 

I. C. Bates Dana, born in Northampton, 1848 ; 
admitted 1872 ; practised in Worcester. 

John A. Dana, born in Princeton, 1823 ; graduated 
at Y. C, 1844; admitted 1848; practised in Wor- 
cester. 

William S. Dana, admitted in 1878. 

Mat. (Jas.) Davenport, graduated at H. C, 1802 ; 
practised in Boyiston. 

Andrew J. Davis,' r., born in Northborough, 1815 ; 
admitted 1834; practised in Worcester and St. Louis, 
Mo. 

Andrew McF. Davis, born in Worcester, 1833 ; 
admitted 1859; practised in Worcester, New Y'ork 
and San Francisco. 

Charles T. Davis, r., born in Concord, N. H., 1863 ; 
graduated at H. C, 1884; admitted 1886; practised 
in Boston. 

Edward L. Davis, born in Worcester, 1834 ; gradu- 
ated at B. U., 1854 ; admitted 1857 ; practised in Wor- 
cester. 

George Davis,' practised in Sturbridge. 

Isaac Davis,' born in Northborough, 1799 ; gradu- 
ated at B. U., 1822 ; admitted 1825 ; practised in 
Worcester. 

James R. Davis, born in Boston, 1816 ; admitted 
1869; practised in Milford. 

John Davis, Jr.,' born in Shirley ; practised in 
Lancaster and Charlton. 

John Davis,' born in Northborough, 1788 ; gradu- 
ated at Y. C, 1812; admitted 1815; practised in 
Northboro', Spencer and Worcester. 

John C. B. Davis, r., born in AVorcester, 1822 ; 
graduated at H. C, 1840; admitted 1844; practised 
in Worcester and New York. 

William S. Davis,' born in Northborough, 1832 ; 
graduated at H. C, 1853 ; admitted 1855 ; practised 
in Worcester. 

John E. Day, born in Killingly, Ct., 1851 ; gradu- 
ated at A. C, 1871; admitted 1874; practised in 
Worcester. 



THE BENCH AND BAR. 



Ixxv 



Francis Deane, born in Shrewsbury, 1804; gradu- 
ated at B. U., 1826; admitted 1830; practised in 
Southboro', Uxbridge and Worcester. 

Frederick B. Deane, r., born in Uxbridge, 1840; 
admitted 1860 ; practised in Worcester. 

Louis E. Denfield, born in Westboro', 1854; gradu- 
ated at A. C, 1878 ; admitted 1881 ; practised in Web- 
ster and Westboro'. 

Robert E. Denfield, r., born in Westboro', 1853 ; 
graduated at A. C, 1876; admitted 1882. 

Austin Denny,' born in Worcester, 1795 ; graduated 
at Y. C, 1814; admitted 1817; practised in Harvard 
and Worcester. 

Nathaniel P. Denny,' r., born in Leicester, 1771 ; 
graduated at H. C, 1797 ; practised in Leicester. 

Charles Devens, born in Charlestown, 1820 ; gradu- 
ated at H. C, 18.38; admitted 1840; practised in 
Greenfield and Worcester. 

Charles A. Dewey, Jr., born in Northampton, 1830; 
admitted 1859; practised in Milford. 

Francis H. Dewey,' born in Williamstown, 1821 ; 
graduated at W. C, 1840; admitted 1843; practised 
in Worcester. 

Francis H. Dewey, born in Worcester, 1856 ; grad- 
uated at W. C, 1876; admitted 1879; practised in 
Worcester. 

George T. Dewey, born in Worcester, 1858; gradu- 
ated at W. C, 1879; admitted 1882; practised in 
Worcester. 

John C. Dewey, born in Worcester, 1857 ; gradu- 
ated at W. C, 1878 ; admitted 1881 ; practised in 
Worcester. 

vSamiiel Dexter,' graduated at H. C, 1781 ; admitted 
1784; practised in Lunenburg. 

Charles S. Dodge, born in Charlton, 1859 ; admitted 
1885; practised in Connecticut and Worcester. 

Rufus B. Dodge, Jr., born in Charlton, 1861 ; ad- 
mitted 1885 ; practised in Worcester. 

Thomas H. Dodge, born in Eden, Vt., 1823; ad- 
mitted 1852 ; practised in Nashua, N. H., Washington 
and Worcester. 

Samuel W. Dougherty, r., born in Worcester, 1848; 
admitted 1876; practised in Worcester. 

Nathan T. Dow, r., graduated at D. C, 1826 ; prac- 
tised in Grafton. 

James J. Dowd, born in Worcester ; graduated at 
St. M., 1880 ; admitted 1882 ; practised in Worcester, 
Brockton and Boston. 

J. W. Draper, r., admitted 1851 ; practised in Wor- 
cester. 

John Danforth Dunbar,' graduated at H. C, 1789 
practised in Charlton. 

Thatcher B. Dunn, born in Ludlow, Vt., 1844 
admitted 1873 ; practised in Gardner. 

Alexander Dustin,' born in N, Boston, N. H., 1776 
graduated at D. C, 1799; admitted 1804; practised 
in Harvard, Westminster and Sterling. 

Joseph Dwiglit,' born in Hatfield, 1703 ; graduated 
at H. C, 1722 ; admitted 1731 ; practised in Brookfield. 



Luke Eastman,' graduated at D. C, 1812; practised 
in Barre and Sterling. 

Samuel Eastman,' graduated at D. C, 1802 ; prac- 
tised in Hardwick. 

Joshua Eaton,' born in Waltham, 1714; graduated 
at H. C, 1735 ; admitted 1737 ; practised in Worcester 
and Leicester. 

Jamea Eliot, practised in Worcester. 

John E. Ensign, r., born in Cleveland, 1852 ; gradu- 
ated at M. U., 1874; admitted 1876; practised in 
Cleveland and Worcester. 

James E. Estabrook, born in Worcester, 1829; 
graduated at Y. C, 1851 ; admitted 1853 ; practised in 
Worcester. 

Constantine C. E^ty, r., born in Newton, 1824; 
graduated at Y. C, 1845 ; practised in Millord and 
Framingham. 

Henry E. Fales, born in Walpole, 1837 ; admitted 
1864; practised in Milford. 

Lowell E. Fales, born in Milford, 1858 ; admitted 
1881 ; practised in Milford. 

Farwell F. Fay,' born in Athol, 1835 ; admitted 
1859 ; practised in Athol and Boston. 

Daniel H. Felch, admitted 1881. 

Cornelius C. Felton, born in Thurlow, Pa., 1863; 

graduated at H. C, 1886 ; admitted 1888 ; practised 

in Philadelphia and Clinton. 

i Frank G. Fessenden, r., born in Fitchburg, 1849 ; 

admitted 1872; practised in Fitchburg and Greenfield. 

Stephen Fessenden,' born in Cambridge; graduated 
at H. C, 1737; admitted 1742; practised in Worcester. 

Charles Field, born in Athol, 1815 ; admitted 1843; 
practised in Athol. 

Charles Field, Jr., born in Cambridge, 1857 ; gradu- 
ated at W. C, 1881 ; admitted 1886 ; practised in Athol. 

Maturin L. Fisher, r., born in Danville, Vt. ; ad- 
mitted 1831; practised in Worcester and Iowa. 

Joel W. Fletcher,' born in Northbridge, 1817 ; 
graduated at A. C, 1838 ; admitted 1840 ; practised in 
Leominster and Northboro'. 

Waldo Flint, r., born in Leicester, 1794 ; graduated 
at H. C, 1814 ; practised in Leicester and Boston. 

George Folsom,' r., born in Kennebunk, Me., 1802; 
graduated at H. C, 1822; practised in Worcester. 

W. Trowbridge P'orbes, born in Westborough, 1850 ; 
graduated at A. C. 1871 ; admitted 1878 ; practised in 
Westborough. 

Alfred D. Foster,' born in Brookfield, 1800 ; grad- 
ated at H. C, 1819; admitted 1822; practised in 
Worcester. 

Dwight Foster,' born in Brookfield, 1757 ; gradu- 
uated at B. U., 1774; admitted 1780; practised in 
Brookfield and Rutland. 

Dwight Foster,' born in Worcester, 1828 ; gradu- 
ated at Y. C, 1848; admitted 1849; practised in Wor- 
cester and Boston. 

John M. Foster, practised in Warren. 

Barlow Freeman,' r., practised in Charlton and 
Southbridge. 



Ixxvi 



HISTOKY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



Elisha Fuller,' born in Princeton, 1795 ; graduated 
at H. C, 1815 ; practised in Concord, Lowell and 
Worcester. 

Frederick W. Gale,' born in Northborough ; gradu- 
ated at H. C, 1836 ; admitted 1839 ; practised in St. 
Louis, Mo., and Worcester. 

Thomas F. Gallagher, born in Lynn, 1855 ; gradu- 
ated at N. D., 1876 ; admitted 1878 ; practised in 
Lynn and Fitchburg. 

George E. Gardner, born in East Brookfield, 1864 ; 
graduated at A. C, 1885; admitted 1887; practised 
in Worcester. 

Francis A. Gaskill, born in Blackstone, 1846 ; grad- 
uated at B. U., 1866; admitted 1869; practised in 
Worcester. 

Charles B. Gates, born in Worcester, 1851 ; gradu- 
ated at M. U. ; admitted 1875 ; practised in Wor- 
cester. 

William H. Gates, born in Worcester, 1857 ; grad- 
uated at W. C. ; admitted 1882; practised in Wor- 
cester. 

Frederick A. Gauren,' born in Grafton, 1854; grad- 
uated at H. Cr., 1875; admitted 1879; practised in 
Worcester and New York. 

Richard George,' practised in West Brookfield. 

George A. Gibbs, admitted 1887. 

Arad Gilbert, r., graduated at B. U., 1797 ; prac- 
tised in Hanover, N. H., Lebanon, N. H., and North 
Brookfield. 

Daniel Gilbert,' born in Brookfield, 1773 ; gradu- 
ated at D. C, 1796 ; admitted 1805; practised in 
North Brookfield. 

William A. Gile, born in Franklin, N. H., 1843 ; 
admitted 1869; practised in Greenfield and Wor- 
cester. 

Moses Gill,' graduated at H. C, 1784 ; practised in 
Mendon. 

Samuel B. I. Goddard, born in Shrewsbury, 1821 ; 
graduated at A. C, 1840; admitted 1843; practised 
in Worcester. 

Samuel W. E. Goddard, born in Berlin, 1832; ad- 
mitted 1852 ; practised in Belchertown, Boston and 
Hubbardston. 

Jesse W. Goodrich," born in Pittsfield, 1808 ; grad- 
uated at U. C, 1829 ; admitted 1833 ; practised in 
Worcester. 

Isaac Goodwin, r., born in Plymouth, 1786 ; admitted 
1808 ; practised in Boston, Sterling and Worcester. 

J. Martin Gorham,' born in Barre, 1830 ; graduated 
at H. C, 1851 ; admitted 1854 ; practised in Barre. 

John S. Gould, born in Webster, 1856 ; admitted 
1884; practised in Webster. 

Francis P. Goulding, born in Grafton, 1837 ; gradu- 
ated at D. C, 1863 ; admitted 1866 ; practised in Wor- 
cester. 

Isaac D. Goulding,' born in Worcester, 1841 ; ad- 
mitted 1877 ; practised in Worcester. 

Samuel L. Graves, born in Groton, 1847 ; graduated 
at A. C, 1870 ; admitted 1872 ; practised in Fitchburg. 



James Green, Jr., born in Worcester, 1841 ; gradu- 
ated at H. C, 1862 ; admitted 1866 ; practised in 
Worcester. 

William E. Green,' born in Worcester, 1777 ; grad- 
uated at B. U., 1798; admitted 1801; practised in 
Grafton and Worcester. 

William N. Green,' born in Milford, 1804; admit- 
ted 1827 ; practised in Worcester. 

Timothy Green,' graduated at B. U., 1786 ; prac- 
tised in Worcester. 

J. Evarts Greene, born in Boston, 1834 ; graduated 
at Y. C, 1853 ; admitted 1859 ; practised in North 
Brookfield. 

Joseph K. Greene, born in Otisfield, Me., 1852 ; 
graduated at B. C, 1877 ; admitted 1879; practised 
in Worcester. 

Jonathan Grout,' practised in Petersham. 

William Grout,' born in Spencer; admitted 18.50 ; 
practised in Worcester. 

Franklin Hall, r., born in Sutton, 1820 ; admitted 
1846 ; practised in Worcester. 

Alexander (Edward) Hamilton,' born in Worcester, 
1812; admitted 1835; practised in Barre and Wor- 
cester. 

Elisha Hammond,' born in 1781 ; graduated at Y. 
C, 1802 ; admitted 1806 ; practised in West Brookfield. 

William B. Harding, born in Tilton, N. H., 1844 ; 
admitted 1867 ; practised in Worcester. 

Frederick B. Harlow, born in Worcester, 1864; 
graduated at A.. C, 1885; admitted 1888; practised 
in Worcester. 

William T. Harlow, born in Shrewsbury, 1828 ; 
graduated at Y. C, 1851 ; admitted 1853 ; practised 
in Spencer, Red Bluffs, Cal., and Worcester. 

Jubal Harrington, r.,' born in Shrewsbury, 1803 ; 
graduated at B. U. ; admitted 1825 ; practised in 
Worcester. 

Nahum Harrington,' born in Westborough, 1778 ; 
graduated at B. U., 1807 ; admitted 1811 ; practised 
in Westborough. 

Henry F. Harris, born in West Boylston, 1849; 
graduated at T. C, 1871 ; admitted 1873 ; practised 
in Worcester. 

Joel Harris,' graduated at D. C, 1804 ; practised 
in Harvard. 

Charles W. Hartshorn, r., born in Taunton, 1814; 
graduated at H. C, 1833 ; admitted 1837 ; practised 
in Worcester. 

Harris C. Hartwell, born in Groton, 1847 ; gradu- 
ated at H. C, 1869; admitted 1872; practised in 
Fitchburg. 

H. Spencer Haskell, born in Petersham, 1863; ad- 
mitted 1886 ; practised in Worcester. 

Daniel W. Haskins, born in Hardwick, 1829; grad- 
uated at A. C, 1858 ; admitted 1862 ; practised in 
Worcester. 

Charles C. P.Hastings,' born in Mendon, 1804; 
graduated at B. U., 1825 ; admitted 1828 ; practised 
in Mendon. 



THE BENCH AND BAR. 



Ixxvii 



Seth Hastings,' born in Cambridge, 1762 ; gradu- 
ated at H. C, 1782 ; admitted 1786 ; practised in 
Mendon. 

William S. Hastings,' born in Mendon, 1798; grad- 
uated at H. C, 1817 ; admitted 1820 ; practised in 
Mendon. 

Samuel F. Haven,' born in Dedham, 1806 ; gradu- 
ated at A. C, 1826 ; practised in Worcester. 

Charles S. Hayden, born in Harvard, 1848 ; admit- 
ted 1871 ; practised in Fitchburg. 

Stillman Haynes, born in Townsend, 1833 ; admit- 
ted 1861 ; practised in Townsend and Fitchburg. 

Daniel Henshaw, r.,' born in Leicester, 1872 ; grad- 
uated at H. C, 1807 ; practised in Winchendon, Wor- 
cester, Boston and Lynn. 

Levi Haywood,' graduated at D. C, 1808; prac- 
tised in Worcester. 

Charles B. Hibbard, admitted 1879. 

James H. Hill,' admitted 1852 ; practised in North 
Brookfield and New York. 

Henry E. Hill, born in Worcester, 1850; graduated 
at H. C, 1872 ; admitted 1875 ; practised in Wor- 
cester. 

J. Henry Hill, born in Petersham; admitted 1844; 
practised in Worcester. 

Samuel Hinckley,' graduated at Y. C, 1781 ; prac- 
tised in Brookfield. 

Ephraim Hinds,' r., graduated at H. C, 1805 
practised in Athol, Barre and Harvard. 

Benjamin A. Hitchborn,' graduated at H. C, 1802 
practised in Worcester. 

Pelatiah Hitchcock,' graduated at H. C, 1785 
practised in Brookfield and Hardwick. 

George F. Hoar, born in Concord, 1826 ; graduated 
atH. C, 1846; admitted 1849; practised in Wor- 
cester. 

Rockwood Hoar, born in Worcester, 1855 ; gradu- 
ated at H. C, 1876 ; admitted 1879 ; practised in 
Worcester. 

George W. Hobbs, born in Worcester, 1839 ; grad- 
uated at N. U., 1857; admitted 1860; practised in 
Uxbridge. 

Henry Hogan, born in Pembroke, Me., 1864 ; ad- 
mitted 1888; practised in Athol. 

Charles A. Holbrook,' born in Grafton, 1821 ; ad- 
mitted 1857 ; practised in Worcester. 

Leander Holbrook, born in Croydon, N. H., 1815 ; 
admitted 1847 ; practised in Milford. 

Leander Holbrook, Jr., born in Milford, 1849; 
graduated at H. C, 1872; admitted 1875; practised 
in Milford. 

S. Holman, r., admitted 1850 ; practised in Fitch- 
burg. 

George B. N. Holmes, practised in Oakham. 

William R. Hooper, r., born in Marblehead, 1819; 
admitted 1849; practised in Worcester. 

John Hopkins, born in Gloucester, Eng., 1840 ; 
graduated at D. C, 1862; admitted 1864; practised 
in Worcester and Millbury. 



William S. B. Hopkins, born in Charleston, S. C, 
1836; graduated at W. C, 1855; admitted 1858; 
practised in Ware, New Orleans, Greenfield and Wor- 
cester. 

George W. Horr, born in New Salem, 1830 ; ad- 
mitted 1860 ; practised in New Salem and Athol. 

Nathaniel Houghton,' born in Sterling ; admitted 
1810 ; practised in Barre. 

Ephraim D. Howe, born in Marlborough, 1842 ; 
graduated at Y. C, 1867 ; admitted 1870 ; practised 
in Gardner. 

Elmer P. Howe, born in Westboro', 1851 ; gradu- 
ated at Y. C, 1876; admitted 1878; practised in 
Boston. 

Estes Howe,' graduated at D. C, 1800 ; practised 
in Sutton. 

Frederic Howes, practised in Sutton and Temple- 
ton. 

William H. Howe,' graduated at Y. C, 1847 ; ad- 
mitted 1849 ; practised in Worcester. 

George H. Hoyt,' born in Athol, 1839; admitted 
1859; practised in Athol. 

Daniel B. Hubbard, born in Hiram, Me., 1835 ; 
graduated C. U., 1858; admitted 1879; practised in 
Grafton and Worcester. 

John W. Hubbard,' graduated at D. C.,1814; prac- 
tised in Worcester. 

Henry S. Hudson, r., admitted 1852; practised in 
Worcester. 

Joseph W. Huntington,' born in Middlebury, Vt., 
1807; graduated at H. C, 1832; admitted 1837; 
practised in Lancaster. 

Benjamin D. Hyde,' born in Sturbridge, 1803 ; ad- 
mitted 1831; practised in Sturbridge and South- 
bridge. 

Albert S. Ingalls,' born in Rindge, N. H., 1830 ; 
admitted 1858 ; practised in Fitchburg and Arlington. 

Eleazer James,' born in Cohasset, 1754; graduated 
at H. C, 1778; practised in Barre. 

John F. Jandron, born in Hudson, 1863 ; attended 
H. Cr. ; admitted 1887 ; practised in Marlboro' and 
Worcester. 

Samuel Jennison,' graduated at H. C, 1774; prac- 
tised in Oxford. 

William H. Jewell, admitted 1883. 

Asa Johnson,' born in Bolton ; graduated at H. C, 
1787 ; practised in Fitchburg and Leominster. 

Charles R. Johnson, born in Dana, 1852; gradu- 
ated at H. C, 1875 ; admitted 1878 ; practised in 
Worcester. 

George W. Johnson, born in Boston, 1827 ; admit- 
ted 1863 ; practised in Brookfield. 

Theodore S. Johnson, born in Dana, 1843 ; admit- 
ted 1866 ; practised in Worcester and Blackstone. 

Silas Jones, r., practised in Leicester. 

Jeremiah R. Kane, born in North Brookfield, 1855 ; 
admitted 1883; practised in Spencer. 

James P. Kelly, r., born in Boston, 1848; admitted 
1876 ; practised in Worcester. 



Ixxviii 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



William H. Kelley, born in Liberty, Me., 1855 ; 
graduated at C. U., 1874; admitted 1882; practised 
in Warren. 

Joseph G. Kendall/ born in Leominster, 1786 ; 
graduated at H. C, 1810 ; practised in Leominster 
and Worcester. 

Charles B. Kendrick, r., admitted 1885. 

Thomas G. Kent, born in Framingham, 1829 ; 
graduated at Y. C, 1851 ; admitted 1853 ; practised 
in Milford. 

Francis L. King, r., born in Charlton, 1834 ; ad- 
mitted 1859 ; practised in Boston and Worcester. 

Henry W. King, born in North Brooktield, 1856; 
admitted 1880; practised in North Brooktield and 
Worcester. 

Thomas Kinnicutt,' born in Warren, R. I., 1800 ; 
graduated at B. U., 1822 ; admitted 1825 ; practised 
in Worcester. 

Edward M. Kingsl)ury, admitted 1879. 

Edward Kirkland,' r., admitted 1834 ; practised in 
Templeton and Brattleboro', Vt. 

Daniel Knight,' graduated at B. U., 1813 ; practised 
in Leicester and Spencer. 

Robert A. Knight, r., born in North Brooktield, 
1860 ; admitted 1887 ; practised in Worcester and 
Springfield. 

Lincoln B. Knowlton, r., practised in Millbury. 

Joseph Knox, r., practised in Hardwick. 

Thomas F. Larkin, born in Ireland, 1864; admit- 
ted 1888; practised in Clinton. 

Christopher J. Lawton,' admitted 1726; practised 
in Leicester. 

Frank D. Le.iry, r., born in Worcester, 1852 ; at- 
tended at H. Cr.; admitted 1879; practised in Wor- 
cester and Peoria, 111. 

Seth Lee, born in Barre ; admitted 1810 ; practised 
in Barre. 

Benjamin Lincoln,' graduated at H. C, 1777 ; prac- 
tised in Mendon. 

D. Waldo Lincoln,' born in Worcester, 1813 ; grad- 
uated at H. C, 1831; admitted 1834; practised in 
Worcester. 

Edward W. Lincoln, born in Worcester, 1820 ; 
graduated at H. C, 1839 ; admitted 1843 ; practised 
in Worcester. 

Enoch Lincoln,' born in Worcester, 1788 ; gradu- 
ated B. C, 1811 ; admitted 1811 ; practised in Wor- 
cester. 

Levi Lincoln,' born in Hingham, 1749; graduated 
at H. C, 1772 ; admitted 1775 ; practised in Wor- 
cester. 

Levi Lincoln,' born in Worcester, 1782 ; graduated 
atH.C, 1802 ; admitted 1805 ; practised in Worcester. 

William Lincoln," born in Worcester, 1801 ; grad- 
uated at H. C, 1822 ; admitted 1825 ; practised in 
AVorcester. 

William S. Lincoln, born in Worcester, 1811 ; 
graduated at B. C, 1830 ; admitted 1833 ; practised 
in Millbury and Worcester. 



George W. Livermore, r., graduated at H. C, 1823 ; 
practised in Millbury. 

Edward P. Loring, born in Norridgewock, Me., 
1837 ; graduated at B. C, 1861 ; admitted 1868 ; prac- 
tised in Fitchburg. 

Aaron Lyon,' born in Southbridge, 1824 ; gradu- 
ated at Y. C, 1849 ; admitted 1851 ; practised in 
Sturbridge. 

Peter S. Maher, r., born in Boston, 1848 ; admitted 
1882 ; practised in Worcester and Boston. 

Charles F. Mann, born in Worcester, 1849 ; admit- 
ted 1873 ; practised in New York and Worcester. 

David Manning, Jr., born in Paxton, 1846 ; gradu- 
ated at Y. C, 1869 ; admitted 1872 ; practised in 
Worcester. 

Jerome F. Manning, r., born in Merrimack, N. H., 
1838 ; admitted 1862 ; practised in Worcester. 

Jacob Mansfield,' r., born at Lynn ; practised in 
Warren and New York. 

Charles Mason, born in Dublin, N. H., 1810; grad- 
uated at H. C; admitted 1839 ; practised in Fitchburg. 

Joseph Mason, born in Northfield, 1813 ; admitted 
1837 ; practised in Templeton and Worcester. 

John H. Mathews,' born in Worcester, 1826 ; ad- 
mitted 1848; practised in Worcester. 

Wm. B. Maxwell, r., born in Biddeford, Me.; prac- 
tised in Lowell and Worcester. 

Lewis A. Maynard, born in Shrewsbury, 1810 
practised in Worcester. 

James J. McCafferty, r., born in Lowell, 1852 
admitted 1873 ; practised in Worcester and Lowell. 

Mathew J. McCaflerty,' born in Ireland, 1829 
admitted 1857 ; practised in Lowell and Worcester. 

Andrew D. McFarland,' born in Worcester, 1811 
graduated at U. C, 1832; admitted 1835; practised 
in Worcester. 

John Mcllvene, r., born in Scotland, 1850; ad- 
mitted 1876 ; practised in Grafton. 

Herbert Mcintosh, born in Doyles'.own, Pa., 1857 ; 
graduated at B. U., 1882; admitted 1888; practised 
in Worcester. 

Edward J. McMahon, born in Fitchburg, 1861; 
admitted 1885; practised in Worcester. 

James H. McMahon, born in Ireland, 1850 ; ad- 
mitted 1877; practised in Fitchburg. 

Prentice Mellen,' graduated at H. C, 1784; prac- 
tised in Sterling. 

Edward Mellen,' born in Westborough, 1802 ; grad- 
uated at B. U., 1823; admitted 1828; practised in 
Wayland and Worcester. 

George H. Mellen, born in Brookfleld, 1850 ; grad- 
uated at A. C, 1874; admitted 1882; practised in 
Worcester. 

Charles H. Merriam,' born in Westport, N. Y., 
1822 ; admitted 1852 ; practised in Leominster. 

David H. Merriam,' born in Essex, N. Y., 1820; 
admitted 1850; practised in Fitchburg. 

Lincoln A. Merriam,' admitted 1851 ; practised in 
Fitchburg. 



THE BENCH AND BAR. 



Ixxix 



Pliny Merrick,' born in Wilbraham, 1756 ; gradu- 
ated at H. C, 1776 ; admitted 1787 ; practised in 
Wilbraham and Brookfield. 

Pliny Merrick,' born in Brookfield, 1794 ; gradu- 
ated at H. C, 1814; admitted 1817; practised in 
Worcester, Charlton, Swansey, Taunton and Boston. 

Henry K. Merrifield, born in Worcester, 1840; 
admitted 1862 ; practised in Blackstone. 

Charles A. Merrill, born in Boston, 1843 ; gradu- 
ated at W. U., 1864; practised in Minneapolis and 
Worcester. 

Clough R. Miles,' born in Westminster, 1796 ; grad- 
uated at H. C, 1817; admitted 1820; practised in 
Townsend, Millbury and Athol. 

Jonathan Morgan,' graduated at U. C, 1803; prac- 
tised in Shrewsbury. 

David L. Morril, r., born in Goffstown, N. H., 
1827; graduated at D. C, 1847; admitted 1850; 
practised in Winchendon, West Brookfield and Wor- 
cester. 

Francis M. Morrison, born in Worcester, 1850 ; 
admitted 1880 ; practised in Worcester. 

Adolphus Morse,' r., admitted 1849; practised in 
Worcester. 

Andrew Morton,' graduated at B. U., 1795 ; prac- 
tised in Worcester. 

Daniel Murray,' graduated at H. C, 1771 ; prac- 
tised in Rutland. 

T. Edward Murray,' born in Worcester, 1842 ; ad- 
mitted 1872 ; practised in Worcester. 

Daniel Nason, r., admitted 1884. 

Harry L. Nelson, born in Mendon, 1858; gradu- 
ated at H. C, 1881; admitted 1882; practised in 
Worcester. 

Thomas L. Nelson, born in Haverhill, N. H., 1827 ; 
graduated at U. V., 1846; admitted 1855; practised 
in Worcester. 

Joseph W. Newcomb,' r., born in Greenfield; grad- 
uated at W. C, 1825 ; practised in Templeton, Salis- 
bury, Worcester and New Orleans. 

Horatio G. Newcomb,' admitted 1850 ; practised 
in Templeton. 

Benjamin F. Newton,' born in Worcester, 1821 ; 
admitted 1850 ; practised in Worcester. 

Rejoice Newton,' born in Greenfield, 1782; gradu- 
ated at D. C, 1807; admitted 1810; practised in 
Worcester. 

Amasa Norcross, born in Rindge, N. H., 1824 ; 
admitted 1848 ; practised in Fitchburg. 

David F. O'Connell, born in Ireland, 1857 ; ad- 
mitted 1879 ; practised in Worcester. 

John F. O'Connor, born in Worcester, 1859 ; grad- 
uated at H. Cr., 1882 ; admitted 1888 ; practised in 
Worcester. 

Charles J. O'Hara, born in Ireland, 1861 ; gradu- 
ated at H. Cr., 1884 ; admitted 1887 ; practised in 
Worcester. 

Daniel Oliver,' born in Middleborough ; graduated 
at H. C, 1762; admitted 1781 ; practised in Hardwick. 



Henry Paine,' born in Worcester, 1804; admitted 
1827 ; practised in Worcester. 

Nathaniel Paine,' born in Worcester, 1759 ; gradu- 
ated at H. C, 1775 ; admitted 1781 ; practised in 
Groton and Worcester. 

John Paine,' born in Sturbridge ; graduated at H. 
C, 1799. 

Timothy Paige. 

George G. Parker,' born in Ashburnham, 1800 ; 
graduated at Y. C. ; practised in Ashburnham. 

George G. Parker, born in Acton, 1826 ; graduated 
at U. C, 1852; admitted 1857; practised in Milford. 

Grenville Parker, r., born in Chelmsford ; admitted 
1860; practised in Lowell and Worcester. 

Henry L. Parker, born in Acton, 1833 ; graduated 
at D. C, 18.56; admitted 1859; practised in Milford 
and Worcester. 

Herbert Parker, born in Charlestown, 1856 ; attend- 
ed H. C. ; admitted 1882 ; practised in Worcester and 
Clinton. 

Frank Parsons, admitted 1881. 

George W. Parsons, born in Rochester, N. Y., 
1857 ; attended B. U. ; admitted 1880 ; practised in 
Worcester. 

G. Willis Paterson, admitted 1885. 

Isaac Patrick. 

Silas Paul,' graduated at D. C, 1793 ; practised in 
Leominster. 

H. B. Pearson,' admitted 1844; practised in Har- 
vard. 

Lucius D. Pierce,' born in Chesterfield, N. H., 
1819; graduated at N. U., 1846; admitted 1854; 
practised in Nashua, N. H., and Winchendon. 

Edward P. Pierce, born in Templeton, 1852; at- 
tended H. C. ; admitted 1878; practised in Fitchburg. 

Lafayette W. Pierce, born in Chesterfield, N. H., 
1826; graduated at N. U., 1846; admitted 1854; 
practised in Oxford, Westborough and Winchendon. 

Charles B. Perry, born in Leicester, 1858 ; admitted 
1884; practised in Worcester. 

William Perry,' born in Leominster, 1786; admitted 
1828 ; practised in Leominster. 

Luther Perry,' practised in Barre. 

Onslow Peters, r., born in Westborough, 1803 ; 
graduated at B. U., 1825; practised in Westborough. 

Alfred S. Pinkerton, born in Lancaster, Pa., 1856 ; 
admitted 1881 ; practised in Worcester. 

Francis Plunkett, born in Ireland, 1840 ; admitted 
1874 ; practised in Worcester. 

Thomas Pope,' born in Dudley, 1788 ; graduated at 
B. U., 1809; practised in Dudley. 

Burton W. Potter, born in Colesville, N. Y., 1843 ; 
admitted 1868 ; practised in Worcester. 

Wilbur H. Powers, admitted 1878. 

Calvin E. Pratt, r., born in Shrewsbury, 1827 ; ad- 
mitted 1853 ; practised in Worcester and New York. 

William Pratt,' born in Shrewsbury, 1806 ; gradu- 
ated at B. U., 1825 ; practised in Shrewsbury and 
Worcester. 



Ixxx 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



Joseph Prentice, r., admitted 1838 ; practised in 
Douglas. 

Addison Prentiss, boru in Paris, Me., 1814 ; prac- 
tised in Lee, Me., and Worcester. 

Ciiarles G. Prentiss,' born in Leominster, 1778; 
practised in Oxford and Worcester. 

Joseph Proctor,' graduated at D. C, 1791 ; prac- 
tised in Athol. 

James F. Purcell,' born in Weymouth, 1852 ; ad- 
mitted 1876 ; practised in Worcester. 

Arthur A. Putman, born in Danvers, 1832 ; admit- 
ted 1875; practised in Danvers, Blaclistone and Ux- 
bridge. 

George E. Putman, born in Fitchburg, 1853; grad- 
uated at M. U., 1875 ; admitted 1875 ; practi.sed in 
Fitchburg. 

James Putman,' born in Salem, 1725; graduated 
at H. C, 17-16 ; admitted 1748 ; practised in Wor- 
cester. 

Rufus Putnam,' born in Warren, 1788 ; graduated 
at W. C., 1804 ; practised in Rutland. 

Abraham G. Randall,' born in Manchester, 1804 ; 
graduated at H. C, 1826 ; admitted 1831 ; practised 
in Millbury and Worcester. 

Richard K. Randolph, Jr., admitted 1879. 

John B. Ratigan, born in Worcester, 1859 ; gradu- 
ated at H. Cr., 1879 ; admitted 1883 ; practised in 
AVoicester. 

Warren Rawson,' born in Mendon, 1777; gradu- 
ated at B. U., 1802; practised in Mendon. 

Louis W. Raymenton, r., born in Chester, Vt., 
1853; admitted 1879 ; practised in Minneapolis and 
Worcester. 

Edward T. Raymond, born in Worcester, 1844 ; 
admitted 1880; practised in Worcester. 

Charles M. Rice, born in Worcester, 1860; gradu- 
ated at H. C, 1882 ; admitted 1886 ; practised in 
Worcester. 

Henry C. Rice, born in Millbury, 1827; graduated 
at B. U., 1850 ; admitted 1852 ; practised in Wor- 
cester. 

Merrick Rice,' graduated at H. C, 1785 ; practised 
in Harvard and Lancaster. 

William W. Rice, born in Deerfield, 1826; gradu- 
ated at B. C, 1846; admitted 1854; practised in Wor- 
cester. 

Jairus Rich,' practised in Charlton. 

George W. Richardson,' born in Boston, 1808; grad- 
uated at H. C, 1829 ; admitted 1834; practised in 
Worcester. 

Artemas Rogers, r., practised in Fitchburg. 

Edward Rogers, r., practised in Webster and Chi- 
cago, 111. 

Henry M. Rogers, born in Ware, 1837 ; attended 
A. C. ; admitted 1883 ; practised in Worcester. 

Clarence B. Roote, born in Francestown, N. H., 
1853; graduated at W. C, 1876; admitted 1884; 
practised in Barre and Ware. 

Arthur P. Rugg, born in Sterling, 1862 ; graduated 



atA. C, 1883; admitted 1886; practised in Worces- 
ter. 

Charles M. Ruggles, born in Providence, R.I., 1836 ; 
admitted 1860; practised in Worcester. 

Timothy Ruggles,' born in Rochester, 1711 ; gradu- 
ated at H. C, 1782; admitted 1735; practised in 
Rochester, Sandwich and Hardwick. 

Stephen Salisbury,' born in Worcester, 1798 ; grad- 
uated at H. C, 1817 ; practised in Worcester. 

Stephen Salisbury, Jr., born in Worcester, 1835 ; 
graduated at H. C, 1856 ; admitted 1863 ; practised 
in Worcester. 

Simeon Saunderson,' admitted 1820 ; practised in 
Westminster and Athol. 

Edward B. Sawtell, born in Fitchburg, 1840 ; grad- 
uated at H. C, 1862 ; admitted 1871 ; practised in 
Fitchburg. 

Emory C. Sawyer, admitted 1875 ; practised in 
Warren. 

John S. Scammell, born in Bellingham, 1816 ; grad- 
uated at B. U. ; admitted 1840 ; practised in Milford. 

Livingston Scott, admitted 1886. 

William Sever,' graduated at H. C, 1778 ; practised 
in Rutland. 

John W. Sheehan, born in Millbury, 1866 ; attend- 
ed H. Cr. ; admitted 1888 ; practised in Worcester. 

John Shepley,' practised in Worcester. 

Jonas L. Sibley,' born in Sutton, 1791 ; graduated 
at B. U., 1813 ; practised in Sutton. 

Willis E. Sibley,' born in New Salem, 1857 ; admit- 
ted 1888 ; practised in Worcester. 

William F. Slocum, r., born in Tolland, 1822; ad- 
mitted 1846 ; practised in Grafton and Boston. 

Heury O. Smith, born in Leicester, 1839 ; gradu- 
ated at A. C, 1863 ; admitted 1866 ; practised in 
Worcester. 

Jonathan Smith,' born in Peterboro', N. H., 1842 ; 
graduated at D. C, 1871 ; admitted 1875 ; practised 
in Clinton. 

Jonathan Smith, born in Peterboro', N. H., 1842; 
graduated at D. C, 1871; admitted 1875; practised 
in Manchester, N. H., and Clinton. 

Moses Smith,' born in Rutland, 1777 ; admitted 
1802; practised in Lancaster. 

N. J. Smith, r., practised in Blackstone, Spencer 
and Aurora, 111. 

Sidney P. Smith, born in Princeton, 111., 1850 ; 
graduated at A. C, 1874 ; admitted 1883 ; practised 
in Chicago and Athol. 

William A. Smith, born in Leicester, 1824 ; gradu- 
ated at H. C, 1843 ; admitted 1846 ; practised in Wor- 
cester. 

Charles H. B. Snow,' born in Fitchburg, 1822; 
graduated at H. C, 1844 ; admitted 1847 ; practised 
in Fitchburg. 

Frederick W. Southwick, born in Blackstone, 1843; 
admitted 1868 ; practised in Worcester. 

William L. Southwick,' born in Mendon, 1827 ; ad- 
mitted 1849; practised in Hopkinton and Blackstone. 



THE BENCH AND BAR. 



Ixxxi 



Frank B. Spalter, born in Groton, 1845; admitted 
1871 ; practised in Wicliendoii. 

Clarence Spooner, r., admitted 1883. 

Edmund B. Sprague, r., attended H. C. ; admitted 
1880 ; practised in Worcester and Denver, Col. 

Franklin M. Sprague, r., born in East Douglas, 
1841 ; admitted 1870 ; practised in Worcester. 

.Tohn Sprague,' born in Rochester, 1740 ; graduated 
at H. C, 1765 ; admitted 1768 ; i)ractiscd in Newport, 
R. I., Keene, N. H., and Lancaster. 

Samuel J. Sprague,' graduated at H. C, 1799; prac- 
tised in Lancaster. 

Peleg Sprague,' born in Rochester ; graduated at 
D. C, 1783; admitted 1784; practised in Lancaster, 
Winchendon, Fitchburg, and Keene, N. H, 

Homer B. Sprague, r., born in Sutton, 1829; grad- 
uated at Y. C, 1852; admitted 1854; practised in 
Worcester and New Haven. 

William B. Sprout, born in Enfield, 1859; gradu- 
ated at A. C, 1883 ; admitted 1885 ; practised in 
Worcester. 

Hamilton B. Staples, born in IMendon, 1829 ; grad- 
uated at B. U., 1851 ; admitted 1854 ; jiractised iu 
Milford and Worcester. 

William Stearns,' born in Lunenburg; graduated 
at H. C, 1770 1 admitted 1776; practised in Wor- 
cester. 

Daniel Stearns,' l)orii in Fitchburg, 1881 ; gradu- 
ated at D. C, 1855 ; admitted 1859 ; practised in 
Fitchburg. 

Heman Stebbins,' burn in W. Springfield ; gradu- 
ated at Y. C, 1814 ; practised in Bniokfield. 

William Stedman,' born iu Caral)iidge, 1765 ; grad- 
uated at H. C, 1784; admitted 1787; practised in 
Lancaster, Charlton and Newburyport. 

Charles F. Stevens, born in Worcester, 1855; grad- 
uated at H. C, 1876; admitted 1878; practised in 
Worcester. 

Charles (4. Stevens, born iu Claremunl, N. H., 1821 ; 
graduated at D. C, 1840 ; admitted 1.S45 ; practised 
in Clinton. 

Isaac Stevens,' born in Wareham, 1792 ; admitted 
1821 ; practised in Middleboro' and Athol. 

James A. Stiles, born in Fitchburg, l>i55; gradu- 
ated at H. C, 1877 ; admitted 1880 ; practised in 
Fitchburg and Gardner. 

Amos W. Stockwell,' r., born in Sutton ; graduated 
at A. C, 1833; admitted 1837 ; practised in Worcester 
and Chicopee. 

John H. Stockwell,' born in Webster, 1838 ; admit- 
ted 1859; practised in Webster. 

Elijah B. Stoddard, born in Upton, 1826 ; gradu- 
ated at B. U., 1847; admitted 1849; practised in 
AVorcester. 

Henry D. Stone,' born iu Southbridge, 1820 ; grad- 
uated at A. C, 1844; admitted 1847 ; practised in 
Worcester and New Orleans. 

Isaac Story,' graduated at H. C, 1793 ; practised in 
Rutland and Sterling. 



Martin L. Stowe,' practised in Southboro' and 
Northboro'. 

Asa E. Stratton, born in Grafton, 1853 ; graduated 
at B. U., 1873; admitted 1875; practised in Fitch- 
burg. 

Ashbel Strong,' practised in F'itchburg. 

Simeon Strong,' graduated at Y. C, 1786 ; practised 
in Barre. 

Solomon Strong,' born iu Amherst, 1780 ; gradu- 
ated at W. C, 1798; practised in Athol, Lancaster 
and Westminster. 

John Stuart.' 

John E. Sullivan, born in Worcester, 1857 ; gradu- 
ated at H. Cr., 1877; admitted 1879; practised in 
Worcester. 

Bradford Sumner,' graduated at B. XJ., 1808 ; prac- 
tised in Brookfield, Leicester and Spencer. 

George Swan, born in Hubbardston, 1826 ; ad- 
mitted 1848; practised in Hubbardston and Wor- 
cester. 

Samuel Swan,' born iu Leicester, 1778; graduated 
at H. C, 1799 ; practised in Hubbardston and Oak- 
ham. 

Arthur M. Taft, born in Uxbridge, 185(1 ; admitted 
1882; practised in Worcester. 

Bezaleel Taft, Jr.,' born in Uxbridge, 1780 ; gradu- 
ated at H. C, 1804 ; jiractised at U.vbridge. 

George S. Taft,' born in Uxbridge, 1826 ; gradu- 
ated at B. U., 1848 ; admitted 1851 ; practised in Ux- 
bridge. 

George S. Taft, born in Uxbridge, 1859 ; graduated 
at B. U., 1882; admitted 1887; practised in Wor- 
cester. 

Jesse A. Taft, born in Jlendon, 1857; admitted 
1883; practised in Milford. 

William E. Tatum, admitted 1887. 

Ezra Taylor,' born in Southborough ; practised in 
Southborough. 

Marvin M. Taylor, born in Jefi'erson, N. Y., I860; 
admitted 1885 ; practised in Worcester. 

Adin Thayer,' born in Blackstone, 1828; admitted 
1854 ; practised in Worcester. 

Amasa Thayer,' graduated at H. C, 181(1 ; prac- 
tised in Brookfield. 

Francis N. Thayer, born in Blackstone; admitted 
1876 ; practised iu Blackstone. 

John R. Thayer, born in Douglas, 1845; graduated 
at Y. C, 1869 ; admitted 1871 ; practised in Worces- 
ter. 

Joseph Thayer,' born in Douglas, 1792; graduated 
at B. U., 1815 ; admitted 1818 ; practised in Ux- 
bridge. 

Webster Thayer, born in Blackstone, 1857; gradu- 
ated at D. C, 1880; admitted 1882; practised iu 
Worcester. 

Levi Thaxter, practised in Worcester. 

Benjamin F. Thomas,' born in Boston, 1813; grad- 
uated at B. U., 1830 ; admitted 1833 ; practised in 
Worcester and Boston. 



Ixxxii 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



E. Francis Thompson, born in Worcester, 1859; 
admitted 1884 ; practised in Worcester. 

Henry F. Thompson, born in Webster, 1859 ; at- 
tended W. C; admitted 1887 ; practised in Webster. 

Oliver H. Tillotson," born in Orford, N. H.; ad- 
mitted 1855; practised in Worcester. 

Seymour A. Tingier,' l)orn in Tolland ; graduated 
at W. C, 1855; admitted 1857; practised in Webster. 
Joseph A. Titus, born in Leicester, 1842; gradu- 
ated at A. C, 1863 ; admitted 1868 ; practised in 
Worcester. 

Paul P. Todd, r., born in Atkinson, N. H., 1819 ; 
graduated at D. C, 1842 ; admitted 1847; practised 
in Black.stone, Boston, St. Louis and New York. 

John Todd, r., practised in Westminster and Fitch- 
burg. 

Ebenezer Torrey," born in Franklin, 1801 ; gradu- 
ated at H. C, 1822 ; admitted 1825 ; practised in 
Fitchburg. 

George A. Torrey, r., born in Fitchburg, 1838; 
graduated at H. C, 1859 ; admitted 1861 ; practised 
in Fitchburg and Boston. 

Newton Tourti'lot, r., admitted 1S53; jiractised in 
Webster. 

William M. Towne,' r., born in t'harlton ; gradu- 
ated at A. C, 1825; admitted 1S2S; practised in Wor- 
cester. 

Louis K. Travis, r., born in HoUiston, 1852; ad- 
mitted 1875; practised in Westborougli. 

Joseph Trumbull, r., born in Worcester, 1828; ad- 
mitted 1849; practised in Worcester. 

George A. Tufts,' born in Dudley, 1797; graduated 
at H. C, 1818 ; admitted 1821 ; practised in Dudley. 
Stephen P. Twiss, r., born in Charlton, 1830; ad- 
mitted 1853; practised in Worcester and Kansas City. 
Benjamin 0. Tyler, r., practised in Winchendon. 
Nathan Tyler,' graduated at H. C, 1779; practised 
in Uxbridge. 

Nathan Tyler, Sr.,' practised in Uxbridge. 
Adin B. Underwood,' born in Milford, 1828 ; grad- 
ated at B. LT., 1849 ; admitted 1853 ; piactised in Mil- 
ford and Boston. 

F. H. TInderwood, r., practised in Webster. 
Jabez Upham,' born in Brookfield ; graduated at 
H. C, 1785; admitted 1788 ; practised in Sturbridge, 
Claremont, N. H., and Brookfield. 

Joshua Upham,' born in Brookfield, 1741 ; gradu- 
ated at H. C, 1763 ; admitted 1765 ; practised in 
Brookfield, Boston and New York. 

John L. Utley, r., born in Brimtield, 1S37; ad- 
mitted 1874 ; practised in Blackstone and Worcester. 
Samuel Utley, born in Chesterfield, 1843; admitted 
1867 ; practised in Worcester. 

Ernest H. Vaughn, boru in Greenwich, 1858 ; ad- 
mitted 1884; practised in Worcester. 

George F. Verry,' born in Mendon, 1826; admitted 
1851; practised in Worcester. 

Horace B. Verry, born in Saco, Me., 1843; admitted 
1864 ; practised in Worcester. 



Edward .T. Vose,' born in Augusta, Me., 1806; grad- 
uated at B. C, 1825 ; admitted 1828 ; practised in 
Worcester. 

Richard H. Vose,' graduated at B. C., 1822; prac- 
tised in Worcester. 

Charles Wads worth, r., practised iu Barre and Wor- 
cester. 

Lovell Walker,' born in Brookfield, 1768; gradu- 
ated at D. C, 1794; admitted 1801 ; practised in Tem- 
pleton and Leominster. 

Andrew H. Ward,' graduated at H. C, 1808; i)rac- 
tised in Shrewsbury. 

Nahnm Ward, born in Shrewsbury; admitted 1731 ; 
practised in Shrewsbury. 
J. C. B. Ward, r., practised in Athol. • 
Charles E. Ware, born in Fitchburg, 1853 ; gradu- 
ated at H. C, 1876; admitted 1879; practised in 
Fitchburg. 

Thornton K. Ware, born in Cambridge, 1823; grad- 
uated at H. C, 1842; admitted 1846; practised in 
Fitchburg. 

Emory Washburn,' born in Leicester, 1800 ; gradu- 
ated at W. C, 1817; admitted 1821; practised in 
Charlemont, Leicester, Worcester and Cambridge. 

John D. Washburn, born in Boston, 1833 ; gradu- 
ated at H. C, 1853; admitted 1856; practised in 
Worcester. 

Asa H. Waters,' born in Millbury, 1808; practised 
in Millbury. 

Paul B. Watson, r., born in Morristown,N. J., 1861 ; 
graduated at H. C, 1881; admitted 1885; practised 
in Boston. 

Francis Wayland, Jr., r., born in Providence, R. I., 
graduated at B. U., 1846 ; practised in Worcester and 
New Haven, Conn. 

Jared Weed,' born in New York, 1783; graduated 
atH. C, 1807; admitted 1810; practised in Peters- 
ham. 

Charles K. Wetherell,' born in Petersham, 1822; 
admitted 1844; practised in Petersham, Barre and 
Worcester. 

George A. Wetherell,' born in Oxford, 1825 ; grad- 
uated at Y. C, 1848; admitted 1851 ; practised in 
Worcester. 

John W. AVetherell, born in Oxford, 1820; gradu- 
ated at Y. C, 1844 ; admitted 1846 ; practised in 
Worcester. 

J. Allyn Weston, ' r., born in Duxbury ; graduated 
atH. C, 1846; admitted 1849; practised in Worcester 
and Blilford. 

Charles Wheaton,' r, born in Rhode Island, 1828 ; 
admitted 1851 ; practised in Worcester. 

George Wheaton,' graduated at H. C, 1814; prac- 
tised in Uxbridge. 

Henry S. Wheaton,' r., graduated at B. U., 1841 ; 
admitted 1844; practised in Dudley. 

Otis C. Wheeler,' born in Worcester, 1808 ; admitted 
1830; practised in Worcester. 
J. C. Fremont Wheelock, boru in Mendon, 1856 ; 



THE BENCH AND BAR. 



attended Y.C.; admitted 1883; practised in South- 
bridge. 

Peter Wheelock,' graduated at B. If., isll; prac- 
tised in Mendon. 

William J. Wliipple,' graduated at H. C, 1805; 
practised in Dudley. 

William C. White,' practised in Giafton, Rutland, 
Sutton and Worcester. 

William E, White, bora in Worcester, ISl!;^; ad- 
mitted 1887; practised in Worcester and Leominster. 

Solon Whiting, practised in Lancaster. 

Abel Whitney,' graduated at W. C, 1810 ; practised 
in Harvard. 

Giles H. Whitney,' born in Boston, 1818 ; graduated 
at H. C, 1837; admitted 1842; practised in West- 
minster, Templeton and Wincheudon. 

Milton Whitney,' r., born in Ashburnluun, 1823; 
admitted 184i); practised in Fitchburg and Balti- 
more, Md. 

Abel Willard,' born in Lancaster, 1732; graduated 
at H. C, 1752; practised in Lancaster. 

Calvin Willard,' born in Harvard, 1784 ; graduated 
at H. C. ; admitted 1800 ; practised in Barnstable, Pe- 
tersham and Fitchburg. 

Jacob Willard,' graduated at B. 1'., 1805; practised 
in Fitchburg. 

.loseph Willard,' r., born in Oamiiridge, 1798; 
graduated at H. C, 1816 ; admitted 1819 ; |iractised in 
Waltham and Lancaster. 

Levi Willard,' graduated at H.-C, 1775 ; practised 
in Lancaster. 

Elijah Williams,' graduated at H. ('., 1704; prac- 
tised in Deerfield and Mendon. 



Hartley Williams,' born in Somerset, Me., 1820; 
admitted 1850 ; practised in Worcester. 

James O. Williams,' born in New Bedford, 1827; 
graduated at H. C, 1849; admitted 1853 ; practised in 
Worcester and St. Louis, Mo. 

Lemuel Williams,' born in Dartmouth, 1782; grad- 
uated at B. U., 1804; admitted 1808; practised in 
New Bedford and Worcester. 

Lemuel S. Williams,' born in New Bedford, 1812; 
graduated at H. C, 1830 ; practised in Dedham and 
Westbo rough. 

William A. Williams, born in Hubbardston, 1820; 
admitted 1848; practised in Worcester. 

John Winslow,' graduated at B. U., 1795; practised 
in Northborough. 

G. R. M. Withington, born in Boston ; graduated at 
U. v., 1825; admitted 1829; practised in Boston and 
Lancaster. 

Charles W. Wood, born in Worcester, 1841 ; admitted 
1883 ; practised in Worcester. 

Harry Wood,' born in Grafton, 1838; practised in 
Grafton. 

Cortland Wood, r., born in Plainfield, Ct., 1850; 
graduated at Y. C, 1871 ; admitted 1873 ; practi-sed in 
Oxford. 

Joseph H. Wood, born in IMendon, 1853; admitted 
1877 ; practised in Milford. 

Nathaniel Wood,' born in Holden, 1797 ; graduated 
at H. C, 1821 ; practised in Fitchburg. 

Samuel F. Woods,' born in Barre, 1837 ; graduated 
at Y. C, 185(5; admitted 1858; practised in Barre. 

George M. Woodward, born in Worcester, 1838; 
admitted 18H0; practised in Worcester. 

James M. Woodbury, born in Templeton, 1819; 
admitted 1862; practised in Fitchburg. 



xQ^"^'- 



i>r 




clx J^^^^^'^K "^"-l^^lein ^ ^ A N K L I N 



r" 




H 1 S T O R V 



OF 



WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



TOWN HISTORIES. 



CHAPTER I. 
LANCASTER. 

BY HON. HENRY S. NOURSE. 

Tlie Nashawatjs and their Hume — King^s Pttrchase — The X<tsh<itvn>i Planters 
— Thf Town Grant — The Covenant — Land Attotmtnti — Death of Showa- 
non. 

At the time the Massachusetts Company were lay- 
ing the foundations of their settlements on the river 
Charles, there dwelt in the northeastern part of what 
is now Worcester County a small tribe of red men, 
generally known as the Nashaways. They were an 
independent clan, though evidently of the same origin 
and speaking the same tongue with the natives of the 
coast, and the Nipmucks, Quabaugs and River In- 
dians south and west of them. A close defensive al- 
liance bound together these Massachusetts tribes, and 
this bond was their only safeguard against the mur- 
derous incursions of the Mohegans and Mohawks, 
their traditional foes. 

Of the Nashaways there were three groups or vil- 
lages, — one at the eastern base of Mt. Wachusett, 
another at the Waahacum ponds, and a third about 
the meeting of the two branches of the river which 
the pioneers called "Penecook," but which is now 
known as the Nashua. By the custom of the period 
the location of a native village or planting-field gave 
name to those there resident, and we find these Indians 
called indiscriminately, by the English, Washaeums 
and Wachusetts, as well as Nashaways. They proudly 
cherished traditions of great former prowess and pros- 
1 



perity, but war and pestilence had greatly reduced 
their numbers before the coming of the white man, 
and in 1033 the small-pox swept away hundreds more, 
leaving but a comparatively enfeebled remnant be- 
hind; although they were even yet numerous enough 
to be styled "a great people" by Daniel Gookin. 

The sachem holding mild sway over the Nashaways 
was Showanon or Nashowanon, also called Sholan, 
Shaumauw.Shoniowand Nashacowam — for an Indian 
chief of repute always had sundry aliases, each, per- 
haps, indicative of some specially memorable deed or 
personal experience. His home was upon a plateau 
between the little lakes of Washacum, about which 
were clustered the wigwams of his central and largest 
village. He appears not infrequently in early colonial 
history and always greeting the white man with wel- 
coming words and generous hospitality. Finally the 
saintly Eliot joyfully proclaims that his personal min- 
istrations have won Sholan and many of his followers 
to the Christian fold. Before this the chieftain had 
made many English acquaintances in his visits to the 
Bay, and among them Thomas King, of Watertown, 
gained his special favor. He persuaded King to visit 
his domain, and made him generous offers of a land 
grant, desiring him to establish a trucking-house, 
where his people could exchange their peltry for 
much-coveted iron weapons, kettles, cloths, and the 
various novelties brought by the strangers from over 
the seas. 

The country of the Nashaways lay among lofty, 
smoothly-rounded hills, sloping gently down to broad 
meadows, through which coursed rivulets of pure, cool 

1 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



water; while numerous little lakes slept iu conceal- 
ment of the forest. It was a famous hunting-ground, 
prolific of deer, beaver, wild turkeys and small game. 
Occasionally the swan wandered hither from the Mer- 
rimack, and moose, elk, bears, wolves and wild-cats 
were sometimes met with. Samuel Maverick tells us 
also that the waters were noted for excellent salmon 
and trout. For the capture of the migratory shad and 
salmon on their return towards the ocean, the Indians 
had built a weir at the shallows in the main river, 
while the frequent falls and rapids in the branches 
afforded convenient spots for the successful plying of 
spear and net, when the fish were ascending in spawn- 
ing time. 

The hunters or traders of Concord and Sudbury, 
adventurous enough to push fifteen miles westward 
into the wilderness, found a feeble band of the Natick 
Indians living at Okommakameset (now Marlborough) 
and a little beyond could look over the summit of the 
lofty Wataquadock hills into the paradise of the 
Nashaways. The widely-extended view with its deli- 
cate hues varying with sun and season, which there 
met their gaze, is the same that attracts so many ad- 
mirers to-day; for even two hundred and fifty years of 
civilization cannot avail to mar, or add to, the grand 
features of so broad and varied a landscape. To the 
north the horizon is bounded by the picturesque 
mountain peaks of New Hampshire, blue or violet 
with distance. The shapely dome of Wachusett at 
the west dominate-i the scene, and, near at hand, little 
valleys creeping out from the shadows of the George 
and Wataquadock ranges of hills, join to form the 
broad, fertile intervales, dotted with hickory, syca- 
more and stately elms, which sweep northward, bear- 
ing the rivers towards the sea. All is gentle undula- 
tion, charming, restful — nothing awe-inspiring or 
grand, perhaps, certainly nothing precipitous or even 
abrupt — nothing suggestive of the ferocities of nature, 
save the sharp cone of Monadnock, dimly to be seen 
in the middle distance. 

Nor was the landscape then a " howling wilderness," 
gloomy with primeval forest and impassable coppice, 
as so generally it has been depicted in story; for in 
the vicinity of the Indian plantations, twice in the 
year the woods were purposely fired to free them of 
the brushwood that could hide a stealthy foe, or ob- 
struct pursuit of game. Therefore, in time, extensive 
areas came to wear a park-like appearance, resembling 
the similarly formed "oak-openings" of the West, 
everywhere passable, even for horsemen. The more 
fertile meadows, where not too wet, were swept bare 
of tree and underwood and clad in summer with a rank 
growth of coarse grasses, "some as high as the should- 
ers, so that a good mower may cut three loads in a 
day," as William Wood testified in 1634. 

At how early a date the pioneer pale-face first 
looked down from its southern barrier of hills upon 
Sholan's beautiful domain is not known. John Win- 
throp relates that the Watertown people began a set- 



tlement at Nashaway in 1643. Before that Thomas 
King had accepted the invitation of the sachem, and 
selected a location for a trading post on the sunny 
slope of George Hill, near the parting of two trails 
which led from the " wading-place" of Nashaway, 
westward to Wachusett, and southwesterly by Washa- 
cum to the land of the Quabaugs. King was a young 
man. of limited means, and had formed a partnership 
with Henry Symonds, a freeman, a capitalist, and an 
enterprising contractor, living near the head of what 
is now North Street, in Boston. By a little brook that 
came brawling down the divide over which the west- 
ern trail ran, the trucking-house was built, probably 
in 1642, certainly before the summer of 1643. Sy- 
monds, the moneyed partner, died in September of 
1643, and King survived him little more than a year. 
In the inventory of King's property there is no hint 
of any estate at Lancaster. This is confirmation of 
the statement made by Rev. Timothy Harrington in 
1753 — doubtless recording a tradition — that a company 
bought such proprietary rights at Nashaway as King 
had obtained by his bargain with Sholan. No deed 
of a sale is foun<l, but the price of the grant, as agreed 
upon with the Indians, was twelve pounds. The ter- 
ritory acquired was nominally ten miles long from 
south to north, by eight miles wide. It included a 
few families of Indians, dwelling about the rivers and 
ponds, though these, perhaps, joined the Washacum 
village, when, in 1663 and 1669, the warriors of the 
tribe were decimated in contest with the bloodthirsty 
Mohawks. A provision in Sholan's deed, however, 
restricted the purchasers and their successors from 
"molesting the Indians in their hunting, fishing, or 
usual planting places." Joint occupancy was the evi- 
dent intent of the conveyance. * 

The Nashaway Company, having signed a compact, 
at once began the assignment of home lots among 
themselves, and sought from the authorities legal 
sanction of their enterprise. Favorable response was 
made to their petition. May 29, 1644, and the names 
of the foremost undertakers thereafter appear from 
time to time in various records. They were chiefly 
from Boston and Watertown. At the head of the first 
list of the proposed planters found, stand the names 
of two graduates of Cambridge University, England — 
Nathaniel Norcross and Robert Childe. The former 
had been promised adequate settlement as pastor of 
the plantation, but growing impatient of delays in the 
gathering of his parish he soon departed for England, 
bearing the manuscript of the broken contract with 
him. Robert Childe was a scholar of varied learning. 
He had traveled in many lands, was a close observer, 
pretended to considerable knowledge of chemistry and 
metallurgy, was ambitions and restlessly energetic. 
He gave books to the infant college of Harvard, in- 
vested largely in the iron works at Lynn and Brain- 
tree, shipped from England vines, grafts of plums, and 
various seeds and plants to his intimate friend John 
Winthrop, Jr., and to all appearances wholly merited 



LANCASTER. 



the commendation of that Puritan unimpeachable, 
Hugh Peters, who wrote of him in June, 1645: "that 
honest man who will bee of exceeding great vsc if the 
Country know how to improue him, indeed he is very 
very vsefull. I pray let us not play tricks with such 
men by our jelousyes." 

But in that age toleration had no home on earth ; 
and why should Massachusetts be specially reproached 
because she oft'ered no asylum for original thinkers 
upon religious or political subjects? Jesuits and 
Quakers, rhapsodistsand philosophers, bedlamites and 
seers were alike crushed by the despotism of dogmas, 
— a despotism which now seems the more strange be- 
cause wearing the cloak of liberty. Vane, Vassal and 
later William Pynchon fled the country in disgust at 
the intolerance of the majority in power; Coggeshall 
and Coddington were spurned, to be esteemed a great 
gain in the colony of Rhode Island, and Childe, de- 
spite the warning afforded by the fate of such able but 
unseasonable reformers, and overestimating his own 
strength, began a crusade against the theocratic re- 
striction of suffrage to a select few. England was then 
shaken by the fierce contest for supremacy between 
Presbyterian and Independent. Childe and his fellow- 
agitators were probably feared, and perhaps justly, as 
being secret emissaries of Presbyterian ism, and Puri- 
tanism rudely and speedily thrust them out of the 
Commonwealth. Thus the Nashaway Company lost 
its master of arts. 

The third co-partner upon the list was also a noted 
personage in colonial history. Steven Day, a lock- 
smith by profession, had in 1639 set up at Harvard 
College the first English printing-press in America, 
and on it had printed the Book of Psalms in 1640. He 
wa9«a man of worthy aims and rare energy, but so 
lavish or improvident that his earnings and the sales 
of lands granted him by the General Court, in reward 
for his art, could not keep him out of debt. He was 
an ardent promoter of the company's interests, often 
traveling to Nashaway, and entertaining Indians and 
proposed planters at his Cambridge home. His neces- 
sities forced him to sell the lots first assigned to him, 
but a few years later he acquired another with a 
dwelling upon it — yet never resided there, and died in 
January, 1668, a journeyman at the press he had 
founded. He had long before forfeited his proprietary 
rights at Nashaway by his inability to improve, or pay 
tithe for, his allotments. 

Besides Day, four other workers in iron were prom- 
inent in the company : John Prescott, Harmon Gar- 
rett, John Hill and Joseph Jenkes. This fact, joined 
to the leadership of Childe, whose letters to Winthrop 
show him to have been enthusiastic in his estimate of 
the mineral wealth concealed in the New England 
hills, warrants the supposition that the inspiration of 
this proposed settlement, so far from tidal waters, was 
not alone the profitable trade in furs, but the expecta- 
tion of discovering valuable ores, and especially iron. 

Prescott was obviously from the first the soul of the 



undertaking, and ultimately, after one by one his 
original associates yielded to discouragements and 
abandoned him or died, lie alone, undismayed and 
equal to any emergency, with unbending will, hard 
common sense, and marvelous practical ability, 
fought the long battle with obstructive men and re- 
luctant nature, and won. Prescott was the founder 
of Lancaster, and there existed no rival claimant to 
that honor. Garrett, the blacksmith of Charlestown, 
though he expended some time and means in the 
earliest days of the plantation, and clung to his land- 
title for several years with the avowed intention of 
becoming a resident, finally drops out of sight. Hill, 
a Boston smith and a freeman of influence, business 
associate and neighbor of Henry Symonds, died July 
27, 1646. Joseph Jenkes was a prototype of the 
Yankee mechanical genius. A smith employed at the 
Lynn Iron Works, he was granted the first patent in 
America for a water-mill. May 16, 1646, and thence- 
forward proved himself a bold, ingenious and success- 
ful experimenter in the mechanic arts, being selected 
by the Assistant in 1652 to make dies for the pine- 
tree coinage of Massachusetts. He became too busy 
and prosperous to keep up his interest in the Nash- 
away scheme. 

The other co-partners disclosed by various petitions 
and records were: John Fisher, of Medfield; Ser- 
geant John Davis, a joiner of Boston ; John Chand- 
ler, of Boston ; Isaac Walker, a trader of Boston, who 
married the widow of Henry Symonds ; Thomas 
Skidmore, of Cambridge ; John Cowdall, a trader of 
Boston, who is found possessing the Symonds and 
King trucking-house after the death of the original 
owners; James Cutler, of Watertown, who married 
the widow of King ; Samuel Bitfield, a cooper of 
Boston ; Matthew Barnes, a miller and influential 
citizen of Braintree; John Shawe, a Boston butcher; 
Samuel Rayner, of Cambridge ; George Adams, a 
glover of Watertown. With the exception, perhaps, 
of Cowdall, Adams and Rayner, we have no proof 
that one of these men ever became actual residents at 
Nashaway, or took active steps to further its settle- 
ment after 1645. Chandler, Walker and Davis for 
some reason became actively hostile to the company's 
interests in 1647, as shown by the records of court, 
and Cowdall sold his land and improvements to 
Prescott the same year. Adams had his home-lot 
assigned him upon George Hill, but occupied it briefly, 
if at all. 

The first two years after the General Court's sanc- 
tion of the plantation saw little advance in the pre- 
parations for settlement. The first step taken by the 
associates was to send out fit pioneers to build houses, 
store provender for wintering cattle, enclose with 
paling a "night pasture," and prepare fields for grain. 
Richard Linton and his son-in-law, Lawrence Waters, 
a carpenter, and John Ball, all of Watertown, were 
employed and given house-lots. Linton and Waters 
built themselves houses upon lands assigned them 



HISTORY OP WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



near the wading-place in the North River, which 
were the first erected after the trucking-house. The 
covenant entered into by tlie proprietors with their 
minister contemplated the occupation of the valley 
during the summer of 1645. 

Prescott, who had a considerable estate in Water- 
town, sold it, and packing his household goods upon 
horses, set out with his family through the woods for 
their new home. At the very outset of the journey 
he met with serious misfortune. " He lost a horse 
and his lading in Sudbury River, and a week after, 
his wife and children being upon another horse, were 
hardly saved from drowning." This sad experience 
Governor Winthrop seriously records as a special prov- 
idence — divine punishment of the brave pioneer for 
his sympathy wilh that dangerous schismatic, Robert 
Childe ! The other proprietors seem to have been 
completely dismayed by this disaster to their leader, 
and forthwith — June 12, 164.5 — petitioned the author- 
ities to order this yawning chasm in their path to be 
bridged. There is no reason to think that they ex- 
aggerated the formidable nature of the crossing, for 
more than one hundred years later the bridge and 
causeway at the same place were complained of as 
dangerous and in time of freshets impassable, and 
lotteries were granted, the proceeds of which, amount- 
ing to over twelve hundred pounds, were expended 
upon them. The petitioners in 1045 declared it " an 
vtter Impossibilitye to proceede forwards to plante at 
the place aboue sayd [Nashaway] except we haue a 
conuenient way made for the transportation of our 
cattell and goods oner Sudbery River and Marsh." 
Two years before, a cart-bridge had been begun by 
the town's people, but left incomplete, and the swamp 
remained unimproved. The court contributed twenty 
pounds towards finishing the bridge and causeway, 
stipulating that they should be completed within a 
year. 

Whatever was done to render the way less perilous 
was done too late or too ineffectually to encourage 
Norcross or his parishioners, other than the indomit- 
able Prescott, to venture across it with their cattle 
and household goods, during either 1645 or 164(5; and 
by that time their patience or pluck wa.s exhausted, 
the surviving Boston members of the company were 
trying to have the grant rescinded to relieve them- 
selves of any responsibility incurred by their cove- | 
nant, and the minister had abandoned his parish. To ] 
the difficult task of obtaining planters to make good j 
so wholesale a defection, Prescott and Day seem to 
have devoted much time and energy with very mode- 
rate success. 

The plan of settlement contemplated two groups or 
double ranges of house-lots, in sight of each other, 
but about a mile apart, the North River and its inter- 
vales lying between. The trucking-house formed the 
starting-point of the western range; the eastern lay 
along the plateau, then (as now) called the Neck, be- 
tween the main or Penecook River and the North 



Branch. Prescott, who had chosen his first home-lot 
in the eastern range, covering the site of the present 
Lancaster House, sold it to Ralph Houghton and 
made his home at the trucking-house. Philip Knight, 
of Charlestown, built a house on the lot which he 
bought of Steven Day, adjoining Prescott's on the 
north, and upon the next two lots were John and 
Solomon Johnson, of Sudbury, a roadway separating 
their dwellings. Upon the south corner of Solomon 
Johnson's lot now stands the George Hill School- 
house. Thomas Sav/yer, a blacksmith of Rowley, 
married Mary, the daughter of Prescott, in 1647 or 
1648, and set up a home near his father-in-law, in a 
range of lots parallel to and south of those above 
named. Mrs. Sally Case's residence is nearly upon 
the site of the Sawyer house. These were probably 
the first five dwellings south of the North River. Wil- 
liam Kerley perhaps moved upon his house-lot in the 
upper range not much later, and Daniel Hudson, a 
brickmaker from Watertown, occupied John Moore's 
lot certainly as early as the spring of 1651. 

On the Neck side, Lawrence Waters sold his house 
to John Hall, whose wife Elizabeth occupied it, her 
husband going to England. Waters built himself a 
second house nearer the shallows in the river, a few 
rods west of the one sold. Ralph Houghton soon 
came up from Watertown and set up his roof-tree on 
the Neck. A petition of the inhabitants to the Gene- 
ral Court of May, 1652, asking township rights, states 
that there were already living at Nashaway " about 
nine farailyes." They must be selected from those 
already named. Before this date there had probably 
been ten white children born in the settlement: two 
to Prescott, five to Lawrence Waters, two to Sawyer, 
and one to Daniel Hudson. The answer to the peti- 
tion is the so-called Act of Incorporation of the 
Town of Lancaster. The first draft of the answer 
was passed upon by the deputies in May, 1652, and in 
this the name given to the town was Prescott, as had 
been requested by the petitioners, paying deserved 
honor to their generous, spirited and able leader. 

The naming of a town for its founder had then no 
precedent in New England. Not even a magistrate 
or Governor had been so greatly honored. Probably 
the assistants or executive refused thus to exalt a 
blacksmith who was no freeman, and had but recently 
taken the oath of fidelity. They may have recalled 
also his sympathy with the agitation by Childe. The 
name Prescott was promptly refused, and after further 
consideration the name West Towne was inserted in 
the answer. This title, entirely wanting appropriate- 
ness and' euphony, satisfied no one, and further dis- 
cussion carried the matter over another year. Pres- 
cott's force of character and liberality had won not 
only the admiration of his neighbors, but friendly 
interest in many and high quarters. He had proved 
very useful to Rev. John Eliot in his visits to the 
Indian tribes about and west of Nashaway. He had 
in 1648 been the pioneer of a "new way to Connecti- 



/ 



LANCASTER. 



cut by Nashaway, which avoided much of the hilly 
way," and which Governor Hopkins, of Connecticut, 
as well as the leading ministers interested in the work 
of converting the Indians, esteemed a public benefac- 
tion. When, therefore, the inhabitants, disappointed 
of their first choice, petitioned asking to borrow a 
title for the new town from the Englisli shire in which 
Prescott was born, the suggestion was adopted, and 
Lancaster began its legal existence May 18, 1653. It 
was the forty-fourth town chartered in the Common- 
wealth, and the tenth in Middlesex County. 

Three copies of the "Court's Grant" exist — one 
forming the first page of the town records, one an 
official copy by Secretary Rawson in Massachusetts 
Archives cxii. 54-55, and the original record of the 
court. They difier somewhat in orthography. That 
of the town records is as follows : 

COPPIE OF THE COURT'S GRANT. 

At a Gen'i' Court of Election held at Boston the 18"' of May 1053. 

1. In answer to the Peticon of the Inliabitunta of Nasliaway tlie Court 
finds according to a former order of the Gen'" Court in Anno H>47 no : 
95 : That tlie ordering and disposeing of the Phmtatiun at Nashaway is 
wholly in the Courts power. 

2. Considering that there is allredy at Nashaway about nine fTamiliee 
and that severall both freemen and othere intend to goo and setle tbt-rp 
borne whereof are named in this Petition tiie Court doth Grant them the 
libertie of a Townesliippand olhei-stbat hensfortli it shall In- called I-aii- 
caster. 

3. That the Bounds thereof shall be sett out according to a deede cf 
tlie Indian Sagamore, viz. Nashaway Riuer at the passing oner to be 
the Center, fivu* miles North fine miles south fine miles east and three 
miles west by such Comissiouei-s as the Courte shall appoint to see their 
Linea extended and their bounds limitted. 

4. That Edward Breck, Nathaniell Hadlocke, William Kerley, Thomaw 
Sayer, John Prescot and Ralph Houghton, or any foiire of them, whereof 
the maior Parte to be froenien to be for present the prndentiall men of 
ihe said Towno both to see all allottments to be laid out to the Planters 
in due proportion to theire estates and allso to order other Prudentiall 
afaires vntill it shall Appeare to this Court that the Place be so fai r 
seated with able men as the Court may Judg meet, to give them full 
liberties of a Towushipp according to Lawe. 

5. That all such Persons whoe haue possessed and Continued Inhabi- 
tants of Nashaway shall haue their Lofts formerly Laid out conlirmed 
to them provided they take the oath of fidellitie 

6. That Sudbery and Lancaster Layout highwaies betwixt Towne and 
Towne according to order of Court for the Countries vse and then re- 
paire them as neede slialbe 

7. The Court Orders That Lancaster shall be I'ated w"iin the County of 
Midlesex and the Towne hath Liberty to ciiooae a Constable. 

8. That the Inhabitants of Lancaster doe take care that a godly min- 
ester may bo nuiiiitained amongst them and that no evill persons Ene- 
mies to the Lawes of tliis Comonwealth in Judgment or Practi/.e be Ad- 
mitted as Inhabitants amongst them and none to haue Lotts Confirmed 
but such as take the oathe of fidellitie 

y. That allthough the first Undertakereand partnei-s in the Plantacon 
of Nashaway are wholy Kvacuafed of theire Claimes in Lotts there by 
order of this Courte yet that such persons of them whoe haue Expended 
eitlier Charge or Labor for the Benefitt of the place and haue heipped on 
the Pnblike workes there from time to time either in Contributing to 
the minestrie or in the Purchase from the Indians or any otber Publike 
worke, that such persons are to be Considered by the Towne either iu 
proportion of Land or some other way of satisfaction as may be Just and 
meete. Provided such Persons do make such theire expencea Cleorly 
Appeare within Twelue monethes after the end of this Sessions for such 
demandes and that the Interest of Harmon Garrett and such others as 
were first vndertakers or haue bin at Great Charges there shalbe made 
good to him them his or theire beires in all Allottments as to other the 
Inhabitiints in proportion to tlie Charges expended by him and such 
others aforesaid. Provided they make Improiiem' of such Allotmt-* by 
building and Planting w^'in three i-eares after they are or shalbe Laid 
out to them, otherwise theire Interest hereby Provided for to bee voyde, 



Aud all such Lands soe hereby Reserved to bethenclortli at the Townes 
Dispose : In further Answer to this Peticon the Court Judgeth it meete 
to Confirm the aboue mentioned Nine perticulers to the Inhabitants of 
Lancaster, and order that the bounds thereof be Laid out in proportion 
to eight miles square. 

Of the six prudential men, the first three only were 
freemeu, and the death of Hadlocke, in Oharlestown, 
very soon deprived them of a legal quorum, according 
to strict construction of the fifth article. In October, 
1653, however, they agreed upon a " covenant of laws 
and orders," which all who were accepted as citizens 
of the town were required to sign. As of the signa- 
tures to this, ten were dated a year before, it was un- 
doubtedly an obligation entered into by the earlier 
comers adopted by the new oflicials. This covenant 
served as a Constitution by which the internal econo- 
mies of the town were administered for very many 
years, and is therefore worthy to be given here in full, 
with the signatures, as found in the town records : 

I65i 18:8 m". The botul to hiu'le all comers. Memorandum, That wee 
whose Names are subscribed, vppon the Receiueingand acceptanc of our 
severall Lands, and Allottments w^h all ApiMirtinuuces thereof, from 
those men who are Chosen by the Generall Court to Lay out and dispose 
of the Lands within the Towne of Lanchaater heertofore Called by the 
name of Nashaway doe hereby Covenant »t bimle ourseluea our heirea 
Execut" it Assignes to the observing and keepeing of these orders and 
Agreementd hereafter mentioned and Expressed. 

Clmrch LtiHih. Rii'st ffor the maintainanc of the miin"stree of Gods holy 
word wee doe Allowe Covenant and Agree that there be laid out Stated 
and established, and we doe hereby estate and establish as Church Land 
with all the pritiilledgea aud Appurtiuancea therevnto belonging for 
ever, thirty acoi's of vppland and fortie acors of Entervale Land and 
twelue acora of meddowe with free Libertie of Commons for Pasture 
and fire wood, The said Lands to be improved by the Plantation or 
otht^rwise in such order as shalbe best Advised and Ctmcluded by the 
Plantation without Hent paying for the same, vntit the Labours of the 
Planters or tliose that doe improue the same, be ffidly aattisfied. And 
wee doe agree that the Plantation or Sellect men shall deternune the 
time, how Lunge every man shall hold and Improue the said Lands for 
the prortit thereof. And then to be Rented according to the yearly valine 
thereof and paid in to such persons as the Plantation or Sellectinen shall 
Appoynt to and for the vse of and towards the maintainanc of the mines- 
ter Pastor or Teacher for the time being, or whomesoever may bee stated 
to preach the word of God among vs : or it may be in the Choyce of the 
minester to improue the said Lands himselfe. 

Meeting house. And fturther wee doe Covenant and Agree to build a 
Convenient meetinghouse for the Publicpio Assembling of the Church 
and People of God, to worshipp God according to his holy ordinances in 
the most eaqual! aud Convenient place that maybe Advized and Con- 
cluded by the Plantation. 

Ministers home. And to Build a house tor the Minester viipon the said 
Church Land. 

/((>(t«e lotts til pfftj h\^ p anil in the minister. And ffiirthcr we doe Engage 
and Covenant every one for himselfe his heires Executors & Assignes to 
pay to and for the vse of the minestreeabouesaid the sumeof ten shillings 
a yeare as for and in Consideracon of o' home Lotts yearly forever, our 
home Lotts to stand Engaged for the payment thereof, and what all this 
shall fall short of a Competent maintainanc we Covenant to make vpp 
by an equall Rate vppon o'^ Goods, and other improved Lands (not home 
lots) in such way and order as the Country rate is Raised. And in case 
of vacansy of a minester the maintainanc Ariseing from the Church 
Land and home Lotts abouementioned, shalbe paid to such as ahalbe 
Appoynted for the uae of a scoole to be as a stock ; or aa stock towards 
the maintainanc of the minester, as the Plantation or Sellect men shall 
think meetest. 

To biiUd Inhabit d'C in a year or loose all and pn/j 5: "' And for the bet- 
ter Promoteing and seting forward of the Plantation wee Covenant and 
Agree, That such person or persons of vs who haue not inhabited this 
Plantation heretofore and are yett to come to build Improue and lu- 
habitt That we will (by the will of God) come vpp to build tu Plant land 
aud Inhabit at or before one whole yeare be passed next after o' agcept- 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



aDce of c AUottnients, or elc to Loose all our Charges about it, and our 
Lotts to Return to the Plantation, and to pay flue pounds for the vae of 
the Plantation. 

What Inhabitants not to be Admited. And for the Better. preserveing of 
the pnritie of Religion and oursehies from infection of Error we Cove- 
nant not to distribute Alluttineuts atid to Keeeiue into the Plantation as 
Inhabitants any exnoniinicat or otherwise prophane and scandalus 
(known so to bee) nor any notoriously erring against the Docktrin and 
Discipline of the Churches and the state and Governni^ of this Com 
onweale. 

to end all lU/renc by Arhitracon. And for the better preserveing ol 
peace and love, and yet to keepe the Rules of Justice and Equitie amoiige 
ourselues, we Coveuant not to goe to Lawo one with an other in ActioriM 
of Debt or Damages one towards an other either in name or state but tu 
end all such Controversies among oursehies by arbitration or otherwise 
except in cases Cappitall or Criniinall that sinn may not goe vnpuuisheil 
or that the mater beaboue our abillities to Judge of, and that it bee with 
the Consent of the Plantation or ScHect men thereof. 

To pat) lOa p Loll. And for the Laying out measureing and bounding of 
our Allottmeiits of this first Diuision and for and towards the Satisfieing 
of our Engageui'" to the Generall Court, to make payment for purchase 
of the Indians we Covenant to pay ten sliillings everyone of vs for our 
several! AUottni^, to the Sellect men or whome they may Appoynt to Re- 
ceive it. 

Equall Lotts first DiuUion, hi 2"d Diuitiom acord to Estates : And. whereas 
Lotta are Now Laid out for the the most part Equally to Rich and poorc, 
Partly to keepe the Towne from Scatering to farr. and partly out of 
Charitie and Respect to men of meaner estate, yet that Equallitie (which 
is the Rule of God) may he observed, we Covenant and Agree, That in 
a second Devition and so through all other Devitions of Land the mater 
shall be drawne as neere to equallitie according to mens estates as wee 
are able to doe. That be which hath now more then his e.state Deservelh 
in home Lotts and entervale Lotta shall haue so much Less: and he tliat 
hath now Less then his estate Deserveth shall bane so much more. And 
that wee may the better keepe due proportion we Covenant and agree 
thus to account of mens estates (viz) ten pounds a head for every person 
and all other goods by due valine, and to proportion to every ten pounds 
three acoi-s of Land two of vpland and one of Entervale and we giue a 
years Libertieto Euery man to bringe in his estate. 

Gifts free. Yet Nevertheless it is to he vnderstood That w* doe not 
hfeerehy preiudice or Barr the Phintation from Accomodateing any man 
by Gifift of Land (whidi proply are not AHottnit^:) but wee doe reserve 
that in the free Power of the Plantation as occatitm may hereafter be 
offered : And in Case The Phiutei-s estate be Lowe tliat he can elainie 
Nothing in other dilutions yet it is to be vndei-stood that he shall euioy 
all the Land of the first Devition. 

ill Ind JjeuUion. And further we Covenant That if any Planter do 
desire to haue hie proportion in the second devition it shalbe Granted. 

Rules fur Ptoporcun of Meddoim. And tfurther wee Covenant to lay 
out Meddow Lands according to thepreasent estates of the Planters/with 
respect to be had to Remoteness or Neereness, of that which is remote to 
giue the more and of that wch is neere to giue the Less, 

And Concerning the 30 acors of vppland and 40 acors of Entervale 
aboue Granted as Church Land. It is agreed and concluded to Lye 
hounded by John Prescotts Ditch vppon the South and the North Riuer 
over an ends [iinensl\ Lawrenc Waters vppon the North and so Rangeing 
allong westward. 

And for the Preventing of Inconveniences and the more peaceable 
Isuing of the business about building of a meeting house it is Considered 
and Concluded as the most equall place that the meeting house he 
builded as neere to the t.'hnrch Land and to the Neck of Land as It can 
bee without any notable inconveiiiencie. 

And it is allso agreed That in all partes and Quarters of the Towne 
where Sundry Lotts do Lie together they shalbe ffenced by a Coniiuon 
ffenc according to proportion of acors by every planter, And yett not to 
barr any man from perticuler and priuat Inidosure at his pleasure. 

This is a true (topple of tlie Lawes and erdere ffirst Enacted and made 
by those Appoynted and Inipowered by the Genrall Court as it is found 
in the old book. 

Tho(^e Names vt haue suusi-iurei) to these oanERS: 

I subscribe tc this for my selfe and for my soun 
Edwai-d Brek ! Kybert saue that it is agreed that we are not bound to 
Rob" Brek: i "^^'"^ ^PP ^o inhabit wt^in a years time in our owne 
persons: This is a true Coppie: 



Jn" Prescott. 
William Keiiy 
Thomas Sayer 

Ralph Haughton 

J 
Jn" Whitconili Seni"": ) 
, ,,,, .^ , , . )■ Subscribed 
Jn" Whitcomb Juui"^: I 

Richard Linton. I 

Jn° Johnson. 

Jeremiah Rogers j 

Jno Moore : Subscribed : lU^ : first mo : 

William Lewes : | 

Jn" Lewes. 

Th" : James : mark 2V^ 3 ni" : 1C53 

Edmund Pariier. "j 

Benianiine Twitchell ' Subscribed: 

Anthony Newton. 

Steephen I>ay ) Subscribed : 10"' : 1 m" : V'>M 

James Aderton j both of y™. 

Henry Kerly : 1 

Richard Smith. 

William Kerly Jn^^ ',- Subscribed 15 : 1 mo : IG53 

Jn" Smith. I 

Lawrenc Waters 

Jn" White: Subscribed- I'l" May 1053 

Ju'^lTaiTer: Subscribed : 21 ; Septemb'' 1653 

Jacob flarrer : Same date 

John Haughton ) ^ 

Samuel Deane 



These subscribed together the first 

.0 ; day: mo : 1G52 

i- Subscribed : 4"' : U m" : 1G54 
1(553 
.-Subscribed ; 13H> : 1 m" ; 1653 

D'' ; K ni" : 1G52 



Sub'i : same li-i ; 7 ni" : 1G53 



Subscribed : Aprill 3 : 1654 



James Draper. | 

Steephen Gates : Sen' : ("" 

James Whiting or Wittoii : Snbscri ; Api^n T"* : 1054 

Jn". Moore and 1 , „ .„_, n , ., . 

..-.,.. M3 : 2 mo : IR54 Subscribed 
Edward Kibbie j 

Jn" Mansfield : 13 : 2 ni" : 1G54 
Jno Towers : ] 

Richard Dwelly 
Henry Ward. 



Subscribed 18 : 2 ni'* : 1054 



>Sabscribpd 4"'; 7 m^: 16C4. 



Jno Peirce. 
William Billingl'' 
Richard Sutton : ap-^" 1653. 

] Subscribed the 12"" : 9 mo : 1654. and there is 
Thomas Jusliu granted to them botli 5U acres of vpland it Swamp 

Nathaniell Joslin together for theire home lotts and allso forty 

acors of Entervale. 



, I'iti': 12 



1654 



Joseph Rowlaudson: 



John Rugg : Subscribed, 

Subscribed 12^: 12 ni": 1G54 : and it is agreed 
by the Towne that he shall haue 20 accui*s of 
vpland & 40 acore of Entervale in the Night 
Pasture : 
Jn^Riggby: Subscribed 12""; 12"> m<» : 1654 and he is to haue 20 acors of 

vpland & ten acors of Entervale 
Ju" Roper: Subscribed 22 : l'"* mo": 1656 

All tiieae before mentioned are subscribed & Iheire names Entered ac- 
cording to theire Severall Dates in the old Book & Coppied i)er Jn" 
Tinker Clerk 

Jn" Tinker Subscribed y« first of ffebb* ; 1G57. 
Mordica Maclode his ■ murk set 1 march it's? 
Jonas J'uirbaitks : Subscribed the T^b : 2 m"» : 1^§& 

Jonasffaiibanks 
A'oyei- i^Kiuner subscribed the : 

Roger Sumner 
Gainalidl Beinand Subscribed : 
Gamaliell tt Bemaiid 
his marke 
r/*"»H(H U'//<rWfr; Subscribed the l'*" July 1659 
TlionuiB Wyellder 

Duniell Gainer Subscribed the tenth day of march 1^-5? 

1 6 tS 
Daniel Gaiens 

Twelve of these fifty-five signers — Twitchell, New- 
tou, Deane, Draper, Whiting, Mansfield, Towers, 



11«' of Aprill: 16Vj. 
the Slth; of may 105y 



LANCASTER. 



Dsvelly, Ward, Peirce, Billings and Sutton — never 
became residents, and were not recognized in land 
allotments. Steven Day and Robert Breck re- 
ceived house-lots, but never occupied them. Kibbie 
was probably a resident for a brief time, but re- 
ceived no lands. Philip Knight, though one of the 
earliest householders, seems not to have signed, and 
removed. Elizabeth Hall went to her husband in 
England, selling his house and lot to Richard 
Smith. Cowdall and Solomon Johnson had sold out 
to Prescott and Day, and Ball returned to Water- 
town. 

The organization of the corporation being thus 
complete, the townsmen diligently applied them- 
selves to securing the most obvious necessities for 
comfortable living as a Christian community. Cow- 
dall's deed of 1647 informs us that Linton and 
Waters had raised corn upon the fifty-acre intervale 
lot lying southerly from the present Atlierton 
Bridge before that year, and the deep, rich soil 
guaranteed a sufficient yield of grain for the plant- 
ers and their cattle; but there was no mill nearer 
than that at Sudbury. Prescott had already been 
taking some steps to sup[)ly this prime need of 
the town. He had at least chosen the site and bar- 
gained with a millwright, as is shown by the formal 
contract made between him and the town November 
20, 1653. Six months later his grist-mill was at 
work. 

The assignment of home and intervale lots also 
engaged the attention of the prudential men in No- 
vember. The allotments which had been made by 
Prescott, Day and others in the infancy of the 
plantation, and subsequent purchases based upon 
them, were confirmed. Actual settlers were given 
in the established ranges of lots twenty acres each 
of upland for a dwelling-place and twenty acres of 
intervale for planting. 

Lancaster has often been called a Watertown 
colony because John Winthrop so styled it in 1643. 
But of the fifty-five who signed the covenant, 
twelve were from Dorchester, six were of Sudbury, 
six of Hingham and five each from Roxbury and 
Watertown. The others came from eight or ten dif- 
ferent localities. The most prominent of the Dor- 
chester colonists was the first prudential man named 
in the incorporating act, Edward Breck. He had 
been one of the selectmen of Dorchester for several 
years, and upon his ability and experience great de- 
pendence was placed by the Lancaster men. He 
built a house near the wading-place of Penecook, 
and retained his land, but lived here only for a brief 
period. His continued absence and the death of 
Hadlocke seriously obstructed the conduct of the 
town's prudential affairs, and early in 1654, there be- 
ing about twenty families in the town, the majority 
petitioned that they might be relieved from their 
probationary condition, and allowed full liberties of 
a town according to law, electing their officers and 



transacting business by legal town-meetings. There 
were then but four resident freemen : William 
Kerly, Thomas Rowlandson, Thomas Sawyer and 
William Lewis; but the petition was granted, and 
Lieutenant Edward Goodnow, of Sudbury, and 
Thomas Dan forth, of Cambridge, were at the same 
time deputed to lay out the bounds of the town's 
grant, a duty they never found time to perform. 

For the needs of the pioneer the meadows, as nat- 
ural grass lands were called, came next in value to 
the house-lot and planting-field, and a first division 
of these open tracts wherever found in the town 
limits was agreed upon — four acres to be set to each 
one hundred pounds of estate. During the year 
1654 the first legal town-meetings were held. At 
the earliest " the plantacion upon legall warning as- 
sembled ;'' formally confirmed the recorded acts of the 
prudential men appointed by the General Court the 
year before, some of these, as has been noted, not be- 
ing strictly in conformity with requirements of law. 
At another town-meeting it was voted " that there 
should not be taken into the Towne above the num- 
ber of thirty-five families." The greed of land 
was strong, but this short-sighted restriction had but 
a brief life. In the same territory over three thou- 
sand families now find "ample room and verge 
enough." 

During the autumn of this year the Christian 
Sagamore Showanon died. Reverends John Eliot 
and Increase Nowell were at once sent to Washacum 
by the court, to prevail if possible, with the Indians, 
to elect Matthew, nephew of the dead sachem, as 
his successor. They were successful. There seems 
to have been some reason to fear that the choice 
might fall upon another chief, also in the line of 
succession, whose drunken habits and dislike of the 
colonists made his accession to power much dreaded. 
Thus far the friendly relations between the English- 
men and the Nashaways seem to have been in no 
way strained. The very rare mention of the tribe in 
the town annals goes to prove that no quarrels or 
grave jealousies interrupted friendly feeling. More- 
j over, Eliot gratefully records Showanon's loving hos- 
} pitality, and the generous care he showed in protect- 
ing him with a body-guard on his journeying to the 
interior. He once complains that the Indian wizards 
or " powows " had not been wholly silenced ; but all 
Christendom then believed in the reality of demo- 
niacal possession, and little more than a year had 
passed since Margaret Jones, the witch, had been si- 
lenced by hanging in Charlestown. The unregener- 
ate, credulous children of the forest feared sorcery, 
just as did their enlightened neighbors, only they had 
not learned the refinements of the English methods 
of dealing with sorcerers. When they found that 
drugs were far more efficacious- to relieve pain and 
sickness than charms and juggling tricks, powowing 
lost its hold upon their credulity. 

Standing off at this historic distance, the position 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



of Sholan and his people living on terms of friendly 
intimacy with the adventurous pioneers whom they 
had invited to share the beautiful land of their in- 
heritance, glows with only pleasing and romantic 
hues. 



CHAPTER II. 

LANCASTER— (ro«/'/««<-n'). 

The Firnt MiiiUter — Arhityntimi — Commminttt^s Appohifed to Direct Tmcn 
AJfairs— The First Highiiui/s — Noijes^ Snrvey~llijiaJf€K-tio>i of the ln- 
ditNis—Mouoco^sIiaid — Jiimcs QHanapnugs Fidelity — The Destnictioti 
of Lancaster. 

The years 1653 and 1654 saw the addition of seven 
families to the town, those of Thomas and Nathaniel 
Josliu, John Rugg, John Rigby, John Moore, Sr., 
Stephen Gates and Thomas Rowlandson. The year 
1654 was also graced by the coming of their chosen 
pastor, Master Joseph Rowlandson, of Ipswich. His 
signature to the covenant is dated February 12, 
1654, and he, perhaps, did not begin preaching be- 
fore that time, although he had been listed among 
the townsmen the March previous. Other ministers 
had doubtless been solicited to the charge after the 
disappearance of Norcross, but a church in the wil- 
derness, with its little group of poor immigrants, had 
small attractions for men of education, unless they 
were largely endowed with the missionary spirit. 
We find, therefore, the first clergyman called to 
Lancaster a youth of twenty-two years, fresh from 
Harvard College, the lone graduate of 1652; one, 
moreover, but recently escaped from a whipping- 
post and penance for a collegiate prank — the pen- 
ning and posting upon Ipswich Meeting-House of a 
doggerel satire, which the civil authorities dignified 
as a "scandalous libell.'' Master Rowlandson seems 
at once to have won the respect and love of those 
among whom he had cast his lot, and to have as- 
serted his own dignity and that of the church ; for 
the saucy maiden, Mary (iates, who contradicted him 
in public assembly, and the ageil reprobate, Kdmund 
Parker, who wouldu't sit under the dropjnngs of the 
sanctuary, were alike speedily humbled and subjected 
to ecclesiastical and civil discipline. His father and 
mother came to Lancaster with him, but before two 
years had passed he was married to Mary, the 
daughter of John White, then the richest of his 
parishioners. A parsonage had been built in a cen- 
tral position between the two villages. The meeting- 
house was not yet raised, but the site had been 
already chosen, about twenty rods southeast of the 
parsonage, on the highest ground in the present Mid- 
dle Cemetery. A long narrow knoll, a little to the 
east of the meeting-house site, was set apart for a 
burial-place. 

The prudential men elect soon found the ordering 



of the town's aftiiirs to be neither an easy nor a 
pleasant task. Although the divisions of land were 
governed so far as possible by casting lots, they gave 
rise to some bickering, and various questions arose 
about which the managers themselves seriously 
differed. The Kerly family began to display their 
characteristic firmness in their owij opinions. The 
salary of Master Rowlandson became a knotty subject 
of debate. Plainly there was occasion to make trial 
of the arbitration provided for in the covenant. 
Major Simon Willard, of Concord, Captain Edward 
Johnson, of Woburn, and Edmund Rice, of Sudbury, 
being summoned as arbitrators in April, 1656, by their 
"determinacions " settled twenty-four mooted points. 
The minister's salary was fixed at fifty pounds a year, 
and as in a rural community without money, church 
tithes must be paid chiefly in products of the land, 
wheat as a commercial standard was to be reckoned at 
sixpence per bushel less than the price at the Bay, and 
other grain in the same proportion. 

Stephen Gates had been chosen the first constable, 
an ofiice of larger dignity and more varied duties than 
now appertain to it. He neglected to notify the four 
freemen at the proper time to send in their votes for 
nomination of the magistrates, was fined, and bis 
black staff of office passed to Prescott. 

Ralph Houghton was nominated the first clerk of 
the writs, and confirmed by the County Court in 
October, 1656. He was an able penman, and thence- 
forward methodical reconU of the town's transactions 
were faithfully kept by him during twenty years. 
John Roper, a much esteemed addition, was accepted 
a townsman this year, and given the home-lot origin- 
ally Solomon Johnson's. In 1656 also the first county 
road, that to Concord, was laid out. 

Another petition from Lancaster this year demanded 
the attention of the court. Out of the thirty heads 
of families there were but five freemen in all, and two 
of these were disabled by years. The law requiring 
that in any action by selectmen the " major part " should 
be freemen, it followed that Kerly, Lewis and Sawyer 
by necessity could control all such action. Two of 
these, at least, being men of stubborn character, their 
opinions doubtless sometimes traversed those of more 
able and wiser citizens, or denied the just demands of 
the majority. The only remedies were, to transact all 
business details by formal town-meetings — which, " by 
reason of many inconveniences and incumbrances,'' 
was not to be thought of — to obtain more freemen, or 
to petition to be relegated to the care of commissioners. 
The town " by a general vote " petitioned for the last, 
and May 6, 1657, Major Simon Willard, Captain 
Edward Johnson and Thomas Danforth, three of the 
ablest men in the commonwealth, were ajipointed 
commissioners, and empowered "to order the afaires 
of the said Lancaster, and to heare and determine 
their seurall diffrences and gricuances which ol)struct 
the present and future good of the towne, standing in 
power till they bee able to make returne to the Genrall 



LANCASTER. 



Court that the towne is sufisiantly able to order its 
owne affaires according to Law." 

The first meeting of this august board of advisers 
was held at the house of John Prescott, in September, 
and found abundant matter requiring their adjudica- 
tion. By this date Lancaster had won a valuable 
accession in the person of Master John Tinker, who 
had purchased of Richard Smith the house originally 
built by Waters, and also the Knight house upon 
George Hill. Tinker, who had been a resident of 
Groton for a short time before coming to Lancaster, 
was a freeman of education and clerkly ability. He 
had bought the monopoly of the fur trade of Lancaster 
and Groton for the year 1657, paying eight pounds for 
it. A gift of land called Gibson's Hill — upon the east 
end of which now stands the mansion of the late 
Nathaniel Thayer — was made to Master Tinker by the 
town at this time, and indicates that there was mate- 
rial reason for his change of residence. The com- 
missioners appointed John Tinker, William Kerly, 
John Prescott, Ralph Houghton and Thomas Sawyer 
selectmen, and instructed them in part as follows : 

2. Encnnujt master RowUimhon. That the said Selecttnion take Care, 
for the due encuraginent of master" Rowlandson who now Labnureth 
amongst them in the niiuistrie of gods holy word, And alsoe that tliey 
take carp for erecting a meeting house, pound and etokes. And that 
they see to tlie Laying out of towne and Countrie liigh waies ami the 
towne bounds, and the making and executing of all such orders and by 
Lawes as may be for the Comon good of the plac (i e) respecting Corne 
feilds, medowes, Oomon pastnrag Land, fences, herding of Catell ami 
restraint of damage by swine and for the recouring of thos fines and 
fortitiires that are due to the towne from snch psones as haue taken vp 
land and not fullfilled the Oondicions of theire respectine grants wherby 
the Comon good of the Plantacionbath beene and yett is much obstructed. 

3. Patjm(. of towne debts. That they take Care for the payment of all 
towne debts and for that end they are herby impowred to make such 
Ijevies or rate from time to time, as they shall see needfuH for the dis- 
charge of the Comon Charges of the towne, And in Case any of the 
inhabitance shall refuse or neglect to niak due payment both for fjuaiity 
and quantitie upon resonable demand, they may then Levie the sfime by 
distresse, And are impowered alsoe to take 2^ raor and aboue such fine or 
Rate as is due to bee paid for the satisfacion vnto your oficer that taketh 
the distress for his paines theirin. 

4. manor of asesineitls. That in all their asesments, all Lands apro- 
priated, (Land giuen for addittions excepted) shall bee valued in manor 
following (i e) home Lotts the vnbroken att 20^ p accor and the broken 
vp at thirtie slnllings by the accor the entervaile the broken at fowertie 
shillings the accor and the vnbroken at thirtie shillings the accor, and 
medow Land att thirtie shillings, and in all rates to the ministrie The 
Iiome Ijotts to pay tonn shillings p ann. according to the towne order. 
And tliis order to Continue for fine yeares next ensuing. Alsoe that the 
selectmen tiikspesiall Care for the preserning and safe keeping the townes 
Records. And if they see it need full, that they pcure the same to bee 
writon out fairly into a new booke, to be keept for the good of twsterit}', 
the charge wherof to bee borne by the pprietors of the said Lands 
respectiuely. 

5. none freed from Itots vnlcss they i-elinqmsh vnder hind. That noe 
man be freed from the Rates of any Land granted him in pprietie eccept 
he mak a release and full resignation theirof vnder his hand, And doe 
alsoe relinquish and surender vp to the vse of the towne, his home Lott 
Intervaile and medow, all or none. 

6. accnmndacoHS for 5 or 6 : he Left before 2 dinision. That their be 
accomodacioos of Land reserued for the meet encuragment of fine or six 
able men to com and inhabit in the said place (i e) as may bee helpfull 
to the encuragment of the worke of god their, and the Comon good of 
the place. And that no second deuision be Laid out vnto any man vntil 
those Lotts bee sett apte for that vse ; by the selectmen, that is to say 
home Lotts entervaile and medow. 

7. master Rowlandsons deed of gift. The Comisioners doe Judg meet 



to Confirme the deed of gift made by the towne vnto master Rowlandson 
(i e) of a boiise and Land which was sett a part for the vse of the minis- 
trie bering date 1*-^ tjtii nion 1657 vpon Coudicion that master Rowlandson 
renioue not his habitacion from the said place for the space of three yeare 
next ensning, vnlesse the said inhabitance shall consent theirto, And the 
OomisioDers aproue theirof. 

jiwilht agU inmntes. That none be entertained into the towne as in- 
mates, tenants, or otherwise to inhal>it within the bounds of the said 
towne, without tlie Consent of the selectmen or the maior pte of them, 
first had and obtained, and entered In the record of the towne as their 
act, vpon penalty of twenty shillings p month both to the pson that shall 
floe offend by intruding himselfe, And alsoe to the pson that shall ofeud 
in receiuing or entertaining such peon into the towne. 

PiUKihthj'ii <{■ vodts. And that noe other pson or psones whatsoeuer 
whalbe adniited to the Inioymeut of the priualedges of the place and 
towueshipp. Either in accomodaccions vots elections or disposalles of 
any of the Comon priualedges and interests theirof, saue only such as 
hane beene first orderly admited and accepted (as aforesaid) to the enioy- 
ment theirof. 

The order against entertaining strangers is, of course, 
an echo of Governor Winthrop's order of court passed 
in 1637, which was so unpopular at the time that its 
author felt called upon to publi.sh an elaborate defence 
of so obvious an infringement of the people's rights. 
John Tinker inaugurated a more systematic method 
of recording the town's business, first copying into a 
new book the contents of the "Old Town Book." The 
selectmen during 1657 and 1658 ordered that all high- 
ways, whether town or county, should be amply re- 
corded for the information of posterity, and the way- 
marks be annually repaired. All lands granted with 
butts or bounds were ordered recorded by the town 
clerk, for which special fees were to be paid him. The 
valuable registry of lands in four large volumes, be- 
ginning in 1657 and ending with the last division of 
common land in 1836, is the fruit of this order. Mor- 
decai McLeod, a Scotchman, was admitted to citizen- 
ship. A letter was sent to Major Willard inviting 
him to make his residence in Lancaster, with certain 
proposals " concerning accomodacions,'' which proved 
sufiBciently attractive to be promptly accepted.. The 
selectmen ordered that the inhabitants on the Neck 
should build a cart-bridge over the North Kiver near 
Goodman Waters' house, and that those living south 
of that river should build a similar bridge over the 
Nashaway at the wading-place. These bridges were 
completed that year, and stood, the first a few rods 
above the present Sprague bridge, the other at or near 
the site of the present Atherton bridge. The existing 
highways were duly recorded as follows : 

Cuutrie way. One way for the Cuntrie Lyeth : from the entranc in 
to the towne on the east pte from Wataquadocke hill, downe to the 
Swann Swanipe, and oner the wading place through Penicooke riuer : 
that is by the Indian warre [weir] and soe along by master Rowlandsous 
ground and the riuer and againe vp to goodnian Waters his barne be- 
tweene old goodman Breckes lott and that which was Richard Smithes 
now in the posesslon of John Tinker. To bee as it is staked out, att the 
Least fine Rods wide, on the neck, and to be as wide as can be on the 
cast side of the riuer vnder tenn Rods and aboue fine, and soe from good- 
man AVaterses ouer the north riuer, vp by m:i8ter Rowlandsons the 
breadth as is Laid out and fenced and marked and staked up to goodman 
Prescotts Ry feild and soe betweeue that and John mores lott and Crosse 
the brook and vpp betweene John Johnsons and Joliu Ropers Lotts fine 
Rods wide ; And soe beyond all the Lotts into tlie woods. 

Way to quasapoidkin medow. one way : from goodman Waterees barne 



10 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



fo qiiapaponikin medowes before the houses of goodman patee and both 
goorliiian .loslliiis Ac : as it is laid out and marked : flue rods wide and in 
the enteruaille 2 rods wide. 

To qttnsap'^nik-in hilt, one way: from goodman Breckee house tlirougli 
the end of his ground, and Ralph Iloughtons James Athertons goodman 
"Whites and goodman Leweises &c, to quasaponikin hill fine Rods wide. 

To thti Juill. one way to the mill att the heads of the liOtts of J(din 
Prescolt Thomas Sawyer .facob ffarer &c flue Rods wide from the Cuntrie 
hjghw.iy to the mill. 

Stmrt ill ;/e sfriith ntd oj t/e towHe. one way Called the Street or Cross 
way : from goodman Kerleyes entervaile and the rest of the entervailc 
Lotta: And soe south beetweene the double rang of Lotts: fine Rods wide 
and soetowards wiishaoome when it is past Jacob ffarers Lott : And alsoe 
Itt runes the siime wiiltiess betweene the house Lotts and entervaile lotts 
northward to the wallnut swampe : 

from the Ciitilric hujjnvny to ye entervoije of J" : Prespoll toe to Wata- 
quadoke. one way from the mill way att the end of goodman Prescotts 
Ry feeild, to the Entrance of his entervaile flue Rods wide. And through 
the entervailes oner Nashaway Rinerand the Still riuers, to the outsid 
fenc, of Jacob ffarers Lott, two Rods and half wide. 

Wojf to tJie plum trees A grotcn. Oneway; from that entervaile way 
downe along all the entervailes to the Still riuer and towards groten on 
the east side of the riuer two rods wide. 

With the exception of the last, which was removed 
to higher land, these ways are all in use to-day, with 
a few local alterations of line and a general contrac- 
tion in width. 

The minister's maintenance was no small burden 
upon his little flock, so few and so poor, and there 
was evidently much, dilatoriness and uncertainty in 
the payment of the stipend. Suddenly, in 1658, it 
was noised about through the settlement that Master 
Rowlandson was about to accept an invitation to the 
church in Billerica. The selectmen at once visited 
him to learn if the report were true, and became con- 
vinced of his determination to go. Twelve days later 
the messengers from Billerica came " to fetch Master 
Rowlandson away." The people assembled, and unan- 
imously voted to invite him " to abide and settle 
amongst them in the worke of the ministrie," and to 
allow him " flftie pounds a yeare, one halfe in wheat, 
sixpence in the bushell vnder the Curant prises at 
Boston and Charlstowne, and the rest in other good 
curant pay in like proporcion, or otherwise fiftie and 
fine pounds a yeare, taking his pay att such rats as 
the prises of Come are sett eurie yeare by the Court." 
The meeting also confirmed the deed of house and 
land which had been made in his favor the preceding 
August. Mr. Rowlandson accepted the invitation 
upon the terms propo.sed. The first house for public 
worship was completed this year, if not earlier. All 
previous meetings of the selectmen had been at pri- 
vate dwellings, but that of June 22, 1658, was "at the 
meeting-house." 

Thus far in the town's history houses must have 
been constructed of logs or hewn timber, stone and 
clay. Prescott's saw-mill was in operation early in 
1659, after which more commodious framed structures 
doubtless began to appear. It having been found im- 
possible to obtain the services of either of the sur- 
veyors designated by tlie court to lay out the bounds 
of the town, consent was given for the employment of 
Ensign Thomas Noyes, of Sudbury, a return of whose 
survey is as follows : 



April *J*^, le.'SO In obedience to the order of the honoured generall 
Court to the now inhabitants of lancaster layd out y« bounds of lancaster 
accordinge to the sayd grants, wee bogane at the wading place of nassua 
riuer and rune a lline three rnille vpon a west north w«6t poynt one 
degree westerly, and from the end of y three mill we rune two perpen- 
dicular lines beinge flue mills in length each line, the one line runing 
north north est one degree northerly, the other line running south south 
west one degree southerly wee made right angis at the ends of the ten 
mille line, runing two perpendicular lines, runningo both of tliem vpon 
an east south east poynt on degree osterly, one of the sayd lines beinge 
the north line wee did rune it eight mill in length the other being the 
sonth line, wee did rune it six mill and a halfe in length and ther meet- 
ing w'*i the niidell of the line, which is the line of the plantation granted 
to the petition" of Sudbury whos plantation is called Whipsuffrage and 
so runinge their line four mill wanting thre score perches to the end of 
their line at the nor west Angle of Whipsuffrage plantation and from the 
jiayd angle of Whipsufrage runing six mille and three quarters ther 
meeting with y fore sayd east end of the eight mile line and soe period 
all the sayd lines and hounds of lancaster which sayd grants rune eighty 
square milles of land 

this by mo Tjiomas Noyes 

The deputyes approue of this returno. our Honof*^ Alagist" consenting 
hereto. 14 October 1672. William Torrey, Cleric. 

The magist" consent thereto prouided afarmeof amilesquare 640 acres, 
be Layd out w'tiin this bounds for the countrys vso in such place as is not 
already Appropriated toan.v — their brethren the deputyes hereto consent- 
ing. And that Major Willard, Ralph Houghton & Jno Prescot see it 
donne. 

Consented to by yo deputies Edwd Rawson Secretary 

18 , 8 . 72 William TqnnEY, Cleric. 

Why the report was not approved until thirteen 
years after the actual survey, and six years after the 
death of the surveyor, does not appear in records. 
Neither is there further allusion anywhere found to the 
mile appropriated for the State, and the provision was 
perhaps disregarded at first and finally overlooked. 
The measurements of the survey were made with the 
liberal allowance usual at that time in laying out town 
grants, and can hardly be explained by the allowance 
for swag of chain and irregularity of ground, that 
being customarily only about one rod in thirty. The 
ten-mile line of Noyes was, by modern methods of 
.survey, over eleven miles in length, and the other di- 
mensions were proportionably generous. The method 
of defining the limits of a purchase from the Indians, 
by distances and courses from a central point, was not 
unique. Major Simon Willard, in bargaining for 
Concord in 1636, " poynting to the four quarters of 
the world, declared that they had bought three miles 
from that place east, west, north and south, and the 
s"* Indians manifested their free consent thereto." So 
Sholan and the white men probably stood, in 1642, at 
the wading-place of the Nashaway, which was very 
near the bridge known as Atherton's, and agreed 
upon the transfer of a tract of land five miles north- 
erly, five miles southerly, five miles easterly and three 
miles to the westward. John Prescott, ""who was per- 
haps present at the time of purchase, and certainly 
the only one of the first proprietors now resident in 
the town, and acquainted with the exact terras of the 
compact, accompanied Noyes to see that the mutual 
intention of grantor and grantees was satisfied. It is 
to be presumed that the three-mile base-line was run 
twenty-three and one-half degrees north of a true east 
and west course, to accord with Prescott's knowledge 



LANCASTER. 



11 



of that intent. In running the southern boundary 
Noyes came upon the north line of the WhipsufTerage 
plantation, wiiieh had been settled by court grant and 
laid out the year before. He could not therefore com- 
plete the rectangle called for by Sholan's deed, but 
added a sufficient triangle on the east to make up for 
that cut off by this IMarlborough grant. The original 



■Ln TiEiOi 




JeCB 2BS6 
"nOYSS" SURyey" I6S9. 

"rue MILE" 

"NEW GF(ANT" SURVEY 17/1 

TOWN u/MfTS /see. 



territory of Lancaster was therefore an irregular pen- 
tagon containing, by Noyes' record of survey, eighty 
and two-tenths square miles, but actually embracing 
not far from one hundred. 

The extent of their magnificent realm and its ca- 
pacity for human support seems to have dawned upon 
the town after the viewing of their boundaries, for this 
year the restriction of families to thirty-five was re- 
scinded, and a new policy declared that "soe many in- 
habitants bee admitted as may be meetly accommo- 
dated, provided they are such as are acceptable." 

From his letters it may fairly be inferred that Master 
Tinker was neither by physical constitution nor tastes 
well adapted to the rough life of the pioneers, and this, 
added to the fact that his ambition and abilities natur- 
ally demanded a larger sphere for their exercise, de- 
prived Lancaster of his services. In June, 1659, he 
had removed to New London, Ct., and died three years 
later, when on the high road to wealth and political 
preferment. There were accepted as citizens during 
the year before. Major Simon Willard, Jonas Fair- 
banks, Roger Sumner, Gamaliel Beman, Thomas Wil- 



der and Daniel Gaiens. Wilder was at once appointed 
selectman in place of John Tinker, bought the lot 
next north of the trucking-house and there resided 
for the rest of his life. He came from Charlestown. 
Roger Sumner was of Dorchester, and was, like Wilder, 
a freeman. He had, in 1056, married Mary, the daugh- 
ter of Thomas Joslin. He seems to have been the 
first deacon in the Lancaster Church, although but 
twenty-eight years of age; being dismissed from the 
Dorchester congregation August 26, 1660, " that with 
other Christians at Lancaster a Church might be begun 
there." At this date doubtless Mr. Rowlandson waa 
ordained — though no record of such fact is found — 
and the church thus formally organized. Beman also 
came from Dorchester, bringing a large family. Both 
he and Sumner were assigned home-lots upon the 
Neck. Jonas Fairbanks, of Dedham, and Lydia Pres- 
cott, the youngest daughter of John, were the first 
couple whose marriage was solemnized within the 
limits of Lancaster, the ceremony being performed by 
John Tinker by authority of special license. They 
set up their roof-tree upon the next lot south of Pres- 
cott's on George Hill, now owned by Jonas Goss. 
Daniel Gaiens, so far as is known, brought no family 
with him. He waa assigned a house-lot between Rugg 
and Kerly in the George Hill range. 

Major Willard .succeeded to the greater portion of 
Tinker's Lancaster land rights, and occupied the house 
before often mentioned as the first built in the town. 
Its site is in the garden of Caleb T. Symmes. Whether 
the major rebuilt or enlarged the dwelling which had 
been occupied successively by Waters, Hall, Smith 
and Tinker is not told, but the Willard home must 
have been of ample proportions to fill the needs of his 
natural and enforced hospitality as a magistrate, and 
also furnish the suitable accommodations for a garri- 
son and military headquarters. That it was a substan- 
tial structure, largely of brick or stone, we know from 
the fact that at its abandonment in 1676 it was partially 
blown up, which means would not have been used 
if fire alone could have effected its destruction. It was 
probably surrounded by a stockade, being the chief 
garrison. Here Major Willard lived for about thir- 
teen years, often called from home for public duty, 
now in Council, now in " Keeping County Courts," now 
in exercise of his military office. 

The three commissioners continued to appoint select- 
men until, in March, 16(J4, the town legally assembled 
confirmed all that had been done and recorded in past 
years, and elected Major Willard, John Prescott, 
Thomas Wilder, John Roper and Ralph Houghton 
selectmen, empowering them "to order all the jiru- 
dencial af'airs of the towne only they are not to dispose 
of lands." This action of the people was accompanied 
with a request to the commissioners to ratify their 
doings and allow them thereafter the full liberty of a 
town, to which they gladly consented. The General 
Court did not formally discharge the commissioners, 
however, until May 7, 1072. 



12 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



For several years the town's aftairs apparently moved 
on in very quiet fashion. Lancaster had become a 
vigorous, healthful community, with as much indi- 
viduality as the jealously paternal nature of the colo- 
nial government would jiermit. The few scant records 
of town-meetings tell only of the harmonious and com- 
monplace, for under the discreet leadership of Major 
Willard and Prescott the contentious and the busy- 
bodies were soon silenced. That a minority existed 
who led unedifying lives in the midst of the children 
of grace is now and then disclosed by the Middlesex 
County Court records, but seldom were the sins of 
these such as would call for any court's attention now- 
adays. 

A sermon-scorner, Edmund Parker, who lived 
squalidly in a hovel, was arraigned, convicted and ad- 
monished "for neglect of God's public worship;" 
Daniel James was presented before the grand jury 
"for living from under family government;" John 
Adams was summoned to answer "for lying and false 
dealing;" William Lincorne "for forcing of himselfe 
into the towne as an Inhabitant," contrary to law, was 
warned out and had his goods attached to secure the 
fine. Nothing more criminal than these examples ap- 
pears. It may be deemed rather complimentary than 
otherwise that the town was once presented for not 
having stocks ; it had no use for them. 

January 2, 1671, Cyprian Stevens married Mary, 
the daughter of Simon Willard, and the next year is 
found in possession of the " Houseings, Barns, Sta- 
bles, Orchards, Lands, Entervales, meadow lying and 
being in Lancaster," lately the property of his father- 
in-law, who had removed to his Nonaicoiacus Farm, 
then within the bou nds of Groton. 

No record of the town's doings between 1671 and 
1717 are found, save in the register of the proprietors' 
divisions of common land. This lamentable gap in 
the manuscript annals of the town is by tradition 
attributed to the loss of a volume of records by fire. 
Whatever church records may have existed prior to 
the pastorate of Rev. John Prentice, in 1708, have 
likewise disappeared. The facts of the town's history 
for this period of ibrty-six years must be chiefly 
gleaned from county and State archives. 

Daniel Gookiu, writing the year previous to the 
breaking out of war with the Wampanoags, says the 
Nashaways had become reduced by disease and battle 
with the Mohawks to fifteen or sixteen families ; that 
is, to less than two hundred men, women and children. 
Matthew, the Englishmen's friend, was dead, and his 
nephew, the treacherous Sam, alias Shoshanim, alias 
Upchattuck, reigned in his place. The tribe was not 
only few in numbers, but sadly degenerate. In fact, 
the average savage was always a dirty loafer, often 
besotted, who would not work so long as he could 
beg or live upon the toil of the women of his wigwam. 
The tidy English housewife shuddered whenever she 
saw one entering her kitchen. His habits were 
repulsive, his presence unsavory, his appetite insa- 



tiate. He was quick to take offence, and never forgot 
an injury or slight. 

The Nashaways at first stood in great awe of the 
white men as superior beings ; feared their far-reach- 
ing muskets; hoped for their protection against the 
predatory Mohawks, and craved the hatchets, knives 
and other skilled handiwork of the smiths, and the 
cloths, kettles, fish-hooks and gewgaws of their traders- 
In Sholan's day the strangers were few and gracious, 
brought with them valued arts, and were much to be 
desired as neighbors. But familiarity cast out awe 
and was fatal to mutual respect. The younger war- 
riors, after a time, began to look askance at the 
increasing power, encroachments and meddlesome- 
ness of the English, and the planters made little con- 
cealment of their contempt for the communists of the 
forest. When, in 1663, the Mohawks made a san- 
guinary raid into Central Massachusetts, the white 
men stood aloof, offering no aid to the children of the 
soil against the marauders. When again, in 1069, the 
Nashaways, Nipmucks and other Massachusetts tribes 
combined in an expedition to wreak vengeance upon 
their life-long foes, the English proffered no assist- 
ance. This species of neighborliness was not likely 
to be forgotten by the defeated warriors. Most of the 
braves now possessed guns and had learned to use 
them with more or less skill. 

So early as 1653, George Adams, who lived at Wa- 
tertown, but claimed proprietorship in Lancaster, was 
convicted of selling guns and strong waters to Indians, 
and, having nothing to satisfy the law, was ordered to 
be severely whipped the next lecture day at Boston. 
When a valuable otter or beaver skin could be got in 
exchange for two or three quarts of cheap rum, the 
temptation was too great for Adams, and he was per- 
haps neither poorer nor less honest than other traders. 
Even John Tinker broke the law, by his own confes- 
sion. The red men had not learned the white man's 
art of transmuting grain into intoxicating drink, but 
they had quickly acquired the taste for rum, and like 
wilful children indulged their appetites without 
restraint when opportunity offered. 

Then, as now, there were stringent laws restrictive 
and prohibitory respecting the sale of strong drink. 
Then, as now, these laws were evaded everywhere and 
constantly. Then two sure roads to financial pros- 
perity were the keeping of a dram-shop and buying 
furs of Indians. What with the refusal to aid against 
the Mohawks, the peddling of rum, the greed of the 
peltry-buyers, and the nagging of proselyting preach- 
ers and laymen — very few of whom possessed a tithe 
of the prudence and willingness to make haste slowly 
which characterized the Apostle Eliot — it is hardly to 
be accounted strange that degenerate sagamores, 
succeeding the generous Sholan and Matthew, fol- 
lowed their savage instincts ; and that a harvest of 
blood followed where folly had planted. 

Early in June, 1675, before the actual breaking out 
of hostilities between the colonists and the Wampa- 



LANCASTER. 



13 



noags, it was suspected that Philip had solicited the 
assistance of the Nipmucks, and agents were sent to 
discover their intentions. The Nashaways were ap- 
parently not distrusted. The agents were deceived, 
and returned with renewed pledges of friendship from 
the older chiefs. A shrewder messenger, Ephraim 
Curtis, familiar with Indian wiles, in July came from 
a similar mission, bringing news that startled the 
Governor and Council from their fancied security. 
The inland clans were already mustering for war, and 
with them were Shoshanim and Monoco, leading the 
Nashaways. The Council promptly sent a mounted 
troop to treat with the savages, or if needful to " en- 
deavor to reduce them by force of arms." Counting, 
in their foolish self-confidence, one trooper equal to 
ten Indians, this platoon, which should have been a 
battalion, invited ambush and met disastrous defeat 
at Menameset, August 2d. Major Willard, at the head 
of less than fifty men, set out from Lancaster on the 
morning of August 4th, under instructions from the 
Council "to look after some Indians to the westward 
of Lancaster," probably the Nashaways. While on 
the march, news came to him that Brookfield was 
beleaguered, and he hastened to the rescue, re-enforc- 
ing the besieged garrison the same night. In that 
quarter he remained until September 8th, five or six 
companies arriving from the Bay to join his command. 
Lancaster and Groton were thus stripped of their 
natural defenders, and wily foes recognized the 
opportunity. 

The Nashaways, led by their two bloodthirsty and 
cunning sachems, Sam and One-eyed John — who was 
also known as Monoco and Apequinash — had been 
conspicuous in the Brookfield fight. On the 15th 
of August, in the evening, Captain Mosley with a 
company of sixty dragoons arrived at Lancaster, 
having been sent thither by Major Willard to pursue 
a band of savages, reported to be skulking in the 
woods about the frontier settlements. On the 16tb 
Mosley started out in search of the enemy, but their 
chief, Monoco, intimately acquainted with all the 
region around, warily avoided the troopers, got into 
their rear, and on August 22d made a bloody raid upon 
Lancaster. Daniel Gookin says that twenty of Philip's 
warriors were with Monoco, and this is plausible, for 
Philip, who came into the camp of the Quabaugs with 
the small remnant of his tribe the day after the siege 
of Brookfield was raised by Major Willard, there met 
the one-eyed sachem and gave him a generous present 
of wampum. From that time Philip seems to have 
been no more seen in battle, and if his men fought at 
all, it must have been under other leaders. 

Monoco gave no quarter. The foray was made in 
the afternoon of Sunday. The house of Mordecai 
McLeod, which was the northernmost in the town 
situated somewhere near the North Village Cemetery, 
was burned, and McLeod with his wife and two 
children were murdered. The same day three other 
men were slain, and a day or two after a fourth, all 



of whom were mangled in a barbarous manner. Two 
of these victims, George Bennett and Jacob Farrar, 
Jr., were heads of Lancaster families; the others, 
William Flagg and Joseph Wheeler, were probably 
soldiers detailed for service here from Watertown and 
Concord. This massacre was but the prelude to a 
more terrible tragedy, the most sanguinary episode in 
Lancaster history. 

Over thirty years had passed since the building of 
the first dwelling in the Nashua Valley. There had 
been one hundred and eighty-one recorded births in 
the town, and, including the recent murders by the 
savages, there had been but fifty-eight deaths. Ten 
of the oldest planters had died in Lancaster and five 
elsewhere: Thomas Rowlandson, Thomas James, 
Thomas Joslin, John Whitcomb, Stephen Gates, 
John Tinker, Edward Breck, Richard Linton, Thomas 
Wilder, Steven Day, Philip Knight, John Smith, 
William Kerly, William Lewis, John White. The 
sons, as they reached manhood, had usually sought 
wives among their neighbors' daughters, built homes 
on the paternal acres, and their families grew apace. 
John Prescott could number thirty-five grandchil- 
dren, nearly all living in sight of the old trucking, 
house. With its two mills, its skilled mechanics, its 
spinning-wheels buzzing in every cottage, the town 
was independent of the world. Its nearest neighbors 
were Groton and Marlborough, ten miles away. 
Numerous barns and granaries attested the farmers' 
prosperity. Cattle, horses, sheep, swine and poultry 
had multiplied exceedingly. Time and thrift had 
increased domestic comforts. Frame houses, in 
which the windows, though small, were glazed, had 
succeeded the gloomy log-cabins. Orchards had 
come into bearing and yielded bountifully. All 
kinds of grain flourished. Wheat was received for 
taxes at six shillings the bushel, corn at three shil- 
lings six pence, and apples were sold at a .shilling 
per bushel. Potatoes were unknown until fifty years 
later, but of most other vegetables, and especially of 
peas, beans and turnips, large crops were raised. 

The dwellings, as at first, were mainly in two scat- 
tered groups of about equal numbers, one occupying 
the Neck, the other extending along the slope of 
George Hill. But Prescott with two of his sons now 
lived near his grist and saw-mills, a mile to the south, 
the "mill-path" leading thither. John Moore and 
James Butler had built upon Wataqnadock. Several 
of the houses were more or less fortified, being fur- 
nished with flankers or surrounded with a stockade. 
Of those known were: Prescott's, at the mills ; Rich- 
ard Wheeler's, in South Lancaster ; Thomas Saw- 
yer's, not far north from the house of Sally Case, his 
descendant ; Rev. Joseph Rowlandson's and Cyprian 
Stevens'. It is supposed that a few soldiers from 
the older towns were distributed among these garri- 
sons. 

The Christian Indians, despite the flagrant abuse 
with which they were treated after the breaking out 



14 



HISTORY OP W0R0E3TER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



of war, generally proved faithful to the English, and 
their services as scouts were invaluable. Among 
these none deserves better to be honored in Lancas- 
ter story than James Wiser, alias Quanapaug or 
Quanapohit, whose courage and fidelity would have 
saved the town from the massacre of 1676, had not 
his timely warning been unwisely discredited by the 
apparently lethargic Governor and his slumberous 
Council. 

Quanapaug was a Nashaway, for he owned lands at 
Washacum in 1670. He was so noted for his brave 
conduct in the contests between the English and the 
Wampanoags, when he .served as captain of the Chris- 
tian Indians, that Philip hail given orders to his lieu- 
tenants that he must be shown no mercy if captured. 
Governor Leveret h.aving ordered that scouts should 
be sent out to ascertain something of the numbers, 
condition and plans of the foe. Major Gookin selected 
James Quanapaug and Job Kattenanit for this peril- 
ous enterprise, and these two men, carrying a little 
" parcht meal " for sustenance and armed only with 
knives and hatchets, made the terrible journey of 
eighty miles upon snow-shoes to the Indians' camp 
at Menameset, setting out from Cambridge December 
30th. They were greatly mistrusted and their lives 
threatened by some of the Indians; but fortunately 
James found a powerful friend in Monoco, who re- 
spected him as a brave comrade in the Mohawk War, 
and took him into his own wigwam. But James 
knew that his every motion was watched by suspi- 
cious enemies, and that even Monoco's protection 
might be powerless in the presence of Philip, who 
was expected soon. Finding that a meeting with 
that dangerous per.sonage was inevitable if he de- 
layed longer, and having effected the main purpose of 
his errand, he escaped by stratagem, and on the 24th 
of January, 1676, brought to the Massachusetts au- 
thorities full information respecting the hostile camp, 
and especially the intentions of the sagamores ; Mo- 
noco declaring that "they would fall upon Lancaster, 
Groton, Marlborough, Sudbury and Medfield, and 
that the first thing they would do should be to cut 
down Lancaster bridge, so to hinder their flight and 
assistance coming to them, and that they intended to 
fall upon them in about twenty days from Wednesday 
last." 

It can scarcely be believed, but the result proves 
that no heed was paid to this seasonable warning; 
no steps were taken to ward oft' the coming blow. A 
body of troops, who had been in pursuit of the flee- 
ing Narragansetts not far from Marlborough, had, 
less than a week before, because of a lack of provi- 
sions, been withdrawn to Boston instead of being 
uaed to garrison the threatened towns. Even the 
chief military ofiicer of the State, Daniel Gookin, 
afterwards confessed that the report of Quanapaug 
" was not then credited as it .should have been, and 
consequently no so good means used to prevent it, or 
at least to have lain in ambushments for the enemy." 



The fact is, little energy or skill of generalship was 
shown then or afterwards, and the savages wreaked 
their vengeance in due time upon all the towns 
named according to Monoco's programme. 

Meanwhile some premonition of the approaching 
tempest reached the valley of the Nashua, and in 
fear and discouragement the people wrought at such 
defences as were possible. The outlying houses were 
abandoned or visited only by day. The chief mili- 
tary officer, Henry Kerly, the minister and perhaps 
some of the other prominent citizens finally went to 
Boston to beg for additional soldiers. In their ab- 
sence the storm burst upon the devoted town. About 
ten o'clock at night of the 9th of February, Job 
Kattenanit reached the door of Major Gookin in 
Cambridge, half dead with fatigue, He had left his 
wife and children in the hostile camp at New Brain- 
tree, and traveled night and day to notify his Eng- 
lish friends of their imminent peril. He confirmed 
every word that his fellow-spy, Quanapaug, had 
told. On the morrow Lancaster was to be a.esaulted, 
and Job had seen the war-party of " about 400 " start 
out upon their bloody errand. 

Shortly after the attack upon the Narragansett 
fort, December 19th, the remnant of that tribe, of 
which about five hundred were reputed "stout war- 
riors," abandoned their homes. Lute in January 
they joined the Quabaugs and Nashaways in their 
winter-quarters. The snow lay deep in the woods 
and the weather had been of unwonted severity, but 
before the close of the month a thaw suddenly swept 
away the snow, and the country became again passa- 
ble. Philip, with his feeble following, seems to have 
lost that importance as a military leader which 
tradition has persisted in attributing to him, and had 
become at best only an artful political general ; mali- 
ciously instigating animosities, but never appearing 
in the fight, and often overruled in council. Quana- 
paug reported the fighting men at Menameset to be 
" the Nipmuk Indians, the Quabaug Indians, the 
Pacachooge Indians, the Weshakum and Niishaway 
Indians.'' The accession of the Narragansetts more 
than doubled the force, and a part of them partici- 
pated in the raid upon Lancaster, which was led by 
Shoshanim and Monoco, of Nashaway, Muttaump, of 
Quabaug, Quinnapin, a Narragansett sachem, bro- 
ther-in-law of Philip, and probably Pakashoag and 
Matoonas, of the Nipmucks. The unqualified state- 
ment made by Rev. Timothy Harrington, in his 
Century Sermon, that Philip was present at the 
burning of Lancaster with fifteen hundred men, it 
must be said, wholly lacks the support of any con- 
temporary authority. Sewall in his diary speaks of 
Maliompe (alias of Muttaump) as "the general at 
Lancaster;" and some slight deference may have 
been paid to that sachem by the others to ensure 
concert of action ; but Sagamore Sam and Monoco 
doubtless planned the attack. From his prominence 
in the subsequent correspondence with the authorities 



LANCASTER. 



15 



and the price set upon his head, it is evident that in 
popular estimation, Shoshanini was at least second 
devil, Philip being first. 

Awakened to the emergency. Major Gookin has- 
tened to consult with his neighbor, Thomas Danforth, 
a member of the Council, and a post-rider was at 
once despatched to order what soldiers there were 
stationed at Concord and Marlborough to the aid of 
Lancaster. About forty men, the company of Cap- 
tain Wadsworth, were on duty at the latter place. 
Upon the arrival of the messenger at break of 
day, Tliursday, February lOth, this little force, under 
their gallant commander, marched immediately for 
Lancaster Bridge, ten miles distant. They reached it 
to find the planks removed so as effectually to prevent 
the passage of horsemen — the river being unfordable 
at that season ; but the troopers did not arrive to be 
of assistance. Captain Wadsworth forced his way 
over, and, avoiding an ambush laid on the main 
road, safely marched by another route to the garri- 
son-house of Cyprian Stevens, near the North Bridge, 
and f)nly a ritle-shot distant from the minister's. 

The assault of the savages was made at sunrise, 
and simultaneously in five places. The people were 
nearly all in shelter of the feebly fortified garrison- 
houses. John Ball, who had for some reason re- 
mained in his owu dwelling, was butchered together 
with his wife and an infant; and two older children 
were carried away captive. Though the position of 
Ball's house is not exactly known, it was probably on 
the George Hill range. At John Prescott's, his 
grandson, Ephraim Sawyer, was killed. Of the gar- 
rison of RicharcTWheeler, which was in South Lan- 
caster, five were slain : Richard Wheeler, Jonas Fair- 
banks, Joshua Fairbanks, Henry Farrar and another 
unknown. The first three were shot by Indians, who 
climbed upon the roof of the barn and could thence 
fire down over the palisades. The other two were 
waylaid while out of the garrison upon some errand. 

But the chief slaughter was at the central garrison, 
that of the minister. For about two hours the sav- 
ages beset this house in overwhelming numbers, 
pouring bullets upon it " like hail," and wounding 
several of its defenders, among whom was the com- 
mander. Ensign John Divoll. Unfortunately there 
was no stockade about the house and its rear iianker 
was unfinished and useless. The besiegers were 
therefore able, without much exposure, to push a 
cart loaded with flax and hemp from the barn, up 
against a lean-to in the rear, and fire it. One heroic 
man rushed out and extinguished the kindling 
flames ; but a renewal of the attempt succeeded, and 
soon the inmates of the burning house had to choose 
between death by fire and the merciless rage of the 
yelling demons that stood in wait for them without. 
There were forty-two persons in the dwelling accord- 
ing to the best contemporary authorities, of whom 
twelve were men. By some marvel of daring or 
speed or strategy, Ephraim Roper burst through the 



horde of savages and escaped. Eleven men were 
killed, and the women and children that survived 
this day of horrors were dragged away captive. 

We gather our knowledge of the incidents of the 
massacre and captivity mostly from the pious narra- 
tive of Mrs. Rowlandson, first printed in 1682. No 
literary work of its period in America can boast equal 
evidence of enduring popular favor with this of a 
comparatively uneducated Lancaster woman; and 
very few books in any age or tongue have been hon- 
ored with more editions, if we except the imagina- 
tive masterpieces of inspired genius. Mrs. Rowland- 
son states that there were thirty-seven in the house, 
and that twenty-four were carried captive, twelve 
were slain and one escaped. It is probable that she 
omits five soldiers casually stationed in the garrison. 
She gives no names and a full list of the victims can- 
not now be made. The following includes all that 
are known : 

Killed in liowlaudsoti Garrison. 
Knsign John DiTolI. 
.Toeiah DivoII, son of John, aged 7. 
Daniel Gains. 
Abraham Joslin, aged 26. 
John MacLoud. 

Thomas Rowlandson, nephew uf the minister, aged 19. 
John Kettle, aged 36. 
John Kettle, Jr. 

Joseph Kettle, son of John, aged in. 
>IrB Elizabeth Kerley, wife of Lieut. Henry. 
William Kerley, son of Lieut. Henry, aged 17. 
Joseph Kerley, do., aged 7. 

Mrs Prisciila Roper, wife of Ephraim. 
PrificiDa, child of Ephraim, aged 3. 

li 
Carrieil Captive from Rowlandmn Garrison, 

>Ire Mary Rowlandson, wife of the minister, ransomed. 
Mary Rowlandson, daughter of the minister, aged 10. ransomed. 
Sarah Rowlandson, do., aged 6, wounded A died Feb. 18. 

■loseph Rowlandson, son of the minister, aged 13, ransomed. 
.\Ire Hannah Divoll, wife of Ensign John, ransomed. 
■John Divoll, eon of Ensign John, aged 12, died captive? 
William Divoll, do., aged 4, rausomed. 

Hannah Divoll, daughter of do., aged 9, died captive? 
Mrs Ann JoBlin, wife of Abraham, killed in captivity. 
Beatrice Joslin, daughter of Abraham, do. 
Joseph Joslin, brother of Abraham, aged 16. 
Henry Kerley, son of Lieut. Henry, aged 18. 
Hannah Kerley, daughter of do., aged 13. 
Mary Kerley, do., aged 10. 

Martha Kerley, do., aged 4. 

A child Kerley, name & age unknown. 
Mrs Elizabeth Kettle, wife of John, ransomed. 
Sarah Kettle, daughter of John, aged 14, escaped. 
Jonathan Kettle, son of John, aged 5. 

A child Kettle, daughter do. 20 

Ephraim Roper alone escaped during the assault. 1 



One of Wadworth's soldiers, George Harrington, 
was slain near Prescott's Mills, a few days later, and 
John Roper fell on the day the town was abandoned. 
As the tot.al casualties by reliable authorities were 
fifty-five, the names of seven suftereis remain un- 
known. The other garrisons made successful resis- 
tance, and the Indians, after plundering and burn- 
ing most of the abandoned houses, withdrew with 
their terror-stricken prisoners to the summit of 



Ifi 



HISTORY^ OF WOKCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



/ 



George Hill, and passed that night in triumphal 
orgies, cooking and feasting on the spoils of the 
farm-yards and storehouses. "This," writes Mrs. 
Rowlandson, " was the dolefullest night that ever my 
eyes saw. Oh, the roaring and singing, and dancing j 
and yelling of thgse black creatures in the night, 
which made the place a lively resemblance of hell.' 
By Saturday afternoon most of the blood-stained 
crew were again in their camps at Menameset. 

The mounted companies arrived the next day, and 
drove away the skulkers engaged in plunder. The 
minister and Captain Kerly returned in time to as- 
sist in burying the mangled and charred relics of 
their dead relatives and neighbors. Those of the in- 
habitants who had a place of retreat in the seaward 
towns and means to remove, soon fled, and those who 
were forced to remain behind crowded into the 
strong garrisons of Thomas Sawyer and Cyprian 
Stevens. With them were eighteen soldiers. Thence 
they sent forth, March 11th, an eloquently pitiful ap- 
peal to the Governor and Council for help to re- 
move to a place of safety. /' 

On March 2ljth, Major Willard sent a troop of 
forty horsemen, with carts, who carried the sur- 
vivors and some portion of their goods and provi- 
sions to Concord. The buildings not before de- 
stroyed were soon after burned by the Indians, two 
only being left standing in the town — presumably 
those of Butler and Moore, upon Wataquadock. 

The valley of the Nashua, blood-stained and dis- 
figured by fire-blackened ruins, lay desolate, and so 
remained during four years. The quick succeeding 
raids of the stealthy foe spread dismay even to the 
sea-coast throughout the English plantations. No 
outlying town but experienced their barbarity, and 
several were abandoned. The contest, one of racial 
antipathy, was now mutually recognized as for ex- 
istence. In the knowledge of the horrors of defeat, 
the white men fought with the courage of despera- 
tion, and soon learned to meet the cunning tactics of 
the savages with superior wiles. The Indians, un- 
able to procure a regular supply of food, and often 
nearly starved, were gathered into villages on both 
sides of the Connecticut a few miles above North- 
field. Early in April the head sachem of the Nar- 
ragansetts, Canonchet, whose controlling genius held 
together the incongruous alliance of rival tribes, was 
fortunately captured and jnit to death. Distrust and 
jealousy soon began their work, and a few days later 
Philip was on his way with the Nashaways to their 
hunting-grounds about Wachusett. Quinnapin ac- 
companied him, with a portion of the Narragansetts, 
and with him was Mrs. Rowlandson, his prisoner, the 
servant of Weetamoo, one of his three wives. A ma- 
jority of the Nipmucks and Quabaugs soon joined 
them. 

Messengers were sent to Wachusett by the authori- 
ties at Boston to negotiate for the redemption of the 
captives and especially Mrs. Rowlandson. Philip 



fiercely opposed any bargaining with the English, but 
his blood-thirsty counsels no longer found listening 
ear*. Some of the prisoners had fallen under the 
tomahawk, and others had succumbed to exposure 
■ind starvation. Most of the survivors were freed 
during May, for a stipulated ransom. The Nashaway 
sagamore, though yet far from humble, was evidently 
tired of hostilities. If we may believe his own letter 
to the Governor, he even journeyed to the villages of 
the river Indians to recover certain captives there. 
In his absence. Captain Henchman, under the guid- 
ance of Tom Dublet, an Indian scout, surprised a 
party of thirty-six Indians fishing at Washacum, of 
whom he killed seven and captured the others. The 
prisoners were mostly women and children, and 
among them were the wives and sons of Shoshanim 
and Muttaump. After this stroke of ill fortune, the 
proud boasting of the sagamores was turned to ser- 
vile supplication. Philip and Quinnapin, fearing 
treachery, fled to their own land. 

Early in September, the harassed and repentant 
chiefs, Shoshanim, Monoco and Muttaump, worn out 
with privation and trusting to some alleged promise 
of pardon from the Council, surrendered themselves 
and their men at Cocheco. September 26th, the 
three sagamores with others were hanged at Boston. 
Their wives and children, with other undistinguished 
captives, were sold as slaves and shipped to the Ber- 
mudas. The score or two of the Nashaways that may 
have escaped or were allowed to go free joined the 
Pennacooks. The Indian who captured Hannah 
Dustin, in 1697, and was killed by her, was one who 
had lived in Lancaster. A few who had embraced 
Christianity, like Quauapaug and George Tahanto, 
probably dwelt at Natick. The tribal history of the 
Nashaways had reached its finis. 



CHAPTER III. 
LANCASTER— ( Conliiuied.) 

The lieiittUemtnt — Fraich and Indian liitidB — The Garrinong — Netv Meeling- 
hfmte — The Additional Grant — Earhj School-masters — Lovnreira War — 
M'orcesler Conntti Fanned — Birth of Harvard^ Bolton and Leominster 
— Sieges of t'itrlha<jcntt and Lonisbonrg — The Conquest of Canada. 

The Lancaster exiles were widely scattered as they 
sought refuge with relatives and friends in the Bay 
towns. Many of them, so soon as bullet and gallows 
had avenged their slain kindred and made return 
possible, looked with longing towards their farms, or- 
chards and gardens, purchased so dearly with years 
of toil and anxiety, and final blood sacrifice. But 
first shelter had to be built and leave of court ob- 
tained ; for the re-occupation of a deserted town, by 
an order of General Court, was placed in the same 
class with new plantations, requiring preliminary 
petition and the appointment of a fatherly committee 



LANCASTER. 



17 



to view, aiul hear, and consider, and order, and enjoin 
obedience to, a form and manner of resettlement. 
Probably some buildings were erected and some of 
the proprietors were upon their lands when John 
Prcscott, with two of his sons, his two sons-in-law, 
Thomas Sawyer and John Rugg, his grandson, 
Thomas Sawyer, Jr., and Thomas Wilder, John 
Moore and Josiah White, sent to the court their pe- 
tition, in 1679, asking for a committee that they 
might, together with others, speedily "proceed to set- 
tle the place with comfort and encouragement." The 
committee were appointed and, although no record of 
their conclusions is known to exist, births in Lancas- 
ter were recorded during 1679 and 1680. In 1681 
seventeen or eighteen families had returned and peti- 
tioned for exemption from "country rates" success- 
fully. 

Their minister was not with them. In April, 1677, 
Mr. Rowlandson had accepted liberal otiers from 
Wethersfield, and was settled as colleague to Rev. 
Gershom Bulkeley. In that office he died, aged forty- 
seven years, November 24, 1678, " much lamented." 
In December, 1681, John Prescott, the founder and 
the oldest inhabitant of the town, died. The meet- 
ing-house having been burned during or after the 
destruction of the town, a new one was built upon 
the same site, probably in 1684. Among the new- 
comers was Samuel Carter, a graduate of Harvard 
College in 1660, who bought the Kerly homestead 
on George Hill, and probably served the people as 
teacher and minister for a time, but accepted a call to 
Groton in 1692. His sons continued in Lancaster, 
and the family so multiplied that the Carters soon 
rivaled the Wilders and Willards in the town census. 
William Woodrop and Edward Oakes also temporarily 
preached here, but there was no regular pastor until 
December 3, 1690, when .lohu Whiting, a Harvard 
graduate of 1685, was ordained, after preaching on 
probation for nine months. 

Upon the revolutionary deposition of Andros by the 
people, in 1689, the magistrates and other prominent 
gentlemen of the cfilony recommended the towns to 
send instructed delegates to form an Assembly and 
assume the responsibility of reorganizing the govern- 
ment until orders should be received from England. 
Lancaster's action in response was the election of 
Ralph Houghton as representative, instructed to favor 
the re-assumption of government by the Governor and 
assistants elected in 1686. This seems to have been 
the last public service of Ralph Houghton for the 
town. He spent the declining years of life with a 
son in Milton, where he died in 1705. At his departure 
the most able man of affairs in the town was John 
Houghton, second of the name, and upon him the 
duties of town clerk devolved. 

Soon the horrors of Indian warfare again menaced 
the frontier, and a general retreat of the inhabitants 
was imminent, when a special act was passed forbid- 
ding removal from outlying towns under severe pen- 
2 



alty. One of the towns named in the act was Lan- 
caster. Some hunters, in April, 1692, reported seeing 
about three hundred Indians in the neighborhood of 
Wachusett, and they were suspected of hostile designs. 
By day or night mothers grew pale at every half-heard 
cry of bird or beast, imagining it the death-shriek of 
a dear one, or the dread war-whoop of the savage. 
The able-bodied men and boys had to delve all day in 
the planting season, or expect to starve the next 
winter, and their unintermitling toil ill fitted them to 
watch every second night, as they were obliged to do 
in garrison. If they remained in their unfortified 
houses they were exposed to worse than death in case 
of an attack. But they could hope for little help from 
the Bay towns. 

There were now eight garrisons in Lancaster: — 
Josiah White's, of ten men, upon the east side of the 
Neck ; Philip Goss', nine men, near the North River 
bridge ; Thomas Sawyer's, eleven . men, in central 
South Lancaster; Nathaniel Wilder's, eight men, at 
the old trucking-house site on George Hill ; Ephraim 
Roper's, seven men, a little to the north of Wilder's ; 
Lieut. Thomas Wilder's, thirteen men, on the Old 
Common; Ensign John Moore's, eight men, on Wata- 
rjuadock ; Henry WiUard's, eight men, at Still River. 
These embraced fifty families, and indicate a popula- 
tion of about two hundred and seventy-five. 

July 18, 1692, a small band of Indians surprised 
the family of Peter Joslin, on the west side of the 
Neck, while he was absent in the field, killed Mrs. 
Sarah Joslin, Mrs. Hannah Whitcomb and three 
young children, and took away as prisoners Elizabeth 
Howe, the sister of Mrs. Joslin, and Peter Joslin, aged 
about six years. The boy was butchered in the wilder- 
ness. Elizabeth, a girl of sixteen years, when the 
Indians approached the house, was singing at the 
spinning-wheel, and tradition says escaped the fate of 
her sister because of her captors' admiration for her 
song. She was ransomed from Canada after four years 
of captivity. 

For several years the townspeople lived in a state of 
continual " watch and ward," plowing, sowing and 
reaping in fear of the skulking, relentless foe. There 
were occasional alarms, the garrisons were strength- 
ened at great expense of labor, and in them the whole 
community huddled together for defence at every 
rumor of danger. The town became very much im- 
poverished, and the General Court allowed them 
twenty pounds " for encouragement," October 20, 1694. 
One Sabbath, in the autumn of 1695, Abraham 
Wheeler, when on his way from Sawyer's garrison to 
his own house near the river, was mortally wounded 
by an Indian lying in wait for him. September 11, 
1697, in the forenoon, when the men were many of 
them in their fields or at their own houses, and the 
garrison gates were open, a band of savages who had 
been larking in the woodland watching for a favorable 
opportunity, made a sudden dash upon the western 
portion of the settlement. Their plan had been to 



18 



HISTOKY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



first carry by assault the garrison of Thomas Sawyer, 
but as they were preparing to rush upon it, Jabez 
Fairbank galloped at full speed into the gate coming 
from his own house, and the Indians, supposing that 
they were discovered — though such was not the fact — 
turned their attack upon those in the fields and 
defenceless houses. They surprised the families of 
Ephraim Roper, the widow John Rugg, Jonathan 
Fairbank, John Scateand Daniel Hudson, murdering 
capturing or wounding nearly every member of them, 
and burning their houses and barns. Meeting the 
minister, Rev. John Whiting, at a distance from the 
garrison, they attempted to take him captive, but "he 
chose rather to fight to the last," and was slain and 
scalped. Ephraim Roper's was a strongly garrisoned 
house, and that of Daniel Hudson was lortified. The 
killed numbered niueteen, the captives eight, five of 
whom ultimately returned ; two others wounded, re- 
covered. Capt. Thomas Brown with fifty men pursued 
the enemy for two days, during which they came 
upon the mangled corpse of one of the captured 
women, probably Joanna or Elizabeth Hudson, whom 
the retreating savages had slain. 

Utterly disheartened, the people in their new dis- 
tress appealed for exemption from taxes, aid to pro- 
cure a minister and the help of soldiers in their gar- 
risons. They were given only twenty pounds. As 
temporary preachers, John Robinson, Samuel Whit- 
man and John Jones served them in the pulpit, and 
in May, 1701, Mr. Andrew Gardner, a Harvard grad- 
uate of lti'J(5, was invited to preach. The following 
September he accepted an invitation to become their 
settled pastor. Before this the minister's salary had 
been in part paid by an annual assessment of ten 
shillings upon each original home-lot. As these lots 
were many of them abandoned, and the rule in other 
respects bore unequally upon the proprietors, the Leg- 
islature, upon petition, ordered the levying of their 
church rate upon all inhabitants in the same way as 
other taxes. 

The regular garrisons in 1704 were eleven in num- 
ber, and their location and the number of their fam- 
ilies mark a very important change in the growth of 
the town. As one bloody raid after another strewed 
the slope of George Hill with ruins, the fact that in a 
military sense the east side of the rivers was much 
the more secure from surprise, and the most defensible, 
became obvious ; and thither the increase in popula- 
tion tended. The garrisons on the Neck were : Ser- 
geant Josiah White's, seven men ; Ensign Peter Jos- 
lin's, nine men. Those on the west side were : Rev. 
Andrew Gardner's, nine men ; Lieut. Nathaniel Wil- 
der's, on George Hill, seven men ; and John Pres- 
cott's, four men, at the corn-mill. East of the rivers 
were: At Bride Cake Plain (now the Old Common), 
Capt. Thomas Wilder's, fifteen men. Upon Wataqua- 
dock and eastward: John Moore's, nine men ; Josiah 
Whetcomb's, eight men ; Gamaliel Beman's, eight 
men. At Still River: Simon Willard's, twelve men. 



At Bare Hill : John Priest's, ten men. There were 
seventy-six families, indicating a population of about 
four hundred and twenty-five, of which two-thirds 
lived on the east side of the rivers. The only inn- 
keei)er was Nathaniel Wilder, who had for twenty 
years been " licensed to sell beer, ale, cider, rum, etc." 

In the summer of 1704 a large Ibrce of French and 
Indians, under " Monsieur Boocore,'' who had de- 
signed the destruction of Northampton, finding that 
place prepared, became disorganized. A portion re- 
turned to Canada, but about four hundred determined 
upon a raid eastward. On Monday, July 31st, early 
in the morning, this force made a furious onslaught 
upon Lancaster, and first,asusual, upon the George Hill 
garrisons. The brave Lieutenant Nathaniel Wilder 
was here mortally wounded. Re-inforcements from 
Marlborough and other towns, under Captains William 
Tyng and Thomas Howe, promptly came, and the 
enemy were finally driven ofl" with considerable loss. 
Besides Lieut. Wilder, threesoldiers — Abraham Howe, 
Benjamin Hutchins and John Spaulding — were killed. 
A French officer of note among the assailants was 
also slain, " which so exasperated their spirits that in 
revenge they fired the Meeting-house, killed several 
cattle and burned many out-houses." Four dwellings 
at least were destroyed — those of Ephraim Wilder, 
Samuel Carter and Thomas Rdss upon George Hill, 
and that of Philip Goss near the meeting-house and 
upon the same site as the Rowlandson garrison de- 
stroyed in 1676. 

Hostile bands continued to prowl about the frontier 
towns during the summer and autumn, occasionally 
scalping some unfortunate victim. During the alarm 
after one of these murders a pitiful accident deprived 
Lancaster of her third minister. On Thursday, Octo- 
ber 2()lh, in the night, Samuel Prescott — being the 
sentinel on duty at the garrisoned house of Rev. An- 
drew Gardner, walking his beat within the stockade 
— suddenly saw a man " coming down out of the upper 
flanker," and having challenged him twice and re- 
ceiving no reply, he fired upon him, in his surprise 
sup[)osing him to be " an Indian enemy." To his 
own grief and horror, as well as that of the whole 
community, it was found that he had mortally 
wounded the minister, who had gone up into the 
watch-tower over the flanker to keep guard by himself, 
probably in distrust of the wakefulness of the sentinels, 
who had been scouting in the woods all day. The 
following May, Rev. John Prentice began his ministry 
in Lancaster, and on December 4, 170.3, married the 
widow of his predecessor. He was not ordained until 
March 29, 1708. For nearly two years the Sabbath 
exercises were held at the parsonage, there being no 
meeting-house. 

October 15, 1705, the savages again invaded the 
town. There were at this date two saw-mills in Lan- 
caster, Thomas Sawyer, Jr., having, in 1698 or 1699, 
built one upon Dean's — now called Goodridge's — 
Brook, at the existing dam near the Deer's-horn's 



LANCASTER. 



19 



School-house. At this mill the Indians captured 
Thomas Sawyer, Jr., his son Elias, a youth of sixteen, 
and John Bigelow, a carpenter of Marlborough. The 
three were taken to Canada, where Sawyer was res- 
cued from torture and death at the hands of his cap- 
tors by the intervention of the Governor, on condition 
that he and his companions would build a saw-mill 
upon Chambly River. The mill was built, being the 
first in all Canada, and the captives returned in safety. 

Forty pounds had been granted by the General 
Court, after the burning of the meeting-house in 1704, 
towards the building of a new one, to be paid upon 
the erection of the frame. A large majority of the 
inhabitants now living upon the east side of the rivers, 
it was voted in town-meeting to place the building 
upon Bride Cake Plain, a mile eastward of the old 
site, and there a frame was set up in 1706. The new 
location roused a tempest in the community. A com- 
mittee of four from other towns was appointed to 
settle the dispute, and being equally divided in opinion 
made the quarrel worse. Then the Council and the 
Deputies took opposite sides. Finally, as winter drew 
near, the majority were given their way. John 
Houghton donated the land for the building site, 
Thomas Wilder gave a lot for the burial-ground on 
the opposite side of the highway, Robert Houghtyn 
with his assistants covered in the summer-seasoned 
frame, and peace reigned once more in the parish. 

In 1707 Jonathan White, a youth of fifteen years, 
was killed by Indians, and August lOth a band killed 
a woman and captured two men near Marlborough, 
one of whom escaped. The other, Jonathan Wilder 
— whose father, Lieut. Nathaniel, had fallen three 
years liefore — was murdered when his captors were 
overtaken by a force which hastily pursued them. In 
the fight that ensued, Ephraim Wilder, brother of the 
captive, was severely wounded. Ensign John Farrar, 
a native of Lancaster, but resident of Marlborough, 
was killed. Two others of Marlborough suffered, 
Richard Singletary losing his life and Samuel Stevens 
being badly wounded. The fight took place in the 
northwest corner of the "Additional Grant" of Lan- 
caster. For a year or two soldiers were quartered in 
the town to aid in its protection. The last to be killed 
by the enemy was an Indian servant of the Wilders, 
August 'i, 1710. He was at work in the field upon 
George Hill with Nathaniel Wilder, who was wounded 
at the same time. 

In 1711 there were eighty-three families and four 
hundred and fifty-eight inhabitants in Lancaster, 
divided among twenty -seven garrisons; and twenty- 
one soldiers were stationed in the town. Ten years 
before the proprietors had purchased of George Tahan- 
to, "in consideration of what money, namely, twelve 
pounds, was formerly paid to Sbolan (my uncle), some- 
time sagamore of Nashuah, for the purchase of said 
Township, and also six shillings formerly paid by 
Insigne John Moore and John Houghton of said 
Nashuah to James Wiser, alias tiuenepenett (Quana- 



paug), now deceased, but especially for and in con- 
sideration of eighteen pounds, paid part and the rest 
secured to be paid by John Houghton and Nathaniel 
Wilder, their heirs, executors and assigns forever, a 
certain tract of land on the west side of the westward 
line of Nashuah Township. . . ." At that time pe- 
tition was made to the Legislature for sanction of the 
purchase, which was given, and a committee appointed 
to view and report. The matter lay dormant until 
February 15, 1711, when a new committee was au- 
thorized and the land surveyed. June 8, 1713, the 
grant was duly confirmed to the town. Certain parties 
laying out new townships to the westward in 1720, 
alleged that the committee surveying this grant had 
given more generous measure than the terms of pur- 
chase warranted, but after a year's wrangling the 
bounds were again confirmed as conforming to the 
marks by which the Indian grantors had designated 
them. Out of this added territory have since been 
shaped the two towns of Leominster and Sterling, be- 
sides a considerable tract given to the Boylstons. 

During 1713 and 1714 the growth of enterprise in 
the town was marked by the erection of two saw- 
mills — one by Samuel Bennett up the North Branch, 
and the other by Jonathan Moore on Wataquadock 
Brook by the Marlborough road. The town was ad- 
vancing more rapidly than ever before. In December, 
1715, the selectmen appeared before the County Court 
to answer for not having a grammar school according 
to law. This proves that there were one hundred 
families within the town limits. For several years 
the versatile John Houghton, conveyancer, inn-keeper, 
justice, selectman, representative to General Court, 
etc. — who served the town as clerk from 1684 to 1724 
— had also acted as schoolmaster, and is the first 
named, although the ministers, during earlier days, 
served in that capacity. Now the town procured the 
services of a college graduate, Mr. Pierpont, of Rox- 
bury, as master of their grammar school, and no no- 
tice of another is found until 1718, when Samuel 
Stow, probably of Marlborough, a Harvard graduate 
of 171-5, was elected master at a salary of forty pounds 
per annum. The minister's salary was then raised 
from seventy to eighty-five pounds per year. 

In 1717 Lancaster was presented "for neglecting to 
repair ye great bridge," and a special town-meeting, 
March 10, 1718, considered the rebuilding of the 
"neck bridge." This is the first mention found of 
any crossing of the Penecook save by wading-place 
or canoes. The accounts of the destruction of the 
town in 1670 point plainly to the existence of two 
bridges only, one upon each branch. In the discus- 
sion of 1705 relative to the location of a new meeting- 
hou.se, the wording of a petition implies the same 
condition as existing. Some cheap structure, within 
the means of the impoverished town, probably was 
thrown across the main river after the building of the 
church upon the east side. The bridge of 1718 was 
ordered to have five trestles and to be thirteen feet 



20 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



wide. Thirty-five pounds were appropriated for its 
erection; tlie townspeople were all, however, expected 
to assist at the raising, which doubtless was a season 
of extraordinary jollification. 

During Lovewell's War, as it is called, from 1722 to 
1726, Lancaster was at no time entered by any con- 
siderable force of Indians, but her young men were 
forward in carrying the war into the enemy's country. 
An act of 1722 oftered one hundred pounds for the 
scalp of a male Indian over twelve years of age, and 
half that sum for a woman or child, dead or alive. 
This proved a sufficient inducement to enlist in tlie 
terrible perils and hardships of the scouting parties 
many bold spirits under popular leaders. Of these, 
Capt. John White, an associate of Lovewell, won 
great repute as a successful Indian fighter. Dying in 
the service, he was eulogized by a contemporary as "a 
man of religion, probity, courage and conduct, and 
hearty in the serviceof his country against the Indian 
enemy." Capt. Samuel Willard here began a military 
career that reflected honor upon the town, leading 
what he dignified in his journals as an "army " — two 
companies of about ninety men each — to and from the 
head-waters of the Saco and Pemigewasset, a march 
of five hundred miles tlirough a pathless wilderness. 
The numerous bands of rangers not only carried deso- 
lation into the strongholds of the savage, but discov- 
ered the fertile, sheltered valleys beside the beautiful 
rivers and lakesof New Hampshire, and the log-cabins 
of venturesome pioneers soon rising here and there 
proved that the partisans had well noted the advant- 
ages of the land. 

Lancaster was no longer a border town, but the 
mother of new frontier settlements. In a single de- 
cade its population had doubled. In 1726 the meet- 
ing-house had to be greatly enlarged, and two years 
later the minister's salary was raised to one hundred 
pounds. There were now four licensed inn-holders: 
Capt. Samuel Willard, who had moved to the Neck 
and probably built the house still standing near the 
railway crossing; John Wright, at Still River; Oliver 
Wilder, upon George Hill, and Thomas Carter, where 
H. B. Stratton until lately resided. Among the chat- 
tels of the latter was " one old Indian slave," valued at 
twenty-five pounds, who lived untiri737. The orchards 
of the town had become famous, and much of the fruit 
was converted into cider. AVhat was not " drunk upon 
the premises" had a ready sale both at Boston and in 
the new towns. Even the minister in 1728 was credited 
with a product of sixty-one barrels at the cider-mill 
of Judge Joseph Wilder. 

About the more important garrisons little villages 
had grown, where the cottagers, with their household 
industries and simple wants, were almost independent 
of other communities, except that all gathered at one 
common meeting-house on the Sabbath to listen to 
the fervid exhortation of Rev. John Prentice, and all 
sought Prescott's mill with their grist. In cases of 
a broken limb or alarming illness, Jonathan Prescott, 



with his saddle-bags full of drastic drugs, galloped up 
from Concord when summoned, and for an astonish- 
ingly small fee. If the need of medical skill was less 
pressing, the local herbalist, Doctress Mary Whitcomb, 
sufficed. Edward Broughton was school-master, 
graduating the length of his terms according to the 
taxes contributed, now teaching on the Neck, now at 
Still River or Bare Hill, or on AVataquadock, until 
1727, after which, apparently, the custom came into 
vogue of employing young Harvard graduates as 
teachers for short terms. From fifty to sixty pounds 
per annum were appropriated for the town's schools. , 

In 1728 a movement began looking to the formation 
of a new county from certain towns of Suttblk and 
Middlesex. The town was deeply interested in this 
project and voted to favor it, provided the superior 
courts should be held at Marlborough and two infe- 
rior courts at Lancaster annually. The next year, on 
February 3d, the vote was reconsidered, a new plan 
being then under consideration, "for erecting a new 
county in ye westerly part of ye Count)' of Middle- 
sex." The meeting favored petitioning for the new 
county and chose James Wilder and Jonathan Hough- 
ton to act for the town in the matter. It is traditional 
that the Lancaster people fully expected that two 
shire-towns would be designated, and that Lancaster 
would be one. No hint of this, however, appears in 
the recorded action of the town-meetings. Lancaster 
was not only the oldest, but the wealthiest and the 
most populous of the fourteen towns set off April 2, 
1731, to form the county of Worcester. It remained 
so until the Revolution was over, save that Sutton for 
a brief time had a few more inhabitants. Jonathan 
Houghton, of Lancaster, was chosen the first county 
treasurer and Joseph Wilder was made judge of the 
Court of Common Pleas. 

In 1731 the first public library of Lancaster was 
established. It comprised but a single volume, 
though that was a bulky quarto of nine hundred 
pages. Rev. Samuel Willard's " Complete Body of 
Divinity," by vote of the town, was purchased and 
kept " in the meeting-house for the town's use so that 
any person may come there and read therein, as often 
as they shall see cause, and said Book is not to be 
carried out of the meeting-house at any time by any 
person except by order of the selectmen." ' I 

A petition from a majority of those/living in the 
northerly part of the town in May, ll^O, engaged the 
attention of a special town-meeting. The proposi- 
tion at first W.1S to cut off about one-third of the 
original township on the north, which, with addi- 
tions from Groton and Stowe, should form the new 
town. After two years' discussion at town-meetings 
and in the Legislature, the town of Harvard was 
created by an act published July 1, 1732. This took 
from Lancaster an area of about eighteen square 
miles, and included the villages which had sprung up 
about Bare Hill and Still River. 

About ten years before this some of the proprietors 



LANCASTEK. 



21 



of the "Additional Grant," Gamaliel Beman heading 
the movement, had set up new homes among the hills 
of Woonksechocksett, as the Indians called the re- 
gion north of Washacum. Emboldened by the suc- 
cessful secession of the people in the northeast cor- 
ner, these residents of the southwest corner of Lan- 
caster, to the number of about a dozen householder:?, 
petitioned for separate town organization in May, 
1733. The same day there appeared a demand for 
another precinct or township from some of the resi- 
dents of Wataquadock and vicinity, proposing to di- 
vorce from the old town all the territory east of the 
rivers not taken by Harvard. Both requests received 
repulse, and attempts were made to appease disati'ec- 
tion by the introduction of proposals to build three 
new meeting-houses, so situated as better to accom- 
modate the scattered population. For several years 
discu.ssion and precinct strategy made town-meetings 
frequent and lively, and annually some plan for the 
dismemberment of the town went before the Legisla- 
ture. The act erecting the new town of Bolton was 
published June 27, 1738, its western boundary being 
parallel with the western boundary of the original 
township and four miles from it. Out of the area 
thus taken, — about thirty-five square miles, — Berlin 
and a part of Hudson have since been carved. 

Meanwhile the attractions of the valley of the 
North Nashua in the Additional Grant had drawn 
thither many Houghtons, Wilders, Carters, Sawyers 
and others, chietly the grandsons of the early propri- 
etors. Being more incommoded because of their 
greater distance from the meeting-house, and soon 
becoming more numerous than those living at 
Woonksechocksett, they had a better reason for seek- 
ing independence, and complicated the situation by 
presenting, in February, 1737, their petition for sepa- 
ration. They moreover shrewdly joined with the old 
town to defeat the aims of other petitioners, in order 
to gain consent to their own scheme, and July 16, 
1740, the act was published which severed about 
twenty-six square miles more from Lancaster under 
the title of Leominster. This area was wholly from 
the Additional Grant, excepting the farm of Thomas 
Houghton, exsected from the northwest corner of the 
old township. The Cliocksett people were not dis 
heartened. They grew more numerous year by year, 
and Gamaliel Beman did not recognize defeat. The 
town finally consented to allow them their wish, 
provided they would assume perpetual support of the 
river bridge, now known as Atherton's. This propo- 
sition did not please, and, after another year's wran- 
gle, in January, 1742, the " Chocksett War" was in- 
terrupted by a truce, the town voting to build two 
meeting-houses. 

The house of worship for the Second or Chocksett 
Precinct, "nearEidge Hill," was completed so that 
the first service was held in it November 28,1742. 
That for the First Precinct was delayed by the diffi- 
culty of agreeing upon its location. The aid of a 



legislative committee had at last to be invoked for 
the settlement of the question, and School-house Hill 
was selected as the most central site. Two hundred 
pounds were appropriated to build the Second Pre- 
cinct house, and four hundred for that of the First 
Precinct, which stood nearly in front of the present 
residence of Solon AVilder. The meeting-house upon 
the Old Common was torn down, and the materials 
divided between the two parishes to aid in the build- 
ing of school-houses. These, three in number, were 
placed : one on the Neck, not far from the meeting- 
house, but on the opposite side of the road ; one 
nearly opposite the present Deershorn's School-house, 
and the third near the Chocksett meeting-house. 
Each of them was twenty-four by eighteen feet, with 
seven foot studding. 

The new First Church building was nearly square 
in plan, being about fifty-five by forty-five feet, with 
entrance doors in the middle of the north, east and 
south sides. Across the same three sides were gal- 
leries to which stairs led from the side-aisles. One 
of these was assigned to men exclusively, the oppo- 
site one to women. Special seats apart were for 
" negroes." Directly before, and forming a part of 
the pulpit, was a deacon's seat. On a part of the 
Hoor the wealthier families were permitted to build 
family pews at their own cost. These were square, 
mostly about six feet by five, ranged along the walls 
from the pulpit, while in the centre of the floor, on 
either side of a central aisle were long seats, the fe- 
male part of the congregation occupying one side, 
the male the other. The pews were " dignified," the 
size, and position of each marking pretty well the 
wealth and social rank of its owner in the com- 
munity. The sequence of the first families in 1644 
appears nearly this : Rev. John Prentice, Deacon 
Josiah White, Colonel Samuel Willard, Captain 
John Bennett, Hon. Joseph Wilder, John Carter, 
Thomas Wilder, etc. 

In 1742 the north part of Shrewsbury was set off as 
a precinct, and Lancaster surrendered to it about five 
square miles from the most southerly part of its do- 
main. This was the foreshadowing of a new town, 
which, with slightly altered bounds, was created in 
1786, under the name of Boylston. 

Although three towns and two precincts had been 
peopled from the Lancaster hive, attempts at further 
swarming were not over. In December, 1747, four- 
teen residents of Lancaster, under leadership of 
Henry Haskell, covenanted with citizens of Harvard, 
Groton and Stow, with the intent to be incorporated 
into a township. This attempt, which signally failed, 
proposed taking two or three square miles from the 
northeast corner of the town. When the district of 
Shirley was finally authorized, in 1753, Lancaster's 
bounds were not disturbed. 

The avocations of peace had been unharassed by 
war alarms for fifteen years, when, in 1740, a recruit- 
ing officer drummed for volunteers in Lancaster, and 



22 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



succeeded in persuading eighteen or nineteen of her 
young men to wear the cockade. Captain John 
Prescott, of Concord, a lineal descendant of the father 
of Lancaster, was the senior officer of a battalion of 
five hundred men raised by Massachusetts to join the 
expedition of Vice-Admiral Vernon against Cartha- 
gena, and Jonatlian Houghton, of Lancaster, was one 
of his lieutenants. Those who enlisted with Hough- 
ton from this town, so far as known, were: Daniel 
Albert, David Farrar, Nathan Farrar, Ephraim 
Fletcher, Benjamin Fry, John Hastings, Thaddeus 
Houghton, Ezekiel Kendall, Peter Kendall, Joshua 
Pierce, Benjamin Pollard, Gideon Powers, Timothy 
Powers, Oliver Spaulding, Darius Wheeler, William 
Whitcomb, Jacob Wilder. Few, if any of them, 
ever saw their homes again, giving their lives for tlae 
King in a quarrel of doubtful justice, not in the front 
of victorious battle, but slain by virulent disease 
after defeat. 

Upon the breaking out of the war for the Austrian 
Succession it was not to be hoped that the New Eng- 
land colonies could remain at peace with their French 
neighbors. Governor Shirley was gifted with suffi- 
cient sagacity to see that only by the capture of 
Louisbourg could Massachusetts retain her valuable 
cod fisheries, or expect exemption from invasion. 
Against that fortress, upon which had been lavished 
all the resources of military art, he skilfully organ- 
ized an expedition, which accomplislied his desperate 
behest by sheer audacity, the sublime pluck of the 
New England rank and file and happy fortune, 
ratherthan by any prescience or rare judgmentof plan. 

February 17, 174.5, Colonel Samuel Willard re- 
ceived orders to take command of the Fourth Massa- 
chusetts Infantry, enlisted for this expedition. The 
regiment numbered about five hundred men in ten 
companies, and, as the fleet sailed from Boston, 
March 24th, was recruited within thirty days. This 
speaks well for the popularity and energy of its 
leader, but the enterprise itself took on much of the 
nature of a crusade. Thomas Chandler, of Worcester, 
was lieutenant-colonel and Seth Pomeroy major of 
the regiment. Colonel Willard's own company had 
for its officers: Captain-lieutenant, Joshua Pierce; 
Lieutenant, Abijah Willard; Ensign, John Trum- 
bull. Abijah Willard, the colonel's second son, was 
soon promoted a step, and another son, Levi, became 
ensign. In this company doubtless were many men 
of Lancaster and vicinity, but the majority of Lan- 
caster soldiers were probably in the Fourth Company, 
the officers of which were: Captain, ,Iohn Warner; 
Lieutenant, Joseph Whetcomb ; and Ensign, William 
Hutchins. Unfortunately, the muster-rolls of this 
expedition are not known to exist, and the names of 
the soldiers are mostly unknown. Captain Warner 
died in hospital and Thomas Littlejohn fell in action. 
Many of their townsmen pr()bal)ly succumbed to the 
rigors of the climate and the toils of the siege, for the 
victims of disease were counted by hundreds. 



January 6, 1748, Rev. John Prentice died. For 
forty-three years he had preached, and during forty 
was the ordained pastor of the town. He was the 
son of Thomas and Sarah (Stanton) Prentice, born in 
Newton, 1682, and a graduate of Harvard in the 
class of 1700. By his two wives — Mrs. Mary Gardner 
and Mrs. Prudence (Foster) Swan — he had ten chil- 
dren. His contemporaries prized him for his learn- 
ing, his liumility and his steadfastness. His juniors 
tell of his sturdy dignity and Puritan manners. His 
four printed sermons suggest that as a preacher he 
was orthodox, clear in his convictions, earnest and 
explicit in his exhortations. He was selected to de- 
liver the Election Sermon at Boston, May 28, 1735. 
Reverends Benjamin Stevens, William Lawrence, 
Stephen Frost and Cotton Brown temporarily sup- 
plied the vacant pulpit, but in February the last 
named was invited to become pastor of the parish. 
He declined, and August 8th the church made 
choice of Timothy Harrington to be their minister. 
November 16th of that year he was installed. He 
had been pastor of a church at Lower Ashuelot, a 
town abandoned during the Indian raids of 1747. 

November 19, 1752, Colonel Samuel Willard was 
seized with apoplexy and died the next day. He 
was the wealthiest citizen ot Lancaster, and, Judge 
Joseph Wilder jierhaps excepted, the most promi- 
nent socially and politically. For twenty-five years 
he had been the highest military officer of the dis- 
trict, and for nearly ten judge of the Court of Com- 
mon Pleas. He was a grand.son of Major Simon and 
son of Henry Willard, born in Lancaster, 1690. 
Judge Joseph Wilder died March 27, 1757, aged 
seventy-four. His contemporaries unite in lavish 
praise of his virtues and abilities. Rev. Timothy 
Harrington in a funeral sermon speaks of him as fur- 
nished " with a penetrating judgment, strong reason 
and a tenacious memory, and all, so far as we can 
judge, were consecrated to the honour of the Most 
High." Appointed judge at the organization of 
Worcester County, he was chief justice of the Court 
of Common Pleas at his death. He was a son of the 
second Thomas Wilder. 

The one hundredth birthday of Lancaster, May 28, 
1753, was appropriately celebrated by a "century 
sermon " in the First Parish meetinghouse. This 
discourse was printed, forming a pamphlet of twenty- 
nine pages, and contains the early annals of the town 
in sadly condensed form. Unfortunately, the author. 
Rev. Timothy Harrington, bound by the mode of his 
times, was more anxious to preserve the pulpit dig- 
nity of his rhetoric than to gather and embalm for 
posterity the reminiscences of the gray-headed vet- 
erans among whom he daily walked. He devotes 
half his pages to the history of the Jews and primi- 
tive Christians, and accords but half a dozen lines to 
the hospitable Sholan and the Nashaways. He gives 
details of the various sieges of Jerusalem, but omits 
all mention of the deeds of Colonel Willard's regi- 



LANCASTER. 



23 



ment at Loiiisbourg, and the pitiful sacrifice of Lan- 
caster youth at Carthagena. 

The town entered upon its second century pros- 
perous and free from internal dissension. The Second 
Precinct, temporarily content with its gain of semi- 
autonomy, had, December 19, 1744, secured Rev. 
John Melleii for their pastor, a Harvard graduate of i 
1741. He had married Rebecca, the daughter of ' 
Rev. John Prentice, the year after her father's de- 
cease, and had given token of abilities that soon 
placed him in the very front rank of the ablest ; 
clergymen of his day. The repayment by England 
to Massachusetts, in 1749, of its expenditures in the 
late war, made possible the redemption of the paper 
currency, which had greatly depreciated, and specie 
again appeared in the channels of trade. But life in 
Lancaster was with most a struggle for shelter, food 
and raiment. The only measure of wealth was the 
ownership of acres and cattle. Few things better 
illustrate the simplicity or luxury of a community 
than its conveniences for travel. Tn 175.3 Lancaster 
paid tax to the Province upon three chaises ; in 1754 
upon one chaise ; in 1755 upon two chaises and three 
chairs; in 1756 upon two chaises and two chairs — 
while most of the younger towns, until recently Lan- 
caster soil, had neither chair nor chaise. The heavy 
carts and wagons of the farm were the only wheeled 
vehicles. 

No census of the town was taken until ten years 
later, but the population of its centennial year can be 
fairly estimated from an existing tax-list of 1751, 
jiractically a census of the heads of families at that 
time. Although by the dowering of Harvard, Bolton, 
Berlin and Leominster it had lost more than half its 
area, its gain by births, and by immigration from 
other towns, had fully made up the loss of inhabit- 
ants. The rate list of 1751 contains two hundred 
and eighty-five names, representing three hundred 
and fifty-five polls. The population at that date did 
not, therefore, fall far short of fifteen hundred souls. 
That of the towns excised from Lancaster amounted 
to nearly as many. Provision, generous for the times, 
was annually made for educating the young. Rev. 
Josiah Swan was generally the teacher of the Neck 
School from 1747 to 1760, and Rev. Josiah Brown was 
schoolmaster at Chocksett for as many years. For 
the third school the teachers were successively : Ste- 
phen Frost, Edward Bass, Joseph Palmer, Moses 
Hemmenway and Samuel Locke — all Harvard grad- 
uates — the last named a resident of the town, after- 
wards president of Harvard College. 

Seven years of pretended peace between Canadian 
Jesuit and New England Puritan passed, and again 
the British colonies were hurrying preparations for a 
decisive struggle with their alert and aggressive foes. 
During the autumn of 1754 several mechanics of 
Lancaster, under Capt, Gershom Flagg, were engaged 
in the construction of Fort Halifax. Others of her 
citizens were serving on the eastern frontier in the 



regiment of Col. John Winslow, and Ensign John 
May led thirteen soldiers to j(jin Col. Israel Williams 
at the western frontier. 

Of the four great expeditions planned in 1755 to 
break through the cordon of French occupation that 
extended from the Ohio to the mouth of the St. 
Lawrence, Lancaster was represented in two — that 
against Crown Point, and the Acadian campaign. In 
the former Samuel Willard, the eldest son of the 
deceased colonel of the same name, was commissioned 
to raise a regiment of eight hundred men. John 
Whitcomb, of Bolton, was second in command; but 
Col. Willard died at Lake George shortly after joining 
the army, and Whitc:flinl> was promoted to the va- 
cancy. In the regiment were seven men of Lancas- 
ter, including two lieutenants, Hezekiah Whitcomb 
and William Richardson, Jr. Lieut. Benjamin Wil- 
der led a mounted troop of thirty-three volunteers 
from Lancaster and its neighborhood, serving in the 
regiment of Col. Josiah Brown. But the majority of 
the Lancaster men, fifty one in number, foughi in the 
regiment of Col. Timothy Ruggles, under three Lan- 
caster captains — twenty-four with Capt. Joseph Whit- 
comb, sixteen with Capt. Asa Whitcomb, and eleven 
with Capt. Benjamin Ballard. All three companies 
were in the bloody melee of AugiistSth, knc^vn as " the 
morning fight," when the valor of the New England 
rustics snatched victory from what at first seemed 
defeat. On that day ten of the fifty-one were killed 
or mortally wounded: Ithamar Bennett, Samuel Fair- 
banks, William Fairbanks, Isaac Kendall, Peter 
Kendall, Oliver Osgood, Josiah Pratt, Jr., Phineas 
Randall, Joseph Robbins, Jr., John Rugg. Others, 
enfeebled by camp fevers, in the late autumn dragged 
themselves homeward, or were brought thither by 
short stages through the wilderness upon horseback. 
The campaign, a barren one save for the experience 
and confidence in themselves gained by the colonial 
officers and soldiers, ended with the year. 

The Acadian expedition, though even more in- 
glorious than that against Crown Point, is far more 
famous in story, and Lancaster's part in it was a more 
prominent one than has ever been given it in history. 
Of the force of two thousand men embarking from 
Boston May 20, 1755, under Col. John Winslow, for 
the purpose of dislodging the French from the regions 
bordering on the Bay of Fundy, one company of one 
hundred and five men, allotted to the Second Battal- 
ion, was organized at Lancaster and officered by men 
of that town. These were: Capt. Abijah Willard, 
Lieut. Jo.shua Willard, Second Lieut. Moses Haskell, 
Ensign Caleb Willard. Thirty-six of the rank and 
file were credited to Lancaster, of whom William 
Hudson was killed in the attack made by the Aca- 
dians upon the force engaged in burning the "Mass 
House" at Peticodiac. The company took part in 
the capture of Beau Scjour. Capt. Willard was se- 
lected by Lieut.-Col. Monktou, the King's officer in 
command, to lead a detachment to Tatmagouche. 



24 



HISTOtlY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



There, opening his sealed orders, to his great surprise 
and pain he found assigned to him the ungracious 
task of laying waste that whole fair district to the Bay 
of Verts, and removing the residents to Fort Cum- 
berland. Amid the wailing of women and children, 
and the smoke of blazing cottages, barns and store- 
houses, Cai>t. Willard marched from hamlet to ham- 
let, leaving desolation behind, in accordance with the 
letter of his orders, but tempering them with such 
mercy as he could ; his kindly heart, as his journal 
testifies, bleeding for the distress he was compelled to 
inflict. 

Leaving their families among the smoking ruins of 
their homes, the Acadian men were marched to Fort 
Cumberland, and Capt. Willard received the gracious 
commendation of the British officer. During the 
rigors of a Canadian winter the Lancaster men, ill 
provided with food and clothing, remained in bar- 
racks at the fort, but were allowed to return home the 
following April. Massachusetts was ordered to care 
for one thousand of the " French neutrals," and ap- 
portioned three families — twenty persons — to Lan- 
caster. There these exiles lived in the wretchedness 
of squalid poverty, disease and homesickness for ten 
years, housed, fed and cared for by the town author- 
ities. The last of them were finally shipped to 
France. 

The general plan of the campaign of 17.56 was 
almost identical with that of the previous year, but 
Shirley was superseded by pompous and loitering 
officers of high rank in the British army. Their con- 
ceit and inactivity gave the daring Montcalm an 
opportunity to win some glory, and neutralized the 
enthusiasm and costly preparations of New England. 
The Lancaster soldiers were in the field as early as 
the opening of spring would permit military opera- 
tions, building roads and bridges and transporting 
stores up the Hudson to Fort Edward, and thence to 
Fort William Henry. Col. John Whitcomb was one 
of the Committee of War for Massachusetts. William 
Richardson and Hezekiah Gates were efficient agents 
of the committee for procuring and forwarding mili- 
tary supplies. Twenty soldiers from Lancaster were 
in the regiment of Col. Jonathan Bagley, mustered in 
the company of Capt. Benjavnin Ballard, and eight 
or ten others are found serving in other regiments 
and among the artillerymen of Fort William Henry. 

The year 1757 saw a new plan of operations, but the 
campaign under the same haughty and inefficient gen- 
erals ended as before in discomfiture. Several Lan- 
caster men served in the regiment of Col. Fry, who, 
with most of his command, were in the massacre which 
followed the surrender of Ft. William Henry to Mont- 
calm, and escaped with the loss of everything but life, j 
Nine others were in the regiment of Col. Israel Wil- I 
liams. The fall of Ft. William Henry spread conster- 
nation through the colonies, for it was expected that 
the French would follow up their success by an inva- 
sion of the English settlements. The militia were 



hurriedly sent towards Albany. Capt. John Carter 
with a mounted troop, and Capt. Nathaniel Sawyer 
with an infantry company — one hundred men in all — 
inarched as far as Springfield whence they were re- 
called, Montcalm having returned to Canada with his 
easily-won spoils. 

With the year 17-58 the inspiration of a new war 
policy, that of William Pitt, was felt throughout the 
colonies. They obtained payment for their military 
expenses and were promised relief from the extortion 
and insolence they had constantly experienced from 
Crown officials. The impetuous Wolfe and the chiv- 
alrous Lord Howe were sent with some of the best 
troops in England, to infuse energy into the campaign, 
and the slothful Loudoun retired. The ministerial 
orders required vigorous assault along the whole fron- 
tier. The enthusiasm awakened in Massachusetts is 
apparent in the zeal which Lancaster evinced in the 
contest, 

Col. Jonathan Bagley's regiment in Abercrombie's 
advance upon Ticonderoga was in the van of the right 
division, and charged upon the French at the time 
Lord Howe lost his life. It was also engaged in the 
assault upon Ticonderoga and met with some loss. Of 
this regiment John Whitcomb was lieutenant-colonel, 
and his brother, Capt. Asa Whitcomb, served in it with 
forty of his Lancaster neighbors. Six of them laid 
down their lives in the service: William Brabrook, 
Eben Bigelow, Jonathan Geary, Philip Geno, .lohn 
Larkin, Jacob Smith. In Colonel Timothy Ruggles' 
regiment, under Cajjt. Joseph Whitcomb, of Lancaster, 
and Capt. James Reed, of Lunenburg, were twenty- 
one more Lancaster men, of whom one, Simon Ken- 
dall, lost his life; eleven others served in other organi- 
zations, making at least seventy-three known to have 
enlisted in the campaign. Capt. Aaron Willard, who 
led a light infantry company in the regiment of Col. 
Oliver Partridge, was shot through the body in the 
murderous assault upon Ticonderoga, but survived to 
take part in the war for independence. After the un- 
timely death of Lord Howe the imbecility of Aber- 
crombie had again nullified the sacrifice and bravery 
of the provincials. The veterans who had fought at 
Louisbourg in 1745 under Pepperell, and conquered 
under Lyman at Lake George in 1755 were fast learn- 
ing to despise as well as hate the supercilious British 
regular officers, who contem)>tuously spurned the coun- 
sels of .soldiers like Pomeroy , and always were defeated 
by inferior forces of the enemy. 

The campaign of 1750, under Amherst, directed 
towards the same strategic points as those of two years 
before, brought to the front once more Capts. Aaron 
Willard and James Reed, and with them were forty- 
five Lancaster men, three of whom — George Bush, 
Stephen Kendall and Reuben Walker — died during 
the campaign. These two officers' companies served in 
Col. Timothy Ruggles' regiment. Abijah Willard also 
appears again, now as colonel of a regiment of eigh- 
teen companies; Cyrus Fairbanks was his adjutant 



LANCASTER. 



25 



and Manasseh Di vol his quartermaster. Capt. Thomas 
Beman, with twenty-two other men of Lancaster, served 
in Willard's command, and five more were in other 
companies. 

Amherst did nothing to add to his own reputation, 
and, in disregard of Pitt's positive orders, displayed no 
energy in the movement to assist Wolfe. The younger 
general's fame shone the brighter, and all New Eng- 
land mourned him as their preserver. Col. Willard and 
his fellow-townsmen marched home before the snows 
fell and rested by their own firesides through the win- 
ter, preparing for the final struggle. 

With the spring Col. Willard again led his regiment 
to the frontier. In his staff were most of the old mem- 
bers, but Samuel Ward, of Worcester, afterwards to 
become one of Lancaster's most valued citizens, was 
made his adjutant. Capt. Beman again accompanied 
him, with Sherebiah Hunt for his lieutenant, and thirty 
enlisted men of Lancaster formed a part of his com- 
pany. Rufus Putnam, who in Revolutionary days 
became chief engineer and brigadier-general in the 
patriot army, was his ensign. Six Lancaster volun- 
teers served in other companies of Willard's regiment. 
In Col. Ruggles' regiment were Captains Aaron Wil- 
lard and James Reed, with eighteen Lancaster soldiers. 

Col. John Whitcomb also served in the campaign of 
1760, and with him were Li£ute^Ephraim Sawyer and 
Henry Haskell, with eighteen others of Lancaster. 
Sergt. Josiah Prentice died and Joseph Stesvart was 
drowned during the year. Under Col. William Havi- 
land, these two regiments leisurely rowed down Lake 
Champlain in batteaux about the middle of August. 
Arriving at Isle au Noix, Col. Whitcomb was ordered 
to throw up defences while the rest of the army moved 
to attack the fortified post; but the enemy did not 
await assault, and Haviland moved on towards Mon- 
treal. September 8th, orders were read announcing to 
the troops the closing act in the conquest of Canada, 
the capitulation of the Marquis Vaudreuil. On the 
10th the Massachusetts regiments began the march 
back to Crown Point, where for two months they were 
engaged in the construction of earthworks and bar- 
racks. In November Cols. Whitcomb and Willard 
led their commands through the wilderness across 
Vermont to Charlestown, N. H., and by the forest 
paths to Lancaster, where they were disbanded about 
December 1st. 

For six years the town had, with the coming of 
each spring, sent forth to the blood-stained frontiers 
scores of her stalwart sons under their chosen leaders. 
About seventy-five of her citizens annually were, for at 
least eight or nine months, in the army. At least thirty- 
three of these are known to have perished by bullet, 
tomahawk or disease while on duty. Of the wounded 
no record was kept. 



CHAPTER IV. 

LANCASTER— ( Contituied) . 

The First Censtis — Organization for lierolnlion — Lexington Alarm — Bunfrer 
Hill and the Siege of Boston — War Annatt — Separation of Ciiocksett' 
— Shays' liebellion — Bridge Lotteries. 

The long war between alien races and religions was 
hardly ended before the domestic "Chocksett War" 
again broke out. But the town-meeting vote of 1762 
proved that the Second Precinct was not yet strong 
enough to carry its point. It persisted in its endeavors 
year after year, but whenever the proposition to divide 
the town gained a favoring vote, it was always upon con- 
dition that the support of some bridge of vagrant 
habits should be perpetually borne by the seceders. 
To this they refused consent, and the contest was pro- 
longed until all local questions were forgotten in the 
turmoil of the struggle for national existence. The 
two parishes were nearly equal in population. The 
town-meetings were sometimes held in the Second 
Precinct meeting-house, and the grammar-school was 
kept alternately at Ridge Hill and on the Neck — the 
proportion of the two terms being decided in town- 
meeting. 

The first colonial census, that of 1764, gives Lan- 
caster 1999 inhabitants, living iu three hundred and 
twenty-eight families and three hundred and one 
houses, classified as follows : 

Males. Femalea. 

Under 16 years of age 514 421 

Over 10 yeare of age 5U5 £32 

Colored 12 14 

IndiaQS . . . : I 

How many of the twenty-six colored were slaves is 
not told. Ten years before this there were but five 
'"servants for life" in the town. Seven years later 
than this five slaves were reported between the ages 
of fourteen and forty-five. At least ten slaves are 
known to have died between the two dates. The 
total population of the four towns included in the 
original Lancaster grants was four thousand eight 
hundred and one. Notwithstanding the great waste 
of human life in the war, the town's growth had been 
steady and healthy, and so continued. It will be seen 
that the average family then numbered over six indi- 
viduals. In the latest census, omitting the State 
school, the average family is less than four and four- 
tenths persons. 

The direct descendants of the first proprietors were 
yet largely in the majority, gave character to the 
town, and almost monopolized the management of its 
affairs. But into the procession of the town's life had 
come several prolific families, and some men of politi- 
cal weight and large social influence. John Warner, 
of Woburn, appeared about 1700; the Osgood family, 
always prominent in the church, first came in 1710, 
Hooker Osgood, a saddler from Andover, purchasing 
the Rowlandson estate of Philip Goss. About the 
same date, and from the same source, came Edward 



2i 



26 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



Phelps, the weaver, and bought lands not far from 
Lane's Crossing. Soon followed John Fletcher, from 
Chelmsford, progenitor of a sturdy race that peopled 
a portion of George Hill. Thomas Whitney, of Stow, 
and his sons John and Jonathan, about 1720 built 
upon Wataquadock Brook. From Woburn, William 
Richardson came in 1721, found a wife in Captain 
Ephraim Wilder's daughter, became a prominent jus- 
tice and represented the town several years in the 
Legislature. Samuel Locke, also of Woburn, and 
connected by marriage with the Richardsons, came to 
Lancaster in 1742, and kept a famous tavern where 
Wm. A. Kilbourn now lives. Nathaniel and Abijah 
Wyman, from Woburn also, about the same tin.e 
bought homes upon the Neck. Benjamin Bal'ard, 
from Andover, a little earlier founded a new home 
upon the northern portion of the George Hill range 
and gave his family name to that section of the town. 
The Dunsraoors appeared first about 1740 and fur- 
nished the town two physicians, father and son. The 
last, Dr. William Duiismoor, in whose veins flowed 
mingled Sawyer and Prescott blood, developed politi- 
cal abilities that soon placed him in leadership of the 
revolutionary spirits of the neighborhood, and gave 
him prominence even in colonial councils. The 
Thurstons, Peter and Samuel, second cousins (the 
first from Exeter, the second from Rowley), appeared 
about the middle of the century. 

In 1768 Lancaster received an addition to its terri- 
tory — a tract of land at its southwestern corner about 
three miles long by one and one-half wide, known m 
" Shrewsbury Leg." It included the site of the present 
village of Oakdaie, but then contained less than a 
dozen families. The same year a trader came from 
Groton to form a mercantile partnership with Levi 
Willard. The store of the firm was at the cross-roads 
of South Lancaster, and became the widest known 
and best patronized of any in the region. The senior 
partner sometimes made a journey to England to buy 
goods. He lived in a house which stood near the well 
on the lawn of E. V. R. Thayer's residence. The 
junior partner. Captain Samuel Ward, already men- 
tioned as holding a commission in the French and 
Indian War, purchased an ancient house and lot upon 
the opposite corner, being a part of the Locke farm, 
and the eastern end of the original home-lot assigned 
to John Moore in 1653. Captain Ward was not only 
a man of unusual business ability, but his rare intel- 
lectual powers, quick and accurate judgment of 
character, prudence and shrewd management of men 
would have given him exalted political place had he 
not resolutely shunned all official position. He soon 
became a conservative leader in the town. 

It was apparently a season of calm and prosperity. 
War had left few visible scars. The Briti-sh govern- 
ment had reimbursed to the colony the sums con- 
tributed in aid of the expulsion of' the Bourbons from 
America, and plenteous harvests had gladdened the 
farmers. But a jealousy of all authority not delegated 



by popular sutfrage everywhere began to appear, per- 
vading church as well as state politics. The pulpits 
about Lancaster were all jarred, and some severely 
shaken, by a revolt against clerical councils ; and the 
orators proclaimed the divine right of an anointed 
king subject to the divine right of the m.ijority. The 
veteran soldiers had not forgotten the insults they had 
borne, year after year, from the King's ofljcers, nor the 
needless campaigning and bloodshed chargeable to the 
incompetency of the generals set over them. The 
nagging encroachments of the British ministry upon 
charter rights found the majority of the colonists 
already on the verge of rebellion, for which seven 
years of war had been a practical school of arms. 

The first town-meeting record in Lancaster for 
1773 anticipates by three and one-half years the lib- 
erty-breathing sentiments of the Declaration of Na- 
tional Independence. The action of that meeting 
took form in written instructions lor the guidance of 
the town's representative, Capt. Asa Whitcomb, and 
a series of resolutions drawn up by a " Committee for 
Grievances,'' as follows :• 
****** **** 

1. Jtenolvvd, That* this and every Town in this Province liave an 
undoubted Right to meet together and consult upon all Matters inter- 
esting to them when and so often as they shall judge fit : and it is 
more especially their Duty so to do when any Int'ringenient is made 
upon their Civil or Religious Liberties. 

2. Resolvttl, That the raising a Revenue in the Colonies without 
their Consent, either by themselves or their Representatives, is an In- 
fringement of that Right which every Freeman has to dispose of his 
own Properly. 

3. RenoJued, That the granting a Salary to his Excellency, the 
Governor of this Province, out of the Revenue unconstitutionally 
raised from us, is an Innovation of a very alarming Tendancy. 

4. Itefuiherl, Tliat it is of the highest Importance to the security Of 
Liberty, Life and Property, that the pnblick Administration of Justice 
should be pure and impartial, and that the judge should be free from 
every Bias, either in Favour of the Crown or the Subject. 

5. Resolved, That ttiu absolute Dependency of the Judges of the 
Superior Court of this Province upon the Crown for their Sui)port 
would, if it should ever take Place, have the strongest Tendancy to 
bias the Minds of the Judges, and would weaken our Contidence in 
them. 

6. lieti'hed, That the Extension of the Power of the Court of Vice- 
Admiralty to its present enormous Degree is a great Grievance, anil de- 
prives the Subject in many Instances of that noble Privilege of Eng. 
lishnien. Trials by Juries. 

7. Re^iilveit, That the Proceedings of tliis Town be transmitted to 
the Town of Boston. 

These resolutions were signed by the committee : 
Dr. William Dunsmoor, John Prescott, Josiah Ken- 
dall, Ebenezer Allen, Nathaniel Wyman, Joseph 
White and Aaron Sawyer. The instructions to the 
town's delegate breathe the same spirit, and enjoin 
him to use his " utmost efforts ... to obtain a 
Radical Redress of our Grievances.'' 

The organization of revolution began the next 
year, with the plan of establishing permanent Com- 
mittees of Correspondence in the towns throughout 
Massachusetts. The members of the first Lancaster 
Committee, chosen September 5, 1774, were Dr. 
William Dunsmoor, Dea. David Wilder, Aaron 
Sawyer, Capt. Asa Whitcomb, Capt. Hezekiah Gates, 
John Prescott, Ephraim Sawyer. The chairman 



LANCASTER. 



was the youngest of the number. The next day the 
patriots of the town marched to Worcester, where an 
armed convention of the people gathered on the 
green, prepared to give a warm reception to the force 
of British troops which Governor Gage had pro- 
posed to send for the protection of the court. As 
the regulars did not appear, attention was turned to- 
wards the royalists. The justices, who recently had 
sent a loyal address to the Governor, were compelled 
to sign a recantation, and appear before the assem- 
blage to acknowledge it. Of these justices were 
Joseph Wilder, Abel Willard and Ezra Houghton^ 
of Lancaster. 

During the same month the town voted " That 
there be one hundred men raised as Volunteers, to 
be ready at a minute's warning to turn out upon any 
Kmergency, and that they be formed into two Com- 
panies, and choose their own officers," and that 
these volunteers should be " reasonably paid by the 
Town for any services they may do us in defending 
our Liberties and Privileges." One company was 
enlisted in each precinct. The Committee of Cor- 
respondence was also authorized to purchase two 
field-pieces, and two four-pounders were at once ob- 
tained from Brookline, for which eight pounds were 
paid. One of these was stationed in each parish, 
with a supply of powder, ball and grape-shot. 
Capt. Asa Whitcomb and Dr. William Dunsmoor 
were chosen to represent the town in the First Pro- 
vincial Convention. The constables were instructed 
to pay over the taxes, when collected, to a special 
committee — Aaron Sawyer, Ephraim Sawyer and Dr. 
Joaiah Wilder — who were to account for the same to 
the patriot receiver-general. The same committee 
were ordered " to Post up all such Persons as con- 
tinue to buy, sell or consume any East India Teas, 
in some Public Place in Town.'' In the town-meet- 
ing of January 2, 1775, a committee was chosen to 
receive donations " for the suffering poor of the 
Town of Boston, occationed by the late Boston Port 
Bill." It was also then voted " to adopt and abide 
by the spirit and sense of the Association of the late 
Continental Congress, held at Philadelphia," and a 
committee of fifteen were selected " to see that the 
said Association be kept and observed by all." 

The whole male population was now training for 
the conflict seen to be inevitable. The re-organiza- 
tion of the militia began in 1774, by a popular de- 
mand for the resignation of all military commissions. 
The Second Worcester was known as the Lancaster 
Regiment, and consisted of ten companies and a 
mounted troop, four companies and the troop being 
of Lancaster, including all the able-bodied males be- 
tween sixteen and fifty years of age, save a few by 
law exempts. With the division of the training- 
bands into minute-men and militia, new company 
officers were chosen, young men aglow with the hot 
temper of the times. These line officers elected the 
brothers John and Asa Whitcomb, two veterans of 



the French War, as their colonels — the former of the 
minute-men, the latter of the militia. Abijah Wil- 
lard was perhaps the most gifted and experienced of- 
ficer in the town, but unfortunately favored the side 
of the King. Dr. William Dunsmoor and Ephraim 
Sawyer were the majors of the minute-men, and 
David Osgood the quartermaster. Col. John Whit- 
comb was chosen a major-general in February, by 
the Second Provincial Congress. 

Every soldier was expected to furnish himself with 
arms and equipments, and if too poor to do so, he 
was supplied by the town, or by contributions from 
the more wealthy. No attempt was made to secure 
uniformity in dress ; each wore his own home garb, 
and as there was a much greater variety in the color 
and form of men's wear then than now, the ranks 
always presented a motley appearance. 

There were at this period but seventeen towns in 
Massachusetts which could boast a larger population 
than Lancaster. It had a greater proportion of me- 
chanics and traders than other inland towns — fulling- 
mills, tanneries, potash boilers, a slate quarry and 
even a little furnace for casting hollow-ware. But its 
farmers raised nearly ten bushels of grain for every 
man, woman and child in the town, and four times 
as many cattle, sheep and swine per inhabitant as 
were credited to the town in the census of 1885. 
There was, therefore, a large surplus above the needs 
for home consumption. Pork was sold at six pence, 
salt beef at three pence, mutton at two pence, cheese 
at four pence and butter at eight pence, per pound; 
corn meal at three shillings, beans at six shillings, 
potatoes at one shilling four pence per bushel ; cider 
at seven shillings eight pence per barrel. There was 
no public conveyance for travelers, no post-office 
nearer than Cambridge. Silent Wilde, the news- 
carrier, rode out from Boston on Mondays, with the 
papers for regular subscribers, and jogged through 
Lancaster on his way to the Connecticut Eiver 
towns and back once a week. His trips were soon to 
cease, and the day fast approached which was to test 
anew Lancaster's patriotism. 

On the morning of April 19, 1775, a post-rider 
came galloping in hot haste through the town shout- 
ing to every one he saw that the " red coats " had 
come out from Boston. The tidings, long expected, 
were spread by mounted messengers and the firing of 
cannon ; the minute-men were soon hurrying down 
the Bay road, and the militia followed not far behind. 
Two hundred and fifty-seven men marched from the 
town to Cambridge that day. General John Whit- 
comb reached the scene of action before the running 
fight ended and took part in directing it ; but it is 
hardly probable that any great number of his regi- 
ment, save the mounted troop, perhaps, kept pace 
with him. The sis Lancaster companies were : 
two troops of thirty-two men each under Captains 
John Prescott, Jr., and Thomas Gates ; two com- 
panies of minute-men, with Captains Samuel Sawyer 



28 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



and Benjamin Houghton ; and two companies of 
militia led by Captains Joseph White and Daniel 
Robbins. They remained at Cambridge about two 
weeks. 

The Provincial Congress immediately resolved upon 
the enlistment of an army of thirteen thousand men 
for eight months. Col. Asa Whitcomb was one of 
those authorized to raise a regiment, and, on May 
25th, reported his command containing eleven com- 
panies, five hundred and sixty men — ^one company 
above the complement. Ephraim Sawyer was major, 
and Dr. William Dunsmoor surgeon of the regiment. 
The Lancaster men were mostly in the companies of 
Captains Andrew Haskell and Ephraim Richardson. 
There is a tradition in old families that on the day of 
the battle of Bunker Hill the Lancaster regiment was 
stationed at Cambridge, but was ordered to furnish re- 
inforcements to Prescott, and some of its companies 
reached the hill and fought in the final struggle, 
while others were coming up when the retre.at began. 
The historian Bancroft says : " From the regiment 
of Whitcomb, of Lancaster, there appeared at least 
fifty privates, but with no higher ofBcere than cap- 
tains.'' If he had written thrice fifty he would have 
been more nearly just. By official returns the regi- 
ment lost five killed, eight wounded and two missing, 
which was a larger list of casualties than was 
credited to eight others ot the sixteen regiments 
in which casualties of battle occurred. Daniel 
Robbins was killed upon the hill and Sergt. 
Robert Phelps was mortally wounded and died 
a prisoner in Boston. Both were in Haskell's com- 
pany. Sergt. Israel Willard and Joseph Wilder were 
probably wounded, the former mortally, as special 
allowance was made for them by the Legislature at the 
same time as to the heirs of Bobbins and Phelps. 
Evidence is found in petitions for aid, showing that 
Burt's Harvard and Hastings' Bolton company were 
also in the fight, and the historian Frothinghara 
supposes Wilder's Leominster company to have been 
engaged. Capt. Andrew Haskell so commended him- 
self by his conduct at Bunker Hill, that he would 
have been promoted but for certain unofEcer-like 
traits which he seemed unable to overcome. 

During the siege of Boston the Lancaster regiment 
was brigaded with the Rhode Island troops under 
Gen. Greene and stationed on Prospect Hill. Col. 
Whitcomb was one of the wealthiest farmers of the 
town, a deacon in the Second Parish, a sterling 
patriot, and evidently, from his enduring popularity, 
gifted with noble qualities of heart. He was also a 
brave and experienced soldier, but too amiable to 
preserve proper discipline in his command. Upon 
the consolidation of the Provincial regiments to 
bring them to the Continental model, sundry super- 
numerary officers were discharged, and Washington, 
with the concurrence of Greene, selected Whitcomb 
as one whose services should be spared. His men re- 
sented this, and refused to re-enlist under another 



commander, when Col. Whitcomb reproached them 
for their lack of patriotism, and offered to enlist as a 
private with them. Washington, hearing of this, re- 
instated him and complimented him in special orders 
for his unselfish zeal. The worthy colonel's military 
service ended April 1, 1777, however, and he returned 
to his farm. Impoverished by his sacrifices for coun- 
try, he was compelled to part with his lands, removed 
to Princeton, and there died, March 16, 1804, aged 
eighty-four years. 

In the closing scenes of the siege, March 9, 1776, 
Dr. Enoch Dole, of Lancaster, was killed on Dor- 
chester Heights by a cannon-ball. The town had 
several soldiers with Arnold and Montgomery at the 
gates of Quebec, and t vo or three were there wounded 
and captured. 

About five thousand refugees from Boston during 
the siege were scattered through the inland towns, 
and to these were added the people of Charlestown 
after the burning of that place. One hundred and 
thirty of the homeless were assigned by the Provin- 
cial Congress to the charity of Lancaster, but the 
actual number seeking refuge here was much greater, 
for the proposed formal distribution of the exiles had 
speedily to be abandoned as impossible. Many 
sought Lancaster who added to its social force ; such 
were Daniel Waldo, Edmund Quincy, Esq., and Na- 
thaniel Balch. A lew became permanent residents of 
the town ; for example, Josiah Flagg and John New- 
man. 

In August, 1776, the Court of General Sessions, in 
authorizing five hospitals for inoculation for small- 
pox, appointed Doctors William Dunsmoor and Josiah 
Wilder directors of one at Lancaster. There is no 
record of the location of this hospital, but fourteen 
years later, when this scourge of humanity became 
again virulent. Dr. Israel Atherton established one for 
the same purpose upon Pine Hill, where it was kept 
during four years. 

After the departure of the American army for New 
York, the defences of Boston Harbor were entrusted 
to the militia, and during 1776 about fifty men of 
Lancaster served in two regiments stationed at Hull, 
with Capt. Andrew Haskell and Lieuts. John Hewitt 
and Jonathan Sawyer for their officers. A requisition 
upon the State for five thousand militia to tempora- 
rily re-enforce the army at New York came from 
Congress in June, and Lancaster's quota for four 
months' service was seventy-two men. They served 
under Capt. Samuel Sawyer and Lieuts. Salmon God- 
frey and Nathaniel Sawyer, in the regiment of Col. 
Jonathan Smith. The whole command was a hurried 
levy of rustic youth, wholly undisciplined. Septem- 
ber 15th, at Kip's Bay, they met the splendidly- 
drilled Hessian corps, and came off with scant honor. 
Four Lancaster men were then missing — probably 
killed — and several were wounded. 

Capt. Aaron Willard, who still suffered from his 
terrible wound received at Ticonderoga in 1768, un- 



LANCASTER. 



29 



like his more noted cousins and neighbors — Abijah, 
Abel and Levi Willard — was earnest in the patriot 
cause. He was one of the two commissioners ap- 
pointed by Washington to visit the Acadians, in order 
to ascertain the strength of their alleged sympathy 
with the revolutionists. The mission was found so 
hazardous that the commissioners made their report 
from information gained without entering the pi'ov- 
ince. Willard received a commission as colonel of 
a regiment drafted to strengthen the northern army 
under Schuyler, but was prevented from service by a 
painful accident. Capt. Manasseh Sawyer, August 
ISth, marched to join the regiment of Col. Nicholas 
Dike at Dorchester, with a company of ninety-two 
men, enlisted for eight months. Thirty-two of these 
were of Lancaster. Henry Haskell, who had distin- 
guished himself in the battle of Bunker Hill as cap- 
tain of a Shirley company, was lieutenant-colonel of 
the regiment. Capt. Daniel Goss and Lieut. Jabez 
Fairbank, with a company of militia, chiefly Lancaster 
men, served at Dobbs' Ferry, in a regiment of which 
their townsman, Ephraim Sawyer, was lieutenant- 
colonel. 

October 7, 1776, the town voted to empower the 
House of Representatives " to draw up a Form of 
Government" for the State, stipulating that it should 
be sent to the people for ratification. Dr. William 
Dunsmoor was at the same date elected representa- 
tive. 

The popular colonial system of short enlistments 
forbade the growth of a well-disciplined national army 
and menaced the success of any complex campaign. 
A complete re-orgauization was resolved upon by the 
formation of eighty-eight three-years' regiments of six 
hundred and eighty men each. Fifteen of these were 
demanded from Massachusetts, and it required one 
man in every seven to fill the call. A bounty o' 
twenty dollars and one hundred acres of land was 
promised volunteers, and the monthly pay of privates 
was fixed at six and two-thirds dollars. December 9, 
1776, the male inhabitants of Lancaster over sixteen 
years of age numbered six hundred and seventy-two 
including thirteen negroes. Her quota was, therefore, 
ninety-six men, and that number volunteered in due 
time. Three more levies for three years were made 
during the war. Ten soldiers were sent by the town 
to the Continental army in the spring of 1780, thirty- 
five in the spring of 1781, and seven in March, 1782, 
the sum of the quotas being one hundred and forty- 
eight. These men were all volunteers, the draft being 
resorted to only for short-service calls. Large bounties 
had to be paid at last, and a few non-resident substi- 
tutes were hired. The men were scattered through 
the Massachusetts regiments, the town being repre- 
sented in every one but the First and Ninth. The 
largest numbers were in the Tenth, Fourteenth and 
Fifteenth. Most of them participated in the battles 
which compelled the surrender of Burgoyne. Those 
holding commissions were : 



Henry Haskell, lieut.-col. 15th. John 'Whiting, lieut. l?th. 

Ephraim Sawyer, capt. IGth. Pliilip Corey, lieut. 10th. 

"William Harri8, paymaster 10th. .loseph House, lieut. 2(1. 

.Ton.Tthan Sawyer, lieut. 14th, killed. Winelow Phelps, ensign 13th. 
John Hewitt, lieut. 10th. Jonathan Wheelock, drum-major 

nth. 

The year 1777 was marked in Lancaster for a perse- 
cution of suspected loyalists by the extremists of the 
patriot party. A resolve of the Legislature concerning 
" the danger from internal enemies " gave reason for 
the creation of a committee to search for and obtain 
evidence against such suspects, and Col. Asa Whit- 
comb was selected. A black-list was presented by 
him in September, bearing the names of Moses Ger- 
rish, Daniel Allen, Ezra Houghton, Joseph Moore, 
Solomon Houghton, Thomas Grant, James Carter 
and Rev. TiiLOthy Harrington. Abijah and Abel 
Willard and .Joseph House had fled with the Brilish 
upon the evacuation of Boston, and their estates had 
been confiscated. .Levi Willard and Joseph Wilder 
were dead. Of those in Whitcomb's black-list, Ger- 
rish, Moore and Ezra Houghton were imprisoned, 
Solomon Houghton escaped from the country. Car- 
ter's and Allen's names were stricken from the list in 
town-meeting, and Grant is found serving in the 
patriot ranks. The attempted proscription of Har- 
rington was apparently the more bitter because of his 
connection with the troubles in the Bolton parish. He - 
made a shrewd and spirited defence, when called into 
town-meeting to face his accusers, signally triumphed 
over them, and was held in increased respect thence- 
forward. 

The loss of Ticonderoga and the victorious ad- 
vance of Burgoyne southward spread dismay through- 
out New England. One-half of the alarm list were 
hurriedly marched from Lancaster to Bennington in 
August, mostly embraced in companies led by Cap- 
tains John White and Solomon Stuart. During the 
autumn months of 1777 about thirty men of the town 
partici2)ated in the Rhode Island expedition of Gen- 
eral Spencer. 

February 5, 1778, it was voted " to accept the 
Articles of Confederation and Perpetual Union be- 
tween the United States of America," and May 18th 
the town voted upon the acceptance of the new State 
Constitution, when one hundred and eleven were 
found in favor of and forty-one against it. It was, 
however, rejected by the people. Four thousand 
and forty-nine pounds were appropriated to pay the 
soldiers hired to serve for eight and nine months' 
service in the Continental Army. These men were 
thirty-two in number and joined the forces stationed 
along the Hudson. Captain Manasseh Sawyer and 
over fifty Lancaster men were engaged in the unsuc- 
cessful attempt to drive the British from Newport 
jnd fought at Quaker's Hill under General Sullivan. 
There were also constant details for guard duty. 
Frequently twenty or more of the town's youth were 
at Cambridge or Rutland in charge of prisoners. 

The paper currency had steadily depreciated and 



30 



HISTOKY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



counterfeit money was so abundant that the most 
reputable persons innocently received and paid it out. 
Trade was fast becoming a system of barter. Foolish 
attempts were made to fix the prices of common 
necessities by law, and annually committees were 
chosen by the town to make up a schedule of these 
prices. June 28, 1779, the town solemnly voted 
"that the price of the Comodityes of the farmer and 
any other article do not rise any higher than at this 
time " 

Eighteen men of the town were mustered June 25, 
1779, for nine months, to re-enforce the Continental 
Army, and a company of militia were serving at 
Claverack with Captain Luke Wilder, Andrew Has- 
kell being his lieutenant. 

The State Constitution was voted upon May 13th, 
and one hundred and three favored it, while only 
seven declared against it. Dr. William Dunsmoor, 
Captain Ephraim Wilder and Captain William Put- 
nam were Lancaster's delegates in the convention 
which formed it. In June, 1780, the town was called 
upon to furnish forty men for six months' service. 
Certain of the radical leaders, and especially Josiah 
Kendall, who had been vociferously patriotic in the 
earlier days of the war, avowed their belief that the 
men could not be obtained, and counseled non-com- 
pliance with the demand of the government. Cap- 
tain Samuel Ward, who had narrowly escaped pro- 
scription for his conservative views, saw his oppor- 
tunity and promptly advocated in an eloquent 
harangue immediate obedience to the requisition, 
at whatever cost. He was made chairman of a com- 
mittee of twelve empowered to hire the soldiers " on 
any terms they think proper." The forty men with- 
in twelve days were on their way to tlie camps, each 
having been promised " £1400 lawful money, or £13 
6s. 8d. in Corn, Beef and Live Stock or any Produce 
as it formerly used to be sold." From this the silver 
dollar would seem to have been worth one hundred 
and five paper dollars at that date. 

During both 1780 and 1781 a full company of mili- 
tia served in Rhode Island for from three to five 
months, and others were stationed for similar terms 
of service on the Hudson. The rolls found indicate 
that fully one-quarter of the whole male population 
of Lancaster above the age of sixteen, were kept 
constantly in the army during the most eventful years 
of the struggle for freedom. Over six hundred names 
of Lancaster soldiers in the Revolution are already 
listed. Almost no records of casualtiesare discovered 
in muster-rolls, but they disclose the names of thirty 
men of Lancaster who died of wounds or disease be- 
tween the battle of Lexington and 1779. Those who 
for any cause were exempted from military service 
lived lives of toil and sacrifice. Money was annually 
appropriated for the care of soldiers' families, and 
the widows and orphans received systematic aid after 
the war, the town's expenditure being finally re- 
funded by the State. Lancaster is credited with 



having paid for such purposes from 1781 to 1785 the 
sum of £1852 Is. id. 

Twenty-three residents of the extreme southerly 
portion of the town, May 15. 1780, presented a peti- 
tion to be set off to Shrewsbury. To this public con- 
sent wiis given in June, and an act of Legislature 
consummated the division February 2, 1781. The 
area thus parted with was about six square miles, and 
was incorporated with Boylston in 1780. The Second 
Precinct had by 1780 so grown as to outvote the 
older portion of Lancaster, and the autonomy it 
had long sought could no longer be denied. April 
25, 1781, Chocksett was incorporated under the name 
of Sterling, in honor of General William Alexander, 
Earl of Sterling. By this change Lancaster lost over 
half of its population and but thirty-six and one-half 
square miles of its territory remained. 

The noise and smoke of rejoicing over honorable 
victory and independence won soon passed, and 
there was time for the town to reckon up its sacrifices 
and take account of domestic resources and necessities. 
The outlook was not encouraging. The paper cur- 
rency had become worthless and disappeared. Farmers 
and mechanics were crushed with debt, and half 
maddened by burdensome taxation, while lawyers and 
merchants were reaping a golden harvest. Bankrupt 
sales were advertised on every hand. Soon a spirit 
of anarchy was born of the general discontent, which 
culminated in Shays' Insurrection. No citizen of 
Lancaster is known to have joined the armed force of 
malcontents, and very few sympathized with the 
appeal to violeuce. The town sent delegates to the 
county conventions, voted in favor of enactment of 
laws to alleviate the distress of the people, and re- 
commended relieving the farming interest by excise 
and import duties. 

But when, January 16, 1787, the two militia compa- 
nies were called out by Col. William Greenleaf, the 
sherifi", the men were found almost unanimously in 
favor of supporting the law, and upon his calling for 
twenty-eight volunteers to march to the defence of 
the courts at Worcester on January 2Sd, thirty-one 
offered themselves. Lancaster was the rendezvous of 
the troops from the eastern part of the county, and 
Captains Nathaniel Beaman and John Whiting led 
companies in the regiments which, under General 
Benjamin Lincoln, pursued Shays and scattered his 
"regulators." The service was not long nor attended 
with bloodshed, but it was arduous in the extreme. 
Those who participated in it often grew eloquent in 
reminiscence of the terrible night march from Hadley 
to Petersham, February 3, 1787, facing a furious snow- 
storm in a temperature far below zero. Among those 
serving as privates was Captain Andrew Haskell. 
Three years later this veteran soldier was slain in 
battle with the Indians at the defeat of General 
Arthur St. Clair. Hon. John Sprague accompanied 
the expedition against Shays upon the staff of General 
Lincoln, as his legal adviser. 



LANCASTER. 



31 



Authority had been obtained by an act dated Feb- 
ruary 15, 1783, for lotteries to meet the extraordinary 
cost of rebuildine and repairing bridges and cause- 
ways. Twelve classes of the Lancaster BrirJge Lottery 
were drawn — the net proceeds of which amounted to 
only £3286; and the results in other respects did not 
encourage the continuance of the scheme. 

By this time there were ten bridges over the Naishua 
rivers, and eight of them were a public charge. They 
were all built with one or more trestles in the bed of 
the stream, and an ice jam or unusually high freshet 
often tore several of these from their anchorage. 
A September flood in 1787 swept away the Ponikin 
saw-mill, and damaged or demolished half the bridges 
in town. The Sprague, Ponikin and Atherton bridges 
were rebuilt in 1788. The Sawyer bridge, so-called, 
on the site of the present Carter's Mills bridge — 
whither it had been moved from the discontinued 
Scar road in 1742— was rebuilt in 1789. 

The majority in Lancaster were opposed to the 
ratification of the National Constitution, and elected 
Hon. John Sprague their delegate to the State con- 
vention of January, 1788, with the usual instructions 
as to their wishes. Mr. Sprague, however, finally 
favored the ratification, although but six of his AVor- 
cester County associates voted with him. This use of 
his discretion did not seriously offend his constituency 
■for at the first meeting for choice of a Presidential 
elector, December 18, 1788, he received thirty-one of 
the sixty-two votes cast in Lancaster. 

Rev. Timothy Harrington became physically unable 
to attend to the duties of his pastorate in 1790, and 
on October 9, 1793, Rev. Nathaniel Thayer was 
ordained as his colleague, receiving as a settlement 
two hundred pounds, with a yearly salary of ninety 
pounds. Mr. Harrington was born at Waltham, Feb-' 
ruary 10, 1716, was graduated at Harvard College in 
1737, and died at Lancaster, December 18, 1795, having 
been pastor over the church here forty-seven years. 
By a first wife, Anna Harrington, he had two sons and 
four daughters. He married Ann, the widow of Rev. 
Matthew Bridge, April 11, 1780. He was a lovable 
man, attracting young and old by his gentleness, 
affability and simplicity of manners. He was espe- 
cially remarkable for his day, because of his liberality 
of sentiment, shown in speech and conduct — a broad 
charity toward all humanity. Three of his sermons 
were published, and his century discourse was re- 
printed in 1806 and 1853. 

In 1791, February 7th, the proprietors voted " to re- 
linquish to the several towns in the bounds of Old 
Lancaster all their right to roads in the respective 
towns." 

An increased intferest in the subject of education 
began to be visible in 1788. Some of the leading 
citizens organized a central grammar school, and 
Timothy Whiting and Jonathan Wilder were elected 
a town visiting committee — the first recorded — to 
serve with the minister and two others chosen by the 



supporters of the school. The following year, under 
a new State law, the town was divided into districts, 
thirteen in number. In 1790 a new building for the 
grammar school was erected on common ground 
"opposite General Greenltaf's garden." The next 
year one hundred and fifty pounds were appropriated 
for education, one-third of which was devoted to the 
grammar school, one hundred being divided among 
the districts. From 1792 Rev. Nathaniel Thayer be- 
came chairman of the school committee, annually 
elected by the town, which at first consisted of seven, 
but was increased to eleven in 1796. 

Numerous landed estates passed from the owner- 
ship of the older families shortly after the Revolu- 
tion, in all sections of the town, and many new names 
began to appear in the tax-lists. The ruling spirits 
in the town management were Hon. John Sprague, 
Capt. Samuel Ward, General John and Judge Timo- 
thy Whiting, Sheriff William Greenleaf, Michael 
Newhall, Col. Edmund Heard, Ebenezer Torrey, 
Joseph Wales, Merrick Rice, William Stedman, 
Jonas Lane, John Maynard, Jacob Fisher, Eli Stearns 
and John Thurston, not one of whom was a lineal 
descendant of the early settlers. At the north part of 
the town many of the old residents became converts 
of Mother Ann Lee, and joined the Shaker commu- 
nity. A little colony of Reading families succeeded 
to their farms. At the south end, as the nineteenth 
century opened, the Burditts, Lowes, Rices and Har- 
rises, mostly from Leominster and Boylston, came, 
bringing with them the horn-comb industry. For a 
few years, besides the saw and grist-mills of Col. 
Greenleaf, at Ponikin, a trip-hammer and nail-cutting 
machine were in operation. The quarry in the 
northern end of the town sent annually to Boston a 
large quantity of roofing-slate ; but these industries 
were short-lived. . The first post-oflice was established 
in Lancaster, April 1, 1795, with Joseph Wales as 
postmaster. Jonathan Whitcomb carried the mails 
and passengers daily to and from the city, by the 
" Boston, Concord and Lancaster mail line'' stages, 
when the century closed. 



CHAPTER V. 

LANCASTER— (r<3«//H«£'rf). 

Hon. John Sprague — Cotton and WooUen MUts — The Academy — War of 
1812— T7ic Whitingt— The Brick Meeting-house— Lafayette— The 
Printing Enterprise — Dr. Nathaniel Thayer — Neto Ghtirchee — Clinton 
Set Off — Bi-Centennial — Schoithi —Libraries — Cemlteries. 

September 21, 1800,; Lancaster lost her leading 
citizen by the death of Hon. John Sprague. He had 
been for thirty years resident of the town, coming 
from Keene, N. H., in 1770, to form a law partnership 
with Abel Willard. He was a son of Noah and 
Sarah Sprague, of Rochester, Mas-"., born June 21, 
1740, and was graduated at Harvard College in 1765. 
He served the towu ten years as Representative and 



32 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



two as Senator, was sherifl' for three years, and for 
two j'ears was chief justice of the Court of Common 
Pleas. He was widely respected as a peacemaker, a 
safe adviser, a learned lawyer and an impartial judge. 

In 1805, Moses Sawyer and Abel Wilder built the 
dam and first mill, at the bridge over the Nashua in 
the village then called New Boston. This water- 
power soon came into possession of Elias Bennett, and 
a fulling-mill was started in addition to the saw and 
grist-mills. The clothiers and wool-carders succes- 
sively here were Ezekiel Knowlton, Asa Buttrick and 
Ephraim Fuller. Asahel Tower, Jr., also operated a 
nail-cutting machine in connection with the saw-mill. 
Samuel Carter purchased the property, and, about 
1844, built a cotton factory, which was leased to the 
Pitts Brothers and others. This was burned July 7, 
1856, and the present factory built upon the same site. 

In 1809 Poignand & Plant founded the first cot- 
ton factory in Lancaster on the site of Prescott's 
mills, and James Pitt.s, in 1815, built the second, 
upon the Nashua. The details of these important en- 
terprises will be found in the history of Clinton. 

Burrill Carnes, Sir Francis Searles and Capt. Ben- 
jamin Lee, three Englishmen of wealth, during about 
ten years successively owned and lived upon the 
Wilder farm, on the Old Common, now occupied by 
the State Industrial School, and by lavish expendi- 
ture gave it the semblance of an old-world baronial 
estate. In 1804 the place was bought by Maj. Joseph 
Hiller, of Salem, who resided here until his death, in 
1814. He was an officer of the Revolution, had been 
appointed by Washington the first collector of Salem, 
and was an ardent Federalist, a Christian gentleman 
and a very valuable accession to Lancaster. His two 
highly accomplished daughters became the wives of 
their cousins, Capt. Richard J. and William Cleve- 
land, who also came to reside here, and won promi- 
nence in town councils. As children came and grew 
to boyhood Capt. Cleveland and his wife felt the need 
of a higher education for them than the town's gram- 
mar school could give, and persuaded several gentle- 
men to join in establishing the Lancaster Latin 
Grammar School in 1815. 

This classical school was kept for about eleven 
years upon the Old Common. The teachers' names 
best tell the quality of the education there afforded: 
Silas Holman, 1815; Jared Sparks, 1816; John W. 
Proctor, 1817 ; George B. Emerson, 1818-19; Solomon 
P. Miles, 1820-21 ; Nathaniel Wood, 1822-23; Levi 
Fletcher, 1824 ; Nathaniel Kingsbury, 1825. These 
scholarly young men, together with Warren Colburn 
and James G. Carter, at the most enthusiastic period 
of life's work, sitting at the hospitable board of the 
Clevelands, discussed with the cultured host and 
brilliant hostess the need of a new education which 
should develop the reasoning powers of youth ; and 
here they formed the opinions upon which some of 
them, as the most inHuential factors, remodeled the 
common-school system of the State. 



September 15, 1808, Maj. Hiller, Hon. William 
Stedman and Capt. Samuel Ward were chosen by the 
town to draft a petition to President Jefferson for a 
suspension of the embargo, which it was alleged had 
closed the chief sources of the nation's wealth and 
destroyed the customary incentives to enterprise and 
virtuous industry. The friends of the French party, 
as the Jeffersonians were nicknamed, were but few in 
Lancaster. At a special town-meeting, June 24, 1812, 
resolutions remonstrating against declaring war with 
England as suicidal and unnecessary were passed by 
a vote of one hundred and fifteen to fifteen. August 
20th, Rev. Nathaniel Thayer, it being a fast day, 
preached a sermon denouncing what he termed the 
iniquitous policy of the President. But when, in Sep- 
tember, 1814, the British fieet appeared off the coast, 
and Boston was fearing an attack, there was no lack 
of belligerency. Among the first military companies 
to report to the Governor, in answer to his summons, 
were the light artillery and an infantry company 
of Lancaster, who, after a service at the meeting-house, 
on Sunday, September 14th, proceeded to Cambridge. 
Capt. Ezra Sawyer marched his infantry command 
back the same week, having been ordered out by mis- 
take. The artillery, forty men all told, remained on 
duty until November 5, 1814. Capt. John Lyon, who 
led the company from Lancaster, was superseded 
by Capt. Silas Parker. Henry, Levi and Fabius- 
Whiting served with distinction in the regular army, 
attaining the rank of first lieutenant during the war. 
Henry Moore was killed at Brownstown, JosiahRugg 
died in the army, and Nathan Puffer served iu the 
United States artillery. 

September 3, 1810, John Whiting died at Wash- 
ington, aged fifty years. He had been commissioned 
lieutenant-colonel of the Fourth United States In- 
fantry in 1808. Both he and his brother Timothy, 
Jr., served throughout the War of the Revolution, 
during which their father came from Billerica to 
Lancaster. Both became associate justices of the 
Court of Sessions, and were more than once candidates 
of the .leffersonian party for Congress. An indication 
of John Whiting's ability, probity and lovable char- 
acter is found in the fact that when two Lancaster 
men were candidates for Congressional honor, in 
1804, he received eighty-four votes, while William 
Stedman, the regular Federalist nominee, had but 
seventy-six, although it was a fevered period in par- 
tisan politics and the town's voters were usually more 
than three-fourths Federalists. Tradition still recalls 
Whiting's suave dignity when presiding over a town- 
meeting and his courtly grace in social assemblies. 
He was deacon in the church and brigadier-general 
in the militia. His daughter, Caroline Lee, as Mrs. 
Hen tz, became a very popular writer of verse and fiction. 
His son, Henry, Brevet Brigadier-General, U. S. A., 
published two volumes of poetry, and contributed ar- 
ticles to the Noith American Rariew. 

The corner-stone of the brick meeting-house was 



LANCASTER. 



33 



laid with appropriate ceremony July 9, 1816. Two 
acres for the site were purchased for .li(!3.3.33, being part 
of a farm belonging to Capt. Benjamin Lee. The de- 
signer of the building was Charles Bulfluch, the 
earliest professional architect in New England, who 
also designed the State House in Boston and that at 
Augusta. Thomas Hersey was the master-builder. 
The cupola has been pronounced by competent 
critics to be almost faultless in its proportions. On 
Wednesday, January 1, 1817, the building was dedi 
cated. The fi mil cost of the structure complete was 
$20,428.99, and it was proposed to pay for it by sale of 
the pews. They were accordingly appraised, eighteen 
being given the highest valuation, $230, the lowest 
being priced at $.-.0. At the auction sale Capt. Ward 
paid the highest sum, $275, for pew No. 4 ; Capt. Cleve- 
land paid $255 for pew No. 57. A bell weighing 
thirteen hundred pounds was presented to the parish 
by several gentlemen. It was cracked within a few 
years, had to be recast, and now weighs eleven hun- 
dred pounds. The old meeting-house stood until 
1823, and was used as a town-house. In that year a 
new town-house was built largely from the material 
obtained in tearing down the old one. 

In the year 1823 the town dared a temporary de- 
parture from the old style of bridge construction. 
For twenty years the subject had been anxiously dis- 
cussed by special committees and town-meetings. 
One committee had presented and advocated a plan 
for a double arch stone bridge, but the cost was great 
and there was a well-founded fear that the central 
pier would seriously obstruct the passage of ice. 
The town also seriously considered a curiously un- 
scientific wooden structure, in which the planking 
was to be laid upon the toji of seven timber arches, 
unbraced and without chords. Almost yearly one or 
more of the trestle bridges yielded to ice or freshet, 
and was whirled down stream. Daniel Farnham 
Plummer, a wheelwright of South Lancaster, exhib- 
ited for several years a model of a wooden arch 
bridge, which he claimed to have invented. This 
model, three or four feet in length, made of hickory 
sticks about as thick as one's finger, readily bore the 
weight of a man ; and the town, when the Atherton 
and Centre bridges next went seaward, voted to 
adopt riumnier's principle. The new bridge was out 
of the reach of flood, but had in itself sufficient ele- 
ments of instability, and the wonder is that it stood 
ten years. The town returned to the stereotype tres- 
tle form again, except at the Centre, Ponikin and 
North Village, where covered lattice girders were 
built, which did good service for from thirty-five to 
forty years. The river bridges were all finally re- 
placed between 1870 and 1875 with iron structures, 
for which, including the thorough rebuilding of most 
of the stoue abutments, the total expenditure was 
thirty-five thousand eight hundred and fifty dol- 
lars. 

Friday, September 3, 1824, is a date famous in the 
3 



annals of Lancaster, because of the visit of Lafay- 
ette, the nation's guest. The general had passed the 
night at the mansion of S. V. S. Wilder in Bolton, 
and at half-past six in the morning, escorted by cav- 
alry, proceeded to Lancaster by the turnpike. He 
was received at the toll-gate with a national salute 
from the artillery, and upon arrival near the meeting- 
house was met under an elaborately decorated arch 
by the town's committee and conducted to a platform 
upon the green. There, in the presence of an im- 
mense concourse from all the country around, he was 
welcomed in an address by Dr. Thayer, to which he 
made brief response, evidently deeply affected by 
the eloquent words to which he had listened, and by 
the spontaneous homage of a grateful i)eople. After 
a brief stay, during which the surviving .soldiers of 
the Revolution were presented to him, amid the 
booming of cannon and the tearful acclamations of 
the multitude, the cavalcade moved on towards Wor- 
cester. 

To this time and for a decade la(er the martial 
spirit of the people was kept bright by the militia 
laws. At least once a year the peaceful highways of 
the town were wont to bristle wiih bayonets; and the 
rattle of drum, the squeak of fife and the odor of 
burnt cartridges overpowered all the sweet sounds 
and smells of Nature. This was the " May training." 
The " muster-fields " are historic, and old citizens 
continue to recount the humors of the parades and 
sham-fights. The original territory of Lancaster had 
sixteen military companies, which, with half a dozen 
from adjoining towns, made up the Lancaster regi- 
ment. The town kept up a mounted troop until 
1825, and also had a light artillery company and one 
of light infantry, besides the ununiformed militia. 

The one hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the 
destruction of the town by the Indians was cele- 
brated February 21, 1826, when an oration was de- 
livered by Isaac (Joodwin and a poem read by Wil- 
liam Lincoln. The former was printed. 

So early as 1792 public attention was called to the 
desirability of a canal from the seaboard to the Con- 
necticut, through Lancaster and Worcester, and pre- 
liminary examination of a route was made. This 
project was again brought forward in 1826, and Lan- 
caster was earnest in its promotion. Loammi Bald- 
win made a survey through Bolton and Lancaster, his 
line crossing the Nashua at Carter's Mills; but capi- 
tal failed to forward the enterprise. The traffic, as 
before, continued to be conducted by heavy wagons 
drawn by teams of horses. Forty such wagons daily 
passed through the town to and from Boston, bearing 
as many tons of merchandise or farm products. At 
intervals of a mile or two stood taverns, which enter- 
tained many wayfarers, and nightly attracted to their 
sanded-floored bar-rooms a jovial company, which 
grew hilarious as the hours sped, under the inspira- 
tion of unlimited flip. The most direct route for the 
Boston and Fitchburg Railway lay through Lancas- 



34 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



ter and Bolton, but the blind selfishness of inn-keep- 
ers and stage proprietors was able to create sufficient 
hostility to the road to carry it by a more tortuous 
line through towns then less populous. Repentance 
soon followed, and upon the inception of the Worces- 
ter and Nashua road its projectors were met in liberal 
spirit. Hopes of a more direct connection with Bos- 
ton have been often raised, and, finally, April 30, 
1870, the Lancaster Railroad Company was incorpo- 
rated. Its road was built by George A. Parker, who 
became president of the company, but has never been 
used owing to a controversy between the Fitchburg 
and Worcester and Nashua Railway corporations. 

Capt. Samuel Ward died August 14, 1826, aged 
eighty-seven. He had for fifty-nine years been resi- 
dent in Lancaster, an active and liberal citizen. 
Born in Worcester, September 25, 1739, he was for a 
time a pupil of John Adams, but entered the army 
when a boy of sixteen. His career to the date of his 
coming to Lancaster has been outlined in a previous 
page. He was devoted to mercantile pursuits until 
the last twenty years of his life, which he spent in 
the care of his ample landed estate. His generous 
hospitality brought many guests to his board, and the 
charm of his bright presence and richly-fraught 
si)eech glows for us in the grateful reminiscences of 
those who were blessed by his friendly interest. He 
left a legacy of five hundred dollars, the income of 
which he desired should be annually distributed " to 
those who are unfortunate and in indigent circum- 
.stances " in Lancaster. This sum has been increa.sed 
by sundry similar legacies, and forms the Lancaster 
Charitable Fund. Capt. Ward had outlived wife 
and children many years, and willed his estate 
to his niece, Mrs. Dolly Greene, wife of Nathan- 
iel Chandler. Squire Chandler, as he was always 
called, thenceforward resided in Lancaster. He was 
a man of culture, bright wit and quaint individuality ; 
born in Petersham, October 6, 1773, graduate at Har- 
vard College in 1792, died June 4, 1852. Madame 
Chandler survived her husband seventeen years, liv- 
ing to the age of eighty-five. Their daughter, Mrs. 
Mary G. Ware, remains in possession of the home- 
stead. 

During 1826 a brick, two-storied structure was 
built a little south of the meeting-house, and the 
Latin Grammar School was removed thither from the 
Old Common. Hitherto a school for boys only, from 
this time both sexes were admitted. The building 
was paid for by subscription, and the ground for it 
was the gift of George and Horatio Carter. An act 
of incorporation was obtained February 11, 1828, by 
the subscribers, under the title of the Lancaster 
Academy. April 7, 1847, a second corporation with 
the same title took possession of the building by pur- 
chase, and, in 1879, the town having bought it, tore it 
down to make room for the present grammar-school 
house. The first teacher of the academy in this lo- 
cality was Nathaniel Kingsbury. He had numerous 



successors ; among those who served for several years 
were Isaac F. Woods, Henry C. Kimball, A.M., and 
William A. Kilbourn, A.M. 

The year 1826 was also memorable for the publica- 
tion of the first systematic history of the town, under 
the title of " Topographical and Historical Sketches 
of the Town of Lancaster," occupying ninety pages 
of the Worcester Magazine. Its able and painstaking 
author, Joseph Willard, Esq., was descended from a 
Lancaster family, and practiced law here from 1821 
to 1831. He proposed publishing a more comprehen- 
sive history of Lancaster, and made valuable col- 
lections of material for it, but it was postponed for 
other literary work, and at his death, in 1865, was 
found too incomplete for print. 

During 1827 the brothers, Joseph and Ferdinand 
Andrews, wood and copper engravers, came to Lan- 
caster from Hingham. The latter had been editor of 
the Salem Gazette. George and Horatio Carter built 
the brick house nearly opposite the hotel, in Lancas- 
ter Centre, for a book-store and printing office, and 
thence, March 4, 1828, the first number of the Lan- 
caster Gazette was issued. It was a sheet of five 
columns to the page, edited by Ferdinand Andrews, 
and printed every Tuesday. One of its standing 
advertisements was : " Wood, corn and oats re- 
ceived in pay for the Lancaster Gazette." The 
last number was printed April 13, 1830, and Lancas- 
ter had no newspaper again until the birth of the 
Lancaster Couranf, in 1846. 

Maps had been ])rinted and colored here as early as 
1825 by the Carters, who were copper-plate printers. 
Although the newspaper enterprise did not prosper, 
the firm of Carter & Andrews did an extensive busi- 
ness in book publishing, engraving on wood, copper 
and steel, map printing and coloring, book-binding, 
etc., employing nearly one hundred persons. A type 
foundry was established by Charles Carter, and a 
lithographic press was set up by Henry Wilder in 
connection with the firm. In 1834 the business 
passed under control of Andrews, Shephard & Has- 
tings, and, in 1835, Marsh, Capen, Lyon & Webb took 
possession, using for their publication title " The 
Education Press." The enterprise was abandoned in 
1840. Among many books printed in Lancaster 
were: "Peter Parley's Works," "Farmer's General 
Register of the First Letters of New England," "The 
Comprehensive Commentary," "The Common School 
.lournal," various standard school books, " The 
Girl's Own Book," by Lydia M. Child, a series called 
"The School Library," etc. The wood engraving 
was superior to any work of the kind before that 
date in the United States. 

The Lancaster Bank was incorporated in the name 
of Davis Whitman, Jacob Fisher, Jr., Stephen P. 
Gardner and associates, April 9, 1836, with a capital 
of one hundred thousand dollars. This was increased 
by twenty-five thousand dollars in 1847, again by 
twenty-five thousand in 1851, and by fifty thousand in 



LANCASTER. 



35 



1854. In 1876 the capital was reduced to the original 
amount, and in 1881 the bank was removed to Clinton. 
The first president was James G. Carter, who was suc- 
ceeded in 1840 by Jacob Fisher, Jr. He resigned in 
1874 and George W. Howe was chosen president. 
Caleb T. Syrames, who had been cashier for thirty 
years, retired in 1874 to be succeeded by Wm. H. 
McNeil. Closely connected with this was the Lancas- 
ter Savings Bank, incorporated in 1845, which, after an 
exceptionally prosperous career, was ruined by a series 
of unfortunate investments and placed in the hands 
of receivers. The deposits amounted to about one 
million dollars, of which the depositors have received 
fifty-three and one-third per cent., and a small balance 
awaits the settlement of the Lancaster Bank affairs. 

The dam and mills at Ponikin, from the first saw- 
mill built there in 1713 to the existing cotton factory 
have seen many changes in ownership, location and pro 
duction. The chief proprietors have been Samuel Ben 
nett, Joseph Sawyer, Col. Joseph Wilder, Col. William 
Greenleaf, Major Gardner Wilder, Charles E. Knight, 
Charles L. Wilder, etc. When the last- named built the 
present dam, only traces of the older ones, lower upon 
the stream, were visible, but about a mile up the 
river stood a prosperous saw and grist-mill, owned by 
the Shakers, but built by Sewall Carter about 1828 
near the site of a saw-mill founded by David Whit- 
comb as early as 1721. This mill was bought by the 
American Shoe Shank Company, and for several years 
leather board, patent shanks, etc., were manufactured 
there. The works were burned in December, 188.3. 

While journeying for health and recreation Nathan- 
iel Thayer, D.D., died very suddenly at Rochester, 
N. Y., June 23, 1840. There had been for nearly two 
centuries but one meeting-house, one religious society 
in Lancaster. Sectarian differences there were, but 
they seldom disturbed the harmony of social relations. 
The revered pastor was always the prominent central 
figure of the community, the father of the parish. 
Nathaniel Thayer was twenty-four years of age when 
he began his ministerial labors as the colleague of 
Rev. Timothy Harrington, having been born at Hamp- 
ton, N. H., July 11, 1769. He was the son of Rev. 
Ebenezer and Martha (Cotton) Thayer. His mother 
was a lineal descendant of John Cotton, the first minis- 
tsrof Boston, and through her he ia said to have inher- 
ited certain mental and moral features which had dis- 
tinguished her ancestors, — " an uninterrupted succes- 
sion of clergymen for nearly two hundred and thirty 
years." He was fitted for college in the first class at Phil- 
lips Exeter Academy and graduated at Harvard in 
1789. Two years after his coming to Lancaster, on 
October 22, 1795, he was married to Sarah Toppan, of 
Hampton, and made his home at first in the old house 
now generally known as Mrs. Nancy Carleton's, remov- 
ing, after the death of his venerable colleague, to the 
parsonage which stood a few feet south of the well in 
front of Mrs. Nathaniel Thayer's present residence. 
He received the degree of S.T.D. in 1817. 



Dr. Thayer was in person not over medium height, nor 
was he otherwise of rare mould, but his dignified mien 
and a melodious voice of great compass and flexibility 
gave impressiveness to his oratory. Twenty-three oc- 
casional sermons of his have been printed. Though 
always appropriate and sometimes rich in thought 
happily expressed, the eff'ectiveness traditional of his 
discourses was largely due to the thrilling tones and 
skilful emphasis of the orator. He was conscientiously 
averse to repeating an old sermon even when his time 
was overtasked. Because of his power in the pulpit 
and wisdom in church polity he was frequently sum- 
moned even from great distances to aid in ordination 
and council. 

But not alone nor chiefly for his public teachings 
was he prized by his people. His benignant presence 
was sought as a blessing in times of joy, a comfort in 
great sorrow. The prayer from his lips was the never- 
omitted prelude to business at the town-meeting. 
The young bashfully, the old unreservedly confided 
their hopes, soul experiences and troubles to him, 
assured of hearty sympathy a nd wise counsel. He 
was the depositary of family secrets; the composer 
of neighborhood disputes ; the ultimate referee in 
mooted points of opinion or taste. To a gravity 
which might have graced the Puritan clergymen, his 
maternal ancestors, he joined an affability that showed 
no discrimination in persons, and made him beloved 
of children. 

The day was never too long for his activity. In the 
summer mornings by five o'clock the early travellers 
saw him tilling his garden by the roadside. In the 
alter part of the day he rode about his extended 
parish, stopping to greet every one he met with kindly 
inquiry, carrying consolation to the sick and sorrow- 
ful, help to the destitute, the refreshment of hope to 
the despondent, cheerfulness and peace to all. The 
charm of his fireside, with its hearty hospitality, freely 
and unostentatiously open to every chance guest, its 
frugal comforts made sweeter by abounding Christian 
graces,was never forgotten by those who came under 
its influence. The wife and mother, who presided with 
simple dignity over the household, survived her hus- 
band exactly seventeen years, falling asleep at the 
ripe age of eighty-two. In 1881-82 an apse was added 
to the brick meeting-house, called the Thayer Memo- 
rial Chapel, in honor of Dr. Thayer and his wife. In 
it, besides the spacious chapel, are an elegantly 
appointed church parlor, a kitchen with closets, etc., 
a Sunday-school library room, basement and entrance 
hall. Its cost, amounting to about fifteen thousand 
dollars, was defrayed by a popular subscription among 
the friends of the church, and its memorial character 
is indicated by portraits and a suitably inscribed wall- 
tablet. 

Rev. Edmund Hamilton Sears, of Sandisfield, grad- 
uate of Union College, 1834, was installed as Dr. 
Thayer's successor December 23, 184U. Failing health 
compelled him to obtain rest from the cares of so 



36 



HISTOKY OP WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



large a parish, and his pastoral connection with the 
First Church closed April 1, 1847, to the great grief 
of his people, and the regret of all citizens of the 
town ; for his presence had ever been a quickening 
influence to true and earnest living. His subsequent 
life was largely devoted to literary labors, and of his 
writings, both prose and poetry, some have won a 
wide reputation, and that not confined to the so-called 
religious circles. In 1871 Mr. Sears was honored by 
Harvard College with the degree of S.T.D. He 
died at Weston, January 16, 1876. Before him no 
minister of the First Church had asked or received 
dismission. 

It is now two hundred and thirty-five years since 
Master Joseph Rowlandson began his ministrations in 
the Nashua Valley, and there have been but eight in- 
cumbents of the pulpit in the church he founded, two 
of whom were slaiu when their joint service amounted 
to but twelve years. The present pastor, George 
Murillo Bartol, was unanimously called to his office a 
few months after the loss of Mr. Sears, and the fortieth 
anniversary of his ordination was feelingly celebrated 
by his parishioners on August 4, 1887. He was born 
at Freeport, Me., September, 18, 1820, fitted for col- 
lege at Phillips Exeter Academy, was graduated at 
Brown University in 1842, and from the Cambridge 
Divinity School in 1845. His power for good has not 
been limited by parish confines, nor restricted to the 
stated religious teachings of his order. The clergy 
in Lancaster had ever been held the proper super- 
visors of the schools, and upon his coming Mr. Bar- 
tol was at once placed in the School Board, and was 
annually rechosen, until, having given faithful service, 
usually as chairman of the board, during twenty-one 
years, he felt constrained to ask relief from this oner- 
ous duty. From the establishment of the public 
library he has always stood at the head of the town's 
committee, entrusted with its management, and in its 
inception and increase his refined taste, rare knowl- 
edge of books and sound literary judgment have been 
invaluable. With talents and scholarship that in- 
vited him to a much wider field of service, he has 
clung lovingly to his quiet country parish, making it 
the centre of his efforts and aspirations. He is an en- 
thusiastic lover of Nature in all her moods, a discrimi- 
nating admirer of beauty in art, earnest in his soul 
convictions, although averse to sectarian controversy 
— and so tender of heart as to seem charitable to all 
human weakness, save that he is intolerant of intol- 
erance. ■ 

The Universalist Society was organized April 3, 
1838, and held its meetings for several years in the 
academy building. Rufus S. Pope, James S. Palmer, 
Lucius R. Paige, S.T.D. , and John Harrinian succes- 
sively supplied tlie pulpit until 1843. A meeting- 
house was built in South Lancaster, and dedicated 
April 26, 1848, but seven years later was closed, in 
1858 was sold to the State, and now stands in the 
grounds of the Industrial School. Rev. Benjamin 



Whittemore, born in Lancaster, May 3, 1801, son of 
Nathaniel, was pastor of the society from 1843 to 
1854. He received the degree of S.T.D. from Tufts' 
College in 1867, and died in Boston, April 26, 1881, 
having been totally blind for the last ten years of his 
life. 

The First Evangelical Congregational Church was 
organized at the house of Rev. Asa Packard, a retired 
clergyman resident in Lancaster, February 22, 1839. 
Mr. Packard was a fifer in the Continental ,Vrmy, was 
seriously wounded at Haerlem Heights, entered Har- 
vard College and was graduated in 1783. He was 
for many years a noteworthy figure in the town, by 
reason of his old-school manners and dress. He 
wore knee-breeches and silver buckles, the last seen 
in Lancaster. March 20, 1843, he was found dead in 
his chair, being then eighty-five years of age. He 
preached here but a few times. Rev. Charles Packard 
was ordained January 1, 1840, resigned his pastorate 
here in 18.')4, and died at Biddeford, Me., Februarj' 
17, 1864. He was the son of Rev. Hezekiah Packard, 
born in Chelmsford, April 12, 1801, and was graduated 
at Bowdoin College, 1817. During his valuable min- 
istry in Lancaster, Mr. Packard was familiarly known 
and greatly esteemed by all classes. Firm in opinion , 
outspoken where a principle was involved, he was, 
nevertheless, genial, respectful to the convictions of 
others, and always a preserver of peace. The meet- 
ing-house was dedicated December 1, 1841, was en- 
larged in 1868, and its accommodations increased in 
1852 and 1884, by the addition of a chapel, church 
parlor, etc. 

The successors of Mr. Packard have been : Franklin 
B. Doe, graduate of Amherst, 1851, ordained October 
19, 1854, resigned September 4, 1858; Amos E. Law- 
rence, graduate of Yale, 1840, installed October 10, 
1860, resigned March 6, 1864; George R. Leavitt, 
graduate of Williams, 18G0, ordained March 29,1865, 
resigned 1870 ; Abijah P. Marvin, graduate of Trin- 
ity, 1839, begun preaching here 1870, was installed 
May 1, 1872, and asked dismission September 12, 
1875, but remains a resident of Lancaster, and an 
actively useful factor in its affiiirs ; Henry C. Fay, 
graduate of Amherst, employed 1876; Marcus Ames, 
acting pastor, 1877 ; William De Loss Love, Jr., 
graduate of Hamilton, 1873, ordained September 18, 
1878, dismissed July, 1881; Darius A. Newton, 
graduate of Amherst, 1879, ordained September 21, 
1882, dismissed 1885; Lewis W. Morey, graduate of 
Dartmouth, 1876, is now acting i)astor. 

The New Jerusalem Church of Lancaster was not 
legally organized until January 29, 1876, but neigh- 
berhood meetings had been held by believers of 
Swedenborg's doctrines so early as 1830, and for many 
years Reverends James Reed, Abiel Silver and Joseph 
Pettee at intervals visited the town and held services, 
usually in an ante-room of the town hall. Richard 
Ward was called as the first pastor in 1880, and was 
installed on the same day with the dedication of the 



4'' 






LANCASTER. 



37 



chapel, December 1, 1880. Besides the tasteful 
chapel, the society owns the parsonage and a small 
fund, due to the beneficence of Henry Wilder, who 
was for about twenty years the reader at meetings of 
the New Church believers. At his death his prop- 
erty was found to be willed for the establishment of 
this church. 

The Catholic chapel was consecrated July 12, 1873. 
The parish is in charge of Rev. Richard J. Patterson, 
of Clinton. 

The Seventh-Day Adventist Church in South Lan- 
caster was organized in 1864, and its meeting-house 
was dedicated May 5,1878. Stephen N. Haskell was 
ordained its elder in August, 1870. 

The old town-house being inadequate to the public 
needs, in April, 1847, it was voted to erect a new one 
of brick " between the Academy and the brick meet- 
ing-house,'' if land could be obtained, in accordance 
with plans furnished by John C. Hoadley, a noted 
civil engineer then living in Lancaster. The building 
was completed in 1848, costing about seven thousand 
dollars. It had only a single story at first, but the 
hall proved almost useless as an auditorium because 
of echoes, and in 1852 a second story was added at 
an expense of twenty-five hundred dollars. This has 
been used ever since as a school-room. The annex 
at the rear was built in 1881. 

Under the stimulus of the comb manufacture and 
the temporary prosperity of the cotton factories of 
Poignand & Plant and James Pitts, the southerly 
portion of Lancaster had slowly grown in population 
to nearly fifty families by 18H0, and became known as 
the Factory Village. The valuable water-power of 
the locality was not half developed for lack of enter- 
prise and capital. In due time these came, and com- 
bined with them came rare inventive genius. The 
Clinton Company began its prosperous career in the 
manufacture of the Bigelow coach-lace in 1838. In 
1841 the Bigelow quilt-looms were started. In 1844 
the foundations of the great gingham-mills on the 
Nashua were laid. Soon after the Bigelow power- 
looms revolutionized the making of Brussels carpet- 
ing. Lancaster suddenly awoke to find, built upon 
Prescott's mill-site, the bustling, ambitious village of 
Clintonville, embr.acing within a single square mile 
more people than dwelt in all its borders elsewhere. 
Another division of the old town was seen to be in- 
evitable, and Lancaster, on the 15th of February, 
1850, granted to her daughter, Clinton, 4907 acres of 
land and independence, which grant the Governor and 
Legislature confirmed on March 14th. 

June 15, 1853, a great multitude from near and afar 
assembled in Lancaster to commemorate the two 
hundredth anniversary of the incorporation of the 
town. After exercises at the meeting-house, which 
included an oration by Joseph Willard, the historian, 
a procession was formed and marched to the elm- 
shaded lawn at South Lancaster, where three of the 
town's ministers, Whiting, Gardner and Prentice, had 



lived and died. There hosts and guests found tables 
loaded with food, and the usual social exercises ended 
the festivities. The proceedings of the day were 
published, forming a volume of two hundred and 
thirty octavo pages, containing much local history. 

The eminent educator. Professor William Russell, 
established the New England Normal Institute in 
Lancaster, May 11, 1853. It had but a brief life, 
though a very useful one, ceasing to be in the autumn 
of 1855. Dependent for support upon the fees 
received of students, it could not longer compete with 
the free normal schools of the State. Professor Rus- 
sell thenceforward made Lancaster his home, and 
here died August 16, 1873, "universally beloved and 
respected for his many virtues. Christian graces and 
scholarly attainments." He was a native of Glasgow, 
Scotland, born April 28, 1798, and a graduate of 
Glasgow University. 

Lancaster began the printing of its annual school 
reports with that of Rev. Edmund H. Sears for the 
school year 1842-43. The first free high school was es- 
tablished in 1849, but was discontinued after the sepa- 
ration of Clinton in 1850, although the town from 
time to time voted to pay the tuition at the academy 
of scholars qualified for a high school course. In 
1873 the free high school was re-established and located 
in the upper rooms of the town hall, and the academy 
ceased to exist. In 1851 the town, by authority of a 
recent enactment, abolished the school districts, since 
which year four of the original eleven district schools 
have been abandoned, and all schools of suitable size 
liave been graded into primary and grammar depart- 
ments. New school buildings, with modern furniture 
.md appointments, also have replaced the time-worn 
structures owned by the districts. The town has 
nearly always stood first in rank in the county, and 
among the first twenty-five of the State in its expen- 
diture for education. The appropriation for 1888 is 
six thousand eight hundred dollars, the children of 
school age numbering three hundred and twenty- 
four. 

It is now one hundred years since the first recorded 
election in Lancaster of a school visiting committee. 
Dr. Thayer became chairman of the board in place 
of Rev. Timothy Harrington in 1794, and held the 
position forty-six years, until his decease. Silas 
Thurston, a veteran schoolmaster, was first elected in 
1820 and served for thirty-seven years. He also died 
in oflice, October 25, 1868. Capt. Samuel Ward 
served about twenty-five years between 1788 and 
1816. Rev. George M. Bartol was of the school com. 
mittee during twenty-one years between 1848 and 1872. 
Solon Whiting served sixteen years between 1820 and 
1843. Fifteen others have been members of the 
School Board ten years or more each. 

After the destruction of Lancaster in 1676, Master 
Rowlandson's books are spoken of by Mather as 
though a considerable part of his loss. Mention is 
often found in early inventories and elsewhere of 



38 



HISTORY OP WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



respectable literary collections iu the possession of 
Lancaster scholars. But the first considerable library 
of a public character here was established by an asso 
ciation of citizens in 1790, and known as the Lancaster 
Library. This society was reorganized in 1800 as the 
Social Library Association. In 1850 the books were 
sold at auction to the number of a little over a thou- 
sand. The Library Club was organized the next 
year, and in 1862 its collection, numbering over six 
hundred volumes, together with one hundred and 
thirty volumes of the Agricultural Library Associa- 
tion, were offered in aid of a tree public lil)rary, pro- 
vided the town would assume its support and increase 
as authorized by statute. The town accepted the 
gift, added the little school libraries which had been 
purchased in 1844, and opened the collection to the 
public October 4, 1862, in an upper room of the town 
hall. 

January 22, 1860, Mr. Nathaniel Thayer proffered 
the town a permanent fund of eight thousand dollars 
the income of five thousand to be expended in the 
purchase of books for the library, and that of the 
remainder for the care of the public burial-grounds. 
The trust was accepted at the next town-meeting with 
grateful acknowledgments. At this date there had 
been some discussion about the erection of a monu- 
ment to those men of Lancaster who had given their 
lives for their country during the Rebellion. It was 
wisely decided at the town-meeting of April, 1866, that 
the memorial should take the form of a useful public 
building, with suitable tablets and inscriptions upon 
its inner walls. The town voted the sum of five 
thousand dollars for the erection of a library room, 
to be known as Memorial Hall, provided an equal 
amount should be obtained by private subscription 
The building was completed and dedicated June 17, 
1868, Rev. Christopher T. Thayer being the orator ol 
the day, and Nathaniel Thayer presiding. The cost 
of this memorial was nearly thirty thousand dollars, 
of which Nathaniel Thayer defrayed nearly two- 
thirds. 

Hon. Francis B. Fay subscribed one thousand dol- 
lars, and afterwards gave one hundred dollars more 
for a clock. Colonel Fay had been a resident of the 
town for about ten years, having built a mansion in 
1859 upon the site now covered by the country-house 
of E. V. R. Thayer. He was born in Southborough 
June 12, 1793, had served in both branches of the 
Legislature for Chelsea, of which city he was the 
first mayor, and for a brief time was Representative 
in Congress, being appointed by Governor Boutwell 
to fill the unexpired term of Hon. Robert Rantoul, 
deceased. He died in 1876. 

George A. Parker presented the library with a 
large collection of costly works relating to the fine 
arts, selected by himself and valued at over five hun- 
dred dollars, and gave seven hundred dollars for the 
purchase of books of similar character. This en- 
lightened benefaction of Mr. Parker claims the 



gratitude of the community not only, nor chiefly, for 
its munificence, but because it richly endowed a de- 
partment which must otherwise have been meagrely 
furnished, — affords the means for gratifying the love 
of beauty, innate in all humanity, — combats utilita- 
rianism and teaches refinement — exerts a humanizing 
and exalting influence by appeals to hope and imagi- 
nation from beyond the dry line of knowledge. The 
nature of the gift discloses something of the charac- 
ter of the donor, who was a man of broad intellect, 
keen powers of observation and comprehensive views 
upon measures of public utility. Extensive travtl 
had developed in him cosmopolitan tastes, he had 
acquired a wide acquaintance with English literature, 
and his private collection of books was of choice 
selection and the largest in the town. 

George Alanson Parker was born May 9, 1822, at 
Concord, N. H., one of thirteen children. Being 
early thrown upon his own resources, he was forced 
reluctantly to abandon cherished hopes of a classical 
education, although fitted for entrance to Harvard 
College, and began his life's work in the office of the 
noted civil engineer, Loammi Baldwin. In 1842 he 
opened an engineering oflSce in Charlestown, Mass., 
associated with Samuel M. Felton, whose youngest 
sister became his wife. Among other public works 
in which he was engaged during this part of his 
career were the surveys of the Filchburg, Peterboro' 
and Shirley and Sullivan roads, and the building of 
the Sugar Elver and Bellows Falls bridges. In the 
spring of 1857 he came to Lancaster to reside. He 
became the chief engineer for the Philadelphia, Wil- 
mington and Baltimore Railway, and during a long 
illness of President Felton was acting president of 
the corporation. The building of the Susquehanna 
Bridge at Havre de Grace, Md., was his most cele- 
brated professional success, and one which gave him 
a national reputation. In the earlier stages of its 
construction he patiently overcame almost insuper- 
able natural difficulties, and when the superstructure 
was well advanced a tornado destroyed, in a few 
moments, the labors of months. This terrible mis- 
fortune be bore with cheerful fortitude, displaying 
great fertility of expedient and fresh energy in the 
reconstruction. During the Rebellion he was agent 
of the government for supplying rolling-stock to the 
roads used by the War Department. His latest work 
was the building of the Zanesville and Ohio River 
Railway. He was for many years consulting engineer 
of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad corporation. He 
freely gave his townsmen the benefit of his large ex- 
perience and skill for the permanent improvement of 
the public ways and bridges, and served them faith- 
fully for three years in the Legislature. 

Throughout a life of unusual activity and grave 
responsibility never did his home in Lancaster fail 
to give him peace, rest and inspiration for new work. 
For Lancaster he always had a devoted affection, 
and for her people a sincere regard, which displayed 






1 



LANCASTER. 



39 



itself in earnest and ready sympathy in time of need. 
Though too busy a man to be greatly given to social 
recreation, his hospitality was unbounded, and he was 
one of the most entertaining and genial of hosts, the 
most kindly and helpful of neighbors. He lived in 
closest sympathy with Nature, having the tenderest 
appreciation of every beauty in her realms of field, 
forest and stream. In the marvelous order of the 
seasons, in the development of animate and inani- 
mate creation, he recognized the law and beneficence 
of the Almighty and found confirmation of his strong 
and abiding religious faith. By the roadsides and 
within the borders of his own estate remain the ever- 
growing evidence of his love for trees and his thought 
for his children's children and the townspeople. 
In the graceful outline and the grateful shade of a 
stately tree he felt truly that to them who should 
live after him he had left a kindly memory. 

He died very suddenly April 20, 1887, before any 
waning of bodily or mental vigor was discernible in 
him, and before he had reached the span of life 
allotted to man ; but he had done a full life-time's 
work. Death came as he would have had it — in his 
own home and when his earthly labors had found 
successful conclusion, 

Hon. George Bancroft, September 20, 1878, in 
memory of kindness received in boyhood of ('apt. 
Samuel Ward, asked the town to receive one thousand 
dollars in trust, the income " to be expended year by 
year for the purchase of boobs in the department of 
history, leaving the word to be interpreted in the very 
largest .sense." The trust was accepted with proper 
expression of thanks, and is entitled the Bancroft 
Library Fund, in memory of Capt. Samuel Ward. 
The income of two thousand dollars, the bequest of 
Rev. Christopher T. Thayer, who died in 1880, is also 
available for the purchase of books. Special bequests 
have been received from Mary Whitney, Deborah 
Stearns, Sally Flagg, Mrs. Catherine (Stearn.s) Bal- 
lard and Martha R. Whitney. Henry Wilder and 
Dr. J. L. S. Thompson, by their intelligent interest 
and zeal, secured valuable archfeological and natural 
history collections, which are constantly increasing 
by donations. 

The library is more generously endowed with ex- 
pensive and beautiful works on the natural sciences 
and art than most public libraries of twice its size 
and age. It is also rich in local history and bibliog- 
raphy, as such a collection should be. The town 
appropriates for its care and increase one thousand 
dollars annually, besides the dog-tax, fines and sales 
of duplicates — amounting to four or five hundred 
dollars more. 

The memorial hall, occupying the larger part of the 
edifice, serves as a reading-room, contains shelving 
for twenty thousand volumes, and a tablet upon which 
are cut the names of the town's soldiers who died in 
the war. A fire-proof room is used by town officers, 
and contains the town records. The natural history 



collections are displayed in an upper hall. The num- 
ber of bound books is now twenty thousand ; of pam- 
phlets, over ten thousand. About thirteen thousand 
volumes were loaned during 1887 for home use, or an 
average of twenty-nine for each family in town. The 
management of the library and cemeteries is vested 
in a committee of seven. Rev. George M. Bartol has 
been chairman of this board from the first. Dr. J. L. 
S. Thompson served as librarian, with the exception 
of one year, until 1878, and Miss Alice G. Chandler 
has held the office since that date. The original 
building being already crowded by the growth of the 
collections, extensive additions are in progress which 
will more than quadruple the shelf capacity. The 
cost of these improvements is assumed by the four 
sons of Nathaniel Thayer, honoring their father's 
generous interest in this noble institution, the pride 
of the town. 

There are six public burial-grounds in Lancaster, 
all save one thickly set with the narrow homes of the 
town's majority. The oldest is mentioned in 1658 as 
" burying-place hill," and probably was set apart for 
its purpose in 1653, being close by the site of the first 
meeting-house. The oldest date legible is that upon 
a stone marking the grave of the first John Houghton 
— April 29, 1684. There are older memorial stones, 
however, but undated. Among them are that of the 
first John Prescott, 1683, and that of Dorothy, the 
first wife of Jonathan Prescott, who died a year or 
two before the massacre. The earliest stones are rude 
slabs of slate, and the brief inscriptions, now almost 
illegible, seem to have been incised by an ordinary 
blacksmith's chisel in unskilled hands. The graves 
of four of the earlier ministers — Whiting, Gardner, 
Prentice and Harrington — are grouped together in 
this yard. 

The second burying-ground is that upon the Old 
Common, opposite the site of the third church. The 
land for this was given by the second Thomas Wilder, 
probably in 1705. The third, called the North Ceme- 
tery, as a town institution dates from 1800, but the 
field had been used for burial purposes several years 
earlier. 

The Middle Cemetery contains about two acres, and 
was purchased of Dr. Thayer and Hon. John Sprague 
in 1798. The North Village Cemetery covers about 
four acres, and was bought in 1855. Eastwood em- 
braces forty-six acres, was purchased in 1871, accepted 
as a cemetery in April, 1874, and dedicated October 
12, 1876. The grounds are forest clad and naturally 
beautiful, the highest elevations commanding exten- 
sive views. They are laid out with winding drives 
according to a plan made by H. W. S. Cleveland, 
landscape architect, a native of Lancaster. All the 
public burial-places are cared for by a special com- 
mittee. The town's appropriation for' this purpose is 
usually three hundred dollars, and the income of 
seven special funds amounts to two hundred dollars 
more. 



40 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



CHAPTER VI. 

LANCASTER— (ai?///?:/*?^). 

'flic nehellifin—The Town's Histonj Printed— The Town's Poor—Denth of 
Nathaniel Thatjer^ General Statistics, Etc. 

At the Presidential election of 1856 the vote of 
Lancaster was : For John C. Fremont, 232 ; James 
Buchanan, 35; Millard Fillmore, 10. The vote 
of 1860 stood: For Abraham Lincoln, 183; Stephen 
A. Douglas, 42; John Bell, 41. The men who thus 
voted, when traitors appealed from the ballot-box to 
the sword, were not tardy in defence of their convic- 
tions. One of Lancaster's sons served in the Sixth 
Regiment, in which was shed the first blood of the 
Rebellion, in 1861, on the anniversary of the battle of 
Lexington. The news of that bloodshed told every 
village of the North that the bitterness of civil war 
had begun. Monday evening, April 22d, a mass- 
meeting of the citizens in Lancaster town-hall. Dr. 
J. L. S. Thompson chairman, deliberated upon the 
grave dangers threatening the republic. Enthusias- 
tic patriotism ruled the assembly ; nor was it con- 
tent with flamboyant resolutions only, but began 
then and there the organization of a company for 
the defence of the government. 

This company, seventy-eight men, chiefly of Lan- 
caster and Bolton, was called the Fay Light Guard, 
in honor of Hon. Francis B. Fay, of Lancaster. It 
was soon drilling under command of Thomas Sher- 
win, captain-elect, and three weeks later joined the 
Fifteenth Regiment, in camp at Worcester. With- 
out any suflScient reason, alleged or apparent, the 
Governor arbitrarily refused to commission the com 
pany's chosen commander as captain, and the men, 
in response, encouraged by the sympathy of the 
whole camp, refused to be sworn in under the 
stranger from another county set over them. The 
company was therefore disbanded, when the rank 
and file, almost without exception, enlisted in other 
companies of the Fifteenth and Twenty-first Regi- 
ments. They had received an outfit, and been paid 
one dollar per day for all time spent in drill, at an 
expense to the town of nearly one thousand dol- 
lars. Before the end of August, 1861, forty volun- 
teers represented Lancaster in the Union Army, and 
before October closed, four of these slept their last 
sleep on the banks of the Potomac, victims in the 
defeat at Ball's Bluff". 

Meetings for drill were held in the town;hall on 
Monday evenings, in which many a volunteer who 
afterwards did good service in the field received his 
first lessons in the school of the soldier. Donations 
of money, underclothing, etc., were solicited by a 
citizens' comm.ittee, and, during the first winter of 
the war, forwarded for distribution among the 
town's soldiers. In July, 1862, systematic measures 
were adopted for affording relief to the sick and 
wounded. Frequent public meetings kept enthusi- 



asm from flagging. Seventeen three-years' men 
were demanded of the town, and were soon march- 
ing with ^he Thirty-fourth Regiment. It was 
voted, July '23d, to pay each recruit sworn in the sum 
of one hundred dollars. Twenty-one nine-months' 
men were called for in August, and entered the 
camp of the Fifty-third, under Lieut. Edward R. 
Washburn. 

The Soldiers' Relief Association was formed Au- 
gust 27, 1862, with Mrs. Harriet W. Washburn, presi- 
dent, and Miss Elizabeth P. Russell, secretary and 
treasurer. It soon became a branch of the Sanitary 
Commission, held weekly meetings, which were uni- 
formly well attended, and quietly accomplished a 
vast amount of beneficent work. 

In the calls of 1863 the town again offered one 
hundred dollars bounty in addition to that promised 
by State and national government, and her quota 
was quickly filled, most of the recruits being as- 
signed to the Thirty-fourth and Thirty-sixth Regi- 
ments. In 1864 the premium was raised to one hun- 
dred and twenty-five dollars, the maximum allowed 
by law, and sundry substitutes were hired. As 
news came from the great battle-fields one by one, 
Lancaster learned that her sons were doing their 
duty everywhere, and family after family mourned 
their unreturning brave. Capt. George L. Thurston 
came from the battle-ground of Shiloh, his constitu- 
tion undermined by fatigue and exposure, to die 
among his kindred. Capt. Edward R. Washburn 
was brought from the bloody charge at Port Hudson 
wilh a shattered thigh, to die at home within a year. 
In the very last days of the struggle Col. Frank 
Washburn fell mortally wounded, while leading a 
desperate cavalry charge against an overwhelming 
force of the enemy at High Bridge. 

The following is a complete roster of those who 
served for Lancaster : 

Albee, John G., 53d (nine monthp), I ; 18 ; Oct. 18, '62 ; taken prisoner 
at Thibod<iaux, La. ; ninstered out Sept. 2, '63. 

Alexander, Natlianiel, IStli, C; 40; Dec. 17, '01 ; discliarged for dis- 
ability Oct. 15, '62. 

Atchlnsoo, William, 28th, A ; 22 ; Aug. 10, '63 ; mustered out June 30, 
'65 ; a substitute for 0. L. Wilder, Jr. 

Ayers, John t'urtis, 53d (nine months), I ; 25 ; Oct. 18, '62, as sergeant ; 
ad lieut. May 22, '63 ; Ist lieut. July 2, '63 ; mustered out Sept. 2, 
18li3. 

Balcom, Charles H., 15th, C; 33; Dec. 14, '61 ; transferred to V. E. C. 
April 15, '64 ; re-enlisted ; mustered out Nov. 14, '65. 

Ball, Henry F., 4th C'av., V, ; 24 ; Dec. 31, '63 ; hospital steward Sept., 
'64 ; mustered out Nov. 14, '65 ; credited to Clinton. 

Bancroft, Frank Carter, ntias Henry T. Colter, 8th New Hampshire, A ; 
17 ; Oct. 25, '61 ; drummer ; wovinded in ankle at Maryville, La., 
May, "63 ; re-enlisted ; mustered out Oct. 28, '65. 

Barnes, Frank W., U. S. Navy ; enlisted Sept. 15, '62, ou frigate '* Min- 
nesota ; " discharged Sept., '63. 

Barnes, George A., 16(h. C ; 18 ; cori>oral July 2, '61 ; sliot through foot 
and taken prisoner at second battle of Bull's Run, Va., Aug. 20, '62 ; 
discharged for wound Oct. 10, '62. 

Beard, Jonas H., 25th, C ; 25; Sept. 28, '61 ; re-enlisted; wounded in 
hip at Cold Harbor, Va., June 3, '64 ; mustered out July 13, '65. 

Bell, John, 2d C'av, ; 26 ; May 7, '64 ; unassigned recruit ; a non-resi- 
dent substitute. 

Blgelow, William W., 26th, D ; 21 ; Sept. 27, '61 ; taken prisoner in 
N. C. ; discharged for disability March IS, '63. 



LANCASTEK. 



41 



Bergman, Albert, 3d Cav. ; 26 ; July 2, '64 ; a non-resident substitute. 
Blood, Charles E., 34th, H ; 21 ; Dec. 19, '0:i ; transferred June 14, V.5. 

tu 'Jltti, G ; sergfant ; mustered out Jan. 20, 'GG. 
Bridge, James A., 34th, H ; Pec. 19, V.3 ; shirt in forehead at Nf wniarket, 

Va., Mii.v !■'>, '64, and died of wound. 
Brooks, Walter A., 53d (nine months), I ; •^5 ; Oct. 18, '02 ; corporal; 

died at Memphis, Tenn., Aug. 22, '63. 
Brown, Jonas II., 34th, H ; 41 ; July 31, '62 ; mustered out June 16, 'r-5. 
Burbank, Levi B., 34th, H ; 43 ; July 31, '62 ; discliarged for disability 

Feb. 27, '64. 
Burditt, Charles F., 3);th ; 43 ; Dec. 26, '03 ; uiiaRsigned and rejected le- 

cniit ; a veteran of the Florida war. 
Burditt, Thomas E., 2uth, D ; 22 ; Sept. 4, '61 ; mustered out Sept. 14, 

1864. 
Burke, James E., 2l6t, E ; 26 ; Aug. 23, '61 ; killed at Chantilly, Sept. 1, 

1S62. 
Carr, William D., 13th New Hampshire, (i ; 40 ; Sept. 19, '62; corporal ; 

wtiurnled by shell Bluy 13, '64, and dietl of wound June 2n, '64. 
rhafee, Cieorge E., r>3d (nine months), I ; 35 ; Oct. 18, '62 ; taken pris- 
oner at Brashear City, La , June 20, '63 ; mustered out Sept. 2, '63. 
Chandler, Frank W., 53d (nine months), I ; IS ; Oct. 18, '62 ; mustered 

out Sept. 2, '63. 
Chaplin, Solun W., 34th, H ; 38 ; Jdly 31, 'i;2 ; rulur corporal ; killedat 

Piedmont, Va., ,lune 5, '64, by shell. 
Clinton, Joseph, 2d, I ; 22 ; May 7, '64 ; mustered out July 14, '65 ; a 

non-resident substitute. 
Cobb, William L., 3-lth, H ; 22 ; 2d lieut. July 18, '62 ; let lieut. Aug. 

23, '62 ; wounded in forehead at Ripen, Va., Oct. IS, '63 ; taken 

prisoner at Cedar Creek, Va , Oct. 13, '64 ; capt. Feb. 18, '65 ; mus 

tered out May 15, '65, as 1st lieut. 
Coburn, George B., 34th, II ; IS ; July 31, '62 ; shot through foot, acci- 

deutally, before Petersburg, and discharged therefor May 16, '65. 
Coburn, Cyrus E., 5th (one hundred days), I ; 21 ; July 19, '64 ; mus- 
tered out Nov. 16, '64. 
Copeland, Joseph, 15th, D ; 21 ; April 29, '64 ; transferred to 2i_»tb, E, 

July 27, '64; died a prisoner at Salisbury, N. C, Dec. 21, '64; a 

substitute. 
Ooyle, John, 2d Cav., H ; 22 ; May T, '64 ; a non-resident substitute. 
Cutler, George W., 15th, C; 22; July 12, '61 ; shot through head at 

liall's Bluff, Va., Oct. 21, '61. 
Outler, Isaac N., 15th, C ; 20 ; July 12, '61 ; severely wounded iu left 

ankle at Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, '62, and discharged therefor March 

20, '63. 
Cutler, Henry .\., 53d (nine months), I ; 18 ; Oct. IS, '62 ; died at Baton 

Rouge, La., July 9, '63. 
Dailoy, James, 3Uh, H ; 18 ; July 31, '62 ; mustered out June 16, '65. 
Damon, Daniel M., 34th, H ; 25 ; July 31, '62 ; 1st sergt. ; taken pris- 
oner at Winchester Sei)t. 19, '64 ; 2d lieut. May 15, '65 ; mustered 

out June 16, 'ii.">, as 1st sergt. 
Davidson, Thomas H., 15th, A ; 25 ; July 12, '61 ; discharged for dis- 
ability April 25, '62. 
Davis, George W., 13tli Battery L. A. ; 23 ; April 6, '64 ; mustered out 

July 28, '65; a non-resident substitute. 
Day, Joseph N., 34tb, H ; 22 ; Jan. 4, '64 ; wovnided in head at Win- 
chester, Va., Sept. 19, "64 ; transferred to 24th, G, June 14, '65, 

and to V. It. C. May 2, '65 ; discharged July 25, '65. 
Dillon, James, 3Uh, H ; 26 ; July 31, '62 ; discharged for disability April 

7, '63, and died at home 3Iay 10, *63, of consumption. 
Divoll, George W.. 7th Battery L. A. ; 37 ; Jan. 5, '64 ; died at New 

(irleans, La., Sept. 21, '64 ; credited to Leominster. 
Dupee, John, 33d, E ; 36 ; July 2, '64 ; transferred to 2d, A, June 1, 

'65 ; mustered out July 14, '65 ; a non-resident substitute. 
Eldon, Henry H., V. S. Signal Corps ; 23 ; Dec. 2, '64 ; a non-resident 

substitute. 
Ellis, Warren, 15th, F ; 20 ; July 12, '61 ; wounded at Antietam, Md., 

Sei>t. 17, '62 ; transferred to U. S. Signal Corps Oct. 27, '63. 
Fahay, Bartholet, 15th Unattached Co. (one hundred days) ; 21 ; July 

29, '64 ; nnistered out Nov. 15, '64. 
Fairbanks, Francis H., 15th, C ; 25 ; July 12, '61 ; discharged for dis 

ability April 10, '62 ; re-enlisted in 34th, H, July 31, '62 ; taken 

prisoner at Cedar Cret^k, Va., Oct., '64, and died at Salisburj', N. C, 

Jan, 4, '65. 
Fairbanks, Charles T., 1st New Hampshire Inf. (three months), F ; 

23; May 2, '61; mustered out Aug. 9, '61; re-enlisted in N. H. 

Batt. of N. E. Cav. Sept. 15, '62 ; shot through body June 18, 'G;i, 

and died the next day. 
Farnsworth, John A., 34th, H ; IS ; July 31, '62; corporal; wounded 

3i 



in arm at Piedmont June o, '64 ; discharged for disability May 18, 
)R0.5. 

Farnswortli, Franjilin H., l.ith, C; i;i ; July 12, 'Gl ; killed at Fair 
llaks. Va., May 31, '62. 

Farnsworth, (ieorge W., 34th, H ; IS ; Jan. 4, '61 ; wounded in head at 
Piedmont, .lune o, '64 ; discharged for dieahility June 8, 'ft5. 

Farn.9»orth, John E., 34th, H ; 18 ; July 31, '62 ; corporal ; wounded 
in leg at Newmarket May 1^, '64 ; in arm and hip at Winchester 
Sept. 19. '64 ; mustered out June Iti, '6.5. 

Farnswiuth, William H., Vth, B; June !.■;, '61. 

Field, Edwin F., 2l8t, E ; 29 ; Aug. 23, '61 ; sergt. ; 2d lieut. Dec. 18, 
'62 ; resigned May 8, '63. 

Finnesey, James, 42d New York, K ; 21 ; corporal ; Aug. 9, '61 ; sergt., 
transferred to .'i9th N. Y. ; mustered out .\nguBt 5, '64 ; died at In- 
dianapolis c let. in, '64. 

Fisher, William H., 53d (nine months), I ; 18 ; tict. 18, '62 ; mustered 
out Sept. 2, '63. 

Flagg, Albert, 53d, K ; IS ; Oct. 17, '62 ; mustered out Sept. 2, '63. 

Flagg, Charles B. , 34th, A ; 23; June 2.3, '62 ; mustered out June 16, 
1865. 

Fox, William L,, 21st, E; 19; August '23, '61 ; corporal; wounded in 
arm at t'hantilly Sept. 1, '62 ; re-enlisted Jan. 2, '64 ; sergt.; dis- 
charged ;is supernumerary Sept. 24, '64. 

Fox, Thomas, Uth Battery L. A. ; 18 ; Dec. 23, '64 ; mustered out June 
16, '65 ; aaubstilute. 

Frary, Oscar, 53d (nine months), I ; .30 ; Oct. 18, '62 ; died at Baton- 
Rouge, La., July 28 ; '63. 

Fuller, Edward M, 34th, F ; 20; corporal; Aug. 9, '62; appointed 
capt. in 39lh U. S C. T. March 21, '64; maj. U. S. 0. T. June 1, 
'65; mustered out Dtc, '65; wounded in head at Petersburg July 
30, '64. 

Fury, Michael, 34th, II ; 26 ; July 31, '02 ; wounded in leg at Piedmont 
June 5, '64 ; mustered out August 6, '65. 

Goodwin, John, 2d Cavalry, L ; IS ; Sept. 13, '64 ; a non-resident sub- 
stitute. 

Gould, John, V. S. Navy ; /enlisted August, '62, on supply steamer 
"Rhode Island." 

Gray, Stephen W , .34tli, H ; 30; July 31, '62; died at Martinsburg, 
Va., April 2, '64. 

Gray, James M., I5th, C; 23; July 12, '61 ; discharged for disability 
Feb. 16, '63. 

Hardy, George H., 21st, D ; 21 ; Aug. 23, '61 ; corporal ; wounded in leg 
at Roanoke Island Feb. 7, '62 ; re-enlisted Jan. 2, '64, and trans- 
ferred to 36th, I ; wounded in body at Petersburg, Va., June 1, '64 ; 
transferred to 56th June 8, '65; mustered out July 12, '65; 
credited to Harvard and Leominster. 

HarriiUHU, Harris C, 53d (nine months), I ; 33 ; Oct. 18, '62 ; wounded 
by shell in leg at Port Hudson, La., June 14, '62 ; mustered out 
Sept. 2, '63. 

Haynes, John C, 36th, G ; 29 ; Jan. 2, '64 ; diedat Camp Nelson, Ky., 
March l:i, '64. 

Hills, 'rhomas Augustus, 53d (nine months), C ; 21 ; Nov. 6, '62 ; mus- 
tered out Sept. 2, '63 ; enlisted in 5tll (one hundred days) July 22, 
'64 ; mustered out Nov. 16, '64. as sergt ; credited to Leominster . 

llodgman, Oren, 34th, C ; 19; July 31, '62 ; taken prisoner at New- 
market, Va., May 15, '64, and died at Charleston, S. C, Sept. 30, 
1864. 

Horan, Fordyce, 15th, A ; 20 ; Dec. '24, '61 ; transferred to Ist U. S. 
Artillery, Co. I, Nov. 17, '62 ; died at Washington Nov. 3, '64. 

Hosley, Henry H., 15th, C ; 18 ; July 12, '61 ; transferred Nov. 12, '62, 
to Ist U. S. Artillery, I; mustered out July 12, '64 ; credited to 
Townsend. 

Hunting. Albert G., 16th, B ; 19 ; July 2, '61 ; killed at Fair Oaks June 
25, '64 ; credited to Holliston. 

Hunting, Joseph W.. 16th, B ; 22 ; July *2, '61 ; mustered out July 27, 
'64 ; credited to Holliston. 

Hunting, Thomas A. G., 34lh, H ; 45 ; July 31, '62 ; shot through the 
body and taken prisoner at Piedmont, Va., June 5, '64 ; discharged 
for disability May 23, '65. 

Jackson, David W., 53d (nine months), I ; 33 ; Oct. 18, '62 ; mustered 
out Sept. 2, '63. 

James, John, 53d (nine months), I ; 21 ; Oct. 18, '62 ; mustered out 
Sept. 2, '63. 

Johnson, Adelbert W., 15th, C ; 23 ; July 12, 'CI ; discharged for dis- 
ability May, '62 ; enlisted in 53d, Nov. 6, '62, from Leominster ; 
wounded in knee at Port Hudson, La., and died at Baton Rouge 
July 11, '63. 



42 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY. MASSACHUSETTS. 



Joslyn, EiiwarJ R., 13th Illinois, B ; 21 ; enlisted at Sterling, 111., May 
24, '61 ;'talveu piisuiitT May 17, '64, and died at St. Louis, SIo., April 
13, '05. 
Kelly, Martin, 60tli New York, II; 20; enlisted at Ogilenslnirg, N. 
Y., Oct. 17, '61 ; corporal ; I'o-enlisted Dec. 14, '63 ; muatered out 
July 17, '65. 
Kern, John, 2d Heavy Artillery ; 22 ; July 2, '04 ; a non-rt*sident suh- 

stituto. 
Keyes, Sunnier W., fith (one huinired days), I ; 21 ; July 19, '64 ; mus- 
tered out Nov. 16, 'G4. 
Keyes, Stephen A., 53d (nine niontliB), K ; IS ; Oct. 17, '62 ; died and 

buried at sea off FUirida Aug. 10, '63. 
Kilburn, Sumner R.. 15th, ; 18 ; July 12, '01 ; re-enliBted Feb. IS, '64 ; 
wounded in Wilderness, Ya., 3Iay 6, '04, and died at Fredericksburg 
May 16, '64. 
Kingsbury, Joseph \V., Ififh, A ; 18 ; Aug. 1, '61 ; taken prisoner and 

discharged for dinability Nov. 27, 'C2. 
Kittredge, Solomon, ]5tli, C ; 42 ; Dec. 17, 'Gl ; transferred May 1, '62, 

to V. 11, C. ; re-enlisted July 1, '64; innstered out Nov. 14, '05. 
Krum, John, 35Hi, K ; 24 ; Juno 29, '64 ; transferred to 29th, K, 

June 9, '05 ; a non-resident substitute. 
Langley, James, 2d Cavalry ; 22 ; May 7, '04 ; a non-resident sub- 
stitute. 
Lawrence, Sewell T., i!3d, H ; 31 ; Oct. 5, 'Gl ; discharged for disability 

Aug. 11, '62; credited to Clinton. 
Lawrence, Willard K., 15th, C ; 28 ; July 12, 'Gl ; shot thruugli body 

and killed at Ball's Bluff, Va., Oct. 21, '61. 
Leioy , Frank B., 57th, C ; 18 ;lFeb. IS, '04 ; mustered out June 22, '65 ; 

a non-resident substitute. 
SlcCarron, William, 3d Heavy Artillery, L ; 23 ; Btay 30, 'G4 ; discharged 

for disability Sei)t. 3o, '64 ; a non-resident substitute. 
McKay, William S., 3d Cavalry, A ; 24 ; April 8, '04 ; sergt. ; sorgt. 
major July 26, '05 ; mustered out Sept. 28, '65 ; a non-resident 
substitute. 
McQuillan, Charles E., 2l8t, E ; 20 ; Aug. 23, 'Gl ; corporal ; wovuided 
at Antietam, Sept., '02 ; transferred to 2d U. S. Cavalry, K, Oct. 30, 
'62 re-enlisted in Hancock's V. S. Vet. Vols. Dfc. 0, '64 ; mus- 
tered out Dec. 0, '05. 
McRell, Ephraim, U. S. Navy ; IS ; enlisted Aug. 26, '(i3 ; served one 

year, chieHy on gunboat "Nipsic " in Cliarleston blockade. 
McRell, William J., U. S. Navy ; 21; enlisted Aug. 12, '62; wounded 
by concuBsion of shell Feb. 1, '63, at Stone Inlet, S. V. ; taken 
prisoner. 
Mahar, Dennis, 21st, B ; 21 ; Aug. 23, '61 ; discharged for disability 

Jan. 10, '63 ; claimed also by Clinton. 
Mann, George C, 15th, F ; 21 ; July 12, 'Gl ; taken prisoner at Ball's 
Bluff, Va., Oct. 21, '61 ; wounded in right leg at tjlottysburg, July 
2, '63 ; mustered out July 28, '04. 
SlatthewB, David W., 34tb, II ; 20 ; Sept. 19, '03 ; transferred to 24th 

June 14, '65 ; mustered out to date from Jan. 20, *60. 
Matthews, George W., 34th, 11 ; 18; Sept. 10, '03 ; wounded in leg at 
Newmarket, Va., May 15, '04 ; taken prisoner at Liberty, W. Va., 
Juno 17, '04, and in Andersonville prison ; discharged for disability 
June 1, '65. 
Mayo, John, 2d, G ; 24 ; July 2, '04 ; a non-resident substitute. 
Mellor, William H., 34th, 11 ; 18 ; July 31, '62 ; transferred to V. R. C. 

Jan. 19, '65. 
Miller, Frank, 2d Heavy Artillery, A ; 27 ; July 2, '04 ; died at New 

Berne, N. C, May 12, '65; a non-resident substitute. 
Moeglen, John Louis, 20th, A; over 50 ; discharged for disability April 
29, '62 ; enlisted in 2d Cavalry, M, Feb. 2, '04; died Sept. 2S, '64, of 
a bullet wound in Shenandoah Valley. 
Monyer, John, 2d Cavalry ; 35 ; Dec. 27, '04 ; a non-resident sub- 
stitute. 
Jloore, Joseph B., 53d (nine inonthB), I ; 38 ; Oct. 18, '02 ; wounded in 

head May 27, '63, at Port Hudson, La. ; mustered out Sept. 2, '03, 
Moore, Oliver W., V. R. C. ; 20 ; July 21, '04, on re-enlistment ; mus- 
tered out Nov. 17, '05 ; a non-resident substitute. 
Moses, Robert R., 15th, C ; 24 ; Dec. 17, '01 ; shot through lungsat An- 
tietam Sept. 17, and died Oct. 3, '02. 
Murphy, William F., 32d, D ; Sept. 7, 'G3 ; transferred to U. S. Navy 

May 3, '64 ; a non-resident substitute for E. W. Hosmer. 
Neu, Louis, 2d Heavy Artillery, A ; 22 ; July 2, '04 ; died Nov. 22, '64. 

at Plymovith, N. C. ; a non-reaident substitute. 
Nourse, Byron H., 63d (nine months), I ; 24 ; Oct. 18, '02, as sergt ; 1st 
sergt. Jan. 22, '63 ; mustered out Sept. 2, '63. 



Nourse, Roscoe H., 53d (nine mouths), I; 22 ; Oct. 18, '62 ; drummer ; 
mustered out Sept. 2, '63 ; etdisted in 5th (one hundred days), E, 
July 22, '04 ; mustered out Nov.* 10, '64. 
Nourse, Henry S., 55th Illiiiois ; 30 ; enlisted in Chicago Oct. 23, '61 ; 
commissioned adjutant March 1, '02 ; capt. Co. H, Dec. 10, '62; 
commissary of mustt-rs 17th A. C. Oct, 24, '64 ; mustered out March 
29, '05. 
Xonrse, Frank E., 51st (nine uionths), ; 21 ; Sept. 25, '02 ; nnistered 

out July 27, '03. 
Nourse, Fred. F., r.th (one hundred days), E ; 21 ; July 22, '04, died at 

New Brunswick, N. J., Sej)!. 13, '04. 
O'Brien, Michael, 2Sth, 23 ; May 7, '64 ; a non-resident substitute, 
ollis, John, let Heavy Artillery ; IS; corporal ; Dec. 3, '63 ; wounded 
in foot by shell at Petersburg, Va., June 22, '64 ; mustered out July 
31, '05. 
Ollis, Luke, 21st, E ; 19 ; Aug. 23, '61 ; transferred to 2d U. S. Cav., 
Co, K, Oct. 23, '02 ; re-enlisted and died of wound in Shenatnluah 
Valley Oct. 13, '04. . 
Otis, Edwin A., olst (nine months), C ; 19 ; Sept. 26, '62 ; mustered out 

July 27, '03. 
Parker, Leonard H., 30th ; 21 ; Dec. 29, '63 ; mustered out June 8, '65- 
I'arker, Henry J., fith (three months), B; 25 ; Juno 19, '01 ; enlisted in 
33d, E, August 5, '62 ; 1st sergt. ; sergt.-maj. Feb. 18, '63 ; 2d lieut. 
March 20, '63; Istlieut. July 10, '63; killed at Kesaca, Ga., May 
15, '64 ; credited to Tt)wnsend, 
l*atrick, George H., 53d (nine months)^ I; 19; Oct. IS, '62 ; mustered 
out Sept. 2, '63 ; enlisted in 36th, G, Oct. 14, '64 ; transferred to 56th, 
E, June y, '05 ; mustered out Aug. 7, '05. 
Plaisted, Simon M., 5Ist (nine months), E ; 24; Sept. 25, '62; mustered 
out July 27, '63; enlisted in Ist Heavy Artillery, F, Aug. 15, '04, 
corporal ; mustered out June 28, '65. 
IMerce, William D., 5th (nine months), I ; 23 ; Sept. 16, '62 ; nnistered 

out July 2, '63 ; credited to Bolton. 
Pierce, Frank E., 2lBt, E ; 20 ; Aug. 23, '01; transferred to 2d U. S. 

Cavalry, K. Oct. 23, 'G2 ; re-enlisted Feb. 29, '64. 
Pierce, Edward, 35th, B ; 21 ; June 20, '64; transferred to 20th, B, 

June 9. '05; a non-resident substitute. 
Priest, Henry S., 7th Battery L. A. ; 25 ; Jun. 4, '04 ; discharged. 
Puffer, Charles, 26th, E ; 41 ; Aug. 9, '04 ; mustered out Aug. 26, '05. 
Putney, Henry M., 45th (nine niontlis), F; Sept, 20, '62; shot through 

head at Dover Croas-Hoads, N, C, April 28, '03. 
Rice, Walter C, 63d (nine months), I ; 45 ; Oct. 18, '02 ; mustered out 

Sept. 2, 'G3. 
Richards, Elienezer W., 2l8t, E; 35; Aug. 23, '01 ; killed at Freder- 
icksburg, Va., Dec. 13, '02, by a shell. 
Richards, George K., IGth, C; 30; Nov. 25, 'lil ; tmnaferred to V. R. C. 

Aug. 11, '03 ; re-eiiiieted Nov. 30, '04 ; mustered out Nov. 14, '65. 
Bobbins, William H., 2lst, A ; 39; in baud and mustered out Aug. 11, 

1862. 
Ross, William, 2d Cavalry, H ; 27 ; May 7, "04; a non-resident substi- 
tute. 
Rugg, James, 53d (nine nionllis), K; 42; Oct. 17, '02; mustered out 

Sept. 2, '03. 
Rugg, Henry H., 15th, C; 21; July 12, '01; wounded in shoulder at 
Ball's Bluff, Va., Oct. 21, '01, and discharged therefor May 1, '62 ; 
enlisted in 53d (nine months) Oct. 17, '02, and in 42d (one hundred 
days) July 22, '64 ; mustered out June 16, '65. 
Sawtelle, Edwin, 53d (nine months), I ; 24 ; Oct. 18, '02 ; mustered out 

Sept. 2, '03. 
Sawyer, Oliver B., 21st, E ; 21 ; Aug. 23, '61 ; discharged for disiibilily 
June 30, '62; enlisted in 4i)th, B, Aug. 22, '62; mustered out Juno 
10, 1805. 
Schuniaker, William, 4th Cavalry, E; 21; Jan. 27, '64; died a jirisuner 

at Andersonville, (!a., Sept. 13, '64, 
Sheary, Patrick, 34th, H ; 28; Jan. 5, '04 ; transferred to 24th, Co. G, 

June 14, '05; mustered out Jan. 20, '60. 
Sinclair, Charles H., 21st, E ; 21 ; Aug. 23, '01 ; Killed at New Berne, 

N. C, March 14, '(;2 ; credited to Leominster. 
Smith, John, 2Sth, D; 23; May 7, '64; mustered out June 15, '65; a 

non-resident substitute. 
Smith, William, 28th ; 25 ; May 7, '64 ; a non-resident substitute. 
Suuth, William, 13th Battery L. A. ; 22 ; April 8, '04 ; mustered out 

July 28, '65. 
Sweet, Caleb W., 23d, H ; 23 ; Sept. 28, '61 ; re-enlisted Dec. 3, '63 ; 
wounded and taken prisoner at Drewry's llhiff, Va., 3Iay lo, (14 
and died at Richmond Aug. 3, '64. 



LANCASTER. 



42a 



FRANCIS WASHBURN. 

In the month of April, 1838, John M. Washburn, 
then a merchant on the eve of retiring from business, 
removed from Boston to Lancaster, and in the July 
following his third son, Francis, was born. Bringing 
into his life and character, as an inheritance from his 
Puritan ancestors, an integrity of purpose and an in- 
domitable will, it seemed from his childhood that he 
was born to be a leader of men. Of a nature somewhat 
reserved, though deeply imbued with the spirit of 
tenderness for a few, his boyhood was not one of 
numerous friendships, nor was be in manhood a 
seeker for popular favor. From the academy of his 
native town he went, at the age of sixteen years, to 
serve a regular term in the Lawrence Machine Shop, 
that he might know his work from the beginning 
and become a master of the details of practical en-, 
gineering. From Lawrence he went to the Scientific 
School at Cambridge, and in 1859 to the famous 
school of mining and engineering at Freiburg, in 
Saxony. He became an accomplished student in these 
subjects, determined to fully equip himself for the 
important positions which were already awaiting his 
acceptance on his return, .lesse Boult, of San Fran- 
cisco, who was one of his fellow-students at Freiburg, 
says of him that he was regarded then as a young 
man of the highest intellectual powers, and sure of a 
very brilliant future. 

When, in 1880-61, the storm that now seems so far 
from us, began to blacken in our civil sky, he wrote 
" I must hasten my return. If the war comes I shall 
sail at once." When the storm broke upon the cnuntry 
he said, " I will take a commission if it is offered ; I 
will go as a private soldier at all events." He came 
home to find a commission already promised, but also 
to find that his father was languishing in fatal dis- 
ease, which was rapidly hastening towards its termina- 
tion. Restrained, therefore, by filial solicitude and 
dnty, from immediately proceeding to the field, 
he now studied the arts of war with the same 
fidelity with which he had devoted himself to those 
of peace. 

In December, 18(il, his' commission came, and with 
it orders to proceed at once to duty. His only regret 
in receiving it was that it came one day too late to 
receive his father's sanction. Waiting only to pay 
the last tribute of honor and affection, he reported 
for duty and was mustered as a second lieutenant in 
the First Kegiment of Massachusetts Cavalry, then 
in camp at Reedville. The history of this distin- 
guished regiment is part of that of the war and need 
not be dwelt upon here. 

He was successively captain in the Second, and 
lieutenant-colonel in the Fourth Cavalry, and, on 
the resignation of Colonel Rand, was, in February, 
I8(i5, commissioned as colonel, which position beheld 
until and at the time of his death. 

Though constantly in the service, and often em- 



ployed in difSeult and dangerous cavalry service. 
Colonel Washburn escaped any injury till his last 
engagement, and was seldom, if ever, off duty by 
reason of sickness. After the death of his brother. 
Captain Edward Richmond Washburn, who died of 
wounds received at the first assault on Port Hudson, 
La., he made two brief visits to his home. He was 
always considerate in asking leave of absence, feeling 
that such privileges were more valuable and more 
due to brother officers who had left wives and chil- 
dren behind them. Nor was he less considerate of 
the men under his command. At the time of his 
last visit he said earnestly and with a strong sense 
of justice: " If I die on the field, you must leave me 
there. The men in my regiment have just as much 
to live for as I have: their death will bring equal 
sorrow to their homes ; the officer is no more than 
his men. Buried where they fell, so let it be 
with me." 

He was mortally wounded in the brilliant and 
chivalrous engagement at High Bridge, Va., the last 
in the war, on April (i, 1865. This was one of those 
forlorn hopes, in which it became the duty of a 
small, well-disciplined and gallant band to make a 
stand against the flower of the Confederate Army, in 
its retreat from Richmond. The orders were not 
wholly clear ; but the purport of them was to hold 
back the retreating army to the last possiljle mo- 
ment. 

Whether these orders were wisely and judiciously 
given may not now properly be ini|uired; but hi.story 
tells that they were executed with a firmness and 
valor unsurpassed in the annals of ancient or modern 
times. The odds were too great to be computed. 
Colonel Washburn charged the enemy with an intre- 
pidity and ert'ectiveness which called out their ex- 
pressed admiration on the field and in their subse- 
ipient accounts of the engagement. The orders were 
literally and fearlessly obeyed, and the enemy was 
held back till every officer of the command had been 
killed, wounded or made a prisoner. The courage 
and gallantry displayed in this action were noted by 
the highest officers of the army, and Colonel Wash- 
burn was, at the request of Lieutenant-General 
Grant, commissioned as a brevet brigadier-general 
for gallant and meritorious services. 

The actual hand-to-hand encounters of sabre with 
sabre, as well as the actual crossing of hostile bayo- 
nets, were rare in our Civil War, us in most of the 
wars of history. But in this action men fought 
hand-to-hand. An accomplished swordsman, this 
brave officer had already disarmed one antagonist, 
and was engaged with another, when he received a 
pistol-shot from the first. After this he received the 
blow of the sabre which proved fatal, fracturing the 
skull. And. thus, by bullet and sabre-stroke, his 
magnificent physique, but not his dauntless spirit, 
was conquered. 



42b 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHTTSBTTS. 



The untiring devotion of one' who had with equal 
faithfulness performed the same loving service for 
his brother Edward, brought Ool. Washburn from the 
field of battle to the house of his brother, Hon. John 
D. Washburn, of Worcester. He had hoped to reach 
the home of his childhood, and this was all the hope 
that could be counted as rea.sonable, since from the 
first the complication of his wounds rendered recov- 
ery almost impossible. His strength proved, however, 
unequal to the full journey. Not on the field, nor in 
the hospital and among strangers, but in the presence 
of tliose he loved, and in his brother's home, he died 
at the early age of twenty-six, on the 22d of April, 
18(i5. So gave himself a willing sacrifice in his 
country's cause, this young and noble citizen, whose 
name has been and will ever be honored at home, and 
to whom, for his known purity of character and brave 
and chivalrous deeds, has been accorded from abroad 
the well-merited appellation, "The White Knight ol 
Modern Chivalry." 

The following tribute to that heroic battalion 
of the Fourth Massachusetts Cavalry and their gallant 
leader appeared in the yew Yoi-k Evening Post fif- 
teen years after their desperate charge on the memor- 
able ()th of April, 1865. Its repetition here may serve 
as a fitting close to this sketch of one of many modest 
heroes, who bravely dared, patiently endured and 
nobly died in defense of their country's life and 
honor. 

(ioi! givL' UK and our cliiMieirs rhililrni grace 
To own the tlebt, aucl pri/c tiie heritage 
Thus tiuhly Si-aled iu bluuil. 

THK CllARnH Oh' "TlIK KOUKTU CAVAl.ia.' 

UKUrrATK.U rti I'liUSK WUO FELl, UN 'I'UF. SEMIi OF M'KII,, l^<Li6. 

[The fourth Massachusetts Cavalry, or rather a 
small portion of its rank and file, but with most ol 
its field and staff officers, and led by its Colonel, 
Francis Washburn, formed part of the advance 
which, to use Geiioral Grant's words in his last gen- 
eral report of the war, " heroically attacked and de- 
tained the head of Lee's column near Farmville, Va., 
until its commanding general was killed and his 
small force overpowered." Less than a thousand 
men, all told, without any artillery, held in check for 
a considerable time, when every moment almost was 
worth an empire, a rebel force outnumbering them 
ten to one. Of the twelve Fourth Cavalry officers 
who went into the fight eight were killed and wounded, 
including their gallent leader. He lived to reach his 
home, and died in his mother's arms.] 

IThe UiteDr. Ileurv II. Fullt-r. 



Onward they dash : 

It mattered not the toilsome march, 
Tlie foeman's cannon crash ; 

Their souls were in their swords, 
Their steed beneath one throb : 

Onward they charge. 
The grave's disdain to rob ! 



Many or few ? 

"Six hundred? " nay ; that were a host 
Besides this band so true. 

Four score of trusty arms 
Against an army lined. 

Ah ! weep with us 
The comrades left behind ! 



I see them still : 

Down deep ravine, then up " to form " 
On battle-shaken hill ; 

One word is all enough, 
One waving blade their light 

Into the hordes 
Of rebel-raging fight. 



He at their head 

A knight, a paladin of old, 
A hero — honor led. 

And tibered with the faith 
Of ages won to God — 

O what to him 
The soaked and waiting sod ! 



O sweet is it 

For love of land to do and die ; 
The heart-strings heaven-knit, 

Relaxed from tensest strain 
Upon his arm to rest 

In whom alone 
Is earthly conflict blest ! 



And shall not we — 

Survivors of the martyred brave, 
By tears and blood made free — 

Give what they gladly gave 1 
Yes ! by the loved and lost, 

Jlost sacred hold 
(.)ur country's priceless cost. 

A. ■/.. li 







GEN 1- FRANCIS WASHBURN. 



LANCASTER. 



43 



Suuveur, Charles L., 2Gtb, 21 ; May 7, 'G-1 ; a non-resident substitnte. 
Sjkes, Eilvvin, STth, C ; 29 ; Feb. 18, '64; a non-resident substitnte. 
Taylor, Henry T., loth, A ; 27 ; July 12, 'Gl ; discharged for disability 

April 25, '02. 
Tbotupson, William, IGth, B; 18 ; .Inly 2, '111 ; wounded in bead May, 

'04, at Spottsylvania, Ya. ; mustered out July 27, '04. 
Thompson, George, 53d (nine months), C; 21; Nov. 6, '02; died at 

llrashear City, La., May 31), '03 ; ci-edited to Leominster. 
Thurston, George Lee, 55th IlHnois ; 311 ; enlisted in Chicago Oct. 23, 

'Gl : coniniiaaionedadjt. Oct. 31, '01 ; capt. B March 1, 'G2; died 

Dec. 15, '02, at Lancaster. 
Tisdale, Charles E, 34th, H ; 20 ; July 31, '02 ; corporal ; discharged 

for disability .Tan. 8, 'R3. 
Toole, John, nth Battery L. A. ; 18; Dec. 23, '04: mustered imt June 

10, '05 : a non-resident substitute. 
Tracy, David H., 2d ; 29 ; July 2, 'r.4 ; a non-resident substitute. 
True, George II.. 28th, A ; 21 ; baml Oct 8, '61 ; discharged Aug. 17, '62. 
True, Jatnes G., 28th, A ; 25; band Oct. 8, '61 ; discharged Aug. 17, '02. 
Turner, Luther G., 15th, C ; 23 ; July 12, '61 ; wounded in ann at 

Ball's Bluir, Va., Oct. 21, '61, and died Nov. 1, '61. 
Turner, Horatio E., 34th, F ; 18 ; Aug. 2, '02 ; died a prisoner at An- 

dersonville, Ga.,Sept. 8, '04. 
Turner, Walters. H., 63d (nine months), I ; 18; Oct. 18. '02; mustered 

out Sept. 2, '63. 
Valdez, .losepb, 11th Battery L. A, ; 3l); Dec. 23, '04 ; mustered out 

JunelO, '05; a non-resident substitute. 
Veret, J(din, 41b Cavalry, F; 28; Jan. ,5, '04; mustered out Nov. 14, 

'05. 
Warner, .lames G., 16tb, C; 31; July 12, '01 ; killed by bullet or 

drowned at Ball's Bluff, Va., Oct. 21, '01. 
Washburn, Edward R., ,53d (nine montlisl, I ; 20; 1st lieut. Oct. 18, '02. 

capt. Nov. 8, '02; thigh shattered at I'ort Hudson, La., June 14, 

'63 ; died of wound .Sept. 5, '04. 
Washburn, Francis, 1st Cavalry; 'J4 ; 2d lieut. Dec. 20, lil; Ist lieut. 

March 7, '02; capt. 2d Cavalry Jan. 2i;, '03; lieut. -col. 4th Cavalry 

Feb. 1, '04 ; col. Feb. 4, '65 ; wounded in head April 0, '05, at High 

Bridge, Va., and died at Worcester April 22, '05 ; brevet brig.-gen. 
Watson, George, 2d ; 3;; ; July 2, '64 ; a non-resident substitute. 
Weld, George D. ,47th (nine months), K ; 44 ; Oct. 31, '02 ; mustered 

out Sept. 1, '63. • 

Wheeler, Aimer, 11th, C ; 25 ; June 13, '61. 
Whitney, Edmund C, .53d (nine months), I ; 26 ; as Corp. Oct, 18, 

'62; wounded in arm Juno 14, '63; sergt. July 11, '03 ; mnstereilout 

.Sept. 2, '63. 
Whiltomore, Woodbury, 2lst, E ; 33 ; 2d lieut. Aug. 21, '01 ; 1st lieut. 

March 3, '62 ; capt. July 27, '02 ; resigned Oct. 29, '02 
Wilder, Charles 11., .53d (nine months), I ; 42 ; Oct. l.-., '02 ; mustered 

out Sept. 2, '03. 
Wilder, J. Prescott, 7th Battery L. A. ; 31 ; Jan. 4, '01 ; muslcred out 

June H, '05. 
WiMer, Sanford B., 2d Heavy Artillery, M ; 24 ; Dec. 24, '03 ; mustered 

out Sept. 3, '05 ; credited to Clinton. 
Wiley, Charles T., 11th Rhode Island (nine months), D ; Oct, 1, '03 ; 

mustered out July 13, '03. 
Wiley, George K., .14111, H ; 22 ; .Tan.l, '64; transferred to 24th, G, 

June 14, '05 ; wounded in arm at Fisher's Hill, Va., Sejit. 22, '64 ; 

discharged for disability June 20, '65. 
Wilkinson, Charles, 20th ; 30 ; July 18, '63 ; mustered out June, '05 ; 

a nun-resident substitute for George E. P. Dodge. 
Willard, Edwin II., I5th, C; 23; July 12, '01; mustered out July 2.8, 

1804. 
Willard, Henry W., 34th, C ; 21 ; Aug. 2, '02; discbarg.d for disability 

Feb. 26, '03 ; credited to Leominster. 
Wise, John Patrick, 34th, A ; 21 ; July 31, '62; died at homo March 

15, '64. 
Worcester, Horace, 42d (one hundred ilays), K ; 20; July 18, '61 ; mus- 
tered out Nov. 11, '04. 
Wynian, Benjamin F., 5th (nine months), E; 23; Sept. 10, '02; mus- 
tered out July 2, '63. 
Zahu, Peter, 2d ; 24 ; Hay 7, '04 ; a non-resident substitute. 

The following were born .and lived until m.anhood 
in Lanca-ster, but were resident elsewhere when the 
war began : 

Atherton, Boswell, 33d, E ; 30 ; served for Groton ; discharged for dig- 
ability Nov, 30, '62. 



Bancroft, Charles L., 11th Illinois Cavalry, B; 34; 2d lieut. Dec. 20, 

'01 ; 1st lieut. July 6, '02; mustered out Dec. 19, '64; wounded at 

Meridian, Miss. 
Bowman, Henry, colonel. (See Clinton.) 
Bowman, Samuel M., lieutenant. (See Clinton.) 
Bradley, Jerome, 3d Iowa Battery L. A., etc. ; 28 ; 2d lievit. Sept., '61 ; 

Ist lieut. and q. in. 9th Iowa Infantry March 10, '02 ; capt. and 

a.-q.ni. U. S. Vols. Feb. 19, '63; resigned .Tan. 9, '05. 
Cleveland, Richard J., 9th Iowa, B ; -40 : Oct. 9, '01 ; discharged April 

1, '03. 
Cutler, Francis B., 35th New York, A ; 25 ; killed at Fredericksburg 

Dec. 13, ' 02. 
Dudley, John Edwin, 1st. Cal. and 30th Mass. ; 35 ; Ist sergt. ; 2d lieut. 

Dec. 7, '04 ; 1st lieut. Dec. 8, '64 ; capt. April 21, '65. 
Fletcher, James T., 11th Rhode Island, G ; Oct. 1, '62 ; mustered out 

July 13, '63. 
Fuller, Andrew L., lieut. 15th. (See Clinton.) 

Green, Asa W., 19tli, F ; 22 ; enlisted in Haverhill ; wounded at Fred- 
ericksburg, Va., in log Dec. 13, '02, and transferred tw V. E. C. 
Green, Franklin W., 19th, F. (See Clinton.) 
Jones, David W., 20th Connecticut, F ; 40; killed at Chancellorsville 

May 3, '66. 
Newman, James Homer, 1st Connecticut H. A., F ; 27 ; served May 23, 

'01, to Sept. 25, '65. 
Robinson, Charles A., 1st Cavalry, G ; 21 ; Oct. 5, '61 ; discharged for 

disability, Feb. 0, '03 ; credited to Lowell. 
Rugg, Daniel W., 21st, D ; .32 ; served for Fitchburg July I'.i, '01, to 

Dec. 20, '62. 
Sawyer, Frank 0., 9tll Vermont ; 30 ; 1st lieut. and q.m. June In, '02 ; 

capt. and a.-q.m. U. S. Vols. Ang. 15, '64 ; mustered ont May 31, 'i;6. 
Warren, Thonuis H., 12th Vermont, C ; 35 ; served Oct. 4, '62, to .Inly 

14, '63. 

Lancaster's quota under ;..l calls was one hundred 
and seveuty-oiie men for three years, and there were 
credited to her one hundred and eighty-one. The 
preceding list proves this to be an underestimate of 
the town's contribution of men for the supjiression of 
the great treason. The veteran re-enlistments num- 
bered fifteen. Ten citizens were drafted and jiaid 
each three hundred dollars commutation. Thirty- 
seven non-resident substitutes were hired. Twenty 
of Lancaster's sons won commissions; twenty-seven 
were killed or mortally wounded in action, and 
twenty-three died ofdisea.se during the war. On In- 
dependence Day, 186."), the town celebrated the vic- 
tory of free institutions in the grove at the " Meeting 
of the AVaters;" Eev. George M. Bartol delivered a 
thoughtful addre.is to the great throng of people there 
assembled, and Professor William Russell read the 
Emancii)ation Proclamation. 

Early in 1879 a comprehensive, illustrated history 
of Lancaster was published, forming an octavo vol- 
ume of seven hundred and ninety-eight pages. For 
several years previous the desirability of such a pub- 
lication had been privately and publicly discussed, it 
being supposed that among the i)apers of .Joseph Wil- 
lard, E.sq., deceased in 18(3.5, would be fountl a history of 
thetown iiartitilly prepared for the press. Disapjiointcd 
in this hope, at a town-meeting in April, 1876, the 
subject was referred to a committee, consisting of 
Eev. George M. Bartol, Rev. Abijah P. Marvin, Jonas 
M. Damon, Charles T. Fletcher and Charles L. Wilder, 
with power to take such action as they might deem 
expedient. Jlr. Marvin was employed to write the 
history, and in March, 1877, the town sanctioned the 
doings of the committee and appropriated fifteen 



44 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



hundred dollars to meet the needful expenses. Seven 
hundred copies of the book were printed at a total 
cost of $3542.44. A copy was given to each family 
belonging to the town, and about seven hundred dollars 
were realized from sales. 

Until the present century the town's paupers were 
aided at their own homes by special vote of money, or 
placed with such persons as would take them for a 
fixed price by the year. Thus Dr. James Carter foi 
many years contracted to support them for so much 
per head, and housed them in an old building near 
his own stately dwelling, but on the opposite side of 
the way. In 1824 Rev. Asa Packard influenced the 
town to a more humane policy. A farm in the ex- 
treme northern section of the town was bought for 
two thousand dollars, and there the homeless poor 
were collected, a family being hired to conduct the 
establishment under direction of chosen overseers. 
The buildings proving insufficient, new ones were built 
in 1828 on a road to the south of the old, which 
served until 1872, when the town bought the large 
three-story mansion built by Dr. Calvin Carter on the 
site of his father's, burnt in 1821. This was used 
until destroyed by fire. May 11, 1883, when the 
present costly almshouse and farm buildings were 
erected near the ashes of the old. 

At the annual town-meeting of March, 1882, it being 
known that Nathaniel Tliayer lay critically ill at his 
city residence, a committee were chosen to address 
him in a letter giving expression to the general solic- 
itude and sympathy, and tendering to him renewed 
acknowledgments for his many and generous acts of 
good will to the town. A year later, one tempe.stuous 
day, a large number of Lancaster's citizens paid vol- 
untary tribute of respect by attending his funeral at 
the First Church in Boston. Not the sorrow of his 
many private pensioners only, but the saddened faces 
of the whole community bore testimony to his worth 
and the grave sense of his loss. A tablet of Caen 
stone inscribed to his memory has been placed in the 
Thayer Memorial Chapel. 

Nathaniel Thayer was the youngest of three sons 
born to Nathaniel Thayer, D.D., and his wife, 
Sarah Toppan, Sejitember 11, 1808, in Lancaster. 
Nurtured amid rural surroundings, in a house- 
hold where frugality was a necessary law, he died 
the wealthiest citizen of Massachusetts; a succe.ss 
not striven for with insatiate greed of accumula- 
tion, but gathered as the natural harvest of activity 
and sagacity, and prudently garnered for use. Mr. 
Thayer's school education was wholly Lancastrian ; 
but among his teachers at the little local academy 
were such inspired masters as Jared Sparks, George 
B. Emerson and Solomon P. Miles. After leaving 
school he entered upon mercantile life, and at the age 
of twenty-six years was received as a partner by his 
eldest brother, who had established a very prosperous 
banking and brokerage business in Boston. The firm 
of John E. Thayer & Co. being dissolved by the 



death of the senior brother in 1807, the junior part- 
ner continued the business with unvarying success. 

Mr. Thayer, on June 10, 1840, married Cornelia, 
daughter of General Stephen Van Rensselaer. In 
1870 he decided to make Lancaster his legal home, 
having for ten years previous spent the summers in a 
mansion built among the elms that shaded the old 
parsonage where his revered father and mother had 
lived and died. When here he led a quiet life, in 
cordial sympathy with the townspeople, studiously 
avoiding everything that might seem ostentatious in 
manner, equipage or speech, and taking a personal 
interest in whatever concerned the material, moral or 
intellectual welfare of the town. He was tenderly 
loyal to old acquaintanceship, and greatly enjoyed re- 
visiting the scenes and renewing the memories of his 
boyhood's days. He was ever a cheerful giver to all 
philanthropic objects, a munificent benefactor of 
Harvard College, a generous patron of scientific re- 
search. His liberality was wisely discriminative in 
its aims, independent in method, and the modest dig- 
nity which was his most obvious characteristic shun- 
ned all publicity. 

For about three years before his death, which took 
place March 7, 1883, he whs debarred by failing vigor 
of body and mental powers from active participation 
in business pursuits. He was a member of the Ameri- 
can Academy and Massachusetts Historical Society, 
and honorary member of the Berlin Geographical 
Society. In 1866 he received the degree of Master of 
Arts from Harvard College, and in 1868 was elected a 
Fellow of the Corporation, a very exceptional com- 
pliment, never but once before paid to one not an 
alumnus. Four sons and two daughters, with their 
mother, survive him. His eldest son, Stephen Van 
Rensselaer, a graduate of Harvard in 1870, died Oc- 
tober 10, 1871. He was a young man of noble 
impulses and rare sweetness of nature, who never had 
an enemy, made hosts of friends, and has left behind 
him a memory fragrant with generous deeds. 

Lancaster has ever been noted for the social refine- 
ment and literary tastes of its people. The list of 
college graduates who were natives of the town, or 
here resident at graduation, as given below, numbers 
sixty, of which forty-four were alumni of Harvard 
College. Its clergymen have almost invariably been 
college-bred. Among very numerous resident and 
native authors may be mentioned : Mrs. Mary Row- 
landson, Rev. John Mellen and his sons (John and 
Prentiss), Samuel Stearns, LL.D., Joseph Willard, 
Esq., Capt. Richard J. (Ueveland and his sous (Henry 
Russell and Horace W. S.), Brig.-Gen. Henry Whit- 
ing, William Shaler, Hannah Flagg Gould, Mrs. 
Caroline Lee (Whiting) Hentz, Rufus Dawes, Hon. 
James Gordon Carter, Edmund II. Sears, S.T.D., 
Hubbard Winslow, D.D., Mrs. Mary G. (Chandler) 
Ware, Prof William Russell, Mrs. Julia A. (Fletcher) 
Carney, Louise M. Thurston, Mrs. Clara W. (Thurston) 
Fry, Charlotte M. Packard, Rev. Abijah P. Marvin. 




I 




LANCASTER. 



45 



Tlie college graduates known are: Samuel Willard, 
1()5;», Harvard, acting president; Josiah Swan, 1733, 
Harvard; Abel Willard, 1752, Harvard; Samuel 
Locke, 1755, Harvard, S.T.D. and president ; Peter 
Green, 17G6, Harvard, M.M.S.S. ; Josiah Wilder, 
17{J7, Yale; Israel Houghton, 1707, Yale; Samuel 
Stearns, JI.D., LL.D., probably in .Scotland; John 
Mellen, 1770, Harvard, A.A. et S.H.S. ; Levi Willard, 
1775, Harvard; Timothy Harrington, 1770, Harvard; 
Joseph Killiurn, 1777, Harvard; Isaac Bayley, 1781, 
Harvard; Henry Mellen, 1784, Harvard; Prentiss 
Mellen, 1784, Harvard, LL.D., U. S. Senator; John 
Wilder, 1784, Dartmouth ; Pearson Thurston, 1787, 
Dartmouth ; Artemas .Sawyer, 1798, Harvard ; Samuel 
J. Sprague, 17St9, Harvard ; Benjamin Aplhiirp Gould, 
1814, Harvard, A.A.S. ; Hasket Derby Pickmau, 1815, 
Harvard ; Sewall Carter, 1817, Harvard ; Moses K. 
Emerson, 1817, Harvard; Paul Willard, 1817, Har- 
vard ; Leonard Fletcher, , Columbia ; Jonas 

Henry Lane, 1821, Harvard, M.M.S.S. ; Samuel Man- 
ning, 1822, Harvard; Ebenezer Torrey, 1822, Har- 
vard ; Levi Fletcher, 1823, Harvard ; Christopher T. 
Thayer, 1824, Harvard; Frederick Wilder, 1825, 
Harvard ; Stephen Minot Weld, 1826, Harvard ; 
Richard J. Cleveland, 1827, Harvard ; Henry Russell 
Cleveland, 1827, Harvard ; Nathaniel B. Shaler, 1827, 
Harvard ; William Hunt White, 1827, Brown ; George 
Ide Chace, 1830, Brown, LL.D., acting president; 
Christoplier Minot Weld, 1833, Harvard, M.M.S.S.; 
Francis Minot Weld, 1835, Harvard; George Harris, 
1837, Brown; Richard C. S. Stilwell, 1839, Harvard, 
M.JI.S.S. ; Frederick Warren Harris, 1845, Harvard; 
Alfred Plant, 1847, Yale; James Coolidge Carter, 
l.S.-.O, Harvard, LL.B.; Sidney Willard, 1852, Har- 
vanl; John Davis Washburn, 1853, Harvard, LL.B.; 
Henry Stedman Nourse, 1853, Harvard ; Sylvanus 
Chickering Priest, 1858, Amherst ; Enos Wilder, 1865, 
Harvard ; .Stephen Van Rensselaer Thayer, 1870, 
Harvard; Albert JMallard Barnes, 1871, Harvard; 
Francis Ncwhall Lincoln, 1871, Harvard ; Nathaniel 
Thayer, 1871, Harvard; .Tohn Emory Wilder, .1882, 
Agricultural; Samuel Chester Damon, 1882, Agricul- 
tural; Edward E. Bancroft, 1883, Amherst, M.D. ; 
Josiah H. Quincy, 1884, Dartmouth, LL.B.; ,Iohn 
Eliot Thayer, 1885, Harvard ; William J. Sullivan, 
M.D.,.188t;, Bellevue; John M. W. Bartol, 1887, ILir- 
vard; Azuba Julia Latham, 1888, Boston University. 

The physicians have been : Mary Whitcomb; Daniel 
Greenleaf, died 1785, aged 82 ; Jolin Dunsmoor, died 
1747, aged 45; Stanton Prentice, died 1709, aged 58; 
Phinehas Phdps, dieil 1770, aged 37; Enoch Dole, 
killed 1770, aged 27 ; William Dunsmoor, died 1784, 
aged 50; Josiah Wilder, died 1788, aged 45; Josiah 

Leavitt, ; Israel Atherton, M.M.S.S., died 

1822, aged 82 ; Cephas Prentice, died 1798 ; James 
Carter, died 1817, aged 63 ; Samuel Manning, M.M.S.S., 
died 1822, aged 42; Nathaniel Peabody, M.M.S.S.; 
Calvin (jarter, died 1859, aged 75; George Baker, 
M.M.S.S. ; Right Cummings, died 1881, aged 94; Ed- 



ward T. Tremaine, M.M.S.S. ; Henry Lincoln, M.M. 
S.S., died 1800, aged 55 ; J. L. S. Thompson, M.M.S.S., 
died 1885, aged 75; George W. Symonds, M.M.S.S., 
died 1873, aged 62 ; George W. Burdett, M.M.S.S. ; 
George M. Morse, M.M.S.S. ; S. S. Lyon ; Reuben 
Barron ; Henry H. Fuller, M.M.S.S. ; Joseph C. Ste- 
vens, died 1871, aged 39 ; F'rederick H. Thompson, 
M.M.S.S.; A. D. Edgecomb, died 1883; Horace M. 
Nash ; Walter P. Bowers, M.M.S.S. ; George L. To- 
bey, M.M.S.S. 

The lawyers have been: Abel Willard, John 
Sprague, Levi Willard, Peleg .Sprague, William Sted- 
man, IMerrick Rice, Solomon Strong, Moses Smith, 
Samuel J. Sprague, John Stuart, John Davis, Jr., 
Joseph Willard, Solon Whiting, George R. M. With- 
ington, Joseph W. Huntington, Charles Mason, John 
T. Dame, Charles G. Stevens, Daniel H. Bemis, Her- 
bert Parker. 

The following have served as representatives for the 
town: — Thomas Brattle, 1071-72; Ralph Houghton, 
1673-89; John Moore, Jr., 1689; John Moore, .Sr., 
1690-92; John Houghton, 1690,'92,'93,'97,170.5-06,'08, 
'11,'12, '15-17, '21, '24; Thomas Sawyer, 1707; Josiah 
Whetcomb, 1710; Jabez Fairbank, 1714, '21-23, 37- 
38; John Houghton, Jr., 1718-19; Joseph Wilder, 
1720, '2.5-26; Col. Samuel Willard, 1727, '40, '42-43, 
'49; Dea. Josiah White, 1728-30; James Wilder, 1731 ; 
Jonathan Houghton, 1732; James Keyes, 1733; Capt. 
Ephraim Wilder, 1734-36, '44 ; Ebenezer Wilder, 1739 ; 
Capt. William Richardson, 1741, '45, '50, '54, '56, '58- 
61; Joseph Wilder, Jr., 174<i-47, '51-53; David Wilder, 
1755, '57, "62-65, '67; Col. Asa Whitcomb, 1760, '08- 
74; Ebenezer Allen, 1775; Hezekiah Gates, 1775; Dr. 
William Dunsmoor, 1770-78, '81; .Samuel Thurston, 
1778; Joseph Reed, 1779; Capt. William Putnam, 
1780; John Sprague, 1782-85, '94-99; Capt. Ephraim 
Carter, Jr., 1780, '90-92; Michael Newhall, 1787-89; 
John Whiting, 1793; Samuel Ward, 1800-01; William 
Stedman, 1 802 ; Jonathan Wilder, 1803-00 ; Eli Stearns, 
1800-10; Col. Jouas Lane, 1808-12; Major Jacob 
Fisher, 1811-13, '21, '23; Capt. William Cleveland, 
1813-15; Capt. John Thurston, 1814-17, '20; Capt. 
Edward Goodwin, 1816; Capt. Benjamin Wyman, 
1817-19; Maj. Solomon Carter, 1818; .Joseph Willard, 
1827-28; Davis Whitman, 1827, '31; Solon Whiting, 
1829-30; John G. Thurston, 1832, '38, '52-53, '55 ; 
Ferdinand Andrew.s, 1832; Dr. George Baker, 1833; 
Levi Lewis, 1833; .lames G.Carter, 1834-30; Dea. 
Joel Wilder, 1834-35; Silas Tnurston, Jr., 1837-39; 
John Thurston, 1839-10; Jacob Fisher, Jr., 1841, '44, 
'68; John M. Washburn, 1842-43, '58; Joel Wilder 
(2d), 184.5-46; Ezra Sawyer, 1847-48; Anthony Lane, 
1850-51 ; Francis F. Hussey, 1854 ; JamesChilds, 1856 ; 
Dr. J. L. S. Thompson, 1860, '62 ; George A. Parker, 
1869-71 ; Sam'l R. Damon, 1878 ; Henry S. Nourse, 1882. 

The following have been State Senators: — John 
Sprague, 1785-86; Moses Smith, 1814-15; James G. 
Carter, 1837-38; John G. Thurston, 1844-45; Francis 
B. Fay, 1808 ; Henry S. Nourse, 1885-86. 



46 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



The following have been executive councilors: — 
Maj. Simon Willard, 1<>54-7G; Joseph Wililer, 1735- 
52; Abijah Willard, 1775. 

William Stedman was Representative to Congress, 
1803-10, and Prentiss Mellen, a native of Lancaster, 
was United States Senator, 1818-20. 

The population of Lancaster, at various periods, 
has been as follows :^1')52, 9 families; l(i75, M or 60 
families; 1()92, 50 families; 1704, 76 families; 1711, 
83 families, 458 souls; 171.5, 100 families; 1751,285 
families, 355 polls; 1764, 1999; 1776, 2746; 1790, 1460; 
1800, 1584; 1810, 1694; 1820, 1862; 1830, 2014; 1840, 
2019; 1S50, 1688'; 1855, 1728; 1860, 1732; 1865, 1752; 
1870, 1845; 1875, 1957; 1880, 2008; 1885, 2050. 

The population of the whole territory once belong 
ing to Lancaster is about twenty-two thousand. 

The United States Coast Survey locates "Lancaster 
Church" in 42° 27' 19.98" north latitude, and 71° 40' 
24.27'' longitude west of Greenwich. The elevation 
above the sea level of the grounds about this church 
is about three hundred and eight feet. 



CHAPTER VII. 

CI,INTON, 
BY HON. HICNRY S. NOURSE. 

PrescotCe Mills — Destruction of the Setlltmeid hij lutliiins — Tlit: First Jliijh- 
waijA — The C'(trrition Ceimts — The First F<nnili<s. 

ALTiiouciii Clinton received its name and began 
its corporate existence so recently as March, 1850, it 
being the youngest town save one in Worcester 
County, nearly two hundred years before that date 
white men were tilling its soil, and bad impressed 
into their service some part of its valuable water- 
power. Its territory, in area only four thousand nine 
hundred and seven acres, was included in the eighty 
square miles purchased from Sagamore Sholan by 
Thomas King, of Watcrtown, in 1642, and confirmed 
to the Nashaway Company as a township, under the 
name of Lancaster, in 1653. 

The earliest settlers in this river valley were at 
first clustered along the eastern slope of George Hill 
and upon the Neck north of the meeting of the two 
streams which form the Nashua. I5nt for the exist- 
ence of the falls on the South Meadow Brook, proba- 
bly neither the pioneers nor their successors would, 
for many years, have sought homes in that more 
southerly j)ortion of the town's grant, which now is 
traversed by numerous streets thickly lined with the 
residences and marts of ten thousand busy people ; 
for most of this region, now Clinton, was clad with 
pine forest ; its numerous hills, from their steepness 
or the shallowness of the soil, were not well adapted 
for tillage ; and along the river were no extensive in- 
tervales, no broad meadows of natural grass, such as 



existed on the North Branch and main river, to invite 
the husbandmen. But the sagacious and enterpris- 
ing leader of the Nashaway planters, John Prescott, 
had noted the little cascade where the brook leaped 
down over the ledge, and recognized it as the most 
easily available site in the township for a mill. 

There was no English settlement nearer than those 
east of the Sudbury River, and even the carrying of 
a grist to be ground involved a tedious horseback 
ride of about twenty miles and back over the devious 
Indian trail and the crossing of the always treacher- 
ous Sudbury marsh. The rude processes of the sav- 
ages or the laborious use of a hand-rjuern were often 
resorted to in preparing grain for bread in preference 
to so dreary a day's journey. A mill was a prime 
necessity to the settlers, and scarcely had the Colo- 
nial Government given formal recognition to the 
town which Prescott had founded, than, with his 
usual restless energy, he entered upon the task of 
compelling the wild South Meadow Brook to aid in 
the work of civilization. Mills run by water-power 
were yet rare in New England. The first built was 
hardly twenty years old, and the skilled mill-wright 
of Charlestown had scarcely a competitor in his art. 
Pi'escott's mill-dam w.is the prophecy of the prosper- 
ous manufacturing town whose special products have 
in recent years won a world-wide repute, and with 
his plucky enterprise the history of Clinton appro- 
priately begins. 

By November 20, 1653, Prescott's plans for the mill 
were so far perfected that he was ready to enter into 
an agreement with his fellow-townsmen for its erec- 
tion. This agreement is found duly recorded in the 
third volume of the Middlesex County registry as 
follows : 

Know all men by tlieso presonis tliat I ,Tohn Prescott blackesmith, 
hatli Covenanted and barj;iiin<'d with .Ino. ffovinell of Charlestowne for 
ttie building of a ('urnii mill, witliin liir said Tuwmi uf Lanchasttr. 
This wilnosseth (hat wee the Tnliabitants of I.atn baster for bis encour- 
agement in so good a worke for the bohoofo of onr Towne, vpon condi- 
tion that the said intended worke by him or bis aseignes be linlsbed, 
do freely and fully giue grant, enfeoffe, A contirme vnto the sjiid John 
Prescott, thirty acres <if intervale Land lying on the nurlh riuer, lying 
north west of Henry Kerly and ten acres of Land adjoyneing to the 
mill : and forty acres of Land on the South ejist of the mill brooUe, 
lying between the mill brooke and Nashawjiy Kiucr in such place as the 
said .lolin Prescott shall choose with all the priuiledgcs and ai>purte- 
nances thereto ajiperteyning. To bane and to bold the said land and 
eurie ])arcell thereof to the said John Prescott his heyeres and assignes 
for ener, to his and their only projjiier vso and behoofo. Also wee do 
coueuant & promise ti) lend the said John Prescott fine pound, in cur- 
rent money one yeare for the buying of Irons for the mill. And also 
wee do coueuant and grant to and with the said John Prescott liis 
beyres and assignes that the said mill, with all the aboue named Land 
thereto apperteyneing shall bo freed from all common cliar{;es for 
seauen yeares lu'Xt ensueing, after the first finishing and setting tlie 
said null to worke. In witnes whereof wee bane herevnto put our 
hands this liO'li day of the 9""> In the yeare of onr Lord God one thou- 
sand six hundred fifty and three, 
Subscribeil names 

Wir.i.M Krrly Senr., 

Jnu. Puescot'i', 

,Ino White, 

ItAi-cTt lIouoinoN, 

Lawrence Waters, 

EnMUND PARltER, 



RicKARn LlNTOV, 

KiciiARD Smith, 
^Vii.LM Kerli JrNi 
Thomas James, 
Jno Lewis, 
James Atherton, 
Jacob ffarrer. 



CLINTON. 



41 



Josei)li Willard, Esq., upon the authority of a di- 
rect descendant of John Prescott, states that the first 
mill-stone was brought from England. Some doubt 
is thrown upon this assertion by the fact that the 
alleged pieces of it, which have lain not far from the 
dam until modern times, are of a sienitic rock not 
found in England, but abundant enough in Massa- 
chusetts. The first grist was ground in the mill May 
23, 1G54. 

Prescott probably at ouce removed from his home 
upon George Hill to a new house built on the slope 
overlooking the mill. This was the first dwelling 
above the grade of an Indian wigwam within the 
present bounds of Clinton. Its exact location was 
plaiTily marked les* than fifty years ago by a consid- 
erable depression, showing where the cellar had been, 
and by a flowing spring near, water from which was 
conveyed in a conduit of bored logs to the residence 
of a later generation of the Prescotts, standing lower 
upon the hillside. The Lancaster historian, before 
named, in l.S2(! noted the site as " about thirty rods 
southeast from Poignand and Plant's factory." It is 
better defined now as south from the intersection of 
High and Water Streets, upon the northerly half o( 
the Otterson lot, Number 71 High Street, and about 
one hundred and fifty feet from the front line of the 
lot. 

The original building must have been of logs or 
squared timber, and was fortified doubtless with flank- 
ers and palisades; for it appears in early records as 
" Prescott's garrison" and, although having never 
more than five or six adult defenders, it successfully 
resisted fierce assaults made u])on it by a large body 
of Indians. Prescott's will, written in 1G73, proves 
that it was then commodious enough to accommodate 
two families, and had adjacent out-housing for cattle 
and an apple orchard. The dam probably occupied 
precisely the same position as that of Frost & How- 
ard's, and the little grist mill stood somewhat lower 
on the brook than the extensive manufactory now 
utilizing its water-power. 

Four years went by, years in which Prescott was 
busied not only at mill and anvil, but in various offices 
for the town. His skill and judgment, nu)rcover, had 
gained such repute that he was chosen by the colonial 
authorities to serve on committees to lay out county 
roads and build important bridges, and even to survey 
special land grants. Emboldened by the success of 
his corn-mill and by growing prosperity, he deter- 
mined upon another enterprise of the greatest interest 
to the community — the building of a saw-mill. His 
neighbors were again called upon to further the ac- 
complishment of his purpose by substantial gift of 
land and temporary exemption from taxation. 

Kuow all men by tlieso presents that for as mnch as the Inh.abitants 
of Lanchaster, or the most part of them being gatlierod together on a 
trayneing day, the IS"' of the 9"' mo, 1058, a motion was made liy .Ino. 
Prescott blacllesmitli of the same towne, about the setting vp of a saw 
mill for the good of the Towne, and yt lie tlie sjiid .Ino. Prescott, would 
by the help of God set vp the saw mill, and to supply the said Inhab- 



itants with boords and other sawne worke, as is afforded at other saw 
mills in the contrey. In case the Towne would giue, grant and eon- 
tirme vnto the said John Prescott a certeine tract of Land, lying East- 
ward of his water mill, be it more or less, bounded by the riuer east, 
the mill west, the stake of the mill laml and the east end of a ledge of 
Iron Stone Itocks southards, ami forty acres of his owne land north, 
the said land to be to him his heyrea and assigues for enei-, and al! 
the said land and curie part thereof to be rate free vntill it be im- 
proned, or any pi of it, and that his saws and saw mill shouhi be 
free from any rates by the Towne, therefore know ye that the ptyes 
abouesaid did mutually agree and consent eadi with tho other con- 
cerning the aforementioned propositions !i« followeth : 

Tho Towne lui their part did giue, grant and conlirmo vnto the said 
lolin Prescott his heyres and assignes for ener, all tile aforeiucntioned 
tract of laLid butted and bounded jis afoiosaid, to be to hiiii bis lieyres 
.indtissigues for ener with all the priiiilcdges iiiid appurtenances there- 
on, atnl thereunto belonging to be to his and their owne proppor vse and 
heboofe as aforesaid, and the land and eurie part of it to be free from 
all rates vntil it or any part of it be improued, and also his ssiw, Siiwes 
,nid saw-ndll to be free from all towne rates, or minister's rates, pro- 
iiided the aforementioned worke be tinisbed and eompleated as aboue- 
said for the good of the towne in some convenient time after this pres- 
ent contract, covenant and agieeiuent. 

And the said John Prescott did and doth by these presents byud him- 
self, his beyrcs and assigues to set vp a saw-mill as aforesaid within the 
bounds of the aforesiiid Towm\ and to supply the Towne with boords 
ami other sawue worke Jis aforesaid and truly and faithfully to peiforme 
futill. iind accomplish, all the aforementioned premisses for the good of 
the Towne as aforesaid. 

Therefore the Selectmen concievilig this saw-mill to bo of great vse 
to the Towne, and the after good of tho place, Ilaue and do hereby 
act to rattifie and confirmo all the aforementioned acts, covemmts, 
gifts, grants and immunilyes, in respect of rates, and what ener is 
aforcmentituied, on their own* part, and in behalfe of the Towne, 
and to the true performance hereof, both partyes hane and do bynd 
tbeliiselves by subscribing their hands, this twenty-fifth day of 
February, one thousand si.\ livindred ami lilty-nim-. 

.louN PaKsco'i-r. 

The worke aboue mencconed was fildsbed according to this covenant 
as witnesseth 

Uali-ii lIot'OiiToN. 

Signed and Delivred In presence of, 

Thomas Wilder, 
Thomas Sawvbr, 
KAi.rn HouoHToN. 

The township proprietors also granted Prescott 
leave to cut pines upon any common land to supply 
his saw-mill. In his will the corn-mill is described 
as "the lower mill," and a second house and barn are 
bequeathed to his son .John as appertaining to the 
saw-mill. It seems certain, therefore, that the first 
saw-mil! had a dam of its own, and that it was prob- 
ably sitiuited near where a dam existed early in the 
present century, a short distance below that of the 
Bigelow Carpet Company. Somewhere near stood the 
second house built in this region. 

It is possible that about this time I'rescott also made 
some attempt to manufacture iron from bog ore. In 
1657 certain inhabitants of Lancaster and Concord, 
John Prescott being one, upon petition, oltaiued colo- 
nial license to erect iron works in those towns. The 
forge at Concord was soon after established and for 
many years had a meagre success. No mention is 
found in any records of similar works at Lancaster 
earlier than 1748, when John Prescott, third of the 
name, in deeds to his son John, speaks of the " forge " 
and an '' iron mine." The former was upon South 
Meadow Brook, just below the dam of the Bigelow 



48 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



Carpet Company. Mine Swamp Brook was so named 
because of the ore dug in its neijiliborhood for use at 
this forge. Wlietlier this experimental bloomery was 
an adventure of the tirst, second or third John Pres- 
cott, the supply of ore was neither sufficient in 
quantity, rich enougli in metal, nor free enough from 
sulphur to give encouragement for iron manufacture. 

Although Indian names remain attached to numer- 
ous localities in all the adjacent towns, not one sur- 
vives in Clinton. Her three great ponds were very 
early given their present names, — " Clamshell " ap- 
pearing in records of 1697, " Moss," or " Mossy," in 
1702, and "Sandy " not much later. Not a word is 
found in the annals of the first proprietors that sug- 
gests the existence of Indian dwelling-places or plant- 
ing-fields anywhere near I'rescott's Mills. Perhaps 
there were none permanently occupied after the 
coming thither of white men, nearer than Washa- 
cum, where the once powerful Nashaway tribe had 
then gathered its feeble remnant spared by small-pox 
and the relentless Mohawk warriors. In accordance 
with their nomadic habits, doubtless, families con- 
tinued to pitch their wigwams at the fa'ls in the 
Nashua during the season when the salmon and 
other migratory fish were making their annual jour- 
ney up that stream ; and to camp on the shores of the 
ponds at other seasons for the abundant food supply 
therein. The considerable <juantity and variety of 
atone implements found from time to time on the 
east side of Clamshell Pond indicates the location of 
an Indian settlement there at some remote period of 
the past, or of a much frequented camping-ground. 

Soon after his coming into the hunting-grounds of 
the Nasliaway tribe, in ItUS, we find that Prescott 
had won the respect of the Indiana. This was doubt- 
less largely owing to their need of his valuable craft 
as a maker of knives, arrow-heads, tomahawks and 
steel traps. But tradition ascribes it to his stature, 
giant strength, contempt of danger, skill with the 
gun, and other heroic attributes ; and especially to 
his possession of a corselet and helmet, supposed to 
render its owner invulnerable. Various stories ol 
his prowess and adventure are extant, wherein proba- 
bly there lie germs of truth, but wrapped about with 
anachronistic or imaginative details supplied by the 
successive narrators. That he was U[)on terms of 
familiar intimacy with the Sachem Sholan is told by 
the records, and that his relations with Sachem Mat- 
thew and his warriors were also friendly is evinced 
by his possession of a house and farm at Washacum 
and his purchase of land adjoining the Indian fort 
there. When the machinations of Philip aroused a 
pitiless war of races throughout New England, how- 
ever, Prescott's property was not spared. 

On February 10, 167f), a picked force of warriors, 
at least four hundred in number, — Nashaways, 
Quabaugs, Nipnets and Narragansets, — under the lead- 
ership of Shoshanim, Muttaump, Monoco and Quani- 
pun, fell upon Lancaster. Prescott's garrison was 



one of the five resolutely assaulted at daylight. It 
was heroically defended by the stalwart owner and 
his sons, aided, perhaps, by two or three soldiers, and 
the savages were finally repelled. Ei)hraim Sawyer, 
one of Prescott's grandsons, aged twenty-five years, 
was slain here in the fight. A young soldier, trom 
Watertow'n, of Cajitain Wad^worth's company, named 
Cieorge Harrington, was killed by the enemy a few days 
later in the same locality. Seventy-five years ago two 
graves were discernible in the grounds belonging to, 
and a little to the east of, the mill. These, perhaps, 
held the ashes of Sawyer and Harrington, though 
then called Indian graves. With the protection of 
the troops sent to the rescue, Prescott and his little 
band withflrew from their perilous situation to join 
the larger garrison of his son-in-law, Thomas Sawyer. 
The carnage at the Rowlandson garrison, and the de- 
struction by fire of all the barns and unfortified 
houses in town, left the survivors so weak in numbers, 
so disheartened, and so etlectually stripped of all 
means of subsistence, that, even if there had been no 
rea.son to fear a renewal of attack by the bloodthirsty 
foe, the temporary abandonment of the place was 
unavoidable. Major Simon Willard, on March 26th, 
sent a troop of horsemen with carts to remove the 
inhabitants who had not already Hcd to the Bay 
towns, and for about three years only the millstone 
and the rusting irons by the dams on South Meadow 
Brook marked the site of Prescott's Mills. 

In 1679, after the red warriors had perished in the 
flame of the wrath they had kindled, among the first 
to move to the re-settlement of the town were the 
Prescotts. The mills were rebuilt on the spot where 
the corn-mill had stood, and the eldest son, John, as- 
sumed their management, Jonas having a mill at 
Nonacoicus, and Jonathan becoming a resident of 
Concord. In December, 16S1, John Prescott, Sr., 
died, being about seventy-eight years of age. His 
eldest son became possessor of all the estate connected 
with the mills. 

The lands granted by the Lancaster proprietors to 
the founder of the town for his public benefactions 
embraced much of the now densely inhabited part of 
Clinton, extending from a bound forty rods above the 
first dam down both sides of the brook to the river, 
while the eastern boundary of the tract was formed 
by the Nashua, from the brook's mouth to the ledge 
near the Lancaster Mills, formerly known as Rattle- 
snake Hill. This domain was largely extended west- 
wardby thesecond John Prescott. A third and fourth 
John succeeded him in its ownership, and a fifth held 
the homestead, dying childless. 

The first town way to Prescott's Mills was com- 
monly known as the " mill-path," and was recorded 
in 1658 as " five rods wide from the Cuntrie highway 
to the mill." This is the main thoroughfare of the 
present day, between South Lancaster and Water 
Street. The original record of its location being lost, 
it was laid out anew in 1811, together with its exten- 



CLINTON. 



49 



eion to Sandy Pond, varying in width from two and 
one-half to three rods wide. The people of Stow^ 
Marlborough, and even Sudbury, for many years had 
no mills more conveniently accessible than Prescott's, 
and the population of Lancaster, after the resettle- 
ment, grew most rapidly to the eastward of the Nashua. 
For all these patrons, the old mill-path was a round- 
about road, and at a town-meeting in Lancaster, 
August 26, 1686, a proposition was entertained for 
another, the second town road laid out within Clinton 
lines. The petition was " for a way to Goodman 
Prescott's Corne-mill, to ly over the River at the 
Scar." Goodman Prescott " told the Town that if 
they would grant him about twenty acres of Land 
upon the Mill Brook lying above his own Land, for 
hisconvaniancy of preserveing water against a time of 
drought, he was willing the town should have a way 
to the mill threw his Land." A committee was ap- 
pointed " to lay out a highway from the Scar to the 
mill, threw John Prescott's land," and he was recom- 
pensed by the grant desired, which is recorded as 
lying " on the Mill Brook, near to the South Meadow, 
bounded north and east by his own land, and south 
and southeast by common land." 

In April, 1717, a town-meeting, upon petition of 
John Goas and Ihe report of a viewing committee, 
voted to change the location of the westerly end of 
this highway, so that it should " lye by the River, — 
Provided said way be kept four Rods wide from y' 
Scar bridge till it com to y" Hill from y"^ top of y' 
River bank, and after it amount said Hill to lye where 
it shall be most conveniant to y° Town, till it com to 
said Mill, said Goss to cleer said Rode when that 
Committy shall stake it out." April 24, 1733, John 
Goss conveyed to John Prescott eighty acres east of 
the Mill Brook, " a highway lying through s.iid Land 
from the bridge that is over the River, a little above 
the place called the Scarr." The mills had now 
many rivals, and the current of travel flowed in other 
directions. In May, 1742, the town voted to move the 
Scar bridge down the river "to the road that leads 
from Lieut. Sawyer's to Doctor Dunsmoor's'' — that 
is, to the crossing of the Nashua, now known as 
Carter's Mills bridge, where before this there was a 
fording-place only. 

Few traces of the Scar road, though a noted public 
convenience for more than fifty years, can now be 
discerned. Close scrutiny reveals signs of the bridge 
abutments a few rods below the northern end of High 
Street, and of the raised roadway on the eastern bank 
of the river. Some time in the eighteenth century 
there were five or more dwellings located along this 
highway, of which two or three cellars on the part 
east of the Nashua are not yet obliterated ; and other 
similar relics of human habitation upon the west side 
have disappeared within the memory of the living. 

But many years before the abandonment of this 
route by the Scar, another had probably come into 
use from the eastward. This, now known as Water 
4 



Street, was wholly in the land of the Prescotts and 
remained their private way until 1782, on April 1st of 
which year Lancaster accepted it as laid out two rods 
wide, "on condition that sd Town is not Burdened 
with the cost of a Bridge." No record is found to 
prove how long the bridge had then stood at this 
crossing of the Nashua, but mention is made of a 
"slab-bridge" in this vicinity about 1718, belongingto 
the second John Prescott. It was then, doubtless, like 
many of the bridges of that era, a narrow structure 
made of puncheons resting upon log abutments and 
trestles, and perhaps only passable for foot and horse- 
men. By the surveyors of Lancaster in 1795 the 
bridge is called " Prescott's," and noted as ninety-nine 
feet in length. It was not until December 4, 1815, 
that the town assumed the ownership of it and of the 
approaches to it from the county road to Boylston, 
although eight years earlier assistance was voted for 
its reconstruction. A tew years later it appears in the 
town records as the Harris bridge. 

A by-path very early connected Prescott's Mills 
with the county highway leading to Washacum and 
westward. Widened and otherwise altered at various 
dates, this is yet in use and known as the Rigby road. 
This name does not appear attached to it in old 
records, but the brooklet which it crosses in Clinton 
was called Rigby's Brook before 1718. What connec- 
tion the cross-road or the stream had with John 
Rigby, who was one of the pioneer settlers of Lan- 
caster, or with his heirs, has not been discovered. No 
family of the name is mentioned in the town lists 
since 1700, but a very old house which stood upon this 
road in the early years of this century was commonly 
known as the Rigby place. 

In the surprise and massacre by the Indians, Sep- 
tember 22, 1697, and in the attack by the French and 
Indians of July 31, 1704, no loss of life or property at 
Prescott's Mills was reported, though this, it would 
seem, must have been one of the six fortified posts 
said to have been assailed. The men belonging to 
this garrison in 1704 were John Prescott, his two sons, 
John and Ebenezer, and John Keyes, the weaver, 
three of whom were married men with little families. 
By a report of an inspection of garrisons ordered by 
Governor Dudley, in November, 1711, we learn that 
there were at that time but three families at the Mills, 
including four males of military age, besides two 
soldiers billeted there — fifteen souls in all. This may 
be called the earliest census of Clinton. For half a 
century the householders in this neighborhood had 
numbered no more, and no less ; for half a century 
more the accessions hardly trebled this population. 
Along the roads leading westward, to Leominster, to 
Woonksechocksett, (now Sterling,) to Boylston, and 
to "Shrewsbury Leg," farms were cleared, humble 
dwellings arose, children were born, grew to manhood, 
migrated, and themselves set up roof-trees farther 
west ; but at Prescott's Mills all remained apparently 
as when the fathers fell asleep. 



50 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



D.'fniel and Benjamin Allen, of Watertown, were 
among the very early settlers in Lancaster, but aban- 
doned their lands when the Indian raids of 1675 and 
1676 desolated the frontier towns, and never re-occu- 
pied them. About 1746, however, Ebenezer Allen, of 
Weston, a son of Daniel, came to Lancaster, acco)n- 
panied by his son Ebenezer, and the two made their 
homes upon a tract of land containing one hundred 
and eighty acres, the northerly , portion of which is 
now in possession of Ethan Allen Currier. This 
had been the homestead of John Gosa, who bought 
the property of John Prescott and John Keyes in 
1717. Upon the brook which runs through the farm 
Goss built a mill at the site of the existing dam, and 
his dwelling and farm buildings stood on the uplands 
near. • 

The deed to John Allen, dated February, 1746, and 
that of John to Ebenezer, in 1751, speak of the road- 
way in use through the farm " from Prescott's Mills 
to a Fordway, where there was a Bridge called the 
Scar Bridge." The elder Allen sold his whole estate 
to Ebenezer, Jr., in 1756, including some lands 
bought on the west side of the mill-path where prob- 
ably about that date the mansion was built, which 
was torn down in 1879, to make room for Mr. Currier's 
present residence. Ebenezer Allen, St., died in 1770, 
at the age of ninety-four, and Ebenezer, Jr., in 1812, 
aged eighty -eight years. The farm passed out of the 
Aliens' hands in 1811, and Moses Emerson became its 
owner shortly after. The bluff upon the east bank of 
the Nashua, so often mentioned in town records as 
the Scar, from the time of his purchase began to be 
called Emerson's Bank. Mr. Emerson dying in 1822, 
the estate was sold at auction by the guardian of his 
children, and in 1825, George Howard, fromPembroke, 
bought it. At that time no trace of the Goss Mill or 
the other buildings once standing in the vicinity of 
the brook remained, but a cart-path led up over the 
plain to Harris Hill, perhaps the last trace of the 
long-disused Scar Road. 

Along the old county highway which leads from 
Bolton to Boylston, where it winds about among the 
rocky hills east of the Nashua in Clinton, a few farms 
were tilled many years before the Revolution. Here 
lived Lieutenant Thomas Tucker ; Thomas Wilder, 
the son of John, and his son Jonathan ; Simon But- 
ler, and the late John Pollard. Philip Larkin and 
his soldier sons had homes to th« southeast from 
Clamshell Pond. Thomas Tucker acquired his lands 
through Capt. Thomas Wilder in 1716, and probably 
built his house li«re about the date of his marriage, in 
1719. He transferretl his iarra to his son William in 
1757. In 1788 James Fuller bought the southerly 
portion of the tract, and in 1798 the homestead came 
into possession of Charles Chace, from Bellingham, 
whose descendants have prominent place in the 
annals of Clinton. The Tucker family had then 
■wholly disappeared from Lancaster. Upon the other 
farms named, sons built near the fathers, and family 



names clung to the estates far into the present cen- 
tury. Now, however, but one lineal descendant of 
any of these old families — the venerable Frederick 
Wilder — dwells in this section of the town. 



CHAPTER VIII. 

CLINTON— ( Cov tinned). 

Tlie Itepohtllon — Tlie "Six Nations" — Immigratimi — The Conib-makers— 
Faitfiiand & Plunt — Comi»g of the liigdows — Tlie CUnton Company 
— TJie Lfincattter Quilt Company — The Bigelow Carpet Company — The 
Lanvof'ler Mith — Clintom-itie, Us Builders and its Enterprises. 

When the rallying cry, " taxation without repre- 
sentation is tyranny," rang through the land, and 
patriots began the organization of rebellion, John 
Prescott, fourth of the name, was chosen one of the 
town's Committee of Correspondence and Safety. 
Like his grandfather, he seems to have been a radical 
republican in politics, and was especially active in 
the prosecution of those who sold tea, and all sus- 
pected of a leaning towards Toryism. 

When the.Lexington alarm-courier summoned the 
yeomanry to arms on the morning of April 19, 1775, 
John Prescott, fifth of the name, led as captain one 
of the six companies from Lancaster which made a 
forced march to Cambridge. As his command of 
thirty-two men was mustered neither with Colonel 
Asa Whitcomb's regiment of militia nor Colonel 
John Whitcomb's regiment of minute-men, they were 
probably a mounted troop of volunteers. They served 
twelve days. Two of his sergeants, Elisha Allen and 
James Fuller, were residents within the bounds of 
Clinton ; Moses Sawyer was second-lieutenant in 
Captain Joseph White's militia company ; Ebenezer 
Allen, Jr., and Jotham Wilder were in Captain An- 
drew Haskell's company, which fought in the battle 
of Bunker Hill ; James Fuller and Jotham, Stephen, 
Titus and Reuben Wilder served for short terms later 
in the contest, most of them being at Saratoga. Sev- 
eral of the Prescott family did patriotic service for 
national independence, but at that date the Prescotts 
mostly lived upon ancestral lands in Chocksett or 
elsewhere than in the south part of Lancaster. 

The region round about the boundary stone where 
the lines of Berlin, Boylston and Clinton meet, in- 
cluding sundry farms of each town, was, in the years 
following the Revolution, known as the "Six Nations," 
that name attaching to it because families represent- 
ing half a dozen or more different nationalities were 
therein resident. The Wilders, Carters and others 
were English by descent; Andrew McWain, Scotch ; 
the sons and grandsons of Philip Larkin, Irish; the 

families of Louis Conqueret and Hitty, French; 

Daniel and Frederick Albert, Dutch; and John 
Canouse was a Hessian, a deserter from the captive 
army of Burgeyne. Other names and nationalities 
are sometimes added to the list. 



CLINTON. 



51 



Beyond the mills to the southward, towards Sandy 
Pond, for a long distance all the lands desirable for 
tillage or timber had fallen, by original proprietary 
division of commons or by inheritance, to the Pres- 
cotts and their kinsfolk, the Sawyers. The third John 
Prescott, in 1748, the year before his death, " for love 
and good-will," gave his grandchildren, Aaron, Moses, 
Joseph, Sarah and Tabitha Sawyer, about ninety-seven 
acres of land lying on both sides of a stated highway 
and of the brook "aboue the forge." These grantees 
were the children of John Prescott's only daughter 
Tabitha, wife of Joseph Sawyer. It has often been 
asserted that Aaron was the founder of Sawyer's mills 
in Boylston, but the credit of building the first saw 
and grist-mills in that locality probably belongs to his 
father, Joseph. Moses Sawyer was the first to reside 
upon the lands thus deeded to him and his brethren 
by their grandfather, and his son Moses was the 
second. Their houses yet remain upon what is now 
called Burditt Hill, and the latest has long outlived 
its hundredth year. 

From the death of the fourth John Prescott, in 
1791, began a subdivision of his landed estate into 
many lots, and its rapid alienation from the family. 
He had five sons and four daughters. To the two 
youngest, Joseph and Jabez, he deeded in 1786 the 
two mills, upon condition that each should deliver to 
him or his wife, annually so long as either should 
live, " five bushels of Indian corn, three of rye, three 
of wheat, and one thousand feet of boards." Within 
two years after the death of their father, the sons, 
with the exception of John, had parted with their 
patrimony and removed from Lancaster. Captain 
John, the fifth and last of his name in th.e town, 
clung to thirty or forty acres of land and the old 
homestead, where he died, childless, August 18, 1811, 
aged sixty-two, his wife, Mary (Ballard), surviving 
him. 

In the closing years of the eighteenth century the 
people were weighed down by debt and taxation — 
legacies of the long years of the war for independ- 
ence. Shays' Insurrection had been summarily 
quelled, for New England common sense recognized 
the fact that anarchy could afford no relief from the 
general distress. The yeomanry, however full their 
barns, held mortgaged lands and empty purses. 
Everywhere the sheriff was busy with executions, 
foreclosures and forced sales. The merchants and 
lawyers mercilessly devoured the debtors ; large es- 
tates were broken up and homes changed owners on 
every hand. Thus Prescott's. Mills and some of the 
lands around them in 1793 fell into the possession of 
John Sprague, the Lancaster lawyer and sheriff, and 
until his death, in 1800, they are sometimes mentioned 
in records as Sprague's Mills. Several heads of 
families during this decade fixed their habitations 
upon land in the vicinity bought for prices that now 
seem ludicrously small. They were : Jacob Stone, 
a noted framer of bridges and buildings, whose house, 



burnt many years ago, was west of Sandy Pond, a 
mile from any other dwelling, save one at a saw-mill 
on Mine Swamp Brook, owned by Jonathan Sampson, 
of Boylston ; Joseph Rice, a basket-maker from 
Boylston, who married a daughter of Moses Sawyer 
and lived near him; Nathaniel Lowe, Jr., from Leo- 
minster, who in 1795 bought of Moses Sawyer a farm 
lying between the mills and the river, which North 
High Street now bisects ; Lieut. Amos Allen, who 
bought lands of Jonathan Prescott in 1792 and built 
the first house on the west side of the highway be- 
tween the mills and Ebenezer Allen's; Benjamin 
Gould, father of the poetess, Hannah Flagg Gould 
and the scholar, Benjamin Apthorp Gould, who 
began a dwelling probably about the same date, 
which he never found means to finish, on the spot 
where Deputy Sheriff Enoch K. Gibbs lives ; Coffin 
Chapin, Richard Sargent and his sons, and John 
Hunt, who lived at the summit of the hill on Water 
Street, about half-way between the mills and the 
bridge over the Nashua ; John Goss, who bought a 
farm upon the east of the river, near the Bolton and 
Berlin corner ; Elias Sawyer, who built on the river 
bank near his dam already mentioned. James Elder 
lived just outside Clinton bounds. 

During the first ten years of this century accessions 
became more numerous, and among them were some 
whose descendants have been honorably identified 
with every phase of Clinton's material progress. 
Ezekiel Rice purchased the house and farm of Moses 
Sawyer, Jr., in 1802. John Lowe, a comb-maker of 
Leominster, in 1800 bought of John Fry fifty acres of 
land, and in 1804 another lot adjoining, which in- 
cluded the cellar of Benjamin Gould's house and a 
shop of Asahel Tower's on the brook. Here he built 
a few years later, and deeded a moiety of land and 
house to his father, Nathaniel. Nathan Burditt came 
from Leominster in 1808 and succeeded Mr. Rice in 
possession of the house built by Moses Sawyer, Jr. 
John Severy, a Revolutionary pensioner, came to re- 
side on Mine Swamp Brook the same year, buying of 
Sampson his house, brick-yard and saw-mill. John 
Goldthwaite, the splint-broom maker, occupied a 
dilapidated building, the only one on the Rigby Road. 
Daniel Harris, a Revolutionary pensioner from Boyls- 
ton, in 1804 and 1805 bought of John Hunt's numer- 
ous creditors his substantial house and large farm, 
which he in later times shared with his sons — Emory, 
Asahel and Sidney — who, by their industry, thrift 
and business ability, became leading men in the com- 
munity. 

Next to the saw and grist-mills, the first manufac- 
turing industry to employ any considerable number 
of workmen was the making of horn-combs, intro- 
duced about the beginning of the present century 
from Leominster, where it had been a profitable em- 
ployment from the days of the Revolution. John 
Lowe and Nathan Burditt were the earliest to ply this 
trade in the town, but they soon taught it to many 



52 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



others; who gradually brought improved tools and 
machinery into service to increase the quantity and 
improve the quality of their products. 

At first tlie comb-makers exercised their handicraft 
in diminutive shops or rooms in their own dwellings, 
and the women and children helped in the lighter 
parts of the work. The horns were sawn into proper 
lengths by hand, split, soaked, heated over charcoal, 
dipped into hot grease, pressed into required form 
between iron clamps by driven wedges, stiflFened by 
cold water, marked by a pattern for the teeth, which 
were sawn one by one. The combs were then smoothed, 
polished and tied in packages for sale. The earliest 
makers carried their own goods to market, and it is 
told of John Lowe that he often journeyed as far as 
Albany on horseback, with his whole stock in trade 
in his saddle-bags. 

The use of water-power in the manufacture was 
not adopted until 1823. Through Lowe's land ran a 
little brook, which was finally utilized for comb- 
making by his son Henry, with whom was associated 
his cousin, Thomas Lowe. The stream had been 
dammed at least twenty years earlier, and a small 
shop thereon had been occupied by Asahel Tower for 
nail-cutting, and Arnold Rugg for wire-drawing. The 
Lowes were succeeded several years later by Henry 
Lewis, and he, in 183G, by Haskell McCollum, who 
built a second shop and greatly increased the business, 
having as a partner his brother-in-law, Anson Tjowe. 
E. K. Gibbs built a third shop about 1840. 

The age was one when a man was fortunate whose 
personal peculiarity of form, feature, dress or habit, 
were not salient enough whereupon to hang some 
nickname — when many a worthy citizen walked 
among his fellow-men almost unknown by his baptis- 
mal name. The same fashion obtained respecting 
neighborhoods, every little section of the town gaining 
some quaint designation fancied to be descriptive of 
the district or its people. The region about these 
comb-shops on Rigby Brook became in popular par- 
lance, Scrabble Hollow. 

The water privilege on South Meadow Brook in the 
possession of George Howard was soon turned to use 
in the horn industry ; at first by lessees Lewis Pollard 
and Joel Sawtell, later by the owner, who was enter- 
prising and prosperous. But the most extensive 
makers of horn goods were the sons of Daniel Harris, 
who learned the trade of Nathan Burditt. Asahel 
Harris at first conducted the business at his house 
east of the river, still standing. This dwelling he had 
bought from Samuel Dorrison, who built it upon a 
lot severed from the Pollard farm. Mr. Harris built 
later the brick house upon the height of the hill west 
of the Nashua, where he introduced horse-power and 
improved machinery in his work-shop. In 1831 
Asahel and Sidney Harris built a dam and shop upon 
the liver just above the bridge, securing a fall of about 
six feet. Sidney Harris, in 1835, bought his brother's 
interest in the water-power and the house above, aud 



here began a career of great prosperity. Upon the 
sale of the Pitts mills, in 1843, the grist-mill machinery 
was brought thither. 

In 1805 Samuel John Spraguesold the Prescott s.",w 
and grist-mill, with a house and land, to Benaiah 
Brigham, of Boston. Thomas W. Lyon soon after 
bought them of Brigham and acquired other estate in 
the neighborhood. In August, 1809, Lancaster was 
stirred with the news that two wealthy foreigners, 
residents of Boston, had bought the Prescott Mills 
and were about to erect a factory for the weaving of 
cotton cloth by power looms. Soon workmen began 
laying the foundation of the new structure, and the 
enterprising owners for twenty-five years thereafter 
were notable citizens of the town. The elder of the 
two, the capitalist of the firm and president of the 
corporation afterwards organized, was David Poig- 
nand, a dapper, urbane gentleman of French Hugue- 
not descent, born in the island of Jersey. He wore a 
queue, and carried a gold-headed cane, was both a 
jeweller and a cabinet-maker by trade, and an excep- 
tionally good workman. He also had made and lost 
a fortune in the hardware trade in Tremont Street 
Boston. His partner was his son-in-law, Samuel 
Plant, an Englishman who had been in America 
about twenty years as factor for a great cloth manu- 
facturer of Leeds. Mr. Plant had made himself thor- 
oughly acquainted with the manufacture of cotton in 
England, and secretly brought thence drawings of the 
machinery necessary for a mill, and perhaps some of 
the more important parts of certain machines. From 
these, with the aid of the ingenious machinist, Capt. 
Thomas W. Lyon, he was able to completely equip 
the factory and put it into running order. Under the 
methodical management of Mr. Plant, aided by the 
skill of the machinist, the difficulties which always 
attend a novel undertaking of such magnitude were 
soon overcome, and the success of the enterprise was 
assured. This factory was one of the earliest of its 
kind successfully run in America. The town granted 
the firm partial exemption from taxation temporarily. 
The embargo and war with England served all the 
purposes of a high protective tariff for the infant 
industry. Common cotton cloth which at the build- 
ing of the factory cost about thirty cents a yard, 
before the close of hostilities commanded double that 
price. 

A little above the factory, upon the same stream, 
stood a saw-mill built, probably before 1800, by Moses 
Sawyer, or his son Peter, but at that time owned by 
Joseph Rice. It commanded a fall of ten to twelve 
feet, but had a very limited reservoir. This mill was 
often, and necessarily, a grave source of inconveni- 
ence to Poignand & Plant by causing an intermit- 
tent flow of water to their wheel. Mr. Rice's land 
and water-rights were purchased in 1814, his log dam 
was replaced by one of stone somewhat higher, and a 
second factory was built a little below the saw-mill 
site, to which the looms were moved from the old mill. 



CLINTON. 



53 



The business had grown until it called for more 
capital than the firm possessed. February 12, 1821, 
David Poignand, Samuel Plant, Benjamin Rich, Isaac 
Bangs and Seth Knowles were incorporated with the 
title of the Lancaster Cotton Company, representing 
a capital of $100,000. Benjamin Pickman, Benjamin 
T. Pickman and Lewis Tappan also became stock- 
holders in the company, and the two last named were 
in succession made treasurers. The old Prescott dam 
having been broken through by a freshet in 1826, was 
rebuilt and made one or two feet higher, giving a fall 
of twenty-nine feet. The square, brick mansion near 
the lower mill upon Main Street was also built by the 
company as a residence for the superintendent, Mr. 
Plant, twenty-five hundred dollars being appropriated 
for the purpose. 

The treasurer was accustomed to drive up from 
Boston in his own chaise once a month to attend to 
his special duties, and it was usual for a four-horse 
team to be sent to the city once a fortnight with the 
sheetings manufactured. The wagon for its return 
trip was loaded with cotton bales and goods for the 
store which Mr. Plant established a short distance 
from the factory. For several years most of the 
teaming for the company was done by Nathan Bur- 
ditt, Sr. In case of any repairs which required a 
new casting to be obtained, there was no foundry 
suitably equipped to furnish it nearer than South 
Boston. 

August 28, 1880, while casually at the house of his 
friend, Johu G. Thurston, in South Lancaster, David 
Poignand died suddenly. In 1835 the company, find- 
ing their business unprofitable because of changes 
in the tariff" and the superannuated machinery, 
advertised their property for sale, described as fol- 
lows: "one hundred and seventy-seven acres of 
land, one brick factory with nine hundred spindles, 
one wooden factory with thirty-two looms and other 
machinery; blacksmith shop, machine shop, eleven 
dwelling houses and other buildings." The mills with 
Buch laud and structures as were essential to their 
operation were finally sold at auction July 26, 1836; 
and bought by Nathaniel Band, Samuel C. Damon, 
John Hews and Edward A. Raymond, for $13,974. 
Their successors in 1837 leased the mills to the 
brothers Horatio N. and Erastus B. Bigelow, who came 
from Shirley, where the elder had been manager of a 
cotton-mill. Mr. Plant removed to Northhampton, 
and there died in 1847. 

The Bigelows had selected this location preparatory 
to the organization of capital for the developing of 
some inventions of the younger brother. H. N. Bige- 
low occupied the Plant mansion, and from this time 
became a resident of the village and an indefatigable 
and wise promoter of its best interests, moral, social 
and material. March 8, 1838, the Clinton Company 
was duly incorporated with a capital of one hundred 
thousand dollars, and the right to hold real estate to 
the amount of thirty thousand dollars. The incorpo- 



rators whose names appeared in the legislative act 
were: John Wright, H. N. Bigelow and Israel Long- 
ley. The most notable inventions of Erastus B. Bige- 
low, at that date perfected, were two power looms: 
one for weaving figured quilts, the other for the weav- 
ing of coach-lace. The upper, then styled the yellow 
factory, was leased by the Clinton Company for the 
latter manufacture, and the brick factory was devoted 
to the making of quilts. 

Before this time coach-lace had always been woven 
by hand looms, and any attempt to supplant human 
fingers in the complicated manipulation required was 
scouted at by the weavers as presumptuous. But the 
lace made by the ingenious mechanism invented by 
Mr. Bigelow in 1836 and patented in 1837 proved of 
a very superior quality, while the cost of weaving was 
reduced from twenty-two to three cents a yard. The 
manufacturers were rewarded with immediate and 
ample financial success, which continued for about 
ten years, when stage-coaches began everywhere to be 
superseded by the railway train, and coach-lace found 
no place in the new fashion of vehicles. 

The company was fortunate in the time of entering 
upon its work as well as in the genius of its inventor 
and the ability of its management. The period was 
one of great and general prosperity. August 17, 1842, 
the real estate, hitherto leased, was bought of Samuel 
Damon, and extensive improvements were begun. In 
184,'5 the capital of the company was increased to three 
hundred thousand, and in 1848 to half a million dol- 
lars. Meanwhile the working plant w.as re-enforced 
by the purchase of Sawyer's Mills, in Boylston, where 
the water-power was utilized for the making of yarn. 
Additions were annually made to the original build- 
ings, and new ones were erected. When the demand 
for their special product began rapidly to decrease, 
machinery for the making of pantaloon checks, tweeds 
and cassimeres was gradually introduced. 

A large machine shop was connected with the works 
which, under charge of Joseph B. Parker, turned out 
nearly all the machinery required in the factory. 
Horatio N. Bigelow was general manager from the 
outset, being, however, relieved for three years, 1849 
to 1851, by C. W. Blanchard. About four hundred 
hands were engaged when all the looms were running ; 
twelve hundred yards of coach-lace and four thousand 
yards of pantaloon stutfs were finished per day. 

Although the brick factory was bought in 1838 for 
the introduction of the Bigelow quilt looms, owing to 
financial difficulties the weaving of counterpanes did 
not begin until 1841. The successive transfers of the 
property are of interest, as giving the names of those 
who began the quilt manufacture and as showing the 
sudden rise in real estate values at that date. Rand 
& Damon, by purchase of their associates' shares, 
became sole owners of the cotton-mills in 1837, and in 
1838, Rand, having acquired his partner's rights in 
the brick factory, sold it to E.G. Roberts, who the 
same day transferred it to W. R. Kelley for six thou- 



54 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



gatid dollars consideration. In September, 1839, it 
was deeded to Thomas Kendall, the price named 
being twenty-five thousand dollars. The property, 
with, of course, additions and improvements, next 
passed into possession of Hugh R. Kendall in 1842, 
the alleged consideration being thirty thousand dol- 
lars, and in 1845 it was sold to John Lamson for forty 
thousand dollars. October 1, 1851, Lamson disposed 
of the property to the Lancaster Quilt Company for 
one hundred and seventy-five thousand dollars. 

The quilts that came from the new looms were from 
ten to thirteen quarters in width and of a high grade 
In quality, equal to those of foreign make for which 
the importers demanded six to ten dollars each. The 
Bigelow quilts were soon in the market at less than 
half those prices. In the quilt loom, as in all his 
inventions and improvements in weaving machinery, 
the design and mechanical construction of each ma- 
chine were carefully perfected under Mr. Bigelow's own 
oversight, and not more with a view to the saving in 
cost of production than to attaining the highest stand- 
ard of excellence in the fabric produced. 

February 11, 1848, John Lamson, William P. Barn- 
ard, George Seaver and associates were incorporated 
by the name of the Lancaster Quilt Company, for the 
purpose of manufacturing petticoat robes, toilet cov- 
ers, and the various descriptions of counterpanes, 
quilts and bed-covers, with an authorized capital of 
two hundred thousand dollars. Thirty-six looms and 
about one hundred hands were employed and the annual 
output was over seventy-five thousand quilts. Charles 
W. Worcester was the managing agent of the works. 

The devices harmoniously combined in the coach- 
lace loom were seen by the inventor to be equally 
applicable to the weaving of any pile fabric. With 
suitable enlargement and modification of parts the 
product would become Brussels carpet, or, by the 
addition of a cutting edge to the end of the pile wire, 
be given a velvet pile. The adaptation to the carpet 
loom of the chief novel feature of the lace loom — the 
automatic attachments to draw out, carry forward and 
reinsert the wires— was an easy problem for one who 
"thought in wheels and pinions." The carpet loom, 
as a conception in the inventor's brain, was soon com- 
plete in all its details. The machinists under Mr. 
Bigelow's eye shaped the conception in wood and 
metal, and at Lowell in 1845 Jacquard Brussels car- 
peting was woven upon the power loom. The inven- 
tion was patented in England March 11, 1846, and in 
the great London Industrial Exhibition of 1851 speci- 
mens of Bigelow'.s carpeting were exhibited which 
won from a jury of experts the highest encomium. It 
was declared in their official report that the Bigelow 
fabrics were " better and more perfectly woven than 
any hand-woven goods that have come under notice 
of the jury." 

The Bigelow brothers, the success of the new carpet 
loom thus made certain, bought a building at the 
south end of High Street, in which Oilman B. Par- 



ker's foundry and other mechanical industries had 
been carried on, raised it and built a brick basement 
beneath, thereby obtaining a room two hundred feet 
long by forty-two in width. In this they set up 
twenty-eight looms run by a thirty horse-power steam- 
engine, and in the autumn of 1849 began the making 
of Brussels carpet by power. The requisite spinning 
was done at other mills. About one hundred hands 
were employed and five hundred yards of carpeting 
made daily. The day's labor of a skilled weaver on 
the hand loom rarely brought five yards, while the 
power loom, managed by a girl, readily produced four 
or five times as much and ensured superior finish. 
The works were under the management of H. N. 
Bigelow. H. P. Fairbanks became a partner with 
the Bigelow Brothers in 1850, and with added capital, 
larger and more substantial buildings, year by year 
crowded the little valley site. 

A map of Lancaster, dated 1795, notes the ex- 
istence of a "falls of about seven feet" in the river 
ai, the place where now stands the dam of the Lan- 
caster Mills Company. At that time this great 
water-power was owned by Elias Sawyer, who built 
a dam across the stream and began a sawmill, 
which, from lack of means, he was never able to 
complete, although he sawed considerable lumber 
here. For a time he lived near by, but the property 
passed from his hands, and in 1810 was acquired by 
JamtsPitts, a millwright of Taunton, who came to 
reside upon and improve his purchase in December, 
1815. The narrow, rock-walled valley, and the hills 
that hem it in, were densely covered with forest, and 
no public road led thither. A few acres of the bot- 
tom lands were soon cleared, and during 1816 Mr. 
Pitts erected upon the mud-sill of the old Sawyer 
Dam a new one, thirteen feet in height, and the 
same year completed a saw and sri-t-mill. Possess- 
ing some spinning machinery at a factory in West 
Bridgewater, he brought it to Lancaster, and began 
the manufacture of cotton yarn in 1820, gradually 
enlarging his buildings and increasing his production 
as success warranted. A small part of his power 
was leased in 1818 and for a few yeais later to 
Charles Chace & Sons, who built a small tannery 
near the mills. Comb-making was also carried on 
here at a later day, with power leased of Mr. Pitts. 

James Pitts, Sr., died in January, 1835, and bis 
sons, James, Hiram W. and Seth G., continued the 
manufacture of satinet warps. The saw and grist- 
mill was burned in 1836, but immediately rebuilt. 
November 12, 1838, the town accepted a highway 
laid out from the "red factory" of Poignand & 
Plant — which stood where the Bigelow Carpet Com- 
pany's spinning department now is — to Pitts' Mills. 
This was the first public road to that locality, and 
marks the origin of Mechanic Street. In 1842 the 
Pitts Brothers sold their entire estate, including 
about eighty acres of land, to Erastus B. Bigelow, 
for ten thousand dollars. 



CLINTON. 



55 



February 5, 1844, E. B. Bigelow, Stephen Fair- 
banks, Henry Timmins and associates were incor- 
porated as the Lancaster Mills Company, with a 
capital of five hundred tliousand dollars, and at 
once laid the foundations of the manufactory now 
famous as one of the largest gingham-mills in the 
world. It was at first proposed to begin with the 
manufacture of blue and white cotton checks only, 
but in view of the liberal pecuniary returns at that 
time rewarding manufacturing enterprise, and the 
deserved confidence of the capitalists in the inven- 
tive genius of the younger Bigelow, and the rare 
organizing ability of the elder, it was determined to 
build a gingham-mill of twenty thousand spindles. 
Up to this time ginghams had been chiefly made 
upon hand looms. The processes which this fabric 
passes through before it is ready for market are in 
number more than doable those required in the mak- 
ing of plain cloth, and hence the design of the ma- 
chinery and buildings was correspondingly complex 
in character. To this novel problem E. B. Bigelow 
devoted his energy and marvellous constructive skill 
for more than two years, when his health gave way, 
under the intense strain of the mental toil and 
anxiety he had undergone, and he sought rest and 
found cure in foreign travel. He had, however, 
perfected all plans and contracts for the essentially 
new elements of the plant, and his brother, being 
thoroughly familiar with them, carried the works on- 
ward to completion, and put them into successful 
operation. 

H. N. Bigelow continued in management of manu- 
facture until 1849, when he was succeeded as agent 
by Franklin Forbes, under whose long and very able 
c >ntrol the company attained great financial success 
and an honorable name for the unvarying superiority 
of its products. The various purchases of real estate, 
— two hundred and thirteen acres in all, — and the 
construction of dam, mills and machinery ready for 
operation, cost about eight hundred thousand dollars, 
and the stock was divided into two thousand shares. 
Both buildings and machinery were of the highest 
excellence in design aud workmanship. The dam 
was built chiefly of stone quarried in the immediate 
neighborhood, and the town of Lancaster at the time 
of its construction joined the banks of the river just 
above with a wooden trestle bridge, and laid out a 
roadway from it to the county highway. .The water- 
])ower was at first developed by three breast-wheels 
upon a single line of shafting, each twenty-six feet in 
diameter with fourteen buckets. These were supple- 
mented by a Tufts' engine of two hundred and fifty 
horse-power. The mills were admirably lighted and 
ventilated, and neat, convenient tenements of wood 
were built near them, accommodating seventy fami- 
lies. About eight hundred operatives were required 
when the works were in complete running order, two- 
thirds of whom were females. Girls earned about 
three dollars per week above their board. The head 



dyer, Angus Cameron, was reputed the most skilful 
of his craft in America. The weaving-room, contain- 
ing six hundred looms, was the large-st in the United 
States, having a floor-area of one and one-third acres. 
Thirteen thousand yards of gingham were finished in 
a single day — the estimated annual product being 
four million yards — and the price, which had been 
sixteen or eighteen cents per yard, dropped at once to 
less than twelve. In 1849 the capital of the company 
was increased to one million two hundred thousand 
dollars. 

The prosperity of the Clinton Company and the 
starting of the Lancaster Mills speedily worked great 
changes in their vicinity by the constantly-increasing 
demand for intelligent labor, and the consequent en- 
couragement offered to skill and traffic. The growth 
of the village was very rapid, yet systematic and sub- 
stantial. Streets were laid out according to a well- 
digested plan, reserving prominent sites for public 
buildings. In this and other work calling for the art 
of an engineer, the judgment and foresight of H. N. 
Bigelow were ably seconded by the taste and scien- 
tific attainments of the famous civil engineer John C. 
Hoadley, tlien resident in the Prescott house, at the 
corner of High and Water Streets. The town of 
Lancaster in 1848 accepted Church, Union, Chestnut, 
Walnut, High, Nelson and Prospect Streets as town 
roads, the expenditure for land and construction 
having been wholly defrayed by the villHgers. Hun- 
dreds of shade-trees were planted, of which the town 
is now justly proud. Stores and dwellings soon rose 
in every direction, and owners or lessees hastened to 
occupy them before the hammer and saw of the 
builders h.ad ceased work upon them. 

The final location of the Worcester and Nashua 
Railroad through the town in 1846 gave new energy to 
enterprise, again to receive fresh impetus when the 
road was formally opened to Groton on July 24, 1848, 
and on November 5th of the same year to Worcester. 
Before this the travelling public were dependent upon 
Stiles' stage-coaches for conveyance to Worcester, and 
reached Boston by patronizing Mclntire and Day's 
coaches, which at .5.30 and 10 a.m. and 3.45 p.m. started 
for Shirley Village, there connecting with the Fitch- 
burg Railway trains. A. J. Gibson's rival line also 
carried passengers to Souh Acton, where the same 
trains were met. 

The Lancaster Couranf, a weekly newspaper, was 
established by Eliphas Ballard, Jr., and F. C. Messen- 
ger, in connection with a job printing-office located on 
the east side of High Street, in the building of C. W 
Field. Mr. Messenger was editor of the paper, the 
first number of which was published Saturday, July 
4, 1846. In July, 1850, it was enlarged by the addi- 
tion of one column to each page and its name changed 
to Saturday Courant. 

The professions of medicine, law and engineering 
soon had gifted and public-spiriied representatives 
here, whose honorable careers adorn the town's an- 



56 



HISTORY OP WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



nals and whose wisely-directed influence made its 
mark upon the town's institutions. Other wide- 
awake young men coming hither to seek fortune and 
build themselves permanent homes, engaged in trade 
or plied various handicrafts, and by their worthy am- 
bitions and energy gave a tone to the community 
notably superior to that which generally character- 
izes a new manufacturing town. 

Postmaster Rand authorized the establishment of a 
branch of the Lancaster post-oflice at the store of 
Lorey F. Bancroft, which stood on the corner of High 
and Union Streets until removed for the building of 
Greeley's block in 1875. Regular postal privileges 
were petitioned for and obtained in July, 1846. H. 
N. Bigelow was the first postmaster commissioned, 
and located the office in the north end of the Kendall 
building, placing it in charge of George H. Kendall. 

By popular usage the title of the corporation which 
had been most influential in creating this thriving 
village gradually became attached to it. It was 
called Clintonville ; and therefore the reason for the 
selection of its name by the company in 1838 obtains 
some historic interest. It must be said that the name 
Clinton was not adopted for any specially apt signifi- 
cance or with intent to honor any person or family, 
but simply because it satisfied the eye and ear better 
than other names that may have been proposed. It 
was doubtless chosen by Erastus B. Bigelow's desire, 
and was suggested to him by the Clinton Hotel of 
New York, which he had found a very comfortable 
resting-place in his business journeys to Washing- 
ton. 

The Bigelow Mechanics' Institute was founded in 
1846. It was an association formed by several of the 
more intelligent citizens, who proposed to benefit 
themselves and the community by the support of 
courses of lectures upon scientific and literary sub- 
jects, the collection of a library, the establishing a 
reading-room and perhaps an industrial sch lol. A 
reading-room was opened to members and subscribers 
June 5, 1847, in the second story of the Kendall 
building, then on High Street,where the Clinton Bank 
block now stands. A fee of three dollars annually 
entitled any resident to its privileges. The book 
fund and expenses of lectures exceeding membership 
fees and sale of tickets were met by subscription. 
The introductory lecture was delivered in October, 
1846, by Hon. James G. Carter. He was followed by 
John C. Hoadley, Dr. George M. Morse, Charles G. 
Stevens, Esq., Rev. Hubbard Winslow, and other edu- 
cated gentlemen of the vicinity. In later years, 
through the instrumentality of the Institute, noted 
lecturers like Horace Greeley, Henry D. Thoreau, 
Oliver Wendell Holmes, Josiah Quincy, Jr., etc., 
were brought to delight and instruct Clinton audi- 
ences. Regular monthly meetings of the members 
were held for conference and the discussion of ques- 
tions relating to the mechanic arts and manufactures. 
The finances of the society were never quite commen- 



surate with its ambitious aims, but in its six years' 
life it was an eSBcient public teacher and accumulated 
a valuable library of nearly seven hundred volumes. 

The first tavern in Clintonville was kept by Horace 
Faulkner in the old Plant farm-house, which in later 
years served as a boarding-house for the Lancaster 
Quilt Company. In 1847 H. N. Bigelow built the 
hotel known as the Clinton House, Oliver Stone being 
the contractor for its construction. Horace Faulkner 
and his son-in-law, Jerome S. Burditt, opened it to the 
public in Christmas week of that year, and the 
" house-warming " was a notable occasion in the vil- 
lage. The hall was added in 1850, its completion 
being celebrated by an " opening ball " October 2d. 

In the autumn of 1839 Ephraim Fuller's cloth- 
dressing and wool-carding works at Carter's Mills 
having been destroyed by fire, he purchased of George 
Howard his water-power on South Meadow Brook, 
and lands adjacent, where he erected a fulling-mill 
and carried on a thriving business for many years. 
His son, Andrew L. Fuller, soon became associated 
with him, and, as the times favored, fhachinery for 
the manufacture of every variety of woolen knitting- 
yarn, satinets and fancy cassimeres was introduced. 
For a time the business employed thirty hands, and 
si.xty thousand yards of cloth were put upon the mar- 
ket yearly, the mill sometimes being operated by 
night as well as day. 

In the winter of 1S46 Ephraim Fuller dammed 
Goodridge Brook where it crosses the h'ghway in 
Clinton and built a shop with a trip-hammer and 
forge conveniences in the basement. Here Luther 
Gaylord — who for several years had been engaged in 
the manufacture by hand of cast-steel tools for farm 
use — -made all kinds of hay and manure forks, garden 
rakes, hoes and agricultural implements of similar 
character, employing from six to ten men. His work 
was unrivaled in excellence. There being more than 
sufficient power for his limited needs, the upper story 
of the building was fitted with a line of shafting and 
leased to W. F. Conant, a builder of water-wheels, 
Isaac Taylor, sash and blind manufacturer, and 
others. 

Shortly after the starting of the Bigelow carpet- 
mill, Albert S. Carleton began the making of carpet- 
bags of a superior quality, using Bigelow carpeting 
made in patterns expressly for his purpose. His 
work-rooms were in the brick building now the 
residence of Dr. Charles A. Brooks. The business 
later came into the hands of James S. Caldwell. 

October 16, 1847, Oilman M. Palmer started an iron 
foundry on land now covered by the weaving dejjart- 
ment of the Bigelow Carpet Company, at the southerly 
end of High Street. In 1849 he transferred this 
property to the Bigelows, and built upon the site of 
the present foundry, near the railway station. 

Deacon James Patterson introduced in 1848 the 
manufacture of belting and loom harnesses and the 
covering of rolls, over the carpenter-shop of Samuel 



CLINTON. 



57 



Belyea, the two occupying one end of Mr. Palmer's 
foundry. When the building was taken by the car- 
pet company, Mr. Patterson built a shop in rear 
of his own residence, but sold his business in July, 
1853, to George H. Foster, who was located near the 
railway. 

Of any Massachusetts community it needs not to 
be told that the foundations of school and meeting- 
house were among those earliest laid and most 
promptly built upon ; and that generous provision 
was always made for the intellectual, moral and 
religious culture of young and old, rich and poor 
alike. In 1849 there were already three churches 
in Clintonville, each with its settled clergyman 
and commodious house of worship. Though forming 
two districts in the Lanca-ter school system, the 
village, under laws of that day, was permitted to 
manage its schools according to special by-laws of 
its own, and its prudential committee printed elabo- 
rate annual reports. A more complete autonomy 
was soon acquired. 



CHAPTER TX. 

CLINTON— ( Con tin ued. ) 

T?i« luoorporaHoit — Favoring Atwpken — New Enterprises and Changes in 
llu Old. 

The fourth article of a warrant calling a town- 
meeting in Lancaster, Nov. 7, 1848, was, "To see if 
the Town will consent to a division thereof and allow 
that part called Clintonville to form a separate town- 
ship, or act in any manner relating thereto." The 
subject was referred to a committee, with instructions 
to report at a future meeting. This committee in- 
cluded Elias M. Stilwell, James G. Carter, John H. 
Shaw and Jacob Fisher, of the old town ; Horatio N. 
Higelow, Ezra Sawyer, Sidney Harris, Chas. G.Stevens 
and Jotham T. Otterson, of Clintonville. A citizens' 
meeting was called in the latter village, Monday, Oc- 
tober 29, 1849, to discuss the question of separation, 
dt which H. N. Bigelow was chairman and Dr. George 
M. Morse, secretary. Those present, with almost en- 
tire unanimity, declared in favor of petitioning for 
township rights, and a committee was chosen, con- 
sisting of Charles G. Stevens, Sidney Harris, Joseph 
B. Parker, Horatio N. Bigelow and Alanson Chace, 
"to carry forward to accomplish men t the views of the 
meeting, leaving the terms and the line of division to 
the judgment and discretion of the committee." 

November 12, 1849, at a town-meeting, majority and 
minority reports were presented by the committee 
chosen the year before. They contained such obvious 
arguments, pro and con, as are usual in the debates 
preceding town division, and both were tabled, the 
tone of a brief discussion indicating that no com- 



promise could be readily effected at that time. The 
citizens' committee of Clintonville, in obedience to 
their instructions, proceeded to prep.are a petition to 
the Legi-slature. 

The majority report, favoring the division, had gone 
80 far as to propose a straight line of separation, to 
begin "at the town bound between Lancaster and 
Sterling on the Redstone Road . . . and run (hence 
S. 75° 42' East to the easterly line of the town, strik- 
ing the Bolton line at a point 289.56 rods from the 
town bound which is a corner of Bolton, Berlin and 
Lancaster." This severed from the old town nearly 
the whole of the Deershorns School District, and vig- 
orous remonstrance was made by almost every resident 
therein. Therefore, on February 9, 1850, a meeting 
was called at the vestry of (he Congregational So- 
ciety's meeting-house, to consider a proposed line of 
division, so run as to include little more than the old 
Districts Ten and Eleven in the new town. 

February 15th, at a special town-meeting, the chief 
article in the warrant was, "To see what action the 
Town will take in reference to the petition of Charles 
G. Stevens and others to the legislature of the Com- 
monwealth, for a division ot the town of Lancaster." 
After some friendly discussion of the matter the as- 
semblage voted that the citizens of the old town should 
select a committee to confer with a like committee re- 
presenting the petitioners, and that they should "re- 
port as soon as may be what terms, in their opinion, 
ought to satisfy the town of Lancaster, to consent not 
to oppose a division of the town." The meeting ad- 
journed for forty minutes, having chosen John G. 
Thurs(on, Jacob Fisher, Silas Thurston, Dr. Henry 
Lincoln and Nathaniel Warner to consult with the 
Clintonville committee already named. Upon re-as- 
sembling the unanimous report of the joint committee 
was adopted, as follows: 

1. That all tliR property, both real and personal, owned by the town 
of Lancaster at the present time, shall beloHR to and be owned by the 
town of Lancaster after the division shall take place. 

2. That the inhabitants of Clintonville shall support and forever 
maintain those persons who now receive relief and snpport from the 
town of Lancaster as panpers, who originated from the territory proposed 
to he set off ; and also forever support all persons who may hereafter be- 
come paupers who derive their settlement from this territory. 

3. That clintonville, or the town of Clinton, if so incorporated, eball 
pay to the town of Lancaster the sum of ten thousand dollars in consid- 
eration of the large number of river bridges and paupers that will re- 
main within the limits of the old town ; the same to he paid in ten 
equal payments of one thousand dollars, with interest semi-annually on 
the sum due, the first payment of one thousjtnd dollars to be made in 
one year after the separation shall take place. And the amount shall be 
in full for all the town debt which Lancaster owes. 

4. That the line of division shall be the same as this day proposed by 
Charles G.Stevens, Esq., as follows: Beginning at a monument on the 
east line of the Town, 289.50 rods northerly from a town bound, a cor- 
ner of Bolton, Berlin and Lancaster ; thence north 65° 30' west 488.11 
rods to a monument near the railroad bridge at Goodridge Hill ; thence 
south 48° 30' west 783 rods to a tow n bound near the Elder farm, so 
called ; thence by the old lines of the Town to the 7)lace of beginning. 

5. If a division of the Town is elTected, the substance of the foregoing 

articles having been put in legal form, shall be inserted in the act of 

incorporation. 

J. G. Thurston, 1 „, . . -, „ 

> Chuirnian or Town ConimiUee. 
C. G. Stevens, I 



58 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



The act incorporating the town of Clinton in ac- 
cordance with tills agreement was signed by Governor 
Briggs, March 14, 1850. The main eastern boundary 
of the nc^ town had been fixed by the formation of 
Bolton out of Lancaster territory by an act passed 
June 27, 1738. The southern boundary had been 
determined by the act of February 1, 1781, which an- 
nexed about six square miles of the southerly part of 
Lancaster's original grant to Shrewsbury. The west- 
ern boundary was defined in the act of April 25, 1781, 
incorporating the Second Precinct of Lancaster as the 
town of Sterling. The irregular intrusion of Berlin 
at the southeast corner was created by an act of Feb- 
ruary 8, 1791, setting off Peter Larkin with his family 
and estate from Lancaster to Berlin, then a district of 
Bolton. 

The new town took from the old very nearly two- 
thirds of her population, although but one-fifth of her 
acreage, and a similarly small proportion of the pub- 
lic roads and pauper liabilities. Of the ten bridges 
crossing the Nashua, eight were left to Lancaster, all 
being of wood and mostly old, demanding large an- 
nual expenditures for repairs, even when spared se- 
rious damage by the spring freshets, and sure to 
require rebuilding within twenty years. The debt of 
the town was about three thousand dollars. It was 
in view of these facts that the pecuniary consideration 
paid the mother town was by the fair-minded men of 
both sections held to be, perhaps, no more than justice 
demanded. The liberal concession at least silenced 
the loud-voiced opposition which at first met the pro- 
posal for division, and so confirmed the bond of 
friendly feeling between the two communities that 
nothing has since been able seriously to weaken it. 

Clinton began its corporate life with a population 
of thirty-one hundred and eighteen, according to the 
United States census of that year ; although but 
twenty-seven hundred and seventy-eight by an enu- 
meration made for the assessors in June, 1850. It had 
a debt of about four and a halfdollars and a valuation of 
over four hundred dollars per head of its inhabitants. 
It could, with good reason, boast itself in many re- 
spects a model manufacturing town. Its territory and 
population were compact, nine-tenths of the citizens 
dwelling within a sinjrle square mile. It was bur- 
dened with few and short roads and bridges. Though 
not ble-^sed with a productive soil, it was surrounded 
by towns possessing rich farming lands and chiefly 
devoted to agriculture. Its industries were widely 
diversified, there being already well established man- 
ufactories of gingham.-i, Brussels carpets, coach-lace, 
counterpanes, tweeds, cassimeres, combs, carpet-bags, 
agricultural tools, sish and blinds, castings, ma- 
chinery. 

At the head of its chief corporations stood man- 
agers who wore not only generous and public-spirited, 
but gifted with qualities more rare and valuable— taste 
and foresight. Wliile studying the true economy of 
machinery and manufactures, they looked less to 



penny-wise saving than to enduring reputation. They 
and their sucoes<ors built comfortable, detached 
homes for their employes, instead of huddling them 
in cheap blocks, and thoughtfully planned for ample 
light, fresh air, convenience and safety in the work- 
rooms, believing that health and contentment in the 
workmen largely conduce to the employer's profit. 
Without undue expense they made the architecture 
and surroundings of their works attractive. The in- 
fluence of this policy, which has been permanent 
and followed very generally by private enterprise of 
the townspeople, is not only to be seen in its exter- 
nal and sesthetic results, but felt in the social life, the 
atmosphere of content that pervades the place. 

Tlie first town-meeting was held in the vestry of the 
Congregational meeting-house on Monday, the 1st 
day of April, 1850, at 9 o'clock a.m. A citizens' 
caucus had previously nominated a list of town ofii- 
cers, which the voters did not fully endorse. Albert 
8. Carletou waschosen town clerk, and Sidney Harris, 
treasurer and collector. The selectmen elected were 
Ezra Sawyer, Samuel Belyea and Edmund Harris ; 
the assessors, Alfred Knight, Joseph B. Parker and Ira 
Coolidge; the overseers of the poor, James Ingalls, 
Alanson Chace and Nathan Burditt. The school 
committee, who were elected at an adjourned meet- 
ing April 15th, were Rev. William H. Corning, Rev. 
Charles M. Bowers , C. W. Blanchard, Dr. George W. 
Burditt, Dr. George M. Morse, F. C. Messenger and 
James Patterson. The three last named declining to 
serve, Augustus J. Sawyer, William W. Parker and 
Charles L. Swan were chosen in their places. The 
sum of eight thousand two hundred dollars was 
voted for the year's expenses, including two thousand 
dollars for schools, and five hundred for a Fire Depart- 
ment. 

Certain pressing wants called for early public ac- 
tion. There was no place for the burial of the dead 
within the town limits, although a cemetery associa- 
tion had been organized October 3, 1849. About ten 
acres of land, admirably suited in position and char- 
acter for a public cemetery, were soon purchased, 
laid out with taste and judgment, and named Wood- 
lawn. Near by a small farm was bought of Sumner 
Thompson for an almshouse. Upon it were a small 
house and barn ; to this were added three acres ob- 
tained of Joseph Rice, and a dwelling of eleven 
rooms was at once built. The twelve acres and im- 
provements cost $3859.71. 

A volunteer fire company, called Torrent, No. 1, was 
organized September 18, 1850, its members being the 
chief business men of the town. A Hunneman fire- 
engine was procured, for which one thousand dollars 
bad been appropriated, and on March 10, 1861, a Fire 
Department was established by legislative enactment. 
Franklin Forbes was chosen chief engineer. A sec- 
ond company, the Cataract, No. 2, was formed June 
17, 1853, and a third, the Franklin Hook-and-Ladder 
Company, July 7, 1858. Organizations bearing the 



CLINTON. 



59 



same titles yet exist, but the engine companies were 
disbanded and re-organized as hose companies after 
the introduction of water for fire purposes, eacli 
liaving in charge six hundred fcPt of hose. A fourth 
company, formed in 1870, has care of a steam fire- 
engine, one of Cole Brothers' manufacture, and twelve 
hundred feet of hose. The firemen have alwaj's re- 
ceived liberal support from the town, are supplied 
with every modern appliance for use in the extin- 
guishment of fires, and provided with comfortable 
and attractively furnished halls, in the upper stnries 
of the neat structures in which the apparatus is 
stored. The Gamewell electric fire-alarm system was 
adopted in July, 1885. 

May 15, 1851, Franklin Forbes, Albert 8. Carleton, 
Charles G. Stevens and associates obtained incorpora- 
tion as the Clinton Savings Bank, and were author- 
ized to hold real esiate not to exceed ten thousand 
dollars in value. H. N. Bigelow was elected the first 
president of the bank. In this office he was succeeded 
by Franklin Forbes. The first treasurer, Charles ly. 
Swan, is now president, and C. L. S. Hammond has 
been treasurer since 186'1. For several years deposits 
were received by the treasurer at the office of the 
Lancaster Mills and by the president at his office in 
the Bigelow Library building; later, by the treasurer 
at the office of the Bigelow Carpet Company. Since 
1864 the business of the bank had been conducted in 
the rooms of the First National Bank. Its deposits 
now amount to 81,123,109, the number of depositors 
being about four thousand. The total deposits since 
organization have been over five million dollars, and 
the total number of accounts over fourteen thousand. 

At the woolen-mill upon South Meadow Brook, 
Andrew L. Fuller succeeded his father, who retired 
from tlie business in 1850, just as their special manu- 
factures of yarns and cloths began to be unremunera- 
tive. Mr. Fuller was a man of great business capacity 
and energy, shrewdly watchful of the market, and he 
gradually introduced new machinery for the produc- 
tion of goods for which there was a better demand. 
When fashion decreed that hoop-skirts should be an 
essential article of female apparel, he filled his work- 
rooms with tape-looms and braiders for covering 
hoop-skirt wire, and soon developed a very successful 
business. In 1865 he more than doubled the capacity 
of his main building, added two hundred braiders to 
the two hundred and fifty he had previously run, and 
increased the number of his tape-looms to forty. 
Nearly one hundred hands were given employment. 
September 10, 1867, Mr. Fuller died, but the manu- 
facture was continued by his partner, Everett W. 
Bigelow, until change in fickle fashion destroyed the 
sale for such goods, and bankruptcy followed in 1870. 
N. C. Munson, of Shirley,' under mortgagee rights, 
took possession of and sold the property to Boyce 
Brothers, of Boston, iu whose ownership the mills 
were when destroyed in 1876, as narrated hereafter. 
The industry has never been resumed. The water- 



power is now in possession of George P. Taylor, who, 
in 1885, built a neat, one-story brick mill here, which 
was for a time leased to the Ridgvvay Stove and Fur- 
nace Company, but is now unoccupied. 

In 1852 the Bigelow Library Association, a joint 
stock company, assumed the functions and received 
the assets of the Bigelow Merhanics' Institute. It 
began its career under far more favoring auspices 
than its predecessor, having, beside the capital re- 
rived from its stock subscription, generous donations 
from various citizens, including the sura of one thou- 
sand dollars given by Erastus B. B'gelow. A substan- 
tial brick building was erected upon Union Street, 
giving ample accommodations for the use of the 
society and several rooms for rent. Here a choice 
libr«ry was gradually gathered, and the association 
became a prominent factor in the literary life of the 
town. When, in 1873, the town resolved to maintain 
a free public library, the association placed in its 
charge the four thousand four hundred volumes 
which it had accumulated. It then sold its remaining 
effects and real estate, and its twenty years' career of 
usefulness and beneficence closed. 

A lot of about four acres in the heart of the village, 
bounded by Walnut, Chestnut, Church and Union 
Streets, was, in 1852, given to Clinton by H. N. Big- 
elow, with the stipulation that it should be laid out 
according to plans of J. C. Hoadley, that no perma- 
nent structure of any kind should ever be built upon 
it, and that it should be suitably embellished and 
cared for forever as a public square. The town 
accepted the gift April 5, 1852, and at once appropri- 
ated one thousand dollars for its improvement. This 
has now become a tree-shaded park, and is the most 
u-eful of Mr. Bigelow's many and wise benefactions 
to the town which he did so much to found, and was 
ever striving to improve and adorn. 

Joseph B. Parker, who for twelve years had been 
superintendent of the Clinton Company's machine- 
shop, built, in the summer of 1852, near the railway 
station, a shop fitted with steam-power and tools for 
the manufacture of machinery. Having associated 
with him Gilman M. Palmer, he began work here on 
the 1st of January, 1853. The firm of Parker & Pal- 
mer was dissolved October 31, 1857, and two years 
later A. C. Dakin was taken into partnership. 

September 7, 1853, John T. Dame, E-q., received a 
commission as postmaster, and removed the office 
from the Kendall store to the Bigelow Library Asso- 
ciation's building on Union Street. During the .'^ame 
year a nesv road from Clinton westward through Lan- 
caster, now known as Sterling Street, was laid out by 
the county commissioners and constructed. October 
19th of this year a noteworthy celebration of the sur- 
render of CornwiiUis, the last in this part of the State, 
brought to Clinton fifteen hundred regular and irregu- 
lar militia and an immense crowd of people. The 
time-worn comedy of the sham fight was manoeuvred 
to its historic issue on Burditt Hill, with more smoke 



60 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



and noi«e than the town has ever experienced before 
or since, and the traditions of former days were out- 
shone in the farcical evolutions and grotesque accou- 
trements of the "Continentals." 

March 8, 1854, H. N. Bigelow, Franklin Forbes 
and Henry Kellogg were constituted a corporation, 
with the title of the Clinton Gas Light Company, and 
authorized to hold real estate to the value of thirty 
thousand dollars, with a capital of fifty thousand 
dollars. Buildings had been erected the year before 
in rear of the carpet-mill. Mr. Forbes was elected 
president, and C. L. Swan, treasurer, of the company. 
Milton Jewett became superintendent, and yet holds 
that position. The Schuyler Electric Light Company 
began building works in town, March, 1886, and in 
July were authorized to furni.sh a few street lights. 
Their plant and privileges were soon after sold to the 
Gas Light Co. April 17, 1887, legislation was obtained 
authorizing the corporation to increase its capital to two 
hundred thousand dollars, and to hold real estate to 
the value of seventy-five thousand dollare. By the 
same act its corporate privileges were extended to 
include the town of Lancaster, 

The little steel forge upon Goodridge Brook was 
lost to Clinton in 1852. Mr. Gaylord, being unable 
to find a near market for his products in competition 
■with goods of inferior grade, accepted inducements to 
remove to Naugatuck, Conn. The water privileges 
and buildings, owned by Ephraim Fuller, were for 
several years leased to various parties, chiefly for the 
manufacture of doors, sash and blinds. Christopher 
C. Stone then bought the mill and carried on that 
business here for three years. In 1859 Eben S. Fuller 
bought out Mr. Stone, and in 1867 supplemented the 
water-power with a steam-engine, when large addi- 
tions were also made to the buildings. The establish- 
ment now embraces a saw-mill, which turns out about 
three hundred thousand feet of native lumber annu- 
ally, planing and various other wood-working m.a- 
chines, a large shop for the manufacture of all kinds 
of wood-finish used by builders, and an extensive 
lumber and wood-yard. About twenty men are kept 
constantly employed in its various departments, and 
a small village has grown up about it. 

In 1854 the electric telegraph wires appeared in 
Clinton, and on the 23d of September the first busi- 
ness message was sent over them. 

The first loom to succe>sfully weave wire cloth was 
an invention of Erastus B. Bigelow's, and upon its 
success the Clinton Wire Cloth Company was founded 
in 1856. Charles H. Waters, of Groton, was chosen 
to assist H. N. Bigelow in superintending the erection 
of the original works, and in the summer of 1857 
began manufacture. He was made general manager, 
and served as such with marked ability until March, 
1879, when he became president of the company and 
Charles B. Bigelow manufacturing agent. Buildings 
of large area have from time to time been added to the 
first mill, located at the intersection of the railroads — 



notably in 1863, 1865, 1870, 1872, 1876, 1880 and 1887 
— and now the works cover about six acres. The 
looms and other machinery have been often improved 
by new inventions or adaptations, mostly those of Mr. 
Waters, whereby numerous difficulties attendant upon 
the weaving of so stubborn a material as wire have 
gradually been in large measure overcome. At the 
death of Mr. Waters, March 13, 1883, James H. Beal 
became the president of the company, and Charles 
Swinscoe was made manager in 1885, when Mr. 
Bigelow was called upon to assume the duties of 
manufacturing agent for the Bigelow Carpet Company. 

The capital of the Wire Cloth Company is four 
hundred thousand dollars, and it is claimed to be the 
largest manufactory of woven wire goods in the world, 
turning out fifty million square feet in a year. The 
mills are of brick, very substantial in construction, 
and possess attractive architectural features. The 
most prominent structure in the town, one that earliest 
engages the attention of every one when approaching 
it from any direction, is the tower used for the drying 
of painted wire cloth. It is one hundred and eighty- 
five feet in height, eighty by thirty-six feet in hori- 
zontal section, having room for twenty-five tons of 
cloth suspended in webs of about one hundred feet in 
length. The chief products of the works are : hex- 
agonal netting of every width and variety, jiainted 
window-screen cloth, wire lathing, locomotive sparker 
cloth, malt-kilu flooring, sieve and bolting cloths, etc. 
An extensive galvanizing plant has been erected a 
short distance from the main works beside the Wor- 
cester and Nashua Railway, where a special process, 
peculiar to this company, is used for the protection 
of iron goods; the zinc being chemically united with 
the iron, instead of simply forming a mechanical 
coating upon it. 

Sidney Harris, who began the making of horn 
combs by hand in a small way in 1823, continued the 
business until his death, November 21, 1861, when 
his shops on the Nashua supported from twenty-five to 
thirty workmen. His sales sometimes amounted to 
twenty thousand dollars a year. Mr. Harris was the 
youngest son of Daniel, and born in West Boylston. 
He was one of the most enterprising and thrifty citi- 
zens of Clinton, prominent in church and municipal 
affairs, and every way worthy of the public esteem in 
which he was ever held. He was among the earliest 
and mo.st outspoken advocates of the temperance 
cause. His sons, George S. and Edwin A., continued 
the fabrication of horn goods, retaining the partner- 
ship title of Sidney Harris & Sons, and greatly en- 
larged the shop'? in 1866. The elder did not long 
survive his father, and Edwin, by purchase of his 
brother's interest, became sole proprietor of the fac- 
tory, and so remained until his death, in the spring 
of 1875. August 9th, of that year, a joint-slock com- 
pany WHS organized to continue the bujines<, with a 
capital of sixty thousand dollars, called the S. Harris' 
Sons Manufacturing Company. Eliaha Brimhall, 



CLINTON. 



61 



Daniel B. Ingalls and Henry E. Starbird were by 
turns presidents of the company, which gave work to 
about eighty hands, and finished goods to the value 
of from eighty to one hundred thousand dollars per 
year, chiefly dressing and fancy-back combs. The 
enterprise won no financial success, and in November, 
1881, the whole stock of the company, having much 
depreciated in value, was bought by Mrs. Edwin A. 
Harris, who has since managed the manufacture un- 
der the corporate title, giving work to fifty hands. 
The present production of the factory is about forty 
thousand dollai-s' worth of staple goods, chiefly toilet 
combs, yearly. 

The original incorporators of the Lancaster Quilt 
Company were succeeded in May, 1859, by James 
Reed & Co., and the mill changed hands more than 
once thereafter, though the business was always con- 
ducted under the name of the first corporation. The 
firm of Jordan & Marsh finally controlled the prop- 
erty, and in 1869 started the Marseilles quilt manu- 
facture as a specialty. A few months later the weav- 
ing of crochet counterpanes was begun, but the ad- 
venture not proving sufficiently profitable, the mak- 
ing of quilts was wholly abandoned in January, 1871, 
the looms were sold to the Bates Company, of Lew- 
iston. Me., and machinery for weaving other styles of 
goods took their place. In the autumn of 1871 the 
works were closed. 

William E. Frcst and Sidney T. Howard, forming 
a partnership under the title of the Clinton Yarn 
Company, purchased the factory for twelve thousand 
five hundred dollars March 28, 1873. They fitted it 
anew for the spinning of cotton, and began manufac- 
ture in April. The houses and remaining lands of 
the Quilt Company were sold at auction the following 
June for forty-three thousand three hundred and fifty 
dollars. The Clinton Yarn Company has employed 
from seventy-five to one hundred and twenty-five 
hands, aud used annually from seven hundred to one 
thousand bales of cotton ; selling products annually 
to the value of about one hundred and fifty thousand 
dollars. Both partners have deceased, and the mill 
is now run by John R. Frost as agent. Bleach and 
dye works are connected with the factory, and seven 
thousand spinning and thirty-five hundred twisting 
spindles are run. The power from the twenty-nine 
feet fall in the South Meadow Brook has been used 
until recently, assisted by a Wheelock steam-engine 
of one hundred and fifty horse-powder. 



CHAPTER X. 

CLINTON— ( G7«//« «f a') . 

Clmlon in the Bebellion— Soldiers' Rosier. 

When the political champions of slavery treason- 
ably sought to break up the Federal Union, nowhere 



did the spirit of patriotism— so fervent everywhere in 
Massachusetts — flame forth soonfr, or with more 
genuine fire, than in Clinton. In the Presidential 
election of 1860 four votes out of her every five were 
cast for Abraham Lincoln. As the plans of traitors 
gradually disclosed themselves and armed secession 
tore star after star from the flag, not four-fifths, but 
the whole community as one man declared for the 
maintenance of the Constitution at even the cost of 
civil war. In hall and street, mill, shop and home, 
the national peril was the dominant topic of thought 
aud speech. To the military organizations of the 
Commonwealth the people naturally looked for the 
call to action. 

The second and third oflicers of the Ninth Regiment 
of Massachusetts Militia were Clinton citizens — Lieu- 
tenant-Colonel Gilman M. Palmer and Major Christo- 
pher C. Stone ; and of that regiment also was the 
Clinton Light Guard. This company, which dated 
its existence from May 12, 1853, was composed of 
some of the best manhood of Clinton and vicinity, 
and had been efficiently disciplined under the direc- 
tion of its successive commanders : Captains Gilman 
M. Palmer, Andrew L. Fuller, Henry Butterfield and 
Christopher C. Stone. It was now led by Henry 
Bowman, who, in accordance with a vote of the com- 
pany in February, 1861, signified to Governor Andrew 
its readiness for immediate service in defence of the 
national government. It was supposed that the Ninth 
Regiment might be sent to the front at once, and the 
stir of hurried preparation was seen on every hand. 

In the annual town-meeting, March 4th, the sum of 
one thousand dollars was voted for the purpose of 
furnishing the Guards with a service uniform. Thus 
Clinton was the first town to anticipate by actual ap- 
propriation of money the expected call for State 
troops. Such expenditure of public funds being, 
however, beyond the authority delegated to towns, a 
special act of the Legislature was invoked and passed 
April 2d, sanctioning such action when ratified by two- 
thirds of the members present and voting at a meeting 
legally called for the purpose. The company soon 
after paraded in new suits of gray. 

Sunday, April 21st, there came a dispatch from the 
Governor calling upon the Light Guard to be ready to 
move at twenty-four hours' warning. Notices were 
read from the pulpits in the morning, and in the 
afternoon the vestry of the Baptist Church was 
thronged with earnest women workers, busily making 
flannel underclothing for the volunteers. At a town- 
meeting, the next day, generous provision was voted 
for the care and protection of soldiers' families in the 
absence of their natural guardians. But the anx- 
iously expected summons was long delayed, and it 
was not until June 28th that the volunteers, preceded 
by the cornet band and an escort of citizens, marched 
to the railway, and amid the tearful farewells of near 
friends and the cheers of the multitude assembled, 
were borne away for Camp Scott, Worcester, to join 



62 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



the Fifteenth Massachusetts, to which regiment they' 
were assigned as the color company, C. Just four 
months later they had passed through the te:rible 
defeat of Ball's Bluff, and the captain, with thirteen 
other Clinton men, were prisoners at Richmond, five 
were wounded and two had lost their lives. 

The Fifteenth Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry 
was especially noted for ils proficiency in drill, its 
staying qualities in fight, and its exceptionally 
sanguinaiy battle record. The men of Company 
C sustained its colors, and bore at least their full 
share of the regiment's glory and bhiod sacrifice. 
The Clinton men serving in the regiment were 
seventy-four, all told, of whom, before the Rebel- 
lion succumbed, fourteen were slain in battle or died 
of wounds, three died of disease, and over thirty had 
received wounds not fatal. Their loss was quite severe 
at Antietani, September 17, 1862, when five received 
mortal injuries and twenty others were more or less 
seriously wounded. At Gettysburg, of the twenty- 
four in the battle line belonging to Company C, six- 
teen were hit by rebel missiles, of whom Clinton lost 
Lieutenant Buss and three others Ivilled and four 
wounded. 

Next in numbers to those of the Fifteenth was the 
group of Clinton men in tlie Twenty-fifth Massa- 
chusetts Volunteer Infantry, thirty-seven in all, 
including a few recruits enlisted in 1862. These 
were nearly all German-born, worljmen at the 
Lancaster Mills, and mostly mustered in Company 
G. Four of these were killed in battle, five died 
during the war, and at least sixteen others were 
wounded. The regiment won an honorable record, 
serving in North Carolina during 1862 and 1863, and 
in Heckman's brigade of the Eighteenth Army Corps, 
chiefly in Virginia, during 1864. 

In the Twenty-first Massachusetts Volunteer In- 
fantry were twenty men claimed for Clinton's credit, 
tour of whom died of wounds received in battle. The 
regiment suffered severely at Chantilly, Antietam, 
and in the final advance upon Richmond. Its first 
experience was with General Burnside's expedition 
in North Carolina. Five of the Clinton volunteers 
re-enlisted after their first term had expired. 

The three regiments above mentioned left for the 
front during 1861. Of those who enlisted for the 
town in 1862, the majority joined the Thirty-fourth, 
Thirty-sixth and Fifty-third regiments. In the first 
were sixteen soldiers accredited to Clinton. They 
performed garrison duty along the Potomac during 
1862 and 1863, and had no serious engagement with 
the enemy. Their valor and endurance were, however, 
severely tested during 1864, in the nine battles and 
constant marching and countermarching of the 
Shenandoah campaign. 

The Thirty-sixth Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry 
contained thirty residents of Clinton, one of whom, 
Henry Bowman, was its colonel. It was attached to 
the Ninth Army Corps, narrowly escaped participa- 



tion in the bloody work at Antietam, and though 
present met with no loss at Fredericksburg. In 1863 
it was transferred to the West, became greatly re- 
duced in numbers (luring the campaign against 
Vicksburg by climatic disieases, and passed through 
the siege of Knoxville with Burnside. Its eventful 
experience closed in Virginia, whither it returned in 
1864 to join in the final grand struggle for the pos- 
session of Richmond. But one of its Clinton mem- 
bers fell in battle ; three died in captivity and three 
of disease. 

Twenty-eight Clinton men, with Lieutenant Josiah 
H. Vose, served in the Fifty-third Massachusetts 
Volunteer Infantry and he, with two others, laid 
down their lives in battle. Although but a nine- 
months organization, its stormy voyage by sea to 
New Orleans, its adventures along the Mississippi 
River, and its fiery ordeal of battle at Fort Bisland 
and in the assault and siege of Port Hudson, com- 
prise a more notable experience than many three- 
years' regiments could boast. 

The numerous other enlistments to the credit of the 
town, mostly of a later date, were distributed among 
many organizations, the record of which can receive 
no particular mention here. 

The action of the town-meetings already noticed 
was but an earnest of a generous policy pursued 
through the four years of war, and ever since, towards 
those who volunteered in their country's service. 

The selectmen were given large discretionary pow- 
ers for the purpose of aiding families dependent for 
support upon bread-winners who had become soldiers 
of the Union ; the maximum bounty was paid to 
citizens enlisting to fill the town's quota ; all soldiers 
were relieved from the payment of a poll-tax ; and 
after each successive call for troops Clinton was found 
registered as furnishing an excess above the number 
demanded. Private generosity never failed whenever 
exigencies arose. Large sums were obtained by vol- 
untary subscription for the equipment of the enlisted; 
for forwarding material aid to the wounded and sick 
in hospitals ; for sending agents to the field after the 
great battles, and for other and constantly-recurring 
calls upon patriotic sympathy where money could 
avail. For help to families, known as " State aid," 
during the five years ending with 1865, the town 
expended $36,171.28; for other war purposes, $14,- 
043.19. Nine thousand dollars raised by various pri- 
vate subscriptions were also disbursed in bounties to 
recruits and for kindred objects. 

The buay afternoon of that April Sabbath in the 
crowded vestry taught the people much concerning 
woman's mission in war-time, and was suggestive of 
what could be effected under wise organization. 
Within a week thereafter an association was formed 
by patriotic women which, in connection with the 
parish sewing circles, sent to hospital and field thou- 
sands of useful articles of their own handiwork. 
After a year's experience, the aims of the society 



CLINTON. 



63 



taking wider scope, a citizens' meeting was called at 
the Clinton House Hall, August 1, 1862, and the 
Soldiers' Aid Society then organized issued a general 
invitation calling upon all inhabitants of the town to 
join in the work for the welfare of ihe volunteers. 
The directors of the association were : Franklin 
Forbes, president; Gilbert Greene, treasurer ; Henry 
C. Greeley, secretary ; Mrs. J. F. Maynard, Mrs. 
Jared M. Heard, Mrs. Charles W. Field, Mrs. Charles 
G. Stevens. A room was furnished for the society's 
use in the Bigelow Library Association's building, 
and kept open during three hours each afternoon six 
days in the week, for work and the reception of 
articles contributed. The donations of material and 
labor made by the society to the patriot cause have 
been estimated at three thousand dollars in value. 
Its charitable ministrations did not end until long 
after the surrender at Appomattox. 

The quota of Clinton under the various calls of the 
government amounted to three hundred and seventy- 
one men for three years' service. Adjutant-General 
William Schouler credits it with an enlistment of 
four hundred and nineteen, being a surplus of forty- 
eight above demands. The enrollment lists of the 
town fail to account for so many, lacking nearly one 
hundred of that number after making due allowance 
for over thirty nine-months' enlistments, and adding 
the eighteen who paid commutation and twenty for 
veteran re-enlistments. It may be therefore inflerred, 
perhaps, that the unknown non-residents hired for the 
town or assigned to its quota by the State or natipnal 
authorities, were very numerous. 

The population of the town at the outbreak of hos- 
tilities was thirty-eight hundred and fifty-nine. Its 
valuation was $1,690,692, and its debt $14,500. At the 
end of the war it had four thousand and twenty-one 
inhabitants, a valuation of $1,860,763 and a debt of 
$34,190. 

The following alphabetical roster of residents who 
did military service for Clinton during the Rebellion 
is doubtless not free from errors or omissions, but it 
is the result of many revisions, and is the best now at- 
tainable. Names are followed by the records of ser- 
vice in the following order: the number of regiment, 
Massachusetts Infantry being understood ,^unles3 
otherwise stated), the letter of the company, the age 
of the soldier when enlisted, date of muster in, ex- 
perience of soldier. 

CLINTOX SOLDIERS. 

Amsdon, Marcus E., 2iJ H. Artillery, B; 21 ; July 28, '63 ; transferred to 
Navy May 17, 'G4. 

Ball, Henry F., 4tb Cavalry. (See Lancaster.) 

Ball, James, 3d H. Artillery, F; 20 ; Sept. 16, '63 ; discharged for dis- 
ability May 8, 't)5. 

Bannon, Patrick, 53d, I ; 32 ; Oct. 18, '62 ; discharged for disability June 
29, '63. 

Barnes, James F., 3d Cavalry, B ; 27; Jan. 5, '64; mustered out Sept. 
28, '65. 

Barnes, Warren P., 22d, in band ; 31 ; Oct. 5, '61; discharged Aug. 11, 
'62 ; re-enlisted in baud of Corps D'Afrique. 



Bartlett, Anson B., 2d, D;18; May'.;5, '61; corporal; transferred to 

V. S. A. April 2, '63. 
Bartlett, Ezra K., GOth (one hundred days), F ; 19 ; July 20, '64; died 

at Indianapolis Oct. 10, '64. 
Battcrson, Eadoc C, 16lh, C ; 26; Dec. 14, '61 ; killed at Anlietnni 

Sept. 17, '62. 
Belcher, Thomas W., 63d, I; 36; Oct. 18, '62 ; wounded at Port Hud- 
son ; mustered out Sept. 2, '63. 
Bell, John, .34th, A; 32; July 13, '62; woi.nded at Lynchburg June 

18, '64; mustered out June 16, '65. 
Bemis, Daniel H., 3Cth, G ; 30 ; August 8, '62 ; discharged for disability 

Not. 9, '63. 
Benson, Edward W., 15th, C ; 25 ; July 12, '61 ; corporal ; sergeant ; 

died in Clinton Aug. 3, '62. 
Bonney, James A., 15th, C; 25; July 12, '61; prisoner at Ball's Bluff 

Oct. 21, '61 ; killed at Spottsylvania May 31, '6t. 
Bowers, Francis A., 26th, G; 18; Oct. 9, '61 ; lost right arm at Hill's 

Point, N. C, and discharged for wound Oct. 13, '63. 
Bowers, Henry W., 60th (one hundred days), F ; 19 ; July 20, '64, to 

Nov. 30, '64. 
Bowman, Samuel M., 61st, A ; 26; Sept. 26, '62; sergeant; mustered 

out July 27, '63; re-enlisted in 57th Dec. 26, '63 ; Ist lieut.; wounded 

by shell at Petersburg, and died July 26, '64 ; credited to Worcester. 
Bowman, Henry, 16th, C; 26; Aug. 1, '61 ; captain ; prisoner at Ball's 

Bluff Oct. 21, '61 ; major 34th Aug. 6, '6i ; declined ; colonel 36th 

.\ug. 22, '62; resigned July 27, '63; appointed a.-q.m. U. S. Vols. 

Feb. 29, '64; mustered out brevet-major Aug. 15, '66. 
Boyce, James ; record not found. 
Boynton, .\lonzo P., 36th, G ; 40; Aug. 11, '62 ; corporal; discharged 

for disability Oct. 28, '63. 
Brighani.John D., 16th, C;27; July 12, '61 ; corp. ; sergeant; wounded 

and prisoner at Ball's Bluff Oct. 21, '61 ; discharged for disability 

Dec. 10, '62. 
Brigham, Samuel D.,]5th, C; 40 j July 12, '61; discharged for dis- 
ability Jan. 24, '63. 
Brockleman, Bernard, 25th, G ; 38 ; July 29, '62 ; wounded at Petersburg, 

in leg, June 15, '64 ; mustered out Oct 20, '64. 
Brockleman, Christopher, 53d, I; 36; Oct. 18, '62; mustered out Sept. 

2, '63. 
Brooks, Charles R., 7th N. H., K ; Deo. 19, '61; died at New Boston, 

N. H., Jan. 25, '62. 
Brothers, Hippolyte P., Ist, in band ; 26 ; May 25, '61 ; discharged July 

27, '62; re-enlisted in 47th, E, Nov. 6, '62; mustered out Sept. 1, 

'63 ; re-enlisted Jan. 4, '64. 
Brown, Herbert J., 4th Cavalry, C ;^19 ; Jan. 6, '64 ; mustered out Nov. 

14, '65. 
Bryson, William, 34th, A; 35; July 31, '62; mustered out June 

16, '65. 

Bugle, George M., 2d H. .Artillery, C ; 21 ; Aug. 4, '63 ; discharged for 
disability May 29, '63. 

Burdett, Thomas E., 20th, D ; 22; Sept. 4, '61; mustered out Sept. 
14, '64. 

Burditt, Charles C.,63d, I; 18; Oct. 18, '62; mustered out Sept. 
2, '63. 

Burgess, James F., 15th, C; 26; July 12, '61 ; corporal ; discharged for 
disability Jan. 7, '63. 

Burgess, John R., 2d N. J., in band ; 33 ; May 22, '61, to Aug. 9, '62 ; 
re-enlisted in 46th, B, Oct. 22, '62, to July 29, '63 ; re-enlisted in 
27th, B, Oct. 29, '63 ; captured May 15, '64, at Drewry's Blutt'; 
prisoner at Andersonville ; died two days after exchanged at Annap- 
olis, Md., April 21, '65 ; credited to Holyoke. 

Burgess, Thomas H., 15th, C ; 21; July 12, '61 ; wounded at Antietam 
Sept. 17, '62, and discharged for wound Nov. 15, '62. 

Burke, Patrick, 2l6t, E; 22; Aug. 23, '61 ; wounded at Antietam Sept. 

17, '62 ; re-enlisted Jan. 2, '64 ; died of wounds May 4, '64. 
Burns, Matthew, loth Illinois Cavalry, D; Nov. 26, '61 ; sergeant ; killed 

at Richmond, La., June 15, '62. 

Burns, Martin F., 36th, 0; 25 ; Aug. 20, '6J. 

Burns, Thomas J., 34th, B ; 19 ; Aug. 1, '62 ; died June 10, '64, at Pied- 
mont, Va., of wounds. 

Burt, John, 99th Penna. ; 41 ; July 26, '61 ; discharged May, '02. 

Buss, Elisha G., 15th, ; 26 ; July 12, '61 ; 1st sergt. ; 2d lieut.. Not. 
14, '62 ; 1st lieut. March 15, '63 ; wounded at Gettysburg and died 
of wound, Clinton, July 23, '63. 

Callaghan, Thomas, 3d Cavalry, H ; 36 ; Jan. 5, '64 ; mustered out May 
26, '65. 



64 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



Cameron, Angus, 83(1 N. Y , F ; May 27, '61 ; 2d lleut. ; 1st lieut. ; 

cnptHiii Jan. 27, '02 ; discharped for disability April 23, '63. 
Cnrrudi, John E., IMIi, C ; la; July 12, '61 ; wonnded at Antietam 

Sept. 17, '62 ; di-schaigod for disability March 11, '63 ; re-enlisted in 

2d H. Artillery, M, Dec. 28, '63 ; mustered out Sept. 3, '65. 
Carter, Alpheus H., 53d, I ; 27 ; Oct. 18, '62 ; mustered out Sept. 2, '63. 
Carter, Charles W., 63d, I ; 19 ; Oct. 30, '62 ; drummer ; mustered out 

Sept. 2, '63. 
Caulfield, Thomas, 15th, C ; 24 ; July 12, '61 ; prisoner at Antietam 

Sept. 17, '62 ; enlisted again, in artillery. 
Chambers, Uirsm A., 15th, C ; 19; July 12, '61 ; killed at Antietam 

Sept. 17, '62 ; credited to Worcester. 
Champney, Samuel G., 25tli, D ; 19 ; Au^. 7, '62 ; died iu N. Y. of yel- 
low fever Oct. Ill, '61 ; credited to Gnvfton. 
Cheney, Gilbert A., 2d, D ; 23 ; May 25, '01 ; wounded at Antietam 

Sept. 17, and died of wounds Oct. 18, '62 ; credited to Newton. 
Chenery, Frank A., 36th, G ; 23 ; Aug. 11, '.62 ; killed at Cold Harbor 

June 3, '64. 
Chenery, James P., 15th, I ; 19 ; July 12, '61 ; corporal ; prisoner at 

Ball's Bluff; killed at Gettysburg July 3, '63. 
Childs, Abraham, 27th, I ; 28 ; Sept. 20, "61, as from Palmer ; re-enlisted 

Dec. 24. '63 ; promoted 2d lieut. May 16, '65, as of Clinton. 
Ohipman, Edward S.,4th Cavalry, C ; 39 ; Jan. 6, '64; mustered out 

Nov. 14, '6i. 
Clark, Thomas, 22d, G ; 27 ; Sept. 12, '61; discharged for disability Nov. 

16, '62. 
Clifford, James, 15th, E ; 20 ; March 21, '61 ; prisoner at Petersburg ; 

transferred to 2Uth, E, July 27, '64; mustered out June 30, '05. 
Cohen, William, 2l6e, B ; 19; Aug. 2,3, 01; wounded in Wilderness; 

re-enlislod Jan. 2, '04 ; transferred to 36th, I ; Aug. 3U, '64 ; to 60th, 

B, June 8, '65 ; mustered out, corporal, July 12, '65. 
Cook, Willis A., 15th, C ; 32 ; July 12, '61 ; sergeant ; prisoner at Ball's 

Bluff; discharged fur disability April 12, '62. 
Coning, Isaac P., 16th, C ; 24 ; Aug. 12, '62; wounded at Antietam ; 

discharged for disability March 19, '63; credited to West Cam- 
bridge. 
Conway, Francis, 4th Cavalry, C ; 41 ; Jan. 6, '04 ; mustered out Nov. 

14, '05. 
Converee, Williaui W., 4th Cavalry, H ; 27 ; Feb. 18, '64 ; mustered out 

Nov. 14, '65. 
Cooper, Rufus K., 15th, C ; 23 ; July 12, '01 ; prisoner at Ball's Bluff ; 

wounded at Gettysburg July 2, '63 ; mustered out July 28, '64. 
Corcoran, William, 151h, F ; 40 ; July 12, '01 ; discharged for disability 

Feb. 15, '62. 
Coulter, John T., 25th, A ; 19 ; May 9, '62 ; wounded at Drewry's Bluff 

May 16, '64 ; mustered out Oct. 20, '04. 
Coulter, William J., 15tli, C ; 20 ; July 12, '01 ; corporal ; sergeant ; Ist 

lieut. Nov. 21, '63 ; prisoner at Petersburg ; transferred to 20th 

July 28, '04 ; mustered out March 12, '65. 
Coyle, Patrick, 63d, I ; 33 ; Oct. 18, '62 ; mustered out Sept. 2, '63. 
Craig, John W., 25th, C; 19; Sept. 30, '01 ; discharged for disability 

March 12, '63. 
Craig, William H., 7th U. S., I; 22. 
Craig, Edward C, 2d N. H. ; wounded at Antietam ; discharged and 

enlisted in V. It. C. 
Creelman, Matthew, 151h ; 21 ; July 12, '61. 

Cromett, Hiram A., Ist Cavalry, C; 35 ; Sept. 17, '61; corporal; re- 
enlisted Jan. I, '04 ; mustered out June 29, '05. 
CroBsman, Willis A., 60th (one hundred days), F ; 27 ; July 20, '64, to 

Nov. 30, '64. 
Gushing, John E., 60th (one hundred days), F ; 18 ; July 20, '64, to 

Nov. 30, '64. 
Cushing, Charles C. ; served in U. S. Navy. 
Cutler, Charles B., 34th ; 26 ; Aug. 11, '02 ; sergt.-major ; 2d lieut. 

March 18, '64; Ist lieut. May 1, '65 ; mustered out June 16, '65 ; 

credited to Worcester. 
Cutting, Orin L., 16th, C ; 29 ; July 12, '61 ; discharged for disability 

Oct. 28, '62. 
Daboll, Biiggs M., 15th, C; 20; July 12, '61 ; corporal; wounded at 

Ball's Bluff Oct. 21, '61 ; discharged for disability May 1, '62. 
Davidson, Alonzo S., 3r)th,'G ; 22 ; Aug. 11, '02 ; sergt. ; sergt.-major Oct. 

IS, '63 ; 2d lieut. Aug. 2, '03; Ist. lieut. April 23, '04; capt. June 

23, '64 ; mustered out June 8, *65. 
Davidson, Henry L., 15th, C; 24; July 12, '61; re-enlisted Feb. 13, 
'64 ; transferred to 20th, E, July 27, '64 ; mustered out July 16, 
'65 ; credited to Sterling. 



wounded at Antietam ; 

wounded at Antietam, 

wounded at Roanoke 
. 2, '64; trans, to 36th, I, 



Davidson, Lucius D., 36th, G ; 18 ; Dec. 26, '63 ; died March 28, '64, at 

Covington, Ky. ; credited to Sterling. 
Davidson, Charles M.; in q.m.'s department ; died at Nashville Nov. 

22, '64 ; name on soldiers' monument, but he was not enlisted. 
Davenport, Benjamin, 3d Cavalry, B ; 25 ; Jan. 5, '64 ; killed Sept. 19 

•64, at Winchester. ' 

Davis, Frank L., 24th N. Y. Cavalry? died March 11, '55 ; record not 

found, 
Delany, John, 2lBt, 6 ; 25 ; Aug. 23, '61, for Webster ; re-enlisted Jan. 

2, '64, for Clinton. 
Dexter, Trustam D., 15th, C ; 27 ; July 12, '61 ; 

mustered out June 28, '04. 
Dickson, Joseph S., 15th, C ; 31 ; July 12, '61 ; 

and discharged for wouud Dec. 16, '62. 
Dickson, Patrick J., 21st, B; 22; Aug. 23, '61; 

Island and at New Berne ; re-enlisted Jan. 

Aug. 30, '04 ; to 56tb, A, June 8, '65 ; mustered out July 12, '65. 
Diersch, William, 20th, C ; 41 ; July 18, '01 ; killed July 4, '02, at Har- 
rison's Landing by accident. 
Dixon, Edward, 60th (one hundred days), F ; 18 ; July 20, '64, to Nov. 

30, '61. 
Donovan, John, 30th, A ; 21 ; Oct. 1, '61 ; died at Baton Rouge, La., Oct. 

12, '03. 
Dorrison, Oscar A., 36tb, 6 ; 20 ; Aug. 12, '62 ; discharged for disability 

Dec. 23, '61. 
Duncan, Charles, 9th, C ; 28 ; June II, '61 ; killed at Malvern Hill July 

I, '62. 
Eaton, William O., 23d, H ; 23 ; Dec. 4, '61 ; discharged for disability 

Aug. 14, '63. 
Eccles, Roger, 36th, F ; 39 ; Aug. 6, '62 ; prisoner Oct. 2, '64, near 

Petersburg ; died Nov. 29, '64, at Salisbury, N. C. 
Eccles, William, 15th, C ; 22 ; July 12, '61 ; wounded at Antietam Sept. 

17, '02 ; died Jan. 4, '63. 
Edgerly, Heman 0., 15th, C ; 22 ; July 12, '61 ; prisoner at Ball's Bluff 

Oct. 21, '61 ; re.enlisted in 4th N. H. ? wounded at Petersburg and 

died '64. 
Edenian, Barnard J., 63d, I ; 18 ; Oct. IS, '02, to Sept. 2, '63 ; re-enlisted 

in 2d H. Artillery, M, Dec. 24, '63 ; mustered out Sept. 3, '65. 
Ehlert, Ferdinand, 2Sth, 6 ; 35 ; Oct. 2, '61 ; discharged for disability 

March 4, '63. 
Ellani, John, 5th Maine, C ; 40 ; April 9, '02, to Sept. 2, '02. 
Fay, John, 36th, G ; 22 ; Aug. 14, '62 ; mustered out June 8, '65. 
Field, Lucius, 3Bth, G ; 22 ; Aug. 18, '62 ; com. -sergt. Oct. 15, '62 ; q.ni.- 

sergt. May 26, '63 ; 2d lieut. Nov. 1, '64 ; 1st lieut. Nov. 13, '64 ; 

a -q.m. ; mustered out June 8, '65, as 2d lieut. 
Finnessy, James, 42d N. Y. (See Lancaster.) 
Fisher, Abiel, 30th, G ; 18 ; Aug. 18, '62 ; corporal ; wounded near 

Petersburg June 22, '04 ; discharged for disability Dec. 23, '04. 
Fitts, William E., 3Uh, C ; 25 ; July 13, '02 ; corporal; died May 14, 

'05, at Sterling ; credited to Sterling. 
Flagg, Frederick E., 36th, G ; 18 ; Aug. 8, '62 ; prisoner near Rnoxville, 

Tenn., Dec. 15, '63 ; died at Belle Isle, Va., March, '64. 
Flagg, Frederick, 36th, G ; 40 ; Aug. 8, '62 ; corporal ; sergeant ; dis- 
charged for disability Dec. 23, '64. 
Flagg, William E., 14th Conn., B ; March 29, '64 ; transferred to 2d 

Conn. H. Art., May 31, '65 ; mustered out Aug. 18, '65. 
Frazer, Charles, I6th, C ; 23 ; July 12, ,'61 ; sergt. ; 2d lieut. Aug. 6, 

'62 ; declined ; wounded at Antietam Sept. 17, '02. 
Frazer, J*hn, 15th, C ; 31; July 12, '61; killed at Antietam Sept. 17, 

1802. 
Freeman, John W., navy; 38; Feb. 27, '03 ; seaman on ship "Merci- 

dita ;" wounded in leg off Wilmington, N. C, Nov. 7, '63, and dis- 
charged for wound Feb. 1, '04. 
Freeman, Joshua, I5th, C ; 40 ; July 12, '01 ; sergt. ; 2d lieut. March 

19, '03 ; 1st lieut. Sept. 20, '63 ; mustered out July 29, '64. 
Freeman, William T., 63d, I ; 33 ; Oct. 18, '02 ; Ist sergt. ; 2d liaut. 

March 19, '63; resigned March 20, '63. 
Fuller, Edward M., 34th, F. (See Lancaster.) 
Fuller, Alden, 16th, C ; 29 ; July 12, '61 ; sergeant ; prisoner at Ball's 

Bluff; discharged for disability March 19, '63. 
Fuller, Andrew L., 15th, C ; 37 ; Aug. I, '01 ; Ist lieut. ; resigned Oct 

7, '61 ; died Sept. 10, '67. 
Fuller, John, 53d, I ; 28 ; Oct. 8, '62, to Sept. 2, '63, 
Gallagher, Thomas, 34th, H ; 34 ; Dec. 7, '63 ; transferred to 24th, A 

June 14, '65 ; mustered out Jan. 20, '66. 



CLINTON. 



65 



Gately, John, Sd Cavalry, H ; 21; Jan. 5, 'lit; killed at Cedar Creek, 

Va., Sept. 10, '04. 
(lately, Martin, 9tb, K ; .31; June 11, '61; dischargad for disability 

Dec. 22, 'O-I. 
iJibbons .rohn,4tli Cavalry, C ; 3i; Jan. 6, '01; died July 16, '04, at 

Richniornl, Va. 
Gibbon.), P.itrick, :!4th, B ; 24 ; Dec. 7, '03 ; transferred to 24th, A, June 

14, '6J ; mustered out Jan. 20, '06. 
Gifford. Henry A., :jl'.th, G ; 41 ; Aug. 8, '62 ; mustered out June 8, '65. 
Goddard, Artemaa \V., 4th Cavalry, C; 21; Jan. 6, 'G4 ; sergeant; 

chief bnglor July 7, '05 ; mustered out Nov. 14, '05. 
Gordon, John, 25tb, E ; 35 ; Sept. 25, '01 ; discharged for disability 

Aug. 1, '02, and died at homo Sept. 6, '62. 
Grady, Patrick, 4th Cavalry, C ; 30; Jan. 6, '04; mustered out Nov. 14, 

ISO:.. 
Grady, Thomas, 11th, B; 18 ; Juno 13, '01 ; mustered out June 24, '04. 
Graichen, Bernard, 2ilth, C ; 21 ; Aug. 29, '61. 
Graiclioii, Kdward, 25th, G; 26; July 29, '62; discharged for disability 

Aug. 28, '03. 
Graichen, Frank, 15tb, C ; 28 ; Aug. 27, '61 ; wounded at Ball's Bluff 

Oct. 21, '01 ; discharged for disability May 2, '02 ; re-enlisted Dec. 

24, '03, in 2d H. Artillery, M ; mustered out Sept. 3, '05. 
Graichen, Gustave, IStii, ; 22 ; July 12, *01 ; wounded at .Antiotam 

Sept. 17, '0.', and discharged for wound Dec. 4, '02. 
Green, .Vsa VV., loth, F; 22; Jan. 3'), '6i ; wounded at Fredericksburg 

Dec. 13, '62 ; transferred to V. B. C. Sept. 26, '63 ; credited to 

Haverhill. 
Green, Franklin \V., 13th, F ; 21 ; Jan. 25, '62 ; wounded Juno, '62, in 

leg, and discharged for disability Feb. 19, '63. 
Greenwood, Henry, 15th, C ; 25 ; prisoner at Ball's Bluff Oct. 21, '01 ; 

re-enlisted Feb. 29, '64 ; transferred to 2 Ith July 27, '04, to Signal 

Corps ; mustered odt Aug. 16, '05. 
Grumbachor, Morltz, 25th, G ; 32 ; Oct. 17, '01 ; corporal ; killed at Coid 

Harbor June 3, '04. 
Hall, Augustus M., 21st, E ; 22 ; discharged by G. C. M. Sept. 27, '02. 
Hall, Joseph, 3d Cavalry, B; 20; Jan. 5, '64; died at Morganza Bend, 

La., Juno 19, '04. 
Handley, John, :t4th, B; 19; Aug. 1, '02; mustered out June 10, '05. 
Hapgood, Charles H., 15th, C ; 20 : July 12, '01 ; wounded at Antietam 

Sept. 17, '02 ; transferred to V. R. C. Feb. 15, 'VA. 
Harrington, Kdivurd F., 53d, K ; 20 ; Oct. 17, '02, lo Sept. 2, '63. 
Harris, Charles B., 5l8t, C ; 19 ; Sept. 25, '02 ; mustered out July 27, '03. 
llartwell, Charles H., 3d Cavalry, B ; 32 ; Jan. 5, '04 ; discharged for 

disability Oct. 20, '64. 
Hastings, layman H., 30th, G ; 21 ; Aug. 6, '62 ; died at Falmouth, 

Va , Jan. 10, '03. 
Hastings, William .\., 30th, G ; 20 ; Aug. 5, "62; corporal; mustered out 

June 8, '05. 
Hayes, Kdward K. (2d N. Y. Cavalry, A ; 21 ?) ; record not found. 
Hayes, Junius D., 15th, C; 24; Dec. 14, '61 ; discharged for disability 

Nov. 16, '02 ; drafted and paid commutation July, '0 J. 
Head, James, 28th, G ; 23 ; Dec. 30, '61 ; mustered out April, 'e.'i. 
Healey, Martin, 3d Cavalry, H ; 28 ; Jan. 5, "64 ; mustered out June 27, 

I80J. 
Henry, Kben S., •22d, band; 27; Oct. 6, '61; discharged Feb. 21, '62, 

for disability. 
Henry, George I., loth, C; 20; July 12, '61; tranferred to V. E, C. 

Jan. 15, '64 ; mustered out July 14, '63. 
HIggins, Timothy, 34th, B; 30; Aug. 1, '62 ; discharged for disability 

Jan. 10, '63 ; re-eulisted in 57tli, A, Jan. 4, '64 ; wounded near 

Spottsylvania June, '64; transferred to V. R. C. ; mustered out 

Feb. 25, '65. 
Ilohau, John, 7tli N. H.,A; Oct. 29, '61 ; wounded July 18, '63 ; re- 
eulisted Fob. 27, '64 ; died at Fortress Moaroe Nov. 12, '04. 
Hulilw, Charles P., 11th, B; 17 ; June 13, '61. 
Hoffman, Charles, ,53d, I ; 32 ; Oct. 13, '02 ; wounded at Port Hudson ; 

mustered out Sept. 2, "63. 
Holbrook, Charles E., 15th, C ; 19 ; July 12, '01 ; killed at Antietam 

Sept. 17, 'Oi. 
Holbrook, John \V., 34th, A ; 30 ; July 31, '62; killed A|)ril 0, '05. 
Ilolden, Francis T., 3d Cavalry, B ; Jan. 5, '04 ; let sergt. ; mustered 

out Aug 111, '05. 
Holder, William P., .Hd, I ; 44 ; Oct. 18 ; discharged Nov. 6, '62, for 

disability. 
HoUihan, Michael, 2l8t, B ; 27 ; transferred to 4th U. S. C. Oct. 25, '02. 
Holmau, Herman, 25th, G ; 34 ; July 25, '62 ; lost leg before Petersburg 
June '25, '64 ; discharged June 17, '65. 

5 



Holman, Henry B., 15th, C ; 19 ; July 12, '61; wounded twice at An- 
tietam Sept. 17, '62; discharged Dec. 6, '02 ; killed by fall in Wor- 
cester Feb. 20, '64. 
Holman, Joseph F., 15th, 0; 20; July 12, '61 ; mustered out July 28, 

1861. 
Houghton, Augustine F. ; 1st Cavalry, D ; 38; Oct. 19, '61; mustered 

out Oct. 3, '64. 
Houghton. Frank E., 15th, C ; 18 ; .Inly 12, '61 ; re-enlisted in Bickett's 

Battery, 1st Light Artillery, U. S. A. ; killed at St. Mary's Church 

June 24, '04. 
Houghton, Nathaniel T., 36th, I ; 18, Aug. 8, '62; musician; mustered 

out June 8, '65. 
Houghton, Warren, 3d H, Artillery, E ; 32 ; Aug. 27, '63; mustered out 

April 6, '05. 
Howard, Franklin, 1st Cavalry, C ; 43 ; Sept. 23, '61 ; discharged Feb. 

17, '63, fur disability. 
Howard George 0., 3d Cavalry, B ; 18 ; Jan. 5, '64 ; wounded in shoulder 

at Cedar Creek, Va., Sept. 19, '04 ; discharged for disability July 5, 

1805. 
Howard, James 0., 15th, C ; 19; prisoner at Ball's Bluff; re-enlisted in 

Kickett's Battery, 1st Light Artillery, U. S. A. ; mustered out June 

24, '64. 
Howarth, James. 21st, B ; 27 ; Aug. 23, '01 ; mustered out Aug. 30, '64; 

credited to Springlield. 
Howe, Charles H., 3iith, I ; 18 ; Aug. 15, '62 ; prisoner near Rutledge, 

Tenn., Dec. 15, '63, and died at .^ndersonville, Ga. , Aug. 27, '64. 
Hubbard, George, 21st, B ; 22 ; Aug. 23, '01 ; discharged Sept. 14, '61, 

for disability. 
Hunt, Andrew J, 1.5th, C; 28; July 12, '61 ; trans. Aug. 8, '01, to 

Western gunboat fl"tilla ; mustered out Aug. 6, '64. 
Hunt, George W., 15tli, C ; 18 ; July 12, '61 ; discharged for disability 

Dec. 4, '63. 
Hurley, G. Thomas, Jr., 61st, I ; 18 ; Jan. 23, '65 ; mustered out July 

16, '65. 
Jameson, Calvin. 21st, E ; 33 ; Aug. 23, '02 ; discharged for disability 

March 10, '03. 
Jaqulth, AmosS., 15th, C ; July 12, '01 ; prisoner at Ball's Bluff Oct. 

21, '61; mustered out July 29, '64. 
Jefts, Albert N., 15tb, C ; 20 ; July 12, '61 ; enlisted Nov. 12, '62, in 

U. S. A. 
Jewett, George H., 36th, G ; 24 ; Aug. 14, '62 ; discharged for disability 

Feb. 28, '03 ; drafted in Worcester July 11, '63, and served In 2d Co. 

sharpshooters until July 3, '04. 
Kelly, John, 2d Conn., A ; 26 ; May 7, '61 ; discharged Aug. 7, '61. 
Kenney, Thomas, 53d, I ; 18 ; Oct. 18, '02, to Sept. 2, '03 ; re-enlisted 

Feb. 10, '04, In 21st, B ; transferred to 36th, I, and 56th, A, June 8, 

'Oc ; mustered out July 12, '05. 
Kidder, William H., 53d. I ; 23; Oct. 18, '62. 
King, Robert, 3d Cavalry, B ; 45 ; Jan. 5, '64 ; corporal ; wounded at 

Cedar Creek, Va., Sept. 18, '64 ; mustered out Sept. 28, '65. 
King, W. Robert, 3d H. Artillery, E ; 19 ; Aug. 13, '63 ; sergeant; mus- 
tered out Sept. 18, '05. 
Kirchner, John, loth, C; 31 ; July 12, '61 ; probably drowned at Ball's 

BlullOet, 21, '01. 
Klein, Edward, 25th, G ; 25 ; Oct. 7, '61 ; wounded at Port Walthall, 

Va., May 0, '04; mustered out Oct. "20, '64. 
Klein, William F., 25th, G ; 30 ; Oct. 7, '61 ; died Nov. 3, '62, at New 

Berne, N. C. 
Kluessner, Herman, 25th, G ; 28 ; Oct. 4, '61 ; mustered out Oct 

20, '64. 
Koehler, Carl, 2.5tli, G; 38; Oct. 3, '61 ; re enlisted Jan. 19, '64; 

wounded at Port Walthall, Va , May 6, '04 ; mustered out July 

13, '65. 

Kohnle, Frederick. 25th, G ; 22 ; Oct. 8, '61 ; corporal; killed at Cohl 

Harbor, Va., June 3, '64. 
Lakin, David, Navy ; 26 ; seaman on " Schackahan " Aug. 61 ; master's 

mate ; a non resident. 
Lammleln, Carl, 63d, I ; 40 ; Oct. 18, '62, to Sept. 2, '63. 
Larkln, Alfred G., 4th Cavalry, C ; 21 ; Jan. 6, '04 ; mustered out Nov. 

14, '65. 

Lawrence, Sewell T., 23d, H ; 31 ; Oct. 5, '01 ; discharged for disability 

Aug. 11, '62. 
Laythe, Gilmau W., 15th, C; 23; July 12, '61; wounded at Antietam 

Sept. 17, '62 ; dischai'ged for disability March 6, '63. 
Laythe, Oren A., 15lh, G; 25; Aug. 12, '62; wounded at Antietam 

Sept. 17, '62 ; discharged for dlsiibllity Marcli 14, '63. 



66 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



Leopold, "Wolfgang, 25th, G ; 29 ; Sept. 16, '61 ; sergeant ; mustered out 

Oct. 20, '04. 
Lewis, Benjamin, 5th Cavairy, C ; 25 ; May 16, '64. 
Lindhart, Christian, 25tli, G ; 31 ; Oct. 7, '61 ; wounded at Roanoke 

Island Feb. 8, '62 ; iliscliarged fur disability March 15, '03. 
Linenkemper, Henry, 2.^th, G ; 27 ; July 29, '62 ; wounded at Peters- 
burg, Va., July 12, '64 ; mustered out Oct. 20, '64. 
Lord, Alexander, IStli, ; 27 ; Aug. 12, '62 ; wounded at Antietam Sept. 

17, 'G2, and prisoner ; killed at Gettysburg July 2, '63 ; credited to 

Hinsdale. 
Lnvell, Francis, 3d Cavalry, B ; 24 ; Jan. 5, '64 ; died a prisoner at 

Salisbury, N. C, Feb. 21, 'Co. 
Lowe, Theodore E., 16th, C ; 21 ; July 12, '61 ; transferred to V. E. C. 

Jan. 15, '64. 
Lowrie, William, 2d H. Artillery, M ; 18 ; Dec. 24, '63; mustered out 

Sept. 3, '6E. 
Lyle, Alexander, 15tb, C ; 29 ; July 12, '61 ; wounded at Fair Oaks, Va., 

May 31, 'G2 ; discharged for disability Sept. 18, '62. 
Madden, John, 42d N. Y. ; record not found. 
Madden, Thomas, 42d N. Y. ? record not found. 
Mahar, Dennis, 2l6t, B ; 21 ; Aug. 23, '61 ; discharged for disability Jan. 

16, '03 ; claimed by Lunciiater. 
Makepeace, Hiram, 15tb, C ; 3i> ; July 12, '61 ; discharged for disability 

July 31, '62. 
Maley, John, Navy ; 25 ; May 23, '61, en "Wabash." 
Malley, Edward, 15th, C; 20; July 12, '61; drummer; mustered out 

July 28, '64. 
Maloney, Patrick, 21st, B ; 28 ; Aug. 23, '61 ; wounded at Chantilly ; 

transferred to V. R. C. M,iy 10, '63 ; re-enlisted Jan. 5, '66. 
Maloy, Edward. 24th, C ; 24; Sept. 7, '61 ; re-enlisted Jan. 4, '64 ; died 

at home April 19, '04. 
Maloy, Patrick, 34tli, B ; 18 ; Aug. 1, '02 ; mustered out June 16, '65. 
Maloy, Thomas, 2l8t, E; 24; Aug. 23, '61; discharged for disability 

Feb. 3, '63; re-enlisted in 34th, B, Dec. 16, '63 ; transferred to 24th, 

A, June 14, '66 ; mustered out Jan. 20, '66. 
Marshall, James, 26th, ; 26 ; Oct. 2, '61. 

Martin, Michael, 36th, O ; 26 ; Aug. 0, '61 ; mustered out June 8, '65. 
Matthews, Josephns, representative for C. L. Swan ; 14th U. S. Colored 

Troops ; Nov. 22, '04. 
Mattoon, chauncey, B., 15th, band; 22 ; July 12, '61; discharged Aug. 

S, '(i2. 
Mayuard, Waldo B., 15th, C; 23; wounded at Antietam Sept. 17, '62 

and died of wound Oct. 2, '62 ; credited to Northborough. 
McGee, Patrick, 36th, G ; 36; Aug. 13, '61 ; discharged for disability 

Feb. 13, '63. 
McGrath, Henry, 36th, G ; 25; Aug. 13, '61 ; died at Crab Orchard, Ky., 

Oct. 10, '63. 
McNabb, John, Navy; 19; Aug. 15, "02 ; on "Juniata," "Sonoma" 

and " Sabine ;" discharged July ^7, '6J, having volunteered for 

pursuit of "Tacony." 
McNamara. Michael J., 9th, C ; 18 ; June 11, '61 ; discharged for dis- 
ability Jan. 10, '63. 
McNulty,James^ 3d Battalion Riflemen, C ; 23 ; May 19, '61, to Aug. 

3, '61. 
McRobie, John, 21sf, B ; 32 ; Aug. 23, '61 ; lost right arm at Chantilly 

Sept. 6, '62, and discharged Nov, 14, '62. 
Meehan, Patrick, 2l6t, B ; 22 ; .\ug. 23, '61 ; wounded at Chantilly and 

Spottsylvania ; mustered out Aug. 30, '64. 
Messier, Euos 34tli, H ; 27 ; Dec. 11, 'ii3 ; prisoner in retreat from 

Lynchburg, and died at Andersonville Sept. 23, '64. 
Miller, August, 25th, G ; 40 ; Oct. 3, '61 ; discharged for disability May 

12, '64. 
Miner, Joseph E., 15th, C ; 26 ; Aug. 12, '02 ; wounded at Antietam 

Sept. 17, '02 ; mustered out July 29,'64 ; credited to Boston. 
Miner, Dwight, 36th, Ci ; 18 ; Aug. 1, '02; transferred to V. R. C. 

March 19, '64. 
Moelter, Henry, 26th, G ; 29 ; Oct. 1, '61 ; discharged for disability 

May 2, '02. 
Moore, Charles W., 53d, I ; 32 ; Oct. 18, '62 ; corporal ; sergeant ; wounded 

at Port Hudson June 14, '63 ; mustered out Sept. 2, '63. 
Morgan, James A., 36th, G; 20; Aug. 14, '62; served at division head- 
quarters ; mustered out June 8, '05. 
Morgan, Paul C, 2d N. H., E ; 18 ; Sept. 2, '61 ; lost right arm at Bull 

Run Aug. 29, '62, and discharged Nov 10. '62; re-enlisted in V. R. 

C. July 14, '63 ; mustered out Jan. 22, '64. 
Moulton, Charles H.,2l8t,E ; 18; Aug. 23, '61. 



Muir, George, 16th, C ; 21 ; July 12, '61 ; served in 13th N. T. Cavalry, 

B, April 13, '03 ; trannsferred to V. R. C. 
Muller, Franz, 26th, G ; 27 ; Sept. 25, "61 ; killed at Arrowfield Church, 

Maya, '04. 
Mulier, Valentine, 2Sth, G ; 40 ; Oct. 1, '61 ; discharged for disability 

May 31, '03. 
Needham, .Tames A., 34th, B ; 19 ; Aug. 1, '62 ; corporal ; wounded at 

Piedmont, Va , June 5, '64, and near Strasburg, Va , Oct. 13, '04 ; 

prisonerund escaped ; discharged for disability April 17, '65. 
Nicholas, George S., 4th Cavalry, G ; 39 ; Jan. 27, '64 ; mustered out 

Nov. 14, '65. 
Ogden, Thomas, 63d, I ; 40 ; Oct. 18, '62, to Sept. 2, '63. 
Olcott, llervey B., 15th, C ; 29 ; Dec. 14, '61 ; wounded at Antietam 

and Gettysburg ; transferred to V. R. C. March 15, '04 ; mustered 

out Dec. 13, '04 ; died at Spiingflcld Feb. 27, '65. 
Olcott, Biram W., 36th, G ; 21 ; Aug. 3, '62 ; corporal ; sergeant ; 

wounded near Petersburg; 1st lieut. July 7, '64; discharged for l 

wounds Dec. 23, '04, as sergeant. ■ 

Orne, David J., 2d, D ; 23 ; May 25, '61 ; mustered out May 28, '64. 
Orr, Robert, 63d, I ; 27 ; Oct. 18, '02 ; wounded at Port Hudson ; mus 

tered out Sept. 2, '63. 
Orr, William, Jr., 63d, I ; 25 ; Oct. 18, '02; sergeant; mustered out 

Sept. 2. '03. 
Osgood, George F., 15th, C; 22; Aug. 12, '62; wounded and prisoner 

at Antietam' Sept. 17, '62 ; killed at Gettysburg July 2, '63. 
Osgood, Otis S., 16th, C ; 22 ; July 12, '61 ; wounded in arm at Antietam 

Sept. 17, '62, and discharged therefor Jan. 10, '03. 
O'Toole, Michael, 9lh, C ; 21 ; June 11, '01 ; mustered out June 21, '64. 
Owens, Patrick, 63d, I ; 3D ; Oct. 18, '62; wounded at Port Hudson; 

mustered out Sept. 2, '63. 
Palmer, Edward, 36th, G ; 19 ; Aug. 6, '62 ; mustered out June 28, '65. 
Palmer, George W., 2d H. Artillery, M ; 19 ; Dec. 24, '63 ; mustered 

out June 21, '65. 
Patrick, George Henry. (See Lancaster soldiers.) 
Pease, Henry C, 26th, E ; IS ; Oct. 0, '61 ; transferred to 4th La. as 2d 

lieut. Sept. 28, '62. 
Perry, George W., 30th, G ; 40 ; Aug. 10, '02 ; coriioral ; died at War- 

renton, Va., Nov. 13, '62. 
Finder, Calvin, 2l8t, G ; 33 ; Aug. 23, '61; re-enlisted Jan. 2, '64; 

transferred to 36th, K, Aug. 311, '04; to 50th, H, June 8, '66 ; mus- 
tered out July 12, '65 ; belonged to Ashburnham, but second term 

of service credited to Clinton. 
Pratt, George, 34th, G ; 18 ; Jan. 4, '64 ; transferred to 24th, G, June 

14, '66 ; mustered out Jan. "20, '66. 
Pratt, Nelson L. A., 15th, U ; 21 ; Aug. 7, '01 ; discharged Oct. 24, '03. 
Pratt, Orin, 63d, I ; 18 ; Oct. 18, '02, to Sept. 2, '63 ; re-enlisted in 34lli, 

B, Dec. 11, '03 ; transferred to 24th, A, June 14, '06 ; mustered out 

Jan. 20, '60. 
Putnam, George T. D., 15th, C ; 21 ; Dec. 14, '61 ; discharged for dis- 

ability;Dec. 17, '62. 
Putnam, Henry A., 15th, C; '24; July 12, '61; corporal; prisoner at 

Ball's Bluff Oct. 21, '01 ; enlisted in Rickett's Battery, U. S. Light 

Artillery, Nov. 12, '62 ; mustered out July 12, '64. 
Quinn, John, 21st, B; 22 ; Aug. 23, '01 ; wounded at Bull Run Aug. 30 

'02 ; re-enlisted Jan. 2, '64 ; wounded June 3, '64, at Bethesda 

Church, and died June 9, '64. 
Rauscher, Geortre, 25th, G ; 29 ; July 25, '02; wounded at Arrowfield 

Church May 9, '64 ; njustered out Oct. 20, '64. 
Keid, Thomas W., 53d, I ; 19; Oct. 18, '62; wounded at Port Hudson 

Maj 27 and June 14, '03 ; mustered out Sept. 2, '63 ; died June, '05. 
Reidle, Albin, 25tb, G ; 26 ; Oct. 3, '61 ; discharged for disability March 

18, '03. 
Reischer, Philip, 25th, G ; 35 ; Oct. 1, '01 ; sergeant ; wounded at Cold 

Harbor, Va., June 3, '64 ; mustered out Oct. 20, '64. 
Renner, Charles R., 21st, F ; 19 ; .\ug. 19, '01 ; re-enlisted Jan. 2, '04 ; 

sergeant July 1, '64 ; wounded at Petersburg, Va., July 30, '04, and 

died Aug. 22, '64. 
Roberts, Thomas, 63d, I ; 28 ; Oct. 18, '62 ; killed at Port Hudson June 

14, '63. 
Robinson, Henry 8., 36th, G ; 31 ; Aug. 22, '62 ; 2d lieut. ; Jan. .30, '63, 

Ist lieut. ; wounded in head at Blue Springs, Tenn., Oct. 10, '63 ; 

discharged for disability July 7, '04 ; served later in navy. 
Ryder, Charles G., 16th, C ; 28 ; Aug. 12, '62 ; corporal ; prisoner at 

Cold Harbor, Va. ; mustered out May 17, '65. 
Sargent, George E. 2d H. Artillery, M ; 18 ; Dec. 24, '63; discharged 

for disability May 26, '65. 



CLINTON. 



67 



Sargent, Henry B., 15th, C ; 16 ; July 12, '61 ; discharged for disability 

Fub. 11, '63; re-enlisted in 2d H. Artillery, M, Dec. 24, '63 ; mus- 
tered out Sept. 3, '65. 
Sargent, Itenzo B., 2d H. Artillery ; AnR. 17, '64 ; transferred to 17th, 

G, Jan. 10, 'G.^, as of Boston ; mustered out July 11, '65. 
Sawyer, George E., 2.jth, A; 23; May 7, '62 ; re-enlisted Feb. 25, '64; 

mustered out July 13, '65. 
Sawyer, George E., 60th, F ; 20 ; July 20, '64, to Nov. 30, '64. 
Sawyer, Jonathan, 23d, H ; 42 ; Dec. 4, '61 ; wagoner; discharged for 

disiibility May 9, '62 ; died at Clinton May 29, '62. 
Schleiter, Darius, 31st, H ; 33 ; Jan. 21, '62 ; re-enlisted Feb. 17, '64 ; 

mustered out in D Sept. 9, '65. 
Schusser, Joseph, 2oth, G ; 40 ; Sept. 16, '61 ; prisoner at Cold Harbor, 

Va., June 3, '64 ; died at Richmond, Va., Aug. 16, '64. 
Schwam. Ferdinand, 2-ith, G ; 35 ; Oct. 7, '01 ; wounded at Roanoke 

Islaud Feb. 8, '02 ; discharged for disability Jan. 16, '63. 
Shaw, John,7tli, A ; 39 ; June 15, '61 ; discharged for disability July 20, 

'62 ; credited to Somerset. 
Shaw, John, Jr., 7th, A ; 18 ; June 15, '61. 

Sibley, John, Navy ; 25; Aug. 19, '02, on steam sloop "Juniata;" dis- 
charged Dec. 4, '63. 
Smith, Augustus E., 5th, 1 , 18 ; Sept. 16, '62, to July 2, '63 ; re-enlisted 

in 2d H. Artillery, M, Dec. 24, '63 ; mustered out Sept. 3, '65. 
Smith, Alfred, 15th, C ; 27 ; Aug. 7, '02 ; wounded at .\ntietam Sept. 17, 

'02 ; re enlisted Feb. 19, '04 ; transferred to 2()th, E, July 27, '64 ; 

mustered out July 16, '65. 
Smith, Francis E., 15th, C ; 18 ; July 12, '61 ; died at David's Island, N. 

Y., July 23, '62. 
Smith, George W., 2d H. Artillery, M ; 19 ; Dec. 24, '63 ; mustered out 

S»pt. 3, '05. 
Smith, James, 30th, F ; 34 ; Aug. 7, '62 ; corporul ; wounded at Jack- 
sou, Miss., July 11, '63; mustered out June 8, '65. 
Smith, Johu, 15th, C ; 27 ; July 12, '61 ; prisoner at Ball's Bluff Oct. 21, 

'61 ; wounded at Gettysburg ; transferred to V. R. C Jan. 14, '64 ; 

mustered out July 28, '04 ; re enlisted and died at Rainsford Island, 

Boston. 
Speiseer, Christian, 2flth, H ; 33 ; Aug. 24, '01 ; transferred to V. R. C. 

Aug. 19, '63 ; credited to Lawrence. 
Speisser, Gottfried C, 2Uth, C ; 35 ; Sept. 4, '61 ; died on steamer " Com- 
modore" Sept. 18, '62. 
Speisser, Gottfried, 25th, G ; 28 ; Sept. 25, '61 ; wounded at Petersburg, 

Va., June IS, '64 ; mustered out Oct. 20, '61. 
Spencer, Jonas H., 15th, F ; 18; July 12, '61 ; discharged Nov. 20, "62 

to enlist in U. S. A. 
Stauss, Lewis, 53d, I ; 28 ; Oct. IS, '62. 
Stearns, Amos E., 25th, A ; 28 ; Sept. 11, '61 ; missing since May 16, 

'64 ; credited to Worcester. 
Stearns, George F., 25th, A ; 22 ; Sept. 10, '61 ; wounded at Cold Harbor, 

Va., June 3, '04 ; mustered out Oct. 20, '64. 
Stewart, Luther E., 21st, G ; 19 ; Aug. 23, '61 ; wounded at Antietam. 

Sept. 17,'l'>2; re-enlisted Jan. 2, '61; woun<led at Cold Harbor, Va., 

June 2, '64, leg amputated and discharged Oct. 10, '65. 
Stone, LouisL., 60th, F ; 19 ; July 20, '64, to Nov. 30, '64. 
Suss, Michael, 26th, G ; 28 ; Oct. 1, '61 ; killed at Petersburg, Va., June 

18, '04. 
Thurman, Charles, 34th, D ; 20 ; July 3, '02 ; mnsician ; mustered out 

June 16, '05. 
Thurniun, Charles H., 63d, I ; 42 ; Oct. 18, '62 ; killed at Fort Brisland, 

La., April 13, '03. 
Toole, Austin, 22d, G ; 21 ; Sept. 12, '61 ; transferred to V. R. C Sept. 

30, '63. 
Towsley, Leonard M., 15th, C ; 27 ; July 12, '01 ; wounded at Antietam 

Sept. 17, '02, and died Sept. 27, '02. 
Tracy, Jolin. 2l8t, B ; 21 ; Aug. 23, '61 ; wounded near Petei-sburg ; died 

at Niishville, Tenn., Jan. 31, '65. 
Turner, Uoratio E., 34th. (See Lancaster.) 
Vetter, George, 25th, G; 20; Sept. 10, '61; wounded at Roanoke Island 

Feb. 8. '62 ; died at New Berne July 9, '62. 
Vint, Joseph .\., 63d, I; 18 ; Oct. 18, '02 ; drummer; mustered out Sept. 

2, '63. 
Vose, Josiah H.,53d, I; 32 ; Oct. 18, '02, 2d lieut. ; 1st lieut. Dec. 15, 

'62 ; wounded at Port Hudson June 14, '63, and died at Springfield 

Landing, La., June 17, '03. 
Walker, William, 15th, C ; 28 ; July 12, '61 ; killed or diowned at Ball's 

Bluff Oct. 21, '01. 
Wallace. David , l.lth, C ; 19 ; July 12. '61 ; corporal ; sergeant ; 

wounded and prisoner at Ball's Bluff Oct. 21, '61 ; prisonerat Peters- 



burg ; transferred to 20th, G, July 27, '64 ; died at Florence, S. C, 

Feb. 4, '65, a prisoner. 
Ward, James H.,4th Cavalry, C ; 45 ; Jan. 0, '64; mustered out Oct. 20, 

'65. 
Waters, Horace H., 60th, ¥ ; 2:> ; July 20 to Nov. 30, '64. 
Waters, John A., 53d, I ; 37 ; Oct. 18, '62, to Sept. 2, '03. 
Waters, William G., 15th ; 23 ; July 21, '01 ; commissary sergeant ; 1st 

lieut. Oct. 27, '02; discharged for disability March 14, '63. 
Weisser, Frederick, 25th, G; 34 ; Sept. 25, '61 ; corporal ; wounded at 

Port Walthall, Va., May 6, '64 ; mustered out Oct. 20, '64. 
Wellington, Levi, 4th Cavalry, F ; 27 ; Jan. 6, '64 ; mustered out June 

I, '65. 

Welsh, Michael, 3d H. Artillery, F; 18; Sept. 16, '63 ; mustered out 

Sept. 18, '65. 
Wenniug, Frederick, 25th. G ; 45; Oct. 3, '61 ; wounded at Petersburg 

June 15, '04 ; mustered out Oct. 20, '04. 
Wheeler, John C, 22d, band ; 28 ; Oct. 5, '01 ; mustered out Aug. 

II, '6!. 

Wheclock, William R., 15th, C; 39 ; July 12, '61 ; sergeant ; 1st lieut. 

Oct. 10, '62 ; capt. July 5, '63 ; mustered out July 20, '64. 
White, Daniel A., '25th, band ; 25 ; Oct. 3, '61 ; mustered out Aug. 

30, '62. 
Whitney, Horace, Jr., 53d, K; 20; Oct. 28, '62; discharged by order of 

court Dec, '62. 
Wiesmun, Bernard, 25th, G ; 29 ; July 8, '62 ; discharged for disability 

March 1, '63. 
Wilder, Sanford B., 2d H. Artillery, M. (See Lancaster.) 
Winter, Christian, 25th. G ; 35 ; Oct. 1, '61 ; mustered out Oct. 20, '64. 
Wood, John, 00th, F ; 20 ; July 20 to Nov. 30, '04. 
Wright, Archibald D., 15th, C ; 18 ; July 12, '61 ; sergeant; wounded 

twice at Ball's Bluff Oct. 21, '61 ; wounded at Gettysburg; prisoner 

at Wilderness Ma.v 6, '64 ; mustered out May 25, '05. 
Wright, Daniel, 36th, F ; 30 ; Aug. 6^ '02, corporal ; sergeant Oct. 1, 

'02 ; 2d lieut. Sept. 1, '63 ; Ist lieut. April '23, '64 ; wounded and 

prisoner at Wilderness ; mustered out June 8, '05. 
Zeigler, Heinrich, 25th, G; 42; July 25, '62 ; mustered out Oct. 20, '64. 
Zimmerman, John, 53d, I ; 37 ; Oct. 18, '62, to Sept. 2, '63. 

In July, 1863, eighty-seven citizens of the town 
were drafted, of whom five served subsequently, five 
had previously served and the following paid com- 
mu:;4don : 



Atherton, Frederick A. 
Bartlett, Joseph F. 
Brown, John N. W. 
Buttnrick, William F. 
Cultiug, George H. 
Dawes, Alfred. 
Fuller, Sidney F. 
Fuller, Ebeo S. 
Foster, John R. 



Greeley, Henry C. 
Hosmer, Samuel H. 
Hayes, Junius 1). 
Lowe, George W. 
Loring, Frank M. 
Marshall, Herman A. 
Murphy, Cornelius. 
Weeks, George W. 
Wilder, George C. 



The remainder were exempted for special reasons. 



CHAPTER XI. 

CLiI'NTON—iConiinuecf). 

Horatio Netso7i Bigeloic — Banks — TotcnSaU — Bigelow Free Library — Sol- 
tlicrs^ Monument — Annals of Manufacturing Corporations — Tfie^' Waeh- 
oiit" of 1876 — Franklin Forbes — Erastus B. Bigelow. 

By what has been said on previous pages it clearly 
appears that the more important industries of Clinton 
were founded upon, and made possible by, the inven- 
tive genius of one man. But the town, if not its 
manufacturing iuterests, owes at least as great a debt 
of grateful remembrance to the older as to the more 
widely famous younger of the Bigelow brothers; and 



68 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



Erastus B. Bigelow has feelingly recorded his great 
obligations to his elder brother for the vast amount of 
toil and care undertaken by him in building and 
carrying into operation successively great establish- 
ments based upon inventions before untried — for the 
ability and patience displayed by him in meeting exi- 
gencies constantly arising — and for perfecting numer- 
ous practical adaptations essential to successful man- 
ufacture. He frankly says : " For whatever success 
has attended the development of my inventions, I am 
indebted in no small degree to his fidelity, skill and 
perseverance." 

In the building of the town the elder was the mas- 
ter-spirit, and his will, his judgment, his generosity 
ordered its foundations and influenced its early growth 
as no other man could. The results of his solicitude 
for the welfare of his townsmen continue to honor his 
name, and will long endure to proclaim his prescience 
and the wisdom of his benevolence. 

In the prinie of life and at the height of his useful- 
ness Horatio Nelson Bigelow in 1864 was suddenly 
forced to yield to others the leadership he had so long 
held. Thoroughly conscientious and self-reliant, he 
had ever been unwilling to entrust to other agents any 
share of the duties which he felt to be his own ; he 
had never spared himself. Nature, long and heavily 
overtaxed, at last revolted and compelled a total with- 
drawal from labor and business cares. A voyage 
across the ocean failed to repair the broken mental 
power, and after three years of invalidism he fell 
quietly asleep on Wednesday, the 2d day of .January, 
1868. At the time of his funeral, manufactories, 
banks and all places of business throughout the town 
were closed in token of respect for a public benefactor. 

Mr. Bigelow was born at West Boylston, Mass., on 
the 1.3th of September, 1812. His father, Ephraim, 
the son of Abel, was a wheelwright and a chairmaker 
by trade, who also cultivated a small farm. The 
family lived in a very modest way, as became their 
moderate circumstances. His mother, Polly (Brigham) 
Bigelow, was awoman of marked character, unaffected 
piety and native dignity, who brought up her two 
sons to fear God and love the truth. The father died 
in 1837 at the age of forty-six, but the mother lived 
eighteen years in widowhood, most of the time with 
her eldest son, honestly proud of the esteem and 
honor which her children won from their fellow-men. 

The boyhood of H. N. Bigelow was one of toil, and 
his schooldays were few — two terms at the Bradford 
Academy closing his educational opportunities. He 
therefore owed little to books, but derived valuable 
lessons from intelligent study of men, and early per- 
sonal contest with adverse circumstances. In youth 
he worked upon the farm and in the neighboring 
mills, and at the age of twenty had so far mastered 
the ordinary details of cotton manufacture that in 
1832, when his enterprising father started a small 
factory on the Nashun, he was installed as its over- 
seer. September 24, 1834, he was married to Mits 



Emily Worcester, and about that time was employed 
as overseer in the Beaman mill. In 1836 he was 
called to Shirley to become general superintendent of 
a cotton-factory there. Thence, at the age of twenty- 
five, with scant capital and his moneyless but gifted 
brother as partner, he came to the idle water-power 
on South Meadow Brook to build a town. In all the 
positions he had held he had exhibited a restless dili- 
gence and confidence in himself, and had developed 
that exceptional administrative ability which proved 
invaluable in organizing the giant manufactories 
which he was called upon to construct and manage 
until success became assured. 

During the anxious first years at Clintonville, when 
the load of responsibility thrown upon him in the 
establishment of several novel manufactures seemed 
too exacting of time and onerous for any one man to 
bear, he found abundant leisure to be solicitous 
about the well-being of the neighborhood in which 
he had cast his lot, and the future economy and 
comeliness of the bustling town, which, with pro- 
phetic virion, he foresaw, must, before many years, 
people the hill-slopes around. His energy hastened 
the forming of the first church society, and the build- 
ing for its use of the little chapel in the grove near 
his residence. In his first manhood he had become a 
member of the Orthodox Congregational Church, and 
remained ever zealous in its behalf; but his sectar- 
ianism was free from bigotry, and he often gave effi- 
cient service and substantial aid to other religious 
organizations. He urged the erection of commodious 
school-houses, and a radical improvement of the local 
school system, liberally contributing land and money 
to a d in effecting the desired end, and when growing 
prosperity made it possible, he often persuaded his 
fellow-citizens, by his own munificent donations, to a 
more generous support of worthy public institutions 
and town improvements. 

Like the majority of self-made men, so called, he 
had a vigorous individuality. He often acted upon 
impulse, and when confronted with unexpected or 
what he deemed unreasonable opposition he met it 
with resolute self-assertion. But he was easily placa- 
ble and prompt to correct any injustice in his own 
act or speech. He was happy in his home and took 
great pleasure in its tasteful adornment, but he gave 
few hours to what men call recreation, and his chief 
enjoyment of life seemed to be in ceaseless mental 
and bodily activity. Despite the engrossing care in- 
cident to the agency of important corporations, he 
accepted various public trusts, the duties of which 
were never neglected. He was the first postmaster 
of the village, and represented the town at the Gen- 
eral Court during the first two years of its corporate 
existence. He was the first president of the Savings 
Bat!k, vice-president of the First National Bank, and 
director in the Worcester and Nashua Railroad Com- 
pany, the City Bank and the Mechanics' Mutual In- 
surance Ci^mpany of Worcester. 



I 



CLINTON. 



69 



Mrs, Bigelow has long outlived her husband, resid- 
ing in the home he built in Clinton. Of four chil- 
dren born to her, two died before his decease. Her 
SODS, Henry H. and Charles B. Bigelow, inherit their 
father's administrative talent, and succeeded him in 
due time as managing agents of the Bigelow Carpet 
Company. 

The First National Bank of Clinton was chartered 
in April, 18(34, with a capital of two hundred thousand 
dollars. Hon. Charles G. Stevens was chosen presi- 
dent, and C. L. S. Hammond, cashier, both of whom 
have been continued in office to the present day. The 
bank was at first located in a brick building on Union 
Street, but in 1881 and 1882 built the costly brick and 
marble block on the corner of High and Church 
Streets. It remained the only general banking insti- 
tution in town until June 15, 1882, when the Lancas- 
ter National Bank transferred its office to rooms 
leased in Brimhall's Block, Hon. Henry C. Greeley 
being at the time president, and William H. McNeil 
cashier. In 1885 the latter secured control of a ma- 
jority of the stock, elected certain friends of his di- 
rectors, and placed himself in the presidency, proba- 
bly in order the better to conceal from the stock- 
holders irregularities in his methods of conducting 
the business of the bank. At the close of the year he 
fled to Canada, a defaulter, and the settlement of the 
bank's affiiirs was placed in the hand of John W. 
Corcoran, Esq., as receiver. Its creditors have been 
paid seventy per cent, of their claims, but final 
settlement has been delayed awaiting the termination 
of certain lawsuits. The Clinton Co-operative Bank 
was incorporated in 1887. Daniel B. Ingalls is presi- 
dent, C. A. Woodruff, treasurer, and Walter R. Dame, 
solicitor. 

For over seven years all town-meetings were held 
in the vestry of the Congregational Church. From 
November, 1858, the hall connected with the Clinton 
House was used by the town on public occasions. The 
erection of a special building for town use was a sub- 
ject often discussed, and from 1866 began to arouse 
warm debates in annual town-meetings, [n 1869 a 
committee was appointed to investigate available sites 
and consider plans. A location upon High Street was 
by many considered very desirable, and the lots now 
covered by Greeley's and the bank blocks were much 
talked of. That now occupied by the High School 
building was also advocated by many ; but the more 
suitable ground upon Walnut and School Streets was 
fortunately chosen, purchased for four thousand dol- 
lars, and thereon the foundations of the present capa- 
cious and imposing town-hall were laid, in July, 
1871. 

The design adopted by the town was that of Alex- 
ander R. Esty, a Boston architect. The edifice is of 
brick, relieved by a free use of Nova Scotia stone in 
pilasters, beltings and other constructive and orna- 
mental details. On the first floor are various rooms for 
town ofBcers and Bigelow Hall, sixty feet wide by eighty 



feet in length. The public library-room is located 
at the rear of the hall, in a one-storied semi-circular 
apse of twenty-five feet radius, which has an entrance 
and vestibule of its own. The upper floor is occupied 
mainly by Clinton Hall, ninety-five feet by eighty, in 
which, including the gallery across the south end, about 
eighteen hundred persons can be seated. A large stage 
and retiring-rooms attached occupy the space at the 
rear of the hall. The interior finish of the whole 
building is of ash, and all the appointments for heat- 
ing, lighting, etc., are of the best for their purposes. 

The building was dedicated with appropriate cere- 
monies December 4, 1872, when addresses were given 
by Colonel T. W. Higginson and Hon. Charles G. 
Stevens. Franklin Forbes, as chairman of the build- 
ing committee, made a brief speech in delivering the 
keys to the committee chosen by the town to have ex- 
clusive control and management of the building for 
three years, and George M. Morse, M.D., in response, 
gave a condensed history of the town from the time 
of Prescott's settlement on its soil. The building of 
this important structure added one hundred and ten 
thousand dollars to the town's indebtedness, bringing 
the total to one hundred and forty-six thousand. A 
funding scheme was adopted in October, 1871, which 
provided for the issuing of bonds to the amount of one 
hundred and twenty-five thousand dollars, payable in 
twenty years from January 1, 1873, bearing six per 
cent, interest ; six thousand five hundred dollars of 
the principal to be paid annually. These bonds were 
mostly sold at par. They were exempt from town 
taxation, and were issued in denominations of one 
hundred and five hundred dollars. 

The Bigelow Frwe Public Library was opened De- 
cember 6, 1873, Andrew E. Ford being the first libra- 
rian. It began its life of usefulness with four thou- 
sand four hundred and eight books upon its shelves, 
which had been donated by the Bigelow Library As- 
sociation. This nucleus has grown iu fourteen years 
to fourteen thousand one hundred and eighty-seven 
volumes, showing an average annual addition of about 
seven hundred volumes. The association's bequest 
was made conditional upon the yearly expenditure by 
the town of at least five hundred dollars for the pur- 
chase of books. The annual appropriation, from fif- 
teen hundred dollars in 1874, has increased to twenty- 
three hundred in 1888, besides the amount received 
from the dog tax and sale of catalogues, usually about 
six hundred dollars additional. The circulation from 
eleven thousand eight hundred and forty-two in 1874, 
has grown to thirty-five thousand seven hundred and 
twenty-two in 1886-87. The management of the library 
is vested in six trustees, whose term of service is three 
years, two being elected annually. Miss Charlotte L. 
Greene is librarian, succeeding her sister. Miss Fannie 
M. Greene, in 1886. A catalogue was printed in 1887. 

An appropriate monument to the memory of the 
fifty-eight Clinton men who died in the Union service 
during the Civil War was erected in the summer of 



70 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



1875, the dedicatory services taking place August 28th. 
It stands in the southwest corner of the town-hall 
enclosure, and consists of an architectural base of Con- 
cord granite eleven feet in height, surmounted by a 
bronze figure of an infantry volunteer standing at 
rest, copying a design by M. J. Powers. The exer- 
cises of its dedication were a procession with music, 
the formal transfer of the memorial to the town by 
Franklin Forbes for the committee of construction, 
and patriotic addresses by Hon. Charles G. Stevens, 
John T. Dame, Esq., and the Reverends V. M. Sim- 
mons and W. S. Burton. The cost of the monument 
was about four thousand dollars, of which sum eight 
hundred and forty dollars was collected by the women 
of Clinton in various ways for such a memorial, and 
the remainder was paid from the town treasury. 

During the closing year of the Civil War there 
began for the Lancaster Mills, as for most manufac- 
turers, a period of great prosperity, during which ex- 
tensive improvements and additions of buildings and 
machinery were made year by year. In 1807 the 
dam was entirely rebuilt, with an extreme length of 
one hundred and seventy feet, securing a fall of twenty- 
seven feet. At the same time the old breast-wheels 
were replaced by two turbines of three hundred and 
fifty horse-power each. In April, 1875, a branch of 
the Boston, Clinton and Fitchburg, now a division of 
the Old Colony Railway was built to the mills, giving 
transportation facilities much needed. In 1877 Frank- 
lin Forbes, for twenty-eight years manager, died, and 
George W. Weeks, then superintendent, upon whom 
very many of Mr. Forbes' original duties had before 
this devolved, was appointed manufacturing agent. 

During the administration of Mr. Weeks, the years 
1880, 1881, 1887 and 1888 have been marked by very 
important extensions of the working plant, the ca- 
pacity for production having been increased at least 
seventy-five per cent. The weaving-room, supposed 
to be the largest of the kind in the United States, if 
not in the world, has a floor area of one hundred and 
thirty-seven thousand feet, or three and one-seventh 
acres, affording space for twenty-eight hundred looms. 
The carding and spinning departments occupy two 
brick mills of huge dimensions, one three, the other 
four stories in height. The whole floor area of the 
works, including basements, etc., used for storage, and 
the Sawyer's Mills in Boylston, is about sixteen acres, 
twelve of which are devoted to manufacture. The 
company has also about two hundred tenements, 
nearly all of a class superior to those usually found 
in manufacturing towns, and three large boarding- 
houses, each accommodating one hundred persons. 
An unusually large proportion of the employes have 
dwellings of their own. 

When the recently completed extension receives 
its machinery, the corporation will require the labor 
of nearly twenty-two hundred operatives, about 
equally divided between the two sexes, and its yearly 
product is expected to reach twenty-eight million 



yards of twenty-seven inch ginghams ; last year it 
was nearly twenty-five million yards. Three large 
steam-engines of Corliss pattern, developing fourteen 
hundred horse-power, are employed to aid the tur- 
bines, while six small engines are in constant use for 
various purposes. Among the army of workers are 
skilled mechanics of various crafts, and corps of 
chemists and designers perform important duties. 
But a single quality of goods is here made, a high 
grade of gingham everywhere known for its always 
reliable colors and exceptional durability. Although 
combinations of color are restricted to stripes and 
checks, already about two hundred thousand distinct 
patterns have been designed. 

It will be noticed that the enormous increase of 
production over that of the earliest years of the cor- 
poration's life is far in excess of the numerical in- 
crease of looms and operatives. In every department 
new processes and improvements in mechanism have 
been introduced from time to time, and greater speed 
of movement attained, until the product per operative 
is two and four-tenths times what it was in 1850. 
The average wages have during the same period been 
increased eighty per cent., and this although the 
hours of labor per day are now two hours less than in 
1850. 

The present ofiicers of the company are : S. G. 
Snelling, president ; Harcourt Amory, treasurer ; 
George W. Weeks, agent; George P. Taylor, superin- 
tendent. 

February 18, 1864, the corporation which gave name 
to the town ceased to exist, its charter being annulled 
by legislative enactment. The coach-lace looms had 
been sent to Philadelphia, it had the year before sold 
its real estate in Boylston, known as Sawyer's Mills, 
and certain of its looms for weaving checks, to the 
Lancaster Mills Company ; and its water-rights, fac- 
tory buildings, tenant-houses and lands in Clinton 
to the Bigelow Carpet Company. The latter corpo- 
ration had already made preparations to do its own 
wool-cleansing and spinning, — for which preliminary 
processes of its manufacture it had previously been 
dependent upon other parties, — and to the extensive 
plant required for these the grounds and buildings of 
the coach-lace mills were devoted. A large worsted- 
mill was completed in 1866, and the dam was rebuilt 
and raised to control a flowage of two hundred and 
thirty-six acres, including Mossy and Sandy, two of 
the three great natural ponds of Clinton. 

Upon the death of Horatio N. Bigelow, in 1865, his 
eldest son, Henry N. Bigelow, was made superin- 
tendent of the new department, and Charles L. Swan 
held the same position in the weaving-mill. In De- 
cember, 1871, Mr. Bigelow became managing agent 
of the company. Under his supervision extensive 
additions were made in both departments during 
1872. A new worsted-mill, three stories in height, 
two hundred feet long by sixty-five feet wide, was 
built in 1875, and great improvements were made in 



CLINTON. 



71 



the machinery. Upon his retirement, March 26, 
1881, he was succeeded in the management by his 
brother, Charles B. Bigelow. During 1885 the weav- 
ing department was very greatly enlarged, and in 
1886 and 1887 an extension, two hundred feet in 
length, was added upon the west, reaching to School 
Street. In this have been placed newly-invented 
looms for the weaving of Ax minster carpeting. 

The president of the company is James H. Beal, 
and C. F. Fairbanks is treasurer. The capital, which 
was two hundred thousand dollars at the incorpora- 
tion of the company in 1854, has been increased to 
one million. 

The number of looms is two hundred and forty, 
and when the works are run to their full capacity, 
twelve hundred persons are employed, whose pay 
amounts to fifteen hundred dollars each day, and the 
production is at the rate of one million eight hundred 
yards per year. About six million pounds of wool 
are used annually. The company is complete within 
itself, importing the grade of wool which it requires, 
and conducting all the operations of its fabrication, 
— cleansing, spinning, dyeing, weaving, — on its own 
premises. The floor space occupied amounts to ten 
and three-fourths acres. Its various buildings are of 
brick, and very attractive in appearance. The com- 
pany also owns houses accommodating sixty-three 
families, and has three boarding-houses. 

Three grades of carpeting are manufactured by the 
Bigelow Company, — Wilton, Axminsterand Brussels. 
The first power-loom, invented by E. B. Bigelow, 
thirty years ago won admiration, because with it a 
single girl wove as much Brussels carpeting in a 
given time as four men and four boys could do with 
four hand looms. The perfected loom of to-day has 
fourfold the capacity of the fiist Bigelow loom. 

C. M. Bailey & Son, a few months after the de- 
struction by fire of their property at Sterling in Feb- 
ruary, 1868, purchased the low-lying land between 
Sterling Street and the Boston, Clinton and Fitch- 
burg Railway in Clinton, and established thereon an 
extensive tannery with sixty-one vats, a large currier 
shop, engine and boiler-house, and other accessories 
of their business. The capacity of the yard was 
about twenty thousand hides, and required the at- 
tendance of forty men and boys. The junior member 
of the firm, George E. Bailey, died in 1873, when 
Bryant & King, by purchase, succeeded to the busi- 
ness. They at once enlarged the works to more than 
double iheir original capacity, employed about one 
hundred hands, and were apparently in full tide of 
prosperity when the breaking of the Mossy Pond 
reservoir dam in 1876 swept away their large stock of 
material, demolished their buildings and left them 
weighed down by too heavy discouragements for re- 
newal of the enterprise. Two years later C. M. 
Bailey and William J. Stewart rebuilt some portions 
of the buildings, gave work to twenty-five or thirty 
men, and continued the tanning business until 



August 28, 1880, when a fire laid the property again 
in ruins, in which condition it remains. 

Deacon Joseph B. Parker, the veteran machinist of 
Clinton, died September 1, 1874, at the age of seventy 
years. He was a native of Princeton, but came here 
from Providence, R. I., where he had a shop, to or- 
ganize and manage the machine-'hop connected with 
the Clinton Company's works. His practical ability and 
judgment were of great value to E. B. Bigelow in the 
adjustment and construction of his inventions. He 
was a pillar of strength in the Congregational Church, 
a man of thorough independence and originality. 

A joint stock company was formed to continue the 
business of which he was the founder and had been 
for nearly twenty-five years the manager, which took 
the title of the J. B. Parker Machine Company. The 
capital is forty-five thousand dollars, and the yearly 
manufacture is estimated as fifty thousand dollars in 
value. A. C. Dakin is president, C. C. Murdock, 
treasurer, and N. E. Stowell, foreman. From seventy- 
five to one hundred men are required when the 
machinery of the shops is fully employed. The 
special line of work done is the construction of carpet- 
looms, the Bancroft mule, the Clinton yarn-twister, 
and other mechanism for wool manufacturers. The 
buildings of the company are commodious, well 
equipped with power and tools, and conveniently 
located beside the tracks of the Worcester and Nashua 
Division of the Boston and Maine Railway. 

Closely allied with and adjoining the machine- 
shops are the new.and admirably appointed works of 
the Clinton Foundry Company, recently completed 
in place of the old foundry, built by Oilman N. 
Palmer, in 1849, which was crushed in during the 
great snow-storm of March 12, 1888. Major Christo- 
pher C. Stone, for many years associated with Colonel 
Palmer, bought the foundry in October, 1881, and, 
forming a partnership with the J. B. Parker Company, 
under the corporate title above named, became 
general manager of the business. Twenty-six men 
aie regularly employed here, chiefly upon machine 
and railroad work, casting daily from a three-ton 
cupola furnace. The value of castings sold annually 
is about thirty-six thousand dollars. 

Colonel Gilman M. Palmer came to Clintonville 
from Dover, N. H., in 1847, but was born in Gardner, 
Maine, December 4, 1812. He was foreman of the 
first engine company, the first captain of the Clinton 
Light Guards, lieutenant-colonel of the Ninth Mili- 
tia, vice-president of the Savings Bank, and director 
of the First National Bank. He served the town as 
selectman for four years ; was one of the founders of 
the Unitarian Church, and a member of Trinity 
Masonic Lodge. He died May 27, 1885. By his will 
nearly fifteen thousand dollars were left in public 
bequests. 

Upon Sterling Street, near the station of the rail- 
way, stand the neat brick workshops of the Gibbs 
Loom, Harness and Reed Company, which was incor- 



72 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



porated April 1, 1874, with a capital of fifty thousand 
dollars. William H. Gibbs, the president of the 
company, became in 1865 associated with George H. 
Foster in the manufacture of belting, loom-harness 
and roll-covering, and later began making reeds — in 
which business they had been preceded by Robert 
Turner. In the autumn of 1868 the partnership was 
dissolved, and in a division of the assets Mr. Gibbs 
retained the loom-harness and reed manufacture, and 
Mr. Foster that of belting and roll-covering. Hear- 
ing of an improved heddle machine of English in- 
vention, Mr. Gibbs imported one, the first brought 
into the United States. A rapid increase of orders 
rewarded his enterprise, requiring more machinery 
and capital, and the formation of a company followed. 
It now has in operation thirteen heddle — or heald — 
machines, giving work to forty operatives, male and 
female. The ebonized loom-harness is a specialty for 
which the company have a patent, granted February 
1, 1881. The reed manufacture was begun in Novem- 
ber, 1884, and has met with such encouragement that 
but one reed maker in America now rivals this com- 
pany in yearly production. This success has been 
attained by superior workmanship. Charles L. Swan 
is treasurer of the corporation. 

About half-past three o'clock of Sunday, March 26, 
1876, the people of Clinton and villages adjoining, 
were startled by loud and long-continued alarm signals 
from the steam gong of the wire-mill, giving wide 
warning of an unforeseen and grievous disaster, one 
that, because of the fortunate hourbf its happening, 
was not attended with loss of human life, but which 
forever ruined several useful industries, seriously 
interrupted others, and utterly destroyed three hun- 
dred thousand dollars' worth of capital, buildings, 
machinery and goods. 

A snow-storm, quickly followed by copious rains, 
had filled the great reservoir of the Bigelow Carpet 
Company to overflowing. In the Mossy Pond portion 
of it the water stood higher than in the Clinton basin, 
the culvert under the Worcester and Nashua Railway, 
which joined them, proving insufficient to take away 
the unprecedented flow poured in by the South 
Meadow Brook. Before danger was suspected, the 
waters rose so high as to wash over or through an 
embankment at the northerly side of Mossy Pond, 
just above the sources of the little brook formerly 
known as Rigby's. This dam of earth was about 
forty feet long and ten feet in height, and the ground 
at either end of and beneath it was porous gravel and 
sand. The trickling overflow soon grew to a resistless 
torrent and tore this obstacle from its path, opening a 
broad gap between the hills down to the level of the 
marshy ground below. 

About sixty rods away the Boston, Clinton and 
Fitchburg Railway crosses the valley upon a gravel 
embankment nearly forty feet in height, which 
dammed the flood for a while, afTording time for the 
residents of houses upon the meadow below to escape. 



In less than half an hour, however, a river nearly one 
hundred feet in width was rushing through the rail- 
road bank over the vats of Bryant & King's tannery, 
bearing along the debris of falling buildings and 
thousands of hides from the extensive yards. Cross- 
ing Sterling Street, it spread over the wide, level tract 
below, undermining several dwellings, the occupants 
of which barely escaped with such valuables as they 
could hastily snatth and carry away in their arms. 
The nest impediment met was the embankment of 
the Worcester and Nashua Railway. This, being a 
much lower and older earthwork than that previously 
burst through, held firm for a time until a great lake 
had formed behind it, and the water began to pour 
over the track; but at length it gave way at the little 
brook culvert, when the mad flood poured across Main 
Street, w-hirled the old dams and shops built by the 
early comb-makers, and a house which it had brought 
from the meadows ^bove, crashing down the ledges 
into the valley of the South Meadow Brook. 

On this stream a factory, then the property of the 
Boyce Brothers, of Boston, a three-story wooden 
building, over one hundred and fifty feet in length, 
stood upon the dam directly in the path of the 
waters. It was quickly lifted from its foundations 
and borne away upright over the Currier farm into 
the Nashua, to bring up with a loud crash against 
the first island. Nearly half of the structure, caught 
in a swirl, again floated on at terrific speed towards 
the iron bridge and the mills at South Lancaster. 
Luckily, the depth of the flood was so great that the 
main flow poured outside the river banks, and the 
wreck following it passed down between the cotton- 
factory and the grist-mill, struck the Lancaster Rail- 
road Bridge a sounding blow as it went under it, 
toppled over and was torn into fragments. Meadow 
farms along the river for many miles were deeply 
inundated, strewn with wreckage of buildings, ma- 
chinery, furniture, hides, horn goods and great 
masses of peat from Mossy Pond, and covered with 
a deposit of sandy mud. The gaps in the railroads 
had to be bridged, and remained serious interrup- 
tions to travel for several days. 

The Carpet Company, during the summer, filled 
the crevasse through which the reservoir had 
drained itself so disastrously with a solid structure. 
Tedious lawsuits for damages followed, and the 
sites of the manufactories demolished are even 
now marked by ruins and desolation. 

No citizen of Clinton everstood nearer the popular 
heart than Franklin Forbes, the manager of the Lan- 
caster Mills. In 1866 some warning from overtaxed 
brain impelled him to seek much-needed rest, by a 
vacation in Europe; but although he soon returned 
to _his wonted labors nluch invigorated, he began to 
delegate more and more of his duties to the assistant 
whom he had trained from youth to be his succes- 
sor — George W. Weeks, then holding the office of 
superintendent. After a year or two of visibly fad- 



CLINTON. 



ing strength, he died, December 24, 1877, at the age 
of sixty-six, mourned as an irreparable loss by young 
and old, in all classes of society, and wherever his 
genial presence had been known. 

Mr. Forbes was born in West Cambridge, Mass., 
March 8, 1811, but his parents removed to Boston in 
his early childhood. He was prepared for college at 
the Latin School, being a schoolmate of Charles 
Sumner, and was graduated at Amherst in 1833. 
Thrown upon his own resources, he decided to adopt 
the profession of teaching for a livelihood, and ac- 
cepted the position of usher in a Boston school. 
Scholarly in his tastes and a diligent student, he 
also po.-sessed the gift of inspiring others wilh his 
own enthusiasm for knowledge, and his success as 
an instructor was correspondingly marked. He 
became master of the school, and was called thence 
to Lowell, to become principal of the High School in 
that city. In 1837 he was married to Martha A. S. 
Gushing, of Lunenburg. He continued to teach 
for several years after his marri.age, but finding this 
field of occupation somewhat narrow for his abilities 
and aspirations, he began to employ his leisure in 
legal studies. He was not, however, destined to 
practice at the bar. 

The avocation for which his natural powers pre- 
eminently fitted him, and in which he subsequently 
won so honorable repute, was pointed out to him and 
others during his short period of service for the Locks 
and Canals Company of Lowell. His peculiar ability 
in the conduct of large business affairs attracted 
notice and brought him the offer of the agency of the 
Lancaster Mills, which he accepted, and on December 
1, 1849, assumed his new duties, From that day, for 
twenty-eight years, Mr. Forbes stood prominent 
among the foremost citizens of Clinton, a respected 
leader in municipal and church affairs and social cir- 
cles, whose breadth of culture, genial and sympathetic 
nature, unselfishness and strong practical sense, made 
him not only an intelligent adviser in matters of 
public concern, but one to whom all were glad to 
listen. 

He believed the true interests of capital and labor 
to be identical, and his management of the great man- 
ufactory placed in his charge was consonant with his 
theory. His services were invaluable to the corpora- 
tion, whose annual product increased during his 
administration from four million to iifteen million 
yards; but he never forgot the workman's rights or 
welfare while he successfully labored to secure for the 
stockholders their proper yearly harvest of profit. 
Once, in a period of great depression in businesss 
circles, his innate kindliness of heart prompted him 
to keep the mills running half-time for several weeks 
at a probable loss, to save the *age-earners from the 
privations that would inevitably have followed the 
entire stoppage of the works. He was ever thinking 
of his operatives' needs and planning for their eleva- 
tion. To this end he established evening schools and 



popular lectures, to which he contributed much per- 
sonal labor. 

His long experience as a teacher and his warm 
interest in the education of the young made him a 
valuable inember of the town's School Board, of which 
he was chairman thirteen years, a service exceeded 
in length only by that of John T. Dame, Esq. He 
was for many years president of the Savings Bank, of 
the Clinton Gas-light Company, and of the Bigelow 
Library Association. He was the first chief en- 
gineer of the Fire Department, director in the First 
National Bank, and his counsel was sought ou all 
questions of grave interot to the town. The esteem 
and respect in which he was universally held were 
never, perhaps, more conspicuously shown than when, 
in 1864, he was persuaded to allow himself to be a 
candidate for Representative of the Eighth Worcester 
District, then comprising the towns of Clinton and 
Lancaster. He received every vote cast, save one in 
Clinton. The Unitarian Society, which he was active 
in organizing, found in him a generous benefactor 
and an indefatigable Christian worker. His patriot- 
ism was not only fervent and inspiriting, but self- 
sacrificing. He was president of the Soldiers' Aid 
Society during the Rebellion, and the volunteers and 
their families knew no more loyal, no more tender- 
hearted and cheery friend and adviser than he. 

Mr. Forbes left two sons and three daughters, and 
his wife still survives him. 

December 2, 1879, Erastus Brigham Bigelow died 
at his residence on Commonwealth Avenue, Boston. 
His body was, in accordance with his expressed wish, 
brought for burial to the town which his genius had 
created, and was there received with public demon- 
strations of genuine respect and sorrow. 

Mt. Bigelow was phenomenal even among inventors 
for his power of analysis and mental concentration. 
Some of his inventions consist of very numerous ele- 
ments in harmonious conjunction, forming the most 
complex mechanism used in manufacture. But these 
were all complete mental conceptions, as the author 
of them himself assures us, fully fashioned and 
adjusted in his mathematical imagination before 
draughtsmen attempted to delineate, or workmen 
wi-ought a single cam or lever of them. Singularly 
enough, he was no mechanic, handled no tool well, 
made only rough pencil sketches, and entrusted to 
others the draughting of his ideas to working scale 
for the machinists. His extraordinary power was 
shown very early in life, for he was but fourteen years 
of age when his little machine for the making of 
piping-cord was perfected. During the fifty years of 
his subsequent career he was granted in the United 
States more than fifty patents, the larger number of 
them for improvements in textile machinery. 

He was a native of West Boylston, Massachusetts, 
born April 2, 1814. He was obliged to contribute to 
his own support when a mere boy by daily labor upon 
the farm, and at the age of thirteen years began work 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



in a cotton-mill. The fortunate earning of one hun- 
dred dollars by the sale of the piping-cord machine 
enabled hin\ to pay for a few terms' tuition at a neigh- 
boring academy. He earnestly desired a higher 
education, but means were wanting, and for a few 
years, apparently unconscious of his special talent, he 
wandered from one place and occupation to another 
with youthful instability — displaying, however, great 
energy not wholly wasted, inasmuch as varied exper- 
ience was a part of the preparation for his life's work. 
At sixteen years of age he is found a clerk in a 
Boston dry-goods store. Next he became a zealous 
student of stenography ; even published upon that 
subject his first book, and earned a little money by 
teaching the art, travelling with a partner through 
New England and the Middle States. For a time he 
then became overseer of a cotton factory at Wareham, 
and later he taught a writing-school and began the 
study of medicine. Suddenly he conceived the idea 
of weaving Marseille.-s quilts bj' power, and abandoned 
his intention of becoming a physician to build the 
counterpane loom, having induced a firm of Boston 
importers to undertake the cost of the experiment. 
The financial troubles of 1837 interfering with the 
expected support by the firm, he came to Lancaster 
with his brother; Horalio bringing to the partnership 
his moderate savings, Erastus contributing an auto- 
matic device for weaving coach-lace by power which 
the experts declared would not work, but which the 
brothers were confident would. 

Prosperity rewarded jiluck, and did not come with 
its usual coyness and at laggard pace ; fame followed 
closely after. Mr. Bigelow had at last evidently 
found his appointed place in the world's army of 
workers. He was henceforth to take rank among the 
creators and organizers of human industry ; a fellow- 
laborer for human progress with Watts, Arkwright 
and Eli Whitney. The Lowell Companies employed 
him at appropriate salary to act as their advising 
agent, to suggest special improvements in machinery 
and methods of manufacture. Invention after inven- 
tion speedily followed. The gingham, the various 
carpet, the wire and the brocatel looms successively 
won their victories and extended his reputation. The 
great English carpet manufacturers acknowledged 
themselves outdone by American ingenuity, and pur- 
chased the new machinery. 

It is noteworthy that Mr. Bigelow's aim, both as an 
inventor and a manufacturer, was ever towards 
greater perfection in the product. No prospective 
profit could induce him to cheapen manufacture by 
allowing the quality to fall below his ideal of excel- 
lence. His object was to produce by machinery a 
fabric every way better than that wrought by hand — 
the decreased cost of production inevitably following, 
and the consumers enjoying a double gain. He 
always perfected his ideas, resolutely laboring until 
the object sought was consummated, never abandon- 
ing the half-wrought for some promising afterthought. 



Mr. Bigelow first married Miss Susan W. King. 
She died in 1841, leaving an infant son, Charles, who 
survived his mother but six years. He found a 
second wife in Miss Eliza Means, of Amherst, N. H., 
by whom he had one daughter, Helen, now the wife 
of Rev. Daniel Merriman. His stay in Clinton was 
but brief, though he was a frequent visitor here. 
His regular residence for most of his life was in 
Boston, but he owned an estate of two hundred acres 
at North Conway, N. H., which he named Stonehurst, 
and there he spent the summers of his later years. 

The degree of Master of Arts was bestowed upon 
him in 1845 by Williams College; in 1852, by Yale; 
in 1854, by Dartmouth, and in 1861 by Harvard. 
Amherst conferred upon him, in 1867, the degree of 
Doctor of Laws. He was a member of the American 
Academy of Sciences, the Massachusetts Historical 
Society, and the London Society for the Encourage- 
ment of the Arts, Manufactures and Commerce. He 
was one of the founders of the Massachusetts Insti- 
tute of Technology. In politics he was generally a 
conservative, never an active partisan, and in later 
life proclaimed his independence of party. He was, 
in 1860, nominated by the Democracy of the Fourth 
District as their candidate for Representative to 
Congress, but his opponent, Alexander H. Rice, 
afterwards Governor of the State, secured the election 
by a small plurality. 

Mr. Bigelow's published writings mostly treat of 
political economy, and are characteristic of the man, 
exhibiting his analytical skill, and remarkable rather 
for precision of statement and lucidity than for 
rhetorical graces. He sent to the press in 1858, 
" Remarks on the Depressed Condition of Manufac- 
tures in Massachusetts, with Suggestions as to its 
Cause and Remedy ;" in 1862, a large quarto entitled, 
"The Tariff' Question Considered in Regard to the 
Policy of England and the Interest of the United 
States ;" in 1869, an address, " The Wool Industry of 
the United States;" in 1877, "The Tariff' Policy of 
England and the United States Contrasted ;" in 1878, 
"The Relations of Labor and Capital," an article in 
the Atlantic Monthly. 



CHAPTER XII. 

ChlNTOTSS^iCoa/inued). 

Schools — Churches — Newspapers — Water Supply — Statistics, Etc. 

When, in the latter days of the Revolution, it be- 
came necessary to resort to a draft to fill the quotas 
demanded for the Continental service, towns in Mas- 
sachusetts were usually divided into districts called 
squadrons, in such manner and number as were sug- 
gested by neighborhood convenience and the number 
of men to be raised. An exactly similar plan seems 



CLINTON. 



75 



to have obtained at the same time, if not earlier, for 
the distribution and use of school money. A law of 
178S made this custom as applied to sl-IiooIs general 
iu this Commonwealth, and at this date Lancaster 
was divided into thirteen squadrons. Two of these, 
known as Prescott's Mills and South Woods, were 
within the bounds of Clinton. Judging from the 
share of the town's appropriation received, they were 
among the smallest districts in population. In suc- 
ceeding years the limits of the squadrons and their 
number were frequently changed, but these two re- 
mained essentially unaltered until 1846, being gener- 
ally called Districts Ten and Eleven. 

Each squadron provided its own school accommo- 
dations, whether a special building, or, as was often 
the case, a room in a dwelling house, or an unused 
shop. The earliest school house known to have been 
built upon Clinton soil was that at Prescott's Mills, 
in 1800 — a cheap, frame structure located upon a slight 
elevati6n in the woodland on the southwest corner of 
the intersection of the Kigby Road (now Sterling 
Street) with the main highway. On each of three 
sides it was lighted by small windows, placed high 
above tlie floor and protected on the outside with 
board shutters. The room was about eighteen feet 
square and had a plank seat running around the three 
windowed sides, with long heavy writing-desks before 
it. To the front of the desks were attached board 
seats for the abecedarians. On the fourth side was a 
fire-place broad enough to take in cord-wood. The 
South Woods School-house, or Number Eleven, was 
similar in style, but less capacious, and situated en- 
tirely out of sight of any other building on the old 
county road east of the Nashua, about half-way be- 
tween Bolton corner and Bo}'lston line. 

With the incre.ise in population and wealth brought 
by the enterprise of Poignand & Plant, the pride of 
the " Factory District " — as Prescott's Mills began to 
be called — demanded larger and better school accom- 
modations, and in 182-1 a brick edifice was built upon 
Main Street, about fifty rods southerly from the old 
one, its cost, four hundred and twenty dollars, being 
assessed upon the property of the district. This was 
planned by James Pitts, Sr., and the scholars' seats 
all faced in one direction, being arranged in tiers 
gradually rising from front to rear. This building 
served in the cause of education for about twenty-five 
years. The first teacher in the old school-house was 
Miss Sally Sawyer, who was paid one dollar per 
week, and boarded with Captain John Prescott, who 
was paid five shillings per week by the district. In 
1808 there were twenty-seven scholars coming from 
twelve families. Those who sent children were ex- 
pected to contribute wood, cut fit for use, the amount 
being prescribed by the prudential committee and 
apportioned according to the number of scholars. There 
were never but two terms of schooling in the year — 
a summer and a winter session, each of seven to ten 
weeks. Titus Wilder, Silas and Charles Thurston, 



and Ezra Kendall were for many years the winter 
teachers of Number Ten, noted disciplinarians all, 
who sucessfuUy guided the youthful generations of 
their day along thorny path< of learning, according 
to the often-quoted Hudibrastic Version of Solomon's 
proverb. Titus Wilder, in 1808, received four dollars 
and fifty-eight cents per week for his instructions, 
and " boarded himself 

The whole population in both districts, during even 
the prosperous days of Poignand & Plant's mills, prob- 
ably did not reach two hundred and fifty souls, and the 
schools were small. Upon the opening of the new 
industries the old school-rooms were soon filled to 
overflowing, and a primary school for Number Ten 
was established in 1844. A so-called high school 
was started in Clinton ville by private enterprise 
during 1846, kept by Miss Adolphia Rugg. She was 
soon succeeded by George N. Bigelow, an excep- 
tionally successful instructor, who was called away 
to become principal of the State Normal School at 
Framingham, in 1855. There were in 1847 about 
two hundred and thirty children of school age in 
Clintonville, and the citizens, with commendable zeal, 
combined to establish graded schools, elected a pru- 
dential committee, a board of overseers and treasurer, 
and authorized the borrowing of thirty-five hundred 
dollars for the building of the needed school-houses. 
The South Woods District was abolished and the 
whole territory divided into four sections. New 
houses were erected at Lancaster Mills and Harris 
Hill, the central brick house was refurnished, and the 
northern section was provided with a suitable room 
by the enlargement of the primary school-house. 
The third grade, or grammar school, at first occupied 
the chapel of the Congregational Society at the corner 
of Main and Sterling Streets, and was generally known 
as the high-school. The establishment of a high 
school as distinct from the grammar school dates 
from 1874. 

Clinton has now eleven school buildings, all but 
two being substantial brick structures. Thirty-six 
teachers — all females but one — and a general super- 
intendent are employed, besides eight engaged in the 
evening schools. The various schools are thus graded : 
one high, ten grammar, twenty-two primary — all open 
ten months in the year. In 1888 twenty-seven 
thousand dollars were appropriated for their support, 
and the pupils attending them numbered fifteen hun- 
dred and ninety-four. The number of children be- 
tween five and fifteen years of age is now nineteen 
hundred and sixty. 

The first high school building, which also served 
for the centre grammar school, was built at the corner 
of Church and Walnut Streets in 1853. The present 
handsome structure at the corner of Chestnut and 
Union Streets, one of the most finely appointed in 
the Commonwealth, was completed in 1885, from plans 
of J. L. Faxon, at a cost of sixty thousand dollars. 
It is of brick and Long Meadow sandstone, and con- 



76 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



tains eight rooms above the basement. The princi. 
pals of the high school have been as follows : George 
N. Bigelow to 1853; C. W. Walker, one year ; Josiah 
S. Phillips to 1859 ; Henry S. Nourse, temporarily to 
fill out Mr. Phillips' term ; Rev. Frederick A. Fiske 
one year; Miss Elizabeth A. Owens, one year; Dana 
I. Joscelyn, one year; Rev. Milo C. Stebbins, 1862 
and 1863; Josiah H. Hunt, eight years; Andrew E. 
Ford, from 1873 to present time. Mr. Ford is a 
graduate of Amherst College, a member of the class 
of 1871. The superintendents have been : Samuel 
Arthur Bent, 1883-85 ; William W. Waterman, 
1886-89. 

There are now nine organized religious societies 
in Clinton, seven of which own capacious and 
comfortable meeting-houses. The residents pre- 
ceding the advent here of the Bigelow looms were 
a God-fearing and church-going people, most of 
whom regularly attended the Sabbath services in 
Lancaster, tsvo or three miles distant. When 
members justified it, the managers of the C'lin- 
tonville corporations and other leading citizens or- 
ganized neighborhood meetings, which were usually 
held in the brick school-house. November 14, 1844, 
a church of the Orthodox Congregational denomina- 
tion, called the Second Evangelical Church of Lan- 
caster, was formed, having lifty-one members, and 
occupied as their place of worship a chapel built 
upon or near the site of the first school-house at the 
corner of Main and Sterling Streets. The first pas- 
tor, Joseph M. R. Eaton, was engaged at a salary of 
five hundred and fifty dollars, and ordained January 
9, 1845. The society hired the bass viol used in the 
choir, but the performer upon the instrument was one 
of its moEt prominent members. In September, 1847, 
signs of a change in the fashion of church music ap- 
peared, by a vote of the parish that they " would be 
pleased to have the Seraphine played on trial." The 
society rapidly increased in numbers and prosperity, 
and January 1, 1847, dedicated a new bouse of wor- 
ship upon Walnut Street. This building, much en- 
larged in 1859 and again in 1871, it continues to 
occupy. Mr. Eaton was dismissed April 11, 1847. 
His successors have been as follows: William H. 
Corning, ordained December 8, 1847, dismissed 
October 2, 1851 ; William D. Hitchcock, ordained 
October 21,1851, dismissed July 16, 1853; Warren 
W. Winchester, ordained March 23, 1854, dismissed 
June 17, 1862 ; Benjamin Judkins, Jr., acting pas- 
tor, December 1, 1862, resigned December 1, 1867; 
DeWitt S. Clark, ordained November 11, 1868; dis- 
missed December 12, 1878 ; Charles Wetherbee, in- 
stalled April 30, 1879, dismissed July 31, 1884 ; Darius 
B. Scott, installed January 14, 1885. 

So early as March, 1816, several families of the 
Baptist faith formed themselves into a society and 
held meetings, sometimes in the South Woods School- 
house, sometimes at the house of Charles Chace, and 
engaged various preachers to visit them on stated 



Sabbaths. Elders Luther Goddard and Thomas Mar- 
shall were thus hired for some time. The leaders in 
the society were mostly residents of School Districts 
Ten and Eleven, and included Charles and Alanson 
Chace, John Burditt, the Lowe and Sargeant families. 
Deacon Levi Howard, Joel Dakin, Abel Wilder, Ben- 
jamin Holt, etc. In 1830, when the Hillside Church 
was established, many of these joined that society. 
The second church organized in Clintonville was 
called the First Baptist Society, and dates from 
April 24, 1847. For two years its meetings were held 
in the chapel on Main Street vacated by the Congre- 
gational Society. In 1849 it removed to the present 
house on Walnut Street, the capacity of which, how- 
ever, was greatly increased in 1868. The land upon 
which the meeting-house stands was a gift from Ho- 
ratio N. Bigelow. The first pastor of the church, 
Charles M. Bowers, D.D., resigned March 28, 1886, 
after thirty-nine years of faithful ministry. He was 
succeeded by Rev. Henry K. Pervear. 

A chapel for Roman Catholic worship was built 
upon Burditt Hill, on Main Street, in 1849, by Rev. 
John Boyce, occupied as a mission church, and called 
St. John's. Clintonville had then been for about four 
years a mission station, a priest from Worcester 
coming on one Sunday of each month to say Mass at 
the house of some parishioner. Rev. J. J. Connelly 
succeeded Father Boyce in 1862, residing in Clinton, 
and the next year the town became a parish, with 
Rev. J. Quin as pastor. He was followed in May, 
1868, by Rev. D. A. O'Keefe, who died in October of 
the same year. Rev. Richard J. I'atterson, the 
present pastor, was ordained a priest December 22, 
1866, and came to Clinton in November, 1868. The 
chapel on Pleasant Street was built by him in 1869. 
The corner-stone of the new Gothic church building 
at the corner of Union and School Streets was laid 
August 8, 1875. This is by far the largest and most 
costly of Clinton's houses of worship. It is solidly 
built of brick and cut Fitzwilliam granite, according 
to plans of P. W. Ford, of Boston, and can accom- 
modate a congregation of three thousand persons. It 
was formally dedicated June 27, 1886. 

The Methodist Episcopal Society was organized in 
October, 1851. Regular meetings had been attended 
previously by those attached to this faith, in Burdett's 
— then known as Attic Hall, and were continued in 
Concert Hall until the dedication of their present 
meeting-house on High Street, December 25, 1852. 
The basement of this edifice was added and finished 
as a vestry in 1856, and the whole building was reno- 
vated and improved in 1868. A parsonage which 
stood until this year upon the opposite side of the 
street was the gift of Daniel Goss, of Lancaster. In 
1887 the church building was again remodeled and 
enlarged. The pastors have been as follows: — Philip 
Toque, October, 1850 to March, 1851 ; George Bowler, 
one year; J. Willard Lewis, two years; Augustus F. 
Bailey, one year, 1854; Newell S. Spaulding, two 



CLINTON. 



77 



years; Daniel K. Merrill, eight months, 1857; Willard 
F. Mallalieu, four months; William J. Pomfret, two 
years; Thomas B. Treadwell, one year, 1860; Albert 
Gould, two years; John W. Coolidge, hired for a brief 
time; William G. Leonard, four months; E. F. Had- 
Ipy, fourteen months; Edwin S.Chase, one year, 1866; 
Frederick T. George, one year, 1867 ; Joseph W. Lewis, 
two years; William A. Braman, three years; A. C. 
Godfrey, one year, 1873; Volney M.Simons, three 
years; Watson M. Ayers, three years; Chas. H. Hana- 
ford, two years, 1880-81; Albert Gould, three years; 
John H. Short, three years; M. Emory Wright, 1888. 

The First Unitarian Church was organized June 
12, 1852, though services had been regularly held in 
Burdett and Clinton Halls, by its members, during the 
two previous years. The meeting-house upou Church 
St. was dedicated Feb. 2, 1853. Twenty years later it 
was raised, greatly enlarged, and the basement fitted up 
for use as a vestry and church parlor. A bequest received 
from the estate of Colonel G. M. Palmer has enabled 
the parish to build a spacious and comfortable parson- 
age upon a valuable lot on the corner of Walnut and 
Water Streets. The pastors have been as follows: — 
Leonard J. Livermore, began preaching April, 1851, 
resigned September, 1S57; Jared M. Heard, ordained 
August 25, 1858, resigned in 1863; James Salloway, 
installed November 9, 1864, dismissed Decembel-, 
1868; Ivory F. Waterhouse, began preaching January 
3,1869, resigned May 25, 1873; William S. Burton, 
began preaching October 5, 1873, resigned December, 
1875; Charles Noyes, began preaching May 7, 1876, 
resigned August 13, 1882; J. Frederick Dutton, in- 
stalled June 6, 1883, resigned November 24, 1885; 
James Cameron Duncan, ordained June 17, 1886. 

The Church of the Good Shepherd (Episcopal) was 
established as a mission in 1874. Regular services be- 
gan April 12th of that year, in Bigelo .v Hall. On the 
last Sunday of June, Rev. L. Gorham Stevens assumed 
charge of the mission, and remained until the follow- 
ing April. After a brief interval he w.is succeeded by 
Rev. John W^. Birchmore, who, however, never be- 
came a resident of Clinton, but was in charge of the 
mission until April 28, 1878. October 28, 1876, the 
foundations of a chapel were laid on TJnion Street 
and the building was consecrated on the 17th of the 
following April. Rev. Henry L. Foote was settled as 
rector in August, 1878, and a parish organization was 
effected April 14, 1879. In July, 1881, Mr. Foote was 
called to the parish of Holyoke and Rev. E. T. Hamel, 
an Englishman, became rector in September, 1881. 
He was followed by Rev. George F. Pratt, in May, 
1884, who resigned aud was succeeded by Rev. Thomas 
L. Fisher, April 1, 1888. 

The Second Advent Society meet in Courant Hall, 
The organization dates from 1871, but no minister has 
been settled. Isaac Barnes is the elder. 

The Spiritualists hold meetings in Currier's Hall, 
having no settled pastor. Their organization dates 
from 1882. 



The German Church, Rev. F. C. F. Sherff, pastor, 
has recently built a neat Gothic meeting-house at the 
corner of Haskell and Birch Streets. Services in the 
German language had been held for about a year pre- 
vious to its dedication. May 20, 1888, in the vestry of 
the Congregational Society. 

The post-office, in its present spacious and conven- 
ient quarters, occupies nearly the same site as when 
established in 1846, by H. N. Bigelow, the first post- 
master. The second postmaster, John T. Dame, Esq., 
served from September 7, 1853, to April 6, 1861, when 
he was relieved by Deputy Sheriff Enoch K. Gibbs, 
who held the office until August 1, 1870. His suc- 
cessor, Charles M. Dinsmore, clo.sed his service Janu- 
ary 3, 1887, when John McQuaid, the present post- 
master, received his commission. From the date of 
the removal of the office from Kendall's Block, in 
1853, to its return to High Street upon the completion 
of the Bank Block, April 9, 1882, it occuj.ied the west- 
ern end of the Bigelow Library Association building, 
on Uuion Street. 

Under the law of 1858, creating trial justices, John 
T. Dame, Esq., was commissioned and held office until 
1864. Daniel H. Bemis, Esq., succeeded to the office, 
and was superseded by Christopher C. Stone in 1871. 
The Second District Court of Eastern Worcester was 
established in July, 1874. It took the place of the 
trial justice, and includes in its jurisdiction the towns 
of Berlin, Bolton, Harvard, Clinton, Lancaster and 
Sterling, its sessions being all held at Clinton. Hon. 
Charles G. Sievens was appointed the first standing 
justice, Major C. C. Stone, special justice, and Frank 
E. Howard, clerk of the court. September 7, 1880, 
Major Stone was confirmed as justice in place of Mr. 
Stevens, who declined further service, and Jonathan 
Smith, Esq., was commissioned special justice on 
September 14th. In January, 1886, Mr. Smith re- 
signed, and Herbert Parker, Esq., was appointed to 
succeed him January 27, 1886. 

The Saturday Courant's early history has been told 
in u former page. With its restricted local circula- 
tion becoming unremunerative when the war prices of 
paper and labor were encountered, it was discontinued 
with the number for December 13, 1862. In July, 
1851, Mr. Messenger had withdrawn from both 
editorship and partnership, to be succeeded by Edwin 
Bynner, who with genial versatility figured at the 
same time as editor, painter, poet, town-wit, auc- 
tioneer and station-master. November 1, 1853, the 
publishing office was moved acro-s High Street to 
rooms under the Clinton Hou.-e hall, where it re- 
mained fur fifteen years. Mr. Bynner abandoned the 
enterprise July 1, 1854, finding it not sufficiently prof- 
itable, and was replaced temporarily by John P. 
Davis. January 1, 1855, Rev. Leonard J. Livermore 
was given editorial charge of the paper, which he re- 
tained until September 5, 1857, when he removed to 
Lexington. Rev. Charles M. Bowers then acted as 
editor for twenty months, but did not permit his 



78 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



name to appear as such. Thenceforward for about 
three years the paper was nominally under the direc- 
tion of "an association of gentlemen." March 22, 
1862, Horatio E. Turner essayed the task of editing 
it, but at the end of four months enlisted in the 
Thirty-fourth Infantry, to give his life for country. 
Wellington E. Parkhurst performed the editorial 
duties from August 16, 1862, to the farewell number. 

Upon the muster-out of the Union forces. Lieuten- 
ant William J. Coulter, a skilled printer, who had 
been employed upon the Salurdny Courani, r&solved 
to resume its publication. Mr. Parkhurst was chosen 
as editor, and September 30, 186.5, the first number 
of the Clinton Courant appeared from the old office. 
The venture proved promising enough to warrant en- 
largement of the paper in 1866, 1867 and 1870. In 
January, 1869, the office of publication was removed 
to Tyler's Block, then just completed, and October 10, 
1872, to its present location on Cliurch Street, Its 
managemeot remains unchanged. The Courant ha? 
maintained from the outset an independent position 
in politics and religious matter.^, but is not weakly 
neutral, nor reticent in expression of opinion upon 
any topic of public interest. It is now twice the size 
of the original sheet of 1816, has a wide circulation 
for a paper of its class and is growing in deserved 
popularity. A smaller sheet was imblished as an ex- 
periment, on Tuesdays from September, 1880, for one 
year, in connection with the Saturday issue, and 
called the Clinton Advance. The unique file of the 
Courant preserved in the Bigelow Public Library is 
an invaluable record of Clinton's progress. 

The Courant has had an active competitor for public 
favor during the last ten years. The Clinton Recurd 
was first published by John W. Eilam September 1, 
1877. Its editors were E. A. Norris and E. M. Le 
Poer. This newspaper was bought by Trowbridge & 
French, and its name changed to the Clinton Times, 
November 13, 1882. Mr. Trowbridge soon sold his 
interest to his associate, George French, who, in April, 
1884, disposed of the paper to George W. Reynolds, 
from Melrose. During 1883 the Times also appeared 
in semi-weekly form. It was Republican in politics 
and advocated prohibition. It was published Wed- 
nesday afternoons irom a printing-office in Greeley's 
block. Its publication ceased March 24, 1887. Mean- 
while a third candidate for the people's favor had 
appeared. 

The Clinton Enlerj^rise, published bj'Wood Brothers 
in Greeley's block dates from Friday,. May 14, 1886. 
M. E. C. Hankes was its firat local editor and man- 
ager. 

For the first thirty years after its incorporation the 
town's people were wholly dependent upon wells and 
rain-cisterns for water required for domestic purposes. 
The larger manufacturing companies, by means of 
their steam pumps, supplemented by reservoirs upon 
high ground, protected their works from fire and sup- 
plied their tenants. The question of the introduction 



of water for general use was often agitated, but it was 
not until November 22, 1875, that definite action 
favoring such introduction was taken by a town- 
mee.ing. On that date the report of a special water- 
supply committee, of which Hon. Daniel B. Ingalls 
was chairman, was adopted, and the committee in- 
structed to obtain the necessary legislation for the 
furtherance of their recommendations. April 4, 1876, 
an act was approved authorizing Clinton to take the 
waters of Sandy Pond, or any other pond or brook 
within the town limits, for domestic and fire purposes, 
and to borrow the sum of one hundred and twenty- 
five thousand dollars for the construction of works. 
During the subsequent five years, however, nothing 
resulted save surveys, estimates and warm discussion. 
Upon petition the Legislature revived and extended 
the act February 4, 1881, for three years. During 
that year a reservoir, with a capacity of two million 
gallons, was constructed upon the summit of Burditt 
Hill, and the main pipes were laid connecting it with 
the principal streets. 

The water of Sandy Pond is of great depth and 
purity, covering an area of about fifty acres, and so 
situated as easily to be guarded from external con- 
tamination. The supply from it can be cheaply 
increased by bringing to it the flow of Mine Swamp 
Brook; but its elevation is insufficient to obviate the 
necessity of a costly pumping-station. Explorations 
were, therefore, extended into the adjoining towns, 
in the hope of obtaining a re-ervoir at sufficient 
height to supply the town by a gravity system. In- 
vestigation of the sources of Wickapeket Brook, 
begun by Jonas E. Howe of the committee, disclosed 
such unusually favorable conditions that the scheme 
for using the waters within the town bounds was aban- 
doned, and a petition met the Legislature of 1882 
asking authority to take water from (Sterling. An act 
gave the desired privilege, and also authorized the 
issuing of additional water-bonds to the amount of 
one hundred thousand dollars. This legislation was 
accepted by the required two-thirds vote of a town- 
meeting March, 1882, and by January 1, 1883, the 
main works were completed. 

The cast-iron main is sixteen inches in diameter, 
and about five and three-fourths miles in length. The 
water is of unsurpassed purity, abundant for all prob- 
able needs, and reaches the hydrants in High Street 
with a pressure of about eighty pounds to the square 
inch, having a head of over one hundred feet. At 
the mills the hydrant pressure is one hundred and 
ten pimnds. During 1883 Lynde Brook and Pond 
were taken into the reservoir system. The first basin 
had a capacity of three million gallons; Lynde reser- 
voir has a capacity of ten million gallons. An act, 
approved March 27, 1884, and accepted by a town vote, 
permits the additional sum of fifty thousand dollars 
in water bonds to be issued, and authorizes the sell- 
ing of water to the inhabitants of Lancaster along its 
main line, and to the Lancaster Water Company, 



CLINTON. 



79 



provided the needs of the inhabitants of Clinton are 
first supplied. The water bonds authorized have not 
all been issued. They yield four per cent, interest, pay- 
able April and October 1st, and run for twenty years. 
Work has recently begun upon an additional reser- 
voir of thirty million gallons capacity. 

In connection with the subject of water supply, 
that of public sewage was given to the consideration 
of the committee of 1875, and a report was made to 
the town March 5, 1877, advising that no action be 
taken at that time looking to any plan for a general 
system of drainage. The little reservoir of the Clin- 
ton Yarn Company, known as Counterpane Pond, had 
already become seriously polluted by the foul matter 
constantly poured into it from the carpet-mills and 
various other sources, and, being in the heart of the 
town, was a fruitful cause of complaint, especially 
from those dwelling in its immediate vicinity. A plan 
for a system of sewers was obtained from the noted 
engineer, Phineas Ball, in 1883, and a petition for 
authority to construct a sewerage system was pre- 
sented to the Legislature of 1886. The petitioners, 
however, preferred to be given leave to withdraw 
rather than accept any bill prohibiting the discharge 
of unfiltered sewage into the Nashua River, a restric- 
tion which was demanded by the inhabitants of 
towns upon that stream below Clinton. The subject 
continues to be persistently debated, but the multi- 
plicity and importitnee of the interests involved, and 
the cost of an efiicient and comprehensive system, 
have, thus far, prevented the adoption of any but a 
luake-shift policy. Pipes for house drainage are now 
being laid through the main streets. 

The period of the town's life, thirty-eight years, has 
been one of almost uninterrupted prosperity, exempt 
from those episodes of great depression and financial 
disaster which frequently visit similar manufacturing 
towns. This is, doubtless, in part due to the high grade 
and great variety of the products of its mills and work- 
shops, but greatly also to the friendly relations which 
have been sustained between labor and cajtital. It 
speaks much for the intelligence of its working citi- 
zens as well as for the liberal spirit of those who have 
managed the capital here invested, that the harmony 
which should exist between the employer and the 
employed has never been very seriously nor generally 
disturbed. 

In the hard times of 1857 the larger manufactories, 
for several weeks, were run on half-time or less, and, 
but for the sympathy of the managers with theworkers, 
would have been closed. The tact, energy and unsel- 
fishness of Franklin Forbes were brought promi- 
nently into view during the trials of this critical 
period. The shares of the older companies gradually 
fell in the stock market to half their par value. The 
stock then, as now, was largely in the ownership of 
non-residents, a fact preventing any strong personal 
bond of sympathy between the wage-payer and the 
wage-earner. But the managers, though firm in the 



control of their great trusts, were tender of heart and 
heedful of the needs of the toilers for daily bread. 
The commercial stress, though long continued, there- 
fore created little hitler antagonism. New inventions, 
and improvements of the old, were brought forward 
by E. B. Bigelow, cheapening manufacture, and when 
the clouds of civil war began to lift, a new era of 
prosperity dawned, surpassing that of earlier days. 

In 1879 a reduction of wages was found necessary 
at the Lancaster Mills to compensate for a great de- 
preciation in the market for ginghams, and was 
accepted without unusual demonstrations of dissatis- 
faction. In March, 1880, the old rates were volun- 
tarily restored, when the manager was met by a demand 
from some of the weavers for an additional and large 
increase. This was firmly refused, as the petitioners 
were already receiving larger daily wages than given 
at other mills in New England for the same or similar 
labor. A portion of the weavers struck work, and for 
several days the community was excited by fears of 
trouble and loss. The cause of the disaffected, how- 
ever, signally failed to win public sympathy, and, after 
about a month of idleness, the deserted looms were 
all manned again. 

A similar difficulty arose in April, 1886, at the 
carpet-mills, when seventy-seven dyers, being re- 
fused demands deemed unreasonable, resolved to 
leave their work. Upon the attempt to fill the 
places vacated with workmen procured elsewhere, 
threats and abuse were used to intimidate the new- 
comers, and riotous demonstrations were made in the 
vicinity of the mills by certain sympathizers with 
the strikers. The manager at once closed the works, 
announcing that they would remain closed until the 
company's property and employes were safe from 
mob violence and insult. A strong special police 
force was organized, a few arrests were made, order 
was at once restored and in a few days the machinery 
was again set in motion. 

These two short-lived disturbances, participated in 
by comparatively few, and those for the most part 
the least responsible, are all that blot the industrial 
annals of the town. 

Associations for benevolent, charitable and social 
purposes, as well as mutual benefit societies, are 
exceedingly numerous in Clinton. Besides many 
more or less closely connected with the several 
churches, the following distinct organizations exist: 

Masons — occupying Masonic Hall, in National 
Bank Block: Trinity Lodge, organized 1859, and 
Clinton Royal Arch Chapter, organized 1869. 

Odd-Fellows — having a hall in Greeley's Block : 
Lancaster Lodge, No. 89, organized 1846; Clinton 
Encampment, No. 29, organized 1883; Germania 
Lodge, No. 42, Daughters of Rebecca, instituted 
October 31, 1884. 

Gkajid Army of the Republic — occupying 
G. A. R. hall in National Bank Block: E. D. 
Baker Post, No. 64, organized August 17, 1868; 



80 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



Ladies' G. A. R. Relief Society, organized 1883 ; 
Camp A. L. Fuller, Sons of Veterans, mustered in 
November 7, 1887. 

Temperance Societies. — Good Templars— Ever- 
ett Lodge, No. 31, and Good Samaritan Lodge, No. 
81 ; Clinton Temperance Associates; Women's Chris- 
tian Temperance Union ; Young Women's Cliristian 
Temperance Union ; St. John's Total Abstinence 
and Mutual Aid Society. 

Improved Order of Red Men. — Wattoquottoe 
Tribe, No. 33; Juanita Council, No. 7, Daughters of 
Pocahontas. 

United Order of the Golden Cross. — Wachu- 
sett Commandery, No. 66. 

Knights of Honor. — Clinton Lodge, No. 193. 

Ancient Order of United Workmen. — Clin- 
ton Lodge, No. 29. 

Royal Arcanum. — Wekepeke Council, No. 742. 

United Order of the Pilgrim Fathers. — 
Nashawog Colony, No. 75. 

Royal Society of Good-Fellows. — Sholan 
Assembly, No. 166. 

German Order of Harugari. — Lichtenstein 
Lodge, No. 129. . 

Turnvep.ein Society, organized 1867. 

Schiller Verein, organized 1868. 

Sons of St. George. — Ro.se Lodge, No. 40. 

St. Andrew's Society, organized 1879. 

Ancient Order of Hibernians. — Division No. 
8, organized 1872. 

Vermont Association. 

Massachusetts Catholic Order of Fores- 
ters. — Clinton Court, No. 56. 

Fireman's Relief Association, incorporated 
1875. 

Twenty Associates. 

Twenty-five Associates. 

Full Score Association. 

Clinton Sportsmen's Club. 

Prescott Club, incorpated April 20, 1886. 

Clinton Board of Trade, organized February 
15, 1884. 

Clinton Rifles, Company K. Sixth Regiment 
Massachusetts Volunteer Militia. 

Clinton Bicycle Club. 

The growth of Clinton has been very uniform. 
Its population, by the official enumerations, has been 
as follows: 1850,3113; 1855,3636; 1860,3859; 
1865,4021; 1870,5429; 1875,6781; 1880, 8029; 1885, 
8945 ; 1888, 10,037. 

Numerous nationalities are here represented. The 
Germans have a neat village by themselves, known 
as Germantovvn, with a house of worship and a capa- 
cious Turnverein Hall. The Irish are in the majority 
in three or four localities — notably the "Acre," 
"Duck Harbor" and "California." By the last 
census, the native-born numbered 5547, and the 
foreign-born, 339S, altliough three-fourths of the 
population are registered as of foreign parentage. 



Of those born aliens, 2097 came from Ireland; 465 
from Germany ; 295 from Scotland ; 257 from Eng- 
land ; 24S from various British provinces in America ; 
9 from France ; 8 from Austria ; 4 from Italy, and 1 
from China. 

The valuation of the town has increased at more 
rapid rate than the population: 1850,11,262,813; 
1855, $1,607,991; 1860, $1,690,092; 1865, $1,860,763; 
1870, $2,952,568; 1875, $4,340,919 ; 1880, $4,444,937 ; 
1885, $5,143,726 ; 1888, $5,531,811. 

The total indebtedness of the town in the same 
years was: 1850, $13,600; 1865, $14,500; 1860, 
$14,500; 1865, $34,190; 1870, $40,262; 1875, $132,- 
000 ; 1880, 199,500 ; 1885, $337,000 ; 1888, $342,500. 

Of the one hundred and twenty-five thousand dol- 
lars in six per cent, bonds issued at the building of 
the town hall in 1872, twenty-seven thousand five 
hundred dollars remain unpaid, six thousand five 
hundred dollars of the amount having been annually 
called in. The school-house four per cent, loan, 
which was fifty-four thousand dollars in 1886, has 
been decreased six thousand dollars annually. Of 
the four per cent, water bonds, two hundred and 
fifty-three thousand dollars are outstanding, and nine 
thousand dollars in amount have been bought for the 
sinking fund. Most of the principal is due in 1901 
and 1906. 

The amount annually raised by tax.ation has grown 
from $9059 in 1850, when the tax rate was seven 
dollars to the thousand, to $104,598 in 1888, the rate 
being eighteen in a thousand. 

The votes of the town for Presidential candidates 
have been ; 

Ulysfles S. Graut, 524. 
Horace Greeley, 298. 
Rutlierfcirii B. Hayes, 676. 
Samuel J. Tildeli, 482. 
James A. Garfield, 082. 
WilifleW Scott Hancock,613. 
James B. Weaver, 1. 
Neat Dow, 7. 
Grover Cleveland, f>83. 
James G. Blaino, 630. 
Benjamin Butler, 42. 
Jobu P. St. John, 16. 



1852. 



1856. 



1860. 



1864. 



1872. 



1876. 



1880. 



1884. 



WiDfield Scott, 20O. 
Franklin Pierce, 100. 
John P. Hale, 82. 
John C. Fremont, 353. 
James Buchanan, 54. 
Millard Fillmore, 3. 
Abraham Lincoln, 346. 
Stephen A. Douglas, 71. 
John Bell, 11. 
John C. Breckenridge, 7. 
Abraham Lincoln, 334. 
George B. McClellan, 84. 
1808. Ulysses S. Grant, 443. 
Horatio Seymour, 1117. 

The following citizens have served the town as Rep- 
resentatives in the Legislature: Horatio Nelson 
Bigelow, 1851-52; Andrew Lowell Fuller, 1854; 
James Ingalls, 1855; Horace Faulkner, 1856-58; 
Jonas Elijah Howe, 1860, 1870, 1872, 1887 ; Rev. 
JaredMann Heard, 1862; Franklin Forbes, 1864; 
Rev. Charles Manning Bowers, 186.5-66 ; Charles 
Whiting Worcester, 1868; Elisha Brimhall, 1871; 
Lucius Field, 1878, 1882 ; Daniel Bowman Ingalls, 
1880; Edward Godfrey Stevens, 1881; Alfred Augus- 
tine Burditt, 1884; Jonathan Smith, 1886; Frank 
Edward Holm m, 1888-89. Charles Godfrey Stevens, 
Esq., was delegate in the State Convention of 1863. 

The following have served as State Senators: 
Charles Godfrey Stevens, 1862; Henry Clay Greeley, 



CLINTON. 



81 



1870 and 71 ; Elisha Brimhall, 1876 and '77; Daniel 
Bowman Ingalls, 1881 and '82. 

Henry Clay Greeley was a member of the Execu- 
tive Council in 1885 and '86. 

The clerks of the town have been : Albert .S. 
Carleton, 1850-52; C. S. Patten, 1853 ; Artemas E. 
Rigelow, 1854-59; Henry C. Greeley, 1860-6!l; Wel- 
lington B. Parkhurst, 1870-72; Lucius Field, 1873- 
77; Wellington E. Parkhunst, 1878-80; Martin J. 
Costello, 1881-84; John F. Philbin, 1885-. 

Treasurers in order of service : Sidney Harris, one 
year; All'red Knight, four years; Sidney Harris, one 
year; Alfred Knight, ten years; Elisha Hriinhull, 
five years; Edwin N. Rice, four years; Wellington 
E. Parkhurst, one year; Alfred A. Burditt, one year; 
Henry O. Sawyer, one year; G. Walton Goss, ten 
years. 

The following have served as selectiuen : Ezra 
Sawyer, Samuel Belyca, Edmund Harris, tiilman M. 
Palmer, Calvin Stanley, Nelson Whitcomb, Alanson 
Chace, Jonas K. Howe, Abel Rice, J. Alexander, 
Horace Faulkner, David Wallace, Joshua Thissell, 
B. R. Smith, Jamea F. Maynard, Gilbert Greene, 
Charles W. Worcester. P. L. Morgan, Elisha Brim- 
hall, Alfred A. Burditt, George S. Harris, Charles 
Bowman, Otis B. Bates, Charles L. Swan, Dr. (icorge 
W. Symonds, Charles H. Chace, Henry C. Greeley, 
Albert H. Smith, T. A. McQuaid, William Haskell, 
A. C. Dakin, George F. Howard, Christopher C. 
Stone, Eben S. Fuller, C. C. Murdoch, Samuel W. 
Tyler, Ale.xander Johnston, John Sheehan, Eli 
Forbes, Sidney T. Howard, J. C. Parsons, C. C. Cook, 
George W. Morse, Anton Wiesinan, Henry N. Otter- 
son, P. J. Quinn, Herman Dietzman, Charles A. 
Vickery, William H. Nugent. 

The following served upon the School Committee: 
Rev. William H. Corning, Rev. Charles M. Bowers, 
Dr. (leorge M. Morse, Dr. George \V. Burdett, C. W. 
Blanchard, Charles L.Swan, W. W. Parker, Augustus 
J. Sawyer, Franklin Forbes, for thirteen years; John 
T. Dame, Esq., for sixteen years ; Horatio N. Bigelow, 
Alberts. Carleton, Rev. William D.Hitchcock, Rev. 
George Bowler, James Ingalls, Dr. Preston Cham- 
berlain, Rev. Leonard J. Livermore, Rev. T. Willard 
Lewis, Artemas E. Bigelow, Charles (!. Stevens, Esq., 
Josiah H. Vose, Henry C. Greeley, Daniel W. Kil- 
burn, Eneas Morgan, Dr. George W. Symonds, 
Joshua Thissell, Charles F. W. Parkhurst, William 
Cushing, Rev. James Salloway, George W. Weeks, 
Alfred A. Burditt, Wellington E. Parkhurst, for 
twelve years; M. H. Williams, Daniel H. Bemis, 
Harrison Leland, Henry N. Bigelow, Daniel B. In- 
galls, Edward G. Stevens, Samuel McQuaid, John 
W. Corcoran, Esq., Rev. Charles Noyes, Dr. Philip 
T. O'Brien, Frank E. Holman. 

The following have been jiracticing physicians in 
Clinton : George W. Symonds, M.D., 1841, Dart- 
mouth, M.M.S.S., died 1873; George W. Burdett, 
M.D., 1846, Harvard, M.M.S.S. ; George M. Morse, 
6 



M.D., 1843, Harvard, M.M.S.S.; Charles D. Dowse, 

; A.W.Dillingham, ; Pierson T. Kendall, 

M.D., 1816, Harvard, M.M.S.S., died 1865; Adoni- 
ram J. Greeley, M.D., 1845, Harvard; Charles A. 
Brooks, M.D., 1851), Hom(eoi)athic Medical College, 

Philadelphia; Oscar T. Woolhizer, ; George A. 

Jordan, M.D., 1872, Harvard, M.M.S.S.; L. W. Taft, 

; Philip T. O'Brien, M.'D., 1872, Albany; Perley 

P. Comey M.D., 1878, Harvard, M.M.S.S. ; Walter 
P. Bowers, M.D., 1879, Harvard, M.M.S.S. ; Charles 
L. French, M.D., 1869. New York, College of Physi- 
cians and Surgeons, M.M.S.S. ; C. R. Bradford, ; 

Thomas F. Roche, M.D., 1882, Bellevue, M.M.S.S. ; 
Thomas H. O'Connor, JI.D., 1883, Bellevue ; O. A. 

Everett, ; Edward S. Everett, ; George C. 

Ward, M.D., 1882, Hahnemann College, Chicago; 
Albert C. Reed, M.D., 1887, Boston University. 

The following attorneys have had ottices in Clin- 
ton : Charles G. Stevens, A.B., Dartmouth, 1840 ; 
John T. Dame, A.B., Dartmouth, 1840 ; Lsaac Bald- 
win ; Daniel H. Bemis ; William B. Orcutt ; John 
W. Corcoran, LL.B., Boston University, 1875; Jona- 
than Smith, A.B., Dartmouth, 1871 ; John F. Brown ; 
Charles (}. Delano; Herbert Parker; Walter R. 
Dame, A.B., Harvard, 1883 ; John G. Crawford ; 
Thomas F. Larkin. 

The following, born upon Clinton soil or residents 
of the town when graduated, have received degrees 
at collegiate institutions : 

George Ide ("hace, born in Lancaster, February 19, 
1808, son of Charles and Ruth Chace; graduate at 
Brown University, 1830; tutor of mathematics, 1831; 
l)rofessor of chemistry, 1834; of physiology, geol- 
ogy, etc., 1836 ; LL.D., 1853 ; president ad interim, 
1867; professor of moral philosophy, 1868; died at 
Providence, R. I., April 29, 1885. 

George Harris, A. B., 1837, Brown ; ason of Emory; 
died 1838, aged twenty-three years. 

Frederic Warren Harris, A. B., 1845, Harvard; a 
brother of the preceding ; died 1863. 

George W. Burdett, M.D., 1846, Harvard, M.M.S.S. 

Alfred Plant, A.B., 1847, Yale ; a son of Samuel ; 
now a wealthy merchant of St. Louis, Mo. 

Charles A. Bowers, A.B., 1864, Harvard; died 1865. 

Charles H. Parkhurst, A.B., 1866, Amherst ; D.D., 
1880 ; pastor of Madison Square Presbyterian Church, 
New York City. 

Eli Forbes, S.B., 1868, Massachusetts Institute of 
Technology. 

Charles S. Gowen, S.B., 1869, Massachusetts Insti- 
tute of Technology. 

Edward G. Stevens, 1870, West Point Military 
Academy. 

Arthur F. Bowers, A.B., 1871, Brown University. 

Howard E. Parkhurst, A.B., 1873, Amherst. 

Charles L. Swan, Jr., A.B., 1874, Y\ale. 

John W. Corcoran, LL.B., 1875, Boston University. 

Michael Kittridge, A.B., 1875, Holy Cross, Worces- 
ter, clergyman. 



82 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER. COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



Peter T. Moran, A.B., 1877, Holy Cross; M.D., 
1883, Bellevue. 

Clarence H. Bowers, D.D.S., 1878, Boston Dental 
College. 

Walter P. Bowers, M.D., 1879, Harvard, M.M.S.S. 

Thomas J. Kelly, A.B., 1880, Holy Cross, Worces- 
ter. 

James F. Maher, A.B.,' 1880, Holy Cross, Worces- 
ter, clergyman. 

Elmer S. Hosmer, A.B., 1882, Brown University. 

Thomas F. Roche, M.D., 1882, Bellevue, M.M.S.S. 

Thomas H. O'Connor, M.D., 1883, Bellevue. 

Walter R. Dame, A.B., 1883, Harvard; LL.B., 
1886, Boston University. 

James H. Grant, M.D., 1883, Bellevue. 

John M. Kenney, A.B., 1884, Holy Cross, Worces- 
ter, clergyman. 

Michael J. Coyne, A.B., 1884, Ottowa, clergyman. 

John H. Finnerty, M.D., 1884, Bellevue. 

John J. Leonard, A.B., 1884, St. Michael's, To- 
ronto, clergyman. 

Thomas H. MacLaughlin, A.B., 1884, Boston Col- 
lege. 

Henry K. Swinscoe, A. B., 1885, Harvard. 

Henry A. McGown, A.B., 1886, Amherst. 

Charles L. Stevens, A.B., 1886, Amherst. 

Martin Moran, M.D., 1887, Bellevue. 

J. Frederic McNabb, S.B., 1887, Worcester Insii- 
tute of Technology. 

Patrick J. O'Malley, A.B., 1888, Ottawa. 

Henry Forbes Bigelow, S.B., 1888, Massachusetts 
Institute of Technology. 



CHAPTER XIII. 

CIJNTON— ( Continued. ) 
MASONIC HISTORY.' 

Trinity Lodce.— The charter of Trinity Lodge 
was dated January 30, 1778. It was issued by the 
Massachusetts Grand Lodge, of which Joseph Warren 
was appointed the first (Jrand Master. Trinitv 
Lodge's charter was signed by Joseph Webb, Grand 
Miuster; Moses Deshon, Deputy Grand Master; Sam- 
uel Barrett, Senior Grand Warden; Paul Revere, 
Junior Grand Warden. It was addressed to Michael 
Newhall, Edmund Heard, James Wilder, Jonas Pres- 
cott and Richard P. Bridge. No previous dispensa- 
tion had been granted these Masons to erect a lodge 
and initiate candidates ; but, as was often the case at 
that period, the charter was issued, in the first in- 
stance, upon application of the brethren. All the 
charter members were residents of within what are 
now the limits of Lancaster, except James Wilder, 

* By Jonathan Smith. 



whose home was in the Squareshire District in Ster- 
ling. Newhall came from Bolton, and Heard from 
Worcester ; but neither had lived in Lancaster very 
long, nor did either of them die there. Newhall went 
to Leominster some time after 1800, and Heard re- 
moved to Lower Canada about 1793. Their places of 
death are unknown. Jonas Prescott was a descendant 
of John Prescott, one of the first settlers of the town. 
He always lived in Lancaster and died there. Of 
Richard P. Bridge very little is known. If a resident 
of Lancaster at all, he lived there but a short time 
and his name does not appear in the records after 
December, 1783. It is not known where any of the 
charter members received their Masonic degrees, 
though it was most probably in Boston, as at that 
time (1778) there was no lodge existing nearer than 
Boston and Newbury port. 

Trinity Lodge was numbered six, but was the fifth 
in order chartered by the Massachusetts Grand 
Lodge. The Lodge of St. Andrew, of Boston, was 
number one, and was chartered November 30, 1756, 
though it had done some IMasonic work for two years 
or more, receiving its charter from Sholto Charles 
Douglass, Lord Arbedour, Grand Master of Masons 
in Scotland. By the concerted action of St. Andrew's 
and three traveling lodges, which were holden in the 
British army, then stationed in Boston, a commission 
was obtained from George, Earl of Dalhouse, Grand 
Master of Masons in Scotland, apjiointing Joseph 
Warren Grand Master of Masons in Boston and 
within one hundred miles of the same, upon the 
receipt of which the brethren of the above-named 
lodges proceeded to organize the Massachusetts 
Grand Lodge. The first charter issued by this Grand 
body was to Tyrian Ijodge, of Gloucester, March 2, 
1770. Then followed Massachusetts Lodge, of Bos- 
ton, May 13, 1770; St. Peter's Lodge, Newburyport, 
March 6, 1777; Berkshire Lodge, Stockbridge, March 
8, 1777 ; and Trinity Lodge, January 30, 1778. There 
were other Masonic Lodges in the >State, at the time 
Trinity was organized, which received their cbarlcrs 
from the St. John's Grand Lodge of Boston, a body 
chartered by Anthony, Lord Viscount Montague, 
Grand Master of Masons in England, in 1733. St. 
John's Grand Lodge issued charters for lodges in Bos- 
ton, Nova Scotia, Philadelphia, Rhode Island and 
other States, and claimed jurisdiction over all the 
Masons in America, while the Massachusetts Grand 
Lodge had jurisdiction of Masons in Boston and 
within a hundred miles thereof only. The agitation 
which grew out of the existence of these rival bodies 
found its way into Trinity Lodge. 

While the two grand bodies did not unite until 
1792, yet as early as April, 1786, it was voted in Trinity 
Lodge, " to chuse a Comity of three to Consider of our 
Situation as a Lodge and Connection there is be- 
tween us and the Massachusetts Grand Lodge or any 
other order of Antient Masons with their opinions of 
the proceedings necessary for us to take to render our 



CLINTON. 



83 



Situation More Eligable." And in the following 
June it was " voted to Acknowledge the Supremacy 
of the present Grand Lodge of Massachusetts on Con- 
dition our Quarterage take place from the present 
Date." There is no further allusion to the subject on 
the records of the lodge, and the union of the two 
grand bodies six years later created no disturbance in 
its relations to the Supreme Masonic authority of the 
State. 

In its first years Trinity Lodge exercised jurisdic- 
tion over a wide territory. Applications were received 
and acted u|ion from Merrimack, Medford, Barre, 
Worcester, Oxford, Brookfield, Amherst, N. H., and 
even from Lower Canada. But the founding of new 
lodges, which proceeded rapidly after the close of the 
Revolutionary War, and notably the organization ol 
Morning Star Lodge in Worcester, in 1792, narrowed 
its jurisdiction, and during its last years in Lancaster 
itcovered a territory no larger than that now embraced 
in the territory of the present Trinity Lodge of Clin- 
ton. 

Its records up to 1783 and subsequent to 1800 arc 
missing, and but little of its history, except between 
those dates, is known. Michael Newhall was the first 
Master, and he was succeeded by Timothy Whiting, 
Jr., and probably by Isaiah Thomas, of Worcester, 
though this is not certain. Thomas was a member 
up to about 1792, and among the very earliest of the 
existing records is described as a Past Master. In 
1783 the listof officers was as follows : Edmund Heard, 
Master; James Wilder, Senior Warden; Ephraim 
Carter, Junior Warden; Joseph Carter, Treasurer; 
Moses Smith, Secretary; James Wyman, Senior Dea- 
con; Samuel Adams, Junior Deacon; Jonas Fair- 
bank, Senior Steward ; John Prescott, Junior Steward. 

There was evidently considerable interest in the 
order prior to 1800, notwithstanding the hard times 
following the Revolution. The records show a good 
attendance at the meetings, and that on every meet- 
ing night, from 1783 to 1801, through summer and 
winter, the lodge was regularly opened with a full 
set of oflicers and a liberal representation of the 
brethren. The number present varied from twelve to 
fifty at each communication, and in the eighteen years 
following 1783 one hundred and forty candidates re- 
ceived their degrees. 

The first hall occupied by the lodge in 1778 was 
in a building once standing on the site of the house 
now owned by Daniel Howard, in South Lancaster. 

In 1778 Edmund Heard purchased this property of 
Dr. Israel Atherton. The house has since been known 



as the Ballard House. When it was torn down, man_\ 
years ago, there could still be seen at one end of the 
north front chamber the platform and other indica- 
tions of the lodge's tenancy. Some trouble after- 
wards grew up between the lodge and Edmund 
Heard over the lodge's occupation. AVhen Heard 
purchased the property he borrowed of the lodge 
£224 43. 6rf. (£35 7s. 2d., reduced scale) with which 



. I 



to pay for it. Matters run along until 1788, when, 
after repeated efforts on part of the brethren, a settle- 
ment was had, at which Mr. Heard presented a long 
bill for sundry repairs on the house and hall, and for 
care of the lodge-room and property. The matter 
was finally settled by Heard's giving the lodge his 
note for £56 lis. 4rf., at the reduced scale, and a lease 
of the " hall with the chamber adjoining, with the 
usual privilege the Lodge have heretofore had in the 
house from time to time, and at all times so long as 
the Lodge shall continue as a Lodge." But the lodge 
did not always remain there. In February, 1799, a 
committee was appointed " to make provisions for a 
suitable hall for Trinity Lodge," and in the following 
February another committee was chosen to " contract 
with Brother Merrick Rice to furnish a suitable and 
convenient hall for the use of the Lodge." But when 
it removed to the new quarters, and how long it there 
remained, are unknown. One of the houses then 
owned by Merrick Rice is the same now occupied by 
Mrs. E. M. Greene, in the Centre Village, and it is 
probable, but not certain, that it was to this house 
the lodge removed in 1799. Afterward, the lodge 
occupied a hall in the Lancaster Hotel, and as the 
order grew unpopular, about 1826, the furniture was 
removed to a private room in the house of some one 
of the brethren, where the faithful continued to assem- 
ble until the organization became finally extinct. 

The meetings were on the first Monday of each 
month, lasting from four o'clock p.m. until eight 
o'clock, uj) to September, 1787, when the dates were 
changed from four o'clock on the first Jlonday of 
every month until six o'clock p.m. on the first Tuesday 
of August, October, December, February, April and 
June. But in February, 1790, the dates were again 
changed to the first Tuesday of every month, from 
six o'clock to ten p.m., and so continued, though in 
1792 the hour was changed back to four o'clock. 

The brethren faithfully observed the feast days of 
the order. The festival of St. John the Eivangelist 
(in December) was celebrated in their hall, only 
members of the craft being admitted. But the feast 
of St. John the Baptist (June 2-1 th) was public, and 
often an imposing affair. All the brethren were sum- 
moned, and the clergy in the neighboring towns, 
whether Masons or not, were formally invited, and 
one of them, by special request of the lodge, preached 
a sermon. The brethren assembled at their hall at 
nine a.m., transacted any business that came before 
them, and at eleven a procession was formed which 
marched to the church to attend a religious service. 
Sometimes, as at the celebration in 1790, they were 
escorted thither " by a well-disciplined company of 
cavalry in complete uniforms,'' and were preceded by 
" a band of music playing Entered Apprentice Song." 
The services were interspersed with singing by selected 
choirs, and were listened to by large audiences, 
" whose attention and decency of behavior manifested 
an unfeigned approbation of the animating truths 



84 



HISTORY OP WORCESTER COUNTY, JFASSACHUSETTS. 



delivered." After the service tlie bretliren, witli tlie 
clergy and invited guests, returned to the hall, where 
a grand bantjuet was served. At the festival in 1790 
the following toasts were drank : 

1. " The Memory of St. John the Baptist." 

2. " Our Illustrious Brother, George Washington, 
President of the United States." 

3. "The United Statesof America, with the Craft." 

4. " The Venerable Clergy." 

5. " All Mankind." 

Among the clergymen who jjreached on these occa- 
sions were Kev. Mr. Sumner, of Shrewsbury, in 1789; 
Rev. Phineas Whitney, of Shirley, in 1790; Rev. 
Peter Whitney, of Northboro', in 1792; and Rev. Wm. 
Emerson (father of Ralph Waldo Emer.son), of Har- 
vard, in 1793. After 1792 Trinity and Morning Star 
Lodges often united in the observance of this feast, 
meeting alternately in Worcester and Lancaster. On 
these occasions the programme was very elaborate, 
and was successfully carried out to the great pleasure 
and, be it hoped, to the edification of all the brethren. 

The meetings of the lodge were occasions of re- 
freshment, as well as labor. A suggestive fact is the 
amount of the steward's bill, which was presented at 
the close of every meeting and promptly ordered 
paid. In 1 793 a committee was chosen " to accommo- 
date the Hall with a conveniency for mixing liquors," 
and at another time it was voted, " That the Treasury 
furnish some brother with money to purchis 2 Dozen 
Tumblers ;" and as a preparation for one of their 
June festivals, they ])rocured five dozen tumblers for 
the banquet. But no intemperance or excess was 
tolerated ; for at one of the meetings a committee was 

chosen to remonstrate with Brother • for his 

intemperate habits. The admonition did not cure the 
appetite, however, for subsequently the lodge, by a 
formal vote, debarred the erring brother from the 
privilege of celebrating the approaching Feast of St. 
John's with them. But, with all these festivities, the 
records show that the lodge was fully alive to its 
duties to the '' poor and distressed," and to their 
widows and orphans. They buried their dead brethren, 
relieved the widows, made liberal donations of money 
to those in misfortune, and, in many other ways, 
extended sympathy and help to those in need in a 
manner which made it a society dear to its members 
and sincerely re.spected by the community, 

In those days Washington was regarded as the most 
illustrious i)atron of the order in America. At all 
Ma.sonic festivals his health was drank and his virtues 
eulogized in speech and song. His death wfis the 
occasion of a memorial service by Trinity Lodge. At 
a special communication held .lanuary 11, 1800, the 
lodge voted to meet on the 22d of the following Feb- 
ruary, " for the purpose of testifying in a public man- 
ner the sorrow we feel on acct. of the decease of the 
greatest and best of men, Br. Geul. George Washing- 
ton." The hall was draped in black and all the 
brethren summoned to be present. Rev. Nathaniel 



Thayer was invited to i)reach the .sermon. There was 
a very large attendance, and citizens and soldiers joined 
in the procession to the church. "The discourse," 
.says the record, " delineated in a comprehensive 
manner the virtues and excellencies of the deceased, 
and enjoined it on all the Brethren to imitate, as 
much as i>ossible, his great and unequalled virtues." 
After the services a banquet was held at the hall 
of the lodge. In the records a memorial page is 
given to Washington, as follows : 

BKOTHER GEOEGB WASHINGTON. 

Bora Feliy, ll't, Ylri- of Light, 5732. 

tlivested with the Coiniii.iiul of thu American 

Armies, 5775. 

Resigned liie CijmuiissioD to (Dungreefi, 

5783. 

Chosen PrcsiJout of the Ignited States, 

5788. 

Gave iu his Reeignatiuu, 

570C. 

Invested a second time with tlie Organization 

and Coninniud of the American Forces, 

57i)8. 

Died December Thirteeutli, 

5799. 

The following were the Masters of the lodge from 
17S3 to 1801 : Edmund Heard, 1783-89-90-91-92 and 
part of 93— six years ; Timothy Whiting, Jr., 1784-85- 
87-93-94-97 — six years; Ephraim Carter, 1786— one 
year ; Abijah Wyman, 1788 — one year ; John May- 
nard, 1795-90 -two years; Abraham Haskell, 1798— 
one year; Moses Thomas, 1799 — one year; Amos 
Johnson, 1800 — one year. Not all of these were resi- 
dents of Lancaster. 

Among those holding the office after 1800 were 
Joel Pratt, Luke Bigelow, John G. Thurston and 
Calvin Carter. The dates and length of their ser- 
vices are unknown. 

The year in which the lodge ceased to hold meet- 
ings is in doubt. It was not represented in the 
Grand Lodge after 1824, and it ceased to exist as an 
active organization about 1832. The Morgan excite- 
ment and the political agitation arising therefrom 
were the principal causes of its decline. The society 
became unpopular. The hall was given up and a 
small room obtained, where, for a time, the faithful of 
the craft continued to meet. At last even this was 
abandoned, and the lodge property was taken in 
charge by Johti G. Thurston, one of the members. 
A part was stored in his attic, where it was found 
twenty-five or more years later, and the altar, pedes- 
tals and some other articles were i)ut into his barn, 
and were never recovered. Neither the charter nor 
any of the furniture or regalia were surrendered to 
the Grand Lodge. When the lodge was reorganized 
in Clinton in 1858, the old charter, a portion of the 
records, the jewels, seal and many papers belonging 
to the Old Trinity Lodge were recovered, and are now 
deposited in the archives of the new organization, 
where they still remain as interesting relics of the 
elder Trinity Lodge. 



CLINTON. 



85 



New Trinity Lodoe. — On the evening of Sep- 
tember 8, 1858, E. J)ana Banciolt, of Ayer, Geo. L. 
Thurston, of Lancaster, and Henry Bowman, Alfred 
A. Burdett, Daniel Marsh, Charles W. Odiorne and 
A. JM. Eaglesham, of Clinton, met in Harris Hall, in 
what is now known as C. W. Field's Block, to open a 
lodge for instruction in Masonry. E. Dana Bancroft 
was chosen Master, and gave instruction to the breth- 
ern in the work and lectures. At this meeting Mr. 
Bancroft was appointed a committee to ascertain if 
Trinity Lodge, No. (>, formerly existing in Lancaster, 
could be revived in Clinton ; or, if that could not be 
done, to make such further inquiry .is he might deem 
material for the establishment of a new lodge. At a 
meeting one week later the coniniittee reported that 
in the opinion of the secretary of the Grand Lodge, 
Old Trinity Lodge could not be revived, and that the 
proper course was to organize a new lodge. The 
brethren at once voted to ask for a dispensation for a 
new lodge in Clinton, to be called Trinity Lodge, 
and the following were elected officers thereof: E. 
Dana Bancroft, W. M. ; Henry Bowman, S. W. ; 
Alfred A. Burdett, J. W.; Daniel Marsh, Treaa. ; 
Geo. L. Thurston, S. D. ; A.M. Eaglesham, J. D. ; 
C. W. Odiorne, 8. S. ; Henry E.ldy, .T. S. 

The Grand Lodge granted the prayer of the peti- 
tioners; the new dispensation was received and ac- 
cepted September 29, 1858, and the list of officers 
previously selected was confirmed. 

On the 21st of September, 1859, the charter, dated 
September 8, 185!>, was received, and the lodge form- 
ally constituted and organized by the officers of the 
Grand Lodge, John T. Heard being Grand Master. 
The following were the charter members : Henry 
Bowman, Alfred A. Burdett, Daniel Marsh, George L. 
Thurston, Charles W. Odiorne, Luke Bigelow, Levi 
Greene, Josiah H. Vose and Henry Eddy. Of these 
all but Josiah H. Vose were Masons prior to the date 
of the disi)ensation, though Henry Eddy had received 
two of his degrees in Trinity Lodge under the dis- 
pensation ; and George L. Thurston, Levi Greene 
and Luke Bigelow were members of Old Trinity 
Lodge, No. G. 

Tiie first list of officers under the charter were 
Henry Bowman, W. M. ; Alfred A. Burdett, S. W. ; 
Geo. L. Thurston, J. W. ; Josiah H. Vose, Treas. ; 
Henry Eddy, Sec. ; Samuel T. Bigelow, S. D. ; Daniel 
Marsh, J. D.; John T. Buzzell, S. S. ; A. A. Pevey, 
J. S. ; Gihnan M. Palmer, Marshal ; Levi Greene, 
Tiler. 

The establishment of the lodge w.as largely due to 
the ze.al and eflorts of the three firet officers — Bow- 
man, Burdett and Thurston. The following is a list 
of the members of Old Trinity Lodge who joined the 
new organization : George L. Thurston, Levi Greene, 
Luke Bigelow, Joel Pratt, Artemas Barnes, Reuben 
Blood and A. M. Eaglesham. The lodge, when firmly 
established, grew rapidly, though the War of the Re- 
bellion made heavy inroads upon its membership. 



The records of that period illustrate the loyalty of 
Masons to the supreme civil authority, and their ar- 
dent patriotism in behalf of the Union cause. Some 
of the brethren entering the array were presented with 
substantial tokens of respect and aftection ; several of 
the lodge's most beloved and, up to their enlistment, 
active members fell upon the field of battle or died 
of disease contracted in the military service, and 
were brought home and tenderly laid at rest with the 
impressive funeral ceremonies of the order. The fol- 
lowing is a li.st of those who served in the army. It 
includes only those who were Masons at the time of 
or during their military service. 

Geo. L. Thurston, adjt. ; captain 55tli 111. Vols. ; died of disease con- 
tracted in service. 

Josiub II. Vose, lieut. 53d Mass. Vols.; mortjilly wounded July ; died 
July, 18(1.3. 

Henry Bowman, rapt, l.'itli I*I.ass. ; col. :jGlli Slass. Vols. 

Franklin Howard, Co. C, 1st Mass. Cav. 

Frank T. Holder, sergt. Co. B, 3d Mass. Cav. 

William L. Cobl>, lieut 3^th BLass. "N'ols. ; died of wounds. 

Lucius Field, lieut. 3Mh Mass. Vols. 

.Monzo S. riavidson, cai>t. :i('ith Mass. Vols. 

William Orr, Jr., sergt. Co. I, ."iSd Mass. Vols. 

Kdwin Sawtelle, C'o. I, 63d Mass. Vols. 

Andrew L. Fuller, lieut. lr>th Mass. Vols. ; died of disease contracted in 
service. 

William G. Waters, lieut. l.'ith Mas.s. Vols. 

Clias. B. Culter, lieut. 3tth Mass. Vols. 

W. II. Bit;elow, asst. surgeon 32d Mass. Vols. 

The lodge first leased a hall in C. W. Fields' 
building, then called " Harris Hall," which it con- 
tinued to occupy until April 6, 18G9, when it re- 
moved to a new hall in Tyler's Block, which was 
formally detlicated January 28, 1870. On the com- 
pletion of the New Bank Block, in 1882, it again re- 
moved to the new hall in that building, which had 
been finished and elegantly fitted up by the brethren 
at an expense of about twelve hundred dollars, and 
where it now remains. The new hall was solemnly 
dedicated to INIasonry October 20, 1882, by the of- 
ficers of the Grand Lodge, Samuel C. Lawrence, 
Grand Master, with impressive ceremonies, at the 
close of which a grand banquet was served in the 
Clinton House Hall. The following brethren have 
served as Masters of the lodge : E. Dana Bancroft, 
1858-5!), under dispensation; Henry Bowman, 
1859-00, one year; Alfred A. Burdett, ISGO-Gl, 
18G1-G2, 18G3-64, 1873-74, four years; Josiah H. 
Vose,' 1862-G3, one year; Daniel Marsh, 186G-67, 
one year; Levi Greene, 1864-65, 1865-66, two years; 
George W. Burdett, 1867-68, one year; Henry N. 
Bigelow, 1868-69, one year; Charles W. Ware, 1869- 
70, one year; Charles F. Greene,^ 1870-71, one 
year; Daniel B. Ingalls,' 1871, 1871-72, one and a 
half years; Sylvester S. Welsh, 1872-73, one year; 
Henry A. Putnam, 1874-75, one year; Henry O. 
Sawyer, 1875-76, 1876-77, two years; G. Walton 

I Entered tlie military service soon after bis iustallatioD, and fell in 
battle before the close of bis Masonic year. 
■- Died in office. 
^ Elected to fill vacancy. 



86 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



Goss, 1877-78, 1878-79, two years; Henry McGown, 
1879-80, 1880-81, two years ; George Sutherland, 
Jr., 1881-82, one year ; Edward G. Stevens. 1882-83, 
one year; James B. Finnie, 1883-84, one year; 
Samuel Booth, 1884-85, 1885-86, two years; Charles 
A. Bartlett, 1886-87, one year; Jonathan Smith, 
1887-88, one year. 

In 1885 Col. Gilman M. Palmer left a legacy of 
two thousand dollars to the lodge, the income thereof 
to be devoted to the relief of the widows and or- 
phans of its deceased members. The lodge has had 
a steady growth, and now numbers one hundred and 
forty members. It has upon its rolls many of the 
most substantial and honorable citizens of the towns 
within its jurisdiction, whose zeal and fraternal love 
for its honor and welfare deservedly place it first, a^ 
it is by many years the oldest, among all the societies 
of the community. 

Clinton Royal Arch Chapter.— In April or 
May, probably in April, 1869, the following Royal 
Arch Masons met in Masonic Hall, in Tyler's Block, 
to organize a Rf)yal Arch Chapter in Clinton : Henry 
N. Bigelow, Alfred A. Burdett, Levi Greene, Henry 
A. Putnam, Charles W. Field, Charles W. Field, Jr., 
George M. Lourie, Albert Shattuck, John Bennett, 
Marcus E. Amsden and C. L. S. Hammond. All but 
John Bennett were then residents of Clinton — Mr. 
Bennett lived in Lancaster — and all belonged to chap- 
ters in Worcester, Marlborough and Fitchburg. 

The meeting organized by the election of Henry 
N. Bigelow chairman, and C. L. S. Hammond secre- 
tary. It was voted to petition the Grand Chapter for 
authority to form a chapter in Clinton, and the name 
of " Clinton Royal Arch Chapter " was selected for the 
new organization. Choice was made of the following 
officers : M. E. H. P., Alfred A. Burdett ; E. King, 
Henry N. Bigelow ; E. Scribe, C. L. S. Hammond. 
These officers were also chosen a committee to obtain 
the recommendation of the chapters in Worcester 
and Marlborough, and also to draw up and obtain 
signatures to a petition to the Grand Chapter the fol- 
lowing June for a dispensation to work. 

In September of that year the Grand Chapter 
granted leave to the new body to work. The dispen- 
sation was dated September 7th, and was addressed to 
the petitioners, which included, besides those at the 
first meeting, Henry E. Starbird, J. E. Hitchcock, 
C. W. Odiorne, Reuben Blood, E. W. Bigelow, 
Quincy A. Whitney, H.Stevens and Benjamin Whit- 
temore. The three officers chosen at the first meet- 
ing were appointed High Priest, King and Scribe 
respectively, and the dispensation was signed by 
Henry Chickering, Grand High Priest, and Thomas 
Waterman, Grand Secretary. On the evening of 
September 8th, of the same year, the chapter held its 
first meeting under the dispensation, and the 
necessary steps were taken to procure an instructor 
in the work, a hall for meetings and the proper 
regalia and jewels for the officers. For the first year 



the chapter met nearly every week, and the Royal 
Arch Degree was conferred on nineteen candidates. 

September 15, 1870, having worked a year under a 
dispensation, Clinton Royal Arch Chapter was for- 
mally constituted and consecrated by the officers of 
the Grand Chapter. The list of charter members in- 
cludes those petitioning for a dispensation the pre- 
vious year, and also the names of Elisha Brimhall, 
George H. Evans, Robert J. Finnie, Charles F. 
Greene, Alonzo S. Davidson, Lucius Field, Henry O. 
Sawyer, Wellington E. Parkhurst, Albert T. Bigelow, 
A. S. Jaquith and Charles M. Dinsmore, twenty-five 
in all. The charter dated from September 7, 1870. 

The chapter leased rooms of Trinity Lodge, in 
Tyler's Block, which it occupied until September 4, 
1882, when it removed into the new and more com- 
modious rooms fitted up by Trinity Lodge in the new 
Bank Block, where it still remains. Since 1870 the 
chapter has had a steady and prosperous growth and 
now numbers sixty-one members. The following are 
the names of those who have filled the office of High 
Priest, in the order of their service: Alfred A. Bur- 
dett, three years, one under dispensation and two 
under charter ; Henry N. Bigelow, two years ; Charles 
W. Field, Jr., one year ; Lucius Field, two years ; 
Alonzo S. Davidson, two years; C. L. S. Hammond, 
one year ; G. Walton Goss, one year ; C. C. Stone, 
two years ; George B. Dinsmore, two years ; Jonathan 
Smith, two years; George Sutherland, Jr., in office. 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 



SIDNEY HARRIS. 



A fitting tribute to the life-work of an honored 
citizen cannot be given in the brief sketch herewith 
presented, but the people of Clinton can see that in 
Sidney Harris they had a citizen whose influence for 
good was widely spread in all directions and will con- 
tinue to be felt for generations to come. 

Mr. Harris was born in Lancaster (in that part now 
called Clinton) in 1804, the youngest son of Daniel 
and Abigail (Reed) Harris, and always resided in the 
town of his birth. 

His father was a Revolutionary pensioner, a strong 
temperance man, as was likewise the son, who bore 
the mantle of his fiither with the fearless, independ- 
ent spirit which is required to successfully carry on 
a good cause in the face of opposition. 

In early manhood he established the business of 
manufacturing horn-combs, many of the methods 
being original with himself, and from a small begin- 
ning built up a business which became national in 
its reputation and yielded an ample fortune. The 
territory bounded by his works became known as 
" Harrisville," in which resided many happy families, 
contented with their lot and surrounded by that neat- 




3 



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CLINTON. 



87 



ness and thrill which characterize a successful New 
England village. 

He was noted for his kindness to his employes 
and to those who were associated with him in busi- 
ness, and showed his appreciation of their faithful- 
ness and honesty by many kind and generous deeds, 
so that the few surviving him still hold his name in 
grateful remembrance. 

Mr. Harris was married in Lancaster by Rev. 
Nathaniel Thayer, D.D., in the year 1829, to Sally 
Kilburn, daughter of Daniel and Rachel (Mcintosh) 
Kilburn,of Lunenburg, Mass. 

Their children were: Edwin, born December 7, 
1829 ; died December 27, 1829. Almira Jane, born 
June 6, 1831 ; died September 22, 1847. Christopher 
Thayer, born March 22, 1838; died March 20, 1854. 
Edwin Algernon, born May 31, 1837; died May 28, 
1875. George Sidney, born March 13, 1839; died 
April 28, 1867. 

He served on the Board of Selectmen in 1838 and 
also as treasurer and collector in 1850 and 1855. 

In religion he was a Unitarian, a pillar in the 
church of his faith. As a citizen he espoused every 
good cause and became identified with every move- 
ment which pertained to the welfare of the town. 

The last few years of his life were enfeebled by dis- 
ease, and after relinquishing his business to his sons, 
he slowly declined until November 21, 1801, when 
death released him from his suft'erings. His widow 
survived him until March 9, 1872. 



EDWIX A. HARRIS. 

One of Clinton's young and active business men 
forms the subject of this sketch, and though passed 
from this life, his influence is still felt among the 
living, and his memory cherished in grateful remem- 
brance. 

Mr. Harris was born May 31, 1837, at the Harris 
homestead, in Clinton, Mass., the fourth child of 
Sidney and Sally (Kilburn) Harris. His boyhood 
was passed at school and in his father's workshops, 
so that when he came to years of manhood he was 
thoroughly prepared to assume the responsibility of 
the business which was relinquished by his father 
on account of failing health. He was connected with 
one of our most successful business establishments. 
The father, Sidney, long and well known in this com- 
munity, commenced the comb business in 1823, on 
the site of the present works, and upon his death was 
succeeded by his sons, Edwin A. and George S. ; the 
subsequent death of the younger brother threw the 
entire responsibility upon the elder, the business 
being conducted throughout these changes under the 
firm-name of S. Harris & Sons. From the start Mr. 
Harris was remarkably successful, and under his vig- 
orous eflbrts the works rapidly increased in size and 
capacity, until they became the largest comb works 
in the United Slates. He was one of the most active 



and earnest men in business life, giving to his business 
all his powers of mind and body ; a practical believer 
in industry and all that it can do; though a young 
man, he was able to show what earnestness and per- 
severance may accomplish. 

His excellent business traits commanded the admi- 
ration of his fellow-citizens, and his death in the 
prime of life, while fulfilling a mission of great use- 
fulness, was mourned by all, particularly by the resi- 
dents of the village which bore his name. 

He married, December 28, 1858, Adeline K. Damon, 
daughter of William Damon, of Fitchburg, Mass. 

Children's names as follows : Herbert Christopher, 
born April 28, 1862, deceased June 24, 1863; Plora 
Kate, born July 20, 1865, deceased January 6, 1883. 

In religion Mr. Harris was a Unitarian, and gave 
generously to the support of the church. Like his- 
father, he was active in reform, and manfully defended 
the right on all occasions. Ever interested in the 
public welfare, he was one of the first projectors and 
supporters of the Agricultural Branch Railroad, and 
the town is greatly indebted to him for the success- 
ful culmination of this important enterprise, which 
marked a new era in the growth of the town. Besides 
being one of the railroad directors, he was also one of 
the directors of the First National Bank of Clinton, 
and greatly interested himself in the growth of this 
institution. 

But ere he had reached the age of thirty-eight, 
when his future seemed full of promise and the re- 
maining years of his life prospectively free from the 
harassing cares of business, was he called to a higher 
stage of existence, his death occurring May 28, 1875. 
The funeral procession to the beautiful Harris lot in 
Woodlawn Cemetery was one of the largest ever 
seen in town, and well attested to the worth of the 
citizen whose departure was mourned by the whole 
community. 



SAMUEL \V. TYLER. 

Samuel Willard Tyler, the subject of this sketch, 
settled in Clinton in 1864, coming from Attleboro', 
his native town, Bristol County. His emigrant an- 
cestor, Job Tyler, who came from England about 
1653, was one of the pioneer settlers in the domain 
of the good Massasoit, the steadfast friend of the 
English. 

When but twelve years of age his father died, leaving 
him and an only sister to the care of a widowed 
mother. He remained on the farm, spending the 
time in rural pursuits, until he was twenty-one. The 
only pride he was taught to desire was that which 
arose from the exercise of an honest industry, and 
he found full scope for its indulgence during his 
early years. Though not of age, he was permitted to 
act for himself, and to dispose of the results of his 
labors. 

Forty years ago a lad's school advantages in the 



88 



HISTORY OP WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



country were circumscribed, and the boy Samuel's 
were supplemented by only a brief academic course. 

Possessing a talent for music, all the hours of 
recreation were spent at the key -board of the home 
instrument; while only a boy, the Sabbath found 
him presiding at the organ of the country church. 
Later, in his adopted town, he was identified with 
various church choirs, and officiated as organist in 
more than one of the leading churches. 

His life was not an eventful one, and its history is 
briefly told. 

Large knowledge of the outside world was gained 
in the War of the Rebellion, where he served as mu- 
sician until orders were issued from the War Depart- 
ment discharging all regimental bands from the 
United States service. 

His honored father and grandfather served in pre- 
ceding struggles, the latter being an officer in the 
Revolutionary War. In the military and civil de- 
partments of the annals of his native town, from the 
date of incorporation, in 1094, the names of grand- 
father and great-grandfather appear conspicuously, 
and are suggestive. 

While in the South Mr. Tyler formed the acquaint- 
ance of a comrade and brotlier-musician, and in 1S(>4 
the two formed a co-))artnership in business under 
the firm-name of Tyler & White. Four years subse- 
quently he disposed of his interest in the business, 
and himself engaged in the musical instrument 
trade. 

If we were to select any traits of character for 
which Mr. Tyler was especially remarkable, they 
would be his almost stern justice and fidelity to what 
he believed to be right. His honesty made him not 
less exacting with himself than with others. His 
accounts were always correct, liis dealings always 
just. 

In these days, when chicanery, malfeasance in of- 
fice, embezzlements, breaches of trust and fraud are 
so prevalent, it is pleasant to write of one who kept 
himself free from any kind of stain on his integrity. 

He wrought continuously, ungrudgingly and un- 
selfishly for the public weal ; and no fruits of his 
labors were so grateful to himself as those garnered 
in connection with public service. 

He enjoyed always the esteem of the best elements 
of the community. The public is ever willing to 
place res|)onsil)ility on competent, trusted and willing 
shoulders. During bis residence in his adopted town 
he was one of (Hinton's most active and honored cit- 
izens in every line of business enterprise, activity and 
public service. Though not a member of the Board 
of Trade, on its records may be found the following: 
"The Clinton Board of Trade hereby expresses its 
hearty appreci.ation of Mr. Tyler's unfi^ltering inter- 
est in our town, and his constant devotion to its wel- 
fare, as shown in liberal and successful eflbrts to en- 
large and improve the business facilities of Clin- 
ton." 



He was elected to various positions, which he filled 
to the universal acceptance of his constituents and 
the public generally. 

He was selectman for a period of four years, asses- 
sor ten years, and water commissioner two years, 
serving always with an enthusiastic api>reciation of 
responsibility and opportunity. 

While possessing a quick discernment, he was cau- 
tious in adopting new measures; weighed all matters 
in the balance of a clear judgment, and, after form- 
ing an opinion, was very decided, rarely finding any 
rea.son to alter it. 

So far we have sjioken of Mr. Tyler only in his 
business and (lublic life; but, as is ever the case, 
that lile is the most real and important of which the 
public sees but little and can know but little, — the 
life each man lives in his family. In 1804 Mr. Tyler 
married Persis Eldora Beniis, of Paxton, M.ass., with 
whom he passed more than twenty years of wedded 
life. 

Their children were Samuel Willard and Harriet 
Frances. 

IMr. Tyler died February 19,1886, aged forty-seveu. 

" He livetli long who livelli well." 



JOSEPH B. PARKER. 

.Toseph B. Parker, son of Quincy Parker and Pa- 
tience Brooks, was born in Princeton, Mass., in 1805. 
His ancestors were of Puritan origin, and for several 
generations lived in Jlassachusetts. Aside from his 
home training, bis early education was limited to the 
common district school of his town. At the age of 
fifteen he was apprenticed to Mr. Joel Howe, a black- 
smith of Princeton, with whom he remained six 
years. Completing his apprenticeship, he entered 
the machine-shop of Samuel Flagg, of Oakdale, a 
village in West Boylston. In this position he devel- 
oped at once an uncommon tact for his new employ- 
ment; for within a year he w.as appointed foreman 
of the shop, on account of which some of the senior 
workmen, refusing to work under so young a man, 
left the shop ; but his apparent ability as a mechanic 
held for him his position, and his manly demeanor 
won back his disall'ected shop-mates and made them 
ever after his true and faithful friends. 

This position he held for eight years, until the 
failure in business of his employer — 1834. A year 
prior to this he had built himself a house and mar- 
ried, in October, IS.'W, Miss Mary A. IMorgan. In 
•July, ]S;?5, he was chosen deacon of the Orthodox 
Congregational Church in West Boylston. His en- 
gagement with Mr. Flagg terminating, he commenced 
the machine business on his own .account, occupying 
the shop formerly occupied by Mr. Flagg. 

Meanwhile, K. B. Bigelow, then of West Boylston, 
and since so distinguished as an inventor, had con- 
ceived the idea of building a loom for weaving coun- 
terpanes. In his struggle to bring forth his inven- 





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CLINTON. 



S9 



tioii, he sought the aid of Deacon Parker. The 
coming together of these two men resulted in the 
formation of a company to complete the undertaking 
and put the loom in operation. The company con- 
sisted of E. B. Bigelow, Deacon Parker and Eli Hol- 
brook, all young men, and all about the same age. 

This loom, however, was not a success. The com- 
pany wanting means to carry on the work further, 
the enterprise was, for a time, abandoned, though the 
company fully believed in the final success of the 
work. From this, the inventive genius of E. B. 
Bigelow was turned to his coach-lace loom, which at 
once came to better results. 

This loom was built by Deacon Parker and put in 
operation in Shirley Village, and later was removed 
to Clinton. In 1S40, Deacon Parker removed his 
business t o Providence, R. I. The success of the 
Messrs. Bigelows being assured, they, with others, 
formed a company, jiurchased the water-power in 
Clinton, built a machine-shop and made extensive 
preparations for operating their new inventions. 
After the trial of other machinists to build their ma- 
chinery, the Bigelows again sought the aid of Deacon 
Parker. He was called from Providence to Clinton 
and put in charge of the new machine-shop built by 
the Clinton Company. 

This new position brought more fully his mechan- 
ical ability to the test. Following the coach-lace 
loom came the reconstruction of the counterpane 
looms then running, but had not done satisfactory 
work. These were all rebuilt, resulting in the mann 
facture of a much improved fabric. Following these 
were the gingham and the Brussels carpet looms, 
each of which was the first power loom of its kind 
ever in operation. All these were made under Deacon 
Parker's supervision. All were new ; there being no 
models to work from or workmen experienced in thai 
line of machine building. Everything was wrought 
out step by step, without the suggestion or aid ol' 
others. In the coach-lace loom was found the germ 
of the Brussels carpet loom, which was brought to its 
present state of perfection only by the protracted 
study of years. To invent or make such a master 
piece of machinery is honor enough fitr any man, and 
justly entitles him to lasting fame. It may seem in- 
vidious to institute comparisons between men of emi- 
nent qualities in any profession. No one is greatest 
in everything. Each has his weak as well as his 
strong characteristics. The weak points of one man 
are exactly those in which another is strongest. This 
was especially true in case of E. B. P.igelow and Dea- 
con Parker. One was the counterpart of the other. 
The two ought and did work together. Neither could 
have accomplished alone what they achieved unitedly. 
E. B. Bigelow was an inventor of the highest order, 
but was not a practical mechanic. Construction was 
not his fi>rte. But where he was weakest Deacon Par- 
ker was strongest. The idea of a machine being 
given him, he could make it, which oftener than 



otherwise is the most difficult part to perform. In 
1851, Deacon Parker was sent by the Messrs. Bigelows 
to England, to .superintend the setting up of Brussels 
carpet looms. He remained there some six or eight 
months, when he returned to Clinton. Soon after his 
return ho built a shop and commenced the machine 
business again on his own account. His business at 
once increased, his machine-shop was twice enlarged 
and under his management became an important 
business interest of Clinton. 

His strong points as a man of business were his 
strength and clearness of mind. These were seen in 
everything. United with his intense application this 
((uality was invaluable to him as a machinist. 

He was a man of superior judgment. This also 
appeared in all matters of every-day life. He was 
every man's counselor, though he never wore a title. 
In his business few men were his equal as a judge of 
machinery. Young men esteemed it a privilege to be 
taught the business of a machinist by him. 

His ideal of a machine was perfection. Great care 
was taken to make every machine perfect. Nothing 
was allowed to leave his shop that was not so. This 
had much to do with his success in after-life. 

His attention to all the details of his business was 
unremitting. He trusted nothing to others. And as 
it was continuously on the increase, it was almost a 
matter of necessity that he be more and more indus- 
triously occupied with its cares and management. In 
the summer of isr>9 he and his family spent a day at 
the seashore in York, Maine, whit h up to that time 
was the only holiday of the kind he had enjoyed. 

Few men are identified with the almost model town 
of Clinton more than Dea. Parker. In the variety 
and extent of its manufactures, in its rapid growth 
and continued prosperity, he took a constant interest, 
and bore a conspicuous part. And could the town be 
photographed in its moral, as well as in its material 
aspects, it would appear that he was even more an 
important factor in it. A man of clear head, sound 
judgment, and a Christian character that always com- 
manded respect and confidence, he, with others, did 
most valuable pioneer service in laying the foundations 
of the moral and religions in.stitutions of the town. 
He exerted a .strong infiuence over young men, and 
by his counsel and example was most useful in aiding 
them to make a good start in life. 

Though sufficiently conservative, he was a man of 
reform ; always headed in the right direction, always 
standing for the best things, no man ever doubting 
how he would talk, and what he wonld do, when the 
common good was at stake. 



LEVI GREENE. 

Prominent among the early pioneers of this town 
was the subject of this sketch, who was born in Ber- 
lin, Mass., October 12, 1801, the son of Aaron and 
Lydia (Goddard) Greene. 



90 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



After serving his apprenticeship at carpentering, 
under the famous Jacob Stone, of Lancaster, Mass., 
he married Achsah, Jacob's daughter, November 5, 
1829, settled in Lancaster and became a builder and 
lumber dealer on his own account, in which occupa- 
tion he was very successful, which, with judicious in- 
vestments in the then small village of Clinton, laid 
for him the foundations of his ample fortune. 

The death of his first wife occurred October 21, 
1843, and September 19, 1844, he married Lucy Har- 
ris, of Lunenburg, Mass., daughter of William and 
Betsy (Spaulding), who survived him. 

The children of Mr. Greene were, — -Charles F., born 
August 21, 18.30, died March 29, 1871; Ellen M.,born 
May 7, 1832, died August 2, 1863; Eliza A., born July 
30, 1833, died January 9, 185G; Emery W., born Oc- 
tober 7, 1839, died June 18, 1857; Lucy H., born July 
18, 1846, died August 24, 1846; Charlotte E., born 
July 23, 1848, died September 18, 1848. 

In 1848 he served the town of Lancaster as select- 
man, also in 1846-47 as assessor, iu which latter ca- 
pacity he also served the town of Clinton in 1855-56, 
'58, '60-62, '65, most of the time as chairman of the 
board. 

In Masonic circles Mr. Greene took an active in- 
terest, and Trinity Lodge and Clinton Royal Arch 
Chapter elected him to their highest offices. 

The Congregational Church also found in him a 
faithful supporter, he being one of the original found- 
ers. Always discharging his duties with perfect hon- 
esty, he held the respect of his fellow-citizens, and his 
opinion was sought by all classes, with full confidence 
in his judgment. In his family and personal friend- 
ships he was kind and affectionate, and few men were 
more conscientious than he and none felt more deeply 
the responsibility of citizenship and the duties de- 
volving upon him. 



HON. ELISHA BRIMHALL. 

Mr. Brimhall was born in Oakham, Mass., March 
25, 1825, and died in Clinton, after a brief illness 
from pneumonia, April 9, 1887. Age, sixty-two years 
and fifteen days. 

He was the only child of Jonas and Caroline (Nye), 
of Oakham, whose names for many generations were 
prominent in the history of that town. His first work 
was on his father's farm, but at the age of twenty he 
commenced to learn the trade of a carpenter, which, 
with fortunate circumstances, enabled him to lay the 
foundation of his successful fortune. Coming to Clin- 
ton at its first formation, he quickly became a 
successful busine.ss man, and among those early 
pioneers he was one of the most active and energetic, 
adding much to the growth and progre.ss of the then 
small village. 

In 1857 he erected the large block on High Street, 
known as Brimhall's Block, while the Courant Block, 
Oxford House, and the large tenement block, bearing 
his name, followed in quick succession to become, not 



only ornaments to the principal streets of the town, 
but enduring monuments to his zeal and business 
enterprise. Before his decease he completed an 
elegant mansion on Prescott Street, where ho was per- 
mitted to reside but a brief period, ere he was called 
away. During the Rebellion he was on the Board of 
Selectmen, and to him the town was largely indebted 
for his valuable services during those trying times. 
As an example of his energetic and persistent nature, 
his special trip to Washington may be cited, where, 
through a personal interview with President Lincoln, 
he secured a credit to the town of seventy men, 
thereby saving a draft. From 1866 to 1871 he was 
the treasurer of the town, having been unanimously 
elected twice in the five years. 

In 1873 he was again elected selectman, and in 1874 
was chosen chairman of the Board of Assessors, but 
declined to serve. 

In politics Mr. Brimhall was a life-long Republi- 
can, and also a firm believer in temperance princi- 
ples, carrying out his belief in every-day life. 

In 1871 he was elected to the Legislature from the 
District then comprising Clinton, Northboro', Berlin, 
by 170 majority over Jonas E. Howe. In 1870 he was 
elected to the State Senate by 1048 majority, and re- 
elected the following year by 1920 majority. 

In financial matters Mr. Brimhall's .services were 
almost constantly employed. He was a director of 
the Lanca-ster National Bank, which failed through 
the defalcation of the president. With his sharp eye, 
Mr. Brimhall detected methods of business distaste- 
ful to a man of his habits, and rather than be identi- 
fied with anything which had the semblance of dis- 
honesty he withdrew from the institution entirely. 
At the time of the failure of the Lancaster Savings 
Bank his services were secured asoneof the receivers, 
which position he held at the time of his death. The 
Congregational parish, of which he was an efficieut 
member, is largely indebted to him for generous 
financial aid and hearty co-operation in all good 
works. 

To enjoy an honorable position in the business 
world was Mr. Brimhall's great ambition, and that 
he attained it his fellow-citizens bear cordial testi- 
mony by holding his memory in grateful esteem. He 
acquired the high regard of hjs fellow-citizens by his 
exemplary methods of life, in his business or social 
relations, and he won the esteem of all by undeviat- 
ing rectitude. He belonged to that class of men 
whose motives are always honest, and who, in the pur- 
suit of wealth, never sacrifice their honesty for a 
single moment. 

Mr. Brimhall married Mary A. Fletcher, of Spring- 
field, Vt., who survives him. 



PERLEY P. COMEY, M.D. 

Perley P. Comey, M.D. (Harvard), youngest son of 
Elbridge G. and Abigail (Pierce) Comey, was born in 




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CLINTON. 



91 



Holliston, Mass., January 14, 1852. His father was 
born iu Hopkinton, Mass., was a farmer and returned 
to Hopkinton to reside when the subject of our sketch 
was eight years of age, — a man of sterling integrity 
and exemplary character. Perley P. Comey received 
his early education in the common and high schools 
of Hopkinton, being also kept busy upon his father's 
farm. 

In 1868, his father having died, he was sent to the 
Oread High School, in Worcester, a classical school 
connected with the Oread Institute, afterward learn- 
ing the apothecary business in Worcester. Later he 
began the study of medicine with Dr. A. P. Richard- 
son, of Boston, and at the Harvard Medical College, 
at which institution he graduated in June, 1878, and in 
August of the same year he began practice in Clinton, 
Mass. He almost immediately began to have a very 
liberal patronage and soon had a very extensive prac- 
tice, not only in Clinton, but in all of the adjoining 
towns. Ever ready to sympathize with and advise 
the afflicted and suflering, he seemed to possess the 
qualifications which make a man popular in the med- 
ical profession. Few men bring to the study and 
practice of their profession more of those varied quali- 
fications which help to make up the true physician 
and surgeon. Always on the alert in everything 
relating to his profession, quick to see and prompt to 
act, make him a successful surgeon as well as physi- 
cian. 

He married Marion L. Jones, daughter of John O. 
Jones, of Boston, and granddaughter of Col. Jas. Esta- 
brook, of Worcester, with whom she resided. They 
have three children, two daughters and one son — 
Effie M., Gertrude J. and Clifton J. 

He in a member of the Massachusetts Medical 
Society, a prominent Mason and Odd-Fellow, a mem- 
ber of the Improved Order of Red Men, Knights of 
Honor and United Order of Golden Cross. 



LYMAN LEIGHTON. 

Mr. Leighton was born in Upton, Mass. His father. 
Hazard Leighton, was strongly built, over six feet tall, 
and an athlete. The stories of his suppleness, physi- 
cal feats and strength are quoted to this day. His 
mind and judgment, though little schooled, were as 
vigorous and self-poised as his powers of body. He 
was highly skilled in agriculture. In 1839 he married 
Lydia Aldrich, of the same place. Lyman was one 
of six children born to them, and the eldest of three 
boys. He was early sent forth to earn something for 
the family, or at least his own bread. The first place 
open to him was as a boy on a farm, and in this humble 
way he began his battle with the world. 

Mr. Leighton's school advantages were meagre. In 
them, however, he acquired elements of an education 
that have enabled him to use well such advantages as 
came to him in life. He importuned his parents to 
let him learn the trade of a carpenter, and with their 



consent entered the employ of Thomas J. and Nahum 
B. Hall, a then active co-partnership of contractors in 
Upton. The old-fashioned days of apprenticeship 
were on the wane, and the firm allowed him to work 
with them and under their instruction for what he 
could earn. He was a mere boy, but being permit- 
ted to enter the ranks as a fellow-workman aroused 
his manliness and called out his best traits. With 
these men, who were skillful workmen and led their 
men as well as planned and directed them, he had a 
fine opportunity, not only to train his hands in the 
use of tools, but to study their ways as successful 
builders. They did not suppress but encouraged every 
laudable effort, so that he found full play for his am- 
bition and energy, and while he learned the details of 
the art of his choice he also gained an insight into 
those ways that laid the foundation for his future suc- 
cessful business career. He ajiplied himself diligently 
and faithfully to his chosen profession until the break- 
ing out of the Civil War. He enlisted at the age of 
eighteen years iu that fine regiment which was the 
pride of Worcester County, — the Twenty-fifth Ma.ssa- 
chusetts Volunteers,— and in September, 1861, went to 
Annapolis, Maryland, where he entered at once upon 
the train and drill of a soldier. He was here stricken 
down by an attack of the measles and was sent to the 
hospital, and though receiving the best possible care, 
came from it with a weakened voice and wasted frame, 
and the experienced surgeons felt he would not be 
able to go through the hardships of an active cam- 
paign. He did not shirk his duty, however, but went 
with his regiment to North Carolin.a. After two bat- 
tles he was so reduced in strength that a court of 
surgeons recommended his discharge for disability, 
which he received in July, 1S62. He returned home 
at once, and in his native air and with good nursing 
he so far recovered as to be accepted by the examining 
surgeon, and again became an enlisted man. He 
joined a company of heavy artillery in September, 
1863, and served until the close of the war with credit 
to himself and to his company. 

He returned to his native town to take up again the 
pursuits of peace. His trade had not been com- 
pleted, and its work was now found to be very dull, 
and he was compelled to accept any chance offered 
him. In these new fields of labor he enlarged his 
knowledge and gained valuable information that was 
afterwards turned to good account in the management 
of his afi'airs as a contractor. It was about this time 
that he made the acquaintance of Miss Carrie Clark, 
a young lady who resided in Upton with her mother, 
and they were married in November, 1866. She was 
of patriotic stock. Her ancestor, Edward Clark, was 
a soldier in the Colonial army, and was present at the 
surrender of the fortress of Louisburg to the English 
in 1758. 

After his marriage, finding he was unable to com. 
mand a sufficient income to satisfy his household re- 
quirements, Mr. Leighton removed to Clinton, Mass. 



94 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



boots and shoes there extensively and successfully 
for many years, giving employment to a large number 
of workmen. G. Bickford Brigham continues the 
business there, and employs about one hundred hands ; 
and his annual sales of boots and shoes amount to 
$165,000. 

William B. Wood also erected a factory in South- 
ville, in which he manufactured cotton and woolen 
cloths for many years, giving employment to a uum 
ber of people. 

Soon after the erection of those factories, Milton H. 
Sanford, Esq., purchased a large tract of land in the 
south part of the town, and in 1846-47 he erected 
thereon a large stone factory for the manufacture of 
cotton and woolen goods. He also built tliereon many 
dwelling-houses and other buildings. This thriving 
village he named Cordaville, in honor of his wife, 
Cordelia. The same factory was burnt October 31, 
1855. Two persons lost their lives in consequence of 
the fire, and others were injured. On the same 
spot he erected the present stone factory. He manu- 
factured very extensively various kinds of cotton and 
woolen fabrics, and jute blankets. He became very 
wealthy. In 1864 he sold the real and personal prop- 
erty to a stock company, called the "Cordaville 
Mills Company," Eranklin Haven, Esq., being 
president, John H. Stevenson, Esq., treasurer, and 
Judge Thomas Russell, clerk. In 1871 said property 
was sold by auction to Adolphus Merriam, Esq., of 
Framingham. For some years large quantities of 
goods were there manufactured by Merriam & Wil- 
son. March 9, 1876, a stock company was formed 
under the corporate name of " Cordaville . Woolen 
Company," Hubbard Willson, Esq., president and su- 
perintendent, and Adolphus Merriam, Esq., treas- 
urer, said Willson, Merriam and Joseph Merriam, 
directors. This company now manufacture blankets. 
They employ about one hundred operatives, and the 
sales amount to about one hundred thousand dollars 
per year. 

In 1860 one Kidder commenced the manufacture 
of brick near Fayville ; after his death the property 
was owned and the business continued by Ball & Hoi- 
man. They were succeeded by the Framingham 
Brick Company. By the aid of steam-power and im- 
proved machinery the latter company are able to 
manufacture yearly one and a half millions of brick. 
Fayville was so named in honor of a large portion ol 
its former business men, to wit: Colonel Dexter Fay. 
and his two brothers. Colonel Francis B. Fay and 
Honorable Sullivan Fay, Colonel Artemas Fay and 
his brother, Elijah Fay. Colonel Dexter Fay com- 
menced business as a butcher. He afterwards built 
a small store about fourteen feet square. His trade 
so increa.sed that he had to enlarge his store from 
time to time. It became a famous place for trade 
and eventually the yearly sales therein for many 
years exceeded $125,000. His brothers formerly 
were more or less interested with him in this business; 



so, latterly, were hia sons, Emery B. Fay, Caleb T. 
Fay, Sylvester C. Fay and Augustus F. Fay. Col- 
onel Dexter Fay was also a noted cattle broker, and 
was a constant attendant at the Brighton Cattle Mar- 
ket for over forty years. Colonel Francis B. Fay, 
after having filled many important offices in town and 
county, moved to Chelsea, Mass. He became a very 
successful commission merchant, was several times in 
his lifetime honored with a seat in both branches of 
the Legislature, and was once elected representative 
to Congress. He was the first mayor of Chelsea. 
Honorable Sullivan Fay was conveyancer, settled 
many estates, was clerk of the Agricultural Branch 
Railroad Company, was elected to both branches of 
the Legislature, and was president of a Medical Col- 
lege in Worcester, Mass. Colonel Artemas Fay was 
a manufacturer of boots, shoes and bonnets. Elijah 
Fay was a currier. The phrenological poet once 
wrote concerning the organ of weight in the head of 
Colonel Dexter Fay : " This organ is very large in 
your friend. Colonel Fay — Colonel Dexter, of course. 
There are many of that name on the records of fame 
— there is Francis of Boston, in the mercantile trade ; 
and Artemas, here at home, by whom bonnets are 
made." 

In those days beef cattle were sold in market by 
estimated weight or by weight of the sides after they 
were killed and dressed. In estimating droves of 
heavy cattle his judgment was most always sought, as 
no broker who attended the cattle market could ex<el 
him in that art. He was a very honorable man in his 
dealings, was very active in business, and was honored 
and respected by his townsmen. He held many of 
the principal offices and represented the town in the 
General Court. He was an excellent colonel in his 
regiment. Fayville received the following dis- 
tinguished honor: 

General Lafayette, in about the year 1815, while 
journeying from New York to Boston with his body- 
guards, stopped at the hotel in Fayville for refresh- 
ments. The people of the village assembled to do 
him honor, and he shook hands with them all. 

John L. Whiting was born in Shrewsbury, Mass., 
May 28, 182.3. He was the son of Seth Whiting and 
Mary Kendall, and was one of nine children. 

The Whiting family in the United States is de- 
scended from Rev. Samuel Whiting, who came to 
this country in 1636, and was the first minister of 
Lynn, Mass. (1636 to 1679). 

Seth Whiting and family moved to Southboro' in 
1841, and from that date until 1850 the brush busi- 
ness was carried on by the father and son in 
Fayville. Mr. Whiting, Sr., was one of the earliest 
and one of the best brush-makers in New England ; 
he made several valuable improvements in the 
art, and did more than any other man to super- 
sede English with American paint-brushes in the 
Boston market. He considered it a sin to make a 
poor brush, or one that was not exactly what it 




^?^ 



l1 






I 



I 



SOUTHBOROUGH. 



95 



seemed to be. Shoddy of any kind, moral or ma- 
terial, found no favor in his sight. 

John L. Wliiting married Mary, daughter of 
Moses Sawin, of Southboro', in 1852. He commenced 
the manufacture of bruslies in Boston in 1864, 
and has for years been the largest brush manufac- 
turer in the United States. Whiting's patent 
bruslies have a national reputation, and have been 
introduced to some extent in other countries. Mr. 
Whiting has introduced machinery into his factory, 
thus eftecting a great saving of labor. The brush- 
makers of the olden time used but one machine) 
while John L. Whiting & Son have in use be- 
tween seventy-five and eighty. 

Several of Mr. Whiting's inventions effect a very 
material saving in the length of bristles used in 
brushes; this U accomplished by mechanical de- 
vices which secure the bristles iu the ferrule by a 
shorter hold than any of the old methods, thus 
practically extending their length and increasing 
their value, without injury to the quality of the 
brushes. This economy of stock of course reduced 
the prices of the brushes ; the result has been more of 
a public than a private benefit, as other brush-makers 
have been stimulated to extra exertions, in order to 
accomplish, as far as possible, the saving eft'ected by 
Mr. Whiting's inventions. 

Mr. Whiting is popular with his employes, it be- 
ing worthy of note that there has never been a strike 
in his factory. 

He is a public-spirited citizen and a liberal con- 
tributor to many worthy charities. 

In 1872, Curtis Newton and Dexter Newton, sons 
of Stephen and Sally Newton, having purchased the 
large estate of the late Col. Dexter Fay, erected, with 
the assistance of Daniel H. Thompson, Joseph Fair- 
banks, Allan D. Howe and Lewis Brewer, a shoe- 
factory in Fayville, forty by fifty feet. Since that 
time the factory has been twice enlarged, so that now 
it contains over forty-six thousand feet of flooring. 
The last addition was made by Dexter Newton, Joseph 
Fairbanks, Allan D. Howe, Henry H. Newton and 
Augusta E. Brewer, who are the present owners of the 
factory. It is leased to H. H. Mawhinney & Co.; 
Allan D. Howe, superiutendent. 

The montlily pay-roll amounts to about twelve 
thousand dollars. They employ about three hundred 
operatives. The sales amount to about four hundred 
thousand dollars annually. 

Since the erection of this factory Fayville has 
more than doubled its inhabitants and tenements. 

Lincoln Newton (2d), was formerly a boot and 
shoe manufacturer in Fayville, and gave employment 
to many persons. 



CHAPTER XV. 

SOVVHBOROUGH.—(CL»i/i,iued). 

The number of inhabitants in town at the time 
of its incorporation is not positively known. There 
were about fifty families, and probably about two 
hundred and eighty inhabitants. In 1757 it appears 
that the number of enrolled men was 75, and the 
number of minute-men 5G. In 1790 the number of 
inhabitants was 837. At the close of each subsequent 
decade the number of inhabitants was as follows, 
viz.: 1800,871; 1810, !I2(J; 1820,1,030; 1830,1,080; 
1840,1,145; 1850,1,347; 1860,1,854; 1870,2,133; 
1880-85, 2,100. 

Of the names of the inhabitants, the Newtons, 
Fays and Brighams have always predominated. The 
number of Newtons born iu town since its incorpora- 
tion is 443 ; and the number of Fays born in town 
during the same time is 334. 

By order of the General Court, the first town- 
meeting was held August 28, 1727, at the house of 
Timothy Brigham, which stood where is now located 
the St. Mark's School-house. William Johnson was 
moderator. The first town-meeting, under warrant of 
selectmen, was held March, 1728— James Newton, 
moderator ; Moses Newton, Scth Bellows, Doe Mathea, 
and Captain Ward were selectmen. The principal 
business of this meeting, besides the choice of officers, 
and of several town-meetings which followed, was to 
arrange for procuring a minister of "good conversa- 
tion to preach God's word," and to devise ways and 
means to build a meeting-house. Money for both 
purposes was promptly raised. The first meeting- 
house built was 50x40 feet, aud 20-foot posts ; £300, or 
$1,000, was appropriated for same. It was built in 
1727-28. This house lasted seventy-nine years, at 
the end of which time it was sold for .$76.99, aud 
taken down. It was located a few feet south of the 
house now owned by the Pilgrim Evangelical Society, 
and on a portion of the land given by the inhabitants 
of Marlborough to the inhabitants of this section 
thereof, previous to the incorporation of Southbor- 
ough(said land was given and set apart for the accom- 
modation of meeting-house, burial-place and for a 
training-field forever). In 1806, December 17th, the 
second church edifice was dedicated ; it cost .$7,778. 

The pews sold for 12,658 above the appraisal. In 
1856 said meeting-house was conveyed by the First 
Parish Society to said Pilgrim Evangelical Society, 
and by the latter it was remodeled and fitted up in 
its present modern style at a cost of about $13,000, 
and dedicated. In 1828, September 10th, the Baptist 
Society dedicated the brick church which is now oc- 
cupied for a dwelling. For want of sufficient room 
in the church, the dedicatory services were held in 
the grove near "Mount Vickory." The present 
Baptist Church was built in 1845. The first church 



96 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



of the Pilgrim Evangelical Society was built in 1832. 
It is now the high school-hou.se. The Episcopal 
Church was dedicated August 15, 1862. The Second 
Congregational Church was located in Southville, 
was built in 1872. 

St. Miiltliew's Catholic Church, located between 
Cordaville atid Sdutliville, was built in 1S79. St. 
Anne's Catholic Church was built in 1887, and located 
between Fayville and Southboro' Centre. Rev. John 
F. Redican is rector of both societies. He was born 
in Worcester, April 2, 1858 ; is a graduate of the 
public schools of Worcester, also of the Holy Cross 
College, Worcester, Mass; studied theology in Mon- 
treal University ; was ordained in Montreal ; spent 
five years as assistant in Webster ; came to Cordaville 
as first pastor of St. Matthew's Church November 26, 
1886. 

The first minister settled by the town was Rev. 
Nathan Stone. He was ordained October 21, 1730, 
and continued their pastor until his death, May 31, 
1781. June 1, 1791, Rev. Samuel Sumner was settled. 
He was dismissed, agreeably to his request, December, 
1797. In 1799, October 9th, Rev. Jeroboam Parker, 
a native of Southborough, was ordained, and became 
their pastor. He was dismissed at his own request in 
1832. The First Parish Society afterwards settled 
Rev. John D. Sweet, Rev. William Lord, Rev. Alden 
and Rev. Barnard. The salary first paid to Mr. Stone 
was £120 or $400, and thirty cords of good wood. In 
1734 his salary w;us raised to X150 and thirty cords of 
good wood. 

Only one religious society existed in town until 
1825. The Baptist Society have settled Rev. Jonathan 
Forbush, Rev. Abiasaph Sampson, Rev. W. Morse, 
Rev. Aaron Haynes, Rev. M. Ball, Rev. John Alden. 
They have had several acting pastors, the present one 
being Rev. H. G. Gay. The Pilgrim lOvangelical 
Society was organized February 17, 1831, and have 
settled Rev. Walter FoUett, Rev. Jacob Cummiugs, 
Rev. E. M. El wood, Rev. G. D. Bates, Rev. W. J. 
Breed, Rev. John Colby, Rev. H. M. Holmes, Rev. 
A. L. Love, Rev. J. E. Wheelcrand Daniel E. Adam.s, 
D.D. Rev. Alansou Rawson was acting jiastor from 
April 28, 1843, to April 12, 1852. Rev. Andrew 
Bigelow, D.D., was acting pastor from Aj)ril 1, 1874, 
to April 1, 1875. 

The Episcopal Society have had for rectors Rev. 
Joshua R. Pierce, Rev. A. C. Patterson, Rev. Charles 
Wingate, Rev. Robert Lowell, Rev. J. I. T. -Coolidge, 
D.D., and the present rector. Rev. Waldo Burnett. 

The Second Congregational Society have settled 
Rev. C. A. Stone, and have had for acting pastors 
Rev. John Le Boscjuet, and Rev. Truman A. Merrill. 

The first appro|>riaticin made by Southborough for 
teachers was in 1732, viz. : to Timothy Johnson, six 
pounds ; and to Samuel Bellows, four pounds ten 
shillings. Subsequently, for several years, Solo- 
mon Ward was employed to teach in rotation the 
four schools located in difl'ereut sections of the town. 



Southborough maintained but four schools until 
1837. The citizens of Southborough have ever mani- 
fested a great intere.st in education. 

In 1859, Henry H. Peters, Esq., a wealthy citizen, 
feeling a deep interest in the education of the youth, 
and having a desire that the scholars of Southborough 
should have as good advantages for obtaining an edu- 
cation as was enjoyed by the scholars in the neigh- 
boring towns, donated the present school-house, 
nicely finished and furni.?hed, and the land con- 
nected therewith, to the town, on condition that it 
should be u.sed for a high .school, to be taught by a 
master (jualified to teach the branches usually taught 
in a high school, and to be kept at least eight months 
in each year. The town accepted the very liberal 
donation at a regular town-meeting ; and as a token 
of their ai)preciation of his generosity, they directed 
that it should be called the "Peters High School- 
House." 

The citizens generally have manifested great satis- 
faction with the good results of the school. They 
have been willing to appropriate a liberal sum yearly 
for the support of this as well as for the other ten 
schools. The School Conuuittee, in 1878, expended 
for schools, $5,854. In 1852 a free i)ublic library was 
est.iblished. The opening of the same was properly 
celebrated. A public meeting was held in the Town 
Hall February 12th. The occasion was enlivened by 
speeches, songs and music. A. L. Hobart, JI.D., then 
of Southborough, nuule the principal address. The 
following extract from his address will quite fully ex- 
[ilain the character of the preliminary measures inci- 
dent to its establishment : 

Col. FranciB B. Fay, in the fulllicgsof his KonI aud liborHlity of his 
j^pirit, conceived in Iiis heart to do a good thing unto tlie inliahitants of 
the good old town of Soutlihorough, which gave him birth ; and so, 
iiiisolicited, and of his own good-will and iileasnre, he thnist his hand 
deep into his pocket, an<! drawing forth live hundred pieces of silver 
(ff-^iOO), held them ui> before the eyes of the iidiahitanis of the town, 
while he thus spoke: "Fellow-citizens! Fellow-townsnien ! I was 
born, and nnrtnred, and rocked, and reared in your midst. lam one 
of yon, and you are dear unto nie. And now, as you are dear unto me, 
and as my heart atid hands are drawn towards you in aflection, and as 
the enligiiteunient and elevation of your minds are things near my 
heart, therefore, if all together, or any of you, will give a like simi, I 
will give these live hnndied pieces of silver to form the nucleus of a 
Town Library, which shall bo free for all the inhabitants of the town 
to use for their improvemout, and for their children's children forever. 

The town appropriated the other five hundred dol- 
lars, and directed that as a token of their esteem for 
the generous donor, it should be called the " Fay 
Library." 

In 1870, April 20th, Col. Fay tlonated to the town the 
additional sum of one thousand dollars, for the benefit 
of the library. There is now a fund of fifteen hundred 
dollars in the hands of the trustees of the library, the 
interest of which, with various other items contributed 
uud appro])riated, eiialile Ihe trustees to expend about 
two hundred dollars annually for books. There are 
iiiiw in the library five thousand six hundred and 
thirty-five volumes. The people of Southborough 
have great cause to hold iu fond remembrance the 



SOUTHBOROUGH. 



97 



names of aforesaid donors; and not only we, but, in 
future years, full many a son and daughter, who shall 
inhabit this land, read books and learn in this school, 
— looking back, perhaps, through time's long vista, — 
will aho exultingly claim these donors as their im- 
mortal benefactors. 

In 1865 the St. Mark's School was incorporated 
under the laws of the Commonwealth, and was 
founded for the classical education of boys. Its 
course of studies is prepared with the purpose of giv- 
ing a thorough preparation for the admission to the 
universities and colleges of the country. It is a 
school for the Episcopal Church, and its order and 
management are in conformity with the principles 
and spirit of the Church. Its scholars number about 
sixty, and are required to board at the institution. It 
is said to be one of the most thorough and best-dis- 
[ ciplined schools in the State. The establishment of 
1 this school and the erection of the beautiful Episcopal 
Church are the results of the great enterprise and 
perseverance of our honored and esteemed fellow- 
citizen, Dr. Joseph Burnett. The school is under 
the management of the following officers: 

Episcopal Visitor. — The Right Rev. Benjamin H. 
Paddock, D.D., Bishop of the Diocese of Massa- 
chusetts. 

Board of Trustees.— Rt. Rev. B. H. Paddock, D.D., 
Rev. D. C. Millett, D.D., Rev. George S. Converse, 
A.M., Rev. Thomas R. Pynchon, D.D., Joseph Bur- 
nett, Esq., Joseph Story Fay, Esq., Francis C. Foster, 
[ Esq., H. N. Bigelow, Esq., Rev. S. U. Shearman, 
George P. Gardner, Esq. 
Bead Masler.—Winiam E. Peck, A.M. 
Treasurer. — Joseph Burnett, Eeq. 
Dr. Joseph Burnett was born in Southbnrough, 
November 11, 1820. He married Josephine Cutter, 
June 20, 1848, by whom he has had twelve children. 
He received his education from the common schools 
L in Southborougli and the English and Latin schools 
' in the city of Worcester, commencing business as an 
apothecary in that city, where he remained two years. 
He then removed to Boston, where he continued the 
business for several years. He is now a manufactur- 
t ing chemist of great notoriety. 

The beautiful appearance of the Centre Village is 
largely due to his benevolence, influence and taste. 
In 1840 the town built its first town-house. Previous 
to that time the town-meetings were held in the 
church of the First Parish Society. Said town-house 
cost about $4,000. It was burnt in 1869. Without 
delay the inhabitants proceeded to erect another. 
The present handsome, substantial and commodious 
brick town-house was built in 1869-70, at a cost, in- 
cluding fixtures and furniture, of about S30,000. The 
building committee, consisting of Dr. Joseph Bur- 
nett, Dexter Newton, Dr. J. Henry Robinson, Frank- 
lin Este and Curtis Hyde, delivered the keys thereof 
to the selectmen April 20, 1870. In 1824 the young 
men organized a lyceum. Hon. Francis B. Fay was 
7 



presidentof the same for several years. This is said 
to be one of the first lyceums ever formed in this 
vicinity. One of the most exciting debates partici- 
pated in by the then young America was : " Is an 
untruth ever justifiable?" Disputants appointed in 
the affirmative were Peter Fay and Blake Parker ; 
negative, Joel Burnett and Brigham Witherbee. The 
discussion waxed warm. The disputants, pro and 
con, fought the battle inch by inch during the allotted 
time. Question was finally decided on its merits, in 
the negative. This lyceum accomplished much 
good. 

Another lyceum was formed in 1842. Its members 
at one time numbered forty-four. Many momentous 
questions were considered. Interesting and instruc- 
tive free lectures, through their exertions, were given 
to the public. Southborough has raised many noble 
men and women, and several distinguished scholars. 

The following is a list of those reared in town wlio 
have availed themselves of the benefits of a college- 
education, viz. : Jeroboam Parker, graduated at Har- 
vard in 1797, became a minister; Nathan Johnson, 
graduated at Yale in 1802, judge of Court of Common 
Pleas ; Sherman Johnson, graduated at Yale in 1802. 
minister; Luther Angier, graduated at Amherst in 
1833, minister ; Marshall B. Angier, graduated at 
Yale in 1884, minister ; Henry M. Parker, graduated 
at Harvard in 1839, teacher; Joel Burnett, graduated 

at Harvard Medical in , physician ; Waldo I. 

Burnett, graduated at Harvard Medical in 1849, natu- 
ralist; Edward Burnett, graduated at Harvard in 
1871, M.C. ; Harry Burnett, graduated at Harvard 
in 1873, chemist ; Waldo Burnett, graduated at Har- 
vard in 1875, rector ; Clarence Thompson, graduated 
at Amherst in 1874, civil engineer; George E. 
Brewer, graduated at Amherst in 1874, insurance 
broker ; Charles T. Murray, graduated at Dartmouth 
College in 1882, teacher ; Winfield Scott Hammond, 
graduated at Dartmouth College in 1884, teacher; 
Charles C. Burnett, graduated at Harvard in 1886, 
railroad manager. 

Jeroboam Parker, mentioned above, was for many 
years the minister in Southborough. Joel Burnett 
was a noted physician in the town, was particularly 
interested in her schools and was greatly honored and 
respected. He delivered the first lecture on the sub- 
ject of temperance given in the town. His son, 
Waldo I. Burnett, was a zealous student and became a 
distinguished naturalist. By the Boston Society of 
Natural History he was elected curator of entomol- 
ogy. In successive years he gained many of the 
prizes offered by said society. In the winter of 1851 
he delivered, at the Medical College in Atlanta, Ga., 
a course of lectures in microscopic anatomy. In 
1852 he prepared the essay which received the prize 
from the American Medical Association. He died of 
consumption July 1, 1854, in the twenty-sixth year 
of his age. From an address concerning his life and 
writings, delivered before the Boston Society of 



98 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



Natural History, July 19, 1854, by Dr. Jeffries Wy- 
man, is taken the following extract: " We cannot 
but sensibly feel that in his death we have lost an 
associate of no ordinary talents; we can point to no 
other member of our society, and not more than one 
other naturalist in our country, who has given such 
proofs of zeal and industry, and who, in so short a 
life, has accomplished so large an amount of scien- 
tific labor. Had he been spared to future years, we 
cannot but feel the assurance that he would have ac- 
quired for himself a far higher place and still more 
honorable name in the annals of science. Let us 
cherish his memory and profit by his example." 

The records of the town show that the people have 
always taken a forward rank in the cause of freedom. 
Capt. John Taplin went in command of a company of 
forty-nine men on the Crown Point expedition in 
1756; was out from February 18th to December 20th. 
Capt. Aaron Fay commanded a company sent for the 
reduction of Canada, and was out fioni March to 
November, 1758. 

Capt. John Taplin was also out in this campaign. 

A number of Southborough men were out in the 
campaign of the la^t French and Indian War. 

Dilenton Johnson was at Fort William Henry when 
it capitulated, August 9, 1757, and was exposed to the 
Indian barbarities of that terrible day. Elijah Reed 
and Joshua Newton, also of Southborough, were in 
that battle. 

In 1765, in town-meeting, the following unanimous 
vote of instruction was given to their representative, 
Ezra Taylor, Esq.: "That you would in the most 
effectual and loyal manner firmly assert and lawfully 
maintain the inherent rights of the Province, that 
posterity may know that if we must be slaves, we do 
not choose by our own acts to destroy ourselves, and 
willingly entail slavery on them." 

The military warrant, dated November 7, 1774, will 
be read with interest by the citizens of the town : 

To Ezekiel Collings, One of the Corporals of tlie Military foot Oom- 
pany, in tbe Town of Soutliborougli, in the County of Worcester, under 
the command of Josiah Fay, Captain, and in the Riginmnt whereof 
Artemas Ward Esq, of Shrewsbury is Colonel — Greeting. 

You are hereby Directed to Warn forthwith all the afternamed Non- 
Commission Otficers and Soldiers of Said Company, Viz. , — 

Jonathan Chanipny, sargeant. Asahel Newton. 

Elijah Brigham sargeant. Luke Newton. 

Hezekiah Fay, sergeant. Sirus Newton. 

James Williams, corporal. Gideon Newton, 

Ezekiel Collins, corporal. Mark Collins. 

Ebenezer Richards, corporal. John Richards. 

Isaac Newton, Jun., drummer. Josiah Fay, Jun. 

Joshua Smith. Andrew Phillips. 

Benj. Smith. John Phillips. 

Nathan Tapplin, Eben Newton. 

Elisba Tapplin. Josiah Ward. 

Eneas Ward. Ebenezer Collins. 

Elisha Fay. John Clifford. 

John Fay, Jun. Zacheus Witherbee. 

Elisba Johnson. Daniel Johnson. 

Ephraim Amsden. Kirby Moore. 

Moses Newton. Edmand Moore. 

Erasnias Ward. Mark Collings, Jun. 

David Newton, Jun. William Winchester, 



Isaac Newton. 
Solomon Leonard. 
Timothy Angler. 
Jonah Johnson. 
P^<lward Ohamberlin. 
Nathan Champny. 
Job Biglo, 
Thomas Stone. 
Peter Ston. 



Jabez Newton. 
Williams Williams. 
Abnor Parker, 
John .lohnson. 
Isaac Ball. 
Nathan Fay. 
Jedediah Parker. 
John Leonard. 
Jonas Woods. 



To appear in tbe Common training field By the Meeting House in 
said Southbr" with their fire-arms Compleate on the ninth Day of thia 
Instant November, att Eight of the Clock, in tbe fournoon of said Day 
then and thair Renuiin attend to and Obay further orders Hereof fail 
Not and make return of thia Warrant with your Doings thereon Unto 
me att or Before Said time. Given under my hand att said Southb** the 
seventh Day of November anno-dom 1774, 

JosiAU Fay Cap. 

Capt. Josiah Fay's company of fifty -six minute men, 
who were disciplined and supported at the expense of 
the town, marched to Lexington and Concord, April 
19,1775. Every able-bodied male citizen, sixteen years 
old and upward, was armed according to law. They 
were required to be in constant readiness to repel any 
attack of the enemy. 

In town-meeting April 29, 1861, on motion of Syl- 
vester C. Fav, Esq., it was voted, unanimously "that 
the town is ready to respond to the proclamations of 
the President with every able-bodied citizen and every 
dollar, if necessary." The town furnished two hundred 
and nineteen brave and patriotic men, being thirty- 
three more than enough to fill her quota under every 
call of the President during the great Rebellion. Seven- 
teen of those men died in the service of their country, 
and these names appear on the monument erected to 
their memory. Said monument, erected on the com- 
mon in Southborough Centre, is of Fitzwilliam granite, 
and was built by E. F. Meaney, olBoston, from a design 
of A. R. Esty, Esq. It was dedicated January 1, 1867. 
It is twenty feet high. On the south (front) side 
are inscribed the words, "Erected by the citizens of 
Southborough;" on the east, "In Memoriam ;" on 
the north, " Our Country's Defenders ;" and on the 
west, "Rebellion, 1861." 

Patriots are here in freedom's battle slain — 

5Ieu whose short lives were closed with scarce a stain ; 

Men lovers of our race, whose labors gave 

Their names a memory that defies the grave. 

This monument cost $1613.50, and was paid for 
mostly by subsciiption. Some of the money, how- 
ever, was contributed by various as-emblies and so- 
cieties. Henry H. Peters, Esq., subscribed $.500; Dr. 
Joseph Burnett, $100 ; the ladies, nearly $200 ; Curtis 
Newton, E. D. Rockwood, Peter Fay and S. N. 
Thompson, each $25; and ninety-two other persons 
contributed smaller sums. This town has a very per- 
fect record of her soldiers who enlisted in the late war. 
To William P. Willson, Esq., great credit is due for 
his alacrity and perseverance in its preparation and 
completion. The following is a list of the names of 
said soldiers : 

S, U, Andrews. Lyman B, Collins. 

George Brown. Daniel Chick. 

John F, Bates, Otis Q. Claflin, 




I 



I 



I 



'jHvy-c/ c/^^^^ 



% 



SOUTHBOROUGH. 



99 



Edwin F. Barney. 
Cbiirles Baldwin, 
Georffe T. Brigham. 
Alfred W. Bi-igham. 
Charlea H. Bidgelow, 
Francis Bird, 
diaries Battle. 
■William E. Buck, 
Mitchell Butterfield. 
Emerson Bigelow. 
Thomas Boyd, Jr. 
Eugene F Bigelow. 
Augustine B. Bemia. 
Henry T. Ureed. 
Theodore N. Brewer, 
Daniel Bressman. 
George G. Burlingame. 
Michael Bressney, 
William Barr. 
Marcelus J. Burditt. 
Lucell Boyd. 
Lovely Bird. 
George M. Brigham. 
Charles E. Brigham. 
John Blanchard, 
James Bresman. 
Peter Clark. 
D. A. Chamberlain. 
Robert Crosby. 
Michael Caughlin. 
A, E. Chamberlain. 
Patrick H. Cleary. 
Charles K. Collins. 
Joseph n. Collins. 
Lowell T. Collins. 
John Collins. 
Hitrrison Chase. 
Marshall Collins. 
William Carroll. 
Irving S. Hunt. 
William H. Hill. 
Vergene 0. Hyde. 
William Hunt. 
S. E. W. Hopkins. 
Uriah Howes. 
Sylvester G. Hosiner. 
Martin J. Hubbard. 
Henry E. Hartwell. 
George H. Houghton. 
Charles H. Homes. 
Camilus C. Hyde. 
Joseph W. Hurd. 
A. E. Iiigraham. 
David Ireson. 
Lyman A. Jones. 
Cornelius W. Johnson. 
William Keefe. 
Patrick Kilgariff. 
David Kilpatrick. 
John H. Kimball. 
Charles T. Love. 
John Lahan. 
Edward L. Lovelaod. 
Louis Lovely. 
Paul Lake, 

Benjamin F. Langley. 
Michael Murphy. 
George H. Moore. 
Charles B. Moore. 
Joseph Martin. 
Michael SIcMahona. 
James McNabb. 
Edward JIcKnight. 
Dennis Mahoney. 
Richard Muletee. 
Austin McTTaster. 
Peter McFarlan. 



James F. Chickering. 
Michael Cook. 
Moses E. Cook. 
Maurice Crowoan. 
Edwin C. Dockham. 
Warren W. Day. 
Erastiis X. Durgin. 
John L. Day. 
Francis H. Davis. 
John Donahoe. 
Andrew Dunn. 
George E. Day. 
Thomas Doan. 
Thomas F. Dunbar. 
Samuel R. Day. 
John Denny, 
Cornelius Doherity. 
Bartlet Daily. 
Orrin Edwards. 
William E. Fay. 
Horatio L. Fay. 
Henry L. Flagg. 
Marcelus E. Fay. 
Darius C. Flagg. 
A. Claflin Fay. 
Eugene A. Frederick. 
Charl-sF. Fisber. 
Alfred Featherstone. 
Frederic Fay. 
Herbert W. Fay. 
Charles B. Fay. 
George W. Flagg, 
George W. Fay. 
William Fogarty. 
Francis A. Gould. 
Thomas Grant. 
Matthew U. Gleason. 
Michael Haggarty. 
John Haggarty. 
Thomas O'Brien. 
James L. Onthank. 
Lowell P. Parker. 
Charles S. Parker. 
Charles F. Parker. 
Gardner R, Parker. 
Rodger Pope. 
Austin G. Parker. 
Adolphiis B. Parker. 
Frank Paul. 
Ebeiiezer Pearson. 
Charles E. Preble. 
Arthur T. Rice. 
Edward Roberts. 
Joseph Raymond. 
Levi Ramsden. 
David Richardson. 
Andrew Rock. 
Timothy Ryan. 
Andrew J. Reed. 
Francis H. Stowe. 
Charles Scott. 
Amos P. Sargeant. 
Warren H. Stevens, 
George S. Sanford. 
Charles B Suwin. 
William M. Seavy. 
Allen Stevenson. 
Dennis Spellin. 
Daniel Shay. 
William Stafford. 
Charles A. Trask. 
Simeon 0. Taylor. 
Frank C. Tucker. 
George E. Thompson. 
James S. Toothaker. 
Samuel A. Toothaker. 
J. Granville Underwood. 



Michael McNarlan. 
Patrick McAlear. 
Michael McCue. 
Osceola V. Newton. 
Hartwell Newton. 
George W. Nichols. 
Joseph B. Nourso. 
John F. Newton. 
Francis A. Newhall. 
Francis D. Newton. 
S. Whitney Nourse. 
Jeremiah L. Newton. 
Dexter D. Onthank. 
George O'Grady. 
George E. Onthank. 
John O'Brien. 
Ares M. Onthank. 
Charles O'Grady. 



Greenville H. Winchester. 
Warren W. Williams. 
Hamlet S. Woods. 
James Ward. 
George W. Williams. 
Albert L. Weeks. 
George F. Wheeler, 
Ephraini Ward. 
Charles H. Woods. 
William Welsh. 
Edwin J. Walker. 
Hiram N. Walker. 
George L. Works. 
George H. Waterman. 
3larshall Whittemore. 
Charles H, Walkup. 
Joseph Wise. 



The followiDg-named persons were allotted to 
Southboro* by the Navy Commissioners, viz.: 



George O. Allen. 
Arthur A. Henry. 
William H. Smith. 
Thomas Shadwick. 
Charles Smith. 
Hiram Storer. 
Jeremiah Shemnaham. 



Frederick Scarlett. 
Frederick A. Smart. 
Joseph Staples. 
Timothy Toomey. 

Taakett. 

Leroy L. Walden. 



Among the names of many prominent men of this 
town — part of whom are now living and the others 
have recently deceased — who have done much to 
promote its highest and best interests, are the follow- 
ing : 

Moses Sawin purchased the grist and saw-mill and 
a small lot of land situate one-half mile west of Town 
Hall, in Southborough, of Deacon Gabriel Parkei, 
in 1833. The year following he bought of said Par- 
ker seven acres of land adjoining same, and on south 
side of Mill Pond, and built thereon a spacious dwell- 
ing-house, barn and other buildings. The estate is 
now owned and occupied by Charles B. Sawin, 
youngest of his three surviving sons. Said Moses 
Sawin was a lineal descendantofa long- list of millers. 
His ancestor, Thomas Sawin, was the third son of 
John Sawin, of Watertown, who was the father of the 
American Sawins. Thomas Sawin bought of the 
Natick Indian (a branch ofthe Massachusetts) fifty 
acres of land in South Natick, for which he paid ten 
pounds of lawful money. The following conditions 
were agreed upon in their transaction, viz.: The said 
Thomas Sawin was to build a mill on the premises 
for the grinding of corn, and he ?ind his heirs and 
assigns were to maintain said mill forever, and on 
the other part it was agreed that there was to be no 
other corn-mill built in town without the consent of 
said Thomas Sawin, his heirs and assigns. Said mill 
remained in possession of said Thomas Sawin and 
his descendants from 1685 to 1833 — one hundred and 
forty-eight years. Said Moses Sawin possessed and 
carefully preserv^ed through life the curious old deed, 
signed and sealed by the Indian chiefs of whom 
his said ancestor purchased the land. They are now 
in possession of said C. B. Sawin, at the old home- 
stead, where antiquarians and others interested in 
curious legal documents can examinfe them. 



100 



HISTOKY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



Moses Sawin was thrice married. In 1820 he mar- 
ried Joanna T. Lane, of whom he had one child, 
Joanna L. Sawin. In 1823 he married Mary B. Morse, 
of whom he had eight children, viz.: John B., Mary B., 
Sarah C, Maria A., Moses M., Lucy A., Charles B. and 
James H. Two of these passed over the daik river 
in early childhood, viz.: Lucy A. and James H. 
Sarah C. died in early womanhood, August 9, 1853. 
Joanna L. (Mrs. Libby) died November 15, 1860. 
The other five children are still living, and earnestly 
laboring to carry forward the great principles of pro- 
gress and reform, which their father labored so assid- 
uously to promote. In 1852 said Moses Sawin mar- 
ried Mrs. Catharine A. Rice, who still survives him 
and is loved and cherished, as a good mother should 
be, by all his children. Mr. Sawin was an active 
and excellent citizen. He took a lively interest in 
town affairs, was a faithful member of the Board of 
Overseers of the Poor for many years, and was enthu- 
siastic in promoting the best interests of the town. 
He was very active in aiding the great temperance 
reform. When the clarion notes of William Lloyd 
Garrison rang through the land calling the nation 
to repentance for supporting and maintaining chattel 
slavery, Mr. Sawin did not hesitate to enlist in the 
great cause of humanity. He was convinced it was a 
sin against God and a crime against his brother man. 

He had the courage to ask the members of the 
church to which he belonged to testify against the 
sin ; when his request was rejected he refused to com- 
mune with them as a church of Christ, and when, for 
this refusal, they cast him out of the church, he 
exultantly quoted to them the words of Christ, viz. : 
" Inasmuch as ye did it unto one of the least of 
these my brethren, ye did it unto me." He was 
especially gratified that he had lived to see slavery 
entirely abolished ; it was what he had long labored 
for and sought. But the crowning glory of his latter 
days was in hearing his former opponents acknowl- 
edge the righteousness of his cause, and labor earn- 
estly with him in the overthrow of American slavery. 

Mr. Sawin lived to a good old age (seventy-six) and 
died February 7, 1871, of rheumatism, after long and 
patient suftering. 

John Thomas Cotton was the son of Rev. Ward 
Cotton and his wife, Rebekah (Jackson), and one of 
the numerous descendants of John Cotton, first min- 
ister of Boston. Said John Thomas Cotton was the 
oldest of six children, born in Boylston, Mass., Feb- 
ruary 25, 1801. In youth and early manhood he had 
a long and severe sickness, which left him in a feeble 
condition, and although he lived to a great age, he 
never enjoyed good health. He was a very conscien- 
tious man, firm in his convictions, and was greatly 
beloved by his fellow-citizens. He served as repre- 
sentative to the General Court for several years, and 
long held the office of town clerk of said Boylston. 
In consequence of the failing health of his mother, 
10 whom he was entirely devoted, he was induced to 



give up all public employment. His mother died 
October 11, 1854, after which he purchased a small 
place for a home and sold the old homestead in 
Boylston. He lived in Southborough in great con- 
tentment and comfort, near his sister (Mrs. Hannah 
S. P. Whitney), for near a quarter of a century. 
Though he lived alone, he was no recluse, but was 
very sociable and very fond of his neighbors and 
flowers. He spent his last days with his sister, and 
passed over the dark river to beloved ones beyond, 
October 17, 1884. 

Peter Fay, Esq., was born in Southborough, Octo- 
ber 15, 1807. He married Roxanna Whipple, Decem- 
ber 29, 1829. She died November 28, 1853. March 
15, 1858, he married Dolly Collins. By his first wife 
he had six children — two girls and four boys. He 
lived on the old homestead formerly owned by his 
father, Peter Fay — and which is now owned and occu- 
pied by Charles F. Choate, Esq., president of the Old 
Colony Railroad Company — until March 1, 1855, 
having previously sold the same to Henry H. Peters, 
Esq. He then bought the Parker farm, which for 
many years was owned and occupied by the former 
ministers of the First Parish Society. He lived there 
about two years. He built the fine house in which 
he now lives in 1857. He has held many of the 
highest offices in town, and has received many honors 
from the citizens thereof. He represented the town 
at the General Court in 1845. He has served as 
selectman some nine years. He was very active, 
during the late war, in obtaining men to fill this 
town's quota under every call made by President 
Lincoln. He served on the Board of School Com- 
mittee about nine years ; assessor, one year; overseer 
of the poor, nine years; deacon of the Pilgrim Evan- 
gelical Church for about fifteen years. He settled 
the estate of his sister, Mrs. Dolly Bond, late of. 
Shrewsbury, deceased. This estate amounted to over 
$100,000. He received great credit for his faithful- 
ness and energy concerning the settlement thereof. 

On the old homestead he kept some forty head of 
cattle, and he took great pride in having extra nice 
ones. He made butter until 1840, and was the first 
farmer but two in town who sold milk to go into Bos- 
ton. He had fine apple orchards on his farm, which 
often yielded him one thousand barrels in a year. He 
was president of the first temperancesociety of South- 
borough for fifteen years. 

Daniel S. Whitney was born at Danvers (now Pea- 
body) on February 4, 1810. He is one of the many 
descendants of John and Elenor Whitney, of Water- 
town, and the eighth in descent from the original 
stock. Mr. Whitney was early engaged in the great 
reforms of the century. In 1830, at the age of twenty, 
after listening to an address by the celebrated Dr. 
Pierson, of Salem, he signed a pledge to abstain 
entirely from ardent spirits as a beverage, and from 
that time he has labored on through all the phases of 
the great temperance reform abstaining from all 




d^..^^^. 




i 
I 



. :k 





SOUTHBOROUGH. 



101 



intoxicating liquors as a beverage. He still works 
on, hoping for and believing in the final triumph of 
this great cause of human progress. 

In 18.S6, while keeping school on the Marhlehead 
coast, he first listened to the Gospel according to anti- 
slavery. Samuel J. May was the heavenly-tongued 
apostle on that occasion in the Branch Church of 
Salem, and from that lecture dates his interest in the 
great anti-slavery agitation begun three or four years 
before by William Lloyd Garrison. In the ranks of 
that grand army of freedom he was ever happy to be 
found. He was ordained as evangelist by the Massa- 
chusetts Association of Restorationists, and occupied 
pulpits as a supply for a few years. While thus 
engaged he became deeply interested in the under- 
taking of Rev. Adin Ballou, at Hopedale, Milford, 
Mass. This attempt to realize in actual life our 
highest conceptions of Christian principles was 
entered upon with great enthusiasm, and for eight 
years under several changes of business arrangements 
he ioyfuUy labored on at the great moral problem. 
He still clings to the hope that under more favorable 
surroundings, and profiting by past experiences, what 
was there attempted will yet be accomplished. All 
the great reforms of the age— temperance, anti-slavery, 
peace, the equal rights of women with men, and the 
golden rule as the law of intercourse and labor — con- 
stituted the policv of this attempt to realize the ideal 
of the great Master. The weakness of the undertak- 
ing, was found in the joint stock property of the under- 
taking which placed the continuance of the experi- 
ment in a few hands, and so brought it to a premature 
end. But while it lasted it formed a grand stand- 
point for living souls to utter and live their highest 
convictions. 

Mr. Whitney married, in 1842, Miss Hannah S. P. 
Cotton, youngest child of Rev. Ward Cottton, of 
Boylston. Three children were born to them — Daniel 
Cotton, who left them at the age of seven years; Mary 
P. C. (Billings), and Alice G. C. (Burton). 

After leaving Hopedale in 1850 Mr. Whitney spent 
one year in Beverly and two years in Boylston. In 
185.3 he was chosen delegate from Boylston to amend 
the Constitution of Massachusetts, and removed to 
Southborough, that he might return daily to his fam- 
ily while attending on that convention. The conser- 
vative Whigs managed to quash the proposed amend- 
ments before the people, but Mr. Whitney had the 
satisfaction of voting to leave the term " male " out 
of the amended Constitution. The conservatives of 
that day looked upon the proposition as the wildest 
of political dreams; but the thirty-five years since 
that convention has brought it near even to our doors 
here in Massachusetts. 

During the years of darkness and violence following 
the enactment of the Fugitive Slave Law, Mr. Whit- 
ney was ever ready and glad to do duty in the ranks 
of the Garrisonian Abolitionists. The flying fugi- 
tives were ever welcome to his home, and the sharp 



encounters with his pro-slavery neighbors were fre- 
quent. On a town-meeting day a zealot in a bad 
cause addressed Iiim with, " Mr. Whitney, you have 
nigger on the brain." "Oh, no, Mr. B., you have nig- 
ger on the brain ; I have negro on the heart," was his 
reply. 

When the final crash of arms came it was not 
difficult to see that the end of slavery was near. Mr. 
Whitney, during the last year of the war, labored in 
the Sanitary Commission at City Point, and was 
greatly pleased with the magnanimity of the Northern 
soldiers, and the absence of all disposition to take 
vengeance on the fallen traitors, as is common with 
other nations. 

He was delighted when the great silent man, who 
brought the Rebellion to grief, brought our mother, 
England, who treated us very shabbily during the 
war, to a sense of her duty, or interest to pay the 
damages. And since that day every effort and every 
advance towards a permanent arrangement between 
the two great English-speaking nations to settle all 
their differences by arbitration, instead of the sword, 
has given him the liveliest pleasure. 

He believes in the good time coming, when nations 
shall have outgrown the barbarism of war, and the 
injustice, oppression and ignorance which constitutes 
a chronic state of war. And he believes, further, that 
this good time is to come through the instrumentality 
of his beloved country. He knows that he must pass 
over the dark river befi>re these great events trans- 
pire, but a firm faith of the final triumph of right- 
eousness on earth and beyond the earth makes the 
evening of life joyful. 

Curtis Newton was born in Fay ville, November 1 3, 
1803. He married Lydia Ball Smith. He died Octo- 
ber 11, 1880. In early life he was much interested in 
military matters ; was Captain of the Rifle Company 
for several years, and was chosen major, but declined 
to serve. He represented his district to the General 
Court, was many years assessor, was selectman four- 
teen years, deputy sherif}', auctioneer for more than 
twenty years, was moderator of town-meetings sev- 
eral years, justice of the Peace. 

At the annual town-meeting in March, 1881, the 
following resolutions were unanimously passed, viz. : 

R-isolved, Tliat in the death of our late townsman, Curtis Newton, 
Esq., which occurred on the nth day of October last, we realize that 
the town has lost a beloved citizen, a man who has filled many of its 
highest offices, represented it in the General Court, and has ever per- 
formed the duties intrusted to him in a manner and with a degree of fi- 
delity that has done himself honor and has given satisfaction to his 
constituents. He has contributed liberally in many ways to the cause of 
freedom, and has always manifested a great love for the prosperity of 
this, his native town. 

IlemlL^efl, Tliat as a mark of respect due to so faithful a servant, we 
direct our town clerk to record these resolutions on the town book of 
records, and send an attested copy thereof to the widow of said deceased. 

Dexter Newton was born in Fay ville, January 13, 
1823. He married Arathusa A. Brigham, December 
9, 1846. In early life he was engaged in the provision 
busines-. He taught achool in this town three winters. 



102 



HISTORY OP WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



He received his education in the common and high 
schools in Southhorough and in the academy in 
Westfield, Mass. He was station agent at Faj'ville 
and Cordaville about eleven years; kept store in Cor- 
daville about three years ; has been postmaster in Fay- 
ville since July, 1869; United States assistant assessor 
of internal revenue about five years; represented the 
district in the General Court in 1861 and 1877 ; has 
been auctioneer about twenty years, selectman ten 
years, served on the Board of School Committee ten 
years, asse.'sor twenty-seven years, overseer of the 
poor five years, moderator of town-meetings over 
thirty years, land surveyor, justice of the peace, 
notary public, and has been Justice of the First Dis- 
trict Court of Eastern Worcester since June, 1879; 
has dealt largely in real estate, ha-s built nine houses 
and has settled and helped to settle over two hundred 
estates of deceased persons. He has zealously advo- 
cated the principal reforms of his time. 

Jonas Fay, Esq., a native of Southhorough, was 
twice married. He was selectman, assessor and 
member of School Committee for many years. Was a 
school teacher when young ; represented the town in 
General Court; deacon of the Pilgrim Evangelical 
Church ; settled many estates of deceased persons 
and was active in town affairs. 

Deacon Francis Fisher was twice married; held 
the office of selectman ; represented the district in 
General Court ; in his younger days was a seafaring 
man , and for a number of years a sea captain. 

Ezekiel D. Rockwood was twice married ; was a 
very prominent man ; served as selectman, overseer 
of poor for many years, and represented the district 
in the General Court. He was very liberal in his 
donations for the cause of freedom and temperance. 

Harvey Newton, Esq., son of Hezekiah Newton, 
was born September 26, 1819, married Ann S. Gamage, 
July 30, 1844; served as selectman one year. Was 
once chosen to represent the district in the General 
Court, but declined to serve — a very remarkable case. 
He manufactured boots and shoes with .John Hartt, in 
Soutliville, some seventeen years, and afterwards 
carried on the business alone about eight years. He 
built and now owns the shoe factories in that village, 
and has contributed largely towards building up said 
vill.ige. He was never blessed with children, but has 
been highly blessed in many things. 

•Tames Henry Robinson, M.D., born February 9, 
1831, married Charlotte K. Rl' e, November 9, 18.57. 
He graduated from Albany Medical College in 1856, 
and commenced practice as physician at Deer Island 
tlie same year. He practiced also in Ivan>as, and 
while there was tiie family physician of the famous 
John Brown. Since that time he has practiced in 
Southhorough and vicinity. He has represented the 
district in the General Court. . 

William H. Buck, Esq., born August 26, 1813. He 
married Sally Maria Brigham, June 20, 1850. He 
was in the meat business some four years, and for 



many years has been a cattle broker. He served as 
selectman eight years, and has held various other im- 
portant offices in town. He represented the district 
in the General Court one year. 

Benjamin F. Prentiss, Esq., born July 25, 1820 ; 
married, July, 1850, to Susan S. Johnson, of whom 
he had five children. He has held the office of 
selectman eight years, overseer of the poor eleven 
years ; is a master-builder by trade, and has erected 
nearly three hundred buildings. 

Sylvester C. Fay was born May 28, 1825. He mar- 
ried Eliza Bell Burnett, daughter of Dr. Joel Bur- 
nett, February 16, 1858. He kept store in Fayville 
with his father and brothers many years. Lately he 
has been engaged in the manufacture of corsets. He 
is a man of much energy ; has served as selectman. 
He has long been engaged in the temperance cause 
and oiher reforms. His wife and her sister. Harriet 
Burnett, have caused to be erected a large school- 
house, in which is kept by them a school for about 
thirty-five small boys, who are here prepared for 
entrance to the St. Mark's and other classical 
schools. 

Leander W. Newton was born in Southhorough 
November 26, 1838. He married Emma M. Muzzy 
February 27, 1861. He has served as overseer of the 
poor ten years, and as collector nine years. He has 
represented the district in General Court. He is an 
active business man. 

Horace F. Webster was born January 22, 1829. 
He married Ann M. Fox February 13, 1852. He 
has been town treasurer six years, He also repre- 
sented the district in General Court one year. 



CHAPTER XVI. 
STURBRIDGE. 

BY LEVI B. CHASE. 

Sturbridge is located in the southwest corner of 
Worcester County, bordering south upon the Con- 
necticut line, and west upon the county of Hampden. 

The surface is made up of long parallel ridges, more 
rounded hills, and corresponding valleys. 

The upheaval of rock is mostly of the gneiss forma- 
tion, the dip of the strata in some instances, as at the 
lead-mine, being almost perpendicular. Laterally, 
the trend of the strata is invariably northeasterly and 
southwesterly. The ridgts liave their uniformity 
broken up by differences in height, and the rounding 
and excoriating action of the glacial period. 

Right across these formidable barriers, and from its 
entrance at the west to its outgo at the east line of 
the original town, nearly — if it held a direct course — 
at right angles with the rock system, the Quinebaug 
has its way, dividing the territory into two nearly 
j equal portions. 



STUKBRIDGE. 



103 



The streams affluent to the Quinebaug take the 
water-shed from both directions, their general course 
being governed by the same rule as the rock forma- 
tion. 

In the present town we have Breakneck Brook and 
Hamant Brook from the south, the former discharging 
at the south bend of the river, the other higher up, 
near the centre of the valley. On the north side is 
Hobbs, or Sugar Brook, which takes the flow from 
Walker Pond, passes near the Common, and with its 
long series of meadows forms a large portion and the 
lowest level of the Central Valley. 

Cedar Pond Brook, near the Fair Grounds, and 
Long Pond Brook, near the western border, discharge 
the water of the respective reservoirs of the same 
name into the Quinebaug. 

Allum Pond is a notable natural body of water sit- 
uated about two miles northerly of Fiskdale Village. 
It is about one mile long and half a mile wide. It 
has Mount Toby upon the west of it, and is bordered 
by elevated land. The water is held in a rocky basin 
above the surrounding country. Fed by springs, its 
clear water abounding in fish, the salubrity of the air 
and the romantic scenery has given the shores of this 
pond a local reputation as a camping-ground. 

Walker Pond, in old times called Salstonstal's Pond, 
is noted as a pleasure resort. Here the country road 
skirts the eastern border beneath tall trees, while 
upon the opposite side of the pond rises the abrupt 
precipices of Walker Mountain, over which winds the 
"mountain road," making up a drive which is highly 
appreciated by the people in the vicinity. 

Lead-mine, Long and Cedar Ponds, have each their 
peculiar attractions. 

Shumway Hill throws out its northern point as if 
to stop the Quinebaug about two miles from the west- 
ern border of the town. The river is forced to turn 
and go around the hill close under the northern slope. 
Along the northern hank of the river, just where it 
curves, are situated the factories and the village of 
Fiskdale. From the opposite slope of Shumway Hill 
the view of thi-< village is enchanting. From the pin- 
nacle of the hill very fine views of rural scenery are 
obtained in every direction except the southward, 
where lie the wooded hills and rocky ridges that envi- 
ron the lead-mine region. To the eastward lies the 
central valley of the town, and beyond the mited Fisk 
Hill. 

From Fisk Hill one has an extensive and delightful 
view in every direction. 

Looking westward across the valley, the Quinebaug 
is seen emerging from Fiskdale along the base of 
Shumway* Hill, and seems to loiter idly along by 
grassy meadows and cultivated fields, winding abtmt 
in many a romantic nook and charming retreat — a 
blending of water, meadow and f )rest scenery seldom 
surpassed. 

All .along the valley it is the quiet Quinebaug. 
Turned aside at Fisk Hill, it takes a southerly course, 



going a little more hurriedly until it turns and 
plunges eastward between high, rocky hills, and then 
turns again to the northward, washing the opposite 
side of the hill which turned it from its former course. 
The river is again turned eastward by a high, rocky 
precipice and by ihis time charged with power, which 
is utilized for the purposes of man along the villages 
of Southbridge. t 

The quiet central valley is seen to the best advan- 
tage from Fisk Hill, presenting many points of rural 
beauty. 

To the inhabitants of this town this valley has 
the additional charm of ancestral and historic 
associations — of being where are clustered the re- 
ligious and secular institutions of civilization which 
gives value to life, and of being the resting-place of 
departed and loved ones. To those who have their 
home here it is the very centre of the world. 

Tantous(jue in Nipnet. — In September, 1633, 
John Oldham, with three companions, passed through 
Nipnet to the Connecticut River, " lodging at Indian 
towns all the way." 

While being entertained by the Indians at Tan- 
tousque, he was shown some specimens of what proved 
to be plumbago, or black-lead, and was shown, or 
told, where the substance was to be found in large 
quantities, near a pond called by the Indians Quassink. 
That this took place in the valley of the Quinebaug, 
in Sturbridge, is probable from following circum- 
stances. 

A path to the Connecticut River passed through 
here, and there could have been none siuth of it 
until beyond the abrupt ridges of the Breakneck 
region ; the extent of which tract would carry any 
southern route nearer, and probably south of the de- 
posit of plumbago at the hill of Ocquebituque, "near 
the cornfield where one Namaswhat lives." 

The last-mentioned lead-mine was known to John 
Pynchon some ten years later, but appears not to 
have been discovered by John Oldham in 1633. The 
hill of Ocquebituque is situated near the south line 
of Union, Connecticut, six miles or more from the 
Sturbridge mine. Hence, clearly John Oldham went 
by the Quinebaug Valley path through this town, 
about two miles north of the Sturbridge lead-mine, 
and about len miles from the cornfield where Namas- 
whnt lived. 

William Pynchon established a trading-post for 
furs at Agawara (Springfield) in 1635.' He had a 
monopoly of the trade over a large territory, and for 
a number of years the profits were considerable. One 
of his first enterprises was opening a road to the Bay 
settlements. 

Preserved in the archives of Sturbridge are records 
of roads whiih were used before the settlement, and 
afterwiirds until the town was incorfiorated. By plot- 
ting the toivn according to the original survey and 



J Hon. George Sheldon. 






104 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



distribution of lots, these isolated items of record 
about the old paths have become available, and their 
location known. 

The one that will be described was called, upon 
the records, " The road from Brimfield to Oxford." 
From the west line of the town to Fiskdale there 
is no record ; from a point back of Bacon & Bates' 
store to No. 2 School-house ; from there to the lower 
crossing over Cedar Brook, near the residence of Mr. 
Geo. Wight, it was identical in location with the 
present road ; passed the south side of Mr. Wight's 
house, and a small pond-hole near Mrs. Kansom's, 
then across the present highway, and to where Mr. 
C. D. Russell now resides; then across to near Mr. 
W. T. Lamb's, and along there with the present 
road to Mrs. H. Plimptoo's ; then crossed Sugar 
Brook, where N. D. Ladd & Son's mill-dam now is, 
on over a field ; then through pasture and woodland 
(where the tracks are still to be seen) to the north- 
west mowing lot, on Mr. J. H. Lyon's farm ; thence 
through the north part of his farm, passing Mr. N. 
Eggleston's, to the southeast corner of Mrs. McGil- 
pin's farm, to where there was a ford way over Mc- 
Kinstry Brook by old Oxford line, and may be 
traced in the direction of Dudley. It was the road 
used by the first settlers of Sturbridge when they 
moved from Medfield, Watertown and other places. 

It is here suggested that this may be the exact 
location of a section of the road opened by William 
Pynchon, about 1635-38, and that it then followed 
the general course of a previous Indian trail, which, 
in its course westward, doubtless passed a little north 
of Fiskdale, near the wigwams of the Putikookup- 
pogg Indians, and on to Ashquoash, in the north 
part of Brimfield. 

Ten years later, 1648, Gov. John Winthrop writes 
in his journal (ii. 325): "This year a new way was 
found out to Connecticut, by Nashaway (Lancaster), 
which avoids much of the hill way." Thi.s new way is 
described by Mr. Temple (" Hist. North Brookfield ") 
as passing down the valley of the Quaboag and 
" struck the south trail east of Steerage Rock," in 
Brimfield. Other evidences of record furnish satis- 
factory proof that we have here the " Bay-Path " of 
Dr. J. G. Holland's admirable historical novel with 
that title. 

Two important Indian paths, one from Providence 
and another from Norwich, united at Woodstock, 
and continued as one path through Sturbridge to 
Brookfield. The course was quite direct from Leba- 
non Hill to Fisk Hill, thence over Walker Moun- 
tain, south of the pond and onward to South Pond, 
a branch passing up the east shore to the ancient 
village of Quobagud, while the more important 
route skirted the west side of the pond, going on to 
Wickabo.ig (now West Brookfield). It will be 
again noticed farther along, when opened for an 
Englishman's road, about 1680-90. 

Gov. Winthrop sent Stephen Day, a printer, to 



Tantousque, in Nipnet, in 1644, to examine the de- 
posits of black lead, and also to search for other 
minerals. 

The 13th of November, the same year, the General 
Court granted to John Winthrop, Jr., '"y" hill at 
Tantousque, about sixty miles westward, in which 
the black lead is, and liberty to pu/chase some land 
of the Indians." (Winthrop by Savage, vol. ii. p. 
213.) He purchased some land of the Indians, as it 
appears. 

A plot of land containing ten thousand two hun- 
dred and forty acres was surveyed for Major-General 
Waitstill Winthrop in 1715. Its east line ran 
across Saltonstal's two thousand acres, which had 
been surveyed the previous year, taking off nearly 
one-third. A reasonable inference is, that there was 
a prior claim, based upon a bargain between the an- 
cestor, John Winthrop, Jr., and the Indians. In 
this town the bounds were by natural features, In- 
dian style : from a rock in a meadow south of Lead- 
mine Pond, to an angle in Quinebaug River, north 
of Geo. Wight's mills; then northward on the west 
side of Cedar Pond to a point against the north end 
of the original pond ; then west and onward, cover- 
ing the site of Brimfield Centre; then southeastward 
to the rock in the meadow. 

The bounds of the tract were located with the 
evident design of taking in the valuable lands along 
the " Old Springfield Road," and, if fixed in 1644, or 
in the days of John Winthrop, Jr., may be taken as 
evidence of the antiquity of said road. 

The lead-mine was being operated in March, 1658, 
by employes of William Paine and Thomas Clark, 
of Boston. The gentleman last named, it is sup- 
posed, was the Captain Thomas Clark who, the latter 
part of the same year, obtained a grant of the south- 
ern mine of plumbago, or the hill of Acquebituque. 
It appears that the Boston merchants carried on the 
works at Tantousque for a share of the products, it 
being included in the bargain that they should have 
the owners' share at a stated price. A path was 
opened from the lead-mine, passing a little south of 
the house formerly owned by the late Otis Davis, 
through Holland and Brimfield to the Springfield 
road. 

Richard Fellows kept a tavern, the site of which is 
in the northeast part of Monson, and he was " very 
willing to undertake to haul the lead to the water- 
side," past his own door, to Connecticut River. 

In the great war of 1675-76, known as " King 
Philip's War," the Quabaugs were among the first to 
take arms against the English. The Quinebaug 
flowed between the land of the Wabbaquassets and 
that owned by the Quabaugs. 

No notable historical event occurred in Tantousque ; 
its paths, however, were used by parties of both Eng- 
lish and Indians. 

Pliilip and his warriors were driven from Mount 
Hope, and about the last of July, 1675, forced to flee 



STURBKIDGE. 



105 



from Pocasset Neck, passed through Woodstock and 
Tantousque to Quabaug Old Fort. They were at that 
time pursued by Captain Henchman, aided by Oneko, 
son of Uncas, with fifty Mohegan warriors. 

The fugitives crossed the Quinebaug and skurrled 
up the forest-covered slope of what is now known as 
Fisk Hill, in the land of their allies, the Quabaugs. 
Their English pursuers, looking up the broad expanse 
stretching away to the northward, knew that beyond 
were the Quabaug Ponds, and that somewhere about 
there were collected, in large numbers, their savage 
foes. Captain Henchman here ordered the pursuit to 
cease, and turned toward Boston. 

Philip being reduced to a feeble following of forty 
men, and "women and children many more," was un- 
willing to advance in the direction of the English 
forces at Brookfield, and at Tantousque passed on to 
the Old Springfield Road, and arrived at Quabaug 
Old Fort on the 6th of August. Quabaug Old Fort, 
called by the Indians Ashquoach, was situated just 
north of Sherman's Pond in Brimfield. A few days 
later another party of Wampanoags, endeavoring to 
get on the Nipmuck path to follow their chief, was 
intercepted before it reached the Quinebaug River, 
and one hundred and eleven men, women and chil- 
dren were taken and delivered over to the English. 

The same path was use<l by the fugitives who 
escaped from the great battle of Narragansett Fort, 
December 19, 1775. 

The spring of 1676 came on with smiling sunshine, 
awakening vegetation and the song of birds; but 
among the colonists was a feeling of gloom and dis- 
couragement. The Indians had been successful at 
every point. 

A change, however, was approaching. About the 
middle of March the Indians were repulsed at West- 
lield, Northampton and Hatfield —a grievous disap- 
pointment. Many of them became tired of the war, 
and returned to their fishing-places and hunting- 
grounds. Admonished by recent suffering from 
scarcity of food, many a sunny slope was being 
planted with corn, beans and other crops. The old 
wigwam was patched up, and their desire was for 
peace. 

But that was not to be ; they had carried the torch, 
the tomahawk and the scalping-knife to many a home 
of the white man, had commenced a war of extermina- 
tion, had sown the wind, — the whirlwind was upon 
them. 

Into the valley of the Quinebaug, beneath the green 
foliage, in the first week in June, 1G76, came Major 
John Talcott, of Connecticut, with two hundred and 
fifty mounted Englishmen, accompanied by Oneko, 
son of Uncas, with two hundred Mohegan warriors. 
They crossed the river in Dudley and coming up the 
Springfield Road, rushed in every direction upon the 
surprised inhabitants. Along the Quinebaug, by the 
shores of our ponds, or wherever the dwelling of a 
Quabaug might be, the Mohegans hunted them out 



pursued upon the track of those who attempted to 
escape, and killed or captured them. 

When the war was over some of the hostile Indians 
who had escaped drifted away in small parties and 
became absorbed into other tribes. Some went to- 
wards Maine, some to Canada, and some to the west- 
ward, near Albany. 

Their corn-fields, wheth.er on the hillside or upon 
the plain by the river, were quickly seeded to pines, 
and thereon were standing when the settlers came here 
forests of fifty years' growth. Their wigwams entirely 
disappeared. Stone implements alone speak of 
former inhabitants. 

Depopulated Tantousque was included in a tract of 
the Nipmuck country, which a remnant of the In- 
dians, the former owners, made over to the Massa- 
chusetts government, February 10, 1681, for the sura 
of fifty pounds and a reservation of land five miles 
square, which is now in Dudley and Webster. 

After the settlement of Woodstock, in 1656, and the 
second settlement of Brookfield, about the same time, 
a road from one place to the other, in their isolated 
and feeble condition, became a necessity, and was 
doubtless opened between these nearest neighbors at 
an early period. The Brookfield and Woodstock 
path came down on the west side of South Pond, and 
was essentially the " New Boston Road," so called, as 
far as Mr. C. D. Russell's, where it united with the 
Old Springfield Road, and followed that about a mile 
and a half to the old camping grounds, now the 
northwest mowing lot on Mr. J. H. Lyon's farm. 
Turning southward past where stands the Levins 
Fisk house, then by Hosea Cutting's house and into 
the present road west of Mrs. Emmon's house ; then 
down the hill and across by Mr. P. Bond's house, 
over by Mrs. Malcom Ammidown's residence, and 
down the slope by the brick-yard to the river, where a 
bridge was built of logs. 

This was also near the fording-placeof the old Indian 
trail. The path is traced by record southward from 
the river to near the residence of Mr. Lewis Morse. 
The present Woodstock road by the " Brown brick- 
yard,'" so called, was laid across this old path, not far 
from where Mr. Henry H. Wells' lane intersects it, 
and may have passed from there over Lebanon Hill. 

This Brookfield and Woodstock path followed in 
a general way the previous Indian trail. Massachu- 
setts acquired the title to these lands, with power to 
grant the same, in 1681, as has been stated. 

Tracts of land, of whatever size, granted to an in- 
dividual were called farms, — a name distinguishing 
such lands from grants made for towns. Individual 
ownership of land in Tantousque was established for 
the first time by lines and bounds November 24, 
1714, the date of the survey of the Saltonstal farm. 
At an early date in the history of the colony the 
province of Massachusetts Bay gave to Sir Richard 
Salstonstal, Knight, one of the patentees named in the 
old charter, a tract of two thousand acres on the 



IIIC) 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



banks of Connecticut River. This property was 
handed down among liis descendants, and was owned 
in 1713 by his great-grandson, Rev. Gurdon Salston- 
stal, of Norwich, Connecticut. 

An agreement entered into by the province of 
Massachusetts and the colony of Connecticut in the 
year 1713 established a new division line, south of 
which was found to be Mr.. Saltonstal's two thousand 
acres, as well as many other grants of Massachusetts 
along this border. In accordance with the terms of 
the agreement, Massacliusetts paid to Connecticut, 
for these former grants, an equal number of acres of 
land by other grants within her now undisputed ter- 
ritory ; and these new grants took the name, and for 
many years were known as, " equivalent lands." 

The following year Rev. Gurdon Salstonstal, then 
Governor of Connecticut, agreed and accepted of the 
General Assembly of the colony the right to " take 
up to his own use the said quantity of acres, among 
the equivalents allowed to this Colony, where it shall 
best suit him, proviiled that the tract be taken up in 
one entire piece," May, a.d. 1714. 

It suited His Excellency to select the tract now 
called the central Valley of Sturbridge. He obtained 
his first view of the valley upon his arrival at the camp, 
ing-ground, where the Woodstock road united with the 
Old Springfield. He made that point the eastern 
limit of his farm, the top of Shumway Hill the west- 
ern extreme ; the bend of the river near Mr. A. J. 
Morse's was made a southern angle, and the north 
line of the old Bullock place, Mrs. Luther Hamant's 
and J. J. Shepard's, defines the northern bounds. It 
was called by his children Pineland. 

The Demick Farm was west of and adjoined Sal- 
stonstal's farm. The origin of this grant is unknown. 
The most part of the village of Fiskdale is built up- 
on this tract. 

The Eliot Farm. — In "Ancient Plans,'' i. 285, is 
found a plot of John Eliot's one thousand acres, en- 
dorsed : "Purchased by Rev. John Eliot the 27th of 
September, 1655, of Wattaloowekin and Nakin, In- 
dians — said 1000 acres of land lies Southward of, 
and contiguous to the township of Brookfield alias 
Quabaug, at a place called Pookookappog Ponds." 

December 5, 1715, the title to this land was con- 
firmed to the heirs of Mr. Eliot by the General Court. 
About eight hundred acres of the tract lie within the 
bounds of Sturbridge, owned by the following parties, 
viz. : Heirs of Mr. Austin Allen, Mr. G. H. Adams, 
Mr. Monahan, Mr. Griffin and Mr. S. F. Bemis. 

Mr. Eliot petitioned the General Court in 16ii4, in 
''. . . behalf of the Indiana of Putikookuppogg, . . ." 
and was granted "... a plant tion to the Indians 
not to exceed fower thousand acres . . ." It was not 
to interfere with any former grant, and the Indians 
were not to convey it away, or any part of it, without 
the consent of the General Court. This grant was in 
view of Rev. Apostle Eliot's plan of establishing a 
" praying town here, alter the model of th.it at 



Natick." The consummation of this enterprise was 
prevented by the breaking out of King Philip's War, 
and the removal from this vicinity of the Putikookup- 
pogg Indians. No survey of the laying out of this 
grant has been found. 

The Winthrop Farm. — The form and position of 
this farm, as first surveyed, has already been described 
on a preceding page. 

Judge Wait Winlhrop, who inherited this property 
from his father, died 1718, intestate. He left two 
children — John Winthrop, of New London, Conn., 
and Ann, the wife of Thomas Lechmere, of Boston. 

The son's claim under English law, that the real 
estate was entirely his own, and the claim of Mr. 
Lechmere, in behalf of his wife, under the colonial 
law, occasioned a suit which coijtinued ten years or 
more, being finally decided according to the colonial 
law. 

The settlement of Brimfield was " hindered by the 
extent and uncertain tenure" of the Winthrop farm, 
and the committee for laying out the town petitioned 
the General Court in 1723 for a reform of the survey. 
This petition was refu.sed. But it was renewed in 
1727, accompanied by one bearirjg the same request 
from Mr. Lechmere. The result was a new survey, 
which was accomplished and accepted by the General 
Court December 18, 1728. It was in a square form, 
four miles each way, with the Connecticut line for the 
southern boundary. The farm formerly owned by 
Mr. Lyman Janes occupies the northeast corner; the 
road by the residence of Mr. John Hamilton is on 
the east line. The farm extends into Holland one 
and a half miles, the north line of that town being 
identical with that of the farm. 

It is presumed that the position and " uncertain 
tenure" of the Winthrop farm may have postponed 
decisive action of the General Court upon "The 
petition of several of the inhabitants of Medfield and 
sundry others," ..." lor a Grant of the Province 
Land between Oxford, Brimfield and Brookfield." 

The first petition of 1725 called out the action of 
the court, in so far as to order, June 2, 1725, the lands 
to be surveyed. The repirt, one year later, was made 
by John Chandler, Jr. The survey was made the 1 1th, 
12th and 13th of May, 1726— Wm. Ward, surveyor; 
Ebenezer Learned and Joseph Plimpton, chairmen. 
The report gives thirteen tliou-and seven hundred and 
thirty-two acres as the amount of province land, ex- 
clusive of the liirms which have been described. The 
subsequent re-location of the Wiuthrop farm dimin- 
ished that amount to the extent of about three thou- 
sand acres. 

The second petition, with twenty-seven names, 
came up June 13, 1728, and was ordered to be referred 
to the next lull session ; iii the mean time a committee 
was sent to view the land and estimate the value, who 
reported it to be worth o.ne thousand pounds. 

A third petition, with fifteen more names added, in 
all forty-two, came up in the General Court July 4, 



I 



STURBRIDGE. 



107 



1729. The prayer of the petitioners was granted 
by a vote of the House, but the Council failed to con- 
cur. 

September 3, 1729, William Ward, Esq., and Joshua 
Morse, by petition to the General Court iu behalf of 
themselves and associates, obtained the object of sev- 
eral years of persistent effort, — the grant for 

A New Township. — The evidence does not appear 
that the one thousand pounds were exacted by the 
General Court, but the grantees were put under cer- 
tain obligations in^tead. They were "obliged in 
seven years' time from this date to settle, and to have 
aciually on the spot fifty families, each of which to 
build a house of eighteen feet square at least, to 
break up and bring to fit for plowing and mowing, — 
and what is not fit for plowing, to be well-stocked 
with English grass — seven acres of land; to settle a 
learned orthodox minister and layout to him a house- 
lot, equal to the other house-lots, which house-lot 
shall draw a fiftieth part of the province land now 
granted, and to be accounted as one of the fifty that 
shall be settled." Following were suitable regula- 
tions for managing the business of the association. 

Building a meeting-house was not among the 
court's requirements. 

Proprietary History. — The following are names 
of the grantees in the order by them established. Most 
of those whose residence is not here given were of 
Medfield. 



Meletiiih Bourne. 

Williiim Ward, of Soutbborough. 

Ezra Bourne. 

Stiubael Coram. 

Thomas Learned, of Oxford, 

Natlian Fisk, of M'ulertuwn, 

Henry Fisk, of Watertownr 

Ebenezer Learned, of 0.\furd. 

JIuhum Ward, of Sontliborougb. 

Gersboni Keyes, of Boston. 

Zerobabel Eager. 

Jolin Shearman, of Jlaiiborough. 

Joseph Haker. 

.lonas Houghton, of Larjcaster. 

Thomas Gleason. 

Moses Gleason. 

Jonjis Gleason. 

Joshua Morse. 

Joseiih Plimpton. 

Nathaniel Smith, of Dedham. 

Solomon Clark. 

Minister's 



Timothy Haniant. 

William Plimpton. 

Ephraim Partridge. 

Abraham Harding. 

Moses Harding. 

Josiah Ellis. 

Peter Dalch. 

Ezra Clark. 

Samuel Ellis. 

David Ellio. 

Francis Moquet, of Framinghan 

Henry Atianis. 

Ichabod Harding. 

John Plimpton. t 

Jusiah Cheney.' 

John Dwight. 

Jonathan Boyden.l 

Joseph Clark, of Medfield. 

Nathaniel Morse. 

James Deoison. 

Joseph Marsh. 

right. 



Seven supernumerous shares were sold for seventy- 
five pounds each to : 



Gerslioni Keyes. 
Abraham Harding. 
Nehetnith Allen. 



James Denison. 
Moses Allen. 
Seth Wight. 
David Morse. 



Twelve at least of these became inhabitants of the 
new plantation. Many others of the Medfield pro- 
])rietors sent their children and grandchildren. So 
many came from that town, that after calling the 

1 Died before the fireit division of hind. 



place Dumer in 1731, it became known as New 
Medfield. 

Several early settlers became proprietors by pur- 
chase. Ezekiel Upham bought of John Shearman ; 
David Shumway of Ebenezer Learned; Hinsdale 
Clark one of the shares of James Denison ; John 
Harding had one of the shares of his " father, Abra- 
ham ;" Edward Foster bought of Joseph Plimpton ; 
Moses Marcy becoming acting proprietor in Novem- 
ber, 1735, by power of atturney from absent members. 
Abraham Harding, of Medfield, served as clerk for 
the proprietors for many years. 

At the first meeting, Novembers, 1729, a committee 
of five, viz. : William Ward, Esq., Joshua Morse, 
Capt. Ebenezer Learned, Capt. John Dwight and 
Abraham Harding, were empowered to act in all the 
affairs of the proprietors for the year ensuing. 

They were " directed to lay out one hundred lots in 
the best of our land, adding to the poorest lots a 
quantity of acres according lo the best of their judg- 
ment to make them as equal in value to ihe best as 
they can." " None of the one hundred lots to be less 
than fifty acres." " And then to couple two lots to- 
gethtr and make them as equal in value, each couple 
or pair as they can." This was accomplished, and 
the drawing was carried out "July y° 9th, 1730." 

This first division comprised nearly all the proprie- 
tors' lands north of Quinebaug River ; also south of 
the river the west side of Shumway Hill, and several 
lots where now are situated Globe Village and the 
centre village of Southrbridge. 

The second divisionywhich was made in 1733, com- 
prised the most part of the town now in Southbridge. 

Most of the remaining lands were divided in 1740 ; 
and again some small remnants in 1761, 

As early as June, 1780, the " Committee^of Affairs " 
received a letter from the heirs of Governor Salston- 
stal containing proposals for locating the meeting- 
house on their land. In the following November, 
Jonas Houghton, of Lancaster, and Ebenezer Learned, 
of Oxford, in behalf of the proprietors, obtained a 
deed— free gift — of "... "six acres of land to set a 
meeting-house upon, out of a farm or tract of land 
containing two thousand acres, lately granted to the 
Hon. Gurdon Salstonstal, deceased, by the General 
Assembly of y'^ said Province, lying in Pine-land, 
near or upon where y° road wliich runs from Brook- 
field to Woodstock meets with the road now used 
from Brimfield to Oxford." Land was given for 
highways four rods in width through their lands 
where most convenient, east and west, north and 
south. 

This deed contained no description of bounds, and 
the locaticm within certain limits was left to the pro- 
prietors. This was well; and the names of William 
Ward, Esq., of Southborough, Jonas Hougliton, of 
Lancaster, Joseph Plimpton, Joshua Morse and Abra- 
ham Harding (last three of Medfield), who located 
the meeting-house, the common, and planned the tys- 



/ 



108 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



tern of roads which diverge therefrom, should be held 
in remembrance. The suitable place was found about 
one-fourth of a mile southeast of where the road from 
Brookfleld united with the road, as then used, from 
Brimfield to Oxford. 

The heirs of Governor Salstonstal were four daugh- 
ters, viz.: Elizabeth, wife of Ricliard Christopher; 
Mary, wife of Jeremiah Miller; Sarah, wife of Samuel 
Davis (all of New London, Conn.); and Catherine, wife 
of William Brattle, of Cambridge. The farm was di- 
vided, and Mrs. Christopher and Mrs. Miller had the 
eastern half, one thousand acres, which they sold, in 
1732, to William Ward, Esq., who had been for two 
years preceding chairman of the committee for for- 
warding the settlement. He built a saw-mill on Sugar 
or Hobb's Brook, and the large pine trees found stand- 
ing near by, perhaps on what is now Sturbridge Com- 
mon, were cut and siwed into lumber, which was used 
in building the meeting-house in 1733-34, The meet- 
ing-house was built by John Comins, Jr., of Oxford, 
after a plan of one at Grafton. The first meeting- 
house stood upon the site now occupied by No. 1 
School and public library building. 

The money, five hundred and twenty-five pounds, 
received for the seven supernumerous shares sold 
was, by vote, donated to the purpose of building the 
meeting-house. Twenty pounds were raised in No- 
vember, 1733, "for y° completing and finishing y" 
meeting-house at New Medfield (-lo-called)." In 
January, 1734, it was not finished, but meetings were 
held the latter part of that year. A Mr. Cowell was 
paid twenty-eight pounds, and eight pounds for board. 
Ninety-eight pounds were raised for preaching in 1735, 
and a like sum for 1736. It was an assessment of forty 
shillings to each share per year. 

Thesettlers in New Medfield made choice, in March, 
1736, of Rev. Caleb Rice, who was accordingly 
"called" to be their minister. Preliminaries being 
arranged, Mr. Rice accepted the call in August, was 
ordained September 29th, and installed pastor of a 
church formed at that time. 

The installment of a pastor released the proprietors 
from any further care or expense about preaching in 
New Medfield. 

In the matter of roads and bridges nothing what- 
ever was done during the eight years that the public 
charges were paid by the proprietors. The members 
of the association, who were settlers, were a minority. 
From time to time — nearly every meeting — articles 
were inserted in the warrants asking for action about 
roads and bridges. A piece of road was laid out by 
the proprietors in 1736, and nothing expended upon 
its construction. A committee was appointed in 1731 
to select the most necessary and convenient place or 
places for a bridge or bridges over Quinebaug River. 

There is no record of any report of that committee. 
At a meeting of the proprietors. May 31, 1738, it was 
"Voted: That Joshua Morse shall have £1 : 16:0, 
for a journey to New Medfield in y" year 1736, to a 



proprietors' meeting to prevent Building Bridges over 
Quinebaug river in s'' town." 

This policy of the association occasioned much 
inconvenience and hardship to the settlers. The Old 
Springfield Road and the Brookfield and Woodstock 
were the only ways of ingress and egress, and, besides 
those, such paths as individuals made for themselves. 

The time specified in the grant of the township 
expired in 1737. The court's requirement in every 
respect having been fulfilled, the "Committee of Af- 
fairs" elected November 9, 1737, were instructed, by 
vote, " to petition y' General Court at their next 
session, that the settlers or inhabitants of New Med- 
field (so called) be invested with such privileges as 
other towns in this province by law Injoy." 

The response of the Legislature, in May, 1738, was 
an "Act of Incorporation," entitled "An Act for 
Erecting a New Town in the County of Worcester, at 
a Plantation called ' New Medfield,' by the Name of 
Sturbridge." 

The settlement having arrived at the dignity of a 
municipality, with the same privileges and rights of 
other towns in the province, the proprietors had no 
longer any oflicial power in her affairs. 

All the lands which had been received from the 
heirs of Hon. Gurdon Salstonstal, also the meeting- 
house, were given to be the property of the town, 
" for the use and benefit of the town of Sturbridge 
forever." This was voted at a meeting of the proprie- 
tors, April 10, 1740. 

The proprietary association existed until 1788, 
when the book of records was closed. Job Hamant 
was the last clerk. 

One of the original grantees, Henry Fi-^k, outlived 
the association. He died in 1790, aged eighty-three. 

Sturbridge. — When first incorporated, no portion 
of "The Country Gore" was included. This was a 
tract often thousand acres, in the form of a gore, left 
between Oxford and Leicester, when the latter town 
was set off, which extended westward to a line run- 
ning through Walker and South Ponds, the wide end 
of the gore. 

In answer to a petition of John Davis, Caleb Child 
and others of the inhabitants, in 1741, the General 
Court annexed about one-third of the tract to this 
town. "Brookfield 500 acres" was annexed to that 
town in 1717, as compensation for the same amount 
previously laid out to Col. John Pynchon, on Coy's 
Hill, and occasioned the peculiar form of the lines 
between said town and Sturbridge. 

Including what was called "The Neck," lying 
between Oxford or Dudley and Woodstock, the 
southern bounds of the original town extended east 
as far as Southbridge now does on the Connecticut 
line. 

Those settlers who were inhabitants of New Med- 
field (so called), fulfilling the " Court's requirements" 
before the incorporation of the town, also the home- 
steads which they originated, are the following: 



STURBRIDGE. 



109 



V^' 



Aaron Allen (Joseph, Joseph, James), born 1715; 

wife Hannah ; came from Dedhani, originally 

from Medtield. His house is still standing, now 
owned by Mr. Nelson Bennett. 

Moses Allen (brother of the preceding), born 1708. 
He was a proprietor. He began on the next lot north 
of his brother, now Henry Weld's. He had no family 
here, and removed from the town after a few years. 

Joseph Allen, with the preceding, were the three 
sons of widow Miriam (Wight) Allen, who came with 
them from Medfield. He was born 1702 ; married, first, 
Abigail Gold; second, Sarah Parker; began the 
homestead long known as the " Squire Jabez Harding 
place." He and his family left the town after a few 
ears. 

Nehemiah Allen (Joseph, James) born 1699; mar- 
ried Mary Parker. He came from Sherborn and 
settled the site called the " Old Allen Place," north 
of the Baptist Church in Fiskdale. He was a pro- 
prietor. 

Joseph Baker, from Dedham, probably (wife 
Keziah) ; was a grantee, and settled lot 47, his own 
right. The homestead is abandoned, and now in- 
cluded in the farm of Mr. C. G. Allen. 

David Bishop ; wife Hannah ; on the Holland 
road, now known as the Deacon Jonathan liyon 
place. 

Nathaniel Bond ; house site the east side of the 
road in the .south part of the farm of Mr. T. E. Arnold. 

Hinsdale Clark (Nathaniel, Joseph), born 1710; 
married Anne Partridge ; house site near where Har- 
vey Newell now resides in Globe Village. 

Joseph Cheney (Josiah, Joseph), from Medfield ; 
born 1709 ; married Margery Mason ; settled the | 
Cheney place on Shuraway Hill ; now abandoned. 

Phinehas Collar, from Medfield; born 1702; wife 
Hannah ; settled on the next lot east T. E. Arnold's 
farm ; now abandoned. 

Ebenezer Davis; wife Mary; settled where Mr. 
Hayer lives, near the turnpike school-house. 

James Deniaon, a native of Scotland ; wife Expe- 
rience ; located where Lewis Morse resides in South- 
bridge. He was a grantee. 

Ebenezer Fay ; married Thankful Hyde ; located 
next north of Eliot'a farm ; known as the Cyrus Fay 
place. 

Henry Fiske (Nathan, Nathan, Nathan), from 
Watertown ; born 1707 ; married Mary Stone; house 
Bite upon E. T. Brooks' farm on Fiske Hill. He was 
a grantee. 

Daniel Fiske, brother of the preceding; born 1709; 
married, first, Dilliverance Brown; second, Jemima 
Shaw ; located next north of his brother. 

Samuel Freeman ; wife Mary ; house site on Elm 
Street, Southbridge. 

Jonathan Fosket ; wife Hannah ; settled where now 
Melvin Shepard resides. 

Edward Foster ; site now occupied by Alonzo 
Marcy, Southbridge. 



Joseph Hatch ; site of the Pauper Asylum, South- 
bridge. 

Henry Hooker (Henry), from Medfield ; married, 
1733, Mary Parker, of Needham ; first settler on the 
Brackett place ; site now owned by Mrs. F. W. Em- 
mons. 

John Harding (Abraham, John, Abraham), born 
1713; married Vashti Rice; settled where Mr. C. G. 
Allen now resides. 

Caleb Harding, brother of preceding; born 1714; 
married Hannah Weld ; settled the place now Edward 
Nichols'. 

James .Johnson; wife Susanna; settled the farm 
called the Merrick place, west of Fiskdale. 

Ebenezer Knapp, of Medfield ; married Elizabeth 
Mason. 

Samuel Leach, from Boston ; married, 1736, Lydia 
Mason, of Medfield ; began where Ezekiel Cooper 
now lives. 

Joseph Marsh, of Medfield ; wife Sarah ; originated 
the homestead now the residence of S. F. Bemis. 

Aaron Martin ; wife Sarah ; began the homestead 
now Horatio Carpenter's, on Fiske Hill. 

Moses Marcy, from Woodstock, Conn. ; born 1702; 
married, 1723, Prudence Morris. His house is the 
residence of Andrew Marcy, in Southbridge. 

Jonathan Mason, married, 1739, Hepzil)ah Morse, 
both of Dedham ; settled where the late Oliver Mason 
resided in Southbridge. 

Noah Masin, his brother, married, 1736, Keziah 
Muscraft ; settled where the late Lyman Chamber- 
lain resided, in Southbridge. 

Joseph Morse (Joseph, Joseph), married Expe- 
rience Morse, both of Medway ; located where A. H. 
Morse now resides, in Southbridge. 

David Morse (David, Ezra, John, Samuel), born 
1710 ; wife Jerusha Smith ; the homestead of A. J. 
Morse. 

John Morse, his brother, born 1717 ; settled where 
Thomas Mack now lives, northwest of Fiskdale. 

Joseph Moffett ; wife Mary ; the " Old Holbrook 
Place." 

Josiah Perry ; wife Hannah ; homestead of the 
late T. N. Harding, in Southbridge. 

Onesiphorus Pike ; now Mrs. Luther Hamant. 

Solomon Rood ; wife Sarah ; Jason Smith's or ntar 
there. 

Rev. Caleb Rice ; wife Priscilla ; at the parsonage, 
now Wm. Whittemore's. 

Richard Rogers ; where W. H. H. Ormsby resides. 

John Sireeter. 

Joseph Smith (Nathaniel, Samuel, Henry), born 
1707 ; married Abiel Hamant. He was the first who 
stayed through a winterin this town, probably 1730-31. 
His location was between W. H. H. Ormsby's on the 
north and the George Plimpton place on the south. 

Joseph Scott, settled on Moses Marcy 's mill-grant. 
The house site is near the residence of Mr. David G. 
Whittemore. 



110 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



Isaac Newell (Isaac, Isaac, Abraham), from Need- 
ham ; born l(i88; married, 1715, Abigail ; settled 

first east of Cedar Pond. 

John Stacy; wife Sarah ; on the site of the 

residence of Mr. Melvin Haynes; kept tavern there. 

Samuel Shumway, from Oxford ; wife Sarah ; farm 
DOW occupied by William H. Shumway, his great- 
grandson. 

David Shumway, from Oxford ; wife Esther ; the 
S. M. Streeter farm, now owned by Fiskdale Mills 
Company. 

Ebenezer Stearns ; the Leonard place, now Mrs. 
Malcom Ammidown's. 

Daniel Thurston (Daniel, Daniel, John), born 
Medfieid, 1702; was in Marlborough 1732, in New 
Medfield (Sturbridge) in 1737 ; wife Miriam — -. 

Rowland Taylor, from Leicester; house site where 
L. B. Chase now lives. 

George Watkins ; wife Dilliverance ; the George 
Weld place. 

Hezekiah Ward, sou of William, of Southborough, 
married Sarah Green, of Leicester; site of the resi- 
dence of S. H. Hobbs. 

Charles Ward, his brother; wife Abigail ; where J. 
H. Lyon now resides, on Fiske Hill. 

Ezekiel Upham was of Dorcliester, in 1726; born 
1700; wife Hannah; his homestead has continued in 
the name, now Nathaniel Upham. 

From items of record, gathered here and there, the 
foregoing are known to have been here before the 
town was incorporated. They constituted the main 
portion of those who fulfilled the court's require- 
ments. 

There were a few more, probably, on the ground, 
whose names cannot now be given. The number of 
families were increased to over one hundred in about 
twenty years, and after that, by the formation of new 
families by the sons and daughters of the early settlers, 
the town continued rapidly to increase in population 
during the period previous to the Revolution. 

Many new names appeared. As founders of well- 
known families here, the following may be mentioned : 
John Weld, Nathaniel Walker and Jabez Nichols 
were brought into our limits by the annexation of 
over three thousand acres of the "Country Gore," in 
1741 or '42. Rowland Clark, Benjamin Hyde, John 
Marsh, Benjamin Robbins, Jeremiah Streeter, Na- 
thaniel Smith and Daniel Plimpton were here 1745. 
Ralph Wheelock,,. William McKinstry and Jabez 
Harding in 1755 ; Gershom Plimpton, 1759 ; James 
Plimpton, 1764. James Gibbs and the Howards 
settled in the lead-mine district before 1770. David 
Wight moved here in 1774. 

The first meeting for the choice of officers for the 
organization of this town was held the 18th of Sep- 
tember, 1738. The freeholders and other inhabitants 
qualified to vote in town affairs were assembled at the 
meeting-house, which was new and unpainted. The 
house was fifty feet long, forty wide, and twenty feet 



between sills and plates. It had three doors, east, 
west and south ; and galleries along the same three 
sides; the north side of the hall being occupied by 
the pulpit. The pews had not at this time been made. 
The house stood on a knoll, and all about the slopes 
and the small plain to the eastward were the slump?, 
half-trimmed logs, broken snags, bushes, and the 
usual appearances of a recent clearing ; beyond which 
was a small saw-mill on the brook, and two or three 
houses and some cleared land along the slope of the 
rising hill farther on. For two miles westward, and 
about one mile north and south, lay an unbroken 
forest — Salstonstal's Farm, held for rise in value. 
There were no highways. A path cut through the 
woods northward by where the cemetery now is to 
the "Old Springfield Road," and such ways as indi- 
viduals made for themselves, was all that appeared. 

Those who emerged from the woods and gathered at 
the meeting-house, upon the day above mentioned, were 
all young men, sanguine, full of the romance of life 
and the excitement and novelty of their position, 
They, upon that day, organized a municipal govern- 
ment, and began the following list of officers, reach- 
ing down to our time. 

The names of moderators, town clerks, treasurers, 
selectmen and representatives will here be given. 
Other officers elected by the town have been : Assess- 
ors, constables and collectors of taxes, wardians — an 
office of ecclesiastical character, ranking in secular 
authority next after the minister. They were first 
elected in this town in 1762, and dropped after 1790. ■ 
Two, sometimes three or four, were chosen each year. 
" Informers of the breaches of the lavy for the preser- 
vation of Deer," called later deer-reeves, were elected 
annually as late as 1825. Tythingmen were elected 
until 1840 or later, "Clerk of the Market," until 
1775, after that called sealer of weights and measures. 
Haywards were elected at first, and the office was 
continued under the name of field-driver. Surveyors 
of highways, fence-viewers, hog-reeves, sealers of 
leather, surveyors of lumber, measurers of wood and 
bark. 

It is designed in the following town officer lists that 
no individual should appear more than once under 
the same office, the name of each citizen being 
followed (1) by the first and last years of his elec- 
tion to that oftice; and (2) by the total number of 
times elected for annual terms of service during the 
intervening years. The first years after each name, 
reading downwards, show the order of elections in 
regular sequence. 

Moderators.— Mosea Marcy (Uol.), 1738, 1773 ; J18. Isaac Newell 
(Dea.), 1730 ; 1. Edward Foster (Ilea.), 1750 ; 1. Joseph Baker (Dea.), 
1758; 1. Nathaniel Wallier(Capt.), 1762, 1774 ; 11. Samuel Freeman, 
1783, 17G4 ; 2. Joshua Harding (Dea.), 1704, 17!)I ; 13. Daniel Fisxe 
(Dea.), 1760, 1773; 4. Moses Weld (Dea), 177.1, I70U ; 31. Ebenezer 
Crafts (Col.), 1770, 1789 ; 11. Timothy Newell (lien.), 1780, 18i 4; 24. 
Timothy Parker (Capt ), 1784, 17'J1 ; 0. Josiah Walker, 1787, 1800 ; a. 
Oliver Plimpton, 1701,1812; 37. Stephen Harding (Maj.),1703, 1797 ; 
3. Erasmus Babbitt, Jr., 1707, 1709 ; 2. Joshua Harding, 1789 ; 1. 
Thomas Babbitt (Dr.), 1799 ; 2. Thomas Upham, 18o2, 1818; 4. John 



STURBRIDGE. 



Ill 



Paine, 1806 ; 1. Gershom Plimpton, 1809, 1815 ; 15. David Wight, Jr., 
181.) ; 1. Simeon Fislie (Capt.), lKl.3, 1815 ; 2. Edward Pliijlips (Col), 
1816, 18.5.5 ; 50. Sylvester Watkins, 1817, 1824 ; 4. Simeon Burt, 1818 ; 
1. George Davis, Esq., 181i), 1821 ; 3. Roswell Warner,1819, 1S47 ; 5. 
Hiram Wlieelock (Col.), I82G; 1. Avery P. Taylor, 1827, 1870; 14. 
Gardner Watkins, 1832; 1. Pliny Freeman (Capt.), 1833, 1837 ; 5. 
David Wiglit (Col.), 1831, 1841 ; 2. Thomas Merrick, 1837; 1. Caleb 
Weld, Jr. (Capt.), 1840, 1849; 9. Beuj. D. Hyde, Esq., 1849,1856; 12. 
David Wight (Capt.), 184.1, 1867 ; 7. David K. Porter, 1847 ; 1. Wil- 
liam H. Sanders (Dr.), 1860 ; 1. Truman Charles, 1851, 1852 ; 3. Simeon 
A, Drake, 1851, 1861; 14. Nelson Bennett, 1853, 1870 ; 6. Simeon P. 
Marsh, 1853, 1883; 47. Alpheus Shumway, 1855; 2. Henry Haynes, 
Jr., 1802, 1877 ; 8. Emerson Johnson, 186:5, 18C5 ; 3. Henry E. Hitch- 
cock, 1866, 1879 ; 2. Noah D. Ladd, 1868, 1888 ; 9. Edmond Nichols, 
1869; 1. A. B. Chamberlain, 1875; 1. John A. Gould, 1878; 1. Clar- 
ence Fowler (Rev.), 1870 ; 1. Arthur C. Moore, 1881 ; 1. C. B. Car- 
penter, 1882; 1. Frank H. Gleason, 1883 ; 1. Henry D. Hajnes, 1884, 
1. H. C. Wales, 1885; 2. 

Town Clrls —Daniel Fiske (Dea.), 17.18. '42 ; 4. Isaac Newell (Dea.), 
1730; 1. Moses Marcy (Col.), 1743, '01; 18. Joshua Harding (Dea.); 
1769, '82 ; 22. Joshua Harding, Jr., 1783, '90 ; 7. Isaac Clark, 1786 ; 
1, DavidWight, Jr., 1791, 1808; 13. Jacob Corey (Dr.), 1809, '19 ; 8. 
Samuel Freeman, 1815, '17 ; 3. Beuj. Bullock, 1833, '34 ; 2. Alfred M. 
Merrick, 1835, '36; 2. Jacob Corey, Jr., 1837, '41 ; 5. Truman Charles, 
1842, '43 ; 2. George V. Corey, 1844 ; 1. George Davis (Esq., Dea ) 
1845, '49 ; 5. David K. Porter (Dea,), 1850, '69 ; 10. Samuel H. Hobbs,' 
1860, '02; 3. Henry Haynes (Dea.), 180.3, '65 ; 3. Emery L. Bates, 
1806, '69 ; 4. Amasa 0. Morse, 1870, '79 ; 9. Henry D. Haynes, 1873 ; 
1. Alvin li. Cliamberlain, 1880, '88; 9. 

Tou'n Treasurers. — Daniel Fiske (Dea.), 1738, '42 ; 5. Moses Marcj 
(Col.), 1743, '50; 8. Joseph Baker (Dea.). 1751, '57 ; 6. George Wat- 
kins, 1753, '64 ; 2. Joshua Harding (Dea.), 1768, '01 ; 4. Ealph Whee- 
lock (Capt.), 1762, '81 ; 20. Samuel Hoblis, 1782 ; 1. Moses Weld (Dea), 
.1783, '86 ; 4. Erasmus Babbitt (Dr.), 1787, '89 ; 3. David Wight, Jr., 
1792, '08; 17. Jacob Corey (Dr.), 1S09, '10 ; 8. Simeou Fiske (Capt.), 
1816, '17 ; 2. Simeon Burt. 1818 ; 1. David Wight (Col ), 1820. '34 ; 16. 
Alfred M. Merrick, 18i5, '30 ; 2. Jacob Corey, Jr. (Dr.), 1831, '41 ; 6. 
Truman Charles, 1842, '44 ; 3. George Davis (Esq., Dea.), 1845, '49 ; 6. 
David K. Porter (Dea.), 1850, '59 ; 10. Sanniel H, Hobbs, 1860, '61 ; 2. 
Elisha Southwick, 1802, '74 ; 13. Emery L. Bates, 1875, '86 ; 11. G. 
Nerval Bacon, 188'i, '88 ; 3. 

Se?ec(meN.— Daniel Fiske (Dea.), 1738, '78 ; 21. Moses Marcy (Col.), 
1738, '73 ; 34. Henry Fiske (Lieut.), 1738, '8il ; 6. Isaac Newell (Dea.), 
1739, '48; 3. Joseph Cheney, 1739, '71 ; 14. Rowland Taylor, 1740, 
'64; 6. Hezokiah Ward, 1740; 1. James Deuison, 1740, '58 ; 17. 
Joseph Baker (Dea.), 1741, '69 ; 5. David Shumway, 1742, '08 ; 11. 
Moses Allen, 1743 ; 1. Edward Foster (Dea.), 1743, '44 ; 2. Nehemiab^^ 
Allen, 1747, '49 ; 2. John Morse, 1747, '62 ; 12. Jonathan Perry, 1747 ; 
1. John Harding, 1748, '54 ; 4. Ezekiel Upham (Capt.), 1760, '65 ; 6. 
Nathaniel Walker (Capt.), 1762, '74 ; 6. John Weld, 1755 ; 1. Aaron 
Allen, 1768, '80; 3. Samuel Freeman, 1759, '09 ; 7, Moses Weld (Dea.), 
1760, '81 ; 18. , Daniel Plimpton (Col.), 1760, '76 ; 4. Joshua Harding 
(Dea.), 1761, '89; 4. James Johnson (Ensign), 1761, '74 ; 10. Abijab 
Shumway, 1772 ; 1. John Holbrook. 1772, '87 ; 8. Erasmus Babbitt 
(Dr.). 1773; 1. John Tarbel, 1774 ; 1. Samuel Ellis, 1774, '89 ; 5. 
Daniel Faulkner, 1776, '76 ; 2. Ralph Wheelock (Capt.), 1777, '81 ; 5. 
Samuel Hamant (Capt.), 1777, '79 ; 3. David Wigbt, 1781 ; 1. Timo- 
thy Newell (Gen), 1781, 1803 ; 9. Lemuel Sanders, 17b1, '98 ; 5. Eben- 
ezer Crafts (Col.), 1782, '84 ; 2. Jonathan Gould, 1784; 1. Eli Towne, 
1782, '84; 3. Benjamin Freeman (Col.), 1782, '96 ; 8. Jacob Allen 
(Capt.), 1782, '90 ; 0. Henry Fiske, Jr. (Dea.), 1783, 1808 ; 10. John 
Boyden (Capt), 1785, 1830; 4. Stephen Harding (Maj.), 1786, 1806; 9. 
Jonathan Pbilpps (Dea.), 1786 ; 1. John Sahnon (Lieut.), 1787 ; 1. Isaac 
Upham, 1787, '94 ; 6. Josiah Walker, 1788, 1805 ; 16. "Jeddidiah" 
Marcy, 1790 ; 1. Simeon Fiske (Capt.), 1790, '02 ; 3. Simeon Allen, 
1790; 1. David Richards, 1791, '94; 4. Abel Mason (Capt), 1792, 1801 ; 
6. Eleazer Hibbard (Dea.), 1795, '96 ; 2. Comfort Johnson, 1796, 1810 ; 
5. Stephen Gerould (Capt.), 1796, '99 ; 4. Oliver Plimpton (Esq.), 1797, 
1808 ; 10. Samuel Hobbs, 1797, 1809 ; 9. Samuel Hooker (Maj), 1798 ; 1. 
Elijah Shumway, 1800 ; 1. David Fiske, 1800, '03 ; 4. John Holbrook, 
1801 ; 1. Nathan Fiske, 1804 ; 1. Perez Walker, 1806, '17 ; 6. John 
Watson, 1807, '08; 2. Gershom Plimpton, 1809, '16 ; 7. John Phillips 
(Dea.), 1809, '17; 6. Jered Lamb, 1810, '12 ; 3. Jonathan P.Curtis, 
1811, '.37; 3. Sylvester Watkins (Capt.), 1811, '25; 12. John Plimp- 
ton (Lieut.), 1812 ; 1. John Taylor (Lieut.), 1813, '15; 3. Ebenezer 
Cutting, 1813, '16; 3. Oliver Hooker (Maj.), 1813, '15 ; 3. Jabez Hard- 
ing, 1810, '17 ; 2. Stephen Newell, 1816 ; 1. David Wight (Ck)l.), 1817, 



'42; 6. Penuel Belknap, 1818, '29 ; 4. Jonathan Lyon, 1818, '37 ; 6. 
Epbraim M. Lyon, 1818, '19 ; 2. Fennel Cheney, 1818, '19 ; 2. Edward 
Phillips (Col.), 1820, '30 ; 8. Amasa Cbild (Capt.), 1820, '22 ; 3. David 
K. Porter (Dea.), 1821, '23 ; 3. Peter Belknap (Capt.), 1821, '45 ; 7. 
Hezekiah Allen, 1823, '26 ; 3. William Dwigbt, Jr., 1823, '24; 2. 
James Johnson, 1823, '30; 3. Cyrus Merrick, 1824; 1. Abijah Prouty, 
1824, '34 ; 2. Zenas Dunton, 1825, '20 ; 2. Daniel Fiske, Jr., 1825, '39 ; 
4. Nathaniel Walker, 1826, '36 ; 3. Pliny Freeman, 1827, '35 ; 3. 
George Watkins, 1827, '28 ; 2. Richard Arnold, 1827, '28 ; 2. Philemon 
Shopard, ls27, '29 ; 3. Thomas Merrick 1*28, '40 ; 5. Samuel Hobbs, 
1829, '45; 3. Jeptha Plimpton, i830, '42 ; 3. Lemuel Hooker, 1831, 
'35 ; 6. Benjamin Bullock, 1831, '39 ; 6. Festus Wight, 1831 ; 1. Jacob 
Upham, 1832, '4u ; 3. Ziba Plimpton, 1833, '34 ; -2. Daniel Mason 
(Dr.), 1833, '34 ; 2. Simeon Allen, 18)3; 1. Alpheus Wight, 18.34; 1. 
Erasmus Holbrook (Gen.), 1834 ; 1. Caleb Weld, Jr., 1835, '40 ; 6. John 
Plimpton, 1835; 1. Hiel Nichols, 183.5, '42 ; 2. Edward Richardson, 
1830; 1. Lyman Morse, 1837, '43 ; 2. Chester Stone, 1838, ':i9 ; 2. John 
Fay, 1838, '39 ; 2. Jonah Gifford, 1840 ; 1. Prince Bracket, 1840, '44 ; 
2. Cheney P. Sheddon, 1841 ; 1. Livingston Shumway, 1841. '51 ; 3. 
Simeon F. Marsh. 1841, '79 ; 6. Elisha Southwick, 1841, '05 ; 8. Ben- 
jamin D. Hyde, 1842, '66 ; 2. Simeon Hooker (Capt.), 1843, '44 ; 2. John 
Smith, 1843 ; I. Liberty Allen, 1843, '66 ; 3. James M. Belknap, 1844, 
'48 ; 4. Dwight P. Johnson, 1844 ; 1. James Balchelor, 1844 ; 1. Free- 
dom Nichols, 184.5 ; 1. Charles G. Allen, 1846, '50 ; 3. Aretas Hooker, 
1846, '47; 2. Simeon A. Drake, 1847, '48 ; 2. Liberty Nichols, 1848, 
'49 ; 2. Abiel D. Williams, 1S48 ; 1. Henry Haynes, Jr., 1848, '85 ; 6. 
Lewis W. JIarsh, 1849, '60 ; 2. Ethan Allen, 1849, '76 ; 9. David 
Wight (Capt.), 1860 ; 1. Jabez Harding, 1850, '72 ; 8. Linus L. Bel- 
knap, 1850; 1. William H.Sanders, 1851 ; 1. Estes Bond, 1851 ; 1. George 
Davis, Esq., 18.52; 1. Eliakim Chamberlain, 1852, '65; 6. Dexter 
Nichols, 1852, '53 ; 2. John W. Draper, 1852, '69 ; 3. Amos Munroe, 
1854 ; 1. Winthrop Nichols, 1851 ; 1. Francis V. Plimpton, 1854, '55 ; 
2. Melville Snell, 1855, '57; 2. Chester Walker, 1855 ; 1. Avery P. 
Taylor, 1856, '58 ; 2. Linus Leonard, 1860 ; 1. Aaron Lyon, 1857 ; 1. 
Penuel Plimpton, 1859, 1869 ; 6. Nathaniel Upham, 1859, '78 ; 8. Emery 
L. Bates, 1802, '65; 4. Lorenzo Plimpton, 1862; 1. Edmund Nichols, 
1866, 'CO; 3. Amasa C.Morse. 1867; 1. William Wight, 1808 ; 1. 
Noah D. Ladd, 1870, '88 ; 7. Thomas Talbot, 1870 ; 1. Samuel F. 
Berois, 1870, '78 ; 2. Samuel W. Edgerton, 1873, '74; 2. Melvin 
Haynes, 1873 ; 1. Charles Anderson, 1874, '76 ; 2. Marvin Clark, 1875, 
'77; 3. Elias M. Gifford, 1876 ; 1. Henry W. Nichols, 1877, '80; 2. 
Charles H. Allen, 1877, '79 ; 3. William Whittamore, 1879 ; 1. William 
H. Shumway, 1880, '88 ; 4. Edward Nichsls, 1881, '82 ; 2. P. S. Calla- 
han, 1883, '87 ; 4. David B. Wight, 1883, '84 ; 2. Elihu W. Mofflt, 
1885, '86 ; 2. Charles V. Corey, 1885, '87 ; 3. George N. Bacon, 1887 ; 1. 
James Nolan, 1888 ; 1. 

There were five selectmen elected annually until 
ISS.'i; since then three members have constituted the 
board. 

In reference to Representatives previous to 1771, 
particular record has not been found. It is believed 
that Moses Marcy, Esq. (Capt., Col.), served in that 
capacity anterior to that time. The dates given in 
the following list are the years in which the election 
occurred : 

Daniel Fiske, 1771 ; Timothy Parker, 1775 ; Joshua Harding, Jr., 
1787, '88 ; Josiah Walker, 1789-97, and 1800-02 ; Frederick Plimp- 
ton, 1798; Thomas Babbitt (Dr.), 1799; Thomas Upham, 180.3, '04; 
Oliver Plimpton, 1805-07, David Wight, Jr., 1806, '13; Rev. Zenas L. 
Leonard, 1808-12; Gersham Plimpton, 1809-12; John Phillips, 1814- 
16; Samuel Freeman, 1816 ; Sylvester Watkins, 1817, '18, '20, and 
in 1825.1 None sent 1819, '21 and '23. Cyrus Merrick, 1824 ; Amasa 
Child, 1820, '27 ; Penuel Belknap, 1829 ; James Johnsou, 1830-32 ; Ros- 
well Warner, 1831; Thomas Merrick, 1832; David Wigbt, 1833; 
Edward Phillips,* 1822, '28, '3>, '38 ; Jared Lamb, 1835 ; David K. Porter, 
1836-66 ; Jonathan P. Curtis, 1836, '87 ; Lemuel Hooker, 1836, '.39 ; 
Abijah Prouty, 1838 ; Cromwell BuUard, 1839 ; Caleb Weld, 1810 ; 
Nathaniel Walker, 1841; Benjamin D. Hyde, 1842; Hezekiah Allen, 
1843 ; Prince Bracket, 1844 and 1S49 ; Simeon Hooker, 1845 ; George 
v. Corey, 1840 ; Francis W. Emmons, 1847 ; Dwight P. Johnson, 1848 ; 
Emerson Johnson, 1850; Seneca Richardson, 1851; Jabez Harding, 

1 Not to attend unless so instnicted by the town. 



112 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



1862 ; Hiel Nichols, 1863 ; Simeon F. Mareh, 1854 ; Vincent B. New- 
land, 1856. From Twenty-fourth Worcester Diatrict.— Henry Haynes, 
1858 ; James il. Belknap, 18(;0 ; Elisha Southwick, 1S62 ; Emery L. 
Bates, 18(54 and 1882. From Eighteenth District of Worcester County. 
— Auiasa C. Moree, 1867 ; Kev. Martin L. Richardson, 1870; Noah D. 
Ladd, 1872; George T. Lincoln, 1874; Charles Fuller, 1875; Alvan B. 
Chamberlain, 1877 ; G. Norval Bacon, 1879 ; David B. Wight, 1884. 
From Fifth Worcester RepresenUitive District. — Henry D. Haynes, 
1887. 

JSeartiors. — General Timothy Newell, also memher of the Governor's 
Council ; Hon. Emery L. Bates, 1874, Third Worcester District. 

Population in 1765, 896; 1776, 1374; 1790, 1740; 
1800, 1846; 1810, 1927. Territory and inhabitants 
taken to be a part of the new town of Southbridge in 
1816. Sturbridge population in 1820, 1633; 1830, 
1688; 1840, 2005; 1850, 2119; 1860, 2291; 1865, 1992; 
1870, 2101 ; 1875, 2213. 

Town appropriations for highways and bridges : 
1739, £200 (old tenor), " ten shillings a day allowed 
for each man;" 17S6, £20, or allowing 2s. per day; 
1770, £150, allowing 3s. per day in June, or 2s. in 
September; 1800, $1,000, $1.00 a day in June, or 67 
cents in September; 1820, $700; 1840, $600; 1870, 
$1,000; 1888,13,300. 

Schools: 1742, £20; 1756, £16; 1770, £40; 1777, 
£60 {L. M.); 1793, £120; 1810, $600; 1831, .$800; 
1860, $1,500; 1871, $3,500; 1888, $3,200. 

Total appropriation: 1800, $2,300; 1820, $1,900; 
1840, $3,600 ; 1860, $4,907.08 ; 1865, $15,588.94 ; 1870, 
$14,300 ; 1880, $13,580; 1888, $11,575. 

The total valuation of the town in 1815 was $325,- 
233, deducting that part taken for Southbridge, $83,- 
783. Sturbridge valuation in 1810 was $241,450. In 
1860, $815,850 ; in 1871, $992,547 ; 1888, $975,107. 
The town is now out of debt, and owning property 
valued at $33,612. 

Thirty-five years after the incorporation of this new 
town the central valley was still, for the most part, 
wild, unoccupied land. Five hundred acres adjoin- 
ing Sturbridge Common on the northeast and north- 
west sides, extending to the brow of Fisk Hill on the 
one hand, and to the fair grounds on the other, and 
northward to the " Old Pauper farm " and Mrs. 
Hamant's, was owned by Dr. Francis Borland, of 
Boston, and so remained for fifteen years afterwards. 
West of that, and southward, was one thousand acres 
of unoccupied land owned by Mr. William Brattle, of 
Cambridge, which was purchased in 1774 by Mr. 
David Wight. 

Good roads had been made each way through this 
central valley, and in all other parts of the town 
highways had been constructed, all tending toward 
the meeting-house, or the "great road." Large and 
productive farms had been wrought from the wild 
land, and more than a hundred homesteads, many of 
them commodious and substantial, had been built. 

Two hundred times had sympathizing neighbors 
gathered at the house of mourning. The story of 
hardship and privation is told by the records of mor- 
tality among-women and children. 

Of the seventy early settlers mentioned on a pre- 



ceding page, ten only had passed away. These were : 
Adam Martin, Noah Mason, Solomon Rood, John 
Streeter, Rev. Caleb Rice, Deacon Isaac Newell, 
Nathaniel Bond, Samuel Freeman, George Watkins 
and Jonathan Mason. Most of the first settlers who, 
when young men, had organized the municipality, 
were still active in the affairs of the town. 

Their early assumption of responsibilities without 
the presence and support of elder men, their practi- 
cal and long experience in the affairs of social gov- 
ernment, bred self-reliance and a positive and strong 
feeling repellant of all foreign intervention. 

The spirit and the enlarged view taken here upon 
the affairs of the public in the time of the Revolution 
are abundantly shown by the following extracts from 
the records. At a meeting called by the selectmen 
"y* 27th day June, 1774, to consider of some measures 
proper to be adopted for the safety and defence of the 
Province in this distressed condition by reason of 
several late Acts of the British Parliament." After 
solemn prayer to God for direction, they proceeded after 
this manner, the selectmen to preside in the meeting 
— Deacon Daniel Fisk, speaker. " After considerable 
debate ..." it appeared to be the mind of the town, 
universally, " not to purchase anything which shall 
be imported from Great Britain after the time stipu- 
lated and agreed to." " After making some small 
alterations" in the Worcester and Berkshire cove- 
nants, both were at that time signed, " universally." 

September 28, 1774, in accordance with an article 
in the warrant, the town chose " military officers for 
the companies, and for their movements," viz.: Dan- 
iel Plimpton was chosen major ; Timothy Parker, 
Timothy Newell and Ebenezer Crafts were chosen 
captains. The same day the town voted to provide 
four half-barrels of powder, five hundred pounds 
of lead and five hundred flints. Also a committee 
of seven, viz.: Ensign James Johnson, Captain 
Joseph Cheney, Lieutenant Henry Fiske, Mr. Hins- 
dale Clark, Captain Ezekiel Upham, Mr. Stephen 
Gerould and John Marsh, were appointed to make 
provision for the men in case they should be 
called into the service, and a vote was passed " by a 
great majority," to pay the men, if called, for the 
service rendered. 

Voted, November 17, 1774, unanimously, " that 
the constibles of this town pay the Province tax to 
Henry Gardner, Esq., of Stowe ; and his receipt 
therefor shall ever hereafter opperate as an effectual 
discharge to them for the same." 

The November meeting was adjourned " to Monday, 
December 1st, at ten o'clock A. M., with the request 
that all the men in town, from sixteen years old and 
upwards, then assemble at the meeting-house with 
arms and ammunition, in order for reviewing." The 
old men formed a company of " alarm men." The 
young men were organized in companies called 
" minute men." They were marshaled and marched 
into the meeting-house in military order. After ap- 



STURBRIDGE. 



113 



prnpriate exercises, conducted by Rev. Joshua Paine, 
liiisiriess was resumed. 

Tlie alarm men, to the number of one hundred and 
three, some sixty and some over seventy years old, 
were, many of them, found to be deficient in equip- 
ments. The clerks of the other companies reported 
most of them present and generally equipped, or 
would be soon. Captain Crafts reported his company 
of cavalry well equipped and prepared. A few men 
belonging to the alarm list, who did not make their 
appearance at the review, were visited by a com- 
mittee, who took their names and an exact account 
of their preparations. Report being made, the town 
voted: "It is the sense of this meeting that every 
man in town able to furnish himself with arms and 
ammunition do forthwith fix himself complete ; and 
be it further recommended in the strongest terms to 
all in town unprepared to defend our just rights and 
privileges, and all that is dear to us, in this time of 
great danger and distress, to exert themselves to the 
utmost to be prepared immediately." 

A committee of one from each school district was 
appointed to obtain signatures to the " Articles of 
Association," and a pledge for the strict observance 
of the laws and resolves of Congress. 

Agreeable to the advice of the General Congress, 
the town chose, January 20, 1775, the following Com- 
mittee of Inspection : Deacon Daniel Fiske, Deacon 
Joshua Harding, William McKinstry, Major Daniel 
Plimpton, Aaron Allen, Benjamin Freeman and Dea- 
con Moses Weld. 

Deacon Daniel Fiske, Major Timothy Newell and 
Colonel Daniel Plimpton were appointed a committee 
to prepare instructions for Captain Timothy Parker, 
the delegate to the Provincial Congress, which were 
presented to the town and adopted May 29, 1775. 
The first article was: 

"1st. Respecting civil government (in case the peti- 
tion or address to his majesty should be rejected), we 
think it highly necessary to assume government by 
and with ihe advice of our sister colonies as soon as 
may be." 

At a special town-meeting, June 27, 1776 (the 
selectmen presiding), " being duely warned to know 
the minds of the town respecting Independence, &c.; 
after the resolve of the late house being read, & some 
debate thereon: The question was put, whether, 
should the Honorable Congress, for the safety of the 
colonies, declare them Independent of the Kingdom 
of Great Britain, the inhabitants of this town will 
solemnly engage with their Lives & Fortunes to sup- 
port them in the measure: — past in the affirmative by 
a great majority." ' 

For the year 1776 the Committee of Inspection and 
Safety was: Jlajor Timothy Newell, Captain Ralph 
Wheelock, Benjamin Freeman, John Salmon, Isaac 
Stacy, William McKinstry and NathanieVWalker. 

1 Town Records. 



the present House of Representatives, Council, &c., 
should form and ratify a plan of government as pro- 
posed in a late Hand Bill : & it passed in the negative 
without one dissentant." 

A committee was chosen to "draw up some reasons 
for their so voting;" viz., Dea. Daniel Fiske, Dea. 
Moses Weld, Col. Daniel Plimpton, Mr. John Hol- 
brook and Lieut. Henry Fiske. 

At an adjourned meeting, the first Monday in 
November, the committee laid before the town their 
report, from which the following is quoted : " As the 
end of government is the happiness of the people, so 
the sole right and power of forming and establishing 
a plan thereof is in the people; consequently, we 
think it unadvisable and irrational to consent that any 
set of men should form and ratify a constitution of 
government for us, before we know what it is. . . ." 
" Also, we look upon the present House of Representa- 
tives to be a very unequal representation of the State." 
The reasons being repeatedly and distinctly read, 
were approved by a vote of the town. 

Committee on Inspection and Safety (1777) : Major 
Timothy Newell, Col. Daniel Plimpton, William 
McKinstry, Capt. Abel Mason, Lieut. Benjamin Free- 
man, Lieut. John Salmon, Mr. Job Hamant. 

" Whereas, the Continental Congress have formed 
and proposed to the Legislative Body of this State 
articles of Confederation and perpetual union between 
the States, therefore, voted : To instruct our repre- 
sentatives to use their influence that the confederation 
and perpetual union be ratified, & it past in the affirm- 
ative. January 26th, 1778." 

The town had now taken its stand for independence 
and a " perpetual union between the United States." — 
a position which has, first and last, cost so much in 
the blood and treasure of her citizens. 

Colonel Daniel Plimpton died in June, 1777, and 
Deacon Daniel Fi.ske in March, 1778 ; and with them 
passed away something, it may be, of the ""Spirit of 
'76," in this town. The enthusiasm and energy of 
Colonel Plimpton, the sterling character, superior edu- 
cation and easy command of language of Deacon 
Fiske, had done much to mold the sentiment and 
action of the town. Also died, October 9, 1777, 
"Moses Marcy, Esq.," who had in his day been one 
of the principal men of the town — to whom a genera- 
tion of the inhabitants had looked for guidance, but 
of whom our records are silent after the opening of 
the Revolutionary struggle. 

The town's financial efl^orts began 1775, April 27th, 
when the town, having ordered the constables having 
money in their hands, to pay it to Henry Gardner, 
Esq., of Stowe, appointed Deacon Daniel Fiske, Dea- 
con Moses Weld and Major Daniel Plimpton a com- 
mittee to see what money was in the hands of the 
constables and " to stir them up to their duty." 

The town having voted in 1774 to pay the minute- 
men if called into service, a committee was chosen in 
January, 1777, consisting of Colonel Daniel Plimpton, 



lU 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



At a special town-meeting, October 14, 1776, the 
question was put : " Whether the town consent that 
Mr. Jonathan Gould, Ensign James Johnson, Mr. 
Job Haniant, Captain Ralph Wheelock, Captain Adam 
Martin and Captain Isaac Stacy, to " adjust or esti- 
mate the past services of Sturbridge soldiers in the 
present war, and to form some plan for the town to act 
or proceed." 

The bounty was fixed at thirty pounds for each en- 
listed man for three years' service, and so remained 
through the years '77 and '78. In '79 one hun- 
dred pounds each was voted to nine months' men, 
forty pounds to be paid before they started. February, 
1781, the town "voted to pay three hundred hard 
dollars to each man agreeing to serve three years," to 
pay one hundred at the time of marching, the re- 
mainder at the end of one and two years. 

Clothing for the town's proportion of soldiers, in 
the army was obtained mainly by voluntary contribu- 
tion. The receipts from that source being short of 
the requirements in 1778, April 14th, the selectmen 
were directed by vote of the town to purchase -shirts, 
shoes and stockings, which they did, and brought in 
their bill in May to the amount of £217 18s. 2d. 

A large quantity of beef was furnished for the 
army, and when unable in 1780 to procure the amount 
called for (fifteen thousand nine hundred pounds), 
the town borrowed money and paid that instead to 
Colonel Davis' agent. 

Names of soldiers of the Revolution from this town : 

AbraJiam Allen, Caleb Allen, Klipbalet Allen, Joel Barrett, Justus 
Boyden, Amos Hoyden, John Boyden, Thomas Boyden (also French War 
of '55), Nathan Brown, Asa Bultard, Asa Coburn, Pbeneas Coburn, Zacba- 
riah Coburn, Edward Coburn, Henry Clark, Henry Clark, Jr., Rufus 
Clark, Lemuel Clark, .\sabel Clark, Jepthab Clark, Elijah Carpenter (also 
French War of '55), Jacob Cleaveland, David Corey, John Corey, Joseph 
Cheney, Ebenezer Crafts, JoluLCejlgdtin, Stephen Draper, Benjamin Dix, 
Silas Dunton, John Dunton, James Dyer, Thomas D3'er, Robert Edwards, 
Cyrus Fay, Simeon Fiske, Nathan Fiske, Joshua Fiske, Benjamin Fel- 
ton (also War of '55), Walter Freeman, John Goss, Abel Gunn. Joshua 
Hardiug, Hinsdale Hamant, Eleazer Howard (also War of '55), Benjamin 
Hobbs, John Holbrook, Benjamin Humphrey, \bijah Hyde, Joshua 
Hyde, Benjamin Hyde, John Hyde, Othniel Hyde, Samuel Hyde, James 
Johnson (also ,War of '55), Comfort Johnson, Thomas Janes, Marvel 
Jacksou, Joshua Gerrold, William Leech, Abel Mason (also War of '55), 
Simeon Mason, Joshua Blason, Calvin Marsh, Silas Marsh, Duty Mareh, 
Aaron Marsh, Elijah Marcy, Adam Martin, Aaron Martin, Moses Mar- 
tin, Ithamar Merrifield, Joseph Mills, Asa flloi-se, Samuel Morse, 

Morse, Daniel Morse, .Jeremy Morse, Enos Morse, Timothy Newell, 
Samuel Newell, Stephen Newell, Timothy Parker, John Phillips, Eben- 
ezer Philips, Elijah Plimptou, Elias Plimpton, Daniel Plimpton, Jr., 
John Plimpton, Oliver Plimpton, Moses Plimpton, Primus (colored man), 
Ichabod Robbins, Eli Robbins, Oliver Bobbins, Nathan Rice, Jesse Sa- 
bin, Timothy Smith, Nathan Smith, Moses Sniitli, Nahum Smith, John 
Salmon, Joseph Shaw, Samuel Shumway, Abijah Shumway, Elijah 
Shumway, Stark Stacy, Amos Scott, William Simpson, Joseph Towne, 
Parmenas Thayer (was three years under Gen. Wayne in the Indian 
Warof 1791), Isaac Upham, Jcnathan Uphani, Nathaniel Walker (also 
War of '55), Josiah Walker, Benjamin Walker, Obed Walker, Pheneaa 
Walker, Isaac Warner, George Watkins, Thomas Waketield, Mr. Welch, 
Charles West, Dennison Wheelock, Krtlph Wheelock, Thomas Young, 
John Taylor. 

The foregoing is the list collected by George Davis, 
Esq., and is found in his historical sketch of this 
town. The following names have been found by the 
writer upon our town records, and State Archives : 



Abner Allen, Jacob Allen, Joseph Dunton, Benjamin Freeman 

Amos Gleason, Samuel Glover, Josiah Hicke, Asa Homer, Syriel Leech, 
Isaac Newell, Rev. Joshua Paine (chaplain), Josiah Partridfce, Daniel 
Plimpton (also War of '55), Abner Plimpton, Samuel Richardson, 
Thomas Simpson, 

We have here only the names of survivors, a few of 
whom moved into this town after the war. The Rev. 
Joseph S. Clark states, in his centennial address upon 
the history of this town, July 4, 1838, " that he had 
obtained the names of two hundred and thirty-nine 
men from this town that served in that war. Among 
this number was one colonel, one major, eight cap- 
tains, eight lieutenants and two ensigns; besides, the 
Rev. Joshua Paine officiated two months as chaplain." 

War of 1812-15. — At a town-meeting in 1812 
November 2d, on the question, " To see if the town 
will grant any additional pay to soldiers doing duty 
in defense of our country :" " Voted to pass the article 
by," is the only record upon our town's books refer- 
ring to that war. It proves that Sturbridge men were 
at that time "doing duty in defence of our country." 
Their names, for the most part, are unknown. In 
1840 there is mention upon our records of Levi Sim- 
mons having served in the War of 1812. In an old 
account-book kept by a trader of that period, an arti- 
cle of charge against Charles Coburn is written across 
" Settled . by death in the Army." A trace of the 
foundation of a small house and a lilac bush mark the 
spot of Charles Coburn's humble home. He was a son 
of Edward Coburn,whose name is on the Revolutionary 
list. 

The widows of Tilly Woodward and Captain Asa 
Fisk are drawing pensions for their husband's services 
in the War of 1812. 

Captain Benjamin Bullock, a sea captain, whoFe 
home was on the site now occupied by the residence 
of the writer, was captured by a British armed vessel 
in 1812, he being on the route home from the East 
Indies in command of a vessel in the merchant service. 
He was subsequently exchanged and immediately 
entered the service of the United States and returned 
his compliments with much vigor and success. He 
was wounded in an engagement with the enemy, from 
the effects of which he died soon after reaching home. 

War of the Rebellion. — The efforts of the 
town to aid and encourage men to enlist is about all 
that is found upon the records having reference to the 
war. From time to time money was raised to carry 
out the intention of all the acts of the Legislature 
relative to aiding the families, or those dependent on 
the volunteers on duty; also for the support of the 
widows and children of those that died while in the 
service. A bounty of one hundred dollars was offered 
by the town in 1802, August 28th, to those who volun- 
teered and were mustered under the " Order of the 
President for a draft of three hundred thousand men." 
A bounty of one hundred and twenty-five dollars for 
volunteers was offered in 1864, May 31st. The real war 
history of this town, as well as all over the land, was 



STURBRIDGE. 



115 



written in the hearts of brave men and loyal women - 
lejjible now only here and there — soon to be entirely 
obliterated. 

On the occasion of choosing Presidential electors 
and State officers, November 8, 1864, there came into 
the town hail Dea. John Phillips, who was then one 
hundred and four years, four montbs and nine days 
old. He had been a soldier in the Revolutionary 
War, had served three terms as Representative in the 
State Legislature, and had frequently held other office 
in town affiiirs. He was a man of large frame, and a 
long, strong and intelligent physiognomy. A ticket 
of each of the great parties of that time was held in 
front of him, and he was asked to designate which he 
would deposit in the ballot-box. He said, in a voice 
audible throughout the hall, "I wish to vote for 
Abraham Lincoln." After that he requested that all 
the soldiers who had been in the service, who were 
present, should place themselves in a row in front of 
him, and then that each man be introduced. Thus 
comrades of the two great wars met and shook hands. 
He requested to be borne to his carriage by soldiers 
— his comrades — and the writer was one of the four 
selected to have that honor. 

At the time the town preserved no list of Sturbridge 
soldiers in the war, and the one here presented is the 
result of much labor, yet may not be complete. They 
are as follows : 

12th /H/aii^r//.— William L. Allen. 

nth IiifajUnj.-ChitTleB A. Phillips. 

15«/i Infnutrif.—'RmeTy F. Baily, William L. Blood, killed at Antie- 
taiu, September 17, '62 ; Abrara Benjamin, William Carter, William H. 
Clark, died of wounds, October 1, '62, at Antietam. Md. ; Lucian G. 
Lamb, Alexander Oakee, Charles M. Plummer, Alfred L. Russell, 
killed Sept. 17, '62, at Antietam ; Charles E. Stoue. 

nth Iii/antry.— John B. Blodget, died Feb. 25, '65, at Newbern, N. 
C. ; Henry Pepin, Albert Remington. Ezra Remington, Charles M. 
Wliittemore, died April 25, 'G5, at Raleigh, N. C. ; Simeon Young, his 
second enlistment. 

19//* /H/(i(i/p//.— Walter A. Learned, Arthur L. Walker, died Jan. 15» 
'65, at Andersouville Prison-pen, Ga. 

2l8( /»/a»i(ri/.— George L. Bracket served three yeai-s, then re-en- 
listed ; George Burr, John Crosby, re-enlisted ; Curtis H. Dodge, Henry 
S. Edgerton, William H. Macomber, Ferdinand Rogers. 

'2-2(1 Infanti-y. — James Brigham, died of wounds, May 15, '64, at 
Laurel Hill, Va. ; Jerome D. Childs, John B. Cooper, died July 18, '62, 
at Harrison's Landing, Va. ; Edmund Mason, Henry G. IHiller, John 
F. Moore, died of wounds, July — , '63 ; John Newton, Amasa Phette- 
place, Isaac G. Plimpton, died of wounds, July 4, '6'2, at Malvern Hill, 
Va. ; John A. Plimpton, Nathan L. Stone, killed June 27, '6J, at 
Gaines' Mills, Va. ; Kausom W. Towne, Jefferson Wellington, David 
Wilson, Alvi R. Woodward, Simeon Young. 

•Zbth /(iAi"(n/.— George Burr, second enlistment ; John Burns, Lewis 
W. Benson, Alfred Carpenter, Maurice Doran. Nathan E. Keash, Wil- 
liam J. Stone, died of wounds, June 27, '64, at Washingtoc, D. C. ; 
Robert Young. 

2~th Infimtrij. — J. Arthur Johnson. 

2Sth Infantry. — James King. 

31«/ Infantnj.—Thom&s O'Harra, died Oct. 6, '62, at Jacksonville, La. 

34th Iiifautry. —W'aido J. Allen, died Mar. 26, '65, at Sturbridge; 
George A. Blood, Michael Cleary, Asa F. Crosby, killed Sept. 19, '64, at 
Winchester, Va. ; Patrick Gavin, died Aug. 27, '64, at Amlersonville 
Prison-pen, Ga. ; John Hilton, James Hurst, William King.' William 
W. Lombard, John Martin, Darius Moon, James Moon, Simeon G. 
Newton, died Oct. 7, '6:j, at Webster, Mass. ; Richard Shannuck, died 
of wounds, Nov. 30, '64, at Middletown, Va. ; James Shepard. 

iOlk Iiifoutry.—iitepheii Andrews, Francis A Cooper. 

42(1 Iiifautry.—Mbart H. Edgertou, 'Charles T. Fowler, Frank il. 



Gleason, second enlistment ; Mark Heathcote, William Heathcote, 
James Nolan, Theodore Snell, John Stone, Albert L, Sj'kes, Levins R. 
Wight, Nelson Wright, died June 5, '03, at New Orleans, La. ; George 
Wright. 

4^ttb Itifmitry — George P. Ladd. 

5l8( /M/un(rt/.— Salem T. Adams, Albert Back, Levi B. Chaee.i John 
Cobley, Frank H. Gleason, John P. Haynes, Henry E. Hitchcock, Ev- 
erett C. Hooker, LothropJL. Hooker, William H. Ho >kor, Edward E. 
Jaynes, John F. Kebler, Andrew J. Lee, Henry H. Lincoln, Franklin 
P. Lumbard, William D. Marsh. Albert Mood, Harlan L. Pepper, Levi 
W. Richards,! Ht-nry H. Scarlborough,! Chester Scarborough,^ Mel- 
vin Shepard,' Joseph S. Spencer, Edwin R. Spencer, Homer Smith, 
Merrick L. Streeter,' Reuben Walker, Harrison Wells, Henry H. 
Wells, Daniel VV. Wight,' Delos Witliey. 

5Gth Infantry. — Andrew H. Barrett, Charles H. Brown, killed May 31, 
1864, Cold Harbor, Va. ; J. Arthur Johnson, second enlistment, died 
May l:i, 1865, at Spottsylvania, Va., and his name is given to Post No. 
173, Department Massachusetts, G. A. R.; William D. Marsh, second en- 
listment, died July 14, 1864, at Sturbridge ; Homer Smith, second en- 
listment, killed May 24, 1^64, at North Anna River, Va. 

57(ft Infantry. — George C. McMaster, died in the service. 

6fHA Infantry,— ^ohx^ M. Chick. 

618/ Infantry — Frank H. Gleason, third enlistment. 

'Ad Battalion fii^emeu.— Elias M. Gifford, Jr. 

AOi Cavalry. — Merrick Clark, George L. Marsh. 

Veteran Itesfrre Carps. — William Amsden, Charles W. Smith. 

l\th Uniied Statefi Colored Heavy Artillery. — Atram B. Jackson. 

23d Vnited States Colored Troops. — Hiram H. Ransom, fell before 
Petersburg. 

2^ Hcain/ Artillery. —A]hert H. Bump, Arthur M. Bullard, Alvin B. 
Chamberlain,' John Cobley, second en'iatment; Edwin N. Draper, 
James L. Groves,' second enlistment; Lothrop L. Hooker, second en- 
listment; Frederick Holmes, William H. Levalley, El bridge G. Perry, 
Samuel A. Shumway, Addison P. Smith, Augustine Snell. 

Five of these men, of the Second Heavy Artillery, 
some way became credited to Charlton. It is but 
justice to say that they intended to serve for their 
native town of Sturbridge, where three of them still 
reside. 

The following are the names of those who were at 
that time inhabitants of Sturbridge, aud who enlisted 
for other towns : 

1st BattalU>n, Heavy ArtUlery. — Addison C. Jackson, William T. Lamb, 
Levi W.Richards' (second enlistment), enlisted for Worcester. 

Afh Heavy Artillery. — George Remington for Southbridge, Samuel L. 
Thomson' and Emerson D. Vinton' for Worcester. 

1st Cavalry. — Loren W.Johnson, Alphonso F. Childs, died Augnst 20, 
1864, at Andersonville prison-pen, Ga.; William S. Fuller, died January 
111, 1S63, at Annapolis, Md.; Amasa C. Morse, Ebenezer Smith and Far- 
num Soutliwick enlisted for Springfield. 

4th Cavalry. — George P. Kendrick, George N. Stone ' and James 
Stone enlisted for Boston. 

34(7* Infantry. — Julius A. Parkhurst for Southbridge, 

45^^ Infantry. — William P. Plimpton for Southbridge. 

The following moved into this town soon after the 
war, and have remained until the present time, viz. : 

Orsamus Kenfield ' (34tli Inf.), from Brimfield ; S. Dana Merrill' (23d 
Inf., Maine) ; William H. H. Ormsby' and Ezekiel M. Cooper' (l?th 
Inf.), from Brookfield ; Andrew B. Fletcher (36th Inf.), from Charlton ; 
Edward Hazzleburst' and Jeremiah J. Shepard,' from Rhode Island; 
Charles Vickers' and John Day,' from Connecticut; W. L. D. Lom- 
bard.' 

Other resident members of Post 173 are: 

W. E. Maynard, Maurice Cogan, Jerome Carlo, Joseph L. Ballon, Jo- 
seph Kenworthy, in Sturbridge; B. C. Bennett, N. Alexander, W. Lilly 
B. W. Charles, E. H. Davenpc-rt, E. W. Carder, A. N. Moulton and 
James Scarborough reside beyond the border of the town, in Brimfield 
and Hultand. 



' Members of J. Arthur Johnson Post, No. 173, Department Mass , G. 
A, R. ; Commander (1S8S), W. H. H. Ormsby. 



116 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



In 1871 the town erected a monument of granite 

upon the Centre Common, and inscribed thereon the 
names of thos6 Sturbridge soldiers who did not sur- 
vive the war. 

Religious Societies, Churches and Ministers. 
— A Congregational Church was organized in 1736, 
Wednesday, September 29th, consisting of fourteen 
male members, viz. : Rev. Caleb Rice, Henry Fiske, 
Ezekiel Upham, Joseph Baker, Joseph Cheney, 
Ebenezer Stearns, Joseph Allen, George Watkins, 
Solomon Rood, Daniel Fiske, Josiah Perry, Jonathan 
Fosket, Moses Allen, Daniel Thurston. 

The same day Mr. Caleb Rice, a native of Hing- 
ham and a graduate of Harvard University, was 
ordained to the work of the ministry. As first pas- 
tor he became one of the associate proprietors, own- 
ing one-fiftieth part of the township. He died in 1759, 
September 2d, on a Sabbath day. Fifteen persons 
separated near the close of his ministry and estab- 
lished a Baptist Church. About one hundred mem- 
bers remained in his church. 

Mr. Joshua Paine, a native of Pomfret, Conn., and 
a graduate of Yale College, was next called to minis- 
ter to this church. He was ordained here in 1761, 
June 17th. To accommodate the multitude expected 
on this occasion a platform was erected on the 
Common at the foot of the hill, east of the present 
meeting-house, and the interesting cerfmony there 
performed where all could see. Rev. Joshua Paine 
died in 1799, December 28th, and the funeral took 
place the first day of the year and century of 1800. 
By precept and example he nobly sustained the peo- 
ple in thtir struggle for independence. 

A new meeting-house was built in 1784, on a site 
about ten rods northeastward of the old house, but 
was not completed and dedicated until the autumn of 
1787. 

The successor of Mr. Paine was Mr. Otis Lane, of 
Rowley, a graduate of Harvard University. A colony 
of twenty were dismissed from this society in 1801 
to form a church in the Poll parish, now Southbridge. 
Mr. Lane was dismissed in 1819, February 24th, and 
was succeeded by Rev. Alviu Bond, a native of Sut- 
ton, and a graduate of Brown University. He was 
ordained in 1819, November 30th, and served a twelve 
years' pastorate, during which Sabbath-schools and 
Bible-classes were established here, and one hundred 
and twenty-three members were added to the church ; 
also a temperance society was formed. 

Rev. Joseph S. Claik, of Plymouth, a graduate of 
Amhferst College, was ordained pastor in 1831, and 
remained seven years. With his ministry com- 
menced the voluntary method of supporting religious 
worship by subscription, in this town. During Mr. 
Clarke's pastorate 203 members were added by pro- 
fession, and 56 by letter. The whole number of 
members was 335. In the same period this church 
and society contributed for objects of Christian 
charity $4,000, besides aiding several young men in 



preparing for the ministry. The interior of the 
meeting-house was remodeled in 1835, giving more 
seating capacity than the old-fashioned pews. 

The following are the pastors since 1838 : 6. Rev. 
David R. Austin, 1839-51 ; 7. Rev. Hubbard Beebe, 
1852-54; 8. Rev. Sumner G. Clapp, 1856-62; 
9. Rev. Marshall B. Angier, 1863-67; 10. Rev. 
Martin L. Richardson began his labors herein 1867, 
October 20th, and, rounding out his twenty-one 
yeara' service, resigned in 1888, October 20th, much 
to the regret of his people. 

Names of those who have served as deacons : Dan- 
iel Fiske, elected 173G ; Ebenezer Stearns, 1736 ; 
Isaac Newell, 1741; Joseph Baker, 1747; Edward 
Foster, 1749 ; Moses Weld ; Joshua Harding ; Job 
Haniant; Rowland Clark; Elezear Hebbard ; Joel 
Plimpton, 1807; Daniel Plimpton, 1808; Zenas 
Dunton, 1826; George Davis, 1826; Ephraim M. 
Lyon; James Chapin, 1832; Perley Allen, 1846-63; 
David K. Porter, 1850-53; Melville Snell, 1853-66; 
Henry Haynes, 1853, still in office ; Charles Fuller, 
1863-86; Henry E. Hitchcock, 1863-73; Isaac 
Johnson, 1869-74; William G. Reed, M.D., 1886. 

Baptists. — In 1847 a new church was formed in 
Sturbridge, and Mr. John Blunt was ordained as its 
pastor. Henry Fiske and David Morse were the 
ruling elders — the only persons ever appointed to that 
office in this body. Two years later thirteen of their 
number were baptized by Rev. Ebenezer Moultnn, 
pastor of the Baptist Church at South Brimfield. 
Soon afterwards upwards of sixty were baptized, in- 
cluding their pastor, Mr. Blunt, and at that time this 
church is supposed to have fully conformed to the 
Baptist faith. Records of this society prior to 1780 
are wanting. In 1784 a meeting-house was erected on 
the height of Fiske Hill, upon a piece of land given 
to the society for the purpose by Henry Fiske. This 
house and location was used for the meetings of the 
Baptist Society for nearly half a century. 

Among the twelve who were added to the member- 
ship of the church in 1786 was John Phillips, who 
presided at a meeting in the Baptist meeting-house at 
Fiskdale, in 1860, June 29th, on the occasion of the 
celebration of his one hundredth birthday. He died 
in 1864, aged one hundred and four years. 

The society built a new meeting-house, which was 
finished and dedicated in 1833, January 8th, on the 
site now occupied by No. 1 School-house. 

After occupying that spot five years, this house was 
removed and located on ground given to the society 
for that purpose, by the Hon. Josiah J. Fiske, at 
Fiskdale. 

PaMors. — Rev. John Blunt, 1747; Rev. Jordon 
Dodge, 1784-88 ; Rev. Lenas L. Leonard, 1796-1832; 
Rev. Addison Parker, 1833-35 ; Rev. Orrin O. Stearns, 
1837-39 ; Rev. Joel Kenney, 1840-43 ; Rev. J. Wood- 
bury, 1844-47; Rev. Thomas Driver, 1847-49; Rev. 
Geo. E. Dorrance, 1850-52; Rev. Addison Parker, 
1852-55; Rev. Geo. W. Preston, 1855-58 ; Rev. An- 



STURBRIDGE. 



117 



drew Read, 1858-62; Rev. J. M. Chick, 1862-64; 
Rev. William Reed, 1866-67 ; Rev. J. T. Farrar' 
1867-69; Rev. C. A. Cook, 1869-70; Rev. C. W. Pot- 
ter, 1871-73 ; Rev. T. M. Merriara, 1873-76; Rev. J. 
H. Gannett, 1876-80; Rev. S. M. Reed, 188.'). 

A revival occurred in the early part of the ministry 
of the Rev. S. M. Reed, resulting in the addition of 
some thirty new members to the church, including 
two or three admitted by letter. 

Persons named in the following list have served as 
deaci>ns of this Baptist Church: Daniel Fiske, John 
Newell, Jonathan Phillips, Henry Fiske, John Phil- 
lips, Jonathan Lyon, Moses Fiske, Priuce Bracket, 
Rufus F. Brooks, Edward Richardson, P. L. Goodell, 
Jonah Giflord, D. W. Harris, N. Underwood, E. T. 
Brooks, H. A. Chamberlain. Deacons Goodell and 
Chamberlain hold office at this time, 1888. 

First Unitarian. — This society was organi«ed in 
1864, June 3d. Theapplication to E. L. Bates, Esq. 
justice of the peace, requesting him to issue his war- 
rant to call a meeting for the organization of a re. 
ligious society for the support of liberal preaching 
was signed by Eliakim Adams, Liberty Allen, Na- 
thaniel Upham, Wm. H. Upham, Bowers S. Chace, 
Levins Hooker, E. W. Moffitt and Wm. H. Skerry. 
The society started with about forty male members. 
The next year, 186.5, the invitation of the National 
Convention of Unitarian Churches was accepted, and 
Emerson .Johnson and Bowers S. Chace were chosen 
delegates to attend the convention with the pastor. A 
tasty and comfortable house of worship was built in 
1872, and dedicated December 11th. A parish com- 
mittee is chosen annually, and the following persons 
have served in that office: Nathl. Upham, Chas. N. 
Allen, Eliakim Adams, Saml. M. Edgerton, Ethan 
Allen, Farnum Southwick, Bowers S. Chace, Wm. H. 
Skerry, A. C. Morse, H. W. Nichols, Henry Weld 
Edw. Nichols, Wm. H. Upham, Emery L. Bates' 
(Jhas. V. Corey, G. Norval Bacon, .Jonas Rice, Alvin 
B. Chamberlain. 

Pastors.— Uiiv. John A. Buckingham, 1864-66 ; 
Rev. Henry F. Edes, 1866-68; Rev. Charles T. Irish, 
1870-71 ; Rev. John A. Buckingham, 1871-73 ; Rev. 
Clarence Fowler, 1874-80; Rev. B. V. Stevenson, 
1880-82; Rev. Frank McGuire, 1882-88 ; Rev. lOph- 
raim A. Reed, September, 1888. 

Protestant Episcopal.— Was organized as a 
parish under the name of Grace Church. The old 
Union Hall was fitted up and used for a chapel. 

Hectors. — Rev, Samuel Spear, 1870-72; Rev. 
Levi Boyer, 1873-76 ; Rev. De Estaing Jennings, 
1877, and continued several years; then the services 
were dropped. 

Catholic— The Fiskdale mission was instituted 
as early as 1872. The Irish and the Canadian-French 
have always had their separate meetings, and while a 
mission, they were attended by the priests of their 
respected nationalities, who had charge at South- 
bridge. Two very tasty and well constructed 



churches were erected in 1885, and in 1886, Septem- 
ber 1st, the Fiskdale Mission was made a distinct par- 
ish. The Reverend Father Jules Gratton was placed 
in charge as priest. The census of the parish in 1886, 
was: Irish, 45 families and 175 souls; French, 110 
families and 610 souls. 

Educational. — Rev. Joseph S. Clark, in his cen- 
tennial address of 1838, says: "The first step towards 
the advancement of common education in this place 
was the establishment of four schools at the average 
expense of £5 per school. The names of the four 
teachers who had the honor of laying the foundation 
of learning among us (peace to their venerated dmt I) 
were Margaret Manning, Mary Hoar, the wife of 
Jeremiah Streeter, and the wife of John Stacey, 
1742. 

Five school districts were formed in 1761, and re- 
ferring to that, Mr. Clark says, such indeeil, is the 
present law of the Commonwealth, but the plan was 
devised and adopted by the citizens of this town long 
before our law-makers had suggested such a thought. 

The School Committee of 1825, Rev. Z. L. Leonard, 
chairman, made a report of the schools — the first on 
record in this town. In that report it is found that 
" The whole number that have attended school the 
winter past is five hundred and sixty, of which a re- 
spectable number in each school have attended to the 
higher branches of study." There were twelve school 
districts. The age of attendance at common schools 
was at that time extended at option to twenty years, 
more or less. 

From the 1888 printed reportof theSchool Committee 
of this town, we find that " the .school year of thirty- 
three weeks was divided into a spring, fall and winter 
term, of ten, eleven and twelve weeks, respec- 
tively." 

Number of public day-HChools 14 

Number uf peraons in the town May 1, 1877, between five 

and fifteen years of age 345 

Number ofdiflereiit pupila of all ages in all the public 

scJhjoIb duriuK tlie ecliool year 371 

Wbole uuniber of teacliers employed during the year 20 

Average wages of teachers per month $27.75 

H. E. Hilrlicock, A. B. Ch»mb«rlaiu, D. R. Wight, .School <:'ommitleB 
of Sturbriilge, March 17, 1888. 

Public Library. — In 1873 "The Quinebaug Library 
Association " gave their librnry of between four and 
five hundred volumes to the town, " on condition that 
the town appropriate not less than $100 annually for 
its increase and support and proper accommodation for 
the public." The town accepted the gift and the con- 
ditions, and the public library has been well cared 
for and increased to over 3000 volumes. It is located 
in the upper story of the Centre School-house build, 
ing. In the year ending March 1, 1888, the number 
of persons drawing books was 352. Total number of 
books drawn, 6041. 

Industrial. — The first saw-mill in the town wsia 
built in 1732 by William Ward, Esq.,of Southborough, 
upon Hobb's Brook, not far above the crossing of the 



118 



HISTORY OP WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



Fiske Hill road. In 1795 the number of saw-mills 
upon the Quinebaug and tributaries had increased to 
fifteen. There were nine in 1837, and at the present 
time six. A large share of the sawing is now done by 
portable steam mills. Nehemiah Allen's corn-mill is 
mentioned upon our records iu 1769, and may have 
been in operation at an earlier date. It wa.s located 
near where the large dam owned by the Fiskdale Mills 
has been constructed. Moses Marcy's corn-mill, which 
accommodated the early settlers, was over the line in 
Oxford (Charlton after 1754). In 1795 there were 
four grist-mills in the town ; in 1737, three ; and at 
the present time, one — that owned by Mr. George 
Wight, which accommodates this and the borders of 
adjoining towns. 

Three mills for the manufacture of cotton batting 
were operated in this town in 1837 ; at the present 
time, none. 

A tannery was established near the site of the first 
saw-mill by Mr. Samuel Hobbs, a native of Weston, 
and a member of " The Boston Tea Party," who came 
to this town about 1780. Samuel Hobbs & Sons, 
Josiah Hobbs, P. B. & J. B. Johnson, Southwick & 
Tyler, and Nelson Bennett have successively owned 
and operated the tannery. The business has been 
dropped in that locality and the buildings are taken 
away. 

The "Old Tannery," at Fiskdale, was established 
not far from the year 1780 by Abuer Allen, who car- 
ried on the business about fifty years. Mr. Liberty 
Allen (living 1888), grandson of Abner, succeeded to 
the business in 1830, and has carried it on fifty-eight 
years. Henry Allen, father of Liberty, was a pump- 
maker. 

Carriage and Harness Shop at the Centre Village. — 
Mr. Henry Haynes, then called junior, started in the 
business here in March, 1834. Mr. Melvin Haynes, a 
brother, was admitted a partner in 1844. H. & M, 
Haynes continued until 1861, when Melvin sold his 
interest to his nephews, Henry D. and John P., and 
the firm took the name of H. Haynes & Sons. John 
P. sold his interest in 1865, and the final letter s was 
taken off the firm-name. The number of hands em- 
ployed has varied from one, at first, to fifteen or six. 
teen at the highest. Since carriage-making, in later 
years, has gone into larger concerns, H. Haynes & 
Son have reduced their force, and confine their at- 
tention to orders and repairing. The senior member 
of the firm, who is still active, has been in the busi- 
ness fifty-four years. 

Boot and Shoe Business at the Centre. — Elisha 
Southwick, having obtained permission, and a lease 
of the ground from the town, built a shoe-shop on 
the Common in 1850, and went into business. In 
1859 he leased to Henry Merrick and Charles N. 
Allen, but soon afterwards bought in, and when Mr. 
Merrick and Mr. Allen left the firm, continued the 
business alone until he gave it up to his son-in-law, 
Mr. A. C. Morse, about 1868. Mr. Hiram Carter 



bought an interest in 1869, and the firm of Morse & 
Carter did a business of about $120,000 a year. Mr. 
Carter withdrew, and Mr. Morse went on alone un- 
til the business was closed, about 1877. 

Mr, Charles N. Allen, after leaving the firm of 
Southwick & Allen, did a large business on the oppo- 
site side of the Common. He operated for the 
greater part of the time between 1865 and 1875, 
usually doing a business of $100,000 a year. 

At Fiskdale. — Mr. Emery L. Bates, in connection 
with Mr. Judson Smith, began in the boot and shoe 
business about 1846. The firm of Sessions Bates & 
Co. was formed about 1850, and did a business which, 
at the maximum, amounted to over $300,000 a year. 
The firm dissolved before the war, and Mr. Bates 
continued the business here. His trade was largely 
Southern, and the cloud of the Rebellion covered 
about $80,000 of his as^sets, of which he finally rea- 
lized only about $10,000. Mr. Bates then discon- 
tinued the manufacture of boots and shoes, and or- 
ganized the Snell Manufacturing Company, as de- 
scribed in another place. 

The Ladd's Shop Privilege. — Mr. David K. Porter, 
iu the spring of 183(!, built a dam across the ancient 
" Sugar Brook," exactly where the " Old Springfield 
Road," which was opeued in 1635-38, had passed, 
and flowed what was known to the wayfarer along 
this route, before the settlement of the town, as 
" Knotch Meadow." A very durable and valuable 
water-power was obtained, it being situated upon the 
outlet of Walker Pond, which is improved as a 
reservoir. Gibbs, Tiflany & Company, composed of 
Enoch K. Gibbs, Brigham Gibbs, Lucian Tiflany and 
Dr. John Seabury, began the manufacture of pistols 
here as the first enterprise. Town & Chafl'ee, from 
Rhode Island, began to make augers and bits here 
iu 1841, the first made in this town. Mr. Sumner 
Packard began to make awls and general shoe-kit 
tools in 1846, and was succeeded in 1855 by Mr. 
Charles Varney, who commenced to make cutters 
and dies in 1857. He sold to F. W. & H. Slayton 
in 1863, who transferred a third interest to Mr. Noah 
D. Ladd in 1804, and the whole property to Ladd & 
Wight the next year. In 1867 Mr. Daniel R. Wight 
went out, and Mr. Ladd, taking his son Henry J. 
into the business, has continued under the firm-name 
of N. D. Ladd & Son. The shop was burned in 
June, 1878, and they had it rebuilt and running 
in sixty-one days after the fire. They manufac- 
tured shoe-knives, awl-hafts and a variety of small 
tools until about 1875; since that time they have 
given their attention principally to cutters and dies 
for cutting cloth, paper, rubber, veneering, leather, 
etc. 

At Westville there is to be seen the ruined founda- 
tion of an old mill ; also a canal and a broken-down 
dam. This is the site of the first cotton -factory in the 
town — including Southbridge. It was built by the 
Sturbridge Manufacturing Company in 1812. This 



STUKBRIDGE. 



119 



asaociation was incorporated the 5th of December, 
1811, with the following names: Kev. Zenas L. Leon- 
ard, Stephen Newell, Lieut. John Plimpton, Moses 
Fiske, Jephthah Plimpton, Ziba Plimpton, Moses 
Newell, Eleazer Rider, Comfort Freeman, Nathaniel 
Eider, Franklin Rider. 

The factory building was thirty feet by forty-five, 
and three stories in height, with preparations for 
manufacturing cotton yarn. The mill began to run 
for the company in the fall of 1812, and continued to 
run with profit until the close of the war, when British 
manufactures were introduced below the cost of any 
similar production in these States. Southbridge was 
set oft' in 1816, and although the factory building was 
on the Sturbridge side of the river, it was subsequently 
owned and occupied by Southbridge parties. The 
mill was unoccupied a number of years ; then it was 
struck by lightning and burned about 1882. 

Charles Hyde's Box-Shop is on the Quinebaug, 
about half a mile above the ruins of the old factory. 
This mill site was first utilized for a saw-mill owned 
by Dea. Edward Foster at an early period, and came 
into the possession of Mr. James Plimpton about 
1770, who had a saw-mill and a grist-mill there. The 
place was called "Plimpton's Mills" for a period of 
fifty years or more. Stephen Bracket had a cotton- 
batting mill there; then it was "Bracket's Mills." 
Pails were made there a few years. Sawing of lum- 
ber, planing and matching, and the making of pack- 
ing-boxes is the business now carried on there. 

Wight's Mills. — Above the box-shop the Quinebaug 
may be followed nearly two miles in its winding, quiet 
course, before another mill-site is found ; and that 
was originally found by the boys who followed the 
path the cows made going down through the bushes 
to drink. The river ran into a pocket surrounded by 
sand-hills, and had to go back and flow quietly out 
at the door. David Wight, Jr., built a dam across 
the door, or place of outflow, dug through the sand- 
bank and made a canal to conduct the water away 
down through the meadow to the river again, and thus 
obtained a very valuable water-power, which has been 
used by three generations of his descendants. A 
grist-mill, saw-mill, planing and matching is the 
business now carried on there. 

Snell Manufacturing Company's Works. — In 1798-99, 
Mr. Alpheus Wiglit excavated a canal about half a 
mile in length, conducting the water from the Quine- 
baug, where a dara was constructed, to a convenient 
locality near "the great road," and established a 
water-power tliere, which has been of great public, as 
well as private utility. In his day it was utilized for 
a saw-mill, a grist-mill and a fulling-mill. 

The manufacture of augers and bits was commenced 
at Wight Village, in the old fulling-mill building, as 
early as 1845, by Towne, Snell & Co. The following 
year Lauriston Towne went out, and the firm-name 
became Smith, Snell & Co., until 1850, when Lucius 
Snell bought out Judson Smith. The firm was then 



composed of Mr. Melville Snell, and two of his 
nephews, Thomas O. Snell and Lucius, and took the 
name of Snell & Bros. The old mill was burned in 
1852, after which the firm bought the privilege and 
built the first stone mill, one hundred feet by thirty- 
two, and two stories in height. Then Dea. Thomas 
Snell, the father of Thomas O. and Lucius, sold his 
shop in Ware and removed his business to Sturbridge, 
went into partnership with his brother and two sons, 
and the firm-name was changed to Snell Bros. They 
built two stone mills in 1853, one thirty-six by forty- 
six, and the other one hundred by forty-five feet ; the 
latter three stories in height. About seventy-five 
workmen were employed in 185-1. 

Deacon Thomas Snell was the son of Thomas 
Snell, of Ware, who originated the Snell auger and 
bit, the first of the kind made in this country. Thus, 
the hereditary skill and long-established business 
(from 1790) being transferred to this locality, when 
Mr. Emery L. Bates, of this town, formed a copart- 
nership with Messrs. Clarke & Wilson, an old hard- 
ware firm in New York, and purchased the entire 
business in 1862, they very appropriately took the 
firm name of The Snell Manufacturing Company. 
Mr. Bates has been the business manager to the 
present time. In 1883 they-added the business of 
making ship-augers, of which there is but one other 
manufactory in this country ; and with improved 
machinery and skilled mechanics are said to make 
the finest goods in the world. 

It is now a corporation with a capital of sixty thou- 
sand dollars and employing about one hundred and 
thirty workmen, manufacturing auger-bits and car- 
bits, millwright and nut augers, boring machines and 
boring machine augers, ship-builders' augers and the 
various kinds of augers and bits used for power ma- 
chines, producing about one hundred and fifty thou- 
sand annually. 

FiSKDALE AND FiSKDALE MiLLS. — Nchemiah 
Allen, who was one of the proprietors and drew lands 
in various parts of the town, bought of Moses Allen, 
who had bought of Shubael Goram, original proprietor, 
the " Dimick Farm " and " lot No. 25, west," 
adjoining it on the north, now known as the "old' 
Benson place," and also lot No. 37, now owned by Mr. 
Liberty Allen, the Fiskdale Mills (Taylor Place) and 
others, which bounded said " Farm " on the west. 
The south line of Demick's was identical with the 
north bounds of Mr. C. G. Allen's farm, and the 
eastward the same as the west line of J. D. Under- 
wood's and D. W. Wight's pasture-lands on the hill, 
and continued the same course after crossing the 
river, northeastward to the lot 25 west above men- 
tioned. The line last described was between the 
Salstonstal and Demick " Farms." 

Nehemiah Allen built his house previous to 1738, 
upon the site of the "old Allen place," northward of 
the Baptist meeting-hou.se. 

In the second generation his son John remained 



120 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



upon the homestead, " Captain Jacob " had the 
south part of the lot No. 37, and the grist-mill, and 
originated the liomestead called the Taylor Place. 
Abner had the north end of 37, and built the house 
now the residence of his grandson. Liberty AUe'n; 
also originated the tanning business there. 

In the third generation Moses Allen succeeded his 
father, John Allen, on the origin.al homestead, having 
for a farm that part of Demick's north of the river. 
Dr. Abraham Allen had the real estate of his father. 
Captain Jacob, and Henry succeeded Abner. 

These men of the third generation had become old, 
their family had had peaceable possession and quiet 
for over ninety years, when two brothers, Henry and 
Josiah J. Fiske, sons of David, of Fiske Hill, and 
grandsons of Henry (see grantees), bought Moses 
Allen's farm, erected the first factory and laid the foun- 
dation of the village that bears their name. Moses 
Allen's farm was deeded to Henry and Josiah J. Fiske 
in 1826. Hon. Josiah J. Fiske was a lawyer residing 
in Wrentham, but was largely interested in the 
Quinebaug Company, the iirst company formed for 
operating at this point on the Quinebaug River. 
Henry Fiske became resident proprietor here and 
erected the first brick mill and a suitable number of 
tenement houses in 1827-28, and to him is due the 
credit of performing the pioneer work of founding 
this village. The dimensions of this first cotton-mill 
were eighty-four feet by forty, and five stories high. 
It was put in operation in May, 1829, under the 
superintendence of Mr. Harvey Hartshcrne, of 
Wrentham. The Quinebaug Company constructed 
the upper dam in a thorough manner and began the 
erection of the ''stone mill " in 1S.34. Henry Fiske 
retired from the concern, and the old Quinebaug 
Company was merged in the Sturbridge Cotton-Mills, 
which was incorporated in 1835 with a capital of one 
hundred thousand dollars. It v.'as through the efforts, 
the energy and perseverance of Hon. Josiah J. Fiske 
that the Sturbridge Cotton-Mills Company was 
formed and the construction of these mills carried to 
completion. After the retirement of his brother, he 
gave more of his personal attention to affairs here, 
residing here more or less, and died at Fiskdale in 
1838. These first mills had ten thousand spindles 
and two hundred looms. Mr. Simeon A. Drake was 
the agent from 1832 to 1854, followed by Mr. Wm. B. 
Whiting. 

In 1859 Mr. James C. Fisk, of Cambridge, was 
chosen treasurer, and assumed charge of these mills, 
with Mr. Bowers S. Chace as agent. Mr. Fisk held 
the office of treasurer until his death, in 1885. The 
corporate name of the Sturbridge Cotton-Mills was 
chanyed by an act of the Legislature in 1869 to Fisk- 
dale Mills; and an increase of capital stock to five 
hundred thousand dollars was authorized. 

When the property first came under the manage- 
ment of Mr. James C. Fisk the buildings were in a 
dilapidated condition, tilled with old and worn-out 



machinery. The corporation houses were in equally 
as bad shape, and the general appearance of the mills 
and village was that of a run-down and worn-out con- 
cern. 

Mr. Fisk tore down the old mills and built new ones ; 
put in new machinery, remodeled the houses, — and 
to-day the village of Fiskdale stands as a monument 
to the energy and success of this man who has made 
it as pretty, healthy and successful a factory village 
as can be found ; with its large and well-built mills, 
comfortable and neat houses, well-kept yards, and 
large farms, keeping some forty head of stock and 
twelve horses, it can well be called a model village. 

The Fiskdale Mills property consists in part of two 
mills, the machinery of which is operated by one Her- 
cules wheel of -100 horse-power, and one of 250 horse- 
power. These mills run 34,000 spindles, and 800 
looms ; using some 6000 pounds of cotton daily ; pro- 
ducing some ten and a quarter million yards of 64x64 
standard print cloths in a year. 

Mr. James L. Fi.sk, son of the late Mr. James C. 
Fisk, is now (1888) president of the company; Mr. C. 
Curry, the treasurer, and Mr. O. B. Truesdell the 
agent. 

Agricultttee. — As early as the beginning of the 
century the " Massachusetts Society for Promoting 
Agriculture," sent to all parts of the State a series of 
questions relative to the then existing condition of 
agriculture. In the report of the Massachusetts So- 
ciety mention is made that replies had been received 
from "Sturbridge, where there is a Sucieli/." Aulo- 
graph rejdies, written in the blank spaces between the 
printed questions, are under the name of Erasmus 
Babbitt, and the pamphlet bears the date of 1800. 
Mr. Babbitt reports a medium-sized farm in Stur- 
bridge to be "130 acres, divided: one-third pasture — 
one-fifth mowing — one-fifteenth tillage — ^onethirtieth 
orchard and one-third woodland; the orchards are 
generally increasing and yield a competent supply of 
cider." That "this farm will keep 15 head of n cat 
cattle, 2 horses, and 15 sheep." "All the coarse fod- 
der and meadow hay is fed to tlie cattle in the yards." 
"Provender is little used except for horses that work 
hard, or creatures fatting." On this medium farm 
"about 7 acres are planted or sown to grain." "Aver- 
age crop of corn is 25 to 30 bushels to the acre;" po- 
tatoes, "130 to 150 bushels to the acre"— "12 or 15 
bushels for seed," and "the largest are thought to be 
best." "About J of an acre of potatoes is planted on 
a medium farm." We have the rose-back species of 
swine of the largest kind — killed twenty months old, 
weigh two hundred and forty pounds. The product 
of a cow, all the cream being churned, is seventy 
pounds of butter, and about as many pounds of skim- 
cheese can be made from the same cow. 

The foregoing presents the main points of the re- 
plies to the questions of the Massachusetts Society, 
of Erasmus Babbitt, Esq., a lawyer then residing in 
this town and probably an officer of that early Agri- 



TEMPLETON. 



121 



cultural Society of Sturbridge, of which we have no 
further account. 

The present agricultural condition of the town may 
be indicated by the following extracts from the census 
of Massachusetts, report of 1885: — Amount of land, 
cultivated, uncultivated and woodland, 19,111 acres; 
cultivated land, 16 per cent.; uncultivated, 40 per 
cent. ; woodland, 44 per cent. Number of farms, 145 ; 
average size, 131 acres; number of farms reported 
over one acre and under two, 1 ; over three and under 
four, 4; over five and under ten, 8 ; over ten and under 
fifteen, 5; over fifteen and under twenty, 5; over 
twenty and under thirty, 9; over thirty and under 
forty, 8; over forty and under fifty, 6; over fifty and 
under sixty, 7; over sixty and under seventy, 4; over 
seventy and under eighty, 6; over eighty and under 
ninety, 8; over ninety and under one hundred, 19; 
over one hundred and under one hundred and fifty, 
29; over one hundred and fifty and under two hun- 
dred, 13; over two hundred and under three hundred, 
8; over three hundred and under four hundred, 4; 
over eight hundred and under nine hundred, 1. Ag- 
gregate value of these 145 farms: — Land, §262,930; 
buildings, $219,103; machines, implements, etc., $19,- 
521; domestic animals, etc., $50,781; fruit trees and 
vines, $11,377. The total yearly product from these 
farms amounts to $125,152. Farms owned, 123; hired, 
13; on shares, 5; not given, 4 — total, 145. Number 
of persons owning or having charge of farms : — Males, 
159; females, 8; farm laborers, 86. 

Formation of the Second Agricultural Societij of Stur- 
bridge. — An informal meeting of citizens was held at 
the house of Mr. J. N. Chamberlain, October 31, 1843> 
and Maj. S. A. Drake was called to the cliair. It was 
voted to hold an exhibition, November 8th, on the 
Common. Three were appointed to "extend and give 
notice over the town in general." The exhibition was 
lield as appointed, and at an adjourned meeting, No- 
vember 15th, a committee was chosen to draft a con- 
stitution and by-laws. At anotlier adjourned meeting, 
November i^7th, a constitution containing eight arti- 
cles was adopted, and tlie following list of officers 
chosen, viz.: — President, S. A.Drake; Vice-President, 
Caleb Weld, Jr.; Secretary, Benj. D. Hyde; Corre- 
sponding Secretary, A. M. Merrick; Treasurer, Benj. 
Bullock; Directors, Thos. Merrick, John Boyden, 
David Wight, A. P. Taylor, Peter Belknap, Geo. V. 
Corey, Simeon Hooker, Samuel Hobbs, S. F. Marsh. 

Out of this was evolved the Worcester South Agri- 
cultural Society, incorporated in 1854, "for the en- 
couragement of agriculture and the mechanic arts by 
premiums and other means in the town of Sturbridge, 
in the county of Worcester." The fine park of this 
society, containing the buildings and conveniences 
for a first-class fair, the whole plant being valued at 
upwards of $16,000, is situated near the centre of this 
town. 



CHAPTER XVII. 

TEMPLETON. 

BY H. F. L.iNE. 

Location — Boundaj'y — Eievation — Stieams — Po7t<h — Soil — Prnduclioyis 
I'opulution^ValuaUon — Uiisliti;is AJ}'airs of the Preeenl Time. 

TeMPLETON is in the extreme northerly portion of 
Worcester County, in the middle of the second tier 
of towns from the New Hampshire line. Royalston 
lies next it on the nortliHcst, and Winchendon 
on the northea^t. Gardner, whose territory was 
taken partly from this town, lies on the eastern 
side. Hubbardston lies to the southwest, sepa- 
rated from it by a straight boundary line. Phil- 
lipston, originally a part of this town, extends com- 
pletely along the western side. The extreme length 
of the town is about eight miles. It varies in breadth 
from about three miles in the northerly portion to 
five miles in the middle and southerly portions. It 
contains from nineteen to twenty thousand acres of 
surface. The town lies filteen miles west of Fitch- 
burg, twenty-six miles northwesterly from Worcester 
and sixty-five miles from Boston. It is in latitude 
42' 32' north and longitude 72° 5' west from London. 

Templeton is situated on a high elevation. The 
village at the centre of the town is not less than 
twelve hundred feet above the level of the sea. Some 
hills rise even higher than that. There is an elevated 
plateau reaching from Wachusett Mountain, in the 
central part of Worcester County, to Monadnock, in 
Southern New Hampshire. This town lies on the 
western edge of this plateau, where it begins to slope 
toward the Connecticut River, as the eastern side of 
the plateau slopes toward the Merrimac. There are 
no mountainous elevations in the town, although the 
whole surface is hilly. The hills are rounded masses, 
usually fertile to the summit. The crests of some of 
these hills and ridges command extensive views of 
the surrounding country, as from Dolbear Hill, near 
the village at the centre of the town. Mine Hill, in 
the eastern part of the town, and from the high ridges 
of laud in the southern and also in the northwestern 
parts of the town. It is a notal.ile feature of this por- 
tion of Worcester County that it lies in long ridges or 
swells of land extending in a northerly and southerly 
line, with corresponding valleys between. Roads 
running north and south find locations quite nearly 
level ; but running east and west it is one continuous 
couree of up hill and down. The Ware River Rail- 
road finds ea.sy grades through one of these valleys. 
The situation of this town, just on the western 
edge of the plateau, brings it just barely within the 
Connecticut River basin, into which river all of its 
surplus waters flow. The towns lying next easterly 
of this, send a portion of their waters into the Mer- 
rimac. The largest stream of water in town is Otter 
River. This stream has its sources in Hubbardston 



122 



HISTORY OP WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



and Gardner, flows through the southeasterly portion 
of this town, and the southwesterly part of Gardner, 
forms the boundary line between the two towns for 
some distance, then flows in a northwesterly direction 
through the northerly part of the town, yielding an 
abundant water-power at the villages of Otter River 
and Baldwinville. Just outside of this town it unites 
with Miller's River, a tributary of the Connecticut. 
Otter River has several tributaries in this town. Mill 
Brook, with several reservoirs for the storage of 
water, furnishes several water privileges at P^irtridge- 
ville and East Templeton. Trout Brook, with several 
mill privileges, flows in a direct northerly course 
through one of the valleys and falls into Otter River 
a little below Baldwinville. Beaver Brook flows in a 
northerly course through another of the valleys in 
the extreme westerly part of the town, falling into 
Miller's River near South Royalston. There were 
formerly two saw-mills on this brook. There are 
several small tributaries of Otter River, some of which 
have in the past furnished mill-sites. The Burnshirt 
River drains the southwesterly part of the town and 
furnishes several mill privileges. This stream falls 
into Ware River, and thence by way of the Chicopee 
River reaches the Connecticut. On these various 
streams there are not less than thirty-five mill-sites, 
the water-power of which has at some time been 
turned to practical use. But some of them have in 
later times been given up. 

Several neighboring towns, whose situation is much 
like our own, have their surface dotted with natural 
ponds, forming an attractive feature in the landscape. 
The artificial pond is suggestive only of utility ; the 
natural pond seems to be almost wholly for the grati- 
fication of the eye. This town has only two natural 
ponds, and both are of small size. Snake Pond 
is in the extreme easterly part of the town, lying 
partly in Gardner ; Cook Pond is in the southerly 
part of the town, small in area, and with no attractive 
features. The artificial ponds, for the mill privileges 
and reservoirs, are numerous and scattered over the 
town. 

The soil of this town is not sterile; neither can it be 
called fertile. It yields fair crops when replenished 
by fertilizing material and stimulated to activity by 
the energetic hand of the owner. But the land is not 
easy of cultivation, and we cannot compete with West- 
ern States in the production of oats and corn. The 
usual agricultural products are raised here in moder- 
ate quantities. Gra»s is, perhaps, the most important 
product. The fruits are not produced in abundance 
here. The peach does not thrive. The season is 
hardly long enough for the grape. Apples are pro- 
duced in moderate quantities, but not nearly enough 
for the home supply. The white pine is the most 
abundant of the forest trees. Spruce and hemlock 
are common, and also maple, birch and beech. The 
oak and the ash are not so often found, and chestnut 
trees have become quite rare. The American larch, 



sometimes known as tamarack, and the hard pine 
grow in some localities. The black cherry, leverwood, 
hornbeam, poplar, basswood and balsam are found in 
small quantities. The elm is rarely found, except 
where it has been set out as a shade-tree. The poison 
dogwood is found in some of our forests, and the usual 
wild shrubs grow in abundance — the laurel, common 
alder, black alder, withewood, sumac and hazel. 
Doubtless the town at its first settlement was densely 
wooded. We read from time to time in the Pro- 
prietors' Records of their sending persons " to burn the 
woods." An important product in the early times was 
the potash obtained from the ashes of the burned 
trees. 

Templeton was incorporated a.s a town in 1762. Its 
population at different periods has been as foflows : 
In 1765, including Phillipston, 348 ; in 1776, inclu- 
ding Phillipston, 1016 ; in 1790, after Phillipston was 
set ofl; OoO; in 1800, 1068; in 1810, 1205; in 1820, 
1331; in 1830, 1552; in 1840,1776; in 1850, 2173 ; 
in 1860, 2816 ; in 1870, 2802 ; in 1880, 2789 ; in 1885, 
2627. Of this last number in the census of 1885, 
1302 were males, 1325 were females ; 2293 were 
native born, and 334 were foreign born. 

The valuation of the property in the town in the 
year 1800 was less than one hundred and fifty thou- 
sand dollars ; in 1840 it was somewhat less than six 
hundred thousand dollars; in 1887 it was a little 
over one million dollars. According to the assessor's 
lists for the year 1887, there were in the town 592 
dwelling-houses, 429 horses and 4.50 cows. The 
number of polls taxed was 788 ; the number of legal 
voters in 1888 was 569. 

Templeton has its population gathered chiefly in 
the four principal villages. Each of these villages 
has a post-office and a hotel ; each has one or more 
churches and stores ; each has a public hall ; and, 
beginning with the year 1887, each, with a portion of 
the contiguous territory, constitutes a voting precinct 
for the purposes of the State election. The Centre 
village is at the summit of one of the high ridges of 
land of which this region is made up. Here the first 
houses were built ; here was the meeting-house of the 
olden time ; here was the public Common, serving as 
a military training field and muster-ground. The 
militia of this and the neighboring towns gathered 
here for the autumnal muster. On the west side of 
the common is the town hall. Near by is the 
Unitarian Church and chapel. On the east is the 
brick building of the Boynton Public Library. 
Next is the Trinitarian Church edifice. Opposite is 
the location of the summer school of Mr. Charles W. 
Stone, of Boston. At the south end of the Common 
Mr. Percival Blodgett keeps, in more than the usual 
quantity and variety, the miscellaneous assortment of 
dry goods and groceries usual in a country store. 
Mr. J. O. Winch deals in boots and shoes. For 
several years the hotel, now burned, was kept by 
Mr. Charles E. Ellis. Miss Delia Damon manages 



TEMPLETON. 



123 



the affairs of the post-office. Westerly of the village 
is the station of the Ware River Railroad. Near it 
is an establishment for painting and finishing furni- 
ture, carried on by Messrs. Kilner & Bourn. On 
Trout Brook, near by, Messrs. Bourn, Hadley & Co. 
are extensively engaged in the manufacture of pine 
and ash furniture. 

Two miles easterly of Templeton Centre, and well 
toward the borders of the town, is the village of East 
Templeton. The Methodist Church has its location 
here. And here also is Memorial Hall , on whose 
walls are two marble tablets bearing the names of 
those soldiers who lost their lives in the Civil War. 
Ericsson Post, No. 109, of the Grand Army of the 
Republic, has its place of meeting in this building. 
There is a co-operative store in its lower story. Mr. 
F. L. Sargeant is the postmaster of the village, and 
has a grocery store. Mr. Henry J. Wright keeps a 
hotel and livery stable, and has a miscellaneous 
business besides. Mill Brook runs directly through 
this village and furnishes abundant water-power. 
Three shops on the upper part of this stream have 
been burned within a few years. A little fariher 
down the stream is the factory of Mr. Chester N. John- 
son, who makes children's carts and wagons in large 
variety and quantity. The next factory is that of the 
sons of T. T. Greenwood, who are largely engaged in 
the manufacture of furniture. They have a furniture 
store at Gardner. Chairs are manufactured at the 
lowest mill on the stream by the East Templeton 
Co-operative Chair Company, a prosperous organiza- 
tion of several mechanics of the village, which has 
carried on business here for several years. 

The village of Otter River is in the northeasterly 
part of the town, about three miles from the Centre 
village. It has a station on the Fitchburg Railroad. 
There is a public hall in connection with the school- 
house. St. Martin's Church, Catholic, is in this vil- 
lage. Frederick Warner is the postmaster and keeps 
a store. Francis Lelaud has built a large brick store 
on the site of the former hotel, and keeps groceries, 
dry goods and miscellaneous articles in great variety. 
Otter River furnishes water-power, on which are three 
factories, two of which are owned by the Hon. Rufus 
S. Frost, of Chelsea, Mass., and are occupied with 
spinning for his other factories «(lsewhere ; the third 
has always been a woolen-factory. Messrs. Lord, 
Stone & Co. make a great many stoves, and send out 
agents to sell them in various parts of New England. 
There are two brick-yards at this part of the town. 
One has been .somewhat recently established. The 
other was for many years carried on by Mr. Horatio 
N. Dyer, and more recently by his son, Charles C. 
Dyer. The annual product at this yard has recently 
been one and a half million of bricks. 

Baldwinville is in the northerly part of the town, 
well toward the Winchendon line and about four 
miles from the Centre village. It has excellent 
railroad facilities, being situated at the junction of 



the Ware River Railroad with the Fitchburg. The 
Baptist Church and the Goodell Memorial Church 
are both in this village. There is also a public hall, 
named Union Hall. George E. Bryant is postmaster 
of the village. For several years Mr. George Par- 
tridge has been the proprietor of the hotel. The 
Templeton Savings Bank has its place of business 
in this village. Mr. Louis Leland has kept a store 
at the " Lee" stand in this village since 1870, keep- 
ing a supply of dry goods, groceries and miscellaneous 
articles. In the Cady & Brooks block, near the 
railroad bridge, Mr. C. S. Dickin.son keeps drugs and 
medicines and a slock of furnishing goods in one 
store, and Messrs. C. S. Dickinson & Co. keep 
groceries in an adjoining store, in one portion of 
which is the post-office. Supplies of coal are fur- 
nished by Messrs. Evans & Bowker. Otter River 
Hows directly through the village and furnishes a 
liberal supply of water-power, which is industriously 
used. The shop at the uppermost privilege is owned 
and occupied by Messrs. Smith, Day & Co., in the 
manufacture of chairs. A portion of the water-power 
here is used to turn the machinery of the paper-mill, 
where sheathing, roofing and fire-proof paper is man- 
ufactured by Mr. H. M. Small, formerly Small, Gould 
& Co. Mr. George A. Brooks is a contractor and 
builder, as well as a dealer in lumber. Following 
down the river, we come to what was formerly known 
as the " Red Mill." Here the Waite Chair Company 
manufecture children's chairs in a variety of patterns 
and with various ingenious devices for changing their 
form and rolling them about. At the "Lower mill " 
chairs of various patterns are manufactured by Messrs. 
D. L. Thompson & Son. On the north side of the 
river Messrs. Baker & Wilson manufacture children's 
wagons and carts at the lower shop, and carry on an 
extensive business of grinding and selling corn at the 
upper shop, formerly known as the "Hat-shop." 
There is a machine-shop near the railroad bridge in 
which William E. Nichols manufactures band-saw 
machines and chair machinery of various kinds and 
does other machinist's work. Messrs. Holman & 
Harris have built a new shop in the northerly part of 
the village, close by the railroad. They use steam- 
power only, and make large quantities of pails, buckets 
and other wooden-ware. This account of the busi- 
ness of the village would not be complete without 
mentioning an enterprise in which Mr. Frank L. 
Hosmer and Mr. E. W. Lund are separately engaged. 
Each has a green-house, heated by steam, in which 
cucumbers are raised during the winter, and are ready 
in the very early spring for the New York and Boston 
markets, to which they are daily sent. 



124 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 






CHAPTER X V I r I. 

TEMPLETON— ( Continued. ) 

GnwtoJ the Towimhip — Tlie Proprietortt — Enrlij SMlnnents — Old Houses^ 
Jncorporatkijt ; Trmpleton, 2'liiltipslon — Cointttj Jielalions — State Jteta- 
twm — Political Parties. 

The lands lying in this region were regarded as the 
property of the Province of Massachusetts. They 
were granted to persons with a view to the promotion 
of the settlement of the country rather than as a means 
of increasing the revenues of the Province. There 
were many persons in the towns of the eastern part 
of the Province who had rendered military service in 
the war against the Narragansett Indians, which 
terminated in 1675, ending with the destruction of the 
Indian tribes. Promises had been made to the sol- 
diers in these wars that they should receive gratuities 
in land in addition to their wages ; but for fifty years 
these promises had remained unfulfilled. The soldiers 
who survived and the heirs of others urged their 
claims and finally, June 15, 1728, the General Court 
recognized their claims by granting to them two town- 
ships, each six miles square. A convention of those 
who brought forward their claims met at Cambridge 
in 1730. At that meeting the number of those who 
presented claims was much greater than had been 
expected. Thomas Tileston, Esq., and others were 
appointed a committee to request the General Court 
to grant more townships. This petition was acted 
upon favorably by the House of Representatives, 
which voted that each one hundred and twenty per- 
sons whose claims shall be allowed by this court may 
be allowed a township of six miles square. The con- 
currence of the Governor and Executive Council was 
necessary to give validity to the grant. The House of 
Representatives sent to the Council a message setting 
forth earnestly and eloquently the valor and merit of 
the soldiers engaged in the Narragansett exjiediiion 
and calling the attention of the Council to the fact 
that a " proclamation was made to the army, in the 
name of the government, when they were mustertd 
on Dedham Plain, where they began their march, that 
if they played the man, took the fort and drove the 
enemy out of the Narragansett country, they should 
have a gratuity in land beside their wages." Addi- 
tional lists of claimants were afterwards brought in, 
making the full number of officers and soldiers whose 
claims were allowed eight hundred and forty persons. 
A committee was appointed to lay out five more tracts 
of land in some of the unappropriated lands of the 
Province, in accordance with the order of the General 
Court. The grantees were also ordered to meet within 
six months to make choice of committees to regulate 
each propriety or township which was to be held and 
enjoyed by each one hundred and twenty grantees in 
equal proportion. The grantees of each township 
were to pass such rules and orders as to oblige them 



to settle sixty families, with a learned minister, within 
the space of seven years from the date of the grant. 
The grantees chose such committees June 6, 1733. 

The Proprietors of the Township. — Each of 
the townships granted by the General Court to soldiers 
of the Narragansett Indian War seems to have borne 
the name Narragansett, with a number attached to 
distinguish the one from the other. Some of these 
townships seem to have been in New Hampshire. 
The neighboring town of Westminster was Narragan- 
sett Number 2. Templeton was, until the time of its 
incorporation, known as Narragansett Number 6. 
The proprietors of this township seem first to have 
drawn a township somewhere in New Hampshire, as 
at their first meeting they voted to accept of the town- 
ship " on the back of Rutland, in lieu of the town- 
ship assigned us, west of Ponocook and Suncook." 

The first meeting of the proprietors of the township 
Narragansett Number G, was on October 19, 1733, 
at the tavern of Jonathan Ball, in Concord, Mass. 
They chose Samuel Chandler, Jonas Houghton and 
John Longley as a committee to lay out a township 
" on the back of Rutland, if the land there be acom- 
adable." At an adjourned meeting of the proprietors, 
December 3d, they voted to accept of the township. 
A survey of the township was made by Jonas Hough- 
ton, and a plot of the same was returned to the General 
Court, which was accepte<l by that body in February, 
1734. A meeting of the proprietors was held April 
1, 1734, when they chose Jonas Houghton, John 
Longley and Joseph Fassett a committee " to finish 
the lines of the township, and burn the woods from 
time to time until further orders;" they also voted 
that a tax often shillings should be paid by each pro- 
prietor. 

The first step towards making a division of the land 
of the town among the proprietors was taken at a 
meeting held in Concord, October 30, 1734. At that 
meeting it was " voted that the township be laid out 
in part as soon as may be. Voted that there be laid 
out a hundred and twenty-three forty-acre lots of the 
best of the upland. Voted that Samuel Chandler, 
Captain James Jones, Mr. Joshua Richardson, John 
Longley and .loseph Fassett be a committee to lay 
out the lots aliove-mentioned. Voted that the lots be 
made as equal as may be, and in as regular form and 
as compact as the laud will allow of. Voted that said 
committee order ttmys (roads), and where the meeting- 
house and the three public lots shall be, and to order 
land for a burying-place and for a training-place, and 
for other public use, according to their best discre- 
tion." 

It will thus be seen that land for the public use was 
provided for at the earliest possible time, even before 
the settlement of the town. In accordance with the 
preceding vote, the committee proceeded to lay out 
the one hundred and twenty-three forty-acre lots — 
house-lots these were called — one for each of the one 
hundred and twenty owners of the towuship, and the 



TEMPLETON. 



125 



tliree public lots, of which one was for the support of 
wlinols, one for the first minister, and one for the 
support of the ministry. The committee employed 
surveyors, and spent about thirty days in the work of 
surveying the lots. 

At a meeting held at Concord, January 24, 1735 
(old style), the lots were distributed among the pro- 
prietors by a chance drawing. Any proprietor who 
did not like his lot was permitted to drop it and take 
an equal amount in the undivided land, provided he 
did so within a given time. The full list of the names 
of the original proprietors, with the numbers of the 
lots which fell to each, may still be seen in the book 
of Proprietors' Records. Very few of these original 
owners of the fots in the township ever settled here. 
Their lots were sold to others. 

It was a condition of the grant of the township by 
the General Court ilut hixty families should be settled 
on as many lots within seven years. But settlers did 
not rapidly come in. In 1737 the proprietors voted 
that the owners of sixty of the lots, designated by 
drawing numbers, should pay into the treasury the 
sum of twelve pounds each, old tenor, and that the 
other sixty lots should be settled within three years, 
and that each proprietor who settled his lot should 
receive a bounty of eight pounds. In 1743 an addi- 
tional bounty of twelve pounds was offered to each of 
the first ten families who, before September 1, 1744, 
would build a "good dwelling-house and inhabit the 
same, agreeably to the act of the Great and General 
Court." Buc a war between France and England 
came on, and the Indians acted as allies of the French, 
and the whole colony was so disturbed that all thought 
of settling new townships was given up. However, 
peace came in 1749. 

The first meeting of proprietors held within the 
township was on October 6, 1742, on " Ridge Hill," 
supposed to be near where the Partridgeville tJchooL 
house now stands. A contract was made with Samuel 
Sheldon to build a saw-mill, but he failed to build one. 
Another contract was made with James Simonds, 
Reuben Richardson and Oliver Richardson. It is 
believed that they built a mill in 1743, on the site now 
owned by A. S. Hodge. A meeting of proprietors 
was held in 1744, and after that no meeting was held 
until September 20, 1749, when they again met on 
" Ridge Hill," in the township. 

A meeting was held May 9, 1750, " at the meeting- 
house place," in the township, and it was voted to 
divide the meadow land. Foin- acres, in the middling 
sort of the meadow, was taken as the standard or 
quantity assigned to each proprietor. John Whit- 
comb and Charles Baker were appointed surveyors. 
There was not enough of the meadow land to furnish 
each one four acres, and so it was voted that those 
who drew " blanks," should have nine acres each, "in 
any of the undivided upland," giving us an idea of 
the relative value of meadow and upland at that time. 
In 1751 there was a second division of upland, with 



sevenfy acres as the standard, but the committee had 
power to make the lots larger or smaller, according to 
their goodness. These lots, one hundred and twenty- 
three in number, were surveyed and distributed by 
lot. May 15, 175^'. 

A third division of the upland was agreed upon in 
May, 1753, viithforty acres as the standard, and it 
was voted that each proprietor may " pitch to his own 
land," — that is, selectalot adjoining one formerly re- 
ceived at a previous distribution, — and that the com- 
mittee " qualify the land over or under the standard, 
as it is for goodness or accommodation." There were 
sixty-six " pitched lots ; " the other proprietors drew 
for their locations. A fourth division of land was 
voted twelve years later, September 25, 1765, with 
twenti/ acres us the standard for each proprietor. And 
twelve years later still, October 29, 1777, a fifth divis- 
sion was agreed upon, and six acres was to be the 
standard, with the usual provision for increasing or 
diminishing the quantity according to the location 
and goodness of the land. And thus, if we include 
the division of the meadow lots, there were six divi- 
sions of land among the proiirietors. In all of the 
divisions, each proprietor must have received about 
one hundred and eighty acres of land. Some received 
an excess of upland in the place of meadow lots ; 
and some lots were made a little over or under the 
standard, according to location or goodness. 

After the division of 1777 there was still remaining 
a quantity of land, in pieces of irregular !-ha))e, lying 
between the lots already laid, in various parts of the 
township, amounting in all to about nine hundred 
acres. At a meeting of the proprietors, held May 3, 
1786, it was voted that " it is expedient to sell this 
land at public vendue, and, after paying the debts, 
divide the proceeds among the proprietors according 
to their interest." Any proprietor, who preferred it, 
was to have his share of the land set off to him under 
the direction of a committee. The sale was made in 
accordance with the vote, And it was further agreed 
on June 6, 1787, that the hill called the " Mine Hill" 
shou'd be sold " at public vendue for the most it will 
fetch." Both salts having been made and the debts 
paid, there was found a balance of eleven shillings 
and sixpence for each original right, which the treas- 
urer was directed to pay to the owners of the 
rights. 

The proprietors, at their meeting of May 3, 1786, 
granted theCommon, and the burying-ground near it, 
to the town of Templeton, for the use and benefit of 
the people of the town and their heirs forever. 

In the division of land among the proprietors, after 
the survey was made, it was usually laid before a 
meeting of the proprietors and afterwards recorded by 
the proprietors' clerk, in a book ke|)t for that purpose. 
There are, in the archives of the town, two books, con- 
taining the records of the proceedings of the propri- 
etors at their meeting-i, and a record of the surveys in 
the original laying out of lots throughout the town- 



126 



HISTORY OF WOKCBSTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



ship, with the length of the lines in rods, and their 
direction as indicated by the compass. There are 
many boundary lines of farms and lots, which, to- 
day, are the same that were made by the first survey- 
ors as they laid out lots in these original distributions 
among the proprietors. The proprietors continued to 
hold meetings, with long intervals between, in the 
later times, until 1817. A meeting was called to meet 
at the dwelling-house of Lipha French, on the 10th 
of February of that year. This meeting was 
adjourned three times, the last meeting being on the 
first Monday of November, 1817. They then "voted 
to adjourn this meeting to the last Wednesday in 
May next, then to meet at Lipha French's." This is 
the last entry in the Proprietors' Book of Records. 
It is not even signed by the clerk, as was the custom. 

The original proprietors of this township, as it 
appears, lived mostly in the towns of Concord, Gro- 
ton, Lancaster, Bolton, Littleton, Westport, Chelms- 
ford, Stowe, Marlborough, Billerica and Woburn. 
Their first meeting was held in Concord, and their 
earlier meetings were held in the more central of 
these towns. As has been already stated, their first 
meeting here was in 1742, on " Ridge Hill." Some 
other meetings were held there also. Sometimes after 
the meetings were held in the township, they met at 
the meeting-house place ; sometimes at Joshua 
Wright's tavern, or at the house of Lipha French, in 
later times. 

The early proprietors of this and other towns were 
constituted by the General Court a body corporate 
for managing the affairs of the settlement. Their 
legal powers were similar to those of towns. They 
could lay taxes for the making of roads and for the 
support of schools and public worship. But these 
taxes were assessed wholly on the land, and not on 
polls or personal property. Their meetings were con- 
ducted much after the manner of town-meetings. The 
presiding officer was called a moderator. They had a 
clerk and treasurer. They chose committees to per- 
form various duties in their behalf. Samuel Chandler 
was a leading spirit among the proprietors in the 
earlier times and until his death, in 1742. Charles 
Baker was prominent in the earlier settlement, and 
was a leading citizen of the town after its incorpora 
tion. For some time he held the office of Proprietors' 
Clerk. He surveyed many of the lots in the original 
laying out, including the Common and burying-jjlace 
He died in 1S13, at the age of eighty-five. His place 
of residence was in what is now PhiUipston, on the 
farm recently owned by Henry S. Miner. 

Early Settlements — Old Houses. — One hun- 
dred and fifty years ago this hilly region of northern 
Worcester County was probably one unbroken forest. 
The noise of the axe of the lumberman had not then 
mingled with the sound of the gurgling streams, 
which then ran quietly to the sea unvexed by dam or 
water-wheel. Twenty-five years ago there were white 



pine trees in our valleys which must have been stand- 
ing when the Pilgrims landed at Plymouth. There is 
nothing to indicate that the Indians had any dwelling- 
places here or engaged in the cultivation of the land. 
They probaldy roamed through the forests merely for 
the purpose of hunting and fishing. An arrow-head 
has now and then been picked up. A stone mortar 
and pestle for pounding corn have been found. There 
is evidence that the early settlers in several of these 
towns were annoyed by the Indians. Buildings were 
burned, property destroyed, .and some persons lost 
their lives at their hands. 

The early settlers of this town cannot with justice 
be charged with wresting these lands from the In- 
dians ; for there is no evidence that the Indians had 
any more title to the lands here than the foxes and 
wolves that roamed through the same forests with 
them. 

It has already been stated that a saw-mill was 
probably built in East Templeton in 1743. The first 
family probably came here in 1751. A bounty of 
eight pounds, and afterwards of twelve pounds addi- 
tional, had been ofl^ered to the proprietor who should 
first settle his lot. The earliest payment to any per- 
son for building a house on his lot and living in it 
with his family was made to Ellas Wilder in Septem- 
ber, 1751 ; the next was made to Deacon Charles 
Baker in October, 1751 ; and the next to Timothy 
Chase, in May, 1752. Such payments had been made 
in the next three and a half years to about thirty 
actual settlers. 

In 1753, when there were from eighteen to twenty 
families in the township, a meeting-house was built, 
which was fifty feet long and forty feet wide. The 
first framed dwelling-house in the township is be- 
lieved to have been the " Dolbear " house, erected in 
1760. This house, with its large chimney and un- 
plastered ceilings and walls, still stands about one- 
half mile southerly of the Common, on the old Hub- 
b.ardston road. The house standing next northerly 
of the Public Library building is a very old house. 
It formerly stood on what is now the Common, near 
the public pump. In this house Joshua Wright 
kept his tavern, and the proprietors at sundry times 
held their meetings there. 

The " Wellington " house is one of the oldest 
houses, having been built by Rev. Mr. Sparhawk in 
1764. Doubtless there are quite a large number of 
houses now standing that were built only a little later 
than these. 

Incorpoeation — Templeton, PhiUipston. — In the 
early years of the settlement the affairs of the town- 
ship had been entirely under the management and 
control of the grantees or proprietors. The time at 
length came when it seemed best to the inhabitants 
to assume the powers and duties of a town, and 
accordingly the town was incorporated by the General 
Court. 



TEMPLETON. 



127 



copy OF THE ACT OF INCORPOBATION.. 



Anno regni} 
tertii. i 



L. S. 



f Regis Georgii 
t Sectindo. 



An Act for incorporntiiig the VUinUititm called NaiTagatisetl No. 6, in tlic 
County of Worcester^ into a Town by the Nanie of Templetown. 

Whereas, the plantation of Narragansett No. 6, lying in the County 
of Worcester, is competently tiileil with inhaljitanta, who labor under 
great diificulties and inconveniences by nieansof their not being a town; 
therefore, 

Be it enacted by the Governor, Council and House of Representatives, 
That the said plantation, commonly called and known by the name of 
Narragansett No. 6, bounding westerly on PoquoiRe, southerly on 
Rutland District and Petersham, easterly on Westminster, northerly on 
Ipswich Canada and Royalshire, be, and hereby is erected into a town 
by the name of Templetown ; and that the said town be, and hereby is 
invested with all the powers, privileges and immunities that any of the 
towns of this province do or may by law en,ioy ; — 

Provided, That nothing in this Act shall be understood or construed as 
in any measure to supersede or make void any grants or assessments al- 
ready made or agreed on by the proprietors ot said place in time past, 
but that the same shall remain and be as effectual as if this Act had not 
been made. 

And be it further enacted. That Joshua Willard, Esq., be, and hereby 
is, empowered to issue his warrants to some principal iuhabitJint of the 
said plantation requiring him, in his majesty's name, to warn and no- 
tify the said inhabitants qualified to vote in town alTairs, that they meet 
together at such time and place in said plantation, as by said warrant 
shall be appointed, to choose such olticers as may be necessary to man- 
age the affairs of said town; and the inhabitants, being so met, shall 
be, and hereby are, empowered to chouse said officers accordingly. 

Feb. 23, 1762. — This Bill, having been read three several times in the 
House of Representatives, passed to be enacted. 

James Otis, Speaker. 

March 6, 1762.— 
Ry the Governor, I consent to the enacting this Bill. 

Fra. BERNARn. 

In accordance with the provision made in the fore- 
going act of incorporation, Joshua Willard, Esq., of 
Petersham, issued a warrant directed to Jason Whit- 
uey, one of the principal inhabitants of Templeton, 
requiring him to call a meeting for the purpose of 
choosing town officers. And in accordance with the 
notification made, the first town-meeting in the 
new town of Templeton was held in the meet- 
ing-house, at two of the clock in the afternoon, 
on Tuesday, May 4, 1762, " in the Second year 
of his Majesty's Reign." They chose Abel Hunt 
town clerk, Jason Whitney, Joshua Hyde and Abner 
Newton for selectmen and assessors, Zaccheus Barrett 
treasurer and Charles Baker constable; also the usual 
minor officers. On June 7, 1762, another meeting 
was held to grant money for town purposes. 

Thus Narragansett No. 6 was merged in the town 
of Templeton. The origin of the name is not known. 
The name was spelled " Templetown " in the act of 
incorporation. It was also so spelled in the town 
warrants and earliest town records. After 1764 the 
town-meeting warrants always have it " Temple- 
ton." 

The township, Narragansett No. 6, and the town 
incorporated as Templeton, included most of the 
present town of Phillipston. Quite early it became 
manifest that there was an east and a west side of the 
town. The deep valley of the Burushirt River and 
Trout Brook separated the two sections. Moreover, 
the meeting-house was decidedly to the east of the 



middle of the territory of the town. The central 
point would be in the deep valley previously 
mentioned, and never, in the olden time, was a 
meeting-house set in a valley. But it was a long 
way from the west part of the town to the house 
of worship, and especially inconvenient in the 
winter season. And so the town sometimes voted 
that the Rev. Mr. Sparhawk might, for a few Sundays 
in the winter, preach in the west part of the town, 
the meeting-house being closed on such Sundays ; 
but this was done with reluctance by the town, and 
seems not to have been a satisfactory arrangement for 
either side. 

Much discussion and controversy arose regarding 
the matter. It was proposed in town-meetings, at 
different times, to build a meeting-house in the west- 
erly part of the town, to move the meeting-house to 
the middle of the town, and even to divide the town; 
but all these plans failed. Finally, in 1773, the 
westerly part of the town petitioned the General 
Court to be separated from the rest of the town in the 
matter of its parochial aff.iirs. This petition was 
granted in 1774, and two precincts were thus formed. 
They acted together in transacting most of the ordinary 
town business. The town-meetings were held at the 
meeting-house on the Common, as usual, but in call- 
ing the meetings the selectmen made out two war- 
rants, one to be served by a constable in the westerly 
part of the town, and another by a constable in the 
easterly part. The easterly part of the town was 
sometimes called the " First Precinct," the westerly 
the "Second Precinct." In 1784 fourteen of the 
inhabitants of the Second Precinct, not satisfied with 
their situation, petitioned to be united again with the 
First Precinct, and that precinct voted to receive them, 
but there is no intimation that any action was taken 
by the General Court. 

The Second Precinct, together with a portion of 
the southeasterly part of Athol, was incorporated as 
a town October 20, 1786, by the name of Gerry. 
The name was in honor of Elbridge Gerry, a man 
prominent in the political affairs of this State. The 
name was changed to Phillipston, February 5, 1814. 
In 1785 the town of Gardner was incorporated, 
whose territory was made up of portions of Win- 
chendon, Ashburnham, AVestminster, and from twelve 
to fifteen acres from the easterly side of Templeton. 
The town of Westminster, or Narragansett No. 2, 
formerly reached to the stone monument, near the 
residence of Mr. Lucas Baker. In laying out that 
town they had accidentally made the lines so as to 
include a portion of the territory granted to the pro- 
prietors of Narragansett No. 6, or Templeton. The 
amount thus included was estimated at four hun- 
dred acres, and as a compensation for the loss of this, 
the proprietors of this township were permitted to 
have an equal amount from the lands of the province 
on the northwesterly side of the town. This, in some 
way, resulted in a quite extensive enlargement of the 



128 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



area of ihe town on tliat side. This arrangement 
was made about 1737. 

County Relations. — For more than a hundred 
years intermittent efforts have been made with refer- 
ence to the formation of a new county made uj) of 
towns in the northern part of Worcester County, 
with the addition of some other towns lying either to 
tlie east or to the west of them. Sometimes it was 
proposed that Templeton should be the shire-town ; 
sometimes Petersham was named ; but the later eflxirts 
have been made with the design of having Fitchburg 
as the shire-town. This town chose Joshua Wilhird, 
Esq., as its agent to act " at the Great and General 
Court concerning a new county," in 176.3, a little more 
than a year after the incorporation of the town. 

A delegate was chosen to represent the town in a 
convention held at Petersham in 1781, but with in- 
structions not to join in the petition for a new county 
unless the towns of Ashby, Ashhurnham, Fitchburg, 
Lunenburg, Leominster and Westminster were also 
included. Charles Baker was chosen, in 1784, as 
agent of the town for a division of the county, and 
the next year the town refused to send a delegate to 
represent them in a convention at Petersham, In 
1791 the town sent delegates to the same place; but 
later in the year " the town, by vote, signified their 
disapprobation of a new county." In 1792 an effort 
was made to form a county, extending from Ashburn- 
ham on the east to Pelham and Shutesbury on the 
Wfst, and including nineteen towns. But this town 
voted that its agent should not sign this petition. 
The town made a like refusal in 1794. 

There was a plan fur building a new court-house at 
Worcester in 1796. But the people remonstrated 
against it for three reasons: first, the county of Wor- 
cester was too large, and if divided, the court-house, 
as it then was, would be sufficient ; second, if not 
divided, the court-house should be nearer the centre; 
third, it was a time when building material and labor 
were too high. For several years after, the town gave 
its influence for a division of the county. In 1798 
the town favored division by a vote of eighty four to 
one. These eff'orts all failed, and there was, for a time, 
a rest from these labors. But the contest was renewed 
in 1810, when a conventiou met in this town concern- 
ing the matter. The town sent a petition to the Legis- 
lature in favor of a division. But the county was not 
divided. 

The paroxysms of agitation for county division 
occur less frequently as the years go on. Meanwhile, 
in all later etforts, Templeton has steadily opposed the 
division. In 1828, when it was proposed to form a 
new county made up of sixteen towns from Worcester 
County and five from Middlesex, the vote of this town 
was four in favor to one hundred and twenty-six 
against the division. Vigorous eff'orts for a new 
county were made from 1851 to 1855, with Fitchburg 
as shire-town. Templeton constantly remonstrated 
against the measure, and several times chose Colonel 



Artemas Lee a committee to unite with committees 
from the neighboring towns to oppose the division. 
But in 1856 some of the terras of the County Courts 
began to be held at Fitchburg. A court-house and 
jail were also established there. Another effort for 
division was made about 1875. Like all of the others, 
this efl^ort failed, and the county remains with its 
liberal proportions, and posterity is likely to find its 
full integrity preserved. 

State Relations. — Templeton has alwajs taken 
an active interest in the affairs of the State and the 
nation; but it sent no representative to the General 
Court until the beginning of the Revolutionary con- 
test. In the first thirteen years of its existence as a 
town, nine times it " voted not to send," and in the 
four remaining years no action was taken upon the 
matter. Jonathan Baldwin was chosen to represent 
this town in the General Court, meeting at Salem in 
October, 1774, and also to a Provincial Congress, 
meeting at Cambiidge, Concord, and at Watettown in 
1775. He was the first representative from this town 
to any legislative body. His first election was the 
only instance in which such a representative has been 
chosen by this town at a meeting called " m his ma- 
jesty's name.'' 

A Constitution was framed for Massachusetts by the 
General Court in 1778 ; in a vote by the people, it was 
rejected by a large majority. Templeton gave twenty- 
two votes for, and filiy-one against the adoption of 
that Constitution. 

The present Constitution was adopted in March, 
1780, by the favorable vote of more than two-thirds 
of the people. Templeton voted fifty-seven in favor 
to one against; and again in 1795, the vote in this 
town was, " seventy-sis for the Constitution to stand 
as it is; none against it." Capt. John Richardson 
and Mr. Joel Grout were delegates from this town to 
the convention of 1779-80, which framed the present 
Constitution. Lovell Walker, Esq., was the delegate 
to the convention of 1820, which proposed fourteen 
amendments, nine of which were adopted. This town 
voted very decidedly in favor of all the proposed 
amendments except two. Gilman Day, Esq., was the 
delegate to the convention of 1853, which proposed 
eight amendments, all of which were rejected by vote 
of the State, although Templeton favored them, cast- 
ing about two hundred and twenty-four votes in favor 
and one hundred and thirty-seven against. There 
have since been other amendments adopted singly, 
no convention having been called. 

The Constitution of the United States was framed 
in 17S7, and sul)mitted to conventions of delegates in 
each of the States. The Massachutetts convention, 
composed of three hundred and sixty members, as- 
sembled at Boston in January, 1788, and ratified the 
Constitution by the small majority of nineteen votes. 
Capt. Joel Fletcher, the delegate from this town, voted 
against its adoption, as did also all of the otlier fifty 
delegates from Worcester County except seven. 



TEMPLETON. 



129 



The representatives from this town to the General 
Court have been : Jonathan Baldwin, 1774, 1775, 
1786; Capt. John Kichardson, 1776, 1777, 1785; 
Capt. Ezekiel Knowlton, 1778, 1779, 1783, 1784, 
1787, 1788, 1789; Capt. Joel Fletcher, 1781, 1791, 
1792; Col. Silas Cutler, 1793, 1798; Capt. Leonard 
Stone, 1795, 1800, 1801, 1806, 1809 ; Silas Hazleton, 
1797; Lovell Walker, 1803, 1805,1808; John W. 
Stiles, 1810-13 ; Moses Wright, 1814-16 ; Eph- 
raim Stone, 1819, 1830; Benjamin Read, 1823; Dr. 
Josiah Howe, 1825, 1827 ; Col. Leonard Stone, 1828, 
1829. 1831; Samuel Lee, 1830; Artemas Lee, 1832, 
1833, 1834, 1836, 1847, 1861; Samuel Dadman, 1832, 
1833, 1834, 1835; Moses Leland, 1837-39; Joseph 
Davis, 1838 ; John Boyntou, 1839, 1840 ; Charles T. 
Fisher, 1842, 1843; Oilman Day, 1845; John W. 
Work, 1846, 1849,1851; Dexter Gilbert, 1850 ; Ed- 
ward Hosmer, 1852; Benjamin Hawkes, 1853 ; Fred- 
erick Parker, 1854 ; John Sawyer (2d,) 1855; Henry 
Smith, 1856 ; Leonard Stone, 1859 ; William Smith, 
1865; George P. Hawkes, 1866; William Stone, 
1871; William N. Walker, 1872; Edward Sander- 
son, 1874 ; Charles W. Davis, 1876 ; Otis D. Sawin, 
1880; Charles S. Lord, 1882; Charles A. Perley, 
1885; Percival Blodgett, 1889. 

A change was made in the State Constitution in 
1867, by which two or more towns were united to form 
one representative district in some cases. This town 
was, at one time, united with Hubbardston, then 
with Gardner, then with Hubbardston, Petersham 
and Phillipston, and now with Gardner, Winchendon 
and Ashburuham. In the foregoing lists only those 
representatives whose residence was in Templeton are 
included. 

Under the former system, Templeton in fourteen 
different years voted not to send a representative, and 
in one year, 1844, there was no choice. 

Political Parties. — The town of Templeton, in 
its relations to political parties, has usually been de- 
cidedly Federalist, Whig and Republican, successively, 
although there have been years and times when the 
vote was cast quite differently from the usual habit. 
A few instances selected from the vote for Governor 
in different years will reveal the usual division into 
parties. At the first election after the adoption of 
the State Constitution, John Hancock, Federalist, 
had fifty-one votes ; his opponent, five votes. In 1807 
Caleb Strong, Federalist, had one hundred and 
eighteen votes ; James Sullivan, seventy- two. In 1816 
John Brooks, Federalist, had one hundred and forty 
votes; Samuel Dexter, seventy-four. In 1835 Edward 
Everett, Whig, had two hundred and two votes ; 
Marcus Morton, Democrat, twenty-eight. In 1845 
George N. Briggs, Whig, had one hundred and forty- 
nine votes ; Isaac Davis, Democrat, one hundred and 
twenty. It is interesting to mark the rise and prog- 
ress of the anti-slavery sentiment in this town, as 
indicated by the vote for Governor in successive 
years. There were eight votes for the candidate 
9 



which represented that party in 1843. The vote for 
successive years next following was seven, thirty- 
three, thirty-eight, thirty-seven, forty-six, thirty-nine, 
one hundred and fifty-four, one hundred and twenty- 
nine, one hundred and thirty-three, one hundred and 
thirty-two, one hundred and fifty-three and one 
hundred and forty-ong in 1853. A political cyclone 
swept over the State and battered down all political 
fences formerly existing, and the Native American 
party had a very decided preponderance of votes for 
three years, beginning with 1854. In 1860 John A. 
Andrew, Republican, had three hundred and thirty- 
five votes ; Erasmus D. Beach, Democrat, had one 
hundred and eight. In 1880 John D. Long, Repub- 
lican, had three hundred and fifty-one votes ; Charles 
P. Thompson, Democrat, one hundred and forty-eight. 
These selected votes will give quite as correct an idea 
of the division into parties as an average, computed 
from all of the years would give. 



CHAPTER XIX. 

TEMPLETON— (07»//««^(/.) 

MILITARY AFFAIRS. 

Tlie Revolution — The Currency — Second War trith EngUntd — A 3Tilitia 
MuBler — The Civil Wai — The Sanitary Commission. 

There is abundant evidence to prove that the in- 
habitants of the town of Templeton were fully in- 
formed of the nature and significance of the contest 
which was arising between the colonies and the 
mother country. They were thoroughly in earnest 
and filled with patriotic zeal for the proper mainten- 
ance of our rights and liberties. So zealous were they, 
that they had not patience or forbearance to endure 
the presence of those who criticised the course 
of the colonists or expressed sympathy for the 
royal government. In their opinion, the right of pri- 
vate judgment should not be extended so far as to 
cover the case of those who thought the Parliament of 
England was in the right. A Tory was a hateful ob- 
ject in their eyes. He had few rights that others felt 
bound to respect. Sometimes he was visited by a 
committee, and some confession was extorted from 
him. Sometimes others refused to have business 
transactions with him. 

To a Tory in the time of the Revolution the atmos- 
phere of this town could not have seemed congenial ; 
neither would its inhabitants have seemed to him al- 
together lovely or possessed of all the milder virtues. 
If there was some intolerance in this, we must remem- 
ber that it needed that full earnestness and intensity 
of feeling to carry us successfully through the contest. 
Any considerable indifference or lukewarmness would 
have left us still colonists of Great Britain. 

In 1765 this town contained a population of three 



130 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



hundred and forty-eight persons. In 1776 there were 
ten hundred and si.xteen. In both cases Phillipston 
is included, that town having not yet been incorpo- 
rated. The people had hardly cleared their farms and 
built their houses before the warning notes of the 
coining contest were upon them. The first settlers 
were not wealthy. Their strong muscles and stout 
hearts were their most valuable possessions. There 
was abundant opportunity to turn both of these to 
practical use. The inhabitants of the town conducted 
themselves with great spirit, patriotism and self-sacri- 
fice during the whole of the war. 

At a meeting held May 17, 1774, the town adopted 
some resolves concerning goods imported from Great 
Britain, as follows : 

" Voted, first, that we will not by ourselves, or by 
any under us, directly or indirectly, purchase any 
goods, of any person whatever, that is or shall be 
subject to any duty for the purpose of raising a rev- 
enue in America. Voted, second, that we will not use 
any foreign tea, nor countenance the use of it in our 
families, unless in case of sickness, and not then with- 
out a certificate from under the hand of one or more 
physicians, that it is absolutely necessary in order for 
the recovery of their patient. And whoever in this 
town shall act contrary to the aforementioned votes 
shall be deemed an enemy to his country and treated 
as such.'' 

A Committee of Correspondence and Safety was 
chosen by the town each year during the war. By 
means of such committees in the various towns the 
public were kept informed of the progress of events, 
maintained their interest in public affairs, and were 
ready to act with promptness in any emergency. There 
was at least one company of minute-men in this town. 
A committee was chosen by the town in March, 1775, 
to take care of the farms and families of the minute- 
men, if they should be suddenly summoned away. 
The selectmen were to procure fire-arms and ammu- 
nition at the expense of the town. A marble tablet 
on the walls of the town hall commemorates the ser- 
vices of Captain Ezekiel Knowlton and thirty-six sol- 
diers, minute-men, perhaps, who promptly responded 
to the alarm sounded through this province on the 
morning of the 19th of April, 1775. The tidings borne 
from Charlestown by Paul Revere on the evening of 
April 18th probably reached this town at about noon of 
April 19th ; and before the day closed, the soldiers 
from this town were on their march for Boston. 

It is interesting to observe, in the public records, 
the changes in the mode of beginning the warrants for 
calling the town-meetings. From the earliest times 
until the time of the Revolution the warrant began : 
" In his majesty's name you are required to warn," etc. 
The warrant, for a meeting on March 6, 1775, read in 
this way ; but the warrant for a meeting on May 7th of 
that same year began : " Agreeable to the Late Char- 
ter of this Province and the Constitutional Laws of the 
Same." The warrant for a meeting on July 5th began : 



" By order of Congress." Each of these last-named 
forms was used in the next warrants. Next came one 
with this formula omitted entirely. " In the name 
of the government and people of Massachusetts Bay 
in New England," was then used, until after the 
adoption of the State Constitution. From the begin- 
ning of the year 1781 to the present time the warrant 
has been issued " in the name of the Commonwealth 
of Massachusetts." 

It is known that Captain Ezekiel Knowlton, Cap- 
tain Joel Fletcher and Captain John Richardson, all 
of this town, commanded companies some time during 
the war. The names of some of the soldiers serving 
under them are also known. The town records show 
that many times during the war the town provided 
beef and other provisions for the army, furnished 
clothing for the soldiers, paid bounties for enlistment, 
and chose committees to look after the fiimilies of sol- 
diers during their absence. At a town-meeting held 
May 24, 1776, under an article, "to give Instructions 
to their Representative Respecting the united Colo- 
nies Declaring themselves to be in a state of Inde- 
pendancy, Separate from Grate Britain," it was " Re- 
solved, that if the Continental Congress should, for the 
safety of the united Colonies, declare them Indepen- 
dent of the kingdom of Great Britain, we do solemnly 
engage with our lives and fortune to support them in 
the measure." This vote was passed a little more than 
a month before the Declaration of Independence was 
made by the Continental Congress. 

Military stores were collected at Bennington, Vt., 
by the Continental authorities. Gen. Burgoyne sent 
a detachment of troops to capture them ; but instead 
of that, his whole detachment was captured by the 
American troops in a battle which occurred August 16, 
1777. The news of the approach of British troops to 
these western New England towns spread quickly in 
this vicinity, and on August 21st, Capt. Josiah Wilder, 
of this town, at the head of sixty-one men, set out for 
Bennington. But it was soon found that there was 
no further need of troops there, and the men returned 
to their homes after a very brief service. 

The Currency. — There were great difficulties with 
the currency during the Revolutionary War. The 
paper-money had been made a legal tender. It had 
depreciated to an exceeding degree. As a matter of 
course, the prices of labor and merchandise were ex- 
ceedingly high and unstable. Great confusion arose 
in business affairs. AVith the hope of affording relief 
from the extreme difficulties of the situation, the 
towns adopted the method of "stating prices" — that 
is, of determining at what prices articles should be 
bought and sold, hoping the people would see fit to 
conform to those prices. Sometimes a convention 
would be held to determine the prices for a whole 
county, or even for the State. Such a convention was 
held at Concord in October, 1779, and Thomas White 
was the delegate from this town. This convention 
voted to leave it optional with the towns to "state the 



1 



TEMPLETON. 



131 



prices" for themselves. This town chose a committee 
of seven men to state the prices of such articles as 
they may think necessary and make report to the 
town. The committee performed the work assigned 
them and made their report to the town. It was 
adopted November 5, 1779, and is still plainly seen 
on the records. Doubtless the town came as near per- 
forming the impossible as is usual when such a feat is 
attempted. In spite of committee, town or convention, 
the paper-money would still go on depreciating and 
the prices would increase; and in 1780 it is said that 
the town paid six hundred pounds in Continental bills 
for twenty Spanish milled-dollars. This would be in 
the ratio of one hundred dollars for one. In the fol- 
lowing year the town appropriated, expressed in terms 
of that depreciated currency, twelve thousand pounds 
for schools, and ten thousand five hundred pounds for 
repairs of the highways. 

Second Wae with England. — The second war 
with England did not meet with favor from the people 
of New England, and this town shared fully in the 
general feeling of opposition to it. In 1808 the town 
voted to petition the President of the United States 
to suspend the embargo, in whole or in part. In the 
next year they petitioned the Legislature to urge upon 
Congress the repeal of the Embargo I^aw. When war 
was actually declared, in 1812, the town chose a com- 
mittee of seven persons, — Rev. Elisha Andrews, Rev. 
Charles Wellington, Lovell Walker, Eiq., Samuel 
Cutting, Esq., John W. Stiles, Leonard Stone and 
Deacon Paul Kendall, — who prepared a memorial to 
the President of the United States in opposition to 
the war, which was adopted by a vote of eighty-six to 
tweniy-two. The memorial treats of the blockade, 
the Orders in Council, the impressment of American 
seamen and the alliance with France. It fills twelve 
pages of the town records, and is expressed in vigor- 
ous language. It is said to have been composed by 
John W. Stiles, then a merchant of this town. 

Several persons from this town were in the army 
for a shorter or a longer period during this war. The 
town also voted "to provide, and keep constantly 
under the control of the selectmen, powder, balls and 
flints for the use and benefit of the soldiers in this 
town." 

A Militia Muster. — A muster of the militia in 
former times must have been a very interesting 
affair, attractive both to boys and men. It must have 
been more than the equal of the modern cattle show 
and fair. There is something in military evolutions 
and display that appeals strongly to human feelings. 
Templeton abounded in these military gatherings. It 
was the central town in the group of six, from which 
was gleaned the material for one regiment of militia; 
it was well supplied with hotels ; and especially was 
it desirable on account of the excellent parade-ground 
which its " Common " afforded. Gardner, Winchen- 
don, Royalston, Athol and Phillipston were the towns 
united with Templeton from which to gather the 



regiment. Some towns furnished two companies. A 
day in later September or early October was selected 
for the regimental muster. On the previous day, 
perhaps, some officers would mark along the east 
side of the Common a line on which the soldiers were 
to arrange themselves. Early on the morning of the 
day appointed the companies from the other towns 
would approach the village and leave their horses 
and vehicles at some farm-house. They would then 
form into a column and march to the Common. In 
the forenoon there would be an inspection by officers 
appointed for that purpose ; the soldiers being ranged 
in a straight line which frequently would reach as 
far as from the site of the hotel to the Library 
building. The privates were dressed in citizen's 
clothes ; the officers had uniforms and a sword, 
usually. After the inspection would come a review 
which would end the forenoon's duties. In the after- 
noon came the time for a sham fight. Sometimes a fort 
would be constructed and a part of the troops 
assigned to its defence and an >ther part to make the 
attack, simulating real warfare. Then the declining 
sun would find the soldiers wending their way to 
their homes. In these times the law of the State 
required that all male citizens between eighteen and 
forty-five years of age should perform some military 
duty. Hence the somewhat frequent " training " 
days for the companies and the annual muster of the 
regiments. And hence the reason why we find so 
many persons of the last generation bearing military 
titles. Quite a large number of persons bore the 
title of colonel from their service in the State militia 
in command of a regiment. 

Previous to 1852 several military organizations had 
existed in this town. There was in the earlier part 
of the century a cavalry company, composed of about 
seventy-five men from Templeton and four neighbor- 
ing towns. A rifle company existed from 1814 to 
about 1838. A volunteer company, called the Cadets, 
was formed in 1844, and existed for several years. 
But at the time just previous to the Civil War there 
was no military organization in the town. 

The Civil War. — Massachusetts has ever occupied 
a foremost position in the chief military contests in 
which the nation has been engaged. She furnished 
much more than her proportionate share of troops in 
the War of the Revolution. She was more than ready 
to do her share of service in the War of the Rebellion. 
Her Governor Andrew was a tower of strength for 
the State and nation during the long years of that 
severe contest. Worcester County was not behind 
other parts of the State either in promptness or 
efficiency. Her towns that had kept up regular 
military organizations were among the first to offer 
their services to the government in the spring of the 
year 1861. The town of Templeton was ready and 
eager to do her part. She showed herself worthy of a 
place in the State and county to which she belonged. 
Party disputes and divisions were for a time laid 



132 



HISTORY OP WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



aside. All belonged to the patriotic i)arty. The 
national flag wa.s invested with a much greater depth 
of meaning. Its simple stars and stripes were looked 
at with a greatly increased regard and affection. It 
was freely displayed on private dwellings and in pub- 
lic places. It was common to have it represented even 
on one corner of the common letter envelopes. Pub- 
lic meetings were held and patriotic addresses were 
delivered in the town hall, which was filled to over- 
flowing with eager and enthusiastic audiences. The 
pulpits glowed with patriotic sermons; the ministers 
were not lukewarm in this time of popular uprising. 
There were very few in the community who did not 
partake of the patriotic fervor. Those who feared 
lest the spirit of patriotism had died out were quickly 
assured of its continued existence. 

Although this town in the later years had not kept 
up a military organization, there was not wanting a 
good degree of the military spirit. Templeton Com- 
mon had been the field for the annual muster of the 
regiment. The sons of those who took an active part 
in those military displays had reached mature years. 
There existed an abundance of sparks of the military 
spirit which the daily tidings from the South fanned 
into a glowing flame. In the spring of 1861 a mili- 
tary company was formed which enlisted for five 
years in the Massachusetts Volunteer Militia, subject 
to the call of the government should their services be 
needed. Of this company, George P. Hawkes was 
chosen captain, and Charles W. Davis and John 
Brooks were chosen lieutenants. This was after- 
wards reorganized according to the rules of the United 
States service, and became Company A of the Twenty- 
first Regiment of Massachusetts Volunteers. 

At a town-meeting held April 30, 1861, the town 
voted to pay each soldier for the time spent in mili- 
tary drill ; to make an addition to the wages which 
the government allowed to soldiers ; also to furnish 
each man a uniform and a " Colt's '' or some other 
revolver. The uniforms were quickly made and 
furnished to the men. On further thought, it was 
not deemed best to supply the revolvers. This 
company left Templeton for the camp at Worcester 
July 19, 1861. The day of their departure was a 
great day in Templeton. In the morning the com- 
pany assembled, and were drawn up in front of the 
hotel. The relatives of the soldiers and the citizens 
generally assembled in large numbers. Addresses 
were made to the men from the balcony of the hotel 
by several persons. Rev. Edwin G. Adams pre- 
sented to each soldier a pocket Testament. The 
exercises were very interesting, but of necessity 
deeply tinged with sadness. The company marched 
to the railroad station, near Otter River Village. 
An exceedingly long train of carriages followed, 
bearing the friends of the departing soldiers. A 
collation was served at the station, and the men 
departed. 
The Twenty-first Regiment of Massachusetts Vol- 



unteers was recruited mostly from towns in Worces- 
ter County, Company A being mostly from Temple- 
ton. It left the camp at Worcester August 23, 1861, 
and was first stationed at Annapolis, Md. It formed 
a part of the Burnside expedition ; participated in 
the battles of Roanoke Island, Newberne and Cam- 
den; bore its full share of the disasters of Pope's 
campaign in Virginia, meeting with severe losses at 
Manassas and Chantilly. It bore an active part at 
South Mountain, Antietam and Fredericksburg. 
Then away to Tennessee and the siege of Knoxville, 
with several battles fought near by. The spring of 
1864 brought the Ninih Army Corps, of which the 
Twenty-first Regiment formed a part, back to Vir- 
ginia, and the names. The Wilderness, Spottsylva- 
nia. Cold Harbor and Petersburg suggest the reasons 
why the Twenty-first Regiment was so depleted in 
numbers as to be consolidated with the remnant of 
the Thirty-sixth. Fifcy-six men from Templeton 
were connected with the Twenty-first Regiment dur- 
ing .some portion of its career. Their names fol- 
low : 

George P. Hawkes, lieutenant-colonel and brevet 
brigadier-general ; Charles W. Davis, captain and 
brevet- colonel ; Levi N. Smith, captain; Daniel D. 
Wiley, brevet brigadier-general, both in Commissary- 
Department ; John Brooks, Benjamin F. Fuller, 
Henry S. Hitchcock, Jonas R. Davis and John F. 
Lewis, lieutenants; J. Prescott Cutting and John 
W. Wallace, first sergeants ; John F. Green, Levi 
Morse, J. Albert Osgood and Augustus Upton, ser- 
geants; Moses A. Chamberlain, Ambrose P. Chase, 
Henry K. Marshall, William H. Mellen, John A. 
Merritt, James A. Miller, Otis P. Moore, Sereno 
Sawyer and E. Wyman Stone, corporals ; Herbert 
Leland, musician ; Mandell Bryant, wagoner ; Sam- 
uel B. Adams, Henry N. Allen, Charles A. Black- 
mer, William A. Blackmer, George W. Bradish, 
Collins W. Chittenden, Charles W. Cobleigh, Charles 
H. Cummings, Charles H. Cutting, August Dabers, 
Charles J. Dunn, William Flint, George W. Jennison, 
George H. Lamson, Reuben Mann, William Marrar, 
Uriah Merritt, Harrison S. Pierce, Asa F. V. B. Pi- 
per, Wilbur A. Potter, George H. Sawtell, David H. 
Spear, Otis L. Sweet, George L. Thayer, John Thi- 
beault and Eleazer S. Whitney, of Company A ; 
James F. Delehanty, of Company D ; Franklin Ad- 
ams, Company E ; James Lewis, Company F ; and 
George D. Whitcomb, of Company D, privates. 

The patriotic feeling of the town was not ex- 
hausted by the enlistment and departure of the 
before-named company. 

The Twenty-fifth Regiment was recruited mainly 
from towns in Worcester County, and Templeton 
furnished thirty-four men, most of whom were in 
Company I, which was commanded by Capt. V. P. 
Parkhurst, of this town. The regiment left its camp 
at Worcester October 31, 1861, proceeded to Annap- 
olis, joined the Burnside expedition and served in 



TEMPLETON. 



133 



North Carolina until October, 1863. It lost more 
than two hundred men at Cold Harbor. It took 
part in the siege of Petersburg. Many of its men 
had re-enlisted, and continued in the service until 
the end of the war. Dr. Joseph C. Batchelder, of 
this town was, for a time, assistant surgeon of this 
regiment. Following are the names of men from 
this town : 

Varanus P. Parkhurst, captain ; Amos Buffum, 
Thomas Saul, lieutenants; Joseph S. Moulton, 
Dwight M. Martin, George Trask, Lyman S. Wheel- 
er, sergeants ; George A. Jackson, Walter Lamb and 
Francis L. Moore, of Company I, with Gustave 
Kluge and Hermann Spindler, of Company G. cor- 
porals; George E. Potter, musician; George Baker, 
George D. Browning, Albert M. Cobleigh, Patrick 
Coffey, James H. Crocker, David B. Day, Theodore 
J. Dyer, George E. Evans, John Goodale, George F. 
Greenwood, Clarence W. Jennison, Artemas Jones, 
Ransom P. Kimberly, Benjamin R. Manning, Marcus 
S. Moulton, Leander N. Norcross, William Norcross, 
Charles W. Weller, Joel Whitney, Jr., and Chris- 
topher Myers, of Company C, privates. 

The Thirty-sixth Regiment entered the service in 
the autumn of 1862. Its first engagement was at 
Fredericksburg. It was at the siege of Vicksburg. 
It took active part in the Virginia campaign of 1864 
from the Wilderness to the siege of Petersburg. 
Templeton furnished thirty-one men for this regi- 
ment, mostly in Company D, which was under com- 
mand of Capt. Amos Butfum. He had been active 
in the formation of the company. Christopher Saw- 
yer enlisted in Company D, but was afterwards Cap- 
tain of Company H. John A. Stearns was first 
lieutenant in Company D. Stephen F. Brooks, 
Charles B. Fisher, Levi H. Higley, Charles Under- 
wood, Courtland A. Allen, Cyrus G. Buff'um and 
James L. Brigham were corporals ; Benjamin F. 
Brooks and Henry M. Cobleigh, musicians ; George 
A. Brooks, Charles A. Cummings, James H. Day, 
Frank M. Fenno, Augustus A. Goddard, Chauncy N. 
Johnson, Edwin W. Lund, James A. Martindale, 
Irving L. Merritt, Martin Maynard, Stephen H. Pat- 
terson, William H. Perry and Charles M. Perry, of 
Company H ; C. C. B. Sawyer, Ephraim Turner, 
Julius G. Upton, Ctarles Wheeler, Ezra L. Wheeler, 
Augustus S. Whitney and George S. Wright were 
privates. 

The Fifty-third Regiment enlisted for nine months, 
but their period of service extended from October 17, 
1862, to September 2, 1863. Their field of service 
was mainly in Louisiana, at Baton Rouge, on the Red 
River expedition, at Fort Bisland and the siege of 
Port Hudson. This regiment encountered hard ser- 
vice in a climate very unfavorable to health. Tem- 
pleton furnished forty-three men for this service. 
Charles W. Uphara was first lieutenant of Company 
G, and was much of the time in command of the 
company. D. Porter Stockwell, William L. Lamb 



and Rufus Stickney were sergeants; Marshall C. 
Mower, Castelly O. Norcross, Albert W. Kendall 
and Charles W. Tr.isk were corporals of Company 
G; Thomas L. Addison. Benjamin F. Armitage, 
Leonard M. Baker, Dan forth N. Baker, Lewis R. 
Briggs, Albert G. Bushnell, William T. Bronsdon, 
Dixie J. Crosby, Joseph B. Cummings, Ezekiel F. 
Divoll, Clark A. Earle, Emmons Fales, Charles B. 
Garfield, Edwin W. Greenwood, John W. Guile, S. B. 
Hildreth, W. P. Hunt, Franklin Jackson, Horace E. 
Jennison, Samuel W. Jennison, William G. Kilner, 
J. W. Leland, William L. Leland, Willard B. May- 
nard, C. C. Merritt, Howard L. Manning, Henry M. 
Mirick, George W. Newton, Russell D. Newton, C. J. 
Nourse, Emory Olney, Joel Richardson, J. H. Saul, 
Charles H. Searle and Edwin W. Wright were pri- 
vates. 

The soldiers from this town were mostly in ihe 
four regiments previously named; but a few were in 
other organizations. In the Second Regiment were 
Eugene C. Bushnell, musician and lieutenant; 
Alvin W. Day, corporal in Company F, and Cyrus C. 
Bryant. Elmer Parker was in Company D of the 
Thirteenth Regiment. Charles F. Lee was a lieu- 
tenant in the Eighteenth and afterwards a first 
lieutenant in the Fifty-fifth Regiment. Edward D. 
Lee was first lieutenant and adjutant in the Twen- 
ty-seventh. Amos W. Gray was a private in the 
Twenty-seventh. George H. Dudley was sergeant, 
and Wend all Eaton, James M. Lufkin, John Preston 
and Benjamin E. Thayer were privates in the Thirty- 
second Regiment. Charles Lynde served in the 
First Regiment of Cavalry, and P. D. Stratton and 
Rollin C. Williams in the Heavy Artillery. Edward 
L. Jones was a captain in the Forty-fourth Regiment 
of Infantry. 

There were a few soldiers credited to the quota of 
the town in the last year of the war who are not in- 
cluded in the preceding lists. Most of these rendered 
little or no service. But, without counting these, 
Templeton furnished no less than two hundred men 
for the service in the great Civil War. Some served for 
a comparatively short period owing to wounds or 
other causes of disability. About one-fifteenth part 
of the men who entered the service were killed or 
mortally wounded in battle ; more than twice as many 
died of disease or of ill treatment in Southern prisons. 
There were not le*s than thirty out of the two hun- 
dred who served either three or four full years with- 
out any serious wound or illness. Some few there 
were, even, who served during the whole war, taking 
part in every skirmish or battle in which their regi- 
ment was engaged, without receiving the slightest 
wound or encountering any sickness. Some, on the 
other hand, immediately fell a prey to fatal disease, or 
were slain in the first battle. Several lost their lives 
in consequence of insufficient food and ill treatment 
in Southern prisons ; others survived with health per- 
manently impaired. Nearly all the men entered the 



134 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



service as privates ; but, in addition to numerous sub- 
ordinate officers, not less than six reached the rank of 
captain, and two left the service with the rank of bre- 
vet brigadier-general. The volunteers from Temple- 
ton were generally men of mature age, who were 
interested in the public welfare and were fully aware 
of the public need and danger. They entered the 
service of their country with a conscientious regard 
for duty. Without such men the Eebellion never 
would have been suppressed. 

The Sanitary Commission. — The United States 
Sanitary Commission rendered a service of the very 
highest importance during the war. It expended 
more than twenty-five millions of dollars for the care 
and comfort of the soldiers in addition to what the 
government was able to do. An average of two thou- 
sand sick and wounded soldiers were each night sup- 
plied with shelter by its efforts, who otherwise would 
have been shelterless. The inhabitants of Templeton 
were interested in these efforts, and contributed freely 
to the Sanitary Commission, or sent articles directly 
to the soldiers in whom they had a personal interest. 
Large boxes containing clothing, towels, lint, band- 
ages and articles useful in the hospitals were filled by 
the people in the difierent villages and sent to the 
Commission. Jellies, syrups, pickles, and articles for 
convalescent soldiers were also sent. Thoughtful 
minds and willing hands eagerly sought for means to 
alleviate the hardships and pains of the soldier. 



CHAPTER XX. 

TEMPLETON— ( Cow ^;;»/d'rf. ) 

BUSINESS AFFAIRS. 

Manufactures— Early Mills — At BtilduHnviUe — On Trout Brook— At Par- 
tridgeville and East Templeton — At Otter Eiver — Eotels— Stores— Sav- 
ings Bank — Roads — Railroads. 

By a vote of the proprietors at a meeting held in 
Concord, Mass., January 24, 1735, a committee was 
chosen and authorized "to agree with any person or 
persons that will erect a mill or mills in said town- 
ship." Mr. Samuel Sheldon, of Billerica, soon after 
made a contract with this committee to build a saw- 
mill and a grist-mill, and he gave bonds to erect the 
mills. He was to be the owner of the mills and was 
to have a grant of land for establishing them. The 
proprietors, at a meeting held in Concord, November 
1, 1737, confirmed the contract, and "voted and 
granted to said Sheldon, his heirs and assigns, for- 
ever, eighty acres of land, to be by him laid out in 
one or two places, in a regular form, in any of the 
common land of the township, excepting the land 
reserved on account of the mine ; the land drowned 
by his mill-dam to be accotinted a part of the eighty 
acres; provided, that there be not more than twenty 
acres of meadow included in said pond and eighty 



acres of land ; provided, also, he keep up a saw-mill 
and grist-mill in said township, according to his ob- 
ligation and agreement made with him." Still, not- 
withstanding the contract and provisional grant of 
lands, Mr. Sheldon never built the mills. 

Another meeting of the proprietors was held at 
Concord, September 6, 1739, when it was " voted that 
the Committee chosen to agree about mills in said 
township be directed, as soon as may be, to procure 
some suitable person or persons to build a good saw- 
mill and corn-mill in said township,and to give them 
such encouragement in any of the common lands or 
streams within said township as they can or may 
agree for; and to enter into obligation for the same 
in the name of the proprietors. Also voted that the 
Committee chosen to let out the mills in said town- 
ship be fully empowered to put Mr. Samuel Sheldon's 
bond in prosecution as soon as may be ; or the Com- 
mittee may have a liberty to agree with Mr. Sheldon 
as they may see fit." 

Another proprietors' meeting assembled at Concord, 
September 16, 1742, and under the article in the war- 
rant, "to inquire whether there is a saw-mill erected 
in said township, or like to be; '' it is recorded, " In- 
quired and there is no mill erected." At an ad- 
journed meeting a little after this the committee were 
instructed to put Mr. Sheldon's bond in suit, but it 
seems never to have been done. 

At a proprietors' meeting in 1743 they purcha^'ed 
Mr. Thomas Hobbs' right in the township, to secure 
the forty-acre lot. No. 91, already assigned to him, 
in order that they might use it for a mill privilege. 
This water privilege is said to have been the one 
recently occupied by Mr. A. S. Hodge. The price 
allowed to Mr. Hobbs for this lot and one share in all 
the then undivided lands was .£26 lO.s., to be paid in 
twelve months, without interest. 

It seems that a bargain was made with Lieutenant 
James Simonds, Reuben Richardson and Oliver 
Richardson who were to receive the land in con- 
sideration of building the mill, which was probably 
erected in 1743. .In November, 1743, a committee 
was chosen " to clear the road from the meeting-house 
place to the saw-mill in said township, and also to 
look out and mark a road from said mill across Otter 
River, into Narragansett No. 2," or Westminster. 
There were no permanent habitations here at this 
time, nor until a period of seven years later. Indian 
hostilities were prevalent, and probably the saw-mill 
was neglected ; for we find that in 1749 the clerk was 
directed to notify Lieutenant Simonds and his part- 
ners " to rectify the mill, so that it may be in order 
for sawing, and for the benefit of the township ; so 
that they may fulfil their contract." A committee 
was chosen, in 1755, by the proprietors " to take care 
of the saw-mill, and see that the owners perform 
according to contract." 

In May, 1753, the proprietors voted "to build a 
corn-mill," and a tax of six shillings on each right 



TEMPLETON. 



135 



was laid to defray the cost of the mill. Mr. Thomas 
Sawyer, of Bolton, seems to have built the mill, and 
to have received, in 1755, in payment, therefor, the 
sum of £24 13s. 6rf., or about one hundred and twenty 
dollars. This sum seems to have been paid him in 
consideration of his building the mill and under- 
taking to do the grinding, he owning the mill all the 
time. It had been believed that this mill was erected 
at Baldwinville, on Otter Eiver; but Captain Park- 
hurst, who has recently written a history of the town, 
thinks tlie evidence points to its having been located 
at "Goulding village," in Phillipston, near Phillips- 
ton Pond. 

However this may be, it seems to be fettled that at 
about this same date of 1754 a saw-mill and grist- 
mill was erected by this same Thomas Sawyer, of 
Bolton, in what is now the village of Baldwinville, 
on the site of the shop now occupied by the Waite 
Chair Company. 

In 1763 the proprietors had an article in a warrant 
for a meeting, " to see if the proprietors will prosecute 
in law the bond against Thomas Sawyer, for his not 
grinding according to contract for the inhabitants of 
said town,'' and a committee was chosen to see that 
he fulfilled his contract. 

Thomas Sawyer seems to have carried on the mills 
on this site at Baldwinville until about 1767, when 
they were sold to Jonathan Baldwin, Esq., an enter- 
prising and public-spirited citizen from Spencer, 
Mass. He became a very large land-holder in the 
village of Baldwinville, owning a large tract on the 
north and west. Captain Eden Baldwin, son of 
Jonathan, succeeded his father in the ownership of 
the mills. He carried on the lumber business and 
also made bricks at a yard near where the house of 
C. M. Cummings now stands. In 1803 he rebuilt the 
mills and carried them on until 1829, when he rented 
them for five years to William Kendall and Edward 
Richardson, of Holden. 

In 1836 Captain Eden Baldwin sold the mills to 
Colonel George W. Sawyer, who retained possession 
some two years and then sold the property back to 
Captain Baldwin, who retained it until his death, in 
1839. In that year another Eden Baldwin, from 
Ashfield, a distant relative of the former, became the 
owner, and in 1840 he took down the former structure 
and built the eastern half of the "Red Mill,'' putting 
in a new grist-mill and a self-setting saw-mill. In 
1842 he sold to Gilman Day, who received Charles 
Baldwin, a grandson of Captain Eden, as a partner in 
1843. Edwin Sawyer bought Mr. Baldwin's interest 
in 1847. Day & Sawyer built the western half of the 
"Red Mill." They made wood-seat chairs, hat-cases, 
etc. The manufacture of chairs has been continued 
at this stand by difl'erent firms formed in successive 
years : Sawyer & Thompson in 1853, Sawyer,Thompson 
& Perley in 1856, Thompson, Perley & Waite in 1871 
and the Waite Chair Company in 1887. On the 
death of Mr. Perley the firm was divided and Mr. 



Thompson became the head of a firm making chairs 
at the lower mill. 

In 1843 Captain Warren L. Merritt began the hat- 
pressing business in the " Red Mill." But a mill 
was built al the north end of the dam in 1844 by 
Samuel D. Morley, and Captain Merritt moved his 
business there and continued it until 1850, after 
which the business was continued by John Stearns, 
and Lee & Stearns, who employed about twenty 
hands. In the recent years Baker & Wilson have a 
grist-mill here, at which they grind large quantities 
of Western corn, selling the meal in the neighboring 
villages. 

In the early part of the century a number of 
persons in this village and in other parts of this town 
jvere engaged in the manufacture of wood-seat chairs. 
The work was done wholly by hand in small shops 
near to or connected with dwelling-houses. As the 
years went on, machinery was invented to facilitate 
the work, and that necessitated the concentration of 
the work in larger establishments. 

In 1844 Albert Bryant and James Stimpson built a 
dam at what is now known as the lower shop. A shop 
was soon built at the north end of the dam, and in 
1846 another at the south end by James Stimpson. 
In these shops various kinds of business have been 
carried on by different persons and firms. Hat-press- 
ing has been carried on ; different firms have manu- 
factured matches ; doors, sashes and blinds have 
been made ; a shop was burned at the south end of 
the dam in 1862. Soon the privilege passed into the 
hands of Willard Baker and Sawyer, Thompson & Per- 
ley. The latter firm and their successors have occupied 
the southerly shop in the manufacture of chair.s. A 
division of this firm was made in 1887, and this shop 
is now occupied by D. L. Thompson & Son, who con- 
tinue here the manufacture of various kinds of chairs. 
The northerly shop has for some years been occupied 
by Baker & Wilson in the manufacture of children's 
carriages. 

A tannery was carried on for several years previous 
to 1817 by Joel Hayden, and afterward by Henry & 
Joseph Newton, on the site receatly occupied by the 
ofBce and store-house of Thompson, Perley & Waite, 
west of the hotel. His mill for grinding bark by 
water-power was on the site now occupied by the 
machine-shop of William E. Nichols. Various kinds 
of bu-iness have since been done here. John & Hart- 
ford Potter made sofa frames ; Bennet Potter put in 
a grist-mill ; Kelton & Hollingsworth were machin- 
ists ; Eden B. Sawyer, and afterward Bufl'um & New- 
ton, made measures for measuring grain ; Captain W. 
L. Merritt made window shades; James Stimpson 
made faucets. At the present time the privilege is 
used by William E. Nichols for the manufacture of 
band saw machines and various kinds of chair 
machinery. 

In 1841 Captain Joseph Davis built a saw-mill at 
the most easterly privilege in B.ildwinville. For 



136 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



some years pails were made here and afterward doors, 
sashes and blinds ; Sawyer & Patterson made matches ; 
Robinson & Hersey made buckets, and James Stimp- 
son clothes-pina. This mill was burned in 1856. The 
privilege was bought in ISfiO by Charles A. Perley 
and Oilman Waite. In 1870 a stock company was 
formed and a large and commodious factory was put 
up which furnished accommodations for several firms. 
Smith, Day & Co. made chairs ; L. Greenwood & Co. 
also made chairs ; E. Sawyer & Co. made furniture. 
This mill was burned in 1885. It was rebuilt by 
Smith, Day & Co., who continue the manufacture of 
chairs at this stand. A part of the water-power at 
this place is used by Mr. H. M. Small in the manu- 
facture of sheathing and roofing paper. 

There were formerly two saw-mills on Beaver Brook, 
.in the extreme western part of the town. There were 
also two mills in the northwesterly part of the town, 
on the Royalston road, one of which is still kept in 
operation. These were on tributaries of Otter River. 

On Trout Brook there were formerly five mill priv- 
ileges which were utilized. Only two or three of them 
are now used. The first privilege to be used was that 
now occupied by Bourn, Hadley & Co. Mr. Withing- 
ton erected a saw-mill here not far from 1820. Dea- 
con Benjamin Hawkes and his sons had made furniture 
by hand at a shop formerly standing on the present 
site of the Public Library. Later they made use of 
the water-power at this stand for some years. The 
present proprietors are extensively engaged in the 
manufacture of pine and ash furniture. Farther 
down on this stream toward Baldwinvilleis a saw- mill. 
Staves for pails are also prepared here. 

The water from Phillipston Pond flows through the 
southwesterly part of this town, on its way to join the 
waters of Ware River. On this stream have been 
several mill privileges, which have been used for 
grinding grain, sawing lumber, and preparing chair- 
stock or staves for pails. On a stream tributary to 
this is a mill which has been variously employed, re- 
cently as a cider-mill ; formerly, Mr. Leander Leland 
made shoe-pegs here with ingenious machinery which 
he had prepared. 

Mill Brook is the name applied to a stream of 
water which rises in the southeasterly part of this 
town and flows through Partridgeville and EastTem- 
pleton, falling into Otter River a short distance be- 
low the latter village. As this brook has quite a rapid 
fall, it furnishes several water privileges, two of which 
were in Partridgeville. On the upper one was a saw- 
mill, formerly owned by A. A. & G. W. Jones. This 
has been suft'ered to go to decay. A little way down 
the stream, and close by the highway, was formerly a 
grist-mill. Afterwards, for some years, H. & J. W. 
Partridge made chairs here. It is now owned by 
De.xter P. Merritt. Two reservoirs for the storage of 
water lie above the village of East Templeton. Below 
the dam of the lower one was a shop for the manu- 
facture of chairs. The water-power was supplemented, 



in later times, by a steam-engine. The shop was 
built by Bennett Potter, and had been occupied by 
Potter & Jeunison, Parker, Sawyer & Co., McLean & 
Dickernian, and others. It was burnt recently, and 
has not been rebuilt. 

The chair manufactory of A. S. Hodge was burnt 
recently, and has not as yet been rebuilt. Chairs have 
been for many years manufactured on this site by dif- 
ferent parties, using steam as well as water-power in 
later years. The shop now owned by Henry J. 
Wright seems to have been built by Bennett Potter. 
Various kinds of business have successively been car- 
ried on here. The grist-mill and saw-mill formerly 
owned by John Simonds was, in 1813, bought by Joel 
Fales, who enlarged the mills. He soon erected 
another shop near where the " Fales '' shop recently 
stood, and carried on the manufacture of scythes for 
several years. He had a furnace and made small 
castings. He had a trip-hammer and manufactured 
hoes. His son, Otis P. Fales, was associated with him 
in this business. In later times the brothers, Otis P. 
and Joel G. Fales, under the firm- name of J. G. 
Fales & Co., made chairs, the seats of which were 
woven out of thin plates of wood split by a machine 
invented for this jnirpose. The chairs had a look not 
unlike the chairs of the olden time, and for some uses 
were quite popular. This shop was burned a few 
years since. On the next mill-site the manufacture 
of children's carts and wagons has been carried on 
since the year 1858, by Chester N. Johnson, who has 
made of it a very successful business. The tannery 
business had for many years been carried on at this 
site, earlier by Mr. Swan and later by Warren 
Simonds. At the next site, T. T. Greenwood's Sons 
continue the business of the manufacture of furniture, 
which their father had begun some years before. They 
also have a furniture store in West Gardner. A mill 
built by Artemas Brown formerly stood on the next 
site. At first it was a saw-mill ; afterwards tubs and 
pails were made here, but there has been no shop 
here for some years. The last shop on the stream is 
that of the East Templeton Chair Company, a co-op- 
erative incorporated company, which has met with a 
good degree of success. 

Otter River enters the town on its eastern side, from 
Gardner, and flows through the northerly portion of 
the town, furnishing an abundant water-power in the 
villages of Otter River and Baldwinville. The Otter 
River Blanket Mill occupies the first mill-site on 
this stream, having a location just over the Gardner 
line. Horse blankets in large quantities were quite 
recently the product of this mill. The first mill here 
was built by Cooper Sawyer. The manufacture of 
chairs has, in the past time, been carried on here. A 
little farther down the stream is what is known as 
the Templeton Blanket Mills, which, together with 
the iactory last named, is owned by Rufus S. Frost, 
of Chelsea, Mass. On this site William Hunting 
built a saw-mill, which Col. Leonard Stone after- 



TEMPLETON. 



137 



wards bought and occupied for many years. William 
E. Nichols for a time had a machine-shop here, and 
Charles Everett a grist-mill. Going a little way 
down the stream, we come to the Woolen Mills. 'J'he 
first building on this site was erected about 1823 by 
Capt. Samuel Dadman, who began here the manu- 
facture of woolen cloth. The Dadman Manufactur- 
ing Company, the Jones Manufacturing Company, 
and other firms have continued the business. A new 
building was erected in IS.SG. Some kind of woolen 
goods has been the manufacture carried on here. Near 
this site, in the earlier part of the century, and 
reaching back to about 1787, Edward Cambridge had 
a shop for dressing cloth. He performed the service 
of dressing and finishing the cloth made by the farm- 
ers at their own homes on the hand-looms. .lust east 
of the present factory building, Nathan Smith had a 
shop, at which he used to receive wool from the farm- 
ers and card it into rolls, ready for spinningat home. 

The manufiicture of bricks has been carried on 
quite extensively by Charles C. Dyer, in the village 
of Otter River, at the yard which had been for many 
years occupied by his father, Horatio N. Dyer. 
These are transported by rail and sold in Worcester 
and other places. 

The manufacture of stoves has for many years been 
an important industry in the village of Otter River. 
Tt was begun by Thomas Parker, who, about the year 
1836, erected a shop on a tributary of Otter River 
flowing into the town from Winchendon. He carried 
on the business until 1843, when he was succeeded 
by his son, Daniel W. Parker, who, in 1851, received 
Otis Warren as a partner. Mr, Warren carried on 
the business alone until 1853, when he sold to Gates 
& Lord. Lord & Walker became the name of the 
firm in 1858, which became Lord & Stone in 1871, 
and Lord, Stone & Co. in 1887. During all of this 
time, in addition to the manufacture of stoves, a 
general foundry business has been done at this stand, 
and machinists' work also. The work, which was 
begun on a small scale, has gradually increa.-ed, giv- 
ing employment at the present time to from thirty- 
five to forty hands. From five hundred to six hun- 
dred tons of iron are melted annually. The stoves 
are sold by traveling agents in various parts of New 
England. 

Inventors. — The soil of Worcester County is 
certainly not favorable, as a general thing, for the 
production of agricultural crops ; but it produces 
excellent mechanics. The very atmosphere seems to 
favor their growth. And Templeton, like its neigh- 
boring towns, has always abounded in good mechanics 
— good in the practical execution of work, and some- 
times apt in the invention of new machines and 
processes. Indeed, these country towns would, many 
of them, have gone to early decay had it not been for 
their mechanical and manufacturing industries. The 
local market furnished by the manufacturing villages 
is the one thing that makes farming possible here. 



Eli Bruce was one of the early settlers in the town, 
living in the village of Baldwinville, in the house 
now occupied by Mr. Hiklreth. He was a very 
ingenious man. He made clocks, repaired watches 
and jewelry. He constructed a pipe-organ, which 
was said to have been a very fine one. He invented 
a machine for making pins out of wire, heading and 
pointing them ready for use. He also invented 
machinery suitable for the manufacture of wooden 
buckctJ. His was a versatile mind, ever ready to 
animate material things with a capacity to subserve 
human wants. 

Asa Fessenden was another mechanic of unusual 
ingenuity. He lived first at Templeton Centre, 
making vehicles of various kinds at the fhop after- 
wards occupied by Maynard & Fiske. In later life 
he lived in Baldwinville, in the same house formerly 
occupied by Eli Bruce. 

James Stinipson, now living in Baldwinville, is 
the inventor of a machine of much utility in the 
manufacture of furniture. It makes with rapidity a 
strong joint for the fastening together of the sides 
of drawers for bureaus, and is generally used in 
furniture-making establishments. He secured a 
patent for the method of making the joint in 1857, 
and on the machine in 1859. Mr. Slimpson is also 
the inventor of a street lamp of much conveuience. 
The lamp is lowered for lighting and care by an iron 
lever turning on an axis. 

John Nichols, of Baldwinville, invented a child's 
chnir that is very easily convertible into a carriage, 
and again into a play table. There were six difl'erent 
kinds of these chairs. He has also invented an 
ingenious form of street lamp, in which the lamp 
slidesdown through a hollow lamp-post for convenience 
of lighting and care. The dralt of air for the lamp 
is also through the post, so that it burns steadily even 
when it is windy. 

Hotels. — In the olden times country towns 
abounded in inns or taverns. On the principal lines 
of travel there seems to have been only a distance of 
two or three miles between them. The great number 
of loaded teams transporting merchandise from Bos- 
ton to the interior towns created a necessity for 
numerous stopping-places. Perhaps there was also 
found some pecuniary profit in furnishing some form 
of liquid refreshment for thirsty travelers. But the 
taverns were numerous in our own town as well as in 
others ; and tradition surrounds them with a kind of 
halo which could not have been visible to their im- 
mediate patrons. The " enchantment " doubtless 
results from the distance which time interposes. Most 
of them were farm-houses of a larger size. In the 
villages, however, were taverns of more pretension 
and importance. 

It is not easy to ascertain the date of the opening 
of the first tavern in town. Doubtless the first ones 
were kept by persons who gave their chief attention 
to other pursuits. There was formerly a tavern kept 



138 



HISTORY OP WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



at the farm-house now known as the " Lambert 
Howe " place. There were three taverns at Temple- 
ton Centre. One was kept by Joseph Upham in the 
brick house at the northwesterly side of the Common. 
One by Joshua Wriglit, familiarly known as Landlonl 
Wright, was kept in what has been known as the old 
" Hawkes " house, then standing where the public 
pump now is. But the chief public-house of the 
village seems always to have been the one on the site 
of the recent Templeton Hotel, which has been kept 
for some years by Charles E. Ellis. This building was 
burned in September, 1888. This house, in the earlier 
part of the century, was kept by Lipha French, Cal- 
vin Townsley and Levi Pierce. In later times Francis 
Twichell was very favorably known as the proprietor. 

The house now owned by Mr. Lucas Baker in East 
Templeton, and that owned by Mr. Isaac Bourn in 
Brooks village, were both kept as taverns in the early 
part of this century, being on the line of through 
travel from Boston to Albany, which passed through 
Templeton. This town was also on a line of through 
travel from Worcester to Keene. On this line were 
two taverns at the Baptist Common, — the one kept in 
the house which is the present residence of Mr. John 
M. Brown, the other in a house directly opposite, on 
the other side of the Common. Baldwinville was 
also on this line of travel, and here, in several of the 
earliest years of the century, Capt. Eden Baldwin kept 
a tavern in the house now owned by Albert Bryant. 
In 1832 Capt. Joseph Davis built the hotel now 
known as the Narragansett House. In 1870 it was 
purchased by Mr. George Partridge, who has since 
been the proprietor. The building has at two different 
times been partially burned. 

About 1847 Mr. J. G. Goldsmith built a hotel in 
the village of Otter River, on the present site of Mr. 
Le'and's store. This he kept for several years. After 
several persons had occupied it for brief periods, it 
was bought by Mr. Joshua W. Partridge and kept 
until the building was burned. In later times a hotel 
has been kept by different persons on the opposite side 
of the street from the former one. 

Stores. — In the last century and the early part of 
this there was not much necessity for an abundance 
of stores, and where they existed at all there was 
little occasion for a large stock of goods. The families 
were not very numerous and were scattered about on 
the farms. They produced their own beef and pork, as 
well as fruits and vegetables. They were very sparing 
in the use of tea and sugar, and coffee was almost 
unknown. They spent very little money on luxuries 
of any kind. Their clothing was prepared with their 
own hands at their homes. The farmer himself, with 
his own team, carried any salable products of his farm 
to Boston, and brought back home supplies for his 
own family and sometimes for his neighbors. Grad- 
ually, as the population increased, it was found more 
economical to make a division of labor, and so permit 
some persons to devote their whole time to the work 



of making these exchanges. Hence the evolution of 
the country merchant and the country store. 

In Templeton Centre, early in this century, a long 
building stood on the site of the " Lee" store. In the 
north end of this building John Bigelow kept clocks, 
watches and similar goods. Cyrus Brown kept a 
variety store in the middle of the building. In the 
southern portion was sometimes a shoemaker's shop. 
John Bigelow lived in the "Gilbert" house. Cyrus 
Brown afterwards had a farm in the westerly part of 
the town, which has remained in the hands of his 
descendants to this day. This store building was 
moved away, and a part of it was used to make the 
house now owned by Charles W. Upham. In 1829 
Col. Artemas Lee erected the store and dwelling-house 
now standing on that site, and kept some connection 
with the store during the rest of his life. The names 
of the tirms successively doing business there were 
Lee, Harding & Jones, Lee & Lincoln, Lee & Wood, 
Lee & Gambell, and afterwards Leland & Jones. 
Some time after the death of Col. Lee the store and 
other real estate was bought by Percival Blodgett, 
who, with a slight intermission, has carried on the 
business to the present time. He has added a stock 
of drugs and medicines. Col. Lee, before building on 
this site, had kept a store in the southerly portion of 
the hotel building, during a portion of which time he 
was associated with Lipha French. 

On the ea.sterly side of the Common, on the site of 
the "Brick" store, formerly stood a wooden one-story 
building, which was in after time moved away, and 
now forms the lower story of the Trinitarian parson- 
age. In this and the brick structure which succeeded 
it a store has been kept until quite recent times. In 
the early part of the century it was occupied by John 
W. Stiles, a prominent merchant of northern Worces- 
ter County, and later by Col. Ephraim Stone. 

Several persons assisted in the work of the store, and 
among others Rufus Wyman, who afterwards became 
a partner. But Col. Stone was advancing in years, 
and Mr. Wyman was desirous of leaving town ; so the 
store was given up. Not long after, a Co-operative 
Union store was organized and kept here for some 
years, under the management of Erastus O. Eddy. 
After this was given up, the store business was carried 
on here for several years, first by the firm of Dudley 
& Blodgett, and afterwards by Mr. Dudley alone. 

A store was also formerly kept by George Howe in 
a building which stood northerly of the residence of 
Mrs. Batchelder. Another store was kept by Moses 
Bond, in the brick house now owned by Charles W. 
Stone. 

The country store has been something more than 
merely a place for the convenient purchase of the 
family supplies. Men meet each other here and have 
an interchange of views on the political or social 
questions of the day. 

It furnishes a partial substitute for the social en- 
joyments of the club and the attractions of the theatre. 



TEMPLETON. 



139 



The philosopher must take account of these informal 
and accidental meetings of persons who live in scat- 
tered dwellings as one of the forces which advance 
civilization, or at least as a force tending to hinder 
the lapsing into barbarism, ^ess potent than the 
town-meeting or the Sunday gathering, but still a 
force worthy of recognition. 

Baldwinville next claims our attention in this mat- 
ter of stores. But on the way thither, we may remark 
that, in the earlier times, there were two stores at the 
" Baptist Common," as well as two taverns and one 
church. Doubtless there were in Baldwinville, as 
elsewhere in the early times, persons who united to 
some other business that of furnishing family supplies, 
even before the erection of stores. But in 1824 
Captain Eden Baldwin erected a store at a point 
northerly of the residence of Mr. Ray, and about 
where the road to the railr 'ad station now passes. 

Captain Moses Bond, who had previously kept a 
store at the centre of the town, carried this on for 
three years. Captain Joseph Davis then leased the 
store and placed it in the care of Mr. Valentine. On 
his removing to Baldwinville, in 1830, Captain Davis 
bought the store building and in 1840 removed it to 
a location in .close proximity to his hotel, where it 
now stands. A store has been kept in the building 
until a period quite recent. The store now occupied 
by Louis Leland was also built in 1821. Joseph Ray- 
mond first carried on business here, and afterwards 
Lee & Raymond until 1837. Lee & Morley and Lee 
& Lincoln were the styles of firms until 1844 ; then 
M. H. Wood & Co., until 1856. Sundry persons kept 
a small stock of goods here for a time, after which 
there was a period of suspended animation, which 
was terminated by the appearance of the firm of 
Leland Brothers in 1870. Since 1872 Louis Leland 
has continued the business alone, Francis Leland 
retiring and giving his undivided attention to his 
store at Otter River. A store has been kept on the 
site of the Cady & Brooks block since 1844. It was 
first occupied by James Stimson and Mark W. Ray. 
A Protective Union store was afterwards kept here, 
with James H. Clapp as agent. It was occupied by 
Sawyer, Thompson & Perley as a store and office 
from 1861 to 1876. O. D. Sawin kept the store one 
year, continued by Sawin & Bryant to 1880, when the 
building was burned. It was rebuilt on a larger 
scale, with a spacious hall on the third floor. The 
.stores on the lower floor were occupied by Dorr & 
Dickinson and Lehy & Goss. Rooms for the Tem- 
pleton Savings Bank and also for a lawyer's ofiice 
were in the second story. Fire consumed the whole 
structure again in 1882, and again it was rebuilt with 
offices as before in the second story, and the post- 
office and stores in the lower story. In one of these 
stores, drugs and medicines and furnishing goods are 
kept by C. S. Dickinson ; in the other, groceries and 
miscellaneous goods by C. S. Dickinson & Co. 

A small building to be used as a store was erected 



in 1857, just south of the bridge over Otter River. 
This has been occupied for brief timesby different 
persons, sometimes as a shoe store, sometimes as a 
grocery store, but it is at present unoccupied. 

In the village of Otter River the first >tore of im- 
portance was kept, in the low, one-story building on 
the west side of the Main Street. Samuel D. Morley, 
Samuel M. Osgood and Francis Leland have suc- 
cessively engaged in trade at this stand ; others have 
continued to occupy this store until the present time. 
In 1883 Francis Leland built, for the more complete 
accommodation of his business, the large and com- 
modious brick store which he has since occupied. 
About 1847 Captain Joseph Davis, of Baldwinville, 
erected the large building for a store and dwelling- 
house on the eastern side of the street, and a store 
was kept here for about ten years under his super- 
vision. Since, it has been occupied by Warner & 
Kirschner, and now by Frederick Warner. 

Savings Bank. — The Templeton Savings Bank 
was incorporated April 19, 1871. Its place of busi- 
ness has always been in the village of Baldwinville. 
Up to the present time it has hired one of the upper 
rooms in the Brooks & Cady Block. This year (1888) 
the trustees voted to erect a new building suitable 
for the accommodation of the bank and containing 
rooms to rent for other purposes. The building is to 
be fifty by forty feet in size, and the work of con- 
struction is now going on. M. A. Wilson is president 
of the Savings Bank, and Asa Hosmer is treasurer. 
Its assets now amount to more than two hundred 
thousand dollars. 

Roads. — Roads of some kind must be of prime im- 
portance to the people of a new settlement. We find 
that the proprietors of this town early gave attention 
to making them. The first roads were doubtless 
mere bridle-paths, in most cases suitable only for 
passing on horseback. From the formation of the 
town until now the building and repairing of roads 
has been a very large item in the public expenditures. 
During the first twenty years of the existence of the 
town the appropriations for mere repairs of highways, 
leaving out altogether the cost of building ihem, was 
from three to five times as much as the appropriation 
for schools ; during the next twenty years it was 
from one and a half to three times as much; during 
the first forty years of this century a little more than 
twice as much. There was then a few years in which 
they were not very far from equal. For the last fif- 
teen years the ratio has been reversed, and the ap- 
propriation for schools has been about twice as much 
as that for repairs of highways. 

It will not be practicable to trace the origin and 
history of our roads minutely, although it would be 
a matter of interest to do so. A few details must 
here suffice. The proprietors, in 1737, paid a com- 
mittee for " marking and clearing a road to the town- 
ship," which perhaps was a bridle-path from West- 
minster. In 1740 a road was "marked and cleared 



140 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



to Pequoiage" (Athol). Roads were also to be 
cleared to the settlers' lots, and also a road to Peters- 
ham. On May 13, 1752, the proprietors chose a 
committee of three persons to lay out roads through 
the township. In 175.3 this committee was directed 
not to lay out the new roads until " the settlers have 
pitched on their house-spots." In 1754 the commit- 
tee reported a road from the Common reaching half- 
way to Baldwinville, which was extended further in 
1759, and in 1701 made to reach quite across Otter 
River. 

The bridge over Otter River at Baldwinville seems 
to have been built by Noah Merritt in 1763. The 
bridge over the same river in the village of Otter 
River was probably built in 1778. The town records 
are abundantly sprinkled over with the reports of the 
laying out of roads. 

At the second town-meeting after the town was 
incorporated it was voted "to give for work on the 
highways three shillings a man per day till the last 
of August, and then to the last of September two 
8hilling^l, and that oxen have half as much, and a 
cart a quarter as much." This meeting granted forty 
pounds for mending highways, it being the first 
money granted by the town for any purpose what- 
ever. 

The building and repairing of roads was a severe 
tax on the inhabitants of these towns in the early 
times. The turnpike system afforded some moderate 
degree of relief. Companies were formed and incor- 
porated with the design of making better roads than 
towns could afford to make, and toll was demanded 
by the company from those who traveled on them. 
The Fifth Massachusetts Turnpike Corporation was 
incorporated by the Legislature in 1799. Its route 
extended from Greenfield and Northfield, in two dis- 
tinct lines, which united at Athol, thence through 
Templeton, South Gardner and Westminster to Leo- 
minster. 

In this town it ran through Brooks village, Temple- 
ton Centre and East Templeton. Tolls, at differing 
rates for ditferent vehit;les, were established, and 
gates were set up at convenient places for its collec- 
tion. Persons passing to or from public worship, 
and those on military duty, were exempt from paying 
toil. 

Templeton was situated at the intersection of three 
stage-lines, in the time before the advent of railroads. 
It was on a through line from Boston to Albany ; also 
stages running from Worcester to Keene and from 
Lowell to Springfield passed through here. So there 
were scenes of much activity as the stages arrived 
and departed. Exchanges of horses and providing 
for the wants of travelers made the taverns or hotels 
places of importance in those days. 

Railroads. — The construction and improvement 
of the common roads received the early and constant 
attention of the settlers in these towns, and, relative 
to the meaus of the people, large expenditures were al- 



ways made upon them. The people of this town have 
been forward and earnest in providing more extended 
and rapid means of communication. When the 
project was started for a canal from Boston to simie 
point on the Hudson River, this town, in 1825, chose 
a committee to confer with the canal commissioner.*, 
and urge its being built through this section of the 
State, but it was soon seen that railroads were more 
desirable than canals. In 1835 this town favored a 
railroad through its limits, connecting Worcester and 
Keene. This town early became interested in the 
Vermont and Massachusetts Railroad, and, in 1844, 
chose a committee to favor its location here, and 
when, after the charter was obtained, an effort was 
made to divert the road from this town and build it 
through Wincbendon, the plan met with the most 
determined opposition. The town appropriated 
money and chose a committee to resist the change. 
This committee acted with great vigor and earnest- 
ness ; it was composed of earnest men : Col. Artemas 
Lee, Captain Joseph Davis, Joseph Mason, Esq., 
Oilman Day, Esq., and Col. Leonard Stone. They 
had surveys made, they employed counsel to defend 
the case ; there were trials before the county commis- 
sioners, and hearings before the legislative commit- 
tees. In 1845 the county commissioners gave a 
decision against the change of location. The railroad 
company again petitioned the Legislature for a change 
of location, the town again opposed it; the road was 
finally built here, and the first passenger-cars passed 
through this town in 1847. Some years after, the 
company renewed its efforts for a change in location, 
and again they failed to accomplish their purpose. 

Not long after this road was built the project was 
formed of a railroad running across the State, to 
connect with the Boston and Albany. The valleys 
extended themselves in such directions as to promise 
easy grades. The Ware River Railroad was chartered 
in 1870. This town, in its corporate capacity, sub- 
scribed for two hundred and fifty shares of stock ; it 
invested $25,000 in bonds. The road was graded; 
the construction company failed, and the stock 
became worthless. The town sold the bonds for one- 
half their cost, $12,500. The town lost its money, 
but gained further facilities for communication. A 
passenger-train first passed through on this road 
October 30, 1873. 



CHAPTER XXI. 

r'BMPh'ETON—(Coiiiiiiucd.) 

Pttsl-Ogices — The Common — Cemeteries — Societies — Warning Out — Thti 
Great Load of Wood — Chaises — Bottiities on Wild Aniinttls. 

At the present time Templeton has four post- 
offices, at each of which mails arrive and depart two 
or more times daily. We are only two and one- half 



I 



TEMPLETON. 



141 



hours from Boston and seven hours from New York 
City. One hundred )'ears ago the mail facilities 
were very meagre, not only for the country lowns> 
but even for the largest cities in the colonies. At 
about the time of the American Kevnlution mails 
were despatched between Boston and New York 
three times in a week during the summer, and two 
times a week during the winter, taking from six to 
nine days in the passage from one city to the other. 
The bulk and weight of the mails did not exceed the 
capacity of a pair of saddle-bags. The mail between 
New York and Philadelphia was carried five times a 
week, usually by boys on horseback. Benjamin 
Franklin had been Postmaster-General for the colonies 
from 1753 to 1774, and had greatly increased the 
efficiency of the mail service. But Massachusetts 
had, at her own charge, established a postal system 
with fourteen post-offices within her own boundaries. 

The mail routes which were established radiated 
from Cambridge, running north to Haverhill and 
Georgetown, in Maine; south to Providence and 
Falmouth; westerly to Great Barrington, through 
Worcester and Springfield. From Worcester mails 
were carried to Woodstock, Vt., and, very likely, 
this route passed through this town. 

Soon after the government went into operation, in 
1789, a general postal system was established for all 
the colonies. The rates established at the organiza- 
tion of the department, and continued until 1810, 
were : For a letter composed of a single piece of 
paper, under 40 miles, 8 cents ; under 90 miles, 10 
cents; under 150 miles, 12i cents; under 300 miles, 
17 cents ; under 500 miles, 20 cents ; over 500 miles, 
25 cents. 

The rates of postage have several times been re- 
duced since 1816. 

In the first years of this century probably the 
town of Templeton did net receive a mail oftener 
than two or three times a week. The records of the 
United States Post-Office Department, at Washing- 
ton, do not show when a postmaster was first ap- 
pointed for this town. The earliest records, how- 
ever, show that Thomas Wilder was the postmaster 
on July 1, 1802. The following list contains the 
names of all the postmasters, and the date of their 
appointment, from 1802 to the present time: Lovell 
Walker, appointed October 1, 1803 ; Caleb Leland, 
appointed July 1, 1809; Lipha French, appointed 
September 28, 1810 ; Artemas Lee, appointed Sep- 
tember 28, 1829; John Boynton, appointed October 
14, 1843; George H. Jones, appointed April 20, 1848 ; 
Dexter Gilbert, appointed January 27, 1849 ; Addi- 
son J. Lincoln, appointed July 14, 1849; De.xter 
Gilbert, appointed May 3, 1853 ; Henry Smith, ap- 
pointed March 19, 1861 ; Artemas Lee, appointed 
November 6, 1863; Henry Smith, appointed March 
24, 1865; Julius A. Jones, appointed March 20, 
1867 ; Percival Blodgett, appointed March 22, 1869 ; 
Delia Damon, appointed July 13, 1885. 



The post-office at Templeton Centre was the only 
one within the limits of the town until the year 1830, 
when a post-office was established at Baldwinville, 
and that village has since then been known by that 
name. The names of the postmasters, with the date 
of their appointment, follows: Joseph Davis, ap- 
pointed in 1830; James H. Clapp, appointed Au- 
gust 5, 1853; Edwin Sawyer, appointed June 24, 
1861; Otis D. Sawin, appointed December 9, 1870; 
Ezra A. Lamb, appointed June 16, 1874; George E. 
Bryant, appointed August 27, 1885. 

The post-office was established at Otter Kiver 
Village in 1860, and the following persons have 
served as postmasters: Samuel M. Osgood, appointed 
1860; Francis Leland, appointed 1867; Frederick 
Warner, appointed 1885. 

The post-office at East Templeton was established 
in 1866, with Fitch L. Sargeant as postmaster, in 
which oflSce he still continues to serve. 

The Common. — Templeton was one of those for- 
tunate towns whose early inhabitants exercised a wise 
foresight in providing ample grounds for public use. 
The beauty of many New England villages is very 
much enhanced by such thoughtful foresight on the 
part of some persons. In this town a piece of ground 
was set apart for " Publick use" some years before the 
incorporation of the town. In 1754 the proprietors 
chose committees "to pitch upon burying places," 
and one site was selected near the meeting-hou?e, the 
other in the west part of the town. On March 21, 
1759, Charles Baker presented to the proprietors the 
plan of a piece of ground which he had surveyed for 
a Common and a burying-ground, containing eight 
acres and seventy rods. This survey was accepted 
by the proprietors on that date and the land devoted 
to the public use. The old meeting-house then stood 
on the southwesterly part of this Common. 

At a meeting of the proprietors held at the meeting- 
house on j\[ay 3, 1786, they granted and appropriated 
the burying-place and Common to the use of the 
town forever. The plan of the two pieces of ground 
is contained in the" Proprietors' Records,'' Book II., 
Page 81, and embraces somewhat less than the area 
laid out in 1759 — six acres and one hundred and 
nineteen rods. This Common extended on the north 
only to a line running irregularly across from the 
present residence of Dr. Tobien to the brick house 
owned by Charles W. Stone. At the southwest 
corner it included an area which has since been 
sold by the town to individuals for the sites of the 
two houses nearest the present Common. In 1791 
the town purchased of Isaac Jones, for ten pounds 
and ten shillings, a triangular-shaped piece of ground 
lying between the house of Miss Twichell and the 
hotel, " to enlarge and extend the Common.'' In 1814 
the town purchased of Joshua W. Whitcomb a long 
strij) of ground containing about one acre, lying on 
the westerly side of the highway and extending from 
the Common to a point near the residence of J. Pres- 



142 



HISTORY OP WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



cott Cutting. In 1816 another similar pteje of 
ground, lying on the easterly side of the road and 
extending from the Common to the corner of the 
roads near the residence of Colonel George P. Hawkes, 
was purchased of James F. Robbins and wife, for the 
sum of three hundred dollars. That made up the 
area of the Common to its present limits. At a 
somewhat recent date the Common was adorned with 
trees by the generosity of Colonel Artemas Lee. In 
the olden time the Common was much used for 
military trainings and musters. It furnishes an 
excellent play-ground for the school-children in 
modern times. 

Cemeteries. — The first ground set apart for a 
burying-place in this town was that adjoining the 
Common. The proprietors passed a vote devoting 
this lot to that purpose in 1754, caused it to be sur- 
veyed by Charles Baker in 1759, and granted it the 
town by a vote passed May 3. 1786. Very few burials 
have been made here since the laying out of the new 
cemetery. There is a burial-place at the " Baptist 
Common," lying close to the former site of the 
Baptist Church. No burials are now made here. In 
1850 the cown j)urchased ground for two new burial- 
places — the one at Baldwinville, the other in the 
valley lying westerly of the village at the Centre. 
The improvement and adornment of these places is 
going on from year to year, partly by individual effort 
and expenditure, and partly by appropriations made 
by the town. Cemeteries are no longer the dreary, 
neglected places which they once were. The town has 
made special provision for the safe keeping of money 
bestowed by individuals for the future care of their lots. 

Societies. —There was formerly a lodge of Free 
and Accepted Masons in this town. It was dissolved 
in 1843, and iis funds were given in trust to the town. 
This constitutes what is known as the Masonic Fund, 
the income of which is distributed, charitably, by 
trustees chosen annually by the town. A large 
number of persons were connected with the Know- 
Nothing Lodge in 1854. A post of the Grand Army 
of the Republic, Ericsson Post, No. 109, was organ- 
ized in 1869, and holds its meetings at its hall in 
East Templeton. A lodge of Knights of Honor was 
formed in 1879. It has a place of meeting at its 
hall in the Centre Village. The same hall is also the 
place of meeting for Templeton Grange, No. 122, 
Patrons of Husbandry. This grange was organized in 
1885. There have formerly been organizations of Good 
Templars in one or another of the villages of the 
town; one has been recently formed in Baldwin- 
ville. There are several organizations for literary 
and intellectual improvement, combined with more 
or less of entertainment and social enjoyment. 
These are more especially intended for young per- 
sons and are mostly conducted under the auspices 
of some one of the religious societies, as the Young 
People's Union in connection with the Unitarian 
Society ; the Willing Workers in connection with 



the Trinitarian, both of the Centre. At Baldwin- 
ville there is the Social Temple in connection with 
the Baptist Society, and the Memorial Union in 
connection with the Memorial Society. There is also 
at East Templeton an association for literary im- 
provement known by the name of the Round Table. 

Warning Out. — A statute of the province existed 
before the American Revolution which provided that 
if persons were legally warned to depart from a town, 
they could not at once gain a legal residence there, and 
so the town would not be chargeable for their support 
in case they came to want. So the selectmen and con- 
stables were diligent in serving this notice upon new- 
comers, "warning out'' all persons soon after their ar- 
rival. It was not a warm reception, but it was deemed 
a wise precautionary measure. When any inhabitants 
of the town received any persons from another town to 
dwell in their families, they immediately sent a writ- 
ten notice to the selectmen, informing them of the Aict, 
and stating the age and circumstances of the persons 
and the town in which they last dwelt. The select- 
men issued a warrant to the constable requiring him, 
■'in his majesty's name," to warn these people to de- 
part from the town forthwith. The early records of 
the town abound in copies of these documents. 

The Great Load of Wood. — The history of the 
town would not be complete without some mention 
of the "great load of wood." It was no uncommon 
thing for the minister of the olden time to receive 
gifts of firewood from his parishioners. In the month 
of January, 1822, Colonel Leonard Stone, who lived 
in the northerly part of the town and had a saw-mill 
on Otter River, was drawing a load of hard wood to the 
parsonage for his minister, Dr. Wellington. As the 
load passed across the Common, Colonel Ephraim 
Stone saluted his brother with the question, " Why 
don't you take your minister a load of wood while 
you're about it?" Colonel Leonard replies, "I've 
been sawing out lumber down't the mill, and there's 
any quantity of slabs. I will give the minister as big 
a load as you can draw." Colonel Ephraim stirred 
up the people to make a full acceptance of the offer. 
A sled was improvised with runners thirty or more 
feet long and placed eight feet apart, with a tongue 
for the attachment of oxen in front of each runner. 
The sled was taken to the mill. The slabs were 
eagerly piled on. Eighty pairs of oxen were attached 
and the load was easily drawn around through Bald- 
winville, up well upon the more level ground. Then 
with common sleds they brought and piled on more 
slabs until there were no more slabs at the mill. 
Night came on, but the morning brought the oxen 
and men to the load once more, and soon it was brought 
to the minister's door. It was a more huge wooden 
structure than that which came to ancient Troy, but 
yet, in this case, with no menace to the safety of the 
town. Many people came to see the immense load, as 
it remained for some days upon the sled in the minis- 
ter's door-yard. 



TEMPLETON. 



143 



It is probably known to all that our ancestors were 
wholly ignorant of the luxury of a modern carriage 
with its cushioned seats and easy springs. It is not 
much more than half a century back to the time of 
riding on horseback. There came a time when a man 
of means might have a chaise. And the possession of 
one set a mark of distinction upon its owner. It was 
esteemed so much of a luxury that the United States 
imposed a special tax upon them. I subjoin a certi- 
ficate from the tax collector. 

This is to certify tliat A B , of the town of Templeton, iu the 

6th Coltectiou District of Massachusetts, has paid the duty of two dollars 
for the year, to end on the 31st day of December, for and upon a two- 
wheel carriage, for the conveyance of persons, hung on wooden springs, 
and called a chaise. This Certificate to be of noavail no longerthan the 

aforesaid carriage shall be used by the said A B , unless said 

certificate shall be produced to the Collector by whom it was granted 
and an entry made thereon, specifying the name of the then owner of 
said carriage and of the time when he became possessed thereof. Given in 
conformity with an Act of the Congress of the United States the 24th of 
July, 1814. Worcester, Jan. 21, 1814. 

Wm. EUSTIS, 
Collector of Bevenue, 6lh Collection District of Mats. 

Bounties on Wild Animals. — In the earlier 
times the town sometimes offered a bounty for kill- 
ing destructive animals. A bounty of thirty-four 
cents for each old crow and seventeen cents for a 
young one was offered in 1797 and on several other 
years, the last of which was in 1834. A bounty of 
twenty-five cents for old hen-hawks and twelve and a 
half cents for young ones was offered in 1801 and 
1802. In 1783 and the three following years the 
town ottered a bounty of forty shillings for each full- 
grown wolf's head, and it is known that at least one 
person actually received such a bounty. There is 
found no record of any bounty for bears, although it 
is believed that they existed here in the early times. 



CHAPTER XXII. 

T'EWPlM'tO'ii— [Continued.) 

EDUCATIONAL AFFAIRS. 

Schools — Private Schools — Public High Schools— Teachers — Graduates — 
Libraries — Boijiitmi Public Library. 

The first settlers of a town whose farms are not 
fully cleared and dwellings not completed are not in 
a condition to give much thought to schools. There 
were uo schools supported by grants of public money 
until after the incorporation of the town. There was 
a grant of a small sum for schools, by the town, for 
the first time, in the year 1763. Two " squadrons" 
for schools were formed in 1764, one in the easterly, 
the other in the westerly part of the town. In 1769 
it was voted that each "squadron" should receive the 
same proportion of money for schooling that they had 
paid in taxes. In 1776 the school money was divided 
according to the number of children in each division 
between four and sixteen years of age. In 1779 it 



was changed so as to divide according to the number 
between four and twenty-oae years of age. In 1885 
the method was adopted of dividing one-half of the 
school money equally among the districts and the 
other half in proportion to the number of children 
therein. The town voted in 1805 to use the word 
" district " to designate the school divisions. Pre- 
viously, the word " class " had been used, and earlier, 
the word " squadron." By a law enacted by the 
Legislature in 1789, towns were permitted to divide 
their territory into school districts. The districts 
were made corporations in fact in 1799, but not in 
name until 1817; and not until 1827 were the dis- 
tricts authorized to choose prudential committees. 
That was previously done in town-meeting. The dis- 
trict system prevailed in this town until 1869, when it 
was given up in accordance with a law of the State, 
and the town system was substituted. In 1787 the 
town apportioned its territory into seven " classes " 
or districts, for school purposes. District No. 8, 
Baldwinville, was formed from No. 6, in 1831. Dis- 
trict No. 3 was divided in 1834, making District No. 
9 at East Templeton. These nine districts formed 
the divisions for school purposes until the district 
system was given up. From 1815 to 1822 District 
No. 1 formed two districts, with two school houses, 
the one standing on the site of the present one, the 
other standing near the present residence of Mr. P. 
M. Mirick. Afterwards, for a time, the two houses 
stood side by side on the present location. Both were 
moved away to make room for the present structure, 
and each is now made into a dwelling-house of the 
village. 

In the early times the town did not build or own 
the school-houses. In some districts they were built 
by the voluntary contributions of the people. In 
some cases the schools were kept in private houses. 
There is no indication that the town appropriated any 
money for school-houses until 1787. A committee 
was chosen in that year to appraise the value of the 
school-houses then existing, and to purchase them of 
their owners. The appraised value of all was fifty-one 
pounds, or about one hundred and seventy dollars. 
The town then granted the sum of four hundred 
dollars for building and repairing the school-houses 
throughout the town, and a committee was chosen to 
determine their location. It was voted by the town 
in 1801 to allow each district which might build a 
school-house one hundred dollars, the town to own 
the house and keep it iu repair. From 1814 to 1869 
the school-houses were owned and kept in repair by 
the several school districts, each district raising money 
by taxation for the building and repairing of its own 
house. In 1869 the town again became the owner of 
all the school-houses, the appraised value of which 
was $11,846.88; and the school districts were num- 
bered with the things of the past. A school-house 
for the north jjart of the town, and standing between 
the two villages, was built in 1801. A school-house 



144 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



was built in Baldwinville by the district in 1850, and 
another one by the town in 1883. The Otter River 
School-house was built by the district in 1860, with an 
addition made by the town in 1877. A public hall 
was also secured over the school-room by contributions 
from the people of the neighborhood. The older 
school-house in East Templetou was built by the dis- 
trict about 1834; the newer one by the town in 1874. 
The town hall and school-house, in one building at 
the Centre, were built by the combined action of the 
town and district, in 1844. 

Until the year 1826 the superintendence of the 
schools, in a legal point of view, seems to have been 
vested in the selectmen ; but practically, the work was 
done chiefly by the minister. At the special request 
of Dr. Wellington, the town, in 1811, chose a com- 
mittee to assist him in examining school-teachers. A 
committee consisting of one person for each district 
was chosen, in 1815, to assist in examining thes-chools, 
and to recommend " certain useful classical books." 
Similar committees were afterwards chosen at different 
times. But still the chief pari, of the work devolved 
upon the minister. In 1826 towns were required by 
law to choose three, five or seven School Committee- 
men ; and ever since that time the superintendence of 
schools has bylaw devolved upon that body. In 1857 
the number of School Committee was fixed at three, 
or some multiple of three, and the term of office ex- 
tended from one year to three years, one-third of the 
number being chosen each year. In this town there 
have been several persons who have served the town 
for a long period in the care of the schools. Rev. 
Charles Wellington, D.D., partly by virtue of his 
duties as minister, and partly by special election of 
the town, gave fully thirty years of service. Rev. 
Lewis Sabin, D.D., was elected for thirty-two con- 
secutive years. Rev. Edwin G. Adams had twenty- 
two years of service, and Rev. Gerard Bushnell six- 
teen yeais. Dr. J. W. D. Osgood served ten years ; 
Captain Samuel Lee, eight years ; Colonel Leonard 
Stone, Joseph Mason, Esq., and Gilman Day, Esq., 
each served six years, and Charles Church, five years. 
In times nearer the present, E. C. Farnsworth, Esq., 
has served five years, V. P. Parkhurst, Esq., seven 
years, and Francis Leland nine years. Of the present 
Board of School Committee, Mr. Ingalls has com- 
pleted five years of service, Mr. Hosmer six years, and 
Mr. Blodgett nineteen years. Several other persons 
have served on the School Committee from time to 
time, for short periods of less than five years each. 

The appropriations for schools were of necessity 
small in the first years of the existence of the town. 
There has been a somewhat steady increase in the 
amount from the earlier to the later periods. The 
first sum granted for schools was in 1763. A sum a 
little more than the equivalent of thirty dollars was 
granted in 1704. The amount of the grant had been 
increased to three hundred dollars at the end of the 
century and to one thousand dollars in 1841. It 



reached two thousand dollars in 1856, three thousand 
dollars in 1866, and for the last six years the sum has 
been four thousand and seven hundred dollars. It 
should be borne in mind that in the earlier times the 
school money was supplemented by gratuitous sup- 
plies of fuel and sometimes by the teachers boarding 
successively with different families in the district. In 
the original division of lands in the township one lot 
was reserved for schools. This school lot, which was 
No. 86, lying in the southerly part of the town and 
containing Cook's Pond, was sold at auction, by vote 
of the town, in 1709, for about one hundred and 
eighty-seven dollars. This, with some money to be 
obtained from the sale of " pew-ground " in the meet- 
ing-house, was to be kept as a school fund ; but the 
money seems to have been used for other purposes. 
The town also received $3,337.74 as its share of the 
surplus revenue distributed by the United States in 
1837, and it was voted to keep it as a fund, the income 
of which was to be applied to the support of schools. 
For some three years the income was so used, but the 
town had pressing need of money and even the prin- 
cipal of the fund was applied to other uses. 

Private Schools. — Some public-spirited citizens 
of this town, impressed with the feeling that there 
was need of more ample provisions for higher educa- 
tion, formed an association and established a private 
high school in Templeton. The school met a public 
want and was largely attended. Many persons still 
live in the town who retain pleasant recollections of 
their connection with this school. The school was so 
fortunate as to begin its course under the instruction 
of an earnest, enthusiastic teacher, who had great 
skill in arousing the attention and compelling the 
pupil to think — theimponantaim of all true teaching. 
Jacob Bachelder was principal of the school from the 
time of his graduation from Dartmouth College, in 
1830, to the year 1835. He was afterward principal 
of the Lynn and the Salem High Schools. He was for 
some years librarian of the Lynn Public Library. 
He was a man of unusual vigor of intellect and per- 
fect integrity. 

Mr. Martin Snow Newton and Mr. Daniel B. Park- 
hurst were successively principals of the school for a 
brief time. Mr. Sylvester Judd was the last principal 
of the school, coming here in 1836. He was afterward, 
for thirteen years, a Unitarian minister in Augusta, 
Maine, and the author of a well-known story of New 
England life, entitled "Margaret." The school was 
suspended in 1837. 

In the twenty years next following there was no 
High School continuously kept ; but some enterpris- 
ing teacher, on his own responsibility, would keep a 
private High School for one or two terms in the town 
hall, or the school-room next the Common. Such a 
school was kept at one time by William Barrows, and 
at another time by William H. Earle. 

Public High Scuools. — The Templeton High 
School was the first public High School in this town. 



TEMPLETON. 



145 



and was established in ISoO. Tlie first term was kept 
in the autumn of that year in the grammar school- 
room, at the Centre Village, with fifty-one pupils. 
The present principal of the school, H. F. Lane, 
began his long period of service with that first term, 
and has been the principal of the school, with the 
exception of one term, to the present time. The 
second term of the High School was kept at Baldwin- 
ville, in the spring of 1857, under the instruction of 
Mr. L. W. Russell, who has been for many years past 
the principal of a grammar school in Providence, R. 
I. An assistant teacher has been employed in terms 
when the attendance was largest, and thirteen young 
ladies have served in that capacity from one to three 
terms each ; another, in these latest years, has ren- 
dered such assistance during twenty-one terms. 

Until 1866 there were only two terms of the school 
each year; from that time to 1873 there were three 
terms each year; afterward there were four terras 
yearly. These terms were kept alternately in the 
difl'erent villages of the town. 

It hag been the aim of the High School, during all 
the years of its existence, to have its studies and train- 
ing so arranged and administered as to promote activity 
of mind, self-control, self-direction, and a conscien- 
tious regard for duty. The persona who have been 
members of this school are scattered widely over the 
country. The country towns perform a service of great 
value to the community in preparing persons for 
lives of intelligent activity in the larger towns and 
cities to which they soon depart. About one thou- 
sand persons have received instruction in the Tem- 
plelon High School. 

In 1886 a High School was established at Baldwin- 
ville for the greater convenience of those living in the 
northerly part of the town. Mr. E. B. Vining has 
been the only principal of that school. 

Teachers and Graduates. — Some of our teach- 
ers have had long periods ofservioe in our schools. Mrs. 
Lucy Richardson spent nearly her whole active life 
in teaching, earlier iu the public schools, and later in 
a private school which she had established at her own 
home near the Common. Miss Maria Cutting has 
completed thirty-nine years of service as teacher in 
the public schools of this town. 

Miss Margaret Leland has had many years of expe- 
rience in the public schools in different parts of the 
town. Miss Henrietta Sawyer, whose earlier years of 
service were in the schools of her native town, is a 
veteran teacher in Washington University, at St. 
Louis. The present teacher of the Tem])leton High 
vSchool h.is just completed his thirty-second year of 
service in that school. Many other teachers have had 
quite long periods of service, and it would be a suit- 
able tribute if their names could be included in this 
enumeration. 

Many of the youth of this town, having sipped at 
the fountains of knowledge opened for them here, 
have taken deeper draughts elsewhere. In the later 
10 



years a score of young ladies have comp'ieted courses 
of study at our normal schools. Several have 
availed themselves of the advantages offered by the 
Mount Holyoke Female Seminary. 

The Worcester Polytechnic Institute was founded 
by a citizen of this town. George I. Alden, who waa 
a graduate of the Lawrence Scientific School, has 
been a professor in this institution from its founda- 
tion in 1868. Charles Parkhurst, Samuel S. Jennison, 
Fred. L. Dudley, Charles H. Wright, William H. 
Kirschner and Fred. S. Hunting have pursued courses 
of study in this institution. George S. Stone is a 
graduate of the State Agricultural College at Am- 
herst. George S. Gates received instruction at the 
United States Naval Academy, at Annapolis, Md., 
and entered the navy. Charles Wellington Stone 
graduated from Harvard College in 1874. He has a 
private school for boys in the city of Boston, and also 
conducts a summer school at his Templeton residence. 
Edward W. Chase is a graduate of Amherst College. 
He has been principal of High Schools in Ohio, and 
at present is teaching near Chicago. George I. Jones 
graduated from Harvard College in 1871, and has been 
engaged in the book publishing business in St. Louis 
and at present is employed in Chicago. George M. 
Bartlett is a graduate of Washington University, 
St. Louis, and is now secretary and treasurer of that 
institution. Lucas Lee Baker is a graduate of Har- 
vard College of the class of 1883. He has ever since 
been engaged in teaching, and is at present principal 
of the High School in HoUiston, Mass. His brother, 
B^'ron E. Baker, entered college in the same class, but 
died before the completion of his course. 

Journalism has not often been chosen as a life-work 
by our young men. But Edmund Hudson has gone 
from the quiet life of his native village to mingle in 
the stirring scenes of the national capital, and make 
a daily record of the doings of law-makers and Presi- 
dents. In those days of stirring excitement, preced- 
ing the first election of Lincoln, he was just entering 
upon his studies in the High School. Too eager to 
begin life's work to wait for an over-long course of 
study, with much energy he set about learning the 
stenographer's art. He was for a time a reporter of 
news for different Boston papers. For several years 
he has led a very busy life as Washington corre- 
spondent of the Bos/on Herald, and editor and pub- 
lisher of the Army and Navy Register. He also pub- 
lished a weekly paper at Washington calkd The 
Capital. 

Most of these young men whose names have been 
enumerated as having obtained a higher education 
do not now count in the census lists for Templeton. 
The historian, however, rightly classes them among 
the products of the town, knowing, as he does, that 
these country towns are the perennial fountains 
whence come the supplies of physical energy and 
mental vigor for our cities. 

In the earlier part of the century there were several 



146 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



young men who were successful in obtaining a higher 
education. Oliver Baker was a graduate of Yale Col- 
lege, and engaged in teaching in some Southern State. 
His brother, Otis Baker, died before the completion 
of his course in the same college. Amos J. Cook was 
a graduate of Dartmouth College about the year 1801. 
He was an intimate college friend of Daniel Webster, 
and succeeded him as principal of the academy in 
Fryeburg, Maine, in which position he remained for 
more than thirty years. Charles Goodnow was a 
graduate of Amherst College, and was for a time 
principal of a school in Concord, Mass., and after- 
wards a lawyer there. Christopher C. Baldwin was 
the son of Capt. Eden Baldwin. He pursued his 
studies at Leicester Academy and Harvard College, 
and then studied law as his profession. He practiced 
law in Worcester, Sutton and Barre. But his mind 
was more satisfied with scientific and antiquarian re- 
search than with legal contests, and he gave much 
time to such investigations. In 1831 he was chosen 
librarian of Antiquarian Library at Worcester. Noth- 
ing could have been better suited to his tastes, and he 
was admirably fitted to perform the duties devolving 
upon him. In 1835, when on a journey for antiqua- 
rian research in the State of Ohio, he lost his life by 
the overturning of the stage on which he was travel- 
ing. He was only thirty-five years of age. His 
friend, William Lincoln, of Worcester, son of Gov. 
Levi Lincoln, delivered a very interesting public ad- 
dress, which was printed, commemorative of the life 
and work of Mr. Baldwin. Charles W. W. Welling- 
ton, son of Eev. Charles Wellington, graduated from 
Harvard College in 1846, and was a book-keeper in 
the city of Boston. He died in 1880. 

This town has not been wholly wanting in those 
who have been skilled in the use of the pencil and the 
brush ; artists have found at least a temporary abode 
among these bills. Lucas Baker had a natural apti- 
tude for drawing and painting, and by careful and 
diligent cultivation has become highly skilled in the 
practice of those arts himself and in teaching them to 
others. He was for ten years instructor in drawing in 
the public schools of Boston. For the last few years 
he has been one of the instructors in the Art School 
of the Metropolitan Museum in New York City, but 
still keeps a home in Templeton. 

Miss Adelaide R. Sawyer was for some years a resi- 
dent of Baldwinville. She drew portraits in crayon. 
Afterwards she gave attention to the production of 
ideal designs in figure. Some of these productions 
became very popular and met with a large sale. "The 
Better Land," "Our Hope," "Our Joy," "The Empty 
Sleeve," " Myrtle Hazard," were titles of some of the 
most-widely known of these representations. For a 
time she was teacher of crayon drawing in the Boston 
Academy of Art. Sarah Goodridge had natural gifts 
and tendencies leading her to the work of an artist. 
She became noted as a painter of miniature portraits, 
had an office in Boston, and some of the most dis- 



tinguished people of New England were her patrons. 
Elizabeth Goodridge (Stone), sister of the preceding, 
was also skilled in the same kind of work. Their 
early home was at the house now occupied by Mr. 
Briggs, near the Ware River Railroad station. 

Libraries. — Successful efforts have been made at 
various times to furnish a supply of reading matter 
through the agency of libraries. Quite early in the 
history of the town a private library was established 
by the Templeton Union Library Association, the 
books of which were distributed among the share- 
holders half a century ago. In the early part of this 
century there was a private library known as the 
Social Library. The Ladies' Social Circle, an organ- 
ization connected with the First Parish, began to 
gather a library in the year 1835. This has gradually 
increased by yearly additions until it now numbers 
about twenty-four hundred volumes. Books are de- 
livered only on Sunday to annual shareholders, who 
pay a yearly fee of fifty cents. For many years this 
has been a prosperous library, and it still continues to 
be such. The books are kept in a room specially de- 
voted to that purpose in the chapel which adjoins the 
church edifice. A library society was organized in 
East Templeton in 1854, which has gathered a library 
numbering upwards of one thousand volumes. The 
several religious societies of the town have Sunday- 
school libraries containing books more especially 
adapted to the younger people. The books are 
generally carefully selected and diligently read. The 
State Board of Education, in accordance with an act 
of the Legislature of 1843, furnished each school dis- 
trict throughout the State with a school library. 
These contained many valuable books, but they soon 
ceased to be used, as there was no provision tor keep- 
ing up a lively interest by the addition of new books. 
A fund was given by Miss Abigail Locke for the 
establishment of a ministerial library for the use of 
the minister of the First Parish, and to be kept at the 
parsonage. This library already contains books of 
much value. The income of the fund permits annual 
additions to be made. 

In 1854, Dr. George C. Shattuck, of Boston, gave 
five shares in the Boston Athenseum to the town of 
Templeton, as a token of regard and affection for his 
native town. The terms of the gift as expressed by 
the donor are: " That the Selectmen of the town, for 
the time being, shall permit the use of the five shares, 
from year to year, by any five persons resident in 
said town, to be selected by them from the classes of 
clergymen, physicians, lawyers, and scientific farmers 
and mechanics; it being understood that the said 
shares themselves are to be forever inalienable." And 
further, Dr. Shattuck anticipated the annual assess- 
ment of five dollars a share, by paying a sufBcient 
sum in advance to provide for that, and thus securing 
to inhabitants of Templeton the perpetual privilege 
of taking out books, on the shares, from the extensive 
and valuable librarv of that institution. For so val- 



TEMPLETON. 



147 



uable and lasting a gift, tlie town passed a vote of 
thanks in acknowledgment of " their grateful appre- 
ciation of his munificence in conferring this franchise 
upon the town, which has the honor of numbering 
him among her most distinguished and useful sous." 
This proves to be a very valuable supplement to the 
other reading facilities enjoyed by the town. Rare 
and costly books can thus be consulted which it might 
not be easy to reach in other ways. 

The Boynton Public Library was first opened to the 
public in September, 1873. The fund for its sup|)ort 
was the gift of David Whitcomb, Esq., late of Wor- 
cester, but formerly engaged inactive business in this 
town. In 1868 he gave to the town of Templeton, in 
the name of John Boynton, who was his former part- 
ner in business here, the sum of four thousand dollars, 
to establish and maintain a Free Public Library, for 
the use of the inhabitants of the town, to be known 
and called the Boynton Library. In 1885, Mr. Whit- 
comb gave an additional sum of four thousand dol- 
lars for the same purpose. In the case of both sums, 
one-half of the annual income is to be applied to the 
increase of the principal, until each sum shall have 
reached the sum of five thousand dollars. The library 
fund will thus ultimately become ten thousand dol- 
lars. The income is to be wholly applied to the pur- 
chase of books and periodicals. By a provision in the 
deed of gift, the trustees of the library are the chair- 
man of the Board of Selectmen, the town clerk, the 
School Committee, and three other persons elected 
annually by the town. H. F. Lane has been the li- 
brarian from the opening of the library. For twelve 
years the library was kept in some upper rooms con- 
nected with Mr. Blodgett's store. In 1885 the town 
appropriated two thousand dollars for the erection of 
a library building, which was completed and occupied 
in September of that same year. The library now 
contains thirty-three hundred volumes, and is in- 
creased by yearly additions. More than twelve thou- 
sand issues of books are annually made to six or 
seven hundred persons, scattered over the whole town. 
The Templeton Historical Society, in an upper room 
of the library building, has begun to gather a collec- 
tion of books, papers and articles which would throw 
light upon the history of the town and community. 



CHAPTER XXIII. 

TEMPLETON— ( Continued.) 

ECCLESIASTICAL AFFAIRS. 

The First Church — The BaplM CJmrch—The TrinUariim Church— Tlia 
Vnifcrmli»t Church— The Methodist Churck—St. Mtirtin^a Church — 
memorial Church — MinislerB. 

It should be borne in mind that in the towns of 
New England, in early times, the affairs of town and 
church were united. The church was one of the in- 



stitutions of the town. The meeting-house was built 
and owned by the town. The minister was paid from 
the town treasury, the amount being voted annually 
in town-meeting. The meeting-house also was made 
to serve as a place for holding the jtown-meetings. 
The tithingmen were chosen at the annual town meet- 
ing with the other town officers. When there were 
about twenty families in this township they deter- 
mined to build a meeting-house which should be fifty 
feet long and forty feet wide. It was placed on what 
is now the Common, a little southeasterly of the pres- 
ent church edifice, and was the first house of worship 
in the township, which then included Phillipston as 
well as what is now Templeton. This edifice was 
used for about fifty years, until the year 1811, when 
the present church edifice was built. 

This first meeting-house was raised July 8, 1753, in 
the presence of a large number of people, some of 
whom had come from towns so far distant as Sterling. 
The frame of this house was of chestnut, and the trees 
of which it was made are said to have grown wholly 
on the spot of ground now known as the Common. 
At the time of building this house the region imme- 
diately about was a forest. The building of the 
meeting-house was performed by Mr. John Brooks, of 
Sterling. The timber was furnished by the proprie- 
tors, and also the glazing and pulpit. A few years 
later the town made an appropriation toward finishing 
it, and the whole cost of the structure to proprietors 
and town was about two hundred and twenty-five 
pounds — equivalent to seven hundred and fifty dollars. 

The first church in this town was organized Decem- 
ber 10, 1755, and on that day Rev. Daniel Pond was 
ordained as the first minister. He was a graduate of 
Harvard College of the class of 1745. Generous pro- 
vision was made by the proprietors and people for the 
ordination. People came in large numbers from the 
neighboring settlements to attend the exercises. The 
newly-erected meeting-house was completely filled. 
It was a day of festivity and enjoyment for the people 
and their visiting friends. But the ministry of Mr. 
Pond was of short duration. Difficulties arose be- 
tween him and the people. A council was called 
which, after two days' deliberation, recommended his 
dismission. In 1759 he removed to West Medway 
and engaged in teaching, receiving pupils at his house. 
Several persons preached as candidates, and among 
them the Rev. Ebenezer Sparhawk, who preached for 
the first time Not. 29, 1760. After preaching a year 
both minister and people were so well satisfied with 
each other that his ordination took place Nov. 18, 
1761. In 1764 he built and ever after lived in the 
house which in later years has been known as the 
" Wellington " house. He had a long and useful 
ministry of forty years, dying of apoplexy, November 
25, 1805. He is reputed to have been a person of 
superior mental ability and exact scholarship, cour- 
teous and dignified in his manners and warm in his 
friendships. His funeral sermon was preached by the 



148 



HISTOKY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



Rev. Dr. Payson, of Rindge. During Mr. Sparhawk's 
ministry about twenty members of the First Cburch 
withdrew to ibrm the Baptist Church. 

Rev. Charles Wellington was ordained February 
25, 1807. The old and first meeting-house was still 
in use, but efforts were now made to build a new one, 
and the work was entered upon in 1810. The new 
church edifice was dedicated September 18, 1811, Dr. 
Wellington preaching the sermon. And now for the 
first time a bell was obtained and placed in the belfry. 
Three new ones have been successively procured as 
tlie former ones became defective. The old meeting- 
house was tlien moved to the southwesterly corner of 
the Common, and for about thirty years was used as 
a town house and place for public meetings. In 
these early times the minister was expected to have 
some oversight of the schools, vi.siting them and 
examining teachers, and Dr. Wellington attended to 
these duties for many years, sometimes with the help 
of a committee chosen by the town for such purpose. 
The fiftieth anniversary of Dr. Wellington's settle- 
ment here was pleasantly and appropriately celebrated 
in 1857. He remained the minister of this church, 
respected and beloved by all, until his death, which 
occurred August 3, 1861. 

The health of Dr. Wellington was somewhat im- 
paired in bis later years, and Rev. Norwood Damon 
was settled as his colleague, February 21, 1844. He 
remained only until November 1, 1845. Rev. 
Edwin G. Adams was a man of marked ability, who 
possessed some unusual traits of cliaracter which 
rendered his life one of much usefulness to the 
community in which he lived. He was born in the 
town of Ashby, Mass., December 24, 1821, and died 
in Templeton, May 10,1877, after an illness of several 
months' duration. In boyhood he worked in his 
father's store and attended the schools and academy 
of his native town. In early life he formed the 
resolution to become a minister, and worked diligently 
to that end, graduating from the Divinity School, at 
Cambridge, in 184(5. The First Congregational 
Church ill Templeton invited him to become the 
colleague of Rev. Charles Wellington, and he was 
ordained January 13, 1847. On the death of the 
latter, in 1861, he became sole pastor, in which 
relation he remained to the day of his death. In 
1855 the honorary degree of Master of Arts was 
conferred upon him by Harvard College. 

In December, 1855, he pre.iched an historical dis- 
course, commemorative of the hundredth anniversary 
of the formation of the church. This was published 
with an appendix, forming a very valuable treasury 
of information concerning the earlier and later his- 
tory of the town. The twenty-fifth anniversary of 
his settlement was pleasantly observed in 1872. 

He was married, November 14, 1848, to Sarah L. 
Priest, of Jjittleton, and when, during his ministry, 
the people spoke or thought of their minister, they 
always felt that in some way Mrs. Adams was in- 



cluded in that designation. They labored together 
for the good of the society and the community, and 
the service of each rendered that of the other more 
effective. They were prudent advisers, wi^e counsel- 
ors, highly valued friends. Their presence in a 
household brought sunshine and dispelled darkness. 

As a mini.ster and pastor, Mr. Adams possessed the 
esteem and aflfection of the members of his own 
society to an unusual degree. He was not content 
with rendering merely the usual professional services 
of a minister; every force was utilized, nothing was 
done at random, or without a settled purpose. The 
art of making social intercourse an elevating in- 
fluence was understood by him. The sewing society 
and the social gathering were to be means for the 
improvement of cliaracter. His was a deeply reli- 
gious nature ; nothing less than a conscientious 
regard for duty, at all times, and in all positions, 
would satisfy him. He was glad always to find 
reasons for agreeing with other people and sects, 
rather than for disagreeing with them. 

For twenty-two years he served on the School 
Committee, and rendered valuable service to the 
schools and the cause of education by his unwearied 
and painstaking labor, combined with prudence, good 
judgment and a wise foresight. 

Mr. Adams had a natural aptitude for the mastery 
of legal and financial affairs, and came to have such 
a knowledge of their underlying principles and their 
application to practical affairs as to make his opinion 
and advice very valuable, even to those whose lives 
were spent in the management of such aff'airs. Few 
lawyers could excel him in unraveling a knotty legal 
question. To thread his way through these investi- 
gations was among his recreations. 

A keen discernment, a well-balanced judgment, 
great prudence, far-reaching foresight, combined with 
the most perfect conscientiousness and integrity, 
made a combination of qualities which rendered his 
life a highly useful one. 

His successor in the ministry was the Rev. Alfred 
C. Nickerson, whose pastorate was from 1878 to 1886. 
Rev. Nathaniel Seaver, Jr., was installed January 11, 
1887, and is the pastor at the present time. 

The Baptist Chukch. — The Baptist Church in 
this town was organized August 22, 1782, with twenty- 
one members, seventeen of whom — ten men and 
seven women — had withdrawn from the First Church 
for this purpose. These twenty-one persons met at a 
private dwelling, and, in the present e and by the ad- 
vice of the council which they had called, formed 
" The Baptist Church of Christ in Templeton." The 
council consisted of the pastor and six delegates 
from tlje church in Royal^ton and the pastor of the 
church in Harvard. This church has had seventeen 
settled pastors ; and there have been several intervals 
in which there was a stated supply. Rev. John Sellon, 
the first pastor, was ordained Nov. 19, 1783, and re- 
mained a year and a half. Rev. Joel Butler became 




^.^-..^^.J^. 



TEMPLETON. 



149 



pastor in 1787, and remained about four years. There 
was then a period of about ten years without any 
settled minister. Rev. Elislia Andrews became the 
pastor in 1800 and remained until 1813, when he was 
dismissed. 

He also liad a second pastorate, extending over the 
period from 1827 to 18.32, making eighteen years in 
all. Mr Andrews is spoken of as a man of strong in- 
dividuality and commanding natural powers, iis well 
as earnest religious zeal. The church enjoyed a time 
of comparative encouragement and strength. In the 
interval of Mr. Andrews' absence there seems to 
have been two pastors, whose terms of service, how- 
ever, filled only apsrtion of the period, — Rev. George 
Phippen and Rev. James Parsons. Next after the 
final dismission of Sir. Andrews in 1832, Rev. Win- 
throp Morse was installed as pastor, and remained about 
two years. Rev. Isaiah C. Carpenter was ordained as 
pastor in 1837, and resigned in 1843. Rev. John 
Woodbury became pastor in 1844, and resigned in 
1848, making four years of service. Rev. Sandford 
Leach was pastor from 1848 to 1851, followed soon in 
the same year by Rev. A. V. Dimock, who remained 
until 1857, nearly seven years, and the longest pas- 
torate but one in the history of this church. Rev. 
John F. Ashley was ordained pastor in 1858, and re- 
mained about two years. Rev. A. H. Ball was pastor 
for six months, beginning in 18G9. Rev. H. V. 
Dexter became pastor in 1871, and continued in that 
relation four years. Rev. Miles N. Reed became 
pastor in 1878, and Rev. N. B. Wilson in 1881. Rev. 
George Shepard is the present pastor. 

The centennial anniversary of the formation of this 
church was celebrated at Buldwinville, August 22, 
1882, with interesting and appropriate exercises. A 
sermon was preached by Rev. Heman Lincoln, D.D., 
of the Newton Theological Institution. Over five 
hundred people were in attendance, many coming 
from the neighboring towns and more distant places. 
Several former pastors ofthe church vrere present and 
took part in the exercises. 

During the early years of the existence of this 
church the only place of meeting for religious 
services was at private houses. The dwelling-houses 
of Samuel Byam and Silas Cutler were most often 
used for this purpose, being larger or more centrally 
located. About 179(5 there began to be a movement 
made to see about building a meeting-house, and one 
was finally erected and dedicated in the autumn of 
1799, the Rev. Dr. Baldwin, of Boston, preaching the 
dedication sermon. This house was located at the 
"Baptist Common," thus giving a name to this 
neighborhood. It stood at the southerly end of the 
small cemetery now seen there. Near to the meeting- 
house, on the easterly side of the Common, was a 
tavern and a store. In 1840 the meeting-house was 
taken down, and removed to a site presented by 
Capt. Eden Baldwin, just out of the village of 
Baldwinville, on the road to Otter River. Here 



the house was again erected, its length increased and 
a steeple added. It was re-dedicated February 3, 
1841. But the location between the two villages did 
not prove to be a permanently convenient one, and 
so once more it was removed, and placed on its 
present location. This time it was removed without 
being taken to pieces. A new and graceful spire 
was built, and the whole interior and exterior was 
refinished. It was dedicated for a third time in Sep- 
tember, 1869. A chapel, containing a kitchen and 
conveniences for social meetings, was added in 1879- 
80. A few years after the removal to the present 
location a clock was placed in the tower, by the 
voluntary contributions of the people ofthe village. 

The Trinitarian Church. — The Trinitarian 
Congregational Church was organized April 11, 1832, 
having at first twenty-four members. Its first pastor 
was Rev. Lemuel P. Bates, who was installed Janu- 
ary 16, 1833, and dismissed April 19, 1837. Then 
came the long and highly useful pastorate of Rev. 
Lewis Sabin, D.D., who was installed September 21, 
1837, and resigned September 24, 1872. Rev. 
Charles A. White was pastor from June, 1873, to 
June, 1876; Rev. C. M. Temple, November, 1876, to 
June, 1878 ; Rev. R. W. Haskins, December, 1878, 
to June, 1879 ; Rev. F. H. Kasson, October, 1879, to 
June, 1880 ; Rev. George Sterling, June, 1880, lo 
June, 1881 ; Rev. Thomas O. Rice, December, 1881, 
to June, 1885; Rev. Roswell C. Foster, from 1885 to 
the present time. 

Rev. Lewis Sabin, D.D., had a long pastorate over 
this church, and his other services are closely inter- 
woven with the history of the town. He graduated 
from Amherst College with the highest honors of 
his class, in 1831 ; was installed over this church in 
1837 ; received the honorary degree of Doctor of Di- 
vinity in 1857 ; was elected one of the trustees of 
Amherst College in 1862, and resigned his ministry 
in 1872. He died June 8, 1873. 

Dr. Sabin was not only a faithful minister, but 
also a public-spirited and highly-esteemed citizen, 
interested and earnest in all measures th.at were 
deemed conducive to the public welfare. He was 
active in the temperance cause and earnest in the anti- 
slavery movement. For thirty-two years he served 
the town as a member of the School Committee, a 
longer service than that rendered by any other per- 
son. Here he rendered an intelligent, painstaking 
and conscientious service, highly beneficial to the 
schools. 

The Universalists. — A Universalist Society was 
organized in 1842. Its first meetings were held in the 
old Town House, and afterwards the meetings were 
held in the present Town Hall. No meeting-house 
was ever erected. Services were held on alternate 
Sundays, or at other stated intervals. Rev. Gerard 
Bushnell was the only pastor of this society. 

The Methodists. — The Methodist Episcopal 
Church of this town dates from 1843, although a 



150 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



" class " had been maintained for about three years 
previously, and inchided in the charge of the 
preachers at Hiibbardston. In 1843 a church of 
twenty-four members was formed. A meeting-house 
was erected in 1844, in the southerly part of the vil- 
lage at Templeton Centre, on what is now a vacant 
lot near the " Hudson " house. The ministers here 
were Rev. Willard Smith, 1843; Rev. Joseph T. 
Pettee, 1844; Rev. Simon Putnam, 1845, 1846; Rev. 
T. G. Brown, 1847. Rev. C. Perry supplied in 1849. 
Preaching in this meeting-house was discontinued in 
1848, and the building was sold. The members of the 
society attended services at Hubbardston mostly from 
1830 to 1859. A church edifice was erected in 1860 
at East Templeton, in which the services of this soci- 
ety have since been constantly helc}, under the fol- 
lowing succession of ministers: Rev. C. H. Harding, 
1860; Rev. N. H. Martin, 1861; Rev. H. Satchwell, 
1862, 1863; Rev. C. F. Newell, 1864, 1865; Revs. A. 
F. Mowry and A. B. Waters, 1866; Rev. W. B. 
BLickmer, 1868; Rev. D. K. Banister, 1869, 1870; 
Rev. J. M. Avann, 1871, 1872; Rev. J. W. Fenn, 
1873, 1874; Rev. R. W. Harlow, 1875, 1876; Rev. F. 
M. Miller, 1877, 1878; Rev. W. H. Marble, 1879, 
1880, 1881 ; Rev. E. Higgins, 1882, 1883 ; Rev. L. 
White, 1884, 1885, 1886; Rev. D. Atkins, 1887, 1888. 
St. Martin's. — Saint Martin's Church is of the 
Roman Catholic faith and has its place of worship at 
the village of Otter River. The church edifice was 
erected in 1853 and consecrated in 1854. The priest 
who officiates at this church also has charge of one or 
more parishes elsewhere. 

The Memorial Church. — The Goodell Memorial 
Church was organized at Baldwinville in 1874. Ser- 
vices were held in Union Hall for about nine years 
In 1882 the work of erecting a church edifice was 
entered upon. This was dedicated June 28, 1883. 
The ministers of this church have been Rev. L. Pay- 
son Broad, Rev. C. M. Temple, Rev. R. S. Haskins, 
Rev. J. F. Crumrin, Rev. M. A. Duherty and Rev. 
Roswell C. Foster. 

Ministers. — The ministers of the churches in 
Templeton have none of them been natives of the 
town; but this town has furnished some ministers for 
other regions. Quite far in the southeast part of the 
town is the "Turner'' farm, now owned by Mr. 
Lucien Gove. This was the birthplace and early 
home of Rev. Jonathan B. Turner, for years a pro- 
fesssor in the college at Jacksonville, HI., and Rev. 
Asa Turner, both of whom were men of vigorous 
thought and earnest lives. The " Barrows '' place is 
now the residence of Leonard M. Baker. This was 
the birthplace of Rev. William Barrows, of Reading, 
Mass., and Rev. Lewis Barrows. Rev. Emmons 
Partridge and Rev. Lyman Maynard were natives of 
this town and relatives of pers'ins still living here. 
And at least one life-long missionary, Mr. Goodell, of 
almost world-wide fame, received his first inspiration 
from these hills and vales. 



Rev. William Goodell, D.D., was born in this town 
February 14, 1792 and died in Philadelphia February 
18, 1867. His studies were pursued at Phillips 
Academy, Andover, Dartmouth College and Andover 
Theological Seminary. The greater part of his life 
was spent as a missionary in the Turkish Empire, 
and an interesting volume has been published giving 
an account of his labors. He was of feeble bodily 
constitution, yet he was full of cheerfulness and even 
mirthfulness, which even his stern Puritan theology 
could not fully repress. He was an earnest man, 
thoroughly devoted to the performance of duty and 
entirely absorbed in his chosen work of being a 
faithful missionary. 



CHAPTER XXIV. 

TEUFh^TON— {Continued.) 

Lawyers — Physicians — Hospitttls — Pi-ominenl Men. 

Templeton was manifestly a better field for the 
exercise of the lawyer's profession in former times 
than in later years. In the earlier part of the cen- 
tury two lawyers had their offices near the Common, 
and seem to have found abundant employment. 
Hon. Lovell Walker was one of these lawyers. He 
seems to have enjoyed the public confidence in a 
very large degree. He was for two years Representa- 
tive to the General Court, and for some years Senator 
for Worcester County. 

He was born in Brandon, Vt., and was a graduate 
of Dartmouth College. He died in 1839. His place 
of residence was the house now owned by Miss 
Tvvichell. His office was in a small building, re- 
cently standing near the " Brick store." 

Joseph W. Newcomb, Esq., was engaged in the 
practice of law here for a brief period of time just 
after Mr. Walker. The office of Samuel Cutting, 
Esq., was in a small building not very long ago stand- 
ing on the corner where now is the residence of Mrs. 
Batchelder. He was a native of this town, a son of 
Jonathan Cutting, and a life-long resident here. 
Edward Kirkland was a lawyer here, removing after- 
wards to Louisville, Ky. Joseph Mason, Esq., now 
of Worcester, was an active, public-spirited lawyer 
of this town from 1837 to '47. He was town clerk 
for two years, served on the School Committee six 
years, and took a very active pan in the affairs of the 
town and the religious society with which he was 
connected. He was afterwards for many years clerk 
of courts for the county of Worcester. In 1842 he 
was appointed one of the standing commissioners of 
bankruptcy for the Massachusetts District, and has 
held the office of master in Chancery. 

Giles H. Whitney, Esq., a native of Boston, a 
graduate of Harvard University and its Law School, 
practiced law in Templeton Centre and Baldwinville 
from 1846 to '55. In the latter year he reiiioved to 



TEMPLETON. 



151 



Winchendon, where he died January 12, 1888. He 
had been a member of both branches of the State 
Legislature, and was esteemed as an upright lawyer 
and trusted citizen. 

Stillman Cady, Esq., was engaged in the practice 
of law at Baldwinville from 1858 to the time of his 
death, in 1884. In the last years of Mr. Cady's life 
Charles D. Burrage, Esq., now of Gardner, was asso- 
ciated with him. 

If it be true that Templeton has imported nearly 
all of her lawyers, it is equally true that she has ex- 
ported some of her own product for the benefit of 
other places. Leonard A. Jones, who has acquired a 
well-deserved reputation as the author of several 
valuable legal works, is a son of Templeton. He 
graduated from Harvard College in 1855, and the 
Harvard Law School in 1858, in which year he was 
admitted to the Suftblk bar, and has ever since been 
in the practice of law in the city of Boston. Mr. 
Jones is the author of the following legal works : "A 
Treatise on Mortgages of Real Property," two vol- 
umes ; " A Treatise on Mortgages of Personal Prop- 
erty,'' one volume ; "A Treatise on Pledges, includ- 
ing Collateral Securities," one volume; " A Treatise 
on Liens," two volumes; "Forms in Conveyancing,'' 
one volume; and " Index to Legal Periodical Litera- 
ture." 

Josiah Howe, son of Dr. .Tosiah Howe, was a 
lawyer in New York City. Thomas Greenwood, 
who-ie early home was in East Templeton, graduated 
at Yale College, and became a lawyer in New York 
City, where he still resides. Emory C. Sawyer, 
whose parents have their home in Baldwinville, 
gained a legal education, and is in the practice of law 
at Warren, Mass. 

Physicians. — The members of the medical profes- 
sion are engaged in a work which brings them into 
close intimacy with the lives of the people in their 
homes. Fortunate, indeed, is the town and com- 
munity that enjoys the services of a well-educated, 
skillful, sympathizing physician. Such good fortune 
this town has experieticed. 

Benjamin Shattuck, the first physician of Temple- 
ton, was born in Littleton, Mass., November 11, 1742, 
and died of consumption in this town, January 14, 
1794. He was a graduate of Harvard College of the 
class of 1765. He studied medicine with Dr. Oliver 
Prescott, of Groton, and settled in Templeton at the 
special invitation of the people of the town. He con- 
tinued in extensive practice about twenty-five years, 
and became one of the most eminent in his profes- 
sion. The community joined in a public funeral, the 
Kev. Mr. Sparhawk preaching a sermon in his eulogy. 
This sermon was printed, and copies of it may still 
be found. 

Josiah Howe, M.D., was a physician of Templeton, 
who rose to eminence in his profession. He pursued 
his medical studies with Dr. Benjamin Shattuck, the 
first physician of this town, and on the death of the 



latter succeeded to his practice here. Dr. Howe was 
born in Milton, Mass., March 19, 1771, and died in 
Templeton, January 24, 184-3. In his later life he 
gave attention to business affairs. He was at one 
time connected with the woolen-factory at Otter 
River. Several dwelling-houses at Templeton Centre 
were built under his direction and ownership. Among 
them were the " Hudson " house, Mr. Winch's house 
and that owned now by Dr. Tobien. At this house 
he last dwelt. 

Dr. Marshall practiced medicine for some years in 
this town, having his residence at the Baptist Com- 
mon. 

Charles W. Wilder, M.D., was a native of Ashburn- 
ham, Mass. He graduated at the Medical Depart- 
ment of Dartmouth College in 1817. He practiced 
his profession for many years in this town. He was 
a skillful physician and an energetic and public- 
spirited citizen. About 1845 he removed to Fitch- 
burg, and earnestly promoted the building of the 
Fitchburg and Worcester Railroad, of which he be- 
came the first president. The last years of his life 
were spent in Leominster, where he died February 12, 
1851. 

Mason Spooner, M.D., engaged in medical practice 
in this town for a good many years in the first half of 
this century. He was regarded as a skillful physi- 
cian, and many persons are now living who remember 
his presence in their families. He died in 1853, in the 
eighty-second year of his age. 

Jonathan W. D. Osgood, M.D., was the son of 
Jonathan Osgood, the first minister of Gardner. His 
studies were pursued at New Salem Academy, Wil- 
liams College and Dartmouth College, from which he 
graduated in 1823, and from the Medical School of 
the same institution in 1826. He spent several months 
in attending lectures and in hospital practice in Phil- 
adelphia. He began the practice of medicine in 
Templeton in 1827, and continued here until 1858, 
when he removed to Greenfield. Here he lived until 
his death, which occurred May 15, 1885. His re- 
mains were brought to Templeton for burial. He 
was a good citizen, a skilled physician, affable and 
gentlemanly in his manners. Many persons still 
have pleasant recollections of him as their family 
physician. His place of residence in Templeton was 
in the house now owned by Mr. J. 0. Winch. 

E. E. Spencer, M.D., a native of North Kingston, 
R. I., received his diploma from the Eclectic Medi- 
cal College of Cincinnati in 1860. He had also re- 
ceived the degree of M.D. from the Worcester Medi- 
cal College in 1858. He was engaged in the prac- 
tice of medicine in Templeton from 1861 to 1872, 
when he removed to Cambridge. He was active in 
promoting the formation of the Massachusetts Eclec- 
tic Medical Society, of which he h.is been treasurer 
and president. 

J. B. Gould, M.D., was a native of Hillsboro', N. 
H. Jle was a student of medicine in the Medical 



152 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



Department of Harvard University, and in the 
Medical College at Woodstock, Vt., of which he was 
a graduate in 1850. He has practiced medicine in 
Royalston, in Tenipleton, from 1862 to 1874, and since 
the latter date in WestSomerville, Mass. 

Joseph C. Batchelder, M.D., was a native of Tops- 
field, Mass. His medical education was received at 
Dartmouth College and at the Harvard Medical School. 
He practiced medicine in Lynn, Topsfield, Cambridge, 
and in Templeton from 1857 to the time of his death, 
in 1885. Dr. B.itchelder was an enterprising and 
public-spirited citizen, as well as a very skillful 
physician and surgeon. He was the Representative 
from his native town in the Legislature of Massa- 
chusetts in 184(5. He took an active interest in pro- 
moting the construction of the Hoosac Tunnel. In 
the Civil War he was assistant surgeon of the Twenty- 
fifth Regiment of Massachusetts Volunteers. 

The physicians thus far named had their residences 
in the village lying around the Common. At the 
present time there are two physicians whose place of 
residence is at this village : — Dr. A. S. Tobien has 
been in practice here since 1874 — and Dr. S. E. Green- 
wood since 1878. 

George Jewett, M.D., was a native of Rindge, N. 
H. His medical education was received at Woodstock, 
Vt., and at the Berkshire Medical College, where he 
graduated in 1846. He began the practice of medi- 
cine at Baldwinville in 1847, removed to Gardner in 
1862, and thence to Fitchburg. 

Lucius W. Baker, M.D., received his degree from 
the University of the City of New York in 1880, 
and immediately began the practice of medicine in 
his native village. Dr. Baker was the projector of the 
Hospital Cottages for Children, and for five years the 
superintendent and physician, retiring in 1887 to 
devote his time more fully to the care of his Medical 
Home for Nervous Invalids, at Baldwinville. 

A list of the names of physicians who have en- 
gaged in the practice of medicine at Baldwinville is 
subjoined. The first physician residing in the village 
seems to have been Dr. Barrett, who began practice 
in 1847; Dr. Jewett, in 1854; Dr. Jonathan A.White 
1854-63 ; Dr. John W. Bement, 1868-74 ; Dr. William 
F. Southard, 1873-78 ; Dr. J. S. Fogg and Dr. G. L. 
Perry remained a short time ; Dr. L. W. Baker, 1880; 
Dr. E. N. MuUins has been in active medical prac- 
tice since 1883. 

Some persons who were natives of this town have 
engaged in medical practice in other places. The 
names of a few such now follow : 

Dr. George C. Shattuck, son of Dr. Benjamin Shat- 
tuck, was born in Templeton, July 17, 1783, and died 
at his residence in Boston, March 18, 1854. He was 
eminent for his professional skill and for his munifi- 
cent public and private charities. He graduated from 
Dartmouth College in 1803, and from the Medical 
Department in ISOG, receiving also a medical degree 
from Harvard College in 1807. He was possessed of I 



much wealth and became noted for his public bene- 
factions, giving liberally to Dartmouth College, Har- 
vard College and various public institutions. From 
him the town of Templeton received the liberal gift 
of five shares in the library of the Boston Athen- 
icum. Dr. Shattuck was a very popular and skill- 
ful physician of the city of Boston. His son, of the 
same name, was for many years a professor in the 
Harvard Medical School. 

James Lloyd Wellington, M.D., son of Rev. Charles 
Wellington, graduated from Harvard College in 1838, 
and from the Harvard Medical School in 1842, since 
which time he has been a physician in active practice 
in the town of Swansea, Mass. 

Edward Sawyer, M.D., a physician of Bridgewater, 
Mass., was a native of Templeton, and received his 
early education in her schools. He graduated from 
the Harvard Medical School in 1865, and began the 
practice of medicine in the autumn of that same year. 
In addition to his general practice he has for more 
than twenty-two years been physician to the State In- 
stitution at Bridgewater. Besides his busy activity 
in professional work, he serves the community in va- 
rious positions of responsibility and usefulness. 

Dr. Charles Whitcomb, for many years past a phy- 
sician of Barre, Mass., was a native of this town. 

Very few women from this town have engaged in 
any other professional work than that of teaching. 
Miss Salome Merritt, however, has received a medical 
education, and is in the active practice of her i)rofes- 
sion in the city of Boston. 

Hospitals. — The Hospital Cottages for Children, 
organized and incorporated in 1882, are located at 
Baldwinville. They are arranged on the cottage 
plan, and are designed for the treatment of children 
affected with chronic diseases. Their country loca- 
tion makes it possible to have fresh air, sunlight, out- 
door exercise and wholesome food, as well as careful 
nursing and medical care. The idea of the institution 
originated with Dr. L. W. Baker. His father. Deacon 
Willard Baker, gave liberal aid by furnishing buildings, 
rent free, for some years, and in other ways. Mr. J. 
W. Coolidge has earnestly labored for the institution 
from its first inception, and has been very efficient in 
placing it upon a good financial basis. A lady 
board of visitors, including ladies of prominence liv- 
ing in ditferent parts of the State, has from the first 
rendered very valuable assistance in support of the 
institution. This board has also erected a third build- 
ing with funds which it has gathered. The Legisla- 
ture of Massachusetts granted ten thousand dollars to 
the institution in 1887. The institution now has three 
buildings under its control, and has accommodations 
for about fifty children. 

Dr. Baker's Medical Home for the treatment of 
nervous diseases, including the alcohol and opium 
habits, and the nervous disorders of childhood, is lo- 
cated in Baldwinville. It was established in 1885. 

FiiOMiNENT Men. — Towns and communities natur- 




,^^^- 

^"^t 





9 




/i^^^^^^^^^^Z''^ 



TEMPLETON. 



153 



ally range themselves under the leadership of individ- 
uals who are possessed of an unusual degree of energy, 
persistence or intelligence. These they appoint to 
act for them on important occasions either at home 
or abroad. Such men in the last century were Mr. 
Thomas White, Captain John Richardson, Captain 
Joel Fletcher, Captain Ezekiel Knowlton, Colonel 
Silas Cutler and Captain Leonard Stone. Captain 
Fletcher was the delegate from this town to the con- 
vention which ratified the Constitution of the United 
States in 1787. Jonathan Baldwin was the first Rep- 
resentative from this town to tlie General Court in 
1774. He is aUo believed to have been the first ju.stice 
of the peace in this town. He was an enterprising 
citizen of that portion of the town now known as 
Baldwinville. His son, Captain Eden Baldwin, was a 
man of great vigor, enterprise and influence, engaging 
actively in various business enterprises. From him 
his native village takes its name. 

As the next century advances new names come into 
prominence in different sections of the town. Cap- 
tain Joseph Davis was for many years a very promi- 
nent citizen, living in Baldwinville. He came from 
Northboro' to this village in 1830 and opened a store. 
In 1832 he built the hotel. He bought Stephen 
Knowlton's farm on the east of the village and built 
a dam at the water privilege there. He was very 
active in various kinds of business. He labored earn- 
estly and effectively to secure the location of the Ver- 
mont and Massachusetts Railroad through this village. 
He was a very active, energetic, public-spirited citi- 
zen. He died November 5, 1868. His son, Thomas 
W. Davis, has been for several years city surveyor for 
the city of Boston. 

Oilman Day, Esq., was a prominent citizen of 
Templeton during the greater part of a long life, 
which extended from April 1, 1802, to August 11, 1877. 
The neighboring town of Wincbendon was his birth- 
place. For a large part of his life he was engaged 
more or less actively in the lumber business and some 
form of manufacturing. His saw-mill was on Trout 
Brook, southwesterly of Baldwinville, and is still 
known as tlie "Day" JMill. For a period of some 
three years, beginning with 183(), he was associated 
with Levi Pierce in conducting the hotel at Temple- 
ton Centre. He was also owner, in part, of the stage- 
line connecting Worcester and Keene, which line 
passed through this town. He was frequently called 
to fill places of trust and honor by the votes of his 
fellow-townsmen. He held]in successive years various 
town offices. He served for one term, in 1846, as 
Representative from this town to the General Court. 
He was also chosen as the delegate from this town to 
the convention which assembled in 1853 to revise the 
Constitution of the State. He held a commission as 
justice of the peace and trial justice from ISGl to the 
time of bis death. 

It is hardly necessary to state that he was deeply 
interested in the public affairs of the county, State 



and nation. He was earnestly in favor of the divi- 
sion of Worcester County and labored to promote it, 
in opposition to some of his prominent fellow-towns- 
men. He occupied a very prominent i)osition among 
those who labored to retain the location of the Ver- 
mont and Massachusetts Railroad so as to pass through 
the northerly part of this town, instead of being di" 
verted to Winchendon, and his labors were successful. 
The greater part of his life was spent in Baldwinvillei 
and here his widow and sons still live. 

Thomas Fisher was a farmer living midway between 
Baldwinville and Otter River. He was frequently 
chosen to serve the public in matters where good 
judgment and integrity were required, and was a 
prominent citizen in the earlier part of the century. 
His son, Dea. Charles T. Fisher, lived upon the same 
farm on which his father had dwelt, and likew'ise 
possessed the public confidence. 

Col. Leonard Stone lived in what is now the village 
of Otter River, on the farm which his father, Capt. 
Leonard Stone, had occupied before him, and on 
which his sons have since dwelt. He possessed the 
public confidence in a high degree, serving for several 
years on the School Committee and the Board of Select- 
men. He was also for several years the representa- 
tive to the General Court. He took an active part in 
the contest for the location of the Vermont and 
Massachusetts Railroad. He was an influential citi- 
zen, trusted and honored. 

Capt. Samuel Dadman was another enterprising and 
influential citizen, engaged in the woolen manufac- 
turing business at Otter River. He was four times 
chosen as representative to the General Court, and 
received other marks of the public confidence. 

Col. Ephraim Stone lived at Templeton Centre, and 
was for many years connected with mercantile busi- 
ness there on the site of what has generally been 
known as the " Brick Store^'' He was a man of great 
energy of character and activity in affairs, and was 
frequently chosen to positions of trust and responsi- 
bility. 

John W. Stiles was, in the early part of the century, 
a merchant whose place of business was on the east 
side of the " Common." He is said to have been a 
man of much vigor and mental ability, and he cer- 
tainly took a deep interest in public aflairs. He it 
was who composed the memorial sent by this town to 
the President of the United States in opposition to the 
War of 1812. 

Col. Artemas Lee was for many years a leading 
mind in the business and political aflairs of north- 
ern Worcester County. He was born in the neigh- 
boring town of Barre, November 2, 1793. He came 
to Templeton in 1810, in his seventeenth year, and for 
some time served as clerk in the store of John W. Stiles> 
who was then a merchant of prominence in this region. 
After some years he formed a partnership with Lipha 
French, and opened a store in the southerly part of 
the hotel building. This partnership was dissolved 



154 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



in a few years, and he continued the business alone. 
In 1829 he erected the dwelling-house and store situ- 
ated at the southerly side of the Common, and now 
owned by Mr. Percival Blodgett. Here the main part 
of his life was spent. He kept a country store with 
all its great variety of goods. In later times various 
persons were associated with him in his mercantile 
afikirs at this place of business. Lee, Harding & 
Jones, Lee & Lincoln, Lee & Wood, Lee k Gambell 
were the styles of successive firms. He engaged also 
in mercantile business in Baldwitiville, in Athol aud 
in Gardner, having partners in each of these places. 
He was an earnest, enterprising business man, and 
met with success in his business pursuits. 

Colonel Lee was always deeply interested in public 
affairs, and entered upon them with earnest zeal and 
abounding energy. He opposed the division of the 
town when that project was entered upon. Again and 
again it fell to his lot to oppose the division of Wor- 
cester County. It did not need a large number of 
such opponents as he was to defeat a measure. When 
it was proposed to change the location of the Ver- 
mont & Massachusetts Railroad, so that it would not 
pass through this town, he vigorously opposed the 
change, and was one of a committee of five appointed 
by the town, who labored earnestly and successfully 
in opposition to the change of location. He was first 
elected to the Legislature in 1832, serving in the House 
of Representatives for four consecutive years. He was 
again elected as Representative irora this town in 1847, 
and also in 18G1. He also serVed for three or four 
years in the Massachusetts Senate as a member from 
Worcester County. Senators were then chosen by the 
counties. 

He was always deeply interested in the affairs of 
this town ; the numerous shade-trees upon the Com- 
mon bear testimony to one form of this interest. He 
was interested in the militia of the State, realizing 
that emergencies might arise when tbeir trained ser- 
vices might be essential to the public welfare. He ac- 
quired his title of colonel from having been com- 
mander of the local regiment of militia. Two of his 
sons lost their lives in the late Civil War. Colonel Lee 
was a man of uncommon intellectual vigor and force 
of character. His life was one of ceaseless activity in 
business and public affairs. He died in 1870. 

If he could communicate his ideas to us, he would 
not consider this notice complete without some rec- 
ognition of her who for many years was his efficient 
counselor and helper. Mrs. Lee, whose married life 
began June 10, 1830, still lives in the city of Boston, 
furnishing a home to grandchildren whose father's 
life was given for his country. 

John Boynton, Esq., spent his active business life 
in TenipletoM. Here he accumulated the fortune 
which enabled him to give ten thousand dollars for 
the benefit of the schools of his native town. Mason, 
N. H., aud one hundred thousand dollars for found- 
ing the Worcester Polytechnic Institute. He came 



to this town in 1825, and began the manufacture of 
tinware, employing peddlers who traveled about the 
country and sold it or exchanged it for paper stock. 
The business increased in volume, and proved to be 
profitable. In 1830 the late David Whitcomb, Esq., 
of Worcester, came to live in this town, and became a 
partner with Mr. Boynton in the tin business. He here 
laid the foundations of a fortune which has enabled 
him in later years to bestow gifts to religious and 
charitable purposes to the amount of a full million of 
dollars. Mr. Whitcomb gave the money which con- 
stitutes our Library Fund, requesting that the library 
should be called the "Boynton Library." Mr. Boyn- 
ton was the first president of the Miller's River Bank 
at Athol. He was always thoroughly devoted to his 
business affairs, and gave le<s thought to other mat- 
ters. He died in 1867. Mr. Whitcomb removed to 
Worcester in 1851, and was engaged in business there 
until his death, in 1887. 

John Bigelow held the office of town clerk for 
twelve consecutive years, beginning with 1823. He 
lived in the "Gilbert" house, and kept clocks, watches, 
and jewelry in a store which formerly stood on 
the site of Mr. Blodgett's store. His son, Joshua R. 
Bigelow, gained wealth in mercantile business in 
Boston, and pleasantly remembered his native town 
by the gift of the public clock which is in the tower 
of the Unitarian Church. Dexter Gilbert was a 
prominent citizen, who was postmaster for eight 
years, and held the office of town clerk for twelve 
years, consecutively, beginning with 1842. Rev. 
Gerard Bushnell was much trusted in the management 
of public affairs, having served for sixteen years as a 
member of the School Committee, for twenty-t wo years, 
beginninsr with 1854, as town clerk, and was, for one 
year, a representative to the General Court. 

T. T. Greenwood was actively engaged in manufac- 
turing enterprises in East Templeton for more than 
forty years. In 1841 he began the manufacture of 
chair-seat frames. In 1849 he erected the present 
furniture-shop, aud, taking Mr. F. L. Sargeant as a 
partner, they entered upon the manufacture of tubs, 
pails, churns and other wooden-ware. In 1860 they 
began the manufactureofpineand chestnut furniture. 
Mr. Sargeant retired in 1863, and, from that tiiue 
until his death, Mr. Greenwood carried on the busi- 
ness alone, making additions to his factory and sup- 
plementing water-power with steam-power as his busi- 
ness increased. Mr. Greenwood was a pioneer in the 
utilization of the pith of the rattan. This pith was 
then regarded as waste merely, and burned in bonfires. 
He bought it of the American Rattan Company, of 
Fitchburg, and made it into baskets. It has since 
been turned to a great variety of uses. 

In 1883, in company with one of his sons, he 
established a store at West Gardner, for the sale of 
furniture at retail. Two of his sons continue the 
business at this store, and two others carry on the 
manufacturing operations at East Templeton. 




J . U . '^^/l.^.C^nyl'-1?~-zr-7^ 



i 



I 



TEMPLETON. 



155 



III addition to his business enterprises, Mr. Green- 
wood was a public-spirited citizen, ever on the alert 
for improvements in the condition of his native 
village and town. He liberally assisted in the estab- 
lishment of a village library, in 1854, and of a public 
hall, in 1872. With others, he labored earnestly and 
effectively for the establishment of the village post- 
office, in 1866. He was foremost in urging the 
construction of the new road to West Gardner, and 
caused the preliminary surveys to be made chiefly at 
his own expense. With others he joined in an effort 
to secure the location of the Ware Eiver Railroad 
through East Templeton. 

He was interested in schools and public education. 
It was no uncommon thing for him to visit the 
schools. When the High School was established, in 
1856, we find him among those who were earliest, 
laboring to secure such a result, and he ever main- 
tained a lively interest in its welfare. 

The village of East Templeton was the scene of 
his life's labors. Here he was born, March 26, 1817, 
and here, on July 10, 1885, he died. 

Charles A. Perley was born in Gardner, September 
15, 1826, and died February 2, 1887. His life was 
mainly spent in the chair manufacturing business in 
the village of Baldwinville. After spending four 
years in the southerly part of Winchendon, he came 
to this town in 1856 and engaged in the manufacture 
of chairs, as a member of the firm of Sawyer, 
Thompson & Perley, afterwards Thompson, Perley & 
Waite. This firm manufactured a variety of cane- 
seat chairs and in later times large quantities of the 
child's folding chair, an ingenious contrivance for the 
comfort of children. 

Mr. Perley was always active in promoting the 
business prosperity of the village in which he lived. 
He was the prime mover in the formation of the 
Baldwinville Mill Company, which erected a new 
shop on the site now occupied by Smith, Day & Co. 
He had been for some years llie president of the 
Templeton Savings Bank. He took an active part in 
the formation of the Memorial Church and the erec- 
tion of its church edifice. In 1885 he was the Repre- 
sentative from this district in the Massachusetts 
House of Representatives. 

Colonel Henry Smith was born in Shrewsbury, 
Vermont, in 1S26 and died in Boston in 1881. He 
married Abby Boynton AVbitcomb, daughter of David 
Whitcomb, Esq., of Worcester. In 18-1:9 he engaged 
in the manufacture of tin-ware in Templeton, in 
company with Mr. Whitcomb and continued the 
business in the later time in company with his 
brother, until 1865. Thtir traveling agents were 
accustomed to sell their tin-ware in various parts of 
Kew England. He was also interested in the same 
business with partners in Springfield, Lowell, Albany 
and New Haven. In 1865 he removed to Boston and 
, engaged in the banking business, being instrumental 
in the establishment of the Home Savings Bank, of 



which he became president, and the Central National 
Bank. His latest business enterprise was the estab- 
lishment of the International Trust Company, of 
which he became president. 

He served one term in the Massachusetts House of 
Representatives and three terms in the State Senate, 
the last term after removing to Dorchester. He 
served at one time on the staff of Governor Banks as 
one of his aids. He was an active, enterprising and 
public-spirited citizen. He had accumulated wealth 
in his business and was liberal in contributing to 
religious and philanthropic enterprises. 

Percival Blodgett spent his early years in North 
Orange, Mass., where be was bom in 1841. He 
received his education in the public schools of liis 
native town and at Andover Academy. He came to 
Templeton as a teacher in the public schools in 1861, 
and taught for several terms. He began his mercan- 
tile career in 1865, as a member of the firm of Dudley 
& Blodgett, whose place of business was at the 
" Brick store." From 1870 to the present time he 
has been in business alone, at the stand formerly 
owned and occupied by Colonel Lee. He became the 
owner of this establishment in 1877 and carries on 
here a prosperous business in the sale of various 
kinds of merchandise usually kept at a country store. 
Mr. Blodgett has for several years been one of the 
selectmen, has held the office of town treasurer for 
twelve years, and has been a member of the school 
committee for twenty years. He is chosen a repre- 
sentative to the Legislature of Massachusetts for the 
year 1889, from the Second Worcester County District. 
Isaac Bourn is a native of Potton. Canada, having 
been born there November 24, 1821. He came to 
Templeton in 1845, working for wages for the first 
two years. He was engaged in the lumber business 
from 1847 to 1849, in company with Jonas Brown, 
and from the latter date until 1879 in company with 
John Brooks. He is at present senior partner in the 
firm of Bourn, Hadley & Company. They manufac- 
ture large quantities of pine, chestnut and ash fur- 
niture at their shop, near the Ware River Railroad 
station, and are also dealers in all kinds of lumber. 
Mr. Bourn is still actively engaged in the business in 
which he has manifested so much energy and enter- 
prise. 

Some persons who were natives of Templeton have 
become conspicuous for their business capacity or 
philanthropic efforts in other fields. One such was 
George Partridge, who engaged in business in Saint 
Louis, Mo., was prosperous in his affairs and gave 
large sums for the benefit of Washington University 
in that city. Thomas White is extensively engaged 
in the manufacture and sale of the " White " sewing- 
machine, in Cleveland, Ohio. He began the business 
on a small scale in this town. The White family wai 
one of the old and worthy families of this town and 
Phillipston. Moses W. Richardson leads an active 
business life in the city of Boston, in which he has 



156 



HISTOKY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



been prosperous. His early life was spent here. He 
learned his first lessons of business affairs as clerk in 
the store of Colonel Lee. His name represents two 
families of prominence in this town. His grand- 
father, Moses Wright, was for ten years the town 
clerk, and three years a Representative to the Gen- 
eral Court. The Richardson family has ever been 
prominent in numbers and influence. 

The first settlers of a town, with rugged hills 
completely covered with forests, must have been per- 
sons of vigor and steadfastness of purpose. Among 
the early inhabitants of this town there were men of 
more than ordinary ability and strength of character. 
They were also men of sterling integrity. They 
directed the currents of thought and action into good 
channels. The influence of such men extends be- 
yond the limit of their own lifetimes, frequently 
exerting a powerful influence on their successors. 
There has been in this town a permanence and sta- 
bility in its affairs which has greatly inured to the 
public benefit. Many things have worked together 
in the past to make the influence prevailing in a 
New England town a very favorable environment for 
the development and improvement of a human being. 
May it be long before these towns shall have lost the 
essential features which have been characteristic of 
the best of them ! 



CHAPTER XXV. 
UXBRIDGE. 

BY GEORGE W. HOBBS. 

This town is beautifully located in the " Black- 
stone Valley," about twenty miles south from the 
city of Worcester. 

On the west the gently-sloping hilh are covered 
with the fine dwellings of its prosperous citizens, 
overlooking a diversified scenery of meadows, rivers, 
ponds and busy workshops. On the east the plains 
stretcli out to the lofty Mendon hills, whose westerly 
slopes form the water-shed for the " West River," 
which furnishes the water-power for the " Wacan- 
tuck" and"Elmdale" Mills; while gently mean- 
dering through the valley, the "Blackstone" and 
"Mumford" Rivers beautify the plain and furnish 
the power for the numerous other mills which add to 
the business and prosperity of this lively and enter- 
prising town. 

Its natural beauty, fine roads, excellent hotel, se- 
cluded drives and cool retreats make it a desired 
haven of rest for the numerous " summer boarders" 
who, in increasing numbers, annually make their pil- 
grimage hither. From the pleasant drive on " Lawler " 
hill, just west of Main Street, away in the dim dis- 
tance, — thirty miles as the crow flies, — the blue peak 



of old Wachusett can easily be seen on a fair day, 
and the view, once seen, is long remembered. From 
the opposite side of the town, on the hill near the 
residence of Mr. T. W. Giles, a bit of scenery is un- 
folded which has no equal even on the canvas of a 
Turner. As far as the eye can reach, the beautiful 
valley of the Blackstone is spread out in all its en- 
chanting loveliness. Here and there, above the abun- 
dant foliage, rises the spire of some distant church ; 
the hillsides dotted with neat houses, green fields, 
teeming orchards, lowing herds; handsome villas, 
cool groves, glimmering lakes ; rivers looking like 
threads of silver, lofty hill-tops crowned with peren- 
nial pine, rich meadows fragrant with new-mown hay 
and golden-hued flowers ; farms, villages, factories, 
tall chimneys, and all the concomitants of a thriving 
valley meet the eye and fill the mind with a never- 
tiring pleasure. The native to the manor born, as 
well as the stranger within its gates, pause upon this 
favored spot and involuntarily exclaim " How beau- 
tiful ! " 

A gentleman from Providence, while riding up this 
hill with the writer, exclaimed: "Stop! In all my 
travels at home or abroad, I never saw a finer scene 
than this. I would like to build a house right on 
this lot before us and have that view always before 
me." For an hour we lingered, and with a deep sigh, 
he took his leave with regret, saying : " I did not 
suppose there was so fine a view this side the White 
Mountains, and I don't believe your townspeople ap- 
preciate it as they ought." 

The facility with which this town can be reached 
by the numerous trains upon that model railway, the 
" Providence and Worcester," causes such an influx 
of seekers after rest and ozone, that the hotel and 
boarding-houses are taxed to their utmost during the 
vacation season, and those who come one season are 
pretty sure to engage rooms for the next. 

There are several mineral springs near the centre 
of the town, and the water furnished by iheUxbridge 
Water Company proves, upon analysis, to be about 
absolutely pure, being nearly equal to that of the 
famous Poland Springs, and pronounced by local 
physicians to be nearly as effectual in the cure of 
kidney and urinary troubles. At no distant day 
these springs will be appreciated, and a sanitarium 
will invite the health-seekers to come and be cured. 
Uxbridge ranks among the older towns of the county, 
having been incorporated three years before the 
county itself. 

Originally a part of Mendon, the history of the 
causes which led to its separation from the mother 
town may not inappropriately be recorded here. 

In 171G it seems that the western part of the town 
of Mendon and the eastern part had a disagreement 
about the road to be built to Taft's bridge, over the 
Great River (Blackstone), which led to the appoint- 
ment of a committee of conference. This difficulty 
having been adjusted, the next recorded difference 



UXBRIDGE. 



157 



which arose was in 1720, when, as appears by the 
'•Mendon Annals," "the inhabitants of the west 
part of the town (now Uxbridge) began to agitate 
the question of dividing the town, or of being 
allowed to be a precinct by themselves; but upon 
their petition to that effect, the town took no action." 

In 1722, October 16th, at a town-meeting held in 
Mendon, the inhabitants of the western part of the 
town objecting to being assessed for repairs to the 
meeting-house, the town " voted, that if they would 
pay, the town would reimburse them, provided they 
are set off as a precinct or a town within the space of 
thrre years." 

December 14, 1726, more than the stipulated "three 
years '' after the last difficulty, the town, " in answer 
to our western inhabitants petitioning to be set off as 
a town or a precinct, voted in the negative." But the 
said western inhabitants were becoming more deter- 
mined to secede ; and therefore, at a meeting held in 
Mendon March 31, 1727, the town " voted, after the 
reading of the petition of the western inhabitants of 
the town for a division of the town, that the bounda- 
ries should be as follows, viz.: Beginning at thesouth- 
weit corner of the town, at the Province line, thence 
east four miles with .*aid line; thence turning north 
and running parallel with the west line of the town, 
until it comes to a small brook running westerly be- 
tween West and Misco Hills; thence down said brook 
to the West River; thence up said river to Andruss's 
Brook ; and thence up Andruss' Brook to the town- 
ship line " 

The western inhabitants lost no time in taking the 
benefit of the vote, doubtless feeling that a reconsid- 
eration might blast their hopes, if opportunity were 
given ; for it appears from the records in the Massa- 
chusetts Archives, " Towns, vol. 113, p. 714," that in 
an almost incredibly short time, considering the dis- 
tance to Boston and the roads and conveniences or 
inconveniences of travel, the petition and vote was 
presented to the General Court for its approval and 
the incorporation of ihe new town. The act of incor- 
poration passed both houses (i.e. the House of Repre- 
sentatives and the Council) and became a law June 
23, 1727, which is the birthdai/ of the town of Ux- 
bridge. To show the mode of procedure in such 
matters at that early day uuder colonial government, 
I transcribe the act of incorporation entire: 

Anno Regni Jtvgis Georgh Vecimo Terlio, 

An act for dividing the town of Mendon and erecting a now town by 
the name of Uxbridge. 

nilerem, the westerly part of the Town of Mendon, in the County of 
Sufolk, is completely filled with Inhabitants, who labour under great 
diffloiilties by their remoteness from the place of Public Worship, ic, 
and have thereupon made application to the said Town of Mendon, and 
have likewise addressed this Court that they may bo set off as a distinct 
aud separate town aud be vested with all the powers and privilege of a 
town ; and the Inhabitants of Mendon haviug consented to their being 
set off accordingly; 

lie it therefore enacted by the Lieutenant-Governor, Conncil and Rep- 
resentatives in General Court aasembled, aud by the authority of the 
same, that the westerly part of said Town of Mendon is hereby set off 



and constituted a separate Township by the name of Uxbridge ; the 
bound of said Town to be as foUowelh : That is to say, Beginning at 
the South West corner of the town of Mendon, at the Troviuce South 
Line : thence to run four miles east with the Province Line ; then North 
a parallel with the West line of the said Town, until that line meets 
with a small Brook that runs between West Hill and Misco Hill ; then 
ye sjiid Brook to be the bounds to the West River; then the West River 
to be the bounds to a brook known by the name of Andrew's Brook, 
which brook shall bo the bounds to the north line of the Township. 

And that the Inhabitants of the said Lands, as before described and 
bounded, be, and hereby are, invested with the powers, privileges and 
immunities that the Inhabitants of any of the Towns of this Province, 
are, or ought by law to be invested ; Provided the Grant of the said 
Township be not construed to Affect the Rights and privileges of any 
Persons to lands within the same. 

Provided also, that the Inhabitants of the said town of Uxbridge, do, 
within the space of two years from the Publication of this Act, Erect 
and finisli a suitable House for the Public \Vorship of God, and procure 
and settle a learned Orthodox Minister of good conversation, and make 
provision for his comfortable and honourable support ; aud that they set 
apart a Lot of not less than One hundred acres of Land in some con- 
venient place in said town near the moeting-IIouse, for the use of the 
Bliniatry; and likewise provide a School Master to instruct their youth 
in writing and reaiiing. 

In Council Juno 21, 1727. Read, 

J. WiLLARD, Sec'i/. 

Passed to be Engrossed. 

In the House of Representatives June 23, 1727. Read a first time ; 
The 24th — Read a second time and passed in concurrence with amend- 
ment. 

Dele. * Sent up for concurrence. 

Wm, Dudley, Spe<d-er. 

Agreed. 

The amendment referred to by the record as passed 
by the House was the striking out of the following 
clause, which, in the act as approved by the Council, 
was after the word reading, in the last sentence of the 
act, viz. : 

And that thereupon they be discharged from any further payment for 
the maintenance of the Ministers and Schools in the said Town of 
Mendon, for any estate lying within the said Town of Uxbridge. 

The people of tho^e early days had queer ideas of 
density of population, when they allege, as recited 
in the preamble to the act above quoted, " the westerly 
part of the town of Mendon, etc., is completebj JilUd 
with inhabitants," etc., for it must be remembered 
that Mendon township at that time comprised about 
sixty Ihousand acres, and embraced what is now 
Mendon, Milford, Uxbridge, Blackstone and North- 
bridge, with a total population then of some twelve 
hundred people, and now the same territory is 
populated by nearly twenty-five thousand people, 
with plenty of room for more. Moreover, the reason 
set forth by the aggrieved inhabitants of the west 
part, that " they laboured under great difficulties, by 
their remoteness from the place of public worship," 
etc., indicates that the population of the old town of 
Mendon was rather scattered, and had plenty of room 
to spread towards the centre. 

It appears from the records of the old, and the new 
town that the boundary line, as set forth in the vote 
of Mendon, and in the act a/oresaid, was rather 
indefinite and litlle understood even by the parties 
to the same. P'or at the very first meeting of the new 
town, a committee was appointed "to run and settle 
ye Line between Mendon and Uxbridge ;'' and at 
different dates up to 1754, nearly twe.^ty-seven years 



158 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



afterwards, there were repeated attempts on the part 
of the two towns to settle the dispute concerning the 
boundary line ; and it was finally settled to the satis- 
faction of all parties, after an appeal to the General 
Court, pending which the two towns came to an 
agreement ; and the appeal was duly dismissed. 

Uxbridge is supposed to have received its name 
from Henry Paget, Earl of Uxbridge, at the time a 
member of the King's Privy Council. Its Indian 
name is Wacantug, or Wacantuck ; and this name is 
perpetuated by the " Wacantuck House," and the 
" Wacantuck Woolen-Mills " hereinafter referred to. 
The first town-meeting in Uxbridge was held at the 
house of Cornet John Farnum, July 25, 1727. The 
members of the first Board of Selectmen were Robert 
Taft, Ebenezer Read, Woodland Thompson and 
Joseph White. The first town clerk was Edmund 
Rawson, an accomplished gentleman, an excellent 
penman, and a methodical recorder of the doings of 
the new town. To-day, after the lapse of more than 
one hundred and sixty years, his records of the meet- 
ings of the town are as clear and plain as though 
recently written ; and for brevity and good language 
would be appropriate models for town clerks of the 
present decade. Solomon Wood, the first town treas- 
urer, received for the responsibilities and arduous 
duties of that oflice for one year, the munificent com- 
pensation o( Jive shillings ; and at the same time the 
town voted this compensation, they " voted to pay 
Lieut. Joseph Taft sei'en shillings for a barrel of 
cider." The record does not tell for what purpose 
tlie town purchased the cider, but inasmuch as they, 
a year or two later, voted that the committee who had 
charge of building " ye meeting House purchase 
fifteen gallons of good rum for the raising," it is 
probable tliat the town fathers were a little afraid to 
drink the water whicli nature had furnished in such 
abundance. 

The town clerks and town treasurers have been 
men of such ability and worth, that in the one 
hundred and sixty-one years of its corporate exist- 
ence the town has had only eighteen difierent town 
clerks, and about as many town treasurers. The 
attraction to these offices could not have been the com- 
pensation, for it is matter of resord that, considering 
the amount of responsibility, the pay of these officials 
has been, and is to-day, grossly inadequate. That at 
least one of these gentlemen groaned in spirit under 
his burdens is manifest from these poetic verses, 
copied verbatim from the fly-leaf of the treasurer's 
account-book of 1767. I have called it by the 
appropriate name : 

THE TREASURER'S LAMENT. 
A strong Deeire pervades the 'spiring Mind, 
To tlieir own cure tu liave this booli iissigued ; 
But whosoever sliall this booit ubtailie, 
Will find the pTofit pntjn iif>t half the paine. 
I long liavo labored on tliia servile Charge, 
Tve found theprofttJt ttmaU, the trouble large. 
With true exactness all accounts I trac'd, 



And then the Names & sums in order plac'd ; 

But all the methods I could e'er invent, 

Ne'er to my Neighbors would it give content.- 

So I'm resolved, I'll soon this book forsake, 

That those who long have sought, may now partake. 

For nearly one hundred years after its organization 
Uxbridge remained simply an agricultural town, with 
the usual amount of such mechanical business as was 
cairied on in the rural towns of New England. When 
it w.as incorporated it was a part of the county of 
Suffolk ; but when Worcester County was created, in 
1730, just three years afterward, Uxbridge became a 
part of it, and is so well satisfied with the connection, 
that no voice can be heard in favor of severing the 
old tie, or forming a part of any new county whatso- 
ever. It is a part of the Blackstone Valley, and, with 
the other valley towns which constitute Worcester 
South, it has a local pride in the old county, and a de- 
sire to remain in it and of it. 

The diversified topography of this town is one of its 
principal charms. Hill and valley, meadow and 
upland, lakes and rivers all contribute to make the 
picture perfect. Comprising nearly twenty-eight 
square miles of territory, with about seven teen thousand 
acres taxed, with over eighty miles of well-kept high- 
ways and town-ways, many rivers and streams crossed 
by stone, iron and wooden bridges, its handsome 
churches, fine hotel, imposing town hall and other 
elegant buildings reared by its thrifty population, 
now numbering about thirty-five hundred, Uxbridge 
sends out its invitation to the rest of old Worcester 
County to present to the readers of the " County 
History " a better record than she lias made. Her 
adopted son, who writes this history, regrets that the 
limited space allowed him, prevents his doing justice 
to her ; for, do the best he may, the half cannot herein 
be told. 

The rivers of Uxbridge are the Blackstone, the 
West and the Mumford. Its larger brooks, furnish- 
ing water-power, are the Ironstone, the Emer-son, the 
Rivulet and the Drabble Tail. 

The Blackstone River has its source in North Pond, 
in the city of Worcester. From this pond flows a 
small but beautiful stream called Mill Brook. This 
stream, in its course through Worcester, Millbury, 
Sutton, Grafton, Northbridge, Uxbridge and Black- 
stone, where it leaves the Slate, receives the waters of 
several affluents, is called the Blackstone River, and 
its constantly increasing size and volume furnishes, 
by the time it reaches Uxbridge, a seldom-failing 
power, which gives to the town its great prosperity as 
a manufacturing centre. 

The West River has its origin in the town of 
Upton ; and, although it runs through the easterly 
part of Uxbridge, it retains the name " West River," 
which was given it when it was the western boundary 
of Mendon. It empties into the Blackstone about 
half a mile south of the Hecla Mills, and about a 
mile southeasterly of the railway station. Like the 



UXBRIDGB. 



159 



Blackstone, it contributes power to run the machinery 
of several factories, whicli will be described farther 
on. 

Mumford River has its rise in " Douglas Woods," 
in Douglas; being increased by streams from Bad- 
luck Pond and Manchaug Pond, in Douglas, and by 
springs and rivulets, and the vast reservoirs in Whi- 
tinsville. It enters Uxbridge just south of the Lin- 
wood Mills at Whitin's Station ; thence through 
North Uxbridge, furnishing power to the great cot- 
ton-mills there located; thence southeasterly to 
Uxbridge Centre, joining the Blackstone about three- 
quarters of a mile southeasterly of the railroad 
station, at what is called the " Forks of the River." 
The Capron Mills are located upon this river. 

The Ironstone Brook, formerly called " Forge 
Brook," and so designated in the early records of the 
town, rises in the extreme southwesterly part of the 
town, near the Rhode Island line ; forms the Iron- 
stone Pond; thence flows under the New York and 
New England Railroad into the village of Ironstone; 
and thence about a mile easterly to the Blackstone 
River. It was very early used for furnishing power 
for various mechanical enterprises, a dam and forge 
having been erected upon it nearly one hundred and 
fifty years ago by Benjamin Taft, one of the original 
settlers in the town. 

The Emerson Brook rises in Douglas, flows easterly, 
and enters Uxbridge in what is called "' Scadden ; " 
it thence flows southeasterly, under the various names 
of " Shove Brook," " Tucker Brook " and " Emerson 
Brook," until its confluence with the Blackstone, on 
the farm of Millins Emerson. Its course is about 
five miles long, much of the way a very rapid, turbu- 
lent stream, and has fall enough, if its waters could 
be stored and used to advantage, to run all the ma- 
chinery now in use in the town. It supplies the 
power for Lee's Mills and the mills of Zadok A. Taft 
& Co., and, in former years, the Shove and the Rich- 
ardson saw and grist-mills. It is also one of the 
finest trout brooks in this section, and for several 
years Seth P. Carpenter, of Milford, an enthusiast in 
pisciculture, spent time and money in the erection of 
hatching hou.ses and spawning-tanks; which, since 
his death, have fallen into "innocuous desuetude" 
and decay. The old gentleman was sanguine of suc- 
cess, and there is no doubt that if the vandal fisher- 
men and surreptitious hookers of trout had left his 
breeding trout and hatchlings alone, he would have 
realized his fondest dreams. 

The Rivulet Brook rises in the westerly part of the 
town, flows easterly through the farm of the late 
John S. Taft, to the pond at the Rivulet Mills, owned 
by Richard Sayles & Co., furnishing power for that 
prosperous establishment, and thence to the Mumford 
River, a short distance south of the Uxbridge Cotton- 
Mills. One of the earliest mills in town was built 
upon this stream ; and the second distillery for the 
manufacture of gin and cider brandy emptied its 



nauseous refuse into its waters, on the Taft farm. In 
1815 a woolen-mill was erected upon this brook, and 
since that date it has never ceased to furnish power 
for some manufacturing euterprise. Drabble Tail 
Brook is a small stream formed by the union of 
Croney Brook and Shuttle Brook, two smaller streams, 
or rivulets, arising from springs in the hills, just 
westerly of the centre of the town, and runs through 
the central village, crossing the highway near the 
Blackstone National Bank, and emptying into the 
Mumford River just below the dwelling-house of the 
late John W. Capron. This stream runs the water- 
wheel at the Shuttle Shop, and is capable of doing 
more damage in a sudden thaw than all the other 
water-courses in town. Less than one-eighth of a 
mile from the Shuttle Shop Pond to its outlet in the 
Mumford, it has repeatedly overflowed its banks, 
made a pond of Mechanic Square, a race-way of 
Main street, and a host of good citizens indignant at 
the negligence which allows this insignificant stream 
to kick up such a muss every three or four years. In 
1824 excavations were begun for the Blackstone 
Canal, a project which had been agitated at various 
times from 1776 to the lime when the Canal Company 
was incorporated, 1822. This canal was to be the 
great means of communication and trade between 
Providence and Worcester, and designed as an 
avenue for the transportation of heavy freight up 
and down the Blackstone Valley, which hitherto had 
been carried, at great expense and delay, by wagon- 
teams. Uxbridge was one of its important stations, 
and the locks and banks of the old canal can be seen 
to-day, though the canal ceased to be used in 1848, 
when it was superseded by the Providence and Wor- 
cester Railway. 

These several water-courses have each and all con- 
tributed to the prosperity and comfort of the inhabit- 
ants of Uxbridge, and are the source whence has 
sprung that almost miraculous power which has kept 
the wheels of local industry in motion. While they 
have benefited the people, they have also added to 
thebeauty and attractiveness of the town ; so that they 
may well claim from the pen of the historian their 
full meed of praise. Uxbridge, like most other 
manufacturing towns, is divided into villages; each 
manufacturing establishment building up around it 
comfortable homes for the employes, and schools for 
the education of their children. 

As these different villages will be commented upon, 
in connection with the history of manufacturing, 
which follows in another chapter, it will suffice for the 
present to give their names. 

Uxbridge Centre (where are located the Town Hall, 
Unitarian, Trinitarian, Methodist and Roman Catholic 
Churches, Capron Mills, principal stores, post-office 
and railway station) comprises about one-third of the 
population ; North Uxbridge (also a post-office vil- 
lage) contains the Uxbridge Cotton-Mills and the 
Baptist Church. The next largest village is the 



160 



HISTORY OP WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



Calumet, for many years known as the " Jv ew Vil- 
lage." Next in size and importance is the Hecla 
village, formerly known as " Shank-bone," a nickname 
given to it (more than fifty years ago, it is saiil) on 
account of the frequency with which shank-beef was 
served at the mill boarding-house. A letter from 
Ireland, addressed to an employ6 of the mill, was 
directed to " Shankbone, Mass., U. S.'' How the post- 
office clerks ascertained the location of this village by 
that name is one of the unanswered conundrums. 

Wheelock's village (formerly called " Crackerville," 
probably on account of crackers being too prominent 
aa article of diet, on some remote occasion) is the 
next in size. It is one of the prettiest, best-condi- 
tioned villages iu the town, and its inhabitants are 
justly proud of it, and of the public-spirited gentlemen 
whose kindly interest in their welfare has made their 
homes and surroundings so pleasant. Elmdale (for- 
merly Squaw Hollow), one of the oldest villages in 
the town, situated about half a mile easterly of the 
Hecla village, is the home of the proprietor and em- 
ployes of Scott's Satinet Mills. Ironstone (at the 
south part of the town, three miles from the centre. 
on Forge Brook) was once the largest village in Ux- 
bridge. In the early history of the town it was 
famous for the first mechanical business, established 
over one hundred and fifty years ago. For many 
years a large business was done there, and it was a 
post-station and general trading-place for the sur- 
rounding country. Ironstone Factory was built in 
1815, by a stock company, and was burned in 1832. 
Subsequently rebuilt, it was operated with varying 
success by different parties till 1865, when it was 
again burned, and the projserty and the village have 
fallen into ruin. 

The Rivulet village, on the south side of the old 
Boston and Hartford Turnpike, owned mostly by 
Richard Sayies & Co., is an illustration of what the 
energy and business enterprise of a live, intelligent 
man can accomplish. When Mr. Sayies took the 
property, it was sadly out of repair; the -street was 
narrow and inconvenient for travel; the tenements 
dilapidated, small and few in number, and the sur- 
roundings unpleasant. In a few short years wonders 
have been accomi)liahed. New houses have been 
erected, the old ones repaired and enlarged, the street 
widened, a new bridge put in, the factory buildings 
enlarged, modernized and improved ; the grounds, 
lawns and fences made neat and handsome, and the 
entire village renovated and beautified. 

Happy Hollow is the happy name of a small village 
which has grown up around and in the vicinity of the 
woolen-mills erected by Zadok A. Taft and D. M. 
Lee, on the Emerson Brook. 

These constitute all the factory villages, but there 
are several of the agricultural sections of the town 
known by local names, which can have no general 
interest, as they are not strictly villages. 

The minerals of Uxbridgeare iron, lead, silver, in 



small quantities, while quartz, beryl and smoky topaz 
in crystals are frequently found. Vast quarries of 
gneissoid granite furni.'~h material for buildings, curb- 
ing, monuments and general cemetery work. It is of 
excellent quality and fineness, and capable of taking 
a high polish, some of it being in color and quality 
nearly equal to the imported Scotch granite. The 
Uxbridge Silver Mine, located in the southwest part 
of the town, on land now owned by C. R. Thomson 
and others (formerly the Chileon Tucker farm), was 
opened about fifty years ago, and for awhile g.ave 
promise of considerable richness. But after sinking 
two shafts to a depth of nearly fifty feet, and working 
a cross-cut on the vein, it was found that the vein, 
instead of increasing in width, as was hoped and 
expected, was, if anything, even smaller than at the 
surface — about three-fourths of an inch of metal, in a 
hard, refractory gangue of quartzite. The metallic 
vein was a true galena, carrying a good per cent, of 
silver, but the immense expense attending its excava- 
tion, reduction and purification requiring, in the 
language of the day, " a gold mine to work the silver 
mine," caused a suspension of all work, and for about 
fifty years not a dollar's worth of ore has been taken 
from the mine. Its shafts are filled with water, and 
abandoned to the nymphs of the thick woods, whose 
spreading branches hide the place where fond hopes 
much expense and bitter disappointment lie buried. 
There are several small beds of liuionite, or bog ore, 
and at the south part of the town, near Ironstone, the 
dark-colored rocks, which there abound, contain con- 
siderable quantities of specular iron, so that the stone 
is called " ironstone," and the village takes its name, 
" Ironstone," from that fact. 

It is believed by some tliat the yellow-colored 
quartz, which is found in quite large quantities in the 
western part of this town and the adjoining part of 
Douglas, contains gold, but if they will take pains to 
weigh it they will find its specific gravity insufficient 
to indicate the presence of gold. It is undoubtedly a 
kind of jasper — an opaque, yellow quartz colored by 
iron, or ferruginous clay, — possessing no value what- 
ever. The western and southwestern parts of the 
town are well wooded, nearly every farm having 
several acres of wood and sprout land, for market and 
domestic wood. Pine, chestnut, oak and birch are the 
principal woods, with occasionally a small lot of wal- 
nut. 

The taxable valuation of the town in 1821 — which 
is the earliest tax record which has been preserved — 
was about $113,116 ; the number of polls, 366 ; and 
the amount raised for State, county and town pur- ■ 
poses, $1,986.37 ; rate, $1.75 on each $1000 of valua- I 
tion. In 1830 — nine years later — the valuation had 
increased to $786,592 ; 483 polls. Amount raised, 
not including school district taxes, about $4500 ; rate, 
$2.90 per $1000 of valuation. 

In 1860, thirty years later, the number of i)olls had 
increased to 818; the valuation to $1,566,458 — a gain 



UXBRIDGE. 



161 



of over 99 per cent. ; the amount raised for State 
county and town purposes to $19,158, not including 
highway taxes — a gain of over 100 per cent. ; and the 
rate of tax to $5.0tj per $1,000— a gain in rate of 75 
per cent. 

In 1888, tweuty-six years later, tlie numljer of polls 
have increased to 885; the valuation to $2,032,725 ! 
the amount raised for 8tate, county and town pur- 
poses, including highway taxes, to $2S,i)9(j^a gain of 
over 300 percent.; and the rate to *13.5ll per $1,000 
— again in rate of 266 per cent. It is worthy of note 
that the State tax for Uxbridge, in the year 1860, was 
$495 ; while in 1888 it has increased to $2,475 — a gain 
of just 500 per cent. 

This town believes in tlie axiom " pay as yon go;" 
and although it raised over forty thousand dollars for 
war purposes during the Rebellion, toolv possession 
and paid for over twenty thousand dollars" worth of 
school district property in 1870, when school districts 
were abolished, built a new town hall in 1879 at a 
cost of over fifteen thousand dollars, and has recently 
expended over fifteen thousand dollars more in new 
school-houses, widening Mendon Street, and building 
new bridges and annually ajipropriates over twenty 
thousand dollars for town charges and expenses, it is 
a// paid up. It owes no debt, and its excellent roads, 
good care of its unfortumite poor and its unsurpassed 
schools attest the wi.sdomof its course. In 1879, after 
years of agitation, a fine brick town hall building, 
containing a concert hall, voting hall, rooms for the 
I Free Public Library and all the town officers, was 
erected by the town, at an expense of a little over 
fifteen thousand dollars. This sum was all raised by 
taxation and paid in three years — five thousand dol 
lars and interest being raised each year in addition to 
the regular taxes for town purposes. 

Taken as a whole, Uxbridge is one of the brightest 
in the galaxy of stars that form the crown of muni- 
cipal glory which makes old Worcester County 
famous. 

" I fain wouUI [Kiiise to name tier every ctiarm, — 
The sheltered cot, the cultivated farm, 
The uever-failiii}^ stream, the husy mill. 
The decent church that topt the neighhoririg hill." 



CHAPTER XXVI. 

VXBRWGn— {Coil/ iinu'd.) 

Relkuon. — One of the conditions upon which the 
new town was chartered, which is exjiressed in the act 
of incorporation, was that within two years from the 
publication of the act the said inhabitants should 
"erect and finish a suitable House for the public wor- 
ship of <Tod, and procure and settle a learned Urtho 
dox Minister of good conversation," etc. 

We find, therefore, that at a town meeting held 
August 25, 1727, the inhabitants passed the following 
11 



vote, copied verbatim from the records: — "Voted, 
That they would Sett ye meeting House on ye South 
side of Drabble Tail Brook. But seeing it would be 
inconvenient to Set the meeting House where the First 
Vote Specified, they recalled s'' vote and passed a vote 
that They would Sett ye meeting House within the 
Fence of Eben' Read's Pasture, on a place which they 
had Viewed for, and Judg'd convenient for that pur- 
pose." 

October 1, same year, " voted that they would main- 
tain the public preaching by way of Rate, till ournext 
annual meeting." Also voted at same meeting, "that 
they would accept of Mr. Terry's proffer of preaching 
to us for Iwenty ■ihiUiii<js a sabbath, till ye next an- 
niud meeting; and also that all the money that should 
be put iu unmarked, should be lo<iked upon ;is given 
gratis." 

It is a matter of some interest, that the pay of a 
minister to occupy the pulpit in 1888 is about four 
times greater than in 1727, or twenty dollars per Sun- 
day, instead of twenty shillings; and it also seems 
that the good ]>eople of that early day might ofl'-set 
against the parish tax any money put into the contri- 
bution-box, which they were careful enough to mart, 
probably meaning marked with contributor's name, 
and claimed as paid in anticipation of tax. 

It was also voted at said meeting, "that they would 
build said meeting h(uise forty feet in length and 
thirty-five feet in brcadgth, and twenty-nine feet be- 
tween joynts." 

How acceptably Mr. Terry preached to our hard- 
headed forefathers is matter of some doubt, for at the 
annual meeting in March, 1728, his name is not men- 
tioned in the records, and the town voted "that a com- 
mittee be chosen to provide somesniteable person for 
to preach unto us." That they sadly needed some 
suitfablc person to preach unto them is manliest from 
the succeeding votes relative to church and meeting- 
house, viz. : " Voted at said meeting that they would 
notyVre the Quaiem," which means that all those un- 
happy followers of George Fox who had settled in this 
town should be taxed the same as the orthodox be- 
lievers, to sustain orthodox preaching, even though 
(as now) they had conscientious scruples against it; 
a system of religious intolerance which the progress 
of a century and a half has, in a great measure, cor- 
rected. 

It was also " voted, that there be fifteen gallons 
of Gond Rum provided for ye raising of ye meeting- 
house." A suitable minister in that early time might, 
and undoubtedly did, approve of this strong auxiliary 
force, then considered necessary for the proper and 
successful raising of even an orthodox meeting-house, 
whose huge timbers, rough hewn and unseasoned, 
should stand against storm and flootl and Indian foes, 
monuments of the people's devotion to the living God. 

So lately as twenty-five years ago, in this same 
town, the writer has seen the prodigious effect which 
a few tjuarts of "good rum" has had in raising some 



162 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



of the dwelling-houses and barns which grace the 
hillsides, and it is a question fit for the decision of 
the prohibitionist of 1888 whetlier churches and 
dwellings raised by the strong aid of strong drink are 
more prone to decay and destruction, and more the 
object of divine wrath than those raised upon cold 
water? At all events the religion of 1728, and many 
years since, recognized without serious criticism the 
use of intoxicating liquors upon all important occa- 
sions ; while the religion of the present day, thanks 
to a more enlightened public opinion, has not only 
ceased to appi'ove, but severely condemns its use. The 
next record concerning preaching is of the meeting 
held November ye 8th, 1728, when the town voted 
"that they would continue preaching this winter 
amongst them ; " but January 13th, following, they 
voted " not to do anything at present about settlement 
of a minister;" though on the 28th of the same 
month they voted "that there be five men chosen to 
be a committee to see about providing one to preach 
among us, and that said committee shall provide a 
suUeable person to preach to us by the first Sabbath in 
April next, and that said committee shall stand while 
(until) there is a minister settled among us." For more 
than a year following no mention is made in the 
records, concerning the success of the committee or 
the building or completion of the "meeting-house." 
So it may be presumed that the spiritual needs of the 
people were satisfactorily provided for. 

May 4, 1729, about two years after the town at its 
first meeting voted to build a meeting-house, the 
record says, " the freeholders and other inhabitants 
met att ye meeting-house ;" &o that now, for the first 
time, we are certain that the town complied with the 
conditions of its act of incorporation, and did, " within 
two years from the publication of the act, erect and 
finish (?) a suitable house for the public worship of 
God; "but the other condition of said act "procure 
and settle a learned Orthodox Minister of good con- 
versation," etc., was not fulfilled for some time after, 
though they evidently tried to make literal compli- 
ance. 

July 1.3, 1729. the town voted " that they are willing 
to settle Mr. Othniel Campbell to be their minister, 
and that if be will .settle amongst us as our minister, 
that they will give him 70 pounds a year for his sallary, 
and \00 pounds settlemt'id for encouragement." 

It must be remembered that it is pounds sterling 
herein referred to, and that to a new people in a 
new country, dependent on the earth for their living 
and burdened with the expense of building for them- 
selves houses, and developing their farms from the 
wild woods and rocky hillsides around them, the 
payment of a sum equal to nearly five hundred dol- 
lars, as " encouragement" to a minister of the Gospel 
to settle among them, and an annual stipend or 
salary of about three hundred and fifty dollars, was 
an undertaking which shows more than anything else 
in the early history of this town what sterling, loyal, 



public-spirited and religious men these first citizens 
of Uxbridge proved themselves to be — a lesson which 
the wealthy and independent citizen of to-day may 
study with pleasure and profit. 

Mr. Campbell seemed to have trouble in getting 
dismissed from his previous pastoral relations to some 
other town, for Uxbridge voted February, 1730, " to pay 
not exceeding 100 pounds per year if he could get to 
preach for us by the first Monday of March next." 

May 4, 1730, it appears of record that Mr. Camp- 
bell couldn't come, for the town " voted for Mr. Webb 
and Mr. Wales, and Mr. John Wales had y' major 
vote," and on May 7th it was " voted that if Mr. 
Wales will accept of their call and settle among them 
as their minister, that they will confer on him y'' sum 
of one hundred ])oundsin good passable money for his 
settlement, and ninety pounds a year in good passable 
money for his satlery." In May of the same year Mr. 
Campbell comes to the front with a demand for pay- 
ment of his services for supplying the pulpit ; for on 
the 29th of May the town " voted to give Mr. Camp- 
bell y' sum of five pds. for y' 7 Sabbaths he has been 
absent from y' town since we had y'' Minister's advice 
for y" hearing of others, and for y' damage he has .sus- 
tained since he preached to us or had a call from us ;'' 
and also " voted that they do dismiss Mr. Campbell 
from any tie that the town has upon him for preach- 
ing among us;" "and likewise voted that they will 
have preaching continued among us." 

Mr. Campbell is not so easily disposed of. Like 
some ministers of the present day, he knew how to 
stick, and about how much he wanted for ihe privilege 
of going ; for in June, same year, after demanding fur- 
ther satisfaction for damages sustained, the town voted 
" not to do anything further in respect to Mr. Camp- 
bell's request for satisfaction for getting off from his 
obligations when he was called to Uxbridge." At the 
same meeting it was " voted to follow the minister's 
advice and give Mr. Nathan Webb a call, or renew Mr. 
Campbell'ss call." That some of the town did not take 
kindly to the proposition to " renew Mr. Canipbetl's 
call," appears from the vote passed. July 9th, " Voted 
that they will give Mr. Nathan Webb a call in order 
to settle with us as our minister, and that they give 
him for encouragement ye same for settlements and 
salary as were voted Mr. Wales, when they voted to 
give him a call." This is the first intimation given 
in tbe records that Mr. Wales had declined the call. 

September 4, 1730, Mr. Campbell carried his point, 
and received from the town the sum of twenty-one 
pounds for all his damages, for dismissal, etc. ; and his 
receipt, recorded at length on the records of the town 
gives evidence that a legal mind advised, and a care- 
ful hand drew up, an acknowledgment that held this 
litigious minister of the gospel so tightly that his 
name does not again appear upon the records of the 
town-meetings. 

Mr. Nathan Webb was the frst settled minister in 
Uxbridge, and his ordination took place the 3d day 



UXBRIDGE. 



163 



of February, 1731 ; so that it was nearly four years^ 
instead of two, before the other condition in the act 
of incorporation was fulfilled. Mr. Webb died March 
16, 1772, after a ministry of over forty years. He was 
deeply lamented, and goes down to posterity as a 
faithful preacher, an earnest, true-hearted man, whose 
influence upon the minds and hearts of the early in- 
habitants of Uxbridge was extremely beneficial and 
conducive to that growing prosjierity which made 
Uxbridge one of the leading towns of Provincial 
Massachusetts. 

The second settled minister was Hezekiah Chap- 
man, who was settled January 27, 1774, and was dis- 
missed April 5, 1781. It is a lamentable fact that the 
cause of Mr. Chapman's dismissal was intemperance. 

The third settled minister was Rev. Josiah Spauld- 
ing, who was settled September 11, 1783, and was dis- 
missed at his own request October 27, 1787. After 
the dismissal of Mr. Spaulding, Mr. Samuel Mead 
preached for some time ; and in December, 1791, the 
town voted to concur with the church in giving Mr. 
Mead a call to be settled over them in the ministry; 
but it does not appear upon the records what answer 
Mr. Mead made to the call. It probably was not loud 
enough in a pecuniary sense. The fourth settled 
minister was the Rev. Samuel Judson, who was settled 
October 17, 1792, and dismissed in 1832, and died in 
November of the same year. The First Congre- 
gational Society was incorporated in the year 1797 ; 
and from this time all connection between the town 
and the " Congregational Society " ceased. The town 
occupied the meeting-house for town-meetings and 
business purposes until it was taken down for th( 
purpose of building a new church, in 1834. Many ol 
the present residents of the town attended church 
in the time of Mr. Judson, and can bear testimony 
that " he was a man of remarkable conscientiousness 
rare good nature, much native common sense, and deep 
in the love and confidence of the people of his charge.'' 
At the dismissal of Mr. Judson the elements of re- 
ligious o[)inion came to an open rupture, and those 
who had formerly been united under his ministrations 
formed themselves into separate societies, and the two 
houses for religious worshij) which now stand upon 
opposite sides of the Common were erected, and the 
members of the two societies, who unitedly had paid 
Mr. Judson a salary of $400 a year, settled the Rev. 
Samuel Clarke at a salary of $600 a year, and the Rev- 
David A. Grosveuor at a salary of $600, and from that 
time to the present, when the salaries of the ministers 
of these two churches aggregate $2600, both societies 
have been exceedingly prosperous. 

The new church of the First Congregational So- 
ciety was dedicated in .January, 1835, the pastor, Rev. 
Samuel Clarke, preaching the sermon. This build- 
ing, still standing, was thoroughly repaired in 1864, at 
a cost of about $4500 ; and again in 1878 it was re- 
modeled inside, new pews put in, and the walls and 
ceiling elegantly frescoed, at a cost of some $4000, 



and to-day it is one of the finest country churches in 
the State. During the present year a new and ele- 
gant organ, costing some $3000, has been put in at the 
right of the minister's desk, and its full, deep, musi- 
cal tones would astonish the early choirs who, at the 
other end of the church, succeeded in drowning the 
accompanying music of the little organ which Mr. 
Rogerson so artistically played. 

The meeting-house of the Evangelical Congrega- 
tional Society was built in 1833 and dedicated in the 
autumn. It has been several times repaired, has 
been lately remodeled and fitted with handsome fur- 
niture and a new pipe-organ, and, like its neighbor 
across the Common, is a fine, convenient and comfort- 
able church. 

Referring to the records of the town, we find that 
the original meeting-house, though erected within 
the limit prescribed by the act of incorporation, was 
not finished till long after ; for a vote was passed in 
February, 1733, " that they will have but one pew 
built in ye meeting-house, and that they will have ye 
men's seats on ye one side of ye alley, and ye women's 
seats on j'e other side ; " and in August, 1735, " the 
sura of one hundred pounds was appropriated to 
finish ye meeting-house." So it appears that for sev- 
eral years the people met in a cold, uncomfortable, 
barn-like structure, sat upon hard benches or cushion- 
less seats without backs, and listened to the word of 
God under circumstances that would appal the stoutest 
heart and chill the marrow of the most consistent and 
earnest Christian of the present generation. 

We wonder, as we sit in our comfortable, steam- 
heated, electric-lighted, soft-seated, floor-carpeted, 
well ventilated churches of the present day, and lis- 
ten to the rich music of the modern pipe-organ, and 
the operatic warbling of our thousand dollar quar- 
tette singers, how those old pioneers and great-grand- 
fathers of ours could possibly have lived through 
such hardships as they endured, and enjoyed the 
blessings of religion obtained under such discourag- 
ing circumstances as attended them. 

The pastors who have served God and the people 
in the First Congregational (Unitarian) Society since 
its incorporation have been : Rev. Samuel Clarke, 
who was installed January 9, 1833, and died Novem- 
ber 19, 1859, " a faithful and beloved pastor for nearly 
twenty -seven years ;'' Rev. Charles Taylor Canfield; 
ordained and installed October 12, 1860, and resigned 
March 31, 1862; Rev. Rushton D. Burr, installed 
November 12, 1862, and resigned May 4, 1868 ; Rev. 
Samuel R. Priest, ordained and installed January 
20, 1869, and resigned January 2, 1871 ; Rev. James 

F. Lusk was hired March, 1872, and resigned July 
1, 1875 ; Rev. George Bremner, ordained and in- 
stalled November 16, 1875, and resigned December 
28, 1883 ; Rev. L. M. Burrington, installed Septem- 
ber 28, 1884, and resigned July 25, 1886 ; Rev. W. R. 

G. Mellin, installed April 6, 1887, and remains 
pastor of the church. 



164 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



The pastors of the Evangelical Congregational So- 
ciety have been : Rev. David Adams Grosvener, 
ordained and installed June fi, 1882, and dismissed 
at his own recjuest .June 15, 181:2; Rev. John Orcutt, 
installed December 18, 1842, and dismissed May 1, 
1849; Rev. Jacob Jackson Abbott, D.D., installed in 
1850, and resigned in 18(i2; Rev. J. B. Johnson, 
installed December 15, 18G4, and dismissed February 
6, 1868; Rev. Thomas C. BIscoe, installed December 
2, 1868, and dismissed May 25, 187(); Rev. George 
H. Johnson, hired for one year from May 1, 1877, 
and served faithfully till the year expired; Rev. 
William H. Cobb, installed September 18, 1878, and 
dismissed October 1, 1887 ; Rev. F. L. Bristol, in- 
stalled May 1, 1888, and now remains pastor of the 
church. 

The Baptid Church. — The Baptist Church, located 
at North LJ.\bridge, was organized June '22, 1842; 
and on the same day Rev. Austin Robbins was or- 
dained and installed pastor of the new church. The 
church rapidly increased in numbers, receiving 
forty-seven members during the first year of its ex- 
istence. Mr. Robbins resigned in 1850, after a suc- 
cessful pastorate of eight years. For the next four 
years the pulpit of this church was supplied by Rev. 
Job Boomer, Rev. Joseph Smith, Rev. Joseph Til- 
linghast and Rev. -S. S. Mallory, each officiating 
about one year. Rev. James W. Russell became 
pastor of the church November 11, 1854, and re- 
signed in 1864 ; Rev. Joseph Barber became pastor 
in April, 1865, and resigned ia November, 1868, and 
was followed by Rev. J. W. Dick, in April, 1869, who 
continued his ministry here until July, 1871. In 
October, 1871, Rev. J. H. Tilton was installed pastor, 
and remained six years, closing his labors October, 
1877. In November, 1877, Rev. B. H. Lane was 
installed, and resigned May 30, 1882; Rev. T. M. 
Butler was installed November 1, 1882, and resigned 
in June, 1888. 

This society lias recently erected a fine church 
building at North Uxbridge, opposite Chase's Corner, 
with a convenient parsonage close by, and is rapidly 
grovying in membership and is free from debt. 

Methodist Episcopal Church. — The first Method- 
i.st preaching in Uxbridge Centre began about Sep- 
tember 1, 1874. Some of the citizens, desiring to 
reach a clas-i that was not hearing the Gosi)el, made 
arrangements with Rev. Mr. Merrill, then pastor ol' 
theM. E. Church in Whitinsville, to preach in Taft's 
Hall on Sunday evenings ; and Mr. Merrill continued 
hia services up to February 7, 1875. 

Mr. F. T. Pomeroy, of Shrewsbury, a local preacher 
of the M. E. Church, a young man of excellent 
ability and pleasant aildress, succeeded Mr. Merrill, 
and remained here until April, 1877. His appoint- 
ment was considered a mission of the church. The 
mission was formally organized as a church with 
eight members December 19, 1875, by Rev. Dr. Has- 
kell, presiding elder of the Worcester District. Mr. 



Hunter, of the Boston University, succeeded Mr. 
Pomeroy, but soon left. He was succeeded by Rev. 
John W. Collier, who began his labors, June 9, 1877, 
and closed them June 23, 1878, to go as a missionary 
to Peru, South America. For the remainder of the 
Conference year Mr. J. H. Thompson supplied the 
pulpit. 

Mr. Thompson was returned to Uxbridge for the 
Conference year 1879-80, which was the first appoint- 
ment made here by the Conference. Mr. Thompson 
was succeeded by Rov. Charles Perkins, who was in 
turn succeeded by Rev. J. W. Uodgers. The present 
pastor is Rev. J. T. Kennedy. 

In March, 1878, the society purchased of the town, 
as a site for a church edifice, a part of the old bury- 
ing-ground in the centre of the town. Subscription 
papers for the church were opened in January, 1879, 
which were very generously signed by the members 
of other congregations (notably the Unitarian), and 
on April 1st the amount pledged was three thousand 
five hundred dollars. The church, which cost about 
six thousand dollars, was completed early in 1880, 
and was dedicated with appropriate ceremonies. It 
stands nearly opposite the railway station, just north 
of the new town liall, and is a fine specimen of church 
architecture. This church has grown rapidly, and has 
a membership, at the present time, of about sixty. 

JVte Friends, or (Quakers. — It a|)i)ears by the town 
records that at the time tlie town was incorporated, 
or very soon after, several families of Friends or 
Quakers were living within its limits, and, as is 
their custom, objected to paying the rates or taxes for 
the 8up])ort of ministers or preachers, then settled, 
anil paid by tax ; and the matter was brought before 
the town at a meeting held in March, 1728. At this 
meeting " they voted that they would not free the 
Quakers." This is the first information given by the 
town records concerning the fact that a part of the 
settlers of the town were members of that society. 
Mr. L. C. Wheeler, a member of the society, fur- 
nishes the following account of this sect, which is of 
great interest: 

At the (late of the or^aniz.ation of the town, ttiu gimkerg were a part 
of the Siiiithiiehi ftlontlily meeting, and tiiuieuliteiUy liekl iiieetinKS, in 
indivitluals' lionsee, till 1770, when the Slonllily flieeting anthoiizt.ii 
"the bniltling uf a meeting-house in IJxbiiilge, near Moses Faniuui's.' 
The meeting-house stands at the junetion of the roaiis from Millvilln 
and Ironstone to Ll-vbridge Centre, anil is constructed of brick, with a 
tablet bearing the date of its erection, 1770, in the gable. 

The following account of its construction is taken 
from old records in the possession of the clerk of 
the "Quarterly Meeting : " 

In the 4tb month, 1770, the Sniithfield fllonthly Meeting ordered a 
meeting-house to be built a little Southerly of Muses Farnuni's, by the 
side of the tireat I'oad. In the nioidhs following the Ineise was bnilt, 
thirty-live feet long and thirty feet broad. Itnring llie .'itli tuontli, I77I, 
Adam Harkness, William Bnffnm and David Steere do report yt they 
find the whole cost of buildiiig the brick meeting-house to amount to 
Xi06 S». l(i. 

The house has been in use to the present time, and 
notwithstanding its age of one hundred and eighteen 



UXBRIDGE. 



165 



years, its walls show no signs of weakness or decay, and 
its plain roof, without jets or ornamental finish of any 
kind, is in an excellent state of preservation. The 
window-sashes contain the same small panes of glass, 
and the same doors swing on leather hinges, as for- 
merly. The internal .arrangements of the house are 
also left in their original style, having heen simply 
kept in repair. 

A few years previous the Monthly Meeting had 
authorized the erection of a meeting-house in Ux- 
bridge, and in 17i>(> one was erected in what was then 
the north part of Uxl)ridge, and which is now North- 
bridge, that town having been set oil' from Uxbridge 
in 1772. This house stood very near the location of 
the present meeting-house, — about half a mile south 
from Riverdale in Northbridge. 

The meetings held .at Uxbridge and Northbridge 
were a part of the Smithfield Monthly Meeting, till 
7th month (.Inly), 17S3, when the several meetings 
held in Uxbridge, Leicester, Northbridge and Rich- 
mond, N. H., were set oil', and formed a separ.ate 
Monthly Meeting under the name of the Uxbridge 
Monthly Meeting, which has continued till the pres- 
ent time, except that the Richmond Meeting has 
been dropped, and the meeting formerly .at Leicester 
removed to Worcester. In addition to the above, a 
meeting at Pomfret, Conn., and one at Douglas have 
been made a part of the Uxbridge Monthly Meeting. 

The apjiroved ministers of Uxbridge Monthly, as 
far as ascertained, have been Daniel Aldrich, Rich- 
ard Mowry ; Job Scott, approved 12lh month, 17.S3; 
Israel 8al)in, approved 1790; and Royal Southwick, 
Daniel Olapp, Timothy K. Earle, John B. Daniels 
and Salome C. Wheeler. In addition to the above, 
the following have moved into the Jlonthly Meeting 
from other places, viz. : Steidien Cortland, Lydia 
Haight and Susan A. Gilford. 

Only two of the above-named ministers were natives 
of Uxbridge, and spent their whole lives in the town, 
ministering semi-weekly to the congregations that 
gathered in the " Old Brick," viz. ; Richard Mowry, 
who died Isl month 23d, 1835, aged nearly eighty-six 
years, and Royal Southwick, who died 11th month 
30th, lS4it, aged eighty years. Job Scott, whose 
ministry w.as approved in 17S3, and whose journal 
giving a history of his labors in the ministry has been 
published, spent only a few years of his life in the 
town, anil Israel Saben lived here in 1770, at the time 
of his marriage, and for several years afterwards. 

There .are now but four .ajiproved ministers of the 
denomination in the Monthly jMeetiiig ; and only one 
of these, Mrs. Salome C. Wheeler, is a resident of the 
town. Her labors in the ministry are usually at the 
Northbridge Meeting, but her influence in our schools 
— of which she is one of the Board of Examiners — 
her interest in temper.ance work, her kind symp.athy 
and Labors for the sick a.nd afflicted, are all gratefully 
appreciated by the people of Uxbridge, who are proud 
to claim her as one of our most respected citizens. 



The membership of this denomination is not large, 
but they m.ake up for lack of numbers by their intel- 
ligence and Christian zeal. 

In the words of the Quaker Poet of Amesbury : 

" The laat of liis sect to liis fathers may go, 
Ijeaving only Lis coat fur some Barn inn to show ; 
Bnt the trnth will ontlivp liini, and broaden with years, 
Till tile false dies away, and the wrong disappears/* 

The Roman Catholic Church. — The earliest ac- 
count of any Roman Catholic Church service in 
Uxbridge is that a service was held for the few 
Catholics then in town, in 1850, by the Rev. l^atrick 
McCJrath, of Hopkinton, in one of the laborer's 
tenements owned by .Joseph Th.ayer, Esq. 

In 1853 Uxbridge was erected into a parish by 
Right Rev. J. B. Fitzpatrick, Bishop of the Diocese 
of Mass.achusetts, and Rev. E. J. Sheridan was ap- 
pointed |ia.stor, August, 1853. The parish then in- 
cluded the towns of Grafton, Millbury, Northbridge, 
Dcmglas and Uxbridge. St. Mary's Church in Ux- 
bridge was dedicated in 1855, the sermon on the oc- 
casion being preached by Rev. James A. Healy, 
afterwards Bishop of the Diocese of Maine. 

In May, 18C7, Rev. Dennis O'Keefe was appointed 
pastor and remained one year, when he was removed 
to Clinton, in this county. 

In May, 18G8, Rev. Dennis C. Moran was appointed 
pastor, and the church in this town being insufficient 
to accommodate all the Catholics of Uxbridge and 
Northbridge, so rapidly hiid their numbers increased, 
that this pastor caused St. Patrick's Church in Whit- 
insville to be built in the year 1870, and thus gave 
relief to the overcrowded St. Mary's. 

In 1871, Rev. Henry L. Robinson, a gentleman of 
great erudition and eloquence, was appointed pastor, 
and is still occupying that position, loved and honored 
by his congregation, .and highly respected and appre- 
ciated by Christians of other denominations. So 
highly have his labors in this field been valued by the 
head of his Church, that the additional title of "Doctor 
of Divinity" has been accorded to him, and is, we 
know, well deserved and modestly worn. 

In the year 1870 St. Mary's w.as repaired and hand- 
somely frescoed at an expense of over two thousand 
five hundred dollars. The present parish includes 
the towns of Uxbridge and Northbridge, with St. 
Mary's as the p.arish church. Dr. Robinson has charge 
of both churches .and congregations, and is assisted 
by a curate. The number of souls belonging to the 
parish is over two thousand, and its average Sunday 
attendance is very much larger than any other congre- 
gation in the town. 



CHAPTER XXVII. 

UXBRIDGE— (O^wZ/ww^/.) 

Schools and Libkakies. — It will be observed that 
the act of incorporation of the town required not only 



166 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



that there should be maintained public worship, but 
also required to be maintained " a school-master to 
instruct their youth in writing and reading." The 
schools in Uxbridge rest upon this foundation. 

In January, 1732, the town voted " that they will 
sett up and keep a school in ye town of Uxbridge," 
and "voted to have a sohool-dame for ye 1st 7 or 8 
months, to keep a school in each part of the town 
proportionable," and " voted that ye selectmen shall 
provide a .school-dame, and state ye places that she 
shall keep ye school att." 

There must have been some ditiiculty in providing 
a school-dame, for on March 7th the town voted " to 
make choice of a school-master to keep a school in 
town, and that John Read, Senior, be the school- 
master." 

Whether some doubting Stephen considered the 
employment of a school-dame an evasion of the re- 
quirement in the aforesaid act, that "a school-?»asto- 
be maintained," etc., and caused the town to recon- 
sider its first vote, or no female teacher could be per- 
suaded to bury herself in the wild-woods of this then 
thinly inhabited town, is an open question. But it it- 
of record that the first school was taught by John 
Read. What salary he received, and how many weeks 
in a year his school was in session, is not recorded. 
His successor, George Woodward, was chosen May 3, 
1733, and the town voted to board him and to give 
him twenty pounds for his year's services. Mr. Jame- 
Emer.son boarded the teacher, and was allowed seven 
shillings a week. January 7, 1734, the town chose 
Edmund Rawsou teacher, and increased his salary to 
twenty-five pounds. The same year we find mention 
made of school districts as " squadrons," and each 
squadron had the liberty of choosing its teacher — a 
woman — and the selectmen were to approbate the 
teachers. 

In 173G John Rawson was elected teacher, and was 
allowed forty-five pounds for teaching school. The 
expenses of maintaining the schools up to the year 
1756 seem to have been met from the income derived 
from the grants of land made to the town by the 
General Court, one of which was a grant of five hun- 
dred acres, in the northerly part of the province, in 
what is now New Hampshire; though in what part of 
that State it is difficult to determine, though it is said 
to be in Coos County. In the year 1756 the town 
began to raise money for schools by direct tax, helped 
out from time to time by sale of the school lands, and 
the use of the proceeds for school purposes. 

The first mention made of a school-house is in the 
month of December, 1738, when the town " voted to 
build a school-house." Tradition says the meeting- 
house was previously used for this purpose ; but as 
we have seen, the primitive meeting-house had but 
poor accommodations for use on the Sabbath, and it is 
hardly probable that it was made use of for school 
purposes in its then unfinished and uncomfortable 
condition. It is more probable that the schools were 



kept in private houses, as the selectmen were required 
to open schools in diffisrent parts of the town. The 
school-house erected in 1738-39 must have been almost 
as crude and uncomfortable, in many respects, as the 
meeting-house, for the town voted October 17, 1740, 
"to allow forty-four pounds, three shillings and three 
pence for what had been done and for what was to be 
done to the school-house " — a sum equivalent to a 
little over two hundred dollars, which in these days of 
plenty would pay for a very uncomfortable barn, if it 
was not too large. In 1760 the town voted to divide 
the town into districts, and each district was to enjoy 
the privileges of schooling in proportion to the 
money raised by them. The division took effect in 
1761, and the town was divided into thirteen districts'; 
the children of specified families were to attend 
specified schools, and each district was to have a sum 
of money allotted it, in proportion to the number of 
scholars in that district. The sum of sixty pounds 
was raised for schools each year from 1762 to 1771, in 
1776 forty pounds, in 1777 sixty, in 1778 one hundred 
and twenty, and in 1779 three hundred pounds, show- 
ing by this sudden increase the effect and the pur- 
chasing power of the depreciated currency in the 
time of the Revolutionary War. In 1783-84 the ap- 
propriation again fell to forty pounds, the money 
value of the currency having improved by the 
emission of a new and better national promise to pay. 

In 1788 we find the first mention made of a gram- 
mar school, the town having then " voted that three 
pounds, thirteen shillings and six pence, raised at the 
last meeting, should be applied to a grammar school 
the present year." In 1796 the town was redistricted 
and divided into eleven school districts and substan- 
tially remained so divided up to 182.'>. In 1797 the 
town voted to raise two thousand dollars for building 
school-houses in the several districts, and in case the 
inhabitants of the district were unable to agree 
where their school- house should be placed, the com- 
mittee were to fix upon a proper site. For a good 
description of these old school-houses I am indebted 
to Hon. Charles A. Wheelock, who speaks from 
personal experience in the following language: 

" The old school-bouses ! What queer buildings 
they were when compared with the modern school- 
house ! The writing-desk was a plank running round 
three sides of the room ; the seat was a slab, its flat 
side uppermost, with holes bored in it in which were 
driven cart-stakes for legs. The scholar had no back 
to his seat unless he should turn round and face the 
centre of the room, when his back might rest against 
the edge of the plank writing-desk. The big stone 
fireplace was filled with blazing logs in winter and 
the child must roast and freeze by turns. The dun- 
geon — that dreadful place — to which the unruly ones 
were consigned sometimes to regale themselves upon 
the good things the prudent had brought to sustain 
themselves in their arduous labors while delving 
among the mysteries of the three R's, and the heavy 



UXBRIDGE. 



167 



ruler was there and that never-to-be-forgetten birch 
which was so quickening to the mental faculties when 
properly administered." 

Gradually but surely the expense attending the 
schooling of the children increased, so that while in 
the year 1800 the amount appi-opriated was only about 
four hundred dollars ; in isy.") it had increased to 
one thousand dollars. With the increased appropria- 
tion better school advantages were secured. The 
average wages of female teachers in 1835 was only 
$5.73 per month, and male teachers $13.93, exclusive 
of board. The schools were kept twenty weeks in a 
year, women teaching summers and men in the win- 
ters ; and, therefore, it is to be presumed that the ten 
weeks of summer school were principally for the benefit 
of the younger children, while the grown-up sons and 
daughters, whose labors were essential to the family 
support in summer, attended school ten weeks in the 
winter, and were taught by a man, on account of the 
necessity of having some one who could handle them 
and compel obedience. As the town increased in 
population, as it did rapidly after 1835, it became 
necessary to provide better accommodations for the 
school-children. The appropriations gradually in- 
creased, new school-houses were erected to take the 
places of those so graphically described by Mr. Whee- 
lock, and more and better teachers were employed. 

In 1855, it having been ascertained that the town 
had a population sufficiently large to bring it within 
the provisions of the statutes requiring a high school 
to be kept, the town voted that the School Committee 
should procure a place and open such a school, and 
six hundred dollars was appropriated for the support 
of the school until the next March meeting. The 
committee .subsequently employed Mr. Nathan Gold- 
thwaite as principal of the school, which was opened 
in the old academy building on the northerly end of 
the town's common. This "old academy building" 
was erected in 1819 by Solomon's Temple Lodge of 
Free Masons and the citizens of the town by contri- 
bution, the citizens building the lower story and 
the Masons the upper. In February, 1819, this article 
appeared in the town warrant : " To see if the town 
will permit the erection of a private school-house on 
the north end of the Common, between the cartway 
leading to widow Fanny Willard's back-yard, and the 
wall south of where the old blacksmith shop stands ; 
provided said building can be erected by private 
munificence." 

On March 3d (annual town-meeting) it was voted 
that liberty be given to build a school-house on the 
town common — of certain specified dimensions — pro- 
vided it be built within three years from this date. 
The Masonic Lodge, recently formed in the town, 
which had been holding its meetings in the hall at 
the Spring Tavern, in the north part of the town, de- 
sired better accommodations and eiiected an arrange- 
ment with the committee of citizens by which the 
Masons and the citizens should erect the building at 



joint expense, the Masons completing and occupying 
the upper story and the citizens the lower part for 
private school purposes. The building was of brick 
and was so far completed December 25, 1819, that the 
JSIasons occupied their new hall. The private school, 
which was afterward known as the " Uxbridge Acad- 
emy," was opened by Mr. Abiel Jaques, a Harvard 
graduate, in the fall of 1820, and was used for an 
academy and select school for young ladies under sev- 
eral different teachers of both sexes, until about the 
time the town took it for a high school room in 1855. 

In 1865 a three years' course of study was arranged 
for the high school, which, in 1869, was changed to 
one of four years. The schools and school system of 
Uxbridge have always been its especial pride. The 
town has freely voted its money for their support, 
and, notwithstanding the carping criticisms of a few, 
who, if they knew more about the schools, would use 
better judgment, they are excellently and economi- 
cally managed, and aie producing grand results. The 
wages of teachers at the present time average as fol- 
lows : Female teachers, thirty-five dollars per month ; 
male, high school only, one hundred and ten dollars, 
for ten months only. There are now seventeen com- 
mon schools and the high school, and the average 
length of the schools is thirty-three weeks for com- 
mon schools, and thirty-eight for the high school. 

In 1869 the Massachusetts Legislature passed a 
law abolishing school districts, and requiring the 
towns to take possession of all the school-houses and 
other school property owned by the several districts 
in their corporate capacity, within one year thereaf- 
ter, and pay the districts for the same such sum as a 
committee agreed upon by the town and the districts 
should appraise the property at — the same to be 
paid to the several resident and non-resident tax- 
payers of the districts, in proportion to the amount 
of property liable to taxation therein, by deducting 
from such tax-payer's annual town tax for that year 
the amount apportioned to hira for his interest in the 
school property. 

By this law Uxbridge bought of the several school 
districts property aggregating, by the appraisal of the 
committee, something over $23,000. Since 1870, 
therefore, the school district system has ceased to ex- 
ist, and all the schools and school property is in the 
charge and control of the general School Committee, 
consisting of twelve members, and imstead of repairs 
and expenses attending the buildingof new houses be- 
ing now paid by direct tax upon the inhabitants of the 
district, where the school-house may chance to be 
located, as was formerly the case, all the school ex- 
penses, inclusive, are assessed in one sum to the in- 
habitants of the town, as other town charges are 
assessed. This, of necessity, makes the per cent, of 
increase of money raised for town purposes since 1860 
appear larger, in proportion to the increase of the 
previous period referred to in the first chapter, thiin 
it otherwise would ; for the amount of money usually 



168 



HISTORY OP WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



required annually for repairs of school-houses is quite 
an item in the list of school expenses, iind liable to 
mislead the careless critic who attempts to show the 
extravagance of school management to-day over the 
management of twenty years ago. A careful exami- 
nation of the records and the other items of town 
expenses will show conclusively that the percentage 
of increase in school expenses has only kept pace 
with the increase in population, valuation and gen- 
eral progress of both town and State. 

No town in the county can show better schools or 
better accommodations for the scholars for the 
amount expended. The grading of the schools is 
comparatively higher than obtains in many of the 
neighboring towns, and applications are frequently 
received from pupils iu adjoining towns for leave to 
attend the grammar and high schools iu Uxbridge. 
The schools for the past three years have been under 
the charge of school superintendents, whose personal 
attention to the minutest details of grading, instruc- 
tion and discipline has done much to produce the good 
results obtained. Cheap, unskilled labor in any busi- 
ness is dear at any price ; and a poor teacher, more than 
a poor laborer in any other vineyard, can do immense 
damage, and should never be intrusted with the edu- 
cation of the young, even though she is willing to 
work for small wages. The success of a .school, like 
the success of a woolen-mill or a machine shop, <le- 
pends upon the degree of .skill possessed by the man- 
agers, and the consensus of public opinion is in favor 
of that kind of management which produces good 
results and makes the business a success. 

We have neither time nor space to give an account 
of the different private schools which, since the in- 
auguration of Uxbridge Academy, have met with 
varying success. At the present writing not a single 
private school is in existence in the town, nor has 
there been for several years. The broad and liberal 
instruction given in the public school seems to meet 
the requirements of all classes, and no occasion 
offers for the establishment of schools for private 
emolument and gain. 

From small beginnings, under most discouraging 
and disheartening circumstances, the public-school 
system of Uxbridge has constantly advanced, until it 
has become one of the proudest monuments to the 
good sense, sagacity and philanthropy of her people. 

lAbraries. — The earliest circulating or public library 
iu this town, of which there is any record, was called 
the " U.vbridge Social and Instructive Library," and 
was kept and managed by George Southwick, who was 
.born in 1747, and died in 1807. A book was found 
many years ago by Jonathan F. Southwick, which 
contained the name Uxbridge Social and Instructive 
Library, with the number lO.S, and the date 1775. Mr. 
Southwick (now deceased) said that he remembered a 
meeting of the stockholders, for the purpose of divid- 
ing up the books, and closing the affairs of the library. 



in 1812. So that it probably existed some thirty-five 
or forty years. 

It is not easy to trace the history of libraries in the 
town, prior to the establishment of the " Uxbridge 
Free Public Library," by vote of the town in April, 
1874; as they, and the records concerning them, have 
passed out of existence. Hon. C. A. Wheelock re- 
members that there was a "Social Library" in the town 
in 1821, and how much earlier he is unable to tell. 
As its name was " Uxbridge Second Social Library," 
it is very probable that it began its existence soon 
after the year 1812 — the date of dissolution of the Ux- 
bridge Social and Instructive Library. 

Another library was formed as early as 1830 or 1831, 
which continued to live with varying degrees of use- 
fulness until the establishment of the " Fi-ee Public 
Library." As many as a thousand volumes may, at 
one time, have belonged to it, as we have seen vol- 
umes which were numbered as high as nine hundred 
and fifty. In the forty years of its existence it was 
used by a large number of |iersons. From a report of 
the Hon. Benj. Adams, dated .lauuary 1 1, 1830, it ap- 
pears that this library was formed in January, 1828. 
In 18fi5 the name of this library was called " Uxbridge 
Library Association," and for several years the writer 
of this history had charge of the same as librarian, it 
being then in the room occupied by him as an office 
in the Union bnilding. In the spring of 1873 the 
Library Association offered the books belonging to 
the association to the town as a nucleus for a public 
library ; provided the town will establish such a li- 
brary. About the same time the " Uxbridge Agri- 
cultural Library Association," an association of farm- 
ers, who for sever.al years had been contributing 
books and funds for an agricultural library, and who 
owned a few hundred volumes and pamphlets, made 
a .similar offer, with the same condition. 

At the aiunial town-meeting in Jlarch, 1874, there 
being an article in the warrant for the consideration 
of the subject, the town voted to establish a Free Pub- 
lic Library, appointed a commiitee to report a plan, 
etc., of the same at an adjourned meeting to be held in 
April, and voted to appropriate the " Dog Fund," 
amounting to about $27") to the uses of the library. 
At the adjourned meeting, April 0, 1874, the report 
of the committee and its recommendations and rules 
for the management of the public library were ac- 
cepted and adopted, and a board of trustees was cho- 
sen, as provided by law. 

The Free Public Library thus established went into 
operation for the delivery of books .lanuary 20, 1875, 
and had on its shelves six hundred and eighty-nine 
volumes. In thirteen years the library, under the ju- 
dicious management of Hon. Chas. A. Wheelock and 
his associates on the board of trustees, and the gener- 
ous annual appropriations of the town, has become 
one of the best in the county; is patronized by all 
classes of society, has a catalogue containing nearly 
Jive thousand volumes of the best literary and standard 



UXBKIDGE. 



169 



works, suited to all ages and conditions of life, and 
has so nearly outgrown its present quarters in the 
north end of the new town hall that, at no distant day, 
it will be necessary to move to a building by itself, 
which we hope some public-spirited citizen will build, 
and pi'esent to the town for that purpose. 

The advantages of a Free Public Library cannot 
be overestimated — it reaches the homes of the poor 
as well as the rich, and furnishes the means of a 
home education and culture, otherwise unattainable 
by many. To the scholars in the public schools, who 
have frequent occasion to consult the valuable refer- 
ence hooks and encyclopedias ; to the mechanic and 
the farmer, seeking scientific demonstration of their 
respective theories ; to the professional man, and the 
average reader, it has proved a real blessing and 
source of constant gratifieation and enjoyment. If it 
adds something to the burden of taxation, all pay it 
cheerfully, feeling that it is money well invested, and 
its rapid growth and constantly increasing use proves 
that the projectors of the " Free Public Library" 
made no mistakes when they induced the town to 
take its action of 1874. At the present rate of increa.se, 
averaging some four hundred volumes per year, the 
" Uxbridge Free Library " will soon be entitled to 
honorable mention on the records of the National 
Library at Washington. 



b 



CHAPTER XXVIII. 

VXBRlDC.n—{Co?i/i>i!/ei/.) 

Manufacturing. — While Uxbridge takes no in- 
ferior rank as an agricultural town, she ever points 
with becoming pride to her manufacturing establish- 
ments, which, more than anything else, have been 
the meau.s of increasing her population and her 
valuation. 

At an early date in her history the ingenuity of 
her mechanics began to manifest itself in the produc- 
tion of better facilities for carrying on of mechanical 
business. More than one hundred and fifty years 
ago dams were built across the water-courses, and the 
giant " (ujuw jiuentes" was harnessed to the forge, 
the saw-mill, the grist-mill, the wheelwright-shop anil 
finally the factory, until to-day, the busy whir of the 
spools and spindles, the rattle of the loom and the 
clatter of the bobbins, on every stream, fill the air 
with their music and tell the glad story of a happy, 
prosperous and intelligent people. 

Hon. Charles A. Wheelock, one of the oldest and 
most intelligent manufacturers now living in the 
Blackstone Valley, to whom I am indebted for many 
valuable hints and facts in the preparation of this 
history, gives me the following .account of the manu- 
facturing industries of this, his native town. 

It is well known that Samuel Slater, about 1790, 
was the first to manufacture cotton goods in this 



country ; but it is not so generally known that John 
and Arthur Schofield, who came from England in 
March, 1793, introduced the manufacture of woolen 
goods. 

In 1810 Daniel Day built his first mill in Uxbridge; 
size, twenty by forty feet, two stories high, and located 
where now stands the mill of S. W. Scott. In the 
same year he put into the mill a billy, a jenny with 
thirty spindles and a hand-loom. In 1812 he added 
four looms, making five in all. Everything except 
the picking and carding was then done by hand, and 
no looms were run by water-power, until a number of 
years after. 

In the same year the first movement was made to- 
wards the manufacture of cotton goods in Uxbridge. 
This was seen in the building of the works of the 
"Uxbridge Cotton-Mills" in that year by Mr. Ben- 
jamin Clapp. 

The next attempt at woolen manufacturing was 
made by the Rivulet Manufacturing Company, which 
was incorporated in ISIt!, although the company was 
formed, the buildings erected, and the business of 
manufacturing begun in 1814. This company used a 
billy and jennies, which were built in this town by 
John & George Carpenter, and the mill was super- 
intended by .Terry Wheelock, a practical mechanic, 
well acquainted with the construction and operation 
of machinery. The weaving was all done by hand- 
looms, and the goods were chiefly satinets, although 
some broadcloths and cassimeres were made. 

Cotton manufacturing kept pace with woolens, and 
this same year, 1814, the Ironstone Mill was built on 
Forge Brook (now Ironstone Brook), in the south 
part of the town, by William Arnold and others. 

After this time, for a few yeai-s, there were no mills 
erected in this town ; but important improvements 
were made in the construction of machinery. The 
next mill built was the Capron Mill, thirty-three by 
sixty feet, and three stories high, in the year 1820, 
and went into operation in the winter of 1821-22. It 
was started with one set of cards, one billy of forty 
spindles, two jennies of one hundred and twenty 
.spindles each, two cotton-spinning-frames of sixty- 
four spindles each, with the preparations, and a 
warper and dresser for making satinet warps, and 
twelve power satinet-looms, — the first satinet power- 
looms ever built, it has been said, and they were built 
on the premises b}' Luke Jillson, of Cumberland, 
R, I. lu 1824 an addition was made of a set of cards, 
a billy of fifty spindles and a jenny of one hundred 
and twenty spindles, built by the Messrs. Carpenter; 
a jenny of one hundred and fifty spindles, built by 
Jerry Wheelock ; eight .satinet-looms, two cotton-cards 
and two spinning-frames of sixty-four spindles each, 
built in Woon.socket. 

In 1837 sixty feet were added to the length of the 
Capron Mill, and in 1855 forty feet more were added. 
At first it ran two sets of machinery ; now it runs 
six. This factory has been a remarkably lucky one 



170 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



for its owners and lessees ; has never been burned, 
and has made money for every one who has occupied 
it. In 1851 Moses Taft and J. W. Day, under the 
firm-name of Taft & Day, hired this mill and con- 
ducted the business for several years, when Wm. 
O. Capron, one of the owners of the mill, was ad- 
mitted to the firm, making it Taft, Day & Co. J. W. 
Day shortly afterwards withdrew, and Taft & Capron 
continued till about 1861, when E. & J. Taft bought 
tliera out and carried on the business until the close 
of the war, when their lease expired. They were 
succeeded by Henry and Charles C. Capron, under 
the name of H. & C. C. Capron. Mr. Charles C. 
Capron soon withdrew from the firm, and was suc- 
ceeded by William E. Hayward, when the firm 
became Capron & Hayward ; they in turn being 
succeeded by the Capron Woolen Company, composed 
of Henry Capron, Charles C. Capron and Royal C. 
Taft, of Providence, E. I., who now run the mill. 

In the autumn of 1824 the dams were built for the 
Luke Taft Mill, — now the Wacantuck, owned and 
operated by C. A. & S. M. Wheelock, — and the 
Uxbridge Woolen, now the Hecla ; also to carry the 
water ef the West River to the mill of Mr. Day, — 
now Scott's. The next year, 1825, witnessed the 
erection of the Luke Taft Mill, thirty-four by sixty 
feet, three stories high ; the Uxbridge Woolen-Mill, 
thirty-six by eighty feet, three stories high; and an 
addition to the Day Mill, making it forty by forty-five 
feet, three stories high. New and improved machinery 
was put into these mills, and they were soon in opera- 
tion. Taft's and Day's Mills were started on satinets 
in the winter of 1825, and the Uxbridge W(K)len- 
Mill on cassimeres, late in the fall of 182G. 

In August, 1828, the Uxbridge Woolen-Mill, the 
largest of all the mills in town, was destroyed by fire, 
and within a week a woolen-mill was burned in Mil- 
ford, and another in East Douglas. As this was con- 
temporaneous with the remark of the British Minis- 
ter that " he would not allow America to make a 
hob-nail," and also at a time when the country had 
become much excited on the subject of duties for the 
protection of domestic industry, many persons ex- 
pressed the opinion that the English manufacturers 
had emissaries here who were to burn the woolen- 
mills, and in that way accomplish the object of 
defeating the eft'ect of the protective tarifl'. 

The Uxbridge Woolen-Mill was immediately rebuilt 
of brick, forty by eighty feet, three stories high. 
Since the erection of the former mill, John Goulding, 
of Dedham, had invented and obtained letters patent 
for improvement in carding and spinning wool, and 
his new machinery for that purpose was coming into 
general use, so that the new Uxbridge Woolen-Mill 
was supplied with it, to the great advantage of all 
concerned. The Uxbridge Woolen Manufacturing 
Company was a corporation, receiving its charter in 
the winter of 1826-27. Its corporate existence con- 



tinued until about the year 1848, when the property 
passed into the hands of Josiah Seagrave and M. D. F. 
Steere, who operated the mill for about ten years. In 
1850 the mill was greatly enlarged, the machinery 
increased to twelve sets, with about fifty Crompton 
fancy looms. In 1852 the mill was again destroyed 
by fire. It was soon rebuilt, and filled with the most 
improved cassimere machinery then known. In 1857, 
Mr. Steere went to Amesbury to take charge of the 
Salisbury Mills, and Mr. Seagrave operated the mill 
alone. In February, 1859, the devouring flames 
again seized upon this unlucky property, and de- 
stroyed the finishing-mill and dye-house. This last 
loss was too much for the proprietor, who had so long 
been harassed and troubled with misfortune, and, 
though he rebuilt the destroyed buildings with the 
insurance money, he was unable to continue the 
business, and soon after died. The property then 
passed into the hands of the mortgagees, J. C. Howe 
& Co., of Boston, who soon sold it at auction to 
William D. Davis, of Providence, R. I., who took it 
just in time to receive the advantages the Civil War 
gave to manufacturers. About 1868, Mr. Davis sold 
the mill to Robert & Jacob Taft, who made exten- 
sive repairs, additions and improvements, operated it 
two or three years, then resold it to Mr. Davis, who 
again operated it for several years. In 1884 the 
Calumet Woolen Company, then owning the mill at 
New Village, bought of Mr. Davis the entire Uxbridge 
Woolen property, including mills, tenements, machin- 
ery, farm, etc., and have since expended upon it, in 
permanent improvements, additions and new ma- 
chinery, over eighty thousand dollars, making it by far 
the finest manufacturing property in the town, and 
the finest woolen-mill in Worcester County. It has 
all the modern improvements, is lighted with electri- 
city, has telephone connection with the other mills 
owned by the corporation, and has started out to re- 
deem itself from the reputation its former bad luck 
has given it, and under the charge of its present 
managers will certainly succeed. 

The old Day Mill, the first mill built in the town, 
was burnt in 1844, and was rebuilt in the course of a 
year or two by his son, Joseph Day. Afterwards it 
was operated l)y J. W. Day, son of Joseph Day, for 
four or five years, or until 1849 or '50, when Samuel 
W. Scott took a lease of it for a term of years, and 
manufactured satinets on contract. In 1859 Mr. 
Scott bought the mill and farm of Mr. Day, and has 
continued to operate it to the present time ; the past 
ten years in company with his brother, J. R. Scott, 
the firm now being J. R. Scott & Co., who lease the 
mill of S. W. Scott. The mill was burned to the 
ground in the summer of 1878, but was rebuilt in an 
enlarged and greatly improved manner, with first- 
class machinery in every respect for making satinets. 
The village is now appropriately named Elmdale, and 
its genial proprietor is entitled to great credit for the 
determination and courage he has manifested in 



UXBRIDGE. 



171 



achieving victory over his troubles, and accomplish- 
ing his deserved success. 

The mill built by Luke Taft, on the West River, in 
1825, seems always to have been a lucky mill, with a 
single exception. 

Luke Taft operated the mill alone, until his son 
Moses Taft was taken into the concern, about the 
year 1833. In 1840, J. Wheelock & Son— C. A. 
Wheelock — bought one-half of the Luke Taft Mill, 
taking into the business Silas M. Wheelock, making 
the firm J. Wheelock &Sons. The other half of the 
mill was run by Moses Taft, till he sold out, in 1846, 
to C. A. & S. M. Wheelock, Mr. Jerry Wheelock, 
the father, retiring from the business. The mill origi- 
nally built by Luke Taft was burned in the winter 
of 1837-38, but was immediately rebuilt upon a 
larger scale, and supplied with new and improved 
machinery. C. A. & S. M. Wheelock named their 
mill, which they greatly enlarged and improved, "the 
Wacantuck Mills," the name Wacantuck being the 
Indian name of the town. They manufactured 
satinets and plaids until 1852, when they also made 
cassimeres. Since 1855 they have made cassimeres 
exclusively, and have ever since continued to pro- 
duce an excellent quality of these all-wool goods, 
which find a ready sale in the market, and keep this 
mill constantly at work. Many of the help at this 
mill have grown gray in its service and, like the 
proprietors themselv&s, take great pride in the success 
of the mill and the beauty of its village. Several of 
the employes own their homes, and, as a rule, all the 
employes are well-paid, contented and happy, and 
have an unbounded respect for their neighborly em- 
ployers. 

In 1852, Moses Taft laid the foundation for the 
mill formerly known as the Central Mills, now the 
Calumet. It was completed the next year, and 
leased to Israel M. Southwick and Richard Sayles, 
under the name of Southwick & Sayles, who con- 
tinued to operate the mill till 1859, when they sold 
out their lease to Bradford, Taft & Co., of Providence, 
R. I., Mr. Sayles continuing to superintend the mill 
and act as agent till January 1, 18ij4. Daniel W. 
Taft then took charge of the mill as superintendent, 
and continued in charge until betook the lease in his 
own name in 18t)9. Mr. Moses Taft sold the 
mill to R. & J. Taft in 18(i6, and these gentlemen 
made great additions and improvements thereto, and 
by building a new dam at Rice City, in the northerly 
part of the town, and flowing about one hundred 
acres of land, greatly increased the water-power, and 
made it more permanent. These enterprising gentle- 
men also put in an eighty horse-power steam-engine 
as extra power in dry weather, and thus became sure 
of constant operation of the mill in all seasons. At 
the conclusion of Mr. D. W. Taft's lease, in 1883, the 
Calumet Woolen Company was incorporated, with 
Isaac Fenno, of Boston, for president; S. M. Wheel- 
ock, of Uxbridge, treasurer; and Arthur Wheelock, 



agent and general superintendent, and purchased of 
Messrs. R. & J. Taft, all the mill estate, inclusive, 
and of Mr. D. W. Taft certain machinery and fix- 
tures owned by him. This corporation immediately 
expended over twenty thousand dollars in new 
j machinery and improvements, widened the canal, 
raised its banks and increased its capacity largely; 
and are to-day turning out handsome, high-grade 
cassimeres, the best ever manufactured in the town. 
As hereinbefore stated, this corporation also owns 
and operates the Hecla Mill, about one-half a mile 
easterly of the Calumet ; the two mills being con- 
nected by telephone and under the charge of Arthur 
Wheelock, agent and general manager. The purchase 
and enlarging of these two mills by this corporation, 
at an expense of over two hundred and fifty thousand 
dollars, has given an impetus to the prosperity of the 
town which it has never known before. Employing 
more help, the population of the town has increased 
from three thousand and fifty in 1880 to three thou- 
sand five hundred in 1888. The weekly payments of 
the corporation amount to about twenty-five hundred 
dollars, and this amount is added to the trade accounts 
of all the retail dealers in town, making business in 
all branches correspondingly better. About one-third 
of the capital stock is owned by residents of the town, 
so that the town not only gets the benefit of the large 
tax upon the real estate, but also gets a large return 
from the State, in the shape of corporation taxes, re- 
turned to the towns in which the stockholders reside. 
The gratitude of the town is due to Hon. S. M. 
Wheelock, by whose efforts this corporation was 
established and located in this town. 

In 1864 Richard Sayles and D. A. McBride bought 
of Dea. Chandler Taft the old Rivulet Mill and water- 
power, which had been idle for a number of years, 
made extensive repairs, and manufactured shoddy 
till 1866, when Mr. Sayles purchased Mr. McBride's 
interest, and soon after sold it to Israel M. Southwick, 
taking Mr. Southwick as his partner. The next fall 
Sayles & Southwick put in steam-power, enlarged the 
property, and fitted it up to receive new machinery, 
on an extensive scale, for the manufacture of shoddy. 
In November, 1866, Mr. Southwick sold out to Mr. 
Sayles, and Mr. Sayles soon after sold one-half inter- 
est in the property to Zadok A. Taft ; and Messrs. 
Sayles & Taft put in the shoddy machinery and ran 
the mill till 1869, when they leased the mill to E. S. 
Bradford & Co., of Providence, R. I., for the manu- 
facture of knitting yarn, and it was run on this work 
until the mill was burned in October, 1872, a few 
weeks before the great Boston fire. It was rebuilt the 
next year in a much improved manner. At first cot- 
ton machinery was put in, but it soon gave place to 
woolen machinery, with which Mr. Sayles was better 
acquainted. Messrs. Sayles & Taft ran the mill 
until October 1, 1878, and then leased the mill and 
machinery to Sayles, Taft & Co., the company being 
Henry S. Morse; then in January, 1882, Taft left the 



172 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



manufacturing firm, and it became Richard Sayles & 
Co. These gentlemen operated the mill with great 
success until the death of Mr. Sayles, in 1887. The 
property is now owned by the Ihree sous of Mr. Sayles, 
who carry on the manufacture of satinets under the 
same name as the old firm — Richard Sayle.s & Co. 

About tlie year 1834 Alvin Cooke purchased a small 
building on the Emerson Brook, which was form- 
erly used for a cabinet shop. He enlarged it, and put 
in woolen cards, spinning machinery and looms, but 
no finishing machines. He operated the mill under 
contract for Ellingham L. Capron, who was then 
operating the Capron Mill, making satinets. In 1837 
Mr. Cooke was obliged to succumb to the financial 
pressure, and never again engaged in manufacturing. 
From 1837 to 1879 the mill has been practically idle 
and unoccupied. Since 1880 Mr. D. M. Lee has 
utilized it for the purpose of a shciddy-mill. Mr. Lee 
has greatly improved the property, built a new dam 
and reservoir on the stream, and is determined to 
make it a success. 

In 18l!5 or '66, Mr. Zadok A. Taft bought the 
property on the Emer.son Brook which was formerly 
known as the Leonard Taft Saw and Grist-Mills. 
These mills had not been used for many years and 
had fallen into decay. Mr. Taft erected a new mill, 
into which he at first put machinery for making cot- 
ton warps. Subsequently he removed this and sub- 
stituted satinet machinery. Mr. Taft operated the 
mill for several years and then leased it, and it has 
been operated by several ditlcrent firms for that pur- 
pose till the present time. 

In 1832 the Ironstone Mill — built in 1814 asa cotton- 
mill — was burned. It was rebuilt by Jonathan F 
Southwick, fitted with woolen machinery, and operated 
by Fairbanks & Messinger for the manufacture ol 
Kentucky jeans. In 1865 fire again visited this 
property and destroyed the factory. Subsequently a 
roof was put over the basement walls, which 
remained standing, making a one-story mill, which 
for several years was used by Joseph C. Keith 
& Co. for a shotldy mill. It afterwards passed 
into the hands of Abijah Esty, of Millville, and 
at his decease it ceased to be used for manufactur- 
ing purposes, and the mill and the brick tenements 
and store-houses which once denoted a prosperous vil- 
lage are fast becoming dilapi<lated ruins. About the 
year ISSU Mr. ('harles C. Capron erected in the mill- 
yard of the Capron Mills a well appointed shoddy- 
mill, and in a few years his largely increasing busine-s 
occasioned the building of another mill near to the 
other, into which he put, in addition to shoddy cards 
and pickers, two sets of yarn machinery for making 
woolen yarn for carpets. This i)art of the business 
was subsequently given up, and the entire plant de- 
voted to the manufacture of shoddy. In addition to 
the water-power of the Mumford River, these mills 
and the Capron Satinet-Mills are supplied with 



adequate steam power, and under the management of 
the Messrs. Capron are, as usual, successful. 

The old Shuttle Shop on Drabble Tail Brook was 
at one time devoted to manufacturing purposes, cot- 
ton yarn and shoddy being among its principal pro- 
ductions. The machinery was operated by Zadok A. 
Taft and B. Stetson, and afterwards by J. C. Keith. 

One of the principal industries of Uxbridge from 
an early date was the manufacture of cotton goo<ls. 
The first factory erected I'or that pnipose was erected 
in 1810, by Forbes & Benjamin Clapp, at what is 
now known asRogerson's Village, in North Uxbridge. 
They sold out in 1815 to Harvey & Mellen, and they 
soon after sold to Robert Rogerson. The mill was a 
small building, which was afterwards removed and 
converted into a factory tenement-house. There they 
manufactured cotton thread until about the year I8IG7 
when the venture proved a failure. They had been 
stocked by Mr. Robert Rogerson, who was at that 
time a merchant in Boston, and upon the failure of 
Harvey & Mellen the property passed into his hands. 
Mr. Rogerson continued the business then until about 
the year 1825, when he removed the Clapp Mill and 
began the erection of his first stone factory. Near it, 
and in accordance with his original plan, he erected a 
second stone factory, and the two mills have since 
been united. He expended thus, in buildings and 
machinery, the sum of two hundred and fifty thousand 
dollars. He laid out a village, which at that time had 
more of the quality of perfection than almost any 
other manufacturing village in New England. It is 
laid out with great taste, and the stone work of the 
dams, canals, bridges and arches under the mill are 
marvels of good workmanshiii, which constant use of 
more than fifty years has not detracted from. These 
mills and this beautiful village will long stand, built 
as they are in lasting stone and brick, a fitting monu- 
ment to the genius and public spirit of Robert Roger- 
son. In the financial troubles of 1837, Mr. Rogerson 
was obliged to give up the property, and it passed into 
the possession of the nujrtgagees. A new corj^oratlon 
was formed, called the Uxbridge Cotton-Mills, and the 
mill is still called by that name, although the original 
incorporators have nearly all died or sold their interest 
in the property. In 1851 the Whitin Brothers, of 
Northbridge, were the princii)al owners and managers 
of the corporate stock and property, and under their 
excellent management, which has continued to the 
present time, the property has continued to improve, 
and is now a first-class cotton-mill in every respect. 
This is the only cotton-mill in town, and with the 
single exception of the mill at Ironstone, originally 
built for a cotton mill, is the only one ever erected 
here solely for cotton goods. 

There have been several other manufacturing estab- 
lishments started, continued lor a short time and 
then given up ; which, as they did not contribute 
materially to the prosperity of the town, will not be 
noticed at length. Among these were the Uxbridge 



UXBRIDGE. 



173 



Card Clothing Co., the Bay State Arms Co., and the 
Wilder Screw Machine Co., neither of which met 
with success, and none are now in exi.stence. 

One of the industries of the town, of which brief 
notice should be given, was the carriage manufactory 
of Theodore B. Whiting, in Mechanics' Square, on 
Drabble Tail Brook. About the year 1850, Mr. 
Whiting purchased the cluster of buildings formerly 
used for a tannery and cooper shop, etc., in rear of 
Union Building, and began the manufacture of car- 
riages and harness, and also did a general wheelwright 
and blacksmithing busine-ss. Many excellent car- 
riages were made by Mr. Whiting, and they were so 
well made that some of them are in use to-day, after 
more than thirty years of service. The style, of 
course, is somewhat antiquated, but the carriages are 
good for the balance of the century. A thoroughly 
good and honest man himself, his reputation sufl'ered 
no injury from his handiwork. It needed no war- 
ranty, and none was asked by those who knew the 
genial, upright, dignified gentleman who received 
their orders. At his lamented death, which occurred 
in ISfiil, the business was divided, the wheelwright, 
the blacksmith, the painter, and the harness-maker 
each striking out for himself; and as a result, the 
business of manufacturing carriages soon became a 
business of carriage repairing. Prentiss Whiting 
several years before had started a carriage factory at 
the Rivulet, but it did not prove a success, and a man 
named Gardner is said to have manufactured car- 
riages for awhile in the old shop now owned by 
Merrill Greene, on North Main Street. 

Banks. — The Blackstonc Bank was incorporated 
August 27, 1825, with a capital of $100,000, divided 
into one thousand shares. It was originally, and 
until 18B5, a period of forty years, a State bank, and 
was the only bank of discount and circulation in this 
part of the Blackstone Valley. 

In 18<i5 it became a National Bank, under the 
banking-laws of the United States, and its name was 
changed to the Blackstone National Bank. Its cap- 
ital remained the same, and, under its excellent 
management, it has always had a surplus, so that its 
capital stock has seldom been obtainable in the mar- 
ket for less than $120 per share. It has had but four 
presidents since 1825, and only three cashiers — Jona- 
than Gregory being cashier from 1825 to 1830, E. W. 
Hay ward from 1836 until his death, in 1875, a continu- 
ous service of nearly forty years. Moses Taft, Esq., has 
been president of the bank since 1865, and, although 
nearly eighty years of age, is hale and hearty and a 
shrewd and capable financier. The bank occupies a 
room in Robert Taft's block, under a very peculiar 
lease. The advantage of having a bank in Uxbridge 
was of such moment to the then owners of the old 
brick store, which has since been remodeled into the 
modern business block, that, as an inducement for it 
to locate here, the room was fitted up, and a long 
lease given, in which the stipulated rent was " one 



barley-corn per year,'' and this singular rent fs all 
that the bank has been required to pay for the use of 
its banking-rooms to this date. Whether the rent 
has actually been handed over each year, and what 
the landlord does with it, are open questions, which 
no one seems able or willing to answer. 

The Ih-bridgc Savings-Bank Wiis incorporated June 
3, 1870, and elected for its president Moses Taft, Esq., 
who still holds that position. 

In the eighteen years of its existence this bank has 
grown in the confidence of the people, and its de- 
posits now amount to over $335,000. As its manage- 
ment is rather conservative and its loans made at low 
rates of interest, its diviflends are not, as a rule, quite 
up to those paid by city banks, but are generally sat- 
isfactory to depositors. A little more public spirit 
exhibited by the management, in the way of a bank- 
ing-house built and owned by the bank, would give 
it better facilities for doing business, and, as an 
investment, would pay full as well as loans on mort- 
gages at five per cent., and the general public would 
be highly gratified. 

A good first-class business block on the site just 
south of the National Bank, arranged for stores, 
banking-rooms and oftices, would supply a much- 
needed want, and would be occupied at good rent as 
soon as completed. 



CHAPTER XXIX. 

UXBRIDGK— (G)«////«,v/.) 

The Revolution.— In the year 1774, on the 6th 
day of July, the town, at a meeting called to consider 
the difficulties existing between the colonies and the 
mother country, passed a vote to appoint a committee 
of nine citizens and freeholders, "to correspond with 
committees that now or shall be chosen by any towns 
in this province for the purpose, on any matiir that 
may respect the present difficulty, that now or may 
subsist between Great Britton and North-a/Kccjca." 

In October, 1774, it was voted in town-meeting, "to 
purchase five barrels of powder, and as much shot as 
was proper; " and a committee was chosen " to provide 
for soldiers who may be called to march." In Janu- 
ary, 1775, the town voted " to carry the resolves of 
the Continental Congress into execution;" and a com- 
mittee was appointed " to see them strictly adhered to 
in this town." At this meeting Mr. Benjamin Green 
was elected a delegate to the Provincial Congress to 
be held at Cambridge; and in May, of the same year, 
Mr. Abner Rawsou was chosen to attend the Provin- 
cial Congress at Watertown. 

The fires of patriotism now burned brighter and 
steadier, and the increasing military ardor of the citi- 
zens of this town, was made manifest, in the unan- 
imity with which they voted to stand by the action of 
the Continental Congress. 



174 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



At a meeting of the inhabitants held in May, 1776, 
in the spring previous to the Declaration of Independ- 
ence, an article of which the following is a copy was 
voted almost unanimously in the affirmative: "To 
see if the town will vote, if the Honorable Congress 
should, for the safety of the United Colonies, Declare 
themselves Independent of the Kingdom of Great 
Britain, whether that they will solemnly engage with 
their lives and fortunes to support them in the meas- 
ure." 

In July, 177G, it was voted, "to grant six pounds to 
each person who shall Enlist in behalf of this town 
to go to Canada, or the Northern Department agree- 
able to the late act." 

In May, 1777, there were evidently some Tories liv- 
ing in Uxbridge; for the town chose, "by written 
votes," Seth Read "to procure and Lay before the 
Court the evidence that may be had of the Inimical 
disposition of any Inhabitant of this town towards this 
or any of the United States, who shall be charged by 
the freeholders and other inhabitants of said town, or 
if their residence within this State is looht upon to be 
dangerous to the public peace and Safety." 

That the inhabitants of Uxbridge had pretty deter- 
mined ideas as to what sort of government the new 
nation needed and should liave, is apparent from the 
fact that in said meeting they voted "to instruct our 
representative not to vote for the proposed form of 
constitution and form of government;" but as the 
record gives no information as to the form of Consti- 
tution and government they did desire, we must sup- 
pose, in view of their very decided opposition to Great 
Britain, that the form of government, etc., proposed 
by Congress was not sufficiently antagonistic to the 
mother country. 

In March, 1778, it was voted "to send to the sol- 
diers now in actual service in the Continental Army, 
in behalf of the town of Uxbridge for three years or 
during the war, two shirts, one pair of tow breaches, 
two pair of stockings, and one pair of shoes;" and 
"that a committee be chosen to procure s'd cloathing 
and a man to earn- it to them;" this last being no 
slight undertaking, when it is remembered that there 
was no public conveyance of any kind, and a journey 
of even a few miles was attended with great danger 
and fatiguing labor. 

In 1778 two thousand pounds were raised " to pro- 
vide for soldiers in the Continental army," and in the 
same year "men were sent to Rhode Island, and men 
as guards to Rutland." 

The sendingof substitutes into the army was allowed, 
for in January, 1779, the warrant for the town-meeting 
contained this article : " To see what sum of money 
the town will give or allow to such Persons as have Pro- 
cured a man to do a turn for them in the Continental 
Service for three years, or during the war." No action 
appears of record upon this article. In April, 1779, 
two thousand five hundred i)ounds were appropriated 
"to carry on the Continental War." In June, 1779, 



the town voted "that the Committee for Hireing 
Soldiers for s'd Town be Directed to Engage to Such 
Soldiers as they may hereafter Procure to Engage in 
the present war, in Consequence of orders Received 
for that purpose (for the Hire of such Soldiers), either 
Continental Currency, or the produce of the land 
Raised amongst us, Acting Defcrentionarily \i\ Engag- 
ing either Money or produce as to the sum of Money 
or Quantity of produce, and at what price as they with 
such soldiers may agree." 

In November, 1780, one thousand pounds were 
raised to supi)ly the army with beef; also in January, 
1781, twenty-three thousand pounds (probably Conti- 
nental currency) were appropriated for the same pur- 
pose ; also fifteen "hard dollars" (probably silver) 
were voted to hiring " Continental men." and on 
August 28, 1781, the town voted " to raise one hundred 
and fifty pounds ' hard money ' for the supply of beef 
called for by the General Court." 

The following is a true copy of an original docu- 
ment now in the possession of the writer. The paper 
is yellow with age, but the writing and the original 
signatures of the members of the committee are as 
plain and legible as though recently written : 

Committee Chamber, Boston, March IHi 
These Coiiifle tliiit Nathan Tyler Sr. and Others Selectmen of Uxbridg 
Procnrod for the Use of this Coranionwealth, in the year 1779 : 

thirty Nine Shirts @ £6 each f2a4 

thirty Nino Pr Shoes @ £7—4 pr Jjr 280 16 

thirty Seven Pr Hose (a. £4 — pr pr 148 

Selectmen allowance for Trouble 25 — 

Do Transportation 15 — 

Total £702 10 

which sum of Seven hundred & two Pounds Sixteen Shillings was 

allowed by the Committee on accounts on the 11th of March 1780, 

Attest 

Seth Washburn 1 

Charles Turner | Committee 

J. Bahnum \ on 

KzKA Sargeant I .\ccount6 

Joseph IIosmer J 

The signatures are the genuine signatures of the 
members of the Committee of the General Court of 
1784, so that it is probable that the account, which 
was allowed in March, 1780, was not paid to the 
selectmen until after a renewal of the approval in 
1784, as above set forth. Money, or what represented 
money, was of such small value in 1780 that we may 
suppose the delay was occasioned by a disagreement 
as to the kind of money the bill allowed was to be 
payable in To show how great a depreciation must 
have taken place in the value of the currency, the 
town records state that in November, 1780, the town, 
at a regular meeting held to provide for town charges 
and expenses, " voted to raise (25,000) twenty-five thou- 
sand pounds, to defray town charges," and the same 
year they voted the sum of ten thotisand pounds to buy 
beef for the army. 

The records of the town do not contain a list, or 
anything that purports to be a list, of its citizens who 
served in the Revolutionary army. But from actual 
votes passed and recorded, I find the following names 



UXBRIDGE. 



175 



referred to as having served in the different divisions 
of the service as volunteers or substitutes. It is prob- 
able that there were many others. 



Capt. Edward Seagrave. 
Lieut. Abner Taft. 
Lieut. Bezaleel Taft. 
Lieut. Kobort Taft. 
Sergt. Noali Taft. 
Sergt. Paul Wliite. 
John Prentice. 
Natlian Dowse (or Druce). 
Joseph Cletlvelaud. 
Peter Sibley. 
Nathaniel Fish. 
A. Aliirich. 
Jeremiah Chillson. 
Oliver Murdock. 
Joseph Rawson. 
John Falkner. 



Oliver Thayer. 
Samuel Hayward. 
Moses Taft. 
Jabez Thayer. 
Oliver Taft. 
John Hall. 
Charles Philips. 
Benjannn Cogswell. 
Capt. Simeon Wheelock. 
James Hall. 
Aarou Brown. 
.John Beals. 
James Keith. 
Ichabod Keith. 
John Seagrave. 



An interesting episode of the Revoluionary period 
was the visit of General (jcorge Washington to Ux- 
bridge, in the year 1780, on his journey from Boston 
to Hartford. General Washington, then President of 
the United States, passed a night at a tavern kept by 
the father of Warner Taft, at North Uxbridge, and 
was so well pleased with the attention he received, 
that at Hartford, on the 8th of November, 1789, on 
his way home, he wrote the following letter to Mr. 
Taft, near Uxbridge, ]\Iaas. : 

Sir, — Being informed that you have given my name to one of your 
sons, and called another after Mrs. Washington's family, and being 
moreover much pleased with the modest and innocent looks of your two 
daughters, Patty and Polly, I do for these reasons send each of these girls 
a piece of chintz ; and to Patty, who bears the name of Mrs. Washing- 
ton, and who waited on us more than Polly did, I send five guineas with 
which she may buy herself any little ornaments she may want, or she 
may dispose of them in any other manner mure agreeable to herself. .\s 
T do not give these things with a view to have it talked of, or even to its 
being known, the less there is said about the matter the better you will 
please me ; but that I may be sure the chintz and money have got 
safe to hand, let P{itty, who I dare say is equal to it, write me a line in- 
forming me thereof, directed to "The I*re.sident of the United States, 
New York." I wish you and your family well, and am your himible 
servant. G. Washington. 

This house is still standing, and in a good state of 
preservation, retaining its same style as when the 
father of his country honored it with his presence. It 
is now owned and occupied by some of the heirs of 
Warner Taft, and should be long preserved for its his- 
torical associations. A desk once owned by the Tafts, 
and at which Gen. Washington is said to have sat and 
written a dispatch or letter to be sent to Boston, is 
now owned by the writer of this history, and is most 
highly prized. 

The Civil War. — The record of Uxbridge in the 
War of the Rebellion was one of which she may well 
be proud, having furnished two hundred and ninety 
('2'M) soldiers, seventeen more than her quota, as 
called for by the State. The first " war meeting " was 
held in the ba,sement of the Unitarian Church, then 
occupied for town-meetings, on the 11th day of May, 
1861, which was addressed by several spirited and 
eloquent speakers. At the close of the speaking it was 
unanimously voted to give each volunteer belonging to 
the town twenty-one dollars a month while in service, 



I and one dollar a day for drilling previous to enlist- 
ment, not exceeding twenty days of eight hours a day. 
Fifteen hundred dollars was appropriated to purchase 
uniforms, and one hundred dollars to defray the ex- 
penses of forming a company of riflemen. On May 3, 
1862, the town appropriated two thousand five hun- 
dred dollars to pay State aid to families of the volun- 
teers, and a committee was chosen " to ascertain the 
names of the soldiers belonging to thetown, that their 
names may be preserved to posterity, by causing the 
same to be entered upon the records of the town." On 
July 23d the town voted "to give a bounty of one 
hundred and fifty dollars to each volunteer for three 
years, who should be accredited to the town's quota." 
On August 23d the same amount was voted to those 
who entered the service for nine months, to be paid 
when the town's quota was full ; if not filled by volun- 
teers and a draft was made, then no bounty was to be 
paid. 

March 2, 1863, the town voted to raise four thou- 
sand dollars for aid to be paid to the families of volun- 
teers during the year. September 28th the aid was 
extended to the families of drafted men. 

On May 2o, 1864, a bounty of one hundred and 
iwenty-five dollars was voted to be paid to the three 
years' volunteers who should enlist upon the quota of 
the town, whether residents of Uxbridge or otherwise. 
As before stated, the town had no difficulty in filling 
its quota at these liberal bounties, and the voters 
were not sorry that the number furnished was so 
many in excess of the calls. 

The whole amount of money expended for war pur- 
poses was twenty thousand two hundred dollars 
($20,200) ; for State aid to families about fourteeo 

I thousand six hundred dollars ($14,600). About ten 
thousand dollars was contributed by citizens in addi- 
tion to the above. Large quantities of clothing, stock- 

i ings and shoes were also contributed by the Ladies 
Soldiers' Aid Society and other patriotic workers, and 

, many hundred dollars' worth of articles intended for 

j the comfort of the boys at the front were forwarded, 
of which no estimate can be made. 

I The following list contains the names of soldiers in 
the army of the United States engaged in putting 

] down the Rebellion and preserving the Union, who 
enlisted as residents of Uxbridge. The list does not 
include, therefore, those who helped to fill the quota, 
but who resided in other towns ; as their names are 
no doubt honored in a fitting manner by the towns 

' which were honored by them. Those whose names 
are marked with a (*) died either in actual service or 
as prisoners of war. Let all unite to do honor to these 
brave sons of old Uxbridge ! 



Aldrich, G. 
Aldricb, Gideon M. 
Aldrich, James G. 
Aldrich, John A. 
.\ldricb, Moses A. 
Aldricb, W. D. F. 
Andy, J. 



Johnson, Stephen C. 
Johnson, John R. 
Kavanough, Jamee. 
Keeting, Francis. 
Kemp, David. 
Kenny, Geo. W. 
Kenny. 



176 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



AnKon, Henry. 
Anthony, Sylvanue. 
Arnold, Edmund C. 
Baron, .lospph M. 
Bnilon, rt. 
Btirnaiii, W. H. 
Jkrrows, Chester. 
Barry, .1. 
Bennett, Janies. 
Bent, Ferdinand A. 
Blancliard, William. 
Bolster, Andrew J. 
Bolster, Geo. W. 
B'-yce, •TaniPB. 
Biadford. Charles. 
Br.inian, Chiirles E. 
*Braman, Palmer E. 
Brashaw, J. 
Brirk, ()rville. 
Brown, George. 
Bryant, Perry. 
*Bnrrin, Ahram B. 
Bufih, Angustue. 
Chipniiiti, S. R. 
CaiUvell, Jerome. 
Carpenter, A. 
Carpenter, John H. 
Chappell, J. 
Christy, \V. J. 
Clarke, Elmore. 
Cleveland, Chaiies B. 
Cole, Geo. E. 
Cole, Granville. 
*Cole, Wm. J. 
*Chollar, H. A. 
Cooney, Andrew. 
Coegrove, Lewis. 
Coyle, Patrick, 
Ciimmings, Juline E, 
Carmody, John. 
Oexter, Joseph W. 
Donnell, K. Blc. 
Puffy, John A. 
Dngan, Michael. 
Duffee, Owen. 
Daley, James. 
Eames, A. M. 
Engley, E. 
*Engley, H. M. 
Farris, Daniel P. 
Finchon, Thomas. 
Fitch, George Otis. 
Fitrh, H. N. 
Fitz Gerald, W. 
Fit7, Simons, A. T. 
Fuller, Cliffurd. 
♦Garside, Andrew J. 
Gihney, Luke P. 
Gibson, H. O. 
Gifford, Jos. H, 
Graham, TIenry H. 
Guild, Oliver A. 
Ilitekell, Abner U. 
Hall, Chandler. 
Hall, (Jporge. 
Halt, Stephen. 
Hatnilliin, ThuniaB. 
'Mayden, Frank. 
*Hayden, Walter. 
Hayward, H. C. 
Hlighland, T. 
Hill, Ezra J. 
Hill, Reuben. 
Hinchcliff, J. 
HoUifl. A. J. 
Holroyd, Geo. H. 
HortOD, Andrew J. 



Kenness, J. 
Keinnay, James H. 
Kelly, J. 

Kingston, Harrison. 
Kinny, Geo. W. 
Kernes, Peter. 
Lackey, Eugene. 
Lackey, Saml. W. 
Legge, Geo. W. 
*Legge, Henry H. 
Lynch, James. 
Magee, John A. 
Mahony, J. F. 
McArthur, W. S. 
MrArthur, Walter. 
*Metcalf, A.B. 
Metralf, Wm. H. 
Minott, Franklin, 
Minott, William Henry. 
Morrisey, John. 
*Mi)wry, Arnold. 
.Mulligan, James. 
Murdock, Walter L. 
Jlurphy, J. 
Norbery, Frank. 
OIney, Edward. 
O'SiUlivan, James. 
Rawsou, Chas. C. 
RawRou, Orrin F. 
Reed, James. 
Reed, Levi. 
Richardson, Dexter F. 
Rusfiell, James F. 
Ryan, Edward. 
Ryan, Wm. 
Ryder, Jamen. 
Rugg, Chas. H. 
*Sabin, Richard M. 
Sawyer, Millard W. 
Scarborough, Elias. 
Schotield, Ed. 
Seagrave, Charles S. 
Seagrave, Frank B. 
Seagrave, James E. 
8eagrave, Geo. L. 
Seagrave, Lawsou A. 
Smith, Farnum. 
Salmon, Hugh. 
Seagrave, A. M. 
Seagrave, Wm. H. 
Seagrave, Orville B. 
Searles, Andrew J. 
Sheehan, Napoleon T. 
Sherman, Albert A. 
Sprague, Geo. W. 
Smith, Chas. M. 
Smith, James. 
Smith, J. 
Smith, Samuel W. 
Smith, S. 
Taft, Albert. 
Taft, Frank M. 
Taft, Henry L. 
Taft, Ii<aac D. 
Taft, James. 
Thmnpson, Chaa. H. 
Thompson, Eli D. 
ThompeoD, Geo. 
Thompson, Saml. 0. 
Toomay, Farrell. 
Vibberta, Geo. L. 
Velfl, John. 
A\ ilber, Daniel. 
Wilber, Joseph H. 
Wilcox, Noah. 
Wilson, (.Jharles. 
"Wilson, Hiram. 



Horton, Henry C. 
Hortnn, Jerom«. 
Howard, Charles li. 
Howard, W. C. 
Hall, Benj. F. 
Hall. Hezekiah. 
Johnson, Albro A. 



Wheeler, Chae. E. L. 
White, Addison B. 
Whitmore, Hannibal. 
Wo(td, William. 
Whitcomb, John. 
Wright, Edward B. 



All honor, then, to him whose humble name 

Is here emblazoned on the ndls of fame. 

Ages (i» come, and children yet to be, 

Inheriting our priceless liberty. 

Shall sound the praises of these boys in blue, 

Who bravely fought, lo spU" and country true ; 

Of these brave men who stand recorded here, 

All future times in history shall hear, 

And bless their memories with a sacred tear. 



CHAPTER XXX. 
UXBRI DGK— ( Continued. ) 

Miscellaneous — Representatives to Congress. — In 
1820 and 1822 Benjamin Adams was elected Repre- 
sentalive to Congress and served his district and 
State with great fidelity and al)ility. He is the only 
citizen of Uxbridge who ever had the honor of a seat 
in Congress. 

The Representatives to the General Court since 1750 
have been as follows: Daniel Read, l/S.O; Nicholas 
P.ayliss, 1758; Solomon Wood, 1760-r)2 ; Ezekial 
Wood, 1766-71 ; Joseph Read, 1772,74; Abner Raw- 
son, 1775, 76; Joseph Read, 1777; Nathan Tyler, 
1778-80; Nicholas Baylies, 1781 ; Bezaleel Taft, 1783 ; 
Seth Read, 1784-86 ; Samuel Willard, 1787 ; Nathan 
Tyler, 1789-91 ; Bezaleel Taft, 1794-97, and 1802-1 ; 
Joseph Richardson, 1806; Bezaleel Taft, 1806; Peter 
Farnum, 1808; Benjamin Adams, 1809-13; Samuel 
Read, 1814; Daniel Carpenter, 1815; Samuel Read 
and John Capron, 1816; Samuel Read and Bezaleel 
Taft, 1817, '18 i Samuel Read and Daniel Carpenter, 
1819; Samuel Read and liezaleel Taft, 1820; Bezaleel 
Taft, Jr., 1821-23; Joseph Thayer, 1824, '26; Beza- 
leel Taft, Jr. (Senator), 1828; Joseph Thayer and 
Daniel Carpenter, 1829; Samuel Read and George 
Willard, 1830, '31 ; Samuel Read and Joseph Thayer, 
1832 ; Effingham L. Capron and Joseph Thayer, 1833 ; 
Joseph Day and Samuel Read, 1834 ; John W. Ca- 
pron and George Willard, 1835, '36; John Carpenter 
and F211ery Holbrook, 1837 ; Asa Thayer and Samuel 
Read, 1838; Francis Deane, Jr., and Gideon Mowry, 
1839; Jonathan F. Suuthwick, 1840 ; Otis Wilco.x, 
1841: Chandler Taft, 1842; Henry Chapin, 1844; 
Moses Taft, 1845 ; Cyrus G. Wood, 1854 ; Charles E. 
Taft, 1855 ; Jacob Taft, 1856 ; Samuel W. Scott, 1857 ; 
Joshua Garside, 1858 ; Scott Seagrave, 1859 ; Newell 
Tyler, 1860; William C. Capron, 1861; Scott Sea- 
grave, 1803; R. D. Burr, 1865; Harrison C. Whit- 
more and A. A.Sherman, 1870; Charles A. Wheelock, 
(Senator), 1869, '70; George W. Hobbs, 1871, '72; 
George W. Taft, 1873 ; Charles C. Capron, 1875 ; Za- 
dok A. Taft, 1877 ; Charles E. Seagrave, 1881 ; James 



UXBKIDGE. 



V, 



Daley, 1883 ; Michael Eeilly (2d) 1885 ; Daniel W. 
Taft, 1887 ; Silas M. Wheelock (Senator), 1887, '88. 
During the next decade Uxbridge will be represented 
only every third year. 

Post-offices. — The first post-office in Uxbridge was 
established in the village of Ironstone, then the largest 
village in the town, lii 1810 an office was established 
in North Uxbridge, in the house of Samuel Read, on 
the Boston and Hartford turnpike, where it remained 
until 1852, when it was removed to Rogerson's Village, 
near the Mills, where it remained until 1885, when it 
was removed to Chase's Corner, near its original loca- 
tion. 

The postmasters of this office have been Samuel 
Read, George Adams, C. E. Whitin, A. S. Sweet and 
H; C. Chase, the present incumbent. This office ac- 
commodated for many years the towns of Northbridge 
and Douglas. 

In 1825 a post-office was established at the Centre 
Village, in the brick store then owned by the Messrs. 
Capron. John W. Carpenter was the first postmaster, 
and his successors have been Sullivan, Thayer, Thomas 
Aldrich, R. D. Mowry, Charles B. Rawson, Charles 
A. Taft and Henry S. Farnuni, the present incum- 
bent. This office is now the principal post-ofiice in 
the town and pays its postmaster an annual salary of 
about twelve hundred dollars, an increase of about 
four hundred dollars in the last eight years. 

In 1S72 a District Court for Uxbridge, Blackstone, 
Northbridge and Douglas was established for civil and 
criminal business, having jurisdiction of all civil 
actions, when the ad damnum in the writ does not 
exceed three hundred dollars. Court is held every 
week-day alternately in Uxbridge and Blackstone; 
on Mondays for civil business in Blackstone and on 
Saturdays for civil business in Uxbridge. A. A. Put 
nam, Esq., was appointed justice of the court and 
still presides over it. The associate justices are Fran- 
cis N. Thayer, Esq., of Blackstone, and W. J. Taft, 
Esq., of Mendon, the latter gentleman having an 
office in Uxbridge. 

The members of the legal profession who have 
resided in the town and assisted in building up its 
prosperity are as follows : 

Nathan Tyler, Benjamin Adams, Bezaleel Talt, Jr., 
George Wheaton, Joseph Thayer, Francis Deane, 
Henry Chapin, Lucius B. Boynton, George S. Taft, 
George W. Hobbs, Frederic B. Deane, George F. 
Bancroft, A. A. Putnam, O. B. Pond, George S. Taft 
(2d). 

Uxbridge has also had good reason to be proud of 
its medical profession, for its physicians have been 
uniformly men of skill and excellent character, who 
have done much for the health and prosperity of the 
town. Among them are the honored names of Dr. 
Wood, the first physician to settle in the town ; Dr. 
Samuel Willard, Dr. George Willard, Dr. Augustus 
C. Taft, Dr. Smith, Dr. A. W. Bennett, Dr. J. W. 
Bobbins, Dr. J. M. Macomber, Dr. Chauncey A. 
12 



Wilcox, Dr. Wm. L. Johnson, Dr. L. D. White, Dr. 
W. L. Sanders and Dr. Benj. Joslyn. Dr. A. W. 
Fuller and Dr. F. J. Partridge have recently moved 
into town. It would be a pleasing task to write the 
biographies of many of these professional laborers of 
both the professions, but the space allotted to Ux- 
bridge in the history of the county peremptorily de- 
mands brevity and condensation ; ao their many 
friends "must take the will for the deed." 

Newspapers, etc. — The first and only newspaper 
published in Uxbridge was started by Geo. W. Spen- 
cer, a printer who had formerly jiublished the 
Doufihis Herald and conducted a small job-printing 
office in East Douglas. Mr. Spencer, believing Ux- 
bridge a better field for his labors in the newpaporial 
line, removed his presses and type to this town, and 
in August, 1872, issued the fir.st number of his paper, 
which he called T/ie Worcester South Compendium, 
Spencer Bros., proprietors. The firm consisted of 
Geo. \V. Spencer and Charles A. W. Spencer, the 
elder brother being the editor and general manager of ■ 
the paper, while the younger took charge of the job- 
printing, which soon grew to quite a business. The 
paper was a well-edited, spicy little weekly, Repub- 
lican in politics and progressive in its ethics. In 
1877 C. A. W. Spencer retired from the firm and Mr. 
L. H. Balcome suceeded him ; the firm then became 
Spencer & Balcome. In 1879 Mr. Balcome bought 
out his partner and became and has since been sole 
proprietor. In July, 1880, Mr. Balcome finding the 
old name too long and desiring to make his paper still 
more a local organ, changed the name of his publica- 
tion to The Uxbridge Compendium — which name it 
still retains — and was i.ssued as an eight-page paper. 
For several years Mr. C. W. Greene was the editor, 
but Mr. Balcome for the past two years has been sole 
editor and manager, and, with a good corps of re- 
porters to gather up the news, would have the credit 
of publishing a good country weekly. The old 
presses used by Spencer Bros, have been thrown out 
and new powerpres.ses run by steam-power have been 
substituted. One of the busiest places now to be 
found in the centre of the town is the Compendium 
office. If the increasing businei<s of the office will 
warrant it. The Daily Coinpendiuta wil! at no distant 
day be welcomed in every household. 

The Uxbridge Water Company was incorporated in 
1881, for the purpose of supplying the inhabitants 
of Uxbridge with pure water for domestic purposes. 
Its reservoirs, on Lawler Hill, are fed by springs, and 
will contain half a million gallons. Pipes are laid 
through the principal streets, and the water supply 
is excellent and sufficient. A number of hydrants 
placed at convenient distances furnish adequate pro- 
tection against damage by fire, and the company is 
entitled to great credit for its service to the public. 

The Judson Memorial. — In the year 1869 Deacon 
Willard Judson, an esteemed citizen of the town, 
and a sou of Rev. Samuel Judson, formerly pastor of 



I 



178 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



the Orthodox Church, desiring to manifest his great 
interest in the town in a quiet, unassuming manner, 
instructed his attorney, Geo. W. Hobbs, Esq., to pur- 
chase of the Howard Watch and Clock Company, of 
Boston, one of its best tower clocks, and ask the 
town, at its annual meeting, then soon to be 
held, to accept the same, as a gift from one who pre- 
ferred that his name should not be made known until 
after his decease, imposing as the only condition 
that the town should keep the clock in running or- 
der. 

Mr. Judson also desired that the clock should be 
placed upon the Unitarian Church, as it could be 
seen more generally than if placed elsewhere. When 
the matter was brought before the town, great inter- 
est was manifested by the citizens, and the gift was 
accepted without a dissenting voice. The knowing 
ones, of court<e, knew who gave the clock, and many 
difierent gentlemen were named, but not a single 
guesser guessed aright. Mr. Judson died in May, 
• 1882, and then, for the first time, his name was pub- 
lished by his attorney, as the donor of the clock. 
For nearly twenty years it has faithfully recorded 
the passage of time, and its resounding strokes, upon 
the sweet-toned church bell, marking the hours as 
they fly, serve to remind the people of their bene- 
factor, and call attention to this unique memorial of 
a public-spirited citizen. 

Farmers' Chih. — In the year 1878 the farmers of 
Uxbridge and Mendon formed a Farmers' Club, and 
gavcannual exhibitions forabout five years, when, the 
Worcester Southeast Agricultural Society, located at 
Milford, having surrendered its charter, the Farmers' 
Club was discontinued, and its members applied for, 
and received, a charter as an agricultural society, to 
be located at Uxbridge, under the name of the 
Blackstone Valley Agricultural Society. 

The new society purchased extensive grounds, and 
erected cattle-sheds and pens, and built a track for 
the trial of farm and family carriage horses only, 
horse-racing for purses being expressly prohibited. 

It has started out with the intention of being a 
farmers', and not a jockeys' society ; and thus far has 
proved by its success the wisdom of its plans. 

The fame of its fairs, and exhibitions of cattle, 
second to none in the State, calls to its annual exhi- 
bitions the best Hocks and herds in the county, and 
so great is the demand for space that new sheds and 
pens must soon be erected. The fall exhibition is 
always exceptionally fine, and attracts great crowds 
of visitors. It is an institution of which the farmers 
of the Blackstone Valley may well be proud. 

No other town, of the size and population of 
Uxbridge, had been more successful in bringing up 
a large number of active and energetic business men 
than this. Of those who have left behind them 
pleasant memories, I may name the following : John 
Caprou, Daniel Day, Ananias Gilford, Jonathan 
Whipple, Samuel Read, Ephraim Spring, Alpheus 



Bayliss, Frederick Taft, Eastman Taft, Jerry Wheel- 
ock, Amariah Chapin, Jonathan Gregory, Abiel 
Jaques, George Willard, Deacon Daniel Payne, 
Adolphus Spring, Daniel Carpenter, Cato Willard, 
Daniel Farnum, Peter White, Manley Scott, Bezaleel 
Taft, Joseph Thayer, Orsmus Taft, Willard Judson 
and numerous members of the families of Taft, 
Thayer, Seagrave, Spring, Wood, Farnum, Thomp- 
son, Williams, Wheelock, Sayles and others, whose 
names are household words. Uxbridge has also sent 
such men as Stephen C. Greene, Josiah, Royal and 
Amory Chapin, Jacob, Josiah, Edward and Geo. W. 
Seagrave, John, Paul, Peter, Moses and Welcome 
Farnum, Sylvanus Holbrook, Efiingham L. Capron, 
Asa Newell, Joseph Carpenter, Daniel Day, Royal 
C. Taft (now Governor of Rhode Island), Caleb 
Farnum, David F. and Cyrus G. Wood, Geo. T. 
Murdock, Stephen and Jason Emerson, Newell 
Tyler, Daniel Seagrave, Dr. William Bayliss, Nicho- 
las Bayliss, Willard Preston, D.D. and a host of 
others whose names are preminent in the professional 
and commercial world, and who are proud to ac- 
knowledge themselves children of Uxbridge to the 
manor born. 

There are larger and older towns in Worcester 
County than Uxbridge, but there are none more 
beautiful, healthy and delighful to live in than this. 

With no debt, and light taxes, with pleasant, 
.sociable neighbors and townspeople ; with fine 
churches, excellent schools, no license and high 
morality, surely we may be pardoned for the pride 
we take in claiming a place in the front rank of 
Worcester County towns. 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 



MOSES TAFT. 

Moses Taft, who is well known as having been, for 
more than half a century, largely engaged in the 
manufacture of woolens, was born in Uxbridge, 
Mass., January 26, 1812, near where Daniel Day, in 
1810, built the first woolen-mill in this town. 

His father, Luke Taft, the fifth in descent from 
Robert Taft, the Puritan ancestor, who came from 
England and settled in Mendon, Mass., about 1680, 
was born in Uxbridge June 3, 1783, and was brought 
up as, and followed the occupation of, a farmer till 
about 1816, when, probably attracted by the hum of 
the spindle and the thud of the loom of the near- 
by Day Mill, he was led to procure a jenny of twenty 
spindles and a hand-loom (there were no others at that 
time), which he set up in his house and began the 
manufacture of satinets. 

This machinery in the house gave Moses, at an 
early age, an opportunity to observe some of the pro- 
cesses of manufacturing, and, at the age of seven 



-*i^- 




JMn^e^y^i 




UX BRIDGE. 



170 



years, was given his first work in the business, — that 
of winding bobbins for the weaver. This was the 
extent of liis manufacturing e.xperience till liis fatlier, 
in 1821, hired room and power in the Day Mill, when 
he was inducted into the mysteries of piecing rolls 
and tending carding-machines. 

In 1824 his father bought a water-power on the 
West River, with land suitable for factory, dwellings 
and other necessary buildings, and built his dam and 
canal iu the autumn of that year and his fiictory the 
next year. The fiictory was put into operation in the 
fall of 1825, with two sets of cards and twenty power- 
looms, — the goods made being satinets. 

Moses was here employed in the various depart- 
ments suitable to his age, attending the usual short 
terms of the winter schools, with an occasional term 
in the academy in this town, till 1827, when he re- 
ceived the advantage of a term at the Friends' School, 
then a popular school, in Bolton, Mass., of which 
Thomas Fry was the instructor. 

The few advantages the district schools aftbrded 
with those named above, together with the applica- 
tion made by him to obtain an education, and the 
practical advantages received in the business life he 
followed in his younger days, has enabled him to dis- 
charge, in an efficient and highly satisfactory manner, 
most important duties, as will be seen as the narrative 
proceeds. 

On his return from Bolton he again took his place 
in the mill till the spring of 1829, when he took up 
the occupation of clerk in the store of John Capron 
& Sons. The business of that company having been 
closed up by failure, Moses returned to his home, and 
entered at once upon the business of manufacturing 
in his father's mill, — making himself expert in every 
department, from the ability to make a proper se- 
lection of stock for the goods that were to be made, 
to the putting up the finished goods for market. 

At eighteen years of age he was competent to take 
full charge of the mill, after which time his father 
devoted his time principally to his farm and other 
business interests. 

In 1837 Mr. Taft entered into partnership with his 
father and brother-in-law, Caleb T. Ohapiu, under 
the style of " The East River Manufacturing Com- 
pany." 

From this time Luke Taft practically left the 
business of manufacturing -simply holding his estate 
and giving his sons the advantage of his advice and 
credit. 

If any manufacturer remembers as far back as 1837, 
it will be with almost a shudder, as it comes back to 
him, as to how he lived through that year of trial 
and failure on all sides of him, and yet contrived to 
pay one hundred per cent, on all his bills. 

This company, though severely tried, as every one 
was in that year from the integrity of its mem- 
bers, never compromised any of its debts, but paid in 
full all claims against it. 



In 1840 Luke Taft sold one-half of his manufactur- 
ing real estate and power to J. Wheolock & Son, and 
retired entirely from the risks and cares incident to 
manufacturing, — his son, ]Moses, taking the other 
half of the property and machinery, — Mr. Caleb T. 
Chapin giving up his interest in the " East River 
Manufacturing Company," and taking the superin- 
tendency of a cotton-mill in Northbridge. 

From this time (1840) till April, 1846, Moses Taft 
ran his half of the mill successfully. At this last 
period he sold his share of the estate and machinery 
to C. A. & S. M. Wheelock. 

Soon after the sale to C. A. & S. M. Wheelock, he, 
in company with Mr. Samuel W. Scott, who had been 
in his employment several years, hired a mill in Bur- 
rillville, R. I., where the present Mohegan Mill 
stands, and engaged in the manufacture of satinets, 
under the style of Taft & Scott, which continued till 
the burning of the mill, in the winter of 1849-50, 
when the business of this firm was closed up and the 
firm dissolved. 

In 1849 he entered into partnership with James W. 
Day, a grandson of Daniel Day, the pioneer woolen 
manufacturer of Uxbridge, under the style of Taft & 
Day, and hired the Capron Mill, in this town, and 
commenced there the manufacture of satinets. 

After a few years' successful business in the Capron 
Mill, Deacon Wm. C. Capron became a partner, when 
the firm took the style of Taft, Day & Co., which was 
shortly changed to Taft & Capron by the withdrawal 
of Mr. Day from the company. 

The firm of Taft & Capron continued till about 1862, 
when the business and unexpired lease of the mill 
was sold to Messrs. R. & J. Taft, and the firm of Taft 
& Capron was dissolved. 

Before selling his interest in the factory built by 
his father to C. A. & S. M. Wheelock, Mr. Taft had 
conceived the idea of building a factory on the west 
side of the Blackstone River, above the dam of the 
"Uxbridge Woolen Company." 

To do this it would be necessary to secure all the in- 
terest of the "Blackstone Canal Company," in water 
and canal together, with a release from each individual 
owner on the river of the right to divert the water and 
to procure all necessary land for the erection of fac- 
tory, tenements and other conveniences required for 
such an establishment. 

Having obtained all the necessary titles and re- 
leases to the estate in 1852, he laid the foundation for 
the mill, which was built the following year, with 
tenements and other necessary buildings. 

This mill, which was known for some thirty years 
as the "Central Woolen Mill," was leased first to 
Messrs. Southwick & Sayles, till 1859, then to Messrs. 
Bradford, Taft & Co., of Providence, R. I. 

In 1865 Mr. Taft sold his " Central Mill " estate to 
Messrs. R. & J. Taft, who, in 1883, sold the property 
to the " Calumet Woolen Company,'' a corporation 
that now holds the estate. 



180 



HISTORY OP WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



Since retiring from the " Capron Mill" Mr. Taft^ 
has been, and now ia, interested in several woolen- 
mills, namely — the " Caryville Mill," in Bellingham, 
Mass., with seven sets of machinery ; the " Douglas 
Woolen Mill," in East Douglas, Mass., with five sets 
of machinery; the " Chattanooga Mill," in Ashland, 
Mass., with five sets of machinery ; besides an inter- 
est in the " Putnam Woolen Company," in Putnam^ 
Conn., and the " Calumet Woolen Company," in this 
town. 

Not alone as a manufacturer has Mr. Taft been 
known. Since 1865 he has been president of the 
" Blackstone National Bank of Uxbridge, Mass.," be- 
sides being a member of its board of directors for 
several years previous to that date. He has also been 
president of the " Uxbridge Savings Bank " from its 
organization, in 1870. 

Nor has he been negligent of his duties as a citizen 
or failed to receive the confidence and honors in the 
gift of his fellow-townsmen, having been elected and 
served several years on the Board of Selectmen of the 
town and as chairman of the board. In 184.') he rep- 
resented the town in the General Court for that year 
He has served " Uxbridge Lodge, No. 120, 1. O. O. F.," 
some fifteen years as its treasurer. 

In the parish of the " First Congregational Soci- 
ety " he has often been called upon to discharge the 
duties of various committees and to assist in matters 
of great importance. 

In all the affairs of business life, in all the various 
duties of social life, as citizen, as neighbor, as friend, 
he has been conscientious, faithful and considerate 
helping where help has been needed, and givinggood 
advice where advice was the best thing to give. 

When Moses Taft is withdrawn (may it be long be- 
fore itshall be ! ) from the business and duties of life, it 
may be truly said a man will be missed. 



JERRY WHEELOCK. 

Jerry Wheelock, born in Uxbridge, Mass., Septem- 
ber 19, 1784, was well known in this vicinity (Ux- 
bridge, Worcester County, Mass.) as an ingenious 
mechanic, both as a builder and operator of woolen 
machinery in the early days of woolen manufac- 
turing. 

He was of the sixth generation from the original 
immigrant of the race, Ralph Wheelock, who w.is 
born in Shropshire, England, in 1600. He was edu- 
cated at Clare Hall, Cambridge, was a dissenting 
preacher, and came from England in 1637, when the 
tide of persecution ran highest. After remaining in 
Watertown one year, he removed to Dedham at the 
time of its settlement, and was active in the forma- 
tion of the church there ; was a freeman in 1639. 
He was the founder of Medfield, which waa set off" 
from Dedham in 1650, and received the first grant of 
a house-lot in that town. 

Simeon Wheelock, the father of Jerry, was born in 



1741 in Mendon, Mass. The first we hear of Simeon 
is on a memorandum book kept by him as an orderly 
at "Crown Point, dated Aug. 4, 1760; then under the 
command of Christopher Harris, Colonel of the R. 1. 
Regiment." 

He came to Uxbridge probably in 1768, as he ap- 
pears in the registry November 28, 1763, as declaring 
intention of marriage with Miss Deborah Thayer, of 
Mendon. 

He was a blacksmith by trade, and bought the 
land now owned by the heirs of Royal Jefterson and 
others, a little north of the " First Congregational So- 
ciety's Meeting-house," of John Harwood in 1768, 
and built the house now standing there, and where 
most of his children were born. His blacksmith- 
shop is said to have stood opposite his house, and 
about where the academy building now stands. 
He was town clerk of Uxbridge from 1773-77, and 
was also a soldier in the War of the Revolution. 

He joined the government forces in suppressing 
the Shays' Rebellion, and died at Springfield in con- 
sequence of injuries received from a fall on the ice 
in descending Arsenal Hill, leaving a widow and 
eight children; Jerry, the youngest, being in the 
third year ,of his age. 

The family was left in somewhat straitened circum- 
stances, and the more so from the fact that the father 
had sold his estate in the centre of the town, and 
bought a place some three miles away, which, after 
his death, was found to be mortgaged; and to save 
what had already been paid, nearly as much more 
was paid by the widow. 

At this time it is evident that Jerry, at the age of 
a little more than two years, was left to the care of a 
mother in straitened circumstances, with other chil- 
dren of tender age, who were likewise dependent on 
the same over-burdened care. 

We, whose children find everywhere the best ap- 
pliances for obtaining an education, can scarcely con- 
ceive of a time when the best means for obtaining 
(irey education was to lie on the hearth before afire 
of blazing pine-knots with such books as those 
times aftbrded ; or, when attending the schools of 
that day for the short time they were kept, to be told 

"You must give up your seat to . You pay 

nothing for your schooling, and he pays." 

After a discussion in a town-meeting on the subject 
of appropriating money for educational purposes, in 
which the writer took a part, his father said to him, 
and with more feeling than he ever saw him manifest 
on any other occasion : " Charles, I never want any 
child told as I have been — ' You pay nothing for 
your schooling, therefore you must give your seat to 
, who pays.' " 

His education, and it was rjood for the times, must 
have been principally obtained from his mother, who, 
from papers in my possession of her preparation, 
must have had a superior education for a woman of 
those times. 





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UXBRIDGE. 



181 



At a suitable age he learned the trade of a " Set 
workman," a trade now made entirely obsolete by the 
large factories that by power machines turn out hun- 
dreds of cedar pails and tubs daily. 

He next took up the trade of turner, and made 
bobbins and spools for John Slater. Afterwards he 
took up the business of chair-making, which he fol- 
lowed for several years. 

In 1810 Daniel Day built the first woolen-mill in 
this vicinity. The first machinery was put into the 
mill in 1811. 

Jerry Wheelock having married the eldest daugh- 
ter of Mr. Day, became a member of the manufac- 
turing firm of Daniel Day & Co. Having natural 
taste for mechanics and tact in the management of 
machinery, after a few years he left the company and 
went into the employment of Artemas Dryden, Jr., of 
Holden, Mass., who was then, and for many years 
after, noted as a builder of woolen-carding machinas, 
and was engaged, principally, in setting up and put- 
ting into operation machines of his make in various 
places ; and was setting up machinery in Falmouth, 
Mass., in 1814, during its bombardment by the British 
ship-of-war " Nimrod." 

In 1814 the association — afterwards incorporated — 
known as the " Rivulet Manufacturing Company " 
was formed. Jerry Wheelock became a member of 
the association, and was the mechanical manager 
and superintendent of the mill till the spring of 
1819, when he gave up the place and returned 
to his old home and immediately commenced the 
building of woolen machinery. 

This business he continued till 1834. He was well 
known, not only in this immediate vicinity, but in 
parts of Connecticut, New Hampshire and the east- 
ern part of New York, as a thorough workman and 
as making great improvement in the machinery 
he built, both in its workmanship and in the ease 
and perfection of its operation. 

In 1834 he abandoned the building of machin- 
ery and went into manufacturing in company with 
his sons, which he continued till 184G, when he 
retired from active business. 

Strict integrity and the most perfect workman- 
ship possible with the means possessed for doing 
work, it is believed, are the characteristics that 
would be ascribed to him by those best acquainted 
with him. 

Of the former, when advised by his sons that, 
considering the risks of business and his age, it 
was best for him to withdraw from business, after 
considering the matter with regard to reflections 
that might fall on him in case of failure of his 
successors, he said to the writer: "Charles, I am 
not going to shirk any responsibility or have it 
said I left the business to escape from it ; and I 
want you to remember all my interest in this 
property must be considered as much at stake as 
if my name stood as a member of the iirm." 



Fortunately, by good luck or good management, no 
risk was incurred and no call was made upon his 
property to make good the failure of his successors. 

.Of his workmanship, the greatest fault ever found 
with it, was that the unimportant with him, was 
just as important as the most important in the 
eyes of others ; and at times many careless per- 
sons would consider time thus spent to be spent 
to a useless purpose. 

Whether, in view of the great inclination to slight 
work without regard to consequences that may fol- 
low, this should be written down against him as a 
grievous fault is left for others to judge. 

As a citizen he was honored by his townsmen 
with the various municipal oflices of the town, the 
duties of which he discharged with the same faith- 
fulness as he did all other works. 

As a neighbor he was trusted, respected and loved. 

As a husband and father he was not only beloved, 
but was deserving of all the love and honor they 
could give him. 

He died October 10, 1861, after a distressing sick- 
ness of more than five years, lamented by all who 
knew him. 



SILAS MANDEVILLE WHEELOCK. 

Mr. Wheelock, well known as a manufacturer and 
business man for some fifty years, was born in Ux- 
bridge, Mass., November 11, 1817, at the time his 
father, Jerry Wheelock, was superintendent and 
mechanical agent of " The Rivulet Manufacturing 
Company." He has always been a resident of the 
town of his nativity, and never lived without the 
limits of the school district of his early boyhood. 

He early manifested an ability for the management 
of affairs, and whatever work he was called upon 
to perform, he was always able to find playmates ready 
to assist him in his work while he did the planning 
and superintending; and it may safely be said, and, 
as his life will show, this faculty has never been lost. 

His opportunity for obtaining an education was 
very limited. The district school of about ten weeks 
of a male teacher in winter, and about the same 
length of time of a female teacher in summer, to 
which was added three or four terms to a select school 
in this town, taught by young college graduates, 
among whom were Mr. E. Porter Dyer, afterward 
Congregational minister in Shrewsbury, in this 
county, and Mr. C. C. Jewett, afterward Prof Jewett, 
librarian of "Smithsonian Institute" and of the 
" Boston Public Library." 

Early in life, in his ninth year, he began work in 
a woolen-mill at almost the only work that children 
of that age could be employed, — piecing rolls. 

From that time he has been constantly connected 
with woolen manufacturing in some form, — as work- 
man in its various branches, as superintending in 
some of its departments, and as manager and financier 
of private companies and corporations, and in having 



182 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



charge of the woolen department in a commission 
house in Boston and New York. 

In 1846 the business firm of C. A. & 8. M. Wheelock 
was formeil, the Imsiness being the manufacture of 
satinets, plaid linseys and tweeds. This business was 
continued till 1855, when, after making a very consid- 
erable enlargement of its factory and putting in steam 
power, it entered upon the manufacture of fancy cas 
simeres, giving up its other manufactures. Tliis busi- 
ness has been continued to the present time, now nearly 
forty-three years, during which time S. M. Wheelock 
has been the general business manager and financier. 

In 1870 he bought the Harriss Woolen Company's 
property in Putnam, Conn., consisting of a factory, 
twelve sets of woolen machinery, water-power, one- 
fourth of the Quinnebaug River at this point, together 
with dwelling-houses and other property. 

This purchase, in connection with business men, 
was organized under an act of incorporation by the 
Legislature of the State of Connecticut as " The 
Putnam Woolen Company.'' After an increase of 
the capital stock in 1880, a second factory with ma- 
chinery power, one-fourth of the Quinnebaug houses 
and other property, was bought and added to the 
previous purchase. S. M. Wheelock was chosen 
treasurer of the company and business manager, 
which position he maintained till the fall of 1887, 
when other business occupied so much of his atten- 
tion as to make it expedient for him to resign the 
treasurership of this company. 

In 1883 he purchased the Central Mill property in 
this town, consisting of factory, machinery, power, 
the whole of the Blackstone River at this point, 
houses and other property. A company of business 
men being formed and incorporated under the general 
corporation laws of Massachusetts as the " Calumet 
Woolen Company," took the property, and after 
making extensive repairs and changes and additions, 
began the manufacture of fancy cassimeres, S. M. 
Wheelock being the treasurer and principal manager 
of the company. 

In 188(5 he purchased the property known as the 
Uxbridge Woolen Factory, which included buildings, 
machinery, power, the whole of the Blackstone River 
at this point, dwelling-houses and other property. 
The Calumet Woolen Company, after an increase of 
its capital stock, took this property, and after making 
very great alterations and additions, have put it into 
operation as " The Hecla Mill." 

Since this last purchiise and putting into operation 
of the Hecla Mill, he has continued, as before, the 
management of the Calumet Mills, and also the 
Wacautuck Mills, by which name the mills of C. A. 
& S. M. Wheelock are known. 

S. M. Wheelock has manifested but little ambition 
for political life, although he has discharged the 
duties of one of the Board of Selectmen of this town 
for some three or four years, and served on various 
committees appointed for temporary purposes. 



In 1887 his friends thought his age and practical 
ability fitted him for the discharge of the duties ap- 
propriate to a member of the Massachusetts Legis- 
lature. 

At a Republican convention held for the purpose of 
nominating a candidate to represent the Second Wor- 
cester Senatorial District in the then ne.xt General 
Court he received the nomination for that position, 
which was duly confirmed by his election in Novem- 
ber following to the Senate of Massachusetts by a 
majority that showed him and his immediate friends 
that it was not merely as a partisan he owed his elec- 
tion, but for his qualities as a man of practical ability. 

He has this year — in accordance with the general 
rule of the political parties in relation to Senators — 
been again elected to the same position by a gratify- 
ing majority. 

It is not as a politician on which the reputation of 
S. M. Wheelock is to stand, but as a thorough, prac- 
tical business man, for which he early in life mani- 
fested a striking ability ; for stern integrity in busi- 
ness matters, worth more th.an millions obtained by 
fraud and chicanery. For more than fifty years of 
business life, during which time revulsions in business 
have been encountered that have swamped those ap- 
parently the most strongly prepared to endure the 
storm, he has been able to fulfill all his engagements, 
never paying less than one hundred per cent. But in 
doing this it has sometimes been felt as a hardship to 
be obliged to compete with those who, after settling 
their obligations for fifty per cent, or less, still con- 
tinued to meet him in the busine-s mart. 



RICHARD SAYI^ES. 

Richard Sayles was born September 1.3, 1819, at 
Gloucester, R. I., situated in the northwestern part of 
the State, in Providence County. Here he lived with 
his parents, attending school until eleven years old ; 
he then went to live with a farmer a few miles distant 
from his home, receiving for the first year a compen- 
sation of eleven dollars and board, and during the 
winter months a few weeks of schooling. Out of this 
sum he clothed himself and saved nearly one-third of 
it. He was well liked by his employer and continued 
with him on the farm until sixteen years of age, each 
year receiving an advance in wages and saving a 
large part. At sixteen he left the farm and entered 
a grocery-store in Providence, R. I., as clerk, retaining 
the position al>out five years. In 1840 he came to 
Uxbridge and attended school in the Old Academy 
building for one year, having earned and saved the 
money to pay his tuition while a clerk at Providence. 
He was a diligent student, and, with characteristic 
energy and industry, employed his time in a ])rofitable 
manner outside of school hours: in company with a ■ 
fellow-student of his own age, he hired a piece of 
land, from which they raised a large crop and dis- 
posed of it at a profit, all the work of cultivation 




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UXBRIDGE. 



183 



being performed out of school hours. At the end of 
his year's schooling at the Old Academy he entered 
the employ of the Uxbridge Woolen Company, and 
remained with them about three years. He then 
returned to Providence and bought out his former 
employer in the grocery business, at the corner of 
Charles and Randall Streets. The business proved 
successful, and he continued in it three years, and 
then returned to Uxbridge again and entered the 
employ of the Uxbridge Woolen Company as book- 
keeper, filling the position some six years with great 
credit to himself and to the entire satisfaction of the 
company, who offered him an interest in their busi- 
ness to remain with them. January 1, 184(), while in 
the grocery business, in Providence, he was married 
to Sarah Eddy McBride, who was born at Bolton, 
Mass., October 14, 1822, at the time of her marriage 
re.siding at Northbridge, Mass. Her parents were 
members of the Society of Friends. April 1, 1853, 
Mr. Sayles entered the employ of Mr. Moses Taft, of 
Uxbridge, and superintended the building and equip- 
ment of the Centreville Woolen-Mill, now known as 
the Calumet Mill, on the completion of which, in the 
summer of 1853, he, in company with his brother-in- 
law, Mr. Israel M. Southwick, hired the mill, and, 
under the firm-name of Southwick & Sayles, com- 
menced the manufacture of a fine grade of fancy 
cassimeres, which they continued successfully until 
July 1, 1859. They then sold out to Messrs. Brad- 
ford, Taft & Co., of Providence, R. I., Mr. Sayles 
remaining with the new firm in the capacity of agent 
and superintendent, and Mr. Southwick as master- 
mechanic. Messrs. Bradford, Taft & Co. were suc- 
ceeded by Messrs. Taft, Weeden & Co. Mr. Sayles 
remained with them until January 1, 1864. During 
a part of the time, from July 1, 1859, to January 1, 
1864, — that is, from the breaking out of the War of 
Rebellion, — the mill was engaged in the manufacture 
of a fine grade of indigo blue goods for officers' over- 
coats and suitings, all of the product being contracted 
direct to the United States (Tovernment, and receiving 
the highest commendation. Tlie mill for a time was 
run day and night upon this line of goods, requiring 
sixteen blue vats for the coloring of the wool. During 
this period of manufacture for the army the duties 
devolving upon Mr. Sayles were excessive, often re- 
quiring his |iresence at the mill until late at night ; 
this close application to business proved too severe a 
strain upon him and resulted, January 1, 1864, in a 
severe shock of paralysis, from which he did not 
fully recover for several months. After a partial 
recovery, having severed his connection with Messrs. 
Taft, Weeden & Co., he leased, about April 1, 1864, 
the Laurel Ridge Woolen-Mill, in thetownof Burrill- 
ville, R. I., and village of Pascoag, operating it for 
one year in the manufacture of satinets, residing 
during the time with his family in Uxbridge. May 
28, 1864, in company with David A. McBride, a 
brother-in-law, he bought of Mr. Chandler Taft the 



old Rivulet Mill property, situated in the north part 
of the town. After moderate improvements and re- 
pairs, they commenced the manufacture of shoddy, 
supplying Mr. Sayles' mill, in Pascoag, and also 
manufacturing for the market. They continued this 
business successfully for about two years. On Febru- 
ary 9, 1866, Mr. Sayles purchased Mr. McBride's 
interest in the property and sold the same to Mr. 
Israel M. Southwick, his former partner at the Cen- 
treville Mill. Immediately they commenced exten- 
sive additions to the property with the intention of 
manufacturing fancy cassimeres ; but owing to the 
great depression in the business, which soon followed, 
the project was given up, and the property remained 
unoccupied for several months. 

November 13, 18t)6, Mr. Sayles purchased Mr. 
Southwick's interest, and goon after sold it to Mr. 
Zadock A. Taft, of Uxbridge, a copartnership was 
formed under the firm-name of Sayles & Taft, and 
the manufacture of shoddy was commenced on an ex- 
tensive scale, and was continued with success until 
July, 1869. They then leased the property to Messrs. 
E. S. Bradford & Co., of Providence, R. I., who com- 
menced the manufacture of fine and medium grades 
of woolen yarns ; this firm was succeeded by Messrs. 
Pierce & Paine, of Providence, and they continued 
the business until October, 1872, when the mill was 
burned to the ground, making a total loss. The fol- 
lowing year Messrs. Sayles & Taft commenced the 
rebuilding of the property on an enlarged scale, and 
when completed began the manufacture of cotton 
warps and yarns, and continued the business for 
about one year, and then .sold the cotton machinery 
and replaced it with machinery for the manufacture 
of satinets, which business they commenced and con- 
tinued under the firm-name of Sayles & Taft, until 
October 1, 1878, when they associated with them Mr. 
Henry S. Morse, of Uxbridge, the firm-name becom- 
ing Sayles, Taft & Co., the manuflicture of satinets 
being continued. January 1, 1882, Mr. Taft retired 
from the firm, and Mr. Sayles and Mr. Morse con- 
tinued under the firm-name of Richard Sayles 
& Co. The various business interests of Mr. Sayles 
in his connection with the Rivulet Mills property 
have proved successful, as is reflected in the appear- 
ance of the village, its improved streets and lands, 
substantial mill buildings, neat and comfortable 
houses, all of which point to the enterprise, industry 
and integrity of Mr. Sayles, its projector, who, in every 
respect, was a self-made man ; broad and progressive 
in his views, his aim was to have his village and its 
people surrounded by the best influences, and to that 
end contributed liberally of his means and effort. 
Largely to his influence was due the erection of the 
handsome Baptist Church near his village, he being 
elected and serving as chairman of its building com- 
mittee, and contributing generously to its fund and 
also to its support. In his religious views he com- 
bined those of the Universalists and Unitarians: in 



184 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



politics a stanch Republican and strong advocate of 
protection to American labor and American industries. 
He several times refused public office, devoting all his 
time to his business and improvements in his village. 
He was a strictly temperate man, and a man of very 
decided opinions, always expressing them in a 
straightforward and honest manner. As an em- 
ployer, he was kind and generous, doing all in his 
power for the comfort and welfare of his employes, 
always kind-hearted and genial, ever ready to lend a 
helping hand and speak a word of encouragement. It 
was a pleasure to meet and converse with him. He 
was a man in every sense of the word, a man of the 
strictest integrity and sterling honesty. 

May 23, 1887, after several weeks of extremely 
painful illness, he passed away in the sixty-eighth 
year of his age, although in appearance a much 
younger man. He leaves a wife, three sons and a 
large circle of friends. He was a lineal descendant 
from John Sayles and Mary Williams, daughter ol 
Roger Williams. John Sayles was a native of Eng- 
land, and Mary Williams was born at Plymouth, 
Mass., in August, 1G33. 

Esek Sayles, the grandfather of Richard Sayles, was 
born at Gloucester, R. I., November 20, 1753, and 
was married, January 9, 1788, to Mary Harris, hi^- 
second wife, who was born at Gloucester, R. I., Octo- 
ber 16, 17G3, by whom he had eight children, — six sons 
and two daughters, — all born at Gloucester. Amasa 
Sayles, the oldest child, was born November 18, 1788, 
and was married November 22, 1811, to Mary Keach, 
who was born at Gloucester, R. I., January 10, 1794, 
and were the parents of Richard Sayles, he being the 
fifth of seven children, — six sons and one daughter, — 
all born at Gloucester. But two of the family survive — 
Mrs. Israel M. Soutliwick and Rensselaer Sayles, both 
residents of Uxbridge. 



DANIEL FARKUM. 

Daniel Farnum was of the fifth generation in de- 
scent from John Farnum, an early settler at the 
ancient town-seat in Mendon, and a little later in the 
southerly part of Uxbridge. 

The lineage is .John, Moses, Moses, David, Daniel. 
His grandfather Moses was an eminent minister in 
the Society of Friends, whose memory is still fragrant 
in many bosoms. Mr. Farnum lived through all the 
mature part of his life in Northbridge, near the border 
of Uxbridge. He was the oldest son of a large 
family, and is survived only by his youngest brother, 
Samuel J., now a resident in or near Poughkeepsie. 

Daniel Farnum was born with a good constitution, 
which he preserved well by regular and temperate 
habits, experiencing but little sickness, and retaining 
his faculties in remarkable vigor till within the last 
year of his life. His was emphatically a sound mind 
in a sound body; he was characterized for sound 
common sense, a strong sentiment of justice and 
honesty, insistence on his own rights, and respect for 



those of others ; economy, simplicity and hospitality 
in domestic afl'airs ; was provident, faithful and kind 
in the family circle ; a serviceable, judicious and 
trustworthy townsman, honored with the principal 
municipal offices, including those of seleclman and 
Representative in the Legislature ; a reliable counselor 
in financial matters ; a lover of his country and its 
liberties ; a firm opposer of slavery and oppression ; 
sparing in religious professions, of broad tolerance 
toward all denominations; liberal in theology, and a 
steadfast lioper in the final triumph of go(id over evil. 
These were qualities and characteristics which in Mr- 
Farnum overshadowed the incidental imperfections 
common to human nature. He was warmly attached 
to the interests of the town, and was a constant at- 
tendant on town-meetings, the last one he attended 
being in 1878, when in his ninety-fourth year. Among 
the positions of public financial tru.st he occupied was 
that of director in the Blackstone Bank, of Uxbridge, 
over twenty years. He had been expecting his de- 
parture for three years, expressed his entire resignation 
to the Divine disposal, and passed away in the con- 
fident assurance of the life everlasting, December 10, 
1879, aged ninety-five years and eighteen days. 



CHAPTER XXXI. 

AUBURN. 

BY REV. S. n. HOSMER. 

ToPOORAPHirAi,. — Auburn lies on the map an ir- 
regular pentagon in form, its eastern boundary and 
base line touching Millbury, with Worcester on the 
north, Leicester on the west and Oxford on the south. 
Its area covers about 10,000 acres, with a diameter of 
five miles in its extreme length. The centre, or the 
Congregational Church, lies five miles distant south 
by west from Worcester City Hall. The Norwich 
and Worcester Railroad threads the eastern side of the 
town, with depots at Auburn and Stone's Crossing ; 
the Boston and Albany Railroad runs through the 
western part. It has no station, but Jamesville and 
Rochdale depots are respectively within a half-mile 
and a mile of the town line. In 1885 the Webster 
Branch was opened, whose junction with the Albany 
road is in Auburn. This branch has a station at 
West Auburn. Thus railroad facilities are good. 

The surface is hilly, though without very high 
summits. The water-courses, trending northerly and 
easterly, join their channels to make the southern 
branch of the Blackstone River. These brooks and 
ponds are frequented by anglers, and three water 
privileges serve manufacturing uses and have for 
nearly a century. Pakachoag Hill extends two miles 
in the easterly part of Auburn, passing into Worces- 
ter, where it is crowned by the College of the Holy 



AUBURN. 



185 



Cross. From its broad plateau one gets a fine view of 
Stoneville, Leicester steeples on the western horizon, 
Millbury, Grafton and Shrewsbury, Mt. Asnebum- 
skitand blue Wachusett. Grassy Hill bordersou West 
Millbury, Prospect Hill stretches from West Auburn 
across the Oxford line. Growl and Beer's Hills rise in 
the northwest corner. We find our Auburn not the 
"loveliest village of the plain." The population is 
fairly distributed, the factory precinct of Stoneville 
being the more thickly built up. Pondville lies east 
of the centre. The inhabitants generally are farmers 
whose great barns show the tons of hay produced 
and the quantity of stock raised. Towns adjacent 
have a larger territory and population, and, with the 
exception of Millbury, a more ancient record. Our 
history narrates the origin, the doings and the present 
condition of an average New England rural commu- 
nity. 

CIVIL HISTORY. 

In Council, June 10, 1773, ordered that Gerehom Rice, Israel Stevens, 
David Bancroft, .Tunatlian Stone, Daniel Boyden, Jacob Stevens, Tliomas 
Drury, Thos. Driiry, Jr., Henry Gale, Wm Bancroft, Jas. Nichols, Darius 
Boyden, Jas. Hart, Thos. Baird, Jas. Hart, Jr., Thos. Baird, Jr., Oliver 
Curtis, Comfort Rice, Elizabetli Boyden, Phebe Bancroft, Jno. Boyden, 
Daniel Bancroft, Chas. Hart, Jas. Nichols, Peter Boyden, of Worcester - 
Benjamin Carter, Chas. Richardson, Timothy Carter, Pbiueas Rice, Ben 
jamin Carter, Jr., Rachel Buck, Daniel Roper, Gershom Bigelow, Ger- 
fihom Bigelow, Jr., Peter Hardy, Daniel Cummiiigs, Charles Richardson, 
Jr., of Sutton ; Samuel Eddy, Levi Eddy, Peter Jenison, Kuth Stone, 
Jesse Stone, Isaac Pratt, Abraham Fitts, Alexander Nichols, David 
Gleason, of Oxford ; John Orowl, Jr., .\iidrew Growl, Jonathan Phillips' 
John Hart, Thomas Scott, William Yong, Jonathan Stone, of Leicester ; 
be and hereby are, with their Families and Estates, erected into a Pre- 
cinct, and shall' enjoy all the powers and privileges which other Pre- 
cincts in this province by Law etyoy ; and it is further ordered that all 
other persons (with their Families and Estates) living in the towns of 
Worcester, Leicester and Oxford, not further than three miles (as the 
roads are now trod) from the Place hereinafter fixed for building the 
meeting-house upon, together with all such others in Sutton that live 
not further than one mile and a half from said place, who shall signify 
their desire to belong to said Precinct by lodging their names in the 
Secretary's office within nine months from this date, be and hereby are 
Incorporated and made a part of the Precinct aforesaid— ordered that the 
spot for erecting the meeting-house upon be at the following place (viz)., 
at an Oak stump with stones upon it, Standing on the Westerly side of 
the County road leading from Worcester to Oxford, near the centre of 
two acres of Land which Thomas Drury conveyed to Jonathan Stone, 
Daniel Boyden and David Bancroft ; the said two acres of land lieth on 
the gore of land that was annexed to the town of Worcester. 

The gore of land above named lay originally in 
Leicester, and had been annexed to Worcester in 
1758. 

These persons expressed their wish to join the new 
precinct, and did accordingly: Samuel Holman, 
Gershom Eice, Jr., Israel Stone, Wm. Parker, Joseph 
Phillips, .Samuel Learnard, Israel Phillips, Jacob 
Work, Jonathan Cutler, David Stone, John Harwood, 
Thomas Gleason, William Phips, Isaac Putnam, Jo- 
seph Gleason, Jonas Bancroft, Elisha Liverraore, 
Gardner Chandler (for my land within the limits), Na- 
thaniel Scot, David Bates, Nathan Patch, David 
Richards. 

July 27, 1773, the precinct was organized and chose 
its officers ; among others, Jacob Stevens, clerk, and 
Jonathan Stone, treasurer. The freeholders met at 
the tavern of Thomas Drury, Jr., inn-holder. The 



principal doings of the South Parish of Worcester, 
as it was called, will come in review under matters 
ecclesiastical, which mainly occupied attention dur- 
ing the five years of precinct municipality. One 
fact, however, deserves notice. On the proprietors' 
book stands, in the clear hand-writing of William 
Phips, the Declaration of Independence, with the 
subjoined order from the Council of Massachusetts: 

That the Declaration be printed and a copy sent to the ministers of 
each parish of every denomination within this State, and that they sever- 
ally be required to read the same to their respective congregations, aff 
soon as Divine Service is ended in the afternoon, on the first Lord's Day, 
after they shall have received it, and the town or district clerks are then 
required to record the same in their books, to remain as a perpetual 
memorial thereof. 

April 10, 1778, the precinctbecame an incorporated 
town, named Ward, in compliment to Major-General 
Ward, the commander of the colonial forces, at Cam- 
bridge, till Washington arrived. Heath, Gardner 
and Warren similarly commemorate other Revolu- 
tionary ofiicers. Road-making, parish affairs, with 
the patriotic furnishing soldiers and supplies for the 
army, occupied our townsmen. In 1780 a committee 
reported on the adoption of the proposed State Con- 
stitution, favorably on the whole, yet suggesting their 
decided preference for legislative representation as 
towns, rather than based on the number of polls, 
and emphatically disapproving the proviso that the 
Constitution should not be amended for fifteen years. 
In 1795 the town voted thirteen to seven in favor of 
a revision of that instrument. September, 178G, 
" Voted not to take any notice of the petition or 
address of the town of Boston ;" but what the metrop- 
olis desired of the country cousins, to be treated so 
curtly, is not apparent. 

Ward, like other towns, was considerably impli- 
cated in the uprising of Shays' Rebellion. Taxation 
was oppressive; Middle and Western Massachusetts 
was in a ferment. A company of armed men from 
Ward, under Captain Goulding, joined other insur- 
gents, gathered at Worcester to prevent the sitting of 
the court. Some days later, after a chilling snow- 
storm, the insurrectionary soldiers indulged quite 
freely in stimulants from merchant Waldo's stock of 
liquors, but detected a queer taste that suggested to 
some the thought of poison. Fortunately, Dr. Green, 
of Ward, being at hand, relieved their fears and imag- 
inary pains in the discovery that the favorite fluid had 
been plentifully seasoned with snufl'. 

The town addressed several petitions to the General 
Court, Governor and Council, and Major-General 
Lincoln, in behalf of their misguided brethren, who 
became amenable to justice, particularly craving 
pardon for Henry Gale, under sentence of death 
as a rebel. He finally obtained life and liberty 
through the pardon granted by the executive to 
the condemned insurgents. The town expressly 
aftirmed "that the hostile measures adopted and pur- 
sued by sundry persons to oppose known laws were 
unjustifiable in their nature and tendency." These 



186 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



petitions were able papers and proved to be in the 
line of governmental policy. 

Captain Samuel Pxldy was chosen representative 
to the General Court in 1787, and in a long docu- 
ment received the explicit instructions of his con 
stituents. I quote some of them : "The setting of 
the General Court, in the town of Boston, is a matter 
which the citizens of this Commonwealth are not gen- 
erally satisfied with, as in transacting the business of 
an Infant Nation, irabarassed with debts, it h highly 
incumbent to study economy and dispatch, for which 
great purposes the town of Boston is by no means 
adapted." The next section demanded the abolition 
of the Court of Common Pleas ; they also asked for 
a convention to revise the Constitution, and that 
inn-holders and retailers be licensed by the selectmen 
of their respective towns. Article thirteen complains 
" of the pernicious practice of the Law, as tending to 
the imbarassment, perplexity and expense of the 
people. If the general prosperity and happiness of 
the people can be effected by proper checks and re- 
straints on the practitioners of the law, we do not 
insist upon the total annihilation of the order, but 
if upon investigation it should appear conducive to 
the happiness of the people, that the order be annihi- 
lated, you will act conformably, for it is better that a 
few sutler than a People to sink beneath oppression." 

Sometimes the town voted not to send a Representa- 
tive to the Legislature. Two of its ablest men, at the 
same town-meeting elected representatives, each in 
turn refused the honor. In 1794 Joseph Stone, sur- 
veyor, was empowered to take a map or plan of the 
town, agreeable to a resolve of the Legislature. Next 
year the town agreed to help Joseph Stone against a 
loyalist's claim to certain property. In May, 179(3, 
"Voted unanimously that, alarmed by the reports 
current, that ye Treaty lately concluded between the 
United States of America and the Government of 
Great Britain, and duly ratified by the Constituted 
Authorities, meets with impediments and delays in 
carrying into effect, on the part of these State.s by the 
Majority of the Hon. House of Representatives of the 
Federal Congress; it is the wish and desire of this 
town, that the said Treaty be fully carried into effect 
without further delay." This vote was sent to the 
Hon. Dvvight Foster, Representative in Congre.ss. 

During Jefferson's administration Ward by vote 
sustained the government in ordering the embargo, 
so unpopular in New England. John Clark, Esq., was 
the delegate to the convention for the revision of the 
State Constitution in 1820. Fifteen years later manu- 
facturing was starting on a larger scale than the 
smithies, saw and grist-mills, home-looms and spin- 
ning-wheels of earlier times. That fact, with the con- 
struction of the two railroads, brought in a foreign 
element of population which is now mainly Canadian 
French. Church records chronicle with refreshing 
simplicity sixty years ago the death of an Irishman, 
a black woman, a foreigner from Sweden, the merely 



naming the race or nationality affording sufficient per- 
sonal identification. Tythingmen were chosen as 
late as 1839. 

The name of our town. Ward, because of confusion 
with Ware, was changed in 1837 to Auburn, proposed, 
we think, by Joseph Stone, Esq., who served as town 
clerk twenty-four years. Indeed, the recording the 
town's doings fitly belongs to the clan of Stones, the 
most frequent family name from the first; the present 
capable town clerk, Emory Stone, having filled that 
office thirty-two years. In 1850 the Legislature an- 
nexed to Auburn certain estates, which, by their own- 
ers' choice, in virtue of the act of incorporation of 
Ward, had paid taxes and exercised suffrage in the 
towns adjoining. Our growth has been slow but sure, 
without the rush, inffation, depression and crash that 
have scathed some communities. Probably more build- 
ing went on from 1865 to 1875 than in any other dec- 
ade. The population was in 1790, 473; 1810, 540; 
1830, 090; 1850, 879; 1880, 1317. State census of 
1885, 1208; the number of polls, 310; and the valua- 
tion, $487,421. 



CHAPTER XXXIL 

AVBVKii— [Coil /ill lied. ) 

EccLESiASTirAL. — The first settlers took prompt 
action in church affairs ; for in August, 1773, they 
voted " to begin Preching as soon as may be,'' and 
planned to build the meeting-house. The pews 
were dignified, and taken by families in 1775, though 
the church was not finished until ten years were 
gone. It was a nearly square structure, standing 
more on the Common than at present. The proprie- 
tors' book shows the plan of the ffoor with large 
square pews against the wall, gives the pew-owners' 
names and prices paid. Various ministers were 
heard, and three unsuccessfully called. The church 
was formed with the presence and sanction of Rev. 
David Hall, of Sutton, Rev. Mr. Maccarty, of Wor- 
cester, and Rev. Mr. Chaplin, of Sutton Second 
Church (which is now the first of Millbury), Thurs- 
day, January 25, 1776. Eleven men and as many 
women made up its original membership. Rev. Mr. 
Hall officiated at their tirst communion observance, 
June 9th. The first pastor. Rev. Isaac Bailey, a 
native of Sterling, graduated at Harvard College in 
1781, and was ordained here November 4, 1784. He 
had studied divinity with Rev. Daniel Emerson, of 
HoUis, N. H., whose daughter, Elizabeth, he married. 
His was a useful pastorate of thirty years. He died 
April 10, 1814, and sleeps with his deacons and 
congregation in the old church-yard. 

March 1, 1815, Rev. Enoch Pond (Brown Univer- 
sity, 1813) was ordained pastor, who labored dili- 
gently and successfully till 1828. He then became 
editor in Boston of the periodical Spirit of the I'il- 



AUBURN. 



187 



grims ; and somewhat later began his life-work, at 
Bangor Theological Seminary, where he died, full of 
years, service and honor, in 1881. This church 
greatly flourished during his ministry, more than 
doubling its membership in two extensive revivals. 
He published sermons, reviews, lectures, beside 
preparing young men for college. Anecdotes are 
told by those who remember him showing his pleas- 
ant and, at times, jocose disposition and ready wit. 
His dwelling looks to-day very much as when he 
abode there, and the long school-room and study, 
now two chambers, is our veneration, as is Luther's 
home and study to the residents of Wittenberg. 

Rev. Miner G. Pratt preached twenty years. He 
married Caroline, daughter of M.oj. Thos. Drury, 
afterward resided at Andover, and died at Rochester) 
N. Y., 1884, aged eighty-four years. He organized a 
parish library, and was also postmaster. In 1887 the 
church building was moved back fifty feet, and the 
belfry and spire added. 

Several clergymen came with shorter terms of stay, 
among whom was Rev. L. IvesHoadley, a relative by 
marriage of Dr. Pond. Rev. EInathan Davis, from 
Fitchburg, a graduate of Williams College in 18.34, 
began labor in November, 1869. He did noble work 
as a citizen as well as preacher. The church was 
raised up, galleries removed and the interior quite 
remodeled. The church's centenui.al was joyfullj' 
celebrated in J.anuary, 1876 ; but the only printed 
record is the newspaper column. Mr. Davis' minis- 
try of ten years greatly strengthened the church. 
Sincere was the sorrow at his funeral, April, 1881. 
Rev. N. A. Prince pre.ached two years; and the 
present incumbent. Rev. S. D. Hosmer, of Harvard, 
1850, began his labors January 1, 1883. The chapel 
near to the church has served at times as a school- 
room. In it hang three portraits of former pastors — 
Rev. Dr. Pond, Rev. Charles Kendall and Rev. 
EInathan Davis. 

On the town records we catch glimpses of persons 
not in accord with the standing order ecclesiastically. 
In 1779 provision was made to supply the deficiency 
caused by "taxes sunk by being laid on several of 
the Baptist persuasion in a late Ministerial R.ate." 
Ten years after the selectmen were empowered " to 
abate Minister's taxes set to those who bring Certifi- 
cates of their Congregating otherwheres besides in 
tliis town, as they may think proper." Liberty was 
given Elder Rathborn (at the desire of Jas. Hart) 
" to preach in the meeting-house at any time when 
they may not have occasion to make use of it them- 
selves." March, 1812, the town "allowed the Dis- 
senters from the Congregational Society the Privi- 
lege of occupying the Meeting-House on Week Days 
for Lectures; when the aforesaid Congregationals 
do not want to occupy the said house themselves." 

A churcli was erected through the efforts of Colonel 
Goulding and Samuel Warren in West Auburn, next 
the burial-ground, in 1814. This was the Baptist 



house of worship. When that society migrated to 
North Oxford, this building, bought by the War- 
ren Brothers, and moved to the site of their tan- 
nery, was used for business purposes till it was 
burned, about 1863. 

The Baptist Church in Sutton called a council 
of elders and delegates, who met April 9, 1815, 
and constituted the First Baptist Church of Ward, 
with eleven male and seventeen female members. 
Elder Pearson Crosby, of Thompson, Conn., preached 
the sermon text (Matt. 16: 18), and Elder Thomas L. 
Leonard, of Sturbridge, gave the right hand of fellow- 
ship to the new church. Deacon Jonah Goulding, 
Samuel Warren, David Hosmer and several persons 
of the Jennison and Gleason families were original 
members. Elder Dwinel seems to have been the 
first pastor, afterward Elias McGregory, and Rev. 
John Paine was the preacher from 1830 till 1837, 
when the larger part of the church, which counted 
near one hundred members, were transferred to 
become the Baptist Church in North Oxford. Also 
in 1837 Rev. Jonah G. Warren was chosen to 
prepare the history of this church. The Oxford 
Church and congregation to-day are largely com- 
posed of Auburn families. 

The Roman Catholic Church at Stoneville began 
as a mission in 1870. It is now under the pas- 
toral supervision of Father Boylen, who lives in 
Oxford. They have a neat sanctuary on the hill, 
with a fine view of the Holy Cross College in 
Worcester, distant less than two miles. 

Educational. — In 1779 two hundred pounds 
were given for schooling, and the town divided 
into five squadrons or districts, "Each squadron 
to diaw their money, and it to be a free school 
for the Town." The first committee chosen in 1780 
were Jonathan Stone, Darius Boyden, Jesse Stone, 
,Tohn Prentice and Andrew Crowl. In November 
three thousand pounds were added to the sum 
granted last year for schooling. It must have 
been the depreciated currency of the day, for soon 
after thirty pounds became the annual appropria- 
tion. Who were the school-dames or masters then, 
we know not. Joseph Stone may have been one. 
In 1784 Ward refused to allot any part of the 
school-money "to be held in the Center for the 
sole purpose of teaching Large Scholars." Two 
years later the committee were seven in number, 
viz., James Hart, Jr., Joseph Dorr, Esq., Lieu- 
tenant Thomas Drury, Jonah Goulding, Levi Eddy, 
Deacon Ezra Cary and Abel Holman. The ap- 
portionment of the school-tax on the lands of non- 
residents in 1789 names the Sutton Squadron, 
Leicester Squadron, North and South Squadrons on 
Prospect Hill, Bogachoge and Deacon Stone's Squad- 
ron. November, 1790, Lieutenant Thomas Drury 
was annexed to the southeast squadron, provided 
said squadron shall erect their school-house on the 
height of land south of Messrs. Cary & Green's 



188 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



Potash ; and a new squadron was formed ; the 
families of Abel Holman, Richard Bartlett, Eliph- 
alet Holman and Paul Thurston set oft' from the 
southeast district. In June of the next year the 
three western districts were consolidated, and prep- 
arations made to build a school-house. A little 
later forty pounds was the usual annual appro- 
priation. Like other towns fifty years since, a 
prudential committee looked after the school finances 
and a visiting cooamittee attended to the literary 
attainments of teachers and pupils. The pastors 
have generally served with others on the School 
Committee, and the town has a few times recognized 
their merit by placing ladies on the educational 
board. A report of the School Committee was 
accepted at town-meeting in 1843 ; but the earliest 
printed school report I have seen came out in 1851. 

A school of a higher grade was held in the fall of 
1875, whose pupils enjoyed the thorough instruction 
in High School studies of a Yale graduate, resident 
still in town. We have two hundred and forty 
children between five and fifteeu years old, six school- 
districts, with seven schools ; the Stoneville building, 
erected in 1872, housing two schools, with an annual 
appropriation of $1,300, added to which is the State 
school fund and the dog- tax. 

Rev. Mr. Pond taught a private school some seven 
years in his own house. He fitted many young men 
for college, took rusticated collegians into his fam- 
ily, and, with wonderful diligence and versatility, 
heard lessons, directed his scholars, wrote sermons 
and articles for the press at the same time. He pre- 
pared a new arrangement of Murray's English 
Grammar. At times there were thirty or forty pupils. 
Hon. Albert G. Wakefield, of Bangor, Maine ; Rev. 
Artemas Ballard, D.D., of St. Louis; Virgil Gar- 
diner, from the South ; Mr. Burrill, of Providence, 
R. I. ; and Rev. Gideon Dana were of those who 
studied here. Since Mr. Pond's departure selecl 
schools have at diflferent times been kept in the 
chapel. 

Some of the elders here in their youth attended 
Leicester Academy, whose centennial was kept in 
188-4. At present our youug people take advantage 
of the nearness and excellence of Worcester's varied 
institutions of learning. 

A paper-covered little book is still preserved with 
Jonathan Stone's autograph as owner in 1760. His 
son, Joseph Stone, Esq., who died in 1835, had a good 
library for the time. Among his varied capabilities 
he exercised the craft of a bookbinder. Traces exist 
of a social library about 1880 ; Joseph Stone, Abijah 
Craig, Oliver Baker and others being share-holders. 
There was, too, a parish library in Rev. Mr. Pratt's 
day, of which he was custodian. Mr. William Craig 
willed to the town one thousand dollars, provided the 
town added another thousand to establish and main- 
tain a free public library, only the interest to be 
expended. He was a man eccentric in dress. 



econornical in his habits, of bright faculties, quick at 
repartee, an active Whig. He died in 1871. The 
library was opened in October, 1872, with two hundred 
volumes, and was for several years in charge of Miss 
Hannah Green, at her residence ; thence moved to 
an ante-room of the town hall. It has outgrown its 
present quarters. A portion of the library, mostly 
theological works, of the style read by our devout 
grandfathers, once belonged to Joseph Stone. The 
residue (fifteen hundred volumes) are a well-selected 
collection, diligently conned by the young people of 
Auburn. Miss Lucy P. Merriam is the trusty libra- 
rian. A catalogue was printed in 1885. We need 
for our library a copy of every book and pamphlet 
written in or about this town or its vicinity ; and 
then a commodious hall for their use, preservation 
and increase. The town also owns a large case, 
filled with law works and the public documents of 
the State. 



CHAPTER XXXIII. 

AUBURN— ( Coutin ued. ) 

Manufactures. — In the last century every house- 
wife was skilled, like Solomon's virtuous woman, in 
seeking wool and fiax, and deftly handled the spindle 
and distafi'. The whirr of the spinning-wheel and 
jar of the loom made the home music. On early rec- 
ords the potash of Dr. Green and Recompense Cary 
is named as the starting-point of a new road. An 
official document in 1794 mentions two grist-mills, 
four saw-mills and one fulling-mill. A wind-mill, 
too, caught the breezes upon Prospect Hill. Charles 
Richardson's mill utilized the water privilege, now 
called Pondville, known as Rice's mills fifty years 
ago. From Mr. Rice the property passed through 
several owners to Otis Pond, who changed the busi- 
ness from a saw and grist-mill to the making of yarn. 
Then, with his brother as partner, it became a sat- 
inet-mill. At this time, 1862, Mr. B. F. Lamed 
took an interest in the business, which, at first with 
others, and then alone, he sustained till 1883. The 
Auburn Mill was widely known for its woolen goods, 
sold through Boston and New York commission 
houses. By a freshet causing the reservoir to give 
way, the mill was damaged in 1873. Mr. A. Henry 
Alden was drowned in the fiume by the bursting in 
of the bulkhead gates June 18,1879. A six-families 
tenement-house, ofiice and store-house were built, 
and a set of cards put in, making five sets in the mill, 
in the spring and summer of 1880. Three times has 
the plant been wholly burned, — in 1805 ; August 
25, 1870 ; and August 21, 1880. Each rebuilding was 
a marked improvement. A very pleasant festival 
and charitable gathering of towns-folk and friends 
from abroad, with a bright speech by Hon. John D. 
Washburn and a poem by Rev. E. Davis, celebrated 



AUBUKN. 



189 



the completion of the new mill in the month of Feb- 
ruary, 1881. Mr. Lamed sold the property in 1883 to 
L. J. Knowles & Brother. The mill is now managed 
under the firm of Kirk, Hutching & Stoddard as the 
Auburn Woolen Mill. 

The Drury family, for three generations, owned a 
grist and .saw-mill at the outlet of the pond near the 
Southhridge and Stoneville roads. Colonel Alvah 
Drury built the house now Mr. Hilton's residence, 
and prospered in his business. The site afterward be- 
came known as Dunn's Mill. Albert Curtis and B. F. 
Larned bought the water privilege, and Dunn's shod- 
dy mill, owned by B. F. Larned, was burned, with a 
loss of over four thousand dollars. May 2, 1877. Mr. 
James Hilton carried on the same business, and liis 
premises were burned in 1887, but immediately re- 
built and enlarged. 

Dark Brook, the outflow of Eddy's Pond, at two 
points has turned the wheels of manufacturing in- 
dustry. 

Plows, scythes, wooden-ware for farmers' tools and 
shoes were made here from 1820 to '40. Ichabod 
Washburn, the wealthy and liberal wire-maker of 
Worcester, served his apprenticeship with Nathan 
Muzzy, whose blacksmith-shop stood behind the 
church. He received his freedom suit of clothes, 
made by Mrs. Muzzy, at the expiration of his ser- 
vice. 

In 1837 Auburn could show one woolen mill, a pa- 
per mill, a card factory, three shingle mills, a lath 
mill and a sash and blind factory. Daniel Haywood's 
paper mill, a four-story structure on the stream above 
Stoneville, was swept away by a flood in 1856. John 
Warren & Sons carry on the tannery in West Au- 
burn. This industry has been successfully prose- 
cuted on the same spot, and kept in the family since 
Jonah Goulding started that business nearly a cen- 
tury ago. 

In 1834 Jeremy Stone began to improve the water- 
power on Young's Brook by erecting a brick m'll and 
houses for the operatives. He died at the South be- 
fore his plans were completed, but the village at 
Stoneville marks his business foresight. Edward 
Denny, of Barre, next owned the property. About 
1850 Mr. A. L. Ackley bought him out, changing the 
woolen to a cotton mill. John Smith, of Barre, took 
it in 1858, whose sons, C. W. and J. E. Smith, coined 
money by .shrewd business operations in the war-pe- 
riod, from 1861 to '65. At C. W. Smith's death, a 
few years since, the mill lay idle awhile. Mr. George 
H. Ladd acted as superintendent till the last sale of 
the property and his removal to Clinton, Mr. Hogg, 
the carpet manufacturer at South Worcester, is 
present owner, the business-name being the Stone- 
ville Worsted Company, making yarn for the Worces- 
ter Carpet Mill. 

When the Lynde Brook reservoir broke loose, the 
damage at the Stoneville dam and bridge cost the 
town alone three thousand dollars. The dwellings 



of the operatives under the maple's shade, the neatly- 
kept pine grove on the near hillside, its height 
crowned by the Catholic Church and the public school, 
form as attractive a New England laciory village as 
you may find. 

The Darling Bros. (Messrs. D. W. & J. T.), con- 
tractors, reside on the Rochdale road in Auburn. 
Specimens of their skill, fidelity and success as 
l)uilders are seen at the Polytechnic, Worcester, and 
public edifices at Ware and Springfield. Through 
the influence of James Alger, a veteran engineer on 
the Boston and Albany Railroad, some twenty of our 
young men are firemen and engineers on several rail- 
roads. 

Agriculture. — Rev. Peter Whitney writes of this 
town in 1793 : " The soil in general is fertile, rich and 
strong, suitable for orcharding and all kinds of fruit; 
well adapted to pasturage and mowing, and produces 
large crops of rye, oats, wheat, barley, Indian corn 
and flax. It is not very rocky, but affords stone 
sufficient for fencing in the farms.'" And Major 
(rookin, a century before, noted the famous crops of 
Indian corn at Pakachoag, the Indian civil planta- 
tion, and translated the significance of the aboriginal 
word, the village named from " a delicate .spring of 
water there." 

I suppose wool-raising in the olden time was profit- 
ably pursued. Different ear-marks of the stock- 
owners are recorded by the town clerk. The minister's 
glebe counted its acres by the scores, and the good 
parson, like his congregation, was expert in using the 
plough, scythe and sickle. There must have been 
ilouble the amount of woodland. In recent times the 
supply of railroad ties, and hundreds of trees cut 
down for fuel, explains the lesser area of the fore«t. 
For a mile one rode along a shaded avenue a few years 
since on the Southbridge road ; alas ! that the fact 
should be but a pleasant memory now. Some farms 
-till belong to descendants of their first owners. Our 
yeomen quite generally are busied in supplying milk 
10 the neighboring city. Mr. A. S. Wolf conducts a 
ivell-managed market produce farm, and finds a ready 
disposal for all he raises. He employs, winter and 
summer, a number of men, and his fruitful acres 
remind one of the Arlington and Belmont market- 
^.^ardens. Other persons cultivate the small fruits and 
realize, we hope, the pecuniary profits a well-known 
novelist gave as his experience on the banks of the 
Hudson. The yearly harvest exhibition shows an 
attractive display of flowers, vegetables and fruit. 

The Auburn Grange, No. 60, P. of H., was organized 
July 2, 1874, with twenty-three charter members. It 
now numbers over one hundred, and is in a flourish- 
ing condition. A few years since the grange spent a 
bright May-day, before Arbor Day was recognized, in 
the adornment of the public green by setting out 
thrifty young maples to grow beside the half a dozen 
lofty elms, the bequest to us of our thoughtful prede- 
cessors a century ago. 



l!MI 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



We note some of the chief agricultural results in 
Auburn, found in the tallies of the State census in 
1885 for the year previous: 

Milk, gallons " 250,716 

Value of dairy products $47,164 

Hay, straw and fodder 30,927 

Vegetables 10,391 

Animal products 9,152 

Wood products 7,368 

PtmUry products 6,y74 

Aggregate of agricultural products 8132,032 

There were ninety-one farmers, with eighty-five ad- 
ditional farm laborers. 

A sentence from the town's instructions to its rej) 
resentative, in 1787, might serve well as a grange 
motto: "The industrious husbandman, on wliom this 
cominonvvealth will prolialily ever depend for its 
greatest strength.'' True of the United States to-day, 
though not as applicable to Massachusetts as when 
originally penned. 



CHAPTER XXXIV. 

AVEVRN—iCoii/iinicd.) 

Military Affairs. — Military titles abound in the 
names of the first residents. Some had seen service 
in the French and Indian Wars. The commission of 
Comfort Rice as first lieutenant in the Third Com- 
pany of Foot, Micah Johnson, captain, in the regiment 
of militia in Worce.ster County, whereof John Chand- 
ler is colonel, signed by Governor Hutchinson, June, 
1773, is yet preserved. Two companies marched from 
Worcester on the Lexington alarm, April, 1775. Cap- 
tain Timothy Bigelow led the minute-men. A few in 
his company and one certainly in Captain Flagg's 
were from this South Parish. The State archives con- 
tain the muster-roll of Captain John Crowl's com- 
pany from this place, twenty-six men in all. They 
were attached to Colonel Larned's regiment, and 
marched to Roxbury in the alarm of April, 1775. They 
were paid for a hundred miles' travel and from six to 
twelve days' service. Total amount allowed for this 
company and receipted for by their captain January 
24, 1771), £28 2s. 7\'l. When the parish became a 
town its records attest its earnest loyalty to freedom, 
in ofl'ering good bounties for army recruits, in for- 
warding beef, grain and clothing to the soldiers in 
service. The following document is a sample: 

To Capt .lobn waight, .\gont for Solrler clutliing for the county of 
Worcester, we the Selectmen of Ward have apprised and sent the follow- 
ing artikels, viz. : 

^^H shirts at 48s per shirt 467 4 

14 pair of shoes 48s per pair 33 12 

14 pair of Stockings 36« per pair 25 4 



Total.. 



£126 

Ward, Nov. 3n, 1778. 

CHAS RlCHAttnSON 

Nathan Patch 
Jonathan CuTLEE _ 



Select 
Men 



The town also purchased five guns and ammunition. 



There must have been a home company, as its officers 
were associated in 1780 with the town's Committee of 
Correspondence. 

The part Ward took in Shays' Rebellion has been 
already told. October, ITM, a quarter of a pound of 
powder was allowed each soldier for the muster at Ox- 
ford that shall bear arms on said day. Next year the 
records state, " Voted to give One Dollar to each of 
the men called for from the military Company in this 
town, who shall be Volunteers to fill the Levy; also 
to such of the Cavalry and Artillery, who are inhab- 
itants of this Town, who may be detached from their 
respective Corps, in proportion to the Levy on the 
Infantry ; also that the town will make up the pay to 
each and every of said Soldiers, including whatsoever 
they shall be entitled to receive from the public equal 
to $10 per month they may serve, after they shall be 
called into actual service, consequent to said Levy." 

The town's powder was stored in the attic of the 
church until a powder-house was built on the hill-top 
south of the old burying-place. Men still living, in 
their younger days trained with their townsmen on 
the Common, or went through the military evolutions 
in a field near Major Drury's house ; marched to Lei- 
cester, Oxford or Worcester, joining other companies 
for regimental review. Gradually the military spirit 
died out in the piping times of peace, till the black 
war-cloud looming up on the Southern horizon sum- 
moned the citizen soldiery of the North. Auburn 
enlisted seventy-seven men ; three of these entered 
the navy. The Twenty-fifth Regiment Massachusetts 
Volunteer Militia received the most of these of any 
one regiment, but Auburn had soldiers also in the 
Fifteenth, Twenty-first, Thirty-fourth and Fifty-first, 
and scattered individuals in yet others. A few joined 
the Heavy Artillery. Three were killed; four more 
died of wounds or sickness in the hospitals. On the 
soldiers' monument, raised in 1870, are inscribed the 
names of fifteen soldiers, deceased. The little flutter- 
ing flags mark the resting-places of these and others 
since mustered out from life's march and bivouac. 

John A. Logan Post, No. 97, G. A. R., was organized 
with thirty-six comrades and was largely efficient 
toward the erection of the soldiers' monument. But so 
many of its members left town that after three years the 
post disbanded. No uniformed soldier is met on our 
quiet streets ; the nearest approach to the stormy times 
of '63 is the distant boom of the holiday salutes of Bat- 
tery B in Worcester or the crack of the sportsman's 
rifle intent on shooting sly Reynard or a harmles'i 
rabbit. The grandson of the first pastor became dis- 
tinguished as Prof Jacob Whitman Bailey at West 
Point. Would that one of our tall forest trees might 
stand as a flag-staff on the Common to display on fit 
occasions the Stars and Stripes above the greenery of 
those towering elms. 

Cemeteries.— In January, 1775, a committee was 
chosen " to pick upon a buruing yeard." They re- 
ported " upon a Diligent and faithful tryal of y' 



AUBURN. 



191 



Ground near the Senter of the parish, the most Sala- 
ble place on the Rode from the meeting-house to ox- 
ford, on the Southerly Corner of Mr. Thomas Drury's 
Cleared Land," eleven rods each way, containing 
three-quarters of an acre. This old burying-ground 
joins the Commou and is thickly planted with the 
memorial stones of our predecessors. The oldest bears 
the date April 13, 1777— the stone of Mrs. Deborah 
Thurston, aged nineteen years. The epiUiphs chroni- 
cle the family genealogies of the town to a large 
extent, as for forty years here was the only burial 
spot, and till 1846 the principal one. Our forefathers' 
tomb-stone poetry was usually alarming in its address 
to the living; but these lines on the stone of a four- 
years-old child answer darkly the mooted question. 
Is life worth living? 

When tbe arcJiaugel's tninip shall blow, 

And suuls to bodies join, 
What crowds shall wish their lives below 

Had been as short as mine. 

An ancient graveyard beside the thronged city's 
street seems terribly out of place, only interesting to 
some Old Mortality of an antiquarian ; but in the 
country the open fields around, singing birds loving 
its tree-tops, wild flowers and creeping vines border- 
ing its stone walls, the sunset glow of a summer even- 
ing lighting up its glades, give a tranquil beauty and 
serenity better felt than told. The poet's matchless 
elegy could have been written only of a country 
church-yard. 

For seventy years the graveyard near School -House 
Number Four has been the burial-place for the west 
part of Auburn. The first interment was that of Mr. 
Gleason in 1S14. Colonel Goulding's tomb is here. 
A small enclosure on Prospect Hill near the Oxford 
line has one monument and several graves. It be- 
longed to the Cudworth fomily. The Burnap field, 
on land of Thomas S. Eaton, is where that family 
buried their dead, but the stones have been all 
removed. 

The new cemetery, laid out in 1846, occupies about 
six acres midway from the church to the depot. A 
simple plinth and marble shaft, resting on a granite 
base, the soldiers' monument, crowns the crest of the 
slope opposite the gateway. For forty years this 
garden of the dead received the faithful care of, and 
nearly every grave was dug by, the sexton, John G. 
Stone, from whose broad acres this land was pur- 
chased. Our town name recalls the designation of 
that first extensive garden-cemetery, Mount Auburn 
near Boston. As our necropolis has never been named, 
from its fair prospect over the near water to the dis- 
tant hills, let us designate this beautiful spot our Mt. 
Pisgah. 

The Old Tavern. — The residence of Otis Pond, 
at the Common, is perhaps as old and as little changed 
as to the interior, as any house in town. This was 
the tavern, with swinging sign-board between the two 
supporting timbers, suggesting accommodation for 



man and beast. It was kept by mine hosts Drury, 
Hturtevant, Cary and Wiser, and not on a temperance 
platform, as stories of the older inhabitants assure us. 
Here reined up the stages from Worcester to Norwich, 
which, in 1831, left Worcester every Wednesday and 
Saturday at 3 a.m., the passengers reaching Norwich the 
same afternoon, and, by the steam packet "Fanny," 
New York the next morning. The summer arrange- 
ments for 1838 read ; Monday, Wednesday and Friday 
the stage leaves for the Norwich boat at 6. .30 a.m., but 
on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday on the arrival of 
the first train from Boston. The Southbridge stage also 
passed through this town. A town-meeting, awaiting a 
committee's report, would take a recess at the inn so 
accessible. The first parish-meeting convened there, 
and its best room, I fancy, witnessed Sabbath worship, 
till the church was ready for use. Dr. Pond speaks of 
a memorable ball at the tavern, which was the precur- 
sor of a great revival. The post-oflSce and store were 
at the Common, but years since left the geographical 
centre of the town for its travel centre — the depot. 
But the sign " Groceries " remains, — an epitaph on 
business departed, perhaps capital buried beyond 
resurrection. Like an old palimpsest, too, it carries an 
older inscription of the store-keeper's name, easily 
decipherable beneath the last-painted word. 

Personai, Sketches. — We glance at a brief out- 
line of some whose lives have shaped our local his- 
tory. All that occurred before 1773 belongs to Wor- 
cester's chronicles or the other mother towns. Yet a 
word of some then active where now lie our farms 
may not prove amiss. 

September 17, 1674, Rev. John Eliot and his coad- 
jutor, Major Daniel Gookin, visited Pakachoag (Lin- 
coln's " History of Worcester" gives thirteen ways of 
spelling that name), preached and appointed civil 
officers among the Indians. John Speen, a Natick 
convert, had already preached and taught here two 
years. Gookin locates this Indian village seven 
miles from Ha.ssanamesit, — i. e., Grafton, — and three 
miles from the Connecticut Path, which led west- 
ward. That way ran just north of Lincoln Square, in 
Worcester. Wattasacompanum, as ruler among the 
Nipmucks, aided Eliot and Gookin. But next year the 
wily Philip seduced the natives from their loyalty to 
the English, when they burned deserted Quinsiga- 
mond, and were present at the Brookfield disaster. 
Wattasacomj)anum, or Captain Tom, as he is called, 
paid the penalty of his weakness at his execution on 
Boston Common. Matoonas, who had been chosen 
constable at Packachoag, met a similar fate. 

Col. Timothy Bigelow, who served in the French 
and Indian War;- and led Worcester's company of 
minute-men on the Lexington alarm, was born in 
what was Worcester, but soon became included in 
Ward. His beautiful memorial column on Worces- 
ter Common records his soldierly service. 

Rev. Wm. Phips, of the colonial Governor Sir 
Wm. Phips line, lived near the Oxford bound- 



102 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



ary, east of Prospect Hill. Born at Sherborn and a 
graduate of Harvard College in 1746, he preached at 
Douglas till dismissed in 1765. We find no trace of 
him as a minister here, but he was active in church, 
precinct and tovifn matters, a capable man and a firm 
patriot. His daughter Sukey married Wm. Craig 
and was the mother of Abijah and William Craig 
and their as peculiar sister. Miss Patty. Mr. Phips 
died in reduced circumstanciis at Oxford in 1798. 

A resolution passed at town-meeting in 1787 rings 
out its sweeping " Woe unto you lawyers !" Never- 
theless, even in those troublous days, one of the 
most useful and honored citizens was the Hon. 
Joseph Dorr, born in Mendon, graduated at Har- 
vard, 1752. Leicester and Brookfield also claim him 
as a resident. His services are conspicuous on our 
annals from 1786 to 1795. Having assisted in fram- 
ing the State Constitution and filled already the posi- 
tion of State Senator, he was exceedingly valuable 
here in drafting petitions for clemency to those en- 
gaged in Shays' Insurrection, and was sent as the 
town's intercessor to lay their appeal before the Gov- 
ernor and Council. His youngest son, Edward, born 
in Ward, was a large land-owner in Louisiana and 
died there. Two older sons became eminent in mer- 
cantile and financial circles in Boston. Joseph Dorr 
held the office of justice of the Court of Common 
Pleas twenty-five years and was judge of Probate for 
Worcester County eighteen years. He died at Brook- 
field in 1808. 

Deacon Jonathan Stone, of the third generation 
from Deacon Simon Stone, of Watertown, the immi- 
grant ancestor and the third successively named Jon- 
athan, came from Watertown about 1753, and settled 
on lands then in Leicester. In 1757 he and others 
asked to be joined to Worcester, which took place 
next year. Still later his acres fell into the new 
parish, soon becoming the township of Ward. His 
descendant, Emory Stone, Esq., owns the ancestral 
possessions, the venerable homestead standing till 
within forty years. Jonathan Stone's name occurs as 
owner of pew No. 47 in the Old South Church, 
Worcester, in 17()o. He marched with Captain Bige- 
low to Cambridge, April, 1775, his sou. Lieutenant 
Jonathan, going with Captain Flagg. Most of the 
family name here now are descended from Deacon 
Jonathan. He was active in the organization of the 
church and served as its first deacon. As appears in 
the original plan of the edifice, he bought pew No. 
15, on the right of the pulpit, and paid the best 
price (sixty pounds) of any proprietor. The school 
District where he lived is named as Deacon Stone's 
District. After his day that section wa.s known atone 
time as New Boston. Old family Bibles record his 
three marriages and the goodly array of his nine sons 
and daughters. He lived to be over eighty years and 
his stone stands near the cemetery wall close by the 
chapel. 

His son, Joseph Stone, Esq., has been already 



spoken of. As teacher, surveyor, bookbinder, and 
even occasional printer, he was variously and largely 
useful. Fond of reading and study, he gathered quite 
a library, and the annotations in his pamphlets and al- 
manacs aftbrd many a desired fact to the antiquary. Spec- 
imens of hymns and tunes he composed are preserved. 
In 1793, with Abraham Wood, he published a singing- 
book, which circulated widely. The town records, in 
his clear chirography are a feast to the eye and a de- 
light to the investigator. Some of our elders remem- 
ber the cloaked figure of this aged worshipper at 
church. He had been often chosen to public office, 
and faithluUy discharged every trust. He outlived 
his wife sixteen years, and died childless, at the age 
of seventy-nine, February 22, 1835. He gave some of 
his property to Bangor Seminary, and a memoir of 
him was written by Dr. Enoch Pond. 

Jonah Goulding settled in the west part of the town, 
coming thither from Grafton. He became noted as 
the captain of the Ward company, that joined Shays' 
forces. One Boyden was the lieutenant. After the 
rebellion collapsed he was arrested at his home and 
confined forty days in Boston Jail. His business was 
that of a tanner, and he built the mansion occupied 
by his grandsons, the Messrs. Elbridge and John 
Warren. He filled the place of school committee- 
man and selectman. Naturally firm in purpose, keen 
in judgment and outspoken in speech, he acted with 
emphatic earnestness. He was the principal mover 
in the formation of the Baptist Church, and its life- 
long strong pillar. He died in 1826. 

Rev. J. G. Warren, D.D., his grandson, and son of 
Samuel and Sally Goulding Warren, born September 
11, 1812, fitted for college at Leicester Academy and 
graduated at Brown University, 1835, Newton Theol- 
ogical Institute, 1838. He was ordained at North 
Oxford, September, 1838, and had pastorates at 
Chicopee and North Troy, N. Y. ; but his chief ser- 
vice was done as a secretary of the American Baptist 
Missionary Union from 1855 to 1872. At a critical 
period he filled this position with marked capacity 
and success. He retired in enfeebled health, and died 
in Newton, February 27, 1884. He was a trustee of 
Brown University and Newton Theological Institute. 

For seventy years and four generations the Drury 
family were important persons ; but none of the name 
are now resident. They owned a large estate, at one 
time two hundred and fifty acres, reaching from the 
church site well up on Pakachoag. Thomas Drury, 
the elder, probably came from Framingham. His 
name appears, in 1772, on the Worcester records 
among those eligible for jury duty. His grave-stone 
dates his death November 3, 1778, in the fifty-ninth 
year of his age. His son, Lieut. Thomas, had gone 
forth with Captain Bigelow's minute-men on the Lex- 
ington alarm. He deeded to the town, in 1781, the 
land around the church, two and one-half acres ; im- 
proved the water-power, long known asDrury's Mills, 
and died, aged ninety-one, in 1836. His daughter. 



ASHBURNHAM. 



193 



Phebe, married, in 1799, Rev. Z. S. Moore, then pas- 
tor in Leicester. Soon he became a professor at 
Dartmouth College, then the second president at Wil- 
liams, and died while first president of Amherst Col- 
lege. She is well remembered as a lady of fine char- 
acter and dignity, a widow many years, and at her 
death her property was left to Amherst College. 

Major Drury, often named as Thomas, Jr., well 
sustained the family reputation. His residence, from 
its high location, commands fine views to the north 
and east, from Cherry Valley across the southern part 
of Worcester. Rev. Mr. Davis owned the place re- 
cently, and the old-time hospitable mansion is now 
owned and occupied by Mr. John J. Holmes. The 
worthy major's twin daughters, Almira and Caroline, 
greatly resembled each other, occasioning amusing 
mistakes of personal identity. Miss Caroline married 
Rev. M. G. Pratt, for twenty years pastor of the Con- 
gregational Church. 

Colonel Alvah Drury (each generation has a sepa- 
rate military title) showed remarkable busincis 
enterprise. He built the house just above his mills, 
now Mr. Hilton's, and was much relied on bv his 
townsmen for his capability and public spirit. He 
died in his prime, the result of an accident in his 
mill, and with the removal of his family that well 
known and oft-spoken name passed out of Auburn 
annals. 

For so small a town. Ward, in its early days, was 
favored with skilled physicians. Dr. Thomas Green, 
from Leicester, settled here, probably at the time of 
Dr. Campbell's removal. Dr. Green had served as 
surgeon's assistant during the Revolution. He whs 
town clerk in 1784-85. This branch of the Green 
family, for a century and a half, have manifested 
aptitude for the study and practice of the healing art, 
which Dr. Thomas followed in Ward for twenty-five 
years. He died in 1812, and was succeeded in his 
profession by his half-brother. 

Dr. Daniel Green, also of Leicester, was born 
November 9, 1778, a son of Thomas Green, and 
grandson of Rev. Thomas Green, a noted physician 
and surgeon, as well as pastor of the BaplisfChurch 
in Leicester. Dr. Green was of the sixth generation 
of those who came to Massachusetts from England in 
1G30. About 1811 he established himself in Ward, 
and for over fifty years was the esteemed and suc- 
cessful physician, with a practice extending into all 
the neighboring towns. A man of excellent judgment, 
with keen powers of observatiou, and integrity of 
purpose, he was the trusted practitioner till over 
eighty years of age. He was an active worker in tbe 
anti-slavery cause in its earlier days, as well as an 
earnest advocate of temperance. He married, January 
13, 1814, Elizabeth, daughter of Ralph Emerson, of 
Hollis, N. H. June 1, 18G1, he died, aged eighty- 
three years. " He was closely identified with the 
best interests of the town through all these years, 
and is remembered accordingly." 
13 



John Mellish, Esq., was born at Dorchester in 
1801, came to Auburn in 1839, was a justice of the 
peace thirty-five years, held the oflice of school com- 
mittee-man until advanced in years, having held the 
same position in Oxford and Millbury, and was em- 
ployed as school-teacher, generally in the winter 
season, for many years. He took the census of 
Auburn in 1840 and 1850. His son, John H., 
graduated at Amherst College in 1851 ; Andover 
Seminary, 1854; was ordained at Kingston, N. H., 
February 14, 1855 ; is now preaching at North 
Scituate, R. I. Another son, David B., learned the 
printers' trade; became an expert reporter and sten- 
ographer, in New York City ; had an office in the 
Custom House, was elected Representative in Congress 
and died while filling that post in 1874 at Washing- 
ton, D. C. A daughter, Mary Louisa, married Rev. 
Franklin C. Flint, of Shrewsbury, and died in 1881. 

The Eddy family have held a prominent place in 
town for a hundred years. A recent death removes 
this landmark, and the widow and children have 
migrated. A boy, Samuel, is the ninth in successive 
generations bearing that name. 

These then form the annals of our quiet neighbor- 
hood. Less in aren and population than places ad- 
jacent, less of the factory element and more of the 
yeoman's toil. Auburn follows the even tenor of her 
way. Its century and a decade of municipal life have 
been in general uneventful years, aloof from the swirl 
and roar of the city's whirlpool, yet growing, though 
slowly. In other States the name Auburn marks 
thriving cities; here it best comports with rural 
scenes. Still-life one might disdainfully count this, 
if restless and ambitious as most Americans are. 
But a town so accessible to Worcester will some day 
share its growth, and number residents by thousands. 
Upon the creditable past may our citizens plan for 
and attain future thrift, growth and the common 
weal. 



CHAPTER XXXV. 

ASHBURNHAM. 

BY EZRA S. STEARNS, A.M. 

Originally the town of Ashburnham included 
about one-third of each of the adjoining towns, Ashby 
and Gardner. It is situated in the northeast corner of 
Worcester County, and is bounded on the north by 
New Ipswich and Rindge in New Hampshire; on the 
east by Ashby, in Middlesex County, and by Fitch- 
burg ; on the south by Westminster and Gardner, and 
on the west by Winchendon. Since 1792, except the 
addition of two farms, the gift of Westminster, the 
boundaries and area of the township have remained 
unchanged. The present area is about twenty-four 
thousand five hundred acres, including about one 



194 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



thousand five hundred acres of ponds and reservoirs. 
Situated in tlie line of the water-slied between the 
Connecticut and Merrimack Valleys, the course of 
numerous streams is outward ; the only waters flowing 
into the town are a few small brooks which have their 
source in Eindge and New Ipswich on the north. 
There are eight natural ponds in the town ; four are 
tributary to the Connecticut and four to the Merri- 
mack River. Here the Souhegan and Squannacook 
and important branches of the Nashua and Miller's 
Rivers have their source. The altitude exceeds that 
of the surrounding country on the east, south and 
west. The summit on the line of the Chcsline Rail- 
road, one and one-half miles northwest of station at 
South Ashburnham, is one thousand and eighty-four 
feet above tide water, while the old burial-ground on 
Meeting-House Hill exceeds the summit by two hun- 
dred feet. The rounded form of Great Watatic on the 
dividing line between Ashburnham and Ashby, towers 
to the height of one thousand eight hundred and forty- 
seven feet. In the north part of the town are several 
lenticular hills with rounded outlines and arable to the 
summit. These remarkable accumulations of hill are 
also found in Rindge, Ashby and Gardner, but only 
a small proportion of Ashburnham falls within the 
area of this glacial drift. The soil is tliat common to 
the hill towns of Worcester County. When placed in 
comparison it is stubborn and rocky, yet generally 
arable and productive. The subsoil is clay retentive 
of moisture, and numerous springs gushing from the 
hill-sides are the perennial source of brooks and rivu- 
lets winding through the valleys, and supporting the 
crystal lakes nestled among the surrounding hills. 
The fauna and flora of the locality are topics discussed 
in the general history of tlie county. 

Lunenburg, including Fitchburg and a part of 
Ashby, and Townsend, including a more considerable 
part of Ashby, were originally granted 1719, and 
within those grants numerous settlements were made 
in rapid succession. For several years the territory 
at the west of the new settlements was unbroken, and 
the future town of Ashburnham remained the border 
of the wilderness on the line of the settlements. In 
1735 six grants of land, containing three thousand 
eight hundred and fifty acres, were located within the 
present township, and are minutely described in the 
"History of Ashburnham," recently published. Also 
in 1735, and while these individual grants were being 
located and surveyed, the General Court made grants 
of several townships to the surviving soldiers or the 
heirs of those deceased who served in the expedition 
to Canada in 1690. The companies from Dorchester, 
Ipswich, Rowley and other towns each received the 
grant of a township, and |)reservingat once the names 
of the towns in which the soldiers resided and the 
military service in which they had engaged, the 
new grants which were located in this vicinity were 
called Dorchester Canada (now Ashburnham ), Ipswich 
Canada (now Winchendon), and Rowley Can.ada (now 



Rindge). The township of Dorchester Canada was 
surveyed in January, and the grant confirmed by the 
General Court June 1, 1736. For nearly twenty years 
and until the date of incorporation, the government 
of the township was proprietary. In accordance 
with the conditions imposed by the General Court, 
three sixty-thirds were reserved in equal shares for the 
first settled minister, for the ministry and for the 
support of public schools. The remainder was 
divided from time to time equally among the sixty 
proprietors, who individually made sale of their land 
to speculators and to settlers. 

The early roads and mills and the first meeting- 
house were ordered and controlled by the proprietors, 
and by them the call wa.s extended to the first settled 
minii^ter. Between 1736 and 1744 considerable pro- 
gress was made in the settlement. A saw-mill was 
built in 1738, and in 1739 or 1740 the first meeting- 
house was erected. The number of families residing 
in the township during these years is not known, and 
the names of only a few of the settlers have been 
preserved in the records. At the outbreak of the 
French and Indian War two houses were fortified, but 
before the close of the year 1744 the settlement was 
deserted. During the ensuing five years there were 
no meetings, of the proprietors, and no family re- 
mained within tlie township. 

In 1748 active hostilities between England and 
France were suspended, but during that and the 
following year parties of Indians, accompanied by 
French soldiers, continued to menace the exposed 
and poorly-defended line of the i-ettlements. The 
northern part of Worcester County was wholly deserted, 
or continually in a state of alarm and anxiety. Not 
until 1750 did a feelingof security invite an occupancy 
of the frontiers. One by one the hardy pioneers 
founded homes in the town, and through the eflibrts 
and encouragement of the proprietors, the settlement 
of this town slowly increased until the return of peace 
opened the door to an increasing tide of immigration 
to the towns in this vicinity. It api)ears that during 
the first twenty years of effort and danger, dating 
from 1735, there were a considerable number of tem- 
porary residents in this town, and that among these, 
on account of the insecurity of the times, there were 
not over a half-dozen families who settled here pre- 
vious to 1755 and became permanent inhabitants of 
the town. 

Deacon Moses Foster, of Chelmsford, and James 
Colman, of Ipswich, cleared land and built houses 
in the northeast part of Dorchester Canada previous 
to the permanent renewal of the settlement. The 
sites of these early homes are now in Ashby, having 
been included within the limits of that town when 
incorporated in 1767. In times of expected danger 
they removed their families to Lunenburg, and prose- 
cuted their labor in this town with many interruptions. 
About 1750 Deacon Foster removed to the centre of 
the town, and subsequently was an inn-holder many 



ASHBURNHAM. 



195 



j'ears. He died October 17, 1785, aged ninety-four 
years. Mr. Colman was a prominent citizen, and was 
a member of the first Board of Selectmen. He con- 
tinued to reside at the scene of his early labor in this 
town, but, after 1767, he was a citizen of Ashby, where 
he died August 15, 1773. Elisha Coolidge removed 
from Cambridge, 1752, and settled at Lane Village. 
He was a mill-wright, and a useful citizen. He died 
August 29, 1807, aged eighty-seven years. Jeremiah 
Foster, from Harvard, and a native of Ipswich, 
removed to this town with hi.s family in 1753, and 
settled on the Gamaliel Hadley farm. He was a man 
of character, and influential in the new settlement. 
He died December 12, 1788, aged seventy-eight years. 
Next in order appear John Bates, Zimri Heywood and 
Benjamin Spaulding, an enterprising trio in the 
northeast part of the town, who were subsequently 
included in Ashby. Enos Jones, from Lunenburg, at 
the age of nineteen years, settled on a farm in the 
north part of the town, on the Rindge road, which 
still perpetuates a name that remains prominent in 
the annals of Ashburnham. Omitting mention of 
several families that removed from town after a few 
years' residence, to the settlement was added Jona- 
than Samson, a native of Middleborough, who removed 
from Harvard in 1762, and settled on the Merrick 
Whitney farm. He was a useful citizen, and late in 
life he removed to New Hamp.shire, where he died 
at an advanced age. Ehenezer Conant and Lieuten- 
ant Ebenezer Conant, Jr., from Concord, settled near 
Rice Pond in 1763. Both died in this town. Their 
descendants have won a merited distinction in several 
scholastic callings. In the midst of these arrivals 
several German families settled in the eastern part of 
the town, in a locality which still bears the familiar 
appellation of " Dutch Farms." Soon after their 
arrival in the colony, and while temporarily living 
near Boston, Henry Hole, Christian William White- 
man, Jacob Schoffe, Simon Rodamel, Peter Perry, 
John Rich and John Kiberling, in 1757, purchased 
one thousand acres of land, and early the following 
year removed hither, except Peter Perry, whose name 
does not again appear. At the same time, purchasing 
land of them and locating among them, came other 
Germans, Jacob Constantine, Jacob Selham, Andrew 
Windrow, Henry Stack and Jacob Barkhardst, while 
John Oberlock and Philip Vorback settled near the 
site of Gushing Academy. A few years later Jacob 
Wilker settled on the farm still owned by his descend- 
ants. These were born in Germany, and nearly all of 
them were married in their native land. They were 
educated, intelligent people, and in full sympathy 
with the settlement in religion and in hatred of 
tyranny. By assimilation and intermarriage, in lan- 
guage and manner of living they quickly became 
equal and common factors in the body poliiic, and in 
social relations. No traces of caste, or prejudice of 
race, appear in the records or the traditions of the 
town. In the second and subsequent generations the 



name of Hole was written Hall; Kiberling or Kib- 
linger became Kibling; the Oberlocks assumed the 
name of Locke; Rodamel was changed to Rodimon, 
and later to Dimond, while Windrow was Anglicized 
in Winter. After the Revolution, in which they 
manifested a conspicuous patriotism, members of the 
second generation of several of these families removed 
to Northern New Hampshire. 

Among the non-resident proprietors, who were most 
active in forwarding the settlement, appear many 
names familiar in the annals of a former century. 
Timothy Tilestone, of Dorchester, was the first peti- 
tioner for the township and for several years a rul- 
ing spirit of the organization. He was ably sup- 
ported by Judge Joseph Wilder, of Lancaster, the 
Sumners, of Milton, and by Benjamin Bellows and 
Edward Hartwell, of Lunenburg. The fortunes of 
the second or permanent settlement of the town 
were supported and encouraged by Richard and 
Caleb Dana and Henry Coolidge, of Cambridge, 
Colonel Oliver Wilder and the brothers, Joseph 
Jr , and Captain Caleb Wilder, of Lancaster, Jona- 
than Dwight and Hezekiah Barber, of Boston, Rev. 
John Swift, of Framingham, Hon. Isaac Stearns, of 
Billerica, and many others whose association with 
these primitive affairs of the town adorn the early 
pages of its history. 

Ashburnham, hitherto known as Dorchester Canada, 
was incorporated February 22, 1765. The proprietors 
and inhabitants in a joint petition for incorporation, 
expressed a desire that the town be called Ashfield, 
but the General Court, with an accommodating regard 
for an assumed prerogative of the royal Governor in 
the act of incorporation, left a blank, in which Gov- 
ernor Bernard caused to be written the euphonious 
name of Ashburnham in honor of an English earl. 

At the first town-meeting, holden March 25, 1765, 
William Whitcomb was chosen town clerk, and Dea- 
con Samuel Fellows, Tristram Cheney, James Cole- 
man, John Rich'and Jonathan Gates selectmen. A 
long list of minor town oflices were selected with 
unanimity, and certainly with a rare measure of im- 
partiality, which bestowed an office upon nearly 
every citizen. From this date to the Revolution the 
town was prospered in its internal affairs and made 
considerable advance in population. The more 
prominent settlers who arrived immediately preced- 
ing and subsequent to the date of incorporation were: 
Jonathan Taylor, Jonathan Gates, Nathan Melvin, 
Stephen Ames, David Clark, John Conn, Samuel 
Salter, John Adams, William Benjamin, Joshua Bil- 
lings, Amos Dickinson, Jacob Harris, Joseph Met- 
calf, Abijah Joslin, Samuel Nichols, Ephraim Stone, 
Oliver Stone, Caleb Ward, Samuel Wilder, John 
Willard, Jacob Willard, Oliver Weatherbee and 
Phinehas Weatherbee. 

Ecclesiastical. — Very early in the proceedings 
of the proprietors a committee was selected to locate 
a tract of land for a burial-ground and the site of the 



196 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



future meeting-house. The committee promptly re- 
ported November 10, 1736, that the meeting-house lot, 
containing ten acres, had been located " on a hill 180 
rods south of a great pond (Upper Naukeag), and 
has a very fair prospect." To the present time the 
original boundaries on the southwest and north sides 
have suffered no thange, while on the east side a nar- 
row strip has been severed from the public grounds 
and added to the farm now of Benjamin Gushing. 
The first meeting-house, erected 1739 or 1740, was 
not injured during the years the settlement was aban 
doned, and it silently invited occupancy twenty years 
before the organization of a church and the settle- 
ment of a minister. During the later years of this 
period several sums of money were appropriated for 
the support of preaching, but the amount raised for 
this purpose clearly indicates that the meeting-house 
was occupied only a small part of the time. A con- 
siderable number of the settlers were members of the 
church in Lunenburg, and there many of the children 
bom in Dorchester Canada previous to 1760 were 
baptized. In 1759 a more liberal appropriation was 
made, and Mr. Jonathan Winchester was here during 
a considerable p.art of the year. A call was extended 
November 27, 1759, and he was ordained April 23, 
1760. The same day a church was organized. The 
covenant bears the signature of Mr. Winchester and 
of twelve, male residents of the settlement, six of 
whom were Germans. The membership during the 
first eight years was above fifty. The peaceful and 
successful ministry of Mr. Winchester was abruptly 
ended by his death, after a brief illness, November 26, 
1767. Rev. Jonathan Winchester was of the fourth 
generation of his family in this country. He was 
born in Brooicline, April 21, 1717, and was graduated 
at Harvard University, 1737. He was a sou of Henry 
and Frances (White) Winchester, grandson of John 
and great-grandson of John, the emigrant ancestor. 
He was a teacher in his native town twenty years, 
and entering the ministry late in life, his first and 
only settlement was at Ashburnham. The superior 
merit and character of the man are clearly reflected 
in the records and traditions of the town. In him 
firmness was softened with mercy, and the ministerial 
austerity of his time was tempered with mildness of 
manner and gentleness of heart. With these quali- 
ties of mind and of heart he secured the willing love 
and confidence of his parish. He married. May 5, 
1748, Sarah Crofts, of Brookline, where six of their 
ten children were born. Mrs. Winchester died in 
this town July 27, 1794. 

The second minister was Rev. John Gushing, D.D., 
who was ordained November 2, 1768, and who con- 
ducted a successful ministry until his death, April 27, 
1823. These many years of service were crowned 
wilh the rewards of faithful labor and a peaceful ad- 
ministration of parochial affairs. From the " History 
of Ashburnham " the following lines are borrowed : 

lu stature, Mr. dishing was tnll and portly ; in bearing dignified and 



erect. He moved with precision and with the incisive mark of strength 

and vigor. As the infirmity of age grew upon him, liis step was slower 
but never faltering ; his form became slightly bowed but lost none of its 
original dignity and commanding presence. His mild blue eye and the 
serenity of bis countenance were undimmed even when his whitened 
and flowing locks were counting the increasing furrows of age in his 
face. 

As a preacher he adhered to the fundamental doctrines of his creed 
and supported them with frequent quotation from the Scriptures. The 
plan of his discourse was lucid and his methods of reasoning direct and 
logical. If he was tenacious in the use of set terms and forms of speech, 
he invariably applied them with aptness and precision. He did not rely 
on the abundance of words or the exhibition of emotion, but upon the 
weight and sequence of the central truths which formed the theme of 
his discourse. His voice was clear, strong and pleasing. He read his 
sermons closely and without gesture. In delivery he was moderate, 
earnest and impressive. 

He was pre-eminently a minister of the olden time. His parish was 
his field of labor and no one was neglected. His charge was his con- 
stant thought and duty, and while he watched for the fruit of his labor, 
he toiled on with unfailing hope and courage. Even in the decline of 
life and under the weight of nearly eighty years his service was accept- 
able and liis parish \inited in their love and respect for their venerable 
teacher. At every fireside the serenity of his countenance, the wisdom 
of his speech and the purity of his life and example were continually 
deepening the impression and enforcing tlie influences of his public 
ministrations. 

It seems that the affection of his parish increased as he paled and grew 
feeble in their service. And when death came and stilled the pulsations 
of bis warm and generous heart, his people paid a fitting tribute in the 
lines of sorrow engraved on every countenance. From that hour the 
voice of tradition began to assert that bis genius was solid ; his under- 
standing clear; his judgment strong; his memory faithful ; his emo- 
tions cool and restrained, yet his sympathies tender and his affections 
warm ; that his resolution and perseverance were unusual, that be was 
faithful to every trust and that his heart was so honest, his friendship so 
sincere and his tongue under such control, that his smile was a benedic- 
tion and his speech a sermon. 

Rev. John Gushing, D.D. (Harvard University, 
1764), was born in Shrewsbury, August 22, 1744. He 
was the son of Rev. Job and Mary (Prentice) Gush- 
ing, and a lineal descendent of the Gushing fami- 
ly of Hingham. He received the degree of Doctor of 
Divinity from Harvard University, 1822. He mar- 
ried, September 28, 1769, Sarah Parkman, daughter of 
Rev. Ebenezer and Hannah (Breck) Parkman, of 
Westborough, who died in this town March 12, 1825. 
Until near the close of the pastorate of Rev. Dr. 
Gushing the churches, not only in this vicinity, but in 
a more extended circle, were closely allied in doc- 
trinal views and declarations of covenant. In many 
places there were dissenters and here and there inde- 
pendent churches, but a large majority assented to 
the doctrines of the " standing order." In the midst 
of more diversity of creed duringthe past half-century 
or more, the fir.«t church in Ashburnham has remained 
in full relations with the orthodox or Trinitarian 
Gongregationalists. Since the death of Mr. Gushing 
nine ministers havebeen installed over the church, and 
six have supplied about thirty years. The ministry 
has been continuous, and no serious contention has 
arisen between the pastor and the people. In present- 
ing the names of these many pastors the limits of 
this sketch will preclude extended notices. 

The third minister was Rev. George Perkins, son of 
Dr. Elisha and Sarah (Douglas) Perkins, born iu 
Plainfield, Conn., October 19, 1783; ordained at 
Ashburnham, February 25, 1824 ; dismissed at his re- 



ASHBURNHAM. 



197 



quest July 3, 1S32 ; died at Norwich, Conn., Septem- 
ber 15, 1852. Rev. George Goodyear, born in Ham- 
den, Conn., December 9, 1801, son of Simeon and 
Hannah (Beadsley) Goodyear; installed October 10, 
1832; dismissed November 16, 1841; died at Temple, 
N. H., November 18, 1884. Rev. Edward Jennison, 
son of William and Phebe (Field) Jennison, born in 
Walpole, N. H., August 26, 1805 ; installed May 12, 
1842 ; dismissed May 12, 1846 ; died in Conway, 
Mass. Rev. Elnathan Davis, son of Ethan and 
Sarah (Hubbard) Davis, born in Holden, Mass., Au- 
gust 19, 1807; installed September 16, 1846; dis- 
missed May 21, 1851 ; died April 9, 1881. Rev. 
Frederick A. Fiske, son of Rev. Elishaand Margaret 
(Shepard) Fiske, born in Wrentham, Ma.ss., April 15, 
1816 ; installed December 30, 1851 ; dismissed April 
17, 1854; died at North Attleborough, Mass., Decem- 
ber 15, 1878. Rev. Elbridge G. Little, son of Joseph 
and Rebecca (Webster) Little, born in Hampstead, 
N. H., November 11,1817; installed August 22,1855; 
dismissed May 13, 1857; died at Wesley, Mass., De- 
cember 29, 1869. Rev. Thomas Boutelle, son of 
James and Abigail (Fairbanks) Boutelle, born in 
Leominster, Mass., February 1, 1805 ; supplied from 
the spring of 1857 to January, 1863 ; died in Fitch- 
burg, Mass., November 28, 1866. Rev. George E. 
Fisher, son of Rev. George and Mary (Fiske) Fisher, 
born in Harvard, Mass., January 22, 1823 ; installed 
May 21, 1863 ; dismissed September 2, 1867. Rev. 
Moody A. Stevens, son of David and Elizabeth 
(Ryder) Stevens, born in Bedford, N. H., February 
7, 1828 ; supplied from 1867 to 1870. Rev. Leonard 
S. Parker, son of William and Martha (Tenney) 
Parker, born in Dunbarton, N. H., December 6, 1812 ; 
supplied 1870 to 1876. Rev. Daniel E. Adams, son 
of Rev. Darwin and Catherine (Smith) Adams, born 
in Hollis, N. H., June 22, 1832; supplied from July 
16, 1876, to July 5, 1885. The past three years has 
been an era of temporary supplies. 

At intervals between the pastorates. Rev. Josiah 
D. Crosby has supplied a longer time than several of 
the pastors named. During the last forty years of a 
useful' life, with brief interruptions, he resided in 
this town. He was a son of Fitch and Rebecca 
(Davis) Crosby, and was born in Ashburnham, 
March 1, 1807. He died June 8, 1888. The second 
meeting-house, built 1791, was located on the Old 
Common, and near the site of its primitive prede- 
cessor. The third and present church edifice was 
erected in Central Village, 1833, and dedicated Feb- 
ruary 19, 1834. 

In the autumn of 1793 Rev. Jonathan Hill 
preached the first Methodist sermon in this town, 
and a society was gathered the following j'car. Rev. 
Lorenzo Dow, Rev. John Broadhead, a presiding 
elder, and Bishops Whatcoat and Asbury are in- 
cluded among the early preachers at the house of 
Silas Willard, Esq. In 1831 the Ashburnham and 
Westminster Societies were united, and constituted a 



station. A meeting-house was built on Main Street, 
and dedicated July 4, 1832. This building is now 
owned and occupied by the Catholic Society. The 
present commodious edifice was built 1870. Previous 
to 1832 sixty-five preachers were assigned to the sta- 
tion to which the Methodist Church in Ashburnham 
belonged, and since that date thirty-six appoinments 
have been made by the Conference. From the first 
the organization has been perpetual, and a vigorous 
society has been maintained. 

To accommodate families in that portion of the town, 
a meeting-house was erected at North Ashburnhan, 
1842, and a church with Evangelical proclivities was 
embodied February 21, 1843. At no time has the 
membership been large, and public ministrations have 
not been continuously sustained. In 1860 the church 
was disbanded, and the "Second Congregational 
Church of Ashburnham,'' with an amended creed, 
was organized. 

The Catholics of Ashburnham held services in the 
town hall several years, and since 1871 have owned 
and occupied the edifice erected by the Methodists in 
1832. The church is under the spiritual direction of 
Father John Conway, who is also in charge of the 
church in Winchendon. 

Military History. — That the inhabitants of a 
typical New England town were patriotic during the 
Revolution can safely be assumed ; that they met the 
trials of the times with heroism and uncomplainingly 
assented to the severest exactions of their country can 
be asserted without fear of contradiction. The Revo- 
lutionary sketches of towns which crowd the pages of 
the Gazei/cer laboriously demonstrate that which never 
has been denied. Many of these local histories of the 
Revolution written upon the suggested plan are inter- 
changeable. Each possesses so many features common, 
to them all that the conventional sketch, with a change 
of local terms, with equal truth would apply to any 
other town. The repeated requisition of the govern- 
ment for men, for money, for food and for clothing 
were demands alike upon all the towns of the infant 
Commonwealth, and quotas were distributed with equal 
impartiality. The volume varied with the population 
of the several towns, yet the demand was applicable 
to them all. The scene and the players wei-e new in 
every town, yet the drama was universal and every- 
where the same. 

The population of Ashburnham in 1776 was five 
hundred and fifty-one. On account of the immigra- 
tion from the older and more exposed towns near the 
seaboard, there was a considerable increase in popu- 
lation in this and other towns in this vicinity during 
the war, yet probably the number of inhabitants did 
not exceed eight hundred during the years of the Revo- 
lution. The records of Ashburnham do not contain 
the names of any who were in the army. The record 
of service presented in the following paragraphs has 
been compiled from the archives of the State, from 
papers filed in the Department of Pensions and from 



198 



HISTORY OP WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



papers in the possession of societies and individuals. 
As early as 1773 the under-current of public sentiment 
found expression in a warrant for a town-meeting, 
"To see if the town will consider the general griev- 
ances that are laid upon us by acts of Parliament, and 
disposing of our monies without our consent." What- 
ever debate ensued, there is no record of a vote at this 
time ; but in July, 1774, the town was again assembled, 
and it was then voted, " that the Covenant sent from 
Boston be read, and accordingly it was read ; then a 
motion was made for an alteration and that Doctor 
Senter, George Dana, Elisha Coolidge, Samuel Nichols 
and Jonathan Samson be a committee to alter said 
Covenant, and adjourned said meeting for half an 
hour, and then said Covenant was altered to the 
acceptance of the town. Voted that Elisha Coolidge 
and Samuel Nichols be a committee to keep the Cove- 
nant after it is signed." The covenant which was sent 
to all the towns for signature was a solemn pledge 
that those who .subscribed would abstain, from the 
purchase and use of specified articles of British mer- 
chandi.se, and that at the risk of life and fortune they 
would resist the officers holding commissions under 
the oppressive acts of Parliament. About this time 
the town was represented by Jonathan Taylor at the 
memorable Worcester Convention, which recom- 
mended the several towns within its influence to im- 
mediately apjwint military officers, to organize minute- 
men, to procure arms and ammunition, and to provide 
for any emergency that may arise. In September of 
this year, and in harmony with the vote of the sur- 
rounding towns, it was voted to indemnify the officers 
in the event they were harmed for not returning a list 
of jurors, as required by Parliament. At the same 
meeting Jonathan Taylor was chosen a representative 
to the Provincial Congress, which assembled October 
11th, at Concord. 

Following the recommendations of the Worcester 
Convention the town, September 3, 1774, voted "to 
buy half a hundred of powder, one hundred of lead 
and ten dozen of flints as a town stock." At this 
meeting Abijah Joslin waschosen captain, Deliverance 
Davis lieutenant and Ebenezer Conant, Jr., ensign, of 
the minute-men. A committee of Safety and Corre- 
spondence was also chosen ; they were Samuel Nichols, 
Jonathan Samson, Deliverance Davis, Abijah Joslin 
and Jonathan Taylor. With these preparations for 
the future, the town awaits the events of another and 
a more eventful year. Early the following spring 
Deliverance Davis and Jonathan Gates were captains 
of the companies in this town, but there is no record 
of their election or appointment. A prominent, and 
subsequently an honored, citizen is not named in these 
initial proceedings, and there is a tradition that 
Samuel Wilder was a little tardy in espousing the 
cause of American independence, and that he was 
waited upon by a self-constituted committee. His 
hesitation, if any existed, was of brief duration, and 
his subsequent opinions and conduct were approved 



by his townsmen, who frequently elected him to office 
during the war and many succeeding years. Swiftly 
following these measures ot preparation, the sudden 
intelligence that a detachment of British troops had 
left Boston and were marching inland, was brought 
to Ashburnham in the afternoon of April 19th, and 
an alarm was immediately sounded. A company of 
thirty-eight men quickly assembled, and marched that 
afternoon under the command of Captain Jonathan 
Gates. Other men from the remoter jiarts of the town 
continued to assemble on the old Common, and with 
hasty preparations awaited the dawn of another day. 
In the gray of the morning a second company, con- 
taining thirty-three men, and commanded by Captain 
Deliverance Davis, hastened forward to scenes of 
anticipated danger. These companies, in connection 
with many others simultaneously summoned to the 
field, marched to Cambridge and remained there with 
the gathering army about two weeks, and until they 
were discharged. When these companies were dis- 
banded, nineteen by re-enlistment continued with the 
army and the remainder returned to their homes. The 
rolls of the two companies contain the following 
names : 

Jonathan Gates, captain ; Amos Dickinson, lieutenant ; Ezra Atherlon, 
lieutenant ; George Dana, William Wilder, Joseph Metculf and Ebenezer 
Burgess, sergeants ; Daniel Ilobart, Peter Joslin and Francis Lane, cor- 
porals ; Joseph Stone, drummer ; Amos Lawrence, Phinehas Wetherlice, 
Moses Russell, Nathaniel Parker, Henry Gates, Samuel Joslin, Jonathan 
\V. Smith, David Robinson, Jacob Kiblinger, Henry Hall, Amos Kendall, 
Henry Winchester, Samuel Willard, Philip Locke, Aaron. Samson, 
Samuel Salter, John Gates, Jonathan Winchester, Daniel Edson, Joseph 
Wilder, Nathaniel Harris, John Whitney, Joshua Holt, Ebenezer AVood, 
Philip Winter, David Clark, Jr. Deliverance Davis, captain ; Ebenezer 
Conant, Jr., lieutenant; John Conn, lieutenant; Oliver Stone, John 
Adams and Samuel Cutting, sergeants ; Sliubael Hohart, Timothy Wood 
and Oliver W'hitcomb, corporals ; Elijah Edson, drummer ; Isaac Mer- 
riam, Oliver Willard, Uriah Holt, W'illiam Whitconib, William Ben,ja- 
niin, Jacob Constantine, Caleb Ward, Enos Jones, Nathan Melvin, Ka- 
thaniel Hastings, Samuel Blason, Ephraim Wetherheo, David Clark, 
Isaac Blodgett, Joshua Hemenway, John Hall, John Kiblinger, John 
Putnam. Jacob Willard, Joshua Holden, Jonathan Taylor, Jonathan 
Taylor, Jr., Joseph Perry. 

In the organization of an army from the companies 
at Cambridge, a company was recruited from the men 
from this vicinity. They were under the command 
of Capt. David Wilder in Col. Whitcomb's regiment. 
In this company Jonathan Gates was lieutenant, 
Francis Lane and Peter Joslin were sergeants. The 
other men from Ashburnham were : 

Joshua Holt, Jacob Kiblinger, Philip Locke, David Robinson, Samuel 
Salter, Aaron Samson, Henry Uall, Henry Winchester,' Samuel Willard, 
John W^hitney, Ebenezer Wood, Philip Winter, David Clark, Jr., Joshua 
Hemenway, John Farmer, Joseph Smith, Jr., Jonathan Gates, Jr., Isaac 
Blodgett, John Locke, Jacob Winter, Daniel Edson. 

Other Ashburnham men who enlisted at this time 
were David Clark, Uriah Holt and Thomas Dutton. 
These men participated in the siege of Boston, and 
remained in the service until the close of the year. 
It is probable that the whole of Colonel Whitcomb's 
regiment was not called into action at the battle of 
Bunker Hill, but it is certain that Captain Wilder's 
company of that regiment was warmly engaged on 



ASHBURNHAM. 



199 



that memorable day. Clark, Holt and Dutton were 
also in the battle, and several others who subsequently 
removed to Ashburnhara, but at the time were resi- 
dents of other towns, shared the danger and glory of 
the engagement. Upon the discharge of Captain 
Wilder's company, after a service of eight months, 
there was a call for men to serve a short term, while 
recruits for a longer term of service were being en- 
listed. Among these recruits appear the names of 
Jonathan Gates, Jr., Jonathan Samson, Jr., Joseph 
Metcalf, his son, Ezekiel Shattuck Metcalf, and David 
Merriam. At the annual March meeting, 1776, Jona- 
than Taylor, John Willard, Jonathan Samson, Abijah 
Joslin and Ebenezer Conant, Jr., were chosen a 
Committee of Correspondence, The selectmen who 
were active agents in the prosecution of the war were 
William Whitcomb, John Kibliuger and Oliver Wil- 
lard. In May, 1770, the General Court adopted an 
order calling upon the people to express an opinion 
concerning a formal separation from Great Britain. 
The citizens of this town were promptly assembled in 
town- meeting. The article in the warrant and the 
vote of the town are transcribed from the records : 

Article 2. To see if tlie Inhabitants of said Town are willing to stand 
.by the Honorable Congress in declaring the Colonies Independent of the 
Kingdom of Great Britain with their lives and fortunes to Support them 
in the mcisure. 

.Tune 28, 1776. Pursuant to the above warrant the town being met 
made choice of Mr. Eliaha Coolidge, moderator. 

Voted. We the Inhabitants of the Town of Ashburuham, in Town 
meeting assembled being sensible of the disadvantage of having any 
further connections with the Kingdom of Great Britain and are will- 
ing to break off all connections with them and it is our Resolution 
that if the Honorable Congress shall declare the Colonies Independent 
of the Kingdom of Great Britain that we the said Inhabitants will 
stand by them with our lives and fortunes to support them in the 
measure. 

The foregoing motion being put was voted unanimously. 

In due course of time the Declaration of Indepen- 
dence, which was foreshabowed by similar votes in 
other towns, was received in printed form by the 
patriots of this town. It was formally read from the 
pulpit by Rev. Dr. Cushing, and subsequently tran- 
scribed upon the records of the town. Other men 
who were ctdled into the service during the year 
1776 were Ebenezer Bennett Davis, Daniel Putnam, 
Uriah Holt, Thomas Ross, David Taylor, .John 
Kiblinger, Jacob Kiblinger, John Hall, William 
Ward, Jacob Rodiman, David Stedman, Nicholas 
Whiteman, Peter Joslin, Philip Winter, Daniel Ho- 
bart. Of these, Peter Jo.sliu died while returning 
from the army, Philip Winter died in the service, 
and Daniel Hobart was killed at the battle of White 
Plains, October 28, 1776. For the year 1777, the 
selectmen were Samuel Wilder, John Willard, Jona- 
than Samson, Jonathan Taylor and Abijah Joslin ; 
and the Committee of Safety and Correspondence 
were Samuel Foster, William Wilder, Enos Jones, 
Joseph Metcalf and Francis Lane. In the rolls of 
the Massachusetts Regiment, raised for the defence 
of Rhode Island, appear the names of John Kiblin- 



ger, Jacob Rodiman, Samuel Metcalf, Jonathan 
Coolidge and William Ward. 

To avoid the inconvenience experienced during 
the preceding two years, on account of the short 
term of enlistment, and to create a more stable and a 
better disciplined army, orders were given early in 
1777 to establish the regiments on the Continental 
plan, and recruit their decimated ranks with men, 
enlisted for three years, or during the war. For this 
purpose the quota of Ashburnham was sixteen, and 
an earnest effort was made to supply the required 
number. Thirteen men enlisted and were mustered 
into service May 26, 1777, for three years, as follows : 
Ebenezer Bennett Davis, David Clark, David Clark, 
Jr., John Winter, Thomas Pratt, Samuel Mason, John 
White, Paul Sawyer, Jacob Lock, Thomas Ross, 
Joshua Holdeu, Timothy Johnson and Adam Rodi- 
man. 

The town hired Francis Lee, of Pepperell, Andrew 
Foster, of Andover, and Josiah Fessenden, of Boston, 
to complete the quota. The summer of this year 
was a season of unusual excitement and alarm. 
The intelligence of the loss of Crown Point and 
Ticonderoga, and the uninterrupted advance of 
General Burgoyne created a widespread sentiment of 
the most painful apprehension. There was an im- 
perative call for troops, and immediately followed 
the startling tidings that the enemy were invading 
Vermont and threatening the western counties of 
Massachusetts. The town was promptly in arms, 
and Captain Jonathan Gates with a company of men 
marched to Charlemont. Other companies from the 
neighboring towns had manifested equal diligence 
and were in the immediate vicinity. In the mean 
time the American army opposing Burgoyne had 
retreated into New York, and the theatre of war had 
been removed. These hastily-formed companies 
were then dismissed, and returned home after an 
absence of three weeks. It was an unorganized 
expedition, and no rolls of the companies are found. 
Scarcely had these men returned to their homes and 
the labor of their fields, before a renewed and equally 
imperative call was heard. An engagement was 
imminent, and the militia was ordered to the support 
of the American army. Again Captain Gates called 
out his company, and, hurriedly equipped, they 
marched again to Charlemont and to Williamstown, 
and thence to Bennington, Vt., arriving there the 
second day after the victory of General Stark. 
Thence they marched to Fort Edward, N. Y. ; here a 
part of them remained until discharged, while others 
were engaged in the battles of Stillwater and Sara- 
toga. 

The Ashburnham company and the Fitchburg 
company, and possibly others from this vicinity in this 
service, had no regimental organization, and were 
attached to a New Hampshire regiment, commanded 
by Col. Bellows, of Walpole; but the rolls of the 
companies do not appear in the roster of that regi- 



200 



HISTORY OP WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



ment. Only the names of a few of the Ashburnham 
soldiers of this company, found in miscellaneous 
papers and records, can be stated. They are — John 
Adams, David Merriara, William Ward, Jonathan 
Samson, Jr., and in all about thirty. In August of 
this year there was a dralt, and David Chaffin being 
drawn, was assigned to Col. Cushing's regiment, in 
the army of Gen. Gates. He was discharged on 
account of sickness, three months later ; and of the 
soldiers in the Continental Army, Jacob Locke and 
Samuel Mason died in the autumn of this year. 

In the year 1778 William Ward, Jonathan Benja- 
min and Benjamin Clark were among the nine 
months' levies for the Continental Army, and in the 
service at Boston appear the familiar names of Jona- 
than Samson, Jr., John Hall, Nicholas Whiteman, 
David Stedman and William Ward, while Ezekiel 
Shuttuck Metcalf, John Chamberlain, David Chafhn 
and Simon Kodiman were among the recruits for the 
expedition to Rhode Island. The theatre of the 
war having been transferred to the Middle and 
Southern States, there were no subsequent calls upon 
the militia or minute-men to meet sudden emergen- 
gencies, but the demand for men to recruit the deci- 
mated ranks of the Continental Army was often 
renewed. In this service the subsequent enlistments 
were: Ebenezer Conant, Jr., Jacob Constantine, 
John Kiblinger, David Bond, William Ward, Samuel 
Metcalf, David Chaffin, Edward Whitmore, Elijah 
Mason, Simeon Rodiman, Jacob Rodiman, Isaac 
Merriam, Reuben Rice, Andrew Winter, Jr., Phine- 
has Hemenway, Jonathan Merriam, David Clark, 
Jr., Jonas Benjamin, John Coolidge, James Eegget, 
Peter Rodiman and William Ward. This was the 
seventh enlistment of William Ward. An increas- 
ing burden of taxation attended the progress of the 
war, and requisitions for money for beef and for 
clothing were often renewed, making heavy drafts 
upon the impoverished resources of the people of 
Ashburnham. Long before the close of the war 
they were compelled to meet their pressing liabilities 
with pledges of future labor and the ungarnered 
fruits of their toil. In a season of financial extrem- 
ity, in 1781, the town gave a vivid expression of 
failing resources in the following entreaty for re- 
cruits: 

Voted that each man that will engage to serve in tlie army for 
three years shall have eighteen head of three years' old cattle given 
him when his time is ont, and if he he discharged in two years then 
said cattle are to be buttwo yeare old, or if he serve but one year they 
are to bo but one year old, all to be of juiddliug size. 

In other words, the soldier was to receive a bounty 
of eighteen calves, and the town was to keep them 
of middling size as long as the soldier remained in 
the service. 

Another vote about this time also reflects the 
poverty and distress of the time. In the dignified 
expression of a town-meeting, the citizens of Ash- 
burnham declared their inability to compensate 



"Jonathan Samson and Mrs. Hemenway for send- 
ing two small deer to the army." The vote was 
negative, but in the record of a generous deed the 
town, perhaps unconsciously, extended to the gener- 
ous donors a more liberal reward. Often during the 
Revolution the soldier in the distant army was 
cheered by the presence of a father, a brother or a 
son, bearing from the scanty store of his home some 
articles of food or clothing. All were patriots, and 
whether at home or in the army, they labored for and 
served their country. Equally meritorious and con- 
tributary to the achievements of the Revolution 
were the arduous service of the soldier in the field 
and the self-denial and accumulating burden of the 
patriot citizen in his home experience. 

For the information and profit of the present and 
future generations, a large majority of towns, follow- 
ing the commendable example of a few, will eventu- 
ally give a full and authentic account of the names 
and the service of its patriotic citizens who were 
enrolled in the War of the Rebellion. It is a labor 
due to the surviving comrades and to the memory of 
the heroic dead. The limits of a chapter of local 
history will admit little more than a summary of 
numbers, or at best the lists of names and the dura- 
tion of service. These skeletons, however accurate in 
outline form, are without the flesh and blood of per- 
sonal exploit and the breath of individual experience 
and suffering. That the inhabitants of Ashburnham 
nobly performed their part in crushing the Rebellion 
and in preserving the Union is seen in the following 
aggregates: The whole number of enlistments 
credited to the quota of the town, including thirty re- 
enlistments of veterans, is two hundred and forty- 
three. In addition to this patriotic record, about 
thirty residents of Ashburnham enlisted on the quota 
and are counted among the soldiers of other towns. 

In the spring of 1861 the Ashburnham Light In- 
fantry, under the command of Capt. Addison A. 
Walker, was a well-organized company and in a good 
stale of discipline. Amidst the echoes of falling 
Sumter came to the loyal North the proclamation of 
President Lincoln for seventy-five thousand men. 
The service of the company was promptly tendered. 
But it was the policy of Governor Andrew to reserve 
many of the disciplined companies to be distributed 
among the regiments subsequently recruited. This 
reservation of the Ashburnham company, complimen- 
tary to its discipline, produced a considerable measure 
of discontent and embarrassment, and several of the 
men, impatient of delay, enlisted into organizations 
that were already under orders. The ranks of the 
company, however, were promptly filled, and an ex- 
cellent discipline was maintained. With the organi- 
zation of the Twenty-first Regiment the expected 
summons was received. This company, subsequently 
known as Company G, containing forty men from 
this town, entered Camp Lincoln, at Worcester, July 
19th, and with the regiment was ordered to the front 



ASHBURNHAM. 



201 



August 23, 1861. In the mean time there had been 
fourteen enlistments from this town into the regi- 
ments previously organized. Immediately after, 
twenty men joined the Twenty-fifth Regiment, and 
nine men, who served in miscellaneous organizations, 
completed the patriotic record of the year. 

In 1862 the number of enlistments was fifty-seven. 
Of these, five were assigned to the Thirty-fourth 
Regiment; twenty-three to the Thirty-sixth Regi- 
ment, twenty-seven to the Fifty-third Regiment, and 
two recruits joined the Twenty-first Regiment. To 
this date every call for men had been promptly met, 
and at times the town was credited with several men 
in excess of its quota. These repeated calls had 
borne hardly upon the community, and the number 
of men of suitable age was greatly depleted. Every- 
where the quota of 1863 remained unfilled, and the 
government, to fill the decimated ranks of the regi- 
ments in the field, resorted to conscription. Sixty- 
four men from this town were drafted. Of these, some 
were exempted on account of disability, others fur- 
nished substitutes or paid commutation, while a 
small minority — fourteen, including substitutes and 
five recruits hired by the town — entered the service 
and were assigned to the regiments already in the 
field. 

From January 1, 1864, to the close of the war, fifty- 
three enlistments and thirty re-enlistments of veterans 
were credited to the quota of the town. About one- 
fourth of these were strangers to the town, who were 
ready and willing to accept the proffered bounty, and 
with an equal alacrity they deserted at the first oppor- 
tunity. In this constant stream of men to the front, 
and in the gallant service of her sons, the loyal im- 
pulse and the firm patriotism of the town are clearly 
revealed. By the voice of the town, all needed sums 
of money were promptly raised and a generous pro- 
vision was made for the families of the soldier. The 
Aid Society, sustained by the women of Ashburnham, 
and the comprehensive liberality of the citizens, are 
apparent features of a noble record. In addition to 
several natives of the town who, at the time, were 
residing elsewhere, eleven residents of Ashburnham 
were commissioned officers in the service. Lieutenant- 
Colonel Joseph P. Rice was commissioned a captain 
at the organization of the Twenty-first Regiment and 
assigned to the command of Company H. In Febru- 
ary following he was promoted major, and, in May, 
lieutenant-colonel. He was killed at the battle of 
Chantilly September 1, 18G2. At the organization of 
the Fifty-third Regiment, Lieutenant-Colonel George 
H. Barrett was commissioned captain of Company I, 
and promoted lieutenant-colonel. He was in command 
of the regiment on its departure from the State, and, 
with the regiment, was mustered out September 3, 
1863. Captain Addison A. Walker, commissioned 
captain at the organization of the Twenty-first 
Regiment and assigned to the command of Company 
G ; resigned May 13, 1862. Captain Samuel A. Tay- 



lor was promoted from lieutenant to captain May 
28, 1862; resigned January 13, 1863. He was subse- 
quently a lieutenant in the Fourth Heavy Artillery. 
Captain Asahel Wheeler, promoted from lieutenant to 
captain January 14, 1863 ; resigned April 25, 1863. 
Subsequently he was commissioned captain in the 
Sixty-first Regiment. Lieutenant Alonzo P. Davis, 
commissioned first lieutenant at the organization of 
the Twenty-first Regiment; resigned in January, 
1862. Lieutenant Charles H. Parker, commissioned 
lieutenant M.ay 28, 1862; resigned March 2,1863. 
Lieutenant George E. Davis, commissioned first 
lieutenant April 26, 1863; honorably discharged 
August 30, 1864. Lieutenant Joseph H. Whitney, 
commissioned lieutenant October 80,1862; resigned 
February 23, 1863. The seven last named were 
assigned to Company G, Twenty-first Regiment. 
Lieutenant Charles H. Heald was commissioned 
lieutenant July 3, I860, and was honorably discharged 
with the Second Regiment July 14, 1865. Lieutenant 
Charles W. Whitney, commissioned lieutenant No- 
vember 13, 1864; honorably discharged with the 
Thirty-sixth Regiment June 8, 1865. 

Beginning with the close of the Revolution and 
continuing a little more than fifty years, a company 
of militia, ordered and maintained by the laws of the 
Commonwealth, regularly appeared at the annual 
trainings and musters. Until a general revision of 
the militia laws, about 1835, this service of able- 
bodied citizens of suitable age was compulsory. At 
a very early date the citizens of Ashburnham gave 
evidence of dissatisfaction with this feeble expression 
of a military spirit. In response to an earnest peti- 
tion, in June, 1791, the General Court adopted the 
following resolve: 

Resolved, That Ilis ExceUoncy the Governor be and he is hereby em- 
powered and reqnested to issue orders for forming a Company of Liglit 
Infantry in the town of Ashburnliam, provided they do not reduce the 
8t;inding company of militia in said town to a less number than si.\ty 
privates of the train band ; tlie officers of said Light Infantry company 
to be appointed and commissioned in the same way and manner as is 
provided by law for the appointing and commissioning other military 
officers. Said company when so formed to be under the command of the 
Colonel or commanding officer of the fourth regiment of the second 
brigade in said division. 

The organization of tlie Ashburnham Light In- 
fantry immediately ensued, and the first officers — Jo- 
seph Jewett, captain ; Caleb Kendall, lieutenant; and 
Charles Hastings, ensign — were commissioned July 
13, 1791. From this date the company was vigor- 
ously maintained with full ranks and manifested a 
genuine military enthusiasm, until the War of the 
Rebellion, with the exception of five or six years, 
about 1850. In 1866 the organization was revived, 
and, complying, with the general militia laws of the 
Commonwealth, it constitutes a company of Massa- 
chusetts Volunteer Militia, and at present forms a 
part of the Sixth Regiment. In the War of 1812 the 
Ashburnham Light Infantry was ordered into the 
service and was stationed at South Boston and Dor- 
chester fifcy-one days. They were discharged Octo- 



202 



HISTORY OP WORCESTER COUNTY", MASSACHUSETTS. 



ber 30, 1814. At this time the officers were Ivera 
Jewett, captain ; Timothy Crehore, lieutenant ; and 
Walter R. Adams, ensign. There were forty-eight 
non-commi.ssioned officers and privates. 

Educational. — " Voted to Keep a School and 
voted Eight Pounds for y" School and Voted for 
y' y" School Should be a moveing School, voted to 
leave it to y" Selectmen to make j" Quarters where 
y' school shall be Cept and voted it bee a free 
School." These votes, adopted in 1767, are the 
beginning of the educational history of Ashburn- 
ham. From this date public schools have been 
maintained, the orthography of the town clerk has 
been improved and general results have kept pace 
with the progress of the age. Seen in the light of the 
present, the sums raised for school purposes in the 
early history of the town were limited, but they were 
not less than the appropriations made in other towns 
of equal ability. With the exception of the years 
1768, 1709 and 1776, in which no appropriation was 
made for this purpose, the town raised twelve pounds 
annually until and including 1777. During the later 
years of the Revolution a large nominal sum in depreci- 
ated currency was appropriated, and for several suc- 
ceeding years the annual appropriation was fifty 
pounds. The substantial and increasing sums raised 
for school purposes in this town are given in each de- 
cade : 1800, ifSOO ; 1810, .$400 ; 1820, $500 ; 1830, |500 ; 
1840,1900; 1850,11400; 1860, $1700; 1870, $3000; 
1880 and to 1888, $3000. From 1872 to 1875, $3500 was 
appropriated. For a considerable number of years 
the town was divided into three school districts, and 
while under this arrangement, a school was main- 
tained at the centre of the town, another at the 
Dutch Farms, in the east part, and the third in the 
south part of the town ; there were no school-houses 
until immediately after the Revolution. At the close 
of the past century there were nine districts, and in 
each a comfortable school-house. In 1829 the Tenth 
District, including Lane Village, was organized 
mainly from the old Seventh District, and in 1850, 
by a division of the First District, the Eleventh Dis- 
trict was created. 

In other respects the boundaries of the several 
school districts, with a few temporary and minor 
changes, have been preserved to the present time. 
The early settlers of this town divided themselves in- 
to communities of convenient proportions many 
years before the State vested school districts with 
corporate powers, and a committee " to visit and in- 
spect the schools" was annually chosen by the town 
several years before a committee of supervision was 
authorized by the laws of the State. Beyond the slen- 
der support of the town the public schools in their 
infancy were spontaneous in the several neighbor- 
hoods, and were not the creation of public legisla- 
tion. 

The school system originated with the people, and 
the perfection of our school syolem rests in the fact 



that it has not been creative, but has seized and solid- 
ified with the authority of law the established meth- 
ods created and approved by the people. From the 
first the schools have been in advance of the statutes. 
It is true that law has given uniformity and symme- 
try to our school system, but all its features origi- 
nated with and were first approved by thecommunities 
which make up the people of the Commonwealth. 
In 1878, after considerable discussion, the school 
district organization was abolished, and the pruden- 
tial affairs of the schools were referred to the Com- 
mittee of Supervision. 

During the past twenty years the town has main- 
tained a high school. The early terms were held in 
the basement of the armory and in the school-houses 
in the central village. Commencing with the in- 
auguration of Cushing Academy in 1875, a depart- 
ment of that well-ordered institution has given the 
town a permanent and excellent high school, and 
for its support an annual appropriation is made. 

Cushing Academy bears the name of its founder. 
Thomas Parkman Cushing, a native of Ashburnham 
and a son of Rev. Dr. John Cushing, through the 
active and later years of his life was a merchant and 
resident of Boston, where he died November 23, 
1854. Immediately after his decease, and in accord- 
ance with the provisions of his will, the Cushing 
Academy Fund was safely invested. 

At the time of the organization of the academy 
corporation, in 1865, the sum of ninety-six thousand 
dollars was transferred to the corporation, which was 
left at interest until the accumulation was sufficient 
to meet the cost of a school edifice, and leave the 
principal unimpaired. 

In the mean time George C. Winchester presented 
the corporation an ample and eligible lot for the site 
of the academy. Mr. Winchester is a great-grand- 
son of Rev. Jonathan Winchester, the first minister 
of this town. The grounds accommodating the in- 
stitution received the name of " Winchester Square," 
perpetuating at once, through the liberality of their 
descendants, the memory and names of the first and 
second ministers of Ashburnham. 

The present commodious and attractive building 
was promptly erected, and dedicated September 7, 
1875. The cost of the building, including furniture, 
was $92,611.75, and the permanent fund in round 
numbers is one hundred and twenty thousand dol- 
lars, of which the income is annually appropriated 
for the support of the school. 

A spacious dwelling, known as " Jewett Hall," and 
occupied by teachers and pupils, was presented to the 
corporation by Charles Hastings, and the Crosby 
house, on Central Street, was presented by Rev. Jo- 
siah D. Ci'osby, who was the first clerk of the board 
of trustees, and who manifested an unwearied inter- 
est in the work and mission of the school. From the 
first this institution has been eminently successful, 
and under its present able management it commands 



ASHBURNHAM. 



203 



confidence at home and a liberal support from the 
surrounding towns. 

Edwin Pierce, A.M., was the first principal. He 
remained in' charge four years, 1875-79. He was 
a son of Dana and Diedema (Paul) Pierce, and was 
born at Barnard, Vt., June 26, 1826; graduated at 
Dartmouth College, 1852. He was formerly professor 
of Latin and Greek at Yellow-Stone Spring College, 
Iowa, and principal of other educational institu- 
tions. 

Professor James E. Vose succeeded Jlr. Pierce, 
and remained in charge until his death, May 30, 1887. 
He was a son of Edward L. and Aurelia (Wilson) 
Vose, and was born at Antrim, N. H., July 18, 1836. 
Previous to his labor here he had secured a merited 
reputation, and had been in charge of several acade- 
mies of New Hampshire. 

H. S. Cowell, A.M., was appointed principal in 
June, 1887. He is a son of Rev. David B. and Chris- 
tiana B. (Coffin) Cowell, and was born at West Leb- 
anon, Me., October 10, 1855; graduated at Bates 
College, 1875. He was principal of Clinton Grove 
Seminary, Weare, N. H., 1875-76 ; of Francestown 
(N. H.) Academy, 1876-83 ; of Arms Academy, Shel- 
burne Falls, Mass., 1883-87. 

The first president of the board of trustees was 
Rev. Francis Wayland, D.D., who died 1865, and 
was succeeded by Hon. Alexander H. Bullock, who 
resigned 1876, when Abraham T. Lowe, M.D., was 
appointed. He died July 4, 1888, and his successor 
has not been chosen. Hon. Amasa Norcross, the 
only remaining original member of the board, is vice- 
president. Hon. Ebenezer Torrey, Hon. Ohio Whitney 
and George F. Stevens, Esq., have filled the office of 
treasurer. Mr. Stevens died November 15, 1887, and 
his successor, George W. Eddy, was appointed No- 
vember 30, 1887. llev. Josiah D. Crosby was clerk 
of the board from 1865 to '76 ; upon his resignation 
he was succeeded by Colonel George H. Barrett, who 
has been continued in office to the present time. 

Mechanical Industbies. — There are fifty mill- 
sites in this town where at sometime the water-power 
has been utilized for mechanical purposes. This un- 
usual number of mill i)rivileges found in a single 
town have invited the farmers of Ashburnham from 
the cultivation of a rugged soil to engage in a variety 
of manufactures. Succeeding the primitive saw-mills, 
which were numerous in this town and whose only 
product was boards and other coarse lumber, there 
have been in times past a largeuumber of small shops 
in which has been manufactured a great variety of 
wares. Thread spools, friction matches, knife trays 
and many other articles of wood-ware have been made 
here. Tubs and pails were formerly manufactured at 
several mills and still are made in considerable quan-' 
titles by George G. Rockwood at the centre of the 
town. From the first, and independent of the manu- 
factures named, the leading industry of this town, 
both past and present, is the manufacture of chairs. 



In this respect it is the second town in New England. 
This business, either in the production of chair stock 
or finished chairs, has been conducted in all parts of 
the town ; but experiencing the fortunes of the limes 
the industry has become centralized in a few large 
establishments. Beginning with 1842, when Charles 
Winchester purchased the mill and bu.sines3 of Philip 
R. Merriam, the growth of the business in this town 
was rapid. In 1848 the firm of Charles & George C. 
Winchester was formed. They conducted an exten- 
sive business and erected new mills and many dwell- 
ing-houses. In 1870, when the firm was dissolved by 
the retirement of the senior brother, they were giving 
employment to two hundred men. George C. Win- 
chester was succeeded in 1880 by the Boston Chair 
Manufacturing Company with a capital stock of $150,- 
000. The company own and occupy for manufactur- 
ing purposes thirty-four buildings, presenting a total 
flooring of 300,000 feet, or about seven acres. The 
number of men employed is about 200, beside afford- 
ing employment to an equal number of persons in 
filling the cane chairs. The number of chairs annually 
made and sold approaches one-half a million. 

There have been many firms and individuals en- 
gaged in this manufacture in South Ashburnham. 
The more familiar names are Burgess, Glazier, May, 
Matthews, Flint, Merriam, Allen, and at present Or- 
ange Whitney, Benjamin E. Wetherbee, Irving E. 
Plaits and Luther B. Adams. An extensive plant is 
owned and conducted by Wilbur F. Whitney, who 
has been engaged in the manufacture in this town 
since 1865. His factory was burned six years ago, 
and immediately he purchased land at Ashburnham 
Depot and erected the capacious buildings now occu- 
pied by him in the business. The two main factories 
are respectively 172 by 40 and 150 by 40 feet. This 
manufacture includes rattan and over 600 patterns of 
modern styles of cane-seat chairs. Mr. Whitney gives 
employment to 250 hands, demanding a monthly pay- 
roll of $9,000. The annual product is $350,000. The 
number of cane-seat chairs annually produced is 
nearly 400,000. 

Cotton-spinning by power, and the manufacture of 
cloth completed in hand-looms, was begun in this town 
in 1811 or 1812. This industry was established at 
Factory Village. The mill was burned in 1846, and 
a larger mill was built on the same site, which was 
also burned in 1877. It has not been rebuilt. The 
cotton factory on Water Street in the central village 
was built by a home corporation in 1849. It has been 
continuously operated, and has contributed to the ma- 
terial interests of the town. The property is now 
owned and conducted by George Blackburn & Co. 

Boundaries. — According to the surveys when the 
original township was severed from the wilderness, 
there were included in the boundaries then estab- 
lished twenty-seven thousand oue hundred and 
ninety acres. The early measurements were ex- 
tremely liberal, and the actual area of Dorchester 



204 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



Canada at this time was about thirty-one thousand 
acres. Encroachments upon these fair proportions 
has been a favorite occupation of the surrounding 
towns. Four considerable tracts of land have been 
taken from the original area, and other attempts have 
been successfully resisted. 

By the adjustment of the province line in 1741, 
eight hundred and seventy-seven acres now included 
in Rindge and New Ipswich were severed from the 
town. Both the original and amended boundaries of 
the town on the north were right lines, but they were 
not parallel. The course of the original line was 
north 78° west, while the amended province line was 
established north 80° west, with the intention of run- 
ning a line due west with an allowance often degrees 
for variation of the needle. The area taken from this 
town in form was a trapezium extending across the 
northern border, and about ten rods in width at the 
eastern, and one hundred and ten rods at the western 
extremity. The incorporation of Ashby in 1767 sev- 
ered about one thousand five hundred acres from the 
northeast part of the township. Ashby was not an 
original grant, but was composed of parts of Town- 
send, Ashburnham and Fitehburg. In the same man- 
ner Gardner in 1785 was taken from the towns of Ash- 
burnham, Templeton, Westminster and Winchendon. 
The area severed from this town was nearly three 
thousand acres. Again in 1792 another tract of land 
in the northeast part of the town, containing about 
one thousand and four hundred acres, was severed 
from Ashburnham and added to Ashby. The town, 
still containing an ample area, could afford the land, 
but the loss of several valued and useful citizens by 
each of the last three dismemberments was a more 
serious consideration. Again the spectre of disinte- 
gration appeared in the southeast part of the town. 
Beginning with the close of the Revolution and con- 
tinued for twenty years, the adjoining portions of 
Westminster, Fitehburg and Ashburnham made ah 
earnest effort to become incorporated as an inde- 
pendent town. At times the measure was prosecuted 
with considerable energy, and at all times it was 
strenuously opposed, and finally defeated by the re- 
mainder of the tovi^ns at interest. With the exception 
of slight changes to correspond with the line of a few 
farms, no subsequent curtailment of the area of Ash- 
burnham has occurred. 

Ashburnham became a post-town in 1811, and from 
that date a post-office has been continuously main- 
tained at the central village. Since 1850 there has 
been a post-office at or near the depot for the accom- 
modation of South Ashburnham. The post-office at 
North Ashburnham was established in 1854. 

The First National Bank of Ashburnham was 
organized in 1873. Under conservative and ju- 
dicious management, it has been successful. The 
population of the town in 1885 was two thousand 
and fifty-eight; in 1S55 the population was two 
thousand two hundred and eleven, and this number 



has not been exceeded by any enumeration of the 
inhabitants. In May, 1887, the number of ratable 
polls was five hundred and fifty-five, the assessed 
value of real estate was eight hundred and eighteen 
thousand eight hundred and ninety-four dollars, and 
of personal estate one hundred and seventy-fou r 
thousand eight hundred and ninety-eight dollars. 
The rate of taxation was sixteen dollars per one 
thousand dollars. 

Personal Notices. — Many useful citizens who 
have been prominent in municipal affairs, and whose 
lives refresh and enliven the annals of Ashburnham, 
the greater number of natives of the town who have 
won an honorable measure of fame in other fields of 
labor and the descendants of many of the Ashburn- 
ham families distinguished in many callings will 
receive notice, and their gi>od works will constitute a 
part of any present or future review of the town. 

Samuel Wilder, Esq., was a resident of the town at 
the date of incorporation. Until his death his career 
was coeval with the town. A man of good judgment 
and of marked ability, he received a continuous' 
measure of honor from his townsmen, to whose ser- 
vice a great part of his life was devoted. Mr. Wilder 
was a captain of the militia, a magistrate many years, 
a deacon of the church, and several years a member 
of the Legislature. He was town clerk twenty-two 
years, a selectman fifteen years, an assessor twenty 
years and frequently was chosen on important commit- 
tees. The current records during the years of his 
useful life assert the merited esteem of his associates 
and an appreciation of superior mental endowment. 
He was the son of Colonel Caleb Wilder, a prominent 
proprietor of Dorchester Canada. He was born in 
Lancaster, May 7, 1729, and died in this town. May 
9, 1798. Among his children were Caleb Wilder, a 
noted school-teacher in this town ; Thomas Wilder, a 
respected citizen of Ware ; Dr. Abel Wilder, a dis- 
tinguished physician of Blackstone. Hon. A. Car- 
ter Wilder, son of Dr. Abel Wilder and grandson of 
our Samuel Wilder, was a member of the Thirty- 
eighth Congress from Kansas, and subsequently 
mayor of the city of Rochester, N. Y. Hon. D. 
Webster Wilder, another son of Dr. Abel Wilder, is 
an accomplished journalist and many years State 
auditor of Kansas. Dr. Charles Woodward Wilder, 
an esteemed citizen and physician of Templeton and 
Leominster, was a son of Caleb Wilder, Jr., and a 
nephew of Samuel Wilder. 

Colonel Joseph Jewett, son of Edward Jewett, was 
born in Stow, May 10, 1761. He was a soldier in the 
Revolution, and at the close of the war he removed to 
Ashburnham. Like many of the active men of his 
time, his energies were enlisted in a variety of pur- 
• suits. Colonel Jewett was prominent in military af- 
fairs, was a merchant, a farmer, a dealer in cattle and 
lands, and succeeding Mr. Wilder, he was the squire 
or magistrate. He represented the town in the Leg- 
islature eight years, was a selectman fifteen years, an 



ASHBURNHAM. 



205 



assessor fifteen years, and was ten times chosen to 
preside over tlie annual March meeting. He died 
May 3, 1846. His son, General Ivers Jewett, born in 
this town May 7, 1788, was a gentleman of ability, of 
attractive personal appearance, tall and commanding 
in presence and popular and esteemed by his associ- 
ates. At the age of thirty-four years he had been 
promoted step by step from the command of the Ash- 
burnhara Light Infantry to the rank of general of the 
State Militia. Few men in a rural community have 
been equally honored or more widely known. In 1827 
he removed to Filchburg and was there interested in 
several business enterprises, some of which were not 
wholly fortunate for him and his business associates. 
Subsequently he removed to the South and died at 
Mobile, Ala., April 26, 1871. Rev. Merrick Augustus 
Jewett, another son of Colonel Joseph Jewett, was 
born in this town August 26, 1798, was a graduate of 
Dartmouth College, 1823, and subsequently an able 
Congregational minister at Terre Haute, Ind. He 
died April 3, 1874. 

Jacob Willard, Esq., was a prominent citizen in 
this town many years. He was cotemporaneous with 
Deacon Wilder and Colonel Jewett and divided hon- 
ors with them. He was bold and aggressive, and his 
loyalty during the Revolution and the troubles attend- 
ing the open revolt of Daniel Shays was conspicuous. 
He was the fir.st Representative to the State Legisla- 
ture under the Constitution, and four subsequent terms. 
He was frequently elected to town office and other 
positions of trust, and exercised at all times a com- 
manding influence. He was a son of Henry Willard, 
and was born in Harvard .Inly 20, 1734, and removed 
to this town about 1768, where he died February 22, 
1808. His daughter Emma, burn December 18, 1777, 
married Rev. Thomas Skelton, and died November 3, 
1881, aged nearly one hundred and four years. 

Silas Willard, Esq., son of Deacon John Willard, 
and a nephew of Jacob Willard, Esq., was born in 
this town October 8, 1768, where he died June 14, 
1855. He was a selectman and an assessor twenty 
years ; delegate to the Constitutional Convention, 
1820 ; a magistrate twenty-eight years and promi- 
nently associated with the affairs of his time. 

Rev. Elijah Willard, a brother of Silas Willard, 
Esq., was born in this town April 19, 1782, was a 
Methodist clergyman and died at Saugus September 
5, 1852. 

John Adams was born in Cambridge (now Arling- 
ton), January 22, 1745. He was a son of Captain 
Thomas Adams, who removed to this town late in 
life. The son, John Adams, settled in the east 
part of the town, 1766. He was a soldier in the Rev- 
olution and subsequently was considerably employed 
in municipal affairs. He was an intelligent, active 
man and was held in high esteem by his townsmen. 
He died with faculties unimpaired February 26, 1849, 
aged one hundred and four years, one month and 
four days. His descendants are numerous in this 



town and elsewhere, and are an industrious, active 
race. Amos Adams, a son of Jonas R. Adams, and a 
grandson of John Adams, was a successful lawyer in 
Chicago, 111., and subsequently was a judge in Cali- 
fornia. Samuel G. Adams, the popular and able 
superintendent of police of the city of Boston ; Ivers 
W. Adams, formerly a successful merchant of Boston 
and now general manager of the American Net and 
Twine Company; and Melvin O. Adams, a successful 
lawyer of Boston and several years assistant district 
attorney for the district of Suffolk, through different 
lines of descent are great-grandsons of John Adams, 
the centenarian. 

Dr. Abraham Lowe, son of Jonathan Lowe, was 
born in Ipswich (now Essex), February 11. 1755. In 
his infancy the family removed to Lunenburg. He 
read for his profession under the tuition of Dr. Abra- 
ham Haskell, of Lunenburg, and came to this town, 
1786. He was a skillful physician and a useful and 
honored citizen. He died October* 23, 1824. Dr. 
Abraham Thompson Lowe, son of Dr. Abraham 
Lowe, was born in this town August 15, 1796 ; grad- 
uated at Dartmouth Medical College, and after a few 
years of professional labor in this town he removed 
to Boston, 1825, where he was engaged in the whole- 
sale drug trade many years. He was prominently 
connected with several railroad corporations and 
monetary institutions. He was the author of several 
school-books of good repute. He died July 4, 1888. 

William J., George and Edward W. Cutler, of the 
firm of Cutler Brothers, wholesale druggists of Bos- 
ton ; Abraham L. Cutler, of the firm of A. L. Cutler 
& Co., paints and oils, Boston; and Charles H. Cutler, 
of Chicago, III., are sons of Dr. William H. Cutler, an 
esteemed physician and citizen of this town, and 
maternal grandsons of Dr. Abraham Lowe. 

John Conn, son of a Scotch-Irish immigrant, was 
born in Harvard, 1740, and removed in early life to 
this town. He was a lieutenant in the Revolution 
and was a prominent citizen of the town. His son, 
John, and grandson, John Conn, Jr., were men of 
character and ability in this town. Susannah, a 
daughter of John Conn, Sr., married David Wallace. 
They are the grandparents of Hon. Rodney Wallace, 
of Fitchburg. 

Deacon Jacob Harris, a native of Ipswich and a 
former resident of Harvard, removed to Ashburnham, 
1767. He was a selectman, and for fifteen years an 
assessor, a deacon of the church and a conservative, 
useful citizen. He died September 26, 1826. His 
son. Rev. Samuel Harris, was a Congregational min- 
ister and labored in Alstead, New Boston and Wind- 
ham, N. H., where he died September 5, 1848. 

Jacob Constantine, a son of German immigrants, 
born 1752, was a good citizen and a Revolutionary 
soldier. He died March 8, 1814. Lieutenant-Gov- 
ernor Fuller, of Vermont, is a great-grandson. 

Capt. David Cushing and his brother, George R. 
Cushing, Esq., were natives of Hingham, were prom- 



2nfi 



HISTORY OP WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



inent factors in the business and municipal affairs of 
this town. The former died May 3, 1827, and the 
latter February 2, 1851. Joseph Gushing, son of Capt. 
David, established the Farmers' Cabinet of Amherst, 
N. H., and with him Hon. Isaac Hill learned the art 
of printing. In 1809 he removed to Baltimore, Md. 
He was a member of the city government many years 
and member of the Legislature. Joseph Gushing, a 
prominent business man of Fitchburg, is a grandson 
of Capt. David Gushing. 

Stephen Gushing, remotely related to the preced- 
ing family, removed to Ashburnham, 1830. He was a 
man of exalted character, and in many capacities 
faithfully served his townsmen. Rev. Stephen Gush- 
ing, his son, born March 13, 1813, has been a success- 
ful preacher and officer of the Methodist Conference. 

Col. Enoch Whitmore, son of Isaac Whitmore, was 
born in this town September 8, 1796. He was a 
farmer and manufacturer. He was a man of clear con- 
victions and (tecided opinions, a radical, but not a 
fanatic. In politics he was an Abolitionist, and for 
many years his well-known opinions were a bar to 
political preferment, and yet, while in a minority, his 
worth and recognized ability secured a frequent elec- 
tion to oiEce. Living until his views were endorsed 
and accepted by a large majority of his townsmen, he 
died September 13, 1860. 

Jerome W. Foster, son of Joel Foster, and a de- 
scendant in the fourth generation of Jeremiah Foster, 
an early settler in this town, was born September 15, 
1810. He was a civil engineer, a justice of the peace, 
and often employed in the conduct of town affairs. 
He was town clerk eighteen years, and in all 
his faithful service to the town he was aided by good 
jud;;ment and ability. 

Gapt. Silas Whitney, son of Samuel Whitney, was 
born in Westminster October 20, 1752. He removed 
to this town, 1778, and became the most extensive 
laud-holder in the town. He was an active citizen 
and influential in town affairs. He died November 14, 
1798. His descendants are numerous. Ohio Whit- 
ney, son of Capt. Silas Whitney, born March 22, 1789, 
was a man of abili.y and great iorce of character. Af- 
fable in manner, upright in character and honorable 
in all his relations with his townsmen, he commanded 
the respect and esteem of all. He died March 3, 1870. 
Hon. Ohio Whitney, son of Ohio Whitney, born June 
9, 1813, was much employed in municipal and State 
affairs, He was a selectman and an assessor many 
years and a moderator of the annual March meeting 
eighteen years. He was a trustee of several monetary 
institutions and a director of the First National Bank 
of Ashijurnham. In 18.56 he represented this district 
in the Legislature, and the following year he was a 
member of the State Senate. He died February 6, 1879. 
Francis A. Whitney, Esq., a brother of Hon. Ohio 
Whitney, born in this town August 2, 1823, died April 
, 28th, 1887. He was a successful school-teacher, 
many years a member of the School Committee, 'elect- 



man and assessor. He was a public-spirited, useful 
citizen. Milton Whitney, E^-q., son of Capt. Silas 
Whitney, Jr., and a grandson of Capt. Silas Whitney, 
was born in this town October 9, 1823. He was an 
eminent lawyer and several years a county attorney 
of Baltimore, Md. He was a brilliant advocate, and 
won many laurels in his profession. He died Septem- 
ber 3, 1875. Rev. William Whitney, son of William 
Whitney and grandson of Capt. Silas Whitney, was 
born in this town July 22, 1829. He resides at Gran- 
ville, Ohio, and for many years was financial agent of 
Dennison University and treasurer of the Baptist 
Educational Society. Rev. Quincy Whitney, of Cam- 
bridge, is a son of Samuel Whitney and a grandson of 
Capt. Silas Whitney. 

Hon. Isaac Hill, a distinguished journalist, Gov- 
ernor of New Hampshire, Comptroller of the Treas- 
ury and United States Senator, was a well-rtmembered 
youth of this town, being nine years of age when the 
family removed hither. His younger brothers, George 
W. and Horatio Hill, were born in this town. 

Hon. Phinehas Randall was born in Ashburnham, 
June 5, 1787, and resided here until he began his col- 
legiate study. He was a lawyer, and for several years 
a presiding judge of Common Pleas of Montgomery 
County, N. Y. Hon. Alexander W. Randall, Gov- 
ernor of Wisconsin, member of President Grant's 
cabinet and Minister to Rome, and Hon. Edwin M. 
Randall, chief justice of Florida, are sons of Hon. 
Phinehas Randall. 

General Harrison C. Hobart, an eminent lawyer of 
Wisconsin, was born in this town January 31, 1815. 
He won a brilliant record in the War of the Rebel- 
lion, and has exercised a commanding influence in 
civil and political affairs. 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 



JOHN AND ELINOR WHITNEY. 

John and Elinor Whitney, the emigrant ancestors 
of a numerous family, sailed from England in the 
" Elizabeth and Ann," Roger Cooper, master, in 
April, 1635. At this date he was aged thirty-five, and 
his wife thirty years. He settled in Watertown, 
where he became a considerable landholder, and was 
admitted freeman March 3, 1635-6. He was a select- 
man eighteen successive years, and his name is con- 
spicuous in the records of his time. He died June 1, 
1673; his wife, Elinor, died May 11, 1659. 

John, eldest son of John and Elinor Whitney, was 
born in England, 1624; admitted freeman, 1647. He 
married Ruth Reynolds, daughter of Robert Reynolds, 
of Boston, and resided in Watertown. He was a 
selectman several years, and a prominent citizen. 
He died October 12, 1692. leaving five sons and five 
daughters. 

Nathaniel, son of John and Ruth (Reynolds) 
Whitney, was born in Watertown, February 1, 1646-7. 






:>^^^^ 





d^ti 




-^^^^^4^, '^^2 <0 



i 



ASHBURNHAM. 



207 



He married, March 12, 1673-4, Sarah Hagar, born 
September 3, 1751, daughter of William and Mary 
(Bemis) Hagar, of AVatertown. His homestead was 
included in Weston, where he died January 7, 1732-3 ; 
his widow died May 7, 1746. 

William, third of the seven children of Nathaniel 
and Sarah (Hagar) Whitney, was born May 6, 1683, 
and resided in Weston. He married. May 17, 1706, 
Martha Peirce, born December 24, 1681, daughter of 
Joseph and Martha Peirce, of Watertown. He died 
January 24, 1720-1. 

Samuel Whitney, son of William and Martha (Peirce) 
Whitney, was born in Weston May 28, 1719. He 
married, October 20, 1741, Abigail Fletcher, and was 
one of the early settlers of Westminster, and is a 
prominent character in the annals of that town. He 
died January 1, 1782. Capt. Silas Whitney, of Ash- 
burnham, was a son of these parents. 

Abner, son of Samuel and Abigail (Fletcher) Whit- 
ney, was born in W'estminster May IS, 1748. He 
married. May 14, 1770, Elizabeth Glazier, daughter of 
Jonas and Eunice (Newton) Glazier, of Shrewsbury, 
who died April 3,1778; he married (2d), April 22, 
1779, her sister, Levina (Glazier) Ward, widow of 
Jonas Ward. He died in Westminster, 1811. 

Joseph G., son of Abner and Lcviua Whitney, was 
born June 22, 1783, He married, 1805, Levina Dunn, 
and resided in Westminster and in Ashburnham, 
where he died July 31, 1868. 

John, son of Joseph G. and Levina (Dunn) Whitney, 
was born in Westminster September 12, 1806. He 
was a pioneer manufacturer of chairs in Westminster 
and in Ashburnham. He was a man of ability and 
character, commanding the respect and confidence of 
his associates. He died May 4, 1873. His wife, 
whom he marrif d May 9, 1832, was Eliza Gushing, 
daughter of Stephen Gushing, Esq., a prominent 
citizen of Ashburnham. She died September 1, 1882. 



WILBUR F. WHITKEY. 

Wilbur Fisk Whitney, son of John and Eliza 
(Gushing) Whitney, and of the ninth generation in 
America, was born December 9, 1839, and from 
early manhood has been closely identified with the 
material intertsts of this town. From an indusrial 
standpoint the town of Ashburnham occupies a 
prominent position among the manufacturing towns 
of the State. Here the manufacture of chairs was 
an early, and through later years remains an impor- 
tant industry. While the Winchesters and their 
successors have been conducting an extensive busi- 
ness at the centre of the town, Mr. Whitney, in his 
chosen field at Siuth Ashburnham, from a humble 
beginning, has enlarged his facilities from year to 
year, and at present is at the head of a more exten- 
sive business than is owneil and conducted by any 
single individual in this line of manufacture. His 
monthly pay-roll, distributed among 250 employes, is 



$9000, and the annual product of the manufacture 
includes 380,000 chairs, valued at wholesale at 
$350,000. Much of the labor-saving machinery is 
special, and is covered by patents. The chairs made 
by Mr. Whitney are the modern styles of cane-.seat 
and a great variety of rattan chairs. The designs 
and styles are original, and frequently change to 
meet the demands of the trade. la mechanical 
skill, in ability to personally supervise all the minute 
details of an extensive business, and in a prompt and 
clear comprehension of the growing demands of the 
trade, Mr. Whitney has advanced to a prominent 
position among the manufacturers of the present 
time. While his success in business has been 
founded on industry, perseverance and the fortui- 
tous issue of well-matured plans, his honesty and 
ready appreciation of the rights of others have been 
important factors. He has continually maintained 
fraternal relations with his employes, and has had no 
experience with strikes nor contests with labor or- 
ganizations. With the spirit of a good citizen, his 
success has been reflected in the growth and pros- 
perity of the town, and he has ever manifested a 
lively interest in local and in municipal affairs. In 
this direction his eflort has been the fruit of principle 
anil the thoughtful act of method and wisdom 
rather than the sudden and fitful oflering of a gen- 
erous impulse. For many years, with system and 
exactness, ten per cent, of his annual income has 
been given to religious and charitable objects, and, 
with a liberality of sentiment characteristic of the 
donor, no one sect or class has been the sole recip- 
ient. 

With the experience of years Mr. Whitney has 
joined the fruit of an attentive study of the social 
and political problems of the times. His conclusions 
are intelligently formed, and his judgment of men 
and of measures is free from partiality and preju- 
dice. In debate he is apt and logical, and if he is 
decided in his opinions, he is tolerant in judging of 
the faith and charitable in weighing the conduct of 
others. His political opinions have been pronounced 
but conservative. He has not been closely allied 
with any party, but his political faith has embraced 
the purposes of good government, and has been un- 
restrained by the school of politics. In his daily 
life he has seldom wounded or disappointed his 
friends, and he has cultivated no enmities. His 
sympathies, quick and steadfast, lead him to the 
presence of the wronged and the suffering, and guid- 
ed by principle, his ministrations to his fellow-nien 
are ever kind and substantial. In business and in 
social affairs he has challenged the respect and good 
opinion of all who know him. His merit has won, 
and his future will enjoy, the friendship and confi- 
dence of his associates. In the personal supervision 
of an important industry, Mr. Whitney has found 
full employment, yet he has been an efficient mem- 
ber of the School Committee many years, and has 



208 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



labored in this worlc with unfailing interest. Ho is 
a director of the Ashburnham National Bank and of 
the Nashua Reservoir Company. In 1875 he repre- 
sented this district in the Legislature. In 1878 he 
was nominated for Congress by the Greenback party 
and by a convention of Independents. In the can- 
vass he received seven thousand votes. He was 
renominated in 1882 and 1884. In 1876 and 1877 
he was nominated for State treasurer, and in several 
instances his candidacy was endorsed by the Prohi- 
bitionists. 

Mr. Whitney is still in the prime of life, and this 
brief sketch is but the beginning of a completed 
chapter. Men of his temperament and character 
summon energy and wisdom with advancing years. 

In his domestic relations Mr. Whitney has been 
fortunate and happy. He was united in marriage, 
July 17, 1866, to Miss Emeline S. Jewell, daughter 
of Dexter and Sarah (Mower) Jewell, of Kindge, 
N. H. Their eldest child, and only son, a lad of 
great promise and universally beloved, died at the 
age of fifteen years. Four bright and sunny daugh- 
ters, from five to fifteen years of age, bring light and 
gladness to a happy fireside. 



DR. NATHANIEL JEWETT. 

Dr. Nathaniel Jewett, the subject of this sketch, 
was born in Boston, March 10, 1841, and was edu- 
cated in the public schools of that city. He afterwards 
pursued a course of professional studies under pri- 
vate tutors. 

He graduated with honors from the Boston Dental 
School in 18G9, and from the New York Eclectic Col- 
lege in 1871, having attended also, lectures in Har- 
vard Medical College, and at the College of Physi- 
cians and Surgeons, New York. 

He has been president of the Worcester North 
Eclectic Medical Society, and for many years secre- 
tary and treasurer ; also president and counselor of 
the Ma:isachusetts Eclectic Medical Society, and a 
member of the National Medical Association. 

Through his mother's active interest and sympathy 
in charitable organizations and reforms during the 
early years of his life in Boston, his naturally sym- 
pathetic and generous qualities were early enlisted in 
efforts to aid the unfortunate. 

Dr. Jewett came to Ashburnhara and commenced 
the practice of medicine in 1871. Of the eighteen 
physicians who have practiced here, none have been 
more constantly or successfully employed. Many 
serious eases have been under his treatment calling 
for surgical skill and patient care. With much me- 
chanical ability, and quick to feel for all who suffer, 
he has been very successful and ingenious in devising 
mechanical appliances and aids, and inventing means 
for the comfort and convenience of his patients. 

He also possesses the qualities of a good nurse, and 
with much magnetic power, his presence is always 



welcome in the sick-room, where so much depends on 
gentleness and encouraging words. Many a family 
have looked to him as a support in the hour of sor- 
row, and found him ever ready to aid when the last 
rites of affection are needed fur the dead. 

Dr. Jewett is social in his nature, ardent, generous 
and loyal in his friendships, and keenly sensitive to 
disloyalty or broken faith in those he has trusted. In 
his tastes he is very artistic, and music is one of his 
greatest pleasures. IJondof books and study, he has 
accumulated a large library of medical, scientific and 
other works. 

When contributions or personal efforts are called 
for in aid of town, church or social movements, he is 
always generous in response. 

With a large share of the trials, discouragements 
and constant requisitions upon a physician's life, he 
has always been faithful in filial duties. To his 
mother, who was long an invalid, he gave the best of 
his care and life, freely relinquishing all that would 
prevent him from ministering to her needs, and faith- 
fully attending her until her death here, in 1887. 

The doctor has long been connected with Masonic 
orders, active and enthusiastic in interest for all that 
concerned the fraternity. He has held various posi- 
tions, and is one of the Past Commanders of Jeru- 
salem Commandery, Fitchburg; also a member of the 
Grand Commandery of Massachusetts and Rhode 
Island, and is a thirty -second degree Mason. He has 
also held offices in various other secret orders. 



CHAPTER XXXVI. 

FITCHBURG. 

BY ATHERTON P. MASON, A.B. (HARV.), M.D. (HARV.). 

[Latitude, 42° 35' N. ; longitude, 71° 47' W. ; direction ami distance from 
Boston, W. N. W., 47 jniles ; altitude of top step of City Halt above sea 
level, 470 /ee(.] 

DESCRIPTIVE. 

Fitchburg, the smaller of the two cities of Wor- 
cester County, and, after Worcester, the most import- 
ant place in the county, is pleasantly situated among 
hills and valleys, and is about twenty-four miles north 
of its sister city. The township is of average size, 
being about six and a half miles from north to south, 
and about four and a half miles from east to west. A 
small stream, the north branch of the Nashua River, 
formed by the confluence of several brooks in the 
southwesterly part of the town, curves to the north 
and emerges near the southeast corner ; and along its 
course most of the population and all the business 
interests of the city are located. 

The thickly populated and business centre— the city 
proper — lies a little southeast of the centre of the 
township. West and south of the city proper are the 



FITCHBURG. 



209 



villages of West Fitcliburg, Rockville and Crocker- 
ville, and east and south are Traskville, East Fitch- 
burg and South Fitchburg. The outlying portions of 
the township are but sparsely inhabited, being mainly 
utilized for farming purposes, though considerable 
areas are covered with woods or used simply for pas- 
turage. The township is bounded on the north by 
Ashby, on the east by Lunenburg and Leominster, 
on the south by Leominster and Westminster, and on 
the west by Westminster and a small part of Ash- 
burnhara. 

Any detailed description of the city and its outlying 
villages would, of course, be beyond the scope of this 
sketch. As has been stated, the city lits in a valley 
along the stream. The territory on the south side of 
the stream, or, " across the river," as it is called, is 
occupied almost entirely by dwelling-houses, while 
the business portion is on the north side close to the 
river bank ; and the hills a little farther north and 
the more level land to the east are thickly covered 
■with dwellings, many of which are beautiful and 
costly. Main Street, the jirincipal business street in 
the city, follows for the most part the course of the 
stream, its general direction being east and west. On 
this street are a number of important manufacturing 
establishments, many substantial business blocks, 
several public buildings, hotels, handsome churches, 
and towards the upper end a few tine private resi- 
dences. From its beginning it is paved with stone as 
far as the City Hall ; and a horse railroad track runs 
through almost its entire length. There are three 
parks on this street — the " Lower Common," or Rail- 
road Park, Monument Park and the " Upper Com- 
mon," — situated nearly equidistant from one another- 
The first of these is at the junction of Main and Water 
Streets, opposite the handsome and commodious Union 
Passenger Station, and is a small enclosure provided 
with a band-stand. Monument Park is directly in 
front of the County Court-House and nearly opposite 
the Wallace Library and Art Building, while flank- 
ing it on the east is Christ Church, a beautiful and 
picturesque stone building. Taken in connection 
with these three fine edifices, this jiark is a most in- 
viting spot and much frequented. In its centre is an 
expensive and massive soldiers' monument of granite 
surmounted b)- three bronze statues. Four brass field- 
pieces, secured from the government through the 
eSbrts of the late Hon. Alvah Crocker, and mounted 
in regulation style, are placed one at each corner, and 
the whole park is enclosed by a substantial iron fence 
upon a base of hammered granite. The " Upper 
Common " is located towards the upper or western 
end of Main Street, and is larger than either of the 
other parks. It has recently been laid out and beauti- 
fied, and bids fair to rival Monument Park in the 
favor of the citizens. It is a parallelogram in shape 
and entirely surrounded by shade-trees. Near the 
lower end is a very ornamental band-stand, from 
which the Fitchburg Military Band often gives even- 
14 



ing concerts during the summer. The band also 
gives concerts from the band-stand iu the Lower 
Common, and the musie furnished by this justly- 
celebrated organization always calls together a large 
concourse of citizens. Opposite the head of the Up- 
per Common is the old First Parish (Unitarian) 
Church, astructureinterestingfrom an historical point 
of view; and flanking the Common on its northerly 
side are several handsome residences. At the easterly 
terminus of the horse railroad, near the Lunenburg 
line, are the fair-grounds and trotting park, formerly 
the property of the Worcester North Agricultural 
Society. In 1887 this property was purchased by a 
number of gentlemen, forming an organization known 
as the Fitchburg Park Company, for the purpose of 
improving and beautifying it for use as a park. 

The upper portion of Main Street is considerably 
wider than the lower part, and is abundantly supplied 
with shade-trees. From Putnam Street to the Amer- 
ican House, Main Street is altogether too narrow for 
the tide of business which daily passes through it, and 
without dnubt it will be alisolutely necessary for the 
city to construct a new street before long to relieve 
the pressure on Main Street. This portion of the 
street is entirely without shade-trees, or even room 
for them to grow, and it is becoming more and more 
evident every year that a great mistake was made 
iu not reserving a more generous width for the street. 

Fitchburg is pre-eminently a busy and thriving 
city, and probably no other place of its size can boast 
of a greater diversity of industries. The little stream 
running through the town was a source of great annoy- 
ance to the early settlers. The spring floods carried 
away their bridges, and the river was considered a 
nuisance and probable bar to the growth of the town. 
But coming years showed the folly of these fears. 
Dams were constructed, the water controlled, and 
manufacturers on a small scale began to locate on the 
banks of the formerly detested stream. Thus was a 
seeming curse turned into an evident blessing, for 
from those few mills have sprung the present great 
manufacturing concerns located here. Now the 
stream, whether swollen by the floods of spring, or 
diminished to a mere rivulet by the drought of summer, 
is allowed to pursue its way for the most part unheeded 
by the busy manufacturer. Water-power is still used 
to some extent, but steam is now the chief motor tha' 
propels the machinery, looms and spindles that daily 
pour forth products which go to the markets, not of 
this country alone, but of the world. A description 
of these large manufacturing establishments, of which 
our citizens are justly proud, must be deferred to a 
subseqiient portion of this sketch. 

It is evident that ample transportation facilities are 
necessary in order to distribute all these varied pro- 
ducts, and Fitchburg certainly possesses such facilities 
to a marked degree. When, about half a century ago, 
the Hon. Alvah Crocker proposed and advocated a 
railroad direct from Boston to Fitchburg, the idea met 



210 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



with great opposition and ridicule. Mr. Crocker per- 
severed in .spite of all obstacles, the railroad became 
an accomplished fact, and the immense benefits arising 
from its construction are realized by the citizens of 
to-day. It has grown into the great Hoosac Tunnel 
Line and afl'ords direct communication, not with 
Boston alone, but with the great cities of the West. 
Other railroads have since been built which give 
direct communication with all important points. An 
elegant and commodious passenger-station, built about 
ten years ago, is shared by all these roads in common, 
and there are large freight depots, car-shops, engine- 
houses, etc., which will bo described further on. 

Fitchburg is by no means behind the times as re- 
gards the adoption of all methods and means by which 
the wealth, prosperity and enlightenment of her 
citizens may be advanced, their business facilitated, 
and their lives and property protected from danger or 
destruction. The streets of the city are kept clean 
and in good condition, and are, for tlie most part, well 
lined with shade-trees ; a pure and very abundant 
water supply has been provided at large expense ; 
school-houses are numerous and, as a rule, commodious 
and well-ventilated; a thoroughly organized and well- 
equipped Fire Department, in connection with the tire- 
alarm telegraph and numerous hydrants, aflbrds the 
best possible protection against serious loss by fire; 
the efficient police force keeps the city singularly free 
from theft and murder. All these departments are 
under the direct control of the city, and their eft'ective 
work reflects great credit on the authorities, both in 
past and present time. In addition to these advan- 
tages of a strictly municipal character, there are 
others no less important to the welfare of the city. 
There are numerous churches, substantial and invit- 
ing, both ^xternally and internally, whose pulpits are 
occupied by good pastors ; there is an efficient tele- 
phone service with many subscribers ; the streets are 
well lighted with electricity, furnished by the Wachu- 
sett Electric Light Company, and in some portions 
with gas, furnished by the Fitchburg Gas Company ; 
the Fitchburg Street Railway Company provides con- 
venient means of transit from one end of the city to 
the other, and the government has established the 
letter-carrier system here. 

Having seen, in a general way, what man has ac- 
complished towards making Fitchburg an attractive 
and desirable place of residence, let us devote a 
little space to the investigation of what nature has 
done to beautify and make pleasant this city among 
the hills. The north branch of the Nashua, which 
has been previously mentioned as traversing the 
southerly portion of the township, is formed by the 
confluence of several brooks having their origin in 
ponds in Westminster and Ashburnham. These 
brooks, uniting in the southwesterly part of the 
township, form the only stream of any size in Fitch- 
burg. There is nothing particularly beautiful or 
romantic about it at the present time, except in a 



few spots where the hand of man has not encroached 
too ruthlessly upon its original condition. Many 
bridges, both for railroad and public use, have been 
built across it, and numerous dams have been 
erected along its course, which form small ponds 
that lack the element of natural beauty. It is 
rather singular that, while almost every one of the 
towns in this vicinity possesses at least one large 
natural sheet of water, there is nothing of the sort 
in Fitchburg. So the citizens have to content them- 
selves with brooks, of which there are several in 
town that are very picturesque and well worth visit- 
ing. One of these is Falulah Brook, in the north- 
erly part of the town, towards Ashby. Its course is 
through wooded country, and in many places it has 
worn for itself a channel through the solid rock. 
In spots it has hollowed out deep basins in the rock, 
forming quiet, transparent pools; and again it dashes 
down some rocky incline, producing fascinating cas- 
cades. This brook crosses the township diagonally, 
and that part of it in the southeasterly corner has 
received the name of Baker's Brook. It receives 
several tributaries, prominent among which are 
Scott and Shattuck Brooks, whence is obtained the 
water supply of the city, and Pearl Plill Brook. 

In the southerly part of Fitchburg is another brook, 
quite as interesting and picturesque as Falulah, and 
certainly better appreciated, from the fact of its be- 
ing easy of access. The name of it is Wanoosnac 
Brook. During the past century the spelling of its 
name has undergone considerable change. Rev. 
Peter Whitney, in his "History of Worcester 
County," published in 1793, speaks of it as " Wauh- 
noosnok Brook." In Torrey's " History of Fitch- 
burg," published in 1836, it is spelled Wanoosnock. 
By some, at the present time, it is called Monoos- 
noc. However much the nomenclature may have 
changed, it is certain that its natural beauty has not 
followed suit. For some distance it flows along be- 
side the Old Turnpike Road, unmolested by the 
hand of man, at times hidden among the trees and 
again appearing in open spaces, tumbling and splash- 
ing along its rocky bed. It is especially well worth 
visiting in the early summer, when it is full of water. 
At one point, where it flows in a deep and pre- 
cipitous gully, a massive stone dam was built many 
years ago. From some imperfection in its construc- 
tion, the dam never could be made to hold water, and 
the brook, which, as well as the dam itself, is 
almost entirely concealed by trees that have grown 
up since man's futile attempt to obstruct it, flows 
noisily beneath the heavy stone-work as if filled 
with defiant joy at its retained fieedom. A little 
farther above is another dam, built with better skill, 
which has, for over half a century, been occupied as 
the site of a saw-mill. 

The most marked topographical features in Fitch- 
burg are Rollstone Hill, southwest of the city, and 
Pearl Hill, to the northeast. The former is a rounded 



FITCHBURG. 



211 



mass of solid gneiss, attaining an elevation of about 
four hundred feet above the river. Whitney thus al- 
ludes to it in his history : " A little southwest of the 
meeting-house is a high, rocky hill, covered princi- 
pally with pine, called Bollstone Hill." At the present 
time the pines have disappeared. Until a few years 
ago two old and weather-beaten specimens, the sole sur- 
vivors of former times, were standing like ancient 
sentinels upon the summit of the hill ; but age, com- 
bined with the poor quality and small amount of 
soil and the fierce winds of winter, caused them to 
succumb, and they fell some years ago, one soon after 
the other. The writer well remembers the feeling of 
sadness that arose within him when these aged land- 
marks were prostrated. The lower portion of their 
trunks bore a vast collection of autographs, for prob- 
ably almost every boy who climbed to the top of the 
hill, for years previous to their fall, and was 
lucky enough to own a knife, carved his initials 
on one or the other of them. The top of the hill is 
now practically bare rock, though the thin soil in 
spots supports a scanty and stunted growth of bushes. 
The sides of the hill have a tolerably thick layer of 
soil, and are covered with a growth of small trees, 
mostly chestnut, oak and maple. Excellent building 
stone is obtained from this hill, and the supply seems 
to be practically inexhaustible. Extensive quarries 
have been worked for a great many years without any 
v^ry appreciable diminution in the size of the hill, 
unless it be on the southwesterly side. 

The use of Rollstone granite is by no means 
confined to Fitchburg alone. It is shipped to 
various places, and there are several buildings 
in Boston constructed entirely of it. Some portions 
of the rock contain extraneous minerals, and fine 
specimens of beryl and tourmaline have been ob- 
tained here in times past. On the very summit of the 
hill is " the Boulder," a rounded mass of rock, forty- 
five feet in circumference, and probably weighing 
one hundred tons. Its composition is totally unlike 
that of any rock formation within thirty miles, and it 
is certain that this boulder was conveyed toitspresent 
position by ice. Glacial strice are plainly visible be- 
neath it where the surface of the bed-rock has not 
weathered. The fine view of the city and surrounding 
country that is obtainable from the summit of Roll- 
stone is well worth the slight trouble necessary to 
climb the hill by some of the stone roads and paths. 
At the feet, so to speak, of the observer perched upon 
the top of the boulder, are the numerous tracks of the 
Hoosac Tunnel Line, with trains moving upon them 
almost constantly ; just beyond is the river, with the 
city stretching along lis course and forming almost a 
complete semi-circle; behind the city rise the hills, 
culminating in the beetling brow of Pearl Hill to the 
northeast. Big Watatic, in Ashburnham, overtops his 
brethren in the northwest. In clear weather the sharp 
summit of grand Monadnock can al.so Vje seen in that 
direction. The rounded outline of Wachusett, about 



twelve miles distant, fills the southern horizon, and to 
the east and southeast are the towns of Lunenburg 
and Leominster, a few miles away. Portions of other 
towns can also be seen, and the undulating character 
of the country in all directions presents a pleasing 
spectacle to the eye. 

Pearl Hill is somewhat higher than Rollstone, and 
on one side rises abruptly in the form of a precipice. 
It is compo-ed of a micaceous rock of rather pecu- 
liar appearance, which, a century ago, encouraged the 
hope that there were " valuable mines, either of gold 
or silver, or both, imbosomed there." The Rev. Peter 
Whitney goes on to say that " attempts have hereto- 
fore been made to possess them ; but for want of 
wealth or perseverance in the undertakers, they have 
not obtained the desiderata." It is exceedingly im- 
probable that capitalists will care to expend money in 
searching after gold or silver in the bowels of Pearl 
Hill. Rollstone is a much more profitable invest- 
ment. A fine view can be obtained from the summit 
of Pearl Hill, and a drive on the Pearl Hill Road is 
much in vogue with citizens and visitors. West of 
Pearl Hill and north of Rollstone is the high land 
where the water supply of the city is stored. There 
are four reservoirs located at different levels, the 
highest being Overlook, about four hundred feet above 
the river, whose embankment and gate-house are 
quite conspicuous. 

There are many pleasant drives in and about the 
city. The suburban roads are, for the most part, well 
made and kept in good condition, though the hilly 
character of the entire surface of the township renders 
very considerable washouts inevitable during the 
spring months, and causes more or less expense an- 
nually for repairs. The soil is generally quite fertile, 
and there are many valuable farms in the town. 
Woods are abundant in many parts of the town and 
consist of all the varieties of trees indigenous to this 
section. Fruit-trees flourish and there are many fine 
orchards in and around Fitchburg. Small fruits and 
garden produce are raised in great abundance with 
ordinary care. 

Much more might be said descriptive of Fitchburg 
and its environs. In the foregoing the writer has 
intended simply to speak of facts that will not appear 
elsewhere, or to touch on matters that will be further 
elaborated in subsequent portions of thi.s sketch. We 
will conclude this section by giving a few statistics in 
regard to population and agricultural interests. Ac- 
cording to the census of 1885, the population at that 
time was 15,375. Since then there has been a very 
considerable increase in the number of inhabitants, 
and probably 19,000 would not be far from the correct 
figures at the present time (1888). A few of the 
agricultural statistics gleaned from the census of 1885 
are as follows : there were then 209 farms in town, 
3676 acres of cultivated land, 5850 acres of pasturage 
and 5134 acres of woodland. The aggregate value of 
agricultural products was $294,558, the largest items 



212 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



being, — dairy products, $97,414 ; hay, straw and fod- 
der, $70,(596 ; vegetables, $25,990; apples and small 
fruits, S19,280, and poultry and wood products about 
$18,000 each. There were about 40,000 fruit-trees 
and grape-vines, valued at $76,473. There were 741 
cows and about 8000 fowls. 

From these few statistics one can see that, though 
Filchburg is not given very much to agricultural 
pursuits, she makes a very respectable showing in 
that line. 



CHAPTER XXXVII. 

FITCHBURG— ( Conthuied). 

EARLY HISTORY ( 1 764- 1 799). 

FiTCHBURG was originally a part of Lunenburg, 
and its history prior to 1764 is identical with that of 
Lunenburg and may be found in the history of that 
town. Previous to 1764 several attempts had been 
made by the people living in the westerly part of 
Lunenburg to be set off as a separate town, but were 
unsuccessful. Oa January 25, 1764, another attempt 
was made and the consent of Lunenburg obtained, the 
town voting " to let the people go." The request was 
granted on condition that " the inhabitants should 
pay their minister's tax, as heretofore they had done, 
until they should be formed into a disirict." As soon 
as the consent of Lunenburg was obtained, a com- 
mittee, consisting of John Fitch, Amos Kimball, 
Samuel Hunt, Ephraira Whitney and Jonathan 
Wood, was chosen to procure an act of incorporation. 
So zealously did this committee work that in just 
nine days after the granting of the request the act 
passed the General Court and was signed by the Gov- 
ernor. The following is a copy of the act of incorpo- 
ration in full : 

Amio Eegui Eegtf Georgii Tertii Quarto. 

An act for setting off the inhabitants, as also the estates, of the west- 
erly part of Lunenburg into a separate town by the nani.i of Fitchburgb. 

Be it enacted by the Governor; Council and House of Eepresentatives^ that 
the inhabitants, with their lands, on the westerly part of Lunenburg, 
beginning at such a place on Leominster line as that a straight line 
therefrom may run between the lands of Messi-a. Paul Welherbee and 
Jonathan Wood to a stake and stone a small distance to the westward of 
Mary Holt's house, then turning and running north, ten degrees and a 
half east, to the southeast corner of Ephraim Whitney's land, then to 
keep the easterly line of said Whitney's land to the northeast corner 
thereof, and from that corner to run northwardly on the enstwardly 
line of John "Wbite'e land to the norwesterly corner thereof, and from 
that corner to run north, four degrees east, to Townsend line ; then run- 
ning west, thirty one degrees and a half north, on Townsend line to Dor- 
chester Canada line, then turning south, nine degrees west, eight miles 
and a hundred and forty rods on Dorchester Canada line, to Westmin- 
ster line ; then turning east, eleven degrees thirty minutes south, three 
miles and thirty one rods to a heap of stones on Leominster line; tlien 
turning and running to the bound first mentioned, be and hereby is set 
off and erected into a separate towu by the name of Fitchburgh, and that 
the said town be invested with all the powers, privileges and inmiunities 
that other towns in this Province do or may by law enjoy, that of send- 
ing a Representative to the General Assembly only excei>ted ; and that 
the inhabitants of said town shall have full power and right, from time 
to time, to join with said town of Lunenburg in the choice of a Repre- 



sentative, or Representatives, and be subject to pay their proportionable 
part of the charges, who may be chosen either in the town of Lunen- 
burg or town of Fitchburgh, in which choice they shall enjoy all the privi- 
leges, which by law they would have been entitled to if this act had not 
been made ; and the Selectmen of the town of Lunenburg shall issue 
their warrant to one or more of the constables of Fitchhurgh, requiring 
them to notify the inliabitanfg of the town of Fitchburgh of the time 
and place of their meeting for such a choice. 

Provided, nevertheless, and be it further enacted, that the said town of 
Fitchburgh shall pay their proportion of all town, county and Province 
taxes, already set on, or granted to be raised, by said town of Lun(n- 
burg, as if this act had not been made. 

And be it further enacted, that Edward Haitwell, Esq., be and hereby 
is empowered to issue his warrant to some principal inhabitant in said 
town of Fitchburgh, requiring him to notify and warn the inhabitants 
of sjiid town, qualified by law to vote in town affairs, to meet at such 
time and place as shall be therein set forth, to choose all such oflftcers 
as shall be necessary to manage the affaii-s of said town. 

February 2d, 17G-i. This bill having been read three several times in 
the House of Representatives, passed to be enacted. 

Timothy Rugoles, Speaker. 

February 3d, 17fi4. This bill having been read three several times in 
Council, passed to be enacted. 

A. Oliver, Secretanj 

February 3d, 1764. By the Governor ; I consent to the enacting of 
this bill. Francis BEHNARn. 

The history of Fitchburg begins therefore on the 
3d day of February, 1764. About forty families were 
then living within the limits of the new town, mak- 
ing the probable number of inhabitants something 
over two hundred. There was one mill in the town, 
— the saw and grist-mill erected about 1750 by Amos 
and Ephraim Kimball, — near the location of the 
present " Stone Mill," now occupied by J. Gushing 
& Co. To the Kimballs also belongs the honor of 
building the first dam across the North Branch of the 
Nashua. It consisted of a log laid across the stream 
with spikes driven in above it, and was generally 
swept away every spring by freshets. It was located 
a few feet above the present granite dam, near the 
Laurel Street bridge. 

Rufus C. Torrey, in his " History of Fitchburg," 
gives a complete list of the heads of families living 
in the town at the time of its incorporation, and also 
the place of residence of each of them. It contains 
forty-three names. After this list is the following, 
which gives an idea of what Fitchburg was a century 
and a quarter ago: "The above-mentioned individ- 
uals and their families composed the population of 
Fitchburg. Their dwellings, in almost every in- 
stance, were far apart, — here and there a house scat- 
tered over a large territory. A single dwelling-house 
stood in the ' Old City,' and in the village, where the 
population is now so thickly clustered together, not 
a single house was erected. The winds, which swept 
down the valley of the Nashua, sighed through the 
pines which have formed a dense forest." He also 
adds that " the pitch-pine trees aflbrded an excellent 
shelter for deer, partridges and wild turkeys." 

It is somewhat singular that uncertainty should 
have so long existed as to the origin of the name of 
the town. Mr. Torrey, writing in 1836, wavers be- 
tween the claims of John Fitch (the chairman of the 
committee chosen to procure the act of incorporation) 



FITCH BURG. 



213 



and a Colonel Timothij Fitcli, of Boston, "who owned 
extensive tracts of land in the town, and was consid- 
ered, in those days, as a man of note and distinction." 
John Fitch also owned much land in town, and Mr. 
Torrey very frankly states that to which of these 
gentlemen belongs the honor of furnishing the name 
of the town " is a point which will probably remain 
forever in obscurity." 

Now in 18.31 Nathaniel Wood, Esq., delivered be- 
fore the Fitchburg Philosophical Society a series of 
five lectures on the early history of this town. The 
manuscript is now in the public library, and in the 
second lecture occurs the following unqualified state- 
ment in regard to the matter : "The town was named 
after John Fitch, the same person taken by the In- 
dians, as mentioned in my last lecture. It appears 
he was an extensive land-owner, a man of influence, 
and probably was the principal agent in procuring 
the act of incorporation. All these circumstances 
combined induced the petitioners to request that the 
new town should be incorporated by the name of 
Fitchburg." 

Mr. Torrey, in the preface to his history of the 
town, says, in reference to these lectures, " Unre 
stricted use of Mr. Wood's papers has been gener- 
ously granted me." How he happened to over- 
look the explicit statement above quoted is a mys- 
tery. 

Now a few words about the " Col. Timothy Fitch," 
of whom Mr. Torrey speaks, before we conclude this 
subject. A thorough investigation in regard to this 
claimant was made a few years ago by Mr. Henry A. 
Willis, a prominent citizen of Fitchburg, and much 
interested in historical matters, with the following 
result: after a careful search through the histories 
of Boston, all available genealogical records and the 
Worcester County registry of deeds, he was unable 
to find any man of that name who ever owned a foot 
of land in Fitchburg. He did find, however, in the 
Worcester County registry of deeds a Zachariah 
Fitch, who died some twenty years before Fitchburg 
was incorporated. It appears that he owned " one- 
half part of about 300 acres " in what is now the 
southerly portion of the township of Fitchburg. So 
the claim that this Colonel Fitch "owned extensive 
tracts of land in that town " is reduced to very small 
proportions. 

To sum up the whole matter, it seems that half a 
century ago, or more, there was an idea prevalent 
that the town was named for some Fitch other than 
John Fitch ; but so vague was the impression that 
Mr. Torrey did not even have his first name correct, 
for the statement in the " History of Fitchburg " 
evidently refers to Zachariah Fitch. 

It may then be regarded as settled that the town 
was named in honor of that sturdy early settler, John 
Fitch. He lived in the northerly part of the town, 
which, in 1767, became a portion of the new town of 
Ashby, in Middlesex Counly. He was prominent in 



the early town afftiirs of Ashby, and died there April 
8, 1795, aged eighty-seven years. A monument, com- 
memorating some of the events of his rather more 
than ordinarily eventful life, was afterwards erected 
over his grave. 

In accordance with the provision in the act of in- 
corporation, Edward Hartwell, Esq., of Lunenburg, 
on the 1.5th of February, 1764, issued his warrant 
directed to Amos Kimball, requiring him to notify 
the qualified voters " to assemble at Captain Hunt's 
new dwelling-house in said town, on Monday, the 
fifth day of March, at ten of the clock in the fore- 
noon, to choose town officers and fix the day for 
the annual meeting and the mode of warning at 
town-meetings." 

Fitchburg's first town-meeting was accordingly held 
March .5, 1764, at Captain Samuel Hunt's tavern. 
The following town ofHcers were chosen : Amos 
Kimball, moderator; Ephraim Whitney, town clerk; 
Amos Kimball, David Goodridge, Samuel Hunt, 
Ephraim Whitney and Reuben Gibson, selectmen. 
Under the guidance of these gentlemen the infant town 
entered upon its career, which was destined to far 
exceed the fondest hopes of its founders. The town 
fixed the first Monday in March as the day for the 
annual town-meeting, and voted that in future the 
constable or constables of the town warn all town- 
meetings. 

Three weeks later the second town-meeting was 
held to consider various articles, one of which was 
"to see if the Hoggs shall run at large for the present 
year." The " Hoggs " were fortunate enough to 
secure their liberty for the year. The next town- 
meeting was held at the tavern, September 12, 1764. 
Captain Thomas Cowdin was then proprietor of this 
house, having bought out Captain Hunt during the 
summer. At this meeting the following vote was 
passed : " that two miles on the westerly Line, begin- 
ning at the north westerdly corner, and Half a mile 
on the easterdly Line, beginning at the northeasterdly 
corner, on Townsend Line, thence running a straite 
Line from corner to corner be Sott off to Mr John 
fitch and others, in order for them to Joyne a part of 
Townshend and a part of Dorchester Canady, in 
order to make a Town or parish among themselves, 
and that the said John fitch and others be freed from 
paying anything to the settlement of a minister or 
for building a meeting-house in said town of Fitch- 
burgh." 

This certainly shows great liberality on the part of 
Fitchburg's early settlers, and such a large concession 
would seem to indicate that John Fitch was highly 
esteemed among his fellow-citizens. The several 
tracts mentioned above were, in 1767, incorporated as 
the town of Ashby. 

In those early days the territory comprising Fitch- 
burg seems to have been largely owned by a few in- 
dividuals, and it may be of interest to note some of 
the most extensive landholders. In July, 1764, Cap- 



214 



HISTORY OP WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



tain Thomas Cowdin moved into the town, and soon 
became a leading citizen. As above stated, he pur- 
chased the Hunt tavern, which stood some thirty rods 
or more east of the present junction of Blossom and 
Pearl Streets. He also purchased the farm going with 
the tavern. This farm, which is now the busiest and 
most thickly populated portion of the city, extended 
from about the present location of Mount Vernon 
Street on the west to East and Boutelle Streets on the 
east, and from Pearl Street on the north to Main and 
Winter Streets on the south. He also owned the 
land comprised between Baker's Brook and the two 
roads to Lunenburg. Captain Cowdin kept the Hunt 
tavern for about ten years, and then removed to what 
was later called the Boutelle house, near the present 
location of the American House, which he enlarged 
and opened as a tavern. Until his death, in 1792, he 
was a very prominent man in town affairs. A few 
years ago a handsomely polished, massive granite 
monument was erected to his memory, in Laurel Hill 
Cemetery, by his grandson, Hon. John Cowdin, of 
Boston. 

Amos Kimball and his cousin Ephraim, who settled 
here some fifteen or twenty years before the incorpo- 
ration of the town, also owned a large tract of land. 
They lived on what is now known as Hale's Hill, at 
the upper end of South Street, and owned from that 
point down to the river and a considerable distance 
to the west along the river, probably including Roll- 
stone Hill. 

Another large landholder was a Judge Oliver, of 
Salem, who owned from Cowdin's westerly boundary 
along the north side of the river as far as the junction 
of Phillips' Brook with the Nashua, comprising what 
is now the upper portion of the city and all of West 
Fitchburg. He also owned a tract of land a mile 
square on Dean Hill, in the northwesterly part of the 
township. 

Colonel William Brown and Burnett Brown, both 
non-residents, owned an extensive tract in the southern 
part of the town, probably the land between Mount 
Elam and Rollstone roads, and also a tract southwest of 
Dean Hill, near the Westminster line, and a piece of 
laud somevvhere in the north part of the town. 

As yet there had been no preaching in Fitchburg, 
the nearest meeting-house being in Lunenburg. 
Accordingly, in November, 1764, the town voted to 
have six weeks' preaching on their own territory. 
Rev. Peter Whitney, the future historian of Worces- 
ter County, was asked to furnish preaching for this 
length of time. He accepted the invitation, and the 
services were held in Cowdin's tavern. At this same 
November meeting it was also voted to build a house 
of worship, and a sum equivalent to about $166 was 
appropriated to begin the erection of it. Captain 
Cowdin very generously donated a portion of his 
wheat-field as a site for the building. The location 
corresponds closely to the present upper corner of 
Blossom and Crescent Streets. The people very 



wisely adopted the old-fashioned, honest plan in 
erecting their meeting-house, and built only as fast as 
they could afford to pay for it; consequently it was 
nearly two years before it was completed. The fir.st 
town-meeting was held in it on September 22, 1766, 
and from that time until September 17, 1798, town- 
meetings were held in it. On the latter date, and for 
nearly forty years thereafter, town-meetings were 
held in the new meeting-house completed about two 
years previously. Services for public worship were 
held in the old house until the dedication of the new 
one, on January 19, 1797. 

No mention will here be made of the early minis- 
ters of Fitchburg. A brief account of them will be 
given in the ecclesiastical history of the town. 
Neither shall we, in this place, speak at any length 
concerning the schools, which will be reserved until 
the portion of this sketch relating to education is 
reached. Suffice it for the present to say, that in the 
autumn of 1764 the town voted a very small sum for 
"2scools" during the following winter. The next 
year, and for several succeeding years, a somewhat 
larger sura was voted for schools. By far the greater 
portion of the education obtained by the children in 
those days was acquired by means of private instruc- 
tion. 

Fitchburg began to increase in numbers and valua- 
tion very soon after its incorporation. Energetic and 
thrifty young men came from towns to the eastward 
and settled here with their families ; and in 1771 there 
were in town some eighty families, and the valuation 
was equal to about $8000. New roads were opened, 
and considerable money was expended on bridges. 
It is evident, however, that the inhabitants were not 
skilled in bridge-building. In 1770 the bridges were 
nearly all carried away by the spring freshets, and 
were rebuilt before the next winter, only to be carried 
off again in the following spring. The town records 
for 1771 state that the town voted "to rebuild the 
bridges carried away and damnified by the Hoods," 
and also " to pay for the rum expended at the bridges." 

"Torrey's History" affirms that " the good people 
of Fitchburg, being vexed at the intrusion of ' cattel ' 
belonging to persons having no 'interest' in the 
town, they promptly forbade the entrance of all such 
'cattel,' and proceeded ' to build a pound with logs.' 
It was enjoined ' that every person in town come and 
work at said pound, or pay his proportion.' It was a 
common practice for them, however, to vote that their 
own ' Hoaggs Go att Large lawfully Yoktand Ringd,' 
—as the erudite Town Clerk has recorded it." 

It will be remembered that, in the de<criptive por- 
tion of this sketch, mention was made of unsuccessful 
attempts to obtain gold and silver from Pearl Hill. 
These attempts were probably made some ten years 
after the incorporation of the town. In September, 
1769, deeds of John Putnam, Reuben Gibson and 
Isaac Gibson were recorded in the Registry of Deeds, 
leasing to Edmund Quincy, of Stoughton, their lands 



FITCHBUEG. 



215 



and farms (about two hundred acres in all, probably,) 
on Pearl Hill, for the purpose of opening mines. The 
consideration was five shillings in each case. The 
mines were to be opened within a specified time and 
the lessors were to have one-sixteenth part of the " hid- 
den treasures " obtained therefrom. 

At the same time deeds were recorded by which 
Edmund Quincy conveyed to "Charles Gleditsch, of 
Boston, Jeweller," one-half interest in the proposed 
mines. Mr. Quincy's absence in England rendered 
it impossible for him to open the mines within the 
required time, and May 14, 1774, a new lease, made 
jointly by Mr. Putnam and the Messrs. Gibson, was 
recorded, granting Mr. Quincy further time. After 
a recital of the former leases of mines, etc., " in our 
lands and farms in sd Fitchburg, at a Place called 
Pearl Hill," the document goes on to say : " In 
consideration that the said Edmund Quincy has 
been at Considerable Charges, from time to time, to 
Comply with the Terms of the leases aforementioned 
by Reason of his going for England and thereby was 
not in his power to comply in Opening any Mines 
that may be in our lands aforesaid, we prolong and 
give him a further term of three years from the Date 
hereof to comply with the true intent of said Leases." 
It was further set forth that Mr. Quincy was to " pay 
and allow " the said lessors " one-sixteenth part of all 
Mines, Mine Ores, Minerals, or other hidden Treas- 
ures of the Earth, free and Clear of all Cost and 
Charges, Delivered at the Pits Mouth wheresoever 
the same may be Dug, had, gotten or obtained by any 
Means whatsoever." This was dated May 5, 1774. 
The unsuccessful result of this venture was no more 
than could reasonably be expected. 

Nor was this the only gold-mining scheme that Mr. 
Q,uincy had on hand in this town. He laid his plans 
to attack the bowels of Hale's Hill also ; for Septem- 
ber 13, 17G9, Amos Kimball gave a deed, which was 
duly recorded October 10, 1769, the substance of 
which was as follows: "Know all men by these 
presents that I, Amos Kimball of Fitchburg in the 
County of Worcester in the Province of the Slassa- 
chusetts Bay in New England, (ientleman, for and in 
Consideration of Five Shillings LawfuU Money to me 
in hand paid by Edmund Quincy of Stoughtonham 
in the County of Suflblk and Province Aforesaid, 
Gentleman, the Receipt whereof I do hereby acknowl- 
edge and am fully Satisfied and Contented and for 
divers other good Considerations me hereunto Moving 
Have given granted Bargained and Sold and by these 
presents Give grant Bargain and Sell convey and 
Confirm unto the said Edmund Quincy" etc., '' All 
and Singular Mines Mine Ores Minerals and other 
hidden Treasures " that existed on his farm which 
was "Butted and Bounded as follows Southerly on 
Ephraim Kimball Easterly on Said Ephraim Kimball 
Northerly on Nashaway River and westerly on 
Rolestone hill." He further granted to Mr. Quincy 
and his heirs, " Liberty right and privilege of Ingress 



Regress and Egress " and to have " Workmen and 
Laborers Pitts and Shafts to Sink Levells and Drift- 
ways to make and drive up and all other Necessarys 
and Convenients '■" that might be needed, together 
with the right of using any streams on the said land 
for the purpose of " Cleaning the oar got in upon or 
within said Tract of land." Mr. Kimball further 
agreed to defend Mr. Quincy's rights to this property 
against all persons, "excepting the Demands of our 
Sovereign Lord the King his heirs or Successors." In 
conclusion, was the following provision, breach of 
which would make the contract null and void : 
" Provided Nevertheless it is the true Intent and 
Meaning of this deed that the said Edmund Quincy 
his heirs Executors Administrators or Assigns shall 
commence and Begin to work upon the premises afore 
granted within the space of three years from the date 
hereof." As we have already seen. Mr. Quincy's 
absence in England prevented his beginning mining 
operations within the three years, and, as in the other 
cases, the contract was renewed for three years from 
May 5, 1774 ; but the " mines " were probably never 
opened. 

As regards trading interests, there seems to have 
been no regular "store" in town until 1772, when 
Deacon Ephraim Kimball opened one in his dwelling- 
house, located near the Kimball saw and grist-mill 
previously mentioned. Soon afterwards, however, 
two more stores were opened, one by Joseph Fox, 
who came here from Littleton, and the other by Wil- 
liam Hitchborn, who came from Boston. Both these 
stores were located near the meeting-house. 

About this time, also, David Gibson built a bakery 
on the spot now occupied by the residence of Eben- 
ezer Torrey, Esq., and he also built his dwelling- 
house directly across the road from the bakery. 
These were probably the first buildings erected in 
this portion of the town, which, fifty years later, was 
the most thickly settled and prosperous part of Fitch- 
burg, and rejoiced in the title of " The Village," 
while the earlier settled portion, a half-mile or so 
to the easr.ward, had stagnated and lost its prestige, 
and had the nickname of " Old City" applied to it. 

Although the early years of Fitchburg's existence 
were prosperous, yet there were events preparing 
which checked, for a time, the wheels of progress. 
A fire was smouldering which, a few years later, burst 
out in the ruddy glare of the Revolutionary War. 

Fitchburg, of course, did not, like Boston and 
many other towns in the Province, suffer from actual 
invasion, but she unflinchingly and patriotically 
bore her full share of the hardships of the seven 
years' struggle for freedom, and was ever ready, and, 
among the inland towns, was one of the first, to con- 
tribute both men and money to the extent of her 
ability, to aid in the resistance of the colonies 
against the inroads of the British- 

Fitchburg ix the Revolutionary War. — In 
September, 1768, the authorities of Boston sent to the 



216 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



selectmen of Fitchburg, as they did likewise to the 
selectmen of the other towns in the Province, desir- 
ing them to call a town-meeting, to consider what 
was best to be done in view of the critical condi- 
tion of affairs between the colonies and Great Britain, 
and also to choose an agent to meet with them in Bos- 
ton, and set forth the " views, wishes and determina- 
tions of the people of Fitchburg upon the subject.' 
A town-meeting was soon called, and Hon. Edward 
Hartwell of Lunenburg was chosen to act as agent for 
both Fitchburg and Lunenburg. The records do not 
state what course he was instructed to pursue as the 
representative of the two towns. 

For the next five years nothing special, of a 
political nature, seems to have disturbed the citizens 
of Fitchburg. Of course, they felt the same uneasi- 
ness and dissatisfaction that was experienced 
throughout the colonies, and most intensely in and 
about the town of Boston. 

At last, when forbearance ceased to be a virtue, the 
selectmen of Boston sent letters to the various towns, 
desiring them " to pass such resolves concerning their 
rights and privileges, as free members of society, as 
they were willing to die in maintaining, and to send 
them, in the form of a report, to the Committee of 
Correspondence in Boston." 

Fitchburg took early notice of this letter, a town- 
meeting being held December 1, 1773, a few days 
after its receipt, for the purpose of considering it and 
expressing the sentiment of the citizens. The com- 
munication was read and the record of the meeting 
states that "after the town had deliberated thereon 
with zeal and candor, unanimously agreed to choose 
a committee of seven men, and chose Mr. Isaac Gib- 
son, Capt. Reuben Gibson, Messrs. Phineas Hartwell, 
Ebenezer Woods, Ebenczer Bridge, Kendall Bou- 
tell and Solomon Steward as a committee to consider 
of our rights and privileges in common with other 
towns in this province, together with the many flagrant 
infringements that have been made thereon, and to 
report at the adjournment." 

The adjourned meeting was held December 15th, 
and the report of the committee was read. It clearly 
and vigorously set forth the lact that the people of 
Fitchburg were in full accord with all efforts to op- 
pose, and, if need be, strenuously resist any encroach- 
ments on the rights of the colonists. The report 
closed with the following : '"And with respect to the 
East India tea — forasmuch as we are now informed 
that the town of Boston and the neighboring towns 
have made such noble opposition to said tea's being 
brought into Boston, subject to a duty so directly tend- 
ing to the enslaving of America — it is our opinion 
that your opposition is just and equitable; and the 
people of this town are ready to afford all the assist- 
ance in their power to keep off' all such infringe- 
ments." 

The stand taken by Fitchburg showed that the 
citizens were determined and courageous, and yet at 



the same time exercised a commendable discretion. 
That they wholly disapproved of the perpetration of 
any outrage is shown by the "instructions" given to 
Dr. John Taylor, of Lunenburg, who, in May, 1774, 
was elected jointly by Lunenburg and Fitchburg to 
represent the two towns in the Great and General 
Court. He was instructed to " bear testimony against 
all riotous practices and all other unconstitutional 
proceedings," and also not to give up any charter 
rights and privileges, and to use his influence to have 
rights that had been taken away restored ; and fur- 
ther, " to move in the General Assembly that there 
might bea Congressand union with all the provinces." 
AVhethcr he moved for such a congress, or not, does 
not appear, but the deputies of a Congress of that 
description met in Philadelphia in the following 
September. 

In October of the same year the town sent Capt. 
David Goodridge as their delegate to the Provincial 
Congress which convened at Concord and soon after 
adjourned to Cambridge. This Congress prepared 
plans for the defence of the province, and passed the 
resolve relative to the " minute-men," so called. 

Fitchburg was now wide awake. Forty men were 
enlisted as minute-men and the selectmen expended 
about fifty dollars for " powder, lead and flints." The 
armory of the minute-men was in Ephraim Kimball's 
store. These men were regularly drilled and ready to 
start at a moment's notice. 

The winter passed away and the memorable 10th of 
April, 1775, was at hand. It found the little town on 
the alert. At seven o'clock on the morning of that 
day the British reached Concord, and at nine o'clock, 
just two hours later, the alarm gun was fired in front 
of Kimball's store. In a very short time about fifty 
men, under the command of Captain Ebenezer 
Bridge, started for Concord, and immediately after 
their departure a large wagon, filled with provisions, 
was despatched to follow them. The company pro- 
ceeded as rapidly as possible, but did not reach Con- 
cord until evening — too late to take any part in the 
events of that historic day. Quite a number of the 
men returned home in a few days, as there was no 
immediate need of their services; but shortly after- 
ward a company was regularly enlisted composed of 
Fitchburg and Lunenburg men. 

Other men from this town joined the Continental 
army at various times, and there were some thirty 
Fitchburg men constantly in the field until Boston 
was evacuated. There were probably a dozen men 
from this town engaged at Bunker Hill, and at least 
one of them (John Gibson) is supposed to have been 
killtd. The last seen of him was in the hottest of the 
battle, beating down the enemy with the butt of his 
musket. 

" Independence Day " was now drawing near. Be- 
fore taking the decisive step of declaring the American 
colonies free and independent, the Continental Con- 
gress submitted the matter to the legislative bodies of 



FITCHBURG. 



217 



the several colonies to ascertain if their support could 
be relied upon after the die was cast. 

The General Court of Massachusetts had already 
assured the Congress that the people of the Old Bay 
Colony would undoubtedly support them ; but to make 
the matter doubly sure, a resolve was passed that each 
town in the colony should take individual action on 
the matter. 

In accordance with this resolve, the people of Fitch- 
burg assembled in town-meeting, July 1, 1776, just 
three days before the Declaration of Independence 
was adopted by the Continental Congress. And this 
is the answer that little Fitchburg returned to the 
General Court at this alarming crisis: " Voted, that 
if the Honorable Continental Congress .should, for the 
safety of these United Colonies, declare them inde- 
pendent of the Kingdom of Great Britain, that we, 
the inhabitants of the town of Fitchburg, will, with 
ourselves and fortunes, support them in the measure." 

In October, 1776, the town voted adversely in regard 
to the question submitted to it, in common with the 
other towns of the Province, as to whether the " then 
Representative House, together with the Council, 
should make a form of government for the State of 
the Massachusetts Bay.'' The objections of the people 
of Fitchburg to this project took the form of a report 
and were based on the following well-taken points: 
that the members of the present House were not 
elected with a view to any such action, and that many 
of the inhabitants, who ought to have a voice in the 
matter, were absent in the army. In other words, 
they thought it best not to be in too much of a hurry. 

Two and a half years later, in May, 1779, the town 
voted unanimously (forty-five votes) in favor of a new 
State Constitution. Just a year previous their vote 
on the same matter was twenty-two in favor and four 
against. In August, 1779, Capt. Thomas Cowdin was 
elected delegate from this town to attend the conven- 
tion held at Cambridge, September 1st, for the pur- 
pose of framing the new State Constitution. This 
Constitution, as prepared by the convention, was sub- 
mitted to the people for their ratification in May, 
1780, and Fitchburg voted unanimously (65 votes) in 
favor of its adoption. 

During this period the inhabitants of Fitchburg 
who remained at home were by no means reclining 
on beds of roses. It was " hard times " with them. 
Money was scarce, prices were high and the soldiers 
.and their families had to be provided for. 

In 1777 the town began to get tired of the heavy 
burden. There was much gloom and not a little 
grumbling; but through it all no word reflecting on 
the justice of the American cause would be tolerated 
by the mass of the citizens. Patriotism was put above 
everything else and persons who did not come up to 
the mark in this respect were closely watched. *' More 
than one inhabitant of this town was threatened with 
a coat of tar and feather.^, and even with the destruc- 
tion of his house," says Torrey. 



Everybody was called upon to contribute to the 
good cause, to the utmost of his ability, and the sus- 
picion and wrath of the citizens fell upon those who 
did not seem disposed to do their full share. 

The people were divided into classes, according to 
their wealth, and each class furnished soldiers in 
turn, as they were called for by the government, 
and had to provide for the bounty money. 

In addition to all the money furnished by these 
classes, the town also expended what amounted to 
quite a sum in those days. It is difficult to estimate 
how much the town actually expended during the 
last five years of the war, because the currency fluc- 
tuated so much, but it was probably between $7000 
and -SSOOO. 

It is very easy to see that all these war expenses, 
combined with the ordinary running expenses of the 
town, must have taxed the resources of the inhabit- 
ants of Fitchburg to the utmost. To cap the climax, 
the Continental currency, issued by the Congress, was 
counterfeited by the British, and the country was 
flooded with this spurious paper. 

In 1777 the currency began to depreciate and con- 
tinued to do so in a most alarming and ruinous 
manner. The government, for some inexplicable 
reason, made them legal tender for debts due, and 
the result was that many, who were previously in com- 
paratively affluent circumstances, were reduced to 
almost absolute poverty. On the 1st of January, 1780, 
this currency had depreciated to such an extent that 
$1.00 specie was worth .?32.50 Continental. 

The records at that period show that sums of 
money were voted by the town that would appear 
fabulous, did we not understand about the deprecia- 
tion. Thus, in February, 1780, it was voted that the 
inhabitants should be allowed three dollars (i e., 
about nine cents "hard money") per hour for their 
labors on the highways. Eight thousand dollars was 
voted to be raised to assist in supporting soldiers' 
families. "In July, it was voted to raise S1666.66 to 
hire soldiers with. In the October following, a com- 
mittee of the town contracted for four thousand eight 
hundred pounds of beef, and agreed to pay $26,000 
for it, or at a rate of over $5.00 per pound.'' In 1781 
Continental money took a still greater drop, and in 
March of that year two men who had been elected 
collector^ of taxes in Fitchburg for the ensuing year, 
and refused to serve, were each fined $900, equal to 
about $10 specie, the usual fine in such cases. At the 
same time the town voted $20,000 for repairs of high- 
ways and allowed each person $5 per hour for his 
labor. 

The last, but not perhaps the least, of the troubles 
with which the town had to contend during this period 
was that dreaded disease, sraall-pox, which broke out 
here in 1776. A hospital for the purpose of inoculation 
was established in town by Dr. Thaddseus McCarty, 
of Fitchburg, and Dr. Israel Atherton, a noted phy- 
sician of Lancaster. It does not appear that there 



218 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



were many deaths from the disease. Notwithstanding 
all these trials and hardships, Fitchburg increased 
considerably in size during the war, and at the time 
of the declaration of peace, in 1783, the town had 
about one thousand inhabitants. 

But another ti'ouble was soon to come upon them 
in the form of 

Shays's Insureection.— At the close of the war, 
trade was stagnant, and there was very little money. 
The State government, in order to keep up its credit, 
imposed very heavy taxes on the people. At first the 
people had recourse to petitions ; but finding that no 
amelioration resulted from their numerous statements 
of grievances, they broke out into open rebellion 
against the State authorities. The leading character 
in the short-lived disturbance was a man named 
Daniel Shays, a former captain in the Continental 
army; hence the name Shays's Insurrection was ap- 
plied to it. 

The discretion that had previously characterized 
the people of Fitchburg, fortunately prevented ihem 
from breaking out into open rebellion ; but their 
threats were loud and deep, and not all the taxes 
ordered by the government were collected. 

In June, 1786, Elijah Willard was appointed a dele- 
gate from this town to a convention, held in Worces- 
ter, to consider the best means of extricating the 
people from their burdensome difficulties. The town 
voted to defend his property if he should be arrested 
for attending the convention, " provided he behaves 
himself in an orderly and peaceable manner; otherwise 
he is to risk it himself 

By all means in their power, short of force of arms, 
did the people of Fitchburg resist all eflbrts to collect 
the taxes, and the consequence was that a large com- 
pany of soldiers was sent here in the fall of 1786, to 
enforce obedience. This made the citizens exceed- 
ingly indignant, and there were several occasions 
when serious strife was imminent. The company was 
prudently withdrawn to Townsend in the winter of 
1786-87. During all their stay in Fitchburg, the sol- 
diers exhibited great insolence towards the citizens, 
and when they were ordered to Townsend they put a 
finishing touch to their impudence by impressing men, 
horses and conveyances to take them there. A num- 
ber of the soldiers were taken by Asa Perry, who 
hated them most cordially, and he managed to tip his 
load into the snow-drifts several times in the course 
of the journey. During 1787 the trouble gradually 
subsided and matters went on with tolerable smooth- 
ness. 

It may be of interest to give a short description of 
the appearance of the town as it was about a century 
ago. In his " History of Fitchburg," Mr. Torrey has 
given as good and accurate a description as could be 
written, which is as follows: "A traveler, approach- 
ing from the cast or south, would first behold the 
tavern of Thomas Cowdin, Esq. Upon the hill to the 
northwest might be seen a small, yellow and rather 



mean-looking meeting-house. In front would appear 
the 'red store ' of Joseph Fox, Esq., and in the rear 
of that his dwelling-house, with large projecting 
eaves. The mills and meeting-hou.se of Deacon 
Ephraim Kimball were just below, and over the 
bridge were two houses more. Casting his eyes up 
the hill, he would see the house of Rev. Mr. Payson, 
where C. Marshall now lives. This was all that could 
be seen, and all that then constituted the middle of 
Fitchburg. Thence proceeding westward, over a 
crooked and rough road, the traveler would next see 
the house already mentioned as having been built by 
David Gibson, and opposite to that, on the right, the 
baker's shop. He would then come on to the present 
Common. Here his eyes would be greeted by small, 
stunted pine trees, and such bushes as grow upon the 
poorest land. A straggling log fence here and there 
might serve to diversify the scene. Nothing more 
was to be seen, unless William Brown had commenced 
building Captain Z. Sheldon's present dwelling-house, 
till, passing the swell of ground at Dr. Abel Fox's 
house, the modest, unassuming house of Benjamin 
Danforth would be visible on the right, and his black- 
smith's shop on the left. Continuing his course 
onward, over one of the most wretched roads that 
ever bore that name, and passing over the high bridge 
— and a crazy one it was — near the bellows-shop of 
Messrs. Thurston & Battis, no marks of human habi- 
tation were to be seen till, passing around the hill, he 
might discern in the distance the solitary cottage of 
Benjamin Kemp. The river, which is now crowded, 
so to speak, with mills and factories, then appeared 
like a useless profusion of water, flowing noisily 
along over its rocky bed to the parent ocean, unob- 
structed by a single dam save the one in the Old 
City. Such, fifty years ago, was the forbidding aspect 
of what is now the busy and pleasant village of 
Fitchburg." The reader will bear in mind that the 
foregoing was written by Mr. Torrey in 1835 or 1836. 

In addition to the middle of the town above de- 
scribed there was, a century ago, a flourishing settle- 
ment in the westerly part of the township. Theland 
there was elevated, the soil good and there was no 
river to cause trouble every spring. This region, now 
known as Dean Hill, was settled early and became 
quite prosperous. This locality boasted of two tav- 
erns, kept by Jacob Upton and Jedediah Cooper 
respectively, a blacksmith's shop and a doctor, be- 
sides the houses of many thrifty farmers. 

The people living in this region had to pay their 
proportion of the taxes for the annual repairs of 
bridges and highways in the middle of the town. To 
free themselves from these heavy and, in their opinion, 
unjust taxes, they determined to be set oif as a sepa- 
rate town; and in the warrant for the annual town- 
meeting March 7, 1785, was an article " to see if the 
town will take into consideration the request of Mr. 
Jacob Upton and others, to see if the town will set 
off the inhabitants of the northwesterdly part of 



FITCHBURG. 



219 



Fitchburg, with their lands and privileges, free and 
clear from said Fitchburg, to join the extreme part 
of Westminster with the noriheasterdly part of 
Ashburnham, to be incorporated into a town, to have 
town privileges as other towns." 

The people in all other parts of the town were 
unanimously opposed to this project, doubtless fear- 
ing that, in case this prosperous and growing portion 
were set off and ceased to contribute to Fitchburg's 
town expenses, they would be utterly swamped by the 
taxes necessary to repair the damage done by that 
grievous nuisance, the north branch of the Nashua. 
Bo the article was promptly voted down. 

The people in the west, by no means discouraged 
by this defeat, went to work immediately to gain 
their point and contrived a very shrewd scheme 
worthy of " Yankee ingenuity."' The time had come 
when all were agreed that there was need of a new 
meeting-house in a more central locality. This 
commonly acknowledged fact was made the basis of 
a petition brought before the town by the people of 
the west in May, 1785. The substance of this petition 
was that a mile or more in width of the northerly 
part of Westminster, with the inhabitants thereon, be 
annexed to Fitchburg, these proposed new inhabitants 
" to be convened with others of the inhabitants of said 
town, for the public worship of God and to be vested 
with all other privileges with said town in public mat- 
ters, to join with the inhaliitants of said Fitchburg to 
build a meeting-house on Ezra Upton's land," etc. 

This, at first glance, seemed like a perfectly fair 
proposition. If adopted, territory would be added to 
the township and the location of the proposed meet- 
ing-house would be quite near the centre of the 
town. But the men of the east were Yankees, too, 
and dust could not be thrown into their eyes. Tney 
saw the point so speciously concealed by the meeting- 
house scheme. They saw that if the petition were 
granted and the new territory annexed, the inhabit- 
ants of the new acquisition, combined with the 
people in the west, would then be strong enough to 
control the town-meetiug, would vote to be set 
off as a separate town and thus leave the remainder 
of the town of Fitchburg in the lurch. So the 
petition was negatived, doubtless much to the cha- 
grin of those who had hoped to pull the wool over 
their neighbors' eyes. 

Nothing more (except complaining of the distance 
they had to travel to go to meeting) was done by the 
people of the west until March, 1786, when they very 
modestly requested of the town, "that Eev. Mr. Payson 
have liberty to preach some part of the time in the 
year in the westerly part of the town." This privilege 
was also denied them, " the town thinking that by 
yielding an inch they would open a door through 
which they might unwillingly be thrust a mile," as 
Mr. Torrey aptly expresses it. 

The wrath of the west was now fully aroused. 
They were bound to have their rights recognized, and 



to have a new meetiug-house as near them as they 
could get it. At this time began a controversy 
concerning the location of the meeting-house, which 
lasted over ten years, and required ninety-nine town- 
meetings to settle. An account of this controversy 
will be given in the ecclesiastical history. 

The town records during this period (1786-96) 
contain but little that does not refer to the contro- 
versy. Two events, however, occurred in the course 
of these years that are worth noting in this section. 
One was the census of 1791, from which it appears 
that Fitchburg's population at that time was one 
thousand one hundred and tifty-one, showing that 
the town had grown very slowly during the previous 
eight or ten years. 

The other event was the appearance of Rev. Peter 
Whitney's "History of Worcester County," pub- 
lished in 1793. It may be of interest to give a few 
of his impressions about Fitchburg as it was then. 
After a very brief account of the incorporation of 
the town and a description of the character of its 
surface and soil, he says: "Most of the people live 
in comfortable and easy circmnstances, possessing all 
the necessaries and many of the conveniences of life. 
They are industrious, and, having a good soil to la- 
bor upon, live independent, and, for an inland town, 
several families among them may justly be deemed 
rich. The people near the meeting-house are settled 
pretty thick, and there much business of various 
kinds is performed; for here runs, a few rods south 
of the meeting-house, the north branch of Nashaway 
River. One part of this river comes from Ashburn- 
ham, the other part from Watchusett Pond; these 
unite a little west of Fitchburg Meeting-House. 
After this junction, and just below the meeting- 
house, there is one corn-mill, one saw-mill, one 
fulling-mill, one clothier's works, one trip-hammer 
and works for grinding scythes. These occasion a 
great resort of people there to transact their various 
concerns." Further on he states that it is a flourish- 
ing place, and thinks that "if they continue in 
peace and unity they will still greatly increase in 
numbers and wealth." He adds: "They subsist 
chiefly by husbandry ; there are, however, the usual 
mechanicks and a few dealers in European, East and 
West India goods." 

The town records contain very little of interest 
during the last few years of the century. February 
12, 1796, a small part of the south we«iterly portion of 
the township was annexed to Westminster. In 1798 
the town laid a tax on " Doggs,'' and the next year 
voted to abate it. The tax appears to have amounted 
to fifty-three dollars. In the fall of 1797 it was voted 
" to build a pound with stone two rods square within 
the walls." The contract was given to Thomas Cow- 
din (son of Captain Thomas Cowdin, who died in 
1792), for thirty-three dollars and fifty cents, with 
the privilege of taking stone off the town's land. 
The old stone pound still stands in the woods, close 



220 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



by the Ashburnham hill road, and looks desolate and 
forsaken. Whether it has been rebuilt or not since 
1796 the writer cannot state ; but its appearance 
would indicate that it had not. 



CHAPTER XXXVIII. 

mrC'H.BV'RG—iConanued.) 

HISTORY FROM 1800 TO 1872. 

The year 1800 found the town in a tolerably flour- 
ishing condition. The population had increased to 
one thousand three hundred and ninety. The people 
had recovered their equanimity on the meeting-house 
question, and the new house of worship was much 
appreciated on Sundays, and often called into use on 
week-days for town-meetings, its first use for this pur- 
pose being on September 17, 1798. A clock had been 
put into it, for which the town, for some reason un- 
known, seems to have heen rather unwilling to pay. 

In 1801 there appears to have been a revival of the 
desire of the people in the west to be set off; for, at a 
town-meeting February 23, 1801, there was an article 
in the warrant " to see if the town will vote to set oif 
all the inhabitants in the northwestern part of 
the town of Fitchburg, who wish to be set off as a 
town, agreeable to a plan formerly drawn by some of 
the inhabitants of the towns of Fitchburg, West- 
minster, Ashburnham and Ashby." It was voted to 
pass over this article. 

During the following five years there seems to be 
nothing of special interest entered upon the town 
records. In September, 1806, the town voted to 
choose a committee to provide jilans for a powder- 
house, select a location for it and ascertain, " as near 
as they can," the expense. The coDiraittee made a 
favorable report, and the town voted March 7, 1808, 
to build the powder-house, and chose a committee of 
three to attend to it. This powder-house was located 
near the bend in the present Central Street, and is 
well remembered by many of our older citizens. It 
stood there for a considerable number of years. 

Jn 1808 the town concluded a satisfactory agree- 
ment with the town of Lunenburg, " respecting pau- 
peis, public lands and taxation," matters that for 
some time had been in dispute. It was the custom 
in Fitchburg, as in most towns at that time, to let 
out the poor to the lowest bidders. Regular public 
auctions were held every yeitr for this purpose: and 
some of the conditions upon which certain of the 
paupers were " let out '' are worth noting. Thus, for 
example, one L. W. was bid ofl" by a citizen ''to 
lodge and board and mending for the said L.'s work, 
till she is otherways disposed of, the town to cloathe 
her and doctor her in sickness if need. In regard to 
one of the town charges it was always stipulattd that 



the person who bid him off "resk his conduct if he 

should be at freedom and be answerable for all dam- 
age done by him." 

In April, 1808, a certain pauper " was struck off at 
a public vendue, at 26 cents a week, — all running 
charges excluded, viz., sickness and clothing." The 
prices bid ranged from nothing to a little over a dol- 
lar a week, according to the capabilities of the pau- 
pers to work and the amount of care necessary to 
look after them. In 1820 a new method was begun, 
all the paupers, thirteen in number, being let out 
together to Jacob Upton, for the year, for three hun- 
dred and nine dollars and seventy-five cents. 

In May, 1810, there was an article in the warrant 
"to see if the town will raise a sum of money to pur- 
chase an engine." There seems to have been a fire 
just previous, but the people could not have been 
very greatly alarmed, as no action was taken on this 
article. 

During the first decade of this century the town 
was only moderately prosperous. The population 
had increased somewhat, being one thousand five 
hundred and sixty-six in 1810. People were un- 
doubtedly deterred from settling here on account of 
the high taxes necessary to keep the roads and 
bridges in repair and to build new ones. Moreover, 
there was bitter dissension among the people in re- 
gard to theological matters, which will be referred to 
later. It began early in 1801 and continued until 
1823, when the two societies mutually agreed to dis- 
agree, to live and let live, and a final separation took 
place. 

It was during this decade that the first cottunfac- 
tory was erected in Fitchburg. It was also one of the 
earliest (the third) built in this State. This factory, 
known among us for more than half a century as the 
"Fitchburg Woolen Mill," was built in 1807 by a 
corporation of some thirty individuals, for the pur- 
puse of trying the then novel experiment of spinning 
cotton. It was successful for a time, but later was 
converted into a woolen-mill. In 1887 it was pur- 
chased by the Parkhill Blanufacturing Company ; 
thus, by a singular coincidence, the first factory built 
in Fitchburg was, after many years, restored to its 
original industry. A detailed account of this old 
landmark will be given hereafter. On " Election 
Day," 1810, Capt. Martin Newton put in operation 
two spinning-frames in a building near the present 
"Stone Mill." 

Paper-making was begun in town in 1805, in a mill 
built on the site of the Eollstone Machine Company's 
works, by Thomas French. The dam built there the 
year previous was the third across the Nashua. Up 
to the year 1810 nothing in the way of manufacturing 
enterprises, other than those mentioned above, had 
been established in Fitchburg as permanent industries 
of the town. Scythes, bellows, hats and a few other 
articles were made here then on a small scale, but are 
now no longer among the industries of Fitchburg. 



FITCHBURG. 



221 



In March, 1811, the town made another unsuccess- 
ful attempt to raise money ($100) for the purchase of 
a fire-engine, and July of the same year chose Paul 
Wetherbee, John Thurston and Samuel Gibsou a' com- 
mittee " to raise a contribution for the relief of the 
sufferers of Newbury port by a late fire." 

The War of 1812 does not seem to have had much 
effect on town affairs here. The war was unpopular 
in New England, but Fitchburg appears to have 
borne her part without any murmuring. In the war- 
rant for a town-meeting in May, 1812, was an article 
"to see if the town will offer any reward, by way 
of bounty or wages, to such soldiers as may volunteer, 
or be detached, to supply the number of troops re- 
quired by the commander-in-chief from the infantry 
and cavalry of said town.'' It was voted that the 
town make up the soldiers' wages to twelve dollars a 
month while in actual service. 

In May, 1815, it was voted "that Z. Sheldon and 
others have liberty to erect a liberty pole at their own 
expense." 

For some years previously there had been an article 
in the town warrants, from time to time, to see if the 
town would sell the twenty-two and a half acres of 
land purchased of Thomas Boynton in December, 
1788, for the meeting-house site, but never used. The 
town had not as yet been able to come to an agree- 
ment about it. In 1813 there was an article to see 
whether it should be sold to Jonas Marshall, Jr., and 
the proceeds applied to the purchase of a bell for the 
meeting-house, on condition that Mr. Marshall "will 
give $100 more than two or three men, that shall be 
agreed upon, shall appraise the land to be worth.'' 
The article was not acted upon. In March, 1817, it 
was finally voted "to sell the town's land bought of 
T. Boynton, reserving a piece for the pound," and a 
committee of three was chosen "to sell it to the best 
advantage." The members of this committee seem to 
have accomplished their work, and in March, 1818, it 
was voted that the conveyance be made by the town 
treasurer and "to appropriate the money arising from 
the sale of the town's laud to repair the bridges car- 
ried away by the freshet;" but this vote was reconsid- 
ered and it was agreed to appropriate the money " as 
any other." The spring of 1818 seems to have been 
particularly disastrous to the bridges. 

August 21, 1820, the town voted on the question, 
"Is it expedient that delegates should be chosen to 
meet in convention for the purpose of revising or al- 
tering the Constitution of Government of this Com- 
monwealth?" The vote was unanimously in favor of 
choosing such delegates (eighty-five votes). October 
16, 1820, the town chose Calvin Willard and John 
Shepley as delegates to attend a convention held for 
this purpose in Boston, on the third Wednesday of 
November, 1820. 

During this decade the population of the town in- 
creased very little, being one thousand seven hundred 
and thirty-six in 1820. In these ten years three more 



cotton-mills were built in town — the first being New- 
ton's cotton factory, built in 1812 by Captain Martin 
Newton and Solomon Strong. To accommodate this 
factory the town, in September, 1812, laid out a " town 
road and private way, two rods wide, to a stake oppo- 
site the northwest corner of the new Factory." This 
" way " (now known as Newton Place) passed through 
the land of Oliver Fox, " whose damage," as the 
records say, " is appraised at $101, which Newton and 
Strong are to pay, as also all expenses of making and 
keeping it in repair." The second factory was the 
" Red Mill " (where Pitts' mill now stands), built in 
1813, and the third was built on Phillips' Brook in 
1814 by a company which failed soon after the close of 
the war, but was later put into operation as a cotton 
factory by other parties. 

During thi» period many new roads had been built, 
and old ones straightened and made more level. The 
town fathers began to recognize the fact that a straight 
line is the shortest distance between any two given 
points. The early settlers, for the sake of protection 
and defence, lived on the tops of the hills, and the 
roads, being built for their accommodation, went 
straggling and twisting over the various hills as best 
they could. Evidently such roads, besides being 
difficult to construct and hard to travel on, were really 
in the end the most expensive that could be made, 
because of the great damage necessarily done every 
year when the snows of winter melted and produced 
torrents of water, which washed them out badly and 
rendered them dangerous to travel upon. The authori- 
ties saw this, and began to "mend their ways" in a 
double sense. Much improvement in this respect had 
been made by 1820, but the roads in and around Fitch- 
burg could not be called really good until some ten or 
fifteen years later. 

Let us now return to the consecutive history of the 
town. The convention in Boston in 1820 prepared 
articles of amendment to the Constitution, to be 
submitted to the people for ratification ; and April 
9, 1821, the inhabitants of Fitchburg were called to- 
gether to vote on the proposed fourteen articles of 
amendment, eacli one to be voted on separately. The 
result was as follows : 



TICLES. 


VEAS. 
41 


NATS. 
63 
17 
16 
31 
59 
21 
31 


ARTICLES. 

8 


YEAS. 
87 


NAY 

in 






9 


61 


15 




81 


10 


29 


61 


i 


48 


11 


65 


?4 




12 


62 


37 


6 


. . 65 


13 


68 


'1 


7 


61 


14 


65 


37 



Thus it appears that they voted in favor of accept- 
ing all except Articles One, Five and Ten. 

Up to this time the town seems to have been un- 
successful in regard to getting a vote to purchase any 
fire apparatus. There appears to have been, how- 
ever, an "Engine Company," for in October, 1821, 
it was voted " that the town provide ten pair leather 
buckets for the Engine Company." They probably 



HISTORY OF WORCESTEE COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



thought it well to have the name, because the engine 
must come sooner or later ; and come it did, before 
very long, too, for in March, 1823, it was voted " to 
raise one hundred dollars to purchase an engine;" 
also " to close with Oliver Fox's offer," which was 
that he would build an engine-house and give the 
land, providing the engine be kept down in the " Old 
City." This engine was what is now called a '' hand 
tub," and had to be fed with water from buckets. 
The engine-house was located near the present quar- 
ters of Niagara Hose, No. 4, on Day Street. So the 
" down-towners " had the distinction and gratification 
of having the fire-engine near them. 

During the years 1814 to 1822, inclusive, the town 
voted not to send a Representative to the General 
Court, and in 1822 a line was imposed on the town 
for neglecting to send any that year. In April, 1823, 
the town authorized Joseph Simonds, town treasurer, 
to pay the fine and in the following SeptemVjer, voted 
to petition the General Court to relinquish the 
amount of the fine. 

In April, 1827, the sum of seventy-five dollars was 
raised to pay the expense of completing the fire- 
engine and fifty dollars for buckets. At the same time 
it was voted " that the overseers of the poor be au- 
thorized to purchase a farm for the support of the 
town's poor, and, if they do so, that they be author- 
ized to stock it, provide farming tools, etc." 

They accordingly purchased a piece of land in the 
southeastern part of the town, on the road to Leo- 
minster (now Water Street in South Fitchburg) and 
it has been used as a poor-farm since that time. In 
April of the next year it was voted to change the 
name of poor-house to that of work-house. May 5, 
1828, it was voted " to build a reservoir for water on 
the common, with two pumps, at an expense not ex- 
ceeding $50." 

The year 1830 brought several novelties to Fitch- 
burg. In the autumn of that year J. E. Whitcomb 
& Co. opened a printing office in town, in a building 
just below the tavern which stood on the site now 
occupied by the Fitchburg Hotel. In October, 1830, 
this enterprising firm began the publication of a 
newspaper — the first one in Fitchburg — called the 
Fitchburg Gazette. 

Another event of this year was the appearance of 
" A Map of Fitchburg, Mass., Surveyed by Levi 
Downe : October, 1830." It bore the imprint of 
"Pendleton's Lithography, Boston, Mass.," and was 
well executed, and showed very accurately the condi- 
tion of the town at that time. From it we learn that 
there were then in Fitchburg three hundred and 
twenty-five dwelling-houses, two meeting-houses, one 
academy, twelve school-houses, one printing office, 
two woolen manufactories, four cotton manufactories, 
one scythe manufactory, two paper-mills, four grist- 
mills, ten saw-mills, three taverns, two hat manufac- 
tories, one bellows man ui'actory, two tanneries, two win- 
dow-blind maiiul'acturics and one chair manufactory. 



During the ten years, 1821-30, the town made con- 
siderable progress. The population had increased 
much more than it had in any previous decade, 
being two thousand one hundred and seventy-six in 
1830, an increase of nearly four hundred and fifty 
over the number of inhabitants in 1820. Several 
substantial dams had been built and a number of 
new mills and factories erected. 

The improvement of the roads and bridges had 
begun in earnest. Many old roads had been practi- 
cally discontinued and new ones built. The road to 
Leominster had been straightened and otherwise im- 
proved ; in 1830 a new road was opened to Ashburn- 
ham, and about the same time another to Lunenl urg. 
The river-road to Westminster was opened a few 
years later. 

Two substantial stone bridges were built in 1829 
over the Nashua, on the Keene and Boston mail road 
(now River Street), a little west of the meeting-house. 
The cost of these two bridges is stated to have been 
over two thousand one hundred dollars. The fire- 
engine seems to have been put into requisition at 
least a few times during the ten years, for in May, 
1828, it was voted that a reward of two hundred dol- 
lars be authorized to be offered "for the appre- 
hension of any person or persons who shall be con- 
victed of having set fire to the buildings which have 
recently been burnt in this town." 

The " High School Association of Fitchburg " was 
formed about 1830, and during that year erected the 
academy, for which Captain Zachariah Sheldon very 
generously donated the land. The academy stood a 
little in front of the present location of the Fitch- 
burg High School building, and cost about twelve 
hundred dollars. All these things show that the 
people were awake to the necessities of the times, 
and that the town was well started on its prosperous 
career. 

The year 1832 witnessed the establishment of the 
first bank in Fitchburg. The Fitchburg Bank was 
chartered that year by the Legislature with a capital 
of one hundred thousand dollars, and went into 
operation in July. It began business in a small 
granite building on the site of the brick building now 
occupied as an office by the firm of Crocker, Burbank 
&Co. 

Nothing else of special note seems to have occurred 
during the period from 1831 to 1835. The following 
vote in August, 1832, may, however, be of sufficient 
interest to copy ; for some of the older residents 
doubtless remember the big sign-post referred to, 
which stood on the Common lialf a century ago. 
" Voted, that Capt. Z. Sheldon have permission to 
erect a sign-post on the Common, under the direction 
of the Selectmen, with regard to place, kind and stile 
of post and guide- boards, all to be done to their satis- 
faction ; and it is expected to be ornamental to the 
Common." 

A brief description of the town, as it appeared 



FITCHBURG. 



223 



about that time, taken from a letter written by a 
native of Fitclibuig tlien residing in Wisconsin, is so 
graphic that it is worth quoting. Tliis letter was 
written in 1SG4 in response to an invitation to attend 
the Centennial celebration of the town in June of 
that year; and in it the writer goes back in recollec- 
tion to the time " when the 'old city' was little else 
than the ' stone factory ' and a farm ; when boys, and 
men, too, played ball on the Common, whicli was 
then a waste of sand (well covered with granite blocks 
and chips) from the Unitarian ' meeting-house ' to 
the ' Lower Tavern,' and without any enclosure or 
improvement of any kind except the town-pump and 
a huge sign-post ; when the old yellow ' town school- 
house ' held a prominent place at the head of the 
street, and the orchard next, which, I think one mem- 
ber of your committee and all the boys of that period 
will remember, had no other fence at its front on the 
main street of the village than a rough stone-wall, 
containing, I verily believe, more stones than can be 
found in any one place in all Wisconsin.'' 

A more extended description of the main street 
about 1836 would show the following: Beginning on 
what is now West Main Street, one would first see 
the " Red Mill ; " a little below it, on the present 
corner of Main and River Streets, stood a store ; and 
beyond that, not far from the Common, was the Bap- 
tist Church, which is now occupied as a carriage 
repository. One would next come to the Common, 
with the First Parish (Unitarian) Church standing at 
its head and the " yellow school-house" flanking the 
church and standing at the present junction of Main 
and Mechanic Streets. On the corner of Main and 
Rollstone Streets was the Orthodox Church, on the 
site of the present Calvinistic Congregational Church, 
and just below was the brick building which still 
stands there, though somewhat enlarged. The lower 
portion has always been used as a grocery store, and 
for half a century, lacking a few months (April, 1836, 
to October, 1885), it was occupied by Mr. Thomas 
C. Caldwell, for many years the veteran grocer in 
active business in Fitchburg. In 1836 the upper 
portion of this building was occupied by the tailor's 
shop of Daniel Cross. Mr. Cross is still in the same 
business, though in much more commodious quarters 
than those early days afforded, and enjoys the dis- 
tinction of being the senior merchant in active busi- 
ness in Fitchburg. He began business here in 1833. 
The building of which we were speaking was after- 
ward raised one story and otherwise enlarged, and for 
many years the upper portion has been used by the 
Sentinel Printing Company. The grocery store in 
the lower portion, though now passed into other 
hands, will probably always be called the T. C. Cald- 
well store. Just below was Factory Square, with the 
Fitchbu rg Woolen Mill standing in the same place as at 
present, and substantially the same in appearance then 
asnow,with the exception of an addition to the north- 
west corner, built in 1887 by the present owners. 



Factory Square has lost the charm of the noble elm 
which, until a few years ago, lifted its w-ide-spreading 
branches over its centre. Next the square stood a 
tavern, on the site of the Fitchburg Hotel, and be- 
yond the tavern was a store, in the rear of which was 
the printing office. On the other side of the street, 
directly opposite the tavern, was the store of Benja- 
min Snow & Son, above that a hardware store, then 
the granite bank building, and above that, on the 
present corner of Main and and Academy Streets, 
where the National House now stands, was another 
tavern. The academy was plainly visible at the then 
extremity of Academy Street. There were about 
forty dwelling-houses scattered along the upper por- 
tion of the street. In " Newton's Lane " was a cotton- 
factory, and in the " Old City " were the " Stone 
Mill," the Burbank Paper Slill, a tavern, a store in 
the rear of I. C. Wright & Co.'s present hardware 
store, a brick school-house, occupying about the site 
of the old meeting-house, and about a dozen dwell- 
ings. Such, in brief, is a description of the appear- 
ance of Fitchburg a little over fifty years ago. 

LTntil about this time the First Parish Church had 
been used for town purposes; but in 1830 the Parish 
began to think seriously of building a new church 
just above the site of the old one. This made it 
necessary for the town to take some action in regard 
to having a town hall, and on December 31, 1836, the 
following vote was passed: "Voted, to unite with 
School District No. 1 in erecting a building for town- 
house and school-house, if it can be done on equitable 
terms." A committee was chosen to purchase a spot, 
and another committee to build the house, &c. A 
site was bought on the corner of Main and Baker 
(now Circle) Streets, and arrangements were made by 
which the old meeting-house was moved to that loca- 
tion and fitted up for town purposes. The house, 
much altered from its original appearance, still stands 
there and is now known as Crocker's Hall. The first 
town-meeting was held in it November 13, 1837, at 
which time the following report of the expenditures 
of the committees in making this change was ren- 
dered : "Cost of spot, i?1000. Benchesof old meeting- 
house, $410. Moving it, .1ii200. Stone-work, $518. 
Painting, $140. Labor and material, $639.86, — less 
old porches and stuff sold, $29.16 = $2922.57." 

During the period between 1830 and 1840 several 
newspapers were started here, but had only a brief 
existence. In 1838, however, a new era was inaugu- 
rated in the journalism of Fitchburg by the starting 
of the Fitchburg Sentinel, December 20lh of that year. 
This newspaper has continued to be published ever 
since, and on December 20, 1888, completed a half- 
century of prosperous existence. 

The fourth decade of this century may justly be 
called a very prosperous one in the history of the 
town ; but it was only the precursor of what was to 
come. The population in 1840 had increased to 
two thousand five hundred and seventy; old Indus- 



224 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



tries had flourished and new ones had come into town 
to stay. The foundation of the large machine manu- 
focturing interests of Fitchburg was laid in 1838 by 
the establishment of the firm of J. & S. W. Putnam 
in town. 

The records contain very little of interest or im- 
portance during the few years succeeding 1840. In 
April, 1844, it was voted " that the selectmen procure 
a suitable safe for the preservation of the books and 
records of the town.'' About this time also the 
people began to think of having a town clock, and in 
November, 1844, it was voted " pay one-half the ex- 
pense of a first-rate clock to be placed on the Second 
Parish Meeting-House, provided the said one-half 
does not exceed two hundred dollars, and that the 
selectmen be a committee to see this money properly 
applied." At the same time it was voted " to discon- 
tinue the travel on the Common between the two rows 
of maple trees, as far down as these trees extend, and 
that the same may be fenced, provided it be done free 
of expense to the town." 

The all-absorbing topic at this time was the Fitch- 
burg Eailroad. The first public meeting to consider 
the project of direct communication between Boston 
and Fitchburg, by a railroad, was held in the town 
hall November 12, 1841, pursuant to a notice printed 
in the Sentinel the day previous. The people of 
Fitchburg were deeply interested in having the road 
built, and aided, in every way possible, their fellow- 
townsman, Alvah Crocker, Esq., through whose zeal 
and untiring energy the railroad became an accom- 
plished fact. The year 1845 will ever be a memorable 
one in the annals of Fitchburg. In February of that 
year the track was completed to this town, and on the 
5th of the following March the road was opened for 
use. There was more or less contention in regard to 
the location of the depot. The site finally decided 
upon was a part of Deacon David Boutelle's garden ; 
so the " Old City " was again favored, as it was in the 
case of the first fire-engine; and its prospects began 
to brighten. Three years later the Vermont and 
Massachusetts Railroad was completed, and Fitch- 
burg's importance as a railroad centre began to de- 
velop. These railroads rendered the natural resources 
of the town fully available, and inaugurated a new 
era in business. The people worked hard to secure 
them, and richly deserved the almost incalculable 
benefits that have been derived therefrom during the 
last forty years or more. A powerful impetus was 
given to the town, and the question " Where is 
Fitchburg?" was no longer asked, at least in this 
Commonwealth. Energetic business men saw the ca- 
pabilities of the town and located here, and the popu- 
lation began to increase in a most gratifying manner. 
Iq 1845, according to a census taken by the assessors, 
the population of the town was three thousand eight 
hundred and eighty-three. 

At a town-meeting, November 10, 1845, a commit- 
tee was chosen " to name the several stri-ets in the 



Centre Village, in the town of Fitchburg.'' Their 

report was accepted and adopted March 2, 1846, and 
from it we learn that the following-named streets were 
then in existence: Main, Mechanic, Prospect, West, 
River, School, Chestnut, Rollstone, Baker's, Academy, 
High, Pleasant, Prichard, Central, Blossom, Summer, 
Water, Laurel, South and Cross Streets. This com- 
mittee also named Cottage Square and Newton's 
Lane. 

At a town-meeting, November 7, 1848, a committee, 
previously appointed for the purpose, reported a code 
of by-laws to be observed by the town of Fitchburg. 
These by-laws were quite strict, and if rigidly en- 
forced, must have rendered the town a model of law 
and order. At this meeting these by-laws were 
accepted, and a committee, consisting of Alpheus P. 
Kimball, Ivers Phillips and William Carleton, was 
chosen to procure the sanction of the Court of Com- 
mon Pleas thereto. The sanction was duly obtained 
at the December term, 1848, and the by-laws were 
printed by order of the town and distributed among 
the citizens. 

In 1849 the town took a wise and commendable 
step by voting " to establish a High School, to be 
kept throughout the year, with suitable vacations, 
and the School Committee to put it in operation as 
soon as convenient." The sum of eight hundred dol- 
lars was raised for this purpose. 

The year 1850 found Fitchburg a bustling, thriving 
town of a little more than five thousand inhabitants. 
The increase in population and business was unprece- 
dented in the annals of the town. During the decade 
the foundation of the chair business had been laid 
here by Walter Heywood and Alonzo Davis. Two 
more banks had been established — the Fitchburg 
Savings Bank, in 1846, and the Rollstone Bank, in 
1849. The Fitchburg Mutual Fire Insurance Com- 
pany was incorporated March 22, 1847, and began 
business September 1st of the same year. 

Several substantial and, at that time, commodious 
and ornamental brick blocks had been built in town 
previous to 1850, among which may be mentioned the 
Torrey & Wood, Heywood, Comee, Town & Piper, 
Snow & Wood (now called Central Block) and Roll- 
stone Blocks. The Universalist Church was built in 
1847 and had in the lower story three good stores. 
The Fitchburg Hotel Block was erected about 1850 
and furnished four good stores. It is quite evident, 
therefore, that Fitchburg was at that time well 
provided with stores and accommodations for oflices, 
etc. The American House was built in 1845 by 
David Boutelle; but the easterly wing, under which 
the stores are located, was not erected until 1858. 
All of these blocks still stand, though a few have 
been remodeled somewhat. 

Since 1850 the advance in all directions has been 
so rapid, and there has been such a multiplicity of 
events, that no attempt will be made in this portion 
of t' e sketch to speak of anything but matters per- 



FITCHBURG. 



225 



taining directly to town affsiirs, which cannot be taken 
up elsewhere. The progress in education, church 
affairs, manufacturing, etc., will be given in detail in 
special chapters hereafter. 

In 1851 appeared the second map of Fitohburg. It 
was a large, full and accurate map, and when com- 
pared with its predecessor of 1830 showed what an 
immense advance the town had made in the twenty- 
one years. 

March 31, 1851, the Legislature passed an act to 
authorize a Fire Department in the town of Fitch- 
burg, which was accepted and approved by the town 
May 26, 1851. 

About this time the people began to think seriously 
of building a new town-house. The old one was 
manifestly too small to accommodate the great in- 
crease of voters, and it was necessary that something 
be done about the matter in the near future. But, as 
was the case with everything of that kind, there was 
contention as to where a new town-hall, if built, should 
be located. The " Old City " people had secured the 
stone railroad depot and were anxious to have the 
town-house, too. On the other hand, the town-house 
had previously been up-town and the people there 
were bound to have it remain in that vicinity. 
Fortunately, before much time was wasted, an ami- 
cable conclusion was reached, as is shown by the 
following extract from the Fitchburg News of January 
28, 1852 (Vol. I., No. 2). 

On Monday, the 2Gth, the citizens of Fitchburg Toted to bnild a 
Town House, GO by 100 feet, two stories high, with a basement for a 
uiiii'Ivet or other purposes. The probable coat, according to Mr. Wood's 
statement, will be S2i),000. 

The Hall is to be in the second story, according to the plan proposed, 
aild the first floor reserved for courts, scliools, or otlier purposes, ac- 
cording to the judgment of the building committee, or future instruc- 
tion of tlio Town. 

Tile site most liltely to be selected is next below Central Block, where 
Dr. Blood now resides. The meeting was large and at one time con- 
aideraldo warmtli was manifested both pro and con., but tlie feeling soon 
subsided and the plan submitted by tlio committee was unanimously 
adopted, as was also tlie report nominating a building committee. This 
committee consists of Messrs. N. Wood, J. P. Putnam, I. Phillips, C. 
Marshall, N. Cowdin, A. J. Town and Col. Upton. 

It is truly a matter of congratulation, not only that we are at last 
swreofsoon having a good House, but also that such harmony ijrevaila 
in regard to it. 

From the first number of the Fitchburg Reveille, 
March 31, 1852, is taken the following; 

New Town House. — .\ handsome and substantial town-house is soon 
to be erected in Fitchburg. An appropriation for this purpose, of 
5^6,000, was made at tiie last March meeting, and the new building is 
to be located on Main street, just south of Central Block. The founda- 
tion is to be laid immediately and the building completed during the 



coming summer. 



The land upon which it was built cost four thou- 
sand dollars, and the building and its furnishing cost 
about eighteen thousand dollars. It was a handsome 
and substantial brick edifice, and, with some altera- 
tions and enlargements, has served as town-house and 
city-hall for the past thirty-five years, besides afford- 
ing accommodations for the Fitchburg Public Library 
from 1859 to 1885, and the Fitchburg Post-Office from 
1853 to 1872. 
15 



During this decade the people of Fitchburg took 
much interest in the subject of slavery, which, a few 
years later, became a question of vital importance. 
Many public meetings were held with regard to the 
"Fugitive Slave Law,'' and the people here boldly 
denounced it. 

An important step in the progre-s of the town was 
taken in theestablishmentof the Fitchburg Athenteum 
in 1852 ; and a still more important one in the found- 
ing of the Fitchburg Public Library in 1859. The 
Fitchburg Gas Company was organized in 1852, and 
soon after began to furnish light for the streets. A well- 
equipped Fire Department had been established, sub- 
stantial bridges and good streets constructed, more 
business blocks built, a musical organization, known 
as the Fitchburg Cornet Band, was established in 1851, 
and existed for some years — in a word, the promises 
of previous years were fast being fulfilled. The popu- 
lation of the town had increased to six thousand four 
hundred and forty-two in 1855 and seven thousand 
eight hundred and fifty-four in 1860. 

The few years following 1860 were almost entirely 
taken up by the events connected with the Civil War. 
Fitchburg, as usual, did her full share as regards the 
furnishing of men and money and the performance of 
good work for the preservation of the Union, and a 
condensed account of what the citizens of this town 
did and suffered during those eventful years will be 
given in a special chapter hereafter. There was, how- 
ever, during the war period, one very interesting and 
important event in the town's history that should be 
chronicled in this portion of the sketch, viz.: 

The Centennial Celebration of the Incoe- 
POEATION OF THE TowN. — At the annual town- 
meeting, in April, 1863, a committee of fifteen was 
chosen to make arrangements for and take charge of 
a 'fitting observance of the one hundredth anniver- 
sary of the incorporation of the town. The com- 
mittee of arrangements consisted of the following 
gentlemen : Hon, Alvah Crocker, chairman, and 
Ebenezer Torrey, Dr. Jonas A. Marshall, John T. 
Farwell, Abel F. Adams, Joseph Upton, Dr. Thomas 
R. Boutelle, Lewis H. Bradford, Thornton K. Ware, 
Nathaniel Wood, Abel Simonds, Moses Wood, James 
P. Putnam, Amasa Norcross and Henry A. Willis. 

The incorporators, in their zeal to have their 
work quickly accomplished, had caused the anniver- 
sary to come in February, an inclement season at 
which no public demonstration could be held with 
any degree of comfort. The committee of arrange- 
ments accordingly very wisely decided to postpone 
the festive day to a more comfortable time of the 
year, and fixed upon Thursday, June 30, 1864, as the 
date of the celebration. 

Though the hearts and thoughts of the people of 
Fitchburg at that period were with the absent ones 
who were fighting the battles of our country — for the 
Union, whose fate seemed then to be trembling in 
the balance — yet preparations that were elaborate. 



226 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



considering the circumstances, were made for this 
noteworthy event in the history of the town. The 
committee, ably seconded by the hidies of Fitch- 
burg, did all in their power to make the celebration 
a success ; and the day, when past, gave ample proof 
that their labors had accomplished all that their 
hearts could wish. 

To many natives of the town who had removed to 
distant States, to those who, at a former period, had 
been for a time identified with the progress of the 
town and to many prominent State officials, invita- 
tions were sent by the committee, asking them to 
honor the day with their presence. Many accepted, 
and many who could not be present sent letters con- 
gratulating the town on the completion of its first 
century of prosperity. 

The 30th of June at last arrived. The weather 
was delightful and the town early astir. People 
hegan to pour in from neighboring towns, and the 
streets of Fitchburg were crowded as they never 
were before. It was a holiday with the schools, and 
all the stores closed at 10 a.m. On the arrival of 
the morning train from Boston, about 10 o'clock, 
the procession was formed on the park near the 
depots under command of Chief Marshal Col. Ed- 
win "Upton, assisted by Marshals Eugene T. Miles, 
Charles Burleigh, Robert L. Goddard, John Burney, 
Alpheus P. Kimball, Lucius Aldrich, Edmund B. 
Hayward and Henry A. Spooner, in the following 
order: 

^d. Chief Marsbal A'd- 

HaU's Boston Brass Band. 

Couimittee of Arrangements. 

Marshal. Aid. 

Orator and Poet of the Day. 
Invited Guests. 
Fitchburg Drum Corps, E.H. Frost, Leader. 

Marshal. Aid. 

Citizens of Lunenburg and neighboring Towns. 
Choir of "Old Folks" in Costume. 

Marshal. Aid. 

Citizens of Fitchburg. 
Children of the Public Schools. 

The procession, when formed, moved through the 
principal streets of the town and then by Circle Street 
to the field owned by,the late Walter Heywood, nearly 
opposite what was then the chair shop of the late 
Hon. Alonzo Davis. Here Yale's mammoth tent 
was spread. After the vast assembly had entered 
this pavilion and been seated, the centennial exercises 
were begun with music by the band. On the platform 
were the members of the committee of arrangements 
(only three of whom are now living, viz. : Henry A. 
Willis, Esq., Hon. A. Norcross and Hon. T. K. Ware), 
officers and speakers of the day, clergymen and town 
officials of Fitchburg and many invited guests. Hon. 
Alvah Crocker presided. On the desk was an ancient 
Bible, once the property of Colonel Zachariah Fitch, 
and in front of this desk was a portrait of the same 
gentleman, fpr whom, it was at that time erroneously 
supposed, the town was named. 



Aid. 



Aid. 



Aid. 



At the conclusion of the music by the band the 
Rev. E. W. Bullard, of Royalston, a former pastor of 
the Second Paii;-h (Orthodox) Church in Fitchburg, 
read the forty-sixth Psalm from the old Bible, after 
which prayer was offered by Rev. Calvin Lincoln, 
of Hingham, for so many years the beloved pastor of 
the First Parish (Unitarian) Church in Fitchburg. 
An oiiginal hymn, written for the occasion by Mrs. 
Caroline Atherton Mason, of Fitchburg, was then sung 
l)y the " Old Folks" choir, under the leadership of 
Mr. Eben H. Frost. The address of welcome was 
then delivered by Hon. Alvah Crocker, after which 
the choir sang a hymn of thanksgiving, written for 
the occasion by Mrs. Mary Caroline Lowe, of Fitch- 
burg. The chairman then introduced Hon. Charles 
H. B. Snow, Esq., the orator of the day, who de- 
livered a scholarly, polished and valuable historical 
address, an extract from which will be given hereafter. 
After the address the "Old Folks" choir, led by the 
veteran teacher, Cyrus Thurston, rendered some 
ancient pieces most admirably. George E. Towne, 
Esq., the poet of the day, then read an original poem, 
running over with wit and full of interesting allusions 
to days gone by. After more music by the band and 
singing by the choir, Charles Mason, Esq., read an 
original jjoem, written by Mrs. Caroline A. Mason, 
describing the experience of " an old Continental," 
returned to the scenes of his terrestrial life, and his 
astonishment at the immense, and to him incompre- 
hensible, changes that time had wrought in the vil- 
lage of Fitchburg. This closed the exercises in the 
pavilion. 

A procession was then formed of invited guests and 
those having tickets to the dinner, and marched to 
the town hall, wliere plates had been laid for five 
hundred guests. The hall was handsomely decorated 
with flags, flowers and streamers, and tlie walls were 
adorned with portraits and photographs of various 
persons notable in the history of the town. Mr. 
Henry W. Haskell supervised the decorations, and 
Landlord Day, of the Fitchburg Hotel, provided the 
excellent dinner. After ample justice had been done 
to the dinner the toast-master, George E. Towne, 
Esq., proposed many toasts, which were happily 
responded to by prominent individuals. The day 
concluded with a concert in the town hall in the 
evening, given by the " Old Folks," assisted by Miss 
Julia Houston, which was largely attended. Thus 
pa,ssed off a day that will ever be memorable in the 
annals of Fitchburg. 

The condition of the town at this time, the rapid 
and substantial progress it had made, cannot be better 
described than it is in the following eloquent passage 
from Mr. Snow's Centennial address: 

Today, as we look around us .and see the Nashua, for miles studded 
with its workshops and manufactories, its valleys and the neighboring 
hillsides adol'nod witli the neat and comfortable homes with which New 
p^nghind labor rewards its votaries, as we wituess on every hand the 
evidences of happiness and prosperity, and then recall the untamed and 
wilful Nashua, tlie bleak and barren steeps, the tangled, SMampy valley 



FITCHBURG. 



227 



and the secluded and infrequent farm-houae of one hundred years ago, 
■we may, in a measure, appreciate the results of a century of wonderful 
mechanical ingenuity and invention, and also of a century of steady 
New England enterprise and labor. More than fifty different varieties 
of manufacture are at present successfully carried on within our limits. 
Our paper-mills supply the market with over five million pounds of 
paper annually, and the Keio York Herald, whose daily issues fly, as if, 
on the wings of the wind, to every point of the compass, we might al- 
most say whitening the laud like snowflakes, draws a large portion of 
its vast supplies of paper from one Fitchburg mill. Our manufactories 
largely supply the South American and Cuban markets witli chairs. 
The ingenuity and admirable workmanship of our great machine com- 
pany have been rewarded with extensive orders from the most distant 
parts of the globe. Our scythes, our cutlery, our clt>tbs, our shoes and 
our hats have been scattered broadcast over the States and, within the 
last eventful year, — sad change from the arts of peace to those of war ! — 
cannon cast in our foundries, monsters of modern destructive art, frown 
from our harbor and coast defences, while others, whose beautiful sym- 
metry, lightness and strength half beguile usfi'om the thought of tlieir 
terrible uses, have helped swell the thunder of the l)lood.v battle-fields 
of the South. May we not almost appropriate the language of the clas- 
sic poet and ask, "Quae regiv in terris non i^eiKt ytostri luhoris f" 

The years immediately following Ihe close of the 
war were very prosperous, and the high pressure con- 
tinued until the natural result came in the busines-s 
panic of 1873. Fitchburg came in for her full share 
of prosperity. Many new and important manufac- 
turing establishments were located here during the 
last five years of this decade, and in 1870 there were 
nearly one hundred lai;ge manufacturing concerns iu 
town and the population had increased to 11,260. 
During this period, also, many public improvements 
were begun which, as well as the new manufacturing 
establishments, will be spoken of later. 

The year 1871 was a busy one in Fitchburg. Build- 
ing was bri.ik, and among the many edifices erected 
that year were two which were by far the most costly, 
elegant and substantial that have been built in Fitch- 
burg. One was the Fitchburg iSavings Bank block 
on Main Street, not far from the Common ; the other 
was the County Court-house, located in the rear of 
what is now known as Monument Park. It was 
during the summer of 1871, also, that the water mains 
of the new water-works were laid through the princi- 
pal streets of the town. 

Another important event of this year was the action 
taken in regard to casting off the town form of govern- 
ment and becoming a city. As soon as the town at- 
tained to the required twelve thousand inhabitants, 
the question of applying for a city charter began to 
be agitated, and at a town-meeting held Tuesday, No- 
vember 7, 1871, the matter was formally brought be- 
fore the town for consideration. Article 14 of the 
warrant for this meeting was as follows: " To see if 
the town will take the necessary steps for obtaining 
the Franchise of a City Charter, at the coming ses- 
sion of the Legislature, by the choice of a committee 
for that purpose, or act anything thereon they may 
- deem expedient." 

The town chose as such a committee Alvah Crocker, 
Eugene T. Miles, Thornton K. Ware, Dr. Alfred 
Hitchcock and George Robbins. This committee at- 
tended promptly to their duty, and during the follow- 
ing winter the " Act to Incorporate the city of Fitch- 



burg " passed through both branches of the Legisla- 
ture, and was, on March 8, 1872, approved by the 
Governor. 

At the last annual town-meeting, April 8, 1872, the 
citizens of Fitchburg, by a vote of nine hundred and 
sixty-eight to fifty-six, decided in favor of accepting 
the charter. The vote on the question was very light, 
as it was known that very little, if any, opposition to 
the charter existed. At the same meeting the citi- 
zens also voted in regard to accepting Sees. 30 and 31 
of the charter, which provided that at the first city 
election one-half of the Aldermen and Common Coun- 
cilmeu should be elected for one year and the other 
half for two years, and that at each annual election 
thereafter one-half of each board should be elected 
for the term of two municipal years. These two sec- 
tions the town rejected by a vote of six hundred aud 
seventy-five to two hundred and eight, thus making 
the election of all the members of both branches an- 
nual. September 18, 1872, the selectmen announced 
the division of the city into six wards, and defined 
their respective boundary lines. During November 
of the same year numerous ward caucuses were held 
for the purpose of electing the various ward officers, 
committees, «&c., and of getting things into running 
order. On Tuesday, December 3, 1872, the first city 
election was held in Fitchburg, and a heavier vote 
was polled than ever had been in any town election. 
The result was the election of Hon. Amasa Norcrosa 
as the first mayor of the city, he receiving eleven hun- 
dred and eleven votes to eight hundred and fifty- 
three for Eugene T. Miles. 

There is little more to be recorded before we close 
the history of Fitchburg as a town. One event in 
the year 1872 should be mentioned. This was the 
detith, on February 23d, of Salmon W. Putnam, one 
of the pioneers of Fitchburg's great machine manu- 
facturing interests, and largely concerned in the 
founding of the Putnam Machine Company. He was 
highly esteemed for his worth and ability, and on the 
day of his funeral business was generally suspended 
in Fitchburg. Another circumstance that is deserving 
of mention in this chapter is the substantial and 
practical expression of good will and generosity 
given by the town at the time of the disastrous fire in 
Chicago in October, 1871, and the serious forest fires 
in Michigan, about the same time. Besides a large 
amount of clothing, etc., the citizens of Fitchburg 
sent to the sufferers by these fires the sum of nearly 
six thousand dollars in money. At the time of the 
great Boston fire, in November, 1872, their generosity 
was again shown. 

Much more might have been written about Fitch- 
burg as a town, had space allowed, but here we must 
conclude this section. Since the beginning of 1873 
the city form of government has been in force ; and 
the main points in Fitchburg's history as a city, 
for the past sixteen years, will be briefly outlined in 
the few following pages, after which her history in 



228 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



the Civil War, her progress in educational, ecclesias- 
tical, industrial matters, etc., — in fact, whatever of 
importance has been done by her citizens to make 
Fitchburg what she is to-day, — will be given in detail 
under their appropriate and respective headings. 



CHAPTER XXXIX. 

FITCUBVRG—iConiinued.) 

HISTORY OF THE CITY (1873-1888). 

On January 6, 1873, occurred the inauguration of 
the first city government at the city hall. The In- 
augural Address of Mayor Norcross was carefully 
prepared and contained much of interest to the in- 
habitants of the infant city. It was a critical time in 
business affairs, and the mayor clearly and forcibly 
showed the necessity of the exercise of prudence, 
sagacity and, as far as compatible with the best in- 
terests of the city, economy on the part of those 
whom the people had chosen to conduct municipal 
affairs during the coming year. 

The construction of the water-works and other 
public improvements had brought a debt of over six 
hundred thousand dollars upon the city at its start, 
and there was still much to be done in completing 
and maintaining these improvements. Nearly all 
the water debt was satisfactorily funded and about 
half the city debt proper. Early in 1873 a special 
act, authorizing the city of Fitchburg to fund its 
floating debt and issue additional scrip, passed the 
Legislature and was approved March 29, 1873. In 
conformity with this act, bonds of the denomination 
of one thousand dollars each, with coupons repre- 
senting accruing interest at six per cent., payable 
semi-annually, for twenty years, from July 1, 1873, 
were obtained, and during the balance of the year 
sixty-three thousand dollars of the floating debt were 
funded by the sale of these bonds. 

The fiscal year of the city ends November 
30th, and on that date, in 1873, the net debt 
of the city was $650,775.50. However, in spite 
of the hard times and necessarily large outlay, 
Fitchburg's first year as a city was by no means 
a discouraging one. The good effect of these public 
improvements was beginning to be felt; population 
and valuation had increased, and more business 
blocks had been erected. The people were well sat- 
isfied with the administration of I\Iayor Norcross, and 
at the city election in December, 1873, he was re- 
elected. 

The year 1874 was not quite so prosperous, and 
during the following five years, or so, there was a 
small but steady annual decrease in the population 
and valuation of the city. One cause of this decrease 
was the removal from town of two large and prosper- 



ous manufacturing concerns, — the American Rattan 
Company and the Whitman & Miles Manufactur- 
ing Company. 

In 1874 occurred an event of great interest, which 
will be spoken of more fully hereafter. This was 
the dedication of the Soldiers' Monument, June 24th. 
The city appropriated two thousand dollars for the 
dedication, and the oration was delivered by Major- 
General Nathaniel P. Banks. 

November 30, 1874, the net debt of the city was 
$728,873.84, an increase of nearly $78,000 for the 
year, due wholly to discount on bonds, extension of 
the water-works and payment of the balance of the 
Soldiers' Monument contracts. 

During this year another bank was established 
here, — the Safety Fund National Bank. 

At the city election in December, 1874, Eugene T. 
Miles was elected mayor for the year ensuing. 

During 1874 death removed two of Fitchburg's 
prominent citizens, — Dr. Alfred Hitchcock, the 
beloved physician, eminent in his profession, and 
noted for his good qualities of mind and heart, and 
Hon. Alvah Crocker who, above all other men, 
brought prosperity to Fitchburg, and was ever ready 
to inaugurate and carry forward any project condu- 
cive to the advancement of the interests of the town. 

The year 1875 was quite an active one in Fitch- 
burg, in spite of the fact that the city felt severely 
the depression in business, the result, as it were, of 
the recoil of the preceding financial crisis. Another 
bank — the Wachusett National — was established here, 
mainly through the efforts of Hiram A. Blood, 
Esq. Several substantial brick business blocks were 
erected, among which were Crocker block and the 
Wachusett Bank block. The large and commodious 
machine-shop occupied by C. H. Brown & Co. was 
completed this year, as was al.so the fine business 
block built by James F. Stiles. 

During this year the city expended upwards of 
$60,000 more on the water-works in the construction 
of Scott reservoir, extension of water-mains to West 
Fitchburg and extensions in the city proper. In con- 
sequence of this large necessary expenditure, the net 
debt of the city November 30, 1875, reached high- 
water mark, viz: $790,149.66. Since that time the 
city has had to make no very large expenditure for 
extraordinary improvements, and almost every year 
since 1875 has witnessed a considerable decrease in 
the net debt. 

The year 1875 did not pass without taking from 
our midst a bright and shining light in the person of 
Hon. Charles H. B. Snow, the orator at the centennial 
celebration, who, on September 18, 1875, was called 
away from a busy and useful life. He was a man of 
great talent, and in the prime of life, and his death 
was a sad blow to this community, where he had 
always lived, and for which he was ever ready and 
willing to expend his best efforts. 

On account of the unavoidable absence of Mayor 



FITCHBURG. 



229 



I 



Miles from the city during the last two months of 
his terra, the office of mayor was declared vacant on 
November 2, 1875. The Board of Aldermen and the 
Common Council elected Hon. Hiram A. Blood to 
fill out the unexpired period. At the annual city 
election, the following December, he was elected 
mayor for the ensuing year. 

The official census of 1875 gave Fitchburg a popu- 
lation of 12,289, showing a slow growth since 1870. 

The three years following 1875 were years of gi'eat 
business depression in Fitchburg. Our mills, fac- 
tories and machine-shops were, in most cases, obliged 
to curtail both the number of employes and the num- 
ber of working-hours, because of the meagre amount 
of orders for their products. The manufacturing 
establishments of Fitchburg were put to a severe test 
during these three years, and the fact that, with a 
very few exceptions, they all withstood the strain, 
shows their financial stability, and reflects great 
credit upon the ability and sagacity of the men who 
superintended the affairs of these various heavy 
manufacturing concerns during these trying times. 

As a natural consequence of this stagnation in 
business, the city retrograded, as regards both popu- 
lation and valuation. During this period it was 
unwise and, fortunately, unnecessary, to enter upon 
any new work. That which had been done in the 
years immediately preceding sufficed to tide the 
city over, and only an amount of money sufficient to 
keep the public works and institutions in statu quo 
was needed. 

In 1876 death continued its ravages among our 
prominent citizen?, removing on June 2(5th ex-Mayor 
Eugene T. Miles, a man widely known and esteemed 
for his integrity and benevolence, and who for manv 
years had been prominent in the business interests 
and public affairs of Fitchburg ; and August 3d Hon- 
Nathaniel Wood, for over half a century one of our 
most prominent and active citizens. It was he who 
collated and preserved much of the early history of 
Fitchburg, which otherwise would probably have been 
irretrievably lost. 

David H. Merriam was mayor during the years 
1877-78. These two years were probably the darkest 
the city ever experienced, but public affairs were well 
cared for during Mayor Merriam's administration. 
The debt was reduced by something over twenty-five 
thousand dollars ; and in spite of the decrease in popu- 
lation, the tax rate during both years was kept at a 
lower figure than it was in the few years preceding — 
in fact, the rate was the lowest in 1877-78 that it has 
been from the incorporation of the city to the present 
time. 

In 1878 the handsome and commodious Union 
Passenger Station was completed ; but aside from 
that, very little building was going on at that time. 

In December, 1878, William H. Vose was elected 
mayor and served one year, declining a unanimous 
renomination. His valuable business experience and 



strict fidelity to the best interests of the city proved 
of great service to Fitchburg during the year 1879. 
The city was just beginning to see the glimmer of 
better times ahead, and a steady hand, guided by 
business tact, was necessary to keep the people from 
presuming too much on the "good time coming." 
During his administration the debt was reduced by 
nearly twenty-five thousand dollars. 

Until this year no direct appropriation had ever 
been made for water-works construction and exten- 
sion ; but in 1879 such an appropriation was made 
(four thousand dollars), and an annual appropriation 
for that purpose has been made since then. 

In December, 1879, Eli Culley was elected mayor, 
and served the city in that capacity for two years. 
The appropriation bills for these two years (1880-81) 
were the smallest since our incorporation as a city ; 
and at the same time the accounts show that the debt 
November 30, 1881, was 1704,516.58, making a re- 
duction of nearly $33,000 since the same date in 1879. 

Population and valuation began to increase grad- 
ually in the course of these two years. In 1880 the 
population was 12,405. Business, too, began to take 
on a more healthy tone, and the city started on the 
up- grade. 

In the fall of 1879 a company was formed here 
which marked the beginning of a new era in the indus- 
tries of Fitchburg. This was the Parkhill Manufac- 
turing Company. The company began business in 
February, 1880, and since that time has prospered, 
and is to-day one of the heaviest concerns in town. 
During this period there were other signs of business 
prosperity in town, prominent among which were the 
starting of the Fitchburg Worsted Company in 1880 
and the erection of E. M. Dickinson & Co.'s large 
shoe factory in 1881. 

In 1880 death again entered the ranks of our prom- 
inent citizens; JanuaryjlSth of that year died Stephen 
Shepley, for over forty-five years an active business 
man of Fitchburg and much interested in the early 
history of the town. In 1876 he wrote a paper of 
value in regard to John Fitch. August 1, 1880, died 
Walter Heywood, the founder of the extensive chair 
manufacturing company here. 

During 1881 the city expended over thirteen thou- 
sand dollars in the construction of sewers, but this 
sum was more than counterbalanced by money re- 
ceived from sewer assessments, etc. 

George Bobbins was the next mayor and served 
during the year 1882. Mr. Robbins was a member of 
the committee to procure the city charter, and has al- 
ways taken considerable interest in public affairs. 
During his year of service matters went on satisfac- 
torily. The debt was decreased by about thirty-two 
thousand dollars; over ten thousand dollars were ex- 
pended on sewers, necessitating an appropriation of 
six thousand dollars by the City Council for that pur- 
pose. 

The prosperity of the city continued, though no 



230 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



new enterprises of special note were started that year. 
The owners of buildings on the lower part of Main 
Street were beginning to put new fronts to the busi- 
ness blocks and to furnish them with large plate-glass 
windows, thereby greatly improving the appearance 
of the street. Notable among the improvements of 
this kind was the brown-stone front put on to the L. 
J. Brown Block that year. 

In 1882 the city purchased the "Upper Common," 
previously the property of the First Parish iu Fitch- 
burg. Since that time the city has spent considerable 
for stone-work, grading and laying out paths, etc., and 
now the Common is a much more attractive spot than 
it was ten years ago. Moreover, through the gen erosity 
of certain citizens in the vicinity, a handsome band- 
stand has been erected near its lower extremity and 
makes a striking addition to the beauty of the park. 

At the city election in December, 1882, Alonzo 
Davis was elected mayor, and so acceptable was his 
administration that he was re-elected to the office the 
two following years, and is the only man thus far in 
our history as a city wlio has held the office of mayor 
for three successive years. 

In 18S3 it became necessary to build a fourth reser- 
voir, and Falulah Reservoir was accordingly con- 
structed that year at an expense of a little over fifty- 
two thousand dollars. As the City Council made no 
appropriation for this expenditure, it became a part of 
the city debt, which, November 30, 1883, was $686,- 
430.70, an increase of about fourteen thousand dollars 
over the debt a year previous, showing that had it not 
been for this extraordinary expense there would have 
been a very material decrease in the city debt that 
year. 

In 1883 the Wachusett Electric Light Company 
was incorpoi'ated, and since the fall of that year has 
furnished most of the principal streets of the city with 
brilliant and satisfactory illumination. 

The year 1884 will long be remembered by the 
citizens of Fitchburg as the year when the Hon. 
Eodney Wallace made and proceeded to carry out his 
generous proposition to provide the city with an 
elegant and commodious public library building, 
together with a site for the same. July 1, 1885, 
witnessed the completion of his noble project, the 
dedication of the costly and substantial structure and 
its formal presentation to the city by the donor. The 
Wallace Library and Art Building will be spoken of 
at greater length under the head of Libraries and 
Lectures, in the section on the educational history 
and progress of Fitchburg. 

In his third inaugural address, in January, 1885, 
Mayor Davis recommended the construction of a 
system of sewers of larger capacity than tlieu existed 
in the city, and, in accordance with his suggestion, 
plans were drawn and the work of construction 
entered upon the following spring. During 1885 one 
and a quarter miles of sewer were built, of which 
seven hundred and twenty-five feet consisted of a 



main sewer twenty-six by thirty-nine inches, built 
of brick and located in ■ Elm, Oliver and Putnam 
Streets. 

The net debt, November 30, 1885, was $635,124.11, 
a gratifying decrease of over $51,000 during the two 
previous years. The city was in a prosperous condi- 
tion, and in 1885 had a population of 15,375 and a 
valuation of about $12,000,000. Building was brisk 
during the three years from 1883 to 1885 inclusive, 
and some new concerns were put into operation, nota- 
bly the Cleghorn Mills in 1885. 

Several prominent citizens died in the course of 
these three years. Charles Burleigh, one of Fitch- 
burg'a most ingenious mechanics and competent busi- 
ness men and a prominent member of the Putnam 
Machine Company, died May 28, 1883. Of his many 
valuable inventions the most prominent are the Bur- 
leigh Rock-Drill and the Patent Air-Compressor, 
which have made his name familiar wherever great 
engineering feats have been accomplished. 

March 12, 1884, died Cyrus Thurston— " Uncle 
Cy," as he was for many years familiarly called — 
prominent in musical circles in Fitchburg since the 
early years of this century, and noted for his long 
and valuable service on the Board of Overseers of 
the Poor of the town and city of Fitchburg. Only 
a few days after his decease our citizens were called 
upon to mourn the loss of a much younger, but 
more noted musician, AVarren S. Russell, leader of 
the Fitchburg Military Band. 

October 27, 1884, ex-Mayor William H. Vose 
passed away, full of years and universally loved and 
respected. 

In the autumn of 1885 the temperance people of 
Fitchburg made a strong effort to carry the city for 
" no license." They nominated Frederick Fosdick, 
president of the Fitchburg Steam-Engine Company, as 
their candidate for mayor, and at the election, in De- 
cember, he was triumph.antly elected, and no license 
was established by a decided majority. Mr. Fosdick 
served the city two years as mayor, and made a good 
record for himself and the city in every way ; and his 
efibrts to carry out the principles of the temperance 
party, and the good success that rewarded these 
efforts, are deserving of tlie highest praise. 

During 1886 and 1887 a number of changes were 
effected in the city affairs, which have proved to be 
advantageous. Mayor Fosdick, in his first inaugural 
address, recommended that Fitchburg follow the 
example of some other cities, and pay the Water 
Department for water used by it each year. This 
plan was adopted in 1886, and resulted satisfactorily, 
and has since been continued. By this me.ans some 
$15,000 per year is paid to the Water Department, 
which helps materially in extinguishing the water 
debt without making any perceptible increase in the 
rate of taxation. He also recommended the appro- 
priation of $20,000 to the sinking fund, instead of 
$10,000, as heretofore, which was done. 



FITCHBURG. 



231 



f 



About this time bursts were frequently occurring 
in the cement-lined water mains, and Maj'or FoscHck 
advocated replacing them with iron mains. This 
work was begun in the spring of 188G. The cement- 
lined pipe in Main Street was replaced by a 16-inch 
iron main, and the pipe in several other streets was 
replaced by iron pipe of suitable size, during the 
summer, at a cost of a little over $34,000, which was 
covered by the issue of scrip to the amount of $35,000. 
This, of course, increased the debt somewhat, but the 
increase was comparatively small (about $8,000), the 
net debt, November 30, 1886, being $643,369.16. 
About $1.5,000 were expended in the same way in 
1887, and the debt increased about $2,500, being 
$646,012.27 November 30, 1S87. It has been found 
that no repairs, or only very trifling ones, are neces- 
sary to keej> the iron mains and pipe in good condi- 
tion, which causes an annual saving of several thou- 
sand dollars that would simply have been wasted on 
repairs of the old cement-lined pipe. 

The rapid growth of the city during 1886-87 caused 
a great demand for new streets and sidewalks, and 
large sums were expended for these purposes. A 
brick trunk sewer, 36x29 inches, was built through 
Laurel Street, and smaller sewers through connecting 
streets, during the summer of 1887, at a cost of over 
$31,000; a substantial brick city stable was built in 
1886, at an expense of about .$5,000. Thus it will be 
seen, that though the city spent a very large sura of 
money during these two years, yet it was wisely 
expended, and we are now in good condition to meet 
our constantly and rapidly-increasing prosperity. 

In 1886 the Fitchburg Street Railway was incor- 
porated, and began to lay their track in the early sum- 
mer. The track-layers immediately followed the work- 
men engaged in replacing thecement pipe, so that Main 
Street was pretty thoroughly torn up during the greater 
part of the summer of 1886. 

Much building was also going on in all parts of the 
city at this time, the largest building erected being 
the Orswell mill, built in 1886. 

At the city election in December, 1887, Hon. Eli 
Culley, who was mayor in 1880-81, was elected by the 
people as their chief executive for the year 1888. 

Early in 1888 the Fitchburg Railroad Company 
made a long contemplated move and one most ad- 
vantageous to Fitchburg, by purchasing a large tract 
of land in what is now called East Fitchburg, about 
a mile east of Union Passenger Station, and announc- 
ing their intention of using it as a location for their 
extensive car-shops, heretofore established and main- 
tained at the Boston end of the road. Work was soon 
begun on the necessary buildings, a description of 
which will be given in another section. When these 
shops ai'e completed and in full operation they will 
cause a very material increase in the population and 
add much to the prosperity of the city. 

July 4, 1888, witnessed a grand celebration in 
Fitchburg. K. V. Sumner Post I'J, G. A. E., has the 



credit of getting up this celebration, and the city and 
our citizens generally helped to make it a success by 
liberal gifts of money. The principal feature was a 
very large trades' procession in the morning. The 
other exercises of the day were at the Fitchburg 
Park, and included a dinner, addresses, sports and a 
balloon ascension in the afternoon, and a fine display 
of fire-works in the evening. 

During the portion of 1888 now past death has been 
busy here, and up to this time (autumn) has taken 
from us five men who have for a long time been 
prominent in the history of Fitchburg. February 7th 
died Gardner S. Burbank, since 1851 an influential 
citizen, and for fifteen years a member of the firm of 
Crocker, Burbank & Co. He accumulated a large 
property, the most of which he left in the hands of 
trustees, the income to be paid to Mrs. Burbank dur- 
ing her life, and at her death the whole amount is to be 
paid over to the city of Fitchburg and devoted to the 
building of a city hospital. 

May 23d died Hon. Alonzo Davis, an ex-mayor of 
Fitchburg and, since 1845, a prominent manufacturer 
and business man. 

July 31st died John Putnam, senior founder of the 
Putnam Machine Company, and a resident of Fitch- 
burg since 1838. 

September 3d died Hon. Ebenezer Torrey, for over 
sixty years a prominent citizen of Fitchburg. A brief 
sketch of Mr. Torrey appears in the Professional 
chapter. 

October 11th ex-Mayor David H. Merriam died, 
being the fifth man of prominence in town to die dur- 
ing the first ten months of 1888. 

We will close this portion of the history of Fitch- 
burg with a table showing statistics relative to the 
growth of the town since its incorporation. The pop- 
ulation in 1888 is estimated from the number of 
polls, May 1st. 



Year. 
1765 


Population. 
259 


Valuation. 


No. of Poll 


1791 


1,151 

1,300 

1,666 

1,736 

2,179 

2,570 






ISOO 






1810 






1820 

1830 

1840 


S359,966 

540,009 

935,342 

1,995,749 

3,527,456 

10,373,403 

9,132,844 

11,494,662 

13,604,890 


321 
494 
702 


1S50 

1860 

1S70 

1880 


5,120 

7,854 

11,260 

... 12 405 


1,308 
1,938 
3,24S 
3,680 
4,561 
6,963 


1885 

1888 


15,375 

20,000 



CHAPTER XL. 

mTClIBVRG—(Conli)!ued.) 

HISTORY DURING THE WAR OF THE REBELWON. 

In the preparation of this portion of the sketch the 
writer has depended largely upon " Fitchburg in the 



232 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



War of the Rebellion." To Henry A. Willis, Esq., 
the author of this valuable memorial of what Fitch- 
burg did to preserve the Uuion, the writer takes this 
occasion to render grateful acknowledgment for per- 
mission to take from it many facts essential to this 
portion of the history, and which cannot be easily 
obtained elsewhere. 

Before entering upon our condensed history of 
Fitchburg's part in the Civil War, it may be well to 
give a brief account of the military companies in the 
town prior to the breaking out of the war. 

In 1861 there were two military companies in exist- 
ence here. Of these, the organization which was by 
far the older was 

The Fitchburg Fusiliers. — This company was 
formed from the " Old South " Company of the Fourth 
Regiment, Second Brigade, Seventh Division, Massa- 
chusetts Volunteer Militia, and a charter was granted 
it under its present name of Fitchburg Funliers, De- 
cember 14, 1816. The organization of the company 
was perfected at a meeting held February 3, 1817, at 
which time John Upton was elected captain, Alpheus 
Kimball, lieutenant, and Walter Johnson, ensign. 
The uniform adopted was " a blue coat, trimmed 
with bell buttons and lace, pantaloons of the same 
color as the coat, made to button over the boots and 
trimmed with bell buttons from the bottoms to the 
hips, and the caps were bound with red morocco and 
varnished and otherwise ' ornamenttd as a committee 
chosen might think proi)er.' " 

The Fusiliers first appeared publicly in their new 
uniforms on the Fourth of July, 1817, on which occa- 
sion the ladies of Fitchburg presented the company 
with a handsome banner. A standard was also pre- 
sented to the company by the ladies in September, 
1841. 

The Fusiliers were always on hand to attend " mus- 
ter," and, according to all accounts, used to have very 
enjoyable times at the old-fashioned muster, which 
was essentially different from the modern variety. 

Many of our prominent citizens have commanded 
this company during its existence of nearly three- 
quarters of a century. 

Its record during the war will be given further on. 

At the present time this company forms a part of 
the Sixth Regiment Infantry, Massachusetts Volun- 
teer Militia, and is designated as Company B. 

The other military company in town at the time of 
the breaking out of the war was known as 

The Washington Guards. — It was organized in 
July, 1855, on petition of Charles H. Foss and fifty- 
nine others, and on the 19th of the same month 
otiicers were chosen as follows: John B. Proctor, 
Captain ; Hiram P. Minot, First Lieutenant ; Charles 
H. Foss, Second Lieutenant ; Oscar A. Battles, Third 
Lieutenant ; Varius Stearns, Fourth Lieutenant. At 
a meeting a week later the name of .Washington 
Guards was adopted by vote of the company. The 
uniform consisted of " a cloth cap, smaller at the top 



than at the base, and surmounted by a blue pompon ; 
dark blue pants and coat with epaulettes ; patent- 
leather body belts and webbing cross-belts." In 
February, 1859, the company purchased seventy of 
the well-remembered bear-skin caps. 

During the war the Guards formed the nucleus of 
six Fitchburg companies and its name and organiza- 
tion were given up ; but August 23, 1866, a company 
was formed, chiefly through the efforts of Richard 
Tucker, in which were many of the old Guards. This 
company took the name of UnionVeterans and Hiram 
P. Minot was chosen captain. Sept. 11, 1868, the 
company voted to change the name to Washington 
Guards. This is the present existing organization, 
and it forms a part of the Sixth Regiment Infantry, 
Massachusetts Volunteer Militia, being designated as 
Company D. The headquarters of the Sixth Regi- 
ment have for some years been at Fitchburg, Henry 
G. Greene, of this city, holding the position of colo- 
nel. 

At the time of the breaking out of the war Fitch- 
burg had a population of about eight thousand, and 
during the whole course of the war the town was ever 
ready to furnish her full share of men and money to 
aid the Union. Mr. Willis indeed said truly in the 
introduction to his book, "A community which has 
sent nine companies into the field during the war, 
which has promptly filled its quotas under all calls 
and has now to its credit seventy-five men surplus 
above all demands upon it, has certainly a record of 
which it may well be proud and one well worth 
preserving." 

It is gratifying to note that Fitchburg's zeal and 
activity were also officially recognized by a man, and 
in a manner that left no doubt as to the sincerity of 
the tribute to the loyalty of the town. The occasion 
on which these words were uttered was the funeral 
of Lieutenant-Colonel George E. Marshall, of the 
Fortieth Regiment, at the town hall in Fitchburg, 
and the one who spoke them was Hon. Alexander H. 
Bullock, then Governor of Massachusetts. Colonel 
Marshall, a son of Abel Marshall, of Fitchburg, was 
killed at the battle of Cold Harbor, June 1, 1864. 
He was buried on the field, and his remains were not 
recovered until the spring of 1866. The town voted to 
give his remains a public funeral on the 19th of 
April of that year. It was an imposing funeral, and 
was attended by His Excellency, Governor Bullock, 
and his staff and other oflBcials. During the course 
of the solemn ceremonies Governor Bullock made a 
brief and eloquent address, in which he spoke feel- 
ingly of the glorious career of young Marshall 
through the twenty-four battles he was engaged in, 
of his well-deserved prometions, and of his gallant 
conduct in that disastrous charge at Cold Harbor, 
where he "fought and died in obedience to orders, and 
for the sake of his example." He then paid the follow- 
ing tribute to Fitchburg : 

I do uot forget, iu the thick-coming memories which the scene en- 



FITCHBUKG. 



233 



forces upon me, tliat this ancient and beautiful town of ritcliburg— to 
which by neiglihorhood ties of birtli and youthful residence my heart 
ever draws me and ever M ill- disliuguif bed herself by the iiromptneiia, 
by tlie alacrity, by the prodigality of means and of nun with which she 
entered u])on the opening, solemn di-ama in the early days of the war. 
Not many towns iu the State matched her record, and few, if any, sur- 
passed her. 

We will now endeavor to give, in as condensed a 
form as possible, an account of Fitchburg's part in 
the Civil War. 

On Saturday, April 13, 18C1, news reached the 
town of the attack on Fort Sumter, and Major 
Anderson's gallant defence. The next day came the 
news of its surrender. Then, fast following, came 
President Lincoln's call for seventy-five thousand 
volunteers. Captain John W. Kimball, of the Fusil- 
iers, and Captain Edwin Upton, of the Guards, 
reported their companies ready to march at once if 
wanted. But already enough whole regiments had 
been offered, and Governor Andrew hurriedly des- 
patched the Third, Fourth, Fifth, Sixth and Eighth 
Eegiments for Washington, and the old Ninth Regi- 
ment, to which both the Fitchburg companies then 
belonged was obliged to wait. 

During the next few days anxiety possessed the 
hearts of the people, and little business was done. 
Then came the 10th of April, a day twice memorable 
in the annals of our country and especially of Massa- 
chusetts. Late in the afternoon of that day the wires 
brought us the following: " The Sixth Massachusetts 
Regiment is now fighting its way through Baltimore ; 
four men have been killed, many wounded, and the 
fighting still going on." 

The shock produced by this message was terrific. 
Massachusetts blood had been spilt and must be 
avenged. A citizens' meeting was hastily called, 
which was held on the afternoon of Saturday, April 
20th. Alvah Crocker, Esq., presided. Mr. Crocker 
and various other citizens spoke patriotically and elo- 
quently upon the all-engrossing subject, after which 
the following resolutions were presented and unani- 
mously adopted : 

Ecsolved, That wo respond cordially to the Proclamation of the Presi- 
dent of the United States ; that we declare our unflinching resolution to 
support our Government in its struggle to maintain its honor, integrity 
and existence. 

lieaolved, That we will use our utmost endeavors to secure a vote of the 
town whereby the sum often thousand dollars shall be raised by direct 
tax, which sum of money shall be appropriated to provide for the sup- 
port of the families of any of the soldiers who may be called out dur- 
ing the present war, and for fitting out and equipping such men. 

The next day was Sunday — the first in war-time — 
and the services in all the churches in town were of a 
patriotic nature. During the day the ladies of Fitch- 
burg were not idle. It was expected that on the mor- 
row our companies would be called upon, and their 
kind hearts, anticipating what might be the needs of 
the near future, prompted them to busily engage 
themselves in the preparation of lint, bandages and 
clothing for the brave men who, like the "minute- 
men " of the last century, stood ready to go to the 
front at a moment's notice. 



The following week was one of feverish anxiety. 
Our companies were not called upon, and many of the 
soldiers assisted the ladies in their preparation of 
bandages, etc., at the armories. The zeal of the 
citizens suggested many measures, some of which 
were not very practical. One of these was that each 
soldier from Fitchburg should have a revolver and a 
bowie knife, and one hundred and fifty revolvers were 
actually bought for this purpose, and Whitman & 
Miles, with characteristic liberality, offered to manu- 
facture the same number of bowie knives. This 
scheme was abandoned before the time came to 
march. 

On April 27th a town-meeting was held, at which 
it was unanimously voted to raise ten thousand dol- 
lars for the soldiers and their families, and a com- 
mittee of seven (Ebenezer Torrey, Moses Wood, Che- 
dorlaomer Marshall, William Woodbury, Levi Downs, 
Alpheus P. Kimball and Timothy S. Wilson) was 
chosen to take charge of the appropriation. A com- 
mittee was also chosen to see what reduction could 
he made in town expenses for the current year. 

By this time the Fusiliers and Guards had recruited 
their companies, and on the day of this town-meet- 
ing a grand parade was held, in which the company 
from Leominster joined. 

On May 4th an adjourned town-meeting was held 
to hear the report of the committee on retrenchment. 
This committee made a report recommending a re- 
duction of five thousand dollars in the town appro- 
priations for the year, — two thousand dollars each 
from schools and highways and the remaining one 
thousand dollars from other departments. Their re- 
port was accepted and the recommendations adopted, 
though all regretted the reduction in the school ap- 
propriation. During the other years of the war, it is 
but just to say, the school appropriation was not 
diminished for war expenses. At this same meeting 
the chairman of the committee having charge of the 
ten thousand dollars voted for the soldiers and their 
families, read the following note, which is self-ex- 
planatory and an honor to the medical profession : 

Tn the MUUartj Belief Commatee,—GenlIemen : The undersigned physi- 
cians of Fitchburg members of the Slassachusctts Medical Society, 
through you hereby tender gratuitous professional services, when do 
Bired, to the families of the soldiers of this town while engaged in the 
war to defend the Government of the United States against the present 
Southern Eebellion. 

Thomas R. Boutelle, 
Jonas A. Marshall, 
Alfred Hitchcock, 
James K. Wellman, 
George Jewett, 
George D. Colony. 
Fitchhurgh, May 1, 1861. 

These physicians faithfully fulfilled the promise 
contained in the above note until the close of the 
war. Only two of the signers are now living, — Drs. 
Jewett and Colony. 

Thursday, May 16th, was a great day in Fitchburg. 
The two military companies paraded and the school- 



234 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



children with their teachers and all the citizens 
joined in a grand patriotic demonstration. In the 
evening there was a presentation, at the town hall, of 
two handsome silk flags, procured by the ladies at an 
expense of eighty dollars. The hall was crowded, 
and after the opening of the meeting by the presiding 
officer, Hon. J. W. Mansur, Miss Emma Twitchell 
presented one of the flags to the Fusiliers. Captain 
Kimball made a fitting acknowledgment of the beau- 
tiful gift and caused his men to swear that " it should 
never trail in the dust while a single arm was left to 
uphold it." Miss Eliza Trask then presented the 
other flag to the Guards, whose commander. Captain 
Upton, accepted it on behalf of his company with 
appropriate remarks. 

An account, necessarily very brief, will now be 
given of the companies sent out from the town, and 
of the work, both public and private, done by the 
citizens who remained at home during the war 
period. 

Company D, Second Regiment. — Soon after 
President Lincoln issued his call for three years' 
troops, James Savage, Jr., of Boston, opened a re- 
cruiting office in Fitchburg. A company was raised 
in about a week and was attached to the Second 
Regiment and designated Company D. Most of the 
men in this company were from neighboring towns, 
because there were then in town two full companies, 
and, as the chances of their being called into service 
soon seemed to be good, the young men did not care 
to leave them in order to join Captain Savage's com- 
pany. But, notwithstanding the fact that only a few 
of our own citizens enlisted in it, it was always known 
as the " Fitchburg Company." 

The Second Regiment was mustered into service 
May 11, 1861, and served the entire three years; and a 
large number re-enlisted at the end of this time. July 
14, 18G5, it was mustered out of the service and 
started for Boston, receiving a fine reception in New 
York as it passed through the city. On July 26th, 
it was finally discharged, after having served four 
years, two months and fifteen days. During this long 
period it made a brilliant recard and participated in 
numerous battles, among which may be noted the 
following: It was in the thickest of the fight in the 
battle of Cedar Mountain, August 6, 1861, and lost 
heavily; at Antietam, September 17,1862, it served 
gallantly, capturing a flag from the enemy and losing 
about seventy of its members; at Chancellorsville it 
was hotly engaged for an hour and a half and lost 
one hundred and twenty-eight in killed and wounded; 
onthe2dand3d of July, 1863, it made a most hon- 
orable record at Gettysburg ; it accompanied General 
Sherman on his " grand march to the sea " in the lat- 
ter part of 18G4. On the 24th of May, 1865, it took 
part in the grand review of the whole arm}', after 
which it performed provost duty near Washington 
until it was mustered out of the service. 

COMI'ANY B, FlFTKENTH REGIMENT (FiTCHBURO 



Fusiliers). — As has been before stated, the Fusiliers 
and Guards belonged to the old Ninth Regiment, and 
it was expected that this regiment would be filled up 
and accepted as the old Ninth ; but instead of that, 
its number was assigned to a regiment of foreigners 
recruited in Boston. This left both of our companies 
out in the cold, so to speak. On the 11th of May, 
1861, the Fusiliers voted to volunteer for the war, 
and finally the company was ordered into camp at 
Worcester, and became Company B of the Fifteenth 
Regiment. 

It was on the 28th day of June, 1861, that the 
Fusiliers left for camp. In the morning of that day 
the citizens gathered at the town hall to bid them 
good-bye and God-speed. Remarks were made by 
prominent citizens, among them Dr. Jonas A. Mar- 
shall, captain of the "Old Fusiliers," who exhorted 
the soldiers to sustainthehonorof the" Old Fusiliers'' 
and their native town on all occasions. Captain 
Kimball responded on behalf of the company. Each 
soldier was then presented with a New Testament 
from the clergymen of the town, and a note was read, 
signed by the clergymen, asking their acceptance of 
this gift and expressing the hope that the little book 
might be of priceless value to them in the trying 
scenes of the future. 

After the soldiers had been gratuitously vaccinated 
by Drs. Hitchcock and Jewett, the company was es- 
corted to the Fitchburg Hotel to partake of a dinner 
provided by the citizens. After the dinner the " Old 
Fusiliers," under command of Captain Marshall and 
the " Second Edition '' of the Fusiliers, composed of 
younger men, under command of Capt. Eugene T. 
Miles, escorted the company to the depot. Thus left 
our first company of Fitchburg men, many of them 
never to return to their friends and native town. 

The Fifteenth Regiment was mustered into service 
July 12, 1861, and left the State August 8th, arriving 
in Washington three days later. On August 1st Capt. 
Kimball was promoted to major and Lieut. Clark S. 
Simonds to captain. 

The first engagement of the Fifteenth was at Ball's 
Bluff, October 21, 1861, in which its loss amounted to 
upward of three hundred men in killed, wounded and 
prisoners. 

April 29, 1862, Major Kimball was promoted to 
lieutenant-colonel and assumed command of the regi- 
ment, as its colonel was absent on account of wounds 
received at Ball's Blufl". Under Lieut.-Col. Kimball's 
command the Fifteenth took part in the siege of 
Yorktown and in a number of battles, the two most 
notable being Fair Oaks, May 31, 1862, and Antietam, 
September 17, 1862. In the first-mentioned battle the 
regiment behaved gallantly, and the bayonet charges 
by it at several critical periods during the battle won 
the admiration of Gen. Gorman, who commanded the 
brigade of which it was a part. In a private letter to 
Governor Andrew he asked "that the history of the 
' Fifteenth Massachusetts Volunteers may be made a 



FITCHBURG. 



235 



part of the history of the State, as associated with one 
of the moat brilliant exploits of the war." 

At Antietam the Fifteenth also distinguished itself, 
though at the great cost of three hundred and forty- 
three men, killed, wounded and missing. Lieutenant- 
Colonel Kimball was recommended for promotion for 
his gallantry and good management of his command 
during this terrible battle. 

After this the regiment was engaged in a campaign 
in the Shenandoah Valley and at Fredericksburg, 
December 12, 1862. Nothing of note occurred until 
June 25, 1863, when it began a forced march from 
the Rappahannock to Gettysburg. It was a hard 
march, but that the members of the regiment per- 
formed it well is shown by the following order read 
to them June 27th : 

Headqvarters 2d Division, 2d Corps. 
June 26th, 1SG3. 

General Orders^ No. 105. — The Fifteenth and Nineteenth Massachusetts 
Volunteers for niarcliing in the best and most compact order, and with 
the least straggling from their ranks, are excused from all picket duty 
and outside duty for four days. 

By command of 

Brig.-Gen'l Gibbon. 

The record of the Fifteenth at Gettysburg July 
2-4, 1863, was very brilliant. "The regiment went 
into action with eighteen officers and two hundred 
and twenty-one enlisted men. During the three days 
it lost three officers (Col. Ward, Capt. Murkland, of 
Fitchburg, and Lieut. Jorgensen) killed, eight officers 
wounded, nineteen enlisted men killed, eighty-flve 
wounded, many of them mortally." 

In the spring of 1864 there were about three hun- 
dred officers and men in the regintent, and nearly half 
of this number were killed and wounded in the bat- 
tle of the ^Vilderness early in May of that year. 
During the next few weeks it took part in all 
the marches and battles in which the Second Corps 
was engaged, from the Rapidan to Petersburg, and on 
the 22d of the following June, reduced to five nfficers 
and uvruhj men, it confronted a large force of the 
enemy "near the Jerusalem plank road before Peters- 
burg." Here, by a hidden manoeuvre of the enemy, 
it was flanked, and all, except one officer and four 
men, were taken prisoners. This officer was wounded 
the same day, and the four men ♦'ere placed in another 
command until more of the officers and men came 
from the hospitals. Its three years' term of service 
having expired, the regiment was, on July 12, 1864, 
ordered to proceed to Worcester, where it arrived on 
the 21st, about one hundred and fifty strong. The 
State and city officials gave it a rousing reception, 
and on the same evening all that were left of the 
Fusiliers and were able to travel (about twenty men) 
arrived in Fitchburg and were given a public recep- 
tion. 

Such is a brief account of the brilliant, though sad, 
record of one of the best regiments Massachusttts 
sent out; and Fitchburg has every rea.'ion to be proud 
of the prominent part which the officers and men fur- 



nished by the town took in the making of its glorious 
history. 

Company D, Twenty-first Regiment (Wash- 
ington Guards). — For some cause or other the 
Guards were not allowed to go with the Fusiliers, 
though desirous of so doing ; and it was not until 
July 19. 1801, that the company was ordered into 
camp at Worcester and became Company D of the 
Twenty-first Regiment. Their departure was the oc- 
casion of another public demonstration by the citi- 
zens, consisting of a meeting in the town hall, a 
dinner at the American House and a grand parade. 

The Twenty-first Regiment left Worcester August 
23, 1801. It was first under fire at the battle of 
Roanoke Island, February 8, 1802, when it acquitted 
itself nobly and was the first to plant a Union flag in- 
side the enemy's works. It lost fifty-seven men, killed 
and wounded, in this battle. Our own Company D 
was honored after the battle by the presentation to 
its captain, Theodore S. Foster, of a flag by Lieuten- 
ant-Colonel A. C. Maggi, commanding the Twenty- 
first. Accompanying the flag was a note which 
concluded thus : " You may inscribe on the flag 
these words : The Officers of the Twenty first Regiment, 
M. v., to the brave Captain T. S. Foster, of Co. D." 
The flag and note were sent by Captain Foster to 
the Fitchburg Public Library, to be there preserved. 

March 14, 1802, the regiment took part in the 
battle of Kewbern, and was highly commended in 
the official report for its bravery. General Burnside, 
after the battle, presented to it the first gun (a brass 
field-piece) which it captured from the enemy. Its 
loss in this action was three officers and fifty-four 
men, killed and wounded. 

April 19th it arrived at Elizabeth City, and, after a 
forced march of twenty miles, took part in the battle 
of Camden. 

July 9th it arrived at Newport News and became 
part of the Army of the Potomac, and, during the 
rest of 1802, it was almost constautly on the move. It 
took part in General Pope's campaign, and, in the 
disastrous retreat that followed, it suffered great 
hardships. It also participated in the following 
battles, with great credit to itself, during the latter 
part of 1862 : Second Bull Run, Chantilly, Antietam 
and Fredericksburg. The regiment's losses in these 
four battles were two hundred and sixly-six officers 
and men killed, wounded and taken prisoners. 

During most of 1863 the regiment did picket duty 
in Kentucky and Tennessee. It was a part of the 
besieged force that was shut up in Knoxville for 
some weeks in November, and was on duty constantly 
and made several brilliant charges during the siege ; 
and when the siege was finally raised, December 5,^ 
1803, the Twenty-first was one of the regiments 
ordered to pursue the enemy. " From that time the 
regiment saw weary marches and constant exposure, 
and was reduced to such an extremity that tioo ears of 
raw corn per day Were issued to each man as his 



236 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



ration. Thus situated, in the woods of East Tennes- 
see, on the 29th of December, 18G3, the proposal was 
made to the regiment to re-enlist for the new term of 
three years, and in thirty-six hours all but twenty-four 
of the regiment had re-enlisted." 

January 8, 18G4, the Twenty-first started for home 
on a "veteran furlough," and received a public recep- 
tion on its arrival in Worcester. At the expiration 
of the furlough it returned to the scene of operations, 
and was in season to take a prominent part in the 
battle of the Wilderness, May 6, 1864, but was for- 
tunate enough to suffer a comparatively light loss, — 
three officers and twelve men. 

June 16th the regiment arrived before Petersburg, 
having been almost constantly engaged in skirmishes 
and battles wiih the enemy during their entire 
march, and having lost upwards of one hundred offi- 
cers and men within the five weeks preceding. On 
the following day it participated in a brilliant charge 
on the enemy's works; and from that date to July 
30th was constantly in the rifle-pits at the front. 

V On the 30th occurred the explosion of the mine, 
and this regiment was in the division which rushed 
into the ' crater,' only to be repulsed with severe 
loss." 

This was the last engagement in which the Twenty- 
first participated, as soon afterward " it was decided 
that the Regiment was not a 'veteran regiment,' be- 
cause of the Ihree-fourths that had re-enlisted, fifty- 
six had been rejected for various reasons, and it was 
ordered that the Regiment be broken up, and the 
officers and non-enlisted men proceed home to be 
mustered out." 

On August 30, 1864, the regiment was accordingly 
mustered out at Worcester. This breaking up of the 
organization was a great disappointment to all who 
had ever been connected with it, and certainly its 
history during the three years of its existence reflects 
much honor and credit on both officers and men. It 
is gratifying to state here that Captain Foster, who 
went out as the commander of Company D, was pro- 
moted to major May 17, 1862, and to lieutenant-colo- 
nel September 2, 1862. 

Company F, Twenty-fifth Regiment. — In the 
autumn of 1861 authority was granted to raise the 
Twenty-fifth Regiment, and Edwin Upton, of this 
town, was appointed its colonel. The old Guards 
formed the nucleus of the company raised in Fitch- 
burg, of which Charles H. Fo^s was appointed cap- 
tain. 

Recruits came in rather slowly, and September 23, 
1861, a large meeting of the citizens was held at the 
town hall to help recruiting in town. David H. Mer- 
riam, Esq., presided, and Hon. Goldsmith F. Bailey 
made an eloquent address. This meeting had good 
results, and Capt. Foss had Company F filled in less 
than a month after he began to raise it. 

About October 1, 18GI, the company left town for 
Worcester, and on the day of their departure from 



Fitchburg a parade was held, after which the com- 
pany enjoyed a dinner provided for its members at 
the American House, through the liberality of Charles 
T. Crocker, Esq. After the dinner remarks were 
made by Mr. Crocker, Amasa Norcross, Esq., and 
Rev. George Trask, and later in the afternoon Com- 
pany F left us amid great enthusiasm and hearty 
God-speeds. 

On the 10th of October some of the friends of Col. 
Upton united in the presentation to him of a fine 
horse and set of equipments as a token of their esteem 
and regard. The presentation speech was made by 
Amasa Norcross, Esq., and Col. Upton feelingly re- 
turned thanks to his fellow-citizens for their splendid 
gift, after which he invited them to partake of a col- 
lation at the American House. Earnest remarks were 
made by Hon. Moses Wood, Hon. J. W. Mansur and 
other gentlemen present. 

October 31, 1861, the Twenty-fifth left Worcester 
and went to Annapolis, where the next two months 
were spent in drilling, during which time it acquired 
such proficiency that it was complimented officially 
as one of the best of the large number of regiments 
gathered there. 

As in the case of the Twenty-first Regiment, the 
Twenty-fifth's first baptism of fire was at Roanoke 
Island. At this battle it did good service, fighting in 
the front ranks for three hours, when, their ammuni- 
tion being exhausted, the regiment was ordered to the 
rear. Its loss in this battle was forty-eight killed and 
wounded. A month later the regiment was engaged 
at the battle of Newbern. Here it made a gallant 
charge on the breast-works of the enemy, and was the 
first to plant the State colors on the work. It was 
also the first regiment that entered the city of New- 
bern. Its loss was miraculously small, — twenty killed 
and wounded. 

From this time until about December 1, 1863, the 
regiment was in the vicinity of Newbern, doing 
picket duty and having occasional skirmishes with 
the enemy. 

On account of poor health Col. Upton was obliged 
to resign his command of the Twenty-fifth, much to 
the regret of his men ; and at ihe time of his retiring 
he was presented by tfce enlisted men of the regiment 
with a beautiful sword, belt and .sash, costing one 
thousand dollars. Col. Josiah Pickett succeeded 
him in the command. 

Early in 1864 a furlough was granted, and the 
Twenty-fifth returned to Massachusetts, receiving a 
most hearty welcome in Boston and Worcester. It 
left Boston for the field March 21, 1864, and early in 
May was engaged in several sharp conflicts not far 
from Richmond. In one of these engagements, by a 
singular coincidence, the Twenty-third, Twenty-fifth 
and Twenty-seventh Massachusetts Regiments were 
directly opposed to the Twenty-third, Twenty-fifth 
and Twenty-seventh South Carolina Regiments. On 
this occasion Massachusetts got the better of South 



FITCHBURG. 



237 



I 



Carolina. It was a sharp struggrle, and among the 
killed was First Lieut. Charles E. Upton, of Fitch- 
burg. A week later, while moving towards Richmond, 
the regiment was attacked by the Rebels, and came 
near being captured. The official report of this ac- 
tion says : 

" The Twenty-fifth fought splendidly, holding 
their ground with the utmost tenacity, inflicting on 
the charging columns of the enemy the most terrible 
slaughter until surrounded, and with their ammuni- 
tion exhausted, they were ordered to face by the rear 
rank and charge the Rebel line in the rear, thereby 
throwing the enemy into such confusion as to enable 
the regiment to extricate itself from one of the most 
perilous positions troops were ever placed in, and 
completely checking the advance of the enemy.'' 

The losses of the regiment in all these contests 
during the month of May, 18G4, amounted to twenty- 
six killed and one hundred and fifteen wounded. 

On the 3d of the following June the Twenty-fifth 
underwent its most terrible experience of the war in 
tlie battle of Cold Harbor. During the day this 
regiment made a most heroic assault upon the Rebel 
lines, and held the position they attained, though at 
a terrible expense of life. The total loss of the regi- 
ment in this battle was as follows : 4 officers and 
23 men killed; 11 officers and 128 men wounded ; 2 
officers and 47 men missing. Among the killed 
were — James Graham, Jr., of Fitchburg, second lieu- 
tenant of Company F, and Lieut. -Col. George E. 
Marshall, of the Fortieth Massachusetts Regiment, 
who was also a Fitchburg boy. 

This was the last regular battle in which the Twenty- 
fifth participated. June 13th it went to the "Point 
of Rocks," on the Appomattox River, and two days 
later made an assault on the enemy's works, carrying 
the position and capturing two cannon, and on the 
18th made another charge which was unsuccessful. 
The loss in these two assaults was seven killed and 
thirty-one wounded. 

October 5, 18(34, the portion of the regiment whose 
term of service had expired was ordered to Worces- 
ter ami mustered out October 20th. The remainder, 
consolidated into a battalion of four companies, re- 
mained in North Carolina, taking part in only one en- 
gagement (Wise's Forks) during the period of its stay. 
July 13, 1865, it was ordered to Massachusetts to be 
mustered out, thus closing the record of the gallant 
Twenty-fifth. 

Company A, Thirty-sixth Regiment.— In July, 
1862, President Lincoln issued a call for three hun- 
dred thousand men, and authority was given to raise 
the Thirty-sixth Regiment. Fitchburg's proportion 
was found to be ninety-seven and Captain Thaddeus 
L. Barker, of the ''Old Guards," was appointed to raise 
a company. 

On July 12, 1862, a large citizens' meeting was held 
in the town hall, at which resolutions, presented by 
Thornton K. Ware, Esq., were adopted, recommend- 



ing the calling of a town-meeting at an early date to 
take measures for offering a bounty of seventy-five 
dollars to every recruit. A committee was also chosen 
to canvass the town for recruits. 

A town-meeting was held just a week later at which 
it was voted to "authorize and instruct our selectmen 
to appropriate and pay one hundred dollars, as a 
bounty, to each and every acceptable recruit, when he 
shall have been mustered into the United States ser- 
vice and shall have joined the Volunteer Company 
now forming in this town, or either of the three com- 
panies from this town, now at the seat of war; not to 
exceed in all the sum of ten thousand and one hun- 
dred dollars." 

Ourquota was soon filled, and on August 1, 1862, the 
company left town amid cheer.sand great enthusiasm. 

Lieut.-Col. John W. Kimball, of the Fifteenth, was 
designated as colonel of the Thirty-sixth, but being 
unable to obtain his discharge from the Fifteenth, 
Major Bowman, of the Thirty-fourth, was apijointed 
its colonel. 

The regiment arrived in Washington September 7, 
1862, and on the 20th joined Gen. Burnside's army at 
Sharpsburg, Md., arriving a little too late to take part 
at Antietam. For some time it was in various parts 
of Virginia and witnessed its first battle at Freder- 
icksburg, but was not actively engaged, being held in 
reserve, and having only two men wounded. 

During the following winter nothing of note 
occurred. Early in April, 1863, the Thirty-sixth was 
sent to Cincinnati to guard the polls at the election 
of the mayor of that city. After the surrender of 
Vicksburg, July 4, 1863, this regiment, with others, 
pursued the enemy and lost eight men in skirmishes. 
Then followed their trying campaign in Mississippi, 
in which the regiment lost one hundred and fifty men 
by death and discharge on account of disease and 
exhaustion. 

During the autumn it was engaged in several minor 
battles, losing about thirty men. It was present at 
the siege of Knoxville and suffi^red with the rest from 
lack of food. After the siege was raised the Thirty- 
sixth joined in the pursuit of the enemy, and during 
the winter of 1863-64 suffered very severely from lack 
of food and clothing. At one period the rations were 
" si.c spoonfuls of flour a day for seven days and what 
corn could be picked up from under the feet of mules 
and horses." 

On the 6th of April, 1864, the regiment arrived at 
Annapolis, where the men received new clothing and 
good food and enjoyed a much-needed, though short, 
rest. A month later it took part in the battle of the 
Wilderness, where "the regiment acquitted itself 
nobly, charging the enemy three times with a loss of 
two officers and sixty-two men killed and wounded.'' 
The battles of Spottsylvania and Cold Harbor fol- 
lowed soon after, and the regiment was engaged in 
both and lost heavily, — one hundred and twenty-six 
officers and men killed and wounded. 



238 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



June 16, 1864, the Thirty-sixth arrived before 
Petersburg and on the following day made a gallant 
charge on the enemy's works, capturing four cannon 
and four hundred and fifty prisoners; and for the 
next four weeks it was in the rifle-pits, at the front, 
and lost some twenty men, picked oft" by the rebel 
sharpshooters. It remained in the vicinity of Peters- 
burg until April 1, 18G5. 

The regiment was mustered out of the service June 
8, 1865, and arrived in Worcester two days later, 
where it received a hearty public reception by the 
citizens. 

Captain Thaddeus L. Barker, of Company A, was 
promoted to major, May 6,1864; lieutenant-colonel, 
October 12, 1864, and to colonel, November 13, 
1864. 

Companies A and B, Fifty-third Regiment. — 
In August, 1862, a call was issued for troops to serve 
nine months. Fitchburg's citizens took hold in ear- 
nest, and in a few days two entire companies were 
enrolled. After the ranks were filled, the town voted, 
August 30th, to give each of the nine months' volun- 
teers from this town one hundred dollars bounty. 
Euo'ene T. Miles was commissioned captain of Com- 
pany A, and Jonas Corey captain of Company B, 
both companies being attached to the Fifty-third 
Regiment. 

Lieutenant-Colonel John W. Kimball, of the Fif- 
teenth, was designated colonel of the Fifty-third, and 
assumed his command of it November 29, 1862. On 
that date he received a fine horse and set of equip- 
ments from a few of his many friends in Fitchburg. 

The Fifty-third started for New York November 
29th, to join General Banks' expedition. On account 
of the prevalence of a mild form of scarlet fever 
among the men, the regiment did not leave for the 
South until January 17, 1863. It then went by 
steamer from New York to New Orleans, and thence 
to Baton Rouge. 

The regiment was first under fire Ap:il 12, 1863, at 
Fort Bisland, and was actively engaged on the follow- 
ing day. During the next night the enemy evacuated 
the works, and at daybreak on the 14th, Fort Bisland 
was in possession of the Union army, and the flag of 
the Fifty-third was the first to be planted on its ram- 
parts. In this battle Lieutenant Nutting, of this town, 
in command of Company A, was killed, as were also 
thirteen privates. 

The regiment participated in the pursuit of the 
enemy, capturing many prisoners and driving in a lot 
of cattle. It accompanied the army to Opelousas and 
Alexandria, and arrived at Port Hudson May 22, 1863, 
where it remained until July lllh, much of the time 
being actively engaged with the enemy. The first 
general attack on the works at Port Hudson took 
place May 27th, and during that day and the next the 
Fifty-third was at the front, in hot conflict a large 
portion of the time. Its loss was thirty killed and 
wounded. From the 1st to the 4th of June the regi- 



ment was in the rifle-pits to the front, and from the 
5th to the 8th joined in an expedition to Clinton. It 
was a severe march, and several men in the regiment 
were sunstruck. The enemy retired from Clinton 
without giving battle. The Fifty-third returned to 
Port Hudson on the evening of the 8th, and remained 
in comparative quiet until the 13th ; on the evening 
of the 13th orders were given for it to join in an 
assault on the works of the rebels at three o'clock the 
next morning. Four regiments were designated to 
make this assault — the Fourth Wisconsin, Eighth 
New Hampshire, Thirty-eighth and Fifty-third Massa- 
chusetts — and at the appointed time they myved upon 
the enemy's works. The rebels opened a murderous 
fire upon the heroic men, but their line did not waver. 
It advanced on the double-quick close to the works, 
but was not strong enough to carry them, and no sup- 
ports came to its aid. It was a gallant, but most dis- 
astrous, charge. The Fifty-third lost eighty-six men 
killed and wounded. One of the killed was Captain 
Taft, of Fitchburg, the third commander lost by Com- 
pany A in two months. The bravery of the Fifty- 
third in this charge was highly commended, and 
Colonel Kimball, for special gallantry, was recom- 
mended for promotion. 

Just previous to the first general attack on Port 
Hudson a most deplorable accident befell the Fifty- 
third. It happened thus : On the night of May 25, 
1863, it was ordered to do picket duty, General 
Paine, who gave the order, honoring the regiment by 
saying " he wanted this Regiment, because he knew 
he could depend upon it to hold the position during 
the night." Soon after taking their position for the 
night, the rebels at their front opened fire, which was 
unwittingly returned by two New Yoik regiments in 
the rear, thus placing the Fifty-third between two 
fires. Fortunately the firing was stopped before 
much damage was done ; but it was at this time that 
Captain George H. Bailey, of Fitchburg, was killed. 
He was in command of Company A, having received 
his appointment only one week previous to his 
death. 

Port Hudson surrendered July 9, 1863, and the 
Fifty-third, after doing picket duty for two days, 
started for Baton Rouge, and on the 15lh went to 
Donaldsonville, where it was in camp, and engaged 
in drill and picket duty till August 2d, when it re- 
turned to Baton Rouge. Its nine months' term of 
service having expired, it was ordered to Massachu- 
setts. 

A grand public reception was given it at Fitchburg 
August 24th, on which day fully eight thousand peo- 
ple from surrounding towns were present to witness 
the return of the brave soldiers. An address of wel- 
come was delivered by Amasa Norcross, Esq., to 
which Colonel Kimball responded for the regiment. 
A procession was then formed and marched to the 
upper Common, where a bountiful collation, prepared 
by the ladies, was e/ijoyed by all. 



FITCHBURG. 



239 



The regiment was mustered out of the service Sep- 
tember 2, 18GS, at Camp Stevens. 

The Fifty-third was in service for only a compara- 
tively short time, but it made for itself a most bril- 
liant record, and, in the wcrds of the various gen- 
erals it served under, " it ought to have been a three 
years' regiment." 

Considering the short time it was in service, its 
loss from disease was something fearful, as the fol- 
lowing statement, given by Mr. Willis, in his book, 
shows : 

Original strength of regiment 950 

Killed in_ battle and died of wounds 33 

Died of disease 132 

Discharged for disability 53 

Deserted 22 



240 



Mustered out.. 



Many of the members of the regiment who re- 
turned home had disease fastened upon them, from 
which they never recovered ; some twenty dying 
within a few days after reaching home. 

Company F, Fifty-seventh Regiment. — Octo- 
ber 17, 1863, President Lincoln issued a call for three 
hundred thousand more men. Fitchburg's quota 
was found to be one hundred and twenty, and Cap- 
tain Levi Lawrence was authorized to raise a com- 
pany in town. 

It took a long time to fill the ranks, and many 
meetings were held and strenuous efforts made by the 
citizens before the company was ready to start. 
Finally, on February 6, 18(34, it left for camp at 
Worcester, under command of Captain Lawrence, 
and became Company F, of the Fifty-seventh Regi- 
ment. 

The Fifty-seventh left Massachusetts April 18th 
and arrived at Annapolis two days later, whence it 
proceeded to Washington and was immediately 
ordered to the front. 

Its first battle was at the Wilderness, where it was 
hotly engaged for one hour, in which time its loss was 
two hun<lred and fifty-one officers and men killed, 
wounded and missing. 

May 12th it took part at Spottsylvauia and lest 
seventy-two officers and men, and on the 18ih, in a 
reconnoisance, lost seventeen more. On the 24th it 
was ordered to cross the North Anna River to test the 
strength of the rebels, was attacked on both flanks 
and lost its lieutenant-colonel and thirty-six men. 

The regiment then went to Cold Harbor, and was 
engaged in that vicinity for a lew days and then 
marched to Petersburg, where itarrived June 16, 1864, 
and remained for several months. Ou the 30th of 
July it participated in the assault at the explosion of 
the mine, and lost six officers and forty-five men in 
the disastrous attempt. 

During the following two months the Fifty-seventh 
was engaged in picket duty near Petersburg, and on 
September 30th was in the battle of Poplar Grove 



Church. At this time there were inly sixty men in the 
regiment present for duty, and eight of them were 
lost in this action. 

During the next three months the regiment, or 
rather what there was left of it, was engaged in recon- 
noitering and skirmishing, losing, during the period, 
some twenty men. 

In a movement on the Weldon Railroad in Decem- 
ber, 1864, the men suffered extremely from cold. For 
some time afterward it lay in the lines before Peters- 
burg, with the exception of a short period when it 
joined in a reconnoi.sance towards Weldon about the 
middle of Februaiy, 1865. The intense cold during 
much of the winter caused severe suffering. 

On March 25, 1865, the Fifty-seventh was engaged 
in the memorable repulse of Gordon's corps, and 
earned for itself a proud record. 

Petersburg was evacuated on April 3d, and on that 
day the regiment entered the works and was ordered 
to guard the roads to Richmond and Chesterfield. 
Soon afterward it went to Washington and performed 
provost duty at various points in that vicinity until 
July 30th, when it was mustered out after a service of 
about fifteen months, during which time it made for 
itself a most honorable and enviable record. 

Company H, Fourth Heavy Artillery. — This 
was the last company raised in this town, and was 
recruited under President Lincoln's call, issued July 
IS, 1864, for one year troops. As the bounty was large 
iS200), and the term of service short, the company 
was very quickly raised, a large proportion of the 
men in it having seen service in other Fitchburg com- 
panies. Eben T. Hayward, of this town, was uhosen 
captain, and the company left Fitchburg for Readville 
August 15th, and left the State for Washington Sept- 
ember 13, 1864. It was then consolidated with various 
other unattached companies as the Fourth Heavy 
Artillery Regiment, and designated Company H. 

This regiment was assigned the duty of garrisoning 
various forts on the Virginia side of the Potomac, and 
Company H, during most of its term of service, occu- 
pied " Fort Garasche," where there was little to do 
except to drill in artillery and infantry practice. It 
was an uneventful year for the men. They faithfully 
performed their allotted tasks and received mmh 
praise " for their good drill and soldier-like conduct." 

The regiment was mustered out of service June 
17, 1865. 

The Call For Three Months' Troops.— To- 
ward the end of May, 1862, when Gen. Banks' army 
was routed and the rebels were rapidly approaching 
the national capital, the President hurriedly issued 
a call to the Governors of all the States to send on all 
three months' troops that could be spared for the 
defence of Washington. 

Gov. Andrew's call upon the Massachusetts militia 
reached Fitchburg early Monday morning. May 26, 
1862. Both the Guards and Fusiliers had efficient 
organizations at that time, and were ready to respond 



240 



HISTORi^ OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



to any sudden call. The men assembled at their 
armories, and at 5 o'clock in the afternoon took the 
train for Boston, the Fusiliers, witli sixty-six men, 
under Capt. Eugene T. Miles, and the Guards, with 
fifty-eight men, under Capt. Jonas Corey. 

" Among the incidents of this exciting day may be 
mentioned the fact that wlien the order of Captain 
Miles reached the shop of Whitman & Miles (of 
which firm the captain was a member) fifteen men 
dropped their tools and stepped forward to join the 
ranks of the ' Fusiliers,' and the firm, not at all dis- 
turbed at this wholesale reduction of their 'available 
force,' at once gave another proof of their patriotism 
by presenting ten dollars to each of the fifteen." 

Our men, together with other companies that had 
been hurried to Boston, were quartered for two nights 
in Faneuil Hall. But the alarm at Washington soon 
subsided and Governor Andrew received a telegram 
saying that the troops were not needed ; so the men 
were dismissed and Wednesday afternoon, May 28th, 
the Fusi/iers and Guards returned to Fitchburg in 
high feather, had a parade through the streets aud 
were treated to a collation by the jubilant citizens. 

Though these men did not go to the " seat of war," 
yet it was their expectation and intention so to do, 
and their prompt response is worthy of record in a 
history of Fitchburg. The majority of them saw 
service and fought bravely in the companies sent out 
later from this town. 

March 13, 1865, Colonel Kimball was made brevet 
brigadier-general United States Volunteers, "for 
gallant and distinguished services in the field and 
during the war." 

By way of summary, it may be stated that of the 
citizens of this town who went to the war, one was 
brevet brigadier-general, two were colonels, two 
lieutenant-culonels, two majors, two surgeons, four 
brevet majors, seventeen captains, twenty first lieu- 
tenants, seven second lieutenants, three navy officers 
and sixteen seamen in the navy, six hundred and 
ninety-three non-commissioned officers, musicians 
and privates, making a grand total of seven hundred 
and sixty-nine men — nearly one-tenth of Fitchburg 's 
population at that time. Of this number sixty were 
killed in battle, sixty-eight died from wounds, disease 
or starvation in rebel prisons, twenty-five were taken 
prisoners and eighty-four received wounds from 
which they recovered. 

Much more might have been written about our 
brave soldiers if space would permit, and the writer 
would be glad also to give some history of the naval 
experience of the sixteen war-ships and gunboats, on 
board of which were citizens and natives of this 
town. Suffice it, however, to say that there were very 
few great battles in the War of the Rebellion in which 
Fitchburg men did not participate with credit to 
themselves and honor to the town. 

It remains to speak of what was done by the citizens 
of Fitchburg who remained at home during the war. 



Of the large amount of private benevolence and 
assistance no record has been, or ever can be, written : 
but of the work of the town and of various benevolent 
societies, a record can be given which, if elaborated, 
would form one of the most interesting portions of 
Fitchburg's history. 

It will be remembered that at the very beginning 
of the war the town appropriated $10,000 for the 
equipment of our soldiers and support of their 
families ; and at every annual town-meeting during 
the war the following vote was passed : " Voted, That 
the Selectmen be authorized to pay for the support of 
the families of Volunteers such sums as they think 
their circumstances require." 

The money thus voted was in addition to the "State 
Aid " authorized by the Legislature to be paid by 
towns. By this generous provision of the town the 
selectmen, aided by the hearty co-operation of the 
citizens, were enabled to relieve all cases of need ; 
and it is safe to say that no soldier's family in Fitch- 
burg sufiered from lack of the necessaries of life 
during all the period of the war. 

Of the two principal societies organized in this town 
for the relief and assistance of soldiers we propose 
to give a brief account, and the first to be spoken 
of is 

The Ladies' Soldiers' Aid Society. — The ladies 
of Fitchburg, as has been stated before, began their 
work of preparing clothing, etc., previous to the 
departure of our soldiers ; and this work they unre- 
mittingly continued while the war lasted. 

In order that their good work might be carried on 
in a methodical and efficient manner, it was thought 
best to organize a society, and, at a meeting held 
September 16, 1861, this "Soldiers' Aid Society" was 
formed, and Mrs. Ebenezer Torrey was chosen presi- 
dent, with Mrs. Amasa Norcross as secretary. The 
prime object of this society, as stated in its constitu- 
tion, was " to furnish to the soldiers engaged in the 
present war of our country such aid as may be in our 
power." Most faithfully did the members carry out 
this object to the end. Any lady could become a 
member on p-iyment of twenty-five cents, and it is 
needless to say that the membership was very large. 
All the preparation of work, purchasing and general 
direction of aflairs werje vested in a board of twelve 
directresses, chosen, with the other officers, annually. 

The funds of the society were derived from mem- 
bership fees and annual assessments, but were largely 
increased by private donations and church contribu- 
tions; and the Dramatic Club, the Musical Associa- 
tion and the "Relief Committee " placed goodly sums 
at its disposal. The "Old Folks" choir also gave 
concerts at various times and donated the proceeds 
to the society. 

One of the first things done by this society was the 
preparation of boxes of clothing, etc., which were 
sent to the Twenty-first and Twenty-fifth Regiments 
at Annapolis, and also blankets and winter clothing 



FITCHBURG. 



241 



sent to the Fifteenth at Poolesville; and in return 
the secretary of the so -iety received letters from the 
commanders of the Fitchburg companies conveying 
their sincere and lieartfelt thanks. Tiie Thirty-sixtli 
and Fifty-third Regiments were similarly provided 
for before they left the State. 

At the time the Fifty-third was detained in New 
York, in the winter of 1862-63, under very uncom- 
fortable circumstances, the society, on January 1, 
1863, sent to the members of Companies A and B an 
inviting dinner of roast turkey and New England 
plum-pudding and pics. That the dinner "went to 
the right spot " was amply attested by the acknowl- 
edgments received in return. 

Of course the intention of our Soldiers' Aid Society 
was to make the Fitchburg boys its chief care ; but 
its work was by no means limited to them. During 
the war it sent large amounts of various supplies and 
necessaries to the Sanitary and Christian Commis- 
sions, the Massachusetts Relief Association at Wash- 
ington, the New England Soldiers' Relief Association 
at New York, the Worcester Relief Society and to 
persons known to the society who were caring for the 
wounded in the hospitals. From all these societies 
and individuals thus aided came scores of apprecia- 
tive and thankful letters. 

The actual amount of money received and ex- 
pended for relief by this society during its existence 
was something over one thousand five hundred dol- 
lars ; but of the innumerable gifts of clothing, bed- 
ding, delicacies for the sick and wounded, no esti- 
mate of value can ever be made. 

The society held stated meetings, but there were 
times in its history when sudden and imperative calls 
were made upon it; and lis earnest members, putting 
aside their household duties, worked, as we may say, 
day and night, for the soldiers. One such occasion as 
this was when, in May, 1862, tlie Fusiliers and Guards 
were ordered to report in Boston, ready for duty, at 
a few hours' notice. In I'elation to this emergency 
the records of the society contain the following: — 
" Forthwith, the ladies, Monday morning though it 
was, snatched sewing implements, and in rapid haste 
gathered at the Town Hall, to fit out our men with 
flannel shirts and other appropriate garments, and 
sewing-machines and busy fingers vied with each 
other to achieve the work." 

And in the same way, when the wires flashed to us 
the news of some terrible battle raging, as at Gettys- 
burg, the Wilderness, or other fields of carnage and 
suffering, the ladies flew to their work of mercy and 
comfort. All honor to the ladies of Fitchburg who 
performed this vast amount of noble work ! Many of 
them have long since left us and gone to their reward ; 
but, whether living or dead, their labors during those 
long, dark years are, and ever will be, remembered, 
and will remain as an everlasting memorial of their 
self sacrificing devotion to the cause of liberty and 
the relief of suffering. 
16 



When the Rebellion was crushed and the army dis- 
banded, the necessity of thi< society ceased. Its last 
meeting was he'd June 22, 1805, " no member regret- 
ting she had been identified with its labors, but rather 
that it could not more truthfully be said of her, 'she 
hath done what she could.' " 

The second relief organization iu Fitchburg, of 
which we propose to give a brief account, was 
known as 

The Soldiers' Relief Committee. — This was a 
large organization composed of gentlemen living in 
all section4 of the town, and did a vast amount of 
good work during the two years of its existence. 

It was started at a citizens' meeting in the town 
hall, September 26, 1861, its object being "to organize 
for the more effectual aid and comfort of the soldiers 
in the field from this town and their families." 

A sub-committee of eighteen was chosen "to raise 
funds to aid enlistments, to procure comforts for our 
soldiers and their families and take such other action 
in the matter as may be deemed expedient.'' 

This committee to raise funds, etc., went to work 
immediately, and collected considerable money, 
farm produce and clothing ; and the following-named 
gentlemen were appointed an executive committee 
to distribute the same : Dr. Thomas R. Boutelle, 
Alvah Crocker, Lewis H. Bradford, Hanson L. Reed 
and Henry A. Willis. 

Tills executive committee immediately issued a 
circular, which was distributed among the citizens 
requesting that all cases of destitution in the families 
of volunteers be reported without delay. 

On October 21, 1861, occurred the battle at Ball's 
Bluff, in which the Fifteenth Regiment lost heavily. 
Our own Company B, of that regiment, suff'ered 
terribly in the battle, and Capt. Clark S. Simonds 
and eighteen of his men were captured and impris- 
oned at Richmond. Nothing was known here con- 
cerning their fate till letters were received from 
Capt. Simonds informing us of the imprisonment of 
himself and his men, and making an earnest appeal 
for his men, who were suffering for lack of clothing 
and money. This news did not reach us till Novem- 
ber 20th, a month after the battle. A meeting of 
the citizens was forthwith called, and held on the 
evening of the 20th, at which seven hundred dollars 
in cash were raised, and about one hundred dollars' 
worth of clothing contributed by the merchants. 
This money and clothing, together with blankets, etc., 
given by the Soldiers' Aid Society, were consigned to 
the hands of Henry A. Willis, Esq., who started with 
them for Fortress Monroe ou November 26th, whence 
they were in due time forwarded to our boys at Rich- 
mond. At this time Mr. Willis visited the camps of 
the Fifteenth, Twenty-finst and Twenty-fifch Regi- 
ments. About three weeks after the supplies were 
forwarded from Fitchburg, a letter was received from 
Captain Simonds, acknowledging the receipt of the 
money and clothing and conveying his thanks, on be- 



242 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



half of his men, for the prompt and generous response 
which the people of Fitchburg had made to his appeal.. 
The letter also contained the following, which is cer- 
tainly worthy o f record in this place: 

It is a fact of wbich I sluill ever speak with pride, that FUchhurg wna 
thejirst and onhf town as yet to aid her prisoner/*, and Masisachusetts the 
only State. Since the clothing came from Fitchburg, clothing of all 
kinds, enough for three hundred and fifty men, has arrived, sent by the 
State authoritiea of Massachusetts, for the relief of her men now here in 
captivity, placing them in comfort, in this respect, for the winter. 

This statement that Fitchburg was the Jirsl toxon in 
the whole North to send aid to suffering prisoners is in- 
deed one that may justly inspire a feeling of pride. 
Many other towns soon followed her example, but ere 
long the inhuman orders of the rebel authorities made 
it impossible for our supplies ever to reach the starv- 
ing and almost naked Union prisoners. 

Our citizens mont willingly contributed money to be 
placed at the disposal of the Soldiers' Relief Commit- 
tee, and the town, on December 14, 18G1, voted to 
appropriate the sum of one thousand dollars to help it 
in its noble work, and until the committee ceased to 
exist, in October, 1863, it carefully sought out the 
needy families of soldiers and relieved their wants. 
About two thousand dollars was thus disbursed, be- 
side a very large amount of clothing, farm produce, 
&c., of which no accurate account was ever kept. 
After October, 1863, this work was conscientiously 
carried on by the citizens and the town until the close 
of the war. 

During the whole course of the war, when news 
reached us of great battles, either the Soldiers' Re- 
lief Committee or the citizens very quickly despatched 
committees io the front with generous amounts of 
supplies, and to look after and bring home the 
wounded. Such action was taken after the battles of 
Ball's Bluf}', Roanoke Island, Antietam, Fredericks- 
burg, Gettysburg, the Wilderness, Cold Harbor and 
the battles before Petersburg. 

Lack of space prevents us from giving an account of 
all this, and the mere details of a few of the more im- 
portant contributions after some of the great battles 
must suffice. After the battle of Gettysburg there 
were sent, on July 14, 1863, in charge of Henry F. 
Coggshall, Esq., $1079.60 in money, and nine barrels 
and five large boxes packed solidly with clotliiug, 
bandages, liquors, wines and delicacies for the sick 
and wounded. 

News of the battle of the Wilderness reached Fitch- 
burg May 8, 1864. It was Sunday, and that evening 
a meeting of the citizens was held in the town hall, 
the result of which was that in less than twenty-four 
hours after the meeting Dr. Alfred Hitchcock and 
Messrs. H. A. Goodrich and E. B. Hayward started 
for the front, taking with them seventeen hundred 
dollars in cash and sixteen barrels and bundles of 
carefully selected stores for the sick and wounded. 
This promptness and generosity of our citizens re- 
ceived wide notice in the newspapers " and Fitchburg, 
for her repeated efforts in this direction, became noted 



for the very liberal care she bestowed upon her 

soldiers." 

There is no accurate account of all the money thus 
sent away to the fields of battle for the relief of 
the sick and wounded soldiers ; but the whole amount 
received and disbursed by the various societies and 
committees in town was not far from twelve thousand 
dollars. Most of this sum went to the soldiers them- 
selves, together with large amounts of supplies. Be- 
sides this, much was done by the town and societies for 
the soldiers' families in the way of money andaupplies. 
Certainly Fitchburg did all that could be expected 
and the gratifying feature of it is that everything was 
done and given freely and spontaneously. 

Soldiers' Funerals.— Soldiers from this town 
met death in almost every one of the great battles of 
the Civil War and on scores of battle-fields of minor 
importance. 

Seven public funerals were held in Fitchburg dur- 
ing, or shortly after, the war, over the remains of 
eleven of our boys, and a brief mention will here be 
made of them. 

The first was that of Clark S. Simonds, captain of 
Company B, Fifteenth Regiment. Captain Simonds 
was killed at Antietam, September 17, 1862, while 
conversing with Colonel Kimball after the battle was 
nearly over. His funeral was held September 23d, 
with military honors, and all business in the town was 
suspended. 

The second public funeral was that of Henry A. 
Beckwith, first lieutenant of Company D, Twenty- 
first Regiment. Lieutenant Beckwith was mortally 
wounded at the battle of Chantilly, September 1, 1862, 
and died, four days later, in the hut of an old slave 
woman near the battle-field. His body was brought 
home by his wife and Henry A. Willis, Esq., and 
given a public military funeral on Sunday, October 
5, 1862, in the town hall, which was densely packed. 

The third was that of George G. Nutting, first litu- 
tenant of Company A, Fifty-third Regiment. He was 
killed at Fort Bisland, La., April 13, 1863, and on 
account of the absence of Capt. Miles, was in com- 
mand of the company at the time of his death. His 
body was at once sent to Fitchburg, wheie it was 
given a public burial. May 1st. On that day business 
was suspended in town during the afternoon, flags 
were at half-mast, and the town hall, in which the 
services were held, was beautifully decorated. A long 
procession followed the remains to the cemetery, and 
the fallen hero was laid to rest in Laurel Hill with 
military honors. 

The fourth was that of Frederick H. Sibley, first 
lieutenant of Company I, Thirty-sixth Regiment. He 
died of disease at Louisville, Ky., August 17, 1863, 
and his remains were brought home by his father. 
His funeral occurred at the Universalist Church, 
August 27, 1863, and he was buried with military 
honors. 

The fifth was the funeral of George H. Bailey and 



FITCHBURG. 



243 



Jerome K. Taft, both captains of Company A, Fifty- 
third Regiment, and both killed at Port Hudson, La. 
We have already related the unfortunate accident by 
which Captain Bailey was mortally wounded, May 
25, 1863. Captain Taft, his successor in command, 
was commissioned only four days before he fell in 
the gallant assault on the works at Port Hudsoni 
June 14, 1863. Their remains were brought home 
and funeral services held October 5, 1863. The bod- 
ies of the two brothers-in-arms rested on one bier. 
The Fifty-third had returned from the war a little 
over a month previous, and both the Fitchburg com- 
panies of the regiment did esjort duty and many of 
the officers of the Fifty-third were present. "The 
obsequies were a credit to those who had them in 
charge, and a noble tribute to the brave men they 
commemorated." 

The sixth public funeral was held April 6, 1S64, 
over the bodies of four of our Fitchburg boys, — Ser- 
geant Simon F. Marshall, of the Third Cavalry, and 
privates Edward P. Farwell, J. Henry Kendall and 
Charles W. Stuart, all of Company A, Fifty-third 
Regiment. 

Sergeant Marshall was wounded at Baton Rouge, 
and died soon afterward, August 17, 1862, at the St. 
James Hospital in New Orleans. 

Privates Farwell and Kendall were two of the 
youngest soldiers that went out from this town. The 
former was but eighteen when he enlisted. His 
friends tried to dissuade him from entering the 
army, but his answer was, "Some must defend the 
country and I feel it my duty to go.'' He went, but 
never returned. At Port Hud.son he was stricken 
with a fatal disease. He lived to see the surrender 
of the stronghold, and on July 19, 1863, died within 
its fortifications. Kendall was still younger, not 
quite seventeen when he enlisted, and a delicate boy. 
Twice before had he volunteered and been rejected 
on account of his youth. When every effort was 
being made to fill up Companies A and B of the 
Fifty-third, he again volunteered and was accepted; 
and when his mother besought him not to go, he 
said " Mother, if the men will not go to the war, the 
boys )nust." He endured the marches, privations 
and suffering remarkably well, and was courageous in 
battle. He was in the front ranks at the heroic 
charge on the works at Port Hudson, June 14, 1863, 
where he received the wound from which, ten days 
later, he died, at the New Orleans hospital. Truly 
both these young men were heroes. 

Private Charles W. Stuart was killed in the first 
battle in which the Fifty-third engaged, — that of 
Fort Bisland. 

In the spring of 1864 Mr. Josiah Spaulding, of this 
town, made a journey to Louisiana to procure the 
remains of these four men, was successful and soon 
returned with them in charge. The funeral occurred 
April 6, 1864, and the services were conducted by the 
various clergymen of the town. Rev. Alfred Emerson 



preaching the sermon. A hymn, written for the oc- 
casion by Mrs. Caroline A. Mason, concluded the 
services. Then, with martial solemnity, they were 
borne to the city of the dead " over the river," and 
laid to rest in their soldier graves. 

Of the seventh and last soldier's funeral in Fitch- 
burg mention has already been made in the opening 
section of our war history. It was that of Lieutenant- 
Colonel George E. Marshall, of the Fortieth Regi- 
ment, and occurred April 19, 1866. The services 
were held in the town-hall, which was most beauti- 
fully and artistically decorated, and there was a large 
concourse of ciiizens and organizations, both military 
and civic. Ex-Governor John A. Andrew, Governor 
Alexander H. Bullock and his staff and other offi- 
cials and several members of the Legislature occu- 
pied seats on the platform. 

The exercises opened with the singing of a hymn, 
written for the occasion by Mrs. Mason ; Rev. Henry 
L. Jones, rector of Christ Church, delivered the 
funeral oration, and a brief but eloquent address was 
made by Governor Bullock. The remains were es- 
corted to the receiving tomb, where the casket was 
deposited, after which the customary salute was fired. 
In a grave on the hillside now repose the remains of 
Lieutenant-Colonel Marshall beside those of his 
brother, Sergeant Marshall ; and the aged father still 
lives to tenderly care for and keep green the graves of 
his two noble sons who died in the preservation of 
the Union. 

The writer painfully realizes that the story of 
Fitchburg's part in the Civil War has not been half 
told in the few preceding pages. Only the briefest 
outline has been given. Those terrible years were 
filled with private sufferings, anguish, heart-rendings 
and sacrifices, a record of which has been preserved 
only in the Book of Life and the hearts of the suf- 
ferers ; no manuscript or printed page ever has por- 
trayed them, or ever will, in their real significance. 

The writer feels that this sketch of the war, imper- 
fect as it is, ought not to be concluded without at least 
a brief mention of those of our citizens who fell vic- 
tims to the systematic inhumanity of rebel prisons. 
As far as is known, there were seven of these unfortu- 
nates from Fitchburg, as follows: John H. Prichard, 
died in the horrible prison-pen at Andersonville, 
January 18, 1865. 

Charles E. Goodrich, who was only sixteen years 
old when he enlisted asadrummer-boy in the Twenty- 
first, was captured at the battle of the Wilderness and 
sent to Andersonville, where he was kept four months, 
until his robust frame wasted to a mere shadow of its 
former self, when he was sent to the foul prison at 
Florence, S. C, where he died in October, 1864. 

William T. Peabody and Henry K. Hill were both 
captured at the Wilderness, and sent to prison. The 
former died at Andersonville, September 1, 1864, and 
the latter at Florence, but the date is unknown. 

George P. Cotting was taken prisoner in the attack 



244 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



made by the rebels, May 16, 1864, on the Twenty-fifth 
Regiment while moving towards Richmond. He was . 
sent to Andersonville, where he wasted away. He 
was finally exchanged, but was too much weakened 
to go further than Annapolis, where he died in the 
hospital. 

William H. Hayden was in the navy, and was on 
the gun-boat "Granite City" when it was captured, 
May 8, 1864, while cruising up one of the bayous of 
Texas. He was taken to Galveston and died in a so- 
called "hospital" there, on September 16, 1864. 

Cyrus Putnam was captured at Drury's Bluff in the 
same engagement in which Cotting was taken pris- 
oner. He was sent to Richmond, where the wound 
he had received, just previous to his capture, was 
neglected, and he died there after a lingering illness 
— how long we know not — a victim of man's inhu- 
manity to man. 

A short account of the beautiful and costly memorial 
which Fitchburg erected in honor and commemora- 
tion of her fallen heroes seems to be a fitting termina- 
tion to our record of the war. We will therefore con- 
clude this section with a condensed history of the 
inception, construction and dedication of 

The Soldiers' Monument. — Soon after the close 
of the war the question of building either a soldiers' 
monument or a memorial hall began to be agitated. 

April 9, 1866, the town voted that a committee of 
five be appointed by the chair "to report the names 
of seven to constitute a committee on the subject of 
erecting a monument, as a sacred memorial to our 
citizens who fell in their country's service, during the 
late rebellion." The chair appointed as this commit- 
tee Messrs. L. H. Bradford, Ebenezer Torrey, William 
H. Vose, Amasa Norcross and George F. Fay, who 
presented the names of Alvah Crocker, George E. 
Towne, Eugene T. Miles, Lewis H. Bradford, Alpheus 
P. Kimball, Stephen Shepley and Henry A. Willis, 
and these seven gentlemen were duly constituted the 
Soldiers' Monument Committee, which was subse- 
quently organized by the choice of Mr. Crocker as 
chairman, and Mr. Bradford, secretary. 

April 8, 1867, Mr. Towne made a verbal report for 
this committee and asked for further time, which was 
granted. It was also voted to add to the committee 
General John W. Kimball, Colonel Theodore S. Fos- 
ter and Walter A. Eames. 

April 13, 1868, Mr. Shepley made an able and elo- 
quent report for the committee and the town voted 
that " the Soldiers' Monument Committee be author- 
ized to purchase the two lots of land situated upon 
Main Street, owned by William W. Comee and Isaac 
Hartwell, and erect thereon a Soldiers' Monument 
at an expetise not exceeding fifty thousand dollars, 
whenever twenty thousand dollars of the same shall 
have been raised by private subscription." 

On the 28th of the same month it was voted to in- 
struct the committee to buy these two estates for forty 
thousand dollars, and to rent the buildings and estates 



and sell the buildings as soon as the construction of 
the monument required it. These two estates were 
accordingly purchased for the sum named, and came 
into the hands of the Soldiers' Monument Committee, 
who rented them for some years. 

April 12, 1869, Mr. Crocker made a report on the 
soldiers' monument, which was accepted and placed 
on file. It was then voted that a sum not exceeding 
forty thousand dollars be appropriated for a monu- 
ment, ten thousand dollars of which was to be raised 
by taxation the current year. At an adjourned 
meeting. May 3, 1869, this vote was rescinded in order 
to investigate the feasibility of erecting a memorial 
hall instead of a monument. A committee of nine, 
consisting of Frederick F. Woodward, Alvin A. 
Simonds, David H. Merriam, Gardner S. Burbank, 
Jabez Fisher, George Robbins, Edwin P. Monroe, 
Hale W. Page and Edwin Upton, was appointed 
"to prepare and present plans and specifications, 
together with the estimated cost of a Memorial hall 
and report at a future meeting." The original com- 
mittee was not, by this action of the town, discharged 
or relieved of its trust, but, the appropriation having 
been withdrawn, it was decided best for the Monu- 
ment Committee not to proceed further until the 
Memorial Hall Committee had rendered a report. 
The investigations of this committee did not appear 
to be favorable to the Memorial Hall project. A 
verbal report was made on the matter, April 11, 1870, 
by David H. Merriam, which report was accepted 
and the committee discharged. 

Meanwhile, in September, 1869, Ebenezer Torrey, 
town treasurer, was instructed to give a deed of right 
of passway over the Comee and Hartwell estates to 
the county of Worcester, on condition that the County 
Court-house be erected in the rear of these estates 
and front towards Main Street, "said right to con- 
tinue as long as said court-house shall remain stand- 
ing, as aforesaid." The right was duly conveyed 
and the court-house built very soon after, in accord- 
ance with the provision therein. 

May 2, 1871, the town authorized the Monument 
Committee "to grade, fence and otherwise improve 
the lot in font of the court-house." 

October 2, 1871, Mr. Crocker made a report to the 
town, and presented plans and designs for the pro- 
posed monument, all of which was accepted ; and the 
Monument Committee was instructed "to proceed 
forthwith to carry out the designs and plans sub- 
mitted, at a cost not exceeding $25,000." In ac- 
cordance with this instruction the committee made 
the following contracts: 

November 15, 1871, with Samuel A. Wheeler & Son, 
of Fitchburg, for the construction of the foundation to 
receive the granite superstructure and bronze statues. 

April 1, 1872, with Martin Milmore, of Boston, who 
had furnished the designs accepted by the town the 
previous autumn, for the execution of the bronze 
statues and tablets. 



FITCHBURG. 



245 



I 



April 8, 1872, with Runels & Davia, of Lowell, to 
erect the superstructure of Concord granite. 

Agreements were also entered into by the commit- 
tee with J. L. Roberts, of Boston, to furnish and erect 
a substantial iron fence around the enclosure, and with 
David Damon & Co., of Fitchburg, to execute the 
granite base for the fence and the steps at the two 
entrances to the park, both of which agreements were 
fulfilled in a manner creditable to the artisans and 
highly satisfactory to the committee. 

There was a strong feeling among the citizens that 
the superatructuj-e should be made of granite quarried 
from old RoUstone, a dear and familiar object to the 
eyes of the brave boys whose death the monument was 
to commemorate ; and the members of the Soldiers' 
Monument Committee felt the claims of RoUstone as 
deeply as did any of the other citizens. Unfortunately, 
however, at that stage of development of the Roll- 
stone quarriet", the granite obtained was apt to contain 
here and there iron pyrites, and exposure to the 
weather caused staining of the granite in spots with 
iron. No contractor was willing to assume the respon- 
sibility of furnishing RoUstone granitethat would keep 
unblemished by iron stains. It is gratifying to state 
that there has been much improvement in the granite 
in this respect since then ; the deeper the quarry- 
men go, the cleaner and purer does the granite become. 
The committee, feeling that no blemish ought to mar 
their costly memorial, decided, much against their 
will and inclination, that RoUstone granite was out of 
the question as a material out of which to construct 
the superstructure, and fixed upon what is called 
"Concord" granite, as the stone best suited to the 
purpose. 

Beginning with 1873, the city government replaced 
that of the town, and on January 28, 1873, it was 
ordered by the City Council that the Soldiers' Monu- 
ment Committee, appointed by the town, be continued 
as a committee of the City Council until the business 
for which it was appointed was completed. 

Meanwhile the work on the various contracts was 
progressing, and on June 2, 1873, the Soldiers' Monu- 
ment Committee deposited within the die of the 
monument a box containing books, papers and docu- 
ments relating to the history of Fitchburg, its war 
history, copies of deeds and contracts relating to the 
monument, newspapers, fractional currency and coin 
then in use, etc., and a written report, signed by all 
the members of the Monument Committee save one 
or two who were absent from the city, of the action of 
the town and the work of the Soldiers' Monument 
Committee in regard to the erection of this memorial. 

It was expected that the dedication would take 
place in the autumn of 1873, but an accident occurred 
in making the cast of the central bronze figure, 
" America," causing a necessary delay of four months. 

It was then decided that June 17, 1874, should be 
the day, but unavoidable circumstances necessitated a 
further postponement of one week, and on June 24, 



1874, the dedicatory exercises were held. Elaborate 
preparations were made for this event, and the City 
Council appropriated the sum of two thousand dollars 
for the occasion. Gen. John VV. Kimball was ap- 
pointed chief marshal, and authorized to select mar- 
shals and aids. The gentlemen whom he appointed 
had all seen service in the war, and were as follows: 

Marshals. — T. S. Foster, colouel, 21st Regiment ; Edwin tjpton, col- 
onel, 25th Regiment; C. H. Foss, captain, 25tli Regiment, and senior 
past commander of Post lU, G. A. R. ; T. L. Barker, colonel, 36th Regi- 
ment; George Jewett, major, 51st Regiment; E. A. Brown, major, 53d 
Regiment; Levi Lawrence, captain, 57th Regiment; G. T. Hay ward, 
captain, 4th Regiment Heavy Artillery. 

Aids. — George Lawrence, lieutenant, 1st Regiment ; Charles C. Walk- 
er, private, 2d Regiment; Edwin Newton, private, 10th Regiment; 
Albert H. Andrews, major, 19th U. S. Infantry ; Rii^ell 0. Houghton, 
captain, 2Gth Regiment. 

Bugler. — Edward R. Campbell, private, Ist Vermont Artillery. 

The day of dedication was fine, there was a large 
attendance of citizens from neighboring towns and 
most of the business blocks and many private houses 
in the city were handsomely decorated. The pro- 
cession, which was an imposing one, was made up of 
ten divisions, and moved promptly at eleven o'clock ; 
and after passing through the principal streets, was, 
with the exception of the carriages, battery and fire 
apparatus, massed in Monument Square. 

The exercises opened with the hymn, " Great Je- 
hovah, turn Thine eye," which was finely rendered by 
the Choral Union. 

Rev. Dr. S. B. Grant then offered prayer, after 
which Hon. Alvah Crocker made a brief address of 
welcome, from which is taken the following extract: 

My friends, I do not claim that Fitchburg, in character, tone and 
spirit, is above our sister towns and municipalities, but I do claim with 
a population of 80UO souls, including 2UiX) able-bodied men, furnishing 
eight companies and a balance in isolated individual cases sufficient to 
make a regiment of 1000 men, that there was the same spirit as in the 
Revolutionary War when she furnished the germ (in her letters to Bos- 
ton) of the immortal Declaration of Independence, that Bancroft alludes 
to, and can be read by any one, as when her old iron cannon, on the 
19tb of April, 1775, boomed tlie call to her minute-men ; the same spirit 
as when Capt. Bridge, with fifty men, before the metal was cold, was on 
his way, or " Hue of march," to Concord and Lexington, and was at Pit- 
cairn's heels before he gut into Boston. 

The report of the Soldiers' Monument Committee 
was then read by Capt. Eugene T. Miles. At the 
close of the report Capt. Miles presented the Soldiers' 
Monument to the city in the following words: 

Mr. Mayor and Gentlemen of the City ConiicU: Trusting implicitly in 
your patriotism, in your sympathy with the bereaved ones who to-day 
mourn the loss of dear ones who fell in the bloody conflict to sustain 
our liberties, in your true love of country, in your integrity as munici- 
pal officers, nothing now remains but to commit to your care and keep- 
ing, and through you to the people of our young city, this beautiful 
structure — the Soldiers' Monument — together with so much of its sur- 
roundings as are completed. 

In the interests of those for whom they were erected, care for them 
kindly, with fidelity and tenderly : 

"For there are deeds which should not pass away. 
And names that must not wither." 

At this time the monument was unveiled, salutes 
fired and patriotic music played by the eight bauds 
present. 

Hon. Amasa Norcross, mayor, then in a few well- 
chosen and eloquent remarks, accepted the Soldiers' 



246 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



Monument in behalf of the people of the city of 
Fitchburg. 

A poem written for the occasion by Herbert Ingalls, 
Esq., was then read by Eli A, Hubbard, Esq., super- 
intendent of schook. 

At the conclusion of the reading of the poem, Hon. 
Alvah Crocker introduced Major-General Nathaniel 
P. Banks, the orator of the day, who delivered a 
stirring and eloquent address; and at its close Gen- 
eral Kimball stepped to the front of the platform and 
called for three army cheers for General Banks, 
which were given with a will. General Banks 
stepped forward, bowed and said: "Comrades, from 
my heart I thank you for your kind remembrance." 

Thus was our memorial to the fallen Fitchburg 
soldiers dedicated ; and since that day its stately, 
symmetrical and ornate form has been to the citizens 
of this place a sacred object, and well worthy the care 
and attention bestowed upon it and the beautiful park 
whose centre it occupies. 

We will close with a statement, in round numbers, 
of the total cost of the monument and park and a 
brief description of the monument. The statement 
in regard to the cost is taken from the report read at 
the dedication : 

"Cost of lot, $40,000; granite base for fence, 
$3600 ; iron fence, $3000 ; foundation for monument, 
$2000 ; granite superstructure, $9000 ; bronze statues 
and tablets, $15,400 ; which, with the grading and 
miscellaneous expenditures, will make the total cost 
at least $75,000." 

About ten thousand dollars were received for rent 
of the estates prior to the removal of the buildings 
thereon and from the sale of the buildings, and the 
net cost, without interest, was found to be $66,- 
699.23. 

The monument itself rests upon tiers of solid ma- 
sonry, so graduated as to form three broad steps on 
all sides of it. From this base rises the massive 
square shaft, broader at the base than at the top, to a 
height of some twenty feet above the level of the 
park. A large granite cap crowns the top of the 
shaft and bears the colossal bronze statue " America," 
holding in each hand a myrtle wreath, as if in the act 
of crowning the two large bronze statues on either 
side and below her. These two statues represent a 
soldier and sailor, respectively, and are placed on 
pedestals forming, on either side, a portion of the 
granite superstructure, their top being only a few feet 
above the level of the park. Though these magnifi- 
cant bronze statues were designed by Mr. Milmore, it 
is but just to state that they were made by the Ames 
Manufacturing Company, under the supervision of 
Mr. M. H. Mossman. 

Into each side of the monument, just below the 
cap-stone, is let a large bronze tablet. The tablet, 
looking toward Main Street, bears upon it an inscrip- 
tion proclaiming that the monument is Fitchburg's 
tribute, not only to her brave sons who fell in battle. 



but also to those who went forth and fought nobly for 
the "just cause," and were spared to return once 
more to the home of their youth. The tablets on the 
other three sides of the shaft are inscribed with the 
names of one hundred and thirty-five men who perished 
in the War of the Rebellion, and whom Fitchburg 
claims as belonging to her "Roll of Honor." The 
four tablets were made by Samuel Hooper & Co., and 
are finely executed. 

A sufficient description of Monument Park was 
given in the opening chapter of this history, and need 
not be repealed. 



CHAPTER XLI. 
FITCHBURG - ( Continued. ) 

ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY. 

The history of the beginning, growth and progress 
of religious life and organizations in a town like 
Fitchburg would easily make a volume of itself ; and 
this fact may be realized more fully when we say 
that from 1786 to 1823 the town was almost all the 
time in a ferment concerning religious and church 
matters. 

During the first forty years of Fitchburg's exist- 
ence church and town aflairs were almost inextricably 
blended. All church business was settled in town- 
meeting, and, very naturally, controversy arose 
between people in diflerent sections of the town ; and 
during the first quarter of the present century doc- 
trinal disputes were carried on with considerable 
bitterness. 

We have already spoken, in the section on the 
early history of the town, about the " six Sabbath 
days' preaching," by Rev. Peter Whitney, in the 
Samuel Hunt tavern, during the winter of 1764-65, 
and of the building of the first meeting-house. 

November 21, 1765, the town voted " not to have 
preaching this winter." 

September 22, 1766, voted to have preaching during 
the coming winter, and appropriated £40 for that 
purpose, and chose Amos Kimball, Elisha Fullura 
and Jonathan Wood "for to git a minister to 
preach ; " also voted " to have Mr. Petter Whitney, 
Mr. Angier, Mr. Payson, if they will come and preach 
with us." 

Rev. Samuel Angier preached for them that winter 
and was so well liked that the people gave him an 
invitation to become their permanent pastor; but Mr. 
Angier declined the call, chiefly, if not wholly, on 
account of some difiiculty arising between him and 
Deacon Kimball. It appears from the records that 
the deacon boarded the minister, for the town voted, 
March 2, 1767, " to allow Deacon Kimball six shillings 
per week for boarding the minister till the time 
agreed upon is expired for Mr. Angier to preach." 



FITCHBURG. 



247 



May 11th the town voted to appoint Thursday, 
May 21, 1767, as " a day of fasting and prayer in order 
to ask divine assistance in giving some Gentleman a 
call to settle in the Gospel ministry in this town." 

During that summer Rev. John Payson, a graduate 
of Harvard in 1764, son of Kev. Phillips Payson, of 
Chelsea, and a brother of the young and much- 
lamented minister of Lunenburg, Samuel Payson, 
who died in 1763, preached for the people of Fitch- 
burg. He gave great satisfaction, and September 24, 
1767, the town voted to give him a call, and oflered 
him the same terms of settlement and salary as had 
been proposed to Mr. Angier a few months before, 
viz. £133 13s. id., as a settlement, one-half to be paid 
one year after ordination, and the balance two years 
after, and an annual salary of £60, " until there 
shall be sixty families settled in town, after that to 
pay him annually £66 13s. id." Two months later, 
November 23d, the town voted to find and provide 
for him thirty cords of wood annually. On this date 
Rev. Mr. Payson gave his answer in the affirmative, and 
accepted the town's call to settle on the terms proposed. 

The First Church in Fitchburg was formed January 
7, 1768, and on the 27th of the same month Rev. John 
Payson was ordained its pastor, and his pastoral re- 
lations with the town continued until May 2, 1794. 
By vote of the town the two churches in Lancaster, the 
church in Lunenburg, the First Church in Leomin- 
ster and the two churches in Westminster and Shirley 
were invited to participate in the ordination. 

For the next few years matters ecclesiastical ran 
along very smoothly and nothing worth recording oc- 
curred till the "hard times " and depreciation of the 
currency came in 1777. During the three years 
1778-80, it was hard work to pay Mr. Payson's salary 
and the poor man came near starving to death. The 
town, however, did not allow him to come to absolute 
want, and March .30, 1778, voted to appoint a com- 
mittee of four to circulate a subscription paper among 
the inhabitants to give them a chance " to subscribe 
some of the necessaries of life, or anything they please 
to subscribe for Mr. Payson's support." Two weeks 
later, April 13th, the records state that this committee 
reported to the town and presented the paper to Mr. 
Payson, "which was kindly accepted by Mr. Payson 
and said he was well suistied with what the town had 
done, until September next, which will be one year 
from the time the subscription paper was dated." 

In October, 1778, he received one thousand dollars 
Continental currency, and the next month two hun- 
dred and sixty-six dollars more (equivalent, in all, to 
about one hundred and eighty-four dollars), as his 
salary. 

In September, 1779, the town voted him £1479 IBs. 
as his salary for the ensuing year and to make up the 
depreciation for the last year. 

May 23, 1780, the town voted "to pay Mr. Payson 
£3320 4s. to make his .salary good since said salary 
was granted." 



October 9, 1780, it was voted to raise one hundred 
pounds, "hard money," "to pay the Rev. Mr. Payson 
his salary the year ensuing, to be paid in hard money 
or produce, that is, wheat at 9s. per bushel ; rye at 
63. per bushel ; Indian corn at 4s. per bushel ; labor 
in the summer, 4s. per day; flax, Is. per pound; 
sheep's wool, 2«. per pound; pork, 5d. per pound; 
beef, Sd. half penny per pound, and other produce in 
proportion." 

The same vote was passed in 1781 and 1782 ; and 
during the remaining years of Mr. Payson's pastorate 
the annual salary voted him was £66 13s. id. 

Nothing worth noting occurred in church affairs 
until the famous " meeting-house controversy " began. 
We have previously recorded the two futile attempts 
made by the people living in the westerly part of the 
town, in 1785, to be set off from the town of Fitch- 
burg. These attempts, however, were but a skirmish. 

The date of the beginning of the real contest was 
September 12, 1786, when the town voted "to build a 
new meeting-house in the center of the town, or the 
nearest convenient place to the center." To fix upon 
this much-de-ired "center" took over nine long 
years, and occupied the attention of the people during 
the whole or some portion, of ninety-nine town-meet- 
ings. We propose to give here only a history of the 
most important acts of the people in this matter. 

For the next two years no public action was taken 
in regard to the new meeting-house, partly because 
the people became involved in aside issue concerning 
the manner of singing in church. The custom was 
for the minister to read the psalm or hymn, then the 
oldest deacon present would read the first line, which 
the congregation would then sing, and so on to the 
end, each line being read and sung separately. In 
the winter of 1786-87 an attempt was made to intro- 
duce .something similar to our present mode of singing, 
together with some new tunes. The veteran singers 
did not approve of these innovations, and many 
characterized them as irreligious and unscriptural. 
Quite a dispute occurred in which the whole town 
became interested, and in May, 1787, there was an 
article in the town-meeting warrant as follows: "To 
see if the town will vote to come into any general rule 
in regard to carrying on the singing part of the pub- 
lic worship of God, and whether the singers shall sing 
a part of the time without reading, and how the 
psalm shall be read, whether by line or verse, or act 
any thing thereon." A committee was chosen to 
consider the matter and report at the next meeting. 

In accordance with the report of this committee 
rendered at a town-meeting soon afterward it was 
voted " to sing five times in the worshipping on the 
Lord's day, in the following manner, — the first sing- 
ing before prayer, without reading; after prayer, 
with reading line by line, and set such tunes as the 
Congregation can in general sing: first in the after- 
noon, before prayer, without reading ; after prayer, 
with reading ; after sermon, without reading." This 



248 



HISTORY OP WORCESTEP! COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



was a compromise which suited both parties, and the 
innovators had the satisfaction of carrying three out 
of five of their points. 

During tliese two years considerable private con- 
troversy was going on in regard to the location of the 
new meeting-house. Meanwhile Jedediah Cooper 
and Jacob Upton, the two tavern-keepers in the 
westerly part of the town, despairing of getting any 
satisfaction out of the town, determined, together 
with some of their neighbors, to have a meeting-house 
among themselves at any rate. They accordingly 
erected a frame, which was covered after a time, and 
used occasionally for worship. It was just within 
the limits of the town, and was a desolate looking 
building. The proprietors did not take much care of 
it and its shabby and dilapidated appearance earned 
for it the name of " the Lord's Barn.'' It was sold 
and taken down about 1825, and the proceeds of the 
sale (about thirty-six dollars) were divided among the 
proprietors. 

September 9, 1788, the subject was again brought 
before the town by means of an article in the war- 
rant, — " To see if the town will erect a meeting- 
house in the center of the town, or receive any part 
of Westminster that shall be willing to join with us, 
and then erect a meeting-house in the nearest conve- 
nient place to the center." 

This article was inserted by the people of the west 
and no action was taken on it at this meeting; but 
at an adjourned meeting September 23d, a committee, 
consisting of Moses Hale, Daniel Putnam, Jacob 
Upton, Asa Perry and Oliver Stickney, was chosen 
"to examine and find out a place to erect a meeting- 
house in the most convenient place to accommodate 
the inhabitants of the town of Fitchburg." The re- 
sult of the investigation of these five gentlemen was 
that two of them found " the most convenient place " 
to be in the west, two in the east, while the remain- 
ing one was upon the fence. Their report was ren- 
dered to the town October 2d, and was rejected as 
soon as given, and the gentlemen were promptly dis- 
charged from further service in that direction. Im- 
mediately thereafter a motion was made to place the 
new house on the site of the old one; this was foith- 
with negatived. Then, " after some consideration on 
the matter," as the records state, it was voted " to 
erect the new meeting-house in the nearest con- 
venient place to the center." Such brilliant progress 
must have astonished the people, for a few minutes 
later it was voted " to reconsider all votes hitherto 
passed relating to this matter," after which the meet- 
ing was adjourned to the following day. 

At nine o'clock the next morning the parties 
proceeded to business. The first thing done was to 
vote "not to erect the meeting-house where it now 
stands." It was then moved to place it " on the hill 
near Phineas Sawyer's house, on the land belonging 
to the heirs of Mr. Ezra Upton." 

This location was in the westerly part of the town, 



and the motion to place the house thereon was 
carried, thirty-two voting in favor of it and seventeen 
against. Thus, by a vote of nearly two to one, it 
was decided to build the new house in the west, and 
the people in that section were greatly rejoiced thereat. 
A committee was chosen, consisting of Reuben 
Smith, Asa Perry, Phineas Sawyer, Elijah Carter 
and Jacob Upton, to inform the inhabitants of the 
west part of the town of this action and consult with 
them. It was voted that this committee "be in- 
vested with power to agree with the owners of the 
new frame erecting for a meeting-house in the north- 
westerly part of the town, if that appears cheapest 
for the town, — otherways be invested with power to 
provide materials and timber for building a new 
meeting-house in the prudentest manner for said 
town, on said plat of ground." This committee was 
directed to report at the next meeting. 

This was a bitter pill for the east, and the people of 
that section, resolved on retaliation, called a town- 
meeting October 21st, "To see if the town will com- 
ply with a request of a number of the inhabitants of 
the town of Fitchburg, to grant that they, together 
with their respective estates and interests, may be set 
off from Fitchburg and annexed to Lunenburg." 
This was one alternative proposed by the east. The 
other was that the town allow the petitioners the old 
meeting-house, with Mr. Payson as their pastor, and 
let them be incorporated as a "poll parish." It was 
voted " to give those petitioners that called the meet- 
ing leave to withdraw." 

The honest people, who, for the sake of peace and 
reconciliation, had favored the west at the meeting 
October 2d, were now very much alarmed. Holding 
the " balance of power " as they did, they were in 
rather an awkward predicament. If they favored the 
east, the west threatened to form a new parish ; if 
they favored the west, the east evinced strong symp- 
toms of either forming a new parish, or returning to 
the parent town of Lunenburg. 

Meanwhile, the gentlemen of the committee ap- 
pointed by the town October 2d, undaunted by this 
blast from the east, were prosecuting their labors with 
great zeal and confidence. They had bargained for 
the new frame belonging to Jacob Upton and others, 
prepared a site for the new house on the land of Ezra 
Upton's heirs and done sundry other wise things. 

November 17, 1788, a town-meeting was held to hear 
their report, which was duly submitted, whereupon it 
was voted not to accept the report, and insult was 
added to injury by summarily discharging the com- 
mittee from further service. This was done by the 
peacemakers, who were at their wits' ends, and this 
time threw their influence into the eastern scale. At 
this meeting a committee was chosen "to find the 
center of the town." 

December 18, 1788, this committee reported in town- 
meeting that the centre of the township had been 
found, after a careful survey, to be on the land of one 



FITCHBURG. 



249 



Thomas Boynton, about five hundred f?et north of 
the pound. This report was accepted, and Thomas 
Cowdin, Pliineas Hartwell, Oliver Stickney, Daniel 
Putnam and Paul Wetherbee were chosen a committee 
to bargain for a site in that locality. This committee 
bought of Mr. Boynton twenty-two and a half acres of 
land, a little south of the pound, paying therefor two 
dollars and thirty-three cents per acre, and the town 
approved this action. 

This location did not fuit the people in the west, 
and they forthwith resorted to their old scheme of 
forming a new town, and called two meetings for that 
purpose, thereby frightening the conscientious peace- 
makers nearly out of their wits. The petitioners, 
however, did not put in an appearance at either 
meeting, and in consequence these two meetings were 
uncommonly peaceable. The petition was of course 
dismissed each time. In fact, the whole thing was 
but a ruse on the part of the men of the west to keep 
the attention of the people from a deep-laid scheme 
which they proposed soon to spring upon the unsus- 
pecting public. 

November 2, 1789, it was voted " to erect a new 
meeting-house on the land jiurchased of Thomas 
Boynton," and a committee of seven was chosen to 
take charge of the matter. Two weeks later the town 
voted to reconsider all votes heretofore passed on this 
subject i and thus, at the end of four years, the town 
was in the same position regarding this matter as 
when operations were first entered upon, with the 
exception of owning twenty-two and a half acres of 
real estate. The reason of this strange action was the 
culmination of the move on the part of the west, 
alluded to above. The people in that region, together 
with the inhabitants of adjoining portions of Ashby, 
Ashburnham and Westminster, had presented to the 
General Court a powerful petition for an act of incor- 
poration into a town. 

Tliis petition set forth in glowing colore tlie delightful situation of the 
contenipliited town— how natui-e had lavislied all her skill upon it — how 
admirably adapted for a township by itself was the noble swell of land — 
and that nothing in nature or in art could exceed the grand and impos- 
ing spectacle of a meeting-house towering from its summit, wiiile j 
beneath the said swell was a region of low, sunken land, which almost ' 
cut off the petitioners from intercourse with the rest of mankind.^ 

This meant business, and the inhabitants of Fitch- 
burg and the three adjoining towns not included in 
the proposed new town speedily drew up a spirited re- 
monstrance, in which every statement of the peti- 
tioners was denied, and the whole project denounced 
as visionary. During all of 1790 the attention of 
both parties was wholly engrossed with this matter, 
and the result was that the General Court refused to 
incorporate the new town. 

Both parties were much in need of a breathing 
spell after this vigorous contest, and it was not until 
September 7, 1791, that the battle was renewed. On 
that date it was voted, forty-one to twenty-three, " to 

• Torrey's " History of Fitchburg :" Fitchburg, 1836. 



erect a new meeting-house in the center of the town, 
or in the nearest convenientest place thereto." This 
double-barrelled supcrlativeness is proof postive that 
the spirit of the people was in no wise cast down by 
the fruitless struggle of the past five years. Though 
the people could not decide upon a location, they 
were bound to have plans drawn for a new meeting- 
house at all odds, and at this meeting a committee 
was chosen to plan a new house. October 10th, this 
committee reported to the town "to build a house 
sixty by forty-six feet, with a porch at each end 
twelve by eleven feet, with stairs into the galleries." 
There were to be forty-six pews on the ground floor 
and twenty-five in the galleries, to be sold to the 
highest bidders, and three years were to be allowed 
for the completion of the house. This report was ac- 
cepted November 14, 1791, and on the same date a 
committee was chosen to clear a spot on the land 
purchased of Thomas Boynton and build the house. 

For as long a period as six weeks thereafter it 
really looked as if the matter was settled ; but every- 
thing was completely upset December 27, 1791, by a 
vote " to dismiss the committee chosen to build a new 
meeting-house from further service." 

Almost three years then elapsed before any further 
action was taken by the town in this matter. The 
people, however, showed their dogged obstinacy by 
refusing, on several occasions, " to repair the meeting- 
house windows, and to paint the outside of the meet- 
ing-house." 

The town again renewed operations September 3, 

1794, by voting "to erect a meeting-house in the 
center of the town, or in the nearest convenientest 
place thereto, to accommodate the inhabitants there- 
of for divine worship." Joseph Stearns and David 
Kilburn, of Lunenburg, and Benjamin Kimball, of 
Harvard, were chosen by ballot as a "committee of 
three disinterested persons out of town " to discover 
that much-to-be-desired spot, " the nearest conveni- 
entest place to the center." This committee found 
the centre to be about a quarter of a mile northeast of 
the pound, and decided that the most eligible location 
for the house was about half a mile south of this 
point, which would have placed it not f;ir from the 
present junction of Main and River Streets. Their 
report was rendered to the town October 21st, and re- 
jected, thirty-six to twenty-nine. So the opinions of 
interested and disinterested persons seem to have been 
considered of about equal value — as good for nothing. 

A month later a motion to place the house on the 
site selected by the out-of-town committee was de- 
feated, forty-eight to forty-five. A committee was 
then chosen to select a suitable location, and Decem- 
ber 1, 1794, reported in favor of " setting the meeting- 
house near the high bridge under the hill " (the 
same place the out-of-town committee selected). 
This report was accepted, strange to say, sixty-one to 
forty-seven. A town-meeting was called January 8, 

1795, to choose a committee to purchase this site; 



250 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



but, with its customary obstinacy, the town refused, 
at this meeting, to choose such a committee, and so 
ended the project of building the liouse there. 

January 20, 1795, it was voted " to erect a meeting- - 
house on the town's hind they purchased of Thomas 
Boyntou, about five rods southwest from a large 
white oak tree, and to pattern it after the Leominster 
meeting-house." It was to be completed by De- 
cember 31, 1796. 

February 10, 1795, it was voted to pattern it after 
the Ashburuham meeting-house. " Likewise voted 
to have the length of said hou<e sixty-two feet by 
forty-eight feet, the posts to said house to be twenty- 
seven feet in length, and that the undertaker to 
build the house give bonds, with good bondsmen, to 
fulfil the contract." The contract was given to John 
Putnam, Jr. At subsequent town-meetings minor 
details in regard to the construction of the house 
were settled. 

September 1, 1795, a committee of five was chosen 
" to stake out and oversee the clearing and levelling 
of the meeting-house spot for the underpinning on 
the town land,"' and also " that the Selectmen lay 
out a four-rod road in the best place to accommodate 
the travel to the new meeting-house spot." 

There seemed at this time to be a very good pros- 
pect of building the new house on the town's land; 
but it was not so to be, for October 19, 1795, a town- 
meeting was called " to know the sense of the town, 
whether the former vote in placing said meeting- 
house should be altered." After considerable discus- 
sion it was decided, by a vote of forty-four to thirty, 
"to place the new meeting-house at the crotch of the 
roads, near Capt. William Brown's house" (where 
the Upper Common now is). This was a final de- 
cision, though why it should have been is rather 
difticult to see, because this location was a trifle east 
of the town's land. It was intended to have the 
house face directly "down street," but the opposi- 
tion mustered sufficient strength to change this plan 
so that it should face south and "stand cornerwise 
to the street." 

So at last this momentous question was settled, and 
early in the summer of 1796 occurred the raising. 
Great preparations were made for this important 
event. May 9, 1796, a town-meeting was called "to 
see if the town will make any provision for the re- 
freshment of the Raisers and also the Spectators that 
shall attend upon the raising of the new Meeting- 
house." This was a most amicable meeting, and it 
was unanimously voted "that the town provide one 
barrill W. I. Rum and Loaf Sugar sufficient to make 
it into Toddy for refreshment for the Raisers and 
Spectators that shall attend the raising of the new 
Meeting-house." A committee was also appointed, 
consisting of Deacon Kendall Boutelle, Deacon Eph- 
raim Kimball, Deacon Daniel Putnam, Reuben Smith, 
Joseph PoUey, Dr. Jonas Marshall and Asa Perry, 
"to deal out the Liquor to the Raisers and Spectators 



on Raising Day." Any one would suppose that a bar- 
rel of rum ought to make an amount of " Toddy " suf- 
ficient to satisfy the cravings of those who would be 
present at the raising; but the people were bound to 
have a rousing time after waiting so long for it, and 
to prove conclusively to the country round about that 
there was nothing small about them; for, before 
this meeting adjourned, it was voted " that the com- 
mittee to deal out the Liquor and Sugar sufficient for 
the Raisers and Spectators, in case the barrill of W. I. 
Rum and Sugar already voted should be insufficient, 
procure more and bring in their account to the town 
for allowance." 

This was the only meeting held to consider the sub- 
ject of the new house during the ten years, where 
there was no contention or exhibition of spleen. For 
once the good people of Fitchburg were all of the 
same mind, and a "barrill of W. I. Rum," which, at 
the present time causes so much controversy, in the 
presumably degenerate days of 1790, acted like oil 
upon the troubled waters. 

A few days later the raising came off successfully, 
but there is no definite statement as to the amount of 
rum and sugar consumed thereat. The following 
copy of the order to reimburse Deacon Boutelle for 
the refreshment expenses may, however, throw some 
light on the subject: 

FiTCHRURG, May y" 12 : 179fi. 

To Ebenezer Thurston Town treasurer you are hereby Directed to pay 

De° Kendall Boutwell thirty eight Dollars and one Cent it being fur 

providing rum and shugar for the Raising of the new Meeting liouse and 

this with his Rec* shall be your discharge for the above sum. 

I) C John Thurston 1 „ , 

„ „, vSelectmen. 

38 1 Paul Wetherbee I 

On the back of this order is written the receipt and 
settlement as follows : 

May y« 12 : 1796 Reed a Note in behalf of the Town of fitchburg of 
thirty Eight Dollers and one Sent in full of the within order. 

Kendal Boutell. 
April 10 : 1797 Order Settled with the Treasurer. 

Such is the history of probably the most stubbornly 
fought and protracted meeting-house controversy on 
record. Zeal, obstinacy and bitterness on the part of 
both factions characterized the contest throughout, 
and so fierce was the strife that the people of neigh- 
boring towns for miles around were in the habit of 
coming in large numbers to attend the town-meetings 
held in Fitchburg during these ten years. 

The edifice was dedicated January 19, 1797, Rev. 
Zabdiel Adams, of Lunenburg, preaching the sermon. 

The controversy produced a very serious effect upon 
the town's good minister. Rev. Mr. Payson, who, 
moreover, was much troubled by the inroads made 
upon his flock by the Methodists, Baptists and Uni- 
versalists. He became enfeebled in body and mind, 
but continued to preach most of the time until the 
autumn of 1793. By that time his mental infirmity 
had increased so much that the church and town 
united to call a council to consider the matter. This 
council met about the middle of November, 1793, but 



FITCHBURG. 



251 



was unable to settle anything to the satisfaction of 
all concerned. 

During the following winter and spring the town 
hired other ministers to preach, and April 7, 1794, all 
parties agreed to reassemble the council of the pre- 
vious year and abide by whatever decision it should 
arrive at. The council accordingly met April 29th, 
and decreed that the town should pay Jlr. Paysou a 
sum equivalent to about five hundred and thirty dol- 
lars and dismiss him from the pastorate. This propo- 
sition was accepted by the town May 2, 1794, and Mr. 
Payson's connection with the town, as its pastor, was 
finally dissolved. 

Mr. Payson continued to live here without any im- 
provement in his mental condition, and on May 28, 
1804, while visiting at the house of his brother-in-law 
in Leominster, committed suicide. He was buried in 
the town cemetery in Fitchburg, where the tombstone 
erected to his memory by his son can still be seen. 

The two councils assembled here in November, 
1793, and April, 1794, were provided with board and 
lodging at the expense of the town. The members 
thereof were cared for at the tavern of Mrs. Cowdin, 
the widow of Thomas Cowdin. The bill for their en- 
tertainment is somewhat of a curiosity in its way and 
is as follows : 

FlTCHBUKO, Nov. 11th, 1794. 
The Venerable Council's Bill. 

28 meals of victualsat U. 6d S7 00 

17 suppers at Is 2 83 

17 breakfasts at 1» 2 83 

34 dinners at Is. 6d 8 fio 

9 suppers at Is 1 50 

2 breakfasts at Is 33 

10 lodgings at id 54 

Horse keeping 10 oo 

Liquor 7 50 

Total $11 03 

Rec'd Pay't Hannah Cowdin. 

For about a year after Mr. Payson's dismissal Eev. 
John Kimball preached for the people. The church 
voted to give him a call and November 21, 1794, the 
town concurred. His salary vyas fixed at £90 per 
year, with a settlement of £200, to be paid as follows : 
£25 at the ordination, £75 one year therefrom, and 
£100 seven years after ordination. Mr. Kimball de- 
layed his answer, and April G, 1795, the town voted to 
give him an annual salary of £112. May 6, 1795, Mr. 
Kimball declined the call. 

November 26, 1795, the town voted to concur with 
the church in extending to Rev. John Miles an invi- 
tation to become their pastor at a salary of four hun- 
dred dollars per year. Mr. Miles declined. 

Various ministers then preached here, among them 
the Rev. Thomas Noyes, whom the church, early in 
JTST^voted to call. The town was notified of this 
action at a meeting April 3, 1797, and voted not to 
concur. Then, by a vote of forty-three to twenty- 
four, the town signified its willingness to extend a 
call to Rev. Samuel Worcester. During a brief ad- 
journment of the town-meeting, the church met and 



voted to call Rev. Mr. Worcester, agreeably to the 
preference of the town ; and the town, reassembled 
after the adjournment, then voted to concur with the 
church. The title of the church to precedence in 
calling the pastor was thus distinctly recognized. 

Mr. Worcester's salary was fixed at four hundred 
dollars per year, with the privilege of taking his sup- 
ply of wood from about twenty acres of the town's 
land. June 20, 1797, this was changed by voting to 
deduct twenty pounds from his annual salary (making 
it §333.33), and give him a " settlement" in addition 
of two hundred pounds (SG66.66), one-half to be paid 
one year after ordination, and the remainder two 
years after, with interest. Mr. Worcester accepted 
the call July 22, 1797, and the last Wednesday of the 
following September was selected as the day for his 
ordination, and on that day, September 27th, he was 
duly ordained. Rev. Dr. Samuel Austin, of Worcester, 
preaching the sermon. 

In the month of October, after his ordination, Mr. 
Worcester was united in marriage with Miss Zervia 
Fox, of Hollis, N. H., which was Mr. Worcester's na- 
tive town. He then " settled down " in Fitchburg 
and entered with zeal on the work of the ministry, 
and for a time everything went on prosperously ; but 
new beliefs and doctrines were fast gaining ground, 
which led, in 1801, to the division of the town into 
three societies and a year later to Mr. Worcester's 
dismissal. 

In March, 1798, the town voted that " the Select- 
men try and see what market they can make of 
the old meeting-house." June 21st, following, it was 
voted that it be sold at public auction, the pew-hold- 
ers having liberty to take out their pews before the 
sale, if they desired. Benjamin Fuller bought it at 
the auction and proposed to move it away, but Mrs. 
Cowdin, the widow of Thomas Cowdin, to whom the 
land, on which the house was, belonged, threatened 
to proceed against him if he did so. September 17, 
1798, the matter was brought before the town, and it 
was voted " to give up Mr. Fuller's obligation for the 
old meeting-house and give him three dollars for his 
trouble.'" The ipatter was finally settled by giving 
the underpinning to Mrs. Cowdin and selling the 
house ; and in May, 1799, the proceeds of the sale 
were equally divided between the town, the pew- 
holders and Mrs. Cowdin. 

At this time considerable attention was paid in 
town-meeting to the request of the Methodists and 
Baptists in town to have their " miniater tax " abated ; 
and a little later the town actively opposed a petition 
to the General Court made by the people in the 
northwest part of Fitchburg and in adjoining parts of 
Ashby, Ashburnham and Westminster, to form a 
" pool parish " among themselves. The "Fitchburg 
Universal Christian Society" had been formed and 
rapidly gained power in town affairs. The result of 
all this dissension was that in 1801 the majority of 
the people became dissatisfied with Mr. Worcester 



252 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



and the town was divided into three societies. March 
2, 1801, the town chose ii committee consisting of the 
assessors to proportion tlie number of Sundays each 
Bociety should use the meeting-house, according to 
the amount of taxes paid by the members of each. 
On the 13th of April following, the report of this 
committee was accepted, giving the use of the house 
as follows : Society in the east part of the town (Uni- 
versal Christian Society), twenty-four Sundays; Rev. 
Mr. Worcester's society, seventeen Sundays ; the 
society in the west, eiglit Sundays ; and the remaining 
three Sundays in the year were apportioned to the 
Baptists and Methodists. 

One week previous to this, April 6, 1801, the town had 
voted that it would be "for their peace and happiness to 
dissolve the contract with the Rev. Samuel Worcester 
as their minister, agreeable to the contract made with 
him at the time of his settlement." A committee was 
appointed to wait on Mr. Worcester and inform him 
of this vote and get his answer in regard to dis'^olving 
the contract. Mr. Worcester, after conferring with 
the church, returned an answer to the effect that he 
desired to dissolve the contract, but claiming the 
right, solely for his church and himself, of appointing 
a council of five churches to dismiss him in regular 
ecclesiastical form, the town to defray the expenses of 
such a council. The town accepted this proposal" 
The council, composed of Rev. Messrs. Gushing, o 
Ashburnham, Lee, of Royalston, Payson, of Rindge^ 
N. H., Austin, of Worcester, and Hill, of Mason, N, 
H., and eight delegates from their churches, convened 
June 22, 1801, and decided that it would be be.st for 
Mr. Worcester to continue in his pastorate. This 
decision was formally accepted by both the church 
and the town. This truce, however, did not last long. 
Committees of conference were appointed, ex parte 
councils held, etc., and the upshot of the matter was 
that on December 7, 1801, the town declared the con- 
tract with Mr. Worcester .null and void, raised one 
hundred and thirty dollars and appointed a committee 
to hire preaching, and voted " that the sexton be di- 
rected not to open the meeting-house doors upon any 
occasion unless by direction of the Selectmen or the 
committee to hire preaching." 

During the following six months numerous councils 
were convened, and on one occa-ion there were two 
councils in session here at the same time. Finally, a 
mutual council was agreed to, and the pastor was 
regularly dismissed, September 8th. 

Ttius, notwithstanding the votes of the town, dividing tlie house of 
worship between different societies, with the reiterated threats of the 
" Universal Cliristian Society "' to talie possession of his pulpit for the 
number of Sabbaths allowed them ; and notwithstanding the vote ex- 
plicitly declaring '*tho contract fur his support dissolved," with other 
measures of a corresponding character, he retained hie pnJpit to tliti lasty 
and received his salary, according to the terms of his settlement, until, 
in due order and form, and agreeably to his own wishes, ho ceased to be 
the pastor of the church and the minister of the town of Fitchburg 1 1 

i*'The Life and Labora of Rev. Samuel Worcester, D.D.," by S. M. 
Worcester, D.D. : Boston, 1352. 



Rev. Mr. Worceiter preached his " Farewell Ser- 
mon " on August 29, 1802, on which occasion a very 
large congregation gathered to hear him. 

The most important result of this protracted con- 
troversy was the dissolution, soon after Mr. Worcester's 
dismissal, of the parochial powers of the town. Two 
societies were formed. The First Parish held the 
church property, and in 1804 Rev. William Bascom 
became its pastor. In the same year the other society 
settled Rev. Titus T. Barton, and in 1805 built a small 
house of worship on the corner of what are now 
known as Main and Bollstone Streets. Mr. Barton 
was dismissed in February, 1813, whereupon the First 
Parish made overtures for a re-union of the two socie- 
ties which were accepted the latter part of that year. 
About that time Mr. Bascom requested to be dismissed, 
which request was granted. 

For over a year the church had no settled pastor, 
but in August, 1815, Rev. William Eaton accepted a 
call, and preached until June 30, 1823, when he was 
dismissed at his own request. A considerable minority 
did not agree with him in religious opinions, and 
October 31, 1823, a final separation of the two societies 
occurred. The majority retained the church prop- 
erty, and its organization has since been known as 

The First Parish (Unitarian). — Rev. Calvin Lin- 
coln, Jr., the first Unitarian pastor in Fitchburg, was 
ordained June 30, 1824, and continued as pastor until 
1855, a period of thirty-one years. From 1851 to 
18.54 he had as his colleague Rev. Horatio Stebbins. 
Rev. William P. Tilden was pastor from 1855 to 1862 ; 
and since then the church has had five ministers, the 
last and present pastor being Rev. William H. Pier- 
son, who was installed in 1881. 

This society used the house dedicated in 1797 as 
their place of worship for about forty years. In the 
autumn of 1836 this house was removed, and the 
present brick church, completed in 1837, was erected 
on nearly the same site. It stands in a very picturesque 
situation at the head of the Upper Common. Its inte- 
rior has been materially changed several times since 
the church was built. About 1871 an addition was 
built in the rear, and a very large and fine organ put 
in ; and ten years later new pews were put in, the 
side galleries taken away, stained-glass windows sub- 
stituted for the old-fashioned kind, and the whole 
interiorgenerally renewed at a cost of several thousand 
dollars. The auditorium is now one of the brightest 
and finest in the city. During the summer of 1888 a 
brick chapel, named Phillips Chapel and costing 
some twelve thousand dollars, was erected in the rear 
of the church. 

The Calvinistic Congregational Society. — 
The early history of this society is, of course, iden- 
tical with that of the First Parish, with the excep- 
tion of the few years of separation prior to the latter 
part of 1813. In October, 1823, those individuals 
who could not sympathize with the religious opin- 
ions of the First Parish formed a new society, and 



FITCHBURG. 



253 



on the 31st of that month it was voted by them 
" that this church remove its connection from the 
First Parish and unite with the Calvinistic Congre- 
gational Society, formed this day in the town of 
Fitchburg." The churcli, numbering one hundred 
and two persons, immediately removed to the house 
built in 1805. In 1828 the building was enlarged. 
In 1848 the present brick church was built, and 
some twenty years later the high flight of stone steps 
on Rollstone Street was removed, the entrance and 
vestibule of the church materially changed and im- 
proved, and a commodious and handsome brick 
chapel built on Rollstone Street, next to, and con- 
nected with, the church. 

Rev. Rufus A. Putnam was the first pastor of this 
sodety. He was ordained in February, 1824, and 
dismissed, at his own request, in March, 1831. 
Since then the society has had nine ministers, the 
longest and most important pastorates being tho-fe of 
Rev. Ebenezer W. Ballard, 1838 to 1852; Rev. 
Alfred Emerson, 1858 to 1870; Rev. Henry M. 
Tyler, 1872 to 1876 ; and Rev. Dr. S. Leroy Blake, 
1880 to 1887. 

The present pastor is Rev. Clarence R. Gale, who 
began his ministry over this society January 1, 1888. 

As time went on the building occupied by this 
society became inadequate to accommodate the in- 
creased congregation, and the need of another so- 
ciety, in the easterly part of the town, became very 
evident; and in 1808 a portion of its members or- 
ganized 

The Rollstone Congregational Society. — 
The first public services of this new society were 
held in the hall of the American House, beginning 
March 8, 1868. The church was organized on April 
16th following, and Rev. Leverett W. Spring was 
engaged as pastor for one year. A site for a new 
church was soon purchased, at the corner of Main 
and Snow Streets, and the corner-stone of the edifice 
was laid October 5, 1868. The church, which is a 
large and handsome brick structure, was dedicated 
February 24, 1870. In connection with it is a fine 
chapel, also built of brick, and named in honor of 
the donor, Dea. David Boutelle, Boutelle Chapel. 
Dea. Boutelle contributed liberally to the needs of 
this society, his gifts towards the building fund ag- 
gregating upwards of twenty-eight thousand dollars. 

The pastors of the Rollstone Church have been 
Rev. L. W. Spring, 1868 to 1875, and Rev. George R. 
W. Scott, D.D. Dr. Scott began his ministry here in 
the autumn of 1875, and remained in active service till 
December, 1885, when he was obliged to give up work 
and seek needed rest. He immediately went to 
Europe, and Rev. Dr. W. S. Alexander was engaged 
to supply his pulpit during his absence. Dr. Scott, 
finding that continued poor health forbade his return 
to the charge, sent in his resignatiim, which his peo- 
ple very reluctantly accepted. The present pastor, 
Rev. Charles S. Biooks, was installed on May 11, 1887. 



Some twenty-five years before the Rollstone Church 
separated from the parent stem, there was a division 
of the Calvinistic Congregational Society of a far 
diSerent character. In 1843 the intense feeling on 
the slavery question gave rise to this division and re- 
sulted in the formation and organization of 

The Trinitarian Congregational Society. — 
This society erected a church building at the corner 
of what are now known as Main and Church Streets, 
soon after the secession of its members. Rev. George 
Clark was the first pastor, and the succeeding pastors 
were: Revs. Foster Pettibone, Charles Bristol, George 
Trask and Elnathan Davis. 

The members of this church performed active and 
earnest work in the interests of the slaves, and 
through their efforts Fitcliburg became known as one 
of the stations on the " Underground Railroad to 
Canada," in the flight of the slave to freedom. The 
slavery question was the only strong bond of union 
among these people, and when the slaves were eman- 
cipated, the object of its organization was gone. Its 
last sermon was preached on the day when the equal- 
ity of the negro, before the law, was guaranteed. No- 
vember 15, 1871, the church building was sold to Mr. 
John M. Carpenter for fourteen thousand three hun- 
dred dollars. Chiefly through the eftbrts of Rev. 
George Trask, the proceeds of the sale were given to 
the Freedmen's Aid Society, with the exception of 
the sum of two thousand dollars, which was presented 
to Rev. Elnathan Davis, a former pastor, as a token 
of appreciation. Since November 18, 1872, the 
building has been occui^ied, in part, by the Fitchburg 
post-office. 

The First Baptist Society. — Undoubtedly there 
have been Baptists in Fitchburg ever since the 
incorporation of the town, but no mention is made 
of the denomination until 1783. In December of 
that year, " thirteen profest Baptists " sent in a peti- 
tion to the town, asking that their " minister tax '' be 
abated. The names of the petitioners were Charles 
Willard, David Mclntire, Samuel Gibson, David 
Whittemore, Ephraim Nile, Ephriam Howard, Elijah 
Willard, Elijah Mclntire, Solomon Gibson, William 
Haskell, Daniel W^illard, Abraham Willard, Lemuel 
Haskell, Thomas Gibson, Joseph Policy, Jonathan 
Page and Simeon Shattuck, 

No special attention seems to have been paid to 
this petition until May 16, 1787, when there was an 
article in the town warrant, " To see if the town will 
abate any of the profest Baptist Minister Rate." 
Deacon Kendall Boutelle, Daniel Farwell and Wil- 
liam Brown were chosen to investigate the matter, 
and reported to the town two days later, when, '■ after 
some deliberation on s* matter," the town voted "that 
the people in s* town that are profest Baptists, that 
petitioned to the town in the year 1784, be discharged 
from paying the Minister Rate after s"* year." 

In the northtrly part of the town were other Bap- 
tists, but they were of the 'Free-Will" order, and 



254 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



had no connection with the beginnings of the present 
Baptist Church in Fitchburg. These people built a 
shabby, barn like meeting-house near the Ashby line, 
and in June, 1810, "The First Baptist Society of 
Fitchburg and Ashby " was incorporated, and con- 
tinued in existence for some years. 

Let us now return to our "seventeen profest Bap- 
tists " who were e.x'empted from paying a minister-tax. 
They dwelt in the westerly part of the town, in the 
vicinity of Dean Hill, and, in conjunction with the 
Methodists in that locality, utilized the building 
heretofore spoken of as " The Lord's Barn " as a 
place of worship. But this society in the west 
gradually dwindled away and became merged in the 
other societies in town. 

In 1801, as we have seen, there were, however, a 
sufficient number of Baptists and Methodists in the 
town to entitle them to the use of the meeting-house 
for three Sundays in the year. 

The beginnings of the Baptist Church and Society 
in Fitchburg were identified with two residents of 
Leominster, — Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Crocker, — who, 
about 1828, removed to Fitchburg. March 2, 1831, 
Mr. Crocker and nine other gentlemen formed the 
"Fitchburg Village Baptist Society." The society 
thus antedated the church, which was organized as a 
branch of the Princeton Church June 8, 1831, on 
petition of Mr. and Mrs. Crocker, Mr. and Mrs. 
Stephen Bemis and Mr. Augustus H. Searle. 

For over two years services were held in the old 
(then new) Academy building hall. New members 
were rapidly added. The place of baptism, in those 
early days, was the pond on Punch Brook, just north 
of Academy Street. For some years this pond has 
not been in exi^tence. 

In 1833 the society bought a lot and erected a new 
and commodious church on what is now Main Street, 
a little west of the Common. The building, now 
used as a carriage repository, still stands in the same 
location. November 14, 1833, the building was ded- 
icated and the branch church was, on the same date, 
severed from the parent stock. The independent 
church then had sixty-two members. 

The rapid growth of the society during the next 
twenty years made it necessary to either enlarge the 
old church or build a new one. The latter course 
was wisely decided upon, and March 1, 1854, the 
present handsome edifice, costing twenty-five thou- 
sand dollars, was dedicated. 

June 8, 1881, this church observed its semi-centen- 
nial anniversary, which was largely attended, and 
proved to be an occasion of great rejoicing. An im- 
portant feature of this celebration was the reading 
by the pastor, Rev. I. R. Wheelock, of a valuable 
historical address, to which the writer of this present 
history is indebted for much of the foregoing. 

In 1887 the interior of the church was thoroughly 
renewed, a fine organ put in and a handsome brick 
chapel erected, largely through the munificence of 



Samuel E. Crocker, Esq., for whom the chapel has 
been appropriately named. It was dedicated Febru- 
ary 14, 1888. The total cost of the chapel and im- 
provements was twenty thousand dollars. 

The First Baptist Society has had fourteen different 
pastors settled over it since its organization, the long- 
est pastorates being those of Rev. Kendall Brooks, 
1855 to 18G5; Rev. Stillman B. Grant, 1867 to 1874 ; 
and Rev. Isaac R. Wheelock, 1875 to 1885. The present 
pastor is Rev. Frank Rector, who was installed over 
this church in November, 1886. 

The First Methodist Episcopal Society. — 
Fitchburg seems to have been first visited by a Method- 
ist preacher about 1794, when Rev. John Hill, of the 
Needham Circuit, came here for a brief season. A 
small Methodist society was then organized Snd 
meetings were held from time to time for a few years 
in the " Lord's Barn," built by Jacob Upton and 
others in 1786. 

About 1803 several Methodists moved into town, 
among them Mr. and Mrs. William Walton, who, 
during their stay of seven or eight years in town, did 
good work in sowing the seed of Methodism. Services 
were held from time to time by itinerant preachers. 

No Class was organized in town until March, 1831, 
at which time Rev. Warren Emerson organized a 
Class of only three members. It was formed at the 
house of Mrs. Jane Mack, widow of Thomas Mack, 
who came to Fitchburg from Ireland in 1824. The 
leader of this Class was Mr. Samuel Marsh, of Lunen- 
burg, and the two other members of it were Mrs. Jane 
Mack and Mrs. Jane McCormick. 

In April, 1831, Mr. Elijah Brigham moved into 
town from Worcester and was immediately appointed 
leader of the Class. 

In 1834 Rev. Joel Knight began to labor in Fitch- 
burg, and in March of that year the Methodist 
society was organized. Twenty-two members were 
added during Mr. Knight's first year here. He re- 
mained another year, during the course of which Mr. 
Elijah Brigham was licensed as a local preacher. 

In 1836 Fitchburg became a Methodist Station, and 
Rev. Joseph S. Ellis was appointed pastor of the so- 
ciety during that year; but the people were not able 
to support a minister, and no one was appointed to 
preach in Fitchburg during 1837-8-9. 

In the spring of 1840 the Class was revived, two 
hundred dollars appropriated by the district, and in 
the following July Rev. John Tate was appointed to 
preach here. The hall in the Academy building, 
where meetings had previously been held during Mr. 
Knight's ministry, was again hired, and before long 
was found insufficient to accommodate the rapidly in- 
creasing attendance. The need of a church edifice 
was evident, but the people did not feel able to incur 
the necessary expense. Accordingly, on February 
15, 1841, the people here had a conference with 
brethren in Ashburnham and Lunenburg. The re- 
sult of their deliberation was a resolve " to build a 



FITCHBURG. 



255 



meeting house, 60 feet by 42 feet, provided that fifteen 
ptrsons could be found to be responsible for building 
and paying for :lie house."' 

The names of the fifteen persons who became thus 
responsible are : Major Ephraim Jones, William S. 
Jones, James Gilchrist and Samuel Marsh, of Lunen- 
burg ; Eben Frost and Walter Russell, of Ashburn- 
ham ; James Puffer, of Westminster ; and Elijah 
Brigham, Daniel Emory, Nahum Wetherby, Nathan 
Caswell, Roswell Graham, Ebenezer C. Hayden, Ed- 
ward Aldrich and James Ilartwell, of Fitchburg. 

March 1, 1841, Major Jones and Messrs. Puffer, 
Brigham, Emory and Graham were appointed a 
building committee. A site was purchased near the 
foot of the present Upper Common, and the building 
erected during the following summer. It was dedi- 
cated September 14, 1841, Rev. Miner Raymond 
preaching the sermon. On the next day the first 
board of trustees was elected, consisting of the fol- 
lowing : Roswell Graham, William Wilder, Elijah 
Brigham, Samuel D. Phelps and Daniel Emory. 

Since 1841 this society has prospered, and the orig- 
inal church edifice, which still stands in its old loca- 
tion on Main Street, was twice enlarged — onie during 
the pastorate of Rev. Samuel Tapper, in 1853-54, when 
an addition of fifteen feet was made to its length, and 
a second time in 1868, when upwards of four thou- 
sand dollars were spent in repairs and enlargement. 

In October, 1885, this society purchased of Dr. 
Thomas S. Blood a lot on the corner of Fox and Elm 
Streets, and in the course of the next three years 
erected a large and handsome brick structure on this 
land. The cost of the edifice was thirty thousand 
five hundred and eighty dollars, of which amount 
twenty-five thousand two hundred dollars had been 
pledged previous to the dedication of the church, 
which occurred February 29, 1888. The exercises 
were held on the afternoon and evening of that day, 
and there was a large and notable gathering each 
time. Bishop Andrews, of Washington, D. C, 
preached the sermon, and it is worthy of record that 
before 10 p.m. that day the entire deficit of five thou- 
sand three hundred and eighty dollars was pledged. 
Afier the money had been all pledged, the trustees 
formally surrendered the church into the hands of 
Bishop Andrews, who then dedicated it, according to 
the Methodist Episcopal Church ritual, to the wor- 
ship of Almighty God. 

The first pastor of this church was Rev. Joel 
Knight, and since then it has had twenty-seven 
different pastors settled over it. The present pastor 
is Rev. Jesse Wagner, who began his work here in 
April, 1888. 

West Fitchburg Methodist Episcopal So- 
ciety.— In November, 1874, a Methodist Sunday- 
school was organized in West Fitchburg, and a 
chapel was soon after built. November 17, 1881, the 
West Fitchburg Methodist Episcopal Society was 
organized. The chapel being found too small, their 



present church was built in 1882, and dedicated May 
11, 1883. Rev. F. T. Pomeroy was pastor the year 
preceding the organization, and remained, at the 
earnest request of the people, till April, 1884. Since 
then there have been three pastors, the present pas- 
tor being Rev. W. W. Baldwin, who began his work 
here in April, 1887. 

The First Universai.ist Society.— One of the 
chief difficulties with which the Rev. Dr. Worcester 
had to contend during his pastorate here was a 
religious sentiment within his flock, denominated 
" Universalism ; " and it is recorded that the Rev. 
John I'ayson, Kitchburg's first pastor, was also 
troubled in spirit from this same cause. All this 
goes to show that the principles of the Universalist 
faiih were early developed in this town. 

These sentiments gradually gained adherents, and 
Universalist meetings were occasionally held. Soon 
after the old meeting-house was fitted up for a town- 
house, in 1837, the Universalists began to have 
meetings in it occasionally, with preaching by min- 
isters of their faith in neighboring towns ; and as a 
result, the First Universalist Society of Fitchburg 
was organized October 9, 1844, after which date 
services were regularly held in the town-hall each 
Sunday. 

August 4, 1846, the society appointed a committee 
to see about building a church edifice, and on Feb- 
ruary 11, 1847, it was voted " that there is a sutficient 
amount of funds raised on the subscription paper to 
take measures to commence building a meeting- 
house." At the same time Hiram Davis, Everett 
Sprague, Charlea Upton, Albert C. Upton, Abel 
Derby, Harrington Sibley and E. S. Bowditch were 
chosen a building committee, with full authority to 
purcha>e land and build a church. 

This committee purchased a site at the corner of 
Main and RoUstone Streets, prepared plans and re- 
ported their doings to the society a week later. The 
report was accepted, and work begun at once. The 
church was of brick and stone, and was completed 
during 1847, and was at that time considered one of 
the finest buildings in town. 

For nearly forty years the society continued to oc- 
cupy this church, but in the summer of 1884 a lot 
was purchased on the corner of Day and Union 
Streets, at a cost of three thousand eight hundred 
dollars; and March 30,1885, it was unanimously 
voted to proceed at once to erect on this site a church 
edifice in accordance with plans previously prepared 
by a committee chosen for the purpose. Rev. F. O. 
Hall and Messrs. J. S. Wilson, H. L. Rice, F. S. 
Lovell and J. D. Littlehale were chosen as a building 
committee. The corner stone was laid June 18, 1885, 
and during the succeeding eight months their present 
Hue and attractive house of worship was erected at a 
cost of thirty thousand six hundred and twelve dol- 
lars. Its doors were first opened to the public on the 
evening of February 23, 1886. 



256 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



Rev. Mather E. Hawes was the first pastor of this 
society, and continued his ministry until the spring 
of 1849. Since then the society has had ten pastors, 
the longest pastorate being that of Kev. Frank Ma- 
guire,— 1870-79. 

The present pa.stor, Rev. Frank O. Hall, is a grad- 
uate of Tufts College Divinity School, and began his 
ministry here on June 1, 1884. 

The First Episcopal Society {Christ Church). 
— Episcopal services appear to have been first held 
in Fitchburg during the latter part of 1862, in the 
lower town-hall, and were conducted by Rev. W. G. 
Hawkins. 

October 7, 1803, the Episcopal Society was organ- 
ized here, and one week later the church was duly or- 
ganized under the statutes of the Commonwealth by 
the name of Christ Church. 

Rev. Mr. Hawkins preached until April, 1863, when 
he was succeeded by Rev. Henry L. Jones, of New 
York City, and on October 14, 1863, Mr. Jones was 
unanimously chosen the first rector of Christ Church. 
At the game time the following officers were chosen : 
Wardens, Alvah Crocker and Augustus Whitman; 
Vestrymen, C. H. B. Snow, G. F. Fay, L. B. Jaquith, 
C. L. S. Hammond and Thomas Trees. 

For about five years after Mr. Jones first came to 
Fitchburg, the society held services regularly in the 
lower town-hall, but the need of a church home soon 
became very evident, and about 1806 the society pur- 
chased of Dr. George D. Colony his estate, situated on 
Main Street, between Hartwell and Fox Streets, for 
eight thousand dollars. During 1867 their present 
fine, stone church edifice was built at an expense of 
over fifty-three thousand dollars. The corner-stone 
was laid April 22, 1807, and just one year later, April 
22, 1868, the handsome and attractive church was 
consecrated by the Rev. Manton Eastburn, D.D., 
Bi^hop of the Diocese of Massachusetts. 

Rev. Mr. Jones continued as rector until February, 
1875. Since then there have been three settled rectors. 

Rev. Charles Morris Addison, the present rector, is 
a graduate of the Episcopal Theological School at 
Cambridge, and assumed the charge of Christ Church 
parish on June 1, 1885. 

Saint Bernard's Parish (Roman Catholic).— 
Catholic services seem to have been held in Fitchburg 
as far back as 1842, but no society was organized un- 
til 1847. In 1848, under the pastorate of Rev. M. F. 
Gibson, a church was built on Water Street. There 
were then about eight hundred in the whole parish. 

Rev. Edward Turpin became pastor in 1856, and re- 
mained ten years. He was succeeded, in 1866, by 
Rev. C. M. Foley, who, in 1869, built the present 
brick church edifice, which is one of the finest in 
town. Rev. P. J. Garrigan took charge of the parish 
in 1875. He greatly embellished the interior of the 
church, and dedicated it with imposing ceremonies in 
1879. Father Garrigan also built the parish house on 
Water Street, next to the church, and the parochial 



school and convent on First Street. He also pur- 
chased land and built the Catholic Church in West 
Fitchburg. 

In the summer of 1888 Father Garrigan was asked 
to accept the position of vice-rector of the Catholic 
University recently established in Washington, D. C, 
and afteV much deliberation concluded to accept the 
position. He left Fitchburg early in November, 1888, 
closing a long and valuable pastorate, and will be 
greatly missed by his parishioners, now numbering 
over four thousand. 

Since he came to Fitchburg, Father Garrigan has 
been a prominent citizen. He has been a member of 
the School Committee, but is chiefly noted, as a public 
man, for the noble and effective work he has accom- 
plished here in the cause of temperance. 

West Fitchburg Roman Catholic Parish — 
Church of the Sacred Heart. — This parish was organized 
in 1878 in West Fitchburg, and Father Garrigan, as 
before stated, purchased a lot and built thereon the 
present neat church edifice. For a time it was sus- 
tained as a branch of Saint Bernard's Parish, but it is 
now self-supporting. 

Its first pastor was Rev. James Canavan. He was 
followed by Rev. James Donahoe. The present 
pastor. Rev. J. L. Tarpey, began his work here in 
June, 1886. 

Connected with these two Catholic Churches are 
twelve different societies, organized in the interests 
of temperance, doctrinal instruction and charity. 

The French Catholic Society. — This society was or- 
ganized in 1886. Rev. C. Beaudoin has been its pastor 
since organization. 

In December, 1886, the society purchased fifty-two 
thousand feet of land on Walnut Street, and a dwell- 
ing-house thereon was converted into a parsonage and 
school. A small chapel was erected, and it is the 
intention of the society to build a church on this land 
in the near future. 



CHAPTER XLII. 

FITCHBURG— ( Continued. ) 

EDUCATIONAL HISTORY. 

The educational history of Fitchburg will, for the 
sake of convenience, be considered under two heads, 
viz.: Public Schools and Libraries. Neither of these 
all-important departments of our history has, as far as 
the writer is aware, ever been written upon in a way 
by any means complete. It is therefore proposed, in 
this history, to give special prominence to the subject 
of education, and to place before the reader a large 
number of facts relating to the history of the begin- 
nings and progress of education in Fitchburg. 

The writer is fortunate in having access to a very 
large number of reports and original documents aud 



FITCHBURG. 



257 



papers relating to this subject, collected and preserved 
by his father, Charles Mason, Esq., who has always 
been deeply interested in the education of youth, and 
was, for some years, prominent and active in the school 
and educational affairs of the town of Fitchburg. 

Public Schools. — The early settlers of this town 
do not seem to have paid much attention, or devoted 
much money to the fostering of public education. 
The earliest mention in the town records of any 
public action respecting the establishment of schools 
in town occurs in the report of a town-meeting held 
September 12, 1764, and is as follows : 

Votad, that there be two scools in s'" town and that mr. John fitch and 
Kindal Boutwell and their neighbors shall have the benititt of their 
BCoole money in order to provide scooling among themselves, 

Vnted, that eight pounds he raised in order to provide a scoolemaster 
In 8** town. 

Votedy Amos Kimball Eph™ Whitney and Thos. Dutton be a scoole 
comite. 

The amount of money appropriated was very small, 
being equivalent to only a trifle over twenty-six dollars. 

The "two scools" appear to have been kept, how- 
ever, during the winter of 1764-65, — one in William 
Chadwick's corn-barn, near the present Pearl Hill 
School-house, and the other in Samuel Hunt's tavern, 
— but who the "scoolemaster" was is not stated. 

November 21, 1765, it was voted in town-meeting 
"to have 2 scools in s'd town and Mr. Poole and Mr. 
John fitch with their neighbors have the benefit of 
their scoole money in order to provide among them- 
selves," 

" Voted, that £3 be raised for scooling. Thomas 
Cowdin, Kindal Boutell and Jon° Wood Com." 

So the town had only about ten dollars to expend 
for education in the winter of 1765-66. 

The next fall, however, the people returned to 
their first appropriation of £8, and voted " that two- 
thirds be laid out in the middle of the town, and the 
rest by the Com. as they shall think proper on the 
outsides of the town." 

During the following three years a like sura was 
annually appropriated, and equitably distributed. 

January 11, 1770, the town, for some reason un- 
known, voted " not to have any scoole this winter, 
but reserve their money till next fall." 

Oct. 1, 1770, the town raised £5 ISs. 4rf. for schools, 
and the next fall £9 3s. id. ; and October 19, 1772, £20 
were raised; and it was also voted to build four 
school-houses in the town, "each quarter of the 
town to build their own school-house at their own 
expense, free from any town tax, only that each 
quarter have their proportion of the Town's Boards 
and Nails left after finishing the Meeting-house." 
A committee of five was chosen to fix the location of 
the school-houses. 

During the next four years the annual appropria- 
tion was £20. 

October 4, 1774, the following votes are recorded, 
showing that a sharp lookout was maintained with 
regard to the expenditure of the school money : 
17 



Voted, that all the quarters of the town that don't see that their part 
of the scuol money that is not scooled out within the year be returned 
into the Town Stoke. (This vote is rather blindly recorded, but one can 
catch the idea.) 

Voted, to add what Bcool money remains not yet laid out that was 
raised the last year to the £20 now raised to be laid out in providing a 
scool or scools. 

In 1777 the appropriation was raised to £30. 

The effect of the depreciation in the currency is 
seen in the amounts raised for school purposes dur- 
ing the next three years, which were £200 in 1778, 
£500 in 1779 and £2000 in 1780. In the hist-named 
year Thomas Cowdin generously added £500, " to be 
scooled out in the scool-house sot on said Cowdin's 
land." 

In 1781 the town raised " £60, hard money, to hire 
school Master, Masters or Mistresses." The same 
sum was raised in 1782, but the appropriation for 
each of the two following years was reduced to £40. 

In 1785 it was voted "to hire a Grammar School 
Master for the town ; the said Grammar School to be 
kept four months, and each quarter to have their 
mouth, the said Grammar School to begin in town 
before December next." The appropriation this 
year was £45, and remained at that figure until 1789, 
when it was increased to £50. 

April 5, 1790, it was voted " to new district the 
town," and a committee of seven was appointed (or 
this purpose. September 9, 1790, raised £50, and 
voted "that the several schools in town be free 
schools for the use of the town." 

At a later meeting the report of the committee to 
redistrict the town was rejected, and it was not till 
1798 that a report on this matter was accepted. The 
town was then divided into eleven districts. 

In March, 1798, £100 were raised for schools. 
This was the first year that the annual appropriation 
was voted at the March meeting. 

It was necessary to build school-houses for the new 
districts, and at a town-meeting, June 21, 1798, a 
committee was appointed " to estimate the bigness of 
the school-houses." The committee reported at the 
same meeting, and their report was accepted, — " that 
the houses be twenty-four feet by twenty feet, and 
finished with Gallery s'^ats ; lathed and plastered 
overhead, to be glassed with six windows, 12 squares 
of 7 by 9 glass in each, and to be finished outside and 
in, all except clap-boarding." The report further 
provided that the old school-houses be appraised, and 
their value refunded to the proprietors, and that the 
building of the new houses be let out to the lowest 
bidder. A committee of three was chosen to let out 
and inspect the building of the new school-houses. 

September 17, 1798, the selectmen were appointed a 
committee to appraise the old houses, and, at an ad- 
journed meeting, October 8th, reported their valuation 
as follows : 

The School house nigh ]Mr. Daniel Wetherbee's $92 00 

The .School house nigh Mr. Simeon FarweU's 93 00 

The Schoel house nigh Mr. Amos Lawrence's 9U 00 

The School bouse uigh Mr. Abrahaui FarweU's SO 00 



258 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



The School house nigh Mr. Elijah Carter's 80 00 

The School house (frame) nigli Mr. Daniel Harris' 6 00 

At the same meeting it was voted to raise ten hun- 
dred and eighty dollars to expend in building and 
furnishing the school-houses. 

In 1799 one hundred and fifty pounds were raised 
for schools, and the committeemen were directed "to 
agree with the teachers that they are not to be al- 
lowed anything for keeping schools Saturdays in the 
afternoon. " The selectmen were authorized to pro- 
vide locks and keys and window-shutters for the sev- 
eral school-houses. 

In 1800 one hundred and fifty pounds were raised, 
and in each of the three followingyears, five hundred 
dollars. From 1804 to 1808, six hundred dollars was 
the sum appropriated ; and in the latter year forty 
dollars were added " to be distributed among those 
school districts the selectmen shall think most need 
it." A committee of eleven was also chosen in 1808 
to examine schools, and it was voted " that the com- 
mittee be requested to attend the schools at their com- 
mencement and close, and it be the duty of the school 
committeemen to inform the examiners when the 
school begins.'' It was also voted that the School 
Committee furnish the selectmen, during the last 
week in August, an exact return of the number of 
scholars in their respective districts, so that the 
school money could be equitably divided. 

In 1809 raised six hundred and forty dollars " to be 
laid out as last year," and chose a committee consist- 
ing of Rev. Mr. Barton, Rev. Mr. Bascom, Dr. Peter 
Snow, Leonard Burbank and Joseph Simonds, to in- 
spect the schools. 

In 1810 seven hundred dollars were appropriated 
for schools, and in 1811 six hundred and forty dollars ; 
and in the latter year, aconimittee of seven was chosen, 
" to consider the expediency of any alteration in the 
Middle School District " (District No. 1). At an ad- 
journed meeting April 1, 1811, this committee reported 
" that the district should be divided and a new district 
formed." This new district, as outlined by the com- 
mittee, corresponded to that portion afterwards called 
the " Old City." 

The report was accepted, and in the following July 
it was voted to divide District No. 1, in accordance 
with the report of the committee, and call the new 
district No. 12. Also voted to give the new district 
ninety dollars toward building a school-house. This 
vote was reconsidered, and it was then voted to pay 
the sum of ninety dollars for this purpose in March, 
1815. 

In 1812 the school district boundaries were more 
accurately defined by a committee chosen for that 
purpose. The school appropriation that year was 
seven hundred dollars, and the next year eight hun- 
dred dollars. 

The foregoing is an abstract of the more important 
actions of the town in regard to public instruction 
during its first half-century of existence. During 



the early years of this period the town furnished very 
meagre facilities for the education of the children ; 
and, as a matter of fact, the larger part of the in- 
struction given in those days was furnished by pri- 
vate teachers. 

For the first few years there were no school-houses 
even, the schools being kept in vacant rooms of pri- 
vate houses, or taverns. Fuel was gratuitously sup- 
plied by the neighborhood, and the teachers " boarded 
round." The first school-houses were probably built 
in 1773, — one in the middle of the town and the 
other three in the west, north and south parts of the 
township respectively. 

In 1798 there appear to have been five school- 
houses in town, according to the appraisal report pre- 
viously cited, and the frame of a sixth in process of 
erection. 

In 1800 the school-house in the " Center District," 
or No. 1, stood on what is now Main Street, a few 
rods west of the present junction of Circle and Main 
Streets. It was a low, unpainted wooden building, 
standing with its end to the road. The other ten 
were in locations probably closely corresponding to 
those now occupied by our present long-established 
suburban school-houses. 

In 1812, the year after District No. 1 was divided, 
a brick school-house was built in the new district. 
No. 12, and still remains there, forming a portion of 
a dwelling-houne at the upper corner of Crescent and 
Blossom Streets. 

In 1815, by vote of the town, a new school-house 
was built in District No. 1. It was a wooden build- 
ing, paiuted yellow, and containing two rooms. It 
stood at the present junction of Main and Mechanic 
Streets, on the site now occupied by D. H. Merriam's 
house. 

The early School Committees seem to have been 
chosen for prudential purposes only, until 1808, when 
an additional committee of eleven (reduced to five 
the next ye.ir) was appointed to examine and inspect 
the schools. After 1826, in accordance with legisla- 
tive enactment. School Committees were chosen to 
exercise substantially the same powers and functions 
as at present. 

This law was passed in 1826, and at an adjourned 
town-meeting in that year it was voted "that the 
Selectmen be a committee for the superintendence 
and regulation of schools agreeably to an act of the 
General Court passed 1826." Later at the same meet- 
ing it was voted to add the clergymen of the town to 
the committee. The first School Committee actually 
chosen by the town under this law was in 1827, and 
consisted of Rev. Calvin Lincoln, Rev. Rufus A. Put- 
nam, Dr. Jonas A. Marshall and Messrs. Ebenezer 
Torrey, David Brigham, Ivers Jewett and Abel Fox. 

During the second half-century of the town's ex- 
istence considerable progress was made in educational 
matters. Fitchburg grew rapidly, and increased ac- 
commodations and more teachers were necessary, and 



FITCHBURG. 



259 



the people seem to have been willing to appropriate 
money to meet the increasing needs. 

In 1830 the appropriation was eleven hundred dol- 
lars, and in 1S40 had risen to fifteen hundred doUurs. 

In 1819 the custom of enumerating the school- 
children in town May 1st was adopted. 

About 1830 the High School Association, of Fitch- 
burg, was formed by a number of prominent citizens 
who were interested in education. The directors of 
the Association were Benjamin Snow, Francis Per- 
kins and Dr. Charles W. Wilder, and its secretary and 
treasurer was Dr. Jonas A. Marshall. This Associa- 
tion proved to be of very material assistance in pro- 
moting the cause of education here, and many of our 
older citizens owe tlieir knowledge of the higher 
branches of learning to the instruction rendered avail- 
able by it. 

A building called the Academy was erected in 1830 
by the Association at a cost of twelve hundred dollars. 
It stood just in front of the location of the present 
High School building, on land given for the purpose 
by Capt. Zaohariah Sheldon. The Academy was let 
to private persons, who taught therein almost all the 
higher branches. At one time Hebrew was included 
in the list of studies. Benaiah Cook, A.B., with Mr. 
Ezra Reed as his assistant, kept the first school in the 
Academy, and the building was used for private in- 
struction until 1849, when the town purchased it of 
the Association and established a high school in it. 

In April, 1831, a committee of one from each school 
district was chosen " to examine into the evils of our 
schools and point out remedies." The report of this 
committee was read June 11, 1831, and "accepted 
very unanimously," and it was voted to print and 
distribute four hundred and fifty copies of it. 

In 1835 the number of children attending the dis- 
trict schools in Fitchburg was 560 — 289 girls and 271 
boys — and the teachers employed numbered 25, of 
whom 14 were ladies. The average wages per month 
were, in winter, $16.07 ; in summer, $4.30. 

Of the Academy, which was intended only for 
young persons who had already acquired a common- 
school education, Mr. Torrey, writing in 1836, says in 
his " History of Fitchburg ": " It is a commodious, two- 
story building, situated a few rods easterly of the 
common. It is furnished with two school-rooms on 
the lower floor, the former of which will accommo- 
date 65 scholars, and the latter 30. The average 
number attending for several years past has been 
about 30." 

In 1835 an attempt was made to have the higher 
branches of learning taught in the district schools, 
but the town refused to sanction any such proceeding. 

In 1840 the need of a new school-house in District 
No. 1 became very evident. The "yellow school- 
house," built in 1815, was filled to overflowing, and 
the pupils were soon all transferred to a new brick 
school-house — the pride of the town — erected on what 
is now School Street, near Main Street. This house 



is still standing, and is occupied by schools of the 
primary grade. During the summer of 1888 an ex- 
tensive addition was built, reaching nearly to Main 
Street. 

In 1846 the brick house in District No. 12 was 
abandoned and the pupils transferred to a new and 
commodious brick school-house on Day Street. 

The first printed school report of the town of 
Fitchburg was for the year ending April 3, 1843. It 
was not printed by vote of the town, but by the sub- 
scriptions of public-spirited citizens, and is an eight- 
page pamphlet in large type, bearing the imprint of 
" W. J. Merriam, Printer, Fitchburg, Mass." 

It contains no tabulated statistics, but deals chiefly 
with the defects in the school system of that day. 
Some of the "causes unfavorable and, in some cases, 
almost ruinous to our schools, which neither good 
teachers nor faithful committees can obviate " are 
enumerated as follows : 

First. Bad School Houses.— Vinder this head it is 
stated that a few of the school-houses in town are good 
ones, pleasantly located, in good repair and provided 
with suitable grounds, etc., while the rest are very bad 
in all these respects. 

Second. Many of our schools suffer from inadequate 
tuition. 

The committee recommended ai remedies for this 
evil larger appropriations and a reduction in the num- 
ber of school districts. 

The irregular attendance of pupils is spoken of as 
a third serious drawback to the prosperity of the 
schools, and also the non-attendance of "young peo- 
ple between the ages of sixteen and twenty-one," of 
whom there were said to be over two hundred in town, 
"only eighty of whom attend our public schools at all,'' 
The report closes with an earnest exhortation that 
parents and guardians exert their utmost influence to 
have the young persons under their care attend 
school. 

No school report was printed the following year, 
but since then annual reports have been printed, and 
the writer is fortunate enough to possess a complete 
set of them, including the report for 1842-43. 

The report (or the year ending March, 1845, was 
printed by vote of the town. It is a pamphlet of 
twenty-eight pages, closely printed and containing in 
addition six tables of attendance, &c. It was prepared 
by Charles Mason, Esq., chairman of the School Com- 
mittee, and is an exhaustive document containing 
much valuable information regarding the conduct and 
condition of the schools and useful suggestions in the 
way of their improvement. 

The year 1845 was a lively one in the school affairs 
of Fitchburg. At the annual town-meeting, March 3, 
1845, sundry articles iu the warrant relating to the es- 
tablishment of a town school, new districting, &c., 
were referred to a committee composed of one chosen 
from each district, as follows: No. 1, Charles Mason ; 
2, Robert L. Friar; 3, John Whitcomb ; 4, Abram 



260 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



Osborn ; 5, Levi Downe ; 6, Ivers Phillips ; 8\ David 
D. Mclntire; 9, Asa Raymond ; 10, David Lowe; 11, 
John Andrews; 12, David Boutelle; 13, Isaac B. 
Woodward. 

This committee met March 18th and thoroughly 
discussed the subject and adjourned to the morning 
of April 7th, when a report, prepared by the chair- 
man, Mr. Mason, was read in committee and unani- 
mously agreed to. In the afternoon of the same day 
this report was presented in town-meeting and the 
measure.s therein recommended were adopted. Of 
these measures the following were a part: 

That the present di\ision of the town into school districts be discon- 
tinued, sucli discontinuance to take effect on the 15th day of May next, 
from and after which day the existing school districts of the town, in- 
cluding No. Vl}4t shall he abolished ; and that the town purchase of the 
several districts, at a fair and just appraisal, their respective school- 
houses, and their right and interest in the land on which the same 
stand, . . . and that henceforth tho town provide, at the common ex- 
pense of the town, school-houses for the several school districts that 
shall be formed within its limits. 

It was the portion of the above relating to school 
districts that produced contention. No objection was 
made to the purchase of the school-houses by the 
town, though it was an unusual proceeding in those 
days. 

At this meeting, April 7th, a committee was chosen 
to appraise the school-houses and report their value 
to the assessors, to be by them credited to the tax- 
payers in the several districts toward payment of their 
taxes. This was attended to and the transfer duly 
made to the town. 

A committee was also chosen at this meeting to 
divide the town into suitable school districts. This 
committee performed their duty and presented a re- 
port at a town-meeting held May 5, 1845. The report 
was accepted and referred, together with the whole 
subject matter, to a special committee for revision. 
This committee, which consisted of Nathaniel Wood, 
Levi Downe, Ivers Phillips, Abel F. Adams and Levi 
Kendall, was requested to report August 11, 1845. 
This date found nothing done by the committee and 
the four first-named gentlemen sent in their resigna- 
tions. Charles Mason, John Whitcomb, Dr. Thomas 
R. Boutelle and William Woodbury were chosen in 
their places respectively, and the members of this new 
committee were "authorized to have their Report or 
Reports printed and distributed among the inhabitants 
of the town for their examination prior to the next 
March meeting." 

There resulted from the labors of this committee 
two reports, — a majority report, signed by Messrs. 
Mason and Whitcomb and Dr. Boutelle, recommend- 
ing the division of the town into eight school districts, 
to be wholly under the supervision of the School 
Committee ; and a minority report, signed by Messrs. 
Woodbury and Kendall, recommending the division 
of the town into ten school districts, each district to 

1 Nos. 7 and 8 were, in 1844, united into one district, called No. 8. 



have entire control of its own school, and the School 
Committee to serve only for the purpose of examining 
teachers and occasionally visiting the schools. 

In the majority report was a table of the school 
districts as then existing, which is, perhaps, worth 
inserting here: 

District. Name. Established. Hemarks. 

1 Centre 179S. 

2 South Fitchburg ITOb. 

3 Whitcomb's 1708. 

4 Turnpike 1798. 

5 Downe's 1798. 

6 Baldwinville 1798. 

7 Williams' 1798 United with No. 8 in 1844. 

8 Dean's 1798. 

9 Page's 1798. 

10 Phelps' 1798. 

11 Pearl Hill 1798. 

12 Old City 1811 Taken from No. 1. 

Vi.%.., Half District 1836 Taken from Nos. 10 and 12. 

13 Crockerville 1838... .Takenfrom Nos. <!. 

These two reports were read in town-meeting, 
March 2, 1846, and were both accepted and laid on 
the table. It was then voted " to adopt the territorial 
limits for school districts as they existed in 1844, ex- 
cept the half-district." A committee, consisting of 
Levi Downe, Abel Marshall and William Carleton, 
was chosen " to assign the territory which was formerly 
the half-district, and fix the limits of the old dis- 
tricts." This committee reported April 6, 1846, and 
their report was accepted. The town clerk added to 
the record the following comment: "So ended our 
great effort to new district the town." 

The year 1845 was also noted in the educational 
annals of the town because of a very large and suc- 
cessful Teachers' Institute held here. The Institute 
began its sessions October 28th and closed November 
7, 1845. The attendance was fifty males and eighty- 
five females, most of whom were teachers in Fitch- 
burg and neighboring towns. 

The following gentlemen contributed their services 
as lecturers or instructors, or both, during the session : 
Hon. Horace Mann, Boston ; R. B. Hubbard, Esq., 
Worcester; W. B. Fowle, Esq., Boston; Thomas 
Sherwin, Esq., Boston ; Rev. Barzillai Frost, Concord ; 
N. Tillinghast, Esq., Bridgewater; Amasa Walker, 
Esq., North Brookfield; George S. Hillard, Esq., Bos- 
ton ; Charles Mason, Esq., Fitchburg; and Asa Fitz, 
Esq., Boston. Mr. Hillard was unable to be present, 
and the lecture prepared by him was read by Charles 
Sumner, Esq., of Boston, at that time just entering 
upon his glorious public career. 

The pecuniary means necessary for holding this 
Institute, as well as three others held at about the 
same time in Pittsfield, Bridgewater and Chatham, 
were furnished by Hon. Edmund Dwight, of Boston, 
who placed in the hands of Hon. Horace Mann, then 
Secretary of the State Board of Education, the sum 
of one thousand dollars for this purpose ; and at a 
special meeting of the Institute, November 7th, a set 
of resolutions were adopted expressing the obligation 



FITCHBURG. 



261 



and thanks of the memliers to Hon. Edmund Dwight 
for his munificence, to Hon. Horace Mann and 
Charles Mason, Esq., "for the efficientservice they have 
rendered to the cause of popular education by their 
labors in the establishment of this Institute,'' to the 
lecturers and instructors for their valuable gratuitous 
services, and to the citizens of Fitchburg for their 
hospitality. 

All the local work was performed and arrange- 
ments made by Mr. Mason, and at the close of the 
sessions, November 7th, the ladies of the institute 
presented to him a handsome gold pencil in recogni- 
tion of his efforts to make the Institute a success. 

In 1845 the School Committee established a small 
library for the use of the public school teachers. A 
subscription paper, now in Mr. Mason's possession, 
was circulated, and the money thus obtained was 
used for the purchase of some forty books and pam- 
phlets on educational subjects. These were after- 
ward presented to the Fitchburg Public Library. 

The town did not vote to print the school report 
for the year ending March, 1846, and in April of that 
year a subscription paper, also now in Mr. Mason's 
po-session, was carried around and $23.16 raised, for 
which sum the report was printed the following May. 

After 1846 the report was annually printed by vote 
of the town. 

On several occasions since 1836 there had been 
articles in the warrants relating to the establishment 
of a high school in town, but these had always 
been "passed over." March 5, 1849, however, the 
town voted " to establish a High School to be kept 
throughout the year, with suitable vacations, the 
school committee to put it in operation as soon aa 
convenient," and eight hundred dollars were appro- 
priated for this purpose. 

The town purchased the Academy of the High 
School Association and enlarged it. Mr. Anson S. 
Marshall was engiged as the first principal of the 
Fitchburg High School, and in March, 1850, there 
were eighty-two pupils in attendance. 

The town was now thoroughly awake on the sub- 
ject of education. During the year ending March 1, 
1850, over two thousand dollars were e.tpended for 
new school-houses in South Fitchburg and Crocker- 
ville and the addition to the Academy building, and 
about eleven hundred dollars for painting and repair- 
ing the old houses. The annual appropriation had 
risen to about four thousand dollars. 

During the next ten years much was done towards 
bringing the schools into good working condition. 
The High School was well attended, and proved a suc- 
cess from the start. The scholars in the school were 
divided into two grades called the First and Second 
Departments. This method was retained until the 
spring of 1855, when the town voted to abolish the 
Second Department of the High School and estab- 
lish in lieu thereof three grammar schools — one on 
Day Street, one on West Street and the third in West 



Fitchburg. ■ These schools were put in operation be- 
fore the end of April, 1855. 

In 1856 seven thousand dollars were raised, to be 
equally divided between the high, grammar and dis- 
trict schools. 

It was becoming very evident that increased ac- 
commodations would soon be necessary, especially 
for the High School ; but it was not till 1859 that 
buildings were actually erected, though in 1858 the 
South Street house was enlarged at an expense of 
nearly two thousand dollars. 

In 1859 the East Street School-house was built, and 
also a new house in District No. 11, the two costing 
about five thousand dollars. 

In ISfiO what is now the High Street Grammar School 
building was erected at a cost of about twelve thou- 
sand dollars. This was a commodious, well-built, 
brick house, with accommodations for three hundred 
and sixty scholars; it was heated by furnaces. The 
High School occupied the upper portion, and several 
schools of lower grade were kept in the rest of the 
building. 

The West Fitchburg Grammar School building was 
also erected in 1860, at a cost of about three thousand 
three hundred dollars, and furnished accommodations 
for seventy -two scholars. Both these houses reflected 
great credit on the building committee, consisting of 
Edwin Upton, William O. Brown and Arnold 
Wilson. 

The appropriation for schools in 1860 was seven 
thousand four hundred and fifty dollars. 

After the removal of the High School to the new 
building the Academy was used for various purposes. 
It was here that Mr. E. Butterick began the business 
of making shirt-patterns. He was successful and 
later removed to New York City, where he estab- 
lished one of the largest pattern and fashion houses 
in the world. About 1865 the town sold the Acad- 
emy building for seven hundred dollars, and a few 
years later it was moved, and became a portion of the 
Rolletone House. 

In 1867 began another period of school-house 
building. During that year the Middle Street house 
was erected at a cost of upwards of thirteen thousand 
dollars. 

In 1868 the town appropriated 816,000 for the 
support of schools and expended nearly $100,000 for 
new buildings and alterations and repairs of old 
houses. 

The High School had outgrown its quarters, and in 
1868 the erection of a handsome High School build- 
ing was begun on the old Academy lot. It was com- 
pleted in 1869, and cost upwards of $.50,000. It still 
serves the purpose for which it was built, and is a 
well-arranged, commodious school edifice — an orna- 
ment and credit to Fitchburg. 

In 1868 the D<iy Street School -house was almost 
entirely rebuilt and considerably enlarged, at an 
expense of about $30,000. 



262 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



Since 1870 much has been done toward improving 
the facilities for the instruction of the youth of this 
city. 

Early in 1873 Mr. Eli A. Hubbard, who was prin- 
cipal of the High School, 1854-57, was secured to 
fill the newly-established office of superintendent of 
schools. He began his duties in April, 1873, and 
held the position about two years, when he resigned, 
much to the regret of our citizens. In 1875 Mr. 
Joseph G. Edgerly was elected his successor, and 
has held the office to the present time. Mr. Edgerly 
has attended faithfully to his duties, and his annual 
reports are documents full of interesting and valuable 
information regarding the progress and needs of the 
schools of the city. 

The general condition of our public schools since 
the city form of government was adopted can perhaps 
best be shown by the following table giving the 
annual appropriations, number of teachers employed 
and average daily attendance of pupils from 1873 to 
1888 inclusive : 

Year. AppropriatioD. No. of Teachers. Avrg. Daily Attend'ce. 

1873 $2!l,000 65 1G86 

1874 35,000 60 1728 

1875 35,000 64 1760 

1876 38,000 67 1783 

1877 3:i,,';(i0 63.! 1868 

1878 32,100 65 1917 

1879 34,140 64 If34 

1880 32,200 55 1771 

1881 33,500 57 1805 

1882 37,200 69 1977 

1883 37,600 69 2IJ94 

1884 40,300 06 2233 

1885 46,470 63 2305 

1886 48,100 07 2306 

1887 .'il.OOO 68 22lH 

1888 65,',00 68 2185' 

The appropriations above given do not include the 
amounts voted for repairs and new school-houses, 
but simply the appropriations for teachers' salaries, 
fuel, care of school-houses and rooms, and minor in- 
cidental expenses. 

The law passed in 1884, requiring cities and towns 
in this State to furnish school-books to the pupils, 
caused an average increase of $4500 in the annual 
school appropriations for the last four years, and this 
ia included in the figures for 1885-88 in the above 
table. 

In 1886 the Catholics established a parochial school 
here, and converted their old church into a school- 
house for this purpose. A large proportion of their 
children attend this school, thus causing a consider- 
able falling off in the attendance of the public 
schools. A parochial school building is now in 
process of erection iu West Fitchburg. 

Our school-houses are kept in good repair, the city 
making a special appropriation of several thousand 
dollars annually for this purpose. 

In 1874 the High Street Grammar School building 

1 Spring and summer tei ms of 1888. 



was considerably enlarged, at an expense of $10,000, 
and within a few years the Day Street house has 
been much enlarged and improved, at considerable 
expense. 

During the past five years a number of new and 
substantial brick school-houses have been built, the 
most important of which are the Rollstone Street 
house, erected in 1883, one on Maverick Street and 
another on Highland Avenue, built in 1885, and the 
Clarendon Street house, built in 1887. The aggre- 
gate cost of the four structures was about $50,000, 
nearly one-third of which was expended on the 
Clarendon Street house, which has several improve- 
ments that the older buildings lack. It is said to be 
the best lighted, best heated and best ventilated 
building in town. 

The city now owns school property valued at about 
$250,000. There are twenty school building'', in 
which are kept forty-nine schools, graded as follows ; 
one High School, four grammar schools, twelve inter- 
mediate, twenty-five primary and seven suburban 
ungraded schools. These are taught by some seventy 
teachers, most of whom are graduates of our own 
public schools. Instruction in singing and drawing 
is also given throughout the school year by two 
competent teachers. 

For several years past a number of evening schools 
have been niaiutained during the winter season. 

The passage of the Illiterate Minor Bill by the 
Legislature in 1887 obliged the city to largely in- 
crease its provisions for evening schools. During the 
fall session in 1886, and the two sessions in 1887, 622 
pupils registered at these schools, though the average 
nightly attendance was only sixty-three. At the 
session early in 1888, 588 pupils registered, and the 
average nightly attendance was 227. 

An evening drawing-school is also maintained every 
winter, and is very well attended. 

We will conclude this section on the public schools 
of Fitchburg with a few remarks concerning the High 
School. The building, which is pleasantly located 
on a lot bounded by Academy, Davis, Pleasant and 
High Streets and is surrounded by well-kept grounds, 
contains one large school-room, one smaller and five 
recitation-rooms, besides a laboratory, mineralogical 
cabinet, reception-room, etc., all of which are exclu- 
sively devoted to the High School. 

The school has prospered and been a credit to the 
town and city since it was established, in 1849, and 
has been under the care of competent instructors, 
both principals and assistants, who have labored 
faithfully to maintain a high standard of scholar- 
ship. 

The names and terms of service of the principals of 
the Fitchburg High School since its establishment 
are as follows : 

AiiBon Southard Marshall, A. B 1849-51 

Enoch Gihson Hooli, A.B 1851 

Martin Heald Fisk, A. M 1862 



FITCHBURG. 



263 



Bev, Ezekiel Hale Baiatow, A. M 1852-53 

Jonathan Clarkson Blown, A. B 1853-64 

Rev. Milan Hubbard Hitchcock, A. B XS5t 

Eli Andrews Hubbard, A. M 1854-5? 

Hanson Leiand Dead, A. M 1857-C2 

Francis Huntington Snow, A. B 1862-03 

Edward Dorr Pritchard, A. M 1863-04 

Rev. Walter Whitney Hammond, A. M 1864^65 

Ruel Baxter Clark. A. B 1865-76 

Ray Greene Huling, A. M 1876-80 

Herbert William Kittredge, A.M., the present 
principal, began his duties here in September, 188G, 
and under his management the school has been satis- 
factorily carried on since. He is efficiently aided in 
his work by six assistant teachers — four being ladies 
and two gentlemen. 

The number of pupils in the High School at the 
present time (autumn of 1888) is two hundred and 
.fifty-six — the largest number ever enrolled in the 
school. 

In one respect, we regret to say, our High School 
has not kept up the high standing it once had. Fifteen 
years ago the Fitchburg High School was recognized 
as an excellent fitting-school for college, and ranking 
with the High Schools of Worcester, Somerviile and 
other large cities. During the eight years following 
1867 thirteen of its graduates entered Harvard College 
alone, and every one passed through the entrance 
examin.ations with credit to himself and the school; 
and during the same eight years as many graduates 
entered other colleges. 

Since 1875 the school has lo*t its prestige in this 
respect, not because of lack of ability or desire on 
the part of the principals of the school to fit boys 
for college, but because the popular sentiment de- 
creed that so much time and attention should not be 
devoted to classical study in the High School ; but it 
is to be hoped that some time in the future the Fitch- 
burg High School may regain its former high rank as 
a fitting school. 

Libraries. — The Fitchburg Public Library, which 
is one of our most valuable and highly appreciated 
educational institutions, was not established until 
1859; but for thirty years previous there was in 
Fitchburg some description of library, whose vol- 
umes were more or less accessible to the ciiizens. 

Inasmuch as our present library is the natural out- 
growth of these early collections of books, it is proper 
and advisable to give a short history of these efforts 
of the citizens to get a library together, prior to 1859, 
when the town came to the re-cue, appropriated 
money and provided accommodations for a free pub- 
lic, library. 

The Fitchburg Philosophical Society.— 
This appears to be the first literary association in 
Fitchburg of which we have any knowledge. It was 
organized about 1828 for the purpose of having lec- 
tures and debates, — what, in the rural parlance of to- 
day, is called a " Lyceum." It was before this 
society that Mr. Wood, in 1831, delivered his course 
of lectures on the early history of Fitchburg. 



It was the intention of this society to accumulate 
a library, and, with this purpose in view, a number 
of books were purchased with money subscribed by 
the member.'*, and Drs. Marshall and Abercrombie 
kindly furnished accommodations in their office for 
these books. The principal portion of this early col- . 
lection consisted of a set of forty-seven large vol- 
umes, entitled "The Cyclopedia; or. Universal Dic- 
tionary of Arts, Sciences and Literature." This 
work was compiled by Abraham Rees, D.D., F.R.S., 
and comprised forty-one volumes of print, the other 
six containing maps and plates. These books were in 
themselves almost a complete library, and must have 
been quite expensive. The entire set has come down 
to our day, having been successively the property of 
the Philosophical Society, Library Association, 
Athenaium and Public Library. 

At the present time the " Cyclopedia" is in the Wal- 
lace Library and Art Building, and one day in July, 
1888, the writer took occasion to go there for the 
special purpose of seeing this relic of by-gone days. 
All forty-seven volumes were found packed away in 
a basement room, and the librarian informed the 
writer that no one had ever before, to his knowledge, 
asked to see these books since he became librarian, 
fifteen years ago. 

The volumes are in an excellent state of preserva- 
tion, and it seems as if they ought to occupy a place 
of honor in the library, and be carefully preserved, 
for unquestionably Rees' " Cyclopedia " may be con- 
sidered the foundation of the Fitchburg Public 
Library. 

The Philosophical Society existed until 1838, but 
did not accumulate much of a library. It was suc- 
ceeded, in 1838, by 

The Fitchburg Library As.sociATioN.^This 
was a stock organization, each member thereof hold- 
ing one or more shares. The Association purchased 
the books belonging to the Philosophical Society and 
in the course of the next fourteen years added enough 
to make, in 1852, a total of about five hundred 
volumes. 

The library of the Association was kept in Mr. 
Phineas S. Crocker's book-bindery and stationery 
store, a small, one-story wooden building on the site 
now occupied by the Stiles Block. Mr. Crocker was 
for several years librarian, and some of our older 
citizens well remember his genial and accommodating 
manners. George E. Towne, Esq., in his address at 
the dedication of the Wallace Library and Art Build- 
ing, July 1, 1885, speaking of Mr. Crocker as a libra- 
rian, said, "The care bestowed by him upon the few 
volumes, the satisfaction with which he aided appli- 
cants in their selections, and the pride he felt in hav- 
ing been selected as worthy to bear such tremendous 
responsibility, were something marvelous to see." 

Books were loaned to members, and it is probable 
that no very strict account of the delivery and return 
of books was kept, for when the affairs of the Asso- 



264 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



ciation were wound up in 1852, eighty volumes, or 
about one-sixth of the total number, were found to 
be mif^sing. 

The Fitchburg Library Association cannot be said 
to have been a flourishing institution. The people 
_ did not take hold of the enterprise with the enthu- 
siasm that was essential to make it a success. The 
membership was not large, there being only thirty- 
three shareliolders in 1852. 

By that time it had finished its mission of preserv- 
ing and gradually increasing a collection of books, the 
nucleus of a future public library, and was ready to 
give way to, and be absorbed by, a new and stronger 
library organization, — 

The Fitchburg Athen^um.— December 6, 1851, 
a number of citizens who were desirous of having a 
new library association formed in town, met at the 
Fitchburg Hotel to talk the matter over. At this 
meeting it was decided to start a subscription paper, and 
also to confer with the shareholders of the Fitchburg 
Library Association, and ascertain upon what terms 
they would dispose of their library to the new associ- 
ation. A committee of five, consisting of Charles 
Mason, Rev. C. Woodhouse, Asher Green, W.B. Wood 
and L. H. Bradford, was chosen to take the matter in 
charge and report at a future meeting, " to be called 
at such time as the committee shall see fit." It was 
also voted that this committee report, at the same 
time, a plan of organization for the proposed library 
association. 

It was not until March 4, 1852, that the committee 
made their report to the citizens interested. The 
meeting was held in the town-hall and a preliminary 
report read by Mr. Mason, chairman of the commit- 
tee. 

The substance of this report was that the names of 
one hundred and twenty-five subscribers, at five dol- 
lars each, had been obtained by Mr. William B. 
Wood ; that the members of the Fitchburg Library 
Association had voted to transfer their library to the 
proposed new association, provided each of its mem- 
bers be entitled to one share in the new association, 
and become a member of it, with all the privileges of 
new subscribers. As the membership of the Library 
Association was thirty-three, and each share in the 
new association was worth five dollars, this would be 
equivalent to paying one hundred and sixty-five dollars 
for the library which contained, as was supposed, 
about five hundred volumes. The coinmittee consid- 
ered this a fair price and recommended that the 
library be purchased on the terms stated. 

The report then proceeded to enumerate the advan- 
tages that would arise from the institution of such a 
library in Fitchburg, and marked out, in a general 
way, a plan of organization and the methods to be 
used in carrying on the association. Each member 
(except those who came in from the Fitchburg 
Library Association) was to pay five dollars, and 
thereby be entitled to one share in the association 



and to pay one dollar per year, to be applied to the 
increase of the library. Provisions were also made 
for officers, board of directors, etc., and .suitable 
regulations for the loaning and returning of books. 

It was also recommended to have a course of lec- 
tures each winter, that vigorous efforts be made to in- 
crease the number of fubscribers and that, "at a proper 
time, the Association be organized, as Proprietors of 
a Library, as a corporation, under the provisions of 
the Revised Statutes." 

This report was printed in full in the Fitchburg 
Seyitinel of March 12, 1852, and at its conclusion was 
the following : 

The above report was unanimously accepted and the committee were 
instructed to present apian of organization at a future meeting and, in 
the meantime, to take measures to procure additional suljscribers and to 
obtain suitable accommodatious for the Library in the new Town 
House. 

In accordance with the last instruction, the matter 
of providing a room in the town-house, that was to be 
built immediately, was brought before the citizens at 
the annual town-meeting, April 5, 1852, and it was 
voted " that the building Committee be authorized to 
procure or provide a room for the Library Association 
in the new Town House." 

Matters progressed favorably in all respects, and by 
the following autumn the association was about ready 
to begin its work. The name fixed upon was the 
Fitchburg Athenajum, and the shareholders were duly 
organized as a library association under that name. 

One of the first acts of the Athenaeum was to make 
arrangements for a course of lectures by well-known 
men during the winter of 1852-53. The committee on 
lectures was Charles Mason, Rev. John Jennings and 
Rev. Horatio Stebbins, and no pains were spared by 
this committee to secure an able and popular course 
of lectures. 

This was essentially an ^periment, but the citizens 
appreciated the earnest labor of the committee and 
made it a success in every way. Season tickets for 
the course were put at a price certainly within the 
reach of all, a price that seems ridiculously small in 
these daj-s, viz., one dollar for gentlemen and fifty 
cents for ladies. 

In the Sentinel of December 17, 1852, appeared the 

following: 

Fitchburg Atuenjeum Lectures. 

A course of twelve Lectures will be delivered before the Fitchburg 
AthenaniDi the current winter. The Introductory lecture will be by 
the Rev. Mark Hopkins, D.D., President of Williams College, on Tuesday 
evening, Dec. 2l8t, at the Meeting House of the Calvinistic Congrega- 
tional Society. The e-vercises on the Tuesday evening succeeding will 
be a Poem, by the Rev. John Pierpont, of Medford. 

The announcement then went on to state that the 
list had not yet been completed, and mentioned the 
names of iive prominent lecturers with whom dates 
had already been arranged. 

The following is a correct copy of the list of lec- 
turers and the dates on which they appeared before 
the Fitchburg Athenieum audiences. It is a list with 
which any lecture bureau might well be satisfied and 



FITCHBURG. 



265 



even be proud of. It is copied directly from the 
manuscript list in the possession of Mr. Mason, the 
chairman of the Lecture Committee, who did most of 
the arranging and corresponding with tho various lec- 
turers : 

Key. Mark Hopkins, ]).D.,\Viniametown Tuesday, Dec. 21, 1852 

Rev. John Tierpont, Medford Tuesday, Dec. 2S, 1852 

Hon. .losiah Qnincy, Jr., Boston Tuesday, Jan. 4, 1853 

Hon. Horace Greeley (Lecture), NewYorki ™ , , ,, ,„..„ 

„. . „. „ , ,,. !■ Tuesday, Jan. 11, 1853 

Charles Thurber, Esq. (Poem), \\ orcester J 

Eev William Mountford, Gloucester ,Tue8day, Jan. 18, 1853 

Richard H. Dana, Jr., Esq., Boston Tuesday, Jan. 2.5, 1853 

Edwin P. Whipple, Esq, Boston Tuesday, Feb. 1, 1853 

Rev. Theodore Parker, Boston Tuesday, Feb. 8, 1853 

Oliver Wendell Holmes, M.D., Boston Tuesday, Feb. 15, 1853 

Hon. John J. GilchriBt, CharlestowD, N. H Wednesday, Feb. 23, 1853 

Hon. John G. Palfrey, Cambridge Tuesday, Mar. 1, 1853 

Rev. Samuel Osgood, New York Tuesday, Mar. 8, 1853 

The first three lectures were given in the Calvin- 
istic Congregational Church, but the remaining nine 
were delivered in the hall of the new town house, as 
the following extract from the Sentinel of January 7, 
1853, shows : 

Athen.i:um Lectures. — The remaining nine lectures of the couree 
will be in the New Town Hall, which will be first used for that purpose 
on Tuesday evening, Jan. 11th. A lecture will then be delivered by the 
Hon. Horace Greklet, of the New York Trilmic, and a poem by 
Ch.\rlE8 TllURRER, Esq., of Worcester. We anticipate seeing the ele- 
gant and spacious hall filled with an audience of the intelligent citizens 
of the neighboring towns, aa well as of our own, to enjoy the rich intel- 
lectual treat which may be expected on the occasion. 

These anticipations were fully realized, for the 
audience that evening was the largest of any during 
the course, numbering about nine hundred and fifty. 

That the course of lectures, as a whole, was a suc- 
cess, financially as well as intellectually, is shown by 
the following, taken from the " First Annual Re- 
port of the Board of Directors of the Fitchburg 
Athenaeum." 

The average attendance upon the lectures was about 750 ; the largest 
number present at any one time was probably 950, which was on the 
evening of the fii^t lecture in the new Town Hall. About 725 tickets 
were sold for the whole course, and about 950, in all, for single even- 
ings. The gross proceeds of the lectures amounted to SG30.G9, the ex- 
penses of the course to ?4ll.2o, leaving a surplus of 8219.44 to be applied 
to the uses of the Library. 

From this same report we also learn that five hun- 
dred and fifty books were purchased during the year 
and about forty-five donated ; and these, with the four 
hundred and thirty-five volumes in the library trans- 
ferred from the Fitchburg Library Association, made 
a total of over a thousand volumes, which, thirty-five 
years ago, might well be considered a very good-sized 
library. 

At any rate, it is certain that the oflicers and mem- 
bers of the Fitchburg Athen;eum had every reason to 
be fully satisfied with the results of the association's 
first year of existence. 

Lack of space forbids our speaking at greater length 
of the Athena>um and its work. For several years 
more it continued in a prosperous condition, and in 
1858 had a membership of one hundred and sixty, 
and a library of about fifteen hundred volumes. 



The time was then near at hand for the establish- 
ment of a free town library; the Athen.Tum, as had 
been the case with the library associations preceding 
it, had fulfilled its mission and was soon to be absorbed 
by a library of larger scope and greater permanency. 

The Fitchburg Public Library. — In 1851 the 
Legislature enacted a law which provided that any 
town or city, so desiring, might appropriate a sum, 
not exceeding one dollar for each ratable poll, for the 
establishment of a free public library. 

At the time when preparations were making for the 
organization of the Athena?um, in 1852, some of the 
citizens were rather in favor of changing the plan and 
organizing a town library, as provided for by the stat- 
ute of the preceding year. There was much uncer- 
tainty, however, as to whether the town would vote 
the money at that time or not, and the idea was not 
pushed. 

By 1859 the town of Fitchburg was ready to take 
measures to secure a free public library. It must be 
admitted that Fitchburg was rather slow in taking 
action on this matter. Our neighbor, Leominster, 
had a public library some three years before ours was 
established. 

The subject was debated by the citizens of Fitch- 
burg more or less, but no decisively favorable public 
action w.as taken in regard to it until the spring of 
1859. 

The warrant for the annual town-meeting that year 
was given March 26th, and was the longest warrant 
since Fitchburg's incorporation. It contained thirty- 
two articles, the twenty-fifth of which was as follows: 

Art, 25. — To see if the Town will appropriate the amount allowed by 
law for the establishment of a Free Town Library, or act anything 
thereon. 

The sentiment of the citizens seeming to be in favor 
of establishing a free library, the shareholders of the 
Athenaeum held a meeting March 31, 1859, to consider 
the expediency of presenting their library to the town. 
After much discussion it was decided in the negative, 
by a vote of twenty-five to fourteen. 

Annual town-meeting day in 1859 was April 11th. 
It was a dull, disagreeable day, but as the citizens 
were more than ordinarily interested in the municipal 
proceedings, there was a good attendance. Every one 
of the thirty-two articles was acted upon in the course 
of the day, and the people doubtless left the town- 
house with the firm conviction that they had done a 
good day's work. And so they had ; for, by voting 
" to appropriate the sum authorized by law for the 
establishment of a Free Town Library " (this sum 
being one thousand, eight hundred and thirty-one 
dollars in the case of Fitchburg), they pledged their 
money and best efforts to found and jjerpetuate an 
institution which has proved to be a great blessing, 
and whose usefulness and value will Increase as the 
years roll on. 

At this meeting the citizens also chose the first 
board of trustees of the Fitchburg Public Library, 



266 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



consisting of the following gentlemen : Goldsmith F. 
Bailey, Joseph W. Mansur, Dr. James R. Wellman, 
Dr. Jabez Fisher, Dr. Thomas R. Boutelle, Thornton 
K. Ware, Hanson L. Read, Moses G. Lyon and John 
J. Piper. 

May 10, 1859, occurred the annual meeting of the 
shareholders of the Fitchburg Athenfeum; and at 
this meeting it was voted " to instruct the president 
and treasurer to sell all the property of the institution, 
aside from the money in the treasury (about seventy- 
five dollars), to the town of Fitchburg for four hundred 
dollars." The town subsequently authorized the 
purchase of the property for the sum named, and thus 
cameinto posse^sionof some sixteen hundred volumes, 
which made quite a nucleus for the public library. 
Several members of the Athenoeum very generously 
relinquished their proportion of the sale, to the 
amount of $160.84, so that the books really cost the 
town less than two hundred and fifty dollars. 

There was also in town another collection of books, 
about two hundred in number — the Agricultural 
Library — which the trustees purchased on very fa- 
vorable terms. 

The trustees entered upon their work with zeal. 
It was decided to continue the library in the room 
previously occupied by the Athenteum, in the town- 
house (corresponding closely to tlie present o.Bces of 
the city auditor and mayor), and it was somewhat 
enlarged by the addition of the room adjoining in 
the rear. Mr. Daniel Stearns, who had been con- 
nected with the Athentcuin as its secretary, was ap- 
pointed the first librarian of the public library, and 
during the summer and autumn of 1859 the books 
were placed on the shelves and catalogued, new books 
purchased and all arrangements perfected; and about 
the middle of November the following notice ap- 
peared in the Sentinel: 

Fitchburg Public Library. 

All persons wishing to avail tlieinselves of tlie privileges of the Fitch- 
burg Public Library are requested to open their accounts at once, as it 
will be impossible to do so in Library hours after the Rooms are open 
for the delivery of books. 

The Library will be open for the purpose of opening accounts with 
such as may desire it, until further notice, during the regular Library 
hours, viz., — 

From 2 to 5 and 7 to 8 P. M. on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and from 
2 to 5 and 7 to 9 P. M. on Satvn'diiys, holidays e.xcepted. 

-6®" Notice will be given of the time of opening for the delivery of 
books. 

I>. Stsarns, Librarian. 

Fitchburg, Nov. 16, 1859. 

The first donation to the library was $100 from 
Thomas Mack, of the firm of C. F. Hovey & Co., 
of Boston. Mr. Mack was born in Fitchburg, and 
has, on several occasions, remembered his native 
town in a similar manner. This generous sum was 
used for the purchase of the " Encyclopaedia Bri- 
tannica." Seventy-five volumes were presented by 
Hon. Eli Thayer, of Worcester, and various citizens 
of Fitchburg donated books. The trustees pur- 
chased 1200 volumes; so that in all there were over 



3500 books on the shelves before the library was 
opened. 

By the last of November, 1859, everything was 
completed, and the following appeared in the Sen- 

t inel : 

The Fitchburg Public Library will be open for the delivery of 
books on Thursday, Dec. 1, 1859, at 2 o'clock P. M. 

D. Stkarns, Librarian. 

It is quite evident that the people of the town 
freely availed themselves of the privileges offered 
them, for in the Sentinel of December 23, 1859, it 
was stated that during the three weeks that the li- 
brary had been open, 2775 volumes had been deliv- 
ered and 1937 returned. Over 1200 persons had 
opened accounts. It was further stated that the 
hours were insufficient, and " while the present de- 
mand continues " the library would be kept open 
every evening, except on Sundays and holidays. 

The number of books in the library at that time 
was given as 3783. 

Since then the number of volumes has steadily in- 
creased, and the figures, at intervals of five year.j, as 
given in the Trustees' reports, are 6244 in 1865, 805.'! 
in 1870, 10,676 in 1875, 12,481 in 1880, 16,146 in 1885 
and at the pre.«ent time there are upwards of 19,000 
volumes on the shelves in the handsome and commo- 
dious Wallace Library and Art Building. 

The number of persons taking out books has in- 
creased from fourteen hundred and twenty-five in 
1860, to about nine thousand in 1888. 

Since the founding of the library four catalogues 
have been issued, viz., in 1859, 1873, 1881 and 1886. 
The last is in itself quite a large volume. Much 
time and care were devoted to its preparation by a gen- 
tleman skilled in such work, and it is a very complete 
and accurate catalogue. Supplements have also been 
printed, in the intervals between the issuing of the 
catalogues, giving the list of books added from time 
to time. 

As before stated, Daniel Stearns was the first libra- 
rian, being appointed to the position by the trustees 
in November, 1859. The names and terms of service 
of the librarians succeeding Mr. Stearns are as fol- 
lows : Benjamin P. Todd, from April, 1861, to April, 
1862; John M. Graham, from April 1862, to April, 
1865 ; Charles N. Fessenden, from April, 1865, to Sep- 
tember, 1866; Henry Jackson, from September, 1866, 
to January, 1873 ; Prescott C. Rice, from January , 
1873, to the present time. 

The control of the library has, from the beginning, 
been vested in a board of trustees, chosen annually by 
the citizens while Fitchburg was a town, and by the 
mayor and aldermen since the city form of govern- 
ment was adopted. The number of trustees was nine 
at first, but later was increased to twelve, the present 
number. 

It is worthy of note that one of the present trustees 
was also a member of the first board chosen in 1859 — 
Judge Thornton K. Ware. Judge Ware has more- 



FITCHBURG. 



267 



over served as a trustee every year since 1859, save 
one, from April, 1S61, to April, 1862, and since 1875 
has been chairman. 

In 1861, Rev. William P. Tilden, then pastor of the 
Unitarian Society here, presented to our library a 
model of a full-rigged ship of war, of his own con- 
struction. It was a fine and very perfect piece of 
workmanship, and for year.s occupied a conspicuous 
and honored place in the library-room. In 1885 it 
was transferred to the "Relic Room" in the Wallace 
Library and Art Building, where it continues to at- 
tract attention and elicit admiration. 

In 18G1 the town voted to authorize the trustees to 
invite the officers and soldiers from this town serving 
in the army to donate any trophies they might obtain 
and wish to present to the library for preservation, 
and in response thereto a number of Hags, swords, 
muskets , shells, etc., were sent by Fitchburg men, 
and are now to be seen, together with other similar 
ar icles since contributed (Including the elegant 
sword, sash and belt presented to Colonel Edwin 
Upton by the enlisted men of the Twenty-fifth Regi- 
ment) in the relic room. 

A sum of money sufficient for the maintenance and 
suitable increase of the Fitchburg Public Library has 
been annually appropriated by the town and city. 

Hon. William IT. Vose, at the time of his death in 
1884, left the sum of one thousand dollars to the city 
of Fitchburg, the income thereof to be paid annually 
to the trustees and used "for the purchase of periodi- 
cals or other reading matter for the reading-room." 

The library remained in the rooms first occupied 
until the latter part of 1879, when it was removed to 
more commodious quarters provided for its accommo- 
dation in the extension built just previously on the 
rear of the City Hall building. Here it remained 
until the summer of 1885, when it was removed to 
its present elegant and spacious abode in 

The Wallace Library and Art BuiLDiNCi. — 
Early in 1884 one of our most prominent and 
benevolent citizens, seeing and appreciating the fact 
that our public library was sorely in need of more 
ample and fitting accommodations, was prompted by 
his public-spirited benevolence to make to the city of 
Fitchburg a most generous proposition. 

Before the City Council, in joint convention assem- 
bled, on the evening of Tuesday, March 25, 1884, ap- 
peared Judge Ware, who said that he was present at 
the request of Hon. Rodney Wallace, who, before his 
departure for the South, a few days previous, had left 
with him the following communication to be pre- 
sented to the City Council : 

To HU Honor the Mayor, and (he CUrj Council of the CHij of Fitchburg ; 

GentlemkK:— The subscriber has felt for a long time that a building, 
with )iroper appurtenances, for our Public Library here in Fitchbuig 
wag much needed and makes the following proposition, viz. • 

I propose to convey by proper deed to the city of Fitchburg my lot of 
land situated at the corner of Main Street and Newton Place, and to 
expend, with the advice and approval of the Trustees of the Public 
Library, within the next two jeara, a sum not less than forty thousand 



dollars (840,000) in erecting a building on said lot; said building to be 
under the care and management of the Board of Trustees of the Public 
Library for the time being, and to be used for a Free Public Library, 
Reading Rooms and Art Gallery, and for no other purpose. 

And it is understood that the city government, accepting these dona- 
tions for the above purposes, shall assume and bear the current expenses 
of said building, grounds and apj'urtenances, after the Library Building 
shall have been completed and furnished. 

If the above proposition is accepted, I shall proceed to carry out the 
same as soon as it can conveniently be done. 

Rodney AVallace. 

Fitchburg, March 17, 1884. 

This was a most complete and gratifying surprise 
to the members of the city government, and also to 
all the citizens of Fitchbuig when they learned of it, 
as they very quickly did. 

The following order, introduced by Mayor Davis 
soon after the reading of the above communication, 
was unanimously adopted : 

Ordered, Tiiut the city of Fitchburg accepts the donation of Hon. 
Rodney Wallace of the lot of land on the corner of Jlain Street and 
Newton Place, and the Library building to be erected by him thereon, 
upon the conditions and in accordance with the terms an<I provisions 
contained in his written communication and proposal to the Mayor and 
City Council ; and places on record its profound appreciation of the 
public spirit and munificence of the donor, and its recognition of the 
incalculable benefits which will result to his fellow-citizens and their 
descendants and successors for all time from this noble gift. 

On motion of Alderman Joel a committee, consist- 
ing of Mayor Davis, Alderman Joel and Councilmen 
Flaherty and Parkhill, was appointed to prepare a 
set of resolutions, thanking Mr. Wallace for his muni- 
ficent gift; and at a subsequent meeting appropriate 
resolutions, prepared by this committee, were read 
and placed on the records, and a copy forwarded to 
Mr. Wallace. 

At a meeting of the trustees of the Public Library, 
held April 7, 1884, a resolution was adopted, expres- 
sive of their hearty appreciation of Mr. Wallace's 
action, and their desire to co-operate, in every way, 
with the generous donor in carrying out the details of 
his proposed undertaking; and a committee, consist- 
ing of Rev. Philip J. Garrigan, Henry A. Willis and 
Lewis H. Bradford, was authorized to present a copy 
to Mr. Wallace. 

On the lot of land donated to the city for the 
library building stood a mansion-house, for many 
years familiar to our eyes. For a considerable time 
it was the residence of Dr. Charles W. Wilder, and 
later of Otis T. Ruggles, Esq. This house was sold 
at auction May 5, 1884, and soon moved to the 
lower part of the city. 

Work was begun on the foundation of the new 
library building on June 10, 1884, and from that date 
to the completion of the edifice, early in the summer 
of 1885, was continued without intermission, and 
every portion of the work (which, by the way, was 
mainly done by Fitchburg mechanics and artisans) 
was done in a most thorough manner. 

The following is a somewhat detailed description of 
this handsome and substantial building as it stands 
today. 

It is built of Trenton pressed brick, with brown 



268 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



sandstone trimmings and is in the Greek style of 
architecture. Its frontage on Main Street is seventy- 
four feet, its depth sixty-five feet, and there is a cen- 
tral front projection, six by twenty-five feet. 

The front entrance is approached by a wide walk of 
pressed brick and a flight of twelve steps of dressed 
granite, between ornamental buttresses of the same 
material. The front doors are placed in a recess 
eleven feet wide and six feet deep. Over this recess 
is a heavy double arch, supported on either side by 
two columns of polished red granite with carved 
capitals. Above the arch are three square-headed, 
single-light windows and the name of the building in 
raised letters — the word " Wallace " above the 
middle window, and the words, "Librarj- and Art 
Building " just under the three windows. Still 
above are three circnlar windows, set in sandstone 
and round sandstone columns with carved foliage 
capitals occupying the spaces between the windows. 
The whole projection is surmounted by a gable with 
modillion and dentil cornice, all of copper. In the 
frieze of this cornice is inscribed " 1884," the date of 
erection, with scroll-work either side of the inscrip- 
tion. 

In the window over the doors of the main entrance 
is the city seal, an exquisite piece of work, upon a 
plate of Venetian and antique glass, of two thick- 
nesses, and five feet in diameter ; and in the lower 
corners of this window are panels of glass emblematic 
of art and literature. 

Passing through the front doors one enters the 
entrance hall, floored with Italian marble and wain- 
scoted with Italian and Tennessee marbles, relieved by 
rosettes of French red. The ceiling is handsomely 
frescoed in oil. This hall is lighted by a large brass 
chandelier. 

From the entrance hall one passes into the waiting- 
room, which is finished in oak and frescoed in neutral 
tints. Around the sides are placed oak seats, uphol- 
stered in brown leather. 

The delivery counter is beneath the arch opening 
into the main library room. This book-room is 
twenty-six by seventy feet and sixteen feet in height. 
It is well filled with neat oaken cases, to hold the 
many thousand volumes, and at either end of the 
room are large fire-places of brick, sandstone and 
marble. Connected with this room, at its southwest 
corner, is a small room for the librarian's use, and 
next to that is the elevator, which runs from the 
basement to the upper story. 

On the left of the waiting-room is the room for 
books of reference, and on the right the reading- 
room for magazines. Both of these apartments are 
simply, yet elegantly, finished in oak, handsomely 
frescoed, and contain large fire-places. All the 
furniture is of oak. Connected with, and in front of, 
the reference-room is a small, well-furnished apart- 
ment for the use of the assistant librarian. 

Returning to the entrance hall, one sees, on the 



east side, two staircases, — one leading downward to 
the basement, where is located the public reading- 
room, which is furnished with a large number of 
daily and weekly newspapers. In the basement are 
also the boiler-room and two large apartments used 
for working-rooms and storage purposes. The other 
staircase leads upward to the Art Gallery, and is made 
entirely of marble in the same style as the entrance 
hall. 

Ascending this really palatial stairway, one comes 
to the upper vestibule, whose high, arched ceiling 
is most artistically and elegantly frescoed. It is 
lighted by a magnificent chandelier, of eight burn- 
ers, made of brass, copi)er and oxidized silver. 

On the right of the vestibule is the Trustees' Room, 
which is handsomely frescoed, carpeted, finished in 
mahogany and heated by an open fire-place. All 
the furniture in this room is of mahogany. Adjoin- 
ing it is a toilet-room for the use of the trustee*. 

From the vestibule a door leads directly into the 
Art Gallery, a room thirty-three by forty-four feet, 
and thirty-two feet in height. It is lighted entirely 
from above by corrugated glass panels in the ceiling 
and windows of the same glass on the four sides of 
the monitor roof. 

The wood-work of the ceiling is frescoed in dark 
olive and bronze, and the general effect of the cove 
beneath is a gold scroll upon a light blue background. 
In the cove are four large paintings, one on each side 
of the room — "Apollo Musagetes," "Old Masters," 
" Arts and Sciences " and " Modern Art." 

The fresco painting of this room is of the pure 
German Renaissance style, and is remarkably rich 
and harmonious in color eflfect. The dado is a dark 
olive, relieved by a band of gilt, and the walls for 
the oil paintings are a Pompeiian red, surmounted by 
a frieze of rich color and handsome design. Upon 
these walls already hang thirteen large and valuable 
oil paintings, the works of well-known artists. These 
were all presented to the Art Gallery, most of the 
donors being citizens of Fitchburg. Two were pre- 
sented by Thomas Mack, Esq., of Boston, and one 
each by the late Robert Graves, Esq., of New York, 
W. G. Beaman, the artist, of Boston and R. Love- 
well, the artist, of Chelsea. 

At the sides and in the rear of the Art Gallery are 
four smaller rooms. The west room is devoted to 
photographs, and contains a valuable collection of 
about three hundred photographic copies of works of 
art in European galleries, selected for the library 
some years ago, by Miss Eleanor A. Norcross, a set 
of fifty photographic copies of works of art in the 
Corcoran Art Gallery, Washington, D. C, presented 
by the Corcoran Art Gallery, beside other photo- 
graphs that have been purchased or presented. 

The east room is devoted to engravings and water 
colors, and is already quite well filled with works of 
various artists. Among the many pictures in this 
room may be mentioned an " artist's proof" engrav- 



FITCHBURG. 



269 



ing, "The Jersey Beauties," by Douglass, presented 
by Henry Hale, Esq., of New York ; a water color, 
" Gathering Sea Weed, Pacific Coast," by F. A. Mc- 
Clure, presented by Dr. D. B. Whittier, of Fitchburg ; 
and a pastel, "Woodland Solitude" by our own 
townsman, Mr. E. H. Kogers, presented by Hon. 
Eodney Wallace, who is also the donor of many of 
the paintings, pictures, etc., that adorn the walls in 
various portions of the library building. 

Of the two rooms in the rear of the Art Gallery, 
one is used for the exhibition of drawings and other 
art work by the pupils in our public schools, of which 
a very creditable display may now be seen there, and 
the other is the " Relic Koom," tilled with interesting 
and valuable antiquities and curiosities, collections of 
minerals, coins, etc., all of which have been donated. 
The works of art, relics, etc., in the Art Gallery and 
the rooms adjoining are worthy of a much more ex- 
tended description than is allowed by the limits of 
this history. 

All these rooms are open to the public on Wednes- 
day and Saturday afternoons, and are much frequented 
and enjoyed by our citizens, as well as by strangers 
visiting the city. 

The library is open for the delivery of books from 
9 A.M. to 9 P.M. every week-day, and the reading- 
rooms are open during the same hours, and also Sun- 
day afternoons. 

The present librarian, Mr. Prescott C. Rice, has 
held the position since January 1, 1873, and is aided 
efficiently by two assistants. Miss Florence R. Dwin- 
nell, assistant librarian, and Mr. George E. Nutting. 
The Wallace Library and Art Building was dedi- 
cated July 1, 1885. The main library room (the book- 
cases and delivery counter not being at that time 
placed in position) was used for the exercises, which 
were attended by a large assemblage of invited guests 
and citizens of Fitchburg. Mayor Alonzo Davis pre- 
sided. 

Rev. S. L. Blake, D.D., pastor of the Calvinistic 
Congregational Society, invoked the divine blessing, 
after which Mr. Wallace formally presented the 
building to the City Council in the following words : 

Mr, Mayor and Gentlemen o/ the Ciiij Council: 

In March, 1884, I made to your honorable board a proposition as 
fuUows: 

To convey to the city, by deed, this lot of land and, with the advice 
and approval uf the Trustees of the Public Library, to expend, within 
two years, not less than forty thousand dollars in erecting a building on 
said lot, to be under the management of the Trustees for the time being, 
and used for a Free Public Library, Reading Rooms and an Art Gallery, 
and for no other purpose. The City Government in accepting this shall 
assume and bear the current expenses of the same. 

All this was accepted with the kindest expressions. 

Plans were prepared and received the approval of the Trustees, and 
June loth work was commenced upon the foundations of this building. 
The best materials of all kinds were selected, the best mechanics em- 
ployed, and more faithful service could not have been rendered had 
each man employed been the sole owner of the building. 

Our best thoughts have been given to have the building adapted to 
the purposes for which it was intended, and I have found pleasure in 
giving it my personal attention. No pains or expense have been 
spared to make the building fii-gt-class in all respects, and it is nearly or 
quite fire-proof. 



Cost of building 570 000 

Cost of furniture.. 2 OOO 

Cost of land 12,500 

Total 88-1,500 

In the hands of the City Government and under the management of 
the Trustees, I have perfect confidence that the building will be well 
cared for, and, as a home for the Library, Works of Art and Free Read- 
ing Rooms, it will be of increasing value to our people. With pleasure 
and the most earnest wish that to many of our people these rooms may 
prove to be a place of rest and profit, and help make the journey of life 
more pleasant and useful, I now present to you the deed of this property 
and keys of the building. 

Mayor Davis, in receiving, as the representative of 
the city, the deed and keys, responded thus : 

Mr. Wallace : The city council, in behalf of the citizens of Fitch- 
burg, accept your munificent gift and returu their sincere and heartfelt 
thanks. You have more than fulfilled your promises to the council in 
March, 1884. Through your great generosity this community will 
attain higher degrees of moral and mental worth. May your life be 
spared many years to witness the noble results you desire. 

Ex-Governor John D. Long then delivered an elo- 
quent and impressive dedicatory address, the original 
manuscript of which is now in the " Relic Room." 

Mr. Ray Greene Huling, principal of the Fitchburg 
High School, then read a poem written for the occa- 
sion by Mrs. Caroline A. Mason. 

Remarks were then made by Hon. Henry B. Peirce, 
Secretary of State, representing the Commonwealth. 

Interesting addresses followed, given by Judge Wil- 
liam S. Shurtleff, of Springfield ; George E. Towne, 
Esq., of Boston ; and Professor Henry M. Tyler, of 
Northampton. 

This closed the exercises, which were interspersed 
with choice musical selections, rendered by the Rus- 
sell orchestra. 

The day of the dedication of this beautiful and 
valuable building will ever be regarded as among the 
most memorable in'the history of Fitchburg. 



CHAPTER XLIIL 

FITCHBURG— ( Continued. ) 

MANUFACTURING. 

Fitchburg has for many years been a manufac- 
turing place of considerable note, and the varied pro- 
ducts of her mills, factories and great machine-shops 
have to-day a reputation which, in many cases, is by 
no means limited to the United States. 

The origin of all these industries, of which our city 
is now so justly proud, can be traced back to that un- 
mitigated nuisance of the early settlers of the town, 
the north branch of the Nashua ; and to Amos and 
Ephraim Kimball, who had the temerity, in 1750, to 
build a dam across this obnoxious stream, belongs the 
honor of being the pioneer manufacturers of what is 
now Fitchburg. 

They built this dam just above the location of the 
present " Stone Mill " dam. At first it wasYrequently 



270 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



carried off by freshets, but in a few years a more sub- 
stantial dam was built of logs and V-shaped. Here 
the Kimballs erected a siw and grist-mill, which was 
in operation for many years thereafter. 

It was fortv-four years before a second attempt was 
made to build a dam across the stream, and one of 
the daring Kimball family had a hand in the building 
of it. 

In 1791 the son of Ephraim Kimball (who was also 
named Ephraim) and Jonas Marshall built the second 
dam, near the present site of the Pitts Mill, on West 
Main Street, and erected on this water privilege a 
saw-mill, and soon afterward clothiers' works and a 
trip-hammer were built a few rods below it. 

Soon after the close of the Revolutionary War a 
fulling-mill and clothiers' works, a carding-machine 
and works for grinding scythes were established on 
the water privilege of the elder Kimball. 

No further attempt was made during the rest of the 
century to utilize the water power, and the above- 
named concerns seem to have constituted the " manu- 
facturing establi.shments " of Fitchburg up to the 
year 1804. In that year the third dam was built, 
and will be spoken of under "paper manufacture." 

This was certainly a very small beginning, but it 
taught the people here that possibly the river was 
good for something after all, and that they might 
make it do enough work for them to pay for all the 
bridges it had carried away. 

Cotton Manufacturing. — In 1807 there was 
another Ephraim Kimball (this time a grandson of 
the first Ephraim) on hand to build a dam, which 
was the fourth, across the river. On this site was 
erected a cotton-factory, now a part of the brick mill 
in Factory Square. 

This was the third cotton-factory erected in the 
State, and was built and operated by a company of 
about thirty persons, including the workmen, who 
were obliged to take shares. The building was of 
brick, and thirty by sixty feet in size. 

For a time the company did not prosper, but in a 
few years improved machinery was put in, and the 
business began to be lucrative. Unfortunately, 
however, the company had neglected to secure a 
proper title to the whole dam, and trouble soon 
began. The builder o( the dam owned the land on 
the opposite side of the stream, and the line between 
his property and that of the company ran in the 
middle of the river. He had lost money in building 
the dam and demanded four hundred dollars of the 
company to cover his loss. No notice was taken of 
this demand, whereupon he informed the company 
that half of the dam belonged to him, and offered to 
sell it to them for twelve hundred dollars. This 
offer being refused, he sold a part of the land and 
the title to his half of the dam to sundry persons, 
who immediately began to erect works on the bank 
across the stream. They freely used the water, and 
finally cut away their half of the dam. The cotton 



company, then in the enjoyment of a prosperous 
business, had to suspend operations, and became 
involved in a lawsuit, which wa^ finally decided 
again.st them, with heavy damages. 

The result of all this was that in 1816 the company 
failed, and the property was sold for about one-third 
of its value to Messrs. Putnam & Perkins, who oper- 
ated it as a cotton factory until 1822, when they sold 
it to Messrs. Town & Willis, who converted it into a 
woolen-mill ; and its history as such for the following 
sixty-five years will be given under woolen manu- 
facture. 

In 1887 the Parkhill Manufacturing Company pur- 
chased the property, enlarged the building and put 
in cotton machinery, thus restoring to the first cotton 
f^ictory built in Fitchburg its original industry. 

The second attempt at cotton manufacture in this 
town was made by Captain Martin Newton, in 1810, in 
a small building near the site of the present "Stone 
Mill." He succeeded so well that in 1812, with 
Solomon Strong and Jonathan Flint, he built a cotton 
factory on what was afterwards called Newton's Lane. 
Here cotton manufacture was profitably carried on 
for over a quarter of a century. Later the building 
became a part of the Atherton estate, and was used fur 
manufacturing of various kinds. It is now owned by 
the Putnam Machine Company. 

The " Red " or " Rollstone " Mill was built in 1813 
by John and Joseph Farwell and Nehemiah Gile-, 
on the site of the Kimball & Marshall saw-mill, 
previously mentioned. Cotton cloth was made here. 

In 1816 the mill was bought by Putnam & Perkins, 
who soon sold it to General Ivers Jewett, who, in 1833, 
sold it to Town & Willis. This firm continued the 
manufacture of cotton goods in this mill, and in 1834 
secured Mr. Levi Sherwin to manage the business. 
Mr. Sherwin bought one-quarter interest in the mill 
in 1843, and the other three-quarters in 1857. In 
1867, after having had the active management of the 
mill for thirty-three years, Mr. Sherwin sold it to Mr. 
Hiram W. Pitts, of Leominster. 

Mr. Pitts built the present substantial brick mill 
to take its place in 1876. He died a few years ago, 
and, since 1882, his son, Mr. B. M. Pitts, has operated 
the factory, which is known as the Fitchburg Cotton 
Mill, or, perhaps, better as the Pitts Mill. 

Cotton and carpet warps, batting, twine, etc., are 
produced. There are five buildings, the largest being 
the brick structure erected in 1876, which is fifty by 
one hundred feet and three stories high. It is well 
equipped with machinery, which is run mainly by 
water-power ; but there is steam-power in readiness to 
use when the water is too low to be of service. 

The cotton-mill built on Phillips' Brook, about 
1815, was afterward operated by Perkins & Baldwin. 
It was swept away in 1850 by the flood caused by the 
giving way of the Ashburnham reservoir. 

Just above Perkins & Baldwin's factory a small 
cotton-mill was built by Colonel Ivers Phillips about 



FITCHBURG. 



271 



1845. It was soon converted into a Hannel-mill, and, 
in 1850, was swept away by tlie flood. It was rebuilt 
and burnt in 1852. Soon afterwards a mill was 
erected on the same site, and used by Colonel Phillips 
for the manufacture of hosiery, etc., and, since 1861, 
has been operated as a woolen-mill by various par- 
ties. 

The "Stone Mill," on Laurel Street, was built by 
Oliver Fox, in 1826. [t was operated as a cotton- 
mill for a time by Mr. Fox, but he soon leased it to 
Percy Atherton ; still later it was run by other per- 
sons and used continuously as a cotton-mill until 
1868, when it was purchased by Joseph Gushing, who 
has since operated it as a flour and grain-mill and 
elevator. 

A curious fact in relation to the couatruction of this 
massive building is, that no derrick was used to place 
the huge blocks of granite in position. The-blocks 
were all hauled up an inclined plane by oxen. 

The Fitchburg Duck Mill in South Fitchburg, now 
owned by David Nevins, was built about 18-18, and 
was formerly the property of George Blackburn & 
Co. Cotton duck is made here and the salesrooms 
are in Boston. 

The Parkhill Manufacturing Company is by far the 
largest cotton manufacturing establishment in town. 

In the autumn of 1879 John Parkhill, Arthur H. 
Lowe and Thomas K. B. Dole formed a partnership 
and purchased the building long owned and operated j 
by the late Hon. Alonzo Davis as a chair shop. The 
firm put in thirty looms, and began the weaving of 
colored cotton goods in February, 1880. 

In 1882 the firm was dissolved, and the Parkhill 
Manufacturing Company incorporated with a capital 
of one hundred thousand dollars. Since then their 
business has enlarged wonderfully. In 1882 an addi- 
tion, one hundred and thirty-five by thirty-five feet, 
and two stories high, was built ; in 1883 a third story 
was added ; during the next two years another build- 
ing, one hundred and fifty by fifcy-five feet, three 
stories high, and a new engine-house were built; in 
1887 a new dye-house, one hundred and forty by fifty- 
five feet, two stories high, and an immense steam 
chimney were put up, and the factory of the Fitch- 
burg Woolen Mill Company purchased, as has been 
previously stated. 

This thriving company, of which John Parkhill is 
president and Arthur H. Lowe treasurer, now ope- 
rates about one thousand looms, employs about five 
hundred hands and produces something like nine 
million yards of cloth annually. The Toile du 
Nord goods made here have a justly celebrated repu- 
tation. 

Early in 1888 the company built a causeway from 
their Circle Street mills across the pond to Rollstone 
Street, the intention being to fill up most of the pond, 
and utilize the made land, as the interests of the 
company may indicate. 

The success of this corporation caused the starting 



of the two following important cotton-mills in Fitch- 
burg. 

The Cleghorn Mills, incorporated in 1885 with a 
capital of (me hundred thousand dollars, are located 
near River Street, and include a brick building, one 
hundred and seventy by sixty feet, and four stories 
high, and an annex of wood of the same dimensions, 
two stories high. 

These mills went into operation in December, 1885, 
employ over two hundred hands and produce fine 
dress goods. Andrew Cleghorn is president and A. 
H. Lowe treasurer. 

The Orswell Mill, ihe latest addition to the cotton 
industries of Fitchburg, was incorporated in 1886 
with a capital of two hundred and twenty-five thou- 
sand dollars. The mill was built in 1886, and is 
three hundred and forty-six by seventy-eight feet, 
and four stories high. It has a capacity of twenty 
thousand spindles, is now in full operation, and pro- 
duces a fine quality of cotton yarn. Warren M. 
Orswell is president and manager and Walter F. 
Stiles, treasurer. 

Woolen Manufacture. — This was early begun 
here, though in a small way. In 1793 Ephraim Kim- 
ball had a carding-machine and fulling-mill near his 
saw and grist-mill, and close by were clothiers' works, 
where cloth was dyed, fulled and sheared. 

The first woolen-mill put into operation here was 
the brick building, which, as before staled, was ori- 
ginally a cotton-factory, and was converted into a 
woolen-mill in 1822. 

The following concise history of this enterpri.-e, 
written just previous to his death, in 1884, by Hon. 
William H. Vose, for thirty-five years manager, and 
for many years ti'easurer of the company, is well 
worth preserving here : 

III 1822 Samuel Willis and Abial .1. Town purchased the Brick Cotton- 
mill in the centre of the then village of Fitchburg, and founded what 
has ever since been known as the Fitchburg Woolen-BIill. They fur- 
nished it with two sets of cards and the necessary looms, spinningjen- 
uies and finishing machinery for the manufacture of cassimeres made 
exclusively from fine wool. Subsequently Paul Farnum and Daniel 
Kimball (commission merchants of Boston) became owners in part, 
Abial J. Town, Samuel Willis, Paul Farnum and Daniel Kimball consti- 
tuting the Company, and having an equal interest in the business. 

In 18a4. the mill and machinery having been injured to some extent 
by lire, an addition was made to the main building, other necessary 
buildings erected, the water-power improved by a new dam and the ca- 
pacity of the mill increased to three sets of narrow cards with Goulding's 
improved Condensers and Spinning-Jacks, whereby the process of first 
carding the wool into rolls and then converting the rolls into roping, 
on what was called a Bdhj, was ilispensed with, and the wool was 
taken from the Condenser to the Jacks, without any intervening pro- 
cess, and spun into yarn. 

The improvements in woolen machinery by Goulding marked an 
era in the progress of the manufacture of woolens in New England. 

The writer was employed in this mill in 1828-29 as a spinner on 
a Jenny of 80 spindles. The yarn was wound {as spun) on the spin- 
dles in "cops," and then "warped" on " warping-bars," consisting 
of a wood frame with pins in the sides, or posts, on which the fe- 
male operatives extended tlie yarn by passing to and fro as many 
times, and using as many pins as would give the required length to 
the warp, after which the warp was '* sized " in a tub and drawn 
through a metal tube by hand to press the sizing out, and then 
stretched out in the sun, or in a warm room, to dry, and was tiien 
ready to be drawn into the barnesa and reed for the loom. 



272 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHTTSETTS. 



Later this primitive process has been superseded by the '* Dresser," 
as now practised, by which the yarn is warped, sized and dried by 
one continuous process. 

After the enlargement of the mill in 1834 the proprietorship con- 
tinued unchanged until the death of Mr. Willis, in 1843, -when the 
interest belonging to his estate was purchased by Porter Piper, and the 
interest of Paul Farnum was bought by William B. Towne. The 
Company, as thus constituted, continued until 1848, when the interest 
of Porter Piper was bought by William H. Vose, the present treas- 
urer and manager. William B. Towne died in 1853, when Roby B. 
Safford became the owner of the one-fourth belonging to his estate. 
In 1855 Abial J. Town, the senior member, and one of the pioneers 
of the Company, died, and his interest was purchased by Daniel Kim- 
ball and William H. Vose, two of the surviving partners. 

In ISCid Daniel Kimball and William H. Vose bought the interest 
of R. K. SufFord, and became sole owners. 

In 18Ij4 Daniel Kimball sold one-half of his interest to two of his 
sons, Daniel Kimball, Jr., and Herbert W. Kimball ; and William H. 
Vose sold one-half of his to his only son, George F. Vose, and the 
ownership became as follows, viz.: Daniel Kimball, one-fourth ; M'il- 
liam H. Vose, one-fourth ; Daniel Kimball, Jr., one-eighth ; George F. 
Vose, one-fourth ; Herbert W. Kimball, one-eighth. 

In 1SG1-G2 the mill was enlarged and new machinery put in, in- 
creasing its capacity to five sets, and other improvements added, ma- 
terially increasing its capacity and value. 

In 1866 William H. and George F. Vose purchased the several in- 
terests of the Kimball family and became sole owners. 

In 1867 George F. Vose died and bis interest was purchased by 
Kodney Wallace, Rufus S. Frost and Paul R. Hazeltine, and the 
ownership became as follows: William H. Vose, one-half; Rufus S. 
Frost, one-eighth ; Rodney Wallace, one-fourth ; Paul R. Hazeltine, 
one-eighth. 

Paul R. Hazeltine died in 1878 and William H. Vose purchased 
the interest of his estate in the Company, making the several inter- 
ests in the following proportions, viz. : William H. Vose, five-eighths; 
Rodney W'alUce, one-quarter ; Rufus S. Frost, one-eighth. 

The Company has never, from the outset, failed to meet every obliga- 
tion ; has always maintained a high reputation for the char.acter of its 
goods— having never used any cotton, slioddy or flocks in them — and for 
integrity and honorable dealing. Its members have been prominent 
amongst the business men of the community, connected with its finan- 
cial institutions, and most of them honored, at various times, with posi- 
tions of public trust and responsibility. 

The invariable and continued success of the Company affords an ex- 
ample of what may be accomplished by careful, prudent and economical 
management of a comparatively small mill, with constiint supervision of 
the details of its business, without making haste to be rich. 

After Mr. Vose's death the mill was managed for a 
year by his grandson, William V. Lowe, who was 
succeeded by Mr. Marcien Jenk^i, and in 1887 the 
property was sold to the Parkhill Manufacturing Com- 
pany. 

In 1823 a brick mill was built by Tyler, Daniels & 
Co., near the location of the present mill of the George 
W. Wheelwright Paper Company. It was later owned 
by various parties, who operated it as a woolen-mill. 
Samuel Slater, a noted mill-owner in those days, pur- 
chased it about 1830, and although, on account of his 
death soon after, it was in his possession but a short 
time, it was for many years thereafter known as the 
" Slater Mill." It was pulled down some twenty-five 
years ago. Hon. Joseph W. Mansur, one of the prom- 
inent men ofFitchburg thirty years ago, was one of 
its latest owners and occupants. 

In 1832 Hollis Hartshorn built a brick woolen-mill 
nearly half a mile below the Slater mill. It was in 
operation for only a few years, being burnt in 1836. 

Between 1801 and 18Go four woolen manufacturing 
concerns were started here, all in the westerly part 



of the town. Two of them were in Rockville and lo- 
cated on Phillips' Brook. One was the hosiery-mill 
previously spoken of as belonging to Col. Ivers Phil- 
lips. In 1861 it was fitted up as a woolen-mill, and 
has since been run as such by various individuals. It 
has been enlarged and additional buildings have been 
erected For some years the plant Las been known 
as the Berwick Mills, and is operated by James Mc- 
Taggart, Jr. The mills consist of three buildings, the 
main one being of brick and wood, forty by one hun- 
dred feet, and three stories high, and equipped with 
suitable machinery. It is run by water-power, but 
steam-power is in readiness to use if the water gets 
too low. 

During the summer of 1888 Mr. McTaggart 
erected, close by the mills, a fine brick building, 
forty by fifty feet, to be used for a spinning room, 
and put into it three new Bassett & Jones operators. 

The mill just below this was for some time occu- 
pied by Whitman & Miles, but in 1803 was converted 
into a woolen-mill. It became known as the Baltic 
Mill, and was for some years operated by James 
Phillips, Jr. In January, 1880, James McTaggart, 
Jr., acquired possession of it, and ran it in connec- 
tion with the Berwick Mills. During the summer of 
1888, however, it was not running. 

In 1864 Alvah Crocker, Charles T. Crocker, George 
F. Fay and others built a woolen-mill near the junc- 
tion of Westminster and Sanborn Roads, in West 
Fitchburg, to which the name of Beoli Mill was 
given. 

In 1865 Jeremiah Booth & Co. began the manu- 
facture of woolen goods in a brick mill on West 
Street, and continued there about ten years. 

The only woolen manufacturers now doing busi- 
ness here are James Phillips, Jr., and James Mc- 
Taggart, Jr. Of the mills operated by the latter we 
have already spoken. 

Mr. Phillips ranks among the heavy woolen manu- 
facturers of New England. He began business 
about 1872, in partnership with Edward M. Rock- 
well. 

In 1872 Messrs. Rockwell & Phillips purchased the 
Beoli Mill, which at that time contained but twelve 
looms. In 1875 Mr. Phillips became the sole owner, 
and since then the business has increased vastly, and 
the greatly enlarged mills, which are now widely 
known as the Wachusett Mills, contain 150 broad 
looms, give employment to some 400 hands and 
produce worsted coatings and suitings of well known 
excellence, to the value of over $1,000,000 annually. 

For some years he operated the Baltic Mill, ae 
has been before stated. 

About 1875 Mr. Phillips began to run the mill pre- 
viously occupied by J. Booth & Co. It was known as 
the Booth Worsted Company until 1882, when the 
Star Worsted Company was organized with a capital 
of fifty thousand dollars — James Phillips, Jr., presi- 
dent, and George N. Proctor, treasurer. This com- 



FITCHBURG. 



273 



pany has since continued to run the same mill on 
West Street — now known as the Star Worsted Mill. 
Worsted j'arn is here made to the value of about four 
hundred thousand dollars annually, all of which is 
u<ed by the Wachusett Mills and the Fitchburg 
Worsted Company. The Star Mill gives employment 
to one hundred and twenty-five hands. 

The Fitchburg Worsted Company was incorporated 
in 1880 with a capital of two hundred and fifty thou- 
sand dollars — James Phillips, Jr., president, and 
George N. Proctor, treasurer. The brick mill in South 
Fitchburg, formerly owned by George Blackburn & 
Co., was purchased and enlarged, and has since been 
used by this company for the manufacture of fine 
worsted suitings. The mill contains two hundred and 
fifty narrow looms and employs nearly four hundred 
operatives. The value of the annual product is about 
one million dollars. 

The cloth made at the Wachusett Mills and the 
Fitchburg Wors!;ed Company's mill is all of high 
grade, and is considered equal to any manufactured in 
the United States. 

The goods made at the Berwick Mills, operated by 
James McTaggart, Jr., arelikewiseof excellentqaality, 
and embrace a fine line of fancy cassimeres for men's 
wear. 

Chaik Manufacturing. — This industry was begun 
here about 1816, by Levi Pratt. He built two dams 
on Sand Hill Brook, and at the northerly dam erected 
a saw-mill, and at the southerly a small shop for the 
manufacture of chairs. This shop was on the present 
easterly portion of the Pratt Road, near the house 
where Andrew Pratt now lives. In this shop and in 
a larger one, built in 1833, he made chairs for over 
thirty years. 

John D. Pratt, afterward in company with Alonzo 
Davis, manufactured chairs here at an early period, 
his shop being located at the old Punch Brook Dam, 
near Academy Street. 

In 1845 Alonzo Davis came to Fitchburg, and in 
company with Augustus Rice began the manufacture 
of chairs in Newton's Lane. The business was soon 
removed to the "Newton Factory," adjoining. Mr. 
Rice retired from the firm and John D. Pratt and 
Hiram Wood became partners with Mr. Davis. Still 
later this firm was dissolved and Mr. Davis formed a 
partnership with Mr. Pratt's sons, Henry T. and 
Charles E. Pratt. 

In 1855 increase of business necessitated the con- 
struction of a new factory, which the firm built on 
what was known as "Tuttle's Flat." It was of brick, 
one hundred and fifty by forty feet, and four stories 
high. Here, the firm of A. Davis & Co. carried on 
the chair business until 1864, when Mr. Davis became 
sole proprietor. He continued the business until 
1877, when the depression in trade made it unprofita- 
ble, and he closed the concern, which, till then, had 
been a source of profit to himself and a credit to the 
manufacturing interests of Fitchburg. In 1879 he 
18 



sold the property to the Parkhill Manufacturing Com- 
pany. 

At this time there is but one corporation engaged 
in this industry here — the Walter Heywood Chair 
Manufacturing Company. This is a representative 
establishment, one of the largest in the country and 
widely known in foreign lands. 

The founder of this company was Walter Heywood, 
who came to Fitchburg in 1841. In company with 
Leander P. Comee he built the Heywood & Comee 
block, and for a time the firm dealt in dry goods and 
groceries in the store now occupied by Leander Sprague 
&Co. 

In 1844 the firm hired a part of the "Red Mill " on 
West Street, and began to make chairs. Ten hands 
were employed at first. The business increased, and 
two years later was removed to the upper portion of 
Alvah Crocker's building just erected on the site now 
occupied by the Fitchburg Steam Engine Company's 
shop. 

December 7, 1849, this building was entirely de- 
stroyed by fire, and soon afterward the firm of Hey- 
wood & Comee was dissolved. 

Mr. Heywood, by no means dismayed, secured tem- 
porary accommodations fur the business; and as soon 
a.* Mr. Crocker completed the erection of a new build- 
ing, one hundred and thirty by forty feet, three stories 
high, on the site of the one burned, he hired the 
whole of it. The business prospered, and in 1852 
Messrs. Alton Blodgett, Lovell Williams and George 
E. Tovvne were admitted as partners; and soon after- 
ward the firm leased land belonging to Mr. Crocker, 
in the rear of the chair-shop, and erected two large 
buildings thereon. 

In 1856 a foreign trade was opened, which, later, 
extended to nearly every country in the world. 

In 1864 George H. Spencer was admitted as a part- 
ner. 

May 31, 1869, the Walter Heywood Chair Company, 
with a capital of $240,000, was organized as a stock 
company, under a special act of the Legislature. 

The prosperity of the new company was, however, 
doomed, in the near future, to meet with a serious 
check. On the night of July 21, 1870, a fire broke 
out, which proved to be the most disastrous and costly 
in the history of Fitchburg, even up to the present 
time. By it was laid in ruins the entire establishment 
of this company, as well as several other buildings. 
The property loss amounted to over $120,000, of 
which $90,000 fell on the Walter Heywood Chair 
Company. Their insurance was .152,500. 

This was a severe, but by no means a fatal, blow. 
Very soon after the fire the members of the company 
began to look about for a new site, and shortly pur- 
chased some nine acres of land on River Street, 
where the erection of the present commodious and 
well-appointed buildings was immediately entered 
upon and prosecuted with vigor. 

The plant consists of three large main buildings of 



274 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



brick, two stories high, with an attic. Two of these 
structures are each three hundred feet long and fifty 
feet wide, and the third is the same length, but ten 
feet narrower. All of them are located on the west- 
erly side of River Street, ranging one behind another. 
Some three hundred men are employed in these 
shops. 

There is also a handsome brick building, just north 
of the shops, used for office purposes, besides numer- 
ous lumber shed^^, stock-hnuses, etc. A railroad 
track, a quarter of a mile long, owned by the com- 
pany, connects their premises with the main line of 
the Hoosac Tunnel Route. 

The company also own mills in Barton, Vt. , where 
chair stock is prepared. 

This corporation successfully weathered the long- 
continued depression in trade which began soon after 
the new buildings were occupied, and at the present 
time h.as a large and firmly-established business. 

In 1874 Mr. Towne sold his interest to Hiram A. 
Blood. 

The founder, Walter Heywood, died in 1880, and, 
in order to settle Mr. Heywood's estate, the company, 
in 1885, sold out to a new corporation, composed of 
the surviving members of the old company, known 
as the Walter Heywood Chair Manufacturing Com- 
pany, which company carries on the business at the 
present time, Lovell Williams being the president 
and George H. Spencer, superintendent and treas- 
urer. 

Soon after 10 o'clock on the night of April 6, 1888, 
fire broke out in the shop next to River Street, the 
eastern of the three main buildings, and for a time 
threatened to outrival the fire of 1870. The build- 
ing was used as a paini and varnish- shop, and burnt 
fast and furiously ; and but for the heroic exertions 
of the entire Fitchburg Fire Department and the 
aid of a strong west wind, whicti blew the flames 
away from the other two huge buildings close behind 
it, the entire establishment would have been de- 
stroyed. As it was, the paint-shop was mainly de- 
stroyed, the loss being twenty-five thousand dollars. 
It was rebuilt of its former dimensions during the 
summer of 1888. 

Furniture Manufacturing. — In connection 
with chair making comes very naturally the manu- 
facture of furniture. 

Fitchburg has but one establishment devoted to 
this industry exclusively. The business is con- 
ducted by Carmi M. Parker, under the name of 
Parker & Co. Mr. Parker began the manufacture of 
furniture in Merrimac, N. H., and in 1880 came to 
Fitchburg, where he has since carried on the same 
business in a large factory, formerly occupied by the 
American Rattan Company, in Newton Place. 

The machinery is run by steam, and about forty 
hands are employed, most of whom are skilled 
workmen. House and office furniture is here manu- 
factured from the various ornamental and durable 



woods, and is of excellent quality and finish. Mr. 
Parker has a .salesroom, under the name of the 
Fitchburg Furniture Company, on Main Street. 

Mr. Parker has already built up a thriving busi- 
ness, and his factory has made a place for itfelf 
among the longer established manufacturing interests 
of the city. 

Furniture is made to some extf nt by Mial Davis, 
at his North Street mills ; and the Charles A. Priest 
Lumber Company make the manufaciure of school 
furniture one of their specialties, at their factory on 
Rollstone Street. 

Shoe Manufacturing. — Shoes have, of course, 
been made here on a small scale since the earliest 
period of our history as a town. 

The first individual, however, to use machinery in 
the manufacture of shoes in Fitchburg was Elijah M. 
Dickinson. He began to make them by hand in 
Marlboro' in 1842. Twelve years later he removed 
to Fitchburg, and continued the business in a shop 
at the corner of Main and Laurel Streets. He soon 
removed to a shop that he built on Oliver Street. 
Here he remained about six years, when, needing 
more room for his increasing business, he hired the 
factory in Newton's Lane, formerly the property of 
Captain Martin Newton, but then owned by Shepard 
F. Atherton. 

Here he first began to use machinery, and soon 
built up a flourishing busine.-'s, and after remaining 
in this factory for some ten years, he moved into a 
building on Summer Street, owned by the Simonds 
Manufacturing Company. 

During the last few years of his stay in Newton's 
lyane, Mr. Dickinson was in partnership with Henry 
D. Goodale, the firm-name being E. M. Dickinson & 
Co. Nathaniel Corning succeeded Mr. Goodale as 
partner about the time of the removal of the busi- 
ness to Summer Street. In 1876 Edgar F. Belding 
succeeded Mr. Corning, the firm-name remaining E. 
M. Dickinson & Co. This |)artnership continued 
some eight years, during which the firm, in 1881, 
erected the present substantial brick factory on the 
corner of Main and North Streets. The firm of E. 
M. Dickinson & Co., as at present constituted, con- 
sists of Mr. Dickinson and his son, Charles P. Dick- 
inson, who has been associated with his father since 
about 1878. 

The firm manufactures a fine grade of misses' and 
children's shoes, and employs about one hundred and 
twenty-five hands. The capacity of the factory is 
one thousand five hundred pairs per day, and the 
firm's trade is largely in the West and Northwest. 

The Sole-Leather Tip Company, located in this 
building, is also owned and operated by this firm. 
Several million pairs of sole-leather tips are annually 
produced by this company, which are purchased by 
shoe manufacturers all over the United States and in 
Canada. 

Mr. Edgar F. Belding, formerly a partner with Mr. 



FITCHBURG. 



275 



Dickinson, began to manufacture shoes on his own 
account in November, 1885. His business is carried 
on in the name of E. F. Belding & Co., and occupies 
the two upper floors of the Fitchburg Steam Engine 
Company's building. Children's and masses' shoes of 
a fine grade are here made at the rate of seven 
hundred pairs per day, and employment is furnished 
for some eighty hands. 

Mr. Belding intends soon to erect a new factory 
which will double his present capacity and afford 
better facilities for carrying on his rapidly increasing 
business. 

He was one of the first to make and introduce sole- 
leather tips, and in 1884 the Fitchburg Sole-Leather 
Tip Company was incorporated with a capital of 
thirty thousand dollars, Henry A. Willis being presi- 
dent and E. F. Belding, treasurer and manager. The 
company does an extensive business in this line, sell- 
ing their sole-leather tips for children's, misses' and 
youths' shoes to many of the leading shoe manufac- 
turers of this country. The company owns valuable 
patented machinery expressly designed for the manu- 
facture of thesf tips. 

Paper Manufacturing. — This has been and still 
is one of the two largest industries of Fitchburg. 

The first paper-mill in town was built by Thomas 
French in 1804, and stood on the site now occupied 
by the Rollstone Machine Co.'s works on Water Street. 
Mr. French also built a dam across the stream at this 
point. It was the third dam and was constructed in 
1804. 

General Leonard Burbank was the owner of the 
mill, which went into operation in 1805 ; and as long 
as it remained standing it was known as. the Burbank 
Paper Mill, though it was afterward owned by Crocker 
& Gardner and still later by Alvah Crocker. For 
over twenty years it was the only paper-mill in town. 
Alvah Crocker was the founder of the paper-mak- 
iu ' industry here, though he did not build his first 
mill until 1826. This mill was erected in what was 
then a swamp, difficult of access, as there was at that 
time no road along the river. It occupied the site of 
Rodney Wallace's present middle mill. Mr. Crocker 
expended considerable money on this spot, the dam 
alone costing fifteen hundred dollars; and in addition 
to the natural disadvantages of the place, he had 
other great difficulties to contend with. 

Soon after his mill was built it was badly damaged 
by a freshet, and before long, to keep up with the 
times, he had to change from hand-labor to machinery, 
involving an expense of some ten thousand dollars. He 
was owing several thousand dollars on his original 
investment in the dam and mill, and to cap the 
climax, the commission house in Boston that had 
taken his paper in exchange for rags, chemica's, 
etc., informed him that he was in debt to them some 
four thousand dollars, and refused him further credit. 
With his characteristic indomitable pluck, Mr. 
Crocker worked day and night, opened separate 



accounts with his paper customers and exerted him- 
self to the utmost to pay his debts, both principal 
and interest. The success of his arduous toil is well 
known. 

Mr. Crocker was a true business man in every 
sense of the word — honest, clear-headed and possessed 
of great foresight. The majority of so-called busi- 
ness men do not look beyond their own particular 
line of business, and the advancement of their own 
interests. 

Fitchburg has been blessed in the past, and is 
blessed at the present time, with some men who have 
broader views — who see that whatever advances the 
public good will be sure, sooner or later, to help them 
also. Among such the name of Alvah Crocker 
stands out prominently, and will be long remembered. 

As an instance of his way of doing, the follojving 
is worthy of preservation. In 1834 the town of Fitch- 
burg employed Mr. Crocker to secure a road along the 
Nashua River to the Westminster line. The land- 
holders on the route of the proposed road refused to 
part with their land on terms which Mr. Crocker con- 
sidered just and favorable to the interests of the town. 
He therefore bought the whole strip of land along 
the river to the Westminster line himself, and gave to 
the town what was needed for the Westminster river 
road. He did this at considerable personal expense, 
both of money and time, but it proved to be the basis 
of his financial success, for since then most of the 
paper-mills of Crocker, Burbank & Co., have been 
built on this land. 

The building of the Fitchburg Railroad is an- 
other example of his far-seeing sagacity. 

In 1851 Gardner S. Burbank came to Fitchburg, 
and went into partnership with Mr. Crocker, thus 
founding the well-known firm of Crocker, Burbank 
& Co, Charles T. Crocker was admitted to the firm 
in 1855, and George F. Fay and Samuel E. Crocker 
in 1863. Mr. Burbank retired from the firm in 1866, 
and in 1874 Alvah Crocker died. The business was 
carried on by the surviving members, under the 
same firm-name, until about 1879, when two new 
members were admitted — George H. Crocker, son of 
Samuel E. Crocker, and Alvah Crocker, son of 
Charles T. Crocker. 

Since 1872 the office of the firm has been in the 
brick building formerly occupied by the Fitchburg 
National Bank. 

During the first twenty years of its existence this 
firm acquired the control of a number of large paper- 
mills, of which the following, taken from Mr. Eben 
Bailey's sketch of Fitchburg in the " History of Wor- 
cester County," published in 1879, is a brief history: 

The Snow Mill, or Upper Mill, was built in 1839 by Samuel S. 
Crocker. Benjamin Snow, Jr., bought it in 1847, and Benjamin Snow, 
Jr., and Samuel Whitney sold it in 1802 to Crocker, Burbank & Co. 
The Cascade Mill was built about 1847. It was owned in that year by 
Samuel A, 'Wheeler, George Blown and Joel Davis. It was afterward 
bought by Franklin Wyman, E. B. Tileston and Jonathan Ware, who 
sold It to Crocker, Burbank & Co. in 1863, The Upton Mill, on the road 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



to William Woodbury's, was Irailt in 1851 liy Edwin Upton and Alvah 
Crocker, and came into the possession of Crocker, Burbank & Co. in 
lf69. Tho Lj-on Mill was built in 1S53 by M. G. & B. K. Lyon, and 
bought of Moses G. Lyon by Crocker, Burbank & Co. inl8G9. The 
Hanna Mill was built by George and .Toseph Brown about 185'2. It was 
afterward owned by Samuel Hanna, who bought it in IHoli and sold it in 
180(1 to Crocker, Burbank & Co. The Whitney 31ill, in Rockville, was 
built by Whitney & Bogart in 1847. It was afterward owned by 
Crocker, Burbank & Co., then by Samuel Whitney and later by Wil- 
liam Baldwin, .Jr., who Bold it in 1SG8 to Crocker, Burbank & Co. The 
Stone Mill, below the Snow and Cascade Mills, was built in 1.S54. One- 
half of it was owned for some time by Samuel A.Wheeler and Joel 
Ames, and the other half by Alvuh Crocker. Crocker, Burbank & Co. 
came into possession of one half in 1864, and Alvah Crocker sold the 
remaining half to Crocker, Burbank & Co. in 1871. 

The Snow Mill was destroyed by lire, October 15, 
1884, the lo.ss being thirty-five thousand dollars. All 
the other mills are in operation at the present lime, 
and produce about thirty tons of book, card and 
newspaper every twenty-four hours. 

As is seen by the above list of mills belonging to 
this firm, there were other persons here engaged in 
the manufacture of paper prior to 1860. Prominent 
among them was the firm of Jesse Lyon & Sons. 
One of their mills came into the possession of 
Crocker, Burbank & Co., and the other became the 
basis of the Fitchburg Paper Company. 

December 31, 18G4, Rodney Wallace, Benjamin 
Snow, Jr., and Stephen Shepley bought this paper- 
mill, and the Kimball scythe-shop near bx, and began 
the. manufacture of paper under the firm-name of the 
Fitchburg Paper Comjiany. Stephen E. Denton was 
soon after admitted to the firm and took charge of the 
business at the mill. 

In July, 1865, Mr. Shepley sold his interest to 
Messrs. Wallace and Snow. Mr. Denton died in June, 
1866. January 7, 1869, Mr. Wallace bought Mr. 
Snow's interest, and January 23d of the same year pur- 
chased the interest of Mr. Denton's estate of Mrs. 
Denton. Since then Mr. Wallace has been sole pro- 
prietor of the Fitchburg Paper Company. 

He soon made improvements in his mill whereby 
its product was incre-tsed from one ton of paper per 
day to two tons. In 1876 he built a substantial stone 
dam, and two years later erected a new brick mill 
just below the old one, thereby increasing the pro- 
duct to about six tons of paper per day. 

In 1887 he built another large brick mill, near the 
junction of Phillips' Brook with the Nashua, and the 
present capacity of the three mills is over twenty tons of 
hanging, card, coloring and lithographing paperper 
day. 

Quite a village has sprung up around the tsvo older 
mills. Just across the river are the tracks of Ihe 
Fitchburg Railroad, and Mr. Wallace has a freight 
station of his own, where all the raw material is re- 
ceived and the finished product shipped. 

The office of the Fitchburg Paper Company is in 
the Fitchburg Savings Bank block. Mr. Wallace's 
two sons, Herbert I. and George R. Wallace, are ac- 
tively associated with him, as is also his brother, Wil- 



liam E. Wallace, in the management of the extensive 
business and attending to the office duties. 

The mill of the George W. Wheelwright Paper 
Company, on Fourth Street, was built in 1864, by 
George W. Wheelwright & Son, and was for some 
years known as the Rollstone paper-mill. 

The present company was incorporated in 1880 with 
a capita! of one hundred thousand dollars, and man- 
ufactures news, card, book and staining paper. The 
capacity of the mill is about five tons per day. 

The office of the company is on Devonshire Street, 
Boston. 

The mill of the Falulah Paper Company is located 
on Scythe-shop road. South Fitchburg. The com- 
pany consists of Seth L. and Albert N. Lowe. The 
mill occupies the site of the Richardson scythe-shop, 
and was built by the Snow Paper Company in 1884. 
It came into the possession of the Falulah Paper 
Company in October, 1886. 

Manilla paper is made at this mill at the rate of 
some three tons per day. 

Iron Industeies.— By far the greater portion of 
the manu acturing C()mpanies here are engaged in the 
production of machinery. Though not begun as early 
as some of the other industries, it has taken deep root 
here ; and within the last forty years has developed 
wonderfully. 

The steam-engines and machinery made in Fitch- 
burg have, we may truthfully say, an almost world- 
wide reputation. 

It will be impossible to enter fully into the history 
and details of our many machine-shops, steam-engine 
manufactories, foundries, etc., in this limited sketch, 
but an attempt will be made in the following pages to 
give some idea of our great interests in this line of 
manufacturing. 

The founders of the iron business here were two 
brothers, John and Salmon W. Putnam, who, in 1838 
removed their business from Ashburnham to Fitch- 
burg. The firm of J. & S. W. Putnam hired a room, 
twenty by thirty feet, in the old Burbank Paper Mill, 
then owned by Alvah Crocker, and began, in a small 
way, an industry that has since then become so large 
and important as to give to Fitchburg the name of 
the " Machine City." 

Their business at first was mainly repairing, and 
furnished employment for themselves only; soon they 
began to make new machinery for various mills, and 
were obliged to hire an apprentice, and soon after a 
journeyman was engaged. The firm then began to 
make gear-cutting machines after the model of one 
devised by John Putnam; and this machine is now, 
nearly a half century later, made by the Putnam 
Machine Company with very slight change in its 
mechanism. 

Their business rapidly increased, requiring, from 
time to time, an addition to their floor-room ; and, in 
1845, Alvah Crocker erected for them a brick build- 
ing, one hundred and fifty by forty feet, they occupy- 



FITCHBURG. 



277 



iug the lower floor and Hey wood & Comee the upper 
portion. 

On the night of December 7, 18-19, this building, as 
has been before stated, was entirely destroyed by fire, 
and the machine and chair-malving industries of 
Fitchburg came very near being snuffed out together 
in their infancy. The firm of J. & S. W. Putnam 
lost twelve thousand dollars, the accumulation of 
over ten years of hard work, and had no insurance ; 
but two weeks after the fire the brothers were at work 
again under a temporary covering of boards. 

They paid all their debts and the next year the 
firm made, as it were, a new start in a building 
erected for them by Mr. Crocker, and now occupied 
by the Union Machine Company. 

About this time Charles H. Brown and Benjamin 
Snow, Jr., were admitted as partners, and the firm- 
name became J. & S. W. Putnam & Co. 

The Putnam Machine Company. — In 1854 the firm 
of J. & S. W. Putnam & Co. was increased by the 
addition of four new members — Messrs. Charles Bur- 
leigh, John Q. and Sylvester C. Wright and Danvers 
A. Tenney ; and, on August 10, 1854, these eight 
individuals were organized as a partnership under the 
name of the Putnam Machine Company. Four 
years later, in 1858, the company was incorporated as 
a stock company, with a capital of forty thousand 
dollars. In 1866 the capital was increased to one 
hundred and sixty thousand dollars. 

In 1865 the company began the manufacture of 
steam-engines. In that year Charles H. Brown brought 
out a new engine, which was patented by himself 
and Charles Barleigh. The patent was assigned to 
the Putnam Machine Company, and the engine, 
known .as the " Putnam" Engine, has since been, and 
still continues to be, manufactured by the company. 

In 1866 it became evident that larger accommoda- 
tions were imperatively needed. Accordingly, the 
company purchased about twenty-six acres of land, 
including the Atherton estate in Newton's Lane, and 
in July, 1866, began the erection of the extensive 
shops, foundries, etc., now occupied by the company. 
These buildings were completed during the next two 
years at a cost of over $200,000, and were admirably 
arranged for carrying on the company's large busi- 
ness. 

The main machine-shop, extending along Putnam 
Street from Main Street nearly to the tracks of the 
Fitchburg Railroad is a one-story ]brick building, 625 
feet long and 48 feet wide. In it are seven diflerent de- 
partments, each being devoted to the manufiicture of 
special kinds of machinery, but there is no partition 
throughout its entire length. Along the centre of the 
shop are thirty-five iron columns which support the 
main line of shafting, which runs all the machinery 
in the building. Power is furnished by three large 
cut-off steam-engines of the company's own manufac- 
ture. 

Connected with the Main Street end of the main 



shop is the oflice of the company, a handsome brick 
building of two stories, with a Mansard roof. From 
the east side of the main shop project five wings, 
twelve feet square, used as offices for the foremeo of 
the various departments ; and from the west side ex- 
tend seven wings, six being 52 by 36 feet, and the 
seventh 52 by 44 feet, used for the setting up of the 
machinery made in the seven corresponding depart- 
ments. 

This extensive building is lighted by about three 
hundred large windows, and there are five hundred 
gas-burners ready for use when needed. It is heated 
by over six miles of steam-pipe, and has a floor-room 
of 37,000 square feet. In a word, the works, which 
were built from plans designed by 8. W. Putnam, 
could not have been more conveniently or effectively 
arranged. 

Along the west side of the main shop is a roadway 
with which each of the seven wings communicates by 
means of large folding doors, so that heavy machines 
can easily be loaded upon trucks by powerful cranes. 

West of the roadway are located the iron and brass 
foundries, pattern-shops, store-houses, &c. At the ex- 
treme southern end of the main shop is the black- 
smith-shop, with its forges and heavy hammers. 

At the time of the incorporation of the company 
Salmon W. Putnam was chosen president and man- 
ager, and continued to conduct the large business with 
great sagacity and ability for nearly fourteen years. 
His death occurred February 23, 1872, and was deeply 
felt by the community as well as the company. The 
senior member, John Putnam, though not active in 
the management of the affairs of the company, was for 
many years a director and one of the largest stock- 
holders. He was daily at his place, where he was a 
most energetic and skillful workman up to the time he 
retired from business, in 1886. Many improvements 
in the machinery made by the company are due to his 
ingenuity and skill. He died July 31, 1888, aged 
nearly seventy-eight years, and his funeral was at- 
tended by the oflicers and employes of the Putnam 
Machine Company, whose works were closed during 
the day. 

On the death of S. W. Putnam, in 1872, the presi- 
dency of the company was offered to John Putnam, 
but he preferred to continue his work in the field 
where he had for so many years searched for mechan- 
ical secrets rather than to accept an oflice, the duties 
of which would involve such a radical change, and he 
used his influence to have the presidential chair of 
the company given to Charles F. Putnam. 

At the present time the management of the busi- 
ness is vested in S. W. Putnam's four sons,^Charles 
F., Henry O., Salmon W. and George E. Putnam, — 
and the works are in full and prosperous operation. 

Besides steam-engines a very great variety of ma- 
chines is made by the company, including lathes, 
drills, bolt-cutters, gear-cutters, planers, car-wheel 
borers, shafting, water-wheels, wheel-presses, hangers, 



HISTOKY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



pulleys, &c. ; in fact, all kinds of machinery known as 
machine-shop and special railroad tools. 

To show how far their products go, it may be here 
stated that the first two machine-shops built in China 
were entirely furnished with machinery made by the 
Putnam Machine Company. And it is also worth 
noting that it was the fortune of this company to 
make the rock-drills, air-compressors and other ma- 
chinery which rendered possible the completion of 
that vast engineering feat, the Hoosac Tunnel. 

The Putnam Tool Company, with works on Walnut 
Street, was established in 1882 with Salmon W.Put- 
nam, president, and George E. Putnam, treasurer, and 
manufactured railroad and machine tools. March 18, 
1886, it was consolidated with the Putnam Machine 
Company. 

At the present time the four Putnam brothers and 
their mother hold a controlling interest in the com- 
pany, which is officered as follows : President, Charles 
F. Putnam ; Vice-president, Salmon W. Putnam ; 
Treasurer, Henry O. Putnam ; General Superintendent, 
George E. Putnam. 

Each of the seven special departments of manufac- 
ture has an able man at its head as foreman. Over 
five hundred hands are employed, many of whom are 
skilled workmen who have grown old in the employ of 
the company. 

A New York house is maintained as an* exhibiting 
and distributing establishment. 

Tlie Fitchburg Steam- Engine Company. — The busi- 
ness of this company was founded in 1871, under the 
name of the Haskins Machine Company, and is 
carried on in a substantial brick building on Water 
Street, occupying the site of the Heywood chair-shop, 
burnt in 1870. 

John F. Haskins organized this company and went 
into the building as soon as it was completed, and on 
April 4, 1872, he gave a grand ball in honor of the 
dedication of the building to the uses of the Haskins 
Machine Company. Mr. Haskins was full of fun 
and frolic and, though now a resident in lands across 
the ocean, is well remembered by many Fitchburg 
people. 

The company manufactured the Blake Patent Pump 
and the Ellis Vapor Engine chiefly. 

In 1875 Hale W. Page, Frederick Fosdick and 
Charles Fosdick purchased the entire concern, together 
with its good-will, and changed its name to the Fitch- 
burg Steam Engine Company. Mr. Page was president 
of the company until his death. May 17, 1887, when 
Frederick Fosdick was chosen to the position. The 
officers of the company at the present time are : Presi- 
dent, Frederick Fosdick ; Superintendent, Charles 
Fosdick ; Treasurer, William E. Sheldon ; Secretary, 
William J. Clifford. 

This company employs about sixty hands, most of 
whom are skilled workmen, and manufactures hori- 
zontal and vertical automatic cut-ofl' engines, electric 
light engines, boilers, shafting, hangers, pulleys, etc. 



A specialty has been made of the manufacture of 
the " Fitchburg " steam-engine, the great merits of 
which have been everywhere acknowledged. 

The products of this company, and particularly 
their engines, have a wide reputation, and are in 
use all over the United States. A large foreign 
trade has also been established, which extends to 
Central and South America and most of the European 
countries. 

Careful personal supervision of, and strict attention 
to, the details of the business, on the part of the 
Fosdicks, have brought to the company its present 
well-deserved prosperity. 

Both brothers are active and prominent in public 
aft'airs, Frederick Fosdick having served as mayor of 
Fitchburg in 1886-87, and Charles Fosdick as presi- 
dent of the Common Council in 1886. 

C. H. Brotvn <t Co. — The founder of this well- 
known steam-engine manufacturing firm came to 
Fitchburg in 1849 ; and to him may be ascribed the 
establishment of the steam-engine business of Fitch- 
burg, which now forms so great a factor in the manu- 
facturing interests of the city. 

Soon after coming here Mr. Brown bought one- 
third interest in the firm of J. & S. W. Putnam ; 
and before long he introduced a new feature into the 
firm's business,--the making of steam-engines, and 
took entire charge of this department. 

In 1855, as before stated, he brought out the 
" Putnam " engine, which was built under his super- 
vision until 1859, when poor health compelled him 
to give up active work for a time ; and he soon sold 
his interest in the Putnam Machine Company. 

After four years' rest Mr. Brown again began bus- 
iness, in a small way, in Newton's Lane. It soon 
began to increase, and in 1866 he hired one-half of 
the second story of the building occupied by the 
Fitchburg Machine Works, on Main Street (at that 
time called Summer Street). 

In 1871 he invented a new engine, since well-known 
as the " Brown " Automatic Cut-off Steam-Eugine. 
Its great merits and points of superiority over other 
engines were soon appreciated by the trade, and it 
was not long before it became evident that better 
facilities and larger accommodations were necessary 
in order to supply the demand. 

At this time, and for some years previous, the 
business was carried on under the firm-name of C. H. 
Brown & Co., Elbridge G. Stanley being Mr. Brown's 
partner. 

In 1873 the firm purchased a large lot at the corner 
of Main and Willow Streets, and erected thereon a 
commodious and substantial brick building, which 
has been occupied by C. H. Brown & Co. since 1875. 

The present firm consists of Charles H. Brown and 
his three sons, Charles H. Brown, Jr., Frank E. and 
John F. Brown. 

So large and constant is the demand for the 
" Brown " engine that the firm manufactures that 



FITCHBURG. 



279 



exclusively, employing some sixty hands and turning 
out the engines at the rate of four per month, on the 
average ; and, as soon as built, these engines are sent 
to purchasers in various parts of the United States 
and Canada, and also in many foreign countries. 

The Fitchburg Machine Works. — The foundation of 
the business of this company was laid in 1864, by 
James L. Chapman, who, in the spring of that year, 
came to Fitchburg and formed a partnership with 
Sylvester C. Wright, for the manufacture of machin- 
ists' tools. This was in " war times," and machinery 
was very scarce and hard to obtain. The firm's outfit 
was quite meagre, consisting of an old chain lathe 
from the " Stone Mill ; " an old chain planer from a 
blacksmith and machine-shop in Townsend ; a second- 
hand Gould shaping-machine bought in Newark, 
N. J. ; an old pattern-maker's lathe and second-hand 
engine lathe from a shop in Newton's Lane. 

This was all the firm could secure, and, with this 
collection of machines, they started business in the 
Atherton building, and began to make their own 
patterns. 

In about a year the firm removed to the corner of 
Main and Laurel Streets, where I. C. Wright & Co.'s 
hardware store now is. Here, with more room and 
improved machinery, they prospered. Hale W. Page 
and Artemas R. Smith were admitted as partners, and 
thirty hands were employed. 

February 2, 1866, the firm moved to the present 
location of the Fitchburg Machine Works. The 
building belonged to Sylvanus Sawyer, and storfd on 
what was then called Summer Street. At first the 
firm hired only the easterly half of the building, but 
soon bought out Mr. Sawyer and occupied all the 
building, excepting the portion leased to Charles H. 
Brown. 

January 1, 1867, a stock company was organized, 
including the four members of the firm and Eugene 
T. and Lowell M. Miles, Augustus Whitman and 
Jared Whitman, Jr., under the name of the Fitch- 
burg Machine Company, and for ten years the busi- 
ness was carried on by this company. 

In 1877 this company was dissolved and a new one 
organized under the laws of general copartnership. 
The name adopted for the new company was the Fitch- 
burg Machine Works, and its members were Sylvester 
C. Wright (superintendent), James L. Chapman 
(treasurer), Walter Heywood, Harrington Sibley and 
Joseph S. Wilson. 

On the death of Mr. Wright, in December, 1880, 
Mr. Cliapman became superintendent as well as 
treasurer, and since then has had entire charge of the 
business. 

This company manufactures all kinds of metal- 
working machinery, including lathes of different 
varieties and sizes, iron planers, milling machines, 
shaping machines, drill presses, etc., and employs 
some fifty hands. 

The products of this company have a well-estab- 



lished reputation, and their purchasers are distributed 
over a wide extent of territory. 

The Shnonds Manufacturing Company. — The exten- 
sive buildings occupied by this company are situated 
at the corner of Main and North Streets. 

Their business was started in 1864 in the scythe 
shop of Abel Simonds at West Fitchburg. Mr. Si- 
monds, who, since 1832, had manufactured scythes 
and edge tools in West Fitchburg, gave up business in 
1864 and leased the shop to the new firm. His long 
experience had made him well versed in the working 
of steel, and he seems to have handed his knowledge 
down to his sons. 

The firm started under the name of Simonds 
Brothers & Co., and was composed of George F. and 
Alvin A. Simonds and Benjamin Snow, Jr. Machine 
knives, mower and reaper sections, etc., were manu- 
factured and a prosperous business soon established. 

In 1868 the Simonds Manufacturing Company was 
incorporated with a capital of one hundred and fifty 
thousand dollars, and the works were moved from 
West Fitchburg to their present location. Here the 
same line of manufacture was continued until 1878, 
when, on account of a consolidation of the mowing- 
machine knife and reaper section interests by Western 
manufacturers, the company sold that department of 
their business, and began the manufacture of saws by 
an entirely new method of tempering and straighten- 
ing. They entered the field in competition with 
many old established saw manufacturing firms, but 
the superiority of their product, in every respect, soon 
enabled them to build up a large business, and that, 
too, at prices in advance of all competitors. 

The company's branch works at Chicago and San 
Francisco have been maintained for some years. 

The ofiicers of the company are: George F. 
Simonds, president; Daniel Simonds, vice-president 
and treasurer; Edwin F. Simonds, manager of the 
Chicago works; John Simonds, manager of the San 
Francisco works. 

The inventive genius of George F. Simonds has 
brought into the possession of this company many 
valuable patents covering their processes of manufac- 
ture and radical improvements in the adjustment of 
circular saws, etc. 

About two hundred hands are employed at the 
shops here. 

A speciality is made of the "Simonds" saw,covered 
by many patents, a circular-saw unequaled in uni- 
formity and quality of temper, and in its adjustment — 
facts abundantly attested by the wide sale and uni- 
versally acknowledged superiority of this saw. Vari- 
ous other kinds of saws are also made by the company, 
such as crescent-ground, cross-cut saws, straight- 
ground gang, mill, mulay and drag-saws, band-saws, 
etc. 

The "Simonds" knives, planer knives, etc., and 
every descrijition of pattern knives are also manufac- 
tured by this company and have a very large sale. 



280 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



The Simonds Rolling-Machine Company. — On Wil- 
low Street, close by the Simonds Manufacturing Com- 
pany's buildings, are the works of the Simonds Roll- 
ing-Machine Company. 

This is a comparatively new enterprise, and is 
wholly due to the inventive genius of George F. 
Simonds, who, early in 1884, had his attention 
drawn, by an incident, to the possibility of moulding 
metal articles of circular shape to any given form, 
while rotating them on their axes between two 
surfaces moving in opposite directions. Experiments 
were made with putty balls between wooden surfaces, 
and so satisfactory were the results that a substantial 
machine was constructed, which successfully rolled 
various small articles, such as spheres, small projec- 
tiles, machine handles, etc. 

The result of this was the incorporation, in No- 
vember, 1886, of the Simonds Rolling-Machine 
Company, of Boston, with a capital of fnur hundred 
thousand dollar^, and George F. Simonds president. 
This company has purchased all the patents granted 
to Mr. Simonds in the United States and Canada, 
relating to the forging of metal articles by rolling. 

Patents on this new process of metal-working 
have been secured throughout the principal countries 
of the world ; and, early in 1886, the Simonds Steel 
and Iron Forging Company, Limited, with a capital 
of £150,000 was organized in London, England, by 
some of the leading British manufacturers. 

The works of the Simonds Rolling-Machine Com- 
pany, located in this city, are for experimental pur- 
poses mainly, and about sixty skilled workmen are 
engaged in te-iting and developing the capabilities 
of the machine, which seem to be without limit. 
The products are turned out with marvellous rapidity, 
and in accuracy and quality are far superior to those 
made by any other kuown process. 

As an evidence of the importance of this me- 
chanical discovery, it may be stated that at the last 
annual meeting of the American Institute of Mining 
Engineers, held in Boston in February, 1888, the 
members of the Institute came in a body to Fitch- 
burg on February 23d, expressly to witness the work 
of this machine. 

Companies are now being organized to manufacture 
under these patents in all the large cities of the 
United States and Canada, and without doubt this 
process will soon supersede all others in the manu- 
facture of many articles. 

Fitchburg is justly proud of the fact that a son of 
hers conceived and perfected this important and valu- 
able invention. 

The works here are as yet only in embryo, so to 
speak, and very little manufacturing of products for 
sale is done. There are, however, a few articles made 
for sale to a limited extent, such as various kinds 
of axles, projectiles, machine tool-handles, spindles, etc. 

The Union Machine Co. — This company, whose 
works are on Water St., was incorporated in 18G7, 



with a capital of $60,000, and at first manufactured 
machinists' tools. In 1870 the manufacture of hose- 
carriages and steam fire-engines of the " Jucket " 
pattern wa^ begun, and continued several years. 

The making of paper-machinery was begun about 
1873, and since then the company has made this line 
of work a specialty. 

In 1876 the company transferred its stock, etc., to 
Crocker, Burbank & Co., who put in new machinery, 
and continued to build paper-machinery under the 
old name of the company. 

In 1887 a stock company was formed, with these 
officers: John Burney, president; Samuel E.Crocker, 
treasurer; Emmons Crocker, secretary. This com- 
pany also retained the name of Union Machine Co., 
and put in new machinery. It ranks to-day among 
the best establishments of this kind in the country. 

Special attention is paid to the manufacture of 
large Fourdrinier and cylinder paper-machines, and 
the company also makes rag and Jordan engines, 
screen-plates, and all other kinds of paper-mill 
machinery. 

This line of machinery is also made by several 
other concerns in town, as a department of their 
business. 

Francis Sheldon & Co. carry on business as mill- 
wrights, and also manufacture rag-engines, cylinder- 
was^hers. rag-cutters and dusters for paper-mills. 

Ezekiel Davis, who owns the shop formerly 
operated by Alfred White, in Rockville, makes 
papef-mill bars and bed-plates and rag-cutter-knives, 
besides all varieties of machine-knives. 

Hardy & Finder make patent cast-metal screen- 
plates, used in paper-making. 

The Rolhtone Machine Company. — This company, 
whose works are near those of the Union Machine 
Company, was also incorporated in 1867 and has al- 
ways made wood-working machinery, and has built up 
quite a large business. Machines made by this com- 
pany are in operation in almost all sections of the 
United States. 

George L. Stearns is manager and Henry F. Coggs- 
hall treasurer. 

In addition to wood-working machinery, this com- 
pany manufactures the following: The C. F. Smith 
system of ice-making and refrigerating machines; the 
E. N. Gates system of hot water heating for dwellings, 
and the Hodges' Universal Angle Union, for plumbers' 
use, in connection with steam, water or gas-works. 

Beside this company, the following firms and indi- 
viduals manufacture wood-working machinery : 

A. D. Way mouth &Co., who, for the last forty years 
have made the well-known Waymouth Lathe. Their 
shop is in Newton Place, and they are the sole manu- 
facturers of A. D. Waymouth's new patent self-adjust- 
ing and self-centreing lathe for wood-turning. 

Charles W. Wilder makes Wilder's Patent Turning 
Lathe, which was invented by him, and does all kinds 
of wood-turning at his shop on Water Street. 



FITCHBUKG. 



281 



C. H. Cowdrey secured improvements on the original 
Waymouth lathe and makes lathes of his pattern, and 
also shafting, pulleys, etc., at his shop on Main Street. 

The Fitehbiirg Adjustable Saw-table Company make 
saw-tables and adjusters of acknowledged superiority 
at their shop in Newton Place. 

Franklin S. Lovell has machine works on Boutelle 
Street, where he manufactures saw-mill, grist-mill and 
wood-working machinery. He also makes C. M. 
Flint's patent saw-mills, as well as gingham machinery, 
dynamos and various kinds of electrical machinery. 

The Burleigh Rock-Drill Company. — Charles Bur- 
leigh, the inventor of the rock-drill bearing his name, 
came to Fitchburg in 1850, and soon bjecame a mem- 
ber of the firm of J. & S. W. Putnam. Later he was 
prominently identified with the Putnam Machine 
Company. His death occurred May 28, 1883. 

When work was begun on the Hoosac Tunnel all 
the rock-tunnelling had to be done by hand. It was 
slow work, and the danger arising from lack of ven- 
tilation increased as the work advanced. About 1865 
the late Alvah Crocker, it is said, applied to Mr. 
Burleigh to devise some description of power-drill to 
complete the tunnel, which at that time it seemed 
almost an impossibility to finish with the methods 
then employed. 

The result of Mr. Burleigh's study of this difficult 
problem was the invention by him of the Burleigh 
Rock-Drill and Patent Air-Compressor, a combination 
which was cajiable, not only of drilling holes from 
three-fourths of an inch to five inches in diameter, to 
a depth of thirty feet, at a rate of from two to ten 
inches per minute, according to the nature of the 
rock, but also of thoroughly ventilating the tunnel at 
the same time, thus obviating this great and fatal 
source of danger. 

These machines have produced a complete revolu 
tion in the work of rock-tunnelling. By means of 
them the completion of the Hoosac Tunnel was ren- 
dered possible, and since then large use has been 
made of them, both in this country and abroad. 
Among the many great engineering feats, where the 
use of these machines was indispensable, may be men- 
tioned the Sutro Tunnel, Hell Gate, Brooklyn Bridge 
and several of the great tunnels in Europe. 

In 1867 the Burleigh Rock-Drill Company was in- 
corporated, with a capital of $150,000, to make and 
sell these machines, of which the world is the market. 

In connection with this company is the Burleigh 
Tunnel Company, incorporated in 1869, with a capi- 
tal of $50,000. 

Boiler Manufacturing. — David M. Dillon, of Fitch- 
burg, was the first person to make boilers of steel, and 
though laughed at by other boiler-makers for trying 
such an experiment, the success he has made of it 
and the wide and constantly increasing sale of his 
boilers have caused a smile to settle on the genial 
countenance of Mr. Dillon, showing the truth of the 
adage, '' He who laughs last, laughs best.'' 



He started his business in 1870, in a shop at the 
corner of Main and West Streets. The people in 
that previously quiet neighborhood strenuously ob- 
jected to the noise produced. So, after remaining 
there two years, Mr. Dillon, finding that he needed 
more room, and being naturally of an accommodating 
disposition, moved his works to a shop he had built 
on Crocker Street, where, for the past sixteen years, 
he has carried on his rapidly increasing business. 

Boilers are also made to some extent by the Bur- 
leigh Rock-Drill Company and the Fitchburg Steam- 
Engine Company. 

Of the several other varieties of iron industries not 
yet mentioned, we have space to speak of none in 
detail, except the foundries. A few other iron and 
steel products made here, that may be mentioned 
briefly, are files, manufactured by Hon. Eli Culiey, 
who has carried on this business here since 1868 ; 
agricultural implements, by R. A. Leonard & Son ; 
steel horse-collars and boiler-makers' tools, by Alex- 
ander Thompson ; pneumatic and hydraulic ma- 
chines, by the Fitchburg Manufacturing Company ; 
water-motors, by C. A. Sawyer & Co. ; electric 
machinery, by Irving W. Colburn ; small tools, 
models, etc., by C. S. Tolman, H. P. Tyrrell and the 
Fitchburg Novelty Works ; brass finishing, by A. W. 
Hubbard ; and keys, etc., by S. W. Galpin. Lack of 
space forbids further enumeration. 

Several residents of Fitchburg, not yet mentioned, 
have, by their inventions, done much toward the 
building up of the machinery business here. Among 
them are the following : Louis D. Bartlett, inventor 
and perfector of the Bartlett Automatic Cut-off 
Steam-engine ; Sylvanus Sawyer, inventor of ma- 
chinery to split rattan into chair cane, and also 
known for his improvements in rifled cannon projec- 
tiles and in the manufacture of jewelers' lathes, etc. ; 
Horace F. Hodges, inventor of Hodges' Universal 
Angle Union and other ingenious devices ; and 
George E. Bowers, inventor of Bowers' dynamos. 

Foundries. — Besides those connected with the 
Putnam Machine Company, there are at present in 
town four foundries, — three iron and one brass. 

The one longest established is now operated by the 
firm of Heywood, Wilson & Co. It is located at the 
lower end of Main Street, and has always been 
known as 

The Fitchburg Foundry. — This was established by 
Asher Green about fifty years ago, and for nearly 
thirty years was located on Water Street, opposite 
the site now occupied by the Union Machine Com- 
pany. 

Mr. Green was alone at first but, later, David Ware 
was in company with him, and, for a time, his son, 
J. S. Green, was associated with them. 

In 1860 Mr. Green retired and sold his interest to 
Waldo Wallace, and the business was carried on un- 
der the name of Wallace, Ware »& Co., until 1864, 
when Mr. Wallace became sole [iroprietor. 



282 



HISTORY OP WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



In 1866 George Wheelock and Joseph S. Wilson 
bought half the interest, and, upon Mr. Wallace's 
death the same year, Walter Heywood and Harring- 
ton Sibley purchased the other half. The business 
was carried on for about two years under the name of 
Heywood, Wheelock & Co. 

In 1868 the present foundry buildings were erected 
and the business removed thereto ; and, about the 
same time, Mr. Wheelock sold his interest to HaleW. 
Page, and the name of the firm became Heywood, 
Wilson & Co. Mr. Page left the firm in 1875, and 
Mr. Heywood died in 1880, and at the present time 
the business is carried on by Messrs. Wilson & Sib- 
ley, who have retained the firm-name of Heywood, 
AVilson & Co. 

The second oldest foundry is located on Crocker 
Street, and Las always been known as 

The Rolhtone Foundry. — It was established nearly 
forty years ago by the firm of Davis, Page & Co., con- 
sisting of Joel Davis, Hale W. Page and Artemas R. 
Smith. After a time, Mr. Davis retired, and the firm 
became Smith, Page & Co., and, still later. Smith & 
Page. 

On July 21, 1870, the fire which destroyed the 
Heywood chair-shop also entirely ruined this foundry, 
causing a loss of twelve thousand dollars. A large 
brick building was immediately erected on the same 
site, and the business wa« carried on by Smith & Page 
until Mr. Smith's death, in March, 1875. 

In 1875 Lyman H. Goodnow removed from Wor- 
cester to Fitchburg and became an equal partner with 
Mr. Page in the business ; and, in 1877, Mr. Goodnow 
became, and has since continued to be, the sole pro- 
prietor of the Rollstone Foundry. Mr. Goodnow 
makes a specialty of the manufacture of large fly- 
wheels and iron fronts for buildings. 

On the night of October 17, 1885, this foundry 
was again badly damaged by fire, the loss amounting 
to over fifteen thousand dollars; but the building 
was soon repaired, and the foundry in operation 
again. 

M. J. Perault's Iron Foundry is on Water Street. 
The business was started in 1883, by Marshall & 
Farnsworth, for the manufacture of fine castings. 

In July, 1884, Mr. Perault, who had been foreman 
of the Fitchburg Foundry since 1871, bought the 
establishment, and has since successfully carried it 
on. 

Brass foundries have been in existence here for 
over thirty years. In 1858 Messrs. Levi Stevens and 
George Wheelock had a brass foundry near the 
Rollstone Foundry. A year or two later the firm 
dissolved, Mr. Wheelock taking charge of the old 
foundry and Mr. Stevens starting a new one at the 
corner of Main and Laurel Streets. 

About 1869 Sargent & Earls operated a brass 
foundry for a year or two in Newton's Lane. 

At the present time the only brass foundry in 
town is that of William A. Hardy, on Water Street. 



Mr. Hardy was formerly with Mr. Stevens, and 
later, in company with George Wheelock, succeeded 
Mr. Stevens in operating the Laurel Street foundry, 
under the firm-name of W. A. Hardy & Co. 

About 1872 Mr. Hardy became sole proprietor, 
and removed the business to his present location, 
where he has since successfully conducted it. He 
makes a specialty of machinery castings, and is the 
inventor of Hardy's Patent Car Axle Boxes, and en- 
joys a considerable share of railroad patronage. 

A number of manufacturing establishments have 
been carried on in Fitchburg, which, for various 
reasons, have been discontinued, or have removed 
from town. A few of them have been of importance 
in the business interests of the place in years past, 
and are worthy of mention in some detail ; and as 
many of them were engaged in the manufacture of 
iron and steel products, they come most appropri- 
ately under the pre.'^eut head of ir.)n industries. 

Scythe Manufacturing. — This long established 
and, at one time, very important industry has been 
extinct here only about ten years. 

It was begun in 1796 by John & Joseph Farwell, 
who had a scythe-shop near the present corner of 
River and Main Streets. Here they made scythes for 
a quarter of a century, or so, and the Farwell scythe 
acquired a considerable reputation. 

About 1830 John T. Farwell and Alpheus Kimball 
started a scythe-factory just below A. Crocker & 
Co.'s paper-mill, and began to make scythes of the 
Farwell pattern. Two years later Mr. Farwell left 
the firm, and the business was carried on by Mr. 
Kimball, who later took his three sons, Alpheus P., 
William and John W. Kimball, into partnership, 
under the firm-name of A. Kimball & Sons. After 
the death of Alpheus Kimball, about 1860, the busi- 
ness was conducted, from 1860 to 1862, by W. & J. 
W. Kimball, and after 1862 by William Kimball 
alone, who sold the shop in December, 1864, to the 
Fitchburg Paper Company. 

Soon after Mr. Farwell dissolved his partnership 
with Mr. Kimball, he went into company, in 1832, 
with Abel Simouds, the firm-name being J. T. Far- 
well & Co. 

This firm built a new scythe-factory farther up the 
river, above the junction of Phillips' Brook and the 
Nashua. Mr. Farwell retained the right to the Far- 
well pattern, and the firm manufactured these well- 
known scythes for about twenty years. During a 
portion of this time Leonard C. Sanborn was also a 
partner. 

After Mr. Farwell retired Mr. Simonds continued 
to make scythes and edge-tools, his son, Joseph F. 
Simonds, being in company with him part of the time, 
until 1864, when he gave up business and rented the 
shop to the new firm of Simonds Bros. & Co. 

About 1846 Alpheus P. Kimball, in company with 
John L. Chandler, built a scythe-factory in South 
Fitchburg, on what is now Scythe-shop road, on the 



FITCHBUKG. 



283 



site of the present mill of the Falulah Paper Com- 
pany. Here scythe-making was carried on by the 
firm of A. P. Kimball & Co. for a few years. Mr. 
Kimball soon sold his interest, and for a time the 
shop was run by Mr. Chandler, in connection with 
other partners, under the firm-name of J. L. Chandler 
&Co. 

In 1852 Captain Edwin Richardson took the shop, 
and manufactured scythes there for about twenty-five 
years. 

It is evident from the above brief account that 
scythe-making was at one time an important industry 
here. Official stati-tics of 1855 show that during that 
year there were made in Fitchburg seven thousand 
nine hundred and twenty-five dozen scythes, valued 
at sixty-two thousand and seventy-two dollars, and 
that fifty-eight hands were employed in the three 
scythe fflctories. 

The Whitman & Miles Manufacturing Com- 
pany. — Among the earliest manufacturers of edge- 
tools in Fitchburg were Albert G. Page and Alfred 
White. The firm of Page & White began business in 
Rockville, where the Berwick Mills now stand, about 
fifty years ago, and was the origin of the above-named 
company, one of our most valuable manufacturing 
establishments, now, unfortunately, not numbered 
among the industrial firms of Fitchburg. 

Page & White made edge-tools of various kinds. 
After a few years Mr. White retired from the firm, 
and began business for himself in a large sho)> in 
Rockville, farther up on Phillips' Brook, and built up 
a prosperous business in the manufacture of engine 
bars and plates, rag-cutter and trimming-knives, 
shingle-knives, etc. For a time he was in company 
with Masa Willis, but during a considerable period 
was alone. He died September 13, 1885, and the 
business established by him is now carried on by 
Ezekiel Davis, formerly of the Whitman & Miles 
Manufacturing Company. 

After Mr. White's withdrawal from the firm, Mr. 
Page formed a partnership with Messrs. F. Stiles and 
William E. Taylor, under the firm-name of A. G. 
Page & Company, and continued business at the same 
shop. 

About 1847 this firm was dissolved, and Edward 
Aldrich became Mr. Page's partner, and the business 
was carried on by Page & Aldrich until 1852, when a 
new firm, Page, Whitman & Company, was established, 
still retaining the old shop. This firm was composed 
of Mr. Page, Augustus Whitman and Calvin Foster, 
and made a specialty of the manufacture of socket 
chisels, planing and paper-knives. 

In 1856 this firm was dissolved, and Mr. Whitman 
and Eugene T. Miles took charge of the establishment 
under the firm-name of Whitman & Miles. Business 
prospered, and in 1864 the Whitman & Miles Manu- 
facturing Company was incorporated, and the works 
removed to new and commodious shops in West 
Fitchburg. A very large and rapidly increasing 



business was carried on here for about twelve yeara, 
mowing-machine knives being the principal product. 

The company had a branch establishment in Akron, 
Ohio, and in 1876 the Whitman & Barnes Manufac- 
turing Company was formed, and the Whitman & 
Miles Manufacturing Company consolidated with it. 
The works were removed to Akron, and Fitchburg 
thus lost a valuable and prosperous corporation. 

The American Rattan Co. — This comjiany was 
incorporated in 1852, with a capital of $46,800, and 
manufactured chair-cane from rattan. Previously, 
this kind of work had been done by hand, but this 
company put in the machines which had recently 
been invented by Sylvanus Sawyer and his brother, 
Addison, for splitting cane. 

For many years the American Rattan Company 
was one of the most prosperous and profitable manu- 
facturing concerns in the United States. The works 
were in Newton's Lane. 

After twenty-three years of prf sperity, due largely 
to the able management of Moses Wood, who was 
president of the company from its incorporation till 
his death, in 1869, and also its treasurer from 1855, 
the company was consolidated in 1875 with the 
Wakefield Rattan Company, of Boston, and in April, 
1878, the business was entirely removed from Fitch- 
burg. 

Some idea of the importance of this company may 
be obtained by stating the value of its products in 
difierent years and noting the remarkable increase. 

From official statistics we find that the value of the 
chair-cane produced by the American Rattan Com- 
pany in 1855 was $.50,000; in 1865, $212,500; in 1875 
$340,000. 

The loss of this company, and of the Whitman & 
Miles Manufacturing Company — two of our heaviest 
and most prosperous concerns — coming, one so soon 
after the other, increased, in no small degree, the 
business depression then existing in Fitchburg. 

The Buckeye Mowing-Machine Company. — 
This company began business here about 1864, oc- 
cupying two large wooden buildings in West Fitch- 
burg, near the junction of Depot road and Westminster 
river road. In connection with it was the Bay State 
Horse- Rake Company. Mowing-machines, horse-rakes 
and laundry-machines were here manufactured and a 
prosperous business was built up. 

In 1865 oflicial statistics show that eight hundred 
and fifty mowing-machines were made here during 
that year, valued at one hundred and twenty-five 
thousand dollars. The product was greater a few 
years later. 

September 15, 1873, one of the large buildings 
occupied by this company was destroyed by fire and 
the other considerably damaged, the loss being fifteen 
thousand dollars. The works were rebuilt, and in 
1876 were purchased by Richard A. Leonard, who 
continued the manufacture of mowing-machines and 
also made packing cases there until January 29, 1886, 



284 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



when both buildings were burnt. Soon afterward the 
mowing-machine business was removed to Worcester, 
Mr. Leonard continuing the making of pacliing cases 
and agricultural implements in a new factory opposite 
the site of the old shops. 

Many other industries have been carried on here in 
the past that are now extinct in Fitchburg. A few of 
them may be mentioned, as follows : Tanneries were 
early established here, and the one operated by Cald- 
well & Sprague a half-century ago nearly, located 
near the old V. & M. R. R. engine-house, was quite an 
important concern. Bellows were made here to a 
considerable extent during the first half of the present 
century by various individuals, prominent among 
whom was Dea. Abel Thurston. Hats were also 
formerly made here. Parts of piano-fortes were made 
by Hale W. Page ; fan blowers, sewing-machines, etc., 
by C. P. Marshall ; vises by the New England Vise 
Co. ; hoop-machines by the American Hoop-Machine 
Co. Prior to the discovery of petroleum a large 
number of candles were made here by John P. Sabin. 
During the war cannon, cannon-balls and bomb-shells 
were made here to a considerable extent. 

The Grain Bilsiness. — Grist and saw-mills were 
the first concerns in the manufacturing line started in 
Fitchburg. We have already spoken of the mill built 
by the Kimballs about 1750, where for many years 
the grain for miles around was ground. 

From about 1800 to 1822 there was a grist-mill run 
in connection with the Parwell scythe shop, near the 
corner of the present Main and River Streets. 

A little later Sheldon & Pillsbury's grist-mill was 
built, on the site now occupied by the Star Worsted 
Company's mill on West Street. In a few years this 
mill acquired considerable reputation for bolting 
flour in a superior manner, and grain was brought to 
it from places quite distant. It was equipped with 
two runs of stoues, a corn-cracker and flour-bolter, 
and in 1835, according to Mr. Torrey, the average 
amount of flour made at this mill was five barrels 
per day ; and Mr. Torrey was of the opinion that 
during the year 183G the production would be 
doubled. 

The mill erected about 1836 by Captain Levi Pratt 
on River Street was, for a time, used by him for the 
manufacture of powder kegs, but for many years the 
site has been occupied as a flour and grain-mill. 
Several parties have carried on this industry there in 
years past, among them Franklin Mclntire and Ira 
Carleton and the Fitchburg Flour Company. In 
1881 Charles P. Washburn purchased the property; 
and in 1883 Frederick F. Woodward bought one-half 
interest, since which time the mill has been success- 
fully operated by the firm of Washburn & Wood- 
ward. 

In 1884 a store-house, one hundred by thirty feet, 
was built to accommodate their increasing business. 
The firm possesses every fiiciiity for carrying on their 
large wholesale and retail trade in flour, grain, meal, 



etc. A branch track connects their mill with the 
main line of the Fitchburg Railroad close by. 

Let us now return to the Kimball saw and grist- 
mill. On the site occupied by it was built, in 1826, 
the "Stone Mill," which, for over forty years, was 
operated as a cotton-mill. In 1868 Joseph Gushing 
bought the property, and since then the firm of 
J. Cusliing & Co. has carried on the flour and grain 
business there. Mr. Cushing's son. Milton M. Gush- 
ing, was in partnership with him, but died some 
years ago. 

A very large business is done here, the mill having 
a grinding capacity of several thousand bushels of 
corn per day. A track, some six hundred feet long, 
connects the establishment with the main line of the 
Fitchburg Railroad. This track was built in 1871, 
and on September 2d, of that year, the completion of 
the "Joe Gushing Railroad," as it was called, was 
the occasion of quite a jollification. 

In connection with his mill Mr. Gushing has 
several large store-houses, and, by a rather singular 
coincidence, he has, just across the stream, a saw- 
mill and lumber-yard. So the first manufacturing 
industry in Fitchburg is, at the present time, exactly 
reproduced on the identical site, though on a vastly 
greater scale. 

The LiTMBER Business. — As before noted, Fitch- 
burg has had saw-mills located on the various streams 
and brooks within the limits of the town since the 
earliest period of its history ; and the lumber busi- 
ness has always been an important item in the indus- 
tries of the place. 

It would be useless to try to give, in detail, the 
history of this business; so we shall content our- 
selves with simply a brief mention of the more 
important concerns of this kind that have existed 
here in the recent past, or are in operation now. 

Some twenty years ago the Fitchburg Lumber 
Company carried on quite an extensive business at 
their yards on Water Street. The company was 
incorporated in 1868, with a capital of $200,000, but 
was not able to go through the financial depression 
that came a few years later. 

Alvah A. Beckwith operated au extensive lumber 
business, and sash and blind shop on Rollstone Street, 
over a score of years ago ; and after his death, 
December 17, 1868, the business was carried on by 
the Beckwith Lumber Company until 1878, when the 
properly was leased by Charles A. Priest, who subse- 
quently purchased it. 

Mr. Priest was formerly with the Fitchburg Lum- 
ber Company, and operated their yard on Water 
Street after the company gave up business, until he 
leased the property of the Beckwith Lumber Com- 
pany. After purchasing it he greatly enlarged the 
buildings, and established a prosperous business. 
He died in September, 1887, since which time the 
concern has been carried on by the C. A. Priest 
Lumber Company. The plant is now quite exten- 



FITCHBURG. 



285 



sive, and a large business is done in lumber and in 
the manufacture of doors, sash, blinds, stairs and all 
kinds of builders' finish. A specialty is made of the 
manufacture of school furniture. 

For some years Lorenzo Barker had a lumber-yard 
and sash and blind factory on North Street. The 
property afterward came into the hands of Deacon 
Mial Davis, who greatly increased the facilities for 
bu.siness, and he now operates it a-i a steam mill, 
manufacturing doors, sash, blinds and all kinds of 
house finish. Mr. Davis also deals largely in 
lumber. 

William A. Garno has a steam saw-mill on Lunen- 
burg Street, where a considerable business is done in 
getting out lumber and making doors, blinds, etc. 

Frederick A. Beckwith, son of A. A. Beckwith, 
has a lumber establishment in Newton Place, and 
does a large business iu building materials, house 
finish, etc. 

Arthur F. Goodfellow has a genuine old-style 
saw-mill on Wanoosnac Brook, near the Old Turn- 
pike road, where he turns out a large supply of 
boards. 

Of J. Gushing &Co.'8 lumber yard and saw mill we 
have already spoken. 

W. C. Johnson has a lumber yard in connection 
with his other business on Water Street. 

Soap and Candle Manufacturing. — This 
industry dates back to an early period in the history 
of Fitchburg, for, prior to 1800, there was a soap 
shop on the site now occupied by Crocker Block, 
to which tradition says the name "Old Potash'' 
was applied. 

At the present time there is but one soap manufac- 
tory in town, — that of Cowdin & Walker. Their 
business has been long established, having been 
begun by John P. Sabin over forty years ago. Mr. 
Sabin was for a time in company with Cahill Tolman 
and S. H. Evans in the " Old City." The firm carried 
on the grocery business, and also made soap and 
candles on a small scale. 

About 1847 Mr. Sabin began the manufacture of 
these articles by himself, in South Fitchburg, and 
speedily built up a thriving business. 

Prior to the use of kerosene a large amount of 
candles was made here. Official statistics show that 
in 1855 ten tons of tallow candles, twenty-five tons 
of hard soap and six hundred pounds of soft soap 
were manufactured here, the aggregate value being 
eight thousand dollars. In 1865 the production of 
candles in Fitchburg was only three thousand pounds. 

Natt Cowdin became a partner with Mr. Sabin in 
the soap business about 18(50, the firm name being J. 
P. Sabin & Co. Some years ago Mr. Sabin retired 
from the business, and for the past twenty years or so 
Mr. Cowdin, in company with C. C. Walker, has car- 
ried on the concern, the firm name being Cowdin & 
Walker. A considerable business is done here, chiefly 
in soft-soap. Mr. Sabin died May 14, 1 885. 



In 1859 Charles Davis began the manufacture of 
soap in a shop on West Street. He soon formed a 
partnership with George H. Phelps, and in the course 
of a few years the firm moved into a new shop on 
Boutelle Street. 

About 1871 Mr. Phelps sold his interest to Mr. 
Davis who then formed a partnership with his brother, 
Joel Davis, under the firm name of C. Davis & Co. 
For several years following the firm did not run the 
shop, but leased it to A. B. Gibbs & Co., and later to 
James Mitchell. C. Davis & Co. operated the shop 
from 1875 to 1882, when the business was given up. 
Charles Davis died October 29, 1885. 

The firm of S. M. Brown & Co. had, for several 
years, a soap shop on Townsend Street near Pearl 
Street, but about 1881 the firm removed the business 
to a location near the Westminster depot. 

In 1875 the value of the products of the three soap 
and candle factories in the city was over twenty-seven 
thousand dollars. 

The FiTCHBUEr, Railroad Car Shops. — These 
are located in what is now called East Fitchburg and 
are in process of construction at the present time. 

The plans prepared provide for six. large buildings. 
Four of them range side by side, each being one hun- 
dred by four hundred and eighty feet, anJ covering 
about an acre of ground. The one nearest the river 
is to be the paint shop, the next the passenger car 
shop, the next the freight car shop and the easterly 
one the oar repairing shop. Each of these immense 
buildings will be divided by two fire-proof cross walls 
into three sections. 

Of the two other structures, which run at right 
angles to the four above-mentioned, one is to be the 
wood-working shop, sixty by three hundred feet, and 
the other, parallel with it, is to be the machine shop, 
sixty by four hundred feet. The wood-working shop 
will be two stories high and the other five buildings 
one story. The foundations will be RoUstone graniie 
and the structures will be built of brick made at the 
yards of Edwin A. Goodrich, in this city. 

The buildings will be substantial, well-proportioned 
structures and a credit to the Fitchburg Railroad and 
the city for which the corporation was named. 

Brick Manufacturing.— Edwin A. Goodrich 
owns and operates three brick-yards in Fitchburn- — 
one on Summer Street, one at South Fitchburg, and 
the Pound Hill yard, in the northwesterly part of the 
township. He makes several million bricks annually 
and has a well-established and prosperous business. 

Bakeries. — These have been in existence here for 
over a century. The first mention of this industry 
occurs in relation to David Gibson, who, about 1781, 
built a bake-shop on the site where now stands the 
house which belonged to the late Ebenezer Torrey, 
Esq. 

For the last sixty years or more there has been a 
bakery where the steam bakery of H. B. Boutelle 
now stands, on Circle Street (originally Baker's 



286 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



Street). For many years this shop was carried on by 
William M. Pride. It is now under the proprietor- 
ship of Henry P. Boutelle, who employs steam-power 
in the manufacture of bread, crackers, etc., and does 
a large business, both in this city and in surrounding 
towns. 

Other bakeries in town are operated by James 
Brock, Horton & Raymond and Phelps & Cooper. 
Herbert N. Rugg does considerable fancy baking of 
cake, etc., in connection with the manufacture of con- 
fectionery. 

Granite Quaeiiying. — Fitchburg, possessing as 
it does an almost inexhaustible supply of good 
granite near the city, in the shape of Rollstone Hill, 
has made the quarrying and working of granite one 
of her staple industries. 

For many years this source of profit and employ- 
ment was comparatively unused; during the past 
seventy-five years, however, extensive quarrits have 
been opened and worked on this hill. 

Among the earliest to engage in this business was 
Samuel A. Wheeler. Fitch Downe, who died recently, 
was for some years a granite contractor and worker. 

For many years Mr. Wheeler did a large and im- 
portant business in granite. Most of the time he was 
in company with others. In 1844 Charles Davis was 
his partner, and the firm furnished the Rollstone 
granite of which the Fitchburg Railroad Station in 
Boston is built, beside filling other large contracts. 
He was also in company with Joel Davis at one time. 

Most of the dams and the stone-work of the bridges 
across the north branch of the Nashua, in Fitchburg, 
were built by S. A. Wheeler & Co., and still stand as 
a testimonial to the firm's thorough workmanship. 

During the latter part of his business life his son, 
S. A. Wheeler, Jr., was his partner. Mr. Wheeler 
died August 30, 1883. 

Wells R. Bardwell is another of the old-time stone- 
workers. He was at one time a member of the firm 
of Childs, Bardwell & Co., granite workers, on West 
Street. 

The well-known granite firm of former year*, Davis, 
Ames & Co., later Joel Ames & Co., should also be 
mentioned. 

At the present time the following individuals and 
firms work quarries on Rollstone : Frederick A. Hale, 
Sylvester P. Litchfield and F. A. McCauliff & Co. 
There are also several parties engaged in working 
granite and as granite contractors, as follows: Henry 
E. Ames, George Hamilton, Daniel O'Connor, William 
T. Shattuck and George A. Terrell. 

Large amounts of granite are annually taken from 
Rollstone and used for under-pinning and building 
purposes, paving blocks, flag and curb-stones, monu- 
ment'', etc. The quarries are worked nearly all the 
year. 

In this connection may be mentioned the industry 
of marble-working. 

The firm of Hartwell & Reed, on Main Street, car- 



rier on one of the longest established marble-works in 
the country. The business was begun by Isaac Hart- 
well in 1831. Some twenty years later George Reed 
became his partner. Mr. Hartwell died some years 
ago, aud the business is now carried on by Mr. Reed 
and his son, Edward H. Reed, the old firm name 
being retained. 

The FiTCHBURG Gas Company was organized in 
1852, with a capital of sixty thousand dollars, and has 
since coniinued to manufacture gas for the illumina- 
tion of our streets and dwellings. The company, of 
which Hon. Rodney Wallace is president, and Henry 
F. Coggshall treasurer, has gas-works near the rail- 
road, a short distance southeast of the depot, with two 
gasometers of sixty-five thousand and twenty-eight 
thousand cubic feet respectively, and maintains about 
twelve miles of street-mains. 

The Wachu.sett Electric Light Company was 
incorporated in 1883, with a capital of one hundred 
thousand dollars, to furnish electricity for lighting 
purposes. The principal streets in the city are now 
illuminated by electric lights. 

The central station of the company is on Water 
Street, and is furnished with a two hundred and sev- 
enty-five horse-power engine and the usual accom- 
paniments. The capacity is upwards of one hundred 
and fifty Thompson-Houston arc lights. 

Beside street-lights the company furnishes light for 
many of the stores in town, and, in the near future, 
proposes to furnish electric power for mechanical pur- 
poses. Arthur H. Kimball is superintendent. 

There is space to speak of only a few more of the 
many other industries here that have not yet been 
mentioned. Though they may seem to be small when 
compared with some of the great corporations in town, 
yet they are all of importance to the prosjierity of 
Fitchburg. 

The few we shall mention are the American Prun- 
ing Company, the Fitchburg Carbonized Stone and 
Pipe Company, the Fitchburg Enamel Works, Fitch- 
burg Pipe Covering Company, Fitchburg Spirit-Level 
Company, J. T. Smith, manufacturer of clothes- 
dryers, towel-racks, etc.; J. Joel and W. J. & F. C. 
Wheeler, cigar manufacturers; Marshall & Farns- 
worth, pulley-covering makers ; H. B. Adams, S. G. 
Gushing and the Novelty Turning Company, manu- 
facturers of all kinds of wood-turning, organ materials, 
etc.; C. L. Tenney, pattern and model-maker; Jonas 
Whitney, for about half a century a manufacturer of 
organ materials; S. N. Weston, reed manufacturer; 
Cyrus Tolman, maker of emery grinders, saw arbors, 
etc.; besides numerous carriage-makers, carpenters 
and building contractors, blacksmiths, etc, etc. 

A volume might easily be written on this one sub- 
ject of the mechanical industries of Fitchburg; but 
want of space compels the writer to omit much and 
condense what is written. The intention has bten to 
treat all fairly, and it is hoped that this result has been 
accomplished. 



FITCHBURG. 



287 



CHAPTER XLIV. 

FITCHBURG— ( Continued. ) 

COMMERCIAI, HISTORY. 

In a sketch limited as this is we can expect to give 
only the briefest mention of the more important com- 
mercial enterprises which make Fitchburg a business 
centre of considerable note. It is true that the nu- 
merous large manufacturing establishments, which 
have been dwelt upon at some length in a previous 
chapter, are the mainstay of Fitehburg's prosperity; 
but her business-houses, banks and various other 
commercial organizations are also of great importance, 
though in a somewhat different way. 

It seems proper to begin this chapter with a brief 
account of the railroad corporations, which unques- 
tionably have been the most important factor in de- 
veloping our natural resources and mechanical and 
commercial interests. Each one of these corporations 
is deserving of a more extended notice, but such 
would be beyond the scope of the present history. 

Transportation Facilities. — Fitchburg is an 
important railroad centre. In a previous chapter the 
opening of the Filchburg Railroad, in 1845, has been 
spoken of. It was followed three years later by the 
Yermont and Massachusetts, and about the same time 
the Cheshire Railroad was put in operation. A few 
years later the Fitchburg and Worcester Railroad was 
constructed, and still later the Boston, Clinton and 
Fitchburg Railroad commenced operations. Of late 
years railroad consolidation has been the rule, and the 
roads centreing in this city are no exception to it. 

The Fitchburg and Worcester, and Boston, Clinton 
and Fitchburg are now divisions of the great system 
operated by the Old Colony Railroad Company, and 
give direct communication between this city and 
Worcester, Boston andall thecitiesof Southern Massa- 
chusetts, with close connections for New York City 
and the South. 

The Fitchburg Railroad has grown into the great 
" Hoosac Tunnel Route," having leased the Vermont 
and Massachusetts Railroad, purchased of the State 
its great " bore," the Hoosac Tunnel, and railroads 
this side of and beyond the Tunnel, and now controls 
and operates about three hundred and fifty miles of 
road, most of which is double-tracked. This line gives 
the citizens of Fitchburg quick and direct communi- 
cation not only with Boston and the central and west- 
ern parts of Massachusetts, but also with Chicago, St. 
Louis and all the great Western cities. It forms one 
of the trunk lines between the West and the seaboard, 
and offers great ad■^•antages to shippers of freight. 

The Cheshire Railroad is intact at the present time, 
though probably, at no distant date, it will be absorbed 
into the Fitchburg system. This road is operated 
from Bellows Falls, Vt.,to South Ashburnham, Mass., 
and reaches Fitchburg over the tracks of the Ver- 



mont and Massachusetts Division of the Fitchburg 
Railroad. In connection with the Central Vermont 
Railroad, it offers a through line to all points in Ver- 
mont and Canada and is the shortest line from Boston 
to Lake George. Considerable Western freight comes 
over this road from the Central Vermont and Grand 
Trunk Railroads. 

Over fifty passenger trains arrive daily at the Union 
Depot in this city, and heavy freight trains are almost 
constantly passing through, and it must be evident 
from this account, brief as it is, that the people of 
Fitchburg have no reason to complain of the facili- 
ties afforded them for traveling and transportation. 

In addition to the steam railroads, we have a horse- 
railroad, recently put into operation by 

The Fitchburg Street-Railway Company. — 
This company was incorporated April 10, 1886, with 
a capital of $60,000. Work was at once begun, and 
so rapidly was track-laying prosecuted, that the road 
began business July 1, 1886, and has proved a paying 
enterprise and a great convenience to the public. 
Henry A. Willis, Esq., is president of the corpora- 
tion. The road is three and a half miles in length, 
extending from Sanborn Road, in West Fitchburg, 
through Westminster, River, Main and Summer 
Streets to the Fitchburg Park, near the Lunenburg 
line. Extensions have been authorized, and will be 
made before long, to Waite's Corner, in West Fitch- 
burg, and the city farm in South Fitchburg. The 
road is well supplied with first-class cars, and upwards 
of forty good horses are owned by the company. 

Banks. — There are at the present time in Fitch- 
burg eight financial institutions — four national and 
four savings banks. 

The Filchburg National Bank. — This is the oldest 
in town and has previously been spoken of as the 
Fitchburg Bank, chartered in 1832. It was reorgan- 
ized in 1865 under the National Banking Act. It has 
a capital of two hundred and fifty thousand dollars 
and a surplus of one hundred and forty thousand 
dollars. The bank began business in a small granite 
building which, in 1853, was replaced by a brick 
banking-house, where business was carried on until 
1871. In that year the bank removed to its present 
commodious, and even palatial, quarters in the Fitch, 
burg Savings Bank Block. Since 1871 the old brick 
bank building has been used by Crocker, Burbank & 
Co. as an office. 

Hon. Ebenezer Torrey was officially connected 
with this bank from its commencement — the first 
twenty-seven years as cashier and after 1860 as 
president. Francis Perkins was the first president, 
and served until his death, in 1859. Mr. Torrey was 
elected his successor and held the office until his 
death, September 3, 1888. October 22, 1888, Brigham 
N. Bullock was elected president and H. G. Town- 
end, ca>hier. 

The Uolhione National Bank. — This bank, as stated 
in a previous chapter, was chartered in 1849 as the 



288 



HISTOKY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



Rollstone Bank. It was reorganized into a national 
bank in 186.5, and has a capital of two hundred 
and fifty thousand dollars and a surplus of one hun- 
dred and forty thousand dollars. Its first banking 
house was a small granite building, standing on the 
site now occupied by the present handsome Rollstone 
Bank block, which was erected in 1869. Since 1869 
the bank, in connection with the Worcester North 
Savings Institution, has occupied well-appointed and 
commodious banking rooms on the ground floor of 
this block. 

Hon. Moses Wood was the first pre.sident of this 
bank and served until his death, in 1869. Alvah 
Crocker was then chosen president and served until 
January, 1873, wlien Henry A. Willis succeeded him. 
Mr. Willis still holds this position and has thus been 
officially connected with this bank for over thirty 
years, being cashier from 1858 up to tlie time he was 
chosen president. Wilbur B. Tenney has beeu cash- 
ier since 1881. 

The Safety Fund National Bank. — This bank was 
organized April 17,1874. Its capital is $200,000 and 
surplus $34,500. Business was begun July 1, 1874, 
in the second story of Bekling & Dickinsons 
Block, and in March, 1875, was removed to its pres- 
ent location in Crocker Block. This substantial and 
handsome block was erected by Hon. Alvah Crocker, 
under an agreement for a twenty years' lease of the 
banking rooms to the Safety Fund National Bank. 

The first president was Henry Allison, and the first 
cashier Frederick F. Woodward. In 1883 Mr. Wood- 
ward went into the grain business, and resigned his 
position as cashier. He was succeeded by George 
K. Tapley, who held the position until his removal to 
Springfield, early in 1888, to engage in other busi- 
ness. Joel G. Tyler, who has been identified with 
this bank, as book-keeper, since September, 1882, 
was appointed acting cashier until April 30, 1888, 
when the present cashier, Walter S. Jenks, was 
elected. 

Mr. Allison has held the position of president up 
to the present date. Previous to the organization of 
this bank he was connected with the Fitchburg 
National Bank for some ten years, and has, therefore, 
had an experience of twenty-five years in bank- 
ing. 

The Wachmett National Bank. — This bank was in- 
corporated May 20, 1875, chiefly through the efforts 
of Hiram A. Blood. Its capital at the start was 
$500,000, but was subsequently reduced one-half, 
leaving its present capital $250,000 and a surplus 
fund of $250,000. Business was begun June 1, 1875, 
in the rooms lately vacated by the Safety Fund Bank 
in Belding & Dickinson's Block. January 1, 1876, 
the business was removed to their present banking- 
rooms in the new Wachusett Bank block, at the cor- 
ner of Main and Day Streets. 

At the pi'esent time Omon H.Lawrence is presi- 
dent and George E. Clifford, cashier of this bank. 



The Fiichbxirg Savings Bank. — This is by far the 
oldest savings bank in town, and was incorporated 
February 12, 184G, and went into operation on the 3d 
of the following June. Its business was done in the 
Fitchburg Bank building until 1871. In that year 
the Savings Bank erected the Fitchburg Savings 
building, the largest and most costly business block 
in the city. The Savings Bank has since then occu- 
pied spacious apartments on the same floor with and 
adjoining those of the Fitchburg National Bank. 

Its first officers were Francis Perkins, president, 
and Ebenezer Torrey, treasurer, the same officers as 
the Fitchburg Bank had. At the present time Hon. 
Thornton K. Ware is president, Charles J. Billings, 
treasurerand Andrew Jewett, assistant treasurer. De- 
posits, October 31, 1888, $2,372,453.45. Number of 
depositors, 5888. 

Worcester North Savings Institution. — This bank 
was incorporated May 26, 1868 ; organized June 13, 
1868; began business July 6, 1868. Hob. Moses 
Wood was its first president and Henry A. Willis, first 
treasurer. Its banking-rooms are in the Rollstone 
National Bank building, in connection with the Roll- 
stone National Bank. Since Mr. Wood's death 
Augustus Whitman, Benjamin Snow and Lowell M. 
Miles have served in the office of president. Mr. 
Miles resigned in 1886, and Hon. Amasa Norcross 
was elected to the office, and holds it at present. 
Henry A. Willis is still the treasurer, and Benjamin 
F. Wallis is assistant treasurer. Deposits, July 1, 
1888, $2,593,309.15. Number of depositors, 6795. 

The Fitchburg Co-operative Bank. — This .savings in- 
stitution was incorporated October 27, 1877, as " The 
Fitchburg Co-operative Saving Fund and Loan As- 
sociation,'' but July 1, 1883, this name was changed, 
by legislative enactment, to the simpler one given 
above. 

There is not space to give in detail the method of 
conducting business in this institution, but it is cer- 
tain that its good influence has been very marked, 
for many persons have been induced by it to begin 
the saving of money in a small way. It has tended 
to encourage industry, economy and thrift, and well 
deserves the prosperity it has had in the last ten 
years. 

Dr. Jabez Fisher has been its president from the 
beginning. George E. Clifford was treasurer during 
the first four years of its existence, and was succeeded 
by Charles F. Baker, who has since held the position. 
Joseph F. Simonds has acted as secretary during the 
life of the bank. His oflice is in a room of the Roll- 
stone Bank building, and monthly meetings of the 
shareholders are held there for the transaction of 
business. ' 

The Fidelity Co-operative Bank. — Early in the year 
1888 the idea of starting a second co-operative bank 
in town took shape, and April 23, 1888, the Fidelity 
Co-operative Bank was organized. At that time 
George E. Clifford was chosen president and Frank 



FITCHBURG. 



289 



D. Page treasurer. The bank started with one 
hundred and forty-nine charter members and one 
thousand seven hundred shares subscribed for. It 
has a room for meetings and the transaction of busi- 
ness in Croclcer block, and is a thriving institution. 

The Ftichburg Post-Office. — The Filchburg post- 
office was established July 1, 1811, and on that date 
the first poi^tmaster, Jacob Willard, was appointed. 
He was succeeded January 1, 1813, by Calvin Wil- 
lard, who seems to have held the position until 
November 7, 1825, when' David Brigham was ap- 
pointed. 

In those early days the post-office was kept in 
private dwellings. In 1827, when Mr. Brigham was 
postmaster, the office was in the "Abram Dole 
house " for a time, and soon afterward was removed 
to a dwelling-house, further down what is now Main 
Street. This house now stands in Wesleyan Place, 
in the rear of the. old Methodist Church, and a trace 
of its former use can now be found in the letter 
drop, in what was once the post-office room. A 
wheel about two feet in diameter, provided with 
alphabetical divisions for holding letters, was all the 
equipment used. 

The next postmaster was Mark Miller, appointed 
by President Jackson, October 9, 1834. He removed 
the office to his book-store and printing-office, oppo- 
site the tavern, which occupied the site of the present 
Fitchburg Hotel. Mr. Miller soon resigned his 
position, and left town. 

January 21, 1835, Nathaniel AVood was appointed, 
and held the position upwards of sixteen years. 
During his service the post-office wa.s twice moved — 
in 1835 to a building nearly opposite the present 
Sentinel office, and about 1846 to Shepley's book- 
store, in the Torrey & Wood block. Call-boxes 
were first used in the early part of Mr. Wood's 
service. 

May 3, 1851, Goldsmith F. Bailey, Mr. Wood's 
law partner, was appointed, and held the position 
two years. He retained the same location as his 
predecessor, and Mr. Shepley was his assistant. 

May 4, 1853, President Pierce appointed John 
Todd postmaster. The office was soon after removed 
to much better quarters in the new town-hall building. 
Mr. Todd's assistant was Charles G. Giles. On ac- 
count of his removal to New York, Mr. Todd resigned, 
and January 21, 1857, Joseph W. Mansur was ap- 
pointed postmaster by President Buchanan. He was 
re-appointed February 21, 1861, but soon after was 
removed by President Lincoln. Mr. Giles remained 
his assistant for a while and was succeeded by Henry 
Allison. 

In 1860 the postmaster's salary was $1727.26 per 
year. 

September 4, 1861, Thornton K. Ware, Esq., was 

appointed by President Lincoln. His assistant was 

John W. Kimball. Mr. Ware was re-appointed, but 

was soon afterward removed by President Johnson, 

19 



who appointed Colonel George E. Goodrich to the 
position October 16, 1866. Colonel Goodrich was re- 
appointed March 3, 1871, and February 24, 1875. His 
assistants were Alfred A. Marshall and Charles E. 
Wallace. 

November 18, 1872, the post-office was removed to 
its present location in John M. Carpenter's building 
at the corner of Main and Church Streets. It was 
formerly the "Trinitarian Church," but was pur- 
chased by Mr. Carpenter in 1871 and entirely re- 
modeled for the use of the post-office. 

February 10, 1879, President Hayes appointed 
General John W. Kimball postmaster and he was re- 
appointed February 7, 1883. He retained Mr. Wal- 
lace as his assistant through his eight years of ser- 
vice. 

In 1882 extensive alterations were made whereby 
much-needed space was added to the post-office 
accommodations. During the repairs the office was 
removed to a store in Spaulding's Block, corner of 
Main and Grove Streets. 

In November, 1884, the free delivery service was 
begun with five carriers. Many of the call boxes, 
which were no longer needed, were removed, thus 
giving more room for the business of the office. 

October 1, 1885, the special letter delivery service 
was begun. 

The present postmaster, Frederick A. Currier, was 
appointed February 22, 1887, after a spirited but 
good-natured contest by four candidates. Mr. Currier 
retained Charles E. Wallace as assistant postmaster 
and nearly all the clerks and letter-carriers. An 
additional carrier was appointed September 1, 1887, 
and two more August 1, 1888, making eight carriers 
employed at the present time. 

There are about fi fty street letter boxes, so distribu ted 
as to accommodate as large a number of people as pos- 
sible. 

The business of the Fitchburg Post-office is shown 
by the following items from the returns of the office 
for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1888, which were 
kindly furnished the writer by Mr. Currier: $24,914.19 
received from sale of stamps, postal cards and stamped 
envelopes; gross receipts from all sources $26,222.5U; 
15,886 money orders and postal notes issued or paid, 
amounting to $102,625.29; 6761 registered letters or 
packages handled; 1,917,045 pieces handled by the 
carriers; 3716 letters advertised; 938 special delivery 
letters delivered, and 716 special delivery stamps sold. 

There is also a post-office in West Fitchburg. John 
F. Shea, the present postmaster, has held the position 
since November, 1885. 

The Fitchbtjkg Board of Trade. — This is the 
older of the two mercantile organizations in the city, 
and was formed in May, 1874. In 1876 the Board of 
Trade moved into its present rooms in the Post-office 
building. 

TheMerchaj^ts' A.ssociATiON. — This is the young- 
er and at this time the more active of our two trade or- 



290 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



ganizations, and its membership includes about every 
uierchunt in town. It was organized March 24, 1886, 
and Daniel Cross, the senior merchant in business 
here, was its tirst president. Regular monthly meet- 
ings are held. John F. Bruce is now its president. 

Telephone Exchange. —The FitchV.urg Exchange 
of the New England Telephone and Telegraph Co. 
has been established nearly ten years. The use of the 
telephone was introduced here by Eliot L. Caldwell, 
who was manager of the Exchange, 1880-82. The 
central office is now at 162 Main Street, and F. E. 
Bowker is manager. This Exchange includes, besides 
Fitchburg, the towns of Leominster, Ashby, Lunen- 
burg and Townsend, and there are some three hun- 
dred subscribers. 

The Fitchburg Mutual Fire Insurance Com- 
pany. — This company was incorporated March 22, 
1847, organized June 29th, and began busines's Sep- 
tember 1st of the same year. Its first president was 
Hon. Nathaniel Wood, who held the position during 
the next twenty-six years, and was also its treasurer 
for twenty-four years. 

For nearly twenty-five years the company's office 
was in the Torrey & Wood block ; but soon after the 
completion of the Fitchburg Savings Bank block, 
the office was removed to the fine suite of rooms at 
present occupied by the company in that building. 
Hon. Amasa Norcross is now president, and Edward 
P. Downe, secretary. 

The Massachusetts Mutual Aid Society. — 
This is strictly a Fitchburg institution, as far as its 
officers and management are concerned, though its 
certificates are now spread over a wide extent. It was 
among the first mutual benefit societies started in this 
State, and was incorporated February 17, 1879; and 
its tirst certificate was issued March 26, 1879. It is a 
purely mutual association. It has an emergency fund 
of over $5,000, over 2,500 outstanding certificates in 
force, representing nearly $5,000,000 of insurance, 
and has paid about $200,000 on account of death 
claims. Its membership has grown steadily, and the 
society has a high standing in insui'ance circles. From 
the first, it has been managed by prominent business 
men in this city. Henry A. Willis, its first president, 
served five years. He was succeeded by Henry F. 
Coggshall, who served three years. Henry A. 
Goodrich succeeded him and still holds the office. 
Festus C. Currier has held the office of secretary 
since the society was incorporated, and his efficient 
work has contributed greatly to its prosperity. 

The United States Masonic Accident Asso- 
ciation. — This association, incorporated September 
1, 1887, insures only Masons between twenty-one and 
sixty years of age. Its membership, at the present 
time, is about five hundred. Hon. Eli Culley is 
president; General John W. Kimball, vice-presi- 
dent; Charles S. Perry, secretary, and Joel G. Tyler, 
treasurer. 

Hall's Commercial Business College. — This 



was recently started in town by Mr. A. O. Hall, who 
secured rooms in Wixon's block for the purpose. The 
present regular college year began September 4, 1888 
with a good attendance. Instruction is given by Mr. 
Hall and competent assistants in book-keeping, 
banking, commercial law, short-hand, type-writing, 
telegraphy, &c., and the college has already made a 
very prosperous start. 

The foregoing comprise the most important financial 
and commercial institutions and organizations at 
present existing in the city, and are all that we 
have space to mention in this chapter. 

We will now briefly take up the business houses in 
the most important lines of trade in Fitchburg. It 
is, of course, not expected that a complete directory 
of all who are engaged in the different branches of 
trade will be given in the succeeding pages, but only 
a brief account of the business houses that have, for 
a considerable length of time, been identified with 
the commercial interests of the town and city. 

Gentlemen's Furnishings.— We will begin with 
this line of trade because one of its representative^, 
Daniel Cross, is, as has been before stated, the senior 
merchant in active business in Fitchburg. Mr. Cross 
was born in Swanzey, N. H., and came to Fitchburg 
in 1833, when about twenty years of age. He estab- 
lished his business as a merchant tailor, in a small 
building where the City Hall now stands. At that 
time the only merchants in business here were Kim- 
ball & Farwell, dry goods and groceries, in the 
lower story of the present Sentinel building; E. F. 
Bunnell, dry goods, on the corner of what are now 
Main and Central Streets; and Silas H. Goodnow, 
who had a jewelry store in the same building with 
Mr. Bunnell. 

In 1834 Mr. Cross removed to rooms over the store 
of Kimball & Farwell, where he remained eight years. 
He then moved into Heywood & Comee's Block, 
across the street, and was in the store now occupied 
by John F. Bruce & Co. until about 1876, when he 
took possession of his present commodious store in 
the Stiles Block. 

Mr. Cross bears his years remarkably well, and is 
still as active as ever. He was the first president of 
the Merchants' Association, and in January, 1888, 
the Association tendered him a complimentary dinner. 

Henry A. Goodrich, senior member of the firm of 
H. A. Goodrich & Co., ranks next in this line. A 
sketch of Mr. Goodrich appears iu another portion of 
this volume. Mr. W. L. Humes is now the junior 
partner. 

Three merchants, now in the same line of business 
in Fitchburg, received their training as salesmen in 
Mr. Goodrich's store, viz.: E. H. Spencer, A. J. 
Litchfield and Elijah Stebbins, Jr. ; and not a few of 
his former salesmen have made names for themselves 
in other cities, notably E. B. Sears, now in the fur 
business on Summer Street, Boston ; Robert Brooks, 
head salesman with Max Stadler & Co., New York ; 



FITCHBUKG. 



291 



and J. R. Wood, now furnishing salesman in 
Chicago, 111. 

The other leading dealers in gentlemen's furnish- 
ings in town, in the order of their establishment, are 
E. H. Spencer, Farnsworth Brothers, Albee & 
Lyons, Edward Connor, Litchfield & Stebbins, U. E. 
Cleveland, the Globe Clothing Store, H. E. Goodere 
and H. F. Leonard. 

DRY-GooDS.-James F. Stiles isnow the senior mer- 
chant in active business in this branch. He was 
born in Cavendish, Vt., and came to Fitchburg in 
March, 1841. After spending three years in the em- 
ploy of Thomas C. Caldwell, the grocer, he went into 
the dry-goods business for himself For the first two 
years he occupied the store in the Torrey & Wood 
block, where R. R. Conn's jewelry-store now is ; he 
then removed a little farther up street, to what is now 
Warren Upton's market, and soon afterward moved 
across the street to the store next to the Sentinel 
buildiug and under the Calvinistic Congregational 
Church. Here he remained ten years, when he re- 
moved to Central block, where he had his store until 
January 1, 1876, when he moved into his present 
well-appointed and commodious store in the Stiles 
block, which he built the year previous. 

Leander Sprague ranks next to Mr. Stiles. For a 
, few years he was in partnership with Mr. Stiles, under 
the firm-name of J. F. Stiles & Co. About 1852 the 
firm of L. Sprague & Co. was formed, consisting of 
Mr. Sprague and Timothy S.Wilson. The firm occupied 
a store in the Heywood & Comee block, and their 
business has been carried on there since. Mr. Wilson 
retired from the firm some years later, and for the last 
twenty years and more the firm has consisted of Mr. 
Sprague and Mr. Francis H. Colburn. In addition 
to dry-goods, this firm has, from the beginning, dealt 
largely in carpets, crockery &c. 

Andrew B. Sherman started in the dry-goods busi- 
ness here in 1855. A sketch of Mr. Sherman is given 
elsewhere, to which the reader is referred. 

The "'L. J. Brown Store," latterly the leading dry- 
goods house in Fitchburg, was established by Luther 
J.Brown. For an account of it under his manage- 
ment the reader is referred to a sketch of Mr. Brown 
in another portion of this volume. 

Since October 1, 1884, it has been managed by 
Frank I. Nichols and William A. Frost, under the 
firm- name of Nichols & Frost. This firm now owns 
the whole establishment, and carries on a very large 
and prosperous business. 

Among the leading dry-goods stores, which have 
been more recently established in town, may be meu- 
tioned those of L. U. Hammond, E. G. Stowe, Girard 
& Irish, E. J. Moore & Co., the Boston Dry-Goods 
Store (E. E. Staples), Chamberlain, Huntress & Co., 
the Northern Supply Company, and J. L. Clark, in 
the city proper, and H. J. Lacey, G. A. Whitney and 
M. A. Shea & Co., in West Fitchburg. 
Groceries. — The oldest store in the city at this 



time is ihat occupying the first story of the Sentinel 
building, and, as far as the writer can learn, it has 
always been occupied as a grocery store. For some 
years previous to 1835, Kimball & Farwell had a 
grocery and dry-goods store there. In April, 1835, 
David F. Mclntire and Thomas C. Caldwell took the 
business, and the latter continued there until October, 
1884, — a half-century, lacking six months. He then 
sold out to Warren S. Harris, and removed to Dor- 
chester, where he still resides, though his familiar 
face is frequently seen in Fitchburg. Mr. Harris 
kept the store until the spring of 1888, when he dis- 
posed of it, W. M. Gray, of Gardner, being the pur- 
chaser. The passer-by now sees on the building a 
brilliant sign, recently put up, bearing this inscrip- 
tion : 

T. C. Caldwell Grocery. 
W. M. Gray, Proprietor. 

Two of the leading grocers in town now, M. N. Ben- 
jamin and E. M. Read, received their business train- 
ing at the hands of Mr. Caldwell. 

The grocery business now conducted by S. D. 
Baldwin, under the Calvinistic Church, has been long 
in existence, having been established, in 1837, by his 
father, Joseph Baldwin, one of the old-time grocers, 
who died a few years ago. 

The store of H. J. Lacey (who deals in groceries as 
well as dry-goods) in West Fitchburg, known as the 
" Old Baldwin Store," has also been long established. 

The oldest established groceryman still in active 
business here is Mr. Henry A. Hatch, who began 
business in 1844, in the old RoUstone block, occupy- 
ing that portion which is now George H. Chap- 
man's shoe-store. In 1870 he built Hatch's block, at 
the corner of Main and Prichard Streets, where his 
business has since been carried on. For some years 
past, Perley Holmes has been in partnership with Mr. 
Hatch, under the firm-name of H. A. Hatch & Co., 
but in the spring of 1888 the partnership was dis- 
solved, though Mr. Holmes still remains in the store. 

There are now thirty-seven grocers in business 
here. Beside those we have mentioned a few may be 
noted as having been established for a goodly number 
of years and having a large family trade, viz.: Josiah 
Spaulding, J. F. Bruce & Co., A. L. Williams, & Co., 
C. R. Conn, J. A. Joslin, G. H. & T. Cutler, W. P. 
Guy, C. A. Cross, (wholesale), Daniel Boyle and T. H. 
W. Rice & Co. 

Meats and Provisions. — There are at the pres- 
ent time thirty meat and provision markets in Fitch- 
burg. William C. Emory is the senior in this line, 
having been in the business here upwards of thirty 
years. Lowe Brothers & Co., however, represent the 
oldest established business. This firm and the branch 
house of Armour & Co. are wholesale dealers. 
Among other jjrovision dealers who have been estab- 
lished in business here for a considerable number of 
years may be mentioned H. W. Emery, G. H. Ran- 



292 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



del, J. F. Jaseph, H. P. Blood, W. W. Lamb and 
Frank A. Wood. 

Hardware. — The hardware firm of Wright, 
Kendall & Co. was formed about 1857, and consisted 
of Isaac C. Wright, L. J. Kendall and J. H. Fair- 
banks. Mr. Wright is still in the same business and 
at the head of the large hardware firm of I. C 
Wright & Co., the other members of the firm being 
M. B. Damon and R. D. Gould. 

George B. Knowlton was for some time in the 
hardware store of Waldo Wallace, but for upwards 
of twenty years has been in business for himself, and 
for some years past has carried on a large hardware 
business in one of the fine stores in tbe Fitchburg 
Savings Bank Block. The other important bouses 
in this line in town are those of A. B. Lawrence & 
Co., and Baker Brothers & Co. 

For some thirty-five years or more, Lyman Patch 
has manufactured tinware and dealt in stoves at bis 
present store in the old Town & Piper Block. 

Tbe foregoing comprise some of the more important 
and most numerously represented commercial inter- 
ests of Fitchburg, and we will close this chapter with 
a mere mention of a few of the longest established 
housesinsomeof the lines of business not yet alluded to. 

E. W. Willis & Co. represent tbe oldest furniture 
house, tbe business having been founded in 1845 by 
Sidney D. Willis. 

Martin Webber has been in this line since 1876, and 
the Fitchburg Furniture Company has had a retail 
store here since 1884. 

J. F. D. Garfield is the senior in tbe coal business, 
having begun it in April, 1864. Two years later tbe 
firm of Garfield & Proctor was formed. Recently the 
Garfield & Proctor Coal Company was incorporated 
and continues to carry on business at the old stand. 
Of tbe other eight coal dealers now in town A. R. 
Ordway and G. E. Waite & Co. have been the longest 
established. 

Of the four confectionery manufacturers Herbert 
N. Rugg is the senior, his business having been estab- 
lished in 1871. 

Among tbe booksellers and stationers Baker Broth- 
ers represent tbe longest established business — that of 
Stephen & Charles Shepley, founded in 1845. J. 
E. Thompson is the leading one among the other 
seven dealers in stationery, etc. 

J. C. Sanborn keeps a well-stocked and attractive 
art store and W. A. Dunn deals largely in pictures 
and picture- frames in addition to stationery. 

Of the twelve druggists in town Colonel H. G. 
Greene and W. A. Macurda have been the longest 
established— both having begun business for them- 
selves in 1868. The " Old City " drug store, of which 
Colonel Greene is proprietor, and the " J. B. Lane '' 
drug store, of which W. D. Curtis is now proprietor, 
are the two oldest in town. H. F. Rockwell, A. H. 
Burgess and H. A. Estabrook may be mentioned as 
having been in this line for some years. 



J. C. Moulton is the oldest established photographer 
in the city, having l)een in business here since 1848. 
Kimball Brothers have been in this line for some 
years, and E. E. Howard has been more recently 
located here. 

Samuel P. Durant takes the lead among the house 
painters, having been in the business some thirty-five 
years. 

R. R. Conn, watch-maker and jeweler, is the oldest 
in his line, having begun business here in 1855. 
James H. Fairbanks, Oran S. Rice and L. N. Wilbur 
have been the longest established of the other seven 
jewelers in town. 

George H. Chapman is the senior in the boot and 
shoe trade in Fitchburg, and Horace Hayward, who 
is in his employ, has probably been connected with 
this line of business longer than any other person in 
town. 

S. G. Frost is the veteran harness-maker and Peter 
B. Howard tbe veteran hair-dresser. 

The following are also seniors in their respective 
lines of business : J. Gushing & Co., flour and grain ; 
S. A. Childs, real estate; Charles Mason, insurance; 
George Reed, marble-work ; F. A. Beckwith, lumber; 
George Robbins, plumbing ; J. E. Grant, mason ; 
Silas Whitney, jobber. 

Doubtless some individuals and firms have been 
omitted in tbe foregoing who deserve mention ; but it 
must be borne in mind that it is impossible, in the space 
allotted to this department, to speak of all. The writer 
has endeavored to use his best judgment in selecting 
and to be impartial, and to give to readers of this work, 
outside of Fitchburg, a fair representation of the com - 
mercial interests of the city. 



CHAPTER XLV. 

FITCHBURG— (Co«//««f(/.) 

HOTELS, PUBLIC BUILDINGS AND BUSINESS BLOCKS. 

There are at present ten hotels in Fitchburg, and 
two of them — the Fitchburg Hotel and American 
House — occupy the sites of early taverns. Over a cen- 
tury ago, Cowdin's tavern stood where the American 
House now is. The Fitchburg Hotel site has not been 
so long occupied for this purpose, but there has been 
a public-house there since early in the present cen- 
tury. 

The American House was built in 1845 by David 
Boutelle and the easterly wing was erected in 1856. 
The property has passed through the bands of several 
individuals since then. Geo. H. Cole & Son conduct 
the business at present. 

The Fitchburg Hotel was built about 1850 by the 
Fitchburg Hotel Company, of which Colonel Ivers 
Phillips was president. Dana L. Fuller now owns the 
hotel property and F. W. .ludkins is tbe proprietor. 



FITCHBURG. 



293 



The location of the present National House is a 
comparatively old tavern site. The base of one of the 
original granite pillars in front bears the date 1831, in 
which year the house was erected. In those days it was 
known as the " upper tavern," while the house where 
the Fitchburg Hotel now is was called the "lower 
tavern." For some years the "upper tavern" had 
the name of Washington Hotel, and Daniel Moulton 
was proprietor. After a time the name was changed 
to Rollstone House, and within a few years another 
change has been made, and it is now the National 
House. P. J. Kehoe is the present proprietor. 

The remaining hotels are of much more recent 
origin and are as follows : Citizens' House, Derby 
House, Driiry House, Emory House, Hotel West- 
moreland, Manchester House and Old Colony House, 

Of most of the public buildings in the city more or 
less mention has already been made in preceding por- 
tions of this sketch. Only a brief summary of them 
will therefore be given in this chapter. 

The finest and in every sense the most valuable 
public edifice in the city is the Wallace Library and 
Art Building, Hon. Rodney Wallace's gift to Fitch- 
burg. It has been fully described in the section on 
" Libraries." It is located on Main Street nearly 
opposite Monument Park — one of the best situations 
in town — and is easily accessible to citizens in all 
parts of the city. 

Plainly visible from the front windows of the 
library is the County Court House, a granite building 
of noble proportions standing in the rear of Monu- 
ment Park. It was built in 1871 at a cost of about 
one hundred and twenty-five thousand dollars. 

In the vicinity of these two fine buildings is the 
post-ofiice, on Main Street, a neat brick edifice. The 
post-office and a small news-room occupy the lower 
floor, and in the upper portion of the building are 
the rooms of the Board of Trade and the Park Club, 
and also several offices. 

A little farther up Main Street is the City Hall 
building, standing on the south side of the street. It 
is a large brick structure erected in 1852, the entire 
upper story of which is devoted to a hall — the largest 
in the city — while on the first floor are the various 
city offices. A police station occupies part of the 
basement. 

On the north side of Main Street, near Prichard 
Street, is Whitney's Opera House building, which con- 
tains the only theatre in town. Andrew Whitney 
built and owns this block. The lower story is devoted 
to stores and the theatre occupies the upper portion. 
The auditorium has a seating capacity of about one 
thousand. This theatre was first opened to the public 
October 20, 1881, and has enjoyed a good patronage 
since. 

Among other public buildings mention may be 
made of the fine Union Passenger Station, the High 
School building, on High Street, the County Jail, a 
handsome and substantial brick structure, in South 



Fitchburg, and the Almshouse, also in South Fitch- 
burg, a pleasantly located and well-conducted public 
charitable institution maintained there since 1828. 

Most of the business blocks have been spoken of in 
the early part of this sketch. By far the handsomest 
and most costly building in town is the Fitchburg 
Savings Bank block, which was built in 1870-71 by 
the Fitchburg Savings Bank. It is situated on Main 
Street, nearly opposite the City Hall building, and 
has a frontage on the street of one hundred and eight 
feet. The front is built of Fitzwilliam granite and is 
four stories high. The ground floor is divided into 
four stores, as commodious and well-appointed as any 
in Worcester County. On the second floor, which is 
reached by a wide entrance and stairway in the centre 
of the block, are the banking rooms of the Fitchburg 
National and Fitchburg Savings Banks, the office of 
the Fitchburg Mutual Fire Insurance Company, and 
several law-offices. The two upper stories are occu- 
pied by the Masonic organizations in town. Their 
lodge-room and apartments are among the finest in 
the State. 

The cost of this magnificent block was nearly two 
hundred thousand dollars. 

The Rollstone National Bank building is a fine 
brick and freestone structure, four stories high, on 
Main Street, near the railroad station. On the ground 
floor are the banking-rooms of the Rollstone National 
Bank, and the Worcester North Savings Institution, 
and the large dry-goods store of A. B. Sherman. In 
the upper portion, the Odd Fellows and Grand Army 
Post have commodious lodge-rooms and apartments. 

This block was built in 1869 at a cost of sixty thou- 
sand dollars. 

There are many other business blocks in town, 
among which may be mentioned Central, Goodrich, 
L. J. Brown, Belding's, Crocker, Hatch's, Wachusett 
Bank, Opera House, Stiles', Torrey & Wood, Wixon's, 
Union, Cushing's, Coggshall & Carpenter's and Dick- 
inson's blocks. 

The ground floor of the Fitchburg Hotel and of the 
American House wing is in each case used for mer- 
cantile purposes. 



CHAPTER XLVI. 

VrrCKBVRG—iCouiiiiued. ) 

CITY DEPARTMENTS. 

In this chapter will be given a short account of 
the various departments maintained by the city for 
the benefit and protection of the citizens. 

Fitchburg Water- Works. — The Water Depart- 
ment dates back to the year 1870, when the first 
Board of Water Commissioners was appointed. 
Previous to this time the people had obtained water 
from wells or springs, and the only public action of 



294 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



the town had been to establish the town pump, 
sundry reservoirs for use at fires and to authorize the 
establishment of two public watering troughs, which, 
however, were not erected for some years. 

During the six years preceding 1870, the subject 
of furnishing the town with an abundant supply of 
pure water was pretty thoroughly discussed. April 
11, 1864, the town appointed Alvah Crocker, Lucius 
Aldrich, Alpheus P. Kimball, Charles Burleigh and 
James B. Lane a committee to ascertain " the best 
method of furnishing its more elevated streets with a 
proper supply ot water in case of fires, and hydrants 
to conduct and distribute the same." 

Nothing was heard from this committee until the 
annual town-meeting, April 9, 1866, when a report 
was made to the effect that they had secured an act 
of incorporation, and purchased land covering the 
necessary sites for dams, etc. This land comprised 
about one hundred and seventy-five acres in the 
vicinity of Scott, Shattuck and Falulah Brooks, and 
the price paid for it by the committee was $6612.70. 
The report also presented a plan providing for two 
reservoir-", having a storage capacity of about three 
hundred million gallons and estimates in regard 
to the cost of laying the necessary mains. 

This report was accepted and ordered to be printed 
together with the act of incorporation. By this act 
the five members of the committee were made a 
corporation under the name of the Pearl Hill Water 
Company, to furnish the inhabitants of Fitchburg 
with pure water. No further action was taken by 
the town in regard to the report or the act of incor- 
poration. 

At this same meeting, April 9, 1866, a committee 
of twenty-five was raised to take the whole matter 
into consideration and report at an adjourned meet- 
ing. May 7, 1866, this committee reported, recom- 
mending that a committee of five be appointed, and 
authorized to employ an engineer to make a survey, 
and present to the town plans and estimates. The 
report was accepted, and Eugene T. Miles, Dr. 
Alfred Hitchcock, Louis D. Bartlett, Abel F. Adams 
and Eodney Wallace were appointed as the com- 
mittee. 

August 25, 1 866, this committee made an elaborate 
report, in which provision was made for two reser- 
voirs on Falulah Brook, and estimates of the cost of 
the necessary mains and two reservoirs were given, 
varying from .$116,000 to $153,000, according to the 
height of the dams. This report was accepted, and 
the subject indefinitely postponed. 

April 8, 1867, it was voted to print this report, at 
an expense not exceeding $100, and circulate it 
among the citizens. 

May 6, 1867, the selectmen and fire engineers were 
authorized to purchase Durant Pond for fire purposes, 
but no action was ever taken in regard to it. 

The selectmen in 1868 tried in vain to secure water 
supply for public watering troughs; but in 1869 the 



town purchased wafer rights of Daniel Messinger, 
and voted, August 30th, that the selectmen be au- 
thorized to purchase land for storage purposes. The 
land was bought and pipe provided, but not until it 
was too late in the season to begin work, and nothing 
further appears to have been done about it. 

November 2, 1869, the subject of a general water 
supply was again brought before the town, and a 
committee, consisting of Hon. Alvah Crocker, Hon. 
Ebenezer Torrey and Moses G. Lyon, Esq., was ap- 
pointed to obtain from the Legislature a charter for 
supplying the town with pure water. 

March 19, 1870, an act was approved, by virtue of 
which the three above-named gentlemen were made 
a corporation, under the name of the Fitchburg 
Water Company, to provide the town with a water 
supply, and specifying that the town might at any 
time, within one year from the passage of the act, 
a.ssume all the rights and privileges of the corpora- 
tors, by a majority vote in town-meeting. 

April 25, 1870, the town refused to accept this 
charter by a vote of 236 to 226. A week later a 
motion to reconsider this vote was lost, 334 to 309. 
The vote was very close, which encouraged the 
friends of the measure and forced its opponents to 
take active means to defeat it. 

June 18, 1870, Messrs. Salmon W. Putnam, Walter 
Heywood, Joseph Cushing, Lyman Patch and 
Dr. Thomas Palmer were appointed a committee to ex- 
amine " Meeting-House Pond," in Westminster, and 
authorized to make a survey if it seemed to 
them feasible to secure water rights there. On the 
16th of the following July this committee reported 
that water rights could not be obtained there upon 
any terms that would justify making a survey. 

August 6, 1870, the question again came before the 
town. A preliminary resolution " that this Town is 
in favor of the introduction of water from some source," 
was introduced and carried by a vote of one hundred 
and ninety-six to six. A ballot was then taken on the 
question whether the town would assume the provisions 
of the charter, which was carried in the affirmative by 
a vote of four hundred and nineteen to one hundred 
and twenty-six. ' 

In accordance with the provisions of the act, the 
selectmen appointed the first Board of Water Commis- 
sions, consisting of Jabez Fisher, Joseph Cushing, 
Alpheus P. Kimball, Thomas Palmer and Lucius Aid- 
rich, and this board was duly organized August 17, 
1870. 

April 5, 1871, a contract was signed with George H. 
Norman, of Newport, R. I., for the construction of the 
water-works. As soon thereafter as the weather would 
permit work was begun, and at the end of the season 
Overlook and Marshall reservoirs were completed, 
about nine and a half miles of cement-lined water- 
mains laid, and seventy-one gates and ninety-four hy- 
drants set. Hydrant water was first used at a fire on 
Summer Street, January 5, 1872. 



FITCHBUKG. 



295 



In the early part of 1872 a second contract was made 
with Mr. Norman for water-main extension. This 
contract was completed before winter, and on Decem- 
ber 1, 1872, there were a little over fourteen miles of 
water-mains laid, and one hundred and thirty hydrants 

Sv,t. 

Mr. Norman's work was well done, and the Water 
Commissioners were entirely satisfied with the manner 
in which both his contracts had been carried out. 

The total cost of the Water- Works up to the time 
when Fitchburg assumed the city form of government 
is shown by the following summary : 

Amount of George H. Norman's contract, 1871 8180,608 76 

Amount of George H. Norman's contract, 1872 3,% 741 68 

Discount on bonds 9,605 82 

Maintenance, land, service-pipe, etc 61,566 12 

Total cost to January 6, 1873 8287,422 38 

A sufficient account has already been given, in the 
section on the history of the city, of the extension of 
the water supply during the p;ist fifteen years. Statis- 
tics of this department, November 30, 1887, show the 
following: Fourteen miles of cement mains, twenty- 
one miles of iron-mains, twenty-seven miles of service- 
pipe, two hundred and fifty-six hydrants, five hundred 
and forty-five meters, two thousand nine hundred and 
seventy-eight families, stores, manufactories, etc., sup- 
plied with water, and a total cost of the works to date 
of $621,701.32. 

Two more reservoirs have been constructed since 
1873 — Scott and Falulah — making four in all, with a 
total capacity of over 300,000,000 gallons. The height 
of these several reservoirs above the tracks of the 
Fitchburg Railroad at Water Street is : Scott, 450 
feet; Overlook, 405 feet; Falulah, 236 feet; and 
Marshall, 216 feet. 

The Board of Water Commissioners, as at present 
constituted, consists of three members. The term of 
service is three years, and one member is elected in 
January of each year by the City Council in joint 
convention. The members of the board for 1888 are 
Charles H. Brown, Thomas C. Lovell and Samuel D. 
Sheldon. 

Thomas C. Lovell, the present superintendent of 
the water-works, has held the position since 1875, and 
has also been city engineer since 1880. Arthur W. 
F. Brown has held the position of water registrar 
since January, 1885. Both these officers are elected by 
the Board of Water Commissioners. 

Fitchburg Fire Department. — Most of the 
facts in the following account of the Fire Department 
are taken from a very instructive pamphlet entitled, 
" The Fire Service of Fitchburg,'' which was pub- 
lished early in 1888 by the Fitchburg Firemen's Fund 
Association. 

The first fire-engine, as was stated in a previous 
chapter on the early history of the town, was pur- 
chased by vote of the town In 1823, and was located 
on what is now Day Street. A few years later a 



second engine was purphased — probably the old 
" Fitchburg " — and was located in a house on what is 
now Academy Street. These two " tubs " appear to 
have answered the purpose of the town for several 
years. 

About 1835 a new engine was purchased, and the 
" Fitchburg" given to the youth of the town, who 
formed a company and, by the aid of subscriptions 
from the citizens, ran it for some years. This was in 
the boyhood days of some of our present citizein who 
belonged to this company, and can relate pleasing 
reminiscences of the by-gone days when they attended 
" firemen's musters," or carried the " whiskey-pan," 
which was as much an essential to the proper working 
of the " Department '' as were the buckets with which 
the old hand-machine was fed with water. 

About 1845 two more engines were bought, which 
were built exactly alike and were the pride of their 
respective companies. One of them was called " Con- 
queror, No. 1,'' and was located on West Street, and 
the other, " Washingtonian, No. 2," replaced the old 
machine on Day Street. 

In the spring of 1851 what was then considered a 
very extravagant purchase was made. A new and 
large engine was bought, costing $1500, of which 
amount the town paid $1000, and $500 was subscribed 
by the citizens. This was named " Mazeppa, No. 3," 
and a new engine-house was built for its accommoda- 
tion in Factory Square. One of the old machines had 
been placed in West Fitchburg and another in 
Crockerville, so that at the time the act establishing 
a Fire Department in the town of Fitchburg was ap- 
proved, in April, 1851, the fire apparatus of the town 
consisted of five hand-engines, named as follows: 
Conqueror, No. 1 ; Washingtonian, No. 2 ; Mazeppa, 
No. 3 ; Alert, No. 4, West Fitchburg ; Veteran, No. 
5, Crockerville. 

In accordance with the provisions of the Act re- 
lating to Fire Departments, the selectmen of Fitch- 
burg, on April 12, 1851, appointed the first Board of 
Engineers of the Fitchburg Fire Department. It 
consisted of twelve members, as follows : Kilburn 
Harwood, Ebenezer Torrey, Jonas A. Marshall, John 
H. Wheeler, Chedorlaomer Marshall, John Caldwell, 
.John Clark, Alpheus Kimball, Ivers Phillips, Levi 
Sherwin, Salmon W. Wilder and Alvah Crocker. One 
week later this board was duly organized by the choice 
of the following officers : Kilburn Harwood, chief en- 
gineer; Ivers Phillips, first assistant engineer; Jonas 
A. Marshall, second assistant engineer ; John Cald- 
well, third assistant engineer; Ebenezer Torrey, clerk 
of the board. 

No special changes occurred in the apparatus for 
some years, except that the name of engine No. 2 was 
changed from Washingtonian to Fire King. In 1868 
Alert, No. 4, was put out of service and a new engine, 
Undine, No. 4, was purchased at a cost of ten hun- 
dred and twelve dollars. In the same year a small 
hose-carriage, made by Charles Fessenden, was pur- 



296 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



chased at a cost of two hundred and forty-three dol- 
lars. About this time also the first hook-and-ladder 
truck was bought. 

lu 1859 the first horses were bought for the use of 
the department. 

In 1865 the first steam fire-engine, Wachusett, No. 
1, was purchased at a cost of about four thousand 
dollars, and a year or two later a second steamer, 
Eollstone, No. 2, costing nearly five thousand dollars, 
was bought; and in 1809 steamer Wanoosnac, No. 3, 
costing four thousand dollars, was bought and placed 
in its new brick house in West Fitchburg. The hand- 
engines were gradually replaced by hose-carriages 
built by the Union Machine Company of this city. 

In 1870 the Gamewell fire-alarm was introduced at 
an expense of eight thousand dollars. It was a two- 
circuit repeater, and strikers were placed on three 
bells in town, — the Unitarian, Baptist and Rollstone 
Church bells. In 1888 a new system was ordered, 
which was put up during the summer of 1888. It is 
a six-circuit repeater of the Gamewell pattern. 

Firemen's musters have frequently been held in 
Fitchburg, and on October 10 and 11, 1871, one of 
the largest musters ever held in New England oc- 
curred here. 

The apparatus in service at the present time consists 
of two steam fire-engines, one two-horse hose-reel, one 
two-horse hose-wagon, two one-horse hose-reels, two 
two-wheeled hose-tenders, two two-horse hook-and- 
ladder trucks, one exercise sleigh, and one large sled 
for Hook-and-Ladder No. 1, in active service ; and one 
second-class steamer, one two-horse hose-reel and 
two two-wheeled hose-tenders in reserve. 

The department has in service 7,960 feet of rubber- 
lined cotton hose, 1,550 feet of linen hose, and 150 
feet of old leather hose. 

The value of this department is, and has been, fully 
appreciated by our citizens, and ample provision is 
willingly made for all its needs. At the present time, 
the numerous hydrants in all parts of the city, the 
forty fire-alarm boxes, and the promptness and 
efficiency of the engineers and firemen, render it 
difficult for afire to get much headway in Fitchburg. 
In the following table are given statistics in regard 
to the fires with which the department has had to 
contend during the last quarter century where the 
damage was $10,000 or over : 

Date. Property. Lobb. 

Jan. 2, 1805 Paper-mill of Crocker, BurbaDk & Co 820,000 

Oct. 8, 18C5 Vt. & Mass. K. R. repair-shop 13,000 

Juue 23, 18G9 Lorenzo barker's lumber-yard 13,000 

f llcywood Chair Co.'b chair-shop 90,000 

July 21, 1870, J Alvah Crocker's buildings 19,000 

[ Smith, Pago & Co., iron-foundry 12.000 

March 7, 1871 Paper-mill of Crocker, Burbank & Co 18,000 

March 6, 1872 American Rattan Co-'s stock house 14.000 

Feb. 3, 1873 L. B. Farnsworth's clothing store 16,000 

Sept. 15, 1873 Buckeye Mowing-Machine Co.'sshop 15,000 

July 9, 1870 County Jail at South Fitchburg 40,000 

Oct. 15,1884 Crocker, Burbank & Co.'s "Snow Mill," 35,000 

Oct. 17, 1886 L. H. Gooduow ^Rollstone Iron Foundry) 15,560 



Oct. 20, 1885 1. A. Lowe & Co.'s pork-packing establ'nit... 24,657 

Jan. 29, 1886 " Buckeye Shops " 11,700 

April 6, 1888 Walter Heywood Chair Mfg. Co. (1 blJg.)... 26,000 

The Board of Engineers consists, at the present 
time, of a chief, four assistants and the superintendent 
of the fire alarm, who are chosen annually by the City 
Council in convention in November. The members of 
the Board for 1888 are, David W. Tinsley, chief; Geo. 
H. Kendall, first assistant; Boardman Parkhurst, sec- 
ond assistant ; James N. Whiting, third assistant ; Geo. 
E. Wellington, fourth assistant; and John W. Rand, 
superintendent of the fire-alarm telegraph. There are 
upwards of sixty firemen attached to the several com- 
panies. 

December 12, 1879, the Fitchburg Firemen's Fund 
Association was incorporated for the purpose of mutual 
aid and relief in cases of accident or injuries received 
by its members while discharging their duties as fire- 
men. Every member of the department belongs to it, 
and the funds in the treasury now amount to about 
$1500. Frank C. Foster, foreman of Hose 1, is now 
its president. 

The following is a list of those who have served as 
chief engineers since the department was organized : 
Kilburn Harwood, 1851; John H. Wheeler, 1852-54; 
James B. Lane, 1855; Alpheus P. Kimball, 1856-59; 
Lucius Aldrich, 1860-64; Francis Sheldon, 1865-66; 
Eugene T. Miles, 1867 ; Lucius Aldrich, 1868-73; Geo. 
H. Manchester, 1874-76; A. J. Green, 1876-77; Geo. 
Reed, 1877-84 ; David W. Tinsley, 1884 to the present 
time. 

Police Department. — About 1839 there was or- 
ganized in Fitchburg a "Society for the Detection of 
Thieves." Ebenezer Torrey was then president, Sam- 
uel Willis, treasurer, and Asa Partridge, secretary, of 
this society. There was a standing committee of twelve 
members and a " pursuing committee," also number- 
ing, twelve. This society lasted some time, and did 
good work in breaking up several bands of thieves. 

Up to the year 1869 all police work in Fitchburg 
was done by a few constables and private enterprise ; 
but on September 23, 1869, a Police Department was 
regularly organized, consisting of a chief and five po- 
lice officers. Charles E. F. Hayward was the first 
chief of police. 

During the first six months of the existence of this 
department one hundred and thirty-one arrests were 
made, and during the next year (ending March 31, 
1871) three hundred and ninety -one arrests were made, 
showing conclusively the need of a police force. 

Under the city form of government the chief of 
police and members of the department are appointed 
annually in January by the mayor and aldermen. 
For 1888 the 2)olice force consists of Sumner P. Law- 
rence, chief; Asahel Wheeler, captain ; and fourteen 
patrolmen. This is by no means a large force con- 
sidering the population of the city ; but it is in an 
excellent state of discipline and has always proved 
amply sufficient to maintain public order. 



FITCHBURG. 



297 



Fitchburg has always been singularly free from 
crimes of a serious nature, and the number of arrests 
made annually is not much larger now than it was 
fifteen years ago, though, in the meantime, the city 
has nearly doubled in population. 

During the past few years the temperance senti- 
ment has predominated among our citizens, and the 
police officers have done good work in suppressing the 
sale of intoxicating liquor. 

The following is a list of those who have served in 
the office of chief of police since the organization of 
the department: Charles E. F. Hayward, 18G9-71 ; 
M. Edwin Day, 1872; Russell O. Houghton, 1873-74; 
Alpheus P. Kimball, 1875; Aaron F. Whitney, 1876- 
81 and 1883-85; William Gilchrist, 1882; Charles H. 
D. Stockbridge, 1886-87; Sumner P. Lawrence, from 
January, 1888, to the present time. 

Highway Department. — Enough has been said 
in the chapters on the history of the town to show- 
that from the very first the people of Fitchburg have 
had more than ordinary difficulties to contend with in 
keeping their streets, bridges, etc., in a tolerable state 
of repair. The selectmen had charge of all these 
' aflairs up to January, 1873 ; and since then five sub- 
committees, appointed annually from among the 
members of the Board of Aldermen and Common 
Council, have had the general charge of the various 
portions of the work of the Highway Department. 
A superintendent of streets is elected annually by the 
City Council, who has the immediate control and 
direction of all thje work done in the Highway Depart- 
ment. 

The following is a list of those who have held the 
position of superintendent of streets since Fitchburg 
became a city: George W. Holman, 1873-74; Joel 
Davis, 1875-77; F. W. Aldrich, 1878-82; Abram G. 
Lawrence, 1883-86 ; Thomas Larkin, Jr., from Janu- 
ary, 1887, to the present time. 

Poor Department. — The selectmen acted as 
overseers of the poor up to within a few years of 
our incorporation as a city. During the last few 
years of town government a Board of Overseers, con- 
sisting of three members, was chosen at the annual 
town-meeting. Under the city form of government, 
the Board consists of the mayor and j'resident of 
Common Council, ex officio, and three members 
chosen in January by the City Council, in the same 
way as the water commissioners are chosen. 

The Board for 1888 is as follows: Hon. Eli Culley, 
mayor ; Henry F. Rockwell, president of the Com- 
mon Council ; Samuel S. Holton, Isaac C. Wright 
and Aaron F. Whitney. 

The city farm is very pleasantly located in South 
Fitchburg, and has, for several years, been under the 
efficient supervision of Mr. Norman B. Stone, super- 
intendent, and Mrs. E. T. Stone, matron. The value 
of the city farm and personal property thereat is 
now over thirty-three thousand dollars, and there are 
between fifty and sixty inmates. 



CHAPTER XLVII. 

FITCHBURG— (Co«//;/«crf.) 

ORGANIZATIONS AND SOCIETIES. 

In this section will be given short accounts of the 
most important of the many organizations and socie- 
ties of various kinds at present existing in the city. 

The organization in which the people of Fitchburg 
take the most pride is 

The Fitchburg Military Band. — The origin of 
this band dates back to January 4, 1868, when eight 
gentlemen met in an unfinished room in the then 
new Belding & Dickinson's block, and organized 
"The Musical Club." Through the eftbrts of these 
gentleman was organized, on March 26, 1868, the 
Fitchburg Cornet Band, with thirty-three members, 
and Mr. George Rich, leader and director. 

The first public appearance of this band was on 
May 27, 1868, with the Fitchburg Fusiliers. During 
the balance of that year thirty-one engagements 
were filled. The band prospered and improved until 
Mr. Rich left his position, January 16, 1871. 

March 11, 1871, Ira W. Wales, of Abington, was 
elected leader of the band, but held the position only 
about a month, and on April 19th, owing to some 
trouble or other, it was voted to discharge the leader 
and disband the organization ; but on the 3d of the 
following May nine of the members met and re- 
organized the band, and chose Mr. Rich leader. For 
some reason matters did not go on satisfactorily, and 
in the latter part of 1871 the band went to pieces 
and came near utter extinction. Five plucky mem- 
bers were resolved to have a band in Fitchburg if it 
were a possibility, and through their efforts Mr. 
Warren S. Russell, a gentleman of well-kuown musi- 
cal ability, was secured as leader. The band was 
again re-organized January 11, 1872, and under the 
faithful and skilful management of Mr. Russell, at- 
tained almost the highest rank among the musical 
organizations in New England. In the course of a 
few years the name of the band was changed to the 
" Fitchburg Military Band." 

For thirteen years this band filled engagements for 
the summer at Lake Pleasant, near Greenfield, Mass., 
and was one of the chief attractions of the place. 
During the two past seasons it has been engaged to 
furnish music for the Carnival Club at Cottage City, 
Martha's Vineyard, for the entire summer, and has 
won the highest praise of the many musical critics 
there assembled. 

In March, 1884, the city, and especially the Fitch- 
burg Military Band, suffered a very great loss in the 
death of Mr. Russell, who was then in the prime of 
life. His funeral occurred March 18, 1884, and was 
very largely attended. Business was generally sus- 
pended in town during the afternoon of that day, and 



298 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTr, MASSACHUSETTS. 



all united to pay honor to the dead musician. Mr. D. 
W. Reeves, always a warm friend of Mr. Russell, was 
present at the funeral, with his well-kuown American 
Band of Providence, R. I., whose members volunta- 
rily tendered their services for the sad occasion gratu- 
itously, and there were many beautiful floral tributes 
from musical organizations throughout New England. 

After Mr. Russell's death the business management 
of the band was put into the hands of a committee of 
five, chosen annually by the active members, from 
both active and honorary members. In June, 1884, 
this committee, very fortunately, secured as leader 
and director Mr. G. A. Patz, formerly leader of the 
celebrated Gilmore's Band, of Boston, and under his 
leadership our band has maintained its former high 
standing, and become widely known and appreciated- 
The band has a very large and complete library, con- 
taining the works of all the noted composers. 

In the spring of 1888 some changes were made in 
the band, and at the present time all the active mem- 
bers of the organization are residents of Fitchburg. 
Mr. J. L. Miller was chosen agent and treasurer, and 
the general management of the business of the band 
was placed in the hands of a committee of three. At 
the present time the band consists of G. A. Patz, 
leader, and twenty-three active members, each one of 
whom is a musician skilled in the use of his own 
special instrument. Connected with the band is an 
orchestra of high standing, and named, out of respect 
to the former director, the Russell Orchestra. 

December 27, 1887, the band suffered a serious loss 
in the death of Charles A. Dadniun, who played the 
tuba and was the efficient agent and treasurer of the 
organization. 

The Fitchburg Military Band is now one of the 
permanent institutions of the city, and is held in the 
highest esteem by our citizens, who, by their gener- 
osity, have enabled the organization to maintain its 
high reputation; and the fine open-air concerts wliich 
the band gives from the band-stands on tlie Upper and 
Lower Commons during the early summer and autumn 
evenings, as often as engagements permit, amply re- 
pay the citizens for all they have done to assist the band. 

Edwin V. Sumner Post 19, Geand Army of 
THE Republic. — This was organized as an encamp- 
ment August 16, 1807. It was later called a post, and 
the name Edwin V. Sumner was adopted September 
8, 1868. 

Charles H. Foss was elected the first commander ; 
since then thirteen members have held the position, 
the present commander being Charles H. Glazier. 

The post has been active in all good works, and by 
means of the fund that has accumulated during the 
last twenty years has accomplished much for the re- 
lief and benefit of its members, the amount expended 
for relief and sick benefits, from its organization to 
the present time, being about ten thousand dollars. 
In order to maintain and increase its fund for this 
charitable work the post has held fairs, had lecture 



courses, etc., which have always been well patronized 
l)y our citizens. 

At the time of the establishment of the Soldiers' 
Home in Chelsea, a few years ago, it gave more than 
any other post, in proportion to its numbers and 
means,— $1,083.18. 

In 1883 the post moved into its present elegant and 
commodious rooms in the Rollstone National Bank 
building. At some future time the members hope to 
have a building of their own ; and witli this idea in 
view, the Edwin V. Sumner Building Association was 
incorporated a few years since for the purpose of 
holding real estate, and now owns a " cottage" in the 
city. 

Upon the roster of Post 19 are about five hundred 
and thirty names, and the present membership is 
about two hundred and fifty. 

This post has always been rated high at department 
headquarters, and has had its share of State and 
National honors. Two department commanders of 
Massachusetts have been taken from its ranks, — John 
W. Kimball and Charles D. Nash — and a commander 
of the Department of Ohio, Daniel C. Putnam, a 
native of Fitchburg. 

In the latter part of 1877 the post appointed a com- 
mittee to consider the matter of inviting the ladies to 
form a Relief Corps, and as a result the Edwin V. 
Sumner Relief Corps, No. 1, was organized in January, 
1878, and has since then effectually aided the post on 
many occasions. 

In July, 1883, Clark S. Simonds Camp, No. 28, Sons 
of Veterans, was organized, and one of its past cap- 
tains, Colonel Nathan C. Upham, of this city, has 
already attained prominence in the State and National 
organizations. 

There was, for a short time, in Fitchburg an organi- 
zation which may fairly be regarded as the origin of 
the present widespread and powerful Grand Army of 
the Republic. Its name was 

Taylor Union, No. 1, Army and Navy Veter- 
ans. — One evening in the latter part of May. 1865, five 
army veterans — Richard Tucker, Robert Elliott, W. A. 
Hardy, S. W. Harris and W. S. Hersey — met casually 
on Main Street, and in the course of conversation the 
subject of forming an association for taking care of 
sick or disabled comrades was broached. The result 
was that a few nights later a meeting was held in 
Washington Hall, and the " Army and Navy Veterans' 
Union '' was organized. At a subsequent meeting it 
was voted to change the name to "Taylor Union, No. 
1, Army and Navy Veterans," in remembrance of 
George C. Taylor, Company B, Fifteenth Regiment, 
who fell at Ball's Blulf, and was the first Fitchburg 
volunteer killed in battle. 

This organization was chartered January 2, 1866, 
with twenty-one charter members. 

During 1865-66 some eighteen unions were organized 
in towns in this vicinity — Leominster, Gardner, Tem- 
pleton, etc. 



FITCHBUKG. 



299 



A purchasing agent from Illinois was in Fitchburg 
during the latter part of 1865, and became much inter- 
ested in Taylor Union. He carried a copy of its by- 
laws home with him, and soon after sent for five more 
copies ; and in February, 186(3, Dr. Stephenson, of 
Illinois, suggested the formation of the Grand Army 
of the Republic. Whether or not the idea was ob- 
tained from the copies of the by-laws sent there is not 
known, but it is, to say the least, a remarkable coinci- 
dence. 

Taylor Union naturally gave way to this new and 
stronger association and became merged in the pres- 
ent Edwin V. Summer Post 19. 

A "Dorcas Union" was also instituted in 1866, 
and was probably the origin of the present Relief 
Corps. - 

The Worcester North Agricultural Society 
was organized in 1852 and includes the city of Fitch- 
burg and the towns of Leominster, Sterling, West 
Boylston, Princeton, Lunenburg, Ashburnham, West- 
minster, Gardner, Templeton and Royalstou, in Wor- 
cester County, and the town of Ashby, in Middlesex 
County, though persons in any part of the State may 
become members. 

This society formerly owned fair grounds on Sum- 
mer Street comprising some ihirty acres of land, and 
provided with a half-mile track, suitable exhibition 
buildings, sheds, etc. The annual fair is still held on 
these grounds the last Tuesday and Wednesday in 
September, though for the past year or tsvo the prop- 
erty has been owned by 

The Fitchburg Park Company, which was organ- 
ized May 18, 1887, with a capital of eleven thousand 
dollars, for the purpose of purchasing these grounds 
and improving them for use as a park. 

The Fitchburg Agassiz Association. — This is 
Chapter 48 of the National Association, and was 
formed in January, 1886, by the union of four chap- 
ters of the Agassiz Association and the Young Ameri- 
can Industrial Society. It is doing a good work 
among the young people in the city, by training them 
to become careful observers of natural phenomena^ 
Many valuable papers, on various scientific subjects, 
have been prepared by the members, and some have 
been published. In April, 1888, this Association be- 
gan the publication of a monthly journal, Tlie Scien- 
tist. 

The Young Men's Christian Association was 
organized in October, 1886, and, December 27, 1886, 
took possession of their present convenient and pleas, 
ant rooms in Twitchell's block. The membership is 
upwards of three hundred, and the association is do- 
ing much good among the young men of the city. A 
monthly organ is published, The Beacon Light. Some 
twenty years ago there was a Young Men's Christian 
Association, which flourished for a time, but disband- 
ed after a few years' existence. 

The Fitchburg Benevolent Union was organ- 
ized March 6, 1876, and incorporated February 10, 



1886, and includes in its membership many of the 
benevolent and philanthropic citizens of Fitchburg. 
It is entirely unsectarian, and its object is to distrib- 
ute charity wisely and to help the poor to help them- 
selves. 

The Fitchburg Home for Old Ladies sprang 
from the " Ladies' Union Aid Society," and was 
made a corporation in 1883. A house on the corner 
of Summer and Beacon Streets was purchased and 
furnished for a home and was opened for use in June, 
1886. The bequest of Mrs. Elizabeth Boutelle Rob- 
inson, a life-member of the corporation, who died in 
August, 1885, rendered it possible to purchase this 
house. The president of the corporation, Dr. A. W. 
Sidney, has also done much to establish the home. 

The Union Aid Hospital of Fitchburg was 
incorporated March 26, 1885. The need of a hospital 
in this city has been evident for some years, and the 
object of this corporation was to arouse public senti- 
ment and accumulate enough money to start a hospi- 
tal on a small scale. The late Gardner S. Burbank 
appreciated this need and left an ample sum, which, 
at some future time, will establish here a large hospi- 
tal. 

The Firemen's Relief Association has been 
spoken of in the chapter on city departments. 

Of the many other organizations existing in Fitch- 
burg for the public good or social intercourse we 
have space merely to mention the names of a few. 

The Park Club and Windsor Club are both social 
organizations; the Chapin Club, a social and literary 
society connected with the First Universalist Church ; 
the Arlington Club, social and beneficial ; Fitchburg 
Congregational Club ; French Literary Club ; Fitch- 
burg Harvard Club, composed of graduates of Har- 
vard College residing in the city; Railroad Men's 
Relief Association ; Railroad Men's Christian Asso- 
ciation ; Fitchburg Teachers' Association and the 
Fitchburg Woman's Suff'rage League. 

Temperance Organizations. — The Fitchburg 
WomanH Christian Temperance Union began its exist- 
ence in January, 1875, and has ever since kept up its 
practical temperance work, which, though quietly 
done, has proved very efiective. Among the most 
important results achieved by the Union was the 
formation, in January, 1876, of 

The Fitchburg Reform Club. — By invitation of the 
Union, Dr. Henry A. Reynolds visited Fitchburg and 
organized this club, its object being to reclaim men 
who were addicted to the use of liquor and make 
them respectable citizens. This work the club has 
faithfully performed during all the years of its exist- 
ence, and with a fair degree of success. 

The Fitchburg Young Woman's Christian Temperance 
Union was organized in November, 1885. It is com- 
posed of young ladies belonging to the various re- 
ligious societies in the town and accomplishes much 
in aid of the temperance cause. 

The other temperance societies and orders in Fitch- 



300 



HISTORY OP WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



burg are the Unity Temperance Society, connected 
with the First Parish ; St. Bernard's Temperance 
Lyceum ; St. Bernard's Total Abstinence and Mutual 
Aid Society ; Monadnock Temple of Honor, No. 17; 
Aquarius Council, No. 10, Select Templars ; Falulah 
Lodge, No. 11, I. 0. of G. T. : Henry A. Reynolds 
Lodge, No. 81, I. O. of G. T.; Wendell Phillips Di- 
vision, Sods of Temperance and Silver Spray Temple 
of Honor, No. 3. 

Secret Societies. — Five of the largest and most 
wide-spread strictly secret organizations have flour- 
ishing representative bodies in this city, — the Masons, 
Odd Fellows, Knights of Pythias, American Me- 
chanics and Red Men. 

Masonry is represented by the following four 
bodies : 

Aurora Lodge, F. and A. M., instituted June 9, 
1801, at Leominster, and removed to Fitchburg March 
17, 1845. 

Charles W. Moore Lodge, F. and A. M., instituted 
October 9, 1856. 

Thomas Royal Arch Chapter, instituted at Princeton 
December 21, 1821, and removed to Fitchburg No- 
vember 13, 1847. 

Jerusalem Commandery, K. T,, instituted October 13, 
18(35. 

The Odd Fellows also have four organizations in 
town. 

Mount Rollstone Lodge, No. 98, I. 0. 0. F., instituted 
December 12, 1845. 

Pearl Hill Degree Jjodge, No. 47, Daughters of Re- 
bekah, I. 0. 0. F., instituted October 14, 1885. 

King David Encampment, No. 42, /. 0. 0. F., insti- 
tuted October 18, 1870. 

Grand Canton Hebron, No. 4, Patriarchs Militant, 
instituted March 4, 1886. 

The Knights of Pythias have the two following or- 
ganizations : 

Alpine Lodge, No. 35, K. of P., instituted March 12, 
1879. 

Med Cross Division, No. 7, Uniform Rank, K. of P., 
instituted January 11, 1887. 

The Order of United American Mechanics, a 
strictly American secret organization, is represented 
in town by Wachusett Council, No. 21, O. U. A. M., 
instituted February 21, 1883. 

The Improved Order of Red Men is represented by 
Nashua Tribe, No. 37, I. 0. R. M., instituted Febru- 
ary 23, 1887. 

The Masons have very fine lodge apartments in the 
Fitcliburg Savings Bank Block; the Odd Fellows' 
lodge-rooms are in the Rollstone National Bank 
building; the Knights of Pythias hold their meetings 
in Pythian Hall, Crocker Block; and the American 
Mechanics and Red Men hire Pythian Hall of Alpine 
Lodge, K. of P., and use it as a council chamber and 
wigwam respectively. 

An organization of the Ancient Order of Hiber- 
nians was incorporated in Fitchburg in June, 1869. 



Fraternal Insurance and Mutual Benefit Orders. — 
Of these there are a great many in Fitchburg, and 
we have space only to mention their names, as fol- 
lows : 

Fitchburg Associates, No. 22, N. M. R. A. ; Fitch- 
burg Lodge, No. 797, K. of H. ; Roumania Lodge, No, 
312, K. andL. of H.; Overlook Council, No. 972, A. 
L. ofH. ; Fitchburg Council, No. 777, Royal Arca- 
num; Caslle Fitchburg, No. 195, Knights and Ladies 
of the Golden Rule; Local Branch, No. 390 and Sis- 
terhood Branch, No. 595, Order of the Iron Hall; 
Plymouth Colony, No. 97, United Order Pilgrim Fa- 
thers; Watatic Lodge, No. 31, New England Order of 
Protection ; Union Assembly, No. 170, Royal Society 
of Good Fellows; Shakespeare Lodge, No. 121, Sons 
of St. George ; Georg Loge, No. 538, German 
Order of Harugari ; Society St. Jean Baptiste de 
Fitchburg ; Wachusett Division, No. 191, Brother- 
hood of Locomotive Engineers; W. A. Foster Lodge, 
No. 216, Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen ; Fitch- 
burg Lodge, No. 1, Brotherhood of Section Masters, 
and E. A. Smith Division, No. 146, Order of Railway 
Conductors. 

No attempt has been made in this chapter to give 
a complete list of the multitudinous societies in 
town ; but we have tried to speak of all the more 
important organizations, which is all there is room 
for in this history. 



CHAPTER XLVIII. 

VYtQ-HSU-R-G— {Continued.) 

PROFESSIONAL. 

The pastors of the various religious societies in 
Fitchburg have already been spoken of in the eccle- 
siastical history and no further mention of them will 
be made in this chapter. There remain the dentists, 
lawyers and physicians to be spoken of and we shall 
give only a mere catalogue of those now in practice 
here, with perhaps a brief account of some of the 
more prominent lawyers and physicians of past time. 

Dentists. — Dr. Thomas S. Blood is the senior 
dentist in town. He was born in Sterling, June 23, 
1810; studied dentistry in Worcester with his brother. 
Dr. Oliver Blood, who was the first dentist settled in 
that town ; at the same time took a course at the 
Harvard Medical School, where he graduated in 
1838; practised dentistry for a short time at Nan- 
tucket and in New York City; came to Fitchburg in 
1840, and since then has been in active practice 
here. 

Dr. Blood has always been identified with temper- 
ance work in Fitchburg and has been, in years past, 
quite closely connected with our educational aflairs. 

Dr. Thomas Palmer began the practice of dentistry 
in Fitchburg in 1844. He soon afterward built the 



FITCHBURG. 



301 



brick "octagon house" on Main Street, where he has 
since lived and been engaged in the active practice 
of his profession. For the past sixteen years his son, 
Dr. Joseph W. Palmer, a graduate of Harvard Col- 
lege in the class of 1872, has been associated with him 
under the name of Palmer & Palmer. 

The other dentists in town who have begun prac- 
tice more recently are Drs. F. H. Joy, A. E. Horton, 
E. G. Dwyer, F. A. Damon and the firms of Parker & 
Ross and Stone Brothers. 

Lawyehs. — Of the many legal practitioners who 
have lived and practised in Fitchburg in past time, 
we have space to speak of but four of the most promi- 
nent. 

Hon. Nathaniel Wood was barn in Holden, Mass., 
August 29, 1797 ; graduated at Harvard College in the 
class of 1821 ; studied law in Boston, and was ad- 
mitted to the bar; came to Fitchburg, and in Febru- 
ary, 1827, formed a partnership with Ebenezer Tor- 
rey, and for many years the firm of Torrey & Wood 
took high rank among the prominent legal firms of 
the Worcester County bar. Mr. Wood, however, at- 
tended to most of the legal business. In 1818 Gold- 
smith F. Bailey became a partner with Mr. Wood 
under the firm-name of N. Wood & Co. 

Mr. Wood was for fifty years prominent in the town 
affairs and business interests of Fitchburg. He was 
often chosen moderator at town-meeting; was post- 
master for sixteen years ; president of the Fitchburg 
Mutual Fire Insurance Company twenty-six years, 
and its treasurer twenty-four years, besides holding 
other positions. 

In politics Mr. Wood was a Democrat, and wag 
elected to the lower branch of the Legislature in 1839, 
'47 and '60. He was once chosen Senator, and in 
1841 was the candidate of his party for Congress. 

Mr. Wood was a strong Unitarian, and took an ac- 
tive interest in the First Parish during his long life in 
Fitchburg. He died August 3, 1876, after an illness 
of nearly two years. 

Hon. Ebenezer Torrey was born in Franklin, 
August 16, 1801 ; graduated at Harvard College in 
the class of 1822 ; came to Fitchburg and studied law 
with John 8hepley, then a leading lawyer here, but 
who soon after removed to Maine. Mr. Torrey was 
admitted to the bar in 1825, and two years later en- 
tered into partnership with Nathaniel Wood. Mr. 
Wood conducted most of the firm's cases in court, 
while Mr. Torrey turned his attention more particu- 
larly to financial matters, and acquired a very high 
reputation as a safe and skilful financier. His con- 
nection with our banking interests has been already 
spoken of. For thirty successive years Mr. Torrey 
wa.s town or city treasurer, declining further re-election 
in January, 1874. 

In 1829 he was chosen a director of the Worcester 
Mutual Fire Insurance Company, which position he 
continued to hold during the rest of his life ; and from 
1879 was president of the same company. 



Mr. Torrey, in politics, was opposed to his partner, 
Mr. Wood. He was a strong Whig, and later, as 
strong a Republican. He was in the lower branch of 
the Legislature in 1831 and 1847, and in 1849 was one 
of the five Senators elected at large from Worcester 
County. In 1853 and 1854 he was a member of the 
Governor's Council. 

Mr. Torrey was a life-long Unitarian, and to the last 
a most constant attendant at the First Parish Church, 
in which he took great interest. 

He died September 3, 1888, after a few days illness, 
leaving a widow, a daughter, the wife of Hon. Hiram 
A. Blood, of this city, and a son, George A. Torrey, of 
Boston, corporation counsel fur the Fitchburg Rail- 
road Company. 

Hon. Charles H. B. Snow was a son of Dr. Peter S. 
Snow, and was born in Fitchburg, August 7, 1822 ; 
graduated at Harvard College in the class of 1844; 
studied law with Torrey & Wood, and was admitted 
to the bar in 1848 ; was for some years a law-partner 
with Hon. Amasa Norcross, but for the last eleven 
years of his life was with Judge Thornton K. Ware, 
under the firm-name of Ware & Snow. 

Mr. Snow was elected to the Legislature, and was 
State Senator from this district at the time of bin 
death. He was prominent in the educational interests 
of his native town, and her chosen centennial cele- 
bration orator. He was a very active and zealous 
member of Christ Church. 

He died, September 18, 1875, after four months' ill- 
ness, leaving his aged parents, a widow and two 
daughters. 

Hon. Goldsmith F. Bailey was born in East West- 
moreland, N. H., July 17, 1823, and his widowed 
mother removed with her family to Fitchburg three 
years later. In 1845 he began the study of law, com- 
pleting his course with Torrey & Wood. In 1848 he 
was admitted to the bar, and became a partner in the 
firm q^ N. Wood & Company. He was Representative 
from Fitchburg in 185(i, and State Senator in 1857 
and 1859. In the fall of I860 he was chosen by the 
Republicans of the Ninth Congressional District to 
represent them in Congress. But that terrible disease, 
consumption, had fastened itself upon him. He went; 
to Florida, and on his return took his seat in Congress 
during the extra session. In December, 1861, he 
went back to Washington, but was soon obliged to 
return to Fitchburg, where he died, May 8, 1862. His 
widow, who wasoneof the well-known Billings family, 
of Woodstock, Vt., is now the wife of Hon. Rodney 
Wallace, of Fitchburg. 

The senior lawyer at present living in Fitchburg, 
though not now in active practice, is Charles Mason, 
Esq. 

Mr. Mason was born in Dublin, N. H., June 3, 1810 ; 
graduated at Harvard College in 1834, came to Fitch- 
burg in September, 1842, and has since resided here; 
has practised law and latterly has been interested in 
insurance business; was secretary of the Fitchburg 



302 



HISTOEY OF WORCESTEK COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



Mutual Fire Insurance Company, 1864-69 ; represen- 
tative to the Legii-lature in 1849 and 1851, and a 
member of the Constitutional Convention in 1853. 

He has always been deeply interested in education, 
and was for some years chairman of the School Com- 
mittee of the town. He was also active in starting 
and sustaining the Fitchburg Athenteum. He has 
preserved a very complete collection of town and city 
reports and documents, from which much of this 
present history has been compiled. 

The firm of T. K. & C. E. Ware consists of Judge 
Thornton K. Waie and his son, Charles E. Ware. 

Judge Ware is a native of Cambridge ; graduated 
at Harvard in 1842 ; came to Fitchburg in 1846 ; has 
been in partnership with Hon. C. H. B. Snow and 
George A. Torrey ; was representative in 1850 and 
1854; postmaster, 1861-06; justice of the Police Court 
since it was established and a trustee of the Public 
Library since its establishment, with the exception of 
one year, and chairman of the trustees since 1875. He 
is president of the Fitchburg Savings Bank and a di- 
rector of the Fitchburg National Bank. 

Charles E. Ware is a native of Fitchburg ; gradu- 
ated at Harvard in 1876, and has been associated with 
his father since July, 1879. 

The firm of Norcross, Hartwell & Baker consists of 
Hon. Amasa Norcross, a native of Rindge, N. H., the 
first mayor of Fitchburg ; representative in 1858-59 
and 1SG2 ; State Senator, 1874; representative to Con- 
gress, 1876-82. He has been prominent in financial 
and educational interests, and in many other public 
positions. 

The second member of this firm, Hon. Harris C. 
Hartwell, is a native of Groton ; graduated at Har- 
vard in 1869 ; since 1874 a partner with Mr. Norcross i 
representative, 1883-85, and State Senator, 1887-88 . 
city solicitor of Fitchburg from 1877 to 1886. 

The third member, Charles F. Baker, Esq., is a 
native of Lunenburg ; graduated at Harvard in 1872; 
in the office of Norcross & Hartwell since 18ft, and 
became a member of the present firm January 1, 
1887. 

Hon. David H. Merriam is a native of Essex, N.Y., 
where he was born July 3, 1820; came to Fitchburg 
in July, 1829; in 1847 began the study of law with 
Torrey & Wood ; representative in 1861 ; provost 
marshal of the Ninth District of Massachusetts 1863- 
65; special justice of the Fitchburg Police Court since 
1868; city solicitor of Fitchburg 1874-6; mayor in 
1877 and 1878.^ 

The other lawyers in tawn are Stillman Haynes, 
Esq., a native of Townsend, who has practised here 
since 1868, and served several years on the School 
Board; Charles S. Haydeu, Esq., a native of Har- 
vard, read law with Wood & Torrey, and has prac- 
tised here since 1871, and has been special justice of 
the Fitchburg Police Court since 1879 ; Samuel L. 

1 Mr. Merriam died October 11, 1888. 



Graves, Esq., a native of Groton, graduated at Am- 
herst in 1870 ; read law with Wood & Torrey, and has 
been in practice here since 1873 ; Harrison Bailey, 
Esq., a native of Fitchburg, graduated at Amherst in 
1872, and at Harvard Law School in 1874, read law 
with George A. Torrey, Esq., and has practised here 
since 1874; James H. McMahou, E.sq., a native of 
Ireland, read law with E. B. O'Connor, of Boston, 
and James M. Woodbury, of Fitchburg, has prac- 
tised here since September, 1877 ; Edward P. Pierce, 
Esq., a native of Templeton, graduated at Harvard 
Law School in 1877; has practised here since; in 
1882 formed a partnership with James A. Stiles, Esq., 
under the firm-name of Pierce & Stiles, Mr. Stiles, 
having an office of the firm in Gardner. Mr. Pierce 
has been city solicitor of Fitchburg since .January, 
1887 ; Thomas F. Gallagher, Esq., a native of Lynn, 
graduated at University of Notre Dame, Indiana, in 
1876, read law with Hon. William D. Northend in 
Salem; has been in practice here since December, 
1881 ; Charles H. Blood, Esq., a native of Fitchburg, 
graduated at Harvard in 1879, read law with Attor- 
ney-General Marston and at Boston University Law 
School, in practice here since 1883, and since 1884 
has been in partnership with David K. Stevens, Esq., 
under the firm-name of Blood & Stevens, Mr. Stevens 
maintaining an office of the firm in Boston; Charles 
A. Babbitt, Esq., began practice here in the spring of 
1888. 

Physicians. — A brief mention will be made of a 
few of the former physicians of the town, which will 
be followed by a summary of those now in practice 
here and an account of medical organizations in this 
vicinity. 

Dr. Thaddeus McCarty was the first settled physi- 
cian, and came here from Worcester prior to the 
Revolution. He was a skilful physician, but re- 
mained here only a few years, returning to Worces- 
ter in 1781. 

Dr. Jonas Marshall settled here soon after the 
Revolution on the same farm now occupied by his 
grandson, Mr. Abel Marshall. He practised here 
many years. 

Dr. Peter Snow succeeded Dr. McCarty, coming 
here in 1782. For over forty years he was a leading 
physician here, and also held important town offices. 

Dr. Peter S. Snow, eldest son of the above, began 
practice in 1815, but retired in 1831 on account of 
poor health. For many years thereafter he was a 
valuable member of the School Committee. He died 
here November 25, 1884, aged ninety-two. 

Dr. Jonas A. Marshall was for forty years a physi- 
cian here, and served the town also for twenty-four 
successive years as town clerk. He died in Charles- 
town, February 25, 1887, aged nearly eighty-seven 
years. 

Dr. Thomas R. Boutelle graduated at the Medical 
Department of Yale College in 1819, and soon began 
practice in New Braintree ; removed to Leominster 



FITCHBURG. 



303 



in 1824, and to Fitchburg in 1833, where he practised 
the rest of his life. He was a physician of high 
standing, and was honored with many oiHces in 
medical and other organizations. During the War 
of the Rebellion he was chainiKin of the Relief Com- 
mittee of the town, and labored incessantly for the 
comfort of soldiers' families. He died, universally 
lamented, July 13, 1869, aged seventy-four years. 

By far the most widely-known and remarkable 
member of the medical profession ever settled in 
Fitchburg was Dr. Alfred Hitchcock. He graduated 
at the Dartmouth Medical College, and later received 
a diploma from the Jefferson Medical College, Phila- 
delphia. He settled in Ashby in 1837, but .at the 
written request of many prominent citizens of Fitch- 
burg, came here in April, 1850, and spent among us 
the balance of his useful life. 

As a practitioner of medicine and surgery Dr. 
Hitchcock had no peer in this vicinity, aiid his medi- 
cal brethren far and near sought his services in all 
doubtful and severe cases. Of what he did in the 
war period we have not space to tell ; we can only say 
that during the whole course of the war nearly one- 
quarter of his time was given to the care of the sick 
and wounded Massachusetts soldiers in the iield and 
at home. 

Dr. Hitchcock was prominent also in public affairs, 
and held various offices of trust, which we have not 
space to enumerate. Perhaps the most important 
was his position in the Executive Council of the 
State, to which he was elected three times in succes- 
^ion, — in 18G1-62-63. He was also on the Board of 
Overseers of Harvard College from 1857 to 1865. 

In addition to his skill, knowledge and good judg- 
ment, Dr. Hitchcock possessed those finer qualities of 
mind and heart characteristic of the true gentleman. 
He was entirely free from dogmatism and pride of 
the schools, and his uniform gentleness and courtesy 
endeared him to the people of Fitchburg — rich and 
poor. His death occurred March 30, 1874, at the age of 
sixty years, five months and thirteen days. His fun- 
eral at the Rollstone Church, April 3d, was very 
largely attended. 

Dr. Alfred Miller graduated at the Vermont Medi- 
cal College, and began practice in Ashburnham in 
1845. In 1863 he removed to Fitchburg to remain 
permanently. 

He was a good physician and genial gentleman, and 
was prominent in school matters. He was also a 
Representative to the Legislature from this city at 
one time. 

He died, universally regretted by the citizens of 
Fitchburg, November 15, 1877, aged sixty-two years. 

All the above-named physicians were members of 
the Massachusetts Medical Society, with the excep- 
tion ot the very first, who practised before the society 
came into existence. 

We will now give a brief summary of those phy- 
sicians now in active practice here who are 



Members of the Massachusetts Medical Society. — Dr. 
Levi Pillsbury is the senior practising physician in 
Fitchburg. He graduated at the Dartmouth Medical 
School in 1842, and settled here May 1, 1844 ; is at 
present a member of the United States Examining 
Board for Pensions. 

Dr. George Jewett graduated at the Berkshire 
Medical College in 1847, and coutinued his studies 
for a time at the Harvard Medical School, being a 
pupil of Dr. Jacob Bigelow. He practised in Tem- 
pleton and Gardner, and came to Fitchburg in 1858 ; 
was surgeon in the army, and from 1864 to 1886 was 
examining surgeon for pensions ; is at present vice- 
president of the Massachusetts Medical Society. He 
is a trustee of the Public Library, beside holding 
other public offices. 

Dr. George D. Colony graduated at Dartmouth Col- 
lege in 1843 ; studied medicine with Dr. Amos Twitch- 
ell, of Keene, N. H. ; graduated from the Medical De- 
partment of the University of Pennsylvania in 1846, 
and immediately began practice at Athul ; removed 
to Fitchburg in May, 1861, where he has since con- 
tinued in active business. 

Dr. Austin W. Sidney began practice as an eclectic 
physician in Sterling in 1860; came to Fitchburg in 
1866; later took a course at the Dartmouth Medical 
School, graduated there, and joined the Massachusetts 
Medical Society. He is president of the Old Ladies' 
Home corporation. 

Dr. Charles H. Rice graduated at the Harvard and 
Dartmouth Medical Schools ; settled in Fitchburg in 
1866 ; is surgeon of the Sixth Regiment, M. V. M., 
a member of the School Committee, and a trustee of 
the Public Library ; was city physician 1873-75. 

Dr. Frederick H. Thompson graduated at the 
Harvard Medical School in 1870 ; settled in Lancas- 
ter ; removed to Fitchburg in May, 1874 ; was city 
physician in 1877, and has been on the School Com- 
mittee and a trustee of the Public Ijibrary ; was 
surgeon on General Kimball's staff in 1877-78. 

Dr. Dwight S. Woodworth graduated from the Col- 
lege of Physicians and Surgeons in 1876 ; has prac- 
tised in Fitchburg since ; was city physician 1879-81, 
and 1884-86 ; is prominent in various fraternal orders ; 
has been medical director of the Massachusetts 
Mutual Aid Society for some years ; and on the 
School Board, 1879-82. 

Dr. Ernest P. Miller, son of Dr. Alfred Miller, 
graduated at Harvard College in 1872 and at the 
Harvard Medical School in 1876, and has practised in 
Fitchburg since; has been medical examiner since 
1877 and was city physician in 1880 and 1883; is 
one of the United States E,xamining Board for 
Pensions. 

Dr. Herbert H. Lyons graduated at Boston College 
in 1878 and at the Harvard Medical School in 1881 ; 
has practised in Fitchburg since September, 1881 ; is 
the third member of the United States Examining 
Board for Pensions in this citv. 



304 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



Dr. Atherton P. Mason, a native of Fitchburg, 
graduated at Harvard College in 1879 and at the Har- 
vard Medical Scliool in 1882; has been in practise 
in Fitchbura; since March, 1884; is secretary of the 
Worcester North District Medical Society. 

Dr. John I). Kielty, a native of Fitchburg, gradu- 
ated from the College of Physicians and Surgeons, 
Boston, in 1883, and from the Bellevue Hospital 
Medical College, New York, in 1884, and in June, 
1884, began practise in Fitchburg. He has been city 
physician since January, 18S7. 

Dr. Clarence W. Spring graduated at Dartmouth 
College in 1880 and at the Harvard Medical School in 
1884. He began practise in Fitchburg in February, 
1885. 

Dr. Emtace L. Fiske graduated at the Harvard 
Medical School in 188(5 and began practise in Fitch- 
burg in September, 188S. 

Dr. Emerson A. Ludden graduated at the Albany 
Medical College in March, 1888, and settled in Fitch- 
burg the following September. 

Dr. Henry W. Pierson, though not a member of the 
Massachusetts Medical Society, is a regular physician 
and has been in i)ractise in West Fitchburg since 1884. 

Homceopatliic Pliyslclans. — Dr. Daniel B. Whittier 
studied at the Harvard Medical School and later at 
the New York Homreopathio College in 1863. He 
soon settled in Fitchburg, where he has since been in 
active business. He has been president of both the 
State and County Homoeopathic Societies, and has 
served the city as a member of the School Committee. 

Dr. HoUis K. Bennett graduated at the Pennsylva- 
nia Medical University. He practised in Hartford, 
New York, and in Whitehall, and came to Fitchburg 
in October, 1872, where he has since continued to 
practise. Dr. Bennett is a member of all the prin- 
cipal homreopathic societies. 

Dr. Ellen L. Eastman graduated at the Bo.ston 
University Medical School in 1880. She began prac- 
tise in Fitchburg, but, in 1884, removed to Wollaston. 
In the autumn of 1887 she returned to this city and 
resumed practice here. 

Dr. J. Everett Luscombe graduated at the Boston 
University Medical School in 1885, and settled here 
the same year; is a member of the Worcester County 
Homoeopathic Medical Society. 

Dr. Oliver Ij. Bradford formerly practised in An- 
dover, but removed to Fitchburg some years ago. 

Dr. Hubljard H. Brigham is an eclectic physician, 
a graduate, in 1855, of the Worcester Eclectic Medi- 
cal College. He has practised in Fitchburg since 
1845. 

There are also three French physicians in town. 

Medical Societies.— The Worcester North Dis- 
trict Medical Society was chartered by the president 
and councillors of the Massachusetts Medical Society 
May 28, 1858, and organized on the 5th of the fol- 
lowing June. Dr. William Parkhurst, of Petersham, 
was elected its first president. 



Its membership comprises all Fellows of the Massa- 
chusetts Medical Society practising in Fitchburg and 
towns in the northern part of Worcester County and 
in the towns of Ashby, Shirley and Townsend, in 
Middlesex County. 

Meetings are held at Fitchburg on the fourth 
Tuesday of January, April, July and October, the 
annual meeting being in April. The society now 
has over forty members. 

The Fitchburg Society for Medical Improvement 
was organized in July, 1874, and includes in its mem- 
bership Fellows of the Massachusetts Medical Society 
residing in Fitchburg and towns adjoining. 

This society holds meetings the third Tuesday of 
each month at the houses of the members. It is the 
hope and intention of the society, in conjunction with 
the district .society, to obtain rooms, in the near fu- 
ture, and fit them up for the purpose of holding both 
local and district meetings therein, and also for ac- 
commodating the library of the district society. 

The Worcester North Eclectic Medical Society was 
organized in July, 1801. Meetings are held at Fitch- 
burg on the last Tuesday of each month, the annual 
meeting being held in July. 



CHAPTER XLIX. 

-BirCilBU'SiG— {Continued.) 

LITERARY AND ARTISTIC. 

Among the residents or natives of Fitchburg who 
in the past have had a name for literary work, we 
shall mention in this chapter only two. 

Rev. Asa Thurston was born in Fitchburg in 1787. 
He took a course of study at Yale College and the 
Andover Theological Seminary, and in 1819 sailed 
for the Sandwich Islands as a missionary. He re- 
mained there till his death, March 11, 1868, and the 
value of his life-work for humanity can never be esti- 
mated. He compiled a valuable dictionary and 
grammar of the Hawaiian language. 

Hon. Rufus Campbell Torrey was a younger broth- 
er of Hon. Ebenezer Torrey. He was for some 
years a resident of Fitchburg, editing a newspaper 
and teaching in the Fitchburg Academy. In 1836 
he wrote the " History of Fitchburg." He afterward 
removed to Alabama, and became prominent as a 
lawyer. He died in Claiborne, Alabama, September 
13, 1882. 

Several natives and residents of Fitchburg, now 
living elsewhere, deserve at least a passing notice in 
this chapter. 

Mary Caroline (Underwood) Dickinson, now of 
New York, was born in Fitchburg. She was a 
teacher in the schools here, later in Boston and New 



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FITCHBUKG. 



307 



former Courier office, and the next week a slightly 
smaller paper was issued, called the Filchburg 
Worcester County Courier. Mr. William S. Wilder 
was engaged as editor, and the paper flourished until 
the winter of 1838, when, during Mr. Garfield's 
absence from town, the editor converted the paper 
from a neutral to a Democratic sheet. This appears 
to have been disastrous, for the publication of the 
Courier ended March 9, 1838. Mr. Garfield con- 
tinued to occupy the office for job-printing and for 
a few months issued a small weekly paper called the 
Times. 

During the four or five months preceding Decem- 
ber, 1838, there was no paper published in town ; but 
on the 20th of December, 1838, a new and prosper- 
ous era was begun in the journalism of this town by 
the starting of 

The Fitchburg Sentinel. — On the date above- 
mentioned the first number of this newspaper ap- 
peared. John Garfield printed it, and Ezra W. 
Reed was the editor. In politics it was neutral. 

About this time there were in town several writers 
who contributed to the columns of the Sentitiel en- 
livening and spicy articles. Prominent among them 
was a lad of sixteen, who afterward became well- 
known as an author and poet. This was Augustine 
Joseph Hickey, an apprentice in the Sentinel office. 
He was born in 1823, and, owing to a separation be- 
tween his parents and the death of his mother soon 
after, was placed in an orphan asylum in Boston at 
an early age. In 1839 John Garfield, of Fitchburg, 
then proprietor of the Sentinel, took him from this 
asyluur, and he went to work in the printing-office. 
He soon developed aii extraordinary love for books, 
and began to write anonymously for the Sentinel. 
He soon wrote a poem, entitled " Slander," which 
was duly printed in the paper. This poem had a 
Latin quotation prefixed, and was signed " Julian." 

"About this time one Patterson, an employe of 
the woolen-mill, under the signature of ' Syphax,' 
criticised 'Conrad,' another local literary light, for 
misquoting Byron, whereupon 'Julian' took a hand 
in the discussion, creating an unusual interest for 
several weeks." 

Hickey wrote the communications signed "Julian," 
and his intimate friend. Goldsmith F. Bailey, copied 
them and dropped them into the post-office ; so the 
identity of "Julian '' was wholly unknown even to 
the proprietor of the Sentinel. These communica- 
tions showed a considerable amount of geniui and 
learning, and were generally ascribed to some of the 
professional, educated men in town at that time. 

When about twenty-one years of age Mr. Hickey 
left Fitchburg and went to Boston, and not long after 
removed to New York City, where he remained the 
rest of his life. 

His mother, who was the daughter and heiress of a 
wealthy French family, but was disowned after her 
clandestine marriage to Mr. Hickey, left her son a 



dying request that he should assume her maiden 
name, and in accordance with this request his name 
was changed, by act of the New York Legislature, to 
Augustine J. H. Duganne. 

He soon became a prominent writer both of prose 
and poetry, and a mere list of his productions would 
fill considerable space. 

He was very active during the war and raised sev- 
eral regiments. He was colonel of the One Hundred 
and Seventy-sixth New York Regiment, went to the 
front, was captured, and for some time held prisoner 
by the rebels. 

Colonel Duganne died at his home in New York, 
October 20, 1884. 

Let us now return to the Sentinel. It continued to 
prosper and was published by Mr. Garfield until 
March, 1841, when William J. Merriani purchased 
the office and paper. During his proprietorship the 
Sentinel was twice enlarged, and in February, 1849, 
the office was removed to its present location, in what 
is now known as the Sentinel building and was then 
owned by Crocker & Caldwell. 

In December, 1850, Elisha and John Garfield 
bought out Mr. Merriam. In September, 1852, Mr. 
James F. D. Garfield bought John Garfield's interest 
and, with his brother, Elisha, published the paper 
until October, 1860; and for the fdlowing three and 
a half years Elisha Garfield conducted the business 
alone. In April, 1864, John Garfield again pur- 
chased half the interest, and in September, 1864, be- 
came sole owner of the paper. Six months later Mr. 
James M. Blancbard became his partner and con- 
tinued so until MarchJ 1867, when Mr. Charles C. 
Stratton, who has ever since been connected with the 
paper, succeeded him as partner. 

In January, 1870, Mr. Bourne Spooner bought one- 
third of the interest, and in January, 1871, Mr. Gar- 
field sold his interest to Messrs. Stratton & Spooner. 
In March, 1873, the Sentinel Printing Company was 
formed, and Mr. John E. Kellogg admitted as part- 
ner in the new firm. In July, 1873, Mr. Thomas 
Hale, formerly editor of the Keene Sentinel, purchased 
Mr. Spooner's interest and continued a member of 
the firm for about two years. Since 1875 Messrs. C. C. 
Stratton and J. E. Kellogg have constituted the Sen- 
tinel Printing Company, and have conducted both the 
weekly and daily Sentinel. 

During all these years the paper prospered and 
was enlarged as occasion required ; and early in 1873 
the proprietors resolved to make a venture, which 
proved to be entirely successful, by starting the 
Filchburg Daily Sentinel. This has always been an 
evening paper, and the first number was issued May 
6, 1873, and its size was twenty-one by thirty inches. 
Since then it has been enlarged three times, and is 
now twenty-seven by forty-four inches, the same size 
as the weekly edition. The Daily Sentinel has made 
a prominent place for itself, and has a large circula- 
tion in town and many subscribersoutsideof Fitchburg. 



308 



HISTOKY OF WOKCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



We will now speak of a few of the many papers that 
have been started since the publication of the Sentinel 
was begun. 

In January, 1845, the Wachuselt Independant was 
started. The first issue was dated January 18, 1845, 
and was printed by E. R. Wilkins in Mark Miller's 
old printing-oifice. William S. Wilder, formerly of 
the Courier, was the editor. The office was .soon re- 
moved to the building now called the Citizens' Housei 
and was the first printing-office established in that 
part of the town. The Independant lived only six 
months. 

January 21, 1852, appeared the first issue of the 
Fitchburg News, Dr. Charles Robinson, editor and 
publisher. It was printed in an office in the old 
Rollstone block, formerly occupied by the Fitchburg 
Tribune, a paper published by Mr. George A. White 
for a few months in 1847. 

Under Dr. Robinson's management the News pros- 
pered, but in January, 1853, he sold the paper to the 
firm of Rollins & Knowlton, of Winchendon, and its 
publication was suspended during the following June. 
Dr. Robinson soon removed to Lawrence, Kansas, 
and later became Governor of Kansas. 

March 31, 1852, appeared the first number of the 
Fitchburg i2evei?/e, a semi-weekly paper, printed in an 
office in the upper story of Central Block. Mr. John 
J. Piper was editor and publisher, and for nearly 
seventeen years he conducted the Reveille with signal 
success and made it well-known as a stanch Repub- 
lican newspaper. It was three times enlarged, and 
in April, 1869, was a thirty-two column paper, twenty- 
seven by forty-one inches. Up to October, 1861, it 
was a semi-weekly, but after that was issued weekly. 

John J. Piper died February 3, 1869, and the 
publication of the Reveille was continued by his two 
brothers, Joseph L. and Henry F. Piper, who soon 
after removed the office to the new Rollstone National 
Bank building. In May, 1874, J. L. Piper retired and 
the paper was conducted by H. F. Piper alone till 
May, 1875, when Frank L. Boutelle became a partner. 
The firm of Piper & Boutelle was dissolved in August, 
1876, and the Reveille was for a few months longer 
published in the old Rollstone Block Printing Office 
by Col. Ezia S. Stearns, who at that time published 
the Daily Chronicle there. February 15, 1877, the 
publication of both papers was suspended. The ex- 
istence of the Reveille covered a period of almost a 
quarter of a century, and during the major portion 
of this time it was a prominent paper not alone in 
Fitchburg, but also in Worcester County, and its de- 
cline and suspension were much regretted. 

In March, 1857, appeared the first issue of a small 
monthly advertising sheet called The Inkstand. It 
was published at the furniture store of Sidney D. 
Willis and was continued only a few months. Men- 
tion is made of it because it was the pioneer of the 
large number of advertising papers that have been 
printed here since. 



In January, 1881, the Fitchburg Tribune was started 
by William M. Sargent. It was a weekly paper of 
good appearance and was printed in an office in 
Goodrich Block. A daily edition was begun in the 
following March, which will be noticed further on. 
The Tribune was continued under several diflerent 
proprietors until February, 1885, when Albert G. 
Morse, then the publisher, changed the name to Fitch- 
burg News. In May, 1885, Mr. Joseph H. White be- 
came the publisher of the News and continued it 
until February, 1886, when he changed it to a monthly 
paper with the name Monthly Visitor. Mr. White has 
continued its publication, but the name of the paper 
now is the Ladies' Home Visitor. 

In December, 1880, Thomas C. Blood started an 
advertising paper, called the Fitchburg Enterprise. 
Since then it has been published about once in three 
months. It is well patronized by advertisers, and 
contains some interesting reading matter in each 
issue. The paper is printed at the Sentinel office, and 
about three thousand copies are struck off each time. 

In June, 1885, Hubert C. Bartlett began the publi- 
cation of a monthly paper, devoted to temperance, 
health and the home, and having the name United 
States 3Ionihly. This paper has continued to be pub- 
lished since, and has done good work for the temper- 
ance cause. It is a well printed and ably conducted 
sixteen-page paper, and since February, 1887, its 
price has been twenty-five cents per year. 

Since September, 1887, the Young Men's Christian 
Association have issued a small monthly paper, de- 
voted to the work of the association. Its name is The 
Beacon Light. 

The Parish Helper is a little monthly published in 
the interests of the parish of Christ's Church, and 
was started in October, 1887. 

Good Luck is the name of a sixteen-page monthly 
paper, started in the autumn of 1887. It is chiefly 
devoted to advertising. 

The Scientist is the title of an eight-page monthly, 
issued by Chapter 48, Agassiz Association of Fitch- 
burg. The first number appeared in April, 1888. E. 
Adams Hartwell, A.M., and Mr. William G. Farrar 
are the editors. 

The five last-named publications were the only 
ones, beside the weekly and daily Sentinel, published 
in Fitchburg until recently, when the Evening Mail 
was started. 

Daily Papers in Fitchburg. — The first attempt 
to start a daily paper here was made in October, 1854. 
The Fitchburg Daily was the name given it by the 
publishers, Messrs. Plaisted & Baxter. It was printed 
in the office in Rollstone Block, was eighteen by 
twenty-four inches in size, and had an existence of 
just three days. 

The next venture in this line was the Fitchburg 
Daily Sentinel, which has previously been sufficiently 
noticed. 

November 24, 1875, appeared the first number of 



FITCHBURG. 



309 



the Fitchbtirg Daily Press. This was an evening 
paper published by Piper & Boutelle, in connection 
with the Reveille. Its size was twenty-one by thirty- 
one inches. It lived less than a year, the last issue 
being early in August, 1876. 

The Fitchburg Eoening Chronicle took the place of 
the Press, being issued from the Reveille office under 
the editorship of Colonel Ezra S. Stearns, who con- 
tinued to conduct both this paper and the Reveille 
until February 1.5, 1877, when both papers were sus- 
pended, as has been previouslj' stated. 

In March, 18S1, Mr. W. M. Sargent, publisher of 
the Fitchburg Tribune, began the publication of a 
daily paper, the Daily Evening Tribune. It was 
eighteen by twenty-five inches in size, and in the fol- 
lowing summer was enlarged to twenty-two by thirty 
inches. 

Mr. Sargent sold his interest in the paper to J. W. 
EUam, of Clinton, in July, 1882, who continued both 
daily and weekly. He was succeeded by Mr, E. A. 
Norris, in April, 1883, who published both editions 
until September, 1884, when Albert G. Morse became 
the publisher. Mr. Morse discontinued the Daily 
Tribune in February, 1885. 

The first issue of The Evening Mail, the new daily 
paper, appeared October 3,1888. It is a well-printed 
and very readable sheet, a trifle smaller than the 
Sentinel. 

It is published by the Evening Mail Company, of 
which Mr. H. L. Inman, formerly of the Keene Ob- 
server, is president ; Dr. G. D. Colony, treasurer ; and 
M. F. Jones, secretary. 

The company has purchased the plant of J. H. 
White, on Day Street, added new presses, type, etc., 
and hopes to make the new daily a permanent and 
prosperous enterprise. 

Politically, The Evening Mail will be independent 



CHAPTER LI. 

VYiCU.'RVBiG— {Continued.) 
CEMETERIES. 

It seems fitting to close this sketch with a chapter 
on the cemeteries of Fitchburg, — the " resting- 
places " where have been laid the mortal remains 
of those men and women whose energy and good 
works have contributed so largely to the growth and 
prosperity of the town. 

It is a matter of regret that sufficient attention is 
not devoted to caring for and beautifying our ceme- 
teries. At least two of them are finely located and 
capable of being made much more attractive. 

Let us once more return to the past and note briefly 
the provisions made by the early settlers of Fitchburg 
in regard to the interring of the dead. 

During the first three years of its corporate eiist- 



ence there was no burying-ground within the limits 
of Fitchburg, the dead being carried to the grave- 
yard in Lunenburg, nearly seven miles distant. De- 
cember 12, 1764, however, the town took steps to- 
wards securing a burying-ground of its own by choos- 
ing Amos Kimball, Ephraim Kimball and Thomas 
Dutton a committee "to provide a Bueering-yard." 
This committee did not report until November 21, 
1765, when the report was accepted. , March 3, 1766, 
this vote was reconsidered, and the town voted " to 
accept one acre of land of Amos Kimball for a Buer- 
ing-yard." This spot is now known as the South 
Street Cemetery, and has not been used as a burial- 
place for many years. For over a quarter of a cen- 
tury it was the only cemetery in town, and in it are 
the tombstones erected over the graves of many of 
the early citizens of prominence in the town. 

Although the town voted to accept Deacon Kim- 
ball's gift in 1766, the deed of the land does not ap- 
pear to have been passed over until the latter part of 
1769. In the mean time the town voted. May 11, 
1767, to purchase an acre of land belonging to Thomas 
Cowdin " lyeing on the north side of the Meeting- 
house for a buering-yard."' On December 16, 1767, it 
was voted " to give back the deed of the acre of land 
deeded to the town by Thos. Cowdin for a burying- 
yard." The few bodies there buried were exhumed 
and reinterred in the spot given the town by Deacon 
Kimball. 

In 1775 Solomon Steward was chosen to dig graves. 
May 13, 1800, the town voted to purchase of Jacob 
Upton an acre of land for a burying-ground. This 
was used as a cemetery by the people in the westerly 
part of the town for many years. It is located not far 
from the present Dean Hill School-house, and is now 
pretty well overgrown with trees. 

In the latter part of 1800 a committee was chosen 
to select a place for a new burying-ground in the 
middle of the town. In accordance with the recom- 
mendation of this committee, the town purchased, 
within a year or two, the plot of ground which now 
forms the easterly end of Mount Laurel Cemetery. 
Additional land has been appropriated to burial pur- 
poses from time to time, and this cemetery now covers 
nearly the whole hill, forming a veritable city of the 
dead overlooking the city of the living. More care 
and a larger outlay of money would make this natu- 
rally picturesque situation still more beautiful and 
attractive. 

In 1806 the town voted to purchase a two- wheeled 
hearse, and in 1808 voted to build a hearse-house. 

In 1856 the town purchased of Charles Gerry, 
Silas Hosmer and Levi Downe about fifty acres of 
land situated on Mt. Elam Road, in the southerly 
part of the town, at a cost of a little over two thou- 
sand dollars. Work was soon begun upon clearing 
and laying out the grounds, and at the present time 
Forest Hill Cemetery, as it is named, is an attractive 
and well-kept burial-place. 



310 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



St. Bernard's Cemetery, on St. Bernard Street, in 
the easterly part of the town, is owned by St. Ber- 
nard's Parish, and has been in use for some years. 

There are several small burying-grounds in various 
parts of the township, which have not been used for 
burial purposes for many years. 



In concluding this sketch, the writer desires to ex- 
press his thanks to all who have, in any way, assisted 
him in its preparation. To the librarian of the 
Fitchburg Public Library, Mr. Prescott C. Rice, and 
his assistants, the writer feels especially indebted for 
their uniform courtesy and efforts to aid him in col- 
lecting material from the manifold resources of the 
library. 

The sketch is necessarily condensed and incom- 
plete. Doubtless some facts of importance and de- 
serving of mention have been inadvertently omitted ! 
for, to condense the history of a place like Fitch- 
burg, for a period of a century and a quarter, into the 
space allowed in this volume, without making some 
omissions, would be almost an impossibility. 

It is to be hoped that the writer's intention of giv- 
ing, in the foregoing, a fair account of the history of 
Fitchburg, from its incorporation to the autumn of 
1888, has been accomplished, and that the future 
historian of the city may obtain from it numerous 
facts never before published, which are well worth 
elaborating in the more ample space that will be 
given to the " History of Fitchburg " which, sooner or 
later, must be forthcoming. 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 



ALVAH CROCKER. 

Alvah Crocker, of Fitchburg, Mass., was born at 
Leominster October 14, 1801. His father, Samuel 
Crocker, was born March 22, 1774, and his mother 
(n£e Comfort Jones) on the 23d of August, 1777. 
Mrs. Crocker was a descendant of the celebrated 
Adams family, and inherited all its self-reliance and 
independence of character. Nobly struggling under 
adverse circumstances, and unwilling to receive as- 
sistance not absolutely necessary, she aided to nur- 
ture the children in habits of honest industry, and to 
accustom them to exertion, not only from necessity, 
but also from choice. Such an education as they 
received proved to be a greater instrument of tem- 
poral success than large fortunes in the hands of 
numberless children of luxury and ease. 

From this sensible and energetic mother young 
Alvah derived his most prominent characteristics. 

In his father the spiritual element was more pro- 
nounced than the secular, and revealed itself in a 
remarkably unselfish, devoted and consistent life. 
An earnest Christian, of the Baptist denomination, 



he rarely entered into conversation without intro- 
ducing the subject of religion. 

With such a nature, developed under such influ- 
ences, worldly success was simply a question of time 
to the aspiring boy. Its beginnings, like those of 
most American monarchs of industry, were suffi- 
ciently humble. 

His father's occupation was that of a vatman, in 
the employ of Nichols & Kendall. He himself was 
sent to work in the mills at the early age of eight 
years. Being of studious turn, and eager to avail 
himself of every opportunity of acquiring useful 
knowledge, he gladly utilized the privilege of access 
to Mr. Nichols' library, and stored up in bis memory, 
for future use, many facts and principles ; thus 
laying, broad and deep, the foundation for a 
coming superstructure of imposing grandeur and use- 
fulness. 

Having once tasted " the Pierian spring," Alvah 
Crocker's thirst became insatiable. All his energies 
were taxed, that he might earn and accumulate 
enough money to defray the expenses of a coveted 
collegiate education : a plan in which he received no 
encouragement from his father. At the age of six- 
teen he had saved the sum of fifty dollars, with 
which he entered Groton Academy. There he re- 
mained for several mouths until necessity obliged 
him to resume labor for the acquisition of further 
funds. He did not, however, relinquish his studies, 
but prosecuted them in the evening as diligently as 
he attended to business during the day, and triumph- 
antly kept pace with his class in the academy. 

In 1820 the persistent youth went to work in a 
paper-mill at Franklin, N. H., and three years after- 
ward removed to Fitchburg, Mass., where he entered 
the employ of General Leonard Burbank, who was 
the pioneer of the paper manufacture in that sec- 
tion of the State. The mill was situated where the 
works of the Rollstone Machine Company are now 
located, and in the midst of surroundings marvel- 
ously different from those which encircle the latter 
establishment. 

Conscious of his own powers and laudably ambi- 
tious to create, direct and acquire on his own account, 
he next determined to embark in independent enter- 
prises. In 1826, aided by borrowed capital, he erected 
a paper-mill in a birch swamp in that part of West 
Fitchburg subsequently known for many years as 
Crockerville. 

Hopeful, prudent and pertinacious, he never lost 
courage, but toiled with unflagging energy and zeal 
until he had accomplished his purposes. From this 
epoch until 1830 life was a continuous struggle to 
meet his many obligations. The times were hard ; 
he W.1S in debt; a freshet injured his mill ; the mode 
of paper manufacture changed from manual to me- 
chanical; machinery was required for successful com- 
petition with his rivals, and the necessit.ited outlay 
demanded increased caiiital. Difficulties gathered 




Mem:pDlir.aiiRil!li=-niri; S'Xii°ra.\riiLCcoBT3Stoii- 



FITCHBURG. 



311 



thick and fast; but courage and force carried him 
safely through all. 

Keen to perceive in what measures his own inter- 
ests lay, and prompt to act upon clear convictions, 
Mr. Crocker soon abandoned the practice of consign- 
ing his products to commission merchants for sale, 
and took the whole of affairs into his own hands. 
Sending his paper by his own teams into Boston, he 
also sold it directly to customers. In truth, his finan- 
cial situation was such as to demand the clearest 
foresight and the shrewdest economy. He was still 
owing twelve thousand dollars of the sum borrowed 
for the original investment, and also four thousand 
dollars to his commission merchants ; ten thousand 
dollars more must be obtained for the purchase of 
machinery to put him on equal terms with his com- 
petitors. The great majority of men would have de- 
spaired under such circumstances; but his strength 
was equal to the burden, and the possibility of fail- 
ure was not allowed to number in the factors of his 
calculations. The capital desired was secured, busi- 
ness prospered, debts were paid, the shoals and rocks 
were passed, and his bark rode gallantly on the deep 
waters. 

Continuous prosperity and enlarging business in- 
duced Mr. Crocker to build additional paper-mills, 
and also to increase and diversify his activities by 
entering into the construction of railroads. In 1850 
the firm of Crocker, Burbank & Co. was organized. 
This firm — of which the son of Mr. Crocker is a 
prominent member — owns, at the present time, seven 
paper-mills, and produces about fifteen tons of paper 
daily. The Snow, or Upper Mill, was built in 1839, 
and, after passing through several hands, came into 
possession of Crocker, Burbank & Co. in 1862. The 
Cascade Mill was erected in 1847, and was purchased 
by the firm in 1863. The Upton Mill was built in 

1851, and was purchased in 1859. The other mills 
belonging to the firm were built in the following 
order, — the Whitney Mill in 1847, the Hanna Mill in 

1852, the Lyon Mill in 1853 and the Stone Mill in 
1854, and were purchased, respectively, in 1868, 1860, 
1869 and 1871. 

Of brilliant practical endowments, ])ublic-<pirited, 
and prone to large undertakings, Mr. Crocker clearly 
identified his private interests with the welfare of his 
adopted town. He thoroughly understood that what- 
ever would increase the population, the wealth, or the 
resources of Fitchburg, would directly or indirectly 
be of service to each of its citizens, and would amply 
repay the expenditure of time and money in cordial, 
intelligent co-operation. The town had entered upon 
a career of substantial prosperity about the year 1833, 
and was proud of its mills, its academy, its news- 
papers, its three churches, and prouder still of a 
goodly number of wise and enterprising men. The 
immense advantages of railroad transportat^/ were 
more or less appreciated, and by none more tl / than 
by Mr. Crocker, who bent all his disciplined ea .gies to 



the construction of a railroad from Fitchburg to Bos- 
ton. This was in 1834, at which time he prepared the 
way for himself, and for many others, to distinction 
and fortune. Being employed by the town of Fitch- 
burg to build a road farther up the Nashua Valley, he 
found the land-owners on the proposed extension 
opposed to it, and demanding exorbitant prices for 
the ground required ; but, nothing daunted, he bought 
the whole Nashua Valley as far as the Westminster 
line at the prices asked, gave the necessary land for 
the new road, and reaped for himself and the public 
the benefits afforded by new and improved means of 
communication. 

Such services as these very properly commend him 
who renders them to the good graces of his fellow- 
citizens, and distinguish him as a fitting repository of 
public trusts. The sharp-sighted electors of Fitch- 
burg, with these convictions, elected Mr. Crocker to 
the lower house of the Massachusetts Legislature in 
1835. His beneficent action in that body justified 
the sagacity of his constituents. In 1836 he voted 
tor the subscription by the State of one million dol- 
lars to the completion of the Western Railroad. But 
for his zealous advocacy, it is more than probable 
that the subscription would not have been made — 
certainly not at that time. Returning home, he began 
to arouse the people of Fitchburg and the contiguous 
towns to the incalcuable importance of direct railroad 
communication with Boston, and did not cease to 
agitate the subject until his wishes were realized in 
the finished structure. His abiding conviction was 
that Northern Massachusetts must have communica- 
tion by rail with the tide-water, or pale into utter 
insignificance. At first he aimed simply to secure a 
branch road from either Worcester or Lowell ; but 
wider kuowledge impelled him in 1842 to boldly ad- 
vocate an independent route from Fitchburg to Bos- 
ton. His pecuniary resources were laid under liberal 
contribution for necessary surveys, and both the 
routes he then selected have since been followed by 
railroads. 

In 1842 Mr. Crocker was again elected to the pop- 
ular branch of the Legislature, and again toiled with 
wonted zeal and efficiency for the accomplishment of 
his favorite project. A charter was finally obtained, 
in the presence of much ridicule and opposition, and 
work on the Fitchburg Road was speedily begun. 
While the new enterprise was in progress of construc- 
tion, he went to England to buy iron and other 
materiaW, and in different ways to foster its interests. 
His interest in the orogress of the work, from the 
hour that the first pick was struck into the earth un- 
til its completion, was unfailing, and on the 5th of 
March, 1845, he enjoyed the pleasure of riding into 
Fitchburg on the first locomotive that ever passed 
over the road. That was one of hi-i proudest and 
happiest journeys. His election as first president of 
the railroad company fittingly followed. In June the 
same year he resigned his ofiice to enter upon the 



312 



HISTOKY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



presidency ofthe Vermont and Massachusetts Bailroad 
Company, which he continued to hold until the com- 
pletion of the road to Brattleboro', Vermont. 

Mr. Crocker's financial condition at this time was 
one of soundness and healthful growth. 

The fortitude, the heroism, the generalship of 
former years had brought him rich substantial re- 
ward. The construction of the Fitchburg Railroad, 
in particular, greatly benefited both himself and the 
town. The massive stone depot, built on thecompletion 
of the road, was placed on land owned by him in what 
was known as Old City. This was contrary to the 
expectation of a large number of people, who had 
supposed that it would be located on higher ground, 
and that, because of the heavy grade, the road could 
not be extended farther to the West. The citizens of 
the upper part of the town had also desired to have 
the depot in their neighljorhood, and were by no 
means pleased with its location in the Old City. 

"Crocker, you can never get your road out of 
Fitchburg," his friends were wont to remark. But 
little was said in reply. He quietly continued to 
labor, and in less than three years work was com- 
menced on the Vermont and Massachusetts Railroad 
from Fitchburg to Greenfield. The latter artery of 
social and commercial life was duly perfected ; and, 
as we have seen, he had the honor of being its first 
president, and held that office two years. 

Mr. Crocker was afterward largely engaged in rail- 
road operations in different parts of the State, and was 
especially interested in the Troy and Greenfield Rail- 
road and in completion of the Hoosac Tunnel. In 
their behalf he delivered several hundred lectures in 
the years 1847 and 1848, and probably did as much 
or more than any other man in Massachusetts to make 
the piercing of the Hoosac Mountain an engineering 
and transportational success. When the latter work 
fell into the hands ofthe State he was one of the com- 
missioners charged with its administration. Nothing 
likely to conduce to the public good seems to have 
escaped his notice. He was prominent in bringing 
before the citizens of Fitchburg the importance of a 
complete system of water-works, and contributed in 
no small degree to the embodiment of his own recom- 
mendations. He also raised buildings for the manu- 
factures diverse from his own specialty, and thus 
established new branches of industrial art in the 
town, thereby adding to its population, wealth and 
resources. 

The leading ambition of Mr. Crocker's life, so far 
as corporate growth is concerned, was, however, less 
in Fitchburg than in Turner's Falls. The pros- 
perity of the latter town was what he desired more 
than that of any other. Without loving the first 
less, he loved the latter more. He wished to see it 
rival Lowell, Holyoke and other manufacturing 
cities in size and commercial importance, and even 
to excel them; and to that end he spared nothing in 
his wonderful genius and manifold resources. While 



searching for a more direct route between Miller's 
Falls and Greenfield than the one pursued by the 
Vermont and Massachusetts Railroad, he had been 
called to observe the magnificent water-power pos- 
sessed by the Connecticut River at Turner's Falls. 
Charmed by its natural advantages, and perceiving 
the possibilities of a great manufacturing city around 
the spot, he conceived the project of converting pos- 
sibility into actuality, and, with the characteristic 
promptitude and decision, threw himself into its exe- 
cution. Thenceforward this gigantic .scheme took 
almost exclusive possession of his mind. In com- 
pany with other capitalists, whom he invited to join 
him, he organized the Turner's Falls Company in 
1866. The new corporation purchased the rights 
and franchises of an old organization, known as 
"The Proprietors of the Upper Locks and Canals on 
the Connecticut River, in the County of Hamp- 
shire," and proceeded to carry out their plans. 
They also purchased largely of the lands in Mon- 
tague, lying on the river front, near the falls. A 
dam having a fall of thirty feet and a capacity of 
thirty thousand horse-power, was next constructed, 
and the water-power thus rendered available for use. 

From 1866 until the time of his death the daring 
projector worked hard for the prosperity of the new 
town, spending large sums of money in the promo- 
tion of its interests, and enlisting the aid of others in 
the great undertaking. 

What Mr. Crocker would have achieved in the wise 
and energetic prosecution of his plans at Turner's 
Falls, had his life been spared, is matter of probable 
conjecture. Reasoning from the great results he had 
effected in the few years devoted to the task, he would 
doubtless have left it a splendid monument of his 
genius and creative power. But in the midst of his 
hopes and ambitions, and while contriving and striv- 
ing to compass his end, he was suddenly cut down, 
and the realizalion of his schemes devolved upon his 
associates. The plan of a public library and of similar 
beneficent institutions had taken definite shape in his 
mind, and was prevented from passing into concrete 
form by his lamented death. There are two banks in 
Turner's Falls, — the Crocker National Bank and the 
Crocker Institution for Savings, — both of which he was 
instrumental in organizing. In the Crocker National 
Bank, his son, Charles T. Crocker, is a director, and 
of the Savings Institution he is a trustee. 

Mr. Crocker was also one of the originators of the 
Rollstone Bank at Fitchburg, in 1849, and held the 
office of director from that time to the day of his death. 
In 1870 Mr. Crocker was elected president ofthe bank. 
Throughout the whole of these terms of valuable 
service he labored incessantly for the adoption of 
measures intended to develop the resources of North- 
western Massachusetts. His conspicuity in this par- 
ticular suggested the propriety of his being chosen to 
fill the unexpired term in Congress of the Hon. Wil- 
liam B. Washburn, who had been elected Governor of 



s 



:> 



\ 




<s l 



/,^c^<^ /-"/-c^^ y. 



FITCHBURG. 



313 



the State. Mr. Crocker — a Republican in politics — 
was accordingly elected to the vacant post, and took 
his seat in the National House of Eepresentatives on 
the 2d of January, 1872. He was re-elected to the 
Forty-third Congress, — receiving 14,919 against 4,588 
cast for his Democratic competitor, — and served from 
January 14, 1872, until December 26, 1874, on which 
day he died, very unexpectedly, at the age of seventy- 
three years, two mouths and twelve days. The ordi- 
nary bound of human life had been passed, and yet 
there were strong probabilities of fruitful years to come. 
But on the 19th of December — a week preceding his 
decease — he was seized by a peculiar kind of cold, 
epidemic at Washington, and left the capital for the 
home in which he was so soon to die. The funeral 
services were celebrated at Christ Church, in which an 
appropriate sermon was delivered by a former pastor, 
the Rev. Henry L. Jones, of Wilkesbarre, Pa. 

Mr. Crocker was married three times. His first 
wife, nee Abigail Fox, and he were united on August 
14, 1829. She died August 21, 1847, leaving five 
children. Miss Lucy A. Fay became his second wife 
on the 9th of April, 1S51, and died on the 29th of 
January, 1872. On the 20thof November of the same 
year he was again married, to Miss Minerva Gushing. 
Of his four daughters and one son, children of his first 
wife, only one daughter and the son are now living. 



EBENEZER TOEREYl 

Ebenezer Torrey was born at Franklin, Mass., 
August 16, 1801, and died at Fitchburg September 3, 
1888. He was the son of John and Sally (Richard- 
son) Torrey. He fitted for college at the academies at 
Leicester and Lancaster, Mass.. and entered Harvard 
University at the age of seventeen years, graduating 
in 1822. He then went to Fitchburg and studied law 
with John Shepley, a leading member of the Worces- 
ter County bar, and was admitted to the bar in 1825. 
In 1827 he formed a partnership with the late Na- 
thaniel Wood, which continued for nearly fifty years, 
and was one of the leading firms of lawyers in the 
county. In 1832, upon the incorporation of the Fitch- 
burg Bank, Mr. Torrey was chosen cashier, and, 
although he still continued his connection with the 
firm of Torrey & Wood, he devoted the greater part 
of his time to the business of the bank. In 1859 he 
was elected president of the bank, which otflce he 
retained during the remainder of his life. 

The Fitchburg Savings Bank commenced business 
in 1846. Mr. Torrey was its first treasurer, and after- 
wards became its pre-ident. In 1831 he was chosen 
a director of the Worcester Mutual Fire Insurance 
Company, and served in that position during the 
remainder of his life, having been elected president 
of the company in 1879. He was treasurer of the town 
and city of Fitchburg continuously from 1840 to 1874, 
inclusive, when he declined are-election, and was the 
first treasurer of the Cashing Academy of Ashburn- 



ham. In 1831 and 1847 he represented the town of 
Fitchburg in the Legislature, and in 1849 was one of 
the five Senators from Worcester County. In 1852 he 
was chosen a Presidential elector, and voted for Gen. 
Winfield Scott. In 1853 he served in the Executive 
Council with Governor Cliflbrd, and during the suc- 
ceeding year with Governor Emory Washburn. In 
1825 he married Frances Houghton, of Fitchburg, who 
died in 1831, leaving two daughters, the elder of whom 
was the wife of George A. Cunningham, of Boston, and 
the younger is the wife of Hiram A. Blood, of Fitch- 
burg. In 1832 he married Sarah Arnold, of Ux- 
bridge, who, with their only son, George A. Torrey, of 
Boston, survives him. 

In the words of Rev. Mr. Pierson, who preached his 
funeral discourse, "The key-note of Mr. Torrey's char- 
acter was personal honor and uprightness. He was 
a man to be depended upon. You could trust him in 
all relations and emergencies. His lite and action 
moved on like clock-work — the regulation and routine 
of good habits. From early manhood to old age he 
scarcely took an extended vacation. More than many 
men he seemed to have the capacity for continuous 
work. His was a busy, active, industrious life. 

" Another secret of Mr. Torrey's sanity of mind and 
body was his commingled intelligence and humor. He 
had at once wisdom and wit. This humor was not oc- 
casional with him. It was habitual. It was ingrained 
in his temperament. He saw the ludicrous as well 
as the sublime side of things. He chose the sunny, 
rather than the shady paths of life." 



EUGENE T. MILES. 

Hon. Eugene Temple Miles, second mayor of the 
city of Fitchburg. familiarly known in Fitchburg as 
Captain Miles, was born in Framingham, Mass., Au- 
gust 26, 1826. He was the son of Jonas M. and Anstis 
(Kendall) Miles. 

His father, Dea. Miles, was a resident ofShrewsbury 
for many years, but the family were temporarily residing 
in Framingham at the above-named date. The name of 
Miles, or Myles, as it frequently appears upon the an- 
cient records, belongs to a family of honorable men- 
tion in the annals of the Commonwealth. John Miles, 
the emigrant ancestor, was a resident of Concord as 
early as 1637, and in that town, or immediate vicinity, 
he was succeeded by his son Samuel, while his grand- 
son Samuel removed in 1729 to Shrewsbury, from 
whom the deceased was the fifth generation in descent, 
and the seventh generation since the emigration to 
New England. 

In early manhood Mr. Miles was several years in 
the hardware trade in Worcester, as clerk, and for a 
short time the junior partner of Poole & Miles. In 
January, 1856, he removed to Fitchburg, where he 
continued to reside until his death. During the first 
few months of his residence here he w.ts associated in 
business with A. G. Page at West Fitchburg, but in 



314 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



July of the same year (1856) Mr. Papesolrl his inter- 
est to Augustus Whitman, and the firm of Whitman 
& Miles entered upon a long and highly .successful ca- 
reer. The business, as is well known to all our resi- 
dent readers, was the manufacture of cutting-knives, 
including a variety of edge tools and kindred wares. 
Under skillful management the business constantly 
increased until an annual business of from $100,000 to 
$250,000 has been done, and in a few instances the 
larger sum has been exceeded. 

In 1869 extensive branch works were established in 
Akron, Ohio, and in 1864 the firm was succeeded by 
a stock company, but the name was little changed, 
and the name of the deceased has been honorably 
and prominently connected with the business for 
twenty years, being president of the company from 
the date of its incorporation until his death. 

He was connected with a number of other manu- 
facturing companies in Fitchburg, and also at Akron, 
Ohio. 

Large and intimate as have been his business con- 
nections with Fitchburg, Mr. Miles has been inti- 
mately associated with the civil and monetary afi'airs 
of the town for many years, and has frequently been 
chosen to positions of responsibility and trust. 

He was a member of the Board of Selectmen in 
1864, '65, '66 and '72, and mayor of the city in 1875. 
He was one of the directors of the Fitchburg 
National Bank, and one of the trustees of the Fitch- 
burg Savings Bank. 

He was also president of the Worcester North 
Agricultural Society, and a member of the State 
Board of Agriculture, and one of the vice-presidents 
of the Fitchburg Board of Trade since its organiza- 
tion. 

In all these positions of trust he evinced rare good 
judgment and executive ability. It has been re- 
marked by a gentleman who knew him intimately, 
that whatever he did, he did well. 

In habits of thought he was rapid but exact, and 
much of his influence and ability to put into success- 
ful operation what would be mere day-dreams in the 
minds of others were the result of a faculty of 
swiftly weighing and passing judgment upon ques- 
tions of moment that claimed his attention. His 
impulses were generous and lofty, his manners urbane, 
and his treatment of his associates kind and con- 
siderate. 

Captain Miles was an earnest supporter of the 
Union Army during the late war; ever ready to aid 
the soldiers and their families. 

He enlisted early in the war, but the health of his 
partner failed, which left the sole management of a 
very extensive business entirely to his care, compell- 
ing him to resign his commission as captain of Com- 
pany A, Fifty-third Regiment of Massachusetts 
Volunteers, before the regiment left its quarters in 
New York for active service in the field. At the 
close of the war he was captain of the Fusileers one year. 



His labor in connection with the soldiers' monu- 
ment and the beautiful square in which it stands, and 
the admirable report which in behalf of the commit- 
tee he made at the time it was formally presented to 
the city, are subjects of record, and will long remain 
an enduring inscription to his memory, announcing 
at once his patriotic interest in the work, and his abil- 
ity to give efficient shape to lofty impulses. 

In the very meridian of his manhood and in the 
midst of usefulness he was called from the scenes of 
this life. He died very suddenly at his residence on 
Blossom Street, June 26, 1876. Better known to all 
the citizens of Fitchburg, both rich and poor, than al- 
most any other man, and bound up as he was with so 
many of the mercantile interests of the city, his loss 
was severely felt. 

His characteristics were a devotion to the welfare of 
his adopted city, honesty of official life as well as in- 
tegrity in business affairs of every description, and the 
exercise of those estimable qualities that go to make 
up the companion and friend ; and it may be truly 
said of him that in his death the poor man, the sol- 
dier and the soldier's family lost a sincere friend. 



GARDNER S. BURBANK. 

The subject of this sketch was born in Montpelier, 
Vt., July 22, 1809. He was a son of Silas and Bath- 
sheba (Egery) Burbank, and the youngest of a family 
of eleven children. 

Mr. Burbank was educated in the schools of his 
native town, but at a comparatively early age en- 
tered upon an occupation that seems to have been 
hereditary in the family — that of paper-making. 

His grandfather, Abijah Burbank, lived in Mill- 
bury, Mass., and erected and operated in that town 
the first paper-mill in Worcester County, and one of 
the first built in this State. Almost all of Abijah Bur- 
bank's children and grandchildren were paper manu- 
fiicturers. General Leonard Burbank, who operated 
the first paper-mill in Fitchburg, was his grandson 
and a cousin of Gardner S. Burbank. 

Gardner S. Burbank began paper-making in Mont- 
pelier, Vt., but in 1827 went to Millbury, Mass., 
where, for seven years, he was associated with his 
uncle, (xeneral Caleb Burbank, in the paper business. 
He then went to Worcester, where, for eleven years, 
he operated a paper-mill, formerly owned by another 
uncle, Elijah Burbank. 

In 1846 he moved to Russell, and formed a partner- 
ship with Cyrus W. Field and Marshall Fales. The 
firm erected a large paper-mill and ran it for about 
five years, at the end of which time Mr. Burbank, 
being in poor health, withdrew from the firm, and 
in October, 1851, came to Fitchburg. He then formed 
a partnership with the late Hon. Alvah Crocker, at 
whose earnest solicitation he came to this town, under 
the name of Crocker & Burbank. C. T. Crocker was 
admitted to the firm in 1855, and G. F. Fay and S. 




oil'yv) S^'^yfiWba 4rb 



FITCHBURG. 



315 



E. Crocker in 1S63, and the paper manufacturing firm 
of Crocker, Burbank & Co. developed into the leading 
one in Fitchburg during Mr. Burbank's fifteen years' 
connection with it. 

In 1866 he disposed of his interest in the firm and 
retired from active business; but his sterling integrity 
and sound judgment made him the recipient of many 
offices of trust. In addition to many important pri- 
vate trusts, he was a director of the Fitchburg Na- 
tional Bank from 1871 till his death ; a director of the 
Fitchburg Mutual Fire Insurance Company since 
July, 1876; a trustee of the Fitchburg Savings Bank 
since June, 1875; and a member of the board of in- 
vestment of that institution from 1875 to 1885. 

Mr. Burbank married, at Auburn, May 23, 1837, 
Mary Siblev, who died at Worcester December 4, 
1839. On May 27, 1841, he married Sarah W. Grout, 
who survives him. Their three children are all de- 
ceased. Edwin H. died August 18, 1855, at the age 
of thirteen ; Mary J. died August 26, 1861, aged six- 
teen years; and Sarah F., wife of Dr. F. B.Joy, 
died February 10, 1879, at the age of twenty-nine 
years. 

His modesty led him to decline public positions 
during his many years of residence in Fitchburg, and 
the only times that he has consented to be a candi- 
date for public office have been when his name would 
add .strength to the weaker, and what he considered 
the better, cause. While residing in Russell he 
represented the town in the Legislature in 1849 and 
1850. 

Mr. Burbank was always deeply interested in what- 
ever tended to increase the prosperity of Fitchburg, 
and his wish and decree as to the ultimate disposal 
of his large property show not only his great regard 
for the city of his adoption, but also his warm, gen- 
erous heart and his love for humanity. During his 
life also he was constantly aiding the poor, the unfor- 
tunate and the struggling ; but the amount of good 
he thus accomplished can never be known, as he 
carefully avoided publicity and sought methods of 
assisting others which would not meet the public 
eye. 

Many a timely loan has he made to young men 
who were striving to establish themselves in business, 
or acquire an education ; and oftentimes the only 
security that could be given was the honor of the 
recipient. 

Mr. Burbank's excellent habits and strong will un- 
doubtedly prolonged his life many years. From 
early childhood his health was not good, and since 
middle life has been seriously impaired. He closed 
his long and useful life on the 7th of February, 
1888. 

His bequest, so generous and ample, to the city of 
Fitchburg, which will cause his memory to be 
blessed for generations to come, cannot be better 
spoken of than by quoting the following extracts 
from his will. 



After providing for certain bequests, the residue of 
the property is placed in the hands of trustees, and, 
after paying some annuities, the income is given to 
Mrs. Burbank for life. At her decease the following 
clauses become operative : 

" And the remainder of said principal not herein- 
before disposed of under the preceding provisions of 
this will, I direct my trustees to pay over to the city 
of Fitchburg, as far as, and as fast as, it is released 
from the charges and annuities hereinbefore created, 
for the founding and maintaining of a hospital for 
the care of the sick. And while I do not wish to 
embarrass this gift with provisions and restrictions, 
but desire that the city shall carefully and consider- 
ately carry my plan into execution, believing that 
founders of benevolent institutions like the one I 
contemplate often create great difficulties by endeav- 
oring to settle in advance the details of the work 
they have projected, still I wish to indicate, in gen- 
eral terms, two purposes which I desire to have ex- 
ecuted. 

" First, I desire that a substantial and commodious 
hospital building shall be erected, and as I trust that 
my charity may survive and do good to the poor and 
sick for many generations, and also believe that the 
City of Fitchburg will in time be a large and prosper- 
ous city, I would suegest that the sum of at least $100,- 
000 be devoted to the purchase of the necessary land 
and the erection of the structure. And I also request 
and direct that while those who are able to pay 
for the services rendered them in the hospital may be 
subjected to such moderate and reasonable charge as is 
usual in such cases in similar charitable institutions, 
those, on the other hand, who are in poverty and sick- 
ness shall ever be received and cared for kindly and 
tenderly, ' without money and without price,' and 
without regard to color or nationality. 

" It is by the request of my wife, whose good judg- 
ment has so greatly aided me in all the affairs and 
purposes of my life, that I was led to make the fore- 
going provision for the foundation of a huspital." 

This bequest will be ample to insure to Fitchburg, 
at some future time, an excellent hospital, which will 
be at once a lasting memorial to the munificent 
founder and a great blessing to the community. 



JOHN PUTNAM. 

John Putnam, the founder of the Putnam Machine 
Company, and the pioneer of the machine business in 
Fitchburg, was born in Peterboro', N. H., October 14, 
1810. 

He was a descendent, in the seventh generation, of 
John Putnam, who, with his wife, Priscilla, came 
from Abbot-Aston, near Aylesbury, England, in 1634, 
and settled in Salem, Mass. John's eldest son, Thomas, 
first settled in Lynn, but soon removed to Salem Vil- 
lage (now Danvers.) The next in line was Edward, 
whose son, Elisha, removed iu 1725 to Sutton, Mass. 



316 



HISTOKY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



— incorporated teu years before — where he purchased 
a large tract of land for a farm. Elisha's son, John, 
spent his life in Sutton, and was a scythe-maker. His 
son, John, the father of John — the subject of this 
sketch — was also a scythe-maker. 

Mr. Putnam was closely connected in descent with 
General Israel Putnam, and also with General Rufus 
Putnam, wlio was commissioned lieutenant-colonel at 
the beginning of the Revolutionary War, and super- 
intended the construction of fortifications at Brook- 
line, Roxbury and Dorchester Heights. In August, 
1776, he was appointed chief engineer of the Conti- 
nental Army, with the rank of brigadier-general, and 
superintended the construction of fortifications at 
West Point, the most important one — Fort Putnam — 
being named for him. He enjoyed the confidence 
and esteem of General Washington. 

General Rufus Putnam was one of the earliest set- 
tlers of Ohio, and in 1788 fouuded the city of Mari- 
etta, the first permanent settlement made in that 
State. 

John Putnam, during early life, assisted his father 
at scythe-making. When fourteen years old he be- 
came an apprentice at the shop of Loammi Chamber- 
lain, a machinist at Mason Village (now Greenville), 
N. H., where he served five years, working fourteen 
hours per day. He had the privilege of four weeks' 
schooling each year, working before and after school- 
hours. 

After completing his apprenticeship with Mr. 
Chamberlain he continued in his employ, receiving 
one dollar per day as wages, and in 1835 he hired a 
part of his employer's shop and tools and began the 
manufacture of cottou-machinery. At this time his 
younger brother, Salmon W. Putnam, then nineteen 
years old, began working for him as an apprentice. 

In 1830 he went to Trenton, N. J., and made ar- 
rangements to start a machine-shop there, and on his 
return to Mason Village he set about making the ma- 
chinery and necessary tools for his future business. 
His plan of going to Trenton was, however, destroyed 
by the panic of 1837, the parties who had agreed to 
erect a building for him there deciding it was inex- 
pedient to do so. 

Mr. Putnam, after storing the machines and tools 
he had made, sought employment elsewhere and soon 
obtained a situation as repairer of machinery at 
Deacon Smith's cotton-factory at East Wilton, N. H. 
Shortly thereafter the mill was burned and Mr. Put- 
nam obtained another situation in Samuel Wood's 
cotton-factory in Ashburnham, Mass. After working 
there some months he hired a room in Mr. Wood's 
factory, and moving his tools, etc., from their place of 
storage in Mason Village, set them up there. He then 
took his younger brother, who was without capital or 
experience in the business, as an equal partner, and 
began business under the style of J. & S. W. Putnam. 

The tools with which the firm started in 1837 con- 
sisted of one 24-inch swing lathe, two small screw- 



cutting lathes, one chucking and one polishing lathe, 
an upright drill and gear-cutter, two die-stocks, taps, 
dies, reamers and mandrels. 

After having remained in Ashburnham nearly a year 
and not being satisfied with their prospects in that 
place, the brothers removed to the neighboring town 
of Fitchburg, which then had a population of a little 
over two thousand inhabitants. 

The history of the firm and of its great successor, 
the Putnam Machine Company, is fully given in the 
section on Iron Industries in thesk°,tch of Fitchburg. 

John Putnam was extremely ingenious and a very 
skilful workman. Much of the new kinds of machin- 
ery made by the firm was devised by him ; and from 
the first and for many years he made all the patterns 
and forgings used in their business. Gear-cutting 
machines, new machinery for paper-making, gauge 
lathes for making bobbins, etc., may be mentioned 
among his many inventions. 

In the early years of the business Mr. Putnam, 
being the only one competent to superintend the me- 
chanical part of the enterprise, devoted his entire ener- 
gies to make it a success, denying himself and his 
family, in a great measure, that he might put every 
dollar derived from the business back into it. He 
became so engrossed in its management, never allow- 
ing a moment of recreation to himself, that he gave 
slight heed to the outside and pecuniary part of the 
business, which he entrusted to his younger brother, 
Salmon W. Putnam. He did more hard work and 
furnished more capital toward building up the enter- 
prise than any one else; and the business of the Put- 
nam Machine Company of to-day represents the 
growth of an enterprise established mainly by his 
skill and untiring energy through long years of unre- 
mitting toil and self-denial. 

Soon after the decease of S. W. Putnam, February 
23, 1872, the presidency of the Putnam Machine 
Company was offered to John Putnam ; but, having 
been confined to the mechanical part of the business 
ail his life, and not wishing, at that late day, to as- 
sume the responsibilities involved, he declined the 
position and used his influence to place Charles F. 
Putnam in the president's chair. 

Up to the time of his death Mr. Putnam was a 
heavy stockholder, and for many years a director in 
the Putnam Machine Company ; and until he retired 
from business, in 1886, he energetically kept at work 
with unimpaired skill, and was daily found in his 
apartment. 

Mr. Putnam married, in 1834, Miss Sophronia 
Chapman, of Cambridge, Mass. She died February 
14, 1866, leaving three sons, — John L., H. Marshall 
and Charles W., — all of whom follow the business of 
their father, and two daughters, now Mrs. C. C. Strat- 
ton and Mrs. Edward Newitt. 

In 1879 he married Mrs. Helen Domett, of Hyde 
Park, Mass., who survives him. 

Mr. Putnam was one of the first members of the 



FITCHBURG. 



sn 



Methodist Episcopal Society in Fitchburg. He was 
always deeply interested in the welfare of the church 
and contributed generously toward its support. He 
was trustee Irom 1858 till his death, July 31, 1888, and 
one of the largest donors to the building fund for the 
handsome and substantial Methodist Church recently 
erected in this city ; and his pledge of two thousand 
dollars was at once the incentive and nucleus around 
which gathered the means that insured its erection ; 
and he afterwards made liberal contributions to the 
same worthy object. 

Mr. Putnam was one of our oldest citizens, and 
much respected for his great mechanical skill, his 
strict integrity and his pleasant, unostentatious man- 
ners. At the time of his death he was nearly 
seventy-eight years old ; he had been a resident of 
Fitchburg for just half a century, and lived to see 
the machine business of this place increase from the 
accommodations of the twenty by thirty room that he 
and his brother hired in 1838, in the " Burbank Paper- 
Mill," to its present enormous proportions. 



LTJTHEB JULIUS BEOWN. 

Luther J. Brown was born in the town of Eden, 
Vermont, on December 31, 1827, and was the oldest 
of a family of four children. His parents were Luther 
H. and Bersheba (Shattuck) Brown. 

His early education was acquired in the district 
schools of his native town and at the academy in 
Johnson, Vt. ; and later he was a student at Appleton 
Academy, New Ipswich, N. H. He was fond of study 
and fitted for college, but financial reverses obliged 
him to give up his intention of obtaining a collegiate 
education. 

His father kept a dry-goods and grocery store in 
Eden, and for a time the young man was engaged in 
this store, where he gained his first experience in 
mercantile business. 

In May, 1843, his mother died, and in June, 1845, 
the family removed to Manchester, N. H. During 
the greater part of this interval of two years young 
Brown was iu Hyde Park, in the employ of Noyes 
Brothers, who kept a large country store. In Man- 
chester he worked in one of the mills and was also 
employed part of the time in a hardware store. 

In 1850, when twenty -three years of age, Mr. Brown 
went to Boston and became a clerk in the large whole- 
sale and retail dry-goods house of Brett, Ellis & Co., 
located on Federal Street. He remained in their 
employ several years and acquired a thorough and 
valuable knowledge of the business. For a year he 
had charge of a branch store of the firm in Natick. 

In August, 1855, Mr. Brown came to Fitchburg to 
locate permanently, as it proved. He very soon 
formed a copartnership with A. B. Sherman in the 
dry-goods business, and the firm, whose store was in 
the building next below the present Rollstone Bank 
block, enjoyed a flourishing trade. The partnership 



lasted about three years. During this period he mar- 
ried, January 13, 1856, Miss Sarah P. Harding, of East 
Medway, who, by her tact, courtesy and ability, con- 
tributed essentially to the marked success which ere 
long crowned her husband's mercantile life in Fitch- 
burg. 

In 1860 Mr. Brown formed a partnership with 
Charles Kimball, of Haverhill. The firm of Kimball 
& Brown occupied a store located on the spot where 
now stands the handsome structure known far and 
near as the " L. J. Brown Block." 

It was about this time that Mr. Brown performed a 
feat that attracted widespread attention. In the fall 
of 1860 there was a sharp and spirited contest over 
the Representative to Congress from this district, 
which resulted in the election of Hon. Goldsmith F. 
Bailey, of Fitchburg, over Hon. Eli Thayer, of Wor- 
cester. Mr. Brown favored Mr. Thayer and entered 
into an agreement with Mr. Silas Buggies, a druggist 
here, who favored Mr. Bailey, that the one favoring 
the defeated candidate '" should wheel in a barrow 
from his place of business in Fitchburg to the hotel 
in Leominster a well-known gentleman of the 'colored 
persuasion,' named Ben. Franklin." Mr. Brown's 
candidate being defeated, in accordance with the 
agreement, he began his arduous task at one o'clock 
Thursday afternoon, November 8, 1860. Over a 
thousand people were present to see him start .and the 
Leominster Baud furnished music. Mr. Brown ac- 
complished the journey of five miles in two hours and 
a quarter, with but seven rests, which was doing 
pretty well, as the negro weighed one hundred and 
sixty-five pounds. About a thousand people wel- 
comed Mr. Brown on his arrival at Leominster. In 
the evening Mr. Brown gave a supper to some twenty- 
five of his friends. The fulfilment of this novel bet 
created quite a sensation at the time. 

In 1862 Mr. Brown bought Mr. Kimball's interest 
in the firm, and in April of that year commenced 
business on his own account, having his wife and a 
boy to assist him. He soon built up a large trade, 
purchased the building and enlarged it at five diflerent 
times. In 1882 he built the present handsome brown- 
stone front. 

Mr. Brown began with dry-goods and cloak -mak- 
ing, but dress-making was soon added. The carpet 
department was established in 1882 and the millinery 
parlor the year following. At the time of his death 
over fifty people were employed in the store. 

Mr. Brown's death, September 29, 1884, was keenly 
felt by the citizens and was a severe loss to the city. 
The sincere grief of the community was evinced by 
the profusion of mourning emblems visible on every 
side. 

Private funeral services were held at the family 
residence on Blossom Street early in the afternoon of 
October 1st. Later in the day public services were 
held in Christ Church (Episcopal), under the direc- 
tion of Jerusalem Commandery, K. T., and King 



318 



HISTORY OP WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



David Encampment, I. O. O. F. Thousands of people 
passed through the church to look for the last time 
on the face of the dead merchant. The floral offer- 
ings of friends, employes and organizations were pro- 
fuse and elegant. 

All the places of business throughout the city were 
closed for the day at noon out of respect for the de- 
ceased. 

Mr. Brown was a thorough business man. In addi- 
tion to his large establishment here he had, for three 
years, a branch store at Shelburne Falls. His promi- 
nence was, however, by no means confined to his 
special line of trade. He held many positions of trust 
and honor. He was a director in the Wachusett 
National Bank from its organization in 1875 ; vice- 
president of the Worcester North Savings Institution, 
and trustee since its incorporation ; president of tlie 
Wachusett Electric Light Company from its organiza- 
tion, and the first president of the Old Ladies' Home. 
He represented Fitchburg in the Legislature in 1878- 
79. He was a prominent Mason and Odd Fellow, and 
a vestryman of Clirist Church. 

Mr. Brown's social qualities gained him many warm 
personal friends ; he was of a benevolent disposition, 
and always ready to aid any worthy object. The 
hall in bis block was freely opened for all meetings — 
political, religious or temperance — and for several 
years he furnished the hall, warmed and lighted, 
for meetings of the Railroad Men's Christian Asso- 
ciation. 

He was active in whatever tended to promote the 
growth and prosperity of Fitchburg, and it is safe to 
say that the death of no other citizen could have pro- 
duced a profounder sensation or more sincere sorrow 
than did that of Mr. Brown. 



CHARLES BURLEIGH. 

Mr. Burleigh was born in Watnrville, Me., August 
30, 1824, and was one of a large family. 

He attended the schools of his native town, and 
early showed a natural aptitude for mechanical pur- 
suits. When a boy, he entered the shop of Mr. 
William Brown, a blacksmith of the town, wliere he 
was employed in ironing carriages and doing similar 
work, displaying great aptness and ingenuity. 

He worked here until he was eighteen years old, 
when, from a youthful love of adventure, and desire 
to look abroad, he left home for a wlialing voyage of 
three years, during which time he visited all quarters 
of the globe. 

Soon after his return from tlie voyage he went to 
East Boston, where, for several years, he was in the 
employ of Otis Tufts. 

In 1850 he married, and in October of the same 
year came to Fitchburg, wliere lie continued to 
reside until his death, which occurred May 28, 1883. 

Immediately after arriving in Fitchburg he entered 
the employ of J. & S. W. Putnam & Co., and soon 



became a member of the firm ; and when the Putnam 
Machine Company was organized, four years later, he 
became one of the stockholders, and continued to be 
largely interested in the company during the rest of 
his life. For more than twenty years he was a direc- 
tor in the company. 

For several years prior to 186& he was one of the 
superintendents of the Putnam Machine Company, 
but his other important business interests outside the 
works obliged him to give up the position. 

About 1865 Mr. Burleigh, appreciating the difficul- 
ties that were being encountered in the eflbrt to com- 
plete the Hoosaic Tunnel by the use of hand-drills, 
applied himself to the arduous task of perfecting a 
power-drill, former efforts in this direction having 
proved wholly unsuccessful. The result was the Bur- 
leigh Rock-drill and Air-compressor, and to these two 
machines the successful completion of this great work 
may unquestionably be ascribed. 

In 1867 Mr. Burleigh founded the Burleigh Rock- 
drill Company, with a capital of $150,000, to manu- 
facture these machines and place them on the market; 
since then they have found a ready sale in nearly all 
portions of the world, and have made a most impor- 
tant addition to the machinery interests of Fitchburg. 
These machines have since been used for the success- 
ful completion of various difficult engineering feats, 
and their advent marked a new era in the history of 
the development of mines. In connection with these 
two important inventions Mr. Burleigh's name has 
become widely known. 

Mr. Burleigh made many valuable inventions, and 
various improvements in other departments of me- 
chanics, and secured a large number of patents. 

Later in life he became interested in railroads, and 
was a director of the Boston, Clinton, Fitchburg and 
New Bedford Railroad for several years previous to its 
consolidation with the Old Colony Railroad, and after 
the disasters of 1877 he rendered signal service in 
saving the common stock from wreck, and in placing 
the preferred stock on a basis which secured to the 
creditors who accepted it more than the full amount 
of their claims. 

He was also one of the promoters of the New York 
and Boston Inland Railroad. 

His large business interests caused him to be inti- 
mately connected with banking organizations in town, 
and he was a director of the Wachusett National Bank 
from its organization. 

Charles Burleigh was, in the true sense of the word, 
a self-made man. He possessed an acute, well-fur- 
nished mind, and had acquired a large fund of infor- 
mation on a wide range of subjects, especially those 
connected with mechanical and mining industries. 
The position lie achieved in the various spheres of 
usefulness was not the result of accident or chance, 
but the legitimate fruit of a life of hard work, patient 
industry and untiring perseverance. 

It may justly be said of him that he did not trifle 




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FITCHBUKG. 



319 



with the work he had in hand, but entered upon his 
every-day life thoroughly equipped for the struggle, 
and he fought hard and long for success, always using 
unimpeachable methods to attain the desired end. 



RODNEY WALLACE. 

Rodney Wallace was born in New Ipswich, N. H., 
December 21, 1823, the son of David and Roxauna 
Wallace. At the age of twelve he left his home to 
work for a farmer for the sum of forty dollars for the 
first year, with the privilege of attending school eight 
weeks in the winter. At the age of eighteen he was 
driving freight teams from various places in New 
Hampshire and Vermont to Boston, and in 1843, at 
the age of twenty, he entered the employ of Dr. 
Stephen Jewett, of Rindge, N. H., and traveled 
through five of the New England States selling Jew- 
ett's medicines, then well-known and celebrated. He 
remained here until 1853, when he came to Fitch- 
burg and formed a copartnership with Stephen Shep- 
ley, known as Shepley & Wallace. The firm were 
wholesale dealers in books, stationery, paper and 
cotton waste, and continued under that name and the 
name of R. Wallace & Co. until July 1, ISiio. On this 
day the firm was dissolved and the business divided, 
Mr. Wallace taking the cotton waste department, 
which he still carries on. 

The business has grown, and now he handles 
about one-quarter of a million dollars' worth of 
waste a year. 

December 31, 18t?4, Stephen Shepley, Benjamin 
Snow and Rodney Wallace bought the Lyon Paper- 
Mill and Kimball Scythe-Shops, at West Fitchburg, 
and began the manufecture of paper under the name 
of the West Fitchburg Paper Company, which name 
has been retained to the present time. Mr. Wallace 
purchased the interest of his partners, and in Janu- 
ary, 1869, became sole proprietor of the property. 
Since becoming sole owner he has added largely to 
the original plant, erected many dwellings, a depot 
and two new mills, complete with all the most mod- 
ern improvements, and now produces thirty thou- 
sand pounds of paper every twenty-four hours. 

Since 1864 he has been president and director of 
the Fitchburg Gas Company; a director of the Put- 
nam Machine Company since the same year; a di- 
rector of the Fitchburg National Bank since 1866 ; 
a partner in the Fitchburg Woolen-Mill Company 
since 1877 ; and a trustee of Smith College, North- 
ampton, since 1878. He is a director of the Fitch- 
burg Mutual Fire Insurance Company ; a trustee of 
the Fitchburg Savings Bank ; a director of the 
Fitchburg Railroad Company ; a director of the 
Springfield Trust Company ; and a large stockholder 
in the Parkhill Manufacturing Company. Besides 
these he has had the settlement of several large and 
important estates. 

For politics Mr. Wallace has had but little ambi- 



tion. He was selectman of the town during the 
years 1864, '65 and '67. 

He was representative to the General Court in 
1873, and was unanimously renominated the next 
year, but declined a re-election on account of ill 
health. He served as councilor throughout the en- 
tire administration of Governor Long, during the 
years 1880, '81 and '82, and in 1888 was elected to 
represent the Eleventh District in Congress. 

July 1, 1885, was dedicated the Wallace Library 
and Art Building. This building was erected by Mr. 
Wallace, at an expense of eighty-four thousand dol- 
lars, and presented by him to the city of Fitchburg 
free from all conditions except that " it should be 
under the care and management of the Board of 
Trustees of the Public Library for the time being, 
and to be used for a Free Public Library, Reading- 
Rooms and Art Gallery, and for no other purpose." 
The building is admirably adapted to the use for 
which it was intended, and is a continuous source of 
profit and pleasure to all classes of citizens. 

Mr. Wallace married, December 1, 1853, Sophia 
lugalls, daughter of Thomas Ingalls, of Rindge, 
N. H. She died June 20, 1871, leaving two sons — 
Herbert I. and George R. Wallace. They are asso- 
ciated with their father in the management of his 
business. December 28, 1876, Mr. Wallace married 
Mrs. Sophia F. Bailey, of Woodstock, Vt. 



GEORGE JEWETT, M.D. 

George Jewett, M.D., of Fitchburg, Mass., was 
born in Rindge, N. H., April 28, 1825. The ances- 
tors of the Jewett family, the brothers Maximilian 
and Joseph Jewett, came to this country in 1638 from 
Bradford, Yorkshire, England, with about sixty other 
families, who settled the town of Rowley, Mass. The 
descendants of these brothers, under various forms 
of the name, are found in nearly every State and 
Territory in the Union. The Rindge branch of the 
family has been identified with the history of the 
town from its settlement. Many of the family 
throughout New England, including several near 
relatives of the subject of this sketch, have chosen 
the medical profession. His father, Thomas Jewett, 
M.D., was for many years a highly-esteemed practi- 
tioner in Rindge. 

George Jewett received his early education in the 
schools of his native town, at the Appleton Academy, 
New Ipswich, and at the academy at Hancock, N. H. 
Being led both by natural preference and paternal 
example to select the medical profession as his future 
field of usefulness, he matriculated at the Vermont 
Medical College in Woodstock, Vt., in 1845. There 
he attended two courses of lectures. Thence he re- 
paired to the Berkshire Medical School, from which 
he graduated in 1847. Subsequently he attended 
another course at Harvard Medical College, in which 
he had the privileges of hospital practice, under the 



320 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



tuition of the late eminent Dr. Jacob Bigelow, of 
Boston. 

Dr. Jewett entered upon the practice of his profes- 
sion in the latter part of the year 1847, at Baldwins- 
ville, Mass., where lie resided till the summer of 1853, 
when he removed to Gardner and practiced success- 
fully in that town for about five years. 

In 1858 he sought and found a wider field for 
energy and skill in Fitchburg, where he now resides. 
During the war for tlie preservation of the Union he 
entered the service of the United States in January, 
1862, as assistant surgeon of the Tenth Massachusetts 
Volunteer Infantry. He was in General McClel- 
lan's army through the disastrous campaign of the 
Peninsula. During the summer, on the banks of 
the Chickahominy, sickness prevailed to such an ex- 
tent, that at one time he was the only commissioned 
medical officer on duty in his brigade. At the battle 
of Yorktown he received an order to take charge of 
a hundred wagons, to collect and carry to Yorktown 
all the sick and vcounded left behind on the advance 
of the army. In this trying and arduous service he 
removed the sick from the camp to the wagons, .some- 
times only with the help of a female nurse, being 
obliged to carry them on his back. On the arrival of 
the hospital train at Yorktown he was detailed for 
liospital duty. Soon after he was ordered in charge 
of hospital steamer "Arrowsmith." In this position 
his duty brouglit him much into the company of 
medical officers of the Navy. He carried the 
wounded and sick from various camps on the Pa- 
munky and James Rivers to Annapolis, Baltimore 
and other sanitaria. He was ordered to join his reg- 
iment at the commencement of the "seven days' 
fight" in front of Richmond, and at the battle of 
Malvern Hill volunteered, with two other medical 
officers, to remain behind as prisoners of war in care 
of the wounded. On this occa.sion Dr. Jewett was 
selected to surrender the medical stores and supplies 
which were left by our retreating army, and also the 
wounded soldiers and medical officers in charge, to 
General A. P. Hill, of the Confederate Army, by 
whom they were paroled. 

After a great variety of service in the Army of the 
Potomac he was promoted by Governor Andrew, and 
commissioned surgeon and major of the Fifty-first 
Massachusettts Volunteers, General A. B. R. Sprague, 
of Worcester, commanding, and ordered to the De- 
partment of North Carolina. After some months of 
service in camp he was ordered to duty as post-sur- 
geon at Morehead City, on the coast. After a short 
service at this point he joined his regiment, which 
was ordered to Harper's Ferry, there to unite with 
the array of General Meade, after the battle of Get- 
tysburg. At this period matters liegan to assume a 
threatening attitude in New York City, where his 
regiment was ordered for service, camping at Castle 
Garden. He was honorably discharged with the 
regiment at the expiration of the term of enlistment. 



July 27, 1863, having been in constant active service, 
in places of danger from disease or battle, during the 
whole period. 

On his return from military service he resumed 
practice at Fitchburg, and continued therein until 
the latter part of 1867. He then made an ex- 
tensive tour, covering portions of Europe, Egypt, 
Palestine, Turkey, etc., spending considerable time in 
European hospitals, and returned home in 1868, with 
enlarged professional knowledge, powers strength- 
ened and disciplined by unwonted contact with men 
and things, and complete adaptation to the needs of 
suffering humanity. 

Dr. Jewett ranks with the leaders of the medical 
fraternity in AVorcester County, and has acquired an 
enviable surgical reputation. Zealous and diligent 
in all that pertains to the science and art of medicine 
and surgery, he has frequently contributed to the en- 
richment of medical literature. 

Among his writings areapaper'on "Surgical Injuries 
of the Head," that was read before the Massachusetts 
Medical Society, at its annual meeting in 1877 ; and 
also an article on "The Use of the Aspirator in the 
Bladder," describing an original mode of treatment 
adopted in the first operation of the kind known in 
that section of the State. It was published in the 
Boston Medical and Surgical Journal. 

Dr. Jewett i< a member of the Massachusetts 
Medical Society, and also of Worcester North Dis- 
trict Medical Society, and has been honored in many 
ways by his associates in the medical profession ; he 
was elected president of the latter society, and, 
during the years of 1877 and 1878, discharged the 
duties of this office honorably and well. For many 
years he has been councilor of the Massachusetts 
Medical Society, and, in May, 1888, became vice- 
president of the same. 

He was called to the management of the Hospital 
Cottages at Templeton in June, 1886, and, as the 
president of this institution, has been untiring in his 
efforts, and under his able administration of its 
affairs, the pro.sperity and usefulness of this institution 
has been nearly doubled. 

At the close of the war he was appointed United 
States examining surgeon for pensions, which office he 
still holds. He held for three years a commission as sur- 
geon and major of the Tenth Massachusetts Infantry, 
resigning in 1872. He has also been much interested 
in agriculture, especially in the department of horti- 
culture, and was president of the Worcester North 
Agricultural Society during the years 1878 and 1879. 
In September, 1874, he was appointed physician of 
the county jail at Fitchburg, which position he now 
fills. 

Dr. Jewett has also taken much interest in the cause 
of education. From 1869 to 1876 he was a member 
of the Board of School Committee, and was mainly 
instrumental in the establishment of the Scientific 
Department of the High School. 





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FITCHBURG. 



321 



In 1848, November 15th, he was married to Mary 
E. Sanders, of New Ipswich, N. H. She died in June, 
1867, and December 17, 1868, he was married to Mary 
Brooks, of Roxbury, Mass. Four children of the first 
marriage, having died in early childhood, sleep with 
their mother on Laurel Hill. One sou, Walter 
Kendall, born October 12, 1869, is now in the 
sophomore class at Brown University. 



CHARLES H. BKOWN.' 

The leading industries of Fitchburg have had their 
origin in modest and unpretentious beginnings. The 
pioneers builded better than they knew. In all in- 
stances the foundations were laid in toil, and sus- 
tained by self-accumulated capital. The unequal 
growth of the structures has been measured by the 
genius and the courage of a generation of whom few 
remain. The founders were men of enterprise, who 
displayed a sagacity that met the present and antici- 
pated the future. They have builded a city and 
given an individuality to its business interesta. 
Others of the present and of the future may follow 
in the beaten track, reaping the fruit of their indus- 
try and sagacity ; but few can wear the laurels of the 
pioneer or share the honors of the founders of our 
prosperous city. Younger than many, yet asso- 
ciated with some of the earlier and prominent busi- 
ness men of the city, is the subject of this sketch, 
who has founded an important industry, and whose 
enterprise has contributed to the material interests of 
the city. 

Charles H. Brown, son of Charles and Nancy 
(Hall) Brown, was born in Mendon, March 9, 1820. 
The south part of Mendon, including his native vil- 
lage, now constitutes the thrifty town of Blackstone, 
in the extreme southeast part of Worcester County. 
During his childhood and youth his parents resided 
in Mendon, in Leyden, Lewis County, N. Y., and in 
Burrillville, R. I. The circumstances of his youth 
did not permit him to pursue an advanced course of 
study ; yet he enjoyed and fully improved the ordi- 
nary school privileges common to the youth of his 
time. If he was denied many opportunities his early 
ambition craved, he was trained in habits of indus- 
try, and was taught the rigorous lessons of self-reli- 
ance. At sixteen years of age he sought and obtained 
employment in a machine shop near Greenville, R. I. 
Subsequently he was employed in the manufacture 
of a variety of machinery in Blackstone, Providence, 
R. I., Newton, Whitinsville and in Northford and 
Waterbury, Conn. In this initial work of his life he 
acquired skill and developed a native ability which 
have given him a foremost rank among the practical 
machinists of his time. 

In 1846 Mr. Brown removed to Boston and after a 
brief connection with Otis Tufts he removed to 



1 By Ezra S. Stearns. 



21 



Fitchburg in 1849. Here the mission of his life in- 
vited him to renewed effort and enlarged opportuni- 
ties. The discipline and preparation of early toil 
were quickly rewarded by the early achievements of 
a successful career. 

At this time he purchased of John and Salmon W. 
Putnam one-third interest of an established business 
in repairing and manufacturing machinery. For 
several years the firm was known as J. & S. W. 
Putnam & Co., and was highly successful. Having 
acquired a practical knowledge of the steam-engine 
while in the employ of Mr. Tufts, a celebrated builder 
at that time, Mr. Brown early directed his attention 
to this line of manufacture. In 1850 the first steam- 
engine built in Fitchburg was constructed after his 
designs and under his supervision. In 1856 a work- 
ing model, with substantial improvements, was made 
and patented by Mr. Brown and Mr. Charles Burleigh. 
The patent was assigned to the firm and it has been 
long and favorably known as the " Putnam Engine." 
Mr. Brown continued in the management of this de- 
partment of the business of the firm until failing 
health compelled him to retire, for a season, from 
active pursuits. 

In 1859 he sold his interest in the Putnam Machine 
Company, which had been incorporated the previous 
year, and four years later he commenced business in 
Newton Lane. In 1866 he sought enlarged facilities 
in the block on Main Street, now occupied by the 
Fitchburg Machine Works. In 1871 Mr. Brown per- 
fected and invented " The Brown Automatic Cut-Off 
Engine.'' This invention has won success. To this 
time its reputation has been increased and its demand 
has been enlarged. The secret of Mr. Brown's suc- 
cessful business career is discovered in the unremitted 
care bestowed upon the minutest detail of the manu- 
facture. In all his work everything conforms to his 
exacting taste for a finely-finished surface and a 
comely outline of form and proportion. In 1873 en- 
larged facilities were again demanded and a spacious 
building lot on the opposite side of Main and corner 
of Willow Street was purchased, and the present sub- 
stantial block was erected and fully occupied in 
1876. 

Two sons have been admitted to an interest in the 
business, and the present firm of C. H. Brown & Co. 
includes Charles H. Brown, Sr., Charles H. Brown, 
Jr., and Frank E. Brown. 

Mr. Brown is a man of positive traits of character. 
He is zealous and independent. His perception is 
quick and accurate, his judgment is sound and his in- 
telligence is clear and comprehensive. His opinions 
are well-matured, and are always expressed with con- 
ciseness and precision. Mr. Brown has no ambition 
for political preferment, yet he has manifested a com- 
mendable interest in public and in municipal affairs. 
He was a member of the Common Council two years 
immediately succeeding the incorporation of the city, 
and for many years he has been the efficient chairman 



322 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



of the Board of Water Commissioners. He is a di- 
rector of the Rollstone National Bank. 

Mr. Brown married, May 24, 1847, Miss Emeline J. 
Hubbard, daughter of Harvey Hubbard, of Berlin, 
Conn. They have four sons, two of whom are in 
business, as stated ; John F. is a graduate of Harvard 
Law School and has recently been admitted to the 
bar ; and William A. is now a student in Yale Col- 
lege. 

JABEZ FISHER, M.D. 

Jabez Fisher, M.D., was born in Cambridgeport, 
Mass., April 30, 1824, where he received only the 
education afforded by the common schools of the time. 
Engaging in his youth in mechanical pursuits, he 
found his development limited thereby, and at the 
age of twenty-three commenced the study of medi- 
cine. In 1850 he received the degree of M.D. from 
Harvard College, and began practice in his native 
town. In May, 1851, he removed to Fitchburg, and 
continued practice there until the autumn of 1855. 
In the mean time his early love of horticulture and 
especially the charms of fruit-growing so urged him 
forward that he bought the farm on which his life 
since 1856 has been spent. His fellow-citizens, appre- 
ciating his abilities, designated him as a candidate of 
the new American movement, and he was chosen in 
the election of 1854 as one of the five Senators from 
Worcester County. At the election of the following 
year he was again returned, this time by the Repub- 
lican party. The demands upon his time by legisla- 
tive service, together with his increasing interest in 
rural pursuits, determined him to give up the practice 
of his profession, and he removed to his farm in the 
autumn of 1856. 

Giving his whole time and energies at once to his 
business, he soon became noted, and an authority in 
his specialty. After serving two years as secretary 
he was twice chosen as president of the Worcester 
North Agricultural Society, and as a delegate of the 
society to the Massachusetts Board of Agriculture he 
served two terms of three years each. While a mem- 
ber of that board, and afterward, he was often called 
upon as a lecturer before farmers' clubs and people 
interested in fruit-growing. In 1869 he gave a 
course of lectures on market gardening before the 
students of the Massachusetts Agricultural College, 
and again in 1870. 

He was one of the first to appreciate the merits 
of the Concord grape, and, by his successful manage- 
ment, demonstrated its value, and was largely instru- 
mental in extending its cultivation in his region. He 
was never s.itisfied with any short of the best results; 
hence his products were always in demand at the 
highest prices, and were, in consequence, widely 
known. He has often said that if there were any 
profit in his or any other business — -especially that 
which dealt in the luxuries of life — it must be found 
in furnishing the best. Any one could produce medi- 



ocrity, but only skill and care could approach per- 
fection. He had no secrets in his operations. Any- 
thing that he had discovered or become possessed of 
was at the disposal of any one who chose to inquire. 
He gave an address on grape culture before the Board 
of Agriculture at its country meeting at Fitchburg in 
1874, alsoone on injurious insects at Hingham in 1878. 
He was an early investigator and an advocate of what 
is now denominated commercial fertilization. Read- 
ing with avidity the first publications of the great 
Baron Liebig and others upon this subject, and 
through his knowledge of chemistry, to which he de- 
voted much attention in connection with the study of 
medicine, he was able to keep fully abreast of the de- 
velopments of the time. 

His home, which he calls " Pomoland," or Pomo- 
na's Land, is beautifully situated on an elevation at 
the base of Pearl Hill, surrounded by higher land, 
except a picturesque valley reaching out southeasterly, 
and lying about a mile and a half north from Fitch- 
burg Centre. The whole place is a type of the man 
who made it what it is, and will well repay any one 
the trouble of a visit. 

Notwithstanding Dr. Fisher's devotion to his home 
and pursuits, he has found time to serve his townsmen 
in various capacities in addition to his legislative ex- 
perience. He has been upon the School Committee, 
was one of the first board of trustees of the Public 
Library, was several times a selectman and once chair- 
man of the board. He was chairman of the Board of 
Water Commissioners while the original works were 
being constructed, and served for several years after- 
ward. He has been president of the Fitchburg Co- 
operative Bank from its organization in 1877, giving 
to it much thought, and no small portion of its suc- 
cess is to be attributed to his oversight. 

In politics he was originally a Liberty party man, 
then a Free-Soiler, next an American, then a Repub- 
lican, and when the Republicans halted on the tem- 
perance question, a Prohibitionist. He says that he 
has been a Woman Suffragist since his acquaintance 
with his mother. He hates shams under any and all 
circumstances, and his sympathies are ever with the 
weak and oppressed. 

Music has been quite a source of recreation, he 
having played the organ in church some thirty years. 
He trained the Fitchburg contingent in preparation 
for the great Boston Peace Jubilee of 1872 to very 
good acceptance, and also directed the same chorus 
for a number of concerts at home. 

He has always been much interested in meteor- 
ology, and has kept a continuous record since Jan- 
uary, 1857, which possesses much value, and is often 
consulted. 

Jabez Fisher married Roxanna Betton October 8, 
1845, from which union two children survive, viz. : 
Mary L., born November 14, 1846, who married 
James A. Morton January 1, 1874; and Jabez F., 
born August 30, 1850, who married Clara A. Ber- 



■^^'- 





FITCHBURG. 



323 



nard August 20, 1879. A second marriage was con- 
summated, February 12, 1860, with Lucy B. Hosmer. 
In relifrious belief be is a Universalist. His years 
set easily, and he serenely awaits the time when his 
opportunities will be enlarged and his comprehension 
clearer. 



ELI CULLEY.' 

Eli Culley, a son of Edward C. and Eliza (Mayall) 
CuUey, was born near Bath, England, February 4, 
1840. At the age of fifteen years he came to this 
country, and found employment in a file manufactory 
in the city of Lowell. Subsequently he removed to 
Boston, and while residing there be enlisted in the 
Forty-third Regiment Massachusetts Volunteers, a 
nine months' regiment, and a military organization 
of good repute. He was mustered out with the regi- 
ment at the expiration of the term of service, in the 
autumn of 1803. 

Recovering from the debilitating effect of a ma- 
larial fever, which was contracted in the service, Mr. 
Culley removed to Weymouth, and there manufac- 
tured files on his own account. In 1868 he removed 
the business to Fitchburg, and from that time he has 
been an honored resident of this city. His industry 
and close application to business have been rewarded, 
and among his fellow-men he is held in high es- 
teem. 

The partiality of his fellow-citizens has found fre- 
quent and repeated expression in his election to 
positions of honor and responsibility. In 1875 he 
was a member of the Common Council, and was 
president of the body. In 1877 and '78 he was a 
member of the Board of Aldermen, and each year he 
was assigned to important positions on the standing 
committees. 

At the city election in December, 1879, after an 
animated contest, Mr. Culley was elected mayor, and 
was re-elected the following year. Succeeding these 
years of service, his friends did not suffer him to long 
remain among the retired executive officers of the 
city. 

Again he was elected mayor for the year 1888, and 
has been chosen for the fourth time and for the year 
1889. No other citizen of Fitchburg has been called 
to the executive chair an equal number of times, 
and no other has filled all the positions here named. 
In 1880 Mr. Culley was a member of the House of 
Representatives. 

If briefly narrated, the public service of Mr. Culley 
hiis been efficient and honorable. The elements of 
his successful career are found in his sincerity, the 
unequivocal expression of his convictions and in his 
direct methods of speech and conduct. In public 
affairs and in business he has been industrious, and a 
life of toil and honest effort has been rewarded with 
the confidence and esteem of his fellow-men. His 

IBy Kzra S. Stearns. 



success has been earned. Alone in the world at 
fifteen years of age, his only capital was courage and 
a willingness to work. Among a nation of strangers 
he found in our American institutions and our New 
England customs a welcome denied to the foreigner 
in every other land. Young Culley appreciated the 
conditions, and from that hour, in every thought, 
aspiration and purpose, he was as thoroughly an 
American as any native born. Mr. Culley is pre- 
eminently one of the products of a benign and liberal 
government and the type of a successful career, the 
counterpart of which is not found elsewhere. The 
poor boy, unaided by friends and the supporting in- 
fluences of wealth, seldom succeeds in any other 
country, and only in America does the invitation to 
industry, morality and good citizenship extend to 
the ambitious youth of every land. 

In characteristics Mr. Culley is free from ostentation 
and is frank and direct in his methods. His impulses 
are quick and generous, his sympathies are universal, 
and his affections are tender and loyal. While toler- 
ant of the opiniou and liberal in his estimate of other 
men, he adheres closely to his own conclusions, and 
in his administration of public affairs he has been 
conservative and safe. Unconsciously these outlines 
present many traits and elements of a model citizen, 
and in his success is found an incentive to an honest 
purpose, to loyalty to friends aod to country, and to 
faithfulness in the discharge of public trusts. 

In his domestic relations Mr. Culley has been fortu- 
nate and happy. He married, October 5, 1862, Martha 
A. Redman. They have six children — three sons and 
three daughters— aged from twelve to twenty-four 
years. 

Mr. Culley became connected with the Masons in 
1866, and with the Odd Fellows in 1862, and has been 
a prominent member of both fraternities. In both 
organizations he has been honored with the post of 
District Deputy Grand Master. 



SYLVANUS SAWYER. 

Sylvanus Sawyer, an eminent inventor and mechan- 
ical engineer, was born in Templeton, Massachusetts, 
April 15, 1822. •"The family is of Saxon ancestry, who 
came to England with William the Conqueror." The 
name, it is claimed, is derived from the invention and 
introduction of mills to saw by power, and in America 
the name of Sawyer has been associated with mills 
and a variety of manufactures in every generation. 
The emigrant ancestor, Thomas Sawyer, settled in 
Charlestown (now Somerville) and removed to Lancas- 
ter about 1650. He married Mary Prescott and died 
1706. His son, Thomas Sawyer, Jr., born 1648, lived 
in Lancaster, where he died 1736. In 1705 Thomas 
Sawyer, Jr., and his son Elias were captured by the 
Indians and taken to Canada. The mechanical genius 
of the family secured the freedom of the captives. 
Here the elder Sawyer observed, on the river where 



324 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



they were confined, fine seats for mills, and propo.-ied 
to the French Governor that he would build arpill on 
condition the captives were released. This arrange- 
ment was consummated and the Sawyers returned to 
Lancaster. Elias Sawyer, a descendant of the genera- 
tions named, removed to Templeton, where, following 
the proclivities of his family for mechanical pursuits, 
he built one of the early mills of the town. His son, 
John Sawyer, the father of Sylvanus, was a farmer 
and a lumber dealer, but also owned and conducted a 
mill. He was a natural mechanic, doing his own car- 
pentering, coopering and stone work, and later he sup- 
plemented his facilities for miscellaneous work with 
a lathe and a forge. Tn the midst of such influences 
and surroundings Sylvanus at an early age manifested 
a predilection for mechanics and invention. With 
equal aptnesss he designed and made many articles of 
utility and the playthings and trinkets of youth. 
One of the results of his earlier studies was a water- 
wheel which has since been made and sold under 
another name. This was followed by designs for a 
reed organ, a screw propeller, a hand car operated by 
foot-power, a steam-engine and many minor inven- 
tions. Having neither means nor experience to utilize 
the iruits of his early thought, the most of them still 
slumber in his mind. 

In youth his health was feeble, and in search of 
some light employment he went to Augusta, Me., at 
the age of seventeen and began work in a gun-smith 
shop. Ill health compelled him to return home, but 
he brought with him some knowledge of a trade which 
found exercise in the manufacture of guns and 
pistols and some of original design. With such em- 
ployments and assisting as health permitted in the 
work on his father's farm, he reached his majority. 
His early educational advantages were limited, but 
with habits of study and research and by working 
out his own problems, aided by a judicious selection 
of books, he is well equipped for the duties of life 
and easily excels in his favorite lines of research. In 
his early experience, in the denial of privileges in his 
youth and in the many embarrassments in his way, 
Mr. Sawyer has found an apprenticeship which has 
given him discipline and courage that has led the 
way to the substantial achievements of his life. 

In 1844, or soon after he had reached his majority, he 
sought employment in Boston and was employed for 
a short time in a copper-smith shop. Subsequently 
he remained a year with Jones & Hobbs, manufac- 
turers of locks and house trimmings. Here he de- 
vised improvements in several processes of the manu- 
facture, and to him was entrusted the manufacture of 
the tools peculiar to the work, and which formerly 
had been made by specialists at considerable expense. 
Returning to his home in Templeton, his attention 
was first called to the cane or rattan business in the 
winter of 1845-46. Mr. William Wood, a cane-worker 
of Phillipston, seeking the services of an expert in 
the manufacture of some tools peculiar to the pro- 



cesses then employed in working the cane, came to Mr. 
Sawyer for advice and assistance, Comprehending 
the matter at once, Mr. Sawyer informed his visitor 
the process then employed was faulty, that all the 
operations could be performed at once, and with a 
machine operated by power. To this broad assertion 
Mr. Wood replied that it could not be done, that the 
ingenuity of many skilled mechanics had been ex- 
hausted, and thousands of dollars had been expended 
in useless and unproductive experiments. The faith 
of Mr. Sawyer remained unimpaired. In his mind 
the problem had been solved already. With a clear 
conception of the working principles of the future 
invention, Mr. Sawyer visited the shop of Mr. Wood 
and witnessed the different ojierations employed in 
reducing a stick of cane to the finished product. 
Beside scouring, straightening, and the slow whit- 
tling at the joints, there were eighteen manipulations. 
While witnessing these slow and laborious operations, 
to his former conception he added a device for scraping 
the joints in the strand, instead of whittling them off 
in the slick, and combining it with the process of 
gauging. This last device was immediately expressed 
in a machine which was a success, and which saved 
annually one hundred dollars on aman's labor. While 
he was maturing plans and making application of his 
conception of the more important machine for split- 
ting cane, of which the scraper was to be a sectional 
part, he made and sold several of these machines lor 
scraping the strand. Having matured the designs, 
and realizing the need of greater skill and experience 
as a machinist, before putting them into practical 
form, Mr. Sawyer sought and obtained employment 
in the then celebrated steam-engine manufactory of 
Otis Tufts, in Boston. Here he secured the confi- 
dence of his employers and the esteem of his asso- 
ciates, and soon was placed in charge of the most 
important work, with men under him many years his 
senior in experience. In this service his ingenuity 
and his ability to abridge processes found frequent 
exercise. At the completion of the stipulated term 
of service, he returned to Templeton to prosecute his 
invention. At this time, the winter of 1848-49, his 
elder brother, Joseph B. Sawyer, who was then em- 
ployed in a mill and machine-shop at Palmer, Mass., 
for an interest in the patents, proposed to furnish 
needed funds aud to assist in the construction of 
models and experimental machines. The proposition 
was accepted. In the autumn of 1849 he returned to 
Templeton, bringing with him a set of cutting- 
machines and models of the same, and an experi- 
mental scraper. The patent was issued November 13, 
1849, and a half-interest was assigned to his brother. 
The machines were set up for exhibition in the shop 
of his father. For motive-poWer, a man was employed 
to turn a crank. 

The scraper made at Palmer proved defective. Un- 
daunted, Mr. Sawyer immediately made new drawings, 
and at Athol constructed another machine after his 





^^^z^^ 



'"^ ^ 6^-'^.c>-^^i^-e.^ 



FITCHBURG. 



325 



original design. The machines with this scraper 
were successfully operated until they were worn out 
beyond repair, and success crowned the issue. The 
prophecy of Mr. Wood and other cane-workers that 
this end could not be reached had come to naught. 
The early experimenters had vainly attempted to cut 
down and through the hard, siliceous enameled sur- 
face of the cane with saws, spurs, loups and dies. The 
result was that the cutting points, in the pa«sage at 
fair speed of a stick of cane, became hot, and soon cut 
off and the saws worn smooth. The invention of Mr. 
Sawyer, assisted by many niechauical devices, them- 
selves inventions, is founded upon the device of cut- 
ting under the enamel and outward, raising the 
strand so that when the receding edge of the spur or 
lip, that divides the surface into strands, reaches the 
surface, the enamel already has been parted 
without injury to the cutting points. Here is found 
the key to the situation. This idea dominates all 
chair cane-cutting machines, including the tubular 
spurred cutter, as firmly as the Howe method of put- 
ting the eye in the point of the needle dominates all 
cloth-sewing machines of the past and the present. In 
the spring of^l850 Mr. Sawyer invented another ma- 
chine for cutting cane, which he judged might have 
some advantages over his first method. Having con- 
structed an apparatus to test his invention, he put it 
aside for future consideration. In the mean time 
many interested parties had been accorded the privi- 
lege of examining the new invention, and among 
these were Levi Heywood, of Gardner, and an uncle, 
Joseph Sawyer, of Eoyalston, who subsequently ap- 
plied for a patent. 

Mr. Sawyer immediately proved a priority of inven- 
tion, and to him a patent was issued June 24, 1851, 
while the application of his uncle was rejected. As 
an item of history in connection with these patents it 
is necessary to add that, upon a modified claim, a 
patent was issued to the uncle in 1854, which failed 
to meet the purpose of its design. With his attention 
continually directed to this business, Mr. Sawyer 
devised a machine for scouring cane in large quantity 
by power, which superseded the former process of 
scouring small quantities with broom, soap and sand. 
In the autumn of 1850 the brothers, Sylvanus and 
Joseph B. Sawyer, rented a shop with power in East 
Templeton, and, with their new machinery, began the 
manufacture of cane for the use of chair-makers. In 
1851 Sylvanus invented a new machine for shaving 
the strands and trimming the edges with great rapidity. 
It was subsequently modified and adapted to the 
tubular spurred cutter mentioned hereafter, and 
patented December 12, 1854. The enterprise at East 
Templeton established the merit of the machines, and 
from a business standpoint they were successful and 
remunerative. A stock company was organized in 
April, 1852, known as the American Rattan Company, 
aud the business wa-s removed to Fitchburg. The 
Sawyer patents were assigned to the corporation, and 



an extensive business was continued under the super- 
intendence of Mr. Sawyer, who also was one of the 
directors. About this time a rival company was 
organized by Levi Heywood itnd others, and began 
business, with the Uncle Joseph patents, in Boston. 
By a vote of a majority of the American Rattan 
Companj' the two companies were consolidated. This 
action was strenuously opposed by Mr. Sawyer and 
others, and in the end their judgment was sustained 
by the facts. The machines of the Boston company 
were of little value, the manufactured cane was com- 
paratively worthless, and an inheritance of debt was 
the prominent item of the assets which the Boston 
company brought to the treasury of the Ameiican 
Rattan Company. By this arrangement the stock of 
the old company was doubled and no material benefits 
were secured. March 7, 1854, a patent on a tubular 
spurred cutter was issued to Addison M. Sawyer, the 
youngest brother of Sylvanus. He bad been employed 
by his elder brothers at Templeton, and subsequently 
by the American Rattan Company, at Fitchburg. 

It appears that each of the three brothers had been 
conducting experiments in this direction, but Addi- 
son claimed and probably was entitled to priority, and 
to him the patent was issued. A third interest was 
immediately assigned to the brothers named. In 
connection with the machines owned by the Ameri- 
can Rattan Company, this patent would be valuable, 
and doubly so, if a shave could be adapted to com- 
plete the work; but of little value to the brothers 
without the company's scraper and such a shave. 
Mr. Sawyer at once went to the shop in Athol, where 
he had solved many problems, and there remodeled 
the shave to meet the new demand. As previously 
stated, the remodeled shave was patented in 1854. 
The improvements he introduced at this time in- 
cluded another knife, which reduced the strand for the 
shaving-knife, and a scraper with a spring weighted 
block, which pressed the strand upon the cutter. At 
this time he devised a feeding apparatus for the cutter 
and a new guide to present the stick of cane centrally 
to the cutter and other improvements for handling 
the strands parted by the cutter. 

With these improved equipments the three brothers 
— Sylvanus, Joseph B. and Addison M. Sawyer — re- 
sumed business at East Templeton, but they soon sold 
the business and assigned the new patents to the 
American Rattan Company. Mr. Sawyer again re- 
moved to Fitchburg, and assumed the oversight of the 
setting up of the new machines and the training of 
the help in the new processes. In June, 1855, he re- 
ceived a patent on an invention for splitting the rod 
of cane into sectional strips, removing the strand 
from each strip and rounding for reeds the triangular 
part remaining. Having realized his most sanguine 
expectations, Mr. Sawyer retired from the active man- 
agement of the business and directed his attention 
mainly to other fields of study and investigation. As 
early as 1853 he had invented improvements in rifled 



326 



HISTORY OF WOKCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



cannon projectiles, which were patented in 1855, 
and subsequently were patented in England and in 
France. 

These embrace the placing a coating of lead, or 
some softer metal than that of which the iron body is 
composed, on the rear or frusto-conical end of the shell, 
and the same extended, or not, over the sides of the 
same, which is expanded laterally by the discharge, 
and preventing "windage" on the passage of the gas 
by the projectile, also filling the grooves of the rifling 
and obviating the necessity of helical projections; and 
the arrangement in the point of a percussion cap or 
fuse so as to insure the explosion of the shell on im- 
pact and the soldering of the soft metal to the shot. 

In 1857 and 1858 Mr. Sawyer, with his brother Ad- 
dison (to whom an interest in the patents had been 
conveyed), conducted experiments on his inventions 
at their own expense, in order to demonstrate the 
practicability of rifled cannon and projectiles to the 
United States Ordnance Bureau, the Chief of Ordnance 
refusing to be at any expense, sayiug that they had 
already spent mints of money on these visionary 
schemes, ihat the subject was exhausted, and that 
rifle cannon was impracticable; but after learning of 
their previous tests, and that they had their own guns 
and ammunition, he readily ordered a trial and an in- 
vestigation of Mr. Sawyer's invention, which, after 
thorough test, proved eminently successful, the Secre- 
tary of War (who witnessed two trials) declaring 
that the practicability of rifle cannon and i)rojectiles 
had at last been demonstrated. This trial resulted in 
the ordering of another trial, with heavy ordnance, at 
Fortress Monroe, before a board of government oiB- 
cers, and a report was submitted recommending 
in view of the superiority of the Sawyer projectile in 
accuracy over all others of which official information 
had been received, and of its simplicity and the cer- 
tainty of the fuse bursting the shell after penetration, 
that four field-guns be issued to one or more batteries 
for practice with the Sawyer projectiles for one year; 
but before this order was carried into eflTect the Civil 
War was upon us, and these experimental guns were 
turned upon the enemy with great efl'ect. The forty- 
two-pounders (rifle) columbiads were mounted at New- 
port News and ui)(>n the Rip Raps (Fort Wool), the 
latter being the only guns there that could reach 
Sewell's Point Battery, a distance of three and one- 
half miles, which they did with great accuracy, and 
made fearful havoc with the railroad iron-clad bat- 
teries at the capturing of Sewell's Point, Norfolk, 
Gosport, etc., and an eightecn-pounder Sawyer rifle 
did great execution on board the steamer " Fanny." 

Notwithstanding the great range and accuracy of 
the Sawyer guos and projectiles, and the certainty of 
the operation of their fuse, the ordnance officers did 
not seem to manifest that enthusiasm that was exhib- 
ited by the old artillery officers, and they seemed to 
rather stand aloof, and look askance upon Mr. Sawyer's 
invention. 



This state of affairs was soon explained by an ord- 
nance officer, who was later on appointed chief of 
the Ordnance Bureau at Washington, coming for- 
ward to compete before the Sawyer board with a pro- 
jectile that directly infringed the Sawyer patent. 
They evidently did not mean to have their old ord- 
nance theories overthrown and be left out in the cold. 
Hence the Chief of Ordnance, of both the army and 
navy, soon commenced to make, or have made, large 
quantities of projectiles (principally shells) for the 
army and navy, the former having his made by a 
Mr. Knapp, of Pennsylvania, and the latter at the 
Navy Yard at Washington, and both of them infring- 
ing Mr. Sawyer's patents, or, as Government So- 
licitor Whiting said, " It is an adoption of the Sawyer 
patent." This action of the chiefs of the Ordnance 
Bureaus was very unfortunate for Mr. Sawyer, who 
was accorded little or no credit for his inventions, or 
for his " practical demonstrations," which were made 
at a heavy cost to himself of both time and money, 
and almost practically barred him out from govern- 
ment patronage, except orders from department com- 
manders who insisted upon having the Sawyer guns 
and ammunition, for whom he made quite a number 
of batteries of cast-steel guns, with shot and shell, 
besides longer guns. He appealed to the Assistant 
Secretary of War, Mr. Watson, and to the Govern- 
ment Solicitor, Mr. Whiting (both former patent 
lawyers). They admitted that they were using his 
patents, and stated that under martial law the gov- 
ernment had a right to take and use what they 
pleased by recompensing the owner ; " but this did not 
apphj to fjficers as individuals," and advised him to 
wait till the war was over and then seek redress, his 
claim being good for six years thereafter ; but Chief 
Dahlgreu, of the navy, died during, or soon after, the 
war ; Chief Dyer died a little later, and Mr. Knapp, 
who made the ''Dyer projectiles'' /o;- /;/>«, followed 
soon after, so that there was no one left whom he 
could prosecute for these infringements, or compel 
the yielding of the credit that belonged to him. In 
1861 Mr. Sawyer invented a Fuse Hood for centra- 
ting fire upon a time fuse, also a Ijoading Mandrel 
for filling case shot, both of which were patented 
December 24th the same year, and in August, 1862, 
he and his brother, Addison M., took out a patent 
jointly for a Combination Fuse, and on December 17, 
1862, he bought his brother's interest in his patents. 

In 1864-65 Mr. Sawyer built a large brick shop 
which he designed mainly for the manufacture of 
ordnance, and was negotiating with Mexico, Brazil 
and Chili, as well as our own country, for ordnance 
supplies; but all four of the wars ended about the 
same time and the shop is now occupied by the 
Fitchburg Machine Works. 

In 1867 he took out a patent on Dividers and Cali- 
pers, and March 3, 1868, a Steam Generator ; May 
26th, same year, an improved Rattan Machine, and 
July 7, 1868, he took another for Calipers and 





'ez-^x-^ 



FITCHBURG. 



327 



Dividers. In 1876 Sawyer & Esty patented a Sole 
Sewing Machine. About this time Mr. Sawyer com- 
menced to start a watch factory in Fitchburg and 
had got considerable of the stock taken in the enter- 
prise and the tools substantially done when the 
" hard times " set in, which compelled many to with- 
draw their subscription ; hence he concluded to give 
up the enterprise and turned his attention to the 
manufacture of watch tools, in which business he 
continued till he moved the business to New York 
and formed a stock company, in 1881, and subse- 
quently sold out his interest. On July 10, 1882, a 
patent was issued to him for a Centring Watchmaker's 
Lathe, which he manufactured in connection with 
other tools. 

Resting from his labors, Mr. Sawyer has practically 
retired from active business, renting his shops. He 
has manifested a love for horticultural pursuits and 
a deep interest in progressive farming. His labor 
has been onerous and his achievements substantial. 
Through many years of constant use his inventions 
in cane machinery have permitted no improvements 
and still remain substantially as they left his hand. 
They have revolutionized an important industry and 
transferred it from the pestilential climate of South- 
ern India and from Japan and Holland to this coun- 
try, offering ample dividends to capital employed and 
aflording employment to many people. And we may 
add that his inventions in rifle cannon and projectiles 
has been perhaps equally revolutionary. 



ANDREW B. SHERMAN. 

The subject of this sketch was born in Plympton, 
Mass., April 10, 1829. His father, Capt. Zacchseus 
Sherman, followed the sea fourteen years, and com- 
manded a vessel about twelve years. 

Capt. Sherman was twice married. His first wife 
was Jane Bradford, by whom he had two sons and two 
daughters ; the second wife was Nancy Bartlett, of 
Plymouth, by whom he had two sons, Andrew B. and 
Algernon Sidney. 

Andrew B. Sherman was educated in the district 
and private schools of his native town, and, after 
reaching the age of eight years, worked diligently dur- 
ing vacations — in summer on the farm and in winter 
in the saw-mills, and helping team lumber, &c., in 
which his father then dealt extensively. 

With the exception of one winter, during which he 
worked in the store of his uncle, the late Zacchreus 
Parker, he passed his time thus until the age of 
twenty, acquiring the habits of industry which have 
so strongly characterized his whole business career. 

In 1849 he left home and entered the country store 
of J. M. Harrub, of North Plympton, where for two 
years and ten months he worked from fourteen to six- 
teen hours per day, attending carefully to all parts of 
the business. He rendered valuable assistance in 
keeping the books and also in attending to finishing 



and shipping goods in the shoe manufactory which 
Mr. Harrub operated. 

Though the original engagement with Mr. Harrub 
was but for a few months, Mr. Sherman's interest in 
the business was so great and his services so valuable, 
that his employer induced him to remain with him 
for the period above mentioned, at the expiration of 
which time Mr. Sherman, having determined to make 
the dry goods trade his business, went to Boston to 
endeavor to secure a position where, with much better 
opportunities to learn the whole business, he might 
fit himself to enter upon it on his own account, if he 
so desired. 

Upon his arrival in Boston he called on Mr. Wil- 
liam F. Brett, who introduced him to his recent part- 
ner, Mr. Samuel Ellis, of Samuel Ellis & Co., 131 and 
133 Federal Street, and Mr. Sherman at once entered 
the employ of this firm. Here he formed the acquaint- 
ance of Mr. Luther J. Brown, who later came to Fitch- 
burg, but who was then in the employ of Samuel Ellis 
&Co. 

About this time the firm began to close out the 
stocks of several out-of-town stores owned by them, 
and also to dispose of superfluous stock. Mr. Sher- 
man was soon sent to Medford with a stock. Here 
he remained six months, applying himself early and 
late, sleeping in the store most of the nights. 

From Medford he went to Duxbury, where he 
stayed about the same length of time, meeting with 
good success in both places, selling a large amount of 
goods and making money, while one of his employ- 
ers, Mr. Moore, with an assistant, sold a less amount 
and lost money at a store in South Abington. 

Mr. Sherman then took charge of the East Abing- 
ton store for the next two years, as general salesman 
in dry goods, carpets, clothing, millinery, furniture, 
crockery, etc. 

At the expiration of this time, the firm being finan- 
cially embarrassed, Mr. Sherman went to Dover, N. 
H., with a large stock of dry goods. Here he stayed 
six months, sending to the firm one-third more 
money per week than had been calculated upon. 

In Dover Mr. Sherman, by close attention to busi- 
ness and unostentatious manners, gained the respect 
and formed the acquaintance of nearly all in the 
front ranks of business and society in the place. As 
an expression of regard at the time he left Dover, he 
was tendered a reception and presented with a hand- 
some gold seal-ring, upon which was inscribed the 
names of some of the prominent young men of the 
place ; and since then this pleasant friendship has 
been kept up by both parties. 

Mr. Sherman then engaged as general salesman at 
the East Abington store for about a year, and in 
February, 1855, came to Fitchburg to dispose of a 
stock of dry goods. Here, although located in the 
" Old City," a half-mile from the other three dry-goods 
stores in town, he was fairly successful, and enjcjyed a 
liberal share of the trade from all parts of the town. 



328 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



At the end of six months, believing that Fitchburg 
would in time be a prosperous city, Mr. Sherman 
purchased the stock of goods of his employers, and, 
with what money he had saved during his clerkship, 
commenced on his own account. 

One of his salesmen was Mr. L. J. Brown, with 
whom he soon formed a partnership, which lasted 
about three years. In the meantime Mr. Brown 
married, and it was thought best to dissolve the part- 
nership ; and for the past thirty years Mr. Sherman 
has carried on his prosperous business alone. 

He paid close attention to his business, and the 
opportunities made possible by the condition of the 
markets during the Civil War made it quite profitable, 
—buying largely when goods were offered at less than 
it was then possible to make them, storing them and 
selling on a high market. As profits accumulated, he 
invested tbem in securities, v/hicli, in most cases, 
appreciated as well as paid interest. 

At several different times, as more room was needed, 
the store was enlarged, until 1870, when he moved 
into his present commodious store, in the then new 
Rollstone Bank building. At that time he added a 
stock of carpets, to which he gave much study and 
attention. 

In November, 1867, he established a dry-goods 
store in Wincheudon, which was profitably operated 
until November, 1885, when it was sold to W. A. 
Sanford & Son, of Brockton, being then located in 
the I. M. Murdock block. 

Mr. Sherman has, at times, invested the earnings 
of his business in shipping, having been part owner 
in eight diflerent three-masted schooners engaged in 
the coasting trade, one of them bearing his name. 

He has always manifested kind feelings towards his 
competitors and neighboring merchants, and has at 
various times, aided tbem without extra remunera- 
tion. 

In 1878 Mr. Sherman married Miss Clara Belle, 
daughter of Mr. Jonathan Moody, of Claremont, 
N. H., and has three fine boys. 

He has, for many years, been a trustee of the Wor- 
cester North Savings Institution, and a director of 
the Wachusett National Bank since its incorporation, 
and one of its largest stockholders. 

Mr. Sherman served one year in the Common 
Council, and two years in the Board of Aldermen. 
He has, during his long residence in Fitchburg, 
gained the respect and esteem of the community, 
which he well deserves. 



H. A. BLOOD. 

Hiram Albro Blood was born in Townsend, Mass., 
February 3, 1833, and was the son of Ezra and Lydia 
Ann (Jefis) Blood ; received an academical educa- 
tion in the town of his birth, and lived thereuntil the 
age of eighteen, at which age he went to Worcester in 
search of employment. 



At the age of twenty he entered the commission- 
house of Bliss, Sutton & Co., in Worcester, Mass., as 
a clerk, and became a member of the firm in 1854, at 
which time he opened a branch house in Fitchburg, 
and went there to live and has resided there ever 
since. 

In 1857 he dissolved his connection with Bli.ss, Sut- 
ton & Co., and entered into a copartnership with 
William 0. Brown, of Fitchburg, under the name 
of Blood & Brown, which existed until 1860, when 
Mr. Brown withdrew to enter the United States 
army, becoming a major of the Twenty-fifth Regi- 
ment, and a new firm was formed under the name of 
H. A. Blood & Co., which continued to carry on the 
business. 

In 1865 Mr. Blood withdrew from all mercantile 
pursuits and became entirely interested in railroads, 
to the construction and operation of which he has 
ever since given his time and attention. 

In 1865 he became connected with the Fitchburg 
and Worcester Railroad as a director and as its super- 
intendent and general manager. 

He afterwards built, or was largely instrumental in 
building, the Boston, Clinton and Fitchburg, the 
Framinghara and Lowell, the Mansfield and Fram- 
ingham, and the Fall River Railroads, of which he 
successively became superintendent and general man- 
ager, and afterwards united and consolidated them, to- 
gether with the New Bedford and Taunton, and the 
Taunton Branch Railroads, into one system, under the 
name of the Boston, Clinton, Fitchburg and New 
Bedford Railroad Company, reaching from Fitchburg 
and Lowell in tlie north, to Mansfield, Taunton, New 
Bedford and Fall River in the southern part of the 
State. 

This system of railroads was for a time operated by 
Mr. Blood as general manager, and was afterwards 
united and consolidated with the Old Colony Railroad 
Company, of which it now forms an important part. 

In the construction of these railroads, and in their 
subsequent operation and consolidation, Mr. Blood 
was the moving and directing spirit. 

In 1875 he procured the charter for the Wachusett 
National Bank, of Fitchburg, obtaining all the sub- 
scriptions to its capital stock, established the bank 
and liecame its first vice-president. 

He was the third mayor of Fitchburg, and was first 
elected by the Boardof Aldermen and Common Coun- 
cil November 2, 1875, to fill out the unexpired term 
of Eugene T. Miles, and, at the subsequent annual 
election in December, he was elected by the people, 
and was inaugurated January, 1876, and filled the 
office of mayor for one year and two months. 

He is now chiefly interested in railroads in the 
State of Ohio, being tlie president of the Cleveland 
and Canton Railroad Company in that State, which 
position he has held since May, 1884, but he still re- 
tains his residence in Fitchburg, where he has an 
office as well as an office in Boston, Mass. 



FITCHBURG. 



329 



It can truly be snid of Mr. Blond, that he is one of 
Worcester County's representative men. 



HENRY A. GOODRICH. 

The name of Goodridge, or, as it is now commonly 
spelled, Goodrich, has been very closely identified 
with the history of Fitchburg ever since the incor- 
poration of the town. 

David Goodridge, one of the original settlers of the 
town, was deacon of the First Church in Fitchburg 
and a member of the First Provincial Congress. Like 
most of his fellow-townsmen, he was possessed of but 
limited means, but his sterling worth and integrity 
and his belief in the dignity and efficacy of honest 
toil made him an influential citizen and caused him 
to be often called to fill positions of trust and honor 
in the little colonial town of Fitchburg. Succeeding 
generations have kept the family name in the same 
good repute, and two of Deacon Goodridge's great- 
grandsons — Alonzo P. and John Goodrich — have spent 
their long and honorable lives of usefulness in our 
midst. The former is still with us in the enjoyment 
of a hale and hearty old age, but John Goodrich, the 
father of the subject of this sketch, died in this city 
in April, 1888, at the age of nearly eighty years. 

Henry A. Goodrich, the eldest son of John and 
Mary A. (Blake) Goodrich, was born in Fitchburg, 
November 22, 1830. His early education was ob- 
tained in the district schools of the town, and later 
he attended the Fitchburg Academy and the Fitch- 
burg High School. 

He was one of the eight boys who attended during 
the first term of the High School, and the only one of 
the eight who remained permanently in Fitchburg. 
In 1849 he took a position as overseer in a woolen- 
mill, and in the course of the next four years saved 
money enough to start in business for himself. 

In January, 1855, he entered upon his successful 
mercantile life by buying out a hat and furnishing 
store under the Fitchburg Hotel. Here he remained 
until 1869, when he removed to his branch store, es- 
tablished some years previously, in Belding & 
Dickinson's Block. He had also, in the mean time, 
started another branch store in Brattleboro', Vt. In 
January, 1885, he moved into his present elegant and 
commodious quarters in E. M. Dickinson's new brick 
block, where, as senior partner, we now find him at 
the head of one of the finest and best regulated 
clothing and furnishing establishments in New Eng- 
land. 

Mr. Goodrich married, in December, 1856, Miss 
Harriet Stebbins, daughter of John Stebbins, Esq., of 
Vernon, Vt. He has one son, William Henry, and 
one daughter, Mrs. W. L. Humes. 

In addition to his mercantile pursuits, Mr. Good- 
rich has been largely interested in real estate opera- 
tions in Fitchburg. He was, at one time, half owner 
of the "L. J. Brown Block,'' and sold his interest to 



Mr. Brown. In 1868 he bought the American House 
property, and later erected two large blocks on Day 
Street, one of which bears the name of " Goodrich 
Block." He sold the American House in 1874, and 
became a stockholder and director in the Haskins 
Machine Company, which proved to be a disastrous 
venture. 

Like many other active and ambitious men, he has 
encountered reverses, but, by energy, perseverance and 
industry, has quickly overcome them, and started 
anew with a fresh determination to win success. 

During the War of the Rebellion Mr. Goodrich was 
the treasurer of the Fitchburg " Bounty Fund,'' and 
collected and disbursed over $20,000, the greater por- 
tion of which was afterward refunded by the town. 
After the terrible battles of the Wilderness in 1864 
he was sent by the town, with Dr. Alfred Hitchcock 
and E. B. Hayward, to look after the sick and 
wounded Fitchburg soldiers in the hospitals at Fred- 
ericksburg and Washington. A reference to the files 
of the Fitchburg Sentinel about that time will show 
how thoroughly and conscientiously he performed his 
full share of the sad duty. 

Mr. Goodrich has also been for many years a fre- 
quent contributor to the press on current topics. 
During the great "Silver Discussion," in 1878, he 
wrote a series of communications, which appeared in 
the Fitchburg Sentinel over the signature of " Inquirer," 
favoring the passage of the Bland Silver Bill. These 
communications were written in a clear and forcible 
style, and showed a thoroughly business-like familiar- 
ity with, as well as careful study of, the subject in 
hand. A correspondent of the Boston Herald said of 
these articles at the time, — " Our bankers and busi- 
ness men are considerably exercised at the appearance 
of a series of letters in the Sentinel, the past week or 
two, favoring the passage of the Bland Silver Bill. 
The Sentinel opposes the sentiments of these commu- 
nications editorially, but it is beginning to be evident 
that the unknown writer is more than a match for the 
newspaper men, at least in vigorous style, mastery of 
the arts of logic and power of special pleading.'' 

In politics Mr. Goodrich has never been, in any 
sense, an extreme partisan. In early life he was a 
stanch believer in, and advocate of, anti-slavery prin- 
ciples. He served on the first " Free-Soil Town Com- 
mittee" with Moses Wood, Charles Mason and Henry 
A. Willis. His first vote was for John P. Hale for 
President. He has been a Republican since the party 
was organized ; but, being naturally independent, has 
not always fully acquiesced in every political measure 
advocated or adopted by that party. As a rule he has 
supported Republican candidates. 

In 1869 and 1870 Mr. Goodrich represented his 
native town in the Legislature, being elected thereto 
as the Republican candidate, and served two years on 
the Hoosac Tunnel committee during the most im- 
portant epoch in the history of the great tunnel enter- 
prise. 



330 



HISTOKY OF WOKCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



At the organization of the city government he 
served on the Board of Assessors, and for several j-ears 
was one of the trustees of the Public Library. In 
1885 he was the Citizens' candidate for mayor, though 
practically a temperance man, but shared the fate of 
the entire Citizens' ticket, which was that year swept 
away by a tidal wave of radical prohibition. 

He was active in organizing the Fitchburg Board 
of Trade, and was one of its first vice-presidents. He 
has been one of the managers of the Massachusetts 
Mutual Aid Society from its organization, and in 1887 
was elected its president. In 1887 he was also presi- 
dent of the Merchants' Association and of the Ameri- 
can Pruning Company. 

He is one of the trustees of the Worcester North 
Savings Institution, and a director of the Fjtchburg 
Park Association. 

Mr. Goodrich has always led a busy, active life, and 
has ever been ready to aid in the forwarding of all 
projects tending to increase and strengthen the pros- 
perity of his native town ; and his high mercantile 
and social standing is the result of integrity, energy 
and perseverance. 



CHAPTER LII. 
BARRE. 

BY MATTHEW WAI,KER. 

Bahre is situated in the westerly part of Worcester 
County, about twenty-one miles northwesterly of 
Worcester, and is fifty-six miles from Boston by an 
old turnpike road, or by the Central Massachusetts 
Railroad sixty-one miles. It is in forty-two degrees 
and twenty-six minutes north latitude, and the eleva- 
tion of its Common in the centre of the town is nine 
hundred and ten feet above the mean level of the sea. 
The towship is nearlydiamond shaped, its sides being 
very regular, two of them being about six and one- 
half miles long each, the other two about six and 
one-fourth miles each, containing an area of about 
torty-one square miles. This very regular plot seems 
to have been educed from the similar shape of the 
original grant of land of which it forms a part. 

The early records inform us that the proprietors of 
Rutland voted, in 1715, to survey and set off into lots 
the contents of six miles square, to be granted to 
settlers in order to secure the performance of the 
conditions in the original confirmation of the title. 

The surface is hilly, its soil a subsoil of clay with a 
loamy overlaying, thus forming a compact stratum 
of the nature of hardpan ; it is very fertile, mak- 
ing it desirable, productive and valuable. In popu- 
lation, according to the census of 1885, it ranks 
thirty-second in the county, while in the relative 
proportion of its farm products it is third in rank, 
Worcester and P'itchburg surpassing it. It is es- 



sentially an agricultural town, the formation of the 
soil being such as admirably fits it for tillage, mow- 
ing and pasturage, the hay crop amounting in value 
to about seventy-five thousand dollars per annum, 
and its dairy products to an equal sum, or, for the 
year 1885, to seventy-five thousand nine hundred and 
sixty-seven dollars. The valuation of the town, as 
returned by the assessors for 1888, is one million 
three hundred and eighty-five thousand and seventy- 
five dollars. 

Its undulating surface affords picturesque views, 
and the highways, hard and well cared for, furnish 
fine drives, showing the well-preserved farm-houses 
and other buildings, as well as the beautiful struc- 
tures of the centre village and the more thickly- 
settled portions of the town, buildings kept neatly 
painted, and, with a background of living green, 
presenting an attractive appearance. 

The town is well wooded and watered, the princi- 
pal streams being the Ware River, which runs through 
the east and southerly portions, furnishing a water- 
power of considerable capacity ; the Cannestow and 
Burnshirt Rivers in the east part, the latter having 
several mill powers ; Pleasant Brook, a romantic and 
beautiful stream, partially concealed by forests, then 
leaping forth and glittering in the sunlight, and with 
its rugged bed and stony or mosiy banks, attracting 
the gaze of the saunterer and inviting him to follow 
its windings; Prince River, which has its source in 
the north part, small streams flowing into and form- 
ing an artificial reservoir, covering about sixty acres, 
running almost directly south, having a number of 
water-powers which are used for various purposes ; 
Dick's Brook, near the centre, flowing southerly and 
easterly, presenting a wild and romantic view as it 
turns with its swift current and considerable fall, 
leaping onward to Prince River ; Hill Brook, Silver 
Brook and other small streams, from their rugged 
and picturesque surroundings, serving to attract the 
attention of the mere stroller or the disciple of the 
piscatorial art ; Moose Brook, in the westerly part, 
rising to the north and flowing southerly through a 
number of fertile and highly cultivated farms, pre- 
senting to the lover of nature opportunities for a 
stroll upon its banks that will repay him for his time 
and exertion. All these streams find their way into 
the Ware River. 

In 1853, to increase the water-power of Prince 
River, a reservoir was constructed in the north part 
of the town ; in 1868 the dam gave way, the most 
commonly accepted opinion being that it resulted 
from the efi'ccts of lightning, the heavy body of water 
sweeping away in its course most of the manufac- 
tories on the banks of the stream, only a part of 
which have been rebuilt. A loss of about two hun- 
dred thousand dollars was entailed upon the town 
in the destruction of roads and bridges and upon 
individuals by the carrying away of their property. 

The geology of the town is not different from that 



BARKE. 



331 



of the surrouuding country, the rocks belonging to 
the Eozoic system. Bowlders abound here and there, 
and gneiss, granite and granitic gneiss form a large 
part of our natural scenery. In tlje north and 
westerly portions of the town runs a vein of stratified 
rock, which is utilized in foundations for buildings 
and for constructing walks. In the eastern and 
southern portions the division of the hills, forming a 
course for the Ware River, presents an interesting 
view to the trained or untrained eye. The wild and 
romantic scenery of the east part is worth more 
than a passing visit, and the water, dashing along its 
channel many feet below the roadway, with the sur- 
rounding wooded tracts and the green herbage, leads 
the thinking mind to a contemplation of grand and 
noble subjects. 

While our geological formation is leading us to an 
analysis of its construction, we may find, in sep- 
arate forms, some of the minerals that constitute our 
granite. We have mica, feldspar, iron pyrites, beryl 
and garnets, and of the latter some beautiful speci- 
mens have been obtained. Fine specimens of rutile 
were formerly obtained in the north and west parts, 
but of late years the diligent searches of the ama- 
teur mineralogist have gone unrewarded, so far as 
this interesting mineral is concerned. 

In the northerly part of the town is an extensive 
deposit of plastic clay, of a rich variety, tending sime- 
what to marl. Bricks were made of this quite exten- 
sively some sixty and more years ago, but as no sand 
of the proper quality with which to temper the clay 
could be obtained, except by trucking it a distance of 
several miles, the cost of manufacture was so great 
that, in the competition of trade in other towns, the 
business here became unprofitable, and was aban- 
doned. In the south part of the town a bed of clay 
was worked to great advantage fifty to sixty years ago, 
the sand required for its manufacture into bricks being 
found a short distance easterly ; but this bed ceased 
to yield a proper amount of clay, and was finally 
abandoned as " worked out." A short distance from 
this old bed it is shrewdly surmised that another de- 
posit exists, and, at a favoring time, trials will be 
made of the quality of the material. 

Under the head of topography we must refer to the 
forests of the town. The somewhat broken surface of 
the land, the natural quality of the soil, including its 
rocks, and the general inclination and the number of 
its water-courses, lead us to adopt the theory that this 
was not, in its primitive days, an unbroken wilder- 
ness ; that the land in a large proportion of the pres- 
ent township was well wooded is indisputable, and the 
early settler here found his way hither, and by mark- 
ing trees could retrace his path with much less diffi- 
culty. In subsequent years the forests became one of 
the sources of a livelihood in the way of clearing the 
timber, not only for obtaining improved land, but for 
the manufacture of pot and pearl-ashes, and these were 
made in considerable quantities, the towns to the south 



of us furnishing excellent markets for these pro- 
ducts. 

The elevation of the town from its southern to its 
northern extremity is quite marked, the difi'erence in 
height between the Plains and the " Common " at the 
centre being, as furnished from the minutes of rail- 
road surveyors, about three hundred feet, or an aver- 
age of about one hundred feet to the mile, and from 
the " Common " to the northerly limits ot the town, 
the ascent, though less marked, is about two hundred 
feet additional, thus making a difference in our eleva- 
tion between the extreme northern and southern 
boundaries of about five hundred feet. While there 
is so great a difference in the elevation from north to 
south, the difference from the extreme eastern to the 
western corner is but slight; hills abound from east 
to west, but the elevation finally assumed is nearly 
the same. In the north part of the town is Hawes' 
Hill, which, next to Mt. Wachusett, is the highest 
point of land in the State east of the Connecticut 
River. 

With the town of to-day so well laid out, with its 
good and numerous highways, its well-constructed 
and beautiful houses, its fertile fields and farms, and 
with a people, social, thrifty and hospitable, engaged 
in farming and business ventures of various kinds, 
the contrast now with the wooded and unsettled ter- 
rit«ry of two hundred years ago exhibits wonderful 
changes. The first time any white man traversed 
this section was in 1635, when an expedition was sent 
westerly from the Plymouth colony and penetrated 
as tar as the Connecticut River. It is very probable 
that the report of this expedition referred to the 
meadow lands and to the natural fertility of the soil, 
and, in after-years, as the settlers in the east increased 
in numbers, they coutinued to move farther westerly, 
and settled various townships in what is now Worces- 
ter County, the first settlement being at Lancaster, in 
1743. Brookfield was settled in 1073-74, and, in 1681, 
the General Court appointed a committee, who pur- 
chased a portion of the southern part of the present 
Worcester County ; December 22, 1686, old style, or 
January 2, 1687, of the present style of reckoning 
dates, the territory which now embraces Rutland, 
Oakham, Barre, Hubbardston and portions of Paxton 
and Princeton, was purchased of five Indians " dwell- 
ing in His Majesty's territory iu America," by Henry 
Willard, Joseph Rowlandson, Joseph Foster, Benja- 
min Willard and Cyprian Stevens, "in consideration 
of twenty three pounds in hand paid, and for them- 
selves and all of their heirs, executors, administrators 
and assigns, freely, fully and absolutely give, grant, 
bargain, sell, alien, enfeoffe, make over and confirm 
unto the above-named Willard and others, a certain 
tract of land, meadows, swamps, timbers, intervales, 
containing twelve miles square," the buunds being 
carefully described in the deed, and these Indians 
covenanted that they were the lawful owners of all 
the lands, " or any other matter, be it mine or mines. 



332 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



or any ore falling within this tract according to the 
butts and bounds mentioned." This was a deed of 
warranty, and was written in strong and comprehen- 
sive terms, and was acknowledged by the parties to 
the contract March 15, ltj87.' 

This purchase from the Indians was undoubtedly 
made to quiet and pacify them, the war of King 
Philip, and the massacre at Brookfield but a few years 
previously, having evidently taught the white people 
that measures of this kind were matters of policy. 
The settlers were aware that the Indians could have 
no legal title to the land, and so little value, other- 
wise than as a measure of peace and policy, was 
placed upon the deed at that time, that it was not re- 
corded for more than twenty-five years subsequently, 
or not until April 15, 1714, and then not until appli- 
cation had been made to the General Court for a con- 
firmation of the title, which act of confirmation was 
obtained February 23, 1713, but on condition that 
within seven years sixty families should be settled in 
the territory, a quantity of land to be set apart for 
the location and support of the church and schools, 
and that this grant should not encroach on any 
former grants. It will be noticed that this was not an 
act of incorporation, but merely one of confirmation 
of the title. 

Now our predecessors were in full and legal posses- 
sion of their purchase, subject to the prescribed mn- 
ditions; and to fulfill the requirements of the act so 
far as to induce the settlement of sixty families 
within the limits of the grant within the time speci- 
fied, the purchasers formed an association, or Pro- 
prietry, as it afterwards became to be called, by join- 
ing with themselves others who were persons of 
energy and influence. The association was divided 
into thirty-three shares, each proprietor having sne, 
except Joseph Foster, who had two ; the names of 
the original proprietors in this association were Jo- 
seph Foster, Mrs. Cyprian Stevens, Marj' Willard's 
heirs, Joseph Rowlandson's heirs, Simeon Willard, 
John Willard, Benjamin Willard, Joseph Willard, 
Josiah Willard's heirs. Rev. Samuel Willard's heirs, 
Henry Willard's heirs, Daniel Willard's heirs, Jona- 
than Willard's heirs, Thomas Brintnall, Nathaniel 
Howard's heirs, Robert Blood's heirs, Joshua Ed- 
mund's heirs, William Tyler, Penn Townsend, Paul 
Dudley, Addington Davenport, Adam Winthrop, 
Thomas Hutchinson, Thomas Fitch, Thomas How, 
John Chandler, William Dudley, John White, John 
Farnsworth, Peter Buckley's heirs, Moses Parker and 
Jacob Stevens. In December, 1715, these proprie- 
tors voted to survey and set oflf into lots sections of 
six miles square, these plats to be granted to settlers, 



iThis deed is a document of much value and importance, showing some- 
what tlie customs of the times, and also the clearness and sagacity with 
which the instrument is drawn ; it is too lengthy a document for inser- 
tion here ; the recorded ropy niay lie seen in the Registry of Deeds for 
Middlesex County, book Ifi, page .SlI, Worcester County not being in- 
corporated until 1731. 



in order to secure the performance of the conditions 
in the original act of the confirmation of the title; 
the first part set off contained what is now Rutland 
and a portion of Paxton, being one-fourth of the 
twelve miles square, and which had been surveyed 
the previous October by William Ward. In this por- 
tion sixty-two house lots of thirty acres each were 
laid out, which were offered to permanent settlers at 
nominal rates, and promises were given to divide the 
remainder of the land amongst them, provided that 
sixty families should settle there within the prescribed 
seven years, reserving, however, sufiicient lands for 
the use and support of the ministry and school, and 
one thousand acres, which had previously been 
granted by government to Samuel Sewall. 

When the seven years had transpired the require- 
ments had been consummated, the settlers coming 
from Boston, Lexington, Concord, Sudbury, Marl- 
borough, Framingham, Lancaster, Brookfield, and 
from Ireland. The condition of the grant having 
been fulfilled, the proprietors petitioned the General 
Court, which commenced its session the last Wed- 
nesday of May, 1722, for an act of incorporation, 
and, on the 18th of the following month, a bill 
was passed for further establishing the town of Rut- 
land, and empowering them to choose all proper 
officers, also empowering them to raise and collect 
money for defraying the necessary charges of the said 
town. 

This part of the territory was afterwards called the 
"settled part" of Rutland, and the proprietors, ful- 
filling their promises to the settlers, ceased to have 
any authority over it; the other three-fourths of the 
grant was still held by them, and was under their 
authority and jurisdiction, and to this portion their 
immediate attention was now given, and efforts 
were made to Induce families to settle in the north 
and northwest sections. Some of the families had 
settled westerly of the first section, and were living 
in the " Northwest Quarter," as it began to be called, 
and others, from time to time, came to the same 
vicinity. 

Tradition says that some were induced to locate 
here by reason of the fertile meadows, where their 
cattle could graze in summer and sufficient hay be 
cut and placed in stacks for their winter's support, 
and the same tradition relates that some of the Irish 
emigrants of Scotch descent, who had settled in and 
around Worcester, were of those who came into what 
is now Barre. It is a matter of record that James 
Caldwell was here June 6, 1739, representing the 
ownership of Great Farm No. 9, which was in the 
east part of the town, lying on the banks of the 
Cannestow and Ware Rivers. He was the eldest son 
of William and Sarah (Morison) Caldwell, who had 
emigrated from Ireland about 1719, and settled in 
Worcester, where they remained but a few years, for 
prior to 1730 they had come into this "Northwest 
Quarter." 



BARRB. 



333 



Tradition saya that James came here before his 
father, having driven cattle hither, and remaining with 
them during the following winter, living alone and 
finding shelter under a shelving rock, which is still 
seen on the farm which was the last residence of the 
late Caleb Harwood. He soon built for himself a 
cabin of atone, against which, as a protection from the 
elements and from wild beasts, he made a kind of 
palisade of split logs, and later, in 1754, built the first 
frame house ever erected in this section ; this is a 
large, two-storied house and still stands, and is in a 
good state of preservation, being located but a short 
distance from the shelving rock, or from where was 
his cabin. The Caldwells were men of rare worth 
and influence in the community ; James was killed 
in 1763, he, with one of his slaves, having t;iken 
refuge under a tree during a heavy thunder-shower. 
The tree was struck by lightning, and falling, killed 
him and broke a thigh of the negro. The spot where 
he died is marked by a stone on which the following 
inscription, now nearly illegible, waa carved : " This 
stone is erected in memory of the time when and 
place where Mr. James Caldwell died, which happened 
by the falling of a tree, July 18, 1763, in the 52d year 
of his age." 

As early as 1720 families, or representatives of fam- 
ilies, had gone nearly to the western limits of this 
Northwest Quarter. In 1726 the first known deed 
of land in this section was given, it being for a strip 
near the present residence or farm of Mr. J. N. Pat- 
terson. A few families having settled here, their 
number was increasing. November 7, 1733, by virtue 
of a warrant issued by Joseph Wilder, justice of the 
peace, the proprietors met at the Royal E,xchange 
Tavern, in Boston, and, on the fourth article in the 
warrant, voted "that the north half of said township 
(Rutland) be divided into two equal parts by a plain 
line running across the breadth of the same, and that 
the proprietors will proceed to divide the western 
part of said north half into lots, and that sixty-six 
other lots of good land of fifty acres each, as near as 
may be to the spot for a meeting-house, be htid out for 
homesteads ; and, wherever any of said sixty-six lots 
fall short in quality to be made up in quantity, and 
said sixty-six lots to be numbered, in ord^^ to be 
drawn for inconvenient time; and that convenient 
highways be at the same time laid out, so as to accom- 
modate the several lots ; and that a fair and regular 
plot of the said west part of said north half be, with 
the several lots and highways, delivered in as soon as 
may be to the proprietors at their meeting for their 
acceptance." At this meeting a tax of three hundred 
and thirty pounds was laid upon the proprietors to 
defray the expenses. Henry Lee, of Worcester, made 
application for appointment as surveyor, offering to 
do the work for one hundred pounds, but the work 
was given to Samuel Willard, a relative of some of the 
proprietors, who, in company with Lee, made the 
survey, and when completed, each signed the plans. 



In addition to the sixty-six lots of fifty acres each, 
the lot for a meeting-house and for the school, thirty- 
three Great Farms of five hundred acres each were 
plotted out, an additional number of acres being al- 
lowed to such of those where the land was of inferior 
quality. 

John Butolph, of Boston, was appointed collector 
of the tax from those of the proprietors who lived 
near Boston, he being authorized to collect the sum 
of i;248 8«. lid., and Phineas Brintnall, of Sudbury, 
was authorized to collect the balance, or £81 lis. Id. 
These Great Farms, as well as the house-lots, exceeded 
in acres the specified number, not only because some 
of the land might be of inferior quality, but also be- 
cause a desire had been expressed that good measure 
be invariably given. 

The proprietors of this Northwest Quarter now drew 
for their lots. Joseph Foster, holding two shares in 
the proprietry or association, drew Great Farm No. 
9, in the east part of the town, and No. 13, which 
lay in the north part and included the land where 
now is the reservoir which supplies Prince River, and 
other land suflicient to make five hundred and sixty 
acres in each plot ; it was a part of Foster's share of 
No. 9 which was afterwards represented by James 
Caldwell. 

All these Great Farms were offered for sale, and 
strenuous efforts were made to induce settlers to locate 
upon them. In 1735 a farm of two hundred and fifty 
acres was offered to the first orthodox minister who 
would settle here, provided he would continue in the 
ministry for seven years, or until his death, if that 
should sooner happen. Land was also tendered to 
parties provided they would build and occupy a house 
thereon, of certain dimensions and within a specified 
time, the usual dimensions being twenty feet long 
and eight feet studs, the houses to be made habitable 
by the following winter and to be occupied by the 
builder or his heirs for at least five years ; provision 
for travelers was anticipated and a tract of land was 
offered to any one who would build a house of enter- 
tainment thereon and keep it for that purpose for at 
least seven years. The terms of the proprietors were 
most liberal, and if the conditions on which the 
settlers took lands were not all fulfilled at the ex- 
piration of the times specified, the privileges were 
continued to such of those as had exhibited a dis- 
position to comply with the terms imposed, but who 
had been prevented by some untoward event ; those 
who had received lands and had failed to fulfill their 
conditions through neglect or want of energy, were 
dispossessed of them and the property reverted to the 
proprietors. Thus plans were laid for a thrifty and 
energetic population ; to still further encourage immi- 
gration roads were projected and built from the settled 
part of Rutland to Nitchewag (now Petersham). A 
"great bridge" was built over the Ware River near 
where is now the Baptist Church ; this was destroyed 
by a forest fire in 1740, but was rebuilt the following 



334 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



year, logs being thrown across the stream, as in the case 
of the former bridge, and this time gravel was carted 
on to prevent the recurrence of such a mishap and 
also as a protection to guard against its being washed 
away by any sudden rise of the water. 

With a road, rough thougli it might be, built from 
east to west, nearly through the centre of the North- 
west Quarter, better facilities were afforded for the 
incoming of settlers; and they came, — energetic, rug- 
ged, honest men, who did much to aid and encourage 
the little band already here, and who later filled many 
offices of trust in the direction of affairs here. The 
Rices, the Holdens, the Wallaces, the Nourses, the 
Aliens, are some of the prominent ones who now 
came, all of whom left descendants who still dwell 
with us and fill honorable and responsible places in 
our midst. 

For such a people the proprietors desired more and 
better conveniences^ and at their meeting held at the 
Light-House Tavern in Boston, December 5, 1748, a 
committee of their number was requested to petition 
the General Court, as soon as may be, that the North- 
west Quarter of the township of Rutland may be 
made a town of itself, or be a separate district, with 
all the privileges of a town. This petition was drawn 
up, and is as follows : 

Petition. 

To His Excellency, W™. Shirley, Esq., Captain General A Governour 
in Cheefe in & over His Majeatya Province of Massachusetts Bay in New 
England & Vice Admiral of the Biime & to the Honourable His Majsty 
Couutil & Hcuse of Representatives in Geneiul Court assembled. 

The petition of the Connnittee of the Proprietors of the Township of 
Rutland (the Original Settlers part excepted) in the County of Worces* 
terin sd Province in behalf of themselves it sd proprietors & accord- 
ing to their votes A direction8,.Humbly sheweth That the sd Proprietors 
have been for above these fifteen Years at great & Constant Pains & Ex- 
pense of time and many hundred Pounds in Running the Bounds, sur- 
veying. Dividing & Laying out Lots, finding out A' clearing Roads, 
Building of Bridges, settling Inhabitants & paying for Preaching in the 
Northwestern qviarter of th<* Township of Rutland. That the sd North 
Westerly Quarter is about the Quantity of six miles Square more or less, 
according to the jdaii herew'*" exhibited, bound East North Easterly 
about six miles on the North Easterly Quarter of said Township, South 
South Easterly aboute six miles, partly on the original settlers Quarters & 
partly on the West wing of sd Township. West South Westerly about 
six miles partly on Braintree Grant & partly on Hardwick, North North 
Westerly on Nichaway so-called. That there are now settled in sd 
Quarter nearly Thirty familiys consisting of above one hundred souls 
who stand in need of a Settled Gospel Ministry &, Ordinances, and the 
Adult are Earnestly Deiwirous of them, but cannot obtain them without 
a proper Encouragement by your Excellency & Honours. That the sd 
proprieters in view of sd Quarter being erected into a Town have given 
Laid out & set apart a fifty acre lot of Choice Good Land & another Farm 
of Two Hundred Forty seven Acres for the first Orthodox Uliuiuter that 
shall be ordained there, and a fifty acre Lot for the use •f a School there 
forever. And Therefore your Petitioners Earnestly Desire That yr Ex- 
cellncy and Honours would in your great wisdom set off & Erect the sd 
North Western Quarter with all the Inhabitants into a Town or other- 
wise into a separate District with all the priviledges A powers of a Town 
so far as to Chusn All sorts of Town Officers among themselves & make 
all kinds of Rules on the Inhabitants of sd District for building houses 
for Publick worship settling & maintaining ministers laying out & mak- 
ing Roads & for all other Services of a Publick Nature which any Towns 
inithe Province, are by Law Enabled to do, only Reserving to themselves 
the Liberty allowed, by Charter &t lie Laws of joining in Common with the 
other freeholdera of sd Township in chusing & being Chosen Represen- 
tatives to servo in the gen' assembly as also desiring the Power of assess- 
ing Levelling & Raising a Tax of sixpence old Tenor upon every Stand- 
ard acre in sd District for the first five Years next Ensuing annually for 



Propria* 
Committee, 



the puriwaes above eaid Excepting only sd land granted to sd miuisters 

& school wh. said Tax in their present Infant & feeble state of ieas than 
Thirty Families is of absolute necessity for them. And your petitioners 
might humbly offer the following among other Weighty Reasons 1 The 
sd Quarter is nearly a Square body of generally good Land suitable & 
sufficient for ^uch a Town or District. 2 The Centre of sd (Juarter is 
about Ten Miles distant from tlie place of Worship of the Original set- 
tlers & some parts of sd Quarter aboute fourteen miles off, a very heavy 
Inconvenience either to bu warned to their common Town Meetings or 
to attend them or to serve as Town Officers for so great an Extent & 3 
The Inhabitants of the Original Settlers part are so sensible of this hard- 
ship as they liavc expressed their willingness above four years and nine 
months ago of the sd North Westerly (Quarter being deteeshed from them, 
as appears by their attested vote herewith offered. 4 .t Lastly, Upon 
your Excellency & Honours now granting the sd District there are so 
many people straitened in other places ready to move into this as afford 
a most rational prospect that in case of another war the sd Quarter will 
grow 80 full of people as instead of needing soldiers stationed among 
them at the Publick charge for their Defence, they will not only be suf- 
ficiently able with the Divine help to Defend themselves but also have 
numbers to spare for the Defence of other places above them. And your 
Petitionee shall ever pray as Bound &c 

Thomas Prince 
Jonas Clarke 
Thomas Hcbbard 
Cornelius Waldo 

Twenty-eight of the inhabitants further manifested 
their desire by signing this petition. This was pre- 
sented in April, 1749, and on the 14th of that month 
it was read in the House of Representatives, and or- 
dered granted, so far as to be erected into a separate 
district with full power to choose town oflicers, and 
have all the other rights and privileges of a town, 
excepting that of sending representatives to the Gen- 
eral Assembly ; but permission was granted to join 
with Rutland for this purpose, and an inhabitant of 
this quarter was eligible to the office ; the petitioners 
were ordered to notify the non-resident proprietors by 
public advertisement, by inserting in the Boston 
Gazette so much of said petition as related to the tax. 
This notice having been given and so certified, the 
petition came up in the Council, June 13th, and was 
read again, when it was ordered that the tax be "one 
penny half-penny of the last emition per acre annu- 
ally,'* except the land for the minister andlheschool, 
for the term of five years. 

The bill was sent to the House for concurrence, 
and, in Council, June 20th, it was agnin read and con- 
curred in, and that day it received the approval of 
Governor Shirley. 

In 1749, then, the Northwest Quarter of Rutland 
was created a district, and, passing out of the control 
of the proprietors, became subject to the authority of 
a local board of officers having the same rank and 
titles as those connected with a town. 

The history of the first church is nearly coeval 
with the settlement of the territory, a part of which 
is now the town of Barre. November 7, 1733, at a 
meeting of the proprietors, held at the Royal Ex- 
change Tavern, in Boston, it was voted " that some 
spot, as near the centre of said western part as con- 
venience allows, be found and pitched upon for setting 
a meeting-house, in the middle of some considerable 
quantity of good land fit for settlement, and that one 
lot should be for the first minister ordained there ; " 



BARRE. 



335 



they ordered that the lot for the minister should con- 
sist of fifty acres conveniently near to the meeting- 
house. A division of the land was made, and the 
place assigned for the meeting-house was near the 
dwelling now owned by Mr. D. B. Olin. It was the 
intention of the proprietors that the meeting-house 
should be built at as early a day as possible, and, in 
1739 a plot of the Northwest Quarter was returned by 
Abner Lee, a surveyor, and June 6th accepted and 
placed on record. A meeting of the proprietors was 
called, to be held at the Liglit-House Tavern, in King 
Street, Boston, on the 9th day of June, 1742, the war- 
rant being dated May 4th. After electing a moderator, 
the first matter under consideration was " to agree 
with some suitable person to prepare and raise the 
frame of a meeting-house within the Northwest Quar- 
ter, of such dimensions as the proprietors shall deter- 
mine," and, secondly, "to give some encouragement 
for obtaining occasional preaching." 

The prominent step taken towards erecting the 
meeting-house at this session was that Col. Samuel 
Willard was desired to purchase of the heirs of 
Robert Blood a portion of their farm on reasonable 
terms, in behalf of the proprietors, that they might 
erect a saw-mill. (This land lies on Prince River and 
is a part of the farm now owned by Nelson Loring.) 
This meeting was adjourned to August 25th, when 
they met and agreed with Jonas Clarice to build a saw- 
mill on this land. At an adjourned meeting held on 
the first Wednesday of June, 1743, sixteen pounds, 
old tenor, was voted to be allowed and paid John 
Caldwell to defray the charge of a minister's preach- 
ing to the inhabitants of the Northwest Quarter one 
month the preceding winter. This is the first inti- 
mation that we have of religious services being held 
here; we have no record in what part they were held, 
but as John Caldwell lived some distance easterly 
from what is now the centre of the town, and a num- 
ber of the other settlers were in his immediate vicinity, 
it is highly probable that the preaching was at his 
house, about two miles from what is now the centre 
of the town. 

September 1, 1743, it was voted that, as some of the 
settlers had represented the great difficulty they 
labored under by reason of their distance from all 
places of public worship, and desired the assistance 
of the proprietors towards procuring preaching among 
themselves, eighty pounds, old tenor, be allowed them 
for obtaining preaching for one year, next coming, 
and this amount should be paid to such a committee 
as the settlers miglitchoose ; December 12, 1744, forty- 
eight pounds was allowed and paid to the inhabitants 
that they might have a minister for twelve weeks; 
the two subsequent years sixty pounds were appro- 
priated each year for the same purpose; in .Tune, 
1748, one hundred pounds was allowed ; June 7, 
1750, it was voted that twelve pounds, old tenor, be 
allowed and paid to John Caldwell, one of a com- 
mittee for erecting a meeting-house in the North- 



westerly District of Rutland, and to be by him 
applied towards the charge of erecting the same. In 
1744, seventy pounds, old tenor, had been appropri- 
ated, and it was voted that Samuel Willard should 
build a saw-mill in the Northwest Quarter, and 
that he keep it iu repair for fifteen years and furnish 
boards to build a meeting-house and house for the 
minister at three pounds, old tenor, per thousand 
feet, and that individuals should pay four pounds per 
thousand feet. 

Here, then, were the forceful steps taken for the 
erection of a meeting-house, and for regular, in 
place of occasional, worship ; funds were provided 
for with which to purchase tlie boards, the labor and 
timber being presumed to follow as needed ; the de- 
termination of the inhabitants soon became manifest 
to erect the building at the earliest practicable mo- 
ment. 

From 1750, when the vote was passed to allow 
John Caldwell funds for building tlie house, we can 
see that due haste was made in prosecuting the 
work; notwithstanding all the difficulties they la- 
bored under, three years later the building was occu- 
pied for worship, and July 29, 1753, a church was or- 
ganized, and the following October Rev. Thomas 
Frink was installed as pastor of " the Congregational 
Church and Society in Rutland District." 

In those days the parish was bounded by the same 
geographical lines as was the town or district, and, 
while the church and society were at liberty to es- 
tablish their rules and choose their officers, the dis- 
trict or town supported the minister and paid the 
necessary incidental or contingent charges that per- 
tained to the care and repairs of the house, raising 
the funds therefor by a tax on the property and polls 
of all the people. 

Although the meeting-house was used as a place 
of worship, it was not a completed building, merely 
sufficient work having been done to permit the peo- 
ple to assemble there for worship. It was evidently 
expected that the district would increase in popula- 
tion ; and it did increase, and as hiore seats or pews 
became necessary, additional pews were placed iu the 
gallery ; these places for pews and privileges of 
building them were generally sold to the highest bid- 
der. In 17()5 several spots were sold, and it was" 
specified that the size of the pews to be made should 
be " 6 ft. wide, east and west, and 7 ft. long, north 
and south," and the floor of the pews should be a 
few inches above the floor of the gallery. The 
meeting-house w as used, also, for municipal purposes, 
all the town-meetings being held there. This house 
was not built on the lot originally assigned for it in 
the proprietor's plan, but was located nearly opposite, 
where our post-office now is. We find no definite 
reason for this change, but attribute it to the fact 
that here the ground was nearer a level, and that 
this location was more central, the larger part of the 
inhabitants living in the eastern and southerly por- 



336 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



tions of the district, where there were better roads, 
while in the westerly part the residents were less in 
numbers, and no roads had been constructed. 

Mr. Frink was a native of Massachusetts and in 
the fiftieth year of his age; a man of vigorous intel- 
lect and strong opinions, both theological and other- 
wise, and, in addition to his imperious will, a man of 
great irritability. His annual salary was £53 8s. GcL, 
the pound being equivalent to three and one-third 
dollars of the present currency ; this salary was not 
always paid when due, at times the arrearages ex- 
tending over a period of several years, but after 1763 
and until his dismissal it was paid him regularly. His 
arrogance and infirmity of temper unfitted him for 
hi< sacred duties, being productive of dissensions of 
great bitterness, and these became so intense that a 
mutual council was called to decide where the fault 
lay in the unhappy controversy which bad arisen, 
and to advis-e as to the future course to be pursued. 
This council was an able one, consisting of well-known 
pastors and lay delegates fri.m the most important 
churches of the province, coming here from Spring- 
field, Amherst, Watertown and Boston. It was in 
session six days, investigating the difficulties. 

The task was a perplexing one ; the determined 
spirit of the people on the one hand and the equally 
strong course of the minister on the other had pro- 
duced such a bitterness of feeling that only a calm 
and searching investigation could allay the excite- 
ment. 

June 18, 1766, the council reported its findings, 
which were signed by all the members. It was a 
lengthy document and on nearly every point sustained 
the complaints of the people. It found that Mr. Frink 
had acted in a very arbitrary manner towards mem- 
bers of the church, commanding some to abstain from 
the communion for what he termed their perverse- 
ness, speaking of them, both publicly and privately, 
in hard, abusive and scurrilous language; that he 
had interfered in the private and domestic concerns 
of others; that he had claimed and had exercised the 
power to summarily adjourn a- church-meeting con- 
trary to the wishes of those present; that he had de- 
nied the right and privilege of certain members either 
to speak or to vote in these meetings; that he had 
'defamed many of the other regular ministers of the 
county ; and that his example had engendered pride 
and wrath. In view of these and other findings, the 
council recommended " that the pastoral relation be- 
tween the Rev. Mr. Frink and the Church in Rutland 
District should be dissolved." 

On the part of the people another step was neces- 
sary. A town-meeting was held July 16th to see 
whether the district would acquiesce with and accept 
the "result" of the council. The meeting was a 
stormy one. John Caldwell was the moderator, and 
at his request the meeting was adjourned for one 
hour, and the people were requested not to leave the 
house; private consultation was desired, and it was 



deemed the part of wisdom to devise some plan that 
would allay the excitement and anger everywhere 
visible, and endeavor to obtain a better outcome of 
their deliberations than now seemed possible. After 
again coming to order, the district finally voted to 
accept the findings and to comply with the advice of 
the council that the pastoral relation should be 
dissolved. 

This vote was passed by a large majority ; in the 
district records is the following entry: "N. B. Some 
people said the meeting-house was so full of people 
that they desired the moderator would draw the peo- 
ple, that were voters, out of the meeting-house into a 
ring abroad, which was immediately done; and it was 
openly declared and desi/ed by the moderator that 
there might be two rings of the people drawn up, and 
if there were any in favor of Mr. Frink, that they 
would draw into a ring at the westerly end of the 
house, and all that were for voting Mr. Frink's dismis- 
sion to make a ring towards the easterly end of said 
house." The record further states that the people 
went almost unanimously into the ring at the east end. 

Mr. Frink was not disposed to accept this finding of 
the council and its endorsement by the people; there 
were a few who, in the main, approved of his course. 

Dr. Thompson, in his semi-centennial sermon, re- 
calls the story that the next Sabbath Mr. Frink at- 
tempted to enter the pulpit, but was prevented by 
John Caldwell, who took him by his coat-collar and 
led him to the door of the house. 

Mr. Frink preached a short time to his partisans 
here, and afterwards was an attendant at the church 
in Petersham, but soon returned to Rutland, where he 
died in the seventy-third year of his age. He brought 
an action against the district which was decided 
against him in the Court of General Sessions in No- 
vember, 1767. The following April he brought another 
for trespass, and again the district was triumphant, 
but Mr. Frink entered an appeal. The decision of the 
Superior Court of Judicature was adverse to him, and 
he now agreed that henceforth there should be a bar 
to all further legal proceedings. 

Immediate steps were taken to secure regular 
preaching again. In September, 1766, eighty pounds 
was appropriated for defraying the charges of preach- 
ing, and a committee was chosen to supply the 
pulpit. A pastor was soon found in the person of Rev. 
Josiah Dana ; in his few sermons that he had delivered 
here the people recognized his worth and had become 
attached to him, and in April, 1767, the church gave 
him a call to settle over it; the district almost unani- 
mously ratified the action of the church, and he ac- 
cepted the call tlie following July. In his letter of 
acceptance, stating that he felt that the people would 
desire him to be as free from secular care as possible, 
he " must beg leave to desire, expect and depend upon 
being provided yearly with a suificient quantity of 
fire-wood, fit for use, at the place of my abode, if 
Providence should put me into a family state." The 



BARRE. 



337 



sum of £66 13«. 4rf., lawful money, was voted as his 
annual salary, together with a very liberal sum to 
defray the expenses of his settlement, but his fire- 
wood at the expense of the district was refused. He 
was installed the first Wednesday of the following 
October, his salary dating from the 9th day of July 
previous, that being the date of his acceptance of the 
call. 

In the troublesome times of the Revolution Mr. 
Dana found his salary inadequate to his support ; he 
asked for an increase of compensation, and ao;ain, 
that his firewood might be furnished him. These 
requests were passed over in town-meetings on several 
occasions, and the feeling spread that it would be 
advisable to dissolve the p.astoral relation. After a 
time this feeling subsided, and his salary was in- 
creased and firewood furnished, and subsequently, 
partly on account of the depreciation in the value of 
the currency, and the increasing wants of his large 
family, his compensation was made still larger. He 
continued aa pastor of the church for thirty-four 
years, or until his death, in 1801. He is remembered 
by persons still living here, and they speak of him 
as a benevolent and kind-hearted man, dignified, yet 
attractive and pleasant to the young, and one who 
had the respect of the whole community. His re- 
mains were interred in the burial-ground near his 
residence. During his pastorate his dwelling-house 
was destroyed by fire ; it w.as soon rebuilt, partly 
with funds raised by subscription, and the balance 
by a tax laid upon the town. The town voted to 
have published three hundred copies of the sermon 
which was preached at his funeral, this being de- 
livered by Rev. Ephraim Ward, his classmate in 
college. Mr. Ward says of him, " He was possessed 
of natural firmness of mind, of a sprightly imagina- 
tion, and an easy and happy elocution ; his utterance 
was solemn and manly, which added dignity to his 
address, and his preaching was serious, instructive 
and practical.'' 

In 1783, on a petition of a number of the inhabit- 
ants a meeting was held to see if the town would 
enlarge the meeting-house or build a new one. A 
committee was appointed to investigate the question; 
they reported that it was advisable to build a new 
house, but as the news of a treaty of peace being 
made had spread abroad, they recommended a post- 
ponement of the subject until another meeting, as 
then the cessation of war would "make a very con- 
siderable alteration in the circumstances of men and 
things." 

In April, 1785, the matter was again brought before 
the town, when it was voted to erect a new house ; a 
committee of seven men was chosen to draw a plan 
of the proposed building, which they did, and their 
report accompanying the plan was accepted. The 
dimensions of the house were to be sixty-eight 
by fifty-four feet, which size was adopted, and it was 
also voted to increase the size of the grounds, which 



were now about one and one-half acres in extent ; 
more land was purchased and the area was now about 
two and one-fourth acres. Measures were adopted 
towards commencing work on the new edifice. The 
town voted to sell the pews in the contemplated build- 
ing, and if suflicient funds were not procured from their 
sale, a tax for the balance of the money needed for 
construction should be levied upon the town. Eighty- 
six pews were sold for £1184 6s., the conditions being 
that each purchaser should give his note for the 
amount he had promised to pay for the pew, of 
which a third should be payable in building materials 
on demand, a third in cash at the time of "raising 
the house," and the remainder three months after- 
wards; and any person who should not fulfil his 
agreement should forfeit and pay fifteen per cent, of 
his bid to the town and the ownership of the pew 
should revert to the committee. The house was to be 
built in the Ionic and Doric order of architecture. 
The report of the committee not being satisfactory as 
to the price of the material, the number was increased 
and the estimates revised. A schedule of sizes and 
prices of each piece of timber and lumber, of stone 
and of lime was made, and this report was accepted. 
Some of the materials for the building bad been de- 
livered on the ground ; but the process of construc- 
tion was delayed, some of the purchasers of the 
pews being unable to fulfill their agreements ; in con- 
sequence there was a postponement of the work, "the 
great scarcity of cash, and the load of debts, both 
public and private," making this course indispensa- 
ble. 

But the people felt that a new house was a ne- 
cessity and further efforts were made towards its 
construction. Success soon crowned their endeavors, 
and in October, 1790, the edifice was so far completed 
that the town voted to worship in the house from and 
after the first Sunday in November. After collecting 
the sums, so far as possible, for which the pews were 
sold and from the sale of the old house, a debt of 
about ten pounds stood against the committee, the 
cost of the house having been £1201 Is. Qd. 

It was desirable that every outstanding claim 
should be settled before occupying the house, and 
strenuous efforts were made for this purpose, but it 
was nearly two years before they succeeded in raising 
the required sum. 

The people had a justifiable pride in their new edi- 
fice, and, for those times, it was an imposing build- 
ing ; it was located on the Common, where now is the 
North Park, a part of the building extending beyond 
the south limits ; from its height and style of archi- 
tecture it attracted much attention. Whitney says 
of it, in 1793, in his " History of Worcester County," 
that it was the largest meeting-house in the county ; 
he gives its dimensions as fifty-six by seventy-four 
feet. 

This building was kept well-painted and in proper 
repair ; the society was prosperous, the town num- 



338 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



bering in population upwards of sixteen hundred, 
the minister respected and beloved, and his relations 
with the people harmonious. The church and town 
acted in unison, the town willingly supplying the 
pulpit during any temporary sickness of the pastor. 

After the death of Mr. Dana, in 1801, the church 
was without a regular pastor for upwards of two 
years. During this time several ministers had been 
called to preach as candidates for the vacancy. No- 
vember 28, 1803, the town voted unanimously to 
unite with the church and invite Rev. James Thomp- 
son to the pastoral charge, and a committee of seven 
members was appointed to wait upon him and inform 
him of the proceedings of the town and see if there 
was a prospect of his settling here in the ministry. 
December 2d this committee reported that there was 
a probability of Mr. Thompson settling here if agree- 
able offer.s should be made. The town at once voted 
five hundred dollars as an annual salary so long as 
he should continue to be their minister, and four 
hundred dollars for a settlement. The records state 
that "Mr. Thompson came into the meeting and de- 
clared his acceptance cheerfully." A committee of 
five was chosen to provide for his installation, and 
this took place January 11, 1804. 

The church was pleased with its new pastor; he 
was young, not yet twenty-four years of age, talented, 
social, yet dignified, and a favorite with the young as 
well as with the older part of his charge. He took 
an active part in the various plans and schemes for 
improving the society of the town and for its welfare 
in every regard, and he not only participated in these 
movements, but of many of them he was the origi- 
nator and leader. He was a member of the School 
Committee for forty years, assuming most of the bur- 
dens himself, serving most of the time without com- 
pensation, and laying down the burden only on ac- 
count of the increasing cares and troubles incident to 
old age. As a preacher he was favorably known far 
beyond the limits of his own parish, and an installa- 
tion of a minister in any other town for miles around 
was hardly thought complete without his participa- 
tion. He was a man of imposing presence, yet easy 
of approach, a good and fluent speaker, not one who 
dwelt upon abstract subjects, but one whowould hold 
the attention of his audience and bring them into 
sympathy with himself; his sermons never seemed to 
weary his hearers, nor did they become weary of him. 

Although a great reader and an original writer, it 
may be a question whether he was a deep thinker, 
but he was considered the best preacher in Worcester 
County. In 1813 he was afflicted with a stroke of par- 
alysis, which, to some extent, affected his efforts of 
after-years, but his natural vigor and strong will-power 
led him on to a long and useful career. The impress 
of his labors in the community was great, and, to-day, 
although nearly forty years have elapsed since his 
death, he is still spoken of by the older part of our 
people with feelings of deep respect and love. 



After preaching here for more than forty years, 
June 9, 1845, keenly noticing the effects of his early 
affliction and the encroachments of age, he desired 
the parish to release him from the active duties of 
pastor, in consideration of which he offered to relin- 
quish his salary. The parish complied with his re- 
quest, and the next January Rev. Henry F. Bond was 
installed as his colleague. Mr. Thompson continued 
as the senior pastor until his death, May 14, 1854. 
January 11th of that year he delivered a discourse at 
the end of a ministry of fifty years among our people 
to a house filled to overflowing, and the heartiest 
testimony as to his worth and influence were made 
manifest. Dr. Thompson was a graduate of Brown 
University and from his Alma Mater received the de- 
gree of Doctor of Divinity. 

Early in the century the parish desired to make its 
meeting-house still more attractive, and in 1806 the 
town appropriated a sum of money to build a hand- 
some tower and cupola, provided individuals would 
give sufhcient money for the purchase of a bell and 
clock; this money was soon raised by subscription, 
and, with the thousand dollars in the town treasury, 
the work was entered upon with much spirit and en- 
thusiasm ; this addition to the house was soon com- 
pleted, but the cost was greater than had been antici- 
pated, being more than the original edifice had cost; 
in September, 1807, one thousand dollars additional 
was appropriated to pay the expense. 

From this time until 1812 the usual order of afl'airs 
prevailed. Under the pastorate of Dr. Thompson the 
church was prosperous and the number of members 
and attendants had increased. Nearly all the people 
had been united in one parish, holding to the pre- 
vailing theological (Congregational) belief of the day. 
In the east part of the town a few of the more promi- 
nent men had banded together to uphold and promote 
the Baptist scheme, and a number withdrew from 
the church here to unite with those of the eastern sec- 
tion ; in the south part, in 1820, a few had organized and 
formed aUniversalist society, attracting to themselves 
other attendants of the original church. One reason 
assigned by those of the Baptist persuasion for their 
withdrawal was the excessive taxes that were assessed 
for the ministerial support. As at this time the 
town was legally a whole and united parish, and all 
were liable to be assessed for the support of the one 
church, their method of withdrawal was somewhat 
unique. A committee of the church which they de- 
sired to attend certified to the town clerk this fact, the 
usuil form of certificate being as follows : " We certify 
that A. B. of the town of Barre is a member of the re- 
ligious society of the town of Barre called Baptist (or 
Universalist, as the case might be) and doth associate 
with them in public worship." This, signed by the 
church committee and entered upon the town records, 
was presumed and tacitly acknowledged as a release 
from their obligations in aiding to support and main- 
tain the original church. 



BAREE. 



33'J 



With other forms of belief, and with a more liberal 
as well as with a closer construction of the doctrines 
set forth, bitter controversies became prevalent. The 
church in the centre of the town adopted the liberal 
scheme, but many refused to adhere to this party, and, as 
was to be foreseen, could not act in harmony with them. 
They withdrew, and Augu-it 15, 1827, were organized 
by an ecclesiastical council, called for that purpose, 
as the Evangelical Congregational Chuich in Barre. 
Aside from the friction of a separation, harmony be- 
tween these two organizations was somewhat inter- 
rupted, but the discords were afterwards allayed and a 
friendly rivalry sprang up between them. 

In continuing the history of the original parish, or 
the First Parish in Barre, as it became to be called, 
as early as 1818, notwithstanding the withdrawal of a 
number of its members at different times, and more 
especially those in 1827 who had formed the Evangel- 
ical Church, and of the secession of others from 1834 
to 1841, the parish prospered. In 1827 a number of 
the inhabitants who attended its services petitioned 
that, as the sutferings of the people who attended 
public worship in the parish during the cold season 
of the year were very great, the parish should pro- 
cure a stove, or stoves, with sufficient pipe to warm 
the meeting-house. This was a decided innovation, 
but the matter was pressed, and in November it was 
finally decided to raise one hundred and fifty dollars 
to defray the expense of stoves and pipe and ground 
for their location, and a committee of three was chosen 
to superintend the business of placing them in the 
house ; this was soon done, and from the year 1827 we 
may date the introduction of stoves into the churches 
of the country towns ; these may have been intro- 
duced in some other towns at an earlier date, but 
none of the adjoining ones preceded Barre in this re- 
spect. 

In 1848-49, the meeting-house having become 
somewhat antiquated, and being located in a place 
deemed worthy of improvement, such as enlarging 
and beautifying the Common, a new church building 
was erected a short distance northerly of the old one. 
It is of Gothic order of architecture, neat and attrac- 
tive, and with a seating capacity of about five hun- 
dred. In its tower still runs the public clock. The 
old church was sold to private individuals and trans- 
formed into a building for offices and shops ; from its 
magnitude, its pillars and general appearance it re- 
ceived the name of the Colonnade, it having been moved 
from its original site, where it continued to be an or- 
nament to the town until its destruction by fire in 
1862. A large brick structure was erected in its place, 
this being occupied to-day by the National and Sav- 
ings Banks, store, printing-office, &c. 

The various pastors of this society since its organi- 
zation have been Rev. Thomas Frink, from October, 
1753, to June 18, 1766 ; Kev. Josiah Dana, October 7, 
1767, to October 1, 1801; Rev. James Thompson, 
January 11, 1804, to May 14, 1854 ; Rev. Henry F. 



Bond, as colleague, Jan\iary 7, 1846, to December 30, 
1850 ; Rev. Charles E. Hodges, as colleague, from 
June 11, 1851, to March, 1854; Rev. William A. Ful- 
ler, January 3. 1855, to March 28, 1859 ; Rev. Henry 
Westcott, June 14, 1860, to April 1, 1864; Rev. John 
B. Beach, November 9, 1865, to March 27, 1869: 
Rev. Henry R. Smith, September 1, 1869, to October 
1,1878; and Rev. Alvin F. Bailey, the present pas- 
tor, who was installed May 7, 1879. 

The membership of this church is by many con- 
sidered coextensive with the members or families of 
the parish. It draws its worshippers from the remote 
parts of the town as well as from the immediate vicin- 
ity of the church edifice. The membership of its Sun- 
day-school is about one hundred. 

The Evangelical Congregational Church at the time 
of its organization, in 1827, consisted of thirty-two 
members who had withdrawn from the First Parish, 
then under the charge of Rev. Dr. Thompson, who 
had adopted the Unitarian doctrine. The Articles 
of Faith agreed upon were moderately Calvinistic, 
containing but little more than the doctrines generally 
assented to by the various evangelical denominations. 
During the sixty years of its history the church has 
had the following pastors : Rev. John Storrs, Janu- 
ary 14, 1829, to April 24, 1832 ; Rev. Moses Grosve- 
nor, November 13, 1832, to May 4, 1834 ; Rev. .Tohn 
F. Stone, October 26, 1834, to November 17, 1836 ; 
Rev. Samuel A. Fay, May 10, 1837, to July 1, 1840; 
Rev. Erasmus D. Moore, July 1, 1840 to October 19, 
1842; Rev. Amos Bullard. October 26, 1843, until his 
death, August 21, 1850; Rev. C. M. Nickels, May 7, 
1851, to June 17, 1856; Rev. George Denham, Decem- 
ber 3, 1856, to May 2, 1860 ; Rev. Divid Peck, April 
16, 1861, to Nov. 19, 1867; Rev. Edwin Smith, Octo- 
ber 29, 1868, to April 24, 1879, and Rev. Joseph F. 
Gaylord, the present pastor, who was installed Sep- 
tember 18, 1879. 

This church has always taken a decided stand 
against intemperance, having, as early as 1830, de- 
clared that it would not receive to its communion any 
who used ardent spirits except for medicine. In 1837 it 
adopted a series of rules, among which is the fol- 
lowing: 

" Those who become members of this church are 
required not to traffic in ardent spirits, or use it as a 
drink, and it shall be the duty of the standing com- 
mittee to inform all persons offering themselves for 
our communion of this rule, and to obtain from them a 
pledge of its observance ; and whenever any person is 
proposed it shall be understood that he stands thus 
pledged to the committee and the church." 

In recent years the church has taken ground against 
the use of, and traffic in, fermented intoxicants as well 
as ardent spirits. 

In the conflict with slavery the church also took a 
strong position, declaring, in 1842, " that we cannot 
hereafter receive to our pulpit or communion any 
minister or layman who holds his fellow-men in 



340 



HISTOEY OF WOKCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHTTSETTS. 



slavery, and who encourages and upholds those who 
do." The church has had two church edifices, one 
known as the brick meeting-house, in the west part of 
the village, which was erected in 1828, and the other, 
its present place of worship, built in 1848-49, and 
which has a seating capacity of over five hundred. 
After the present church building was occupied by 
the society, the brick meeting-house passed into pri- 
vate hands and was transformed into tenements. 

The church, at various periods of its history, has 
been favored with powerful revivals of religion, which 
have greatly promoted its growth, and to-day its posi- 
tion is .>-trong in its influence and work, and in its 
membership, which numbers one hundred and sixty- 
one, of whom twelve are non-residents of the town, 
the membership of its Sabbath-school being about 
one hundred and thirty-five. 

Soon after the organization of the church the society 
connected with it was formed, under the name of the 
Evangelical Congregational Society, in the town of 
Barre. This society was formed November 17, 1827, 
and in February, 1829, was incorporated by a special 
act of the Legislature. The relations between the 
church and society have always been harmonious, the 
church taking the initiative in selecting a pastor, but 
the relation is not established without the concur- 
rence of the society, which determines also the salary 
of the pastor and provides for its payment. It also 
has charge, under certain limitations, of the church 
edifice. In 1888 the society adopted a carefully-pre- 
pared set of by-laws, and in the same year rules for 
the concurrent action of church and society were 
adopted by both of these organizations, such action 
having previously been guided by tradition rather 
than by specific regulations. 

The date of the introduction of the Universalist 
creed to this town is 1820, in which year a spot of 
land nearly opposite the B. & A. R' R. depot on the 
Plains, and now occupied by a brick dwelling-house, 
was purchased, and the erection of a church edifice 
thereon was contemplated. Ministers prominent in 
that denomination in other towns were obtained to 
preach that doctrine, and to arouse such an enthusiasm 
as should result in the establishment of a church and 
society. 

Public worship was held for several years in a hall 
and dwelling-houses, but gradually, chiefly on account 
of the depression in agriculture and of the scarcity of 
money, the people considered it impossible to raise 
funds for a church building, and the project was aban- 
doned, and soon all interest in the matter was appa- 
rently lost. In 1838, and for two or three years pre- 
viously, a number of persons had become dissatisfied 
in the First Church, and filed certificates of withdrawal. 
April 9th a few of these associated themselves, and 
formed the First Universalist Church of Barre, and 
some from the south part of the town, who had been 
interested in the scheme of 1820, joined them. The 
next year they purchased a building lot at the south 



end of the Common, and erected a building which 
was dedicated in April, 1840. 

This society was never a strong one, but it held 
together as an organization for about ten years, when 
their interest waned and dissensions arose among 
them, which soon resulted in their disintegration, and 
June 6, 1851, their edifice was sold to a board of trus- 
tees for the Methodist Episcopal denomination, and, ■ 
after some necessary repairs and changes in construc- 
tion, was dedicated the following 17th of September 
to worship in accordance with the usages of that faith. 

Although there had been desultory Methodist 
services in town as early as 1823, this denomination 
did not obtain a foothold here until 1842, when ser- 
vices were held in the town-hall ; under the foster- 
ing care of various clergymen and prominent laymen 
of their faith their congregations increased, and in 
]8j0 they took into serious consideration the matter 
of erecting a house for worship. A spot for a build- 
ing was obtained, but when it was found that the 
Universalist edifice could be purchased, that was 
bought, and the building-lot sold to its previous 
owner. Since 1844, when the first pastor was as- 
signed to this church, twenty-seven ministers have 
been sent by the Conference to its pulpit, but two of 
whom have remained for three years. 

The present pastor is Rev. Charles Nicklin, who 
was located here in 1888. This church is in a pros- 
perous condition, and, though not so strong as 
twenty years ago, is now increasing in the number of 
its attendants and its influence; its meriibership is 
about seventy-five, and of its Sabbath-school about 
seventy ; the building has a seating capacity of about 
three hundred. 

The first services under the auspices of the Ro- 
man Catholic persuasion were held about 1852, pri- 
vate houses being first used, and afterward the town- 
hall was occupied for this purpose. In 1856 services 
were held in the chu;-ch building now owned by 
them, located souUijOf \he~^ommon, and which was 
then a dwelling-hoift^,- ^l^ough it had been built 
for, and pre\^wusly occupied as a country store. 
The Catholics^aif Barre were then a component part 
of the Worcester Mission ; in 1860 they were consti- 
tuted a parish, and connected with Templeton, and 
afterwards with Ware'and North Brookfield, and now 
with Otter River. In 1858 they purchased the brick 
dwelling-house, and remodeled it into a church 
building; about seventy-five families are connected 
with this parish, which is under the charge of Rev. 
Father Raynolds, and services are held bi-monthly. 
In accordance with the custom of the denomination, 
the church property is in the possession of Bishop 
O'Reilly, of Springfield, this parish being in that 
diocese. The house of worship is pleasantly located, 
and has a seating capacity of about four hundred. 

In 1854 another church organization was effected 
under the title of the Free or Independent Church. 
Rev. Marshall G. Kimball was their pastor, the ser- 



BARRE. 



341 



mon at his installation being preached by Theodore 
Parker. This society prospered for a while, but, for 
want of sufficient cohesive power, gradually faded 
away. It was in existence about five years; its pas- 
tor was a young and popular man ; at the dissolution 
of the society he entered upon educational wort in 
the West. 

Early in the century several families came to the 
east part of the town from Sutton ; their predilections 
were for the Baptist form of belief; as no denomina- 
tion of that kind existed here, they attended upon 
that form of worship in the town of Templeton. 
As they increased in numbers, and the distance to 
Templeton was considerable, they desired to be or- 
ganized into a church here. Accordingly, the officers 
of the Templeton Church came to the east part of 
the town, and August 21, 1811, a society was formed 
at the house of Elias Chase ; this society was consid- 
ered a branch of the Templeton Church rather than 
as an independent organization, and services were 
held in dwelling-houses for a number of years. In 
1813 they were much strengthened in numbers by 
withdrawals from the First Parish or Old Church, 
the ministerial tax in that parish being consid- 
ered burdensome. Notwithstanding that they con- 
sidered themselves members of a distinct parish, 
the tax for the old parish was still levied and 
collected from them, this being assessed in con- 
nection with the town taxes. In 1816 the church 
protested against this tax, served notice on the town 
to that effect and that they should apply for an act 
of incorporation. This subject was freely discussed 
in town-meeting, when it was at length decided to 
pay no attention to their protest as regarded the tax, 
and not to oppose their incorporation. In 1817 the 
matter of taxation again came up, when a committee, 
on the part of the town, was appointed to consider 
the subject. They reported that they considered it 
unjust for the members to aid in supporting two or- 
ganizations, and recommended that the voters of the 
old church choose their necessary parish officers, and 
grant and raise money for their own ministerial sup- 
port. In a few years this was done, and harmony 
prevailed. No pastor was installed over the Baptist 
Church, but preaching was pretty constant. Rev. 
Mr. Leonard, who afterwards became a noted clergy- 
man, was one of their early ministers, preaching for 
them about 1817 ; he was followed by other earnest 
workers, who so built up this mission and gave it 
such strength that it was deemed wise to erect a 
church edifice. This was accomplished in 1832-33, 
their first house being situated nearly opposite where 
Mr. Samuel Adams now lives. In 1832 the church 
was incorporated, and became a regularly organized 
body. 

Previous to 1836 Rev. John Walker had preached 
occasionally for them and was their regular pastor 
from 1837 to 1844. During his pastorate a feeling 
prevailed that it was advisable to have their edifice in 



the village of Coldbrook, and plans were formed to 
move there ; but when it was suggested that by so 
doing they would be in the town of Oakham, and their 
charter had incorporated them iis a church in Barre, 
they obtained land westerly of the village and within 
the Barre boundary. In 1842-43 their new house 
was erected and in the winter of 1843-44 was dedi- 
cated. Their old house was soon afterward taken 
down and carried to Oakham, where it was re-erected 
and used for a number of years by the Methodists. 
Since 1837 their regular ministers have been Rev. 
John Walker, from 1887 to 1844 ; Rev. George W. 
Cate, September 8, 1845, to May 13, 1849;- Rev. Lewis 
Holmes, June 1, 1849, to August 8, 1853; Rev. Payson 
Tyler, July 9, 1854, to August 17, 1856 ; Rev. L. Tan- 
dy, October, 1856, to November 28, 1858 ; Rev. D. 
Avery, April 1, 1859, to March 30, 1862 ; Rev. Joseph 
Shepardson, May 4, 1862, to January 18, 1863 ; Rev. 
George L. Hunt, June 3, 1863, to March 27, 1864 ; 
Rev. E. J. Emery, April 1, 1865, to January 28, 1866; 
Rev. C. D. R. Meacham, September G, 1870, to August 
9, 1874; Rev. K. Holt, March, 1877, to June 4, 1882 ; 
Rev. Philander Perry, September 3, 1882, to May 1, 
1884 ; Rev. Henry H. Mansur, July 8, 1884, to March 
26, 1888, and Rev. William Read, the present pastor, 
who was installed June 3, 1888. The seating capacity 
of the building is about three hundred and its services 
are well attended ; the number of its church members 
is forty-five and of its Sabbath-school one hundred. 

Leaving now this sketch of the church and return- 
ing to the period anterior to the incorporation of the 
town, we can form some idea of the trials of the inhab- 
itants, struggling under many untoward circumstances 
to bring order out of confusion and have a well-dis- 
posed and well-regulated form of local government. 
The schools, crude as they were and maintained under 
many difficulties, were cherished as the bulwark of a 
future nation. Highways, too, were demanding much 
consideration. 

FroTi a mere handful of individuals, at the time 
when the proprietors of this Northwest District had 
assigned certain localities for roads, the inhabitants 
had so increased in number that it became necessary 
that additional paths for travel should be constructed 
to accommodate the passing to and from the places 
where the meeting-house and schools had been eotab- 
lished and for transaction of business, or for social 
relations one with another, or to render and receive aid 
in case of sickness or other troubles, or to pay such 
slight visits of courtesy as the times demanded. Mat- 
ters of state were coming to a crisis. May 20, 1772, 
a warrant for a town-meeting was issued to Noah 
Mandell, requiring him " forthwith, in His Majesty's 
Name," to warn all the freeholders and other inhabit- 
ants qualified to vote in town affairs to meet at the 
meeting-house, June 3d, there to act on certain arti- 
cles. The voters assembled at the time and place, 
and after organizing the meeting, electing a grand 
juryman for the year to serve at the Court of Quarter 



342 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



Sessions and choosing a committee to repair the "great 
bridge "over the Ware River, they voted to pa«sover 
three of the articles in the warrant and also voted 
that they be not entered upon the records. What 
these articles were might be a matter of greater con- 
jecture, did not contemporaneous history reveal the 
existing state of affairs. The people were becoming 
restive under the restraints imposed upon them by 
foreign rulers, and the determination to have these 
burdens modified or to be released from such .servi- 
tude was every day becoming more apparent. Feb- 
ruary 2.3, 1773, another meeting was held " to hear 
and consider of a Circular Letter from the town of 
Boston, dated November 20, 1772, containing the 
States and Rights of this Province in particular, etc." 

A committee of five members, with John Caldwell 
as their chairman, was chosen to take this letter into 
consideration; they soon reported "that upon a full 
conviction of the propriety and expediency of the 
measure, they recommend the inhabitants of said 
District to pass the following resolves: 1. That the 
rights of the Colonists, and of this Province in par- 
ticular, as stated by their respectable brethren of the 
metropolis of this Province, are agreeable to the real 
sentiments of the inhabitants of this District, and 
that it is of the utmost importance that the inhabit- 
ants of this Province stand firm, as one man, to sup- 
port and maintain all their just rights and privileges. 
2. That the inhabitants of this and the other British 
Provinces have an equal right with the people of 
Great Britain to enjoy and dispose of their own prop- 
erty, and the same cannot be taken from them but by 
their own consent. 3. That the Parliament of Great 
Britain have passed several acts in the execution of 
which American subjects are burdened with uncon- 
stitutional taxes. 4. That to render the Governor 
and Judges of the Supreme Court of this Province 
independent of the grants of the General Assembly 
is an innovation and infraction on the Charter Rights, 
as it destroys that check which should remain in the 
hands of the people. 5. That the thanks of this Dis- 
trict be given to the town of Boston for their zeal 
shown in the defence of their Charter Rights." This 
report was unanimously adopted, and a copy was sent 
to the Committee of Correspondence and Communica- 
tion at Boston. 

A movement to throw oEf some of their burdens wvs 
now inaugurated, and a closer union of the people 
and a firmer binding together of the common interests 
made it imperative that the district should have a 
more united organization. The shackles of a greater 
power being distasteful, it is no wonder that the lesser 
authority of the district should be considered as 
tending to divert their cares and energies, and with 
the people working together for the common good, an 
organization as a town was felt necessary. 

Accordingly, at a meeting held April 5, 1773, for 
that purpose, it was decided to petition the General 
Court to be set off as a town, and John Caldwell, 



Asa Hapgood and Nathan Sparhawk were chosen a 
committee for that purpose. This petition appears 
on the House Journal, June 22, 1773, and an order 
of notice was sent to the adjoining towns in relation 
to it. No further steps were taken in regard to it 
until the following February, when the petition was 
again brought to the attention of the General Court, 
again read and then ordered that the prayer be .so far 
granted that the petitioners have leave to bring in a 
bill. This was sent down for concurrence and on 
the 16th of the same month a bill for incorporat- 
ing the district into a town by the name of Barre 
wiis pa.ssed to be engrossed, but one week from that 
date the bill was ordered to be laid on the table. No 
reason is given for recalling the bill, but it is certain 
that Governor Hutchinson, in power by the authority 
of King George the Third, was a pliantand willing tool 
in the hands of his royal master, and a rebuke and 
punishment must be administered the people, in part 
and as a whole, for their participation in such stirring 
events as the Boston Massacre in 1770, the destruc- 
tion of the tea in the harbor in 1773, and their ap- 
parent restiveness under the many restraints imposed 
upon them. May 13, 1774, Thomas Gage succeeded 
Governor Hutchinson, and on the 25lh of this 
month the government was reorganized. In the 
Governor's opening address he declared his inten- 
tions, in accordance with the instruitioiis of the 
King, to remove the General Cuurt to Salem. This 
met there the 7th of June, and on the following day 
is recorded "a bill to incorporate Rutland District 
as a town." The following day the bill was read for 
the third time and passed to be engrossed, and on the 
14th it was passed to be enacted. The records 
of the Commonwealth do not give the date when the 
bill was signed by the Governor. On the 17th of 
June the doors of the House were closed for a secret 
session, the members having assembled to consult 
upon the course of the Governor, his bearing towards 
the House and the condition of the Province ; the 
Governor, having been informed of these proceedings, 
at once sent his secretary to di.ssolve the General 
Court ; the House took no notice of this messenger, 
but proceeded with its business, which, however, did 
not relate so much to the affairs of the Province as 
to the existing general condition of matters. 

On the authority of the Massachusetia Spy we have 
the information that the Governor then proceeded to 
the House and demanded admittance ; this was re- 
fused ; he immediately dissolved the General Court, 
having previously stated what bills he had signed 
that morning, among which was the one incorporating 
this town. In place of Barre the name of Hutchin- 
son had been inserted ; no reason is given for this 
change, but it is believed to have been made in the 
Council at the command of Gage, that thereby he 
might aid in perpetuating the name of his imme- 
diate predecessor. In August, 1774, a committee 
consisting of Asa Hapgood, Nathan Sparhawk, 



BARKE. 



343 



Andrew Parker, John Mason and Peter Fessenden 
were chosen to meet committees of other towns at 
Worcester to take into consideration the existing 
condition of the Province; at an adjourned meeting 
held in September the committee made their report, 
a part of which was accepted ; it does not appear 
what this was ; with the spirit of freedom at work, a 
certain degree of secrecy was necessary. 

The first warrant of the town for a town-meeting 
was issued December 20, 1774, notifying the inliabit- 
ants to assemble at the meeting-house the following 
10th of January to choose a representative to the 
Provincial Congress, to be Jield at Cambridge, Feb- 
ruary Ist, and to choose a committee to give the rep- 
resentative instructions as to his course. John 
Mason was chosen representative, and at an adjourned 
meeting the committee's instiuctions were read and 
accepted by the town. They were in accord with 
the prevailing sentiments of the people; they desired 
Mason to stand for and to vindicate, in every consis- 
tent way, in a firm, steady and uniform manner, their 
rights; to act in accord with the Continental Con- 
gress, and to coincide with its determination in gen- 
eral, unless sad necessity should compel him to do 
otherwise. Notwithstanding his instructions, much 
was left to his discretion, the well-known character 
and ability of the man evidently convincing his fel- 
low-townsmen that they had made choice of an hon- 
orable and able representative to an important assem- 
blage. At the meeting of January 10th the patriotism 
of the town and their determination to resist the en- 
croachments of Great Britain are still further shown 
when it was voted that the town would "indemnify 
the constables from paying any more money to Har- 
rison Gray, the former treasurer of the Province, but 
that they should pay the said money to Henry Gard- 
ner, now treasurer." This vote was passed in accord- 
ance with the advice and resolve of the Provincial 
Congress. The times were eventful ; the resistance 
to oppression had increased, and the necessity of act- 
ing in unison was apparent. August 1, 1774, the 
district met to take action on several papers sent 
hither in regard to the Boston Port Bill ; after con- 
siderable deliberation they decided that their share or 
proportion of the money now in the district treasury 
should be paid towards the support of the Congress 
to be held at Philadelphia. Affairs were assuming 
conflicting aspects. Here, and now, as elsewhere, a 
few stanch men were vigorously endeavoring to 
have their more timid or cautious associates take 
more pronounced positions on the questions of the 
day. The officers of the militia had resigned their 
posts, '"throwing the militia of the town, as it were, 
into a state of nature." The Committee of Corre- 
spondence for the County of Worcester had recom- 
mended that every town in the county should meet at 
once and choose officers to lead them wherever they 
might be called, until the government should be 
brought under proper regulations. In cousequeuce 



of this, it was decided to form two companies of 
militia, one to be under the command of Captain 
Ezra Jones, the other under Captain William Buck- 
minster. These companies were not to exceed fifty 
men each, including officers, and a proper allowance 
of money was recommended to remunerate them for 
each half-day that they should be required to be 
under arms for the purpose of drill and discipline, 
these half-days to be two in each month for the next 
eight months, unless the town should hereafter con- 
sider it unnecessary, or unless the Committee of 
Safety for the Provinces should, within that time, call 
them to march to any part of the Provinces, when 
their pay, so far as the town was concerned, should 
cease. In April, 1775, "the alarm" was sent out 
from Boston of the great need of militia. Twenty- 
one men marched from this town to do battle in their 
country's cause; they were attached to Colonel 
Brewer's regiment, and, under the immediate com- 
mand of their own townsman. Captain John Black, 
did their duty at the battle of Bunker Hill. Buck- 
minster was appointed lieutenant-colonel of this regi- 
ment; he received a severe wound in the engagemetit 
and was disabled from further military duty. He 
returned to his farm, but did not forget the needs of 
his country. His patriotism and enthusiasm were of 
great value in aiding and filling the quotas subse- 
quently demanded from this town. Colonel Buck- 
minster lived to see the end of the struggle, but his 
wound wore upon his stalwart frame, and June 22, 
1786, he passed away, not fifty years of age. 

These twenty-one men did not enlist in the army, 
but soon returned home. Subsequent events called 
for more aid, and in a short time fifty-eight men, in- 
cluding a number of those who were at Bunker Hill, 
enlisted under Captain Black for a term of eight 
months. Samuel Lee, born here in 1767, enlisted at 
the age of thirteen, and was attached to the army at 
West Point; he served during the remainder of the 
war, and was in many important engagements; re- 
turning to his home, he obtained an education, and 
became a prominent man in the town, holding 
many State and town oflices. He was a man whose 
integrity and sound judgment were never questioned, 
and whose opinion was sought on many points. He 
died here at the age of seventy-two. An oil-painting 
of him adorns the walls of our Public Library. 

By the demands of the country, ably seconded by 
a Jones, a Black, a Buckminster, a Sparhawk and 
others, the patriotic spirit prevailed ; the wavering 
gradually sinking their objections to armed resistance, 
realizing that the power of tyranny was endeavoring 
slowly to tighten the cords which were being then 
thrown about them. Firm and decisive measures were 
necessary that the people might act together and in a 
spirit of accord, that they should encourage the fickle, 
take counsel one with another, and resist all overtures 
from royalty to consider in convention how peace 
might be obtained. 



344 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



For the support of the militia money was essen- 
tial ; struggling with poverty, yet resolute and un- 
wavering, the strictest economy was necessary to 
maintain their position. Schools and highways were 
now of secondary importance ; no funds could be 
spared for support or repair; the minister's salary 
went unpaid ; every effort of the people seemed given 
to the one cause. But this condition of affairs could 
not long exist; money must be obtained, and finally 
it was voted to sell some of the land about the 
meeting-house and the old proprietors' roads, and 
devote the proceeds to the use of the schools, as they 
recognized their great importance. 

At this time another incident occurred, which still 
further illustrates the patriotism of the people. Thus 
far the town had been known as Hutchinson. The 
firm adhesion of ex-Governor Hutchinson to the au- 
thority of Great Britain, he being a strong believer 
in, and upholder of, royal prerogatives, had rendered 
the name obnoxious to the inhabitants. Smarting 
under the insult inflicted by the name, they resolved 
to apply to the General Court for an act authorizing 
the town to be named anew. January 17, 1776, it was 
voted to petition for authority to change the name 
from Hutchinson to that of Wilkes. John Caldwell, 
Nathan Sparhawk and John Mason, of the selectmen, 
and Andrew Parker and Asa Hapgood, of the Commit- 
tee of Correspondence, were chosen to act for the 
town. Their petition stated that, having formerly 
been known by the name of Rutland District, in 1773 
they applied for an act of incorporation as a town, 
which was granted by both Houses, but non-concurred 
in by Governor Hutchinson, unless he could have the 
privilege of naming the town ; but the Housedissented, 
and the matter was not completed until Gage became 
Governor, "who very soon after gave us a specimen of 
what he was, or intended to be to the colony, by fill- 
ing up the blank with that obnoxious name, Hutchin- 
son, that well-known enemy of the natural and stipu- 
lated rights of America, which gave us a very disa- 
greeable sensation of mind, not being able to speak 
of the town in which we live, but our thoughts were 
necessarily turned upon that ignominious enemy of 
mankind, and, in a measure, filled with shame to tell 
where we lived, when requested," and the petitioners 
desired that the obnoxious name of Hutchinson be 
canceled, and that the name of Wilkes, " that ever- 
memorable friend to the rights and liberties of 
America, would give conteat to the iuhabitants." 

The committee who had this petition in charge was 
made up from the be^t minds in town, — men com- 
manding respect for their attainments and force of 
character. 

The Legislature at this time was not in session, it 
having assembled on the last Wednesday of the pre- 
ceding May, but it might be convened again and on 
any day, as at this time it held several session* each 
year. John Caldwell was the representative at this 
time and was a member of the Provincial Congress 



that had sat at Watertown the previous summer ; he 
was prepared to present the petition at the earliest 
practicable moment, it having been signed February 
5th. But the Legislature was not again convened, 
and as its term would expire on the day next pre- 
ceding the last Wednesday of May, on the 20th of 
February a town-meeting was held, and John Mason 
was chosen representative for the ensuing year. Soon 
after the next Legislature met the petition was pre- 
sented, but, on account of an adjournment and other 
circumstances which were daily affecting the situation 
of affairs, it was not reported back to the House for 
some time, and it was not until the 7th of next 
November that the bill was passed, and which reads 
as follows : 

In the year of our Lord 1776. 

An .\ct for discontinuing the name of a town in the County of Wor- 
cester, lately incorporated by the name of Hutchinson, and calling the 
name Barre. 

Whereas, the Inhabitants of the Town of Hutchinson have by their 
Petition Represented to this Court, that in June, 1774, when the said 
Town was incorporated, General Gage, the then Governor, gave it the 
name of Hutchinson, in honor to and to perpetuate the memory of 
Thomas Hutchinson, his immediate predecessor in the Chair of Govern- 
ment, whom they have justly styled the well-known enemy of the nat- 
ural and Stipulated Rights of America, and at a Town Meeting notified 
for that purpose, they Voted unanimously to petition, and accordingly 
have petitioned the General Court, that the name of the said Town 
might be altered, and that it might no longer bear the Disgraceful name 
of Hutchinson ; 

And, WHEREAS, there is a moral fitness that Traitors and Parricides, 
especially such as have remarkably distinguished themselves in that 
odious Character, and have long laliored to deprive their native Country 
of its most valuable rights and privileges, and to destroy every Constitu- 
tiuiuil Guard against the evils of an all-enslaving Despotism, should be 
held up to view in their true Character to be execrated by mankind, and 
there should remain no other memorial of them than such as will trans- 
mit their names with Infamy to posterity ; 

And, WHEREAS, the said Thoma.s Hutchinson, contrary to every obli- 
gation Of duty and gratitude to tftis, his native Country, which 
raised him from private life to the highest and most hicrative Offices 
in the Government, has acted towards her the part of a Traitor and 
Parricide, as above described, which has been clearly manifested to the 
world by his Letters lately published, and by his having thus acted, it 
has become tit and just that every honorable memorial of him should 
be Obliterated and ceiise. 

Therefore — Be it enacted by the Council and House of Representatives 
of the State of Massachusetts Bay, in General Court assembled, and by 
the authority of the same, that the land lying in the County of Worces- 
ter, formerly called Rutland District, and in June, 1774, incorporated 
into a town by the name of Hutchinson, shall no longer bear that 
name, but henceforth shall be called and known by the name of 
Babre, the aforesaid Incorporating act notwithstanding, and all Offi- 
cers in the said town shall hold and exercise their Offices respectively in 
the same manner as they would have done, had not the name of the said 
town been altered. 

In the House of Representatives, Novm. 7, 1776. 

This Bill having had three several readings, passed to be enacted. 
Sent up for Concurrence. 

T. Dalton, Speaker ProUm. 
In Council, Novm. 7, 1776. 
This Bill having had two several readings, passed to be enacted. 

John Avery, Dep^y Secretary. 
Consented to by the Major part of the Council. 
A true Copy, Attest, John Avert, Dej»'?/ Secretary. 

The name of the town had been changed to Barre 
instead of Wilkes, as the people had desired in their 
petition. Wilkes and Barre at this time were mem- 
bers of the same Parliament, and each was an ardent 
defender of what he considered the liberties and 



BARRE. 



345 



rights of the people of the Provinces. For some 
years preceding Wilkes liad acquired some notoriety 
by his writings and course of conduct, and had, at 
one time, been expelled from Parliament and placed 
under arrest, convicted and sentenced to imprison- 
ment and heavy fine. What many of the English 
people considered as an act of oppression towards 
him had turned the current of popular opinion in his 
favor ; the people of America were dazzled by his 
public course, and their desire to honor him and his 
name was but natural. 

By whom the name of Barre was given to the town 
is not known, but it is evident that, as a blank for 
the name was left in the act, it was inserted in the 
House and acceded to in the Council. 

Isaac Barr(5, after whom the town was named, was 
at that time attracting much attention and commenda- 
tion from the Americans for his efforts in their behalf 
in the British Parliament ; he was born in Dublin, 
of French parentage, in humble circumstances, in 
1726 ; it was intended that he should study law, as in 
his career at Trinity College, which he entered at the 
age of fourteen, he had exhibited marked ability as a 
student and debater; disliking that profession, he 
enlisted in the British Army with the rank of ensign 
in 1746. He was in the service for fourteen years on 
the Continent fin 1 in Canada, where, under Gen. 
Wolfe, he rose to the rank of adjutant-general. He 
was severely wounded in his eyes in the same engage- 
ment where Wolfe was killed. At the surrender of 
Montreal in 1760, Lord Amherst sent him as bearer 
of despatches to the home government ; he remained 
in London to obtain relief from his injuries, in which 
he was but partially successful. The next year he 
was elected to a seat in Parliament, where he dis- 
tinguished himself in debate and became a powerful 
champion of the American people, denouncing the 
oppression of the British government and contending 
for the rights of the people. His career in Parlia- 
ment attracted the attention of the Americans, and 
they acknowledged him as a powerful friend and ad- 
vocate in their behalf. The title of colonel, which 
was at times applied to him, is incorrect, as he arose 
only to the rank of lieutenant-colonel. In conse- 
quence of the wounds he received at Quebec in 1759, 
he became blind when about sixty years of age. He 
died in London, July 20, 1802. An oil painting of 
Barre, after one by Stuart, hangs in our Public Library. 

The representative to the body sitting at Water- 
town, Dea. John Mason, a man specially fitted to the 
times, kept the people informed of the condition of 
affairs, and largely through his influence they were 
led to act in advance of some of ihe neighboring 
towns and to preserve and strengthen the determina- 
tion against yielding to any usurpation of their rights. 
What wonder, then, that when they were summoned 
to a town-meeting to act upon a resolve emanating 
from the representative body of the Colony of Miissa- 
chusetts Bay, asking them to advise their representa- 



tive that, if the Congress should declare them inde- 
pendent of Great Britain, he should pledge the in- 
habitants to solemnly engage with their lives and for- 
tunes to support them in this measure, they unani- 
mously so instructed their representative, Dea. Mason. 
And they went still farther: they desired every male 
inhabitant of the age of sixteen years and upwards to 
be enrolled, that each and every one might contribute 
his share in the struggle for liberty. They desired 
their representative to act his part in agreeing upon 
and enacting a Constitution and form of government 
for the State such as should conduce to the safety and 
happiness of its inhabitants. To a people thus 
pledged to independence it must have seemed a direct 
insult to be petitioned into a town-meeting to take 
into consideration a circular from the King's Com- 
missioners, Lord Howe and his brother, Gen. Howe, 
proposing measures of settlement, this proposition 
stating that all the acts that the people complained of 
as grievous should be righted, that they would be 
repealed, and their rights and privileges established. 
This petition for thetiwn-meeting stated that " as all 
proposals must begin somewhere, we think it is time 
to know whether the people in this town mean to 
fight Great Britain only for independency, and if not, 
that their minds may be kn iwn thereon." The meet- 
ing was held December 30, 1776; the gilded bait of 
compromise was not acceptable; the meeting was of 
short duration ; after a spirited discu-sion they de- 
cided not to actupon the warrant and it wasdisiolved. 
Another result of this meeting was that much indig- 
nation was aroused against the signers of this petition, 
John Caldwell, Ezra Jones, JIatthew Caldwell, Noah 
Mandell, George Caldwell, William Caldwell and 
Thomas Holden, and t,heir adherent*, and so strong 
did this feeling become that a town-meeting was called 
by a warrant signed by but two of the five selectmen, 
and held January 20, 1777. Capt. John Black was voted 
" out of all office in town," and Col. Buckminster was 
removed from his position as town treasurer. When 
we consider the strength of these men in local affairs, 
their power in debate, their superior judgment and 
their valiant and valuable services on the field of bat- 
tle, we can but feebly realize the force of that wrath 
that was visited upon them by tho.-e of their towns- 
men who, once having decided to contend for liberty, 
were unwilling to retrace a single step. 

Notwithstanding this episode in their affairs, the 
spirit of patriotism was progressing. At succeeding 
town-meetings the people gladly voted to raise their 
quota of men for the fifteen battalions called for by 
the Continental Congress and appropriate a bounty 
of twenty pounds to each one who enlisted in the 
Continental Army; they also voted to consider those 
who acted as substitutes for such of the citizens as 
could not go to the war as inhabitants of Barre and 
placed them on the same footing, as to bounty, as 
were those who had previously enlisted for service at 
Ticonderoga or elsewhere. 



346 



HISTOKY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



Another element was now a source of discomfort; 
bills of credit had been issued by the State, and al- 
though its faith was pledged for their redemption, 
their value was constantly depreciatng. This was 
productive of hardship and suft'ering; these circum- 
Btances and the absence of many of the men had 
made the situation depressing; agriculture was ne- 
glected, specie had disappeared and nearly every one 
was unwilling to receive the currency for debts due 
them, and it was nearly impossible to procure with it 
many of the necessities of life. A meeting was held 
to see if the people would petition the General Court 
for a repeal or alteration of the act in regard to the 
bills of credit, and they voted against such a course, 
preferring hardship rather than to do aught that 
might weaken their hopes for independence, and pre- 
ferring to co-operate with the General Court in all 
measures that it should consider necessary for the 
success of their cause. (In January, 1777, these bills 
of credit were about five per cent, below par, and in 
January, 1778, they were worth only about three and 
one-half per cent, of their face value.) 

The people were ever in accord with the spirit of 
the times, town- meetings were of frequent occurrence 
and the condition of the colonies was demanding 
constant attention. At times a feeble minority would 
petition for an abrogation of certain measures, but 
the stern, unyielding sense of the majority, alter a 
spirited discussion, would prevail ; on some occasions, 
when meetings had been called on the petitions of 
this minority, discussion would be avoided by refus- 
ing to act on the articles, and in May, 1778, the town 
showed its spirit so strongly as to vote " to throw out 
a petition of twelve signers of the inhabitants of 
Barre in every part and paragraph." 

This petition was for the reconsidering of a previous 
meeting's vote by which a bounty had been granted 
to those who should enlist in the Continental Army. 
In April of 1778 the town held a meeting to see 
whether it would ratify a Constitution or mode of 
government sent out by the General Assembly. This 
form was unsatisfactory, and by a strong majority 
they refused to ratify it as it then stood, the vote be- 
ing eleven for to seventy-six against it. Realizing, 
however, that a stable form of government was essen- 
tial, a committee was chosen to report such amend- 
ments as they thought fitting and proper, lay them 
before the town for its acceptance and instruct the 
representative iu regard to them. This Constitution 
was the outcome of a recommendation of the House 
of Representatives, September 17, 1776, that the 
voters of the different towns assemble and determine 
whether they would give their consent that the 
House and Council should enact such a form of gov- 
ernment for the Slate as would seem best ; the towns 
generally voted unanimously to accede to this re- 
quest, but when the proposed Constitution was sub- 
mitted to them it was rejected. 

In April, 1779, a convention of delegates was called 



to assemble at Cambridge to prepare another draft of 
a Constitution, to which Barre sent as delegates John 
Mason, Andrew Parker and Asa'^apgood. The 
work of this convention was no more favorable than 
before, for this draft also was rejected. When, in 
May of 1780, it came before the town for its consider- 
ation a committee of seven was appointed to exam- 
ine and report upon this draft. Rev. Josiah Dana, 
the chairman, reported that it was imperfect and rec- 
ommended these amendments : 

1. No one, not of the Proteetaut religion, should be eligible to any 
ofiice from Governor to Representative ; 2. No person shall be eligible 
to any office in the Legislature who does not contribute to the support 
of the civil government iu the way of taxation, giving as a reason that 
he who pays a part of the charges would be more likely to spend our 
money frugally ; 3. That the chief officers of the State should not 
serve more than four years out of seven, as this might be a check on en- 
terprising, designing men, and of consequence, a tendency to serve the 
liberties of the people and render the Commonwealth safe; 4. That no 
person should have a seat in the Congress and the State Legislature at the 
same time, as such a practice would give a way for some pereou to have 
an undue influence in government and be derogatory to the liberties of 
the people ; 5. That a particular day should be appointed for the choice 
of representatives, as it would save the trouble and expense of an annual 
precept; G. Each town should have the privilege of nominating one 
justice of the peace, it being the opinion that the towns entitled to 
choose a representative were under greater advantage to determine the 
qualifications and ability of their townsmen than the Governor of the 
Commonwealth could be. 

The town, by a vote of one hundred yeas to four 
nays, accepted the draft with these amendments, and 
ordered their delegates to attend the convention at 
its adjourned meeting in June, to present them for 
consideration and to agree upon a time when the 
instrument should take effect, if accepted by a two- 
thirds vote of the people. Nothing resulted from 
these proposed amendments ; but during this sitting 
a revised draft was brought before the convention 
and adopted, and, on being submitted to the inhabit- 
ants, was ratified; on the declaration of the conven- 
tion that more than two-thirds of the voters of this 
Province had signified that they were in favor of it, 
the Constitution was declared accepted. 

Barre was still contributing its proper portion of 
men and supplies for the army. Attempts were 
made to equalize the compensation of those who had 
labored for, and who were still in, the Continental 
army. As each member of the militia was, to a con- 
siderable extent, a judge of the value of his eflbrts, 
these attempts were not always productive of the 
best results ; local jealousies and personal piques 
were as prominent as before or since that time, and 
when endeavors were made to liave each free-holder 
pay a proportionate amount of the expense incurred, 
they would vigorously protest ; but in the end their 
sense of right and justice would prevail. 

The depreciation of the currency was a source of 
much trouble in this matter. Hours were spent in 
discussion, votes were passed and reconsidered, and 
at length the matter would be left to adjust itself. 
One proposition made at this time was to settle with 
the men for their services by paying them with bills 
of credit at "ninety for one," that is — that ninety 



BAKRE. 



347 



dollars in such bills should be considered as the 
equivalent in value of one Spanish milled dollar. 

In this year, 1780, the town was called upon for a 
supply of beef for the army, the amount required 
being nine thousand nine hundred and sixty pounds; 
the town voted to raise £20,100, with which to pur- 
chase this beef. Additional men for the army were 
also called for, and committees were chosen to supply 
these calls. For the purpose of more easily and 
readily obtaining the men the town was divided into 
classes or districts; one man was taken from each 
district, either by his enlisting or, in some few cases, 
by hiring a substitute; sometimes one would be 
drawn by lot, when, if he retused to serve, the dis- 
trict in which he lived was assessed in a sufficient 
sum to procure a substitute. Twenty men marched 
from Barre, June 5, 1780, having enlisted for a term 
of six months' service. More men and more beef 
were still called for. In 1781 seven thousand eight 
hundred and ninety-three pounds of beef were called 
for for the army ; the town voted to give John Cald- 
well forty-two shillings, currency, per one hundred 
pounds, or £165, "hard money," for the whole 
amount, and which he furnished. 

After this time we have but little evidence that the 
State was still calling for aid, although in August of 
1782 the town voted to use their best endeavors to 
collect a sum of money in compliance with a "press- 
ing requisition " from the Geueral Court. The last 
requisition for men had been made in March, but this 
and some of the preceding calls had not been based 
upon population, but on property according to the 
valuation. 

There is no complete record of the names or num- 
ber of men from this town who served in the Revolu- 
tionary struggle, but it has been asserted that about 
one-sixth of the inhabitants did military duly during 
the war ; if this be so, then our town should be 
credited with sending out more than two hundred 
men to contend for their liberties. 

The war was approaching its close ; the campaigns 
of this year were destined to virtually decide the 
issues in favor of a long-suffering and much-enduring 
people. Amid deprivations and some internal dissen- 
sions they had worked steadily in answering calls for 
men and supplies for the force in the field, and now 
they could devote their time and attention to peace- 
ful pursuits; town-meetings were less frequent, the 
business to be transacted relating more generally to 
the proper functions of a town. The church and 
schools and highways now received the attention they 
needed, and much time and care was bestowed upon 
them. One subject connected with the war was a 
source of much difficulty: some of the men con- 
sidered that they had done more than their part in 
aiding to prosecute the war, and charged others with 
having shirked their duties. This was a subject of 
constant controversy, and so great was the excitement 
that the town endeavored at different times to equal- 



I . 



ize the value of the services of each one. Commit- 
tees were appointed for this purpose, reports made 
and rejected; finally a committee reported that they 
had examined into the past services done in the war 
with Great Britain by individuals, and desiring to use 
their best endeavors to have every man's money made 
good that he had advanced for the support of the war, 
and also taking into view their personal services, they 
submitted a statement showing what each man had 
advanced and done by way of credit, and another 
statement showing by the valuation what each one's 
proportion should be ; this report was accepted. 
Two hundred and sixty five names appear upon this 
schedule, about one-half of whom were credited with 
having done more than their part ; the delinquents 
were expected to pay the balance against them into 
the town treasury, but as this balance varied from a 
few pounds to several hundred, it was very evident 
that some would he unable to pay such sums, and 
others flatly refused to do so ; numerous devices were 
resorted to to effect a settlement, and threats were 
made of invoking legislative interference ; in the end 
a few settled the balance against them and the matter 
was allowed to drop. 

In 1782 the people were so engrossed in their home 
affairs that they neglected to send a Representative to 
the General Court. The Legislature called the town 
to account for this neglect of their duty, but it de- 
clined to assign any reason for its course. So imper- 
ative were the demands of the State that the town 
should do its duty, the next year Colonel Nathan 
Sparhawk was chosen Representative. Matters of 
great importance to the condition and welfare of the 
country, in a civil rather than a military line, were 
coming forward and demanding settlement. A treaty 
of peace between the colonies and Great Britain had 
been arranged and preliminary articles signed. The 
town, to some extent, realized how great might be the 
benefits that would accrue to it from independence, 
and they eagerly desired that time to come when they 
might enjoy the fruits of their struggles and sacrifices. 
Nearly impoverished in helping to maintain an army 
scattered over a large territory by sending forward 
men and supplies, their farms sufl^ering for want of 
proper care, in some instances having been carried 
on by the boys and girls of the household, the dawn 
of peace was gladly hailed. Resolved that nothing 
should be wanting on their part, they chose a strong 
committee, who should obtain the general sentiment 
of all the people, and from this formulate instructions 
by which their Representative in the General Court 
should be guided. 

These instructions were drawn up ; they expressed 
confidence in the integrity and good understanding of 
their representative to conduct public affairs in such 
a way as to promote the intere-ts of the Common- 
wealth and this town in particular; they desired him 
to bear in mind that the State was free and independ- 
ent, and retained every power, jurisdiction and right 



348 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



that had not been specially delegated to the Congress, 
and that the foundation of good government rested 
on piety, religion and morality ; that these, with mod- 
eration, justice, temperance, industry and frugality, 
were necessary to preserve our liberty, and that all 
laws must be based upon them ; that the Constitution 
and Declaration of Rights were worthy of his fre- 
quent perusal, and that iu public doings he should be 
he largely guided thereby. In regard to the treaty 
of peace, they say "our iadependeuce is confirmed, a 
blessing for which patriots have long toiled and 
heroes fought aud bled. Posterity can never justly 
charge us with surrendering their rights. We and 
they shall be free so long as we deserve freedom 
It will depend upon our virtue." 

The fifch article of the treaty of peace was unsatis- 
factory and distasteful. This article provided that the 
Congress should recommend to the Legislatures of the 
several States that they provide for the restitution 
of all the estates, rights and properties that had 
beeo confiscated from British subjects during the 
war, and likewise for the restoralioa of the estates 
and rights of persons resident here or el-ewhere who 
had not borne arms .against the country, but preferred 
to retain their loyalty to the King. The instructions 
on this point said, " we cannot help feeling anxious 
for the event of the fifth article, which respects those 
men who fled from their country when its liberties 
were invaded, and took refuge in the dominions 
of the invader. Congress can only recommend. 
It will not obtrude citizens in any of the States, 
much less declared traitors. Agreeable to the treaty 
of peace, the town wishes for no recollection of past 
dispute with Great Britain, no repetition of past in- 
juries, but the seeds of discord being excluded, that 
a beneficial intercourse may be established between 
the two countries, so as to promote and serve to per- 
petuate peace and harmony, which would be ex- 
tremely difficult were these persons to reside among 
us whom this country regards as the occasion of inter- 
rupting that intercourse formerly, and the cause of 
this suffering ; especially as these wretched beings 
have already begun (piarrelswith that peace and those 
who made it, which terminates a long, bloody, unna- 
tural war. Therefore, in the opinion of this town, the 
happiness, the liberties, interest and safety of these 
States forbid us to suffer persons of the above descrip- 
tion to become the subjects of, and to reside in, this gov- 
ernment;'' they further instructed him that it would 
be dangerous to admit them, or to have them forced 
upon us. They enjoined upon him unremitting atten- 
tion to business, and stated that it was their right to 
communicate to him their sentiments whenever they 
should judge it necessary or convenient, and they 'ex- 
pected him to hold himself bound at all times to 
attend to and observe them. 

Here is exhibited the spirit of our town in the 
struggle for its liberties. By their inflexible deter- 
mination as a body corporate, by their material and 



moral support, they had conquered a peace, and no act 
or surrender of any principle should now put in jeop- 
ardy their rights. For neglecting to send a repre- 
sentative to the General Cuurl in 1782, the Legislature 
had imposed upon the town a fine of fortj'-nine pounds, 
ten shillings. In May of 1783 a town-meeting was 
held to petition for a remission of this fine ; a com- 
mittee was chosen to prepare the petition, which is 
as follows : 

Commonwealth of Maasachusetts : To the Honorable, the Senate and 
House of Representatives in General Court assembled. The petition of 
the town of Barre humbly showeth that whereas said town is fined 
£49 10s. for not sending some person to represent them in the Great 
and General Court the last year, pray that the same may be Uiken off ; 
and they flatter themselves that honorable Court will be convinced of 
the reasonableness of the petition when they consider this is the only 
instance of the like kind that they have failed in since they have been 
a town, and even in this, when it was tried to know whether they 
should send or not, there appeared but two or three votes majority in 
the negative, so that near one-half of the inhabitants are punished for 
what they must call their misfortune, not their crime ; and it wiy ap- 
pear further reasonable if the honorable Court will please to consider 
that the town of Barre, as they humbly conceive, has stood for some 
years past, and now stiinds as high on the State valuation according to 
its interest, than perhaps any town in the County, so that they feel, in 
a peculiar manner, the weight of their taxes. They have hitherto 
stifled every groan, that they might not seem to discourage the common 
cause in which they considered themselves so nnich interested, but for 
the future must beg leave to complain unless the proportion is altered 
between some towns with which they think they are well qualified to 
compare themselves. There is another reason which is of singular 
force with the town, and they hope it will have its due weight with the 
honorable Court, viz.; that besides the last Continental tax, the whole 
of which remains unpaid, they find themselves in debt between one 
hundred and two hundred pounds more than the town's proportion in 
the present State tax, all which, with the addition of fine upon fine, 
makes it appear to them a burden almost insupportable. 

This petition probably had the desired effect, as 
we find no record of the fine having been paid. 

The depreciation of the currency and the unset- 
tled condition of the country were still weighing 
heavily upon the inhabitants, and were productive 
of deep and wide-spread suffering. Credit was ex- 
tinct, the temporary act of 1782 making property a 
legal tender for debts due had proved a failure, as it 
still further postponed collections. Suits-in-law be- 
tween neighbors and between individuals and the 
town were numerons ; the town annually apjwinted 
an agent to defend such suits as were brought 
against it, trusting that a judicial hearing might be 
beneficial, both in the way of bringing the matter 
forward for a general discussion, aud by the decision 
of the court, reducing the amount which had been 
claimed as due ; the administration of the State 
government was arraigned, and the town was re- 
quested by petition to take measures that would re- 
sult in changing the state of aft'airs for the better ; 
this petition had no further effect than to elicit the 
reply that time would eventually make the matter 
right; other towns taking a similar stand, a conven- 
tion was called to sit in Worcester in April to con- 
sider the grievances the people labored under, and to 
petition the General Court for redress. Barre and 
twenty-five other towns of the county were repre- 
sented in this convention ; the difficulties of the peo- 



BARKE. 



349 



pie were freely and fully discussed, and the outcome 
of the meeting was, that the various representatives 
to the General Court should be instructed to procure 
a change in certain laws and customs, prominent 
among which were that there should be immediate 
settlements with all officers having charge of the 
State funds, a reduction of lawyers' fees and a set- 
tlement of accounts between the State and the Con- 
gress. Here was the entering wedge for what 
proved afterwards a blot on our escutcheon. The 
difficulties increased daily. 

In 178i a town-meeting was held on the 1st day of 
March to see if the town would choose a committee 
to sit in convention at Worcester on the third Tuesday, 
in conformance with the request of a circular letter, 
signed by Willis Hall, of Sutton, by the order of nine 
towns in the southeast part of the county. The sub- 
stance of this letter was to have a discussion and con- 
sideration of their grievances, in regard to an impost 
being granted for twenty-five years. Nathaniel Jen- 
nison was the delegate from Barre ; thi-t convention 
being productive of no more satisfactory results than 
that of two years previous, another convention 
assembled in Leicester in June of 1786, to which this 
town sent William Henry as its delegate. Thirty- 
seven towns were represented ; the distress of the 
people, and how to relieve it, were the chief topics 
for consideration ; these deliberations were productive 
of no good result. The following September some of 
our citizens united with bodies from other towns in 
revolt against the laws and courts. On the evening 
of the 4th they entered Worcester and took possession 
of the court-house; amongst these was Lieutenant 
Moses Smith, of Barre, now claiming the rank of 
captain. 

Chief Justice Ward, a man of much dignity, firm- 
ness and courage, and who had been a general in the 
Revolution, demanded an explanation of the proceed- 
ings ; one of the leaders of the mob replying that 
they had come for a redress of grievances. Judge 
Ward informed them that their complaints were with- 
out any substantial foundation. Captain Smith replied 
that any communication from him to them must be in 
writing. 

The judge refused to so communicate with them, 
and soon afterwards was allowed to address them, 
when he spoke for about two hours with good effect. 
The next day Captain Smith unceremoniously intro- 
duced himself to the judge, and with his sword drawn, 
ofiered him a paper purporting to be a petition of the 
body of people "now collected for their own good and 
that of the commonwealth,'' requiring an adjournment 
of the courts without day, and demanded an answer 
within half an hour. 

The judge at once replied, telling him that no an- 
swer would be given, when Smith retired. In this 
condition of affairs it was found impossible to hold 
sessions of the courts, and they were adjourned until 
November, in hopes that the mob would see its use- 



lessness and disperse. But the infection was too 
extensive ; on the 29th of November, Captain Smith 
and others from this town were still taking a promi- 
nent part in what was now known as the Shays' 
Rebellion. How this rebellion ended is a matter of 
history. Smith, with his company of Barre men, after 
parading through the main street of Worcester, 
marched home on Saturday, the 9lh of December. 

The feeling in Barre was intense. The community 
was divided in opinion in regard to this affair, a large 
minority upholding the insurgent course and many 
bitter feelings were engendered. Even the church 
was disturbed, and one of the more offending mem- 
bers was the subject of a number of meetings, the 
result of which was his suspension ; but, finally apol- 
ogizing for his indiscretions, he was reinstated in his 
church membership. 

In town affairs the excitement was of long-con- 
tinued duration. About this time it was discovered 
that the town's ammunition had been stolen. A 
committee of nine was chosen to make immediate 
search for it. Lieut, (or Capt.) Moses Smith and 
Richard Mills (both of whom had been officers with 
the insurgents and were suspected of knowing con- 
siderable about it) were placed on this committee. 
After much labor and anxiety on the part of the com- 
mittee, and by virtue of several search-warrants, the 
ammunition was found' in the barn of a well-known 
citizen, Joseph Smith. The excitement increased, 
and Smith was prosecuted for the theft. He presented 
his case in a long petition to the town, stoutly affirm- 
ing his innocence and declaring that he had no 
knowledge, directly or indirectly, how the powder 
came to his barn. He appealed for clemency and 
asked that the suit might be withdrawn. A number 
of town-meetings were held in regard to his case and 
the matter was finally allowed to drop, he being 
compelled to pay all the expenses that had accrued. 
Subsequent developments pointed strongly to Mills 
as the parly who stole the ammunition, he having 
been encouraged in the theft by Lieut. Smith, and to 
throw any suspicion from himself, when the insur- 
gents had no use for the powder, he concealed it in 
Josiah Smith's barn. 

January 1, 1787, the town decided to petition Gov- 
ernor Bowdoin for relief from the causes that were 
generally assumed to be the cause of the revolt and 
that this outbreak might be condoned. In this peti- 
tion the inhabitants represented that application 
having been made to the town by a number of its 
disaffected citizens, called insurgents, and desiring 
the town to take up the matter as mediator between 
government and the disaffected citizens of said town, 
they, the petitioners, deplored the situation and dep- 
recated the horrors of bloodshed, " more especially 
town and neighbor against each other, and, to close 
all with accumulating horror, an armed force, ready 
to march from the town at the call of government, 
while a party is ready to march in opposition," and 



350 



HISTORY OP WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



besought His Excellency to desist from prosecuting 
the affair with rigor until every conciliatory measure 
had been used that was consistent with the good, the 
safety and the dignity of the Commonwealth; and 
if His Excellency would desist they pledged them- 
selves that the insurgents among our people would 
promise that the Courts of Common Pleas and of 
General Sessions of the Peace should not be ob- 
structed in their business until after the next session 
of the Legislature, provided their lives and property 
should be safe from seizure in consequence of their 
hitherto illegal acts. 

One of the conventions that had previously been 
called had never dissolved, but had held numerous 
sessions from time to time, discussing the condition of 
the Commonwealth and endeavoring to devise means 
for a settlement of the difficulties. This convention 
was now in session, and notwithstanding that the ma- 
jority of our people professed penitence for the course 
that had been pursued here, and had petitioned the 
Governor to desist from measures which would sub- 
due the insurgents, they would not recall theirdelegate 
from Worcester. The insurgent minority had consid- 
erable power in town, and were not yet disposed to 
abandon their course in regard tothe results that they 
hoped might be obtained from the deliberations of the 
convention, considering that by so doing they would 
be deprived of the right of petition, which they be- 
lieved to be one of their inherent rights. They ex- 
pected, too, thata continual agitation of the grievances 
would tend to bring an early relief to their sufferings. 
The whole town was considerably excited, but after 
the defeat of Shays the feeling gradually subsided. 

The climax came at a town-meeting held July 6, 
1787. The subject of the amount of costs incurred in 
regard to the procedures and search for the stolen am- 
munition was under discussion. Lieut. Moses Smith 
had been chosen moderator and a part of the business 
had been transacted. The debate over the ammuni- 
tion was heated, and an attempt was made to suppress 
it, Lieut. Smith and his followers being in the major- 
ity. To offset their strength, a protest, signed by 
fourteen voters, all prominent men, was presented to 
the meeting. This protest was as follows: We, whose 
names are underwritten, protest against the proceed- 
ings of the town, in town-meeting now assembled, and 
declare that we will not pay one farthing of any cost 
or any charges that may arise to the town, either di- 
rectly or indirectly, in consequence of the illegality of 
the same. The reason that we assign for this protest 
is that Lieut. Moses Smith, the moderator, has acted as 
an officer in the army of Captain Shays, in the rebellion 
against government in Massachusetts, and has not 
made it manifest that he has taken the oath of alle- 
giance agreeable to the act of court. 

Smith then resigned the office of moderator, which 
resignation was accepted. The record further states : 
" Then, after considerable altercation among the in- 
habitants of the town then assembled, the inhabitants 



dismissed without passing any further vote upon the 
articles contained in the warrant, leaving the select- 
men and town clerk in the meeting-house without one 
inhabitant of the town with them, and said selectmen 
and town clerk, after waiting till the dusk of evening, 
retired." 

Lieut. Smith was an iunholder. His first location 
was easterly of where Mr. W. E. Hemenway now lives, 
and on the opposite side of the highway. This was 
not a tavern, but a house of entertainment. He gave 
this to his son, and soon afterwards, in 1801, erected a 
tavern, of which he had the charge for about twelve 
years. This house is now used as a dwelling-house> 
and is opposite the school-house in old District 
No. 9. 

After the excitement of the rebellion had subsided, 
Lieut. Smith held various town offices for a number 
of years, being treasurer in 1792. His wife died about 
1800, and at her grave he placed a head-stone. He 
afterwards placed his property in the hands of some 
friends, on the guaranty to support and care for him 
for the remainder of his life. He died in 1815, seventy- 
six years of age, and was buried by the side of his 
wife, but no stone ever marked his last resting-place. 

He was a man of much force of character and kind 
and indulgent to his family. 

At one time in our history there were nine public 
places in town, some of which were taverns, the others 
houses of entertainment, the distinction between the 
two being that a tavern was obliged to be licensed, 
and intoxicating liquors were sold there, while for a 
house of entertainment no license was required, and no 
liquors were supposed to be obtainable. The most 
noted tavern of the day in the last century was that of 
Jonathan Nourse, which stood where now is the Metho- 
dist Church. Another tavern was located where now 
is Smith block, and was maintained as such for some 
years in the present century. Still another was near 
the residence of Lemuel P. Rice. It is on record in 
the proceedings of our town-meetings of the last cen- 
tury that frequently the town would vote for an ad- 
journment of five or ten or twenty minutes, then to 
reassemble at Landlord Nourse's. 

Peace at home was now thoroughly established, 
and, although various primitive business enterprises 
had been established, farming was still the chief oc- 
cupation ; still struggling under many difficulties, the 
political condition of the town and nation was an 
object of much solicitude ; altera few years of quiet, 
another war with Great Britain was believed to be im- 
minent. When, in 1807, the Congress had passed 
the "Embargo law," the people were much concerned, 
and, as its effects gradually developed, the stringency 
in the scanty markets of the day was everywhere 
manifest; the distress that first appeared at the ship- 
ping centres soon extended to the interior towns. So 
marked was this here, a town-meeting was held in 
September, 1808, to take the matter into considera- 
tion, and an address or petition to President Jefferson 



BARKE. 



351 



was adopted, praying for a repeal of the law, after 
reciting tlie distress tliat had fallen upon the people 
through its enforcement. It is highly probable that 
this law and the war rumors of this and two or three 
succeeding years had much to do in arousing a feel- 
ing of opposition to the War of 1812. The sympa- 
thies of the town were rather in consonance with the 
Peace Convention of Hartford ; from Hartford and 
from Boston many circulars and posters were sent 
here, addressed mostly to the Federalists, showing, in 
various partisan ways, the attitude of the national 
administration. These aroused much discontent, and 
this trouble, with the increased scarcity of currency, 
added to the hardships of the people. 

Our records in regard to this war are very scanty, 
but two allusions to it appearing. When a call for 
troops was made we have no records of any volunteers 
for the ranks, but it is evident that one draft for men 
was made. In August, 1814, a number of the people 
petitioned the town to grant such men as were or 
might be drafted into the service a compensation in 
addition to that allowed by the government, but the 
town refused to do this; in May, 1815, the town 
voted " to grant four dollars per month to those per- 
sons who, being inhabitants of the town, were drafted 
from the militia the last summer, and marched into 
the service of the State, or who hired substitutes." 

The war with Mexico received but little sympathy 
here ; it was fully realized that the idea of the exten- 
sion of slave territory was the cause of this conflict, 
and to this extension our people were much opposed. 
The anti-slavery feeling had been growing for a num- 
ber of years and was increasing, a few brave men 
standing by their convictions and aiding in forming 
that party which, twenty years afterwards, saved and 
perpetuated that Union for which their ancestors had 
80 nobly contended in the last century. In 1840 the 
Presidential electors of the so-called Free-Soil party 
received but one vote in the fall election ; iu 1844 the 
number had increased to thirteen, and, in 1848, to 
forty-one. The only resident or native of Barre, of 
whom we have any record, who enlisted for service 
in this war, was George Field, who was a member of 
Company E, First Regiment Massachusetts In- 
fantry. 

Another terrible struggle was to come ; the en- 
croachment of slavery had been increasing, and, when 
a change in the national administration had come, in 
1861, the conilict was precipitated. The firing upon 
Sumter was the tocsin that aroused the whole North- 
ern people; united as never before, all petty jealous- 
ies dropped for the time, men of all shades of politi- 
cal belief and of various nationalities gallantly and 
promptly responded to their country's call; the old 
spirit which animated our Revolutionary sires burned 
anew. The young man, and the middle-aged, left 
his studies, his mercantile pursuits, the bench and 
the farm, and, cheered on by father and mother and 
sister, enlisted to do battle and to die, if need be, 



that his country might live. During that four years' 
struggle three hundred and nineteen men were en- 
listed as our quota, and engaged in the stern duties of 
the period, and saw many a bloody battle-field. At 
their enlistment the town and individuals pledged 
themselves to protect and guard the interests of their 
families or dependent relatives, and well did they per- 
form that duty. The names of those three hundred and 
nineteen noble and brave men are cherished as one 
of our sacred records, and, though nearly a quarter of 
a century has elapsed since they proved their hero- 
ism, yet, to-day, their patriotism and their determi- 
nation to guard the heritage entrusted to us to care 
for and perpetuate are held in high esteem by those 
for whom their efforts accomplished so much in pre- 
serving and maintaining this Union. Many of these 
men never returned to their homes, — the deadly rifle- 
ball, or disease contracted in the discharge of their 
duty, filling a grave near many a battle-field. The 
town was generous to its nation's defenders, and still 
recalls with pride, and will forever cherish, their 
brave deeds. 

In 1866 the town erected a monument in honor of 
those who gave their lives for their country ; this 
granite base and marble shaft stands as a grand me- 
mento in the north park, with Gettysburg, Newbern, 
Port Hudson and Antietam inscribed thereon, and 
there are the names of fifty-nine true men wjio died 
for their country, but who "still live" in the affec- 
tions of a grateful people. 

In the year following the adoption of the State 
Constitution the " Barre Slave Case" attracted much 
attention. James Caldwell had bought in 1754, at Rut- 
land, a negro man, named Mingo, about twenty years 
of age, a woman, named Dinah, about nineteen years 
old, and their child, named Quako or Quork, about 
nine months old, for £108. By the death of Caldwell 
in 1763 a settlement of his estate became necessary ; 
Quork, as a part of the personal property, was assigned 
to Mrs. Caldwell. She married Nathaniel Jennison 
in 1769 and died in 1774; at her death Jennison as- 
sumed the ownership of Quork, and Quork continued 
to live and work for Jennison. In April, 1781, Quork 
was enticed from Jennison 's service by John Cald- 
well, a brother of James, who told him that he was 
a free man and not subject to Jennison's authority; 
the negro at first refused to leave his supposed master, 
but on Caldwell's representations that he would fur- 
nish work for him, pay him for his services and pro- 
tect him, he left Jennison for Caldwell, who set him 
at work in his fields. Jennison missed his slave and, 
suspecting where he might be, went to Caldwell's and 
found Quork harrowing; he commanded the negro to 
return to his own house ; Quork refused and was then 
attacked and beaten by Jennison and others who had 
gone with him, and was shut up for about two hours. 
By Caldwell's eflbrts the man in whose charge Quork 
had been placed was induced to release him, and 
through his influence, too, the case came before the 



352 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



County Court, which was really a three-fold one. 
May 1, 1781, Quork, or Quork Walker, as he was now 
called, brought an action against Jennison for tres- 
pass, which was tried at the June term. The defense 
was that Quork was the proper slave of Jennison, and 
as such he had the control and possession of his body, 
and no action for trespass could hold, to which Quork 
joined issue, denying that he was his proper slave. 

The case was tried in the Court of Common Pleas, 
and a verdict for plaintiff with damages in the sum 
of fifty dollars was awarded him. An appeal was 
was taken to the Superior Court, but was there de- 
faulted. In the same month of May Jennison 
brought suit against John and Seth Caldwell for en- 
ticing his negro man from his service and business ; 
he obtained judgment in the sum of twenty-five dol- 
lars ; this case, too, was appealed to the higher court, 
and at the September term they were declared not 
guilty and recovered judgment and costs against the 
plaintiff. At this term of court Jennison was in- 
dicted for assault and battery and illegal imprison- 
mentand on trial was found guilty and ordered to pay 
a fine and the costs of prosecution. 

The que-tion of slavery was not yet settled ; this 
was sent up to the Supreme Judicial Court, but did 
not come to trial until the April term of 1783, when 
it had its hearing before the full bench. The case 
was ably argued and the decision of the court was 
pronounced by Chief Justice Cushing. This was the 
first and only trial of the question of slavery under 
our State Constitution, and it was then established 
that slavery in this Commonwealth was abolished by 
the Declaration of Rights, which prefaced the Con- 
stitution. Cushing, after rehearsing the case and 
explaining the previous situation, and remarking 
that the defendant in this case relied upon some 
former law of the Province which would tend to up- 
hold the claim that Quork was the slave of Jenni- 
son, says, " as to the doctrine of slavery and the 
rights of Christians to hold Africans in perpetual 
servitude, and sell and treat them as we do our 
horses and cattle, that (it is true) has been here- 
fore countenanced by the Province laws formerly, 
but nowhere is it expressly enacted or established. 
It has been a usage which took its origin from the 
practice of some of the European nations and in the 
regulations of the British government respecting the 
then Colonies for the benefit of trade and wealth. 
But whatever sentiments have formerly prevailed in 
this particular, or slid in upon us by the example 
of others, a dift'erent idea has taken place with the 
people of America, more favorable t^) the natural 
rights of mankind and to the natural innate dfsire 
of liberty with which Heaven, without regard to 
color, complexion or shape of noses (features), has 
impressed all the human race, and upon this ground 
our Constituiion of Government, by which the peo- 
ple of this Commonwealth have solemnly bound 
themselves, sets out with declaring that all men are 



born free and equal, and that every subject is en- 
titled to liberty and to have it guarded by the laws, 
as well as life and property — in short, is wholly re- 
pugnant to the idea of being born slaves. This 
being the case, I think the idea of slavery is incon- 
bistent with our own conduct and Constitution, and 
there can be no such thing as perpetual servitude of a 
rational creature, unless his liberty is foifeited by 
some criminal conduct or given up by personal con- 
sent or contract." ' 

Slavery, then, in this State, no longer existed. 
Some families had previously given their slaves their 
liberty, or tacitly acknowledged that they were free. 
After their freedom the negroes, in some cases, re- 
mained in the houses of their former masters, but 
worked wherever they desired or could find employ- 
ment. Others formed homes in a little colony by 
themselves, and a number took up their abodes in the 
west part of the town, whence aro^e the name of 
Guinea, or Guinea Corner, which name is even now 
sometimes applied to old School District No. 10. 
Quork remained in town, and died here at an advanced 
age. 

It is related that Jennison took the younger portion 
of his slaves to Connecticut and sold them there, and 
that one of them. Prince Walker, a brother of Quork, 
escaped and returned here ; by some means he obtained 
some land in the east part of the town, where he lived 
and died. He married here and reared a large family. 
He died April 21, 1858, aged eighty-four years, as is 
supposed ; a stone with his name and supposed age 
inscribed thereon marks his grave, by the side of 
which are five other graves of members of his family ; 
the land, which passed out of his possession before his 
death, now belongs to the heirs of the late Larned 
Kice. " Stip," another slave, died here about 1845, 
supposed to be nearly ninety years of age. Annis 
Ring, another former slave in this town, died in Boston 
early in the present century. She married Pompey, 
who had been a slave inthefamily of Jonathan Allen; 
Pompey died in 1812, a decrepit, broken-down old 
man, breathing his last in a field in the north part of 
the town, from which circumstance the field is still 
known as the " Pomp lot." 

In accordance with the laws of the Province, early 
attention was paid to education. These laws provided 
that this education should include the ability to read 
the English language and a knowledge of the principal 
laws, and that religious instruction should be joined 
therewith. Here was a three-fold system — intellectual, 
political and moral or religious— any one branch of 
which was within the power of the early settlers to 
cherish and promote. As the district or town was 
large or small, so far as relates to the number of its 
inhabitants, so were the requirements for schooling 
graded ; a town of fifty families was required to fur- 

1 See " Proceedings of the Massachusetts Historical Society," 1855-58, 
also 18Y4, January to June. 



BARKE. 



353 



nish instruction in the elementary branches only, 
while one of a greater number of inhabitants was 
required to maintain a grammar school, or one of a 
high grade. That the proprietors were aware of these 
laws, and were disposed to observe them, is evidenced 
when, at their meeting in 1733, they voted to assign a 
lot for a school. What was done in the matter of 
instruction from that time until 1749 is not on record, 
and after 1749, when the district passed out of the 
proprietors' possession, until 1763 there are no record.s, 
they having been destroyed in a fire which consumed 
the house of John Caldwell, the clerk of this Rutland 
District. But that schools had been established and 
supported previous to 1763, is manifest from the 
following vote of the district, passed April 11th of 
that year : " Voted that £26-13-4 be assessed on said 
District for the present year, and that the school be 
kept at the same places and in the same manner that 
it was the last year." 

Here is evidence of the early establishment of 
methods of instruction, and that at least one building 
had been erected and used as a school-house is shown 
by the proceedings of the district the following year, 
as they voted " that school be kept in ten places this 
present year," and specified the places where the 
school or schools should be held, all but oiie being 
located in or near certain dwellings, that one to be 
" at the school-house," and forty pounds was raised by 
tax for their support. 

It is not on record how long a term of instruction 
was given; the schools were not always held at oi 
near the same dwellings, each year the district decid- 
ing on the number there should be, and where they 
should be held, and thus the various sections of the 
district were accommodated from year to year. 

Individuals in certain localities had erected or ar- 
ranged small buildings on their premises as temporary 
school-houses, for, in the vote above quoted, one 
school was to be held at or near John Fessenden's 
house; in 1766 forty pounds were raised for the sup- 
port of the school, which was to be kept at .six places, 
as in the preceding year, one place at the Centre school- 
house, one at John Caldwell's school-house, so-ca/led, 
one at Asa Hapgood's school-house, one at Joseph 
Robinson's house. There were not as many different 
teachers as there were schools authorized, so that it 
would appear that a teacher, after holding a school a 
certain number of weeks in one locality, was then 
transferred to another place, the length of the terms 
depending somewhat upon the valuation of the par- 
ticular locality in which they were held. 

The first record we have of the town proposing to 
build a school-house is in May of 1783, when it was 
voted "to sell the school-house that stands on the 
Common near the meeting-house and that the center 
quarter have liberty to set up a new school-house on 
the [same] ground." This school-house stood where 
the town-hall now stands. 

The town had increased in population, and in ac- 



cordance with the laws of the Commonwealth, better 
facilities for instruction must be provided. 

In November, 1784, two articles appeared in the 
warrant for town-meeting, — one to see if the town 
would provide and maintain a grammar-school, the 
other to see if it would build one or more houses for a 
grammar-school or schools, and make any alterations 
in the school districts by enlarging or forming anew; 
the matter of establishing a grammar-school was 
passed over, but a committee was appointed to con- 
sider in regard to erecting school-houses; this com- 
mittee reported that eight buildings should be erected, 
the dimensions of eacli of which were specified and 
their locations named. The usual term applied to 
each district was "squadron." 

The war was now over, and the need of a return to 
a peace basis was weighing heavily upon the inhabit- 
ants and the distracted and uncertain condition of the 
country claimed their attention. With these weights 
upon them the matter of building the houses was 
postponed to a time in the future. Nothing more 
was done in regard to the houses until 1790, when it 
was voted to divide the town into eight squadrons 
and to build a house in each and their locations were 
again assigned, but if the residents of any of these 
districts were dissatisfied with the site, and they could 
agree upon any definite place, permission was given 
to locate the building on the spot agreed upon ; other- 
wise a committee should locate the house wherever, 
in their judgment, would best serve the interests of the 
people. After the town had been divided into dis- 
tricts and the building spots assigned, complaints were 
numerous ; after these had been discussed in town- 
meeting the voters ordered that the house in the 
Centre should be erected immediately and should be 
thirty feet square. This was done, but its dimensions 
were changed to twenty-nine feet by thirty -two feet; 
house No. 2 was built at or near where the correspond- 
ing one now is ; No. 3 was in the east part of the town 
on an old road leading to Hubbardston, from where 
the Sil.is Harding farm-house now stands; No. 4 
was "about twelve rods southerly of David Under- 
wood's dwelling house" (this dwelling was afterward 
known as the Marcus Spooner place, and has lately 
disappeared) ; No. 5 was nearly opposite where the 
present No. 5 house stands ; No. 6 was where the 
present No. 6 stands ; No. 7 was located on an old 
road leading to what is now known as the Williams 
place, and about midway between there and the pres- 
ent residence of Mr. Franklin Babbitt ; No. 8 was 
located about fifteen rods easterly of the bridge over 
the Ware River at Barre Plains and on the north 
side of the present highway. The inhabitants of 
District 7 objected in vigorous language to the loca- 
tion of their house. After much talk a vote was 
passed in town-meeting to notify them to agree by a 
majority where the house should stand. This build- 
ing was at length erected southerly of the place 
assigned ; but this location was not satisfactory and 



354 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



afterward the town gave the inhabitants permission 
to move it. In 1791 the town raised four hundred 
pounds to erect these houses and notified eacli tax- 
payer in the varions districts to bring on to the 
grounds their proportion of the building material, 
they being credited in the tax-list for the value of the 
material furnished. The houses were soon erected, 
but the cost had been more than was anticipated. In 
1792 the selectmen were requested to employ " a 
grammar-school master and direct him to the several 
districts in rotation " and to hold a school in each 
district so long as the proportion. of the school funds 
should be sufficient to pay the expense. In 1796, the 
population of the town having increased, additional 
schools were needed and another district was estab- 
lished, being what is now known as No. 9. In after 
years other districts were formed, in some instances 
by dividing the former districts and in other cases by 
establishing new ones in the remoter parts of the town, 
and houses were erected in some central location. 
These buildings were small and of one story, usually 
about twenty-five feet square, built plainly and with- 
out regard to any rules of architecture, and not a great 
protection from storms or cold. They answered the 
purpose for which they were intended and were proba- 
bly in keeping with the quality and quantity of in- 
formation imparted. From 1763, which is as far back 
as our records of Rutland District extend, annual 
appropriations were made for the support of the 
schools, usually forty pounds, until 1775, when the 
energies of the people were otherwise concentrated 
and the schools were passed by. After that year the 
appropriations were resumed and increased each year 
until in 1781 the amount appropriated was three 
thousand pounds. Large as this seems, it w:is but 
little larger than some of the preceding grants, as the 
currency had so depreciated in value that it was 
equivalent to not more than seventy-five pounds 
when we compare its value with that of the Spanish 
milled dollar. In 1782 the amount appropriated was 
sixty pounds, and from then until 1803 the amount 
varied from sixty to two hundred pounds. In 1804 
the grant was seven hundred dollars, this being the 
first year that our national word, or character for, 
dollars was used in our official capacity as a town. 

The schools were held in different parts of the town 
in terms of various lengths, each year a committee 
being chosen to lay before the assessors a list of all 
the ratable polls in each district, the valuation and 
number of polls being used as a basis for determin- 
ing the number of weeks of school that should be 
held in each district. Instruction was not limited to 
ages ; in the same room would be found scholars 
varying in age from five or six years to, in some in- 
stances, twenty-five years ; the older ones appreciated 
the value of the meagre instruction of the day, and 
efforts were made to extend the school facilities. 

In 1798 the necessity of an academy was freely and 
fully discussed in town-meeting; while this plan was 



finally postponed, it had the effect of placing before 
the people the situation of educational matters and 
the unsatisfactory condition in which the schools 
were, exhibiting the autocratic form of government 
and the lack of uniformity in the methods of 
teaching. 

The laws of the Commonwealth were defective ; 
there was no supervision of schools, parents seldom 
visited them, and each was conducted according to 
the plans or fancies of the teacher, who, in many in- 
stances, had obtained the position for other reasons 
than for proper qualifications. The defects of this 
system were soon made apparent, and the necessity 
of uniformity in instruction and proper qualifications 
on the part of the teacher began to be realized. 

In 1798 a committee was chosen, for the first time, 
to visit the schools and have supervision of them. 
This committee consisted of Rev. Josiah Dana, Seth 
Caldwell and Jonas Eaton, men of education and 
energy, and under their guidance and by their influ- 
ence the cause of education was advanced. This 
committee received no compensation for their ser- 
vices, but freely and willingly gave their time for 
this purpose ; but the people were not yet fully edu- 
cated to the plan of choosing a School Committee 
annually, for no other board was chosen until 1804, 
although an article on this subject had been each 
year inserted in the warrant. 

In this year Rev. James Thompson and Samuel 
Bigelow were chosen, and each subsequent year the 
office was filled, some years consisting of but two 
members, and, at other times, in connection with 
Rev. Dr. Thompson, who was chairman of the board 
for nearly forty years, one from each district was 
chosen. In 1810 the district, or " school ward," in 
the west part of the town was established, which was 
designated No. 10, and thirty dollars was appropri- 
ated for building the school-house. 

Under the efficient management of the School 
Committee and the fostering care of the people, the 
cause of education was elevated, and as better and 
additional facilities were needed, the number of dis- 
tricts was increased until, in 1845, they numbered 
sixteen. 

Previous to 1815 the schools had been entirely 
under the control of the town as a unit. In that 
year an agent in each district was chosen " to certify 
money which shall become due." The explanation 
of this vote is that the people in the various districts 
were taking more interest in educational matters, and 
were desirous of bringing their schools more directly 
under their control and regulating the length of the 
terms. While they should remain under the general 
supervision of the regular school Committee, it was 
believed that some local authority would be more 
conducive to their interests. This was the beginning 
of a plan which was adopted in later years, both 
here and elsewhere. In 1828 the town voted that 
each district should chose its own agent or prudential 



BAKKE. 



355 



committee. This agent had authority to engage the 
teacher and regulate the contingent expenses of the 
district in regard to the school, subject, however, to 
some control by the general committee. 

The friends of education did not rest in their en- 
deavors to improve the common-school system. Its 
wants and defects were closely observed and studied. 
In 1838 Rev. Mr. Fay, pastor of the Evangelical 
Church, who took a deep interest in the schools, and 
entered with much enthusiasm into all plans for their 
improvement, ably seconded the eflbrts of Rev. Dr. 
Thompson and others in this direction. The improve- 
ment of the schools of the Commonwealth had been 
agitated by Hon. Horace Mann, secretary of the State 
Board of Education, and, as one of the results of this 
movement, a convention of the friends of education 
was held in this town, at which were present, as active 
participants, Rev. Dr. Thompson, Rev. Mr. Fay, Rev. 
Luther Wil«on, of Petersham, Rev. Joaiah Clark, of 
Rutland, and many others, and from this and similar 
meetings in various parts of the State there resulted 
the establishment of Normal Schools, the second of 
which was opened here in September, 1839; this 
school occupied the second story of the town-hall 
building, which had been in process of construction 
for about two years, and had been completed the pre- 
vious winter. Its principal was Rev, S. P. Newman, 
a professor in Bowdoin College. On account of the 
location of the town, access to which was then diffi- 
cult, it was not well patronized, and was suspended in 
1841, greatly to the regret of the people. 

In 1852 a High School was established, and since 
then has been well maintained, being well-attended 
and in charge of well-trained and conscientious 
teachers. The languages, higher mathematics and 
kindred studies are pursued ; young men have been 
fitted for our colleges, and besides imparting instruc- 
tion to the youth of our own town, it is patronized to 
some extent by scholars from other municipalities. 

In 1869 the district system was, by State enactment, 
abolished, the school property appraised, and the 
amount remitted to each district; since then the gen- 
eral School Committee have had the control of the 
whole system. 

As we look back to the schools of the early settlers, 
with their limited instruction, and an annual appro- 
I>riation of £40 or less, and then turn to our system 
of to-day, with its division into grades, from the pri- 
mary to the high, with an annual appropriation of 
nearly five thousand dollars, and where all can obtain 
an education according to their taste or inclination, 
we can truly say, " Our lines are cast in pleasant 
places," and we fully realize the necessity of sustain- 
ing this system, and of making all possible advance- 
ment, so that the writer of our history, a century 
hence, shall say of us, as we record of our predeces- 
sors, " Well done.'' 

The most noted and worthy establishment in town 
is the Private Institution for the Education of Feeble- 



Minded Youth. This was established here in June, 
1848, by Dr. Henry B. Wilbur, a graduate of Am- 
herst College, and of the Berkshire Medical College, 
who had practiced medicine in Lowell previous to 
his coming to Barre in 1845, from which time he con- 
tinued the practice of medicine. 

At this time there was no provision in this country 
for a class deemed incapable of improvement ; but 
Dr. Wilbur, becoming deeply interested in efforts of 
European philanthropists, resolved to join their 
ranks, a resolve in which he was ably seconded by 
his young wife, a woman of great tact and untiring 
energy and self-devotion. Dr. Wilbur was a man of 
versatile genius, broad intellectual attainments, and 
a believer in the divinity that presides over the 
feeblest humanity. Gifted with large enthusiasm, 
and possessor of an indomitable will, he won success 
in spite of the obstacles that ever oppose a novel 
undertaking. Called in September, 1851, to preside 
over an experimental State School in Albany, N. Y., 
he left his Barre pupils in a dwelling on the corner of 
Pleasant and High Streets, under the care of Dr. 
George and Mrs. C. W. Brown. 

The increasing number of pupils soon requiring 
more house-room and ground for out-door living, the 
residence of Mr. Willard Broad was. purchased, en- 
larged and adapted to special needs, and the institu- 
tion removed to that location in January, 1853. Since 
that date its growth has been continuous, comprising 
now seven dwelling-houses, with a fine gymnasium, 
stables, &c., surrounded by about two hundred and 
fifty acres of land. These cottages, sufficiently con- 
tiguous for supervision, have ample grounds for each 
classified group of pupils, and all financial receipts 
have been devoted to making attractive homes for 
these unfortunates. For some time the only private 
institution in the country, still the largest, pupils 
have been received from all parts of the United 
States, Canada and the Sandwich Islands, whilst ap- 
plications have come from South America and Aus- 
tralia. To the upbuilding ot this institution Dr. 
and Mr.-". Brown, assisted since 1884 by their son, Dr. 
George A. Brown, have given their undivided efforts, 
personal supervision and mental ability, making the 
standard of family organization, as to care, mental 
improvement and iesthetic surroundings, high enough 
to receive from a European specialist of wide expe- 
rience the title of an " Ideal Institution." 

" Here boys and girls have come with all their 
senses perfect, but connected with nothing within 
telegraphing no communication to or fro, reaching in- 
ward only to dumb inanition. Was there a mind hid 
away there ? Were there elements out of which a 
mind could be formed? Was it possible to find a way 
into that empty space, to pick up the buried germs of 
mental faculty, if such there were, attach them to the 
delicate wire of some sense and thus open a commu- 
nication between the world within and the world 
without? This was the problem which the institu- 



356 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



tion here, with kindred ones in other lands, has, with 
a sublime faith, attempted to solve ; and the result 
has been such as to fill all observers with admiration. 
A work has been wrought in our village scarcely less 
wonderful than the creation of a human mind." ' 

At the opening of the present century the popula- 
tion of the town had increased from thirteen hundred 
and twenty-nine in 1776 and now numbered nineteen 
hundred aud thirty-seven. Farming still continued 
the chief occupation, attention more particularly being 
given to raising such crops as wheat, potatoes, corni 
fla.K and hemp. Whitney, in his " History of Worcester 
County," published in 1793, says, "here they have 
many and large dairies, and it is supposed that more 
butter and cheese is carried annually into market than 
from any other town of the same extent." A circu- 
lating medium was almost unknown, a majority of the 
inhabitants seeing no currency, or only at rare inter- 
vals, and rather as a curiosity than otherwise. Such 
articles of food as were not produced on the farm were 
obtained at the small country store in exchange for 
home products. Their clothing was made at home, 
the wool shorn from the sheep's back, carded by hand, 
spun into yarn and woven on the old lumbering loom, 
or the flax was pulled in the field, hetchelled, and 
finally made into garments or bed-linen, most of this 
work being done by the women of the household, the 
men attending to the out-door and more laborious 
duties. Consider.able flax and hemp were raised, aud 
were considered so important crops that inspectors 
were annually chosen to decide as to its quality and 
value, as in such a time of exchange and barter it was 
deemed necessary that disinterested parties should 
affix a value. Although the people were struggling 
for a livelihood and were dependent one upon an- 
other, yet a spirit of sociality prevailed, notwithstand- 
ing the question of their existing required hard and 
long hours of labor. Mills for grinding their corn 
and wheat had been built in several places, but all 
of these were of the old colonial style. The construct- 
ive and inventive faculty which this town so fully ex- 
hibited at a later day was here, and early began to 
manifest its outgrowth. 

The raising of flax, to be more profitable, required 
mills to return to the people the full benefit of the 
crop, and two were soon established for crushing or 
grinding the seed and obtaining the linseed oil ; one 
of these was on Prince River, at what is now Heald 
Village, and the other was in the east part of the 
town. With this oil and pigments their houses were 
kept neatly painted ; clothier's mills, as they were 
termed, were established and tanneries erected in 
various parts of the town; the manufacture of brick, 
which had been pursued previous to 1800, had been 
abandoned, the yards near where now live Nathaniel 
Holland and the heirs of Lysander Crawford having 
become " worked out," while the one near Charles S. 

1 Bev. Dr. Thompson in Centennial Discourse. 



Holland's present residence was closed. About 1828 
this industry was resumed at the latter yard, and in 
the south part of the town, at the Plains, a new yard 
was opened. These yards were worked lor about ten 
years, when the business again ceased. 

Saw-mills had been established as early as 1753, 
but from their rough construction had continued but 
for a short time. In the latter years of the last cen- 
tury and early in the present one a number of these 
mills were erected on the various streams. Perhaps 
the mo.st business enterprise existed in the south 
part of the town, this being favored and promoted by 
the abundant water-power in that section. 

There was a saw-mill at what we now term the 
Powder Mills early in the century. At the Plains 
Seth Pratt conceived the idea of diverting the water 
from the Ware River by means of a canal and form- 
ing a pond, throwing a dam across the river from 
land on the south side, now owned by Mr. A. F. 
Adams. This canal was excavated in 1808 ; subse- 
quently the dam was moved farther up the river and 
the canal extended. 

In 1810 Phineas Heywood, who, with his father, 
had come here from Shrewsbury, and who was a son- 
in-law of Pratt, having previously obtained consider- 
able land in that vicinity, sold land and water-rights 
for manufacturing purposes. In addition to the 
grist-mill and saw-mill, which had been for a year or 
more in operation here, two tanneries were built by 
Parker & Pratt, and in the sanle year Phineas Hey- 
wood commenced work in a clothier's mill ; nearly 
all the grinding of grain and the fulling and finishing 
of the woolen cloth was now done at the Plains. 
This clothier's mill continued the business, with 
changes adapted to the times, until about 1870, the 
manufiicture of yarn and coarse woolen cloth having 
been adopted a number of years previously. Hey- 
wood, who was of an ingenious and inventive turn of 
mind, succeeded in operating, in a crude way, a cot- 
ton-spinning machine about 1814 and a woolen-card- 
ing machine about 1816. In 1827 he erected a larger 
mill; this has been moved from its original site and 
is now used for other purposes. 

David Wadsworth erected a scythe manufactory a 
short distance easterly from where the Messrs. Stet- 
son now live, and its production was considerable. 
About 1830 a company, prominent in which were 
Henry Holbrook and Hiram and Paul Wadsworth, 
purchased of John Wadsworth a lot of land border- 
ing on the Ware River and erected a brick building 
for the manufacture of woolen cloth, and a pleasant 
little village was built up. This company did not 
succeed in the woolen business, and were soon fol- 
lowed by Jonathan Wheeler, who was favored in his 
venture, but who was compelled to close the works 
by the financial panic which existed from 1837 to 
1842; he sold the property to Wright & Farnum, 
whom a Mr. Fisher soon succeeded. He was fol- 
lowed by Edward Denny, who purchased the property 



BARRE. 



357 



ia 1844 and who continued engaged in the manufac- 
ture of various liinds of woolen goods, conducting the 
business with success until about 18G7. In 1871 the 
property was leased to C. T. Deacon & Co., who soon 
failed in the business. The factory was destroyed by 
fire in the winter of 1857-58; another one of the 
same dimensions, eighty-two by forty-four feet, and 
fourstories in height, was erected the following summer- 

At Mr. Denny's death, in 1874, the property passed 
into other hands, meeting with varying fortunes. A 
company with the firm-name of the Ware River 
Woolen Company, purchased it in 1880, and after 
operating it for about two years, finding the business 
unprofitalile, sold it to James E. Crossley. In 188S 
the mill was again destroyed by fire and has not 
been rebuilt. 

During, or a little previous to, 1825, Silas Bemis 
and Benjamin Clark each and separately conceived 
the idea of erecting a cotton-mill and each made 
strenuous efforts to complete the first dam. Mr. 
Clark, having obtained control of the water privi- 
lege by purchasing it and a considerable lot of land 
of the heirs of Matthew Caldwell, ei'ected a brick 
factory, which at that time was the first of any im- 
portance in this section of the State ; by the erection 
of this and the necessary tenement -houses he be- 
came financially embarrassed, but he soon organized 
a stock company, consisting of Messrs. Mixter, Woods, 
Bowman and others, by whom the work was carried 
on and the manufacture of cotton commenced; Mr. 
Clark, becoming involved in a lawsuit growing out 
of a claim for priority of rights to the water privilege, 
became insolvent and retired from the manfacturing 
business. The success of the company, under the name 
of the Boston and Barre Manufacturing Company, was 
not at first propitious ; they entered into a contract 
with Mr. John Smith, who was a practical manu- 
facturer, to take the mill and make the cotton cloth at 
a certain price per yard, in which he was successful, 
making the business remunerative for himself and 
the stockholders. While the business was thus 
prosperous the factory was destroyed by fire ; the 
company, not desirous of rebuilding, sold out by 
auction, the land, buildings and water privilege be- 
ing purchased by Mr. Smith for himself and four 
others; subsequently purchasing their shares, he 
erected a new mill, which he managed with signal 
success until his death, in 1859, when the business 
passed into the hands of his two sons, by whom it was 
profitably carried on under the firm-name of C. W. 
& J. E. Smith. On the death of Charles W. Smith 
a few years ago and the settlement of his estate, J. 
Edwin Smith became sole owner, by whom some 
needed repairs and alterations were made, and now 
the establishment is in successful operation. The vil- 
lage, now and for many years known as Smithville, 
is a model factory village and with its neatly-painted 
houses, broad street and abundant and beautiful 
shade trees presents an attractive appearance. 



On the Ware River, about midway between Smith- 
ville and the woolen-factory village, buildings and 
mills for the manufacture of gunpowder were erected 
about 182G by Silas Bemis, one of the early settlers, 
and his son-in-law, Charles Bemis, and others, and 
did a good business under various ownerships until 
1865, when this industry left the town. Here is a 
good water privilege awaiting utilization. 

In the centre of the town manufacturing interests 
have been varied. Thirty-five years ago the Barre 
Boot Company carried on a large business, employing 
many hands ; they were followed by J. W. Rice & ' 
Son, who continued in this industry until about 1876, 
when they ceased, unable to compete with the large 
establishments of the Brookfields and other towns. 
From 1850 to 1865 the manufacture of " Shaker- 
hoods," or bonnets made of palm-leaf was extensively 
carried on, furnishing employment to many women 
and children in weaving the leaf into the strip of 
which the hoods were made, but by the demands of 
fashion, this business became of the past. The intro- 
duction of the palm-leaf business into Barre is some- 
what singular. About 1829 some hats were imported 
into this country, made of a material that was unknown 
here. A Boston merchant, attracted by their apparent 
durability, imported a few bales of the raw material 
from Cuba. A woman in Dedham was engaged to 
take one of the hats to pieces, learn its construction 
and endeavor to imitate it. She succeeded, and 
taught the art of making these hats to a woman of 
Petersham, by whom women in this town were 
taught. Braiding these hats became an extensive 
business, and a source of some income to many fami- 
lies here and elsewhere. The hats thus made were 
rough ; as they needed smoothing and shaping, they 
were at first pressed by hand with hot irons, and by 
those, who made them. As the industry grew, men's 
help was obtained to do the pressing. Mr. John W. 
Weston engaged in the business in a dwelling that then 
stood northerly of the Lincoln burial-ground. After- 
wards machinery was devised for the purpose, and a 
small shop was built on Prince River by Mr. Chester 
Gorham. The business was carried on at this place 
for about thirty-five years. Dexter Dennis succeeding 
to it and enlarging the plant, which also accommo- 
dated other kinds of manufactures. 

A short distance down the stream is a water 
privilege which, as early as 1750, the proprietors con- 
sidered the second most valuable one in the territory, 
and they proposed to have a saw-mill erected there; 
but as the mill already built could furnish all the 
boards that were then required for building purposes, 
this project was abandoned. In the latter part of the 
last, or early in the present century, a clothier's mill 
was built on this privilege, where the fulling and fin- 
ishing of the homespun cloth was carried on for a 
number of years. Woods & Field purchased this 
building about 1840, and, remodeling it, commenced 
the business of pressing and finishing palm-leaf hats ; 



358 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



they continued in this but a few years, when they sold 
to Carlos Gambol, who had superintended the work 
for them. He soon sold the property to Spencer 
Field, who ran it for a few years, and about 1854 sold 
it to Jason Desper. None but palm-leaf hats were 
finished at this time, nor was it until about I860 that 
other kinds of hats came to these works. Only ten 
hands were employed at this time, and from forty to 
eighty thousand dozens were finished each year, the 
number varying with the different years. Mr. Desper 
carried on this business, enlarging the works from 
time to time, until about 1874, when J. F. Snow and 
J. Andrew Rogers became associated with him. 

At the death of Mr. Snow the following year, Jesse 
A. Rogers became a member of the firm, which was 
now known as Desper, Rogers & Co. The plant was 
still further increased from time to time to accom- 
modate the additional work that came in upon them ; 
the manufacture of hats was adopted, and has proved 
a profitable branch of the business. In 1888 Mr. 
Desper, who had begun to feel the weight of advan- 
cing years, sold his interest to W. H. Osgood, and a 
new firm was formed under the name of the Rogers- 
Osgood Co. For the last eight or ten years about 
forty women have been employed in running sewing- 
machines, making the hats from braid bought in the 
markets. At the commencement of this business in 
1840 but little finishing was done; now that branch 
is much more elaborate, the hat going direct from 
the manufactory to the salesman, and thence to the 
consumer. Seventy men are employed, and the an- 
nual output is now upwards of two hundred thousand 
dozens of hats per annum. 

Farther up the stream and about half a mile east- 
erly of the Common is an extensive foundry and 
machine-shop owned and conducted by Mr. L. S. 
Heald. This business was established in 1830 by 
Stephen Heald. Previous to this time a grist-mill 
and another small building had been erected, in 
the former of which wood-turning was carried on, 
Charles Rice having improved the water privilege 
by constructing a more extensive dam and exca- 
vating another pond and canal that he might get 
out carriage wood-work by machinery. Stephen 
He.ild, who came to town in 1826 entered his em- 
ploy, poor in purse but full of energy ; soon after- 
wards engaging in the iron business, he built up 
a considerable establishment, where he was suc- 
cessful. In 1850 all of his shop buildings were de- 
stroyed by fire and his capital swept away. By 
the encouragement of individuals he was induced 
to rebuild, which he did on an enlarged scale, 
and with better accommodations found his busi- 
ness increasing. In 18G5 two of his sons became 
co-partners with him. The manufacture of agri- 
cultural implements was one of their specialties 
in which they did a large amount of work. Wood- 
working and other machinery of various kinds have 
been an extensive part of thoir manufactures, which 



have found a market in remote as well as near sec- 
tions of the country. About these works a pretty 
little village sprang up, which for many years has 
been known as Heald Village, At Mr. Heald's 
death, in 1887, at the age of nearly eighty-eight 
years, the larger part of the property passed into 
the hands of his son, L. S. Heald, who carries on the 
works. Among the agricultural implements that 
have been made here was a h.iy-tedder, invented 
by Mr. E. W. Bullard, of this town, which was 
the first machine ever constructed for turning hay 
in the field. Amongst other machinery Mr. Heald 
is now making an improved tedder of his own in- 
vention. 

Wagon manufiicturing has been another branch 
of industry in this vicinity ; the making of scythes 
by two different establishments at the same time 
formerly gave employment to a number of hands, 
but these trades have passed from among us. 

About twenty-five years ago a horse hay-rake, the 
invention of S. R. Nye, of this town, was made here 
to a considerable extent, but, partly on account of the 
breaking away of the reservoir, this business was dis- 
continued here. Fifteen years ago another horse- 
rake, the combined invention of C. M. Lufkin, and 
Charles G. Allen of Barre, was placed upon the 
market, since which time Mr. Allen has built up an 
extensive plant, and is successful in his invention 
and manufacture. Each year a large number of 
these rakes are made, finding a market in all the 
New England and some of the other States. Other 
industries on this stream are planing and saw-mills. 

In the north part of the town, known as Rice 
Village, the wagon-making, carried on for many 
years by Charles Rice and others, was from its ex- 
tensiveness an important factor here, but for the 
past few decades nothing has been done in this line. 
Near the centre of the town the manufacture of 
packing boxes and mattresses, and of preparing 
palm leaf for braiding into hats was very prominent ; 
of these the mattress business alone remains with 
us. 

From the location of Barre, it was, before the 
days of railroads, a prominent thoroughfare for the 
stage-routes from Boston to New York, Albany, 
Keene, Brattleboro' and other places; prominent 
among those old-time driver.-i, which was then con- 
sidered a responsible berth, was the late Hon. 
Ginery Twichell. Coming here a young man, about 
1830, full of energy, genial, affable and always thor- 
oughly reliable, he made friends of all, and always 
had a deep interest in the town and its welfare. To 
him the town was indebted to some extent for better 
accommodations for travel. Deeply interested in the 
railroads projected around us, he left the staging 
business and entered the employ of the Boston and 
Worcester Railroad, where he was soon after chosen 
as its superintendent, and afterwards elected to its 
presidency. On the consolidation of that road with 





/U^AyC 



C^Ccot:^. 



^^^4- 



4 



BARRE. 



359 



the Western, he retired for a while from active rail- 
road life, but never lost his interest in it, and it was 
one of his hopes that Barre should be connected 
with the cities by steam communication. Having 
chosen Brookline as his residence, he was elected to 
the national House of Representatives from the 
Congressional district in which he resided, where he 
served a number of years, greatly to his own honor 
and that of his constituents. On his retirement 
from Congress his active spirit led him to assume the 
presidency of a short line of railroad, the Boston, 
Barre and Gardner, then struggling under many diffi- 
culties. Always a friend to Barre, in preceding 
years he had advocated the construction of a road to 
and through this town, and it was due somewhat to 
him that our people began to consider this matter so 
early as they did. As early as 1840 the subject be- 
gan to be agitated here. In 1845 the town voted to 
raise a sum not exceeding three hundred dollars, for 
the survey of a route from Worcester through this 
town to the Miller's River. This route being found 
impracticable, the matter rested for a few years. 
About 1850 the agitation again began, this time in 
connection with towns southerly of us. A line was 
considered, under the name of the Ware River Rail- 
road, to extend from Palmer to Winchendon, but, 
mainly through the opposition of the Western road, 
this road was not constructed for a number of years. 
A charter was obtained, and renewed from time to 
time as circumstances demanded. The first section, 
from Palmer to Gilbertville, was built in 1869, and 
in 1870 ground was broken in Barre for its exten- 
sion to Winchendon. The work of grading and 
track -laying progressed but slowly, but the road was 
at last completed, and in October, 1873, it w;is 
opened for travel to Barre Plains. In 1854 the town 
voted to petition the Legislature for permission to 
loan its credit to the amount of five per cent, of its 
valuation for aiding in building a railroad from North 
Brookfield to Barre; the necessary surveys were 
made, but for want of sufficient encouragement the 
scheme was abandoned. 

In 1847 a company was chartered under the name 
of the Barre and Worcester Railroad Company. This 
road was intended to run from some point on the 
Worcester and Nashua road to some convenient place 
in the centre of Barre. This project was kept alive 
by renewals of its charter, but when it was constructed, 
in 1870-71, it ran from Worcester to Gardner. 

In 18G9 the town became deeply aroused to the ne- 
cessity of a railroad, and entered with much enthu- 
siasm into the project of the JIassachusetts Central 
Railroad, and, to further aid the enterprise, took stock 
of the company to the amount of ninety thousand 
dollars, or five per cent, of its valuation, while indi- 
viduals took about fifty-five thousand dollars' worth 
additional. From lack of necessary funds this road, 
which was to extend from a point on the Boston and 
Lowell road near Boston, passing through Barre and 



forming a " through line " to the West, was not con- 
structed for a number of years. Its financial troubles 
were great, but finally becoming reorganized under the 
name of the Central Massachusetts Railroad, it was 
completed, and in December, 1887, trains commenced 
running from Boston to Northampton, although pas- 
senger trains had run from Boston as far as Ware in 
July. 

The culture of the town has always been noteworthy. 
In May of 1834 a weekly newspaper, with the name 
of the Farmer's Gazette, was established by C. C. P. 
Thompson. He continued as its proprietor until his 
death, a few years afterwards, when it passed into the 
hands of Albert Alden, the name being now changed 
to that of the Barre Gazette. Soon afterwards Walter 
A. Bryant assumed its ownership and management. 
In 1844, the political feeling running high, the Barre 
Patriot, upholding the tenets of the opposite party, 
was established by his brother, N. F. Bryant. Both 
of these papers flourished for several years, but about 
1856 they were merged in one, under the name of the 
Barre Gazette, and since then it has prospered. It is 
now in its fifty-fifth volume, and under the ownership 
and control of Henry H. Cook, although there have 
been two or three changes of proprietorship since the 
consolidation of the two papers. 

In October, 1858, N. F. Bryant issued a magazine 
with the title of the Household Monthly. This was 
discontinued at the end of a year and a half. Previous 
to this he had published the Wachusett Star. This 
continued but about a year. Bryant's Messenger was 
another paper, of short duration, that was issued. 

In 1866 R. W. Waterman commenced the publica- 
tion of the Worcester West Chronicle. After issuing it 
here for about one year the establishment was re- 
moved to Athol. Various amateur journals have been 
put forth, but these were ephemeral. 

In 1888 the Central County Courier was introduced, 
under the management of S. H. Ingersoll. This pa- 
per is printed in one of the neighboring towns, but 
has a creditable foothold here. 

Previous to 1857 we had a small library, but under 
no competent management. In that year Samuel 
Gates, a farmer of small means, left by his will five 
hundred dollars to the town for a free public library, 
on condition that an equal amount should be given by 
the town. This condition was complied with. Cases 
were obtained for the books and the unexpended bal- 
ance of the town's ajjpropriation added to Mr. Gates' 
bequest increased the fund to seven hundred dollars. 
This was placed in the town treasury, and the interest 
of it, at six per cent., is annually expended for books. 

In 1866 a Central Pacific Railroad bond of the de- 
nomination of one thousand dollars was given to the 
library by a native of Barre, the income of which was 
to be used for books, For a number of years the li- 
brary had its home in the post-ofiice rooms, and in 
time outgrew its limits. 

In 1885 the Barre Library Association was incor- 



360 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



porated, one of its obiects being to procure a building 
suitable for the library and for kindred purposes. In 
1886 Mr. Henry Woods, a native of Barre, purchased 
land and erected thereon, at an expense of upwards of 
twenty thousand dollars, a brick building which, 
under the name of the "Woods Memorial Library 
Building," commemorative of his deceased parents 
and brothers, and as a token of his kindly and sub- 
stantial interest for the welfare of the town, he pre- 
sented to the association, this corporate body hold- 
ing it in trust for the benefit of the whole community. 
He also established the " Edwin Woods Fund " of 
five thousand dollars, the annual income of which 
(two hundred and fifty dollars) is to be expended for 
books of permanent value. 

The library, well arranged and cared for in its new 
home, now numbers upwards of thirty-five hundred 
volumes, and is pronounced a valuable collestion. In 
connection with the library proper are a reading-room, 
rooms for the directors of the association, for assem- 
blies and for a museum. 

The agricultural interests of the town have always 
been active. Large amounts of butter and cheese 
have been made in previous years. There are two 
cheese-factories or establishments for the manufacture 
of cheese, their aggregate capacity being upwards of 
two thousand pounds per day. These are temporarily 
closed, the farmers considering it more to their pecu- 
niary advantage to send their milk to the Boston 
market, it being transported thither by both of our 
railroad corporations. 

An agricultural society, with the name of" Worces- 
ter West,'' was chartered and established in 1851. It 
holds its annual fair the last Thursday of September, 
and is one of the best, if not the best, in the State. 
It has extensive and well-arranged grounds, on which 
is a half-mile track for exhibiting and speeding 
horses, and a large building for display and for 
dining purposes. The society is free from debt and 
offers annually for premiums upwards of fifteen hun- 
dred dollars. 

The town has a national bank, with a capital stock 
of one hundred and fifty thousand dollars, and a 
savings liank, each of which is in a prosperous condi- 
tion. The telegraph and telephone furnish instanta- 
neous communication with the great centres of busi- 
ness and commerce. Our postal accommodations 
are good, three through and two local mails arriving 
and departing daily. 

There are two hotels at the centre of the town and 
another, to be more extensive, in process of construc- 
tion, which is under contract to be open for business 
early in 1889. At Barre Plains is another hotel. The 
town is noted for its temperance and good order; no 
intoxicating liquors, except for medicine, are allowed 
to be sold. 

In 1885 the population of the town was not so large 
as in 1880, on account of the temporary suspension 
of manufacturing in the southern portion. Since 



then the cotton industry has been resumed and the 
population has increased. At diflerent periods the 
population has been as follows: In 1776, 1329; 1790, 
1613 ; 1800, 1937 ; 1810, 1971 ; 1820, 2077 ; 1830, 2503 ; 
1840,2751; 1850,2976; 1855,2787; 1860, 2973 ; 1865, 
2856; 1870, 2572; 1875, 2460; 1880, 2419; 1885, 
2093. 

On a sightly eminence, about two miles southerly 
of the centre, is the Almshouse, with which is con- 
nected a large farm for the .support of the town's Door. 
This house was built in 1873, in place of one destroyed 
by fire the same year. Its size and style of architecture 
attracts much attention, and the stranger to the town 
would receive no intimation from its appearance as 
to the purposes for which it is used, but would rather 
consider it the residence of some prosperous farmer. 
The number of pauper inmates is very few, the gen- 
eral thrift and temperance sentiment of the people 
acting as a preventive of pauperism. The farm for 
the support of the poor was purchased in 1844, but 
has since been enlarged by obtaining an adjoining 
farm. Previous to 1844 the poor had been cared for 
in families, bids for their support being received by 
the town, and the lowest offer for their maintenance was 
accepted, the party taking them being expected to 
furnish their board and lodging, clothing, necessary 
medical attendance and nursing. 

In addition to several literary societies or gatherings, 
the town contains a lodge of Free Masons, of the 
Grand Army of the Republic, of Good Templars and 
a Grange, P. of H. 

From the elevated location of the town and its beau- 
tiful scenery and surroundings, its health is greatly 
enhanced. Piobably no town in the Commonwealth 
has so large a percentage of old people as Barre; men 
and women from eighty to ninety years of age are not 
uncommon, and there live here to-day, hale, active 
and well-preserved, two persons in the ninety-sixth 
year of their age. In 1867 James Piper died at the 
age of nearly one hundred and five years; in 1872 the 
death of Mary A. Boney is recorded at the age of one 
hundred and three, and in 1888 Timothy Bacon died 
in the one hundred and second year of his age. If J 
we turn to the record of deaths for the past one hun- f 
dred years, we find the same remarkable longevity as 
now. The most notable instance of this is in the fami- 
lies of two brothers, who came here about 1750, Ne- 
hemiah and Jonathan Allen. Jonathan lived on the 
same farm and with the same wife for over sixty years; 
Jonathan sat out the first orchard in the town, having 
brought from Sudbury forty apple trees and a young 
wife on the back of his horse; he died at the age of 
ninely-two, his wife at eighty-seven; they had six 
children, whose average age at death was eighty years. 
This farm has never passed out of the Allen family, 
it now being in the possession of George E. Allen, the 
great-grandson of Jonathan; on this farm it is said 
that the fourth framed house in town was erected, but 
this is not now standing. Nehemiah Allen had ten 





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BARRE. 



361 



children, the oldest of whom died at the age of ninety- 
six, the youngest at seventy-eight; their average age 
at death was eighty-seven. In view of the remarkable 
longevity of our people, now and in former years, the 
compiler of this history can desire no better verifica- 
tion of the healthfulness of our surroundings than 
these advanced ages will testify to. But younger and 
more vigorous energies are not wanting, and as in the 
years past we have built up a thriving, healthy and 
attractive town, so in the time to come will we add to 
what has been done and enlarge and render still more 
beautiful that which has been bequeathed to us. 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 



LUKE ADAJIS. 

Luke Adams, who was one of Barre's most substan- 
tial farmers, was born in New Braintree, January 20, 
1801 ; hp was the son of Jonathan Adams, formerly 
of Northboro', and Dorothy, daughter of Dr. Edward 
Flint, of Shrewsbury. His parents came to the ad- 
joining town of Barre in 1808, and located upon the 
farm in the southern portion, which is now the 
residence of his son, Austin F. Adams. Mr. Adams' 
father dying when he was but about twelve years of 
age, the farm passed into the management of strangers' 
hands, by whom it was carried on for several years. 
Mr. Adams lived with his mother and sister during 
this time, attending the common school, and obtain- 
ing such an education as the instruction of those days 
could furnish. At the age of eighteen that spirit 
which marked his after-life began to assert itself; 
purchasing stock and farming implements, he began 
farming for himself on the old farm, although owning 
but a half-interest in the place. At this time the 
buildings were out of repair and the land badly run 
down ; with this discouraging outlook he began his 
life-work in earnest, and met with signal success. He 
soon erected new buildings, and so improved the farm 
that its capacity and value were much increased. He 
took a great interest in all practical farm machinery, 
and was among the first to make use of the tedder, 
spreader-cart, horse-rake, etc. ; it was upon his farm 
that the inventor of the first successful tedder experi- 
mented with his invention, and by him the inventor 
was financially aided in obtaining his patent. Mr. 
Adams was conservative in his operations, firm and 
decided in his opinions, and of sound and practical 
judgment. He was a valued member of the Boards 
of Selectmen , Overseers of the Poor and Assessors, and 
a trustee for many years of the Barre Savings Bank ; 
he filled many places of trust and responsibility, but 
never neglected his farm, which to-day ranks high. 
The utmost confidence was placed in his tound judg- 
ment and strict integrity. He died October 25, 1884, 
leaving a widow, a son and daughter. 



PETER M. HARWOOD. 

Peter Mirick Harwood was born in' Barre June 10, 
1853. His ancestry in direct Harwood line is Peter 
(1804), Peter (1763), Daniel (173fi), David (1708), 
David (16G8) and John (1630), who is supposed to 
have been a son of Henry, who came from England 
in fleet with Winthrop. His mother, whose maiden- 
name was Eunice Jones Mirick, was a descendant of 
Abrani and Eunice (Jones) Garfield, who were also 
ancestors of the late President Garfield. 

Mr. Harwood's early days were spent on the farm 
where he now lives. He attended the district school, 
the Barre High School and the Massachusetts Agri- 
cultural College at Amherst, from which he was grad- 
uated in 1875. While in college he had the honor of 
winning the first Farnsworth Rhetorical gold medal. 
At the death of his father (1876) he assumed the 
management of the homestead, and began business 
life as a farmer and breeder of fine stock. In 1877 
he was elected a member of the Board of Selectmen, 
being the youngest man ever on the board. In 1879 
he was made a member of the School Board ; again 
elected in 1884, he has held that office ever since, 
being its chairman three years. He was lecturer of 
Barre Grange, P. of H., in 1877, '80, '81 and '82, and 
master in 1883, '84 and '85, during which period 
the organization reached the largest membership in 
its history ; he was lecturer of the Massachusetts State 
Grange in 1886 and '87 ; he was secretary of the 
Massachusetts Agricultural College Alumni Associa- 
tion for several years, and its president in 1886-87, 
and presided at the great banquet on the occasion of 
the twenty-fifth anniversary of the college. He was 
for several years a director, and in 1887 and '88 presi- 
dent of the Barre Central Cheese Company, .and presi- 
dent of Worcester County West Agricultural Society 
in 1887 '88 and '89. He married Mary Ann Wallace 
December 13, 1884, from which union two children 
have been born, — Eunice Frances (July 18, 1886) and 
Mary Louisa (February 29, 1888). Mr. Harwood has 
been engaged for several years in the breeding of Hol- 
stein-Friesian cattle, and has developed one of the 
finest herds in the State. He enjoys a wide and hon- 
orable reputation, both as a public officer and as a 
business man. 



CHARLES ROBINSON. 

Charles Robinson is a native of the town of Barre, 
where be was born July 29, 1834. His early days 
were spent on the farm ; at the age of seventeen years 
he obtained a position in a general country store in 
his native town as a clerk, attending school in the 
mean time. Leaving Barre in 1856, he started his busi- 
ness life in the dry-goods and grocery business in 
Wilmington, of this State, where he remained for 
about two years. Not finding the business congenial 
to his taste, he returned to Barre, and began the manu- 
facture and sale of boots and shoes, in which he con- 
tinued until 1862, when he enlisted in th.e Fifty-fourth 



3G2 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



Regiment Massachusetts Volunteers, from which he 
was soon transferred to tlie Forty-second Regiment. 
From this regiment he was detailed into the Engineer 
Corps, where he did efficient service as pontonier at 
Donaldsonville, Port Hudson and other places. At 
the expiration of his term of service he returned to 
Barre and re-engaged in the boot and shoe business. 
In 1871 he resumed farming, making market-garden- 
ing his specialty, and followed this for about ten yeara. 
In 1875 his attention was drawn to the superiority of 
the Holstein Friesian breed of cattle, and, after thor- 
oughly investigating their merits, in 1880 engaged in 
breeding and raising this fine class of stock, since 
which time he has devoted his whole attention to it. 
His sales of these cattle, which are numerous, have 
been mostly in the New England States, although some 
of his stock has been sold to go as far south as North 
Carolina. His farm consists of about seventy acres, 
and is in a high state of cultivation and, with the aid 
of a silo, of which he is an enthusiastic advocate, will 
keep through the year fifty head of cattle. His crops 
are mostly corn and hay, which, with purchases of 
hay and grain, is fed out to a herd of one hundred and 
four Holstein Friesians, all of which are registered 
stock. A son of Mr. Robinson is associated with him 
in the business of breeding and managing this fine 
collection; besides these, four men are employed on 
the farm throughout the year. 



CHAPTER LIU. 



WEBSTER. 



BY WII<I,IAM T. DAVIS. 



In the town of Helper, Derbyshire, England, on the 
9th of June, 1768, Samuel Slater, the founder of the 
town of Webster, was born. On the 28th of June, 1782, 
at the age of fourteen, he was apprenticed for seven 
years to Jedediah Strutt, a partner of Arkwright, to 
learn the business of manufacturing cotton. At about 
the time of the close of his apprenticeship he saw an 
advertisement of a premium for the introduction of 
Arkwright machinery into the United States, and 
being familiar with the methods used by his employer, 
he determined to seek his fortunes in the New World. 
On the 1st of September, 1789, he left Derbyshire for 
London, and on the 13th of the same month sailed for 
New York, where he arrived after a sixty-six days' 
passage. He at first engaged his services to the New 
York Manufacturing Company, but, after a few weeks, 
hearing of Moses Brown, of Providence, he wrote to 
that gentleman on the 2d of December, offering his 
services in the line of his trade. On the 10th of De- 
cember Mr. Brown replied, inviting him to Providence, 
to which place he removed in January, 1790. On the 
5th of April in that year he signed a contract to con- 



struct machinery after the plan of that with which he 
had become familiar during his apprenticeship. He 
soon became engaged in Pawtucket, R. I., in the suc- 
cessful manufacture of cotton-yarn, which was sold 
to be woven on hand-looms into cloth by domestic 
labor. 

While engaged in this business, Mr. James Tiffany, 
of the town of Wales, in Massachusetts, then known 
as South Brimfield, became acquainted with Mr. Sla- 
ter in his trading expeditions to Pawtucket, and at his 
request Mr. Slater took his two sons, Lyman and Bela 
TiffaJiy, into his employ. Through Mr. Tiffany, Mr. 
Slater was informed of the existence of water-power 
in what is now Webster, and in 1811 Bela Tiffany was 
sent to examine it. In a letter, dated May 27, 1811, 
Bela Tiffany wrote to Mr. Slater that he had found 
on the examined premises a two-story house un- 
finished, a grist-mill with two sione.s, a good saw-mill, 
a trip-hammer shop, thirteen or fourteen acres of land, 
one-half of which was swamp, and water-fall sufficient 
for all practicable purposes. He added that the re- 
gion was a most benighted one, four miles from Ox- 
ford, three miles from Dudley and six and one-half 
miles from Thompson, in Connecticut. The price 
asked was $4000, and he wrote that he had secured a 
refusal of the property until the 20th of June. The 
result of the examination was the purchase of the prop- 
erty in the name of Bela Tiffany, and this purchase 
was followed by others, including a farm of two hun- 
dred and twenty acres, with a house and barn, nine 
and one-half acres bought of Elijah Pratt, and before 
the close of the year 1812 about two hundred and sixty 
acres more from various persons. In December, 1812, 
Mr. Tiflany transferred to Mr. Slater five-sixths of the 
property, retaining one-sixth as his own interest in 
the enterprise. 

Mills were at once erected, and in 1813 Slater & 
Tiffany began in what is now Webster the manufac- 
ture of cotton yarn. At the same time a dye and 
bleaching-house was erected and placed under the 
charge of John Tyson, who took an interest in the 
business. Mr. Tyson died August 2, 1821, and his 
interest passed into the hands of Mr. Slater. Other 
purchases of land were made by Slater & Tiffany in 
1814 and 1815, but on the 27th of November, 1816, 
during the depression in manufactures which followed 
the War of 1812, Mr. Tiffany sold his interest to Mr. 
Slater for $8400. During the war the company be- 
gan the manufacture of broadcloth under the super- 
intendence of Edward Howard, a Yorkshireman, who 
had at home been engaged in the business. 

Up to 1821 the business of Mr. Slater was con- 
ducted on a stream which runs from Chaubunnag- 
unganugPond, but in that year, through Mr. Howard, 
a location was made on French River, where prop- 
erty was bought at a cost of twelve thousand dol- 
lars. In 1822 Mr. Howard transferred one-half 
interest to Mr. Slater for six thousand dollars, and in 
that year, while the woolen-mill was there building, 



WEBSTER. 



363 



the old woolen-mill was burned. Additional pur- 
chases of land on French River were made by Slater 
& Howard between 1822 and 1824, including about 
four hundred and twenty-five acres, and still other 
purchases were made at later dates. 

On the 2d of January, 1829, Mr. Howard sold his 
interest to Samuel Slater and his sons, George B. 
Slater and Horatio Nelson Slater, who thus, as Samuel 
Slater & Sons, became the owners of all the prop- 
erty which had been puchased since 1811, includ- 
ing all the water-power supplied by French 
River within the limits of what is now Webster and 
by Chaubunnagunganug Pond. During the year 
immediately following the purchase of the entire 
property the firm of Samuel Slater & Sons became 
involved in embarrassments, from which they were, 
however, happily and entirely extricated. Mr. 
Slater died in Webster April 20, 1835. He married, 
October 2, 1791, Hannah, daughter of Oziel Wilkin- 
son, who died in 1812, and about 1817 he married 
Esther, daughter of Robert Parkinson, of Philadel- 
phia. His children, all by his first wife, were : Wil- 
liam, born August 31, 1796, died January 31, 1801 ; 
Elizabeth, born November 15, 1798, died November 
4, 1801; Mary, born September 28, 1801, died 
August 19, 1803 ; Samuel, born September 18, 1802, 
died July 14, 1821; George Bassett, born February 
12, 1804, died November 15, 1843 ; John, born May 
23, 1805, died January 23, 1838; Horatio N., born 
March 5, 1808, died August, 1888; William, born 
October 15, 1809, died September, 1825; Thomas 
Graham, born September 19, 1812, died 1844. 

After the death of Mr. Samuel Slater, in 1835, the 
business was carried on by George B. Slater and Ho- 
ratio N. Slater until the death of the former, in 1843, 
after which date Mr. Horatio N. Slater conducted 
the business until his death, in August, 1888, and was 
succeeded by his son, Horatio N. Slater, who is the 
present manager. The three establishments belong- 
ing to the concern are the H. N. Slater Manufactur- 
ing Company at the North Village, incorporated in 
1836, manufacturing cotton dress-goods, checks, lawns, 
silesias, jaconets, etc. ; the H. N. Slater Manufactur- 
ing Company at the East Village, employed in the 
finishing of cambrics, silesias, cotton dress-goods, 
lawns, etc., and the Slater Woolen Company at the 
East Village, incorporated in 1866, manufacturing 
broadcloths, flannels, tricots and doeskins. In the 
three about fifteen hundred hands are employed. The 
cotton and woolen factories are located on French 
River and the finishing factory on the outlet from the 
pond. The water with which the inhabitants of the 
town and the Fire Department are supplied is furnished 
from a reservoir belonging to one of these establish- 
ments, through pipes of the town water-works, first 
laid in 1867, for which an annual rental is paid by 
the town. 

Not long after the recovery of Mr. Slater from his 
embarrassments the question of the formation of a 



new town began to be agitated. His property and 
interests lay, for the most part within a territory made 
up of a part of Dudley, a part of Oxford and what 
was calif d Oxford South Gore, which was a tract of 
land included in no incorporated town. There were 
eleven hundred and sixty-eight inhabitants living on 
this territory, whose wishes in the premises were ex- 
pressed in a petition to the General Court, which may 
be found at length in another part of this sketch. An 
act of incorporation was passed March 6, 1882, ol 
which the following is the text: 

AN ACT TO INCORPORATK THE TOWN OF WEBSTER. 

Sec. 1. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in 
General Court assembled and by the authority of the same, That the 
territory in the Southerly part of tlie County of Worcester comprised 
within the following limits that is to say beginning at the southwest cor- 
ner of said territory where the line between Massachusetts and Connec- 
ticut intersects French Kiver ; thence running easterly by said line to 
the southwest corner of Douglas ; thence nortlierly by the line which 
divides Douglas from Oxford South Gore until it intersects the line be- 
tween Oxford and Douglas ; thence due west two and three-fourths miles 
and thirty rods to a stone monument about eighty-eight rods west of 
French River; thence Southerly in the direction of a stone monument 
in the line of Oxford and Dudley near the house owned by Daniel Green- 
wood and Samuel Slater to the middle of said river ; thence southerly by 
said river to the fiiBt mentioned corner together with all the inhabitants 
dwelling thereon be and they hereby are incorporated into a town by the 
name of Webster and vested with all the powers, privileges and immuni- 
ties and subject to all the duties and requirements of other incorporate 
towns agreeably to the constitution and laws of this Commonwealth. 

Sec. 2. Be it further enacted, That the inhal)itjints of said town of 
Webster shall be bolden to pay all arrears of taxes which have been le- 
gally assessed upon them by the towns of Oxford and Dudley before the 
passing of this act ; and all taxes assessed and not heretofore collected 
shall be collected and paid to the treasurer ol the towns of Dudley and 
Oxford respectively in the same manner as if the act had not been passed. 

Sec. 3. Be it further enacted, That the said town of Webster shall 
hereafter be liable to pay two-seventh parts of the expenses necessarily 
to be incurred in the support of all i»auper^ who at the time of the pass- 
ing of this act were actually in need of relief and were receiving support 
from the town of Dudley and one-fourth part of the expenses so to be 
incurred by the town of Oxford in the support of paupers at present re- 
ceiving relief from the said town of Oxford. ,\nd that in all cases of 
paupei-s who shall hereafter stand in need of relief as paupers whose set- 
tlements have been derived or obtained in either of the towns of Oxford 
or Dudley previous to the passing of this act the said paupers shall be 
supported by the town within the territorial limits of which such settle- 
ment was gained, the said town of Webster being required to support all 
such as have acquired or shall hereafter acquire a settlement within the 
territory herein described. 

Sec. 4. Be it further enacted. That the said town of Webster shall he 
holden to pay .and discharge two-seventh parts of all expenses which 
may accrue to the s-aid town of Dudley in the construction of a county 
road leading from a point near the dwelling-house of Ralph Vinton to 
the line of Oxford, which the county commissioners for the county of 
Worcester have heretofore located and ordered to be wrought ; and shall 
also pay and discharge two-seventh parts of all debts and obligations duo 
and incurred by the town of Dudley before the passing of this act by vir- 
tue of any contract a'ready executed and shall be holden in the same 
proportional amount for all legal liabilities heretofore incurred by the 
said town of Dudley not otherwise provided for in this act, Provided, 
nevertheless that all monies now in the treasury of the said town of Dud- 
ley or which may hereafter be paid into the same as the proceeds of 
taxes already assessed or of obligations now due or owing to the said 
town of Dudley shall first be applied to the payment of the debts and ex- 
penses and the discharge of the liabilities due from or incurred by the 
town of Dudley as aforesaid. 

Sec. 5. Be it further enacted, That the bridge over French River near 
Preston's cotton-mill and the bridge on the same stream near Slater's 
cotton thread-mill shall forever hereafter be maintained and kept in re- 
pair by said town of Webster and that the bridge on said river near the 
line of the State of Connecticut shall be maintained and kept in repair 
by said town of Dudley ; and that the said bridges in regard to all legal 



364 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



liabilities shall be reBpectively deemed and takun to be within the limits 
of the towu which by this act is required to maintain and repair the 
same. 

Sec. 6. Bo it further enacted, That of all state and county taxes which 
shall be required of said towns previous to a new valuation the said town 
of Webster shall pay thereof in the proportion in which the said town of 
"Webster is liable as aforesaid to the payment of expenses to be incurred 
as aforesaid in the support of paupers now chargeable to the towns of 
Oxford and Dudley. 

Sec. 7. Be it further enacted, That any justice of the peace for the 
County of Worcester, upon application therefor is hereby authorized to 
issue his warrant directed to any freeholder in the said town of Webster 
requiring him to notify and warn the inhabitants thereof to meet at such 
time and place as may bo appointed in said warrant for tlie choice of all 
such towu oflRcers as towns are by law required to choose at the annual 
t«wn meetings. 

On the 27th of February, 1841, an act was passed 
by the General Court providing that *'from and after 
the passage of this act the boundary line between 
Webster and Douglas is hereby coofirmed aud es- 
tablished as follows, viz.: beginning at Nipmuc cor- 
ner on Oxford line; thence running south seven 
and a quarter degrees, east one thousand five hun- 
dred and seventy-eight rods to the Bald Hill monu- 
ment on Connecticut line erected by the commis- 
sioners of Massachusetts and Connecticut in the 
year one thousand seven hundred and twelve." 

The following is the text of the petition on which 
the act of incorporation was based: 

To the Senate and House of Representatives of the General Court of 
the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. 

The undersigned iuhabitants of Dudley Oxford and Oxford South Gore 
BO-called in the County of Worcester represent that they are residents 
within a territory containing about ten thousand acres of land bounded 
as follows beginning at the south west corner where the lino between 
Massachusetts and Connwcticut intersects French River thence Easterly 
by said line which divides the States to the south west corner of Douglas 
thence Northerly by the line which divides Douglas from Oxford South 
Gore till it intersects the lino between Oxford and Douglas thence due 
west to French River and thence d^-wn said river to the piece of begin- 
ning that said Gore which is not within the limits of any municipal cor- 
poration contains about four thousand five hundred acres ; that about 
three thousand five hundred acres are within the limits of Dudley and 
about two thousand acres witliin the limits of Oxford, that the whole 
population is 8upi)0sed to be from fifteen to sixteen hundred from seven 
to eight hundred uf which is in Dudley frOm five to six hundred in Ox- 
ford tSc from one hundred to one hundred and fifty in said Gore that said 
territory was rough and very thinly inhabited until the water-power af- 
forded by said river and a large natural pond invited the enterprise of 
manufacturers and mechanics from which time it began to fiuurish vig- 
orously and is destined undoubtedly to increase in capital & business and 
to afford at no distant period a support to a much more numerous 
population — that there are withiu said territory two religious societies 
each of which has a meeting-house also a post-office five cotton-mills 
three woolen-mills ajmachine-sliop, five forge-shops, boe & scythe-shop, 
a^dyeing and bleaching establishment and six stores in all which ex- 
tensive and active business ia carried on, that most of said iiopulation 
is distant from Dudley from three to four miles — from Oxford from 
fuur to five miles, that the great public highways leading to Boston 
to Hartford to Providence and other large towns do not pass through 
Dudley or Oxford so that said population has little nutural connec- 
tion or connection in business with the villages in the c(;n(ro uf those 
places, that it is burdensome and inconvenient to travel so great a 
distance to attend town-meetings and fur other town purposes that it 
would greatly promote the prosperity happiness and convenience of 
said population to be admitted to separate municipal privileges, as 
nearly one-half of said territory has hitherto been denied all pai'tici- 
pation in such rights and the other half is so situated as to be sub- 
jected to unreasonable expense and loss of time in obtiining them — 
that a separation would not be injurious to Dudley or Oxford as each 
would be left with a large population and territory. Your petitioners 
therefore pray that they may be incorporated into a town with the 



limits aforesaid or such other limits as you shall see fit to assign 
them. And as in duty bound will ever pray. 

This petition was signed by George B. Slater and 
one hundred and fourteen others of Dudley, William 
Kimball and thirty-six others of Oxford, and Para- 
clete Morris and twenty-one others of Oxford ISouth 
Gore. It bears no date, but was presented to the 
General Court in 1831, and referred, June 3d of 
that year, to the Committee on Towns. On the 8th 
of June that committee reported through its chair- 
man, David Wilder, that a copy of the petition '* be 
served on the town clerks of the towns of Oxford 
aud Dudley, and be published three weeks succes- 
sively in the Massachusetts Spy and National JEgis^ 
two newspapers published in Worcester, and that 
Messrs. John Wyles of Brimfield, Elijah Ingraham of 
Pawtucket, and William J. Otis of Boston be a com- 
mittee to view the premises at the expense of the pe- 
titioners and report to the nest General Court. This 
report was accepted, and the matter went over to the 
Legislature of 1832, and the petition was then re-en- 
forced by another dated December 31, 1831, and 
signed by Joseph Bracket and five others, who claimed 
to be residents in Oxford, Dudley and Oxford South 
Gore. 

Another petition, dated Dudley, December 14, 
1831, was presented to the General Court of 1832, of 
which the following is the text : 

Commonwealth of Massachusetts. 
To the Honorable the Senate nud H"use of Eepresentativea to be assembled 
on the Jiret Wednesday of January, A. I). 1832 : 
The subscribers, inhabitants of the town of Dudley, in the County of 
Worcester, beg leave to represent to your honorable body that whereas 
George B. Slater and a number of other persons, inhabitiints of the town 
of Oxford and Dudley, and Oxford South Gore, did, at the last session of 
the General Court of said Conunonwealtb, held on the last Wednesday 
of May last, present a petition, praying that all of that part of Dudley 
lying Easterly of French or Stony Kiver, and a part of Oxford de- 
fl(?ribed in said petition, together with siiid Oxford South Gore, might be 
incorporated into a Town, aud whereas there was an order of notice is- 
sued on eaid petition, returnable to the next General Court, to be held 
on the first Wednesday of January, then next following ; we therefore 
humbly pray that if your Honorable Body shall see fit and proper to 
grant the prayer of the aforesaid George B. Slater and others, that the 
following described tract of land, lying in Dudley aforesaid, and west- 
erly of the aforesaid Kiver (containing by estimate eight hundred acres, 
bounded as follows), viz. : Beginning on the west bank of siiid River 
being at the southeast corner of the farm formerly owned by Nathan 
Ward, but now by Zera Prcstou and Joseph Scholfield ; thence on the 
soutli line uf sjiid farm, westerly about eighty rods, to the southwest 
corner of said farm ; thence northerly on the west line of said farm to 
the northwest corner of the same ; thence in a northerly direction to the 
outlet of Peter Pond (so-called) ; thence in a straight line to a monu- 
ment on Oxford old line, where Dudley projects northerly into Charl- 
ton ; from thence, on Oxford old line, easterly about two hundred rods, 
to a monument northerly of Olney Esten,in Oxford ; thence southerly, on 
Oxford line, to the River aforesaid, and down said River to the first-men- 
tioned corner, may be incorporated into the same Town, and be a part 
thereof as fully and effectually asif the same had been included in the 
aforesaid petition. Our reasons for earnestly requesting that our peti- 
tion may be granted are that we are owners of land on both sides of the 
aforesaid River; that we live from two and one-half to three and one- 
half miles from the centre of the Town in Dudley, where public busi- 
ness is done ; that we are but from half a mile to a nnle from the centre 
of population of the contemplated new Town, and where it is contem- 
l>lated that the town business will be di>ne. That three or four years 
' since, we, together with a number of inhabitants on the easterly side of 



WEBSTEE. 



365 



said River, composing a large and respectable School District, erected a 
larj;;e and commodious stone school-house on the westerly line of said 
River ; that if the Town is divided by saiil River, our School District 
will be SLi small that we shall receive but very little advantage of school- 
ing. That our business is almost wholly connected with the first-men- 
tioned petitioners, having very little intercourse with the Town of Dud- 
ley, most of us, that we are almost wholly connected, and attend reli- 
gious meetings at the houses of public worship, east of said River, we 
therefore humbly beg that your Honorable Body will take this, our 
petition, under your consideration, and act thereon as you, in your 
wisdom, shall see fit and proper. 

Signed by JnriiTHAH Bacon, 

John Brown, 
Nathaniel Lyon, 
Chester Clesians, 
George B. Slater, 
Joseph Scholfield, 
Palaski Bacon, 
Jephthah Bacon, Jun., 
William Wakefield. 

On the 17th of September, 1831, a legal meeting of 
the inhabitanta of the town of Oxford was held, and 
Ira Barton, Stephen Davis and Kichard Stover were 
appointed a committee to confer with the committee 
appointed by the General Court, and a remonstrance 
against the petition of George B. Slater, presented by 
Mr. Barton, was adopted. 

At the same date, a meeting of the inhabitants of 
Dudley was held, and a committee, consisting of 
George A. Tufts, Morris Larned, John Eddy, William 
Hancock and Joseph H. Perry, was chosen to oppose 
the petition for a new town. On the 14th of Novem- 
ber, in the same year, another meeting was held in 
Dudley, and a remonstrance prepared by the com- 
mittee chosen in September was adopted. 

Another remonstrance was presented by Joseph 
Kingsbury, who represented himself to be a resident 
in the territory proposed to be incorporated, and 
asked that he, together with his estate, might remain 
in the town of Oxford. 

The committee appointed by the General Court at 
the session of 1831 made a report dated September 
SO, 1831, which, on the 17th of January, 1832, was 
referred to the Committee on Towns of the General 
Court of that year. The committee stated that the 
territory within the towns of Oxford and Dudley and 
Oxford South Gore contained 39,943 acres, of which 
Oxford contained 18,250, Dudley 17,200, and the 
Gore 4,493. The territory included in the petition 
would take 1,350 acres from Oxford, 3,280 from Dud- 
ley, and the whole of the Gore, thus constituting a 
town of 9,123 acres, and leaving to Oxford 16,900 
acres, and to Dudley 13,920 acres. 

As regards population, they stated that Oxford 
contained 1900 inhabitants, Dudley 2155, and the 
Gore 134, making a total of 4189. The town peti- 
tioned for would take 312 inhabitants from Oxford, 
722 from Dudley, and all the inhabitants of the Gore, 
making a total of 1168, leaving in Oxford 1588, and 
in Dudley 1433. They also stated that in 1731 a 
portion of the Gore had been annexed to Oxford, 
and ia 1887 another portion, and that the school 
ID the Gore wjas supported by voluntary contribu- 



tion. The taxable property in Oxford in 1830 was 
$693,333, of which $90,200 belonged to the proposed 
town, and was owned — by Samuel Slater, $54,450; 
George and John Slater, $12,316. The valuation of 
real and personal estate in the Gore for the same 
year was $28,034. In the part of Dudley proposed 
to be included in the new town there were twenty- 
four "eehoklers, with real estate valued at $41,624.40; 
the Slaters owned real estate in it valued at $63,374, 
and the personal estate in that portion, including 
that owned by the Slaters, was valued at $53,886. 
The committee also stated that the inhabitants of the 
South Gore in 1831 petitioned for certain highway 
and school privileges analogous to those of incorpo- 
rated towns, and that fourteen of the remonstrants 
were now petitioners for the new town. The com- 
mittee stated in conclusion, "that, all things consid- 
ered, the towns of Oxford and Dudley and Oxford 
South Gore are well calculated to constitute three 
convenient towns, and that the prayer of the peti- 
tioners ought, in the deliberate opinion of the com- 
mittee, to be granted." 

The Committee on Towns, in accordance with the 
recommendations of the foregoing report, reported 
the bill, the text of which has been already quoted, 
and the bill was duly passed, as before stated, March 
6, 1832. 

It ia only necessary to refer in this sketch to that 
part of the town of Webster which was popularly 
known for many years as Oxford South Gore. The 
remaining portions of the town, prior to the incorpo- 
ration of the town of Webster, will be appropriately 
treated in the histories of the towns of Oxford and 
Dudley. This Gore was simply a tract of laud which 
had been included in grants to individuals, but in 
the formation of towns had never been included 
within their boundaries. In 1831, when surveyed 
under a resolve of the Legislature, it contained, as 
already stated, four thousand five hundred and ninety 
acres, was irregular in shape, and was bounded by 
lines running in seven different courses, and by the 
irregular margin of a part of Chaubunnagunganug 
Pond, which separated it from Douglas, Dudley and 
Oxford. It is largely covered by either woods or 
water, and possesses a soil which did not, in tlie crea- 
tion of early towns, make it a desirable possession. 
On the 8th of December, 1731, a small portion of the 
Gore was annexed to the town of Oxford, in reference 
to which the following extract from the records of 
the General Court may not be without interest : 

WEPNESDAy, December 8, 1731. 
A petition of Isaac Larned, in behalf of the town of Oxford, show- 
ing that Jogiah Kingsberry and Theodore Kingsberry live upon a farm 
adjacent to the said town of Oxford, and nearer to the meeting-house 
there than to any. other meeting house, and are very desirous to be 
annexed to the said town. Therefore praying that the said farm be- 
tween the south end of O.xford village and Chaubunnagunganug pond 
6o running westward till it comprehends all the said farm and the land 
of the said Isaac Larned lying eiist of the Road passing from Oxford to 
Woodstock, be annexed to the said town of Oxford, the saitl petition 



3G6 



HISTOKY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



being signed by the said Josiah and Theodore Kingsberry as approved 
by them. 

In the House of Representatives read and ordered that the petitioners 
witli their lands within mentioned, be and hereby are to all intents and 
purposes whatsoever annexed to the town of Oxford. 

In Council read and concurred. Consented to J. Belcher. 

On the 6th of February, 1807, another portion of 
the South Gore was annexed to Oxford, as described 
in the following act : • 

An act to annex a part of a tract of land commonly called The Ox- 
ford South Gore, with the inhabitants and estates thereon to the town 
of Oxford. 

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General 
Court assembled, and by the authority of the same. That Lemuel 
Cudworth, Craft Davis, K/.ekiel Davis, David Fitts, Abijah Harris, 
Joseph Kingsben-y, Epliraim Kingsberry, Samuel Kingsberry, Jere- 
niiah KingsVierry, Jr., John Larned, John Larned the 3d, living on or 
being owners of a tract of land lying between the towns of Dudley, 
Douglas and Oxford, commonly called The Oxford South Gore, together 
with James Wallis, of Dudley, and all others, the inhabitants living on 
or owning lands in that part of said Gore hereby set off with th*-ir fann'- 
lies and estates, although not particularly named in this act and witlu)nt 
the line of the town of Oxford, as the same is described by the following 
bounds, be, and hereby are, annexed to and made a part of the said 
town of Oxford, viz.; Beginning at the line at the southeast corner be- 
tween Dudley and Oxford, and running north thirty-four degrees west 
three hundred and twelve rods ; thence east eight degrees north two hun- 
dred and ten rods; thence north eight degrees and twenty minutes west 
two hundred and thirty-two rods; thence east eighteen degrees north 
three hundred and eighty -eight rods; thence s-JUth two degrees and forty 
minutes west one hundred and thirteen rods; thence west two degrees 
and forty-five minutes north eighty-five rods; theuce south twenty-one 
degrees and forty-five minutes west four hundred and thirty rods; thence 
south eight degrees and twenty minutes east eighty-nine rods to the cor- 
ner first mentioned. 

At the time of the incorporation of the town of 
Webster there were within its territorial limits a Bap- 
tist and a Methodist Episcopal Society. The Baptist 
Society had its origin at an early period in that part 
of Dudley which was included in the town of Web- 
ster, probably as early as 17-14, though it was not 
formally organized as a religious body until October 
26, 1814. It was then called the Baptist Church of 
Dudley, and consisted at the time of its organization 
of twenty- seven males and twenty-eight females. 
The organization was formed in the district school- 
house by an ecclesiastical council consisting of Rev. 
P. Crosby, of Thompson, Conn.; Rev. William Bent- 
ley, of Worcester ; Rev. James Boomer, of Charlton ; 
Rev. Z. L. Leonard, of Sturbridge ; Rev. James Grow, 
of Pomfret, Conn. ; Rev. Luther Goddard and Messrs. 
Jeremy F. Tolman and John Walker. Rev. Mr. 
Bentley was chosen moderator, and Rev. Mr. Leonard 
scribe, and the sermon was preached by Rev. Mr. 
Grow. The members of the society as then organized 
were Smith Arnold, John Baker, Stephen Bartlett, Jr., 
Stephen Bracket, Thomas Brown, Esek Brown, Nathan 
Cody, Nathaniel Crosby, David Freeman, Michael 
Hill, Liberty Ide, William Leonard, John Larned, 
Eliakim Robinson, John Stockwell, John Stone, 
Gardner Stone, Jubal Wakefield, Aaron Wakefield, 
Joel Wakefield, Simeon Wakefiel.l, Luther Whitman, 
William W. Webster, Nathan Wood, Luther Wood, 
Lucy Arnold, Lucina Bartlett, Catherine Bartlett, 
Fanny Bracket, Phebe Brown, Jerusha Bracket, 



Sally M. Crosby, Dolly Freeman, Taman Freeman, 
Araminda Freeman, Rosella Greenwood, Mary B. 
Hill, Abigail Humphrey, Lavina Ide, Abigail Lar- 
ned, Sibyl Moore, Anna Robinson, Ruth Stone, Sarah 
Wakefield, Betsey Wakefield, Mehitable Wakefield, 
Mary Whitmore, Lucinda Wood, Charlotte Wood, 
Eunice Wood, Adamira Wood and Betsey Wright. 

On the 8th of November, 1814, Mr. Stephen Bart- 
lett and Mr. Nathaniel Crosby were chosen deacons, 
and on the 15th of June, 1815, Mr. Esek Brown, who 
had been a deacon of the Sutton Church, was invited 
to become pastor. The ordination was conducted in 
a tent, and Rev. Samuel Waters and Rev. Zenas L. 
Leonard were chosen moderator and scribe of the 
council. Rev. Mr. Leonard, then of Sturbridge, 
preached the sermon ; Rev. James Grow, ot Pomfret, 
made the ordaining prayer ; Rev. Samuel Waters, of 
Sutton, the charge; Rev. William Bentley, of Wor- 
cester, gave the right hand of fellowship, and Rev. 
Isaac Dwinell, of Auburn, made the concluding 
prayer. In September, 1818, Mr. Brown removed to 
the Baptist Church in Lebanon, Conn., and until the 
spring of 1826 the society was without a pastor. At 
that time Rev. John B. Ballard was settled and served 
until the spring of 1828. Mr. Ballard was born in 
Dudley, October 25, 1795, and was a graduate of the 
Hamilton Theological Institute in 1820. Before his 
settlement in Webster he was settled in Masonville, 
whore he was ordained November 13, 1823. After 
leaving Webster he was settled in Bloomfield, Conn., 
and for thirteen years lie was the agent of the Ameri- 
can Sabbath-School Union. He died in the city of 
New York, January 29, 1856, while in the service of 
the Tract Society. In the year of his settlement the 
first meeting-house was erected and dedicated on the 
26th of December of that year, on which occasion 
Elder Jonathan Going, of Worcester, preached the 
sermon. 

In 1828 Rev. Joshua Eveleth was ordained and 
served one year, when he was succeeded by Rev. 
Hubbard Loomis, who also served one year. Mr. 
Loomis had been tor twenty-four years a settled Con- 
gregational minister in Wellington, Conn., and in 
1832, after leaving Webiter, he founded the Theo- 
logical Seminary in Alton, Illinois. Rev. Thomas 
Barnett, a native of Belchertown, succeeded Mr. 
Loomis in 1830, and served two years and five months. 
During his pastorate Webster was incorporated, and 
the church became by name the Baptist Church in 
Webster. In December, 1832, Rev. Abiel Fisher was 
ordained and served one year and six months. Mr. 
Fisher was born in Putney, Vermont, June 19, 1787, 
and graduated at the Burlington University in 1812. 
He studied theology with Rev. Nathaniel Kendrick, 
of Middlebury, Vermont, and was licensed to preach 
June 18, 1813. In January, 1816, he was ordained 
pastor in Bellingham, where he served twelve years. 
In September, 1828, he went to West Boylston, where 
he preached three years, and then to Sturbridge, 



WEBSTEK. 



367 



After leaving Webster he was settled in Pawtucket, 
Rhode Island, and Swansea and Sutton, and died at 
West Boylston, March 26, 1862. 

In April, 1834, Rev. James Grow was settled and 
remained one year. Mr. Grow died in Thompson, 
Conn., March 17, 1859, at the age of ninety years. 
Rev. Loorais G. Leonard, a graduate of the Newton 
Theological Institute, succeeded in September, 1836, 
and served six years and seven months. He was dis- 
missed, at his own request, March 3, 1843, and re- 
moved to Thompson, Conn., and afterwards to New 
London, and to Zanesville, Marietta and Lebanon, 
Ohio. Rev. John F. Burbank was settled in April, 
1843, and served three years and five months. He 
graduated at the Newton Theological Institute in 
1840, and died in Worcester November 22, 1853, at 
the age of forty-two years. Rev. Lyman Jewett, also 
a graduate of the Newton Theological Institute, suc- 
ceeded Mr. Burbank, in March, 1848, and Rev. Jo- 
seph Thayer, of South Sutton, followed, in April, 
1849. Mr. Thayer afterwards was settled as a Free- 
will Baptist minister in Mendon, and finally removed 
to Minnesota. Rev. Frederick Charlton, of Plain- 
field, was settled in April, 1850, and served three 
years. After leaving Webster he removed to Wil- 
mington, Del., and finally was settled in Sacramento, 
Cal. In April, 1853, Rev. George W. Dorrence, who 
had been a chaplain in the navy, was settled, and 
preached two years, followed in March, 1856, by Rev. 
J. L. A. Fish, who served seven years and three 
months. Mr. Fish was a graduate of the Newton 
Theological Institute. He resigned in June, 1863, 
and removed to East Tisbury. In April, 1863, Rev. 
Charles W. Reding was settled, and preached six 
years, followed by Thomas T. Tilman, in August, 
1869, who still remains. During the pastorate of Mr. 
Reding the present stone meeting-house was built at 
a cost of $31,067. During his pastorate also the 
fiftieth anniversary of the formation of the society 
occurred on the 30th of October, 18fi4, on wliich oc- 
casion he delivered a commemorative address. 

The Methodist Episcopal Church was organized 
in September, 1823. Samuel Henderson and John 
McCausland came from Ireland and settled within 
the territory afterwards included in the town of 
Webster. They established class meetings, and in the 
same year founded a society together with Samuel 
J. Booth, William Archer, Parsons Tourtellot, Olney 
Esten, Ebenezer Pluramer, William Harbenson, Wil- 
liam Hurd, Hezekiah Davis, Calvin Aldrich, Charles 
Wait, Henry Davis, John Dixon, William Andrews, 
Daniel Dwight, Oliver Adams, Jr., ai)d Jeremiah 
Upham. 

Rev. Elias Marble was settled as the fir=t min- 
ister. His successors were as follows; 



1825. Rbt. John W. Hardy. 
1S2C. Key. John W. Chase. 

1827. Rev. Hemiin Perry. 

1828. Bev. Groorge Southerland. 

1829. Rev. Isaac Bonny. 



1830. Rev. John Lorejoy. 

1831. Eev. 0. Rolibins. 

1832. Rev. Peter Scibin. 

1833. Rev. Isaac Jennison. 

1834. Rev. Ira M. Bidwell. 



1835. Rev. Jonathan Cady. 
1836-3T. Rev. Isaiic Stoddard. 
1838-39. Rev. Joseph A. Merrill. 
1840. Rev. Isaac Sanbonrn. 
1841-42. Rev. Abra'm D. Merrill. 
1843-44. Kev. Leonard B. Griffln. 
1845-46. Rev. Mark Staple. 
1847-18. Rev. C. S. McRedding. 
1849-50. Rev. Joseph W. Lewis. 
1851-52. Rev. D. E. Cliapin. 
185.3-54. Rev. Union Ward. 
18.55-50. Rev. Samuel Tupper. 
1857-58. Rev. J. S. Uaniford. 
1859. Rev. Abraham S. Dobbs. 



1860-61. Rev. Pliny Wood. 
1862. Rev. Jcseph C. Cormack. 
]863-«4. Rev. Cyrns L. Eastman. 
1865. Rev. James W. Murray. 
18CC-67. Rev. Edward S. Best. 
1868-70. Rev. A. O. Hamilton. 
1871-72. Rev. Le Roy S. Brewster. 
1873-74. Rev. Wm. J. Pomfret. 
1875-76. Rev. Daniel Richards. 
1877-79. Rev. S. B. Sweetser. 
1880-83. Rev. Samuel Jackson. 
1883-85. Rev. Charles F. Rice. 
1886-88. Rev. W. E. Knox. 
1888. Kev. T. B. Smith. 



The first meeting-house of this society was erected 
in 1828 and dedicated June 29th of that year. 
Its cost was $1,467.40. A second and larger meeting- 
house was built in 1833 and dedicated January 14, 
1834. Its cost was $4,626. A third meeting-house, 
larger and more commodious as the growing necessi- 
ties of the society demanded, was built at a cost of 
$22,000, including land, organ and fixtures, in 1866, 
and dedicated September 12, 1867. 

The above two societies — the Baptist and the 
Methodist Episcopal — were the only religious socie- 
ties existing in Webster at the date of its incor- 
poration, March 6, 1832. The first religious society 
organized alter its incorporation was the First Con- 
gregational Church and Society, which was formed 
Juae 13, 1838, with a membership of forty-one per- 
sons, most of whom had previously been attendants 
on public worship in the Baptist Church. At the 
first meeting of this society Jonathan Day was 
chosen moderator, and James J. Robinson, clerk, 
and George B. Slater, Dexter W. Jones and Ly- 
man Johnson, assessors and standing committee. Its 
first services were held in the old meeting-house of 
the Methodist Episcopal Society, where they con- 
tinued to be held until the present meeting-house 
was built in 1842. The new house of worship soon 
proved too small for the needs of the society and was 
enlarged in 1849. 

The first minister of the society was Rev. Sidney 
Holnian, who was installed October 31, 1838, and 
served until May 4, 1840; Rev. Hubbard A. Reed 
served from May 6, 1841, to November 5, 1844 ; Rev. 
Lorenzo Cary from August 14, 1845, to June 29, 
1852; Rev. S. C. Kendall from March 29, 1854, to 
March SO, 1857, and from November 8, 1860, to July 
22, 1868; Rev. David M. Bean from December 10, 
1868, to May 25, 1871 ; Rev. J. S. Batchelder from 
December 6, 1871, to September 7, 1874 ; Rev. H. M. 
Rogers from December 9, 1874, to September 28, 
1876 ; Rev. B. F. Parsons from 1876 to 1881 ; Rev. 
John G. Leavitt from 1881 to his death, in October, 
1886 ; Rev. W. W. Sleeper from 1887 to his resignation, 
in August, 1888. The society is at present, in Octo- 
ber, 1888, without a pastor. 

The Catholic Church and Society was organized in 
1844, and placed under the charge of the pastor of St. 
John's Church at Worcester. The foundations ol 
the St. louis Church edifice were laid in 1853, while 



368 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



the society was under the ministrations of Rev. Mr. 
Gib^^on, and cost eight thousand dollars. It was built 
of brifk, but soon proving too small, was enlarged in 
1865 at a cost of twenty thousand dollars,,and soon 
after a parish-house was built at a cost of seven thou- 
sand five hundred dollars. Mr. Gibson was suc- 
ceeded by Rev. Napoleon Magnault, and in 1858 Rev. 
James Quan became pastor and still remains. The 
large number of Catholic French belonging to the 
church, who could with difficulty speak and under- 
stand the English language, soon rendered the forma- 
tion of a new society desirable, and in 1870 the 
French-speaking portion of the St. Louis Church or- 
ganized the Parish of the Sacred Heart in the old 
Methodist Episcopal meeting-house, which they 
bought and enlarged, with Rev. J. Cosson as their 
pastor. Mr. Cosson left in 1871, and was succeeded 
by Rev. A. A. Landry, of North Adams, who remained 
until his death, in 1885. He was succeeded by Rev. 
H.H.Landry in 1885, who was followed in 1887 by 
Rev. Joseph A. Legris, the present pastor. 

The Webster Universalist Society was organized 
April 22, 18(51, and on the 1st of May, 1864, Rev. 
George J. Sanger was ordained as its pastor. On the 
2d of June, 1866, the society was incorporated under 
the General Laws. In that year and the next, their 
meeting-house was built at a cost of about twenty 
thousand dollars, and dedicated August 21, 1867. 
Mr. Sanger was followed in 18G9 by Rev. J. W. Keyes, 
and in 1874 Rev. J. W. Moore was settled and served 
until 1877. In September, 1878, Rev. J. F. Simmons 
became pastor, during whose pastorate Mrs. Julia 
Clemens Murdock, a devoted friend of the society, 
died on the 27th of April, 1879, and gave to it by her 
will a bequest of several thousand dollars in value. 
Rev. Edgar W. Preble is the present pastor, and suc- 
ceeded Bev. Mr. Simmons in January, 1887. 

There is also a Polish Catholic Society, who.se 
church was dedicated on the 1st of April, 1888, of 
which Rev. Franz S. Chalupka is the pastor. 

The Protestant Episcopal Church of Webster held 
its first service in the town-hall at East Webster, July 
18, 1869, with Rev. William H. Brooks, D.D., rector 
of Grace Church, at Oxford, as the oflBciating clergy- 
man. On the 3d of January, 1870, a parish was 
formed under the name of the Church of the Recon- 
ciliation. On the 23d of January, 1870, the church 
held services in Webster Hall, and on January 30th 
in Good Templars' Hall, where it continued to hold 
services until April 10th of that year, when it occu- 
pied the Congregational Chapel, which it continued 
to occupy until its church edifice was erected. On 
July 18, 1870, the corner-stone of its church was laid 
on land presented by Mr. William 8. Slater, and on 
the 3d of January, 1871, it was dedicated by cere- 
monies conducted by Right Rev. Mantou Easthurn. 
At the laying of the corner-stone. Dr. Brooks offici- 
ated, on which occasion Rev. Thomas L. Randolph, of 
St. John's Church, of Wilkiusville, made the prayer, 



Rev. William N. Ackley, rector of Trinity Church, 
at Newtown, Conn., delivered the address, and Rev. 
James W. Clark, of St. Philip's Church, at Putnam, 
Conn., made the concluding prayer. 

Rev. Doctor Brooks, the rector of Grace Church, 
at Oxford, held one service in Webster, after the 
formation of the society, until October 1, 1869, and 
after that date until April 1, 1870, he devoted his 
whole time to the interests of the society at its urgent 
request. On the 19th of March, 1870, he was called 
to the rectorship, and accepted the call at the termi- 
nation of his temporary service on the 1st of April, 
serving as rector until his resignation, April 2, 1872. 
He was a graduate of the Theological Seminary of 
the Protestant Episcopal Church of Virginia, July 15, 
1852, and was ordained deacon by Right Rev. William 
Meade, D.D., in Christ Church, Alexandria, Virginia, 
the next day. On the 13th of January, 1855, he was 
ordained priest by Right Rev. Alfred Lee, D.D., in 
St. Thomas' Church, Newark, Delaware. Before his 
pastorates in Oxford and Webster he was for a time 
rector of Christ Church, in Plymouth, and is now 
rector of St. Andrew's Church at Hanover, Mass. 

Rev. Roger S. Howard succeeded Dr. Brooks, and 
resigned in January, 1879. He was followed in 1880 
by Rev. Langdon C. Stewardson, who served until 
1884, when Rev. A. U. Stanley officiated until 1887, 
who was succeeded by Rev. J. Eldred Brown, the 
present pastor. 

The Reformed Methodist Church of Webster was 
organized in 1872, under the direction of Rev. Harvey 
Wakefield. In 1872 its meeting-house was built at a 
cost of two thousand five hundred dollars, and dedi- 
cated January 1, 1873. Ou the occasion of its dedi- 
cation the dedicatory pr.ayer was made by Rev. Mr. 
Wakefield, and the sermon was delivered by Rev. 
William H. Kirk. Mr. Wakefield still has charge of 
the pulpit of this society. 

The Second Advent Society was established in 1883. 
Rev. J. E. Cross served as its pastor from 1884 to 1886. 
Rev. D. Matherson from 1886 to 1887, and its present 
pastor is Rev. George D. Smith. 

The public schools within the territory of Webster 
were far from being in a satisfactory condition at the 
time of its incorporation. At a town-meeting held 
April 23, 1832, a committee consisting of the Board 
of Selectmen, with Dexter Rawson and Turner Cud- 
worth added, was appointed to divide the town into 
school districts. At a meeting held on the 28th of 
May, the committee reported the formation of five 
districts, as follows : 

No. 1. All that part of the town formerly a part of 
Oxford, and east of French River, including the 
Oxford South Gore, which lies north of the farm of 
John Rawson, and a line extending easterly to the 
Douglas line. 

No. 2. All the remainder of the Gore bounded east 
by Douglas, south by District No. 1, west by what 
wasDudley east line, and south by the Connecticut line. 



WEBSTER. 



369 



No. 3. That part of Dudley bounded east by what 
was the Gore west line, north by the road leading 
from Unionville to the four corners near the house of 
Eev. Thomas Bassett, west by the road leading south- 
erly from said four corners to the Thompson road, and 
by said Thompson road, including the farm on the we^t 
side thereof and adjoining the same, and south by the 
Connecticut line. 

No. 4. The territory bounded east by District No. 
3, north by the road leading from the Thompson 
Road, west to the central turnpike and a line extend- 
ing therefrom in the same direction to the French 
River, and west by said river and south by the Con- 
necticut line. 

No. 5. The remainder of the town bounded east 
and north by Districts 3 and 1, including the ter- 
ritory that was formerly a part of Oxford, situated 
on the west side of French River, west by said river 
and south by Districts 3 and 4. 

The district system was abolished in 1867 by law, 
and since that time.a steady improvement has marked 
the schools of the town. There are now fourteen 
schools besides an evening school. There are a High 
School with an average attendance of 47, a High 
Grammar School with an average attendance of 34, 
the No. 1 Centre School with an average attendance 
of 34, the Fenner Hill School with an average attend- 
ance of 29, the Prospect Street Intermediate with an 
average attendance of 27, the Prospect Street Primary 
School with an average attendance of 31, a Grammar 
School with an average attendance of 34, the Gore 
School with an average attendance of 10, the Kings- 
bury School with an average attendance of 7, the 
First Primary, No 4, with an average attendance of 
;17, the Second Primary, No. 4, with an average at- 
tendance of 38, the Intermediate, No. 4, with an aver- 
age attendance of 29, the Grammar Room, No. 4, with 
an average attendance of 33 and the North Village 
School with an average attendance of 29. 

To support these schools appropriations were made 
at the annual meeting of 1888 of $2000 for the High 
School, §4200 for the common schools, SIOOO for 
school incidentals, $300 for books and supplies and 
$400 for evening schools. 

The appropriations for other purposes made at the 
same meeting, which may properly be mentioned in 
this place, were: For roads, $2200; sidewalks, $1500 ; 
repairing sidewalks, $G00 ; Fire Department, $2000 ; 
water supply, $.565; hook-and-ladder truck, $1000; 
Memorial Day, 1100; street lights, $1500; salaries, 
$1500 ; interest, $500 ; insane poor, $4400 ; Poor Farm, 
$1200 ; railings for dangerous places, $150 ; snow, ice 
and gutters, $300 ; town incidentals, $2000 ; buildings 
at town farm, $2600, and repairs of Harris Street, 
$1000 — -making the total appropriation for the year 
$30,265, or a valuation of $2,290,844. 

During the War of the Rebellion the inhabitants 
of Webster faithfully performed their duty in the 
enliijtment of soldiers and in the appropriation of 
24 



money. There was no military company within the 
limits of the town and consequently the patriotic 
rather than the mere military spirit of the young 
men inspired enlistments in the service. These en- 
listments began at the earliest period of the war and 
were kept up with vigor as long as demands were 
made on the town for recruits. At the close of the 
war it was found that Webster had furnished three 
hundred and sixty-seven men, a surplus of fifty-seven 
over its required quotas. 

On the 29th of April, 1861, at a legal town-meet- 
ing, it was voted "to pay each volunteer, belonging 
to Webster, five dollars a month while in active ser- 
vice, and to his wife and mother, dependent upon 
him for support, one dollar and a half per week, and 
to each child fifty cents per week, and if the family 
should need more the amounts to be increased at the 
discretion of the Selectmen." It was also voted to 
pay volunteers one dollar per day while drilling, the 
aid to families beginning when the soldiers were 
sworn into service. At the same meeting the sum of 
four thousand dollars was appropriated for the estab- 
lishment of a war fund. 

On the 6th of July, 1861, the town voted " to fur- 
nish the Slater Guards, then drilling, with uniforms 
preparatory to its entering the service as Company I 
of the Fifteenth Massachusetts Regiment of Infantry." 
On its departure a dinner and the sum of one thou- 
sand dollars were given to the men, and swords and 
belts to the officers. The ladies of the town gave 
also to each man mittens and socks, and William T. 
Shumway presented the company with a flag. 

On the 5th of November the town voted " that we 
hereby tender our thanks to the Slater Guards for 
their bravery at the battle of Ball's Bluff." On the 
10th of July, 1862, it was voted " to pay a bounty of 
one hundred dollars to each soldier enlisting for three 
years on the quota of the town." On the 8th of De- 
cember, 1863, the sum of six thousand dollars was 
appropriated for a war fund and a like sum for re- 
cruiting purposes. On the 14th of July, 1864, it was 
voted to increase the bounty to one hundred and 
twenty-five dollars. The money appropriated by the 
town during the war for war purposes, exclusive of 
State aid, was $28,674.61, and the amount paid for 
State aid was $18,920.63. 

The following is a list of the soldiers furnished by 
the town with the terms of their enlistments and the 
organization to which they belonged. The terms of 
enlistment of those not marked were, in each case, 
three years, those marked (') enlisted for nine 
months; those marked (^) for one hundred days; 
those marked {') for one year; and those marked (*) 
for three months. 



Name. Begiment. 

Henry L. Amniidon 15th 

Marcus M. Aldricli lottl 

Wm H. AmmidoD 15th 

Peter Agnew 

Luke Agnew 30th 



Name. Regiment. 

George C. Aiden^ 5l8t 

Samuel G. Alden^ .5l6t 

Joseph C. Allardi 51st 

Marcus M. Allard' 51st 

Isaac L. Amniidon I olst 



370 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



Name. Rfgiment. 

Asahel AWrich 25th 

Harrison G. 0. Aldrich..2d U. Art. 

Taylor Anderson 4th Cav. 

Samuel Armer 

William Armer 2d 

Edwin Alden2 42d 

Amos Bartlett (2d) IMh 

Thomas Blasland 15th 

Whitman W. Buaworth 15th 

Henry Butler 15th 

Cornelius W. Briggs 15th 

Lucius H. BriggB 15th 

Elisha T. Bigelow 16th 

Goorge Butler 15th 

William Brandis 15th 

Jacob Bender, Jr 15th 

James Barker lOth 

Charles E. Buck l"th 

Alexander Bryson 15th 

Stephen W. Burrill 15th 

Fred. H. C. Bengen 21st 

Lewis J. Bengen 2l8t 

Thomaa A. Bryden 2l8t 

George L. Brackett 2l8t 

Culbert Burke 9th 

Henry Blanchard i>th 

H. G. 0. Bacon 34th 

James Buckley 34th 

Dennis Breen 34th 

Wm. H. Briggsi Slst 

Horace S. Briggs^ 5lBt 

Elmer Bugbee^ 5lBt 

Solon U. Busheei 5l8t 

George W. Bluckraani 5lst 

Frank S. Bixby 15tli 

Herbert 0. Bixby 1st N. Y. 

Henry L. Brown 25th 

Wilson Bryden 

Gustavus Bates 

William Blute 

John W. Bixby 2d H. Art. 

Benjamin Baxter 14th H. Art. 

Joseph E. Bowman 5th Cav. 

James E. Bacou ^ 

William Bococb 37th 

Elmer Bowles 25th 

Luther Briggs Ist U. S. Art. 

Marvin G. Bates^ 4th H. Art. 

Paul Baker3 4th H. Art. 

Judson A. Bates 3 4th H. Art. 

Lucian Batea^ 4th H. Art. 

James T. Bigelow-"* 4th II. Art. 

Henry Brantes^ 4th H. Art. 

Owen A. BigelowS 42d 

Henry H. Clapp 15th 

Wm. F. Converse 15th 

Myla S. Convertje 15th 

Leeman B. Cummins 15th 

Rufus E. Corbiu 15th 

Michael Cunningham 16th 

Jama's H. Chadwick 15th 

Marcus M. Corbiu 2l8t 

Horace Clapp 21st 

Patrick Coffee 34th 

Edward Cahel 

Noel E. Converse ^ 5l8t 

Samuel B. Childs^ 5lBt 

Amasa Copeland i Slat 

Orin W. Cutter 25th 

Frederick C. Childs 

Julius A. Cummings 25th 

Michael Cutler 9th 

Lewis J. Crosby 2Sth 

Wm. K. N. Cody 

Vernon Chaffee 4th Cav. 

George W. Cuzzens 2lBt 



Name. Regiment. 

George M. Clark. ..15th N. Y. Cav. 

Thomas Comaford 34th 

John Cassidy 4th Cav. 

Monroe H. Corbin 5Gth 

Daniel Carey 4th Cav. 

John Ohaffeny 2d Inf. 

Edward Daley 15th 

Gustave H. Dabere 15th 

Daniel L. Dow 15th 

Asa Francis Day 15th 

Francis N. Davis 15th 

Lewis S. Dunbar 21st 

Louis Duprey 21st 

Peter Dowd ilth 

Joseph Duprey 34th 

Albert Duprey 34th 

Rufus L. Dayi 5l8t 

Wm. H. Dixon 1 51st 

John Delaney 21st 

Hezekiah W. Dorous 2d H. Art. 

Lewis Daley 

Henry F.DavisS 4th H. Art. 

Elias Ellis .... 4th H. Art. 

Samuel Emerson 

Hiram P. Emerson 2l8t 

Wm. A. Emerson 1 51st 

Thomas Egan 4th Cav. 

Frank W. Emerson 3....4thH. Art. 

Charles G. Foster 15th 

Daniel W. Freeman 16th 

Albro Freeman 2nth 

Horace Floyd 

Lawrence Fagan 

Levi Flagg 4th Cav. 

J. Augustus Fowler3.„4th H. Art. 

Edward Farrell 7th R. L 

Pliny M. George 15th 

Jonathan I. Geary 15th 

Henry Groh l-'th 

Francis Gallen 15th 

James Gardner 15th 

John Grady 15th 

Charles T. Gage loth 

Joseph Gill 9th 

Martin Grady 34th 

John Gilroy 2d Inf. 

George L. Googins^... 51st Inf. 

Eugene Googins 2dR. I. 

John George 2d H. Art. 

Frank Gould 

Thomiis Griffin 2d Cav. 

Henry S. Gilmore^ 1st H. Art. 

Harris Gleason^ 42d 

Joseph Holland 15th 

Wm. T. Harding I6th 

Carlos Holt 21st 

Jeremiah Harrington 2lBt 

Barlow Hoyle^ 51st 

George Hadfield 15th 

Thomas Henry 15th 

John Hollen. 15th 

Patrick Healey 15th 

Andrew Hoyle 34th 

Allen Uowland 43d 

Charles H. Humes 7th R. I. 

Thomas Hay 

Thomas Hoolahan 

John H.Harrington 

John Houghton 2d H. Art. 

Emory Humes 7th R. I. 

George Heyman 4th Cav. 

Henry Ilauviu 2d Inf. 

Thomas Higgins 2d Cav. 

Louis Heudrick 5Gth 

Christian Holly3 4th H. Art. 

John E. Holland Ist H. Art. 



Name. Regiment. 

Albert M. Harrington 2 42d 

John Irving 15th 

Monroe W. Ide 2d R. I. Bat. 

Samuel E. Joy 3 

Vernon M. Jepsini 5l8t 

Peter Johnson 15th 

Emory W. Joy 15th 

Wm. H. Joy 15th 

Jacob E. Judd 2l8t 

Warren B. Johnson 21flt 

Sihia S. Joyi Slst 

Henry Kassack Ifth 

John Kelley 15th 

Oliver King 15th 

Frank S. Kelley 15th 

Daniel Kenney 9th 

Earnest Kaulke^ 51st 

George Frank Keith ^ 51st 

Wm. Kelley 15th 

Cornelius Kenney 13th 

Victor King 57th 

George W. Lewie 15th 

Patrick C. Lanning 15th 

Robert T. Laverty 15th 

Frederick Levoice 21st 

Anthony Little .30th 

John Ledworth 

Wm. N. Leavens^ olst 

George Leary lilst Conn. 

Patrick Mahan..., 15th 

Thomas P. Muuyan 15th 

Jolm Maguire I5th 

Wm. H. Mitchell 15th 

Charles H. Mellen 15th 

John Maly 15th 

James Mahoney 15th 

Samuel Marsh 34th 

John McLaughlin 2d Inf. 

Samuel P. Morris^ 51st 

John Maguiuess Navy 

Wells C. Munyani 42d 

Wm. Muller 9th 

John G. Murphy Eng. Corps 

Michael Mahon 34th 

Wm. H. Mealey 11th U.S. 

Albert E. Morri 13th 

Roawell S. Miner^ 4th H. Art. 

Jerome Mil rah 2d H. Art. 

George A. Munyan 4th Cav. 

Thomas Meehen 2d Inf. 

George Masters. 2d Inf. 

Pliny S. May Ist R. I. Cav. 

James McGovern 9th 

Chailes McLean 54th 

James May 2d Inf. 

John Nichols 

Wm. H. Nichols 2l8t 

Lucius Vernon Negus 15th 

Aaron S. Nichols^ 42d 

John O'Brien 9th 

Thomas O'Connor 15th 

Wm H. Palmer 15th 

Jac:k8on Pool 15th 

Edwin L. Parmenter 15th 

Aiitoine Phillips 15th 

Mitchell PrevoBt 9th 

Juseiih Plant 0th 

Patrick Powers 9th 

Michael Powers 15th 

Solomon Pepper. 

Patrick Pi-ndergrast ,15th 

Edward Pendergrast 34th 

Norman Perry ^ 5l8t 

Lewis S. Prince 1 51st 

Martin L. Purmenter 25th 

Lewis E. Patterson 5th Bat. 



Name. Regiment. 

Alexander Patterson 54th 

Lewis Perrin 34th 

Alfred M. Pettis 

Wm. Page 2 42d N. H. 

Cliarles Quinu, Jr 12th 

Lewis 0. Riley 15th 

Gottfried Reidman 15th 

Hiram J. Raymond 15th 

Itufiis F. Raymond .15th 

Thomas Redfein 15th 

John T. Raymond 15th 

George 0. Raymond 16th 

John D. Reynolds 2l6t 

John Ryan (2d) 9th 

Patrick Ryan 9th 

Malaky Ryan 24th 

Robert Robertson 

Augustus Renway 9th 

Augustus Renway (2d) 15th 

John F. Rawson i 51et 

Evander T. Rawson ^ Slst 

John Regnal 

Wm. H. Ryan 4th Cav. 

Stephen L. Robbins 2d H. Art. 

Abijah Richardson 2d H. Art. 

John lleed 2d Inf. 

Michael Reed3 4th H. Art. 

Nelson Ross. 

Wm. Scott 15th 

Albert H. Slater 15th 

Egbert M. Stevens 

Joseph D. Scholfield 

James Stevens I5th 

Joseph Sandback, 15th 

Frederick Soden 15th 

John Sclierler 15th 

Emerson Samuel 15th 

Abram Sargent loth 

Albert H. Stiow 15th 

Francis Santuru 15th 

Frank K. Snow 15th 

James Slattery 9th 

Paul Subraup 

Ezra Spencer* 

Emery Sibley, (2d) i 51st 

George Smith^ 5l8t 

Charles O. Storrsi 61st 

Andrew R. Snow' 51st 

Harrison Seuler^. 51st 

Wm. E. Sharpies' 51st 

Samuel G. Slater^ 51st 

George A. Slater! sigt 

Amos D. Shumway 7th R. I. 

Frederick Stan ten 

William L. Sholee 

Thomas W. Scott 2d H. Art. 

Robert Steel 4th Cav. 

Wm. R. Saunders 

J. W. Savage 25th 

Warren B. Sargent^ 4th H. Art. 

Simon D. Sihley^ 4th H. Art. 

Otis P. StoneS 4th H. Art. 

Riley Thayer 15th 

Alfred Tourtellotte 15th 

George A. Tanner 15th 

Edwin H. Tanner 16th 

Wm. J. Taylori 5l8t 

Lucian K. Thayer' 5l8 

Owen Taylor'* 5th 

Thomas Tobin 4th Cav. 

Jeremiah Toohig 2d Inf. 

George D. Thayer^ 

Thomas Thompson lUh U. S. 

Thomas Tomliuson^ 4th H. Art. 

Thomas J. Thomp9on3..3d H. Art. 
John Vickerss ..4th H. Art. 



WEBSTER. 



371 



Name. Regiment. 

Moses J. Warreu 15th 

Joseph H. Wood IMh 

Elias B. Wakefield 15th 

Moses Woods 15th 

George Wiilker 15th 

Henry A. Webster 15th 

John Wctherington 2lBt 

Oliver P. Wade 2l8t 

Reuben K. Waters 21st 

Lorin D. Waters 2l6t 

Lewis Wakefield! 51st 

Edward Warren l 5l8t 

Francis Wakefield' 5l8t 

Simeon 1). Wbeelock' 51st 



Name. Regiment, 

Joseph E. Wetheringtoni 5ist 

Wm. II. Wood 22d 

George Waters 2d Inf. 

Ira Wakefield let R. I. Cav. 

Christopher VVetherington 9th 

Joseph White 2d H. Art. 

Thomas Whalen 4th Cav. 

James E. Wilson 2d Inf. 

Wm. Wilson 3d Art. 

Joseph S. Wctherington 2 42d 

Frank II. Young 15th 

A. P. Young 15th 

Aaron P. Y'oung a 4th H. Art_ 



Of the above list the following were either killed, 
or died while in the service : 

AsHhel Aldrich, killed at Cold Harbor, Va., June 2, 1S04. 

Harrison G. 0. Aldrich, died at Newbern, N.C., 1864. 

Henry L. Amniidun, killed at Antietani, Md., September IG, 1862. 

Elisha T. Eigelow, died at Harrison's Landing, Va., July 7, 1862. 

Thomas Blasland, died December 25, 18G3. 

William Brandis, killed at Gettysburg, Pa., July 2, 1863. 

Dennis Breen, killed at Lynchburg, Va., June 18, lSi)4. 

Lucius H. Briggs, killed at Antietam, JId., September 16, 1862. 

Charles E. Buck, died September 27, 1862. 

George Butler, killed at Antietam, September 16, 18C2. 

Henry Butler, died November 14, 1862. 

Wm. K. N. Cady, died a prisoner. 

John Cassidy, died at Hilton Head, August 5, 1864. 

Frederick C. Childs, killed at Laurel Hill, Va , August 10, 1S64. 

William I. Converse, died a prisoner in Richmond, Va., February 13, 

1862. 
Marcus M. Corbin, died at Newbern, N. C. 
Louis Dupey, killed at Cold Harbor, June 2, 1864. 
Samuel Emerson, died at Antietam, September 26, 1862. 
Charles G. Foster, died at .\ntietam, September 17, 1862. 
John George, died a prisoner, 1864. 
John Grady, killed at Gettysburg, Pa., July 3, 1863. 
John E. Holland, died November 29, 1864. 
Joseph Holland, died at Alexandria, Va., November 28, 1862. 
William Kelley, died at City Point, Va., June 25, 1864. 
Frederick Levoice, killed at Chantilly, Va., September 1, 1862. 
Thomas P. Mungan, died of wounds received at Antietam, Md., October 

17, 1864. 
John Nichols, died a prisoner. 

William H. Palmer, killed in the Wilderness, Va., May 6, 1864. 
Edwin L. Parmenter, died of wounds received at Antietam, October 14, 

1862. 
Antoine Phillips, died at Andersonville. 
Mitchell Prevost, killed at Malvern Hill, Va., July 1, 1S62. 
George O. Raymond, died of wounds received at Gettysburg, Pa., July 

22, 1863. 
Gottfried Reidman, died of wounds received at Antietam, Md., Septem- 
ber 30, 1862. 
John D. Reynolds, killed at Cold Harbor, Va., May 30, 1864. 
Francis Sarturn, killed at Gettysburg, Pa., July 3, 1863. 
Abraham Sargent, killed at Antietam, Md., September 16, 1862. 
Joseph D. Scholfield, died at Fort Lyons, Va., February 16, 1863. 
William Scott, drowned at Ball's Blufr, Va., October 21, 1861. 
William L. Sholes, killed at Antietam, Md.. September 17, 1862. 
Albert H. Snow, died of wounds received at Gettysburg, Pa., July Id 

1863. 
Frederick Soden, killed at Ball's Bluff, Va., Oct. 21, 1861. 
Frederick Stanton, killed at Gettysburg, Penn., July 3, 1863, 
Egbert M. Stevens, died Feb. 8, 1863. 
James Stevens, killed at Ball's Bluff, Va., Oct. 21, 1861. 
Alfred Tourtellote, died of wounds received at Antietam, Md., Oct. 

26, 1862. 
John Vickers, died Sept. 2.1864. 

Edward Warren, killed at Webster by the cars while in service. 
Moses J. Warren, died of wounds received at Ball's Blulf, Va., Oct. 25, 

1861. 
Moses Wood, killed at South Mountain, Md., Sept. 12, 1862. 



The first meeting of the town was held under a 
warrant issued by Charles Allen as justice of the 
peace, and directed to Jonathan Day, one of the free- 
holders of the town of Webster, requiring him to no- 
tify and warn the freeholders and other inhabitants 
of the town qualified to vote in the choice of town- 
officers to meet at the Baptist meeting-house on the 
2d day of April, at two o'clock in the afternoon, to 
choose all necessary oiHcers. The warrant was dated 
March 7, 1832. On account of the sickness of Judge 
Allen the meeting was called to order by Ira M. Bar- 
ton, a justice of the peace, who read the act of incor- 
poration and then put the question to the town, " Will 
you now proceed to the choice of a clerk '? " which was 
responded to unanimously in the affirmative. Mr. 
Barton then read the law prescribing the qualifica- 
tion of voters, and the election followed, which re- 
sulted in the casting of oue hundred and three votes, 
eighty-four of which were for Charles P. Baldwin, and 
nineteen for Charles Waite, and Mr. Baldwin was 
chosen. 

The selectmen chosen at the meeting and at each 
annual meeting since may be found in the following 
list: 



1838. 



George B. Slater. 


1841. 


Jonathan Day. 


John H. Day. 




Solomon Robinson. 


JoliD Learned. 




Lathrop Clark. 


Benjaniia Wakefield. 




John Di.von. 


Nathan Cady. 




Eden Davis. 


George B. Slater. 


1842. 


Nathaniel Hnnt. 


Samuel C. Butler. 




Asahel Mansfield. 


Dexter Rawsoo. 




Edwin May, 


AlansoD Bates. 




Ei-astiiB Spaulding. 


Charles Tucker. 




Wymau Perry. 


George B. Slater. 


1843. 


Dyer Freeman. 


Samuel C. Butler. 




.\sahel Mansfield. 


Dexter Kawsoo. 




Erastus Spauhling. 


Wm. Andrews. 


1844. 


Erastus Spaulding. 


Jolm H. Day. 




Asahel Mansfield. 


George B. Slater. 




Chandler Fay. 


Alanson Bates. 


1845. 


J. W. Tenney. 


John Learned. 




John Dixon. 


Wm. Andrews. 




Amos Bartlett. 


Parker Palmer. 


1846. 


Same. 


George B. Slater. 


1847. 


Edwin May. 


Samuel C. Butler. 




Amos Bartlett. 


Charles Yeomans. 




Solomon Robinson. 


Solomon Robinson. 


1848. 


Iliram Allen. 


Erastus Spauldlng. 




Chandler Fay. 


J. P. Stock well. 




George Dixon. 


Charles Yeomans. 


1849. 


Same. 


Alanson Bates. 


1850. 


Erastus Spaulding. 


Nathaniel Hunt. 




Edward Lippitt. 


Elisha Kingsbury. 




Chandler Fay. 


George B. Slater. 


1851. 


Chandler Fay. 


Nathan Cady. 




Hiram Allen. 


Charles Yeomans. 




George Dixon. 


Solomon llobinson. 


1852. 


Hiram Allen. 


Piiinehiis Houghton. 




George Dixon. 


Charles Yeomans. 




Emery Sibley. 


Nathan Cady. 


1853. 


Erastus Spaulding. 


Nathaniel Hunt. 




Emery Sibloy. 


Benjamin Wakefield. 




James D. Tourtellotte 


Nelson Bates. 


1854. 


Hiram Alien. 


George B. Slater. 




George H. Bacon. 


Solomtpn Robinson, 




Ezek. Mowrey. 


Lathrop Clark. 


1855. 


Emery Sibley. 


John Dixou. 




Asahel Mansfield. 


Eden Davis. 




Erie Walker. 



372 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



1857. 



ISGI. 



1862. 



1863. 



1864. 



1870. 



1871. 



Henry E. Bugbee. 

Emery Sibley. 
Solomon Robinson. 
Henry E. Bugbee. 
Eraery Sibley. 

B. A. Corbin. 
Emery Sibley. 
W. H. T>avi8. 
E. W. Mixer. 
Emery Sibley. 
Asahel Mansfield. 

E. \V. Mixer. 
Henry E, Bugbee. 

C. E. Brown. 
Aealiel Munsfielil. 
Henry E. Bugbee. 
Lyman Sheldon. 
Nathan Joslin. 
Hiram Allen. 
Nathan Joslin. 
Nathan Chamberlain. 
Nathan Joslin. 
Emery Sibley. 

B. A. Corbin. 
Emery Sibley. 
B. A. Corbiu. 

F. D. Brown. 
F. D. Brown. 
John F. Hinds. 
Solomon Robinson. 
W. H. Davis. 
Wilson Cutler, 
Wm. W. Holmes. 
Wm. W. Holmes. 
Wileon Cutler. 
Henry R. Smith. 
Wm. W. Holmes. 
James D. Tourtellotte. 
James H. Howe. 
James H. Howe. 
James D. Tourtellotte. 
Hiram Allen. 
James H. Howe. 
James D. Tourtellotte. 
Andrew G. Waters. 
James H. Howe. 
Leonard Barnes. 



1877. 
1878. 



1879. 



1881. 



1882. 



1883. 
1884. 
188o. 



1888. 



Thomas McQuaid. 
Edward S. Bradford, 
James D. Tourtellotte. 
James Johnson. 
Edward S. Bradford. 
James D. Tourtellotte. 
George Tracy. 
George Tracy. 
Frederick T. Chase. 
Richard Thompson. 
James H. Howe. 
Frederick T. Chase. 
Richard Thompson. 
James H. Howe. 
W. T. Shumway. 
Cyrui Spaulding. 
Same. 

James H. Howe. 
W. T. Shumway. 
Asher T. Moore. 
Amasa Davis. 
F. T. Chase. 
James H. Howe. 
James H. Howe. 
F. T. Chase. 
Elisha G. Burnett. 
Asher T. Moore. 
Richard Thompson, 
Cyrus Spaulding. 
Asher T. Moore. 
John F.Hinds. 
John Flint. 
Same. 
Same. 

Charles A. Hodges. 
James H. Lynch. 
Asher T. Moore. 
Asher T, Moore. 
Charles A. Hodges. 
Patrick Condren. 
Charles A. Hodges. 
Patrick Condren. 
Austin C. Burnett. 
Austin C. Burnett. 
Lyman R. Eddy. 
Patrick Condren. 



The following list will show the persons who have 
been chosen moderators, clerks and treasurers at the 
annual lown-meetings since the incorporation of the 
town • 



Year 


Moderator. 


aerk. 


Treasurer. 


18.32. 


Ira BI. Barton. 


Charles P. Baldwin. 


Charles Tucker. 


1833. 


George B. Slater. 


Charles P. Baldwin. 


Charles Tucker. 


1834 


George B. Slater. 


Wm. E. Starr. 


Loring Leavens. 


1835. 


George B. Slater. 


Charles Waite. 


John W. Tenney. 


1836. 


George B. Slater. 


Charles Waite. 


Charles Yeomans 


1837. 


George B. Slater. 


John P. Stockwell. 


Charles Yeomans. 


1838. 


George B. Slater. 


Harvey Conant. 


Charles Yeomans 


1839. 


Jonathan Day. 


Wm, H. Bigelow. 


Alanson Bates. 


1840. 


George B. Slater. 


John Dixon, Jr. 


John W. Tenney. 


1841. 


Jonathan Day. 


John Dixon, Jr. 


John W. Tenney. 


1842. 


John W. Tenney. 


John Dixon, Jr. 


John W. Tenney. 


1843. 


Wm. Crossman, 


John Dixon, Jr. 


John W. Tenney. 


1844. 


Jonathan Day. 


John Dixon, Jr. 


John P. Stockwel 


1845. 


Hiram Allen. 


John Dixon, Jr. 


John W. Tenney. 


1846. 


John W. Tenney. 


John Dixon, Jr. 


Juhn W. Tenney. 


1847. 


Hiram Allen. 


Edward Rogers. 


John W. Tenney. 


1848. 


Hiram Allen. 


Edward Rogers. 


John W. Tenney. 


1849. 


Hiram Allen. 


Edward Rogers. 


John W. Tenney. 


1850. 


Edward Lippitt. 


Liberty Lamb, Jr. 


Joseph Ireson. 


1851. 


Herbert A. Read. 


F. H. Underwood. 


Joseph Ireson. 


1852. 


Edward Lippitt. 


Edward Rogers. 


Joseph Ireson. 


1853. 


George Hews. 


John Q. Adams. 


- Joseph Ireson. 



Tear. 

1854. 
1855. 
1856, 
1867, 
1858. 
1859. 
1860. 
1861. 
1862. 
1863. 
1864. 
1865. 
1866. 
18G7. 
1868. 
1869. 
1870, 
1871. 
1872. 
1873. 
1874. 
1875. 
1876. 
1877. 
1878. 
1879. 
1880. 
1881. 
1882. 
1883. 
1884. 
1885. 
1886. 
1887. 
1888. 



Moderator. 
George Hews. 
Joel Goddard. 
Henry E. Bugbee. 
Henry E. Bugbee. 
Newton Tourtellotte. 
Hiram Allen. 
Hiram Allen. 
Amos Bartlett, 
Hiram Allen. 
Horace I. Joslin. 
Horace I. Joslin. 
Horace I. Joslin. 
Hiram Allen. 
Horace I. Joslin, 
Hiram Allen, 
Hiram Alien, 
Horace 1, Joslin, 
Henry E, Bugbee, 
Horace I. Joslin. 
Horace I. Joslin. 
Amos Bartlett. 
Horace I. Joslin. 
Horace I. Joslin. 
Horace I. Joslin. 
Horace I. Joslin. 
Horace I. Joslin. 
Horace I. Joslin. 
Horace I. Joslin. 
Horace I. Joslin, 
Horace I. Joslin. 
F. D. Brown. 
r. D. Brown. 
John J. Love. 
John J. Love. 
Maurice P. Chase- 



Clert. 
John Q. Adams. 
John Q. Adams. 
Newton Tourtellotte. 
P. \V. Bruce. 
P. W. Bruce. 
P. W. Bruce. 
P. W. Bruce. 
S. A. Tingier. 
S. A. Tingier. 
S. A. Tingier. 
S. A. Tingier. 
S. A, Tingier. 
S. A. Tingier. 
S. A. Tingier. 
S. A. Tingier. 
S. A, Tingier, 
S, .\. Tingier. 
S. A. Tingier. 
S. A. Tingier. 
S. A. Tingier. 
Cortland Wood. 
Cortland Wood. 
Cortland Wood. 
Cortland Wood. 
Cortland Wood. 
Cortland Wood. 
Cortland Wood. 
Cortland Wood. 
Charles H. Burr, 
Louis E, Denfield, 
Edward P. Carter. 
Edward P. Carter. 
Edward P.Caiter. 
Edward P. Carter. 
Edward P. Carter. 



Treasurer. 
Joseph Ireson, 
Liberty Lamb, Jr. 
Liberty Lamb, Jr. 
Liberty Lamb, Jr, 
Liberty Lamb, Jr, 
Wm. T, Shumway, 
Wm, T. Shumway. 
Wm. T. Shumway. 
Wm. T. Shumway. 
Wm. T. Shumway. 
Wm. T. Shumway. 
Wm. T. Shumway. 
Wm. T. Shumway, 
Wm , T. Shumway. 
Oscar Shumway. 
Oscar Shumway. 
Oscar Shumway. 
Oscar Shumway. 
Oscar Shumway. 
Oscar Shumway. 
Oscar Shumway. 
Oscar Shumway. 
Oscar Shumway. 
Oscar Shumway, 
Oscar Shumway. 
Oscar Shumway. 
Oscar Shumway. 
Oscar Shumway. 
Ostnir Shumway. 
Oscar Shumway. 
Oscar Shumway. 
Oacar Shumway. 
Oscar Shumway. 
Oscar Shumway. 
Oscar Shumway. 



John Dixon, Jr 1846 

John W. Tenney 1847 

None 1848 

John Dixon 1849 

None 1850 

Nathan Cody 1851 

Chandler Fay 1852 

None 1853 

Elias Jacobs 1854 

George H. Bacon 1855 

Parmenus Keith 1856 

Henry E. Bugbee 1867 



The following persons have served as Representa- 
tives from Webster in the General Court in the years 
set against their names, down to the representation of 
districts, in 1858 : 

John Slater 1833 

Charles Tucker 1834 

Charles Tucker 18.35 

John W. Tenney 1836 

Horace Whitaker 1837 

None 1838 

Solomon Robinson 1839 

Lathrop Clark 1810 

Joseph Ireson 1841 

Eden Davis..' 1842 

Joseph Ireson 1843 

Solomon Robinson 1844 

Solomon Robinson 1845 

By an amendment of the Constitution, adopted 
by the Legislatures of 1856 and '57, and ratified by 
the people May 1, 1857, it was provided that a census 
of the legal voters in the Commonwealth, on the 1st 
of May, 1857, should be taken, and returned to the 
Secretary of the Commonwealth on or before the last 
day of June, on the basis of which census the Legis- 
lature should create representative districts. Under 
the new arrangement Webster and Douglas formed 
the Twenty-second Worcester District, which was 
represented as follows : 

1858. — Lyman Sheldon, of Webster. 
1859. — Asher Joslin, of Webster. 
I860.— John Abbott, of Douglas. 
1861.— Emory Sibley, of Webster. 
1862.— Albert Butler, of Douglas. 
1863.— r. D. Brown, of Webster. 



WEBSTEK. 



373 



1864. — Charles Hutchins, of Douglas. 
1865.— Prince Brackett, of Webster. 
1.S66. — Gardner Chase, of Doughis. 

Under the census of 18G5 a new apportionment was 
made, and the Sixteenth Worcester District, includ- 
ing Douglas, Webster, Dudley, Oxford, Sutton and 
Millbury, was entitled to three Representatives, as 
follows : 

18fi7. — Benjamin A. Corbin, of Webster ; Solomon D. King, of Sutton 
Henry E. Rockwell, of Millbury. 

1808.— Lament B. Corbin, of Oxford ; Silaa Dunton, of Millbury 
Wm. D. Jones, of Douglas. 

1809.— George J. Sanger, of Webster ; James M. Cunitf, of Sutton 
Marcus M. Luther, of Douglas. 

1870. —Charles H. Page, of Webster ; John Rhodes, of Millbury 
Moses W. Mclutire, of O.xford. 

1871.— Wm. L. Davif, of Dudley ; Edwin H. Hutchinson, of Sutton 
Thomas H. Meek, of Douglas. 

1872. — Horace I. Joslin, of Webster ; E. Harris Howland, of Oxford 
Irving B. Sayles, of Millbury. 

1873.— C. D. Morse, of Millbury ; Andrew J. Waters, of Webster 
Samuel W. Heath, of Douglai?. 

1874. — James B. Williams, of Douglas ; George Hodges, of Oxford 
Wm. Abbott, of Sutton. 

187.1.— M. M. Hovey, of Sutton; C. W. Duggan, of Millbury ; E. F, 
Smith, of Dudley. 

1876 —Frederick T. Chase, of Webster; Francis Bugbee, of Webster 
George F. Daniels, of Oxford. 

Under the apportionment based on the census of 
1875, Webster, Douglas and Dudley formed the 
Fourteenth Worcester District, with one Representa- 
tive, as follows : 

1877. — Francis M. Draper, of Douglas. 
1878. — Josiah Perry, of Dudley. 
1879.— Robert Humphrey, of Webster. 
1880.- Wm. W. Brown, of Douglas. 
1881.— John J. Love, of Webster. 
1882. — Edwin Moore, of Douglas. 
1883.— Butler Bates, of Webster. 
1884. — George A. Gleason, of Douglas. 
1885.— Philip Smith, of Dudley. 
1886.— Julius P. Freeman, of Webster. 

Under the apportionment based on the census of 
1885, Webster, Oxford and Auburn constituted the 
Eighth Worcester District, with one Representative, 

as follows : 

1887.— Henry Brandes, of Webster. 
1888.- John J. Allen, of Auburn. 

Besides the Slater factories there are only a few 
other manufacturing industries worthy of mention : 
A. J. Bates & Co. employ about one hundred and 
fifty hands, and B. A. Corbin & Son about three hun- 
dred and fifty hands in the manufacture of men's and 
youths' shoes. The Webster Gas Light Company be- 
gan business in 1865; and is controlled by the Stevens 
Linen Works, in Dudley, on the other side of French 
River. Among the institutions may be mentioned 
the First National Bank of Webster, incorporated in 
1875, and having a capital of one hundred thousand 
dollars. Its present officers are Chester C. Corbin, 
president ; E. L. Spaulding, cashier ; and C. C. Cor- 
bin, Cyrus Spaulding, Josiah Perry, J. M. Morse, 
L. R. Eddy, George Tracy and E. L. Spaulding, di- 
rectors. The Webster Five Cent Savings Bank was 



incorporated in 1868, and had, at the time of its last 
report, deposits of $683,091, undivided earnings of 
$7,118.16. and a guaranty fund of .$11,336.26. Its of- 
ficers are Cyrus Spaulding, president; Waldo John- 
son, John F. Hinds, Darius Wood and E. P. Morton, 
vice-presidents; F. A. Stockwell, treasurer; and L. E. 
Pattison, secretary. In 1869 the Webster Mutual 
Fire Insurance Company was incorporated, but was 
never organized. 

The following societies are now in existence in the 
town: The Sovereigns of Industry; the Webster 
Lodge, A. F. and A.M. ; the Webster Lodge, No. 56, 
A. O. U. W. ; the Sigel Lodge, No. 93, D. O. H. ; the 
Benjamin Franklin Council, No. 333 ; the Loyal Or- 
der of Tonti, No. 107 ; the Maanexit Lodge, No. 117, 
I. O. 0. F. ; the Nathaniel Lyon Post, G. A. R. ; the 
Assembly, No. 4060, K. of L. ; the Royal Arcanum 
Relief Association ; the St. Jean Baptiste Society ; La 
Ligue Du Cffiur de Jesus ; the Gesangverein Deut- 
schen Liederkranz; the Deutsch Dramatischen 
Verein ; the Deutsche Liederkranz Band ; the Turn- 
verein Vorwiirts ; the Deutsehen Theater Club ; the 
St. Patrick's Temperance Society ; the Sodality of the 
Sacred Heart ; and the Ladies of St. Ann. 

The post-office, now located at the main village of 
Webster, was located at the time of the incorporation 
of the town and had been for some years at the east 
village and was called the South Oxford oifice, but, in 
1841, nine years after the incorporation, was moved 
to its present location. The main, or depot village, 
as it is called, shows many signs of prosperity. It is 
the chief business section, and there are located the 
banks, the town offices, the apparatus of the Fire De- 
partment, the hotel, and most of the stores. It lies 
on the Southbridge section of the Boston and New 
England Railroad, and also on the Norwich and 
Worcester Railroad, thus having easy access to Bos- 
ton by two routes, and also to Providence, Worcester 
and New York. It not only enjoys its own local trade 
but the people in the settlements at Jericho, Marino 
Village, Chaseville and Perryville, in Dudley, across 
the river, not inconsiderable in numbers, patronize 
its shops, its shows, its various societies, and attend 
its churches. The population of the town, which, at 
the time of its incorporation, was 1168, increased to 
1403 in 1840, to 2371 in 1850, to 2912 in 1860, to 4763 
in 1870, to 5696 in 1880, and to 6220 in 1885. The 
valuation, which was $277,118 at the time of the in- 
corporation, increased to $2,466,428 in 1885. 

According to the census of 1885, the agricultural 
products and valuations were as follows : 

Animal products f.3,720 

Dairy products 22,0.59 

Food products 730 

Green-house products 1,200 

Hot-house products 445 

Poultry products 3,332 

Wood 10,163 

Cereals 2,225 

Fruits, berries and nuts 3,058 

Hay, straw and fodder 14,632 



374 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



Meats and game 2,476 

Vogetables C,089 

Land 144,828 

Buildings 92,145 

Machines and implements 7,642 

Domestic animals ]r>,985 

Fruit-trees and vines 9,763 

Two newspapers are published in Webster, The 
Webster Times and the Worcester County News, biith 
published weekly in Webster and both are enter- 
prising and successful journals. The former is 
edited by John Cort and the latter by John T. 
Miniter, and a job printing office is connected with 
each. 

In concluding this sketch the following list of the 
present town officers is added : Selectmen, Charles 
A. Hodges, Patrick Condren, Austen C. Burnett; 
Town Clerk, Edward P. Carter; Treasurer, Oscar 
Shumway ; Overseers of the Poor — for three years, 
John Flint ; for two years, Elisha N. Bigelow ; for 
one year, John F. Hinds; Assessors, William F. 
Gale, William Shanley, Monroe H. Corbin, Michael 
Scholfield, Russell B. Putnam ; Auditors, James 
Maguire, James Cocks, John B. McQuaid ; School 
Committee — for three years, Edward P. Carter; 
for two years, Henry F. Thompson ; for one year, 
Charles B. Kendrick ; Constables, Thomas Farrell, 
William Hanley, Joseph C. Spaulding, Patrick H. 
Grimley, O. W. Emerson, John J. Dwyer, Uzziel 
Gleason, Joseph P. Love, Daniel G. Blackman> 
Solomon Shumway, George D. Adams, John Sullivan, 
Collector, Charles E. Brown ; Deputy Sheriff, Solomon 
Shumway. 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 



FREDERICK D. BROWN, M.D. 

Frederick Davis Brown, M.D., was born in the town 
of Sutton, Mass., on September 5, 1824. His early 
life was in many respects similar to that of most coun- 
try boys of the period, working on the farm in the 
summer and attending the district school in the winter. 
But, unlike many of his boyhood associates, he was 
not "bound out" for a term of years to the farmer or 
the blacksmith, but was given the opportunity of pur- 
suing such course of study as best suited his inclination. 
He chose that of medicine, and at the age of seven- 
teen entered the office of Dr. George Rawson, of 
Grafton. Reading with a country doctor of that time 
meant chiefly the care of the doctor's horse, doing the 
numerous chores about the premises, assisting his in- 
structor in gathering and drying the herbs and simples 
80 commonly used in those days, and in preparing the 
powders and pills, and on rare occasions helping the 
doctor in some minor surgical operations. 

After two years of such training he removed to 
Worcester and entered the Baptist Academy. He 
did not, however, abandon his medical studies, but 



continued them with Dr. Samuel Green, until the 
doctor accepted the position of medical missionary to 
Ceylon, tendered him by the Board of Foreign Mis- 
sions. Dr. Green placed his young charge in the care 
of his relative, Dr. John Green, at that time the most 
eminent physician in the county. After two years' 
reading with this learned preceptor he continued his 
studies at the University of Pennsylvania, and at 
Castleton (Vt.) Medical College, where he was gradu- 
ated in 1849. He served for about a year at the 
Bloomingdale Asylum Hospital in New York, and in 
1850 located in Webster, when he at once entered 
upon an active professional career, which he followed 
with unremitting energy for thirty-six years. 

He was widely known throughout the southern 
part of Worcester County as a most devoted and suc- 
cessful practitioner, gaining the confidence and es- 
teem of all with whom he came in contact. He was a 
zealous member of the Massachusetts and the Wor- 
cester District Medical Societies, at one time being 
president of the latter. His close application to his 
practice did not debar him from taking an active 
part in the affairs of his town, and he identified him- 
self with many of its political and social organiza- 
tions. For nearly twenty consecutive years he was 
elected to the office of School Committee. In 1864-65 
he served on the Board of Selectmen ; in 1863 he 
represented his district in the Legislature, and in 1868 
was sent to the State Senate. 

During his term of service in the latter body he 
was instrumental in securing the incorporation of the 
Webster Five Cent Savings Bank, of which he was 
president at the time of his death. To him work was 
never a hardship, but a pleasure ; its perplexities 
only added to his zeal and stimulated his ambition. 
His ready willingness to do what was asked of him, 
and the liberality of his views, made him the coun- 
selor of many. 

Probably no citizen devoted more time and work 
for the welfore of his town than he, or with less per- 
sonal interests. 

His death, sudden and unexpected, occurred No- 
vember 8, 1886. 



CHAPTER LIV. 

MENDON. 

PIONEER LIFE. 

BY G. B. WILLIAMS. 

Mendon the Mother of Towns — Comparative Antiqititjj — Number of Towis 
once a Part of Mendon — Thc First Hlovemenl for a New Plantation — The 
Deed from the Indiaiu— Dioifion of Land — Names of Proprietors — The 
First Map — Incorporation — The Town in 1 675 — The Nipmucks' Attack — 
Tlie SeUlers' Retiini. 

On the 15th day of May, 1867, in a small town iu 
the southeastern part of Worcester County, ''a vast 
assemblage," as one of those addressing it justly de- 



MENDON. 



375 



scribed it, were gathered together. Orators, poets, 
distinguished jurists, clergymen, statesmen and men 
of military renown were present, or regretfully sent 
excuses for their absence. The inhabitants of Mil- 
ford, Blackstone, Uxbridge, Northbridge, Upton and 
Bellingham, with hundreds from more remote parts of 
the State and nation, had met to celebrate the two 
hundredth anniversary of the incorporation of what 
they lovingly called the "Mother Town of Mendon." 
The distinguished speakers seemed to feel it a high' 
privilege to recount the story of the ancient town, 
and found the day far too short for their purpose. 
Several of them had names borne by six generations 
of Mendon's inhabitants now passed away, as well as 
by many of its present citizens, and they felt they 
were telling the story of their ancestors as they nar- 
rated how the Aldrichs, Staples, Holbrooks, Thomp- 
sons, Chapins, Tafts and others painfully made their 
way from the coast to this fertile, hilly region, estab- 
lished homes, church, schools, and laid the foundation 
for all the abounding life of these busy towns of 
to-day. 

Mendon, next to Lancaster in antiquity among 
Worcester County towns, was and is, well deserving 
of noticehistorically. Eighteen of these are at least 
a hundred years younger than she. The town of 
Worcester was incorporated sixteen years later than 
Mendon, and she is more than forty-five years older 
than any other town in the county, except Lancaster, 
and sixty-three years older than the county itself. 

Her original territory is now held by eight Massa- 
chusetts towns, but she still retains the spot first 
settled on her ancient possessions, and her people 
believe it one of the most fertile and beautiful of 
all. 

In 1659, eight years before Mendon's incorporation, 
the records of the General Court of Massachusetts 
show that the people of Braintree and Weymouth 
had expressed a desire for " a new plantation ;" 
" whereupon the Court judgeth it meet to grant them 
liberty to seek out a place and present their desires, 
with the names of such persons as will carry out the 
work, unto the next session of this Court." Accord- 
ingly, in 1660, upon a petition by seven of the in- 
habitants of Braintree, a committee of five was em- 
powered to accept persons for the settlement, which 
was to be eight miles square, and four commissioners 
were authorized " to make a valid act there." It was 
nearly two years later. May 22, 1662, before the com- 
missioners reported their rules and regulations for the 
" Plantation at Netmocke," with the names of persons 
then accepted, viz.: thirteen of Braintree and ten of 
Weymouth. Moses Payne and Peter Brackett had 
already secured a deed of Netmocke from the Indians 
and a double allowance of land for themselves. They 
never settled there, but, after the incorporation, trans- 
ferred their rights under the deed to the town by a 
writing dated December 9, 1669. 

This deed was executed by five Indians designated 



both by Christian and Indian names, and the land 
was described as eight miles square, lying about 
fifteen miles from Medfield, " and is to lye to the 
south or southward of the Parth to Nipmugg Great 
Pond and five milles on the other side of that Parth 
north or northwards." The deed has always been 
supposed destroyed when the town was burned by 
the Indians in 1676. 

By the committee's rules each settler was to have 
for " one hundred pounds estate '' thirty acres " to 
the home lot," ten of meadow, five of swamp and one 
hundred and five for"greate lott." This was assigned 
by the committee, but later divisions, some eleven in 
all, proportioned to the amount of land first held, 
were made by lot and made up the " Doubling Lot." 

Before July 7, 1663, John Moore, George Aldrich, 
Matthias Puffer, John Woodland, Ferdinando Thay- 
er, Daniel Lovett and John Harber had settled at 
Nipmugg, Netmocke or Squinshepauge, for all these 
names written variously by diflferent authors, were 
now applied to the plantation, probably the last most 
generally. Before March 24, 1664, John Gurney, 
Walter Cook, Joseph White, John Thompson, Abra- 
ham Staples, Joseph Aldridge, John Jepson and John 
Rockett had settled, making fifteen families in all. 
There are no means of knowing what took place from 
1664 to 1667. Joshua Fisher's map was filed in April, 
1667, in the General Court, a copy of which, with 
title and " explanation," are printed below. 

SURVEY OF THE PLANTATION (1667). 
The desire of the inhabitants to tliis Honered Courto is that they 
would .iccept of this Retourne of their Plott of theire Plantation wich is 
layd according to their Graicte of eight Miles square by Joshua iBaher. 

Country land. South line 8 miles. 



The A A A Towne 
A A 



The line between Ded- 

ham and Quinsliepauge 
Running North and B 
South, 4r miles and 40 
Roda. 




:^ 



Country land, North line, 

4 milea want. 40 Rods. 

e~~% Parcel of Meadow. 



An explanation of this Plott, being the Township of Sqninehapauke ad 
it WRB hiyd out according to the Grant of the Generall Courte by ma, 
Joshua ffisher, Aprill 1GG7. 

from A to B is bounded by Charlea River, a white oake beinge marked 
on the south side of Charles River at A, a Black oake on the north side 
of Charles Ri^ er at B, and a line of marked trees and heapes of etones to 
C, from C to D a line of marked trees and heapea of stones, to C, from C 
to D a line of marked trees and heapes of stones, and aoe from 
D to E and from E to F, a line from F to A of Marked Trees ; And from 
A to B is one mile Runninge according to the River Eaat and West, from 



376 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



B to C is fower Miles wantinge forty Kodd, Runninge from B North, 
from C to D eiglit miles and halfe west, from D to E eigbl miles South, 
from E to F seven miles and half East, from F to A ffower Milles and 40 
Kods. 

At O is a parcell of Meadow that the Towne Petitioned for of about 
thirty Acors by estimation upon the North line from Charles River. 

This Courte Approves of this Plott as it is Returned. 

as attest, Edw. Rawson, Secrty. 

The incorporation of the town of Mendon followed 
May 15, 1667. The name undoubtedly was taken 
from Mendham, the name of an ancient English town, 
and years after the incorporation the name Mendham 
was applied to Mendon in military reports and in 
various records. The Indian titles seem to have been 
seldom used later than 1667. 

The town clerk of the new town, Colonel William 
Crowne, in the preamble to his records, sets forth the 
title of the inhabitants as based on the Indian deed as 
well as on the authority of the " Honoured Generalle 
Courte," and say.i the court had "adorned " the town 
"wth severall large Priviledges." It was indeed a goodly 
land. Meadows, springs, brooks, rivers and noble 
forests abounded. The Blackstone River, entering its 
northwest corner, crossed to its southeastern portion, 
now in Woonsocket, Rhode Island. The West River, 
the Mumford, with many smaller tributaries of the 
Blackstone, were largely or wholly within its limits, 
and the Charles crossed its eastern portion. High 
hills with commanding prospects — Wigwam, Misquoe, 
Calebs, Magormiscock, Goat Hill and others — with the 
numerous meadows, upon whose grassy products the 
early settlers greatly relied, added their charms to the 
scene two hundred and twenty-one years ago. All 
was peace and hope. The records of 1667 and years 
following to 1675 are filled with interesting incidents 
of the settlers' pioneer life, so soon to be broken up 
by the Indian's torch and tomahawk. 

The minister, Rev. John Rayner, had been secured, 
the meeting-house and parsonage built, land set off for 
the use of the ministry and for school purposes, roads 
had been laid out, some of them ten rods wide, pro- 
visions made for exterminating wolves, for establish- 
ing the town's boundaries, for compelling observance 
of the Lord's day, and the performance by each man 
of his share of the public works, for punishing the 
refractory, for procuring more meadow land with 
which, in their view, they were as yet but " meanly 
provided," and everything needful for securing Chris- 
tian homes in an orderly. God-fearing community. 
In 1672 the fifteen families of five years before had be- 
come thirty-four, and in the list of proprietors receiv- 
ing swamp lands at that date are found the namts 
Hayward, Holbrook, Read, Bartlett, Tiler, Gurney, 
Juell (Jewell), Sprague and Peck. A few others came 
before 1675, but several best-known in the later his- 
tory of the town not much, if any, earlier than 1680, 
among them, Josiah Chapin and the brothers Robert 
and Matthew Taft. 

July 14, 1675, King Philip's War commenced with 
an attack on this peaceful settlement, in which four 



or five persons were slain. Later the Indians killed 
Matthias Puffer's wife and child, possibly others. Hos- 
tilities had been dreaded by the colonial authorities 
for some days preceding and scouting-parties ordered 
out. Mendon was located in the midst of the country 
of the Nipmuck Indians, and from the beginning had 
taken special precautions to secure friendly relations 
with them. 

Thelaborsof theapostleEliothadbeen untiring, and 
bands of praying Indians had been organized at Wac- 
antuck (now Uxbridge), Hassanamisco (Grafton) and 
elsewhere. One indication of Eliot's influence is 
probably seen in the Indians' signatures to the Men- 
don deed by such names as William, John and Jacob, 
to which signatures, indeed, the Eliots, senior and 
junior, are witnesses. 

In 1668 the Nipmucks in the vicinity of Mendon 
and Marlborough had executed a formal submission 
in writing to the government of the colony, in which 
is found a solemn promise to obey God and do Chris- 
tian duty. After the slaughter in July, the settlers 
exerted themselves to secure the removal of the 
Grafton Indians, with their weapons and supplies, to 
Mendon. The effort failed. The records show colo- 
nial soldiers attacking the Nipmucks at Grafton, in 
November, 1675. The Indians soon after abandoned 
Grafton, or Hassanamisco, and, doubtless with the 
Nipmucks generally, aided King Philip and the Nar- 
ragansetts against the English. Immediately after 
the first attack, of which Cotton Mather is quoted as 
saying, '" Blood was never shed in Massachusetts 
colony in a way of hostility before this day," many 
Mendon settlers fled. By November, we are told in 
military reports, those remaining had been "drawn 
into two houses." A fortified garrison had been es- 
tablished, from which raids upon the Indians were 
made. The Colonial Council, November 2, 1675, 
ordered " that the people of Mendon should not re- 
move from the place without leave, and that those 
who had done so should immediately return ; " but 
neither the presence of soldiers, nor the promises, 
orders nor threats of colonial authority, proved suffi- 
cient to overcome the dread of the Indians, and, prob- 
ably before Christmas, 1675, the town was com- 
pletely abandoned. During that winter the enemy 
burned all the buildings. The town records, though 
all preserved, so far as we know, make no mention of 
the war, but it is evident, from records of births, that 
soon after King Philip's death, in August, 1676, some 
of the fugitives returned, probably not, however, till 
the Nipmucks had at Boston again submitted formally 
to the English, and by their own hands, under colo- 
nial authority, executed Mattoonas, the Nipmuck 
leader of the July attack. We know that at least 
twenty out of the thirty-eight escaping families had 
returned to Mendon at the beginning of 1680. 



MENDON. 



377 



CHAPTER LV. 

WE'N'DOT<!—{Con(ifiued.) 

TERRITORIAL AND POLITICAL CHANGES. 

Tilt ToKn's Poverty After the War—Claimi of Rhode Inland Territory— The 
^* North Purchaae^^ ^Annex4Uion of " The Farms ^^ — Towns Claiming 
to be " Children of Mendon " — Mendan to-day. 

For several years after 1680, Mendon was con- 
sidered as a frontier town, and its poverty, even in 
comparison with other Massachusetts towns of the 
time, was notorious. The proprietors of nearly half 
iis lands never returned after the war, and delayed or 
refused payment of taxes levied on their property. 
Repeated petitions were sent to the General Court 
asking for compulsory action against these absent 
owners, and for relief from colony taxes. Most of the 
petitions were granted. In spite of this poverty, 
within ten years from the close of the war about fifty 
families had settled in Mendon, and began to feel 
crowded and seek additional territory. The southern 
boundary was not well defined, and was later a subject 
of much controversy, which continued till 1725. The 
second map, made by Sergeant Ellis in 1683, and 
numerous records, show that Mendon claimed much 
of what was finally yielded to Rhode Island, including 
the " Falls," now in Woonsocket, and what is known 
as ''The Branch." In 1692 about three square miles 
lying on the northern boundary, now in Milford, and 
still known as the " North Purchase," were bought 
from the Indians. In 1685 Edward Rawson, secretary 
of the colony, had become owner of about two thou- 
sand acres, now wholly or partly in Bellingham. He 
held title by deed from the Indians as well as a grant 
from the colony. Till 1710 he escaped taxation by 
town or county, paying tribute to the colonial treasury 
only, but in that year the Farm, as the tract was then 
called, was annexed to Mendon. 

In 1719 thirteen families occupying this farm, or 
" The Farms," four dwelling on other land in Mendon, 
and twenty-three families of Dedhara, asked the 
General Court for incorporation as a town. Their 
petition was granted, November 27, 1719, against the 
protest of Mendon, however, and Bellingham became 
a town. 

As early as 1720 the settlers in Waentuck, or 
Wacantuck (now Uxbridge), agitated the question of 
separation. Their efforts were renewed in 1722, voted 
on and rejected in 1726, but Uxbridge was neverthe- 
less incorporated in 1727, taking about four miles in 
width from the western portion of Mendon. 

Upton, at its incorporation in February, 1735, took 
a small part of the remaining territory and the same 
year the inhabitants of what is now Milford and 
Hopedale sought separate town existence. All these 
attempts were resisted by dwellers in the original set- 
tlement, and in the last case successfully for about 
forty-five years, or till April 11, 1780, when Milford's 



existence as a town, by full agreement of all parties 
interested, began. She had formed a separate parish 
precinct in Mendon, known as the Easterly or Mill 
River Precinct for thirty-nine years. 

Mendon also stoutly opposed her separation from 
Suffolk and assignment to Worcester County, which 
took place February IS, 1730. As late as 1734 she 
voted a petition to the court to be joined with Ded- 
ham in a new county, then in 1798 in favor of divid- 
ing Worcester County. It may be here noted that 
Mendon, duringthe first four years of town existence, 
was a part of Middlesex County. In 1671 she was 
decreed, evidently in harmony with her own wishes, 
"to be and belong to ye county of Suffolk." 

After the incorporation of Milford no serious at- 
tempt to secure a further division of Mendon is 
known to have been made till 1816, when ten inhabit- 
ants of the South Parish (now Blackstone) petitioned 
the town, without avail, to vote that that precinct be 
set off as a town. It had continued in apparent con- 
tent as a parish in Mendon since 1766, though in 
1779 we find record of one feeble movement for divis- 
ion. In 1823, and during the four succeeding years, 
the South Parish sought for separate existence, ap- 
pealing in vain to the town and to the Legislature. 
Again, in 1843, the vexed question arose and was dis- 
cussed at brief intervals with great bitterness till the 
division was effected and Blackstone incorporated 
March 25, 1845. The petitioners therefor numbered 
seven hundred and sixty-seven, the remonstrants 
three hundred and fourteen, and they were divided 
on other than local or usual lines. In fact, strange 
to say, it appears that very probably a large majority 
living in what is now Mendon desired division, while 
divisionists were so unpopular in Blackstone as to be 
excluded from town office at the first town election. 
Closing the story of the construction of towns from 
Mendon's territory, it should be observed that the 
town of Northbridge was taken from Uxbridge in 
1772, and Hopedale from Milford in 1886, and can 
both claim Mendon as their mother or, perhaps, with 
more accuracy, their grandmother town. By this 
course of disintegration, not, however, likely to be 
extended further, forty thousand acres and more, her 
original holding, with its substantial additions by 
annexation, have beeu reduced to eleven thousand 
three hundred and seventy-five acres. 

Mill River alone is the only considerable stream 
which crosses the Mendon of to-day, but the Charles, 
as of old, forms a part of its eastern boundary and the 
lovely " Nipmuck Great Pond " is still retained with- 
in its limits, with shores now somewhat famous as a 
summer resort. Pond Hill remains, also Wigwam 
Hill in the south and Misquoe in the north, both dis- 
tinguished for magnificent views. Mendon shares 
with Blackstone at the south a right in Daniels or 
Southwick Hill, and with Hopedale on the east it 
claims jurisdiction over Neck Hill. Muddy Brook 
flows between the elevation last named and the beau- 



378 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



tiful summit on which is the principal village which 
stands, deeply shaded, just where the settlers had 
their house-lots in 1663. 

The above glimpse of Mendon as it now is must 
suffice till its manufacturing, military, educational 
and ecclesiastical history have been outlined. 



CHAPTER LVI. 

MENDON— ( Continued. ) 

MANUFACTURES. 

T\e Firtt Oritt-MiU and Saw-MUl—The Successive Occupants of the Old 
Griat'Mill 9lte — Contracts leith Milters and Blacksmiths — Torrey antl 
Warjield Saw-Milts — Factories, Miscellaneous and Modem. 

In Mendon's colonial life early efforts were made 
to utilize its water-power. In the beginning of 
1664 the committee conditionally granted to Benja- 
min Albee twenty acres on the town site and fifty 
acres near the proposed mill, to encourage him to 
establish a " come mill " on Mill River, near 
Hopedale's present town line. It was probably built 
in 1672, and till then the settlers ground their grain 
at Wrentham or Medfield, twelve or fifteen miles dis- 
tant. 

Ten years later Josiah Chapin had eighty acres 
granted him near the village and east of Muddy 
Brook, for his encouragement to build on that 
treacherous stream the first saw-mill. April 24, 1668, 
the town voted to build its fir.-t meeting-house 
" neere to Joseph White's saw-pit, in his house-lott." 
There can therefore be little doubt that for the first 
ten years, and till Chapin's mill was started, all 
boards were manufactured in the primitive manner of 
pit-sawing. 

In 1684 Matthias Puffer's corn-mill was built on 
the site of Albee's, destroyed by the Indians. Three 
years later his son James occupied it; and we can 
trace an occupation of this place for the same pur- 
pose for more than one hundred and seventy-five 
years, and for more than a hundred years the town 
appears to huve exercised control over it through 
conditions under which both Albee and Puffer and 
their succe.s-iors held their rights. It is not impor- 
tant to name all the millers, but David How, 1724, 
Lieut. Wm. Shefiield, 1735-70, after him Jeremiah 
Kelley, 1779, then one Ellis and finally Nathan and 
Alvin Allen, occupied the place. 

In 1727 there was a fulling-mill near the grist- 
mill, which was used many years 

The latter mill became a ruin about 1847, and the 
town claimed a forfeiture in consequence, under the 
contract of 1662. There was a vote to investigate, 
but the claims were never pressed in court. 

James Bick's contract, made in 1686, somewhat re- 
sembled Albee's. He was " to doe the town's smith- 



ery work for the next ten years upon reasonable 
conditions, unless death or disablement hinder,'' 
otherwise the land granted was to revert or fifteen 
pounds to be paid. Long wrangling between Bick 
and the town followed ; he would neither do the 
work, vacate the premises, nor pay the forfeiture; but 
finally, in 1695, he left the town, and some years 
after, 1713, it seems the eminent Quaker, Moses Al- 
drich, was the town blacksmith. 

In 1691 Josiah and Angel Torrey were authorized 
to build a saw-mill dam upon the town's land, be- 
tween School Meadow and Rock Meadow, and were 
granted necessary land therefor, so long as they 
maintained the mill. A mill on this spot, which is 
not far from P. W. Taft's residence, and two miles west 
from the village, was used till within a very few 
years. 

In 1711 Samuel Warfield was granted land near 
the old saw-mill on "Fall Brook," an uncertain loca- 
tion, but probably on Mill River, in Hopedale, near 
Spindleville Shop. 

There were " Iron-works" (probably a smelling fur- 
nace) and a saw-mill at or near "The Falls" (Woon- 
socket) in 1698, and iron-ore had been found at or 
near East Blackstone. 

A saw-mill and a grist-mill had been started, in 
1712, on the Charles River, and one in Uxbridge, on 
the Mumford, many years prior to the incorporation 
in 1727. 

Samuel Thompson's grist-mill, on the Blackstone, 
where Millville village now is, was begun about the 
same time ; as also iron-works and perhaps mills at 
Whitinsville. 

Before 1800, within the present limits of the town, 
there were two or more establishments for making 
potash, several small distilleries and some brick-kilns. 
One of the last-named, near Albeeville, was used 
within forty or fifty years. All the others were aban- 
doned many years before. 

Manuflxcturing, as the term is generally understood 
and applied, never long flourished here and is now 
almost extinct. From 1845 to 1878 there were im- 
portant boot-factories in operation. One Leiand, W. 
H. Comstock and Dennis Eames each had a factory 
before 1850. Enos T. Albee and Edward Davenport 
were not much behind these. After them came J. R. 
Wheelock & Co., who for a year or two produced in 
their large shop, then new, some three or four hun- 
dred cases of boots weekly. 

Albee maintained his business, averaging about 
sixty cases a week, for twenty years or over, ending in 
1870. N. R. & J. A. George began boot manufactu- 
ring in the Wheelock shop in 1863, but the partner- 
ship was brief. J. A. George continued the business 
till 1879. Charles H. Albee has within a few years 
been engaged in making boots and shoes in the build- 
ing occupied by his father, which is in Albeeville, 
about two miles southwesterly from the Centre Vil- 
lage, where all the other boot-makers named had 



MENDON. 



379 



their factories. Those factories have one by one been 
removed or converted to otlier uses, and no boots nor 
shoes have been made in Mendon for several years. 
The largest factory built by the Wheelocks was torn 
down the present year (1888). 

George R. Whiting in 187.3 bought the ancient 
Albee "privilege," erected a new dam and a_ mill near 
the one first built in 1682, remains of which still ex- 
ist, and with some interruptions has ever since util- 
ized the property for shoddy-making. His buildings, 
burnt in 1887, have been replaced by improved ones 
made of brick. 

W. H. Swan has made shoddy on Muddy Brook for 
about twenty years. He has a steam-engine as well 
as water-power, and formerly sawed lumber and made 
boxes— and for a time boats. 

Samuel G. Wilcox made boot and .shoe-boxes at the 
junction of Muddy Brook and Mill River, using 
water-power from both, for over forty years, and since 
his death, in 1882, his son. Hamilton C. Wilcox, has 
carried on the business at the old stand. 

Samuel W. Wilcox, another son of S. G. Wilcox, 
has a steam-mill near the last-named, where for ten 
years he has made cigar-boxes. 

All these manufacturing establishments now in 
operation are near each other in the southeasterly 
part of the town, and their production is small. 



CHAPTER LVII. 

MENDON— (Co«//«tf(?a'.) 

MILITARY HISTORY. 

Mendon in the French and Indian War — The Revolution — Shaye^ Rebellion — 
War o/ 1812— We RehelUon. 

In the French War, 1755-63, Mendon furnished 
her full quota of soldiers. There were forty-one in 
one company, serving in 1759 in the expedition to 
Ticonderoga and Crown Point; many more served 
during the war, but the town records do not reveal 
much concerning the popular feeling nor town action 
on military matters. The lists of soldiers contain 
many names familiarly known all through the town's 
history. We only know the people did their part 
well and loyally, scant though the record may be. 

There is much more known of the Revolutionary 
period. The first mutterings of discontent with British 
rule found an echo in Mendon. Its inhabitants ap- 
proved the action of those who were willing to pay 
the damage done by the mob to Governor Hutchin- 
son's property in 1765, but were eager to pardon the 
rioters, although later, in general terms, they de- 
nounced such riots. They voted, in 1767, to concur 
with the men of Boston in their famous agreement 
not to sell or use any article, tea in particular, on 



which Parliament should lay a tax ; indeed, their 
records are crowded with patriotic utterances ; nine- 
teen resolutions denouncing British wrongs to the 
Provinces, and declaring in sounding terms their 
" Rights and Liberties," " The gift of God Almighty," 
were discussed and passed March 1, 1773. About a 
year later three more stirring resolutions were passed, 
suspending intercourse with Great Britain, and refus- 
ing to buy or use her goods while Boston is blockaded, 
and until a " Restoration of our charter-rights be 
obtained," and denouncing as " inimical to their 
country" all persons acting otherwise. A Committee 
of Correspondence was chosen to confer with similar 
committees in other towns, and the selectmen were 
authorized, in their discretion, to add to the town's 
stock of arms and ammunition. September 28, 1774, 
Joseph Dorr, Esq., was chosen delegate to the Pro- 
vincial Congress, to be held in Concord, October 11th. 

Dr. William Jennison gave the town a six-pounder 
field-piece about the same time, and two more, with 
other arms, were purchased by the town. One-third 
of the soldiers on the military list were enlisted as 
minute-men, and made ready to march at a moment's 
notice. 

In common with other towns, Mendon contributed 
in aid of blockaded Boston and Charlestown, and 
promptly sent delegates to every convention called to 
organize colouial strength, or declare or guide colonial 
sentiment. 

In 1775 the town was ready with arms and men. 
Promptly following the battle of Lexington, one 
hundred and sixty-two men in four companies were 
in arms, and one hundred and sixteen men appear to 
have enlisted for the three months ending August, 
1775. Mendon, with Concord and other towns, had 
been designated as a place of deposit for army sup- 
plies. 

Till the spring of 1776 every town-meeting since 
1667 had been loyally called in His Majesty's name ; 
but now Mendon's liberty-loving people openly dis- 
carded his authority, and met " in the name of the 
Government and People of the Massachusetts Bay," 
and thereupon voted " that the town advise and in- 
struct their Representatives to acquaint the General 
Assembly, that if the Honorable the Continental 
Congress shall think it for the benefit and safety of 
the United American Colonies to Declare them inde- 
pendent of Great Britain, said Town will approve the 
measure and with their lives and fortunes support 
them therein." The immortal Declaration of Inde- 
pendence passed soon after and appears in full with 
the town's approval upon its records. Through all 
the years of the great contest, all testimony goes to 
show that no community surpassed this in devotion to 
liberty, influence in the colony or in patriotic service. 
Men of Mendon fought at Bunker Hill, marched to 
Canada with Arnold and were at Long Island, Valley 
Forge, Bennington, Saratoga and Yorktown. 

Edward Rawson, a descendant of Secretary Raw- 



380 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



son, Judge Joseph Dorr, Jr., the son of the minister, 
Thomas Wiswell, Lieutenant Benoni Benson and se- 
veral others appear to have enjoyed the coofldence of 
the colonial authorities in a high degree. Judge Dorr 
was especially prominent, and from his pen came 
many of the patriotic utterances on the records. 

We note some miscellaneous matters apparently 
worth recording as illuminating somewhat the history 
of the period. A few years before the Revolution 
the town had been compelled to receive several of the 
French neutrals cruelly driven from Nova Scotia in 
1755 by English authority represented by General 
John Winslow, descendant of the Pilgrim Governor. 
The same British power in 1775 turned its cruelty 
against Charlestown, and by order of the Provincial 
Congress, Mendon was " to take thirty of the people 
of Charlestown," made homeless by the burning of 
their town. Eleven years before, five of the banished 
Acadian French were still living in Mendon. If they 
saw the thirty homeless Charlestown people entering 
Mendon, and we have no reason to suppose they did 
not, they must have thought it savored of retribution. 

In 1776 seven officers of the Seventy-flrst British 
Regiment Highlanders, supposed taken prisonei's at 
sea, were quartered in Mendon. They forwarded 
many complaints to the Colonial Council of abusive 
treatment from the inhabitants, especially of language 
reflecting on the prowess of British soldiers generally 
and that of the prisoners in particular. There was 
also complaint of tyrannical treatment in many re- 
spects, and the citizens complained on their part of 
being obliged to keep the officers' servants, and ex- 
pressed suspicions of the prisoners conspiring with 
Tories. Captain Colon McKenzie was the chief offi- 
cer. How long they remained is not known — perhaps 
till exchanged. 

A bitter quarrel arose between Uxbridge and Men- 
don members of the Third Massachusetts Regiment 
concerning the election of field officers. It could 
only be settled by a committee from the Colonial 
Council and an order on their report for a new elec- 
tion and an assignment of the Uxbridge soldiers, 
who were from the first in a minority, to another 
regiment. This was in 1776. 

A census, taken January 1,1777, gives Mendon five 
hundred and seventy-two male inhabitants, sixteen 
years old and upwards. She had seventy-five sol- 
diers in the field in March, 1778. During the year 
1776 twenty-eight had enlisted for three years. In 
1779 there is a list of thirty-three nine-months' men 
in the Rhode Island service, but neither State nor 
town records enable us to make complete military 
lists or give the town exact credit lor its labors and 
losses in the cause of liberty. Tradition has brought 
down the names of but one or two Tories in the whole 
town. Some were suspected of disloyalty, and peti- 
tions for stringent laws against them went from Men- 
don, whose Committee of Safety never relaxed in 
vigilance, if we may trust the records. 



Those records also show with what wise adjust- 
ments of business the evils of the depreciated cur- 
rency were met, and the careful attention given to 
their regular municipal affairs. Throwing aside the 
old-time local strifes, Mendon voted at last that the 
East Precinct, Milford, might become a town. The 
new Constitution of Massachusetts was laboriously 
and fully discussed, article by article, the voters 
amending, rejecting or adopting, as if on them alone 
depended the making of the organic law of the 
Commonwealth, and, finally, as the clouds of war 
rolled away, they set themselves resolutely at work to 
do their part as an important town in the new State 
of Massachusetts. 

No proof is found of any Mendon citizens taking 
part with Shays in his rebellion, in 1786, though pe- 
titions with lists of grievances uncounted went to 
the General Court. Among the complaints were 
named the sitting of the General Court in Boston, 
the want of a circulating medium, the exorbitance 
of the lawyers' " fee-table," the doings of the Court 
of Common Pleas, " too many office-holders, and 
their salaries too large," etc. 

But the town, nevertheless, furnished its quota of 
men, sixty in all, to march against Shays, and seems 
to have had no thought of resisting the government, 
imperfect as it was, which had cost so much. 

In 1797 fears of a war with France arose. While 
Milford was plainly of a martial spirit, Mendon 
appears memorializing Congress against arming ships, 
and expressing its dread of the horrors of war. 

There is nothing to show the town's zeal in the War 
of 1812, unless it be that it voted seven dollars per 
month extra pay to such of its militia as should be 
called into actual service. Six officers and twenty-six 
enlisted men of Mendon were paid by the United 
States in 1814 for service in the army. According to 
" Ballou's History," Milford was earnestly in favor of 
the war, and furnished many men. 

Nothing has been found showing any popular in- 
terest in the Mexican War, or any men from Mendon 
serving therein. 

When the great Rebellion broke out this town took 
its stand promptly, and, with a spirit which never 
faltered, sent men and expended money most freely 
to crush out traitors. In 1861, after a preamble de- 
claring loyalty, and their duty and purpose to sustain 
the government, the voters unanimously passed reso- 
lutions appropriating five thousand dollars in aid of 
the families of volunteers. In 1862, while adopting 
patriotic resolutions, they voted to pay a bounty of 
one hundred and fifty dollars to each soldier volun- 
teering, and later they increased it to two hundred 
dollars. This action was in harmony with their 
course to the end of the war, and when President 
Lincoln was assassinated, the town records show the 
horror of the citizens. The votes and resolutions 
passed in relation to the Rebellion were generally 
passed unanimously. Aside from town action, the 



MENDON. 



381 



people called meeting after meeting to encourage 
enlistments, volunteers were honored, their families 
aided, and, if a word in defence of the rebels was 
ventured, the overwhelming popular sentiment in 
opposition prevented its repetition. In Mendon, from 
1861 to 1888, traitors and copperheads have always 
heen odious, as Tories were to the fathers. 

The town's ordinary appropriations were little over 
five thousand dollars a year, but it paid in bounties 
over sixteen thousand dollars, of which the town fur- 
nished all but about twenty-five hundred dollars, 
which was raised bw subscription. The State's records 
show one hundred and fifty-six residents of Mendon 
who served in the army or navy from 1861 to 1865, 
and one hundred and thirty-two are credited on her 
quotas, being sixteen over all calls to which she was 
required to respond. Nineteen were killed or died in 
service, namely, — Franklin B. Wilcox, Charles H. 
Wheelock, Juba F. Pickering, Alanson E. Bathrick, 
Samuel Hall, John B. Rockwood, Martin S. Howe, 
George W. Wilcox, David 8. Thurber, Lawrence B. 
Doggett, William Cosgrove, Albert Cook, Patrick 
Wallace, Robert Wallace, Samuel Everton, Franklin 
Freeman, Anthon C. Taft, Benjamin H. Smith and 
James Burns. 



\ 



CHAPTER LVIII. 

MENDON— ( Continued.) 

ECCI,ESI.\STIC.\I, HISTORY. 

Ministers and Mseting-HoKsee, 1663 to 1818 — The Change to UnUaHanism — 
The Meeting-Home of 1S20 — Pastors to ISHS—Tlte yorth Congregational 
Church and Pantora — The Methodists in Mendon — The Quakers. 

Like every New England settlement of its time, 
Mendon was founded on the idea that religious wor- 
ship and religious life should be established and 
maintained at every sacrifice. Grants of privileges 
to establish a plantation or incorporate a town or 
precinct were made on the express condition that the 
inhabitants settle and support "a learned Orthodox 
Minister of good conversation," which, indeed, in 
every case they promptly did. 

Rev. John Rayner was accepted as a settler by the 
committee ou the Mendon plantation May 22, 1662, 
and in 1667 is recorded as having an allotment of 
meadow land. In 1669, in a petition to the General 
Court, he is named in terms showing plainly that he 
was the minister then preaching in Mendon. 

Mr. Benjamin Eliot, son of the apostle Eliot, re- 
ceived a call in 1668 to settle there, but it was not 
accepted. Late in 1669 the church appears to have 
been fully organized and the Rev. Joseph Emerson 
made the first settled minister of the place. 

At the beginning land had been set apart for the 
ministry and for schools, and when divisions of the 
common lands were made, the same allotment was 



made to them as to individual proprietors. Before 
Mr. Emerson came, the minister's house was ad- 
vanced towards completion. It evidently, as well as 
the early meeting-houses, was built by the combined 
labor and gifts of the settlers. The town voted to 
build, and the selectmen employed a master workman 
who supervised the labori* of the workers. Several 
records concerning the obstinate and sometimes in- 
sulting refusal of one Job Tiler to work on Mr. 
Emerson's house at the summons of the selectmen, 
their threats to report him to the Colonial magis- 
trates, and his final surrender and giving satisfaction 
"for that offence" with others, make up a curious 
comment on the management of an early New Eng- 
land town. 

Mr. Emerson fled with his people from the Indians in 
1675, and died in Concord June, 1680. He was the an- 
cestor of Ralph Waldo Emerson. His house and the 
first meetinghouse were burned with the rest. It is 
supposed his house stood on the Caleb Hayward 
place. The first meeting-house, which stood near the 
building now occupied by the Taft Public Library, is 
described in the quaint language of the time as " the 
breadth 22 foote square, 12 foote studd, the Ruffe 
gathered to A 7 foote square w"" A Turrett." It was 
built under the direction of Deacon Job Hide in 
1668. 

The first town-meeting after the settlers' return was 
held January 3, 1680, and at the second, held ten 
days later, it was voted to build for the minister " A 
house 26 foot in length 18 foot In bredth, 14 foot be- 
tween joj'nts a girt house and a gabell end In the 
Roofe and a Leantowe att one end of the house the 
breadth of it." 

January 17, 1680, Samuel Hayward had agreed 
with the selectmen to "begine and manige the frame 
of a meeting-house, 26 feet in length and 24 foot in 
breadth, a girt house 14 foot between joynts." 

October 4, 1680, "the towne Agreed, and it pased 
by a clere vote, that they would give Mr. Grindall 
Rawson a call to the work of the ministry for this 
yere In order to his further settlement; for j£20 in 
money, his bord and a hors to be kept for his servis." 
After three years of preaching, he was settltd April 
7, 1684, at £55 a year, with house and forty-acre lot. 

The third meeting-house, thirty feet square, with 
sixteen-foot posts, was built 1690, "by subscriptiou," 
doubtless under town control, at a point not now 
known. Four years later the old one was sold. 
None of these meeting-houses had pews, seats being 
assigned by a committee, of whom the pastor was 
one. In 1709 the town voted to enlarge the meeting- 
house by an addition of ten feet at each end, with 
changts in the galleries, new floors and seats, and it 
appears the minister and a few others had pews 
therein built by themselves. In 1737 " Pew Room " 
was sold, the elderly men paying most for church 
matters to have first choice. 

Mr. Rawson died in 1715, aged fifty-seven, after 



382 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



preaching in Mendon thirty-five years. He was 
twelfth son of Secretary Rawson. His body, with 
that of his widow, who died in 1748, lies in the town's 
ancient burial-place. In 1744 the town made pro- 
vision for the memorial stone at his grave. He was 
a class-mate and friend of Cotton Mather, and re- 
nowned in the Colony for his learning. He kn>-w 
the Indian language well, and preached regularly in 
different parts of the town week-days as well as on 
the Sabbath, to Indians and whites with equal 
fidelity. 

Rev. Joseph Dorr was settled in 1716 at a salary of 
seventy pounds for the first year, and seventy-five 
pounds after ; " and for settlement or encouragement, 
the sum of one hundred and sixty pounds, — one hun- 
dred pounds in money." He also was a distinguished 
divine ofgreat discretion, and during the controversies 
with the East Precinct, which long agitated the town 
and forced him to self-defence in the town-meetings, he 
appears to have behaved with great wisdom, and 
finally to have won general approval. His wife was 
Mr. Rawson's daughter. His son. Judge Joseph 
Dorr, Jr., widely esteemed during the Revolution, has 
been already mentioned. His pastorate continued 
fifty-two years, till his death, March 9, 1768, and his 
body lies near that of Mr. Rawson. In 1730 the 
fourth meeting-house was begun. "Towards the 
raising," thetown voted to " provide a barrel of Rhum." 
This house was fifty feet long, forty-five feet wide, 
twenty-four feet high, and remained till 1816. Con- 
troversies about its location lasted for years, and even 
after its erection. The opponents to the location, 
finally established near the old burying-ground, even 
tried to cut down the frame, and a hundred and six- 
teen years later the marks of their axes on the south- 
west corner-post were plainly seen. It was seven 
years before its final completion, and soon afier, in 
1741, the East Precinct, doubtless in consequence of 
differences concerning the new meeting-house, was 
organized. November 8, 1751, the four pastors, re- 
spectively settled in Milford, Upton, Uxbridge and 
Mendon, united in an association which has ever 
since continued. Mr. Dorr was long its moderator, 
and apparently its master-spirit. It gradually en- 
larged its field of work and membership, and is now 
called the Mendon Conference, instead of the Mendon 
Association, as at first. Toward the close of Mr. 
Dorr's life, Rev. Benjamin Balch preached in Mendon 
for a few months on account of Mr. Dorr's disability, 
but before the end of 1768 he was ordained at the 
South Parish, "Chestnut Hill," where a new meet- 
ing-house, still standing, was erected the next year. 
He was followed in Mendou by Mr. Pennimau, Mr. 
Messenger and perhaps others. 

April 17, 1769, Rev. Joseph Willard was settled. 
He proved to be an earnest, out-spoken man and a 
zealous patriot during the war, but difficulties arose 
between him and his people, and he was dismissed in 
1782. Rev. Caleb Alexander was settled from 1786 to 



1802. He afterwards became a distinguished writer 
and teacher in Onondaga, New York. Mr. Alexander 
disciplined the Mendon Church much more than 
former pastors, and had many contests in consequence. 
He died in Onondaga in 1828. 

In 1805 Rev. Preserved Smith became pastor over 
the Mendon First and Third (South) Parishes, and 
labored till 1812. He had formerly preached in Rowe, 
Mass., and returned thither, preaching in that place 
thirty-five years in all. He died 1834 in Warwick, 
Mass. In his youth he served five campaigns in the 
Continental Army, and was present at Burgoyne's sur- 
render. As a minister he was popular and influential, 
with liberal tendencies in his religious thought. 

Rev. Simeon Doggett succeeded him in 1814, and 
in 1818, after much controversy, led a majority of his 
people to adopt Unitarian views. Mr. Doggett was 
dismissed in 1837, and died in Raynham in 1852, aged 
eighty-seven. He was much esteemed as a teacher, 
and maintained an academy in Mendon many years. 
In 1820 the First Parish Church, still used as a hou.?e 
of worship, was built on land given by Seth Hastings, 
Esq. It was then considered one of the finest in the 
county. 

Rev. Adin Ballou, the venerable pastor, so long set- 
tled in Hopedale, was the minister in Mendon from 
1831 to 1842. Since his service, with the single ex- 
ception of Rev. George F. Clark, preacher from 1871 to 
1883, all the ministers in Mendon have otiSciated for 
only brief periods, which, as regards the First Parish, 
are as follows: Rev.s. Linus B. Shaw, 1842 to 1844; 
George M. Rice, 1845 to 1847 ; George G. Channing, 
1847 to 1849; William H. Kinsley, 1850 to 1851; 
Robert Hassall, 1852 to 1856 ; Stillman Barber, 1856 
to 18G0; William T. Phelan, 1863 to 1866; Richard 
Coleman, 1866 to 1868 ; David P. Lindsley, 1868 to 
1871 ; George F. Clarke, 1871 to 1883 ; Aaron Porter, 
1883 to 1885 ; James Sallaway, 1885 to 1887; Walter 
C. Pierce, 1888. 

It is noticeable that since Rev. Joseph Dorr's 
death, in 1768, out of the very long list of his sue-, 
cessors, no minister of the parish has died in Mendon 
except Rev. William H. Kinsley, who died in 1851. 

With the diminution of population the attendance 
on religious worship has steadily diminished, and few 
now congregate where so many generations have suc- 
cessively assembled ; but the parish, incorporated 
separate from the town in 1784 and perfected 1792, 
still exercises its corporate powers and retains its 
property. 

There were many who did not accept the Unitarian 
views adopted by Mr. Doggett's followers, and in 1828 
they organized the " North Congregational Church," 
adopting in substance the creed and covenant dis- 
carded or modified by the First Church. A meeting- 
house was built in 1830 on Main Street, and Rev. 
John M. Perry was ordained 1831. Rev. Thomas 
Riggs had preached prior to this. Mr. Perry re- 
signed in 1835 to become a missionary, and soon after 



MENDON. 



383 



he and his wife died in Ceylon of cholera. Rev. 
Thomas Edwards was ordained 1836 and dismissed 
1840. Rev. Andrew H. Reed preached from 1841 to 
1848, followed for ahout three months by Rev. 
Dwight. Rev. Charles Chamberlin was pastor from 
1848 to 1851, when Methodist pastors were employed 
till 18.53, followed by Rev. Demis for a brief period, 
and the last pastor. Rev. E. Deraond, closed his labors 
October 31, 1858, after about three years of labor. 
The last two were Congregationalists. 

The records of this church and society are very few. 
It was always feeble. Their meeting-house was sold 
in 1865 to the Methodis-t Episcopal Society, which many 
of the North Church members had already joined. 

The weakness of the North Church was so apparent 
in 1851, that the hiring of a Methodist preacher was 
generally approved by the society, and thereby much 
support was gained. In 1853 this plan was abandoned 
and the Methodists forced to leave. They accordingly 
held their first meeting June 2, 1853, in the town 
hall, organizing as a society June 9th. Immediate 
eftbrts were made to raise funds to build a meeting- 
house, and land had been bought and foundations 
laid before 1855. During that year the walls were 
raised seven feet, but the material was such that dur- 
ing the winter following, it was greatly injured by the 
weather. 

Financial misfortunes to the manufacturing in- 
terests of the place followed, resulting in a loss of 
population and confidence severely felt by this society, 
which had but from thirty-five to forty members from 
the first — and in 1859 its creditors brought a suit, 
settled only by a sale of its property. 

From this misfortune recovery was slow, and it was 
not till 1865 that they were able to buy the old North 
meeting-house, which was repaired, remodeled and 
dedicated in 1866. The church and society did not 
continue to flourish, though preachers were regularly 
sent for many years, closing in 1879. The pastors in 
adjoining towns have, however, from time to time for 
a few weeks, held services in the church, but not since 
1886. The list of Methodist preachers is as follows. 
Rev. C. S. McReading, located in 1851; Rev. G. 
L. Hanaford, 1852; Rev. John L. Day, 1853; Rev. 
Wm. Pentecost, 1854; Rev. G. R. Bent, 1856; Rev. 
J. Emory Round, 1858 ; Rev. VV. A. Clapp, 1860 ; 
Rev. L. B. Sweetser, 1861 ; Rev. W. M. Ayers, 1862 ; 
Rev. Augustine "Caldwell, 1866; Rev. J. Mosely 
Dwight, 1868; Rev. J. W. Coolidge, 1869; Rev. John 
L. Locke, 1871 ; Rev. Joseph Williams, 1872; Rev. 
Elisha Brown, 1873 ; Rev. Phineas C. Sloper, 1876 ; 
Rev. George E. Hill, 1879. There was no pastor for 
a part of 1862, and none during most of the time 
between April, 1874, and April, 1876. 

Each of the religious societies organized a Sunday- 
school in connection with its other work, and some 
have been formed in diflerent school district-*. That 
of the First Parish is still doing its work, but there 
has been no other in town for several years. 



The Quakers maintained a meeting in Mendon vil- 
lage from 1729, when their house was built, till 1841. 
It is indeed likely they had meetings some years prior 
to 1729. The East Blackstone Friends' Meeting- 
House, at first known as the South Mendon Meeting- 
House, was built in 1812. If Quakers were ever per- 
secuted in Mendon, of which there are a few traditions 
of doubtful authenticity, they appear to have been 
generally well esteemed and their scruples duly re- 
garded. In 1758 thirty-two were exempted from 
military duty, in which list we find, among other names 
well known, Aldrichs, BuflTums, Farnums and South- 
wicks. In 1742 the town voted to grant the Quakers, 
for the enlargement of their meeting-house yard, a 
strip of land two rods wide, to be taken from the ten- 
rod road, and there are other instances on record show- 
ing similar regard for them. Moses Aldrich, 1690-1761, 
was one of their noteworthy preachers laboring at 
home and abroad. He was a descendant of one of the 
early settlers and lived and died in Mendon. The old 
meeting-house was sold, taken down and removed 
in 1850. 



CHAPTER LIX. 

MENDON— (ro«////«t'(/.) 

EDUCATIONAI, HISTORY AND CLOSING REMARKS. 

Early Itecords and Tradition Concerning Schools — Notices of the Earliest 
Teachers and School-Houses— School-Dames — TJte District System — The 
Jlitjh'Sclmol — Some Noteworthy Ecents in Slendon^g Recent History and 
its Pi-esent Status. 

The early records in regard to schools are scanty. 
The first is as follows : 

1G07, July Hit. At A Generall Town Meetinge Grainted then to Coll. 
William Crowne and to hi8 assigns and the present fliinister there shares 
of meadow in that w** is called the Kucke Meadow, it they will hould out, 
and v/^ is beyond Goodman Moore's Lott ; And the Scoole Meadow is 
Reserved and soe ordered pte for A Scoole when y" Place is ahle to Blayn- 
taine one, as alsoe that pte w*" is to be sutt out for the Oleeb Lott ia to 
be there, but that pte of Meadow w^*" is for the scuol is Lieft to be agreed 
on for ye quantity, and then if y* Coll. and Minister's sharesiu the Rock 
Meadow want is to be made up here or In the North Meado not exceed- 
ing 10 Acors. 

In 1672 the town voted that a twenty-acre lot, 
"with all the privileges that other lots of that size 
have," be laid out near the ministry lot for the 
school. In 1674 the school-master's home lot was 
" laid out between John Aldrich's house lot and the 
ten-rod highway that leads to the mill.'' The fatal 
Indian attack soon followed, and no record of im- 
portance of the year 1675 is found nor any at all after 
that date till 1680. Even before 1675 there may have 
been public school instruction, and it is hard to be- 
lieve, as some do, there was none in Mendon till 
1701. 

There is, however, no definite record till the follow- 
ing in that year, which shows that March 3, 1701, the 
town passed a vote directing the selectmen, with Mr. 
Grindal Rawson, the mini.-ter, " to treat with Dea- 



384 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



con Warfield, upon his refusal, with some other per- 
son whom they shall judge suitable, to be a Schoole 
Master to teach the children of thetowne to read, and 
for this or any other person's encouragement in said 
work the town shall pay ten pounds in good current 
pay at money price, and each person sending children 
to schoole to pay one penny a week." Thereupon 
agreement was made with Deacon Warfield and 
recorded. He was " to keep scool half a yeare and 
to begin on Munday ye 14th of April next, and for 
his pains to have five pounds in good current pay at 
money price, and one penny a week for every child 
that corns to scoolle." John Warfield, Sr., and 
John Warfield, Jr., are both named in list of 1685, 
and at a later date we know they occupied the lot 
called in 1774 the " Schoolmaster's home lot." The 
elder Warfield died April 12, 1692. 

Deacon Warfield, the schoolmaster of 1701 and the 
first known as such with certainty, held the position 
till 1709 at least, and, perhaps, till 1712. January, 
1709, the town voted to build its first school-house 
twenty feet by sixteen and seven feet between joints. 
It stood near Deacon Warfield's home lot, and most 
likely where is now the George family cemetery. In 
March of that year Rev. Grindal Rawson offered to 
board A Latin scoolle master for four years" if the 
town "would retain him," upon which the town 
voted " that the towue accept of sd offer " and 
"to give twenty pounds a year for that service." 
Whether one was employed or not is not known. 

November 12, 1712, the selectmen met in order to 
procure a " Scoole Master, the Towne being destitute 
of one," and met again December 13th, when Robert 
Husse, from Boston, was hired. He came to Mendon 
December 12th, and was to teach till May 1, 1713, for 
which " he shall have," says the record, " five pound 
paid him for his service and his Diet the s'' time, and 
to begin" (boarding?) "at John Farnum's and ther 
continue untill the 28th of January." 

Martin Pearse was hired by the selectmen, in 1714, 
to keep school at seventeen pounds for one year, with 
" board and Dyett." 

William Boyce followed in 1717, at twenty-eight 
pounds a year. He continued till 1728. In 1721 his 
contract contained the curious provision that he was 
to keep a " Reading and Wrighting school during the 
year, unless the Town should be presented lor want 
of a Grammar School," when he was to " cease keep- 
ing at ye Selectmen's order." ' A year later and 
doubtless thereafter, the town apparently not having 
been summoned before the grand jury, he continued 
teaching at four places alternately, viz. : " At the 
school-house, over the Mill River, at ye south end of 
the town, and about the Great River" 

1 The Province Acts of 161I2-9J fined towns with fifty householders 
twenty pounds for failure to employ a niMter to teach reading and 
writing. Those having one hundred householders were required to 
employ a " grammar-school master," '* well-instructed in the tongues." 
lu 1721 undoubtedly the selectmen believed there were in Mendon one 
hundred householders. 



Mr. Grindal Rawson, perhaps the first resident in 
Mendon to graduate from Harvard College, was en- 
gaged for six months after October 24, 1728, for a 
salary of twenty-two pounds ten shillings. He was 
the eleventh child of Rev. Grindal Rawson, had re- 
cently left college and taught in 1729 and 1730. It is 
probable he was the first to teach more than reading 
and writing. He was afterwards minister at East 
Haddam, Conn., dying there in 1777. His cousin, 
Capt. William Rawson, an earlier graduate of Har- 
vard, taught the Mendon school in the winter of 1729 
-30, at the rate of forty-five pounds per year salary. 

Samuel Terry taught a grammar school in 1733. 
May 15, 1732, "School Dames" were authorized "to 
keep school in the Outskirts of the Town," and thirty 
pounds were appropriated for the purpose. These 
were the first of the long list of women who have 
adorned and elevated Mendon's public schools. 

John Field followed Mr. Terry, teaching from 1735 
to 1737 ; salary, forty- five pounds per year. He was 
succeeded by Capt. William Rawson, 1735 to 1742, at 
fifty pounds ; but after him Josiah Marshall taught at 
nineteen pounds a year in bills of the " last emission." 
The fluctuations of the colonial currency, or bills of 
credit, make the rates of wages misleading. 

By vote of the town, no schoolmaster was hired in 
1743; but Mr. Mar,<hall taught again in 1744, and it 
would appear continuously till the spring of 1747, 
when the town voted not to employ him, and sold 
their school-house for fourteen pounds, " old tenor." 
In the autumn they voted to build a new one, the 
same size as the first, at the north end of the Training 
Field. This house stood near the present location of 
A. W. Gaskill's barn, and was completed in 1749. 

Mr. Marshall taught but four months in 1748, and 
that in the old school-house. 

In 1749 there was also a vote that the Grammar 
School should not be kept in the new school -house, 
and the next year there was a nearly unanimous 
vote not to have Mr. Foster for their teacher, and to 
have Mr. Dorr's son, Joseph, and Capt. Eleazer 
Taft s son, Moses, " Keep school by Spells, as they 
can agree." The same arrangement in substance 
continued the next year, but with an added declara- 
tion in favor of having Joseph Dorr when possible. 
Both these teachers were Harvard graduates. 

Between 1757 and 1760 the town's control of the 
schools seems relaxed, and signs of a new system ap- 
pear. The town left the settlement of school matters, 
heretofore controlled by direct vote, to the selectmen, 
and in 1760 we discover the existence of eleven 
school districts, drawing, and doubtless expending, 
the money they raised for schools under town au- 
thority. 

As late as 1751 there were but two school-houses, 
that in the East Precinct (Milford) having been 
built in that year. But it is clear that the several 
districts took complete control of their schools after 
1771, perhaps a little earlier. Little is to be learned 



MENDON. 



385 



of their progress from that time to 1790. In 1789 a 
statute made it the duty of the ministers and select- 
men to visit scliools and advise and examine the 
scliolars. Their authority was not well defined, and 
though they were doubtless interested and useful, 
their position was one of honor and dignity rather 
than of direct responsibility. From forty to one 
hundred pounds were annually raised for schools, 
and it is quite probable most of the schools were 
taught in private dwelling-. In 1789 the town voted to 
sell the old school-house on the " Training Field," and 
in 1794 voted to raise six hundred pounds to build a 
school-house in each district. Later this was re- 
duced to a grant of three hundred pounds, for build- 
ing and repairing school-houses. This was in- 
creased by one hundred and fifty pounds in 1795, 
and that in turn voted down, but finally, in 1797, six 
hundred and sixty-six pounds were granted for 
building and furnishing school-houses, committees 
meanwhile having been chosen to supervise the 
work, all of which shows a strong probability that 
before 1800 each district had a school-house. In 
1796 the first School Committee was chosen, but it is 
not plain that the town did this every year after. It 
was probably preferable for the most part to have 
the ministers act. They generally had students fit- 
ting for college or studying theology under their 
tuition from 1700 to 1830, sometimes, as in Mr. Dog- 
gett's case, maintaining an academy ; and their ap- 
proval of students and teachers, too, was much de- 
sired. Indeed, after 1789, teachers not college gradu- 
ates must have it before they could lawfully teach. 

From 1800 to 1827 from $600 to $800 was annually 
raised for schools, and from $1200 to $1800 from 1827 
to 1844. The income of proceeds of sales of school 
lands made prior to 1727 had been applied to the 
support of schools for a period not now known, but 
it must have been an insignificant sum. After 1837 
the income of $6927.64, received from the United 
States out of the "surplus revenue," was also thus 
applied till Blackstone was incorporated, in 1845, 
when only $2118.19 was left for Mendon, and in 1880 
this was used to reduce the town's general indebted- 
ness. 

The statute of 1826 introduced the effectual con- 
trol of public schools by the School Committee. 
They were first paid in Mendon in 1832, when $10.00 
was voted them, " providing they are prompt and 
regular in visiting the schools." The people clung 
tenaciously to the district system, and jealously re- 
served all possible control of the schools to the dis- 
trict or prudential committees down to 1869, when 
the system was abolished by law. Any fancied as- 
sumption of undue control on the part of the town 
committee was likely to be followed by the election 
of a new board at the next town-meeting. 

The school:!, however, progressed steadily, and from 
the time of Grindal Rawson's graduation, in 1728, Men- 
don has sent out students who have won scholarly fame 
25 



from New England colleges. Dr. Metcalf, in his "An- 
nals," gives us the names of ten such graduates, all from 
Harvard before 1800, and twenty-three graduates of 
colleges or professional schools between 1800 and 1860. 
After an apparent lull in educational interest, a new 
zeal appeared to arise in the winter of 1867-68. It 
manifested itself in a school, gathered by consent of 
the school authorities, in the smallest school-house 
and one of the most remote in situation in town, where 
some of the more advanced pupils of various and dis- 
tant schools assembled, and where they enjoyed in- 
struction in studies more advanced than usual in such 
schools. In view of the progress thus made and the 
ambition aroused, the town voted in 1868 "to establish 
a high school for the benefit of all the inhabitants " 
to be kept in the town hall during the fall and winter 
following. 

Mr. Henry Whittemore, afterwards a successful 
teacher and superintendent of schools in other towns, 
achieved such a success here that the school was con- 
tinued and has been ever since, though sustained by a 
voluntary expenditure on the part of the town andoften 
suffering from insufficient support and the errors of 
inexperienced or ignorant instructors. But the in- 
fluence of the school, imperfect though it be, has been 
very great and has decidedly elevated educational 
standards throughout the town. It may be worth not- 
ing that the " Grammar School " of 1729-69, with its 
instruction in mathematics and " the tongues," out- 
ranked the common and " Dame" schools, was for the 
benefit of the townspeople generally, and ended with 
or about the time of the advent of the district system. 
As that disappeared the town again assumed full con- 
trol, and in its High School restored the ancient Gram- 
mar School in a modernized form. The tenth anni- 
versary of the High School was celebrated in 1878, 
when the public testimony of its former members was 
strongly in its praise as a power for good in their lives ; 
later evidence is to the same effect. For the last fif- 
teen years a majority of the town's teachers have been 
taken from its High School. It is doubtful if, during 
the ten years prior to its establishment ten of the 
Mendon pupils of the common schools sought any 
education in schools of higher grade, while in twenty 
years since 1868 more than forty entered such higher 
schools or colleges after taking the opportunities of- 
fered in the Mendon High school. Of these at least 
twenty have taken or will soon take diplomas from 
such institutions. Among them are graduates from 
Harvard, Dartmouth, Amherst, the Worcester Poly- 
technic School, the State Normal Schools and schools 
of law and medicine. 

Such a record shows the town has not fallen back 
in ambition or achievement in the line of educating 
its children. 

The names of teachers of Mendon High School and 
time of service are : Henry Whittemore, 1868-70 ; Dan- 
iel N. Lane, Jr., 1870-74; Benjamin F. Harmon, 
1872: Ernest L. Scott, 1874-75 ; Parker P. Simmons, 



386 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



1875-76; Frank C. Meserve, 1877-78; F. A. Holden, 
1878-79; Walter M. Wheelock, 1879-80; J. A. Joy, 
1880-81 ; John C. Worcester, 1881-82 ; Walter S. 
Bosworth , 1882-83 ; S. W. Ferguson, 1883-84; N. 
Currier, 1884-85; O. C. B. Nason, 1885; Volney B. 
Skinner, 1886; J. Q. Hayward, 1886-87; Hill Wil- 
liams, 1887-88 ; Wendel Williams, 1888. 

Closely allied to the educational history of Mendon 
is the story of. the founding of the Taft Public Libra- 
ry in 1881, by Mrs. Susan E. (Lee) Huston, late of 
Providence, Rhode Island. Born in Mendon, July 
17, 1824, and early orphaned, Mrs. Huston had es- 
' ceedingly limited opportunities for reading and but 
little school education. Whatever advance she made 
in learning she was wont to attribute to the influence 
and aid of her older half-brother, Putnam W. Taft, 
late of Worcester, but also a native of Mendon. At 
his death Mrs. Huston received a share of his estate 
and unselfishly determined to apply a large portion 
thereof so that the people of her native town might 
ever after enjoy what in her early days had been 
denied to her, — an abundance of good books. To 
this end she gave the town one thousand dollars to es- 
tablish a free public library to be at once useful to the 
living and a memorial of her brother, whose name it 
bears, and who, in his lifetime, had expressed a desire 
to do something of the kind. By the terms of the 
gift the town is to provide a place for the library and 
yearly add new books to the value of seventy-five dol- 
lars, at least. This it has done, and after Mrs. Hus- 
ton's death, July 4, 1884, unanimously voted to erect 
a tablet to her memory iu its library building, already 
adorned with her portrait and that of her brother. 
The library has received gifts from time to time, and 
now has over twenty-five hundred volumes, largely 
standard works. It is very freely used, is greatly 
valued and its founder held in grateful and loving re- 
membrance. 

No sketch of Mendon's history would be complete 
■which did not'notice a few events of minor importance 
perhaps, but which, at the time of their occurrence, 
attracted great and general interest. 

Such was the erection in 1840 of Harrison Hall and 
school-rooms beneath, and its purchase in 1849 by 
the town, connected with which many acrimonious 
contests and more than one lawsuit arose. Happily, 
though in constant use ever since, the building, with 
its lot recently enlarged, still remains, is in good repair 
and useful as ever, while the bitter strifes of which it 
was the occasion exist as faint memories alone. 

Pleasanter recollections follow the town's bi-centen- 
nial celebration in 1867, of which mention has been 
made. Rev. Carleton A. Staples, one of the town's 
favorite sons, now of Lexington, was orator of the day, 
and Judge Henry Chapin, of Worcester, the poet; 
General J(jhn M. Thayer, of Nebraska; Rev. Adin 
Ballou, of Hopedale; Putnam W. Taft, Hons. Ira M. 
Barton, E. B. Stoddard, Judge H. B. Staples, of Wor- 
cester; Francis Deane, Esq., of Uxbridge; Rev. Lewis 



F. Clarke, of Northbridge; Dr. M. D. Southwick, of 
Blackstone; Hon. George B. Loring, of Salem, and 
others, delivered addresses or read poems. There 
were letters of regret read from Governor A. H. Bul- 
lock, General B. F. Butler, Hons. Levi Lincoln, John 
H. Clifford, George S. Boutwell, Emory Washburn, 
Stephen Salisbury, Judge Charles Devens and others. 

October 31, 1877, some hundreds of people assem- 
bled to commemorate the one hundred and seventy- 
fourth anniversary of the death of the pioneer. Ser- 
geant Abraham Staples. Two of his descendants. 
Rev. C. A. Staples and Judge H. B. Staples, on this 
occasion dedicated a granite monument to his memory 
and, with others of this well-known family, delivered 
appropriate addresses. 

There is in Mendon's old burying-ground, where this 
Staples' monument stands, a stone bearing the name 
of Deborah Read, and the date 1702, and one with the 
name of Abraham Staples, and the date October 20, 
1704, is next in antiquity. On the authority of Judge 
Staples there are but five older ones known in the 
county, all in Lancaster. 

Another memorial stone, and very useful, also, in 
the form of a large watering basin, highly finished, 
and suitably inscribed in memory of Hon. David Joy, 
originally from Nantucket, was given to the town by 
his widow. It stands at the junction of Main and 
Hastings Streets. Mr. Joy lived in Mendon, for seve- 
ral years and died abroad in 1876. The basin was not 
fully made over to the town till 1884, since which date 
the town has kept it supplied. It was set up in 1877. 

It is apparent that from the beginning what is now 
Mendon always had a moderate growth in population. 
From 1840 to 1875 it was probably about stationary, 
having not far from twelve hundred inhabitants. 

Compelled to rely upon its fertile farms, like 
similar Massachusetts towns, it has long seen its sons 
going to swell the population of larger places, but it is 
still strong in self-respect and is evidently as much re- 
spected as ever. Surrounded by the busy towns form- 
erly within its limits, it seems content, in some mea- 
sure, with thetraditions of its past, and to look on the 
turmoil around something as a mother on her child- 
ren .at play, without taking much part in their restless 
activity. Its population in 1885, numbering only nine 
hundred and forty-five, is largely of pure New Eng- 
land stock, and it may be doubted if, in any town in 
Worcester County, the people retain more of the habits 
and sterling character of their New England ancestors.' 



BIOGR.\PHIC.\L. 

OBADIAH WOOD. 

Mr. Wood was born in Uxbridge, Mass., March 16, 
1773. He was the son of Solomon and grandson of 

1 In tlie preparation of the foregoing, the " .\nnals of Mendon," com- 
piled by Dr. Jolin G. Metcalf, and published by the town of Mention, 
IStiO, uUo the published historical discourses of Rev. 0. A. Staples, have 
beeu freely used. 



.*«*t5)k.'^\5H^ 



;^^v^^ 




i^^i^^^^ 



BERLIN. 



387 



Obadiah. The subject of this sketch married Abey, 
daughter of Israel Mowry, of Rhode Island, by whom 
he had nine children. The early life of Mr. Wood 
was spent as a farmer in the towns of Uxbridge and 
Jlendon. He then learned the trade of a mechanic, 
that of a wood-workman. The first of his work in 
this line was the manufacture of chairs and spinning- 
wheels. After the establishijient of factories along 
our streams, Mr. Wood found his occupation partly 
gone. He was next employed in some of these fac- 
tories in the region where he li^ed in other lines of 
wood-work. It is claimed for him that he wa- the 
first bobbin-maker in this country, his orders coming 
from all parts of the United States as time rolled on. 
His bobbins also found their way to the South Ameri- 
can States, — he was quite successful in this business. 
While a resident of the. town of Mendon he was 
honored by being chosen to fill all of the important 
offices in the place. He was elected to the Legisla- 
ture from Mendon in 18-35, and again in 1836. While 
a member of that body he introduced a bill to reduce 
the number of members to be chosen annually as mem- 
bers of the House of Representatives. The bill was 
favorably received, and became a law. He was at 
one time chosen one of the State directors of what is 
now the Boston and Albany Railroad. Mr. Wood was a 
man of strong will-power, earnest in what he thought 
to be right. In politics he was originally a Jackson- 
ian Democrat, but, with the rise of the Republican 
party, he saw the opportunity to do something to 
check the advance of the slave power. Believing in 
equal rights for all men, he united himself with the 
new party, as the best means to accomplish the end 
desired. 

He was a man of sterling integrity, ever laboring 
for the public good. All matters brought to his no- 
tice were carefully weighed, and his decisions were 
generally found to be correct, and in accordance with 
right and justice. He is remembered as a lover of 
books and as a skillful mechanic, who did much in 
those early days of our history to advance the pros- 
perity of the towns and county in which he lived, 
leaving behind footprints not yet effaced. 

He died July 29, 1852, at the ripe old age of 
seventy-nine, respected by all who knew him. 



CHAPTER LX. 
BERLIN. 

BY REV. W. A. HOUGHTON. 

Ik introducing our modest little town to Worcester 
County we have to say that we ought to have been 
much larger. A line on the map touching Boston 
and Albany justifies the scheme of some shrewd 
capitalists of sixty years ago, of connecting the two 
cities by canal (d la Erie), which would have divided 



our town in halves. A speaker of our House of Rep- 
resentatives lately said that had the project been 
consummated, Boston would have been the metropolis 
instead of New York. The Central Massachusetts 
Railroad has, by nature, the pre-eminent " right of 
way,'' which it has taken through Worcester County. 
But other considerations besides directness determine 
such issues. So, too, had Lancaster, when we were a 
part of it, only accepted the county-seat, how differ- 
ent would we have been, and all the northern Wor- 
cester County towns ; great results follow inconsider- 
ate action ! 

As it is, Berlin is one of the eight towns of the 
county having less than a thousand in population, 
and two of these towns join us. Berlin, now bounded 
north by Bolton, east by Hudson and Marlboro', 
south by Northboro' and west by Boylston and Clin- 
ton, is, territorially, a section of the original " ten 
miles square" of Lancaster, and the southeast corner 
of it. 

From 1643 to 1738 we were of Lancaster,— almost 
a century. We had two or three houses on Berlin 
soil before the massacre of 1676, — one as early as 
1665. That was John Moore's, who located southeast 
of Wataquadock Hill. In the re-settlement of 
Lancaster, the families clung to the Nashua River. 
Berlin territory was not inhabited again probably 
til! about 1700. Garrisons were maintained up to 
1720. Bolton had two or three. Our territory had 
none ; but several families had ventured within our 
pre-sent bound-i about 1700. 

Of early landholders of Berlin, of noticeable ex- 
tent, were the Johnsons, of Woburn, who settled 
on the south. Captain Edward Johnson, famous in 
Woburn as one of its founders, was virtually court 
surveyor under Governor Winthrop. With two others, 
he was appointed to supervise the affairs of Lancaster, 
when not enough " freemen " could be enrolled to do 
it, not being church members. Hence, probably, his 
acquaintance with Lancaster lands. 

A great-grandson of his settled three sons, Edward, 
Joshua and Eleazer, on farms which included most of 
what is now South Berlin. Of these three brothers, 
two of them married two sisters, daughters of James 
Ball, of "Ball Hill," and sisters of the first of the 
three celebrated doctors Stephen Ball, of Northboro'. 
The other brother married a cousin of theirs, daughter 
of Nathan Ball, brother to James, on the same hill, 
Westboro' then, Northboro' now. The Johnsons were 
prominent in the early history of Bolton and Berlin. 
They came upon the stage about the time of the sep- 
aration of Bolton from Lancaster, 1738. Dr. Joshua 
Johnson, late of Northboro', was one of the last of 
this family line in this vicinity. The name stood 
strong in Berlin for a hundred and fifty years. An- 
other branch settled in Leominster. The Lancaster 
Johnsons were from Watertown. Our line stands 
Edward, William, Edward, Edward, Jr., who located 
here his sons. 



388 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



Samuel Jones, Jr., a grandson of Josiah Jones, of 
Watertown, progenitor, according to Bond, of the 
American families of the name, was connected with 
the Johnsons in Woburn by marriage, and settled near 
them on the Assabet River, near our Marlboro' and 
Northboro' lines. The Joneses were a family of like 
standing, apparently, with the Johnsons. Here the 
Joneses became more numerous for many years than 
any other family. Samuel (2d), and third of the line, 
bought of Benjamin Bailey one hundred and forty- 
seven acres, 1748, covering all our present centre. One 
single dwelling of account seems to have been in- 
cluded. This became a hotel, an " inn " in those 
days. Children and children's children came upon the 
stage. They established homes mainly upon the first 
purchase. The third and fourth Samuels raised here 
their families. The third Samuel was "senior" as to 
Berlin. The first two were of Concord and Woburn. 

Two large families, Samuel (5th) and William, re- 
moved to Marlboro'. N. H., 1810 and 1825. They 
have well maintained the family name and character. 
At present Mr. Ira Jones is sole male representa- 
tive of the several energetic founders of Berlin. 

Our Samuel, Sr., gave to the town its parish com- 
mon and ground for cemetery. He was a valiant 
patriot and " militant '' in any good cause. In the 
ecclesiastical conflict between Rev. Mr. Goss and the 
town, who desired to settle Mr. Walley, " Land'rd 
Jones" was reported as praying that the Lord would 
" overturn and overturn 

Till Goss should lose his case 
And VVftlley have his place." 

In some way " Constable Jones " served in the ex- 
ecution of Mrs. Spooner, in Worcester, 1778. So tra- 
dition has it. 

On the east of the town Stephen Gates and sons 
held several hundred acres, including our principal 
pond, bearing his name. Gates came from England, 
1638, by way of Hingham and Cambridge to Lancas- 
ter. Our Lancaster historians represent the family as 
decidedly "tropical" in blood. Daughter Mary con- 
fronted the minister in the public assembly. Prose 
cuted, she shook oti' the dust of her feet and married 
John Maynard, of Sudbury, and from them came 
several good-blooded Maynard families to Berlin. But 
the Gates name subsided. Some settled in Stow. The 
Gateses were patriots in the wars. 

Between the Gates lands on the east of the town 
and Johnsons on the south came in John Wheeler 
and John, Jr,, from the Concord Wheeler hive. They 
have multiplied, " and still increase." The name, of 
Jate years, has represented more families and persons 
than any other. Their first home was on the south 
of Sawyer Hill. Now they have a hill of their 
own in the north part of the town. They have been 
connected mostly with the Quakers, whose meeting- 
house stands just over the Bolton line in Fryville. 

The original Wheeler purchase was three hundred 
and sixty-two acres in Marlboro'. The Assabet 



Meadow is named. This of Thomas Henchman, by 
" John Wheeler, of Concord, son of Obadiah Wheeler, 
late of Concord, deceased." This John Wheeler died 
in Marlboro', 1721. His son, John, about that time 
moved on into Shrew.sbury (now Boylston), where he 
died, leaving estate to his son John. 

On the Marlboro' homestead, now in Berlin, Jona- 
than, son of John, Jr., Appears with family, 1752. He 
is the hTead of the Berlin families. George Tol- 
man, of Concord, has made a thorough development 
of the Concord Wheelers from their immigration, cor- 
recting many errors. 

Sons Jonathan, Jr., Stephen and Levi settled in 
Berlin; Perigrine in Richmond, N. H.; Jonathan, Jr. 
married Mary Buffum, of which blood all her descend- 
ants think very much ; they hold a yearly picnic the 
day after the August " Quarterly Meeting." 

Berlin on the west was peopled by Lancaster 
inhabitants from the Nashua. Philip Larkin, of 
Irish descent, established our " Larkindale." Sin- 
gularly there gathered round him othf-r nationali- 
ties till the region was known as the "Six Nations." 
Philip left a vigorous posterity, well represented as 
yet. But he disappeared in early old age, leav- 
ing for Baltimore. No further trace of him 
from about 1750 till a Berlin soldier came across 
his grave and tablet in Poolesville, Md., 1862. He 
owned here several hundred acres of land, which he 
distributed mostly among his sons. His neighbors 
suggested tiiat he left to have, at last, the offices of 
the Catholic Church. There was no such church 
nearer at that date. The suggestion has reason in 
it. Tradition has it that Philip, by collusion with 
the captain of the ship, evaded his military enroll- 
ment in the King's army. He found employment 
with Rev. John Prentice, of Lancaster. On the 
north, almost the entire section of the town was 
owned by the Lancaster Houghtons. John Hough- 
ton, born in England, was among the first proprie- 
tors of the " ten miles square '' of Lancaster. Be- 
fore the Rowlandson massacre, 1675, he had land 
three miles from the home settlements. His sons 
succeeded to the same after his death, 1684. Two of 
the sons settled on Berlin territory. Some of that 
land was in the same name for six generations, 
1675-1825. The writer of this now alone represents 
that name in Berlin. The Houghtons vied with the 
Wilders and Willards in Lancaster as to numbers. 
John Houghton, second born, 1650, died 1737, was 
one of Lancaster's most noted citizens. A majority, 
perhaps, of the Lancaster Houghtons fell into 
Bolton, 1738. Robert, son of John, Sr., was the 
progenitor of the principal Berlin line. The fore- 
going were our earliest settlers. 

Some other names will appear in their special lo- 
calities. In point of time as to settlement. Sawyer 
Hill is first. Gates Poud lies at its eastern base. 
Josiah Sawyer, grandson of the famous Thomas Saw- 
yer, Jr., of Indian fame and captivity, who redeemed 



BERLIN. 



389 



himself and sou by introducing into Canada the first 
Baw-mill, settled on Gates Hill, now Sawyer Hill, 
about 1740. 

Here he reared, and nurtured in all good training, 
a large family. He was first deacon of the Berlin 
Church. At last he divided his estate among his four 
sons, William, Aholiab, Josiah and Silas. The hill 
is still represented by a great-grandson, Jonas Sawyer. 
One of the homesteads has of late been the residence 
of Madam Rudersdorf, the famous teacher of music 
and voice culture. " Lake Side " she called it, for its 
view of the lake and many distant mountains. Ber- 
lin Centre lies in the valley on the west of the hill. 
The Sawyer name has ever been largely represented 
in Berlin, socially and religiously. 

William Sawyer, son of Deacon Josiah, was a 
thorough patriot. He married into the prominent 
Barrett family, of Bolton. William Sawyer Newton, 
town clerk of Brattleboro', grandson of Cotton New- 
ton, of the Marlboro' and Northboro' line, an early 
settler here, represents the Sawyer and Barrett fami- 
lies in Vermont. 

Major Oliver Sawyer, deacon of the Orthodox Church 
in Berlin, and Amos, his brother, deacon of the Uni- 
tarian Church, both reared here influential families. 
They were sons of William Sawyer and Hannah Bar- 
rett. Amos, Jr., was thirty years chorister in the 
same house of worship, also several years a Repre- 
sentative in the Legislature. Two sons of Dea. Oliver 
also repeatedly served the town in this capacity. 

Hon. Henry O. Sawyer, merchant, of West Boylston, 
and his partner, Walter Barrett Sawyer, are grand- 
sons of Dea. Oliver. Their father, Oliver Barrett 
Sawyer, was their predecessor in their business. 

Wheeler Hill, named from early settlers and con- 
tinued occupancy, is an offshoot from the Bolton and 
Indian Wataquadock. It is within bugle-sound of 
Sawyer Hill and several others partially encircling it, 
Jonathan Wheeler, Jr., of the fourth generation, was 
its first occupant, 1778. 

Baker Hill is another spur of Wataquadock, more 
westerly. Hon. Samuel Baker, associate judge of the 
Court of Common Pleas and fourteen years a Senator, 
settled on the hill in 1765. The hill is now in occu- 
pancy of a great-grandson, Alden Sawyer. Samuel 
Baker is the only family name in Berlin which we 
cannot trace back a single link. To us he is a genuine 
Melchisedec. We can do something with John Smith, 
but Samuel Baker we surrender; yet his name has 
honored the town more, perhaps, than any other. 

Barnes Hill is our western outlook. A finer view is 
seldom obtained. Doubtful if any other such fine 
view of Wachusett and intervening hills can be named. 
Fortunatus Barnes, of Marlboro', settled on this out- 
look, 1765. He cleaned up the hill of all squatters, 
settlers and owners, save one, Phineas Howe, whose 
great-grandson still "holds the fort," Silas Sawyer 
Greonleaf. None but these two homesteads have ever 
had a footing on this most sightly crest. In 1805 the 



Centennial was pleasingly observed. The Barnes' 
hospitality was abundant and fully appreciated. 

Hon. Charles Hudson, whose father had lived within 
musket range, on Ball Hill, partly in Berlin and partly 
in Northboro', honored the occasion by an address. 

Berlin cherishes the names of Fortunatus Barnes 
of Marlboro' and Persis Hosmer of Concord, both of 
historic families. They have largely contributed to 
our character and standing. Their son, Capt. William 
Barnes, married into the vigorous Goddard stock, then 
already established on the eastern slope of Barnes Hill- 
The son did honor to the family name, and maintained 
the paternal acres in the best order of husbandry till 
his death, 1851. No fruit to-day excels the product of 
Barnes Hill. 

Artemas Barnes, only son of Captain William and 
Hannah (Goddard) Barnes, generously erected, 1876, 
a costly monument to the memory of Rev. Dr. Puf- 
fer; also to Lieut. Timothy Bailey, who died in the 
Revolutionary service. He gave also the site on 
which our town-house stands. His life-size portrait 
adorns the Town Hall. He married Nancy Meriamt 
a lateral branch of the Lexington and Berlin stock. 
He died in Worcester, 1877, aged eighty years. 

Before naming other families, a view from Barnes 
Hill may give us the best idea of the town territori- 
ally. On the west the land rises from the Nashua 
River, in Clinton, so that it sheds its water not into 
the river near by, but carries it across the township 
into the Assabet. The surface is generally uneven, 
but of a more than ordinary fertility. 

Berlin streams are small, except the Assabet, which 
flows through the southeast border and receives afflu- 
ents from other towns. The Centre and the South 
village are not an intervale proper, but from Barnes 
Hill seem bounded by it and Baker Hill, Wheeler 
Hill and Sawyer Hill. North Brook, formed by 
streams from the north part of the town, and Larkin- 
dale, divides the lower area, tending to the Assabet. 
The Centre contains three churches, town-house, 
school-house, post-oflSce and a store of common va- 
riety. A hotel was burned 1883. 

This valley, to the Assabet, is dotted with farms, 
farm-houses and Old Colony Railroad station. South 
Berlin village, at the south end of the valley, is quite 
a flourishing part of the town. West Berlin, at the 
northeastern foot of Barnes Hill, is the most active 
business point of the town. The Old Colony Railroad 
has given it life and energy. The C. M. Railroad 
makes there a junction with it. The iron bridge of 
the latter, spanning Felton's mill-pond and the O. C. 
Railroad, is a very fine structure. 

Carterville is a cluster of a score of houses, store, 
&c., just north of the churches. Here, too, is the C. 
M. Railroad station. Very few localities present 
such a horizon-view as Barnes Hill in Berlin. 

We waited long for the Rail, but it came at last. 
Four trains for Boston daily and return on the O. C. 
and three on the C. M. On the latter one hour plus 



390 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



by way of Hudson, Wayland, Waltham, &c. By the 
game road, within one hour of Worcester, by way of 
Oakdale and the Nashua, three times daily. The 
O. C. Northern Division embraces Fitchburg, Leo- 
minster, Clinton, Berlin, Northboro', Marlboro', 
Southboro', Framingham, &c. We look for " Berlin 
Junction," now partial, at West Berlin. Few towns 
have better railroad facilities. Very few, within 
thirty miles of Boston, have more enjoyable scenery. 
We have also daily stage express to Hudson Station 
on the Fitchburg. 

Returning to family names, Benjamin Bailey, ad- 
joining the Johnsons, and of whom Samuel Jones 
bought what is now Berlin Centre, owned much be- 
sides ; six hundred acres at least. He bought " rights," 
exchanged and consolidated, till he held in one solid 
block, apparently, a third part of our jnesent town- 
ship, and that nearly in the centre. He came in from 
Marlboro', 1718; was a descendant, probably, of Rev. 
Thomas Bailey, of Watertown. Rev. Benjamin Bai- 
lay, of Portland, Marblehead, now of Maiden, is of 
the fourth generation from Benjamin, of Berlin, "The 
places that know them shall know them no more." 
Sons and sons' sons were many years leading citizens 
here. For forty years the name has not been enrolled 
in Berlin, save as adopted by a lateral descendant to 
keep it up. A brother of Benjamin, Barnabrs Bailey, 
had a large farm, including, at his door, what is now 
the Old Colony Railroad Station for Berlin Centre and 
South Berlin. Col. Silas Bailey v/as a younger brother. 
His son. Lieutenant Timothy, died in the Revolu- 
tionary service. The colonel got somewhat into sym- 
pathy with the Shays' Rebellion. 

William Babcock, of the Dedham and Marlboro' line, 
settled here about 1770. He was our only Cincinnatui, 
so far as we can affirm, who left his plough in the 
furrow, and hastened to Lexington at the alarm gun 
fired from the "Jones tavern." The Babcock name 
has ever headed our list of citizens, the letter A re- 
fusing, almost wholly, to serve us till lately. Five 
generations from William, inclusive, are on our re- 
cords and still well represented. Reuben Babcock, 
father of William, lived in Marlboro', Westboro' and 
Northboro', without moving, near the present Corey 
farms. 

Adam Bartlett, of Marlboro', with wife, Persis Bab- 
cock, sister of William,'of Northboro', took possession 
of the " Stone-house," Baker Hill, about 1808. Sons 
and daughters were born to them, ten in number, but 
the one destroyer has left us but one representative, 
Amory Adam,of the fourth generation. A Sawyer and 
Bartlett Association hold annual picnic meetings at 
the Stone-house about the 1st of September. 

The name Bassett is modern in I3erlin, but honor- 
ably represented. Three brothers came from Rich- 
mond, N. H., 185(;, with their venerable parents, of 
the Society of Friends. Elisha settled on one of our 
best farms, on the Assabet ; William, in the same 
vicinity ; Ahaz settled in Hudson. Hon. William 



Bassett is the author of a comprehensive history of his 
native town, Richmond, N. H. He was Senator of 
his district, 1864. 

Thomas and Samuel Brigham came in from that 
most numerous stock of Marlboro', and traceable to 
Thomas, of Watertown, 1635. Samuel left no son. 
Thomas and wife, Asuba Babcock, left Thomas and 
Paul. No son succeeded these. They both lived by 
the present central station of the Old Colony Railroad. 

The Barber mills (Nathan) were a focus of promi- 
nent interest from 1777-1812. Later they were the 
Carter mills, Polland mills, now Felton's, West Berlin. 
Whence Barber cime is not indicated. The family 
ceased from our records sixty years ago. 

Bride, formerly McBride, is a name first represented 
here by Alexander, from Ireland and Charlestown, 
174-5-50. The families were numerous fifty years 
ago. Only two at present in Berlin. All the sons- 
John, James and Thomas — were more or less in the 
colonial armies. 

Bruce is Scotch. Our records have borne the name 
a hundred and fifty years. They were a family of 
soldiers, in the Freuch and Indian Wars, also in the 
Revolution. They came from Sudbury. John and 
Roger, of Marlboro', jsreceded Daniel, the head of 
Berlin families. We cannot give the date of immi- 
gration. 

James Butler was of Woburn and Lancaster. 
James, Jr., without moving, was of Lancaster, Bolton 
and Berlin. The name was but a few years on Ber- 
lin records till recently. Lancaster, Bolton and Leo- 
minster took in most of them. Their Lancaster 
homes were west of Clam-shell Pond. 

Christopher Banister Bigelow,of the Marlboro' line, 
so ancient, reared a large family, five or six of whom 
have reared other families within our borders. One 
only on our records at present. Abraham Bigelow, 
of Northboro', is son of Christopher. 

The Carter families of Berlin, always relatively nu- 
merous, are of the Woburn stock. Rev. Thomas 
Carter was first minister of that enterprising town. 
The Carters were early settlers in Lancaster, and of 
the most vigorous blood. A full score of the families 
have made their homes on Berlin territory down to 
the ninth generation from Rev. Thomas. Chandler 
Carter, late benefactor of the town, has a personal 
record on another page. 

Cartwright, Francis James, came from England 
about 1840, with sons Daniel and Algernon, and 
daughter Elizabeth. Parents and daughter have de- 
ceased. 

Carley, Job and Silas, were transferred to Berlin 
from Marlboro' in the construction of the town- 
Kerley was the original form of the family name, 
pronounced Karley,— hence Carley. Their home 
was on the Assabet. The progenitor was William, of 
Watertown, 1G42, He was an original j'roprietor of 
lands both in Marlboro' and Lancaster. In Lancas- 
ter he married, second wife, the mother of Minister 



BEELIN. 



391 



Eowlandson. His brother Henry's family were 
killed in the Eowlandson massacre. This brought 
Henry back to the Assabet, where he settled. The 
Berlin Carleys were his descendants. Their early 
connections were in the best families of Marlboro' 
and Lancaster. Job Carley, the last on our records, 
died here 185(5, not of "small-po.K," as put on record. 
That visitation of the family was fifty years earlier. 

Cotting, George A., resident in Berlin, Boylston, 
now of Hudson, has honored his ancestry in erecting 
in Berlin's new cemetery a sightly and impressive 
granite monument bearing the Cotting genealogy of 
his line from the immigration. Josiah, of Roxbury, 
1637, heads the line, later of Lancaster. Others of 
kin settled in Kew York City, and appeared under 
the name of Cutting. Cotting is the original. Jo.siah, 
Jr., was a Revolutionary soldier of Sterling; Josiah 
(3d) was physician of Southboro'; Josiah (4th) married 
daughter of Capt. William Barnes, of Berlin ; George 
A. is their son. 

Coolidge : Many in the region, Bolton and Hudson. 
John, of Watertown, 1636, is counted as head of the 

American families. His wife was Mary . Had 

Mary, Sarah, Stephen and Jonathan, and John, Jr., 
who settled in Sherborn. Berlin families have been 
Stephen, Moses, Josiah, Caleb. 

A branch of the Northboro' Fays, descendants of 
John, of Boston, 1656, settled in Berlin, 1804. Dexter 
was deacon of the church. His children and children's 
children still abide. He owned a fine farm on the 
height of land next to Northboro' line, till of late in 
the family name. It is now a "gilt edge" butter 
dairy. The Morse family has been represented in 
Berlin for fifty years. Aaron Ward, of Marlboro', 
descendant of Joseph, of Watertown, 1635, settled 
hers 1837; was succeeded by his son Symon on the 
Assabet, one of the best farms of the region. Wins- 
low B. Morse, on the old " Brigham place," Old Colony 
Station, is of a collateral branch. Amory C, de- 
ceased, was his brother. 

Feltons in Berlin are modern and came from Marl- 
boro' 1830— iO. Jacob and sons, Otis and Merrick. 
Two brothers from Scotland by the name of Fife 
came over about 1730. They located as neighbors in 
Lancaster, but territorial divisions left one family in 
Bolton the other in Berlin. The Berlin branch, by 
James, became numerous. They were enterprising 
and scattered themselves in several States. Dr. John 
William Fyfe, of Saugatuck, Conn., is their genealo- 
gist. The William Fyfe line, much esteemed, is 
represented solely by William E. Fyfe, of Clinton, 
Mas^., the fourth William and fourth generation. 

The Fo'igateg for a hundred and fifty years have 
clung to Gates Pond, in East Berlin. We trace to 
Robert, sometimes of Jlarlboro', sometimes of Bolton. 
Back of Robert the ancestry is obscure. It is the only 
ancient family among us who still hold their own in 
a half-score of families. 

Five generations of the well-known Goddard family 



have dwelt among us; all descended from Edward, a 
stanch old Puritan in days of the hated Charles I. 
Edward " lost all things " for liis religion. William, 
his son, lost all by the London fire and speculation 
in New England investments. Josiah, son of William, 
made a good farmer in Watertown, and William, his 
son, made a good miller on North Brook, now South 
Berlin. One name alone, Marcus Morton Goddard, 
represents, to-day, in Berlin, all these generations. 
They were among our earliest and most vigorous 
families. 

A family of genuine vigor were the Fairbanks. 
Jonas was a first proprietor of Lancaster. His son 
Jabez become a terror to all Indians within scouting 
distance. Jabez, Jr., and a son of his settled on 
Berlin premises. TheGoddards and Fairbanks joined 
hands in the marriage of James Goddard, Jr., of the 
sixth generation, and Keziah Fairbanks, great-grand- 
daughter of Jabez, Sr., in 1785. 

Hartshorn was a name unknown in Berlin up to 
1840. Dr. Edward, son of Rev. Levi Hartshorn, 
who died at Gloucester in early prime, came to Ber- 
lin after his graduation at Harvard Medical College. 
He was then the youngest practicing physician in 
Worcester County. He married a daughter of Solo- 
mon Howe, Esq., and settled in professional life. 
Besides laborious practice, he did much to improve 
the town by various enterprises. He was chairman 
in committee for building the present tasteful and 
becoming town-house, 1869. 

Dr. H.artshorn was for seventeen years superin- 
tendent of the Congregational Sunday-school. He 
sold his professional interests in the town, 1854, and 
with his two sons engaged in the manufacture of 
family medicines, which business he removed to 
Boston and followed with his family, 1871. 

Edward Howe, son of Dr. Hartshorn, retained his 
home in Berlin and succeeded his father as superin- 
tendent of the Sabbath-school sixteen years. Death 
severed the connection. He married the daughter of 
Rev. Wm. A. Houghton, 1869. She died 1876. Sec- 
ond, he married a daughter of R. S. Hastings. He 
died June 8, 1887, at forty-four years. He repre- 
sented his district, embracing Berlin, Clinton and 
Bolton, in Legislature, 1869 ; was the youngest mem- 
ber, save one, in the House. The first marriage of 
Edward H. Hartshorn and that of his only brother 
to only daughter of James Mayuard, of Clinton, were 
on the same day ; being the silver wedding of Rev. 
W. A. Houghton and wife. A great concourse of 
people were present. The elder brother and the 
mother of his first two children now lie side by side 
in the silence of the grave, under the national flag. 

Hastings : Four branches of this family of ancient 
history have given character to Berlin. It is pleasant 
to know that we have some early blood in America 
besides the British and the Irish. No doubt the 
Hastings are true Danes. Mrs. Lydia Nelson (Hast- 
ings) Buckminster, of Framingham, the family gene- 



392 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



alogist, gives us — 1664-1864 — about one thousand of 
the name and three times as many of the blood, hav- 
ing " homes from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean, 
and from the Gulf of the St. Lawrence to the tropical 
regions of South America." Thomas, born in Eng- 
land, 1605, and Margaret Cheney, of Roxbury, are 
the progenitors. Nathaniel, Jr., of the fourth genera- 
tion, was first on Berlin territory about 1765. He had 
a large family. His wife was Elizabeth Goodnow. 
He was a soldier in the French War — 1755-62 — also 
in Revolutionary service. 

Ephraim Hastings, of the fifth generation, married 
Achsah Sawyer, of Lancaster, and settled in Boylston, 
where his children were born, and where his wife, 
Achsali, died. He married (2d) Almira, daughter of 
Rev. Dr. Puffer, of Berlin. He bought the Edward 
Johnson homestead, where he died, 1855. His only 
son, Captain Christopher Sawyer, at the outbreak of 
the Rebellion, though exempt by age from military 
service, voluntarily organized a company and ottered 
himself for service. He was in the battle of Fred- 
ericksburg, Vicksburg and at the capture of Jackson, 
Miss. Smitten by the small-pox, he rallied and 
reached Mound City Hospital, 111., where he died 
of malarial fever, September 8, 1863. He was buried 
with civic and military honors beside his own home- 
stead, in our new cemetery, which he had done much 
to adorn. 

Captain Hastings was a man of public enterprise, 
and executed many important trusts of the town. 
The trees of the highway, from his own domicile to 
his final resting-place, bear witness to his public 
spirit. His farm of generous acres, in the hands of his 
sons, represents, perhaps, the best specimen of mod- 
ern agriculture and gardening of this vicinity. The 
family have presented to the G. A. R. Post his life-size 
likeness in crayon. 

Rufus S. Hastings, twenty-five years merchant and 
postmaster in Berlin, was separated from the -other 
Berlin Hastings families in the third generation. His 
father. Major Rufus, and grandfather, Colonel Ste- 
phen, were of the most prominent farmers of Sterling, 
and just south of Washacum Ponds. Their line con- 
nected them with the Northboro' Balls of Ball Hill, 
from Watertown, and with Deacon Jona. Livermore, 
the centeuarian, who lived in three centuries — died 
1801. Samuel Hastings, of the second generation, 
and Sarah Coolidue were their progenitors. Thomas 
and Margaret (Cheney) Hastings were before these. 

Thomas Holder, son of Thomas, direct from England 
married, in Mendon, Sarah Gaskill, 1777, and came to 
Berlin. Both were effective preachers, of the Quaker 
persuasion. Four sons honored their name and Chris- 
tian faith: Daniel and Thomas, of Berlin, Joseph, of 
Bolton, and David, of Clinton. All are deceased. I 
find the names Gaskill and Holder among the Quakers 
in their persecutions in the old Bay Colony. Samuel 
Gaskill, 1662, married Provided Southwick, daughter 
of Lawrence and Cassandra. 



John Hudson, father of Hon. Charles, preacher and 
legislator, was a member of Berlin Church, and died 
here 1799. The Hudsons were a family of patriots, and 
soldiers as well. 

Phineas Howe, of the Marlboro' John Howe line, 
came in by way of Shrewsbury, then Boylston, about 
1760. His daughter Polly, who married Abel Baker, 
son of Judge Baker, raised, in Concord, N. H., a 
family remarkable for physical development. One 
son measured six feet, nine and one-half inches in his 
stockings. Ata recent silver wedding of Silas Green- 
leaf, a great-grandson of Phineas, on the ancestral 
spot, the trait was observable in the sixth generation, 
grandsons of Mr. Greenleaf. 

Solomon Howe, also of Marlboro', came much later, 
1803 ; bought of the Joneses most of what is now Ber- 
lin Centre. He kept a store, also a public " Inn." It 
was the dining-place for stage passengers between 
New Braintree, Barre, Rutland and Boston, 1827-40. 

Berlin Howards are of Shrewsbury — Timothy, Tim- 
othy, Jr., and sons. 

The name Jewett has an abiding- place in Berlin 
records for a hundred years. Jesse, probably from 
Rowley, with the Spaffords, settled here 1779 ; married 
into the Johnson family. The third and fourth gene- 
rations survive. A son of Jesse, Jr., was major in the 
New Jersey militia in the late war, suffered a severe 
wound in the "sword-arm," as he was leading his men 
in battle. 

The Keyes name is modern in Berlin, represented 
by David, Ziba and their children. Their remotest 
American ancestor was Robert, of Watertown, 1633. 
Several of the family name settled in Shrewsbury and 
Boylston. The Berlin families are of the Shrewsbury 
branch, Dea. John Keyes. His son Thomas married 
into the Livermore family, of Ball Hill. Thomas, Jr., 
was father to David and Ziba. 

The Maynards are of most ancient lineage. Our 
families are traceable to John, of Sudbury, 1638, and 
Mary Gates, of Lancaster, who confronted the minis- 
ter. Barnabas, Jotham and Jotham, Jr., were life- 
long citizens. Two other Maynard families succeeded 
them, — George, of Marlboro,' and George W., from 
Great Bend, Pa. George W. represented his district 
in the Legislature, 1859. 

The Meriams were influential here from 1765 to 
184.5-50. Amos, from Lexington, of the well-known 
Concord family, married into the Danforth family, of 
"Cambridge Farms." Joseph Meriara, Esq., of New 
Yiirk City, is their genealogist (manuscript). 

Jonathan Moore, of the John Moore line, of Sud- 
bury, 1650, has been followed in Bolton and Berlin by 
seven generations. Warren E. Moore and brothers, 
of Northboro', are the later representatives of Bei-lin 
origin. 

James R. Park, of Holliston, descended of Richard, 
of Watertown, 1636, became the owner of the God- 
dard mills and other estate in South Berlin, 1790,— a 
family of respectability and good influence in Berlin 



BERLIN. 



393 



for three generations. His son, Colonel Joseph, sev- 
eral years Bepresentative to the Lefrislature, and his 
only ?on, Russell, returned to Holliston, where the 
father died. 

The Berlin Pollards were of Billerica, and descend- 
ants of William and Anna, from Coventry, England, 
1638. The Berlin families appear about 1720-30, 
then a part of Bolton, where a majority have since 
lived. Anna Pollard, wife of William, was the first 
female who set foot on Boston soil. She lived to her 
hundred and fifth year. Her portrait is in the Old 
South Church, Boston. 

Joseph Priest and wife Hannah, born 1GS4, are the 
eldest born of any in Berlin Cemetery — -just two hun- 
dred years before our incorporation as a precinct. He 
was from W^oburn, and came by way of Lancaster. 
Had a large family, which was represented in three 
or four succeeding generations. A son of his, Joseph, 
Jr., gave the town, by will, five hundred dollars, our 
first school fund, to be appropriated to schools alone. 

Captain Henry Powers, of unknown lineage, was an 
early settler on Baker Hill, about 1770. Had a large 
family, but they did not tarry after the second genera- 
tion. A grandson of his was killed by murderous 
assault in Grafton, 1840. 

Solomon Rathburn, from Rhode Island, settled in 
Berlin about 1840. His son, Thomas, was the first 
enrolled soldier of Berlin in the late war ; the first 
also of Berlin soldiers to die in the high calling. 
Another son, James, also entered the service. Charles 
B. is of our progressive farmers on Baker Hill. 

Of Southwicks — historic name of Puritan days — 
we have several families, veritable descendants of 
Lawrence and Cassandra, the first to suffer persecu- 
tion here for opinion's sake; more accurately, per- 
haps, for opposing others' opinions and refusing to 
conform to the arbitrary laws on religious matters. 
Lawrence and Cassandra were certainly inoffensive, 
except in non-conformity. Had the defiers of mar- 
tyrdom been like them, none would have been hung, 
defiling the history of the Colony and shaming the 
Puritan posterity. It is humiliating to read the 
atrocities inflicted in the name of the law, and sad 
to know the frenzy of honest souls in the name of 
religion. 

One of the fifth generation — David — and Mary 
Sweet located on Berlin soil about 1780. They had 
a most worthy family of thirteen children. Three 
families of grandchildren of like character abide 
with us. 

The SpaflTord name has stood by us from the first 
up to date. The name is the oldest, historically, of 
any on our records. Our Lancaster " Book of Lands" 
seems to us quite ancient. But the veritable Spaf- 
ford name is in the "Doomsday Book" of William 
the Conqueror, of England, lOCG. (See SpafJbrd Me- 
morial, Aphia T. Spofford, Groveland, Mass., 1888.) 
Rowley was the American family hive, then compri- 
sing Georgetown, Groveland and other places. From 



1638 to 1888 about fifty-five hundred names are 
registered. The Berlin line stands, — John, John (2d), 
Samuel of Lancaster (now Boylston), his two sons, 
Job and Samuel, settling here in our early town life. 
Samuel is still represented in grandchildren. 

Shattuck, Elijah C, representative 1875, is our 
only citizen of the name. 

Young is a name duly cherished in Berlin. The 
Berlin family originated in Phillipston, children 
of Oliver and Grace (Kelly) Young. Miss Nancy 
Young, of her own earnings and frugality, bequeathed 
to our town fifteen hundred dollars as a school fund. 
She and an unmarried brother died on the old South- 
wick homestead, now Paul Randall's, who came in 
from Boltoa. 

The name of Tyler is among the more recent in 
Berlin. They were of Warwick, and connected with 
the Bassetts. They represent our best stock-raisers 
and dairying. Their brother-in-law, William Lawson, 
has erected the finest mansion in the town, on 
Sawyer Hill, the " Lakeside " home of the late Madam 
Rudersdorf. 

The geology of Berlin has never been scientifically 
stated. We surrender, for prudential reasons. 

The Central Massachusetts Railroad opened inter- 
esting specimens. One was a large vein of graphite. 
The northwest part of the town is unequaled in 
boulders short of Cape Ann. A single rocker of 
many tons lies on a ledge by Clam-shell Pond. Some 
years ago a woman could put it in motion. Too 
much rocking has worn it down till only a slight 
motion can be easily effected. About the pond, on 
the Larkin lands, numerous Indian relics indicate 
that some tribe dwelt on the pond borders. Perhaps 
it was a resort of the Is ashaways. 

Water-Ways. — Of water-ways we can claim 
about a mile of the Assabet River. This we got by 
grant of the Great and General Court. Marl- 
borough had swooped in seven miles of that stream 
and its intervales. Lancaster surveyors set their 
starting-stake too far east, and so run against Marl- 
borough. That made the Lancaster " Square " a 
trapezoid. Lancaster settlements began len years 
earlier than Marlborough, but Marlborough was 
awake and got her stakes down first. She probably 
thought that Lancaster ought to be satisfied with the 
'• Nashaway," of which they boasted so much. 
Several hundred acres of Marlborough, west of the 
Assabet, were granted to Berlin, crossing the Assabet 
at Lancaster, southeast corner, because some of our 
families owned land on the east beyond the river. 
Assabet has been variously spelled (Hist. North- 
borough, Joseph Allen, D.D), sometimes Elizabeth, 
but the Indian name has gained its standing. It af- 
fords Berlin no water-power; the only stream that does 
is a western tributary to the Assabet, with the modest 
name of " North Brook,'' its sources being in the 
north part of the town. Earliest deeds call it the 
"Great Brook." This is the stream that fascinated 



394 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY", MASSACHUSETTS. 



AVilliam Goddard, 1727. At much cost, for the day, 
he established a saw and grist-mill, 1752-GO. The 
" power '' is better at flood than the supply for the 
year. Another mill was set up by Nathan Barber, 
two miles above, 1777 ; another just above that, 
about 1810, by Thomas Pollard for his son Stephen. 
Nothing else of permanent water-power has aided 
Berlin in her industries. Other streams are few and 
small. Foundations have been laid for another power 
near Berlin Station, O. C. R. R. Two ponds, "Clara- 
shell,'' at the extreme west, and " Gates' Pond," at 
the extreme east, are all we can boast in this matter, 
except that " Gates' Pond," in Fosgate ownership, is 
the finest summer resort of the region. Several sum- 
mer cottages have been built on its eastern shore. 
The pond is the source of the Hudson water supply, 
at which many Berlin citizens are very indignant. 
No man Gates was ever drowned in our pond for the 
sake of giving his name to it. Stephen Gates was its 
earliest personal owner, with much land about it. Our 
denizens stoutly refuse the proposal to call it " Lake 
Assabet," at Madam Budersdorf 's suggestion. " Clam- 
shell '' Pond is its own interpreter. 

Roads. — From the beginning Berlin has held one 
good mark of " civilization " in its roads. Some 
citizens here, especially the Meriams, caught the 
spirit and views of Colonel Ezra Beaman, of Boylston. 
We did not take to " turnpikes," but from the town to 
its contiguous neighbors, the fathers were ambitious 
of good highways. Many petitioners for an open road 
to their own home had to accept a " bridle-way," for 
the sake of more public liberality. The main roads 
were open, of course, while we were yet of Bolton, 
1738 to 1784. 

Favored in respect to bridges, our taxes have not 
been excessive. The first and only iron bridge has 
recently been constructed to span the Assabet between 
South Berlin and Marlboro'. 

The town has not settled upon any one method of 
keeping up the highways. The old "highway sur- 
veyor '' has been supplanted — once by a single com- 
missioner. Many still advocate the same, but of late 
the commissioners are chosen for districts. Berlin is 
very jealous of concentrated power. The majority 
are not " Democrats," but all are very democratic. 
The highway discussions are among the most animated 
in town-meetings. So they were in the '"twenties." 

Roads suggest vehicles, and vehicles adapted to the 
roads. In 1734 Jonas Houghton, the "Lancaster 
Surveyor," contracted with settlers on Petersham 
territory to construct a road over a section of Wachu- 
sett, such that four oxen could conveniently carry 
over it four barrels of cider at once. 

Only solid wagons could bear the strains of country 
roads a hundred years ago. But many statements as 
to the introduction of easier carriages exaggerate the 
time. The chaise was in use at least a hundred years 
ago, spelled "shays." Heuce the old epigram on the 
Shays' Rebellion : 



Says Bober Will, " Well, Shays has fled, 
And peace returns to bless our days." 
" Indeed," cries Ned, "I always said 
He'd prove, at last, ^faUhnck Shays; 
And those turned over and undone. 
Call him a worthlene Shaj/s to run.^^ — Ward. 

The first iron rail was laid in Berlin, 18G6, the 
" Fitchburg, Framingham and New Bedford." Two 
stations, one for the Centre and South Berlin, mid- 
way, one for West Berlin. The road-bed of the Mas- 
sachusetts Central was prepared for grading as far as 
Holden before a rail was laid. Here it rested till fi- 
nancial reconstruction, as the "Central Massachu- 
setts." The town struggled under the twenty thousand 
investment some fifteen years. The debt was lifted 
by the generous donation of Mr. Chandler Carter, 
1887. 

The Stage-Coach. — Therailroad, in itsday, hardly 
excited more interest in Berlin than did the first stage- 
coach, forty years earlier. Berlin was left out in the 
cold by the greater thoroughfares through Norlhboro' 
and Bolton. 

"The mail-stage" was a wonder to the boys in its 
early day. Boys and men went miles to see the first 
four-horse stage in the United Stage, driven by Levi 
Pease, of Shrewsbury, from Worcester to Boston, 1795. 
So when a "stage-line" was started between New 
Braintree, Barre and Boston, by way of Holden, West 
Boylston, Sawyer's Mills, Berlin, Feltonville (Hud- 
son) and Sudbury, the enterprise created great inter- 
est. Jona. D. Meriam was the principal investor of 
Berlin ; George E. Manson and Daniel Pope, of Fel- 
tonville. It was a losing business for the proprietors. 
But somebody was bright enough to run a line in op- 
position. The town got its post-office and other ad- 
vantages. 

How little we realize the blessings of postal service 
at public expense ! It is all modern, really. When 
the Puritans came to America, England had no com- 
plete mail service. In 1655 a post was established 
between London and Edinbugh, " to go night and 
day," and make return route within six days. Boston 
was then five years old. Lancaster had no post-office 
for one hundred and fifty years. As late as 1820-30 
every store and bar-room was a kind of post-office. As 
advertisements now adorn the stores, so letters to ad- 
joining and even distant towns were thus posted. A 
letter in Berlin directed to Worcester or Westboro' 
would be taken in hand by any one going to North- 
boro', leaving it there for the next self-constituted let- 
ter-carrier. All Berlin mail-matter was left in Bolton 
post-office up to 1827. So much for a mail-stage. 
Then, too, Berlin was the midway town between Barre 
and Boston. 

The Howe Tavern of Berlin was the dining-place. 
" Esquire Meriam " was the first driver. He obtained 
a mail contract and post-office for the town, and be- 
came our first postmaster, though the superintendence 
of it devolved upon Wm. A. Howe, of the store and 
tavern. Eventually Mr. Howe succeeded to the ap- 



BERLIN. 



395 



pointment. Every letter sent or received was reg- 
istered, with amount of postage, before it could go 
out or before it could be delivered on arrival. A 
number of letters to Boston or elsewhere would be 
done up in one package with one bill of registration. 
A single letter must also be done up as a paclcage, 
with its record and the town or city superscribed. Six 
and a quarter cents, ten cents, twelve and a half cents, 
eighteen and three-fourths cents, and twenty-five cents 
■v^ere the rates of postage. Times have clianged. 

The MARKET-irAJT. — This is a class not much on 
record in town histories. But really they were the 
connecting link between the town and the outside 
world. The market-man took the butter, poultry, 
eggs, veal and various farm produce. Sometimes he 
gathered it himself, carried it to Boston, ordinarily in 
a well-covered wagon with two horses, once a week 
and return. He probably liandled more money than 
any other man in Berlin. But he was the weekly 
newsman. He brought the Boston news, much of it 
verbal, indeed, but he brought the newspaper also. 
From our earliest town life to 1812-20 so few towns 
having even a sight of a stage-coach, or mail, each 
town was interested in the return of the market-man. 
Tradition relates that a weekly concourse awaited the 
weekly arrival of Hugh Bruce at the Howe store and 
tavern, with the Boston Palladium reporting the pro- 
gress of the war, 1812-15, also the reports of Napo- 
leon's marvelous feats in Europe. So the slow-trudg- 
ing market-man was the forerunner of the mail-coach 
and the locomotive. Pity the town which has no in- 
terest in the arrival of a daily mail ! 

The market-man usually brought all the store gro- 
ceries,— more than all, " New Rum," that is. New 
England rum, later called Medford rum. We would 
not record it, only we have proved by other towns 
that we were not an exception, but sixty hogsheads of 
rum was the annual consumption in our town of less 
than seven hundred inhabitants, by estimate, 1825. 
There were then two stores. I repeat it, we were not 
exceptional. The market-man was sure of a weekly 
load. The successor of the market-man as news-car- 
rier was the post rider. 

Industries. — As to our early industries, the locality 
of Berlin determined them. A water-power which 
fails for one-third of the year is just about worthless, 
except for mere milling. Once the brooks were very 
useful ; but modern industries demand the rivers, and 
rivers that rage and roar. Compare ihe towns on the 
Concord River from Sudbury Meadows to Billerica, 
all on a level, and the towns on the Merrimac. Ber- 
lin was doomed to agriculture from the start. You 
cannot organize successful industries. 

We have fragmentary records of the e.arly agricul- 
ture of Berlin to show good thrift of the husbandmen 
Returns in part of the year 1792 indicate the yiel 
of good hay at nearly a ton and a half to the acre. 

Some farms to-day do less than that. The yield of 
grain was not equal to that of hay. Cattle-herds 



were small. Sheep-folds were smaller. There was 
no " tariff on wool then. It was grown for home 
uses, so of flax. Apples were mainly of the " natural " 
stock. But a great change was wrought for Berlin 
by the good minister, Mr. Puffer. He practiced 
grafting even for his parishioners, and taught them 
the art. Few apples are seen to-day superior to those 
of Barnes Hill in the first decades of the century. 
The writer of this gathers yearly the " Russet " and 
"Nonesuch," which Mr. Puffer originated on his own 
homestead, now a hundred years old. No apples 
to-day outrank the apples of the Berlin uplands. 
Less cider is made because of good fruit instead of 
the natural. From the scant data of 1792, which is 
our oldest, the product of rye was about 300 bushels ; 
oats, 400 ; corn, 1,200 ; cider, 250 barrels. Four thou- 
sand acres improvable land ; at the end of forty 
years, 5,400; at the end of the century 6,918. Say 
one hundred and twenty farms of sixty acres each. 

The first State returns of mechanical industries 
were made by request, not by law, 1837. We will 
not quote. But basket-making, employing three men, 
was the largest business our assessors found time or 
disposition to report. 

The old routine of farming held very constant sway 
in Berlin up to 1830-40. A deviation was made 1810- 
20 in hop-culture. The largest return was six and 
one-half tons for the town. The price varied from 
ten to fifteen or twenty cents per pound. Perhaps 
some years brought in two thousand dollars. Specu- 
lation set in, and some bad losses were made. It was 
calculated that "a pound of hops could be raised as 
cheaply as a pound of pork." From about 1830 hop- 
yards declined. Only two or three moderate fields 
can now be seen. Hop-picking was an annual gala 
day for the girls, in the field. 

Berlin had one "South Sea Bubble" in the "Mo- 
rns multicaulis" epidemic, about 1840, — a shrub of 
large leaf for feeding silk-worms. We had little 
scientific farming before 1850-60. A Farmers' and 
Mechanics' Association was formed, which has greatly 
advanced gardening and agriculture. The south part 
of the town is especially adapted to early fruits and 
vegetables. Well has it been improved. Berlin 
asparagus has a reputation in Boston. Small fruits 
receive like attention. Grape-culture, on a brow of 
the Assabet valley, has been a marked success. An 
old sand-hill (the ground w.is accounted) was found 
to have a clay subsoil of remarkable tenacity for 
moisture. Perhaps no acres in Berlin are now more 
valuable. 

Peach-culture, after much fruitless endeavor, now 
gives promise of success. Our hills are given es- 
pecially to orcharding, grass and general culture. We 
have several gilt-edge butter farms on high lands, 
with choice stock. But the bulk of milk goes off by 
rail. Many pastures, formerly mowed annually, in 
" the old moon," now have their own way. Our wood 
acreage is hardly less than fifty years ago. 



396 



HISTORY OP WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



The dwelling-houses of Berlin (two hundred and 
ten) are almost wholly of modern aspect. Sixty 
years ago one-third, perhaps, were of the long back 
roofs of one story and two stories front. Our last 
went down in smoke, 1886. We have no pretentious 
dwellings. The most impressive one crowns Sawyer 
Hill, the residence of William Lawson, Esq. The 
farm is managed, in gilt butter-making, by his 
brother-in-law, Reed Tyler. Like the Pennsylvania 
Dutchmen, most of the Berlin farmers are set on 
having good barns. Nine-tenths of all the houses in 
Berlin are comfortable homes. We have one which 
was probably built about 1720 by Jona. Moore, still 
habitable, " the Sanderson Carter place." Our valu- 
ation stands at $489,000, — " put up,'' some twenty 
years ago, $75,000, to lessen taxes, it was said. The 
percentage, of course. Southey tells of an old man 
who used to put on his glasses in eating cherries, — it 
made them look so much bigger. 

The census of 1880 gives us over two hundred 
voters. 

As for early handicraft, some thirty cooper-shops 
can be recalled by the old people. " Beef barrels," 
"rum barrels,'' "cider barrels," all had a good market 
in Boston sixty years ago. Other wooden-ware, — as 
churns, pails, " piggins and noggins," — furnished 
some employment. Many a two-horse barrel rig 
started at midnight for Boston. Barrels were made 
on contract. A good cooper is a natural mechanic. 
Others need not try. 

"Wiredrawing" and card-making were an excep- 
tional attempt in Berlin, about 1810-20. Caleb 
Houghton, by a small power on Cranberry Meadow 
Brook, wrought wire ; Solomon Howe, of the Centre, 
manufactured cards — a losing business to both. Card- 
setting (inserting the tooth into the punctured leather 
cardboard) furnished employment for many children ; 
sometimes for parents. Braiding straw was a like 
family employment. 

Ecclesiastical. — When Bolton separated from 
Lancaster probably some two hundred of its popula- 
tion were within Berlin limits. As a part of Bolton, 
the Berlin fathers lived in good harmony with the 
worthy town till the ecclesiastical conflict called " the 
Goss controversy." This item belongs to Bolton his- 
tory, of course, but reaches Berlin. The minister was 
suspected of Toryism. In church matters he held 
&nA practiced the most arbitrary principles. The on- 
coming Revolution, 1770, added public importance to 
a local flame. The minister was charged with intem- 
perance, also. He seemed to feel self-justification in 
the assertion, probably true, that he was never so far 
gone as to be incapacitated for his office. Numberless 
town-meetings were held, — town and parish were then 
one. He was dismissed by the ultimate prerogative, 
the people themselves, council or no council. 

The controversy hastened, no doubt, the formation 
of the South Parish, April 7, 1779 ; but the agitation 
went with them. Only male members appear in the 



organization of the new church — Gossilea and Walley- 
ites, adherents of Mr. Goss' successor, — so the females, 
when they came, brought letters from one or the 
other branch of the Bolton Church. 

In the interests of harmony, the council called to 
organize the Berlin Church advised the brethren to 
withhold fellowship from the Bolton Church whilst 
that. church should remain in it^ divided state. That 
was a fire-brand. The Berlin Walleyites moved for 
another advisory council on this very matter. 

The second council exonorated the first as to in'- 
tended reproof. The reading of the first council 
certainly implied more than was expressed. The 
neighboring clergy sustained Mr. Goss, and under their 
influence the churches declined or renounced fellow- 
ship with the Bolton Church. To test the case, two of 
the Berlin opponentsof Mr. Goss and one of the Bolton 
Church presented themselves before the Lancaster 
Church and asked for recognition in the communion 
service. Thechurch voted affirmatively. The minister. 
Rev. Mr. Harrington, said the vote should be recorded, 
but his negative must be recorded with it. Virtually by 
the ruling of the times, this was annulling the vote of 
the church. The applicants were Judge Baker and 
Ephraim Fairbanks, Esq., of Berlin, and Nathaniel 
Longly, Esq., of Bolton. No three men in the towns 
were more prominent or conservative. A similar 
delegation from Bolton and Berlin visited Sterling. 
The minister, Rev. Mr. Mellen, refused to administer 
the communion service. The church was against 
him, and his claim of the veto power brought upon 
him and the town just the experience of Bolton. 
"How great a matter a little fire kindleth ! " The 
simple reason is that it is fire. The spirit of liberty 
was abroad. Men were asserting personal rights, but 
patriotism was a bond. In the new life of the United 
Colonies, now become United States, partisans toned 
down. A supreme confidence in God and country 
allayed local animosities. Bolton South Parish be- 
came a precinct, 1784, virtually a town, by authority 
of Congress. 

Peace came also to the churches. But the contest 
was a hard one, and in advance of its day. The min- 
istry seemed unduly tenacious of power and dictation. 
The Bolton Parish fought a good fight. It broke the 
spell under which churches had felt themselves to be 
bound. Ecclesiastical liberty made a stride in the 
conflict. No doubt, indeed, errors were committed 
on both sides. But the case, and result, became a 
standard of appeal for the liberty of the churches. 
Harvard and Yale contain the published pamphlets 
as documents of historical importance. A layman, 
not known, was the virtual victor. Later tradition 
affirms that he was a clergyman. Ebenezer Chapin. 
Rev. Zabdiel Adams, of Lunenburg, defended the 
arbitrary power. 

The act of incorporation of Bolton South Parish 
bears date April 13, 1778, and Sanuiel Baker, Esq., is 
empowered to issue a warrant "' to some principal in- 



BEKLIN. 



39r 



habitant" to call a meeting for permanent organiza- 
tion. Signed, Joseph Warren, speaker; Jolin Avery, 
deputy secretary. 

Samuel Baker issues the warrant to Samuel Jones, 
inn-holder. At his house the inhabitants are sum- 
moned to meet. On that spot our town was virtually 
born. Samuel Jones' tavern stood fronting our North- 
boro' road, on the north side of the road to Hud- 
son. 

Samuel Baker was chosen moderator ; Jonathan 
Meriam, clerk ; James Goddard, Abijah Pratt, Joshua 
Johnson, parish committee ; Jonathan Meriam, Tim- 
othy Jones, William Sawyer, Jr., assessors. 

One week later the parish took measures for build- 
ing a meeting-house ; voted to locate it on "the little 
hill on the north side of the road that leads from 
Samuel Jones' house to Samuel Rice's shop in the 
crotch of the roads." 

There was no Common then. The road to Bolton 
turned by our present town-house. The shop was 
probably some back part of the present " Bullard 
House." Samuel Rice never appears again, David 
Rice, probably his father, owned lands in connection 
with James Goddard, which included the old black- 
smith-shop where A. A. Bartlett now lives. This 
shop went with the Meriam farm. Perhaps it was the 
one alluded to. 

Berlin denizens of to day may wonder where that 
" little hill " was. It was, and is not. The old church 
stood on it, considerably in front of the present 
edifice. Esquire Meriam could not persuade the 
building committee of the new church to set it so 
high as it now stands. He was not the man to "sur- 
render." He conspired with Wm. A. Howe, and in 
the night they secretly lifted the standards one full 
foot. Look at the Common and the height of the 
underpinning of the church, and you will see what be- 
came of that "little hill." 

The first meetjng-house was twelve years in build- 
ing. It is enough to make one weep, to read ot the 
hundreds of pounds in depreciated money which 
were voted from time to time, all along in the war, 
to build that humble house of prayer. 

The frame was "raised" June 16, 1779, by aid, 
as usual, of "rum," "cider" and ".spike poles." 
The "pew grounds"' were sold 1780 "at public 
vendue," each man to build his own pew. The build- 
ing committee were Jonathan Meriam, Fortunatus 
Barnes, James Goddard, Sr., Timothy Jones, William 
Sawyer ; second Committee, Fortunatus Barnes, 
Jacob Moore, Barnabas Maynard, Henry Powers, 
William Babcock. 

In the mean time " candidates " were heard — Rev. 
M. Stearns, Foster and Edmunds. November 14, 

1780, voted to hear Mr. Reuben Puffer. March 12, 

1781, Mr. Puffer was "called." "No objections." 
" Ordination to be out of the meeting-house if the 
weather permit." The church records have it that 
the services were held in the meeting-house. All 



the " old folks " declare against it. The ordination 
took place November 2(5, 1781. 

Certainly there is something inspiring in the faith 
and labors of the fathers, under the depression and 
uncertainties of war, to press forward in their circum- 
stances, not to say poverty, to establish the ordinances 
of religion. 

The council for ordination consisted of the churches 
in Sudbury, East Sudbury, Westboro', Shrewsbury, 
Northboro', Lancaster, Bolton and Stow. Rev. 
Mr. Bigelow, of Sudbury, Mr. Puffer's pastor, preached 
the sermon. 

Mr'. Puffer's presence and ministry seemed to be 
quite helpful to his struggling parish. No church- 
meeting was called for nearly two years. Records 
indicate peaceful progress. In the same year of the 
ordination the parish petitioned the town of Bolton, 
also the General Court, to be set off as a town, but it 
took three years to reach it. 

Finally, by the Great and General Court, March 
16, 1784 (Samuel Adams, president of the Senate, 
Tristram Dalton, speaker], the precinct was duly in- 
corporated, and Judge Baker was again instructed to 
empower some principal inhabitant to call a meeting 
of the South Precinct in Bolton. This time he con- 
ferred the honor on Fortunatus Barnes. Again Sam- 
uel Baker was the first moderator and Jona. Meriam 
again clerk ; Selectmen, James Goddard, John Tem- 
ple, Jonah Meriam, William Sawyer, Barnabas May- 
nard. 

Now Berlin had all the prerogatives of a town 
except personal representation in the Legislature. 
Any citizen of the precinct might as well represent 
the town as a citizen of the town the precinct. But 
Bolton never saw it in that light. 

So matters stood till 1812. Fortunatus Barnes was 
now authorized to empower some principal citizen to 
call the first town-meeting. He committed the trust 
to Ephraim Babcock. The meeting resulted in the 
choice of Fortunatus Barnes moderator. 

Such was the origin of a quiet New England town. 
Its inception was in time of war. It came to maturity 
in time of war, just in a full generation from its 
beginning. Thirty-five years from this date brought 
it to its centennial. 

In the completion of their house of worship, the 
settlement of Mr. Puffer and the adjustment of com- 
plications with Bolton, the little town of Berlin, in- 
stead of " Norrage," as once proposed, seemed to have 
respite and rest. The leading men, however, who 
had borne the brunt of the war, with its antecedent 
and subsequent e.xcitements, dropped out of the race 
very early, — Captain Samuel Jones, Judge Baker, the 
Baileys, the Meriams, Ephraim Fairb.anks, Esq., Gen. 
Sawyer and others, whose names were towers of 
strength. 

The central figure henceforth in Berlin character 
was their minister. 

The Puffer ancestry, Appleton says, is obscure. 



398 



HISTOKY OP WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



But a record stands that '' the town of Boston," 1640, 
not yet ten years old, granted twenty acres of land at 
Wollaston Heights to George Puffer, " five heads." 
A line from George is traceable to Sudbury, George, 
James, Richard, Jabez and Reuben, the Berlin pas- 
tor. Some count in another Richard. The present 
Puffer homestead, whence Reuben came, is now in 
Maynard. The will of Jabez shows that Reuben was 
the pet of his heart. He certainly grew in the esteem 
of Berlin people and all the region. Every congre- 
gation was pleased to see him ascend the pulpit-steps. 
It was not a day for enticing away favorite ministers, 
but it was understood that he had inviting overJ;ures. 
His .sermons were not especially arousing, but sol- 
emnly impressive. 

In 1803 he preached the annual sermon before the 
Governor and Legislature. An anecdote concerning 
him was first publi.-hed in print in the Lancaster two 
hundred and fiftieth anniversary. The writer of this 
is responsible for its appearance in type. He gave it 
verbally, that morning, to the speaker who gave it in 
response for Berlin, in the after-dinner speeches. 
Judge Brigham, of Westboro', had procured the ap- 
pointment of Mr. Puffer to the service. His son-in-law, 
E. M. Phillips, Esq., of Westboro', gave the anecdote to 
the writer, personally. According to custom, Mr. Puf- 
fer had all parts of his service written, even the prayer. 
In offering it he lost his bearings. He tried to regain 
his ground, but only stumbled. The suspense w.is 
awful. A fellow-member of the Legislature gave 
Judge Brigham a nudge, whispering, "That is your 
minister, is it?" The disconcerted minister had the 
courage to desert his written prayer and to throw him- 
self into the occasion, and the suspense of the assembly 
quickly gave way to rapt attention and delight. His 
own people, better than any others who did not hear 
him on this occasion, could tell what the effect was. 
He lifted his learned and dignified audience to exalted 
views of their position and duties, to the State and to 
God. The prayer ended. Judge Brigham returned the 
nudge of his neighbor, responding "That is my 
•minister." 

Berlin ever had great satisfaction in " Dr. Puffer" 
abroad. His church records show that he ranked 
with foremost ministers in councils far and near on 
difficult cases. 

To this day friends and dissentients, as to religious 
tenets, revere the " man of God." His face, his fea- 
tures and form and manner are fast passing out of 
remembrance. "Shall we know each other there?" 
Not even a profile remains ; much less the tones of 
his voice and impressive pulpit services; a few of the 
venerables yet talk it over understandingly. 

Some yet live who have seen him and can readily 
believe what has been related. But the most vivid 
impression which we septuagenarians have of the 
man is that of hij pulpit devotions. Daniel ? Solo- 
mon? Elijah? No, Bethel and Jacob. As with awe 
he lifted up his face heavenward, and bowed again 



his whole body in reverence, incense from the altar 
above seemed to pervade the assembly. 

" Heaven seeineti bendiug, earth to rise, 
Ami all seemed floatiug in the upper eliies." 

He delivered the Dudlean Lecture at Harvard Col- 
lege, 1808. His pecuniary circumstances being made 
known, his address was published and sold among the 
students, rich men's sons subscribing largely to in- 
crease the income. They also gave him a good suit of 
clothes. (Rev. Dr. Allen.) 

Another anecdote iu his ministry reveals the minis- 
terial tone of the day. A neighborhood of Balls, on 
Ball Hill, in Northboro', had special regard for Dr. 
Puffer ; also, it would seem, some disaffection for 
their own minister. An especially afflictive death 
occurred in one of the families. One of the deacons 
of the Northboro' Church, by request of the family, 
came for Dr. Puffer to visit them, as also to attend the 
funeral officially. Mr. Puffer demurred ; but under 
the appeals of grief he assented, being assured by the 
deacon that the Northboro' pastor would not take it 
offensively. The deacon did not know his man, nor 
the ministerial prerogatives of the day. The services 
were held at the house of sorrow. A few d.ays brought 
a note from the Northboro' bishop demanding expla- 
nation and apology, else no more ministerial inter- 
course. We smile ; but the parties did not. Mr. 
Whitney was magisterial. Mr. Puffer was timid. The 
correspondence is animated, if not animating. The 
offender did not cringe. He did apologize, and in 
words and temper that made him the victor. 

The matter did not wholly die at that. A deceased 
sister of the Balls was wife of Dea. Livermore, of the 
Northboro' Church. He was one hundred and one 
years old at his death. Renewed application was 
made for Mr. Puffer's service at his funeral. Mr. 
Puffer confirmed his apology by respectfully declin- 
ing. The Balls would not have the Northboro' parson ; 
so the centenarian, deacon of the church, town clerk 
and, in certain sense, the public notary of the town, 
was buried without a funeriil. 

There was another element of irritation in the 
Northboro' Church. The good deacon's second wife 
was for some reason debarred from its communion. 
She applied for the privilege in Berlin, but ecclesias- 
tical courtesy would not allow her request. 

Dr. Puffer was no controversalist. He was even 
timid before his own people. It is well attested that 
he wept in the face of some who opposed his social 
prayer-meetings, then new. The compromise was that 
they should all be held at his own house. He was 
among the last to renounce or to forego exchanges 
with the " liberal " clergymen of the region. He 
foresaw coming events in his own parish. On one 
occasion he was so overcome in the reading of an ex- 
pressive hymn that he ceased reading and sat down. 

This was in the old, first-consecrated sanctuary, 
where the man of God had prayed and taught, " with 
many tears," for forty-five years. Humble as the old 



BERLIN. 



399 



structure was, every line of it was sacred in his eye 
and heart. It was soon to be taken down. Himself 
w.as " three-score and ten." His farewell sermon 
shows how the heart of a good man may be moved by 
that which is inanimate, and really without beauty. 
The old pews, which went into various and undig- 
nified uses, were for years looked upon with venera- 
tion by the older people. A successor, of twenty-five 
years, has found and gilded the old wooden pine- 
apple, with tin leaves, which surmounted a plain 
scroll over the old pulpit. "There are sermons in 
stones." The farm barn across the cemetery, made of 
the refitted timbers of " the house of prayer," has yet 
a voice to some passers-by. 

The Massachusetts ecclesiastical rupture of 1820-30 
was pressing upon this quiet town before steps were 
taken for a new house of worship. But no tongue 
moved against the minister. Yet it was intimated 
that the new church would have a new order of things 
when he should resign or cease from his labors. The 
pastor foresaw more than his people expressed. He 
hardly expected to escape the rupture in his lifetime. 
But he lived to dedicate the new church, 182(5, and to 
preach and pray there till near his death, August 29, 
1829, at the age of seventy-three years. 

The church, in August same year, united in choos- 
ing Rev. Moses B. Church as Dr. Puffer's successor. 
The parish dissented, and following the Dedham 
decision, as others had done, chose another man. Rev. 
Robert Folger Walcut, of Nantucket, and graduate 
of Harvard. The Folgers were a prominent family 
in Nantucket. 

Mr. Walcut was a cultured and scholarly man. He 
won the good-will and esteem of all citizens. He 
resigned November, 1833. 

On the action of the parish, overruling the church, 
they withdrew almost unanimously, leaving but one 
male member and three females constituting the 
church. 

The seceding members built a moderate house of 
worship the same year, and called Rev. Abraham C. 
Baldwin, a graduate of Bowdoin College, and student 
in theology under Dr. Lyman Beecher, who preached 
the ordination sermon, October 26, 1830. In Mr. 
Baldwin's ministry of two years, forty-six were added 
to the church. He had more than ordinary qualities 
as preacher and pastor. Had he been quiet to remain, 
very many have felt that he would have re-united the 
town effectively. His succeeding pastorates were in 
Springfield and New Haven. But if any man can 
unite a thousand people of one township, is he not 
more useful then in holding a like number gathered 
here and there from a city ? 

He was dismissed from the church in Berlin, 
October 23, 1832. Both he and his wife died in 
Yonkers, N. Y., 1886. Had no child. Her maiden- 
name was Foote, of Fair Haven, Ct. 

Rev. Michael Burdett, now a retired Presbyterian 
clergyman in Philadelphia, succeeded Mr. Baldwin, 



July 17, 1883, to 1834. He was succeeded by Rev. 
Eber S. Clarke, of Winchendon, Ju. 21, 1835. Mr. 
Clarke was dismissed 1837, and settled once more in 
Richmond, Mass., where he died. 

Rev. Robert Carver followed in a successful minis- 
try, 1838-42. Settled next at Raynham. Entered 
into the Christian Commission service of the army, in 
which he died. After Mr. Carver's retirement, the 
Unitarian parish was also without a pastor. Rev. 
David R. Samson had succeeded Mr. Walcot, 1834-39. 

Reciprocal overtures were now made on the part of 
the two parishes for reunion. This was effected in 
the settlement of Rev. Henry Adams, son of Chester 
Adams, Esq., of Charlestown, and graduate of Am- 
herst and Andover. His first settlement was Worth- 
ington ; next, " Hillside Church," of Bolton, noted 
as the "Wilder Church" (S. V. S. Wilder). Mr. 
Wilder, after his return from Europe, and before 
Hillside Church was built, attended Dr. Puffer's 
ministry in Berlin. Mr. Adams was installed Oct. 25, 
1843 ; was dismissed 1853. The same year, Oct. 26th, 
Rev. W. A. Houghton was installed ; resigned at the 
termination of twenty-five years, Oct. 26, 1878. Rev. 
Albert Barnes Cristy, of Greenwich, Ct., and gradu- 
ate of Andover, was ordained and installed July 3, 
1879. He gave way to a call to the church in Con- 
way, 1881. 

Rev. Henry Hyde succeeded Rev. Mr. Cristy in the 
same year ; was dismissed 1885. 

Rev. Charles H. Washburn, graduate of Amherst, 
was the third successor to whom Rev. Mr. Houghton 
has given the right hand of fellowship and received 
them into the church at their ordination. He was 
ordained and installed December, 1885 ; dismissed 
Nov. 2, 1888 ; called to North Woburn. 

In 1853-54, under the lead of Rev. Gardner Rice, 
then principal of the Berlin Private Academy, a 
Methodist interest was started and organized. Rev. 
W. W. Culburn and Rev. B. F. Whittemore were the 
principal preachers. 

The war broke up the organization. It was re- 
vived again in 1878, since which time Revs. Mr. 
Hanniford, Wilder, Burlingham, Desjardin and Bar- 
ter have been the preachers. They built and dedi- 
cated their church 1887-88. 

In 1871 the Unitarian element, which had been 
mostly dormant from 1844, was revived and organ- 
ized. A church was built, and dedicated April 1, 
1881. Its ministers have been Revs. George Greene, 

Granville Pierce, Francis Thacher, Litchfield and 

Porter. 

For a small town, Berlin has a large element of the 
Quaker faith. Bolton has about the same. Their 
meeting-house is just within Bolton limits. Their 
Quarterly Meeting occurs in August. The society 
has existed since 1790. 

Berlin and Bolton have known, better than most 
towns, the Friends, or Quakers, in their citizenship. 
Both towns would bear cheerful testimony to their 



400 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



worth. To see the commingling of the descendants 
of Cassandra Southwick and the Boston Puritans 
fraternizing in religious meetings, public and private, 
with kindliest regards for each other's distinctive 
views and order of worship, seems to preclude the 
possibility of certain historic facts ; just as fully 
Puritans as ever, and just as fully Quakers as ever. 
But many of the Quakers on whom the Puritans' 
wrath dtscended were as unlike our worthy Quaker 
citizens as were the old Puritans unlike the Puri- 
tans of to-day. Not here can we discuss the meriis 
of the case, but we rejoice togetlier in the better 
knowledge of personal liberty of opinion-, and the 
harmonizing influence of religious faith. But Berlin 
has to confess; we did imprison a Quaker, and for 
non-payment of the minister-tax, which ministry he 
did not believe in. We are glad it was a hundred 
years ago, 1786. Nor do we offer that in extenuation. 
The Quaker executions were more than two hundred 
years ago. The law as applied in Massachusetts, 
1657, was recommended to all the Colonies by the 
" Federal Commissioners." It was enacted here by 
only one vote in majority, and stood in force but two 
years. 

But for ministerial taxes the law exempted 
Quakers, Episcopalians and others as early as 1750-60 ; 
only they must show certificates that they really 
belonged to some religious society. Here seems to 
have been Brother Jonathan Baker's lame point. 
The assessors were bound by the law. The indica- 
tions are that he would not or could not present his 
certificate, so the assessors would not abate; bylaw 
they could not. No doubt the case was very much 
affected by words and temper. The town finally 
remitted his fourteen-shilling tax, and his certificate 
of Quaker membership stands on record. 

On school matters Obediah Wheeler, Quaker, was 
the persistant leader in insisting on a division of the 
school money ; as constantly refused. That is our 
issue to-day with the Catholics. 

Educational. — Previous to the organization of the 
precinct, 1784, schools had been maintained for a few 
weeks at a time in private houses. School-houses are 
named in early records as if they had served us while 
of Bolton. The precinct proceeded, 1785, to "Squad- 
ron the district." We had four, according to the four 
cardinal points of the compass. The centre of the 
town went north, south, east or west, as they saw fit. 
This for fifty years. A fifth district was added, 1836, 
and all of them, unwisely, took on separate existence. 
This continued about twenty years, when, as soon as 
permitted by the Legislature, the town took possession 
of the schools and houses. 

Three of the houses had done service about seventy- 
five years each. The town proceeded at once to build 
anew five houses for the five districts, all alike, 1857- 
58. When the cost of the war came on we congratu- 
lated ourselves in having already paid for our school- 
houses. The.se were all duly dedicated by becoming 



services. School Interests revived very much, nor has 
it very much subsided. Not required by law to main- 
tain a high school, it is difficult in a population of less 
than a thousand to do so. A few terms have been 
maintained. But three adjoining towns offer ready 
facilities, and by rail the accommodation is very good 
with each of them. It is a conviction of the com- 
mittee that the schools of Berlin compare favorably, 
in material and quality, with towns around us. Teach- 
ers' wages stand above the average in the State. None 
but females have been employed for many years. 
Once the town furnished a large quota of young men 
— several in a season. They have been supplanted. 
School-teaching is woman's right. 

The first school report read in town-meeting, and 
before required by law, was offered by William A. 
Howe, then a young man. He had never been to 
high school or academy. 

A stimulus to Berlin, perhaps, was the somewhat 
famous Quaker School of Thomas Frye, just be- 
yond our Bolton line. English grammar was a 
specialty. Berlin pupils availed themselves of the 
advantage. Later, Berlin had a somewhat similar 
school. Josiah Bride, a native of the town, with 
never a day of instruction from private teacher, high 
school or academy, opened a private school in the 
town-house. His skill, or art in teaching, gave him 
greater and greater success. Good in scholarship, he 
excelled in communicating. His private school grew 
into a boarding-school, and this into Berlin Academy. 
From 1833 to 1853 this school did much for Berlin. 
Pupils came from several cities and several States. 
Meanwhile Mr. Bride was active in the town and in 
the church. He died, 1887, at eighty-five years. 
Berlin is represented in the Technical School, Wor- 
cester, by a teacher ; in Amherst Agricultural College 
by a student ; several have graduated at commercial 
colleges. Of school funds Berlin has only two thou- 
sand dollars. Joseph Priest, unmarried, gave by will, 
1817, five hundred dollars ; Miss Nancy Young, 1860, 
gave by will fifteen hundred dollars. These persons 
had lived quiet and inexpensive lives. These gifts 
were about all they possessed, severally. Berlin 
cherishes their memory. But it is only by recalling 
to each school generation the facts, that the generosity 
of worthy benefactors is held in remembrance. Ask 
in almost any school who was Horace Mann, and see. 

Sadly, Berlin has no public library. Sectional in- 
fluences have prevented united town action. When 
we separated from Bolton, a generous library became 
a bone of contention. A division of it was finally 
effected. The Berlin share, with additions, was kept 
alive during the pastorate of Dr. Puffer. 

An educating influence in Berlin was the old 
lyceum, as now spoken of. Rev. Dr. Allen, of North- 
boro', was, next to Concord, the original in starting 
this kind of school and debating society. He kindly 
gave many of his lectures in Berlin. Several years 
followed of elevating endeavor. This movement be- 



BERLIN. 



401 



gan about 1830. It did not wholly cease for thirty 
years — lectiire.s and debates. The writer of this thinks 
he sees results in the town meetings of the present. 
Eelatively we have many townsmen capable of pub- 
lic speech in town meetings. Also more than a com- 
mon number of competent moderators. 

Berlin has had but few college graduates. Early in 
our history two young men died in their preparatory 
studies. Winthrop Bailey graduated at Harvard, 
1808. Was pastor of the church in Pelham, later, 
and, for many years, of Deerfield. 

Barnabas Maynard Fay graduated at Yale, 1833. 
He taught in several institutions for the deaf and 
dumb. Had also several pastoral charges. His son 
is superintendent of the Institution for Deaf and Dumb 
in Washington, where the father died. 

Rev. W. A. Houghton graduated at Yale 1840. 
Pastor eight years in Northboro', twenty-five in Berlin, 
Resigned 1878. Still resident. 

Winthrop Sawyer, nephew of Rev. Winthrop Bailey 
and namesake, took the surname Bailey, and studied 
for the ministry at Princeton, N. J., and held two or 
three pastorates. He died in south-east New York. 

Levi and Willard Brigham, brothers, more con- 
nected with Berlin than with their native town, Marl- 
boro', were graduates of Williams, and both were suc- 
cessful minister:". 

Our physicians have come to us. Dr. Benjamin 
Nurse, of Bolton, 1777-1804; Dr. Daniel Brigham, of 
Westboro', 1800-1825 ; Dr. Samuel Griggs, pupil of 
Dr. Twitchell, of Keene, 1824-1833; Dr. J. L.S.Thomp- 
son, , 1833-1840, afterwards of Bolton and Lan- 
caster. Died 1886. 

Dr. Edward Hartshorn, graduate of Harvard Medical 
School 1838, came to Berlin 1841; practiced till 1854. 

Dr. Lemuel Gott, graduate of Harvard Medical 
School, settled in Rockport, 1836; in Berlin, 1854- 
1888. Was successor to Dr. Hartshorn. Died August, 
1888. No resident physician since. 

Town History. — Some one has expressed the 
sentiment: "Blessed is the town that has no his- 
tory." George Elliot has expressed the same, I 
think, as to the family, — perhaps for a reason. But 
in respect to the staple of the early history of so 
many inland towns of Massachusetts — the Indians — 
we appreciate the force of the sentiment expressed. 
We gladly surrender all claim to the Indian from 
Massasoit to Tecumseh. 

But we do suffer loss of historic material when we 
can quote no town connection with such a historic 
event as the American Revolution. In this matter 
we can only say Berlin was born in it, and there is 
sublimity in the fact. In the darkness of that terri- 
ble day, what faith in God and confidence in man, 
that, under such a cloud, men should so deliberately 
plan for the future, and lay new foundations for 
coming generations! It was Rome over again selling 
the land on which , Hannibal had intrenched his 
20 



legions. Residents on Berlin territory appear both 
in Lancaster and in Bolton, in all the wars of the 
Colonies, including the Revolution. And in the 
midst of the latter struggle the Berlin fathers were 
even planning a life independent of the mother 
town. And every element of town life was duly 
cared for after the example of Puritan forethought. 
Peace came to the country in 1783. A parish had 
been formed in the very darkest days of the war. In 
1784 they came into town life by Congressional pro- 
visions. Had Berlin been a corporate body during 
the war, there can be no doubt her sentiment and 
action would haye been as Bolton and Lancaster 
were. But a somewhat shady aspect appears in re- 
spect to the Shays' Rebellion. A Berlin delegate 
was appointed to one of the conventions, perhaps 
hoping to secure moderation. But so far as any vote 
of the town gave expression, all that can be said is 
that the majority for Hancock for Governor, against 
Bowdoin, was interpreted in those days as being in 
the radical element. Yet Judge Baker, probably the 
most influential man in the town, was a tower of 
strength for the government. He was once assaulted, 
by threats at least, on his way home from the court, — 
probably not by his own townsmen. That was a ter- 
rible time when citizens of noblest life, who had 
fought side by side for independence, were again 
armed, face to face against each other. It demands 
a hundred years breathing-time to judge these old 
insurgents impartially. There was no sublimer scene 
in the war itself than when General Artemas Ward 
led the officers of the court up Court-House Hill in 
Worcester, against the very point of bayonets which 
had withstood the British soldier on the field of 
blood. Our vote had been, for two years, for Bow- 
doin. After the Paxton Convention, it was wholly 
reversed. Lancaster went as invariably for Bowdoin. 
Both these men were loyal to the State; but Hancock 
was regarded as less rigorous towards the insurgents. 
An article in the town warrant, 1787, to pay soldiers 
in support of the government, was "passed over." 
The town remonstrated, 1807, against Jefferson's 
Embargo; also, 1812, against the restrictive measures 
of President Madison. 

We can say, for ourselves, we have lived a quiet 
and peaceable life. We did have some trouble with 
our ever esteemed mother-town. The great and 
general court told us both how we must bear our- 
selves in local matters. But we did not see alike 
then as to the support of the poor, and some other 
points. It took a good while, indeed, to adjust mat- 
ters. Among other things, creditable alike to mother 
and daughter, there was a very good library which 
must needs be divided. This, of course, involved 
the ministers. They did not see eye to eye in a 
matter so material as this. It took time, correspond- 
ence, committees and conferences. We had judicious 
men on both sides ; so, as usually under such influ- 
ence, this, too, was adjusted. 



402 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



Town rivalries have talien a very different turn in 
later days. A town of a thousand people on moderate 
territory, known, as it were, each to all, is a more 
enjoyable community than a like number mixed with 
ten thousand in a city. The drawback to our "hill 
towns'' is the financial inability to support religious 
institutions. State, county and town taxes in Berlin 
in 1887 were nine thousand dollars — say ten dollars 
per capita. To support three churches besides, lays 
upon less than one-half of the people about three 
thousand more. So that the half who do support the 
churches must needs pay nearly as much for this as 
for all their assessments besides. "Help, Lord," 
when "the godly man ceaseth.'' 

How so many boys of the lar»e families, sixty years 
ago, could get a living by settling down iu the town 
is unaccountable. Hardly a mechanic ever hired a 
man. Old farms were divided. Some were "made 
up." A carpenter never built by " contract." So 
much, "by the day." A single blacksmith in each of 
the four districts, or less, was sufBcient, and he, per- 
haps, had a farm also. Probably there was not, sixty 
years ago, a business in town that required a "hired 
man," except farming. The mills, in flush of their 
season, had extra help. A single tannery grew so as 
to need two or three men part of the year. This 
gradually died out,' yet Berlin gained in population, 
relatively, with Bolton and Lancaster. 

We should have had the present Old Colony Rail- 
road running through our centre. But towns were 
not then permitted to invest, as in the start of the 
Central Massachusetts. Our twenty thousand in the 
Central Massachusetts, had it been put into the Old 
Colony, would have brought it to our doors, and have 
been a rich investment. It would have brought the 
rail to South Berlin, to the Centre; and to West Ber- 
lin as now. Individuals could not raise the money. 
To him that hath shall be given. Alas ! for him that 
hath not. Berlin, with other towns on the line, in- 
vested heavily in the Central Massachusetts, and 
heavily has it borne upon us. After bearing it some 
fifteen years we sold at less than thirty-three per cent. 
This rail has come to our centre, but not as the Old 
Colony would have come. We do not complain. 
Above all, as a fellow-citizen, Mr. Chandler Carter has 
lifted our indebtedness. Few know how the smaller 
towns have to struggle. 

Before the war Berlin had several shoe-shops of 
moderate capacity. In these work was done for the 
larger houses in Hudson and Marlboro'. The war 
changed the order of business by concentration. Our 
shops were vacated. 

After the war and loss in population of about two 
hundred (twenty-two in the array), Berlin attempted 
an incorporated shoe manufactory by small shares, 
sufficient to employ a hundred hands. I'arker 
Brothers, Charles E. and John H., of Boston, were 
succeeding hopefully. "The Boston Fire" crippled 
them badly. Another, at home, laid the Berlin struc- 



ture in ashes. Thus we were put back again, save a 
small establishment still in force. So the population 
has decreased by removal of families to centres of 
business. Berlin is shut down to farming and horti- 
culture. Summer boarders have s«-t in upon the 
town, with the prospect of increase and remunera- 
tion. We claim that the town is unexcelled in pleasant 
resorts and summer drives, by any town within the 
same distance from Boston. 

Military. — As a town Berlin has, of course, no 
part in the wars till 1812 and the Rebellion. The 
Revolution had just terminated when we came upon 
the stage. Our soldiers are in the records of Bolton 
and Lancaster, and there imperfectly. But of those 
who survived, Berlin citizens should be on record as 
such. Many of the veterans of the old French and 
Indian Wars, 1744-50 and 17-55-63, were still living 
1784. 

Of some three hundred soldiers on record in Lan- 
caster in the French and Indian Wars, about twenty 
of them are of Berlin territory. Of some forty to 
fifty names in the Revolution, on Bolton records, 
nearly one-third were of Berlin territory. The 
Bolton lists have been searched out from old papers 
recently discovered. No entire list is known or attain- 
able. 

Among the foremost in military service were the 
Bruces. Most of them on Berlin records were more 
or less in the Revolutionary War. Abraham (tradi- 
tionally) was at the capture of Burgoyne. John 
Hudson, father of Hon. Charles Hudson, had eight 
sons in the war of 1776-83. 

Our soldiers' list, made up of the incidental records, 
stands : Bruce — Benjamin, Daniel, Abraham, Timo- 
thy ; McBride — James, John, Thomas; Bailey — Col. 
Silas, Lieut. Timothy, Benjamin, Barnabas ; Johnson 
— Capt. Edward, Joshua, Eleaser, Nathan ; Larkin — 
Matthias, John, John, Jr., Ephraim, Edniond, Peter ; 
Samuel Baker, Samuel Baker, Jr., Edward Baker, 
Amos Meriam, Jonathan Meriam, Uriah Moore, Ben- 
jamin Nurse, Nathan Barber, Fortunatus Barnes, 
Samuel Jones, Jr., Nathan Jones, Jabez Fairbanks, 
James Fife, Jr., Elijah Foster, Nathaniel Hastings, 
Silas Howe, Silas Houghton, Hezekiah Gibbs, Jr., 
Abijah Pratt, John Pollard, Thomas Pollard, Joseph 
Priest, Job Spafford, David Rice, Samuel Rice, Robert 
Fosgate. 

Berlin in the Rebellion is fully on record by a pub- 
lished memorial address a'nd a memorial hall, with 
memorial tablets and photographs. A Post of the G. 
A. R. keeps well alive the heroic spirit of their fallen 
comrades. The soldiers' memorial day has become 
an established anniversary. We count it among our 
educational institutions. 

The tone and temper of Berlin in the outbreak of 
the war was one and the same with all patriotic citi- 
zens. The news of Sumter was read from the stage- 
box of our expressman before he alighted. A com- 
pany were iu waiting for such news as might come. 



BERLIN. 



403 



Hardly n man uttered a word ; but every face was 
defiant. 

A meeting was soon called, addresses made and 
resolutions offered. Names were pledged for enlist- 
ment. The call came speedily and was readily re- 
sponded to. Our population was short of eleven 
hundred. We sent into the war one hundred and 
thirty-nine men. Twenty-two fell in battle or died 
in the service. Captain Christopher S. Hastings was 
our only commissioned officer. He raised a company 
for himself, though exempt, by years, from military 
duties. His company was at the battle of Freder- 
icksburg, at Jackson and tlie siege of Vicksburg. 
Enfeebled by small-pox, he died of malarial fever at 
Mound City, Illinois. Our death-list besides was 
Thomas Rathburn, Charles H. Maynard, Alonzo F. 
Howe, Silas F. Jillson, Silas E. Goddard, George Ira 
Carter, Hollis S. Johnson, Nathan B. GarfieId,William 
H. Coburn, James Barry, Samuel A. Snow, George 
H. Bowers, Edwin J. Bigelow, Rufus H. Williams, 
Henry P. Rich, Tyler Paine, Homer F. Stone, Lafay- 
ette Warden, Watsou Wilson, Charles 0. Starkey, 
Lemuel Gott, Jr., Ezra Bartlett, Levi Holder. 

Died since the war; J. Pillsbury, N. Johnson, 
George F. Hartwell, George C. Wheeler, Ansel Snow, 
Nathan M. Allen, William H. King, James F. Rath- 
burn, Edward H. Hartshorn. 

Town appropriations for the war, fourteen thousand 
dollars. State aid, eleven thousand. 

Perhaps no soldiers in the service were more care- 
fully provided for, so far as it could be done at home, 
than the soldiers of Berlin. 

The question of what memorial, commemorative of 
our fallen patriots, we should adopt, was considerately 
weighed. Needing a new town-house, with modern 
conveniences, a "Memorial Hall" was decided upon 
as that which would be most enjoyed by the citizens, 
being also especially appropriate for the use of the 
surviving soldiers. In 1870 the house was dedi- 
cated with becoming services. Memorial Hall con- 
tains memorial tablets with the record of tach fallen 
soldier. Each has also a good photograph likeness 
hung by the tablet. The Grand Army of the Repub- 
lic have taken commendable care of the hall and its 
treasures. Annually the town appropriates fifty dol- 
lars for " Memorial Day." This has become an estab- 
lished anniversary, an educating force for the people, 
as well as for the children. 

The Grand Army of the Republic, as to Post 54, of 
Berlin, is sadly diminishing. But the Sons of the 
Veterans are already organized. May the Grand 
Army of the Republic long survive ! Our last survi- 
vor of the War of 1S12, many years seated on the plat- 
form on Memorial Day, died 1886, — John D. Mer- 
rill, eighty-eight years. 

At the annual March meeting, 1884, Hon, William 
Bas-elt made a motion for the observance of the town 
centennial. The motion prevailed, and a committee 
was appointed to carry the vote into effect. 



The day passed off happily, though one of the hottest 
of the season, September 10th. Es-Governor Bout- 
well, who represented the town in the proposed amend- 
ment to the State Constitution, 1853, was present and 
added much to the day. Rev. A. P. Marvin, historian 
of so manv towns, and of the county itself, very much 
enriched the historical bill of fare. Adjacent towns 
were represented, and many former residents and 
natives responded to the sentiments of the day. Alto- 
gether, it was a day of successful interest, though very 
little parade or show was attempted. Such occasions 
are becoming more and more important, though many 
towns allow them to go by in indolent forgetfulness. 

PARISH, PUECINCT AND TOWN OFFICERS, 1778-1888. 

Jlforft'rators.— Samuel Baker, 1778, '84, '88 ; Epbraim Fairbank, 1779 
'83 ; James Goddard, 1780, '86, 87 ; Jacob Moore, 1781 ; Fortunatus 
Barnes, 1782 ; David Taylor, 1785, '89, '91, '03 ; Barnabas Majnaid, 1790, 
'92, '94-9G, '98, '09, 1801, '0-', '06, '08, '09 ; Stephen Bailey, 1797, 1800, 
03, '11-13 ; James K. Park, 1804, '07 ; Jonathan Merrrani, 1806 ; Solomon 
Howe, 1810 ; Ueury Powers, 1814, '15 ; Oliver Sawyer, 1816-29 ; Asa 
Sawyer, 1830-40, '48, '51 ; William Jones, 1847 ; Silas S. Greeulenf, 1849, 
'5(1 ; Amos Sawyer, 1852-58 ; Lewis L. Carter, 1859-61 ; William Bassett, 
1862 ; Amory A. Bartlett, 1SG3-66, '79-81, '85 ; Abel W. Longley, 1SC7-00, 
'72, '74, '75, '77 ; Elijah C. Shattuck, 1870, '71, '73, '76 ; Leslie Hastings, 
1878; Edward II. Hansliorii, 1882-84, '86 ; James D. Tyler, 1887, '88. 

Town Cferij.— Jonathan Merriani, 1778-85, '89-99, 1800-04 ; John 
Temple, 1786-88 ; Stephen Bailey, 1805-07 ; Dexter Fay, 1808-15 ; Amos 
Sawyer, 1816 ; Solomon Howe, 1817-26 ; Josiah Conant, 1627-31 ; Wm. A. 
Howe, 1832-37 ; Lewis Sawyer, 1838-45, '50-55 ; Oliver B. Sawyer, 1846 ; 
John F. Newton, 1847^9 ; Otis L. Larkin, 1866 ; Albert Babcock, 1867, 
'58, '74-82 ; Josiah E. Sawyer, 1869-73 ; Frank H. C'rossma-, 1883-88. 

Sclerfmeii.— James Goddard, 1778-80, '82-84, 1817 ; Abijah Pratt, 1778 ; 
Joshua Johnson, 1778, '79, '81, '8S, '80 ; Jonathan Merriani, 1779-83, 
'85, '87, '89-94, '98, '99, 1817 ; William Sawyer, 1780, '85, '87, '99, 1800; 
William Sawyer, Jr., 1781, '82; Josiah Sawyer(3d), 1783, '90, '92, '94, 
'07 ; Samuel Baker, Jr., 17S8-9J ; John Temple, 1785, '86, '88 ; Barnabas 
Maynard, 1785, '86 ; Henry Powers, 1785, '86, '88-92, '94, '99, 1800, 
'01, '14-16 ; Timothy Jones, 1787 ; Josiah .Sawyer, Jr., 1788, '89, '91, 
■99, 18IJ0 ; Amos Johnson, 1700, 1807, '08 ; Levi Merriam, 1791-98, 1801 ; 
Stephen Bailey, 1795-98. 1812-14 ; Samuel Jones, 1795, '96, 98 ; Samuel 
Spafford, 1795, '96 ; Job Spafford, 1705, '97. '08 ; Ephraim Howe, 1,96; 
Joel Fosgate, 1797 ; Nathan Johnson, 1799-1801; Jonathan Merriam, 
1800, '17-19, '21-23 ; James R. Park, 1801-06, '12, '13 ; Caleb Fairbank, 
1802-04 ; Epbraim Ho*e, 1802-00 ; James Goddard, Jr., 1802-07, '12 ; 
Alvah Sawyer, 181 2-li6, '12, '13 ; David Barnes, 1805, 'I'O, '12 ; Dexter 
Fay, 1807-11 ; Solomon Howe, 1807-11 ; Oliver Sawyer, 1807-11, '17-22, 
'28, '29, '33, '34; Silas Houghton (2d), 1808-10, '20 ; Amos Sawyer, 1809 
-11, '17-19 ; Epbraim Babcock, 1813-16, '18, '19, '23-26, '28-33 ; Adam 
Bartlett. 1S13-1(; ; Win. Jones, 1814-16, '20-22, '24; Silas Sawyer, I81S, 
'16 ; William Barnes, 1817-19, '24, '25 ; Hollis Johnson, 1820-22, '28-30, 
'33, '34 ; Timothy Bailey, 1820-22 ; Joseph Park, 1823-27, '33-35, •42_ 
'43 ; Luke Fosgate, 1823-26 ; Benjamin F. Spafford, 1823-27, '33-35, '42, 
'43 : Paltiah Jones, 1825, '26 ; Welcome Barnes, 182C ; John Bartlett, 
1827, '31, '32, '37, '38 ; Edward Johnson, 1827 ; Ira Sawyer, 1827 ; Lu- 
ther Carter, 1827, '28 ; Levi Wheeler, 1828-30 ; Wm. Babcock, 1830-32 ; 
Abram Sawyer, 1831, '32 ; Lewis Carter, 1831, '32, '35, '36. '41, '49, '50; 
Timothy Jones, 1832 ; Thomas Brigham, 1833-35 ; Paul Brigham, 1836, 
'37, '48 ; Samuel Spafford, 1836-38, '41 ; Ephraim Babcock, Jr., 1S3S, '39, 
'49, '50; Asa Bride, 1839 ; Jonas Hale, 1839; Win. Jones, 1810, '41 ; 
Daniel Bartlett, 1840, '44-47 ; OliTer Fosgate, 1S42, '58 ; John F. Lar- 
kin, 1842, '43 ; Perigrine Wheeler, 1843 ; Silas Sawyer, 1844-48, '51-53, 
'69-61 ; Jonas Eobbins, 1844, '45 ; Samuel H. Wheeler, 1846, '47, '49, 
'50 ; Seth Rice, 184S ; Silas Houghton, 1851, '54 ; Lewis L. Carter, 1851- 
63, '66-72, '77-85 ; Abram Bigelow, 1852 ; Hartwell Sawyer, 1853 ; Jonas 
Sawyer, 54, '63-65 ; Ellslia M. Whitney, 1854 ; Oliver Smith, 1855 ; Jo- 
siah E. Sawyer, 1855, '56 ; Ezra S. Moore, 1S55, "56 ; George W. May- 
nard, 1856, '59-62 ; Asa Sawyer, 1857 ; Josiah Babcock, 1857 ; Christo- 
pher S. Hastings, 1857 ; Henry D. Coburn, 1858-61, '6:1, '70 ; George H. 
Barnes, 1858 ; Lulber Peters, 1862 ; Abel W. Longley, 1862, '63; Riley 
Smith, 1863 ; Wm. Bassett, 1864-69, '73-76; Israel Sawyer, 1861-68; 
Lyman Morse, 1870 72, '88 ; Edwin Sawyer, 1371-73 ; Robert B. Wheeler, 
1873-86 ; Frederick Miller, 1874-76 ; Winslow B. Morse. 1877 ; Arthur 



404 



HISTOKY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



Hastings, 1884 ; Fred. A. Wood«rd, 18S5-87 ; John Q. Maynard, 1886, 
'87 ; James D. Tyler, 1887, '88 ; Samuel Wheeler, 1888 ; Kuthveu Hast- 
ings, 1878-83. 

Asiie»sf>rs. — Jonathan Merriani, 1778-85, '89-1804; Timothy Jones, 
1778-80; William Sawyer, Jr., 177S-«3, '89-91; Jonathan Jones, 
1781-83 ; David Taylor, 1784, 'g.'; ; Henry Powers, 1784, '90-1803 ; Bar- 
nabas Maynard, 1788, '89 ; Amos Allen, 17s5 ; Josiah Sawyer, Jr., 
1785-87 ; John Temple, 178G-88 ; Janiesi Goddard, 1780, '87 ; Stephen 
Bailey, 1795-1802, 'W ; David Barnes, 1803, '04; JaniesGoddard, Jr.,1805 ; 
Amos Johnson, 1806, '07; Dexter Fay, 1800-08, '28; Solomon Howe, 
1806-12, '14, '10, '21-24; Wni. Newton, 1808, '09, '13, '14; Alvan Saw- 
yer, 18"9-11; Ephraim Babcouk, 1810, '11, '21-24; Amos Sawyer, 1812, 
'13, '15-20, '22-27 ; Silas Honghton, 1812-14 ; Jonathan D. Merriam, 
1816-19, '31, '32, '40; Stephen Pollard, 1815; Ira Sawyer, 18I0-18,'25, 
'26 ; Oliver Sawyer, 1819 ; Thomas Brigham, 1827-37 ; Theopholus 
Nourse, 1820; Daniel Holder, 1825-27; Samuel SpalTord, 1828, '33, '34, 
'36-38; Asa Sawyer, 1820-33, '39-4'2, '48, '49, '67 ; Pelatiah Jones, 1829, 
'.30; Benjamin F. Spafford, 1833-38; Benjamin Outran, 1835; Jonas 
Hale, 1838, '39 ; Eli Sawyer, 1839 ; Daniel Bartlett, 1840, '41 ; I'eri- 
grene Wheeler, 1841-43; Oliver B. Sawyer, 1842-46; Oliver Fosgate, 
184!, '5", '61; Wni. Jones, 1844^7 ; Oliver Moore, 1844-46; Christopher 
S. Hastings, 1847 ; Ira II. M. Brown, 1847 ; Levi Bigelow, 1848-60 ; 
Solomon Jones, 1848, "49, '57 ; Seth Bice, I860, '62 ; Silas S. Greenleaf, 
1851 ; Albert liabcock. 1851, '53, '.50 ; Josiah E. Sawyer, 1852, '63 ; Sam- 
nel H. Wheeler, IS.'ii, '64, '55 ; Jonas Sawyer, 1853 ; Lewis L. Carter, 
18.54, 'CO, '01, '05, '73, '76; Thomas Pollard, 1864; Tyler Paine, 1866; 
Willard Sonthwiek, 1856, '59; Itiley Smith, 1866 ; Henry D. Coburu, 
1856 ; Samuel II. Whejler, 1867, '58, '60-62, '67-09 ; Edward W. Flagg, 
1858 ; Winslow B. Morse, 1858. '02 ; Jobiah Sawyer, 1859, '63-76 ; Riley 
Smith, 1869 ; Willard Southwick, 18.59 ; Wm. Bassett, 1860, '01, '72, 
'78-8J ; Nathan W. Fay, 1802 ; Albert Babcock, 1863-70 ; Oliver Fos- 
gate, 1803 ; Amory A. Bartlett, 1804 ; Henry D. Coburn, 1800 ; Abel W. 
Longley, 1870 ; Silas Sawyer, 1870-73 ; Josiah Moore, 1871, '72 ; Arthur 
Hastings, 1873-76, '86 ; Wm. Tho. Babcock (2d). 1874 ; Jonas H. Car 
ter, 1875; Elijah r., Shattuck, 1876; Silas S. Greenleaf, 1877; Israel 
Sawyer, 1877-81 ; Geo. W. Fosgate, 1878-81 ; Paul -\. Randall, 1882 ; 
Kuthven Hastings, 1882-86; John A. Merrill, 1883-87; Henry A. 
Wheeler, 1883-88; Robert B. Wheeler, 1887; Charles M. Sawyer, 1888; 
Walter E. Brown, 1888. 

Treagnrera and Cfiltectors. — Samuel Jones, 1778-82 ; Ephraim Fairbank, 
1783-87 ; William Sawyer, 1788, '93, '94 ; Stephen Bailey, 1789-',)2, '96 ; 
Barnabus Maynard, 1796-98 ; Amos Johnson. 1799-1804 ; Levi Merriam, 
1806-11 ; Solomon Howe, 1812-22 ; Jonathan D. Merriam, 1823-27 ; 
Samuel Spafli.rd, 1828-30, "33, '46 ; Pelatiah Jones, 1831, '32 ; Wm. A. 
Howe, 1834 ; Amos Sawyer, Jr., 1835-37 ; Oliver Fosgate, 1^38, '39 ; 
George W. Babcock, 1840, '41 ; Oliver B. Sawyer, 1842^4; Ira Jouee, 
1846-48 ; Solomon Jones, 1849 ; Christopher S. Hastings, 1850-63 : 
Elisha M. Whitney, 1864, '65 ; Edward H. Hartshorn, 1866-71 ; Josiah 
Moore, 1872-, '76-87; Ruthven Hastings, 1873-75, '88. 

CoiisUibks. — Joel Fosgate, 1784 ; William Badcook, 1786 ; .Jonathan 
Merriam, 1786 ; Nathan Johnson, 1787 ; James Goddard, Jr., 1788 ; Jona- 
than Wheeler, 1789; Barnabus MayiiarJ, 1790; Levi Merriam, 1791 ; 
Silas Bailey, Jr., 1792 ; Samuel SpalTord, 1793, 1809, '32, '33, '45 ; Samuel 
Jones, 1794 ; Nathaniel Hastings, 1795 ; John Larkin, 1796-99, 1800, '10, 
'11 ; Aniiisa Holt, 1801-04, '07 ; Solomon Howe, 1808 ; William Newton, 
1806; .TamesGoddard, Jr., 1806; Stephen Pollard, 1812, '14-10; Joseph 
Moore, 1813 ; .\sa Sawyer, 1817-22 : Barnabas Brigham, 1823-24 ; Luther 
Carter, 182.'i-27 ; John Bartlett, 1828-.3:) ; Amos Sawyer, Jr., 1834-37 ; 
Oliver Fosgate, 1838-40 ; Josiah Bride, 1841-42; R. S. Hastings, 1843-46 ; 
Silas Houghton, 1850-53 ; L. L. Carter, 1854 ; Tbonias Pollard, 1854; A. 
A. Bartlett, 1855, '85 ; William G. Hapgood, 1856 ; Samuel M. Fuller, 
1867, '64-68 ; John F. Bennett, 1857 ; Geo. Q. Sawyer, 1858 ; Andrew A. 
Powers, 1859-01 ; Josiah Moore, 1862-63; Frederick D. Kallom, 1863-64 . 
William H. Frye, 1866 ; Samuel E. Fuller, 1860-72, '74, '75 ; George H. 
Andrews, 1872, '78, '79, '81 ; John L. Bruce, 1S73-79, '82-84 ; Henry D. 
Coburn, 1873; Thomas Hale, 1876; Warren S.Howe, 1877; Charles B. 
Bancroft, 1886 ; Leonard W. Brewer, 1887-88 ; Apploton D. Parmenter, 
1887 ; John 0. Osgood, 1888. 

School Ciimmitlee.—lt. F. Walcutt, 1832, '33 ; A. C. Baldwin, 1832 ; 
Asa Sawyer, 1832, '.30-38, '40, '41, '40; Wm. A.' Howe, 1832-34; Wm. 
Sawyer (2d), 1832 ; Horace Bailey, 1833, '36 ; Willard Howe, 1833 ; Mich. 
ael Burdett, 1834; Josiah Bride, 1834-39, '52-85; S. G. A. Tyler, 1834; 
Josephus Wilder, 1834 ; David K. Lamson, 1835-:i9 ; Eber L, Clark, 183.5- 
37 ; J. L. S. Thompson, 1835-37 ; Robert Carver, 1838-39 ; Albert Babcock, 
1838, '71, '73 ; John F. Larkin, 1839, '44, '45 ; Lewis Sawyer, 1839, '49, 
•50; Wm. Jones, 1840; G. W. A. Babcock, :840; Edward Hartshorn, 
1841-44, '62-65, '64, '07 ; Dexter Fay, 1841, '42 ; Oliver B. Sawyer, 1843- 



46 ; Henry Adams, 1844-48, '52 ; Solomon Jones, 1844, '46, '51 ; Jonathan 

F. Wheeler, 1844-50 ; Seth Price, 1845 ; Edwin A. Larkin, 1846 ; Ira H. 
Brown, 1847 ; Levi Bigelow, 1848-60 ; Silas S. Greenleaf, 1851 ; Addison 

G. Smith, 1861 ; Elijah C. Shattuck, 1866, '67, '59, '69, '70-83 ; Charles 
G. Keyes, 1860 ; Wm. A. Houghton, 1853-58, '60-66, '70, '73, '80, '83, '86 ; 
Gardner Rice, 1867 ; Lemuel Gott, 1858, '62; Wm. Bassett, 1858, '62, '66, 
'rs, '71, '78 ; Ira O. Carter, 1861 ; Daniel H, Carter, 1871 ; AuKel L. Snow, 
1872 ; Miss Mary Bassett, 1875 ; Mi-s. Sarah H. Sawyer, 1875 ; Pliny B. 
Southwick, 1876, '77 ; Miss Slary J. Keyes, 1881 ; Mrs. .\ddison Keyes, 
1885-88; Aniasa A. Whitcomb, 1884; Henry H. Hastings, 1887, '88. 

lii^presetiUitioes to General Court — Henry Powers, 1812. Incorporation 
of the town. Henry Powers, 1813-16, '20, '22, '26-27, '29. 1817, voted 
not to send ; '13, voted the same ; Amos Sawyer, 1819, '23, '24 ; Jonathan 
D. Merriam, I828, '30-32, '36, '38 ; Joseph Park, 1833, '34, ':i7, '39 ; Ira 
Sawyer, 1835 ; Wm. Jones, 1840 ; '41 and '42 did not send ; Oliver B. 
Sawyer, 1S43 ; Seth Rice, 1846 ; Amos Sawyer, Jr., 1849, '50; Lewis 
Sawyer, 1851, '62. 

lifpreseulativea of the Fifth Worcester Covnty District. — George W. 
Maynard, 1869; Lincoln L. Csrter, 1879 ; Rev. Henry Hyde, 1884; 
Dr. Edward Hartshorn, 1862 ; Abel W. Longley, 1865; Edward H. 
Hartshorn, 1869 ; Samuel Haynes, 1873; John C. Bickford, 1874 ; E. C. 
Shattuck, 1876. 

Senators. — Hon. Samuel Baker, 1780-94, less two years ; Hon. William 
Bassett, 1864. 

Jitslices of the Peacf of the town of Berlin (from 1778 to the present time, 
1888). — Hon. Samuel Baker, Ephraim Fairbank, Amos Johnson, Levi 
Merriam, Solomon Howe, Jonathan D. Merriam, Thomas Brigham, Asa 
Sawyer, Amos Sawyer, Wm. A. Howe, Jobiah Babcock, Lewis Sawyer, 
Albert Babcock, Josiah E. Sawyer, Wm. Bassett, Pliny B. Southwick, 
Amory A. Bartlett, Samuel M. Haynes, AbelW. Longley. 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 



REV. WILLIAM A. HOrGHTON. 

Rev. William Addisou Houghton, son of Caleb and 
Susannah (Sawyer) Houghton, of the seventh gener- 
ation, from John Houghton, born in England, and 
who died in Lancester 16S4, was born in Berlin, June 
2, 1812, on homestead never in hands of any but the 
Houghtons (save one mere change). His parents 
died in his early childhood. At twenty-two years he 
began preparations for college ; graduated at Yale, 
1840; also at Yale Divinity School, 1843; was settled 
the same year over the Congregational Church of 
Northboro', with which he had uniied in 1813; re- 
signed in 1851 ; resident in Berlin 1852 ; installed 
over the Congregational Church in Berlin, October 
25, 1853; resigned, October 25, 1878, after a pastorate 
of twenty-five years. His wife, Mary Grace, was 
daughter of Solomon and Sarah (Stow) Howe, of 
Berlin. Their only daughter, Lucinda Howe, mar- 
ried, on the silver wedding day of her parents at their 
home, Edward Howe Hartshorn, son of Dr. Edward 
and Lucy E. (Howe) Hartshorn, May 28, 1869. 
Wife Lucinda, died of pneumonia, December 26, 
1876, at twenty-six years. She left nvo children. 
The husband married, second. Miss Louisa South- 
gate, daughter of Rufus S. and Louisa (Blood) Hast- 
ings. 

Mrs. Houghton died, October 16, 1882. Son-in-law, 
Hartshorn, died, January 8, 1887, at forty-four years. 
He left five children ; three by second marriage. All 
have been born and nurtured up to date in the same 
ministerial homestead which was established by Rev. 




-> 




VV; C\., ^^iuWh 



I 









V- 



BERLIN. 



405 



Dr. Puffer, 1788, and occupied by him nearly half a 
century, and by his widow, second wife, another quar- 
ter century. Kemodeled, 1866. The church, 1887, 
by motion of the pastor, Rev. C. H. Washburn, con- 
ferred upon Mr. Houghton the relation of pastor 
emeritus. 



CHANDLER CARTER. 

Chandler Carter is of the Lancaster line, originating 
in Rev. Thomas Carter, born in England about 1610 ; 
pastor in Woburn, 1642; was graduate of Cambridge, 
England. His son, Samuel, was graduate of Cam- 
bridge, Mass., 1660. Located in Lancaster, he be- 
came pastor in Groton, and died there in 1697. His 
son, Samuel 2d, had Samuel 3d, who was father 
to Stanton, who settled in Berlin. Stanton's son, 
Daniel, was father to Chandler, who was the tenth 
and youngest child, born October 7, 1808. His 
mother was Dolly Jones, of one of the most numerous 
and influential families of the town. Those were 
days of economy and hard work. 

Our townsman has known both of these, in his 
father's home and in his own. He married a lady of 
good family and of good estate, whose father, a Berlin 
young man, Abraham Babcock, made a success of life 
in Boston. 

But the enjoyable union was sundered by death, 
after the birth of a daughter, who also died in early 
womanhood. 
After years of loneliness in his home Mr. Carter made 
another fitting and enjoyable connection in marriage 
with Miss Leah H. Lincoln, of Pembroke, Me., Jan- 
uary 16. 1864. 

Sadly this union was severed also, August 16, 1879. 
Singularly both deaths were painfully alike after 
similar surgical sufferings. 

As domestic joys were quenched in sorrows, the 
lone husband and father has taken more and more 
into his sympathies his native associates and towns- 
men. The manifestation of it has been duly recipro- 
cated in many kindly expressions before his great 
generosity was apprehended. 

In 1880 Mr. Carter contributed one thousand dol- 
lars for the building of the Unitarian Church. A 
niece of his had appropriated, in her will, a like sum 
to the same end. 

Our town was heavily burdened by war debt and 
railroad investment. Mr. Carter had opposed the 
latter urgently. But the town's error did not abate 
his good will. He sprung upon us a joyful surprise 
in the gift to the town of twenty thousand dollars. 
Nor this alone ; he gave twenty thousand also to the 
Unitarian Society of Berlin. Nor this alone; he gave 



ten thousand to " The Children's Mission to Children 
of the Destitute." 

Of course the town responded by votes and resolu- 
tions too extended for full quotations. A public re- 
ception was given Mr. Carter at the town hall, J. D. 
Tyler of the selectmen presiding. Neighboring towns 
joined in the occasion by representative citizens. 

E. F. Johnson, E<q., attorney for Mr. Carter, came 
forward with the twenty thousand dollar check, 
which he presented, with impressive fitness, to the 
town, through the selectmen, F. A. Woodward, 
chairman. Rev. W. A. Houghton, native townsman 
and schoolmate of Mr. Carter, as also his near 
neighbor for thirty years, responded for the 
town. The long acquaintance of the donor and 
respondent gave opportunity for the pleasantries of 
life as well as for sober reflection. James T. Joslin, 
Esq., of Hudson, had been delegated to present to 
the town a 'ife-size oil painting of Mr. Carter, which 
he had previously donated. It had been hung over 
the platform draped in white, and, in Mr. Joslin's 
closing words, it was unveiled. More than a heart- 
felt reception was given by the crowded assembly. 
Its companion likeness is that of Artemas Barnes, 
Esq., which, alone, had silently presided over many 
Berlin assemblies. 

Mr. Joslin's remarks were publicly instructive. 

Hon. William Bassett responded for the town in 
appropriate acknowledgment and practical sugges- 
tions. Others responded briefly. Lyman Morse, of 
the selectmen, Geo. A. potting, Esq., of Hudson 
(formerly resident in Berlin), Wilbur F. Brigham, of 
Hudson, C. F. Morse, of the Marlboro^ Times, S. T. 
Rice, of Northboro' and Mr. Pope, of the Boston 
Globe. 

The occasion was one to be long remembered in 
Berlin. Perhaps its moral effect will more than 
equal the financial relief. Our spirits grew anew as 
our tax bills came round so encouragingly reduced. 

Among the resolutions passed, " in town-meeting 
assembled," was this: "That the best token of our 
regard which we can ever hereafter manifest for Mr. 
Carter's memory, is so to conduct the business of the 
town as to be clear of debt, the burden of which is 
now lightened by his generosity.'' 

Of an inspiring poem, contributed by Miss P. A. 
Holder, we quote only the following : 

" The aureole of silver 

Years to thy head have brought — 
Is tinged with gol-ien lustre, 

This golden defti hath wrought. 

" We'll write thy name in brightness, 
As with a golden pen, 
Beside the good Ben Adhem's 
Who ' loved his fellow-men,' " 



406 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



CHAPTER LXI. 

HOPEDALE. 

BY ADIN BALLOU. 

A NEW and bright little star in the constellation 
of Massachusetts townships. It was created by act 
of the Legislature, which received the consummating 
approval of the Governor April 7, 1886. It has an in- 
teresting history, and an auspicious future, as will be 
seen ia the facts of the following explicit compen- 
dium : 

Territorial Situation, Dimensions and To 
POGRAPHY. — It is situated in the southeasterly sec- 
tion of the county, at about 42° 8' N. latitude, and 
71° 9' W. longitude from Greenwich. It is bounded 
northerly by Upton, easterly by Milford and Belling- 
ham, and southerly and westerly by Mendon. It 
contains three thousand five hundred and forty-seven 
acres, or a little over five and a half square miles. 
Its length is somewhat less than five miles, and its 
mean width hardly one mile and a quarter. Yet five 
cities and seventeen towns in the State have a smaller 
area. It is traversed through its whole length by a 
goodly little stream called Mill River, lies chiefly 
in the valley of that river, is skirted by high lands 
east and west, and includes the southern declivity of 
old Magomiscock Hill. Otherwise its surface is com- 
paratively level, with a gneissic soil of moderate nat- 
ural fertility and feasible culture. It has little native 
wealth except its water-power, which has long been 
turned to good account. It has no mineral ores, and 
little clay, peat or quarrying stone. Yet its soil, with 
proper cultivation, yields fair crops of grass, grains 
and fruits. Its woodlands, too, though not supe- 
rior, are tolerably productive. Its population at 
present is predominantly composed of manufactur- 
ers, artisans, traders and concomitant subsidiaries. 

Early History. — This slice of territory was in- 
cluded in the famous " Eight miles Square," deeded 
by several Nipmuck Indian sachems April 22, a.d. 
1662, to Moses Payne and Peter Brackett, as repre- 
sentative agents of the then Quinshipaug Plantation, 
afterward incorporated. May 15, 1667, as the town of 
Mendon. (For particulars see " Histories of Men- 
don and Milford.") 

Settlements began to be made here at an early date 
after the incorporation of Mendon. The very first 
mark of civilization within our limits was made by 
an eminent patron of the Quinshipaug Plantation, 
incipient Mendon, Benjamin Alby (Albee). Under 
a special contract with the plantation authorities, 
made in 1664, he erected a " Corn Mill " (so-called) 
on our Mill River, — the eai-liest water-power estab- 
lished for grain-grinding west of Medfield in all this 
region. It was located on what is now the Lewis B. 
Gaskill place, in the southwest cornerof our new town, 
just north of Mendon line, where the remains of the 



ancient dam are still extant. It was then deemed an 
important enterprise, and a great convenience to the 
increasing population of the general neighborhood. 
Albee contracted to maintain his "Corn Mill" 
permanently, and received several grants of land 
near the mill-site as a consideration for ils public ad- 
vantage?. But he chose his house-lot a little south- 
westerly of his mill, in what is still Mendon territory, 
near the present residence of Willis Gould. His 
mill and dwelling-house are understood to have been 
burnt by King Philip's warriors, when the original 
Mendon Village was laid in ashes during the winter 
of 1675. 

The earliest actual settler within our borders was 
John Sprague. In 1670 he bought of John Bartlett, 
an original Mendon proprietor, his right to a twenty- 
acre house- lot in the near vicinity of Albee's corn- 
mill, westward in our now extreme southwesterly 
corner. It included what has long been known as 
the Wing Kelley place. There he built himself a 
domicile soon after King Philip's War. He passed 
away, and was succeeded by his son William, and 
perhaps by a later descendant. Possibly Matthias 
Puffer, successor to Benjamin Albee in the ownership 
of the corn-mill, built a rude dwelling-house on his 
premises. We have no reliable evidence that any 
other settlements were made on our territory until 
the year 1700. During that year two distinguished 
settlers planted themselves homes on lands now in- 
cluded in the site of Hopedale Village. These were 
Seth Chapin, Esq., and Elder John Jones. Their 
children and posterity were long conspicuous inhab- 
itants of this neighborhood. The limits assigned to 
this sub-history do not allow the writer to go into 
many of the interesting particulars, which may be 
found in his exhaustive "History of Milford." If 
our inquisitive readers will consult that work, they 
will find that the early settlers of our present town . 
territory, their ott'spring and successors, have been a 
somewhat remarkably intelligent, enterprising and 
influential people, especially the leading families. 

To verify this let them read what is said in several 
chapters, and in the "Genealogical Register," con- 
cerning the Albees, Chapins, Corbetts, Greenes, Hay- 
wards, Joneses, Nelsons, Pennimans, Warfields, 
Wheelocks, Whites and others of various note and 
date. They will then be satisfied that our present 
population have little reason to be ashamed, either 
of their predecessors or themselves. In the long 
struggles which resulted first in making Milford a 
precinct, December 23, 1741, and finally a town April 
11, 1780, the inhabitants of now Hopedale were prom- 
inent, persistent and influential actors. The First 
Church (Congregational) of Milford originated chiefly 
with tlie.«e inhabitants, led by Elder John Jones and 
his neighbors. It was formed in his dwelling-house. 
In that house it was organized and ecclesiastically 
sanctioned April 15, 1741. Many of its regular Sab- 
bath meetings were held there, pending the erection 



HOPEDALE. 



407 



of its first meeting-house ; and there the council con- 
vened, which ordained its first pastor, Rev. Amariah 
Frost, December 21, 1743. In secular affairs the in- 
fluence of our antecedent citizens was at one period 
predominant. Samuel Penniman, Esq., at what is 
called South Milford, now a part of Hopedale, be- 
came a manufacturer of woolen and cotton goods, not 
far froai 1810, at an establishment just on the edge of 
Bellingham, where Charles River leaves our town. 
He was a man of sterling business talent and enter- 
prise. Whether he had co-partners in the manufac- 
ture of cloth the writer was never definitely in- 
formed, but deems it probable. A little later he em- 
barked actively in the straw goods trade, which he 
carried on in connection with a large grocery and 
dry-goods store. He did an immense business for a 
country merchant of those days, commanded custom 
throughout an area many miles in diameter, and was 
very popular. He employel hundreds, perhaps 
thousands, of straw braiders, and supplied their do- 
mestic wants out of his ample store. The then 
famous thoroughfare, the " Ninth Massachusetts 
Turnpike," so-called, had been recently opened, aud 
passed close by his premises, affording quite unpre- 
cedented facilities for communication with compara- 
tively distant marts. This brought another great 
public convenience, a post-office. This was Milfbrd's 
first mail depot. It was es^tablished March 7, 1814, 
and Major Penniman was appointed postmaster. 
Milford Centre had no post-ofiice till February 10, 
1823. Samuel Penniman, Esq., died, much lamented, 
in the prime of life, December 22, 1817. He was suc- 
ceeded in business by Samuel Leeds and one of his 
own surviving sons. Mr. Leeds was a man of ability 
and executive enterprise, but after a few years the 
prosperity of the establishment declined, and never 
afterward returned to its climax. Other minor cases 
of business development within our now municipal 
limits might be mentioned with respect, but were not 
of sufficient importance to occupy space, until we 
reach the movement which evolved 

The Hopedale Community. — This was of com- 
manding importance, for without it there is no prob- 
ability there would ever have existed the beautiful 
village of Hopedale, or the flourishing and promising 
town that bears that melodious name. The writer 
happens to be fully cognizant of all the facts which 
enable him to state the exact truth concerning this 
matter; for he was the leading originator, projector, 
legislator and director of that community movement. 
It was not designed or expected by him that Hope- 
dale should ever become an incorporated body p')l!tic 
under any human government, however otherwise 
good, which requires its subjects, at its behest, to 
slaughter human beings in war, or to train for that 
purpose in armies, navies and militias, or to inflict 
death on criminals, or to resort to deadly force against 
offenders, or, under any pretext whatsoever, to do unto 
any class of mankind what they would not have done 



unto themselves, or to violate in any respect the plain 
precepts and examples of Jesus Christ. It was strictly 
a practical Christian movement, conscientiou-ily and 
unselfishly regardful of individual, social and the 
universal welfare. Yet, while it transcended the 
semi-barbarism of existing human governmentalism, 
and threw off' the trammels of its unchristian require- 
ments, it did not deny its usefulness under the over- 
rulings of Divine Providence, nor depreciate any of 
the good which it conserves, nor countenance any 
form of opposition by physical violence even to its 
greatest wrongs and evils. 

There was not a particle of red revolutionism in it 
nor of compulsory political socialism. It was 
thoroughly pledged against everything of this nature. 
Yet its noble design ultimately failed, and its sub- 
lime expectations were drowned in the dark waters of 
disappointment. But it accomplished something — so 
much, indeed, that, as has already been said, it laid 
a foundation without which the present town would 
probably never have come into existence. What it 
did accomplish and why it failed will now be told as 
briefly as the nature of the case fairly admits. 

Its chief originator and his associates were Inde- 
pendent Restorationists in theology and moral reformers 
— believers in the fatherhood of God, the brotherhood 
of man, and the religion of Jesus Christ, as He taught 
and exemplified it, according to the Scriptures of the 
New Testament. And they became seized with a 
deeply religious and rational ambition to carry their 
faith logically into practice, socially as well as indi- 
vidually. Their premises and conclusions were in- 
vulnerable to just criticism. They were all tee-total 
temperance people, thorough abolitionists of the non- 
political type, sincere believers in the co-equal rights 
of the sexes and devoted Christian non-resistants, 
eschewing all forms of deadly and harmful force 
against human beings, even the worst. They ardently 
desired to commence an order of society and civiliza- 
tion on this basis, wherein systematic practice should 
not persistently contradict and nullify gospel theory, 
but concordantly exemplify it. 

They drew their inspiration and convictions of duty 
from such divine lessons and injunctions as the fol- 
lowing : " Blessed are the meek ; for they shall in- 
herit the earth." " Blessed are the merciful ; for 
they shall obtain mercy." "Blessed are the peace- 
makers ; for they shall be called the children of God," 
" All things whatsoever ye would that men should do 
to you, do ye even so to them." " Ye have heard that it 
halh been said. An eye for an eye and a tooth for a 
tooth. But I say unto you. That ye resist not evil" 
thus with evil. " Ye have heard that it hath been 
said. Thou shalt love thy neighbor, and hate thine 
enemy. But I say unto you, Love your enemies, 
bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate 
you, and pray for them that despitefully use you and 
persecute you ; that ye may be the children of your 
Father who is in heaven ; for he maketh his sun to 



408 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the 
just and on the unjust." " My kingdom is not of this 
world: if my kingdom were of this world then would 
my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to 
the Jews." " Put up again thy sword into his place ; 
for all they that take the sword shall perish with the 
sword." "The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship 
over them ; and they that exercise authority upon 
them are called benefactors. But ye shall not be so ; 
hut he that is greatest among you, let him be as the 
younger, and he that is chief as he that doth serve." 
" Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered 
unto, but to minister." "Ye call me Master and 
Lord ; and ye say well ; for so I am." " I have given 
you an example, that ye should do as I have done to 
you." "If any man will come after me, let him deny 
himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me." 
" Why call ye me Lord, Lord, and do not the things 
which I say ? " 

We pondered these and kindred testimonies, and 
looked over Christendom to find in what empire, 
kingdom or republic thereof, such principles of truth 
and righteousness prevailed. We surveyed the nomi- 
nal church throughout its manifold contending divi- 
sions, and found all the popular sects, and even most 
of the unpopular ones, completely wedded to the 
worldly governments under which they lived, either 
in formal union with the state or as subservient co- 
governing constituents, pledged to abide by and carry 
out the will of the constitutional majority. We heard 
much of Christian patriotism. Christian politics, 
Christian soldiers and Christian civilizatian, but saw 
comparatively little of the pure Christianity taught 
and exemplified by Jesus Christ, so plainly set forth 
in the above-quoted Scriptures. We, therefore, resolved 
on attempting to institute a community more accordant 
with Christ's clearly indicated ideal. 

It was a presumptuous undertaking. We were few 
in numbers, crude in our Christian attainments, poor 
in pecuniary resources, inexperienced in social con- 
struction and confronted by formidable obstacles. 
Faith and conscientious zeal constituted our chief 
capital. A declaration of principles, embodying all 
that was deemed essential to an ethical and religious 
covenant, was matured, together with a carefully 
elaborated general constitution. These were dis- 
cussed, considered and finally subscribed by about 
thirty persons, convened in Mendon, Mass., near the 
end of January, 1841. And there, on the 28th of that 
month, we formed and organized what was styled 
"Fraternal Community, No. 1," afterward entitled 
" The Hopedale Community." In the course of 1841 
we purchased the "Jones' Farm," so called, alias 
"The Dale," in Milford. This locality was christened 
Hopedale — the word Mope being prefixed to Dale, as 
significant of our high anticipations of a social 
future. The community commenced practical opera- 
tions immediately after April 1, 1842, with a joint 
stock capital of less than four thousand dollars, on a 



worn-out farm of some two hundred and fifty-eight 
acres, in a single, time-shattered mansion, nearly one 
hundred and twenty years old, with a few rickety out- 
buildings. There was no shop, mill or mill-dam 
on the premises. The little river gurgled lawlessly 
down a stony fall of some twenty-six feet from an 
almost worthless swale at the north into a kindred 
one at the south, yielding only a few desirable fish. 
The ingress and egress were by roads of the cheapest 
kind. 

The new-comers had to start with a very scanty 
outfit of everything necessary to their progress. The 
first settlers comprised seven or eight familie.i, num- 
bering about thirty persons, men, women and children, 
all housed in their old domicile. From this humble 
beginning the community gradually increased in 
numbers and resources, amid innumerable difficulties, 
for nearly fourteen years, when they could muster a 
regular membership of one hundred, and an aggregate 
of three hundred souls — dwelling in fifty houses, on 
a domain of more than five hundred acres, with a 
respectable array of homely, but serviceable mills, 
shops and conveniences. We had also a school-house, 
chapel and a library of several hundred volumes. We 
had a handsome village site with good streets, where 
rough places had been made smooth, and crooked 
things straight. And our total capital had risen to 
over ninety thousand dollars. 

How this culmination was reached, step by step, 
it would require a considerable volume to narrate, 
and it would be a book worth reading. The writer, 
over ten years ago, prepared such a volume for the 
press, and it will one day be published; but, for the 
present, a few outlines must sufiice. 

We had in our membership, first and last, farmers, 
gardeners, a variety of mechauics, seven or eight 
ordained ministers of the gospel, one experienced 
and skillful physician, several competent educators 
in the useful branches, and altogether a common- 
sense, intelligent community. We have been repeat- 
edly pilloried by eloquent orators, who happened to 
know very little about us, as vmonary dreamers, de- 
luded fanatics, idlers and incompetent financial econo- 
mists, who needed a strong master to save us from 
our imbecility. But, whatever our other faults and 
weaknesses, they were not of the kind charged or 
insinuated by these gracious orators. We were only 
such dreamers and visionaries as Jesus Christ and 
his apostles plainly taught us to be, honestly endeav- 
oring to carry into practice their precepts, instead of 
honoring them with our lips, whilst all the time sys- 
tematically conspiring with the world to nullify and 
setthem. at naught. Never was so much brick made 
with so little clay and straw. There was not an 
idler, spend-thrift or lavish consumer among us. All 
worked and saved. There were no time-killing, 
dawdling gentlemen or ladies daintily shirking man- 
ual drudgery. The leader and his wife were in the 
front rank of hard toilers, not merely with head and 



HOPEDALB. 



409 



heart, by night and day, but with begrim(d hands 
in the dingiest places of necessary duty. No one 
expended a mill for intoxicating beverages Even 
tobacco, though not expressly prohibited, was volun- 
tarily laid aside. Only a single elderly member ad- 
hered to its customary use, and he with regret, after 
many severe struggles to overcome a long-confirmed 
habit. Others triumphed over it by persisteut will- 
power. 

One venerable widow, at the age of seventy, 
bravely renounced her cherished snuff-box, and con- 
secrated her savings to the common cause. We 
spent nothing on war, its preparations or glorifica- 
tions ; nothing on politics or its collaterals; nothing 
on litigation, but settled all controversies with our 
neighbors by amicable conference or arbitration ; 
nothing on police officers, constables, sheriffs or 
criminal prosecutions. At an early stage of our 
community a theft was committed on our poultry 
and potato field by some outlandish fellows. We 
bore it in silence, and waited further developments. 
We kept not even a dog to protect our property. 
No depredations were repeated, and not long subse- 
quently word reached us, in a roundabout way, that 
the ringleader of our marauders was sorry, and said, 
if he had known what sort of people we were, not a 
thing should have been touched. They came no 
more. This was probably as well for us and him as 
the popular penal reliances. 

But it must not be inferred that our chief concern 
was to make and save money for our own comfort and 
aggrandizement, apart from the welfare of outside 
humanity. The very reverse was true. We were an 
earnestly religious people, not on the ground of escap- 
ing the merciless vengeance of God after death, and 
securing a future endless heaven, but on the ground 
of escaping the dreadful evils of sin, both in thi-s 
world and the future, and securing to ourselves and 
others the blessedness of the heavenly kingdom on 
earth as well as in the immortal world. We therefore 
sustained regular religious meetings twice or more on 
the Sabbath, and once or more during the intervening 
week, besides quarterly and general convocations in 
the regions round about. We had our weekly con- 
ference meetings, our young people's gathering on 
Monday evenings, our inductive communion meet- 
ings, our monthly meetings for discipline, etc. These 
and others, besides our Sunday-school. And all these 
were live meetings, dealing freely with a vast variety 
of topics by free discussion, and by practical training 
of old and young for the every-day duties of life. 
Many of them are remembered by their now scattered 
participants with reverent appreciation. Meantime, 
we sent out missionary preachers and lecturers very 
actively. All this cost time, effort and money. In 
furtherance of our objects we needed to publish a 
semi-monthly periodical organ ; also books, pamphlets 
and tracts. We did so liberally for many years. But 
these could not be expected to pay for themselves. 



like popular fancy literature, and were a continual 
draft on our heads, hands and purses. 

We were all loyal adherents of the temperance 
cause, and were levied on for contributions to it from 
year to year. But that cause was under no obligations 
to help us. It sent us occasionally a poor, broken- 
down victim of intemperance to house and help reform. 
To such we furnished asylum at more or less expense. 
We were all uncompromising Abolitionists, then poor 
and hated. Those who were specially devoted to the 
liberation of the groaning slave had nothing but 
good will to give us. But they needed our money, 
and received a good deal of it ; also a home and help 
for their colored proikgis in need, and got considera- 
ble of that. There were " prisoners' friends " and 
reformers of penitent criminals in those days, who 
found Hopedale a nice place to take up contributions 
in, and to domicile their unfortunates. Before the 
war of emancipation there was an organized so- 
ciety of non-resistants in the land, and they received 
freely of our tribute. We were an alms-giving peo- 
ple, and were drawn upon almost continually to hand 
out food, clothing and money to suppliant needy 
inhabitants around us, especially to the then poor 
Irish of Milford. We had widely advertised our 
community enterpri.se to the world, and were honored 
with visiting inquirers from all parts of the country. 
To these we gave hospitable entertainment — to some 
of them for weeks — and generally received nothing 
in return but criticism and cheap advice. We were 
a purely voluntary association, with doors that swung 
both inward and outward. So, when members became 
dissatisfied with our companionship, they were at 
perfect liberty to leave us and take away all their 
property. We had to meet drafts of this kind, occa- 
sionally occurring, to the extent of thousands of 
dollars, and, at times, greatly to our inconvenience. 
Finally, we were legally taxable on all our polls and 
estates as inhabitants of the town of Milford, and 
were bound by our principles to pay all taxes prompt- 
ly and peaceably. This we always did. We continu- 
ally increased their revenue, but never received a 
nod of credit from their officials, and, for several 
years, a very inadequate recognition of our legal 
rights. We educated our rising generation and con- 
structed our streets largely at our own expense. 
Yet the community never made them a pauper, or 
criminal, or a cent's costs for relief of its poor, or 
for police protection, or for any sort of governmental 
intervention. It did, indeed, receive, first and last, 
many little donations and helpful favors from outside 
friends, amounting to several hundred dollars in all. 
So it was really, not only a self-sustaining institution, 
but an unselfish and truly beneficent one. And cer- 
tainly it was not made up of imbecile visionaries and 
thriftless lazzaroni, but of intelligent, rational, indus- 
trious, economical, orderly and charitable people. 

Having reached the culmination of its prosperity 
at the beginning of the year 1856, let us pause a mo- 



410 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



meut to ponder the closing words of its president's 
annual address. The then president was Brother 
Ebenezer D. Draper, recently deceased. He said : 
" We may rejoice together in considering the degree 
of harmony that exists at the present time in our 
community — greater, 1 think, than ever before. And 
I hope and believe that, with our past experience and 
present advantages, we shall continue to increase in 
love and wisdom, and so become more and more a 
light to those around us — proving to the world that 
Christian Socialism opens a more excellent way in 
which men may live together as social beings, and 
that it gives us, as it will all who yield to its saving 
power, peace and good-will to one another and to the 
whole human race. May the good God prosper and 
bless us all ! " 

Who could imagine, after such an address and 
benediction, that in less than two months afterward 
the Hopedale Community would be declared by the 
same man so hopelessly conditioned that he and his 
brother George Draper, who together owned three- 
fourths of its joint stock, must withdraw their inter- 
est and manage it for themselves? Yet such was the 
astounding fact. The grief, disappointment and 
mortification of the present writer was utterly in- 
describable. He saw that the noblest undertaking 
of his life, for which he had planned, prayed and 
labored with all his energies night and day, over 
fifteen years of his meridian manhood, was irrev- 
ocably doomed to final extinction. He saw clearly, 
in one flashing moment, that however the results 
might be posponed, modified, mitigated or overruled 
for good, the issue was absolutely inevitable, and he 
must make the best of a sad case. By divine grace he 
has done so. 

What is the explanation of this deplorable sur- 
prise ? A few words only are required for it. The 
forementioned annual address of President Draper 
was delivered on the 9th of January, 1856. At that 
time the treasurer's report had not been completed. 
The numerous branches of industry had not all made 
up their accounts. So the meeting was adjourned. 
Meanwhile it began to be whisi)ered round that the 
year's operations might show a small deficit. The 
adjourned meeting took place February 5th ensuing, 
and the treasurer's report announced a deficit of 
$145.15 in the whole aggregate of operations and 
financial interests. But a drastic discussion followed, 
in which it appeared that the treasurer's statement 
had not taken into account the interest due to joint 
stock, $1652, nor made allowance for depreciation 
of buildings, machinery, &c. — which might swell 
the deficit perhaps to $12,000. This was no suffi- 
cient reason for serious alarm, much less for dissolv- 
ing the unitary property and industrial arrangements. 
But things were said which plainly indicated that a 
crisis would soon be precipitated. A few days de- 
veloped it. Affairs must be wound up. It could be 
avoided only by the mass of 8m.T,ll joint stock pro- 



prietors paying off the two large proprietors. This 
was an utter impossibility. So the bett terms possible 
were made, and the change consummated in a manner 
as satisfactory to all parties as so radical a revolution 
permitted. 

Thenceforth the Hopedale Community had but a 
nominal existence. It struggled on as a mere re- 
ligious society till finally merged in the Hopedale 
Parish. Not another family ever located in its vil- 
lage site except under the common law of temporal 
advantage and expediency. Those of the old votaries 
who could remain with comfort and convenience 
stayed on. Those who felt obliged to seek better po- 
sitions departed. But the new masters of the situa- 
tion throve, prospered, made a generous use of their 
wealth and built up an enviable town. They were 
the only members of our community who had a lu- 
crative business outside of it. The rest of us either 
had small pecuniary advantages outside, or sacrificed 
such as they had to their new undertaking. They 
had done as much for that, according to their ability, 
as their two abler brethren, but it did not count in 
money. Fraternity of property was the keystone of 
our social arch. When that fell out the arch crum- 
bled. These favored brethren commanded that key- 
stone. It was in their power to preserve or to demolish 
the structure. The writer thought then and thinks 
now that they threw away a splendid opportunity to 
bless mankind and immortalize their memories. But 
they thought and acted otherwise, as they had an un- 
doubted right to do on their own responsibility to 
the Supreme Judge. We deeply deplored their de- 
cision, but were reluctant to blame them. Probably 
a vast majority of the world's leading minds in 
church and state will pronounce their decision wise 
and good. And if they fell away from a high Chris- 
tian standard which they had professed to revere, they 
did so under very seductive and powerful tempta- 
tions. 

So the Hopedale Community failed. Was its fail- 
ure a finacial and business one? Certainly not. As 
already shown, it paid its way, bore its heavy burdens 
and increased greatly in numbers and wealth down to 
the time of its so-called failure, excepting only during 
its last year's operations. Then, by estimating a real 
or supposed depreciation of buildings, machinery, 
etc., it was made to appear that we had run behind- 
hand perhaps twelve thousand dollars, perhaps less. 
Was this comparatively small deficit a sufficient cause 
for dreading bankruptcy? — when there was plenty of 
money in the pockets of the members to wipe it out 
by assessment, and when a more prudent management 
of our numerous organized branches of business 
could probably retrieve it in a year ? 

Look at any section of the business world during 
any fourteen years of operations, and see how many 
firms or corporations gained more and lost less, ac- 
cording to ability and means, than our little commu- 
nity. The writer knows of several individuals, once 




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HOPEDALE. 



411 



our members, who since 1856 have lost, under the old 
unfraternal business system, more tnan all our frater- 
ternal institution sunk or was likely to sink, ranging 
from twelve thousand dollars to one hundred thou- 
sand dollars each. No ; we made no financial failure. 
It was simply a moral failure. Doubtless we all fell 
far short of our high profession'', and became weary in 
well-doing. Certainly too many of us did. We sub- 
ordinated spiritual things to temporal and too faintly 
strove for personal Christ-likeness. Thus at length 
we lost the toill to persevere in our noble enterprise 
under temptation. We failed from lack of a united 
will to bear the crosses of our mission. Although 
there were some basilar defects in nur constitutional 
polity, still the failure was chiefly a moral one, 
and the writer is now reconciled to it, not because he 
has lost any of his convictions, principles or hopes as 
a practical Christiau socialist, but because he desires 
no communal organization that cannot be sustained 
by fraternal, devoted, united free-iviU. Such organi- 
zations he firmly believes will bless future ages. For 
these he will pray, study and labor uniil discharged 
by divine mandate. 

Peogeess towaeds Township. — Ebenezer D. 
and George Draper, having decided that Ihey could 
do better for themselves and the world on the old 
financial plane than that of Christian socialism, went 
resolutely forward to demonstrate it. They claimed 
still to adhere to New Testament Christianity on such 
points of duty as they deemed practicable in the 
existing order of society. They were men of rare 
business talent, enterprise and tact. They had a 
fortunate specialty of pursuit, and knew how to suc- 
ceed in it. They were shrewd, generous, public- 
spirited and honorable men of the higher type among 
civilized accumulators. They dropped the less profit- 
able branches of industry which had been carried on 
by the community, concentrated their resources on 
profitable ones in their own favorite line, called into 
partnership outsiders of inventive genius and capital, 
multiplied their productive facilities continually, 
brought out many valuable patents, and steadily as- 
cended to eminence as manufacturers of cotton and 
woolen machinery. Conspicuous among their new 
coadjutors was Mr. Warren W. Dutcher, from North 
Bennington, Vt. He was an ingenious mechanic, a 
moral reformer, and a benevolent man, with a good 
family. He and his made their mark among us. He 
brought strength to the Drapers, and gained wealth 
by the connection. One or two of our members were 
taken into the new corporations, and shared in the 
advancing pecuniary successes. Such of us as could 
carry on any kind of business to tolerable advan- 
tage did so. The writer and remaining preachers 
received a small income for public services as 
religious teachers, also as printers, editors and edu- 
cators. Riches came only to the favored few and 
their well-salaried lieutenants. But our fortunate 
brethren grew in generosity with their increasing 



means, and dispensed their donations with liberal 
hands in many directions, especially to the temper- 
ance and anti-slavery causes. As to the community 
(now reduced to a feeble religious society), its various 
surviving institutional agencies and instrumentalities 
were largely dependent on their contributions, and 
received them. In the days of its greater power it 
prepared the way for their importance l)y many dis- 
interested labors of head and hand, providing them 
with a village well-planned, and populated by intel- 
ligent, virtuous and orderly inhabitants such as manu- 
facturing enterprise alone could hardly have gathered. 
It was, therefore, not only reasonable for them to 
preserve and build up the common interests, but for 
their own honor and pleasure, as virtual lords of a 
goodly vicinage. This they were happy to do. A 
church edifice was needed ; it was built by subscrip- 
tion in 1860. They headed the subscription liberally, 
and ultimately fathered the expense of completion. 
It was a neat and commodious structure, handsomely 
situated on Community Square, so called, amid beau- 
tiful surroundings. It cost over S6.000, towards 
which they contributed all. but $1,423, though the 
minor portion drew hnrder on most of the givers, 
according to their ability, than the major on its 
donors. But all did well, and subsequent enrich- 
ments have followed from the superior patrons, to 
their great credit. Our religious teachers, editors, 
etc., received very little for their services in earlier 
times. Under the new regime one hundred and fifty 
dollars were raised by subscription in 1856, and 
divided among three or four ofliciators, who had their 
re-pective assigned Sundays. The same very nearl_v in 
1857, '58 and '59. In I860 the compensation was rai.sed 
to six dollars per Sabbath, and the pulpit supplied 
by two ministers — the writer and Rev. Wm. S. Hey- 
wood. Substantially the same arrangement continued 
till 1864, after which the same preachers received 
eight dollars per Sabbath till 1866. Then the junior 
minister removed from the place, and the writer sup- 
plied the desk for three-fourths of the time, and 
received twelve dollars per week of actual service. 
In 1867 the Hopedale Parish succeeded the com- 
munity organization, and the writer was called to the 
pastorate on a regular salary of eight hundred dollars 
per annum, which continued till April, 1880. All 
these increases of pulpit support flowed largely from 
the purses of those who had risen to wealth since the 
so-called " failure " of the community. 

During this period of twenty-four years great events 
transpired in our country, and marked changes in 
Hopedale. Ominous political agitations culminated 
in the gigantic War of the Rebellion. George Draper 
and several less prominent members of our community 
deemed it their duty to abandon Christian non-resist- 
ance and return to the arena of civil and martial 
patriotism. So they resigned membership and freed 
themselves from its restrictive principles. They, 
their families and kindred thinkers went into politics 



412 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



and into the war with unstinted devotion. The elder 
brother, Ebenezer D. Draper, adhered unalterably 
to our declaration on these and most other points. 
Yet he and the rest of us could have no sympathy 
with the slave-holders, and ardently prayed that Di- 
vine Providence would overrule the bloody contest 
for the emancipation of the slaves. Such, indeed, 
was the outcome. But our position and circumstances 
were peculiarly unfavorable to self-preservation as a 
society. Our material power was gone and our social 
foothold was sliding from under our feet. We resorted 
to various promising expedients for handing our dis- 
tinctive organic peculiarities down to the future. 
None of them succeeded. Propagandism was useless ; 
internal discipline was useless, and pulpit teachings 
could not turn back the tide of dissolution. So our 
periodical died in 1860, and later all our instrumen- 
talities, one after another, till the last became extinct. 
In 1867, though not formally dissolved, the community 
was virtually merged in the Hopedale Parish. This 
professed to be a Liberal Christian Society. It was 
organized under a constitution sucli as seemed neces- 
sary for practical parochial purposes, but contained 
nothing like a creed, covenant or declaration of prin- 
ciples, leaving each member and supporter free to 
think, believe and act according to the dictates of his 
or her own individual reason and conscience. It sub- 
sequently affiliated with the Unitarian denomination. 
The establishment of the parish was formally sanc- 
tioned by the waning community January 8, 1868. 
Finally, at later dates, its trustees legally transferred 
to the parish all its right, title and interest in and 
un«o the Village Square, the church edifice, the Sab- 
bath-school fund of $800 and the Hopedale Cemetery. 
Thus ended the career of the Hopedale Community. 

Let attention now revert to secular aftairs. Under 
the vigoriius management of the Drapers and their 
allies Hopedale marched rapidly forward to command- 
ing attainments and distinction. Expansion, improve- 
ment and beautification were more and more conspicu- 
ous from year to year. In the midst of this material 
prosperity the two brothers began to diverge in their 
managemental views of business operations. The re- 
sult was a change of co-partnership in 1868, when 
Ebenezer D. retired from the firm, and his place was 
filled by George's oldest son. General William F. 
Draper. Ebenezer had been a successful accumulator 
on a smaller scale of transactions. He was worth 
about five thousand dollars when he joined the com- 
munity in 1841. In 1852, when George became co- 
partner with him, he was worth at least thirty thousand 
dollars, and George less than five thousand dollars. 
Both gained rapidly, and in 1868 the senior brother was 
worth one hundred and twenty-five thousand dollars, 
and the junior over one hundred thousand dollars. 
Their business was now greatly expanded and corres- 
pondingly more complicated — requiring proportionate 
attention and vigilance. Both had a growing ambition 
for riches— to be devoted to laudable uses. But their 



ideas, tastes and capabilities differed somewhat. Ebe- 
nezer was good at negotiating advantageous contracts 
and making profitable bargains. George excelled 
him in will-power, indomitable push, mechanical 
genius, insight into values and the management of de- 
tails. Moreover, he had a family of talented children 
coming up; whereas Ebenezer had only one or two 
adopted ones, destined to other pursuits. The upshot 
of divergence, however, was, that the elder brother 
seemed to the younger too easy in business matters, 
and HKjre ready to share profits than the fatiguing, 
close application necessary to secure them. The re- 
sult was that the co-partnership of E. D. & G. Draper 
ceased in 1868. That of George Draper & Son was 
immediately formed. This very competent and genial 
son, William F. Draper, who succeeded his uncle in the 
firm, went into the great war a private, came out of it 
a brigadier-general by brevet, and is equally distin- 
guished as a business man. Meantime Ebenezer D. 
Draper embarked in a flattering enterprise with asso- 
ciates in Boston, "The American Steam Fire-Proof 
Safe Co.," and ultimately lost nearly all his property. 
He could not have fared worse had he stuck by the 
so-termed incompetent visionaries of the community. 
Not such the fortune of George Draper, sons and con- 
federates. They prospered wonderfully, and marched 
triumphantly on from one achievement to another till 
they rendered Hopedale an enviable monument to 
their renown. And the present seems only a prelude 
to grander future attainments. But the historic pen 
deals not with anticipations. 

Manufacturing operations, though more or less 
closely connected, are carried on by distinct firms 
and corporations, which may now be treated of in 
their order. The foremost of these in importance is 
the firm of " George Draper & Sons." Its senior died 
in the midst of his successes, greatly distinguished and 
deeply lamented throughout a wide circle of influ- 
ence, June 7, 1887, having been its presiding head 
since 1868. It now consists of General William F. 
Draper, George A. Draper, Eben S. Draper and Wil- 
liam F. Draper, Jr. They are large selling agents for 
the other companies. " The Hopedale Machine Co." 
was incorporated in 1867, with George Draper as presi- 
dent ; William F. Draper, treasurer ; and Joseph B. 
Bancroft, managing director. It has manufactured 
very extensively a variety of patent machinery, has 
an ample foundry, a screw-making department and 
all sorts of facilities for multifarious productions in 
its general sphere. Its present superintendent is A. 
B. Edmands. It has a capital of two hundred thou- 
sand dollars. " The Dutcher Temple Co." was also 
incorporated in 1867 — George Draper, president ; F. 
J. Dutcher, secretary and treasury ; with the Draper 
brothers on its board of directors. Capital stock, 
forty thousand dollars. Manufactures the Dutcher 
and other patent temples, seamless stocking knitting- 
machines and numerous other curious and useful 
articles. It has a complete outfit of all necessaries 




i 




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^ 



HOPEDALE. 



413 



for its own successful operations. The Machine Com- 
pany and Dutcher Temple Company have respectively 
gorid water-power privileges, supplemented with 
steam-power for all needful occasions and purposes. 
The three companies thus far described have large, 
handsome brick edifices, besides wooden ones, afford- 
ing them over one hundred and sixty thousand square 
feet of convenient room, or over three acres of floor- 
ing. The firm of "A. A. Wescott & Sons" manufac- 
ture spindles for the Drapers. They have a flourish- 
ing establishment, situated a mile south of the others 
on a good waterfell, long previously occupied for more 
ordinary uses. They execute a creditable amount of 
business in their line, and are building up a respect- 
able little village called Spindleville. Taking all 
these companies together, they have practical work- 
ing control over patents and improvements thereon to 
the number of nearly four hundred — covering a vast 
variety of ingenious and useful mechanism now 
deemed indispensable in the vfell-furnished cotton 
and woolen manufactories of the United States. 
Their annual sales are estimated at from one million 
dollars to one million two hundred and fifty thousand 
dollars, their employes of all grades at from six hun- 
dred to eight hundred and their pay-roll at about six 
thousand dollars per week. Their employes are gen- 
erally of superior skill, as well as moral character, 
receive better compensation, perhaps, than the average 
in our country, and have never made a strike for 
higher wages. To obtain an adeqate idea of the 
nature, variety and extent of Hopedale manufactures, 
the inquisitive reader is referred to the "Sixth De- 
scripdve Catalogue " of " George Draper & Sons," as 
presented in an " Illustrated Pocket Hand-Book," 
compiled by \V. N. Goddard and published in 1887. 
Contemporary with this successful manufacturing en- 
terprise was a large livery and transportation busi- 
ness, handling thousands of tons of iron, coal, etc., 
annually, conveying the mail and passengers several 
times a day and furnishing horses and carriages to the 
inhabitants. Later has followed the Hopedale Elastic 
Fabric Company, incorporated December, 1886 — Wil- 
liam F. Draper, president ; E. L. O-sgood, treasurer 
and selling agent ; and William Lapworth, superin- 
tendent. Brick factory, 100 feet long by 50 wide, 3 
stories high, with boiler-house cutside ; capital stock, 
$100,000; 100 operatives, 80 of them females; annual 
sales, about $200,000; orders crowding and business 
thrifty. Mr. Lapworth is the genius of this enter- 
prise, having the honor of projecting, introducing 
here and most skillfully superintending it. 

Such a continually rising tide of manufacturing 
prosperity naturally wrought corresponding results in 
the whole status of Hopedale Village. Its dwellings 
were gradually trebled and several fine mansions 
built; population proportionately multiplied; new 
streets opened, ihe unfinished ones improved, the 
older ones macadamized and graced with concrete 
sidewalks ; the church renovated, furnished with a 



costly organ, and its surroundings much beautified ; 
gas-lights and water supplies introduced through 
pipes from fountain-heads in Milford for public and 
private convenience; effective safe-guards against fire 
provided; school-house accommodations enlarged; 
and a host of subsidiary necessaries, comforts and 
luxuries secured. At length, in the midst of this 
rising affluence, the ambition was born in the leading 
minds for township incorporation. The project took 
form in the spring of 1885, and was thenceforth 
energetically prosecuted to successful consummation. 
Separation feom Milford and Incorpora- 
tion. — The first rumor of this movement was received 
with incredulity, and the verified fact with a mix- 
ture of astonishment and ridicule by the leading 
Milfordians, who I'egarded it as presumptuous, vain 
and hopeless. But George Draper & Sons, with 
their influential coadjutors, went into the undertak- 
ing with their accustomed shrewdness, energy, de- 
termination and ability. They knew that their cause 
would encounter a powerful opposition from the 
mother town, that it could not succeed without re- 
sorting to every legitimate means of attainment, 
and that they had got to work for it with tireless 
vigilance. They proceeded accordingly from pre- 
liminaries to conclusion. So they surveyed and map- 
ped out the territory to be included in the proposed 
new town, and canvassed the population to ascertain 
who would favor and who oppose the project. They 
procured a large majority of the legal voters as signers 
to the petition for division and incorporation ; while 
a few remained neutral, and a very small minority 
declared themselves decidedly opposed. The peti- 
tion was duly prepared and entered on the Order 
Calendar of the General Court for consideration at 
its regular session to commence in January, 1886. 
Meantime vigorous measures were taken by both 
Hopedalians and Milfordians to prepare for the ap- 
proaching contest. Large public meetings were 
held in both sections, strong working committees 
appointed, and very able counsel engaged to man- 
age thtir respective causes. Milford had certain 
notable advantages. She was the party in possession ; 
she had overwhelming numbers, alive with ardent 
yeal ; she had three newspapers devoted to her inter- 
ests, and also two able members in the Representative 
chamber of the Legislature. Hopedale had some 
countervailing advantages. Her leaders were strong, 
executive, judicious, indomitable men; they had a 
widespread, deeply-rooted influence in manufacturing, 
political and financial circ'es ; they had made a mul- 
titude of friends by their public spirit and generous 
donations ; and they had a good cause. If they could 
get the real merits of that cause fairly before the minds 
of an appreciative majority of the Legislature, they 
were sure to succeed. This was not an easy achieve- 
ment in dealing with such a large number of persons. 
For many of the best disposed needed special inform- 
ation, the indifferent to be moved, and the misin- 



414 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



formed to be enlightened. No opportunity was ne- 
glected to supply these urgent necessities; but, though 
their opponents, under excitement, very broadly in- 
sinuated that they resorted to dishonorable means 
to attain their object, there was really no just ground 
for such a su-ipicion. Their means were such only as 
have long been sanctioned by custom in such contro- 
versies. Their real offence was that they were too 
sagacious, industrious and indefatigable to be over- 
matched. 

Both parties had engaged able counsel, sufficiently 
well matched to leave nothing undone or unsaid in 
behalf of their respective clients, — for thepetitioners, 
N. Sumner Myrick, Esq., and Hon. Selwin Z. Bow- 
man ; for the remonstrants, Hon. J. H. Benton, Jr., 
and Hon. J. H. Bennett. The legislative Committee 
on Towns, before whom the parties were to lay the 
case, comprised Messrs. TIenry M. Phillips, Charles 
A. Gleason and Samuel B. Locke, of the Senate, with 
Messrs. Stephen S. Taft, Charles Field, Miles Samp- 
son, Charles F. Jenney, Robert Blyth, Jesse Allen, 
Francis E. Shaw and Albert A. Woodward, of the 
House, — Hon. Henry M. Phillips, chairman. A more 
intelligent, judicious, candid and patient committee 
could not have been asked. They commenced the 
hearings January 27, 1S86, and continued them by 
adjournment Ihrougli seven or eight sittings, besides 
making an official examination of the premises on the 
9th of February. It was incumbent on the petition- 
ers to show that their proposed town had the proper 
requisite elements of such a body politic, — i. e., suffi- 
cient area, population, wealth and capability to man- 
age municipal affairs. Also that their separation from 
the mother town would cause it no serious injury as 
compared with the advantages gained by the new 
town. It was to be expected, from the history of man- 
kind, as always reluctant to part with power and priv- 
ilege, that Milford would strenuously resist the at- 
tempted division : and she did so point by point. Al- 
though she could not deny that the area of Hopedale, 
3547 acres, would be larger than that of seventeen 
towns and five cities in the State; nor that its popu- 
lation, nearly 1000, exceeded that of ninety-five towns 
in the State ; nor that its quota of polls, 250, outnum- 
bered that of seventy-nine towns in the State ; nor 
that its valuation, $769,340, would be greater than that 
ofone hundredand thirty-three towns in the State ; nor 
that its votinsc citizens would be competent to manage 
municipal affairs ; nevertheless, it was her policy to 
yield nothing. Her managers, partisans and lawyers 
boldly assumed the ground that the show of numbers 
in favor of a new town was unreal and deceptive ; that 
the movement was set on foot by George Draper & 
Sons, was designed chiefly for the aggrandizement 
of one family, and was supported only by their rel- 
atives, subalterns and dependents; that some of these 
dependents were overawed and even coerced ; that not 
a few of the voters on the Hopedale territory were 
eitheropposed to division or were neutrals; and finally 



that the Drapers were mere selfish schemers and tax 
dodgers. All the-e brave assumptions and imputa- 
tions were put forth, reiterated and pertinaciously in- 
sisted on, with as much seeming honesty and earnest- 
ness, as if they were demonstrable verities. Their first 
eflort was to emphasize a derogatory inference from 
the acknowledged and obvious fact that the Drapers 
initiated and led the division movement; as if such 
movements, where worthily started, are customarily set 
on foot and headed by persons of ordinary estate, tal- 
ent and influence — which is seldom, if ever, the case. 
Common sense and prudence dictated in this case, 
that if any laudable attempt was to be made at all to 
olitain the incorporation of Hopdale, the Drapers 
were the very men of all others to initiate and lead 
the movement; for they had all the qualifications ne- 
cessary to success, and would be generous benefac- 
toi-s of the new town, — as has proved to be the case. 
They doubtless had an ambition to father and endow 
the town. Was that a criminal ambition ? Was it an 
ignoble ambition? Did it deserve even from oppon- 
ents reproach and contumely ? Milfordians them- 
selves would now answer: No. 

Next the battery of opposition was turned upon the 
rank and file of the petitioner-^, to make it appear 
that, though seeming to make a fair show, they were 
mere mercenary dependents of the Drapers. They 
were, therefore, all questioned as to whether they were 
family relatives, or business partners, or paid agents, 
or employes, or sold them manufactured articles; and 
the implied inference uniformly was, that no man stand- 
ing in such relations could properly be counted in as 
a competent citizen. Yet all these men, thus dis- 
paraged, were uncommonly intelligent, and several of 
them capable of managing municipal affairs in any 
town of the Commonwealth. But how happened 
these men to think, feel and act with the Drapers? 
For the same general reason that thousands of inde- 
pendent-minded people think, feel and act together 
on religious and political questions, — because they view 
tilings alike. There was, however, one single indi- 
vidual who alleged that he signed the petition under 
constraint, and who also alleged that he knew of sev- 
eral others who did so. His name had been stricken 
from the list of petitioners as soon as it became 
known he had declared himself to have been over- 
awed. When placed on the witness-stand, he was re- 
quested to name the persons he knew to have been 
coerced. He refused, but finally named one. That 
man soon afterward appeared and testified that he 
signed the petition freely, and never told any one the 
contrary. The alleged dictator also appeared, and 
testified conclusively that he never made use of coer- 
cive language in any form to induce persons to sign 
the petition, and certainly not in the case asserted. 
Thus vanished the phantom of reproach on the char- 
acter of the leading petitioners. Yet the remonstrants 
actually had one aid and comfort which was a thorn 
to the petitioners. There was a handful within the 



HOPEDALE. 



415 



Hopedale territorial lines who thought it their duty 
to take sides against their near neighbors by resisting 
division, and who did so zealously. This was the 
most unpleasant occurrence, in its spirit and conse- 
quences, which befel the Hopedalians during their 
struggle for municipal independence; not because it 
had much weight in deciding the main issue, but be- 
cause it alienated and embittered some who ought to 
be mutual friends. 

The next effort of opposition ingenuity was to dem- 
onstrate that the Hopedale villagers, however other- 
wise estimable, had few local conveniences, and were 
dependent on Milford Centre for almost everything. 
In that favored Centre were the railroad depots, the 
mercantile establishments, the provision market-!, the 
banks, the assembly halls, the churches, the high 
school, the public library and a multitude of other 
necessary good things, including even the streets over 
which the Hopedalians mu«t travel to obtain the 
supplies they needed. Was it for such a class of de- 
pendent people to set up as a town ? It was a greater 
strain on gravity than on facts and logic to answer 
such an argument. But courteous decency demanded 
that a formal and conclusive reply should be made. 
This was easily done. It was undeniably proven, 
first, that the Hopedale people had never received 
any one of these advantages as a gratuity, but had 
always handsomely paid for every item of value or 
convenience furnished them; second, that they in- 
tended always to deserve the good name, long since 
accorded them, of being reckoned among Milford's 
best customers ; third, that they had done their full 
share towards providing the roads and streets they 
were obliged to travel in order to trade with Milford 
dealers ; fourth, that the leading petitioners were 
stockholders and officers in the railroads and in 
several other corporations of Milford Centre ; and 
fifth, that the incorporation of Hopedale as a town 
would not disturb a single one of Milford's superior 
monetary and commercial advantages at all. The 
only effect of such an argument on candid minds was 
to show that a town with so much to boast of was not 
very magnanimous to grudge the petitioners the right 
to manage their own local affairs for themselves. 

But to this there remained the formidable objection 
that this aspiring Draper family were mere plotting 
tax dodgers, and ought not be tolerated. Jlilford 
could not afford to part with the prerogative of tax- 
ing them at her own discretion. If they should get 
off at the head of a new town, there was no imagin- 
ing what calamities might happen. One, however, 
was certain — Milford was to be a great loser. They 
must be foiled in their pernicious career. The bril- 
liant compliments with which they were bespangled, 
especially the obnoxious father, were transcendent, 
and quite beyond their merits, or even their demerits. 
There was one and but one way of escape from their 
unfortunate predicament. They must abandon their 
project of an independent town and submit to Mil- 



ford taxation. If they would only perform that little 
act of expiation, their sins, though like scarlet, would 
instantly become white as snow. They would then 
be excellent fellow-citizens, if not fellow-saints. But 
they were obstinate and incorrigible offenders, and had 
to be denounced accordingly. So the inquiry arose 
how many dollars per annum of taxes they were 
likely to avoid in fathering their new town? No- 
body knew or guessed ; they were going to dodge 
several thousand which Milford wanted, and this was 
enough to seal their doom. What right had they 
in their wealth to diminish a flourishing town's needy 
exchequer ? Had not that maternal town bestowed on 
them large gratuities to encourage their enterprise and 
foster their business ? No, not to the value of a single 
cent. Had she not been a liberal purchaser of their 
manufacturers? To the extentof a {evt dollars' worth 
of useful iron castings perhaps. Had she not been 
very generous in building roads for them, and in pro- 
viding safeguards against fire for their factories, &c. ? 
The records did not show it. Had they been sordid 
and stingy in contributing to Milford's public neces- 
sities, wants and charities ? Far otherwise. Had 
they surrounded themselves with intemperate, reck- 
less and shiftless operatives, thereby and otherwise 
breeding criminals and paupers, to be taken care of 
at the expense of the town ? Not one. Had they 
given no employment to the needy population of 
Milford? Much. Had they pinched, ground down 
and oppressed their employes ? On the contrary, 
they had the reputation of paying fair wages. What, 
then, was their grave offence? Were they getting too 
rich and important? If so, were not their accusers 
doing their utmost to accumulate riches, and some of 
the most conspicuous of them by less creditable 
means? Were they fraternal communists, trying to 
have " the strong bear the infirmities of the weak," 
like the founders of Hopedale ? Nothing of that kind. 
They derided such experiments. But they were 
looking out, with the shrewdness of modern civiliza- 
tion, every one for himself, and, if they failed to cap- 
ture the lion's share, had no right to avenge their ill- 
luck by denouncing those who succeeded as dangerous 
characters. Yet the plea was that these ambitious 
Drapers were scheming to escape just taxation by 
obtaining a new town, chiefly made up of their 
dependents. If this was not intolerable conduct, 
what could be? And if such attempts did not deserve 
to he exposed by disinterested free speech and the 
press, of what value were these guaranteed free utter- 
ances? But such pleading, earnest and pathetic as it 
was, fell on the discerning ears of impartial judges as 
hardly coming from injured innocence. 

Finally, the climax of the controversy was reached. 
If Hopedale should be incorporated, however other- 
wise justifiable, would not Milford be grievously and 
irreparably damaged? The remonstrants vehemently 
affirmed that it certainly would. And their tone was 
that of persons threatened with ejection from a 



416 



HISTORY OP WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



dearly-bought, clearly-titled estate by fraud and 
arbitrary power. If so, they ought to gain their case. 
But facts and arguments were still against them. 
It was true that their Hopedale taxable subjects 
were profitable ones, yielding a net annual revenue 
of several thousand dollar.-i. This golden fleece would 
certainly be lost to them if tlieir tributaries obtained 
their independence. There was no gainsaying thiH 
conclusion. On such ground the alarm-cry was raised, 
Milford's taxes will be fearfully increased, immi- 
grants will be deterred from coming into the town 
and its real estate will greatly depreciate — its dam- 
ages will be deplorable ! Now its Centre was the 
grand emporium of affluence, of trade, of wealth and 
all desirable advantages. But if these Hopedale 
tributaries were allowed to go off and set up for 
themselves, their impoverished municipal parent 
would languish into ruin ! So pleaded her eloquent 
advocates. What were the facts? In everything 
but tax profits Milford was in danger of losing 
nothing — not a mill. In luisiness matters, trade and 
the advantages of general intercourse, Hopedale was 
going to be just as profitable a customer as ever. 
Their municipal incorporation would not change 
these particulars one iota, unless, perhaps, for the 
enrichment of Milford. In the sore matter of tax 
profits even, Hopedale independent must bear its 
own burdens, take care of itself and meet its share 
of State and county taxes. It must also pay its 
portion of the existing town debt. So far Milford 
would actually be relieved. Was her real estate to 
depreciate, or her business prosperity to decline from 
such causes? No; but that surplus revenue from 
taxation of the Hopedalians, some $8000 to $10,000 a 
year, was to be irretrievably lost; and that was going 
to do the apprehended mischief. Well, suppose that 
amount must be actually added to Milford's self- 
taxation, wa4 it going to bankrupt her? or even 
seriously strain her financial ability? It was un- 
reasonable to assert it, especially after the claims 
made in a former part of this hearing respecting her 
opulence as compared with dependent Hopedale. 
With a population of nine thousand, such a host of 
enterprising business men and such abundant ad- 
vantages of all kinds, $10,000 a year ought not to be 
a very frightful loss to bear. Moreover, it was in 
her power to curtail her expenses at her own option, 
and, by greater prudence in making outlays, to mod- 
erate taxation. This, however, was not agreeable, 
for it came out she was ambitious to become a city, in 
which case her expenses were likely to be greatly in- 
creased. Hopedale's independence would defeat, or 
at least po.stpone, this desirable consummation, whilst 
at the same time escaping taxation to sustain it. 

Another important consideration came into the 
loss account, which was, that the sanitary welfare 
of Milford Centre demanded costly sewers, and 
though Hopedale needed none, it would be grievous 
injustice to release her from the legal grasp that 



would compel her to help pay the coming bills ! 
Who could answer such ardent and eloquent reason- 
ers? Thus the whole controversy was narrowed 
down to the question: Shall Milford be damaged to 
the extent of her power to draw this annual net rev- 
enue from Hopedale by municipal taxation ? If Mil- 
ford could have shown that Hopedale was indebted 
to her for favors in the past, for patronage and en- 
couragement in time of need, her plea would have 
had some color of justice and plausibility. But here 
was an unfortunate blank. For though Hopedale 
always had more or less good friends in Milford, as 
individual and social acquaintances, the town ma- 
jority and authorities never laid it under any special 
obligation. From the days of its struggling infancy 
as a fraternal community, in 1842, it continually in- 
creased the taxable polls and property of the town 
without a token of appreciation. For several years 
it schooled its own children, and built its own 
streets. And when appropriations began to be 
granted, it was done with manifest reluctance. Its 
people made no paupers, or criminals, or disorderly 
characters for the town to care for. Yet, as a town, 
though it sowed not, it was a vigilant reaper. Every 
poll and every parcel of estate was assessed, the 
taxes duly called for and always promptly paid. 
And so matters had gone on through all the changes, 
substantially in the same manner, for over forty- 
three years, down to this contest. 

All the while Milford was drawing a net revenue 
from Hopedale by taxation ; giving back in appro- 
priations much less than she took. And whence came 
the population of Hopedale Village? Almost en- 
tirely from places outside of Milford, some of them 
from remote quarters of the country. From whence 
came their property ? A mere fraction of it from 
Milford — the great bulk of it from widespread regions 
abroad. Milford purchased very little from Hope- 
dale, but Hopedale was a large and profitable cus- 
tomer of Milford's goods. These facts came out in 
bold relief during the discussion, and they convinced 
a sufficient number of Massachusetts legislators 
that, even if Milford should lose the net revenue to 
which she clung with such a tenacious grasp, she 
had a poor title to it, and that Hopedale ought of 
right to be a free and independent town. The Hon. 
Mr. Bowman wound up the pleadings before the Leg- 
islative Committee with a masterly speech for the 
petitioners — clear, comprehensive and irresistibly 
impressive. The committee deliberated, and unani- 
mously reported a bill for the incorporation of Hope- 
dale. 

The bill came up in the Senate for consideration 
March 12, 1886, and after a long discussion prevailed, 
fourteen to eleven. It was brought up in the House 
March 25th, and after a hot debate carried, one hun- 
dred and eighteen to ninety-two. Returning to the 
Senate, it was finally passed, eighteen to sixteen, April 
6th. On the 7th it was signed by His Excellency, 




4 



^jyy,/t^2^^^ 



HOPEDALE. 



417 



Governor George D. Robinson, and so Hopedale be- 
came a town. Nothing really new was said or could 
be said in either House of the Legislature for or 
against Hopedale's incorporation, but of course the 
wliole ground must be gone over with more or less 
particularity. The committee ably defended their own 
report on its solid merits. Its opponents repeated all 
the sharp things said against the petitioners in the 
committee-room. And their orators in both Houses 
won laurels of approbation from the remonstrants by 
their invective eloquence against the leading Hope- 
dalians and their followers. All these labors of love 
were lost, not only on the assailed, but on the legis- 
lative majorities and the Governor. Justice and rea- 
son triumphed. 

In the evening of April 13th ensuing the Hope- 
dalians celebrated their victory, according to the 
fashion of the political world, by the ringing of bell?, 
discharge of artillery, illumination of their village 
and display of fireworks. Two sonorous bells wererung 
smartly for an hour ; Battery B, from Worcester, fired 
first a salute of eleven guns to General William V. 
Draper, and then eighty-six in honor of Hopedale as 
the eighty-sixth town of Massachusetts incorporated 
during the present century ; the gas and electric 
lights flashed their splendor in all directions, and the 
skies blazed with brilliant rockets. So the people 
rejoiced with manifold demonstrations in their newly 
acquired municipal independence. 

The town held its first meeting under a warrant 
from W. F. Draper, justice of the peace, April 19, 

1886, and was legally organized by the choice of the 
following-named officers: Frank Dewing, clerk; E. 

D. Bancroft, treasurer : E. L. Chichester, collector; 
Ernest M. Capen, auditor; J. B. Bancroft, Lewis B. 
Gaskill and Alonzo A. Cook, selectmen, overseers of 
the poor, Board of Health and highway surveyors ; 
Asa A. Weatcott, David Nelson and H. B. Fisk, As- 
sessors; Frank J. Dutcher, for three years, Anna M. 
Bancroft, two years, and Albert W. Ham, one year, 
school committee; William N. Goddard, for three 
years, Frank S. Hay ward, two year^, and C. F. Roper, 
one year, trustees of library ; Frank Gaskill, William 
N. Phillips, Samuel A. Andrews and Robert Ross, 
constables ; C. H. Messenger and C. F. Roper, 
field-drivers ; Frank S. Hayward, Fred. Mooney and 

E. D. Walker, fence viewers. 

On the 14th of October, 1886, the town adopted an 
ample, wholesome and commendable codeof by-laws; 
also at the same meeting judicious rules and regula- 
tions for the Fire Department. Thus the necessary 
machinery of a well-ordered municipal government 
was set in motion. Its operations have been emi- 
nently satisfactory. A large, well compiled, lucid 
and complete report for the year ending January 1, 

1887, was made by the town officers and published, 
representing all departments of its affiiirs in a pros- 
perous condition. A similar one was made and pub- 
lished for the year ending January 1, 1888. A sum- 

27 



mary of this second annual report, modified by later 
ascertained data, may properly be given on these 
pages, as exhibiting the progressive status of the 
new town, nearly down to the present time. 

Town Officers. — David A. Westcott, clerk ; E. D. 
Bancroft, treasurer; Edward S. Simpson, collector; J. 
B. Bancroft, Lewis B. Gaskill and Simon G. Gilman, 
selectmen, overseers of the poor, Board of Health and 
highway surveyors; Asa A. Westcott, David Nelson 
and Hamlet B. Fisk, a.ssessors; Albert W. Ham (three 
years), Frank J. Dutcher (two years), and Anna M. 
Bancroft, school committee; C. F. Roper (three years), 
William N. Goddard (two years), and Frank S. Hay- 
wood (one year), trustees of the library; Frank Gas- 
kill, William Phillips, Samuel A. Andrews, Robert 
Ross and T. J. Coyne, constables ; Charles Waterhouse, 
George Cole and Frank Gaskill, field-drivers; Frank 
S. Hayward, Fred. Mooney and E. D. Walker, fence- 
viewers. By appointment and special organic arrange- 
ment — Charles E. Pierce, chief engineer of Fire Depart- 
ment; J. B. Bancroft, assistant engineer; A. W. West- 
cott, clerk and treasurer; Wm. N. Goddard, secretary 
of library trustees and librarian ; Ellen F. Welch, as- 
sistatit librarian; Frank H. French, truant officer. 

Before coming to statistical details, it is pertinent to 
treat of important historical matters chronicled in the 
second report. George Draper, the father and bene- 
factor of the new town, departed this life, in the ripe- 
ness of his successes, usefulness and honors, June 7, 
1887, aged sixty-nine years, nine months and twenty 
days. This lamentable event took place in Boston, 
Avhither he went for a temporary sojourn to obtain 
medical relief from urinary and kindred ailments, 
which, though not seemingly dangerous, he was anx- 
ious to overcome. Unexpectedly to all, he presently 
became alarmingly sick under treatment, and in a few 
days expired. His remains were brought home, and 
on the 11th of June his funeral was solemnized with 
every demonstration that bereaved family affection 
and public grief could bestow. Thousands appreciated 
his merits, sympathized in a great common loss, and 
united in reverential tributes of respect to his memory. 
Besides the valuable gifts and legacies which he be- 
queathed, was the commodious and beautiful town 
edifice which graces the centre of Hopedale Village. 
He had laid its foundations in 1885, and it was far ad- 
vanced towards its completion before he died ; but 
the interior finish had been retarded by casualties, and 
lingered several months. 

Brief General Description. — "The building is 
of granite and brownstone, with exterior dimensions of 
75x69 feet. It is on the main street, and faces nearly 
east. On the front are two store entrances, besides 
the main entrance, at the right of which are the stair- 
case and town officers' rooms. At the end of the hall, 
directly opposite the entrance, are double doors lead- 
ing to the reading room, 24x22 feet, in the northwest 
corner; this is connected with the library proper by 
an arch eleven feet six inches in width. This room 



418 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



occupies the rear centre of this floor, and is thirty feet 
by seventeen feet, six inches, with an entrance from 
the left of the entrance hall. The finish, furniture 
and shelving in these rooms is of California red-wood. 
The entire upper story is occupied by the town hall, 
with the stage, reception and ante-rooms. The base- 
ment contains a market, lock-up, caucus-hall, steam- 
heating apparatus and store cellar." The entire cost 
of the noble structure, with its sixteen thousand feet 
of land, was over forty thousand dollars. 

At a special town-meeting held on the evening of 
August 22, 1887, the five children (three sons and two 
daughters) of George Draper (deceased), pursuant to 
their father's testamentary wishes and directions, pre- 
sented these premises to the town, with a perfect title 
of conveyance. This conveyance imposed on the 
town only one qualifying condition — that none of its 
rooms should ever be rented to persons without the 
consent of the donor's heirs. The town unanimously 
accepted the donation on the offered terms, passed an 
appreciative vote of thanks for the same, and also the 
following preamble and resolutions: — 

W'HEREiS, In the Providence of God, the Town of Hopedale has been 
colled to lament the decease of Mr, George Draper, an'I v.nild formally 
indicate its appreciation of his noble services and powerlul direction; 
therefore it is 

Eesohed, That this tow n suffers an irreparable loss. 

Resolved, That not only has this Qlunicipality been thus bereft of a 
wise counsellor, loyal citizen and most munificent benefactor, but it is 
also deprived of one whose integrity in business relations, and whose un- 
tiring devotion to the public welfare, constituted him an object worthy 
the emulation and grateful remembrance of all who knew him. 

Besolved. That a copy of these resolutions be inscribed upon the 
records of the Town, a copy also presented to each individual of his 
immediate family and duly published iu the public press. 

At the same town-meeting, after choosing a Com- 
mittee of Arrangements to supervise the dedication 
of their admirable Town- Hall, the following vote of 
thanks was passed : 

Voted.— To thank Gen. W. F. Draper for his donation to the town of 
the so-called Butcher Street extension (whicli cost him several thousand 
dollars), and for the prompt and liberal manner with which he accepted 
and paid for such changes as seemed necessary for the successful comple- 
tion of said road. 

If, aftf-r ]ierusing such a record, any of our readers 
should wonder whether this Draper family and these 
menial voters are the same that were so sadly dispar- 
aged before the General Court of 1886 as unworthy 
to be incorporated into a town, let them rest assured 
that they really are the very same. 

Dedication of the Town Hall. — The Commit- 
tee of Arrangements consisted of Gen. William F. 
Draper, chairman ; Joseph B. Bancroft, Lewis B. 
Gaskill and Simon G. Gilman, selectmen ; and Arte- 
mas B. Edniands, Asa A. VVestcott and Charles F. 
Eoper, citizens-at-]arge. To these were subsequently 
added E. D. Bancrolt, Mrs. Phila W. Weston and 
Miss Anna M. Bancroft. Kumerous sub-committees 
were appointed and put in charge of the necessary 
branches, into which details were divided. Every 



committee discharged their duties assiduously, ef5- 
ciently and creditably. At length the day of dedica- 
tion arrived, October 25, 1887. It was a grand and 
memorable occasion for Hopedale. A specific narra- 
tion of its interesting proceedings and performances 
would overflow our limits, and will not be expected.' 
We must confine our account to synoptical outlines. 
A great concourse of people assembled, including, 
besides near residents, numerous representatives of 
the surrounding towns and a host of sympathizing 
friends from more distant parts of the Common- 
wealth, who had stood by Hopedale through evil as 
well as good report, when it was struggling before 
the Legislature for independence. Music of the 
highest excellence threw its charms over the multi- 
tude, rare eloquence distilled its fragrance on de- 
lighted auditors from eminent orators, and a rich 
dinner regaled the stomachs of participating guests. 
The formal exercises in the hall commenced at eleven 
o'clock A. M. Stirring airs from the band ; prayer by 
the writer; unsurpassable music from the Weber 
Quartette; a pertinent and appropriate introductory 
address from Chairman Gen. William F. Draper; 
principal dedicatory address by Ex-Governor John 
D. Long, replete with his graceful and renowned elo- 
quence; remarks by the writer of this article, inter- 
esting speech by Rev. Lewis G. Wilson as the spokes- 
man of two hundred and forty grateful Hopedale em- 
ployes, presenting the town a splendid life-size crayon 
portrait of the late Geo. Draper ; formal delivery of the 
Town House keys to selectmen, by Geo. A. Draper, as 
representative of the late George Draper's heirs, and 
acceptance of the same by Joseph B. Bancroft, chair- 
man of the board; dinner, toasts and speeches in the 
great tent on Church Common, with the customary 
musical accompaniments. So the day closed, redo- 
lent with testimonial tributes to departed worth, 
grateful acknowledgments of munificent benefactions, 
sacred reminiscences of the past, and auspicious 
hopes of the future. 

As was natural and proper, the dominant current 
of thought, speech and attention was eulogistic of 
the new town's upbuilder and generous patron, 
George Draper. The writer was the only speaker of 
the occasion who represented the primary Hopedale 
of community days. And he deemed it both a privi- 
lege and a duty to revive its memory, and show that 
it had something more to do with preparing the way 
for subsequent success than appeared on the present 
surface of thingti. The honorable and eloquent 
orator of the day had, indeed, made one biief ref- 
erence to it, but in terms of disparaging commisera- 
tion rather than commendation. He said : 

On this spot, some forty years ago, one of those communities which 
spring up from time to time, and of which so much is anticipated by the 
enthusiasm of their members, had undertaken, under the sweet guid- 
ance of the venerable and beloved pastor, who is here to-day, to solve the 
problem of a happy, industrious and peaceful Christian brotherhood. It 
was a joint stock association, sharing capital and prolits, and run on 



HOPEDALE. 



419 



common accouut. The result was a practical bankruptcy, avoided only 
by a change which followed no longer any transcendental line, but 
turned to the line of hard, practical American business, for George 
Draper took the plant into his vigorous hand. An enlightened and 
liberal selfishness became, its it usually does, a beneficence to which a 
weak communism was as the dull and cheerless gleam of decaying punk 
to the inspiring blaze of the morning sun in spring-time. The man 
of atfairs was in tempnnil things a better leader than the priest, as he 
usually is, and sis nobody will so emphatically assure you as the priest 
himself. A meagre manufacturing enterprise, tliat made a few boxes 
and cotton -spinning temples, and employed a dozen bands, began that 
marvellous expansion which, in these few years, under George Draper's 
direction, has come to employ live hundred men, has grown from an 
annual product of twenty thousand dollars to one of more than twelve 
hundred thousand ; hiis built and incorporated a Massachusetts town ; 
has erected these trim, convenient liouses and homes of skilled and pros- 
perous labor ; has enlarged the original industry into four great business 
houses, and embracesoue of the largest cotton machinery manufacturing 
centres in the world. 

Well, Liow was the " venerable and beloved Chris- 
tian pastor,'' " the priest," likely to appreciate this 
rhetorical picture of " weak communism, etc. ?" Did 
he wish to detract from the merits and fame of his 
lamented friend, the deceased George Draper ? By 
no. means. But he did not feel that the honorable 
reputation of that departed friend needed to be mag- 
nified by the unjust disparagement of the Hopedale 
Community or any member thereof. He knew all the 
facts in the case, and knew that the orator, through 
some mistake, had radically misrepresented the most 
important of them. He knew that Ebenezer D. 
Draper, the elder brother of George, was president of 
the Hopedale Community at the time when its joint 
stock and unitary interest were dissolved ; that he 
was then a much larger capitalist than his younger 
brother, and wielded far greater power; that he pro- 
nounced the condition of the community eminently 
harmonious and prosperous less than two months 
before he and his brother decided to withdraw their 
capital ; that there really was no bankruptcy, nor any 
necessitating cause for a dissolution of unitary interests, 
except their withdrawal of three-fourths of the joint 
stock, and that '' the plant'' was taken into the vigorous 
hands of the two brothers only to be changed into a 
successful manufacturing settlement, managed on the 
principles of " enlightened and liberal selfishness." 
Therefore, knowing perfectly the entire history of the 
community, that without its devoted labors and sacri- 
fices this new town of Hopedale would probably 
never have attained the importance now being glori- 
fied, and knowing, moreover, that the rising genera- 
tion were in danger of remaining misinformed on the 
subject, the aged "priest" improved the few minutes 
allotted him in stating the salient facts of the case. 
What these facts were is clearly set forth in the be- 
ginning of this sub-history, and need not be repeated. 
His speech was listened to with respectful attention, 
and he was cordially thanked by many auditors for 
his exposition. He believes it made a salutary and 
lasting impression on the assembly. 

Progressive Statistics to September, 1888. — 
The town report already referred to comes down to 
January 1,1888, but on several points later informa- 



tion is available, and will be used. The officers chosen 
at the annual March meeting, with slight exceptions, 
were re-elected from the preceding year, as already 
named. The following synoptical chronicles exhibit, 
in a compendious form, the principal transactions and 
corporate progress of this youthful municipality. 

Conformably to the terms prescribed in the act of 
incorporation, Hopedale must pay fifteen per cent. 
ofMilford's indebtedness at the time of separation. 
Amicable settlement October 6, 1887, when principal 
and interest was paid to Milford, amounting to S18,- 
436.95. Liquidated by funds on hand and borrowed 
money. 

Town debt, October 6, 1887, $16,000 ; reduced so as 
to stand at the end of 1888, $14,000; total valuation 
of taxable property in town, at the close of 1887, 
$781,204 ; July 1, 1888, $882,408 ; tax rate per $1000, 
uniformly thus far $13 ; number of inhabitants, July 
1, 1887, 975; July 1, 1888, 1,116 ; number of dwelling- 
houses, July 1, 1888, 203; in Hopedale village, 217; 
number of polls, July 1, 1887, 301 ; July 1, 1888, 347 ; 
amount of taxes committed for collection, 1887, $10,- 
749.91; amount committed in 1888, $12,165.55; total 
income from taxes of all kinds,^t.«.,from individuals 
and corporations,— 1887, $19,385.30; same for 1888, 
not fully reported at the time of this writing. 

Town expenditure-i for the year ending December 
31, 1887, viz. : for highways, out of appropriations, 
donations, etc., 14,456.69 ; for sidewalks, out of appro- 
priations, $1,013.32; for incidentals, under adminis- 
tration of selectmen, $2,788.1 1 ; for town hall appurte- 
nances, etc., $842.15 ; for gas and street lights, $315.94 ; 
for water against fires, under appropriation, $516.68 ; for 
Memorial Day, $25.00; for school-house lot appropria- 
tion, $600.00 ; for borrowed money repaid, $3,000.00 ; 
for State and county tax in 1886, $1,331.10 ; for State 
and county tax in 1887, $1,662.52; for land damage, 
extension of Dutcher Street, $819.00; for outlays on 
Water Street, newly laid, $501.36; for aid to poor 
belonging to other towns, $108.66 ; for Fire Department 
under appropriation, $813.01 ; for educational pur- 
poses, total receipts from all sources, $5,232.89 ; total 
disbursements, $5,232.89 ; for town library, total 
receipts, $1,170.10 ; expended, $2,294.40. So, for all 
purposes the town expended, during the year ending 
December 31, 1887, $26,320.83. It will be understood 
that this total includes certain donations, and is 
affected somewhat by debits and credits of the pre- 
ceding year. 

Appropriations of 1888, for the same general pur- 
poses above specified, amount to $19,475.00; town 
property on hand, aside from town hall and its appen- 
dages, school department buildings, $5,700.00; High- 
way Department, including new stone-crusher, etc., 
$2,467.00 ; Fire Department, hose-house, apparatus and 
equipments, $2,015.00. 

Condition of Departments. — All the depart- 
ments are admirably managed and in excellent con- 
dition. Respecting highways and streets, the new 



420 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



town inherited twenty-five, by act of incorporation, 
from Milford. These are of various lengths and 
widths, and bear appropriate names. One of them 
has been very advantageously extended, throuorh the 
generosity of General Draper, a considerable distance 
northward from Hopedale Village, shortening, on a 
level route, the distance to Upton. Two or three 
other new streets have been laid out, and marked im- 
provements made on several old ones. Our roads are 
good. 

Concerning the Hopedale Fire Department, matters 
show a no less creditable record. It has a nice hose- 
house, a well-equipped carriage with 1200 feet of hose, 
4 ladders, .36 fire-pails and 12 suitably-located hydrants. 
Besides these, the several corporations have provided 
themselves costly and efficient apparatus for the ex- 
tinguishment of fires on their respective premises^ 
and not a few individuals have plenty of ladders and 
fire-pails. The department is well organized and 
manned. Fires are few, far between and, thus far, 
almost harmlc>s. 

As to pauperism, it scarcely exists, and criminality, 
as a cause of expense, is of rare occurrence. No 
licenses are granted for the sale of intoxicating 
liquors, and the manufactories of vice, crime and 
misery are kept at a distance. Our Educational De- 
partment is liberally encouraged, assiduously super- 
vised, reputably conducted and in first-rate order. 
Down to the present writing there have been but two 
school-houses, the larger situated in Hopedale Village 
and the smaller in South Hopedale. An ample High 
School edifice is in near prospect, and will soon be 
erected. The corporations have unitedly pledged a 
subscription of six thousand dollars towards it, and 
the town is about to raise a sura adequate to secure its 
completion. The High School was inaugurated in an 
extemporized room of the large village school-house 
in September, 1886. It was an immediate success. 
Number of pupils, thirty. Course of studies up to 
the average standard. Principal and assistant emi- 
nently well qualified, and results ever since all that 
could be desired. The increase of scholars in the 
lower grades has obliged the High School to find new 
quarters in the Town Hall until the new edifice de- 
signed for it shall be ready for occupancy. 

The village school-house barely accommodates the 
pupils of lower grade. During the fall term of 1887 
there were in its primary room sixty-six scholars, 
fifty-three in the intermediate and forty-three in the 
grammar. Since then these numbers have been con- 
tinually augmenting. Competent and excellent 
teachers have filled the several positions with honor 
to themselves and satisfaction to all parties concerned. 
The South Hopedale School has not yet admitted of 
gradation, but it has been creditably taught and 
managed. The whole number of children in town 
between the ages of five and fifteen years, as reported 
by the School Committee for May 1, 1887, was one 
hundred and eighty-two. The number must now be 



much larger. On the whole, few towns in the Com- 
monwealth have greater reason to be proud of their 
public schools than Hopedale. 

The Town Library and Beading Room. — 
These have ample and elegant accommodations in 
the Town Hall edifice. It will bear repeating that 
the reading room is 24 by 22 feet. The lilirary room 
is 30 by 195 feet. They are connected by an arch 
IIJ feet in width. The finish, furniture and shelving 
of both rooms is of California red-wood. In the 
library, December 31, 1887, 2478 vols.; pamphlets 
1556 ; periodicals, in incomplete vols., 889 — a very 
good beginning, largely made up of donations. The 
future is bright with hopeful auspices. There will be 
liberal donors, and the town will make handsome 
annual appropriations. The reading room and refer- 
ence library opened in temporary quarters December 
27, 1886 ; circulation of books commenced June 4, 
1887 ; rooms in Town Hall were occupied December 
24, 1887. The reading room was fairly well supplied 
with valuable reading matter from the outset, and has 
been gradually enriched ever since. The attendance 
at reading room, as well, as the circulation of library 
books, has been worthy an intelligent population. 
The best of regulations have been established for the 
library and reading room, and admirable order pre- 
vails throughout. The board of trustees have done 
themselves honor by their judicious management of 
affairs. Especial commendation is due to Mr. Wil- 
liam N. Goddard. He is an amateur librarian, takes 
a lively interest in the affairs of his office, and has 
laid the town under lasting obligations of gratitude 
for his services. His assistant. Miss Ellen F. Welch, 
who attends to the ordinary daily duties of librarian, 
discharges those duties meritoriously, and has won 
general approbation. There is fair promise that in a 
few years Hopedale will have a public library nobly 
rich in quantity and quality. 

Literary Taste and Culture. — These are 
marked charaeteristics of our population. Of reading 
clubs there are three, each of which subscribes for the 
best periodicals publi-shed in the country, and circu- 
lates them regularly throughout the families of its mem. 
hers, viz. : The Hopedale Reading Club, the Hopedale 
Magazine Club, and the Spindleville Reading Club. 
There are two prominent literary clubs : The Round- 
about Club, devoted to mental improvement by pre- 
paring, delivering and discussing brief essays on 
various interesting topics ; and the Shakespeare Club, 
devoted to the study, select reading and consideration 
of Shakespeare's works. These clubs hold frequent 
regular meetings at the houses of their respective 
members. The Hopedale Debating Society, besides 
discussing the live questions of the day at their 
pleasure and convenience, furnish valuable winter 
courses of public lectures by able, masters on attrac- 
tive themes. Then, in the line of dramatic culture 
and entertainment, we have two active organizations; 
The Hopedale Dramatic Club and the Hopedale 



HOPEDALE. 



421 



Amateurs. As a further index to the prevailing taste 
for intellectual refreshment, it need only be stated 
that three hundred and fifty daily newspapers are 
received through the Hopedale post-office regularly, 
besides all the more infrequently published papers 
and periodicals. 

Martial Patriotism and Military Spirit. — 
The section of territory recently incorporated as the 
town of Hopedale has borne an average crop of war- 
riors from generation to generation, in all the historic 
and probably unhistoric past. The Indian rwitives 
had their braves, and their white successors since the 
year 1700, have furnished their full quota of heroic 
soldiers in every war, from the old French one down 
to the great Rebellion. During this last it was rep- 
resented, for longer or shorter terms, by some thirty 
fighting men, as nearly as can be estimated from 
partially unauthentic data. Of these General William 
F. Draper is the honored flower — a candidate for 
higher civic distinction. His less favored comrades 
are either among the remembered dead or mostly 
dwell in widely-scattered, humbler homes. As to the 
professed Christian non-resistants of the Hopedale 
Community, who at its zenith numbered about one 
hundred persons, they were generally exotics from 
other soils. When the white flag of their projected 
anti-war State was abandoned by its controlling pecu- 
niary supporters, it necessarily soon fell to the old 
social level, as has been told. Some who adhered to 
their Christ-like standard of peace have passed into 
the higher life, or removed to other localities. A 
mere remnant remain on the once hopeful domain of 
forty years ago, and these are surrounded by a daily 
increasing multitude of worthy people, who, never- 
theless, are thoroughly devoted to civil and warlike 
society as it is. Which way soever the survivors turn, 
public opinion and practice present a granite wall of 
pro-war-governmental adherence. The aged, middle- 
aged and the young pay homage to the sword as the 
final grand arbiter and indispensable defender of just- 
ice, liberty and human rights. So they believe, think 
and act. And in this they glory. The most recent 
demonstration of their delight and trust in deadly 
weapons as a dernier resort is the formation of a 
youthful company in our village called the Hopedale 
Zouaves. It numbers some twenty sprightly lads, 
regularly oflicered, armed, uniformed, drilled and 
paraded in the modern military style. Thus in time 
of peace they prepare for patriotic war. In their 
splendid uniform, with fine music and graceful mar- 
tial bearing, they make a charming display to the 
admiration of men, women and children. Is this to 
be condemned or deplored? Not if the war-priuciple 
be absolutely right, as is preached and believed by 
the popular religion and civilization. On the con- 
trary, it is eminently commendable. For the young 
should learn what it is their duty to practice in ma- 
ture age. If it is wrong, it is so because the popular 
religion and civilization are wrong in their funda- 



mental, systematic pro-war principle. Would the 
rattlesnake be rendered less dangerous by depriving 
him of his rattles? Strike at his vitals, not at his 
rattles. 

So thought the projector of the Hopedale Commu- 
nity. It took him over thirty years to out-think and 
out-grow his own pro-war heredity and education. 
He had a tough nature to convert to Christ-like 
peace ethics ; but when once fairly converted to 
them, no temptation could convert him back to faith 
in the wisdom of deadly force. So now, in the 
eighty-sixth year of his age, he remains immovably 
attached to the standard of peace taught and exem- 
plified by his Master. Majorities weigh nothing 
with him against principles of divine truth and 
righteousness. At the same time he can duly re- 
spect all that is right and good on lower moral 
planes. And for actual soldiers and warriors, who 
execute given orders to perpetrate human slaughter, 
he has less condemnation than for their religious 
and political masters, who stay safely at home, 
preaching and legislating others into the battle-field. 
They are the principals ; their employes are mere 
accessories and instruments, personally jeopardizing 
all that is dear to them. But, above all, he de- 
nounces murderous principles and systems of human 
society, whether in church or state, rather than 
individuals or classes of men, many of whom are 
honestly deluded by specious falsities. Blessed are 
they who begin their proposed reformations at the 
beginning, and are not turned aside by plausible 
compromises with evil under the impulses of a time- 
serving expediency. Hopedale is now squarely on 
the ancient platform of pro-milito patriotism, and 
may be implicitly relied on to perform its share of 
service whenever its country proclaims the next 
bloody war, excepting only the harmless few who 
will soon have their home in another world. 

Civil and Secular Matters — Marriages, Births 
and Deaths. — Down to January 1, 1888, our town 
clerks have reported, — marriage intentions recorded, 
16 couples ; marriages solemnized and recorded, 45 
couples; births recorded, 34 persons; deaths recorded, 
25 persons. 

No report for the present year. The disparity 
between entries of intentions and solemnizations is 
accounted for by couples married out of town, or 
whose intentions were entered elsewhere. 

Post-Offices. — The one at South Milford, established 
March 7, 1814; Hamblet B. Fisk, present postmaster; 
delivery and income respectable, but not large. 

Hopedale post-office, established May 13, 1861 ; 
present postmaster, Henry L. Patrick. Comparatively 
large delivery for a country town. Receives and dis- 
tributes mail matter for our enterprising manufac- 
turers and business firms, and for some two hundred 
and sixty families of uncommonly intelligent people. 
Returns a net annual income to government of over 
one thousand dollars. 



422 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



Business Trades (not previously mentioned). — 
Henry L. Patrick, who runs two large grocery and 
country stores in Hopedale, and one in Upton, has a 
wide range of custom, making annual sales to the 
amount of one hundred thousand dollars. Smith & 
Mead opened their establishment in the Town House, 
December, 1887, for the sale of groceries, meats, dry 
and fancy goods, etc. Their store and meat market 
are of first-class rank, and they have a wide run of 
profitable patronage. Their firm is a flourishing one 
and promises merited success. The long established 
"Green Store," once the famous Major Penniman 
entrepot at South Milford, though shorn of its old- 
time importance, is still a respectable grocery and 
country dispensary, and well managed by Hamblet 
B. Fisk. We have two enterprising livery and trans- 
portation establishments, an ice company and several 
small artisan and handicraft shops — all useful. 

Civil Magistrates.— Gen. William F. Draper, 
Frank J. Dutcher, Esq., E. D. Bancroft, Esq. (also 
notary public), and David A. Westcott, Esq., justices 
of the peace. 

Religious Institutions and Affairs. — There is 
but one organized religious society in our town and 
one church edifice, the Hopedale Parish, with its 
modest sanctuary pleasantly situated and surrounded 
in Hopedale village. The history of this parish, its 
house of worship and first pastorate has already been 
briefly given on a former jiage. The meeting-house 
was erected by the Hopedale Community in its declin- 
ing days and subsequently transferred with other 
property to the parish as stated. The parish has 
recently been legally incorporated as a body politic 
for the safe holding and management of its pecuniary 
interests. This took place in August, 1887. Pastor 
Ballou, after his re.'ignation, April 23, 1880, was soon 
succeeded by Rev. Austin S. Garver. He became pas- 
tor by acceptance of a formal call, dated April 14, 
1881. He was installed September 30, 1881, in con- 
nection with a rededication of the church after re- 
juvenation. Salary, fifteen hundred dollars per an- 
num. He was called to the more conspicuous pastor- 
ate of the Second Congregational Church in Wor- 
cester, Mass., and terminated his connection with 
Hopedale about March 1, 1885. He was succeeded 
by Rev. Lewis G. Wilson, who was installed October 
8, 1885, and still continues in the pastorship. Salary 
at first, twelve hundred dollars ; since April 1, 1887, 
fifteen hundred dollars. The parish has one hundred 
and forty voting members, and is officered by an 
executive committee of five, a clerk, treasurer, col- 
lector and board of three property trustees. It has a 
well-conducted Sunday-school, with alibrary of eleven 
hundred volumes. It has also a nice parsonage, do- 
nated to it by the late George Draper just before his 
decease, and confirmed by deed of his heirs. He was 
its generous supporter and benefactor from its forma- 
tion to the day of his death. As a tribute to his 
memory and worth the following resolutions were 



passed by a standing vote of the parish at a special 
meeting held July 10, 1887: 

M'hereas, The Hopedale PariBh has experienced a dispeuBation of 
great bereavement in the death of George Draper, on the 7th ultimo — 
our temporal head and social chief ; therefore, 

liesoh-ed^ That, while ve deeply deplore our heavy earthly loss, in 
sympathy with his family and all the circles of personal association who 
unitedly mourn his departed mortal presence, we reverently bow to the 
Divine "Will, in the coniident assurance that he has been translated to a 
deathless mansion, whence his loving benedictions will descend on all 
lie delighted to bless. 

Hcsoh'ed, That our Parish Clerk be instructed to inscribe this Memo- 
rial of our lamented brother conspicuously on our permanent Records ; 
and also that she present a copy of the same to his widow and each of 
his children. 

It may not be improper to state here that ex-Pastor 
Ballou, who writes this sub-history, still continues, as 
a sort of minister-at-large, to solemnize marriages 
and render funeral services throughout his general 
vicinity — though he chooses to preach little. He has 
been in the ministry over sixty-seven years, during 
which he has solemnized eleven hundred and seventy- 
six marriages, and ministered at more than twenty-five 
hundred and fifty funerals. And, though now far 
advanced in old age, the annual number of his wed- 
dings and funerals averages nearly the same as in the 
prime of life. 

Although there is only one church edifice in our 
town, there is a public hall at South Milford, still, so 
called, well known as Harmony Hall, where religious 
meetings and reform lectures have long been held on 
some part of the Sabbath by the various neighboring 
clergymen of different denominations, etc. The at- 
tendance is generally good and the sacred music com- 
mendable. A respectable Sunday-school is also sus- 
tained there. It should be understood that in Hope- 
dale Village and throughout our new town there are 
numerous representatives of nearly all the churches 
in Milford Centre, who customarily worship in their 
respective sanctuaries, and seldom, if ever, with the 
Hopedale Parish. We have Catholics, Episcopalians, 
Orthodox Congregationalists, Baptists, Methodists 
and Universalists. And for their devotional con- 
venience our enterprising transportationist, John M. 
French, runs his barges to and from Milford Centre 
every Sunday at the proper hours, so that all who 
have not conveyances of their own are well accommo- 
dated. Besides this convenience, some of the sects 
hold occasional religious gatherings, more or less fre- 
quently, in public or private buildings of Hopedale 
Village. Thus religious privileges are amply pro- 
vided for all our people according to their various 
preferences. 

Cemeteries. — We have two reputable resting-places 
for the dead — one in South Hopedale, formerly South 
Milford, under town control, and one in Hopedale 
village, now controlled by a corporate association. 
The former has been inherited from Milford by terri- 
torial right. It dates back to November 18, 1799. 
The writer has given an account of the origin, progress 
and general character in his "History of Milford," pp. 



i 




I 




ly^L-^ 






C^Ci- 




C(^Ody-ly(^_^^ 



HOPEDALE. 



423 



307-308. It contains the graves of many departed 
inhabitants of its district, and others from outside, 
has a decent receiving tomb, has respectable monu- 
ments, is well advanced in the line of modern improve- 
ments and is worthily cared for. Our Hopedale 
village cemetery was selected and laid out in 1847 by 
the authority of the Hopedale Community, and was 
under community regulations till transferred to the 
Hopedale Parish, December 15, 1873. It was a well- 
chosen location, naturally adapted in all respects to 
its designed use, and capable of being rendered 
admirably beautiful by artistic improvement. The 
lot-owners deemed it advisable to become a legal cor- 
poration. This was effected, and their organization 
consummated April 4, 1887. The late George Draper 
left the association a legacy of ten thousand dollars, 
and it holds some other funds in trust. General 
William F. Draper has recently donated a very desir- 
able addition to its area, which now comprises jirobably 
over five acres, with room adjacent for any necessary 
expansion. It is under excellent management, and is 
rapidly developing delightful improvements. It has 
a commodious receiving tomb, and two noble family 
mausoleums, erected respectively by George Draper, 
a little while before his death, and by General William 
F. Draper, the same year. It has also a goodly number 
of respectable monuments and memorial tablets. Its 
future is well assured as a sacred and lovely sanctuary 
of precious mortal relics, where surviving relatives 
and friends may perpetuate the memories of their 
loved ones worthily, and complacently anticipate 
repose of their own ashes. 

As the publishers of this County History have 
welcomed to appropriate places within its lids the 
likenesses of several distinguished Hopedalians, it 
seems proper that a few words of special explanatory 
data should be given in each case. 

1. George Draper, born in Weston, Mass., August 
IG, 1817; died June 7, 1887, aged sixtyinine years, 
nine months and twenty days. Too prominently 
noted in this sub-history and otherwise known to the 
general public to need further characterization here. 
An excellent likeness. 

2. Warren Whitney Dutcher, born in Shaftsbury, 
Vt., July 4, 1812; removed with his worthy wife and 
children to Hopedale in the spring of 1856. He be- 
came associated in business with E. D. & G. Draper, 
prospered and contributed largely to the upbuilding 
of his adopted village. He left a bright and memor- 
able record for mechanical ingenuity, manufacturing 
enterprise, moral rectitude and benefactions bestowed 
on suffering humanity. His wife was no less distin- 
guished for her matronly virtues, social worth and 
charities to the poor. Both have passed away, leav- 
ing hallowed memories. He died .January 2G, 1880, 
aged sixty-seven years, six months and twenty-two 
days. Mrs. Malinda, his wife, died February 9, 1888, 
aged sixty-six years, six months and nineteen days. 
Their worthy children, Frank J. Dutcher and Miss 



Grace Mary, survive them in honorable standing 
among us. The likeness of the husband and father is 
a very true and good one. 

3. Joseph Bubier Bancroft, born in Uxbridge, 
Mass., October 3, 1821. He is the respected head of 
an intelligent enterprising and influential ftimily. 
He came here with his estimable wife in 1847, and 
both joined the Hopedale Community. He was for 
several years superintendent of the Hopedale Ma- 
chine Establishment, served long on the Milford 
Board of Selectmen, was sent representative to Gen- 
eral Court in 1864, is now chairman of our Hopedale 
selectmen. 

4. Dea. Asa Augustus Westcott, born in Scituate, 
R. I., August 17, 1826. He and his excellent family, 
wife, sons and daughters, settled among us in 1873. 
They brought with them characters of sterling worth 
and salutary moral influence, as well as manufactur- 
ing enterprise and usefulness. They occupy a posi- 
tion in the first rank of our little municipality. Dea. 
Westcott well deserves the place he has consented 
to fill among our representative engravings. 

5. General William Franklin Draper, born in 
Lowell, Mass., April 9, 1842. After what has been 
said in the preceding pages, though briefly, and 
what is otherwise widely known to the public, it is 
hardly necessary to be very specific here. It is sufli- 
cient to say that since his honored father's decease, 
he is our financial, social and municipal chief, 
crowned with our unanimous deference, confidence 
and love. He has a red lettered past and a near 
future auroral with promise. In due time, no doubt, 
an ample biography will worthily portray his life 
career. Meantime his friends must be content with 
outlines and his likeness. Most of them will feel 
that this does meagre justice to his manly form and 
face. But for the pressure of business a better would 
probably have been secured. 

6. Adin Ballon, the present historian, born in 
Cumberland, E. I., April 23, 1803, of uncollegiate 
education, but a persistent student of useful knowl- 
edge and self-culture; commenced preaching in 
his nineteenth year ; has been a minister of New 
Testament Christianity, as he understood it, over 
sixty-seven years, chiefly in the southeasterly section 
of this county ; is author of a " History of Milford, 
Mass.," a " History and Genealogy of the Ballous " 
and many minor works; and holds too many pe- 
culiarities of faith and practice to be classed very 
exactly with any religious denomination. His like- 
ness is a tolerably correct one, and appears in this 
work through the generosity of an eminent friend. 

Here we may conclude this sub-history as su2i- 
ciently minute and comprehensive for the place it is 
to occupy among its county associates. It shows 
that the town of Hopedale, though small and in- 
fantile, compared with its elder and grander co- 
municipalities, has a record with strong points of 
interest in it, and a probable future of rising impor- 



424 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



tance not wholly unworthy of its name. And it af- 
fords the writer peculiar plea.sure to say in closing 
that, notwithstanding all the unpleasantness growing 
out of separation from mother Milford, every embit- 
terment is evidently passing away, and the present 
relations of the two towns are mutually amicable and 
harmonious. 



CHAPTER LXII. 
NORTHBRIDGE. 

BY REV. JOHX R. THURSTON. 
THE BEGINNINGS. 

October 16, 1660, in answer to the petition of seven 
inhabitants of Braintree, the General Court of the 
Masaachusetis Colony judged "it meete to encourage 
the petitioners to proceede in theire settling them- 
selves and an able ministry with them, in the place 
desired for a new plantation within their time 
limited." " In further answer to said Braintry peti- 
tion the court declares that they judge meete to grant 
a plantation of eight miles square, and that the per- 
sons named have liberty to enter thereupon and 
make a beginning thereof, and to take such persons 
into their society as they shall judge meete, and that 
Maj. Humphrey Atherton, Left. Roger Clap, Capt. 
Eliaser Lusker and Deacon Parkes, or any three of 
them, shall and hereby are appointed commissioners, 
& are empowered to make a valid act there." 

In furtherance of the object of these petitioners, 
the honorable court chose " Mr. Ptster Bracket and 
Ensign Moses Paine for to purchase a title of the In- 
dians, containing eight miles square, about fifteen 
miles from Medfield Town, at a place commonly called 
Masconsapong." 

The^e gentlemen purchased the tract of Great John 
and three other Nipmuck chiefs for " the summe of 
twenty-foure pounds sterling." The deed was signed 
by them and was witnessed by the Indian apostle, 
John Eliot, Wr., and his son, John Eliot, Jr., April 22, 
1662. 

All right and interest in this deed was assigned by 
Messrs. Payne and Brackett to the selectmen of the 
town of Mendon, May 12, 1670. 

Three months after the purchase of the land "the 
committee impowered by the General Courte to 
assist the ordering and setling the plantation granted 
at Netmoke," in a document dated " Dorchester, 
July 5, 1662," declared the regulations for the plan- 
tation on which they had agreed. 

An allotment of one hundred and fifty acres was 
to be made to each subscriber who possessed estate of 
one hundred pounds, and to all others in this proportion. 
Only persons "of honest and good report are accepted 
and allowed to take alotment in said plantation." 



No one could "sell or lease or alienate his said 
alotment or any part thereof without the consent 
of the majority of those persons chosen to regulate 
the affairs of the plantation. 

Five or seven " meete persons " were to be chosen 
" for the manageinge these afl'airs," and they were "to 
have the whole power of accepting inhabitants and 
disposing lands, according to the rules above written," 
for one year. 

Of these managers Messrs. Payne and Brackett 
were to be two, and in consideration of all their 
services were to receive land, not more than three 
hundred acres. 

There must be " an able and approved minister 
settled with them there, according to the order of 
courte in that case provided." 

All persons "accepted to alntments shall be settled 
at the said plantation before the end of the seventh 
month, 166.1, with their persons and estates." 

This allowed them a year and two months after 
these regulations were made. 

At this time twenty-three men had been accepted — • 
thirteen from Braintree and ten from Weymouth. 

But it was not until the fall of 1663, or the summer 
of 1664, that the men who had obtained the grant, 
with their families, to the number, perhaps, of twelve, 
" hewed their way through the wilderness to the spot 
where now stands the village of Mendon." Thus 
began the Nipmuck plantation, the township of Quin- 
shepauge, soon incorporated. May 15,1667, and called 
Mendham, afterwards Mendon. It was the second 
incorporated town in Worcester County, Lancaster 
alone preceding it. 

The grant by the General Court was of a territory 
eight miles square, but that taken under the grant 
was ten miles by twelve, and included the present 
towns of Mendon, Blackstone and Uxbridge, the most 
of Northbridge and Milford, a part of Upton and 
Bellinghamt and parts of three towns now in Rhode 
Island. Three entire towns and a portion of seven 
others were in the original Nipmuck plantation. 

This is the story of the grant and purchase of the 
territory of the town of Northbridge, save about one- 
tenth of its present area, which was annexed to it 
from Sutton, soon after its incorporation. 

While this territory belonged to the original forty- 
four proprietors of Mendon from the beginning, it was 
not occupied until after the beginning of the seven- 
teenth century. 

April 1, 1707, there was a " Jacob Aldrich farm," 
one-half mile below the present Quaker Meeting- 
House, on the eastern side of " the great river." 
February 10, 1710, he sold this, with the house on it, to 
his son, Peter Aldrich, who was perhapn the first 
resident of what is now Northbridge. 

Woodland Thompson owned a large tract of land, 
including what were afterwards known as the South- 
wick, the Benson and Wing farms, in 1707, and soon 
after, if not at that date, began to reside on it. 



NORTHBRIDGE. 



425 



Benjamin Thompson, brother of Woodland, owned 
land on both sides of "the great river," south of the 
Quaker Meeting-House, as early as 1707, and lived on 
it as early as 1728. These three were all of Mendon, 
receiving or buying their land of their fathers, also 
of Mendon. 

George Woodward, of Brookline, bought 120 acres 
in the west part of what is now Whitinsville, in 1712, 
and occupied it for several years. He was a school- 
teacher as well as " Husbandman." 

John Aldrich, of Mendon, lived south of the Quak- 
er Meeting-House, on the east side of the river, as 
early as 1727. 

Seth Terry, of Barrington, Bristol County, clerk, 
bought at different times and from different persons, 
in 1725, '26 and '27, 488 acres of land, "with all the 
water courses, mines or minerals belonging thereto," 
which included "the Falls" of Mumford River, in 
what is now Wliitinsville, and at once built a saw- 
mill, perhaps the first in the town, and " Iron works." 
He began, or prepared to begin, the manufacture of 
" refined iron." But he remained here only a few 
months, as he sold all, including the "saw-mill '' and 
the "iron works" and "all other buildings," to 
Hugh Hall, of Boston, January 10, 1728. 

In 1735 John and James Adams came from Ips- 
wich and bought land and lived at the "Corner" 
which has so long borne their name. 

The same year Christopher Winter, of Mendon, 
began to reside on the " Winter place," one-half 
mile north of what is now Rockdale, on the east side 
of " Great River." 

While these earliest settlers of what is now North- 
bridge were making their homes in the different 
parts of the town, a change had taken place in their 
town relations. 

For many years the " Inhabitants of the western 
part of Mendon " had " laboured under great Diffi- 
culties, by Reason of their Remoteness from the 
Place of publick Worship in Said Town." They 
sought and obtained permission for sejiaration from 
Mendon, and, on petition to the General Court, were 
incorporated as a town June 27, 1727. The history 
of Northbridge is now included in that of Uxbridge 
for forty-five years. It is evident (hat those living 
in the part of the town now Northbridge took their 
part in all town aciion, bore their share of the bur- 
dens and claimed their rights and privileges, although 
somewhat remote from the centre of the town life, in 
what was then Uxbridge. 

The new town secured preaching from the first, 
and after considerable fruitless negotiations with 
Rev. Othniel Cambell and Mr. Jonathan Wales, 
they voted, June 22, 1730, "to follow the advice of 
ministers, and give Mr. Nathan Webb a call." 
They voted £100 " encouragement '' and £90 salary 
"good passable money." The call was accepted, 
and December 31st it was voted to proceed with the 
ordination, and to build a pulpit for the meeting- 



house. All these questions which are now decided 
by the parish were then decided in town-meeting. 
In fact, the town was the parish. While the church 
had the initiative in calling a minister, as now, the 
town contracted with and supported him, as the 
parish does now. The town was the legal body. 
The town began the meeting-house in 1728, the next 
year after it was incorporated. Before this the 
town-meetings and religious services were held in 
private houses. The meeting-house was occupied 
for town-meeting the next May, but it was not fully 
finished before it gave place to a new house, though 
we find frequent votes to finish it, and committees 
raised, and appropriations made for that purpose. 

The first mention of schools in the new town is in 
January, 1731, when it was voted that the town will 
have a school dame, for the first seven or eight months 
to keep a school in each part of the town " propor- 
tionable." The next year it was voted to employ a 
schoolmaster, John Read, Sr. At the same meeting 
it was voted to procure a pair of stocks, and a few 
months after twelve shillings are voted to John 
Chilson for making them. After this, votes as to the 
schoolmaster, with appropriations for his pay and his 
board, are quite frequent. In 1734 we find the town 
dufricted or "Squadroned," and it was voted that 
each squadron select some woman to teach the chil- 
dren to read, who should be approbated by the select- 
men. For many years the schools were under the 
care of these officers. The pay of these teachers came 
from the " School Fund." This fund was obtained 
from Mendon, being their part of the fund granted by 
the colony to that town. After long negotiation and 
many conferences of committees, it was voted, March 
2, 1732, to accept two hundred pounds from Mendon 
as their part of the school fund. It was increased 
in 1736 by a gift of five hundred acres of land from 
the colony. The land was situated in that part of the 
State which went to New Hampshire in settling the 
boundary with that State in 1741, and it was thus lost 
to the town. It had already been sold to parties in 
the town, from whom it was repurchased when it 
went into New Hampshire, and it was replaced by a 
new grant from the colony and was located by a com- 
mittee of the town, but the recordsdo not show where. 
This school fund was loaned to individuals, and 
sometimes great difficulty was experienced in getting 
the interest. In 1738 it was voted to build the first 
school-house near the meeting-house. In 1761 there 
was another districting of the town in thirteen .squad- 
rons, containing one hundred and sixty -three families, 
the names of which are given, which is the first list 
found. In these families there wereflve hundred and 
twenty-eight scholars, an average of somewhat more 
than three for each family. From this we may sup- 
pose the population was not far from twelve hundred. 
In the part now Northbridge, as is judged from the 
names given, there were but forty-one families, in- 
dicating a population of about three hundred. This 



426 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



is the earliest fact found for any estimate of popula- 
tion. 

In 1764 a new squadron of seven families was voted 
to have their part of the school fund. The school 
district system thus early established was continued 
until quite recently. 

The first mention of Quakers in the town is on 
March 6, 1728, when it was voted " not to free the 
Quakers," probably from the tax to support the 
preaching. At the close of the records of 1734i 
the following list of persons, " called Quakers," ap- 
pears: Seth Aldrich, Benjamin Taft, Peter Aldrich, 
Seth Aldrich, Jr., Abel Aldrich, Jr. Samuel Taft— six. 

It is difficult to learn when the Quakers first came 
into what is now Northbridge. Whitney, in his 
" History of Worcester County," published in 1793, 
says they came into Mendon, of which Northbridge 
was then a part, as early as 1703. Of Uxbridge he 
says, in 1793, ''one quarter are Quakers and Ana- 
baptists." In Northbridge he says there are twelve 
Quaker families. 

Probably the first in Northbridge was Peter Al- 
drich, who was here in 1709. If not he, then Samuel 
Aldrich, who was here as early as 1738. 

We must suppose the Quakers came up the Black- 
stone Valley from Rhode Island, their early refuge. 
Many of them settled in the South Parish of Mendon 
(now Blackstone), and in Uxbridge, and a few pushed 
up into what is now Northbridge. 

With them also came the Anabaptists, who had, 
like them, found a refuge in Rhode Island. The 
limit of this immigration was the south part of 
Grafton. 

The Quakers experienced some difficulty from 
their peculiar tenets as to religion and war, as is 
manifest from the town records. The first mention 
of them is the refusal of the town to "free " them 
from the minister tax. 

In the warrant for the meeting for May, 1762, the 
fifth article reads, " To see if the town will vote not 
to proceed any further upon, about, or anywise con- 
cerning a petition that Cap. Solomon Wood [Repre- 
sentative] exhibited to the great and General Court, 
last winter, wherein he complains of the Quakers' 
hard usage upon the captains, concerning a tax laid 
upon them in the year 1759, for not sending soldiers 
into the war." At the meeting it was voted, " Not to 
act at all, any way on the Sth Article, in the warrant, 
to pass it over not acted on." From this it appears 
that the Quakers remained true to their principles as 
to war and were taxed, but that they did not remain 
quiet under the infliction. They would not perform 
military duty, and the town was obliged to hire men 
to fill the quota, because of their exemption, and they 
complained that their tax to reimburse the colony 
was unjust and they were unwilling to pay it. 

It is remarkable that this is the only reference, in 
the records of the town, to the French and Indian 
War, which lasted from 1764 to 1760. But from the 



State archives we learn that the town bore a large 
burden in this war. From the Northbridge part of the 
town quite surely twenty-six, and probably thirty- 
five, persons served for forty-five different terms of 
six months to almost a year. This for a population 
of not more than three hundred, with not more than 
sixty of military age, is a very large number. We have 
no reason to suppose they did more than other 
towns. And this suggests to us what it cost our 
fathers to defend their homes and liberties in those 
early days. All through these years they kept up 
their military organizations as they had done from the 
beginning. They had their "Training Field" and 
training-days. Thus were they being prepared for 
the more severe struggle of twenty years later, which 
did not find them, when it came, all unready for it. 

March 28, 1728, at one of the first town-meetings 
of the new town, it was voted " to accept £90 sh. 5, 
which the General Court had allotted to the town of 
Uxbridge as their proportion of the £60,000 emitted 
for the use of the Province," and a trustee Was ap- 
pointed to receive it. It was also voted, "That said 
money should be let out on good security, not ex- 
ceeding £5 to any one person." Here is the first 
mention in our town records of the "Bills of Credit," 
issued by the province, which were the cause of great 
derangement in all financial calculations and trans- 
actions and of the various evils of an irredeemable 
paper currency. Mr. Joseph Taft strenuously resisted 
the acceptance of this semblance of money by the 
town, and entered a written protest, signed by him- 
self, Benjamin Taft and Joseph Taft, Jr. Soon the 
evils of a money that could not be converted into 
specie began to appear in the larger sums that were 
voted for town purposes, in the additional sums voted 
to the minister, in the contributions made for him on 
the Sabbath. If one wished to mark his contribution 
it was allowed him in his minister tax, but all un- 
marked it was voted should be free and clear to Mr. 
Webb. But it is evident that this gratuity did not 
make good the depreciation, for presently we see 
votes to raise from the town additional sums for Mr. 
Webb, until May, 1753, when his salary was changed 
from that first agreed on to £53 6s. %d., lawful 
money. 

We must suppose this is but a fair example of the 
derangement and difficulty that occurred in all busi- 
ness transactions, from the unsettling of nominal 
values. 

There are some votes recorded which give interest- 
ing revelations of the condition of the country, of the 
customs of the people, and of their feelings on 
public questions, which seem to be worthy of tran- 
scription, as 

August 15, 1728, it was voted "That unless Mendon 
be made a shire town as well as Worcester, and have 
the courts one-half time, they had rather remain in 
Suffolk Co. as now." They resented the ambition of 
the new and smaller town of Worcester to have the 



NORTHBKIDGE. 



427 



precedence over their older and larger mother town 
of Mendon. 

August 26, 1730, it was voted " The town will not 
join with County Middlesex in praying for a new 
county and that they will join in a petition with 
towns in West Suffolk to make a county there. But 
all this action is in vain, for Worcester County is con- 
stituted in 1731, and Uxbridge, then including North- 
bridge, is a part of it. 

September 1, 1730, it is voted to appropriate four 
pounds to pay for killing wild cats. How long they 
felt the need of offering this premium for killing 
beasts of prey we do not know, but May 23, 1751, it 
was voted not to pay any more bounty for killing 
wolves. 

December 18, 1739, it was voted to raise a commit- 
tee to see that the law about killing deer be not vio- 
lated. After this for many years in Uxbridge before 
the division, and in Northbridge, after it was incor- 
porated, a " Deer Reave " was chosen with the other 
town officers. The last was in 1787. 

May 28, 1756, it was voted " not to send a repre- 
sentative (to the General Court) this year." We are 
surprised at such a vote. But the mystery is cleared 
when we learn that the town paid the charges of the 
Representative, and when there was no business of 
special importance, no town interest to present, they 
saved the expense and voted not to send one. There 
are some votes that indicate that in some cases gen- 
tlemen went to Boston, after a vote not to send a 
representative, to present to the General Court some 
interest of the town. These votes are for compensa- 
tion to certain persons, for what they had done for the 
town in Boston the previous year. This vote of 1756 
not to send a Representative is not the only one ; many 
such follow down into the separate history of North- 
bridge to 1835. For the first sixty years of this town's 
history it was voted not to send thirty-seven, and to 
send twenty-three years. This not sending a Repre- 
sentative was considered an offence against the colony 
and Uxbridge was fined ten pounds in 1765 for its 
first neglect to send one. On petition of the town, 
on the ground of great impoverishment, by disease, 
drought and frost, the fine was remitted. Yet we 
see the neglect frequently occurred in subsequent 
years. 

May 12, 1763, it was voted " that the selectmen for 
the time being provide a work-hovse, and a master for 
said house, and convey all the idle persons there, in 
case they come to want, and belong to the town." 
Before this, provision had been made for the poor by 
boarding them with private families, but this is the 
first provision for a common house for them with 
work and a master. 

September 1, 1766, it was voted "to allow the 
Representative to vote to make good the Lieutenant- 
Governor's damage, lately sustained by the mob in 
Boston, if he thinks proper upon the best information 
he can get." This refers to the destruction of Lieu- 



tenant-Governor Hutchinson's house in Boston, when 
the attempt was made to enforce the Stamp Act. It 
was the first rumble of the storm so .«oon to burst 
upon the colony and the land. We notice how the 
question is referred to the town. Seldom did the 
General Court act on any important matter, especially 
one that involved resistance to the oppressive acts of 
the mother country, without consulting the towns. 
The people were the sovereigns ; they must support 
the action of the court, and it is referred to them, if 
possible, for decision. 

We notice, too, how they trust to the discretion of 
their Representative, saying. " If he think proper 
upon the best information he can get." 

Now for forty years had Uxbridge grown and pros- 
pered, and in this growth and prosperity the northern 
portion (now Northbridge) had shared. Others beside 
those already named came to live here. 

Nathan Park came from Newton 1728, and settled 
near the Quaker Meeting House, and was one of 
the largest landholders in town and very prominent 
in town affairs. He was the grandfather of Professor 
E. A. Park, of Andover Seminary. John Spring 
settled in the southern part of Northbridge, on the 
west side of "Great River" in 1736, and was also 
prominent in town affairs. 

Nicholas Baylies, of Cumberland, R. I., and his 
brother Thomas, of Taunton, who was a " Forger," 
leased the " Iron Works" at the Falls of Mumford's 
River, for twenty-one years, of John Merritt, of Bos- 
ton, in 1739, and resided near their works, which, for 
many years, went by the name of " Baylies' Forge," 

Andrew Dalrymple settled in what is now Whitins- 
ville as early as 1743. 

Andrew Dunn, " a wheelmaker," lived near Rock- 
dale in 1743. 

Daniel Read settled in the Inman district in 1740. 

Thomas Emerson, who came into the neighbor- 
hood as early as 1751, purchased the water privilege 
and land at Rockdale in 1765. 

The privilege at Riverdale was purchased by James 
Nutting, of Grafton, in 1753, and improved by him 
by the erection of two grist-mills and a saw-mill. 

Josiah Wood settled on the " Farnam " place in 
1757. 

Samuel Goldthwait came from the northeastern 
part of the colony in 1759, and purchased four hun- 
dred acres of land between Whitinsville and the 
Hill, and in the adjacent parts of Sutton, and settled 
upon it. 

Nathaniel Cooper, from Grafton, settled in the part 
of the town which has since borne his name, in 
1763. 

David Batcheller, Jr. (Major), came from Upton, 
in 1767, and settled on Northbridge Hill. 

Thus were the several parts of what is now North- 
bridge settled. 

It will be noticed that but few of the families, 
afterwards prominent in the town, were of the Men- 



428 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



doQ stock. The Mendon migration spent itself 
maiuly in what is now Uxbridge, a few of its fami- 
lies, as the Aldriches and Winters, coming up the 
valley of " Great River,'' into what is now North- 
bridge, which was so eiwily accessible. But the more 
distant parts of the town, as the upper valley of the 
Mumford, and the high land near Sutton, waited for 
immigrants from more distant places. 

There is evidence tliat for some years the 
north part of Uxbridge had had separate interests 
from the south part. It had come to be called by its 
own name, "The North End." In 1736 a constable 
was appointed for the " North End." 

In 1753 we find a collector of the minister's tax for 
each end of the town. We may suppose the desire 
for a separation had long existed before it secured its 
object. The expression of this desire was occasioned 
by the difficulty as to the building of a new meeting- 
house. 

In June, 1766, an article appears in the town war- 
rant to see if the town will build a new meeting- 
house, but it was passed over. Before it comes up at 
the meeting in October a new difficulty appears. Ills 
manifest that if it cannot be placed in the centre of 
the town, so as to accommodate those at the " North 
End," they of the North Eud do not wish to help 
in building it, but to be set off as a separate town. To 
such a division the town will not listen, and the new 
meeting-house must be set near the place of the old 
one. Nor would the town excuse the North End 
from their share in the expense of building the new 
house, nor listen to their petition to be relieved from 
bearing their part in the support of the minister. 
Afier repeated failures to secure their desire from the 
town, they of the " North End " apply to the 
" General Court" for relief Their petition was pre- 
sented July 1, 1771, praying, on the ground of their 
distance from the meeting-house, " that they with 
their families and estates, may be made a separate 
District, and that they may be entitled to their pro- 
portionable part of the ministry money, and the 
Lands granted by the General Court to said Town 
for their extraordinary expense in building bridges." 
Uxbridge answered the petition by a committee, but 
the petition was granted, and, Uxbridge consenting, 
the North End was incorporated as a " District,^' with 
the name of Northbridge, July 14, 1772, and fourteen 
years later, in 1786, it became a Town, by Stale law. 
Though called a " District," it had all the rights and 
performed all the functions of a Town, except that 
tliey were to choose a Representative to the General 
Court with Uxbridge. The Representative might be 
from Northbridge or Uxbridge. It was a town in 
reality, if not in name. Thus Northbridge began its 
sejiarate life with a population of between four and 
five hundred, as we infer from the fact that the State 
census four years later gives four hundred and eighty- 
one. 

In 1780, "John Adams and others," with their 



lands, were received from Sutton, they seeking the 
change because they were so much nearer to North- 
bridge for religious privileges and town duties. In 
1801, Jacob Bassett and others, with their lands, were 
also received from Sutton. In the act of incorpora- 
tion it was provided that David Draper and seven 
others whose homes and lands were included in the 
given bounds of the "District " of Northbridge, with 
their heirs, shall be permitted to remain in Uxbridge 
as long as they so choose. If they desire to become 
citizens of Northbridge, they have only to notify the 
authorities of Uxbridge in proper form and they are 
transferred. 

Several of these transfers took place, creating no 
little confusion as to town lines. These families 
were in the "North End " of Uxbridge, and desired 
their rights as to the new meeting-house in Uxbridge, 
but they did not desire to be set off as another town 
or district, and were allowed to remain on these 
above-stated conditions. Uxbridge let go her hold 
on the " North End " very reluctantly, refusing Nov., 
1772, to remit any of the £40 assessed on them for 
the support of the minister the year they were set off, 
and refusing to grant to the " District of Northbridge 
their proportionable part of the ministerial and town 
money and lands granted to the town of Uxbridge." 



CHAPTER LXIII. 

NOKrUBRlDCB—iConiiitued.) 

THE NEW TOWN. 

The territory thus set off from Uxbridge, with the 
few additions afterwards received from Sutton and 
Uxbridge, is an irregular quadrangle. Its extreme 
length north and south is about five miles. Its ex- 
treme breadth, at the southern end, is absut five 
miles. At the northern end it is less than three 
miles, the eastern line running northeast and south- 
west. It contains 10,551 acres, a little more than six- 
teen square miles. The Blackstone River runs through 
it about one mile from its eastern border. The Mum- 
ford runs through the southwestern corner. The 
valley of the Blackstone is from one-half to a mile in 
width, of desirable intervale land, easy of cultivation 
and having those natural meadows so much coveted 
by the early settlers. The land gives quick response 
to cultivation, but is not strong. The valley of the 
Mumford is of a similar character, but has le-s inter- 
vale for cultivation. A branch of the Mumford runs 
about one-half mile from the western border of the 
town, with its deep, narrow valley. 

Between these two rivers rises Northbridge Hill, 
really a broad ridge, with its highest point at the 
centre, falling oft' Sdraewhat at the north, but s'ill 
quite high land. The northern portion of this ridge 



NORTHBRIDGE. 



429 



is good, strong farming land, and has been well used 
for agriculture from the early days of the settlement. 
These two rivers give several natural water privileges, 
which have been used from an early day, and have 
been much improved by tlie building of reservoirs. 

The granite which so abounds, often appearing on 
the surface as boulders and ledges, has furnished 
abundant materials for building purposes. The town 
had a dense growth of wood, and the parts unfavora- 
ble for tillage are still thickly wooded. 

Now legally independent, the people began to care 
for their own affairs. Their first fourteen town- 
meetings were at private houses. At the first, at the 
house of Joseph White, about one mile southeast of 
the present Northbridge meeting-house, Jonathan 
Bacon (2d) was moderator, and all the usual town 
officers were chosen. They early provided them- 
selves with the ordinances of the gospel, voting, in 
April, 1773, £20 to hire preaching, to be one-half 
the time at David Batcheller's, one-hi^f at Amos 
White's. Soon they plan for a suitable place for 
public worship, and for the transaction of town busi- 
ness. " At a meeting of the town, held on the 1st of 
February, 1773, it was voted to build a meeting-hou>e 
on the height of the hill." In regard to the location 
of the meeting-house there was much feeling ; some 
wished to have it on the plain, near the local centre 
of the town, others wished to have it located near 
the crossing of the roads, northwest of the residence 
of Joseph White. Another party maintained that it 
ought to be " on the height of the Hill." They 
claimed there was a probability that " a mile and a 
half of Sutton would come off to Northbridge, and 
then the Hill would be near the local centre of the 
town." The hill party carried their point, but at the 
cost of losing some of the other party in all partici- 
pation in church life, as they always continued to 
worship in Uxbridge. 

"At a meeting held on the 22d of Nov., 1773, it 
was voted to receive the proposition of John Adams 
and others, relative to the building and finishing a 
meeting-house," and it was " voted that it should be 
45 feet long, 36 feet wide, and 22 feet posts, and that 
it be builded as soon as convenient." One hundred 
and fifty pounds were appropriated to building. 

A committee was appointed to carry on the work. 
The labor and the timber were to a considerable ex- 
tent furnished by the people of the town. A price 
was fixed by vote for the various pieces of timber. 
The house was so far finished by Feb., 1775, that the 
" pew-spots " (in which the purchasers were permitted 
to build their own pews) were then sold, and probably 
meetings were held in it from that time. The follow- 
ing are the names of the purchasers : James Fletcher. 
Micah Thayer, David Batcheller, William Dalrymple, 
Stephen Goldthwait, Ezekiel Goldthwait, John 
Adams, John Adams, Jr., Samuel Baldwin, Depen- 
dence Haywood, Joseph White, Henry Chase, Levi 
Walker, William Davenport, William Bacon and 



Jonathan Bacon. The money arising from the sale 
was by vote " to be applied towerds Defraying the 
Charges of Building the meeting" (house). 

But very soon the increasing oppression of England 
called them to consider matters of more than local 
interest. They were not slow to do their part. They 
were imbued with the same spirit, grounded in the 
same principles, and trained in the same habits of 
self government as were the men of all our Massa- 
chusetts towns, who, with a wonderful unanimity, 
answered to the call to maintain the liberty of the 
people. 

"The first votes of the town as to Revolutionary 
affairs were passed at a meeting held on the 25th of 
August, 1774. At this meeting Josiah Wood, Lemuel 
Powers and Samuel Baldwin were appointed a com- 
mittee "to correspond with other committees concern- 
ing public affairs as occasion shall call for." These 
committees were suggested by Samuel Adams in 1772, 
and were soon appointed all over the State and in 
other States. At this meeting it was also voted that 
" David Batcheller be chose to provide for a town 
stock of ammunition, viz., one Barrel of Powder, and 
lead and flints answerable to it." At the same time 
it was voted not to import or consume any English 
goods. The last town-meeting that was warned in 
the name of "His Majesty" was on the 10th of Janu- 
ary, 1775. From this time till 1781 most of the busi- 
ness transacted at the meetings had reference to the 
struggles in which the Colonies were engaged : as, June 
25, 1776, it was voted "to support the Continental 
Congress with their Lives and fortunes if they should 
Declare the United American Colonies Independent 
of Great Britain," and well they kept their vow. We 
find records of votes for paying the men who had en- 
listed in the service, for aiding those who had hired 
men to take their place in the army, and for furnish- 
ing provisions and clothing for the soldiers from this 
town. It is evident there was a disposition to equalize, 
as far as possible, the burdens that were to be borne. 
Those who remained at home performed labor on the 
farms, and in other ways assisted the families of those 
who were absent. At one meeting it was voted "to 
allow Joseph White eleven shillings for laboring for 
Samuel Clemens when he was in the six months' ser- 
vice;" at another it was voted "to raise 40 pounds to 
pay for shirts, shoes and stockings furnished by the 
selectmen for soldiers in the Continental Service." 
At a meeting in May, 1777, it was voted "to allow 
Stephen Rice 1 pound, 15 shillings, 4 pence, Nathan 
Park 15 shillings, Jonathan Bacon 9 shillings, and 
William Park 12 shillings, for carrying provisions to 
Roxbury in the time of the Lexington Alarm." These 
provisions were for the men from Northbridge, who 
were in the service in the vicinity of Boston in 1775. 

As to the actual service they personally rendered, 
it is difticult,perhapsimpossible, tolearn thefull facts. 

There were three classes of soldiers called into the 
service during the war. 



430 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



1. The Ililitia. — Tliese were the men who had been 
enlisted in the service of the Province, and trained in 
the towns from the beginning. They were liable to 
the call of the General Court, through their officers. 
They were already organized into regiments, the com- 
pany of Northbridge being in the Eight Worcester 
County Regiment, with those from Mendon, Upton, 
Uxbridge and Douglas. These doubtless had long felt 
they were liable to be called upon for serious work, 
and they wore prepared for it. It was the militia 
who sprang, as it were, from the ground, without any 
summons, save from their company officers, and their 
own loyal hearts, at Concord and Lexington, and 
dogged the steps of the British troops in their retreat 
to Boston, inflicting upon them a much greater loss 
than they themselves sustained. They soon, at the 
call of the General Court, girdled Boston, and held 
General Gage, and his thousands of regular troops, as 
in a vise. It was they who fought the battle of 
Bunker Hill, and did all the work of the first year. 
They were liable to be called out of the State, after the 
Union of the Colonies was formed, for United States' 
service, as was the company from Northbridge for 
eight months at Peekskill in 1778-79, and often in 
Rhode Island. 

2. Besides these were the " Minute-men" volunteers, 
men not enlisted, but who organized themselves, and 
stood ready to go at a " Minute's" notice to do brief 
service in an emergency. They were called out at 
the alarm that arose from the Lexington fight, and 
frequently afterwards. On May 9th, fearing a sally of 
the British from Boston, one-half of the militia and 
minute-men of the ten towns nearest Roxbury were 
called there to strengthen the army. 

We do not find traces of the "Minute-men " after 
the first year of the war. 

3. But it soon became manifest that an army mbre 
permanent than either of these could make must be 
obtained. And the Continental Army, under the com- 
mand of the Continental Congress, through their 
officers, with General Washington at their head, was 
organized. Here were a third class of soldiers whose 
term of service was from three months to three years, 
or the war. A quota was assigned to each town, one- 
seventh of all the males above sixteen, and this quota 
must be kept full. The quota of Northbridge was 
eleven. This is in addition to the keeping up the 
militia, which was often called into service for terms 
of a few days to eight months. 

When the war began there was an organized militia 
company, under the command of Capt. Josiah Wood, 
of Northbridge. It belonged to Colonel Joseph 
Read's regiment, the Twentieth. It was composed of 
men from Northbridge and Upton. 

This company was often called into service. It 
marched April 19, 1775, at the " Lexington Alarm " 
to Roxbury with thirty -one men from Northbridge. 
After a few days fifteen of these men, with seven more 
from the town, enlisted for eight months' service, 



under Captain David Batcheller, who went out as 
lieutenant. Thirty-four men from Upton enlisted in 
the same company for the same service. This was 
known as "Captain Batcheller's Company" for 
several years. It served one and one-half months 
at Providence as part of the "Third Regiment of the 
Militia, which marched to this place on the alarm 
of the 8th day of December, 1776 ;" then for nine, 
though called out only for eight months, on the 
North River, at Peekskill, in 1778 and '79; then for 
sixteen days in Rhode Island in 1780. 

In the State archives are found the terms of service 
of the men in the militia, and also those who were in 
the Continental service, with many of the pay-rolls. 
There is evidence that men from the town served in 
other companies beside that of Captain Batcheller, 
in the various calls made upon them. These calls 
were very many. We are told " there was scarcely a 
week in the fall of 1776 when the militia were not 
called to march to headquarters now removed to New 
York, or to Lake Champlain, or to Rhode Island." 
A large British force also remained in Newport 
through the spring and summer of 1778, and their 
fleet commanded the waters in the neighborhood. As a 
consequence, " the people of Massachusetts, especi- 
ally near to Rhode Island, were kept in a state of 
continual alarm. There were but levv Continental 
troops on the station, and the General Court were 
obliged to keep the militia in service in great num- 
bers, the whole of this as the preceding year." There 
were many alarms of raids by the British, as at Tiver- 
ton, in May, 1779, when the men of Northbridge were 
called out and helped drive thtm back. And there 
is evidence in the town records of many more calls of 
the militia. There was a difficulty in adjusting the 
l^ay for the different "turns'' of service, and Sep- 
tember 6, 1777, William Park, Captain Josiah Wood 
and Thomas Read were chosen a committee " to say 
what past turns in the army shall be put att, accord- 
ing to the year and time of the year, and length of 
time, and the place where service was done, and the 
committee make report to the town for their accept- 
ance, and for the town to act thereon as they think 
proper." The committee reported in October of the 
next year, 1778. In this report twenty-one " turns '' 
of service are specified and the pay fixed for each of 
them, one at Dorchester, varying from two months to 
one year; five in New York, from three to eight 
months ; seven at Providence, from fifteen days to 
two months, and eight others not specified. These, 
of course, were not all consecutive terms of service, 
nor by the same bodies of men, for there was not time 
for so many difl'erent consecutive terms before this re- 
port was made. We must suppose the militiamen 
were called out after this, though not so frequently as 
before, as the theatre of the war was transferred in 
such a measure to the South. 

It is more difficult to learn how many went into 
the Continental Army, as there was no organization 



NOETHBRIDGE. 



431 



of Continentals belonging here. The men from 
Norlhbridge were absorbed in the various regiments 
from the Colony. Of the one hundred and eighteen 
men credited to the town in the State archives, 
eleven are recorded as having enlisted in the Conti- 
nental Army, and the town was expected to keep this 
number good as its quota, so that we must believe 
there were many more. During the latter years of 
the war committees were appointed each year to pro- 
cure men for the Continental Army. And men 
were hired by individuals for the army. Bounties 
were paid to some. Some were drafted. Doubtless 
some of those hired and credited to the town were 
not citizens here, as is manifest from the warrant for 
the town-meeting for April 1, 1782, which speaks of 
men in Norlhbridge and hired men going into the 
army." 

But with all they did, they did not always meet the 
full demand of the General CoUrt for men. They 
were taxed for a deficiency of two men in the Conti- 
nental Army in 1781, and they voted July 28, 1783, 
that Jonathan Adams carry a petition to have the tax 
" taken off." At the same meeting they were called 
upon to act on " one deficiency in the three months' 
service in 1781, a Quaker man." At the same meet- 
ing it was voted to collect a Quaker's tax of about 
fifteen pounds and pay it to the treasurer. Thus 
would they have the Quakers pay for the deficiency 
which came from their not serving personally. It is 
claimed by the Quakers that this tax was never paid 
by them, and there is nothing in the town records to 
show that the town succeeded in carrying its vote 
into effect. We can hardly understand, even with 
our recent experience of war, how great the strain 
was upon our fathers towards the last of the war, 
with all the loss of life in the service, and the de- 
rangements of business so long continued. And no 
colony bore more than Massachusetts. With less 
than one-eighth of the population, she furnished 
more than one-fourth of the years of service in the 
Continental Army, besides what she did by her 
militia and minute-men, and of the pecuniary bur- 
den she bore about the same proportion. What 
wonder then that Northbridge, the lowest on the list 
of towns in valuation, and almost, if not quite, the 
lowest in population, having but four hundred and 
eighty in 1776, had difficulty in coming up to the 
full quota demanded of her, especially as part of her 
population, the Quakers, contributed no men for the 
service; she did nobly, and of her record may every 
citizen feel proud, especially those who trace their 
families back to those times. 

Of course, with these many calls for service, we 
should expect to find the same man many times in 
the field. James Sturdevant is found nine times; 
William Foster, eight times. Nor was the service 
confined to any one class of the citizens. Of those 
chosen for the first town officers, we find many in 
active service. Samuel Baldwin, the town clerk, 



served four times; Jonathan Bacon, the moderator 
of the first eleven town-meetings, the first Repre- 
sentative to the General Court, and after chosen 
to that office, served six times, beginning as pri- 
vate; David Batcheller, one of the first selectmen, 
saw five terms of service, beginning as lieutenant, 
and soon made captain and remaining such during 
the war; Josiah Wood, the treasurer, served three 
times, as private or captain ; James Fletcher served 
six times, beginning as a private. Indeed, there 
could not have been many men in the town, save 
the Quakers, who did not see some active service. 

But personal service in the army was not all that 
was laid upon them. They, in common with other 
parts of the country, suffered from a depreciated cur- 
rency. In 1780 the town voted to raise eighteen thou- 
sand pounds to defray town charges, twenty-two 
hundred pounds for the support of the Gospel, two 
thousand pounds for the schools and to " allow 100 
dollars a day to each man that went to the late alarm 
at Tiverton." The town afterwards voted not to 
assess the tax of twenty-two hundred pounds to pay 
the minister, and that he be paid forty-five pounds 
silver money, which was probably a full equivalent 
for the twenty-two hundred pounds Continental 
money. The same year a vote was passed on ac- 
count of the scarcity of money, to allow the people 
to pay their taxes '" in good merchantable grain, to 
be delivered to the Treasurer." This very difficulty 
from a depreciated currency, which went down to 
one-fortieth of its nominal value, made their honor 
more manifest; for having promised their soldiers 
a real compensation, their families were provided 
with food, clothing and fuel by the selectmen of 
the towns and clothing was furnished to the sol- 
diers. There is ample evidence of this in our 
town. Being driven to reckoning in silver money 
as the only possible fixed standard, in 1780 they 
vote one hundred and sixty-four pounds silver 
money to purchase beef for the army. They make 
allowance for the depreciation in settling with 
Thomas Straight for what he had done in the 
war. They voted seventy-five pounds silver money 
to pay men who went to serve in Rhode Island 
for five months and in New York for three months. 
They make their contributions to the colony in 
articles to be used, as beef at a price fixed in 
silver. There is a sturdy honesty in this, which 
is very good. They did live in rude houses and 
worshijj God in unfinished meeting-houses, but they 
paid their honest dues. 

During all this cost and suflTering of the war they 
did not forget to maintain religious ordinances. The 
church was organized in 1782, June 6th, with eight 
members. June 17th they called Mr. John Crane to 
be their pastor. The town, July 2d, voted to concur 
with the church in the call. " It was voted," for 
encouragement, " to give him 200 pounds personage, 
by giving him the improvement of a farm to that 



432 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



value, or the interest of the same in money, giving 
him his clioice." " It was also voted to give him 45 
pounds annually." In his reply he says, " I accept 
your proposals, though some things respecting some 
part of the encouragement have labored in my mind, 
and the difficulties are not yet removed," Previous 
to his ordination a vote was passed " to give him 75 
pounds as a settlement and the use of 125 pounds 
as a Personage, instead of the 200 pounds offered by 
the previous vote." He was ordained June 25, 1783, 
and ministered to this people for nearly fifty years, 
quite within the memory of some now living. He 
resigned his past<jrate January 6, 1832. He preached 
his last sermon the first Sabbath in May, 1835. He 
died August 31, 1836. He was a man of great influ- 
ence, not only in the town, but in all the region. 
For thirty years he instructed young men in prepara- 
tion for college or teaching, more than one hundred 
in all ; among them Rev. Dr. Spring, of New York ; 
Dr. Calvin Park, Professor in Brown University ; 
Rev. Cvrus Kingsbury, of the Choctaw Mission ; Rev. 
Dr. Joel Hawes, of Hartford, and Prof. Alexander 
M. Fisher, of Yale College. 

The people of Northbridge were called upon to act 
on another important matter during the war — the 
formation of the State Constitution. They rejected at 
once the Constitution prepared by the committee 
appointed by the General Court in 1778. To the 
convention of delegates from the towns, called at 
Cambridge, September 1, 1779, they sent Jonathan 
Bacon as their representative. When the work of the 
convention was presented in 1780, they did not mean 
to act hastily in its adoption. At the first meeting, 
when this was brought before them for action, they 
adjourned the matter, appointing a committee, con- 
sisting of William Park, Samuel Aldrich, Benjamin 
Benson, Ezekiel Goldthwait and Lieutenant James 
Fletcher, "to assist the town in examingthe proposed 
constitution, and in making remarks thereon." At 
the adjourned meeting they listened to the remarks of 
these gentlemen, and then they voted on it part by 
part, amending it where they felt it needed to be 
amended. The third article of the Bill of Rights 
they changed to read, " so that those of one religious 
persuasion shall not impose any tax on those of 
another." They had Quakers, Baptists and Univer- 
salists among them, and they would deal fairly with 
them, so well had they learned the lesson of religious 
liberty. And yet not quite to the standard of our 
day, for they amended the thirteenth article, "so that 
no one should be eligible to be an officer in either of 
the foregoing departments unless he shall be of the 
Christian Protestant religion." 



CHAPTER LXIV. 

NORTHBRIDGE— (Co«//««fa'.) 

THE LATER HISTORY. 

The town came out of the war, as did all the other 
towns of the State, poor and stripped, but redeemed 
and free, ready for the use of their energies, and of 
the resources God had placed within their reach, in 
building the State, the foundations of which they had 
laid at such cost of treasure and suffering. They 
experienced the difficulties from the depreciated 
currency, and it is evident from the records that they 
shared in the discontent that led to "Shays' Rebel- 
lion.' But when called upon to maintain the authority 
of the government, they made loyal answer, for re- 
bellion was not the way of redress. They knew that 
prosperity could cbme, not by discontent, but by 
industry and thrift, and they gave themselves to these, 
and soon they began to repair their fortunes. We 
learn the following facts of the town from Rev. Peter 
Whitney's " History of Worcester County," published 
1793 : — " It is not large, having at the time of the late 
enumeration (1790) eighty-three houses and five hun- 
dred and seventy inhabitants (a gain of eighty-nine 
since 1776). Besides the Congregationalist Church 
there is a Society of Baptists, consisting of about ten 
families, at present destitute of any settled teacher. 
There are also within the town twelve families of 
Quakers, and two or three of Universalists. There 
are two corn-mills, one saw-mill and one forge, where 
much work is performed. The growth of wood on the 
highlands is very valuable, consisting of walnut, oak 
and chestnut. That on the lowlands is less valuable. 
The people here subsist chiefly by farming, and they 
have the character of an industrious and flourishing 
people ; and it is said there is hardly an idle person 
or tavern-haunter in the place." This is surely a 
good record. But they did not lose their interest in 
the national welfare, in absorption in their private 
and local concerns. May 2, 1786, they are called to 
meet the next day, "To shoe there minds in regard to 
the trity now depending between Great Briton and 
the United States." They met and '' voted to sign a 
memorial and send to the House of Representatives, 
in Congress assembled, praying them to accept and 
ratify the trity, and about seventy of the inhabitants 
signed it." 

The fact that the House of Representatives had 
taken the action they desired three days before, in 
giving efficacy to Jay's treaty, does not make their 
action less significant. The town records have only 
the following entries concerning the War of 1812-14 
with England. In the warrant for the meeting of 
July 30, 1814, the second article is "To see if the 
town will give anything, how much, to the men who 
are detaich'd from this town to do duty in the defence 
of their country." At the meeting, it was " voted to 



NORTHBRIDGE. 



433 



make up the wages of Lyman Thompson and Clark 
Adams, detach'd men from the town of Northbridge, 
sixteen — 16 — dollars per month, including what they 
git from the State." From this we infer that the 
town had but small share in this war. But when we 
come to the war to put down the Rebellion of the 
Southern States against the Union, we find it (the 
town) thoroughly aroused and doing its full share. 
Northbridge furnished three hundred and eleven men 
for the army and navy, which was seventeen more 
than all demands. The names of two hundred and 
fifty-seven, serving in forty-three difierent organiza- 
tions, have been preserved. Of these, ninety-three 
were in the Fifteenth Regiment of Massachusetts 
Infantry; twenty-one in the Twenty-fifth ; eight were 
commissioned oflicers ; the rest were non-commis- 
sioned officers and privates. 

The following are the names of those who lost their 
lives during the war: 

Roll of Honor. 

James Allen, 15tU Regiment ; killed at Ball's Bluff October 21, 1801. 

Andrew Addison, 15th Regiment ; killed at Antietara September 17, 
18G2. 

Henry W. Ainswortb , 15th Regiment ; killed at Antietam September 
n, 18G2. 

Arthur J. Andrus, 15tb Regiment; killed at Antietam September 17, 
1862. 

Dexter Brown, i5th Regiment ; died in hospital at Baltimore Decem- 
ber IG, 1862. 

Edwin R. Brown, 15th Regiment ; wounded at Cold Harbor ; died in 
hospital, New York City, June 22, 18C4. 

Alfred A. Batcbelor, 15th Regiment; wounded at Gettysburg ; died 
in hospital. Baltimore, July 10, 18G3. 

Elbridge Bodwell, not a citizen, but one of the town's quota, 12th 
Battery ; died, Boston, January 20, 181)5. 

William H. Cole, 16th Regiment ; died at Andersonville September 7, 
1864. 

Edward H. Chapin, 15th Regiment; wounded at Gettysburg ; died in 
hospital at Baltimore August 1, 1863. 

James F. Dunn, 15th Regiment ; died in hospital February 7, 18G3. 

George F. Fletcher, 15tb Regiment ; killed at Gettysburg July 3, 
1863. 

James B. Fletcher, 15th Regiment ; killed at Antietam September 17, 
1862. 

Jeremiah Callahan, 67th Regiment; died at Andersonville August 
29, 1864. 

Elbridge G. Fogg, 25th Regiment ; died at Newbern December 11, 
1864. 

Lewis Hair, 5th Regiment ; wounded at Bairs Bluff; died at Pooles- 
Tille, Md,, November 6, 1801. 

Timothy Kennedy, 15th Regiment ; died of consumption on way 
home November 4, 1862. 

Eugene Keith, 15th Regiment; body fiuind iu Potomac River after 
battle of Ball's Bluff. 

Isaac E. Marshall, 15th Regiment ; killed at Antietam September 17, 
1862. 

George W. Kinney, 4tb Cavalry ; died at Hilton Head, S. C, Septem- 
ber 14, 1864. 

Thomas Magoveny, 15th Regiment ; died at Hyattstown, Md., Octo- 
ber 4, 1S62. 

David J. Messenger, 15tli Regiment ; wounded at Ball's Bluff; died a 
prisoner in hospital, Leesburg, Va., December 13, 1861. 

Charles A. Mason, luth Battery ; killed at Ream's Station August 
24, 1864.- 

Charles A. Blorgan, 3d Rhode Island Regiment ; killed at Fort Pulaski. 

Robert McNally, 28th Regiment; died, from wounds received at An- 
tietam, September 22, 1862. 

Nathaniel Putnam, 15th Regiment ; died at Alexandria, Va., October 
10, 1802. 

George H. Pierce, loth Mass. Battery ; died of disease at Brandy Sta- 
tion, Va., JUarch 3, 1864. 

28 



Lyman J. Prentice, 25th Regiment ; wounded at Port Walthall 
died in Chesapeake Hospital May 17, 1864. 

George L. Sherman, 28th Regiment ; died, from wounds received, 
May 12, 1864. 

George N. Smith, 15th Regiment ; died, from wounds received at An^ 
tietam, September 17, 1S62. 

George F. Seaver, 15th Regiment ; killed at Ball's Bluff Octolier 21, 
1801. 

Franklin Waterman, 15th Regiment ; died of disease near Chicka- 
Uominy River June 15, 1862. 

Christopher G. Young, 16tb Regiment ; killed at Antietam Septem' 
ber 17, 1863. 

James Kay, 10th Battery ; killed at Ream's Station August 24, 1804. 

Eleven of these were killed, ten died of wounds, ten 
of disease, one was drowned and two died in Ande'son- 
ville prison, — thirty-four lives for the country's life- 
Fifty-six were dismissed for disability. The first meet- 
ing to consider matters relating to the war was held 
May 8, 1862, at which it was voted to appropriate "such 
five sums of money as may be required, not exceeding 
five thousand dollars, to aid in uniforming, and to ob- 
tain such articles as may be needful for the comfort of 
such residents of the town as shall have enrolled 
themselves into a company of volunteer militia to be 
formed in this town and vicinity, and also to aid the 
families of such volunteers while in actual service; 
also to pay each volunteer one dollar a day, not ex- 
ceeding thirty days, for time spent in drilling." 

July 26, 1862, the selectmen were authorized to 
pay a bounty of one hundred dollars to each volunteer 
for three years' service, who shall enlist and be 
credited to the quota of the town. 

Voted, that an additional sum of fifty dollars be 
paid to volunteers, who shall enlist in regiments now 
in the field, on or before the 15th of August. A 
committee of one from each school-district was 
appointed " to solicit the enlistment of volunteers." 

August 27th, "voted to pay a bounty of one 
hundred dollars to each volunteer enlisting for nine 
months; the bounty to be paid when the man was 
mustered in and credited to the town." 

October 11th, the bounty to nine months' men 
was increased fifty dollars, and the bounty for three 
years' volunteers was raised to two hundred dollars. 

November 3, 1863, voted "that the families of 
conscripts, disabled soldiers, and those who have 
died in the service of the United States, be placed on 
the same footing as regards State aid as the families 
of volunteers." 

April 9, 1864, " voted to pay a bounty of one hun- 
dred and twenty-five dollars to each volunteer enlist- 
ing to fill the quota of the town for three years' 
service, under the recent call of the President." 

AugUit 5, 186.5, " Voted to refund the money to 
all individuals who have paid money to aid in 
recruiting." These votes show the readiness of the 
town to do her full part in the defense of the 
country. 

There w.is also much done by individuals to help 
enlistments. More than twenty-six thousand dollars 
was contributed for this purpose, beyond what was 
refunded by the State. More than eight thousand 



434 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



dollars was contributed for the comfort of soldiers in 
the field and hospitals, especially through the Sanitary 
and Christian Commissions. 

Careful estimates of what the town paid for the 
cost of the war in taxes growing out of it, and in 
contributions, make the sum $710,773.63, while the 
valuation was but .f945,374 in 1860 and $898,385 in 
1865. Her part was well done and willingly. 

In the beginning the lown-meetings were held in 
private houses. But as soon as the " Town's Meet- 
ing-House" was so far completed as to warrant oc- 
cupancy, it was used for town (then "District") 
purposes. It was, as long as owned by the town, 
the town's house. The first town (or district) meet- 
ing held in it was February 24, 1775, and here for 
nearly sixty years they held their meetings and 
acted on all the secular interests of the community. 
They often adjourned to a private house, especially in 
cold weather, as we understand, because they had no 
means of warming the meeting-house. About 1830 
a desire for another place of meeting appeared. In 
the warrant lor the March meeting of 1832 there 
had been an article " to see if the Town will build a 
house to transact their business in.'' But it was 
passed over. In 1833 the town-meeting was warned 
to meet at Jacob Kinneston's Hall, in the public- 
house at Holbrook's Upper Village (now Rockdale). 
March, 1834, it was voted " to build a Town-House 
for the transaction of Town business." But at the 
same meeting a committee made a report, which was 
accepted, " that it is not proper to remove town- 
meetings from the Meeting- House until a more con- 
venient place is procured." Notwithstanding this 
vote, they often voted to meet elsewhere, as at Rock- 
dale, and frequently in the chapel of Whitinsville. 
The desire for a more convenient place belonging to 
the town continued, and in 1871 a committee was 
appointed " to consider what Building or Buildings 
are required for a Town-Hall, High School and 
other town purposes, to report at a future meeting." 
In the March meeting of 1872 the report was made. 
Before any action was taken upon it, Mr. John C. 
Whitin made an otter in behalf of himself and his 
brothers to provide suitable rooms for town-meet- 
ings and town business in a building to be erected 
by them. This oft'er was accepted, and they erected 
Memorial Hall, in Whitinsville, on the site of the 
homestead of their parents, a handsome building of 
brick, with granite trimmings, one hundred and ten 
by sixty feet. In the basement is a hall for town- 
meetings. On the first floor are a small hall for 
meetings, two rooms for town purposes, with a fire- 
proof vault for town books, a reading room and 
rooms for the Social Library. In the second story is 
a large hall for public meetings. 

The first town-meeting in the new building was 
held in the Lower Hall, November 7, 1876, and since 
that time all the town-meetings have been held here. 



CHAPTER LXV. 

NO'RTHBRlDG'E—iCon/iHued.) 

REI,IGIOUS SOCIETIES. 

The Congregational Church. — As we have 
seen in the beginning, the town as such provided for 
Gospel ordinances, and for a place of public worship, 
employing the preacher and building the meeting- 
house. For these purposes of religion, all the citizens 
were taxed, save those who belonged to other de- 
nominations than the standing order, which was Con- 
gregationalist. These by law were exempt from this 
taxation if they confessedly belonged to some other 
religious body and made their contributions to its 
support. In this town were Quakers, Baptists and a 
few Universalists to be thus relieved. The town em- 
ployed Rev. Aaron Bliss for some two years before 
the church was formed. Rev. Mr. Crane gathered 
the church which was organized June 6, 1782. There 
were now two bodies having to do with religious 
matters, — the town and the church. The church 
took the initiative as to the calling and settling a 
pastor. The town was asked to concur, and it was 
responsible for his support. Soon a third body ap- 
pears, "The Congregational Society," which is first 
mentioned in 1784. Yet it is so far identified with 
the town that in the warrant for town-meeting in 
1784 the fifth article is "To see if the Congregational 
Soeic/y wiW choose a committee to settle with John 
Adams and Major Batcheller for Boarding Mr. Crane 
and the Council, when Mr. Crane was ordained,'' and 
in 1787, " To see if the Town will choose a collector 
to collect ministerial money, and also a Treasurer to 
receive the same, and for said Treasurer to be ac- 
countable to the Congregational Society as the Town 
Treasurers are or may be to the town, and the town 
chose such a collector." 

The town slowly finished the meeting-house, selling 
" pew spots," or rights to build pews, first on the sides 
and then in the centre of the house, building a gal- 
lery, and some years after finishing the stalls to the 
same. In 1801 $60 were votfd for last bills for finish- 
ing the inside of the house, which had just been ac- 
complished. The repair of the house still came upon 
the town. But in their last action in reference to it, 
in 1808, the warrant for town-meeting has an article 
to see if the town will vote "to shingle the meeting- 
house for what they have used it to do town business 
in." 

From this it is manifest that the town does not now 
feel it is sole owner of the house, but is under obligation 
to another body for its use, and the same is shown by 
the vote on this ariicle, which is " to shingle the meet- 
ing-house by the society" and yet at the next meeting 
they appoint Paul Whitin, Marvil Taft and Thos. 
Goldthwait a committee to inspect the work. This is 
the last mention of the town's doing anything to re- 
pair or control the meeting-house. 



NOKTHBKIDGE. 



435 



For more than thirty years the town had had the 
care and control of the meeting-house. During these 
years it is called in the warrant for town-meetings: 
" The Town Meeting- House," or " The Meeting-House 
in Northbridge." But in 1819 the language is changed 
to " The Congregational Meeting House." Four years 
before this it had ceased to be town property. In 
March, 1814, " John Crane and others " pray the town 
to be incorporated as a religious society. Their pe- 
tition was "passed over." In the next meeting it was 
not noticed. Now John Crane and thirty-one others 
petitioned the General Court to be incorporated as a 
religious society in Northbridge'. Their request was 
granted. They are spoken of as " members of the 
Congregational Society in Northbridge." But now 
they are incorporated as such, August 27, 1814, and 
they became liable to pay all taxes voted by the so- 
ciety and responsible for the support of the minister, 
and the members can be released from the obligation 
only as they furnish a certificate that they have joined 
some other religious society. Still must all belong to 
some religious society and help in its support. This 
continued until the amendment of the Constitution, 
in 1833, when the towns were relieved from all re- 
sponsibility for the support of ministers, and citizens 
from the liability to be taxed for religious purposes, 
and all connection between church and state at last 
ceased. 

The Congregational Society was invested by the 
act of incorporation with the meeting-house property, 
and was authorized to hold other property. We find 
no action of the town acknowledging this incorpora- 
tion or the transfer of the property, but the town 
takes no action after March, 1814, as to ministerial 
support or of control of the meeting hou>e. It con- 
siders itself a tenant of the society, and obtains per- 
mission from the society to put up a hearse-house in 
the " burying-ground." Soon after the incorporation 
of the society an effort was made to raise a fund for 
the support of the minister, as was said in the pre- 
amble of the subscription : " To abolish forever min- 
isterial taxes in this town, and to establish a fund for 
the support of a learned Congregational, Calvinistic 
Ministry in Northbridge, the subscribers promise to 
pay ; " $2475 was subscribed, in sums from $20 to 
$500, but in 1816 it was voted to return the sums 
already paid in, and a committee was appointed to 
devise some other way of raising the fund. This was 
never done, and most withdrew their contributions. 
But Mr. Paul Whitin, Sr., left his in the hands of the 
society, and this, increased by interest, enabled the 
society, in 1867, to purchase the parsonage now owned 
and used by it. The society at once assumed all 
ministerial charges, .and taxed the property of the 
members. But this did not satisfy all, and for several 
years the pews were taxed to raise part of the funds 
needed. From 1838 to 1846 the salary was raised by 
subscription ; from 1846 to 1850 property was taxed ; 
then there was a return to subscription ; and now, as 



in all societies, the voluntary system of support is 
used. 

Early in 1835 the society, haying determined to 
have a new meeting-house, and having purchased the 
land for it, voted to move and repair the old meeting- 
house, if it was deemed worth moving. But not 
being deemed worth removal, it was soon taken down. 
The first Sabbath of May, in the same year, Dr. 
Crane preached his last sermon in the old house. 
The records of the parish show no vote to build the 
new meeting-house, but February 5, 1836, they voted 
to convey the land and the new house to the deacons 
of the church, and they direct their committee to 
convey their thanks to Mr. Orra Taft for the bell he 
had given them. Now the old New England custom 
of ringing the bell for Sabbath services, for tolling 
the years of the dead, and for marking the hours of 
noon is begun. It was also voted to have the foot- 
stoves filled at the stoves in the meeting-house. 

The parish was as reluctant as the church to allow 
any of its members to leave for the formation of a 
new parish in Whitinsville, in every instance where 
a petition for this was presented, either passing it or 
voting not to grant it. But when the separation took 
place they did not lose heart. They went on in their 
work of maintaining the ordinances of religion at the 
Centre. In 1832, soon after the resignation of Dr. 
Crane, Rev. Samuel H. Fletcher was called and 
installed, March 14th. He was dismissed in March, 
1834. Rev. Charles Forbush was installed June 4, 
1834. He continued pastor until his death, June 
9, 1838. Rev. Lewis Pennell was installed April 3, 
1839,and dismissed April 11, 1842. Rev. William Bates 
was ordained and installed November 5, 1845, and dis- 
missed November 23, 1857. Mr. Bates was the last 
installed pastor. The church has since been supplied 
by Eevs. Messrs. George B. Safford, Hiram Day, Syl- 
vester Hine, Calvin Terry, D. W. Richardson, W. H. 
Haslewood, Thomas L. Norton, James Wells, J. T. 
Crumrine, R. M. Burr and J. H. Childs. Rev. Mr. 
Childs is the present acting pa.stor, who also has the 
charge of the Rockdale Church. In 1877 this parish 
united with the parish in Rockdale in the support 
of the minister, who has since had the care <)f both 
parishes, residing at the Centre. 

The church gathered by Rev. Mr. Crane, in 1782, 
of eight members (five from the church in Uxbridge, 
three from the church in Upton), received five on 
confession the same day, thus beginning their separate 
life. As was customary, there were no " Articles of 
faith," it being understood that all accepted the 
" Catechism of the Westminster Assembly " as the 
standard of belief. They entered into covenant with 
God and each other. In this covenant there is a 
consecration of themselves to God the Father, Son 
and Holy Ghost, and a giving of themselves to each 
other to walk together as a rightly-ordered Congrega- 
tional Church, to maintain all Gospel ordinances ancj 
watch over each other, — a consecration to woik 



^ 



436 



HISTORY OP WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



against all ungodliness in the world, to maintain 
secret and family worship, to train their households 
in a Christian manner ; especially catechising them 
in the family, instructing, exhorting and commanding 
them to attend the more public catechising and 
instruction of those meetings which may be appointed 
for that end. The articles of faith were adopted 
probably April 1, 1814, hut were not recorded. There 
is evidence that church discipline was not a mere 
name, as we have record of discipline for watering 
cider, for deceiving in trading for a horse ; and tlie 
church recognized its own duty to repair a wrong 
done a member, in making confession to one whom 
it felt it had misjudged. For the first few years, like 
all the churches of the period, it received but few 
additions — only eighteen for twenty-six years. But it 
has known its times of enlargement, as in 1808, 1820 
and especially in 1831, when fifty-four additions were 
made ; and the removal of so many, to form the vil- 
lage church did not take as many members as had 
been added in this year. It had, January 1, 1888, one 
hundred and six members. 

The Village Congregational Church in 
Whitinsville. — During the latter part of Dr. Crane's 
ministry it had been common to hold meetings in the 
school-house in this neighborhood Sabbath evenings, 
at which he and other ministers occasionally preached. 
The feeling that more was needed led to the forma- 
tion of a Sabbath-school in 1833, having two sessions 
each Sabbath. 

The conviction that a church should be formed, 
and regular Sabbath services maintained, becoming 
fixed, several members of the first church sought dis- 
mission from it for this purpose. This being denied, 
five gentlemen, not members of this church, were re- 
quested to call a council " to advise on the question 
whether it is expedient to estab!i>h a church and so- 
ciety in said village of Souih Northbridge." The 
council met April 17, 1834, and advised that it was 
expedient that a church should be formed and Gospel 
ordinances established. In 1833 " The Chapel " had 
been built and had been dedicated to religious uses 
early in 1831. Regular preaching was now provided 
from Rev. Caleb B. Elliot, of Millbury, and after- 
wards from Rev. William Whittlesey, of New Britain, 
Conn. The society was formed June 20, 1834. The 
members of the first church desiring to form the new 
church, still failing to obtain letters of dismission, 
called by their committee a council to be held July 
31st, "to carry out, if it should be thought best, the 
recommendation of the previous council." By this 
council the church was constituted, consisting of 
thirty-three members. Seven more were received 
by letter from the first church August 26th, and 
became ideatified with the church in its beginning. 
Rev. Michael Burdett was soon called, and was in- 
stalled April 15, 1835. He was dismissed April 29, 
1841, after a pastorate of six years. Rev. Louis 
F. Clark was ordained and installed pastor June 1, 



1842, and continued his labors here as pastor until 
his death, October 3, 1870, — a man greatly beloved 
and greatly useful. Rev. John R. Thurston was 
installed April 20, 1871, and continues pastor. 

The church has been prospered, having received 
in all 710, and it numbered January 1, 1888, 231. 

The present house of worship was built in 1846 and 
was dedicated November 12th of that year. It has 
since been enlarged. 

The Congregational Church in Rockdale. — 
There were no regular public religious services in this 
village until after P. Whitin & Sons purchased the 
property in 1856. They finished a hall over the store 
and dedicated it to religious worship. In the fall of 
1861 Rev. E. F. Williams, of Uxbridge, was employed, 
and labored there somewhat more than a year. His 
work was blessed by a revival, and there was some 
thought of forming a church. When Mr. Williams 
left. Rev. Mr. Harding, of Boston, was engaged to sup- 
ply, and he preached there for some years, though not 
residing there for pastoral service. From November 
1, 1871, to December 1, 1872, Rev. J. C. Halliday 
preached and resided there. For some time after this 
there was not regular preaching, bat the Sabbath- 
school was maintained, and the pastor at Whitinsville 
preached there occasionally. In 1877 the people 
united with the parish at Northbridge Centre in the 
support of a pastor and since that time regular Sab- 
bath services have been maintained. It had long been 
felt that a church organization was needed for the 
best religious result and plans had several times been 
made for forming one, but they had not been carried 
out. December 30, 1879, a council was called and a 
church of fifteen members was formed, which has 
since grown to thirty-nine, January 1, 1888. This 
church, with the church on the Hill, has Rev. James 
H. Childs as pastor. 

The Quakers. — We have seen ' that early in the 
last century a few families of Quakers moved up .the 
Blackstone Valley in what is now Northbridge, and 
they experienced difficuliy from their unwillingness 
to serve in the French and Indian War. They had 
the same difficulty after the town was incorporated 
during the Revolutionary struggle. By colonial 
statute, passed in May, 1776, among those exempted 
from the necessity of military service are " those per- 
sons who had, befo'e the nineteenth day of April, 
one thousand seven hundred aiid seventy-five, been 
by law deemed to be of the denomination of Christ- 
ians called Quakers." It appears from the State 
archives that one Thomas Eddy, who had become a 
Quaker in 1777, was allowed exemption on petition 
of the town, by the Colonial Council, July 27, 1778. 
Said Eddy had been sent to the garrison at Rutland, 
but had refused to do duty on the ground that he was 
a Quaker. January, 1779, the selectmen of the town, 
having doubts whether the town had a right to assess 



NORTHBRIDGE. 



437 



the Quakers for their part of the tax of two hundred 
pounds laid upon tlie town " to pay men who had 
been, or had hired men, to go into tlie army," send a 
petition to the " Honorable Council and house of 
Representatives " that they would solve their doubt 
" and make it certain whether we have a Right to tax 
said Quakers," Thus scrupulously were their rights 
regarded. We have uo record of what answer was 
given to this petition, but as later we find frequent 
mention of a " Quaker Tax," we learn that it was 
felt that they must in some way contribute to the de- 
fence of the country. 

After the Revolutionary War we find no evidence of 
anydifliculty with the town from their peace principles. 

Before the town was incorporated the first meeting- 
house was built by the Quakers. On petition of 
Samuel Aldrich, for the building of a meeting-house, 
a committee was appointed at the Smithfield Monthly 
Meeting of Friends, November 28, 1765, " to judge 
whether there was need of one." This committee re- 
porting favorably, a committee, consisting of Samuel 
Aldrich, Moses Aldrich and Moses Farnam, Jr., " was 
appointed to oversee the building of said house." 

" Twelfth Month, 1776, the Building Committee ex- 
hibited an account of the Cost of Building the Ux- 
bridge (now Northbridge) Meeting-house, amounting 
to £70 16«. Id. lawful money, which is accepted." 
Forty pounds of this money was contributed for this 
purpose by Rachel Thayer, of Mendon. We see it is 
ten years after the committee is appointed to oversee 
the building of the house before the final account of 
cost is rendered, and we do not know when it was first 
occupied, but probably before the " Town's Meeting- 
house." The first mention of this meeting-house is 
in the town-meeting of March, 1778, when it was 
"voted to warn town-meetings by notifications to Be 
posted at Capt. Baldwin's Mill, Ye Quaker meeting- 
house, and ye Town meeting-house in Northbridge." 
This became the custom ever after. This meeting- 
house stood about one-fourth of a mile south of the 
present house, on the east side of the road. Respect- 
ing the present meeting-house the following items are 
furnished : " At an Uxbridge Monthly Meeting in 
1804, Nathaniel ^Idrich, Richard Mowry, Elisha Ar- 
nold and others were appointed to exchange lots and 
contract for building the present meeting-house in 
Northbridge. They reported in the Third Month, 
same year, that they had done so. The new house to 
be built for $650 and the old house. The new one was 
built that year." Saml. Aldrich was one of the contrac- 
tors for building it. In this house the Friends have wor- 
shipped God for more than four-score years. They 
have met each week, and the spirit has moved to words 
of exhortation, as to the faith and the life. In recent 
years their numbers have diminished, but their meet- 
ings are maintained with the instruction of the young 
in the Sabbath-school. In May of each year Quar- 
terly Meeting is held here. There has been special in- 
terest in temperance the past few years. 



Committee of the BaptUt 
Society iu Grafton. 



The meeting in Northbridge was a part of the 
Smithfield Monthly Meeting till Seventh Month, 1783, 
when the several meetings held in Uxbridge, North- 
bridge, Richmond, N. H., and Leicester were set off 
and formed a separate Monthly Meeting under the 
name of the Uxbridge Monthly, which continues un- 
til the present time. We have no record of the resi- 
dence in the town of a minister approved by the meet- 
ing, and the ministry has been by those belonging to 
the meeting but residing usually in Uxbridge. Mrs. 
Salome C. Wheeler, who is an approved minister, re- 
siding in Uxbridge, usually ministers at the North- 
bridge Meeting-house. 

Baptists in Northbridge. — From the following 
certificates it is manifest that there was early in the 
history of Northbridge an acknowledged body of Bap- 
tists, having a " society," if not a church organization : 

We, the Subscrihera, being chosen a committee by the Society of Peo- 
ple called Anti-pedo Baptist, we (who?) met together for religious wor- 
ship on the Lord's day, in Northbridge, to exhibit a list of the names of 
such persons as belong to said society or congregation ; Do certify that 
Timothy Winter, Nathaniel Cooper, Jan., John Cooper, David Dunn, 
Jonathan Bassett, Barnabas Aldrich, William Rawson, Joseph Hill, 
Nathaniel Cooper, do belong to the said congregation, and that they 
do frequently, and nsiyilly, when able, attend with us in our meetings 
for Religious Worship, on the Lord's Day, and we do thereby believe 
are, with respect to the Ordinance of Baptism, of the same religious sen- 
timents with us. 

Dated Grafton, Aug. 15, 1774. 

Recorded by the clerk Aug. 29, 1774. 

Joseph Rice, \ 

Ebenezee Wueeler, V 
James Leland, ) 

Samuel Powers and John Rooks, of Northbridge, were included in 
another certificate of the same date. 

From this we infer that thus early in the history of 
the town these men, wishing to be relieved from paying 
the town tax for the support of the Congregational 
minister, and building the meeting-house, obtained 
this relief by these certificates. 

John Cooper, an ordained Baptist elder, was for 
many years the preacher, preaching frequently until 
near the time of his death, in 1818. His brother Na- 
thaniel also preached occasionally. "The Baptists 
had their meetings in private houses, mostly in those 
of the preachers." 

In April, 1787, it was voted that the warrant for 
town-meeting be put, "one at the place where the 
Baptist meet for publick worship," from which it is 
manifest that they early had a place of usual meeting, 
probably the house of " Elder John Cooper," near the 
Cooper grave-yard. Jesse White, the blacksmith, was 
deacon. 

In 1793 Whitney speaks of ten families of Bap- 
tists, " at present destitute of any settled teacher." Yet 
there was a Baptist society as late as 1812, for Abner 
Cooper and John Cooper, "committee,"' certify that 
"Phineas Taft, of the town of Uxbridge, is a member 
of the religious society in the town of Northbridge 
called the Northbridge Baptist Society." After the 
death of Elder John Cooper they did not have preach- 
ing regularly. Mr. Sawyer, and after him Mr. Rufus 
Bennett, preached occasionally, but soon all public 



438 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



services ceased, and the society has had no existence 
for many years. The few of this persuasion in the 
town have identified themselves with the Baptist so- 
cieties of Farnamsville, or North Uxbridge, or with 
tlie Congregationalist or Methodist Churches in the 
town. 

The Methodist Church in Whitinsville.— 
The first Metliodist services in the town were held in 
the house of Rufus Bennett, near the Quaker Meeting- 
house, early in 1828. Miss Rebecca Bradford, of 
Providence, R. I., a school-teacher, secured the 
preaching of the first sermon by her pastor, Rev. Mr. 
Osgood, in this house. "As a result of this and other 
meetings, a revival of religion followed, in which a 
number were converted. Among them were Amasa 
Benson, Amos White and Lyman Aldrich, who be- 
came pillars in the church. Mr. Bennett, who had 
been connected with the Baptist Church of Upton, 
joined them, and became a local preacher among 
them. 

" The meetings were held in private houses, in the 
school-house near the Quaker Meeting-house, and in ■ 
the stone school-house at Plummer's Corner, and the 
Lord's Supper celebrated in Captain Amos White's 
new barn a number of times. 

"At the session of the New England Conference, 
which met at Lynn July 23, LS28, Bishop Elijah 
Hedding presiding, 'Northbridge Circuit' was organ- 
ized. It was in the New London District, Edward 
Hyde, Presiding Elder. Will- J. Lovejoy and Joseph 
Iveson were the preachers." 

During most of the years until 1850 preachers 
were appointed for this circuit, and religious services 
were maintained. Two camp-meetings and several 
grove-meetings were held on the Benson farm. But 
it was not in this part of the town that Methodism 
was to have its permanent and central place. The 
village of Whitinsville had been and was still grow- 
ing and giving promise for the future, and here was 
the Methodist Church to find its home. The first 
Methodist preaching here was secured by Mr. Charles 
Taylor. The preacher was Rev. Joseph W. Lewis, of 
Webster. He was assisted by Chas. W. Ainsworth, 
of Millbury. The services were held in the hall just 
erected on Railroad Avenue, which became the place 
of worship for many years. This was early in 1850. 
April 24th of the same year, at the session of the New 
England Conference in Boston, Bishop Thomas A. 
Morris presiding, " Whitinsville took its place in the 
list of appointments. It was included in the Wor- 
cester District, J. Hascall, Presiding Elder ; H. P. 
Andrews, preacher." " June 23, 1850, Dr. Hascall 
organized the Quarterly Conference" here. Since 
that day the church has maintained regular worship, 
and had constant preaching. They remained in the 
hall where they began for twenty-five years. October 
22, 1875, the new meeting-house was dedicated. In 
1882 a troublesome debt was removed, with the gener- 
ous help of friends in the place. It was a happy 



day, October 22d,when they held their meeting-house 
and parsonage free of all encumbrance. The church 
has grown with the village, and now numbers ninety- 
one members. The preachers have been : 1850-51, 
H. P. Andrews ; 1852, Cyrus L. Eastman ; 1853, Jon- 
athan L. Esty ; 1854, Jonathan D. Bridge (during 
this year a colleciion of $6.50 was reported " to assist 
fugitive slaves"); 1855, it was united with East Doug- 
las; 18.56-57, Wm. P. Blackmer; 1858-59, Geo. H. 
Mansfield; 1860, Nath. A. Soule; 1801-62, William 
Merrill; 1863-64, Abraham M. Osgood; 1865-67, 
William A. Braman ; 1868, Robert G. Adams; 1869, 
D. D. Hudson; 1871-73, Emory A. Howard (during 
this pastorate, the Spring estate was purchased, with 
the house which has since been the parsonage, and 
the ground for the new meeting-house); 1874-75, 
William Merrill (during this pastorate the meeting- 
house was completed and dedicated); 1876-77, Edward 
A. Manning; 1878, J. W. Fenn; 1879-80, Seth C. 
Gary; 1881-83, Lyman D. Bragg (during this pastor- 
ate the debt on the property was paid); 1884-86, 
James Mudge ; 1887, E. Stuart Best. 

The United Presbyterian Church. — For some 
years previous to 1871 there had been an increasing 
number of United Presbyterians in Whitinsville- 
They had brought from their homes in the north of 
Ireland and Scotland a strong aflection for their own 
faith and worship. They had worshipped occasion- 
ally and " communicated " with the United Presby- 
terian Church in Wilkinsonville. Some had united 
with this church. But they felt they must have for 
themselves and their children more regular Sabbath 
services, and early in 1871 they began such services 
with Rev. Mr. Cres«well as minister, and soon a 
" congregation " was formed and became connected 
with the Boston Presbytery. Worship was held at 
first in Smith's Hall and subsequently in "The 
Chapel" formerly used by the Congregational Church. 
Here they continued uutil they went into their new 
meeting-house, save during an interval of about 
seven months, when, owing to internal difficulties, the 
congregation was disbanded for a brief time. It was 
reorganized December 16, 1874. In 1881 a meeting- 
house was built on Cottage Street, in the erection of 
which, friends in the village greatly assisted them. 
It was dedicated February .22, 1882. In 1888 a par- 
sonage was built on the same lot with the meeting- 
house. The preachers have been Rev. Robert Hark- 
ness, January 21, 1873, to April 22, 187-1. For three 
years it was supplied by various ministers. Rev. J. 
L. Thompson was installed June 11, 1878. He was 
released April 11, 1882. Rev. J. Crawford McKay, 
installed April 24, 1883; resigned in July, 1884. 
It was supplied by Presbytery with various preachers, 
among 'them Rev. J. R. McAllister from January, 
1880, to July, 1887. 

Rev. Wm. Hughes was installed October 25, 1888, 
and is the present pastor. 

St. Patrick's Church.— The great increase in 



NORTHBRIDGE. 



439 



manufacturing in the recent years has brought 
many of foreign birth into the town for labor. 
In 1875 there were one thousand three hundred 
and six who were born in Ireland or Canada ; 
most of these were of the Catholic faith. They 
have always belonged to the parish of Uxbridge 
and been under the care of the Priest resident 
there. As their numbers increased, it was felt 
that they should have a church in this town, and 
Rev. Dennis O'Keefe purchased the land for one in 
1868. His successor. Rev. Dennis Morau, built the 
church. The first service was on Christmas, 1870. 
Rev. Henry L. Robinson became pastor in 1871 
and remains such. He is assisted by Father Lan- 
gier, who especially ministers to the French, who 
are the larger part of those of the Catholic faith. 
The church was moved to its present site on Church 
Street, and enlarged and a basement added in 1883. 



CHAPTER LXVI. 

^^ORTUBKlBCE—iCon/iniied.) 

SCHOOLS AND LIBRARY. 

Immediately on the incorporation of the district, 
attention was given to the interests of education. At 
the second town-meeting, September 21, 1772, a com- 
mittee was appointed to " Squadron " the district for 
school purposes. In November, the same year, they 
report their work making seven " Squadrons,'' some 
of which were very small. In 1785 the second and 
third were united, making six, and in 1793 the fifth 
and sixth were united, making five squadrons. But 
this last union, putting Adam's Corner, Northbridge 
Hill and what is now Whitinsville into one squadron, 
proved unsatisfactory, and in 1790 James Fletcher 
and others, in what is now Whitinsville, received per- 
mission to be a district by themselves, and to build 
their own school-house and not to be taxed for the 
building of any other school-house. The next year 
a similar privilege was granted to the families in the 
vicinity of the Quaker Meeting-House, on the same 
conditions. The same year five families at Riverdale 
were made a district. In 1802 another district was 
founded, including the families at Prentice's Corner 
and on the northeast side of the meadow. In 1832 
we find eight districts, which continued, with occa- 
sional changes of families near the border lines, until 
the district system was abolished and the town system 
adopted in 1867. 

At the first the schools were kept in private houses 
and in the meeting-house. There is evidence that a 
school-house stood on the hill on the east side of the 
road, north of the burying-ground. But it does not 
seem to have been in use at the time of the incorpora- 
tion of the district. It is not until 1791 that the 



building of school-houses was agitated. That year 
an article was put into the warrant to see if the town 
would build a house in each district; but it was 
passed over in the meeting. In 1795 it was voted to 
build a house in each district, and a committee was 
appointed for the purpose. But the next year the 
article to grant and raise money to build school- 
houses in the town of Northbridge was dismissed, 
from which it is manifest the work was not yet begun. 
And at the next meeting, the same year, they refused 
to appoint a committee to set the school-houses in 
each district. It is evident that the dissatisfaction 
with the new squadrons had something to do with 
this delay, as the same year James Fletcher and five 
others were made a new squadron if they would build 
their own school-house, and the next year the same 
action was taken for six families near the Quaker 
Meeting-House. At the meeting in June, 1796, a 
committee was appointed to instruct the committees 
appointed the previous year to build school-houses 
and to order them to set them in the most convenient 
place and to say how big each school-house shall be. 
From the absence of any further reference to school- 
houses in the records and from the recollections of 
persons recently living, we judge that the school- 
houses were built in most of the districts soon after 
this, as on the Hill in 1797. Yet it is manifest that 
not in all, very soon, as in 1807 a vote is passed " to 
allow district No. 7 to build a school-house if they 
please," and as late as 1810 there is a petition from 
certain families to be set back to the " Winter dis- 
trict " until suitable school-houses have been built 
in the districts to which they had been assigned. The 
whole town was taxed for building these houses, those 
of two districts being exempted who were to build 
their own houses. Also the lands of non-resident 
owners were taxed for the same purpose. 

The school-houses then erected sufficed until the 
district system was abandoned in 1867, except that 
another had to be erected to meet the demands of 
the increased population of Whitinsville, and it had 
to be twice enlarged until it had six rooms. After 
the adoption of the town system new houses were 
built for all the schools, save at Adam's Corner, 
where the house was thoroughly repaired. A new 
two-story house was built in Whitinsville in 1869, 
and enlarged for two more schools in 1872. In 1878 
another large school-house was built in Whitinsville 
for four schools ; and now measures are being taken 
to erect a large brick school-house in the centre of 
this village for the high and grammar schools and 
for primary schools, thus providing twelve school- 
rooms in Whitinsville. 

Until 1865, the town had had only the district 
schools, including all grades, and in Whitinsville 
the grades of Primary, Intermediate and Grammar. 
In the annual report of that year, the committee 
pleaded earnestly for a High School, which the State 
laws required of every town having five hundred 



440 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



families, this town having five hundred and fifty ; and 
a vote was passed to establish a High School. This 
was done at once, and the school was located in 
Whitinsville, and has been maintained ever since, 
doing good work and accomplishing all that could be 
reasonably expected, giving those who are unable to 
go out of town for education the opportunity to pur- 
sue their studies several years longer than formerly. 
The committee the same year urged the lengthening 
the terms of school, which had heretofore been only 
six months, with a private school kept in some of 
the districts. Their recommendation was adopted 
the next year, and since that time the schools have 
been kept between nine and ten months. 

In the beginning the care of the schools devolved 
on tlie selectmen. In 1799 an article was put in the 
warrant for the March meeting, "To see if the town 
will choose a committy to regulate the school dis- 
tricts," but it was voted " not to choose a school com- 
mitty.'' But in 1805 it was voted "to choose a 
school committee of five ; " the change was not 
acceptable, and a committee was not chosen again 
until 1810, and from 1813 to 1819 none were chosen. 
From 1820 the school committee has been chosen 
every year. In 1826 "it was voted to allow Dr. 
Crane fifty cents each visit and to visit each winter- 
school twice." At the same meeting a school com- 
mittee of eight was chosen, one for each district. 
The next year "it was voted to comply with the 
requisitions of the law in choosing a school commit- 
tee," and three were chosen, and it was " voted each 
District be allowed to choose their own prudential 
committeemen, agreeable to usual custom." The 
innovation of the previous year, in having the pru- 
dential committee of the districts chosen by the town, 
was not acceptable. But the next year, 1828, the 
town again chose the prudential committees of the 
districts and continued to do so until 1862, when the 
choice reverted to the districts again, where it re- 
mained until the district system was abolished in 
1867. In 1828, Mr. Adolphus Spring and Dr. Crane 
were a visiting committee to supplement the work of 
the prudential committee. Dr. Crane received twelve 
dollars for his visits. From this time for several 
years the town's committee are spoken of as " visit- 
ors." Previous to 1858 the whole committee was 
chosen each year ; this made possible, and sometimes 
actual, an entire change of persons in the board in 
a single year, and might bring in a board none of 
whose members had had any experience in the care 
of schools. This brevity and uncertainty of tenure 
was unfriendly to the adoption and carrying out any 
plans of school-work which extended over years, and 
was a hinderance to that progress which was needed. 
In 1858 the plan was changed, and each member now 
serves three years, and two new ones are chosen each 
year, and thus there is a continuity of service, and 
the benefit of experience is secured. There has been 
for many years an earnest endeavor to increase the 



efficiency of the schools. A new and powerful im- 
pulse was received in this progress about 1847. In 
1843 the committee, of which Rev. Lewis F. Clark 
was chairman, made a very plain report as to the 
deficiencies in the schools and in the school-houses, 
and calling for progress. Their report was printed, 
and it was evidently pondered ; we see a slow 
increase in appropriations for several years, until 
1847, when a very large increase of almost fifty per 
cent, was made, and since this time there has been 
great advance, and the town has been ready for any 
expense needed for the success of the schools. In 
1843 the town was very near the lowest in the State 
for the amount appropriated per scholar, there being 
but forty-three out of three hundred and seven that 
raised less ; now there are but sixty-nine that raise 
more. In 1852 the appropriation was $2.96 per each 
child of school age; now it is $11.20. As a result of 
this interest and these efforts the schools are doing 
good work, for which every parent and every citizen 
may be thankful. Much of this gain has been due 
to the untiring efforts of Dr. Rouse R. Clarke, who 
was first chosen a member of the committee in 1852, 
and served the town almost without interruption until 
his death, February 2, 1888. For many years he was 
acting superintendent, though unwilling to be called 
such. He brought to the work great love for the 
cause of education, a high estimate of its importance, 
a large measure of common sense, a friendliness to 
new ideas, with an unwillingness to undervalue the 
old methods, and great faithfulness in the care of the 
schools. When the new school-house was completed 
on Cross Street, in Whitinsville, the following vote 
passed unanimously in the town-meeting April 7, 
1879 : " Resolved, that in recognition of the long- 
continued and eminent services of Dr. R. R. Clarke 
on the Board of School Committees, his constant and 
zealous efforts to advance the interests of our schools, 
whereby they have been raised to the present high 
standard, it is hereby ordered that the new school- 
house on Cross Street shall be designated and known 
as the ' Clarke School,' " and the following resolu- 
tions were passed at the town-meeting, April 2, 1888, 
after his decease : 

Heeolved, Tlmt we, the citizens. of Northbridge, desire to place upon 
the record our high appreciation of the services of the late Dr. liouse 
K. Clarke, in behalf of our public schools. 

For almost thirty yeara his best thought and most earnest efforts 
were devoted to their interests. • During all this time it was his greatest 
ambition to do all in his power. Believing that the stability and free- 
dom of our civil and religious institutions depend upon the education 
and morality of the people, he entered upon bis Jife-work wilh a sin- 
cere desire to serve his geuoratioD by doing what he could to advance 
the interests of education in our midst. 

For all these years he has si)ared no expense of time or effort to ac- 
complish this. We believe the present success of our schools is largely 
due to bis untiring devotion to their welfare. We cannot express too 
strongly our high appreciation of his valuable services and the deep 
sorrow we fed for our great loss. 

Rt^solved, That the clerk be directed to enter these resolutions upon 
the Records of the Town, and forward a copy thereof to the family of 
the deceased. 



NORTHBKIDGE. 



441 



The Whitinsville Social Library. — At a 
meeting of the citizens of Whitinsville, held Decem- 
ber 10, 1844, to take into consideration the eslablishment 
of a Social Library, P. Whitin, Esq., was called to 
the chair. It was stated that the sum of one hundred 
dollars was left as a legacy, by Miss Sarah Fletcher, 
to be appropriated to such a Library whenever it 
should be thought best to establish one; and that this 
sum, with the interest on the same, was now available. 
Voted that we consider it expedient to establish such 
a Library at the present time. Voted, To choose a 
committee of three to draft a constitution, and pre- 
sent it at a future meeting. L. F. Clark, Horace 
Annsby and Leander Gorton were appointed on this 
committee. 

The constitution presented by this committee, with 
some amendments, was adopted December 17th, and 
the society was organized under the name of " The 
Whitinsville Social Library." Signatures were obtain- 
ed to the constitution, and December 24th the officers 
were chosen with Rev. L. F. Clark president. 

By February, 1845, eighty-six subscribers had be- 
come members of the association by payment of one 
dollar as initiation fee and signing the constitution, 
which imposed an annual assessment of one dollar. 
Two hundred and fifty books had been purchased, 
and arrangements made for loaning them. This is 
the origin of the Social Library. 

The association hecame incorporated April 14, 1858, 
under the provisions of the forty-first chapter of the 
Revised Statutes of Massachusetts. 

April 9, 18G0, a legacy of five hundred dollars was 
received from Ezra W. Fletcher, of which it was voted 
to use only the interest. 

The library was for many years kept in " the 
chapel" of the Congregational Society, and was used 
by subscribers, and a few others, as the teachers, to 
whom its privileges were extended by the association. 
But when better and permanent accommodations were 
provided in the Memorial Building, in 187(3, it was 
determined to offer its privileges to all the inhabitants 
of the town on certain conditions, and the following 
vote was passed by the association : 

To make tbe Library free to the Inhabitants of the Town of North- 
bridge, sul'ject to such Rulea and Regnlationa as the Association or Cor- 
poration may adopt, upon condition that the Town shall annually appro- 
priate and pay to the treasurer of the Corporation for the maintainauce 
and support of said Library a sum not less than Three Ilundred Dollars. 
The Library ceasing to be free to the inhabitants of said town when the 
Town ceases to make the above mentioned annual appropriation for its 
maintainance and support. 

The town accepted the proposition of the associa- 
tion at its annual meeting in March, and has 
since made annual appropriations for the support of 
the library. The needed changes in the constitution 
and by-laws were made, and the library is still under 
the control of the association, of which any citizen of 
Northbridge may become a member by payment of 
one dollar annually, or a life member by payment of 
ten dollars, and signing the constitution. At the 



annual meeting, February 13, 1888, the fee for life 
membership was made five dollars. 

Rev. L. F. Clark was re-elected president every year 
but two, until his death, in 1870. Dr. R. R. Clarke was 
chosen to succeed him, and re-elected annually until his 
death, in 1888, when Geo. A. Annsby was chosen, and 
is now president. From the small beginning with 
two hundred and fifty volumes, the library has grown 
apace, and, as we learn from the annual report made 
February 13, 1888, contains 4,507 volumes. The 
number who took books the last year was 418, and the 
number of volumes circulated was 6,875. 



CHAPTER LXVII. 

NORTHBRIDGE— ((ro«//«;/«'a'.) 

MANUFACTURES. 

While the early settlers were agriculturists, the 
necessity of mills for sawing their lumber and for 
grinding their grain soon led to the building of mills 
for this purpose, as the abundant watei-prtrftegps on 
the Blackstoneand Mumford Rivers gave them ample 
opportunity for doing. Samuel Terry erected a saw- 
mill at "Ye Falls," on the Mumford River, at what is 
now Whitinsville, in 1727 or 1728. Some time before 
1740 Woodland Thompson built a saw-mill on "Oil 
Brook," a small stream running into the Blackstone, 
on the west side, a little south of Riverdale. In 1764, 
James Nutting, Sr., sold " two grist-mills and a saw- 
mill " at what is now Riverdale. Having purchased 
the property in 1753, without mention in the deed of 
dam or mills, we infer he built the dam and the mills, 
thus first making use of the privilege, and building 
the first grist-mill in the town. Some time between 
1805 and 1814 the privilege at what is now Rockdale 
was first put to use, and a saw and grist-mill were 
built by John and Jesse Eddy. 

But these elementary manufactures were not those 
which were to grow and build up the town. The 
manufactures which were to employ its citizens in 
great numbers, and bring to them comfort and wealth, 
were those of iron, cotton, wool and leather. 

Iron Manufactures. — The very early develop- 
ment of the manufactures of iron in this town was 
doubtless due to the existence of iron ore within its 
limits. September 16, 1700, Mendon (then including 
Northbridge) voted " that noe person shall carry any 
mine or iron ore out of or from the Town Common, 
upon penalty of twenty .shillings a load, the one-half 
to the informer, the other half to the use of the 
towue." At a meeting October 14th, the same year, 
Samuel Thayer was permitted to carry away the " ore 
that had been digged," " provided sd Thayer paid 
twenty shillings in money to Capt. Chapin for the 
town's use ;" and a reward was voted to the informer. 



442 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



March 3, 1712, the town reaffirmed the vote forbid- 
ding to carry away ore from the "Town Common," 
but said, " as for any yt was in Impropriated Lands, 
they might Repair to the owners." This ore was in 
the Uxbridge part of the town. The location of the 
"Iron Worlds" at "ye Falls of Mum ford's River" 
was due to the power which "ye Falls" afforded, to 
the abundance of wood for charcoal for smelting, and 
to the evident expectation of finding ore near at hand. 
The man who established the works here was Samuel 
Terry (clerk), of Barrington, Mass. He purchased 
four hundred and eighty-eight acres of land, with the 
water privilege at "ye Falls," and "all the mines or 
minerals" thereto belonging, for £488, equal to £162 
in gold, in 1727. 

This reference to " mines or minerals " is doubtless 
to " Mineral Hill, so called," which we find mentioned 
in deeds of a later date. The next year Terry sold 
all the la-nds and a saw-mill and "Iron Works" to 
Hugh Hall, of Boston, for £700, equal to £206 in gold. 
As there was no mention of " Iron Works " in his 
deed of purchase, we must infer he had built them, 
and had prepared to manufacture iron. Hall sold the 
property to Gershom Keyes (trader), of Boston, for 
£920, equal to £212 in gold, in 1732. The next year 
Keyes sold all the land and the saw-mill and one- 
half of the " Iron Works" to Jonathan Bacon (gent), 
of Bedford, for £1600, equal to £368 in gold. The in- 
crease in price would indicate that Keys had improved 
the " Iron Works." He reserved one-half of the 
works, with all its privileges, and we infer he soon 
bought back Bacon's half interest, as he afterwards 
sold all the " Iron Works " and thirty acres of land 
belonging thereto, and from the fact that Bacon's 
name does not appear in any subsequent deed of the 
works. Keyes sold one-half of the " Iron Works " 
to Joseph Scott (braiser), of Boston, for £300, equal 
to £62 in gold, in 173.'j, and one-half to Samuel Grant 
(upholder), of Boston, in 1736, for £300, equal to £61 
in gold. These owners, Grant & Scott, evidently 
rebuilt the " Iron Works," as they are .spoken of in 
the next deed as "lately built," with three fireplaces 
and one hammer. They are subsequently called the 
" Forge or Refinery." Grant sold his interest the 
same year (1736) to John Merritt (merchant), of Bos- 
ton, for £808 14s. 3d., equal to £168 in gold. In the 
deed an "ore yard" is mentioned. Soon Merrilt 
bought out Saott's interest for £870, equal to £170 in 
gold. The deed is dated 1740, but we infer that he 
had bought it before this, for he leased the property 
in 1739 to Thomas & Nicholas Baylies (iron-mas- 
ters), of Uxbridge, for twenty-one years, for £34 law- 
ful money of Great Britain per year. Lawful money 
was then worth four and one-half times as much as 
paper. The inventory of the works is gicen, and it is 
described as all furnished and suitable to make pig- 
metal into bar iron. This is the first mention of the 
product. It was for many years called Baylies' Re- 
finery ; but it was still held by Merritt after Baylies' 



lease expired in 1760. Before 1765 Merritt, now of 
Providence, leased the " Iron Works " to John Hesel- 
tine, of Uxbridge. Merritt held the property until 
his death. It was sold September 16, 1771, by John 
Overing, the executor of Mr. Merritt's will, to Col. 
Ezra Wood, of Upton, for £450, now equal to gold, as 
specie payment had been resumed. .lames Fletcher, 
who married Col. Wood's daughter December 24, 
1771, now occupied the property and carried on the 
" works." The old works were situated about twenty 
rods below the bridge, on the south side of the river, 
the water for the power being conveyed in a ditch 
from the dam, which was about one hundred feet west 
of the present dam next to the bridge. About this 
time the works were removed to a building on the 
south side of the river, close to the present dam, 
which was built at that time. The new works went 
by the name of " The Forge." It was also called 
" Fletcher's Forge," and it had the reputation of early 
and hard work. In 1794 Col. Wood sold two-thirds 
of the "Iron Forge and Refinery " to James Fletcher, 
and one-third to Paul Whitin. Mr. Whitin had 
married Mr. Fletcher's daughter, Bet.sy, in 1793. 

They continued to manufacture "bar-iron" from 
scrap-iron until 1812 or 1813. Mr. Whitin did not 
work in " The Forge." He was a blacksmith, and had 
a shop on the north side of the river, at the opposite 
end of the dam from "The Forge." He at first did 
only the work of an ordinary blacksmith, but he soon 
determined to engage in the specially of making hoes 
and scythes. Hiring a man who understood the art 
of tempering and other processes in the manufacture, 
he himself soon became expert in them, and in a few 
years his business became profitable. During the 
suspension of trade with England, caused by the 
embargo of 1807-09, a large demand arose for certain 
agricultural tools, which had been previously imported 
from England. One of these, in the manufacture of 
which Mr. Whitin was one of the first to engage, was 
the large hoe used by the negroes at the South. He 
had three forges, a trip-hammer and a grindstone 
operated by power. Mr. Whitin continued this busi- 
ness until his death, in 1831, in the sixty-fourth year 
of his age. Blauy years before his death he engaged 
in cotton manufacture. His second son (John C, 
born 1807) worked in the mill from his ninth year, 
when not in school, at first in the picker-room. When 
about twelve he was placed in the machine-room of 
the company, and for the next three years worked on 
repairs, thereby serving in some measure an appren- 
ticeship to the business which he followed for life. 

In the year 1826 Col. Paul Whitin formed a part- 
nership with his two elder sons (Paul, Jr., and John 
C), for the manufacture of cotton goods. They built 
the brick mill now standing on the site of "The 
Forge," on the south side of the river, having a 
capacity of fifteen hundred spindles. In this firm 
Mr. John C. Whitin had the superintendence of the 
mill and the repair of the machinery. He had early 



NORTHBRIDGE. 



443 



been impressed with the imperfection of the machinery 
used, especially of that used in picking the cotton, and 
in 1830 he directed his eflbrts to its improvement. 
With two lathes, not worth more than fifteen dollars 
each, and with an occasional job done in a neighbor's 
shop, he, with his two assistants, completed the first 
picker in about a year. Having so far perfected the 
picker, he applied for a patent and secured it in 1832. 
Meanwliile the new firm, which had been formed on 
the death of Paul Whitin, Sr., — consisting of Mrs. 
Paul Whilin, Sr., Paul Whitin, John C. Whitin and 
Charles P. Whitin, — had purchased the mill of "The 
Old Northbridge Manufacturing Co." 

The picker Mr. John C. Whitin had made had 
attracted the attention of other manufacturers, and 
the firm determined to make them for sale, using as a 
shop the picker-house of the mill just purchased, a 
building thirty-two by forty feet. Machinery and 
tools were set up in it and put in operation. They 
were crude as compared with what are now used ; yet 
with the improved devices of Mr. Whitin, pickers or 
lappers were produced so superior to those previously 
in use that from 1834, when the first machine was 
sold, the demand steadily increased. For many years 
most of the pickers in use throughout the country 
were made at these works. 

Mr. Whitin was encouraged to build other ma- 
chinery in the same line. The list has been increased 
from time to time, so as to include cards, card- 
grinders, doublers, railway heads, drawing-frames, 
ring-frames, spoolers, warpers, dressers, looms, &c. ; 
indeed, all the machinery used in tlie cotton-mill, 
except roving machinery, mules and slashers, is now 
made here. * To accommodate this rapidly-increasing 
business, the original shop, the "Picker-house," was 
enlarged and sew buildings were erected. In 1847 
"The New Shop'' was built, three hundred and sis 
by one hundred and two feet, two stories with base- 
ment, on the north side of the river. 

This year Mr. James F. Whitin, the youngest son 
of Colonel Paul Whitin, was admitted to the firm. 
In 1860 Mr. John C. Whitin purchased the " Hol- 
yoke Muchine Works " on his own account, which he 
retained until 1864, giving it much of his time for 
supervision. During his engagement in Holyoke, 
Mr. Chas. P. Whitin had the charge of the machine- 
shop. 

In 1864 the firm of P. Whitin & Sons was dis- 
solved and the business of the firm was divided. In 
this division Mr. John C. Whitin took the manufac- 
turing of machinery, which had in thirty years grown 
from one picker a month from the old " Picker 
House," to the production of hundreds of thousands 
of dollars' worth of a large variety of machinery, 
Irom the large shop of 1847 and its adjuncts. On 
coming into his separate proprietorship, Mr. John C. 
Whitin erected a new shop parallel with the shop of 
1847, north of it, four hundred and seventy-five 
by seventy feet, three stories, with basement. The 



increasing business has compelled the erection of a 
large foundry, which has been twice enlarged ; of a 
large blacksmith shop, and in 1883 of a large shop 
on the south side of the river, three hundred and 
eighty-six by eighty-six feet, three stories high, so 
that now there are in all nearly eleven acres of floor 
all connected, and devoted to the various departments 
of the manufacture. In place of two men helping 
Mr. Whitin, the force employed now is over eight 
hundred, and the improved machine tools render the 
work of each man equal to that of three men using 
the old-time tools. 

Mr. Whitin secured patents on the Picker or Lap- 
per in 1833 ; on the Union Card in 1862. These 
proved useful to manufacturers and brought consid- 
erable profit to the inventor. These inventions 
bore no comparison, however, in intrinsic value with 
the many improvements in tools and implements for 
the working of metals and the simi)lifying of existing 
methods. As long as he continued in active manage- 
ment of the shop he took the deepest interest in all 
improvement in tools. The last to which he gave 
special attention was the machine for drilling spin- 
ning-frame rails, which has proved such a success. 
It was with him a principle not to seek the protection 
and profit of a patent for any tool he was to use 
himself. He felt that the gain in his own work was 
all the profit he should desire. 

In 1870 the business, which h.ad been during the six 
previous years in the sole proprietorship of Mr. John 
C. Whitin, was organized into a joint stock corpora- 
tion, under the name of " The Whitin Machine 
Works," — John C. Whitin, President ; Josiah Lasell, 
Treasurer ; and Gustavus E. Taft, Superintendent. 
Mr. Lasell was son-in-law to Mr. Whitin and had 
been in his employ since 1860. 

In 1881 Mr. Taft became agent and Mr. Harvey 
Ellis superintendent. 

On Mr. Whitin's death, April 22, 1882, Mr. Lasell 
liecame president and treasurer. January 1, 1886, 
his son-in-law, G. Marston Whitin, became treasurer. 
On the death of Mr. Lasell, March 15, 1886, his oldest 
son, Chester W. Lasell, was made president. On the 
death of Mr. Taft, June 24, 1888, his oldest son, 
Cyrus A. Taft, was made agent. During all these 
changes in officers of the corporation the butiness 
has gone on with continued success. 

Thus for one hundred and sixty-one years has the 
manufacture of iron been maintained in this place, 
first as the manufacture of iron from the ore, then as 
the manufacture of bar-iron from pig-metal and 
scrap-iron, then as the manufacture of hoes and 
scythes, and now for nearly sixty years in the manu- 
facture of cotton machinery, beginning with a single 
machine and now including almost every kind of 
cotton machinery. For more than one hundred and 
sixteen years one family has been in ownership and 
charge of the works. For nearly one hundred years 
Mr. Paul Whitin, Sr., and his sons have operated 



444 



HISTORY OP WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



them, and to their mechanical skill, business capacity 
and industry and energy has tliis great development 
been due. 

The Whitinsville Spinning Ring Co. — In 1872, 
Charles E. Trowbridge, master mechanic of the 
Whitinsville Cotton-Mill, and Arthur F. Whitin,who 
was then employed in the repair shop, perfected and 
patented special tools for making rings for spinning 
and twisting. They began the manufacture of rings 
in 1873, under the firm-name of the " Whitinsville 
Spinning Ring Co." By their improved methods and 
tools superior work is secured, and a great saving of 
labor is effected. One man can produce a perfect ring 
in two operations, after the forging, while with the 
old methods the ring passed through several hands, 
and numerous operations, and the ring would not be 
of such uniform excellence of finish. 

The company began the manufacture of rings for 
the cotton-mills of Whitinsville and vicinity, but the 
fame of their superiority quickly spread and arrange- 
ments had to be made for increased production. The 
rings have Ijeen sent all over the country, and many 
have been exported. The business has increased six- 
fold since 1878, but its growth has been a natural one; 
no traveling agents have been employed. Arthur F. 
Whitin is treasurer, Chas. E. Trowbridge is agent, 
and George E. Trowbridge is superintendent. 

Mr. Trowbridge has secured a number of patents on 
rings and ring-holders, and has recently patented a 
new process of producing a metallic ring, which effects 
a great saving of travelers, on new rings, and a much 
better yarn is produced by the consequent saving of 
breakage. The company began the manufacture of 
the double adjustable ring in 188(5, and now produces 
all varieties of rings known to the trade. The work 
began in the repair-shop of the mill. In 1884, needing 
more room, it was moved to the "old cotton-mill" 
building of 1826, on the south side of the stream, and 
occupied the basement and the first story. In 1887 
an enlargement of twenty by sixty-five feet was made, 
and a new building erected, with a furnace chimney, 
for hardening and annealing. Twenty-five men are 
employed. 

While the manufacturers in iron at what is now 
Whitinsville are the oldest in the town and have 
been the most successful, they have not been the only 
ones. 

At Northbridge Centre a foundry was in operation 
as early as 1790, situated opposite the Dr. Robinson 
place, on the west side of the road, some thirty rods 
south of the present meeting-house. Hollow-ware 
and sad-irons were cast here. The business was carried 
on by a man named Lothrop. 

The same premises were afterwards occupied by 
Frebun White for the manufacture of axes, employ- 
ing two hands besides himself. The axes were car- 
ried to Providence and sold to the South. This was 
from 1812 to 1820. Capt. Amos White made "custom 
axes'' in a shop near his home; ''afterwards he 



manufactured to a considerable extent for the trade 
boot and shoe edge tools, hammers, &c., &c., until his 
death, in 1853, a part of the time, in company with 
Dr. Starkweather, doing the work at Riverdale, on 
the east side of the river. But that business failing, 
he removed to his home shop and manufactured for a 
time alone and then with his son Luke, and last with 
his son-in-law. Orison W. Brigham. 

The stone part of the present cotton-mill at River- 
dale was built 1852 by Sylvanus Holbrook for Harvey 
Waters for the manufacture of scythes by machinery 
which he had invented. These were the first scythes 
made by machinery in the world. Mr. Waters also 
made bayonets by machinery during the war of 
1861-65. He continued the business here until 
1865. 

Cotton Manufactures. — In 1808 " the cotton 
factory fever" struck this town, and in 1809 Col. 
Paul Whitin erected a cotton-mill at the upper dam, 
which was about three hundred feet east of the pres- 
ent dam of the Whitin Machine Works. Col. James 
Fletcher contributed the water privilege as his share 
in the enterprise. After the mill was erected Mr. 
Whitin organized a company, of which he was the 
principal stock-holder, for the manufacture of cotton 
goods, styled "The Northbridge Cotton Manufactur- 
ing Company." The act of incorporation is later, 
being dated June 9, 1814. This was the third cotton- 
mill erected in the Blackstone Valley above Paw- 
tucket, the mill of Almy Brown and the Slaters at 
Slatersville and the original mill of the present Black- 
stone Co., at Blackstone (then South Mendon), pre- 
ceding it by two years. The manufacturing consisted 
in breaking, carding and spinning. The raw material, 
having some seeds and much dirt mixed with it, was 
put out to families to have the seed and dirt removed. 
The "pickers" had not yet been introduced. Some 
families took a bale, some half a bale, and others 
less. For this work four to six cents a pound was 
paid. The yarn was also put out to families to be 
woven by hand, the weaver receiving eight cents per 
yard for weaving No. 16 yarn, which was the 
grade made at that time. The weaving was done in 
this manner for six or eight years, after which 
power looms were introduced. The original North- 
bridge Mill was of wood and had a capacity of 
fifteen hundred spindles. Paul Whitin, Jr., then ten 
years of age, commenced work in this factory on the 
day of its starting, tending a breaking machine. 
The mill was operated several years with small re- 
turns. It was rented for two years to Gladdiug & 
Cady. It was sold in 1824 to William & Thomas 
Buflbm. It was bought in 1829 by Samuel Shove, who 
operated it until 1831. 

In 1815 Col. Whitin, not content with what he was 
doing in the Northbridge Cotton Manufacturing 
Company, entered into partnership with Col. James 
Fletcher, his father-in-law, and Mr. Fletcher's two 
sons, under the firm-name of Whitin & Fletcher, 



NOKTHBRIDGE. 



445 



and they fitted up the " Old Forge" building, on the 
south side of the river, for a cotton-mill of three 
hundred spindle capacity for the manufacture of 
yarns. This mill was operated until 1826, when Mr. 
Whitin, who had owned an interest of one-half, now 
purchased the other half of the Fletchers, and 
formed a new partnership with his own sons, Paul, 
Jr., and John C, under the name of P. Whitin & 
Sons, for the manufacture of cotton goods. Paul 
Whitin, Jr., was at this time twenty-six years of age. 
His previous training, save what he had as a boy 
working in the mill, had been mercantile, and in the 
business of the new firm he took charge of the 
mercantile and financial department. 

John C, then nineteen years old, had had his 
training in the mill and in the machine-room of the 
Northbridge Cotton Company, and was thus prepared 
for his part in the new firm, the management of the 
mechanical and manufacturing department. Mr. 
Paul Whitin, Sr., only invested capital and had no 
personal care or responsibility in the management of 
the business. The company erected a new mill of 
1,500 spindles on the site of the "Old Forge'' mill. 
This mill was of brick, thirty-two by sixty feet, two 
stories, with attic room and basement, and was used 
for its original purpose until 1845. 

Soon after the erection of this mill, cotton manu- 
facture was begun in another part of the town and 
continued for some years. In 1830, Sylvanus Hol- 
brook built a mill on the east side of the river at 
what is now Eiverdale, and fitted it with cotton ma- 
chinery and began to make sheetings. The next year 
he built at the "upper village," now Rockdale, "The 
Cotton Mill" north of the old woolen-mill, and 
began the manufacture of sheetings and drillings. 
In 1836 one-third of the looms were put upon print 
cloths. In 1837, having discontinued the manu- 
facture of satinets, Mr. Holbrook put cotton machin- 
ery into the woolen-mill and he made Kentucky 
jeans until the mill was burned, in 1839 or '40. He 
rebuilt the mill and filled it with cotton machinery 
and manufactured cotton goods. 

In 1846, the north or "Cotton Mill" was burned. Mr. 
Holbrook repaired the walls and floors, but never pro- 
vided it with machinery. In 1851 fire destroyed all 
the factory buildings but this and a large number of 
dwellings. This closed all manufacturing in this 
village until the property was bought by the Messrs. 
Whitin in 1856. We now return to Whitinsville. 

In 1831, Colonel Paul Whitin having died, the firm 
was re-organized, Mrs. Paul Whitin, Sr., and her 
sons, Paul, John C. and Charles P. being the partners. 
Charles P. Whitin had attained his majority the pre- 
vious year. He had been employed in the office of 
the old firm. In the new firm Mr. Paul Whitin re- 
tained the financial and mercantile departments, Mr. 
Charles P. Whitin took charge of the cotton manu- 
facturing and Mr. John C. Whitin took charge of the 
new department, the manufacture of cottou machin- 



ery. The old Northbridge Cotton Manufacturing 
Company's mill was bought and put in operation, and 
continued in operation until 1861. In 1845 the stone 
mill was built, with a capacity of seven thousand five 
hundred spindles. 

In 1847 James F. Whitin, the youngest son of Colo- 
nel Paul Whitin, was admitted to the firm. He had, 
for many years, had charge of the books of the con- 
cern. In 1849 the firm bought up the capital stock 
of the Uxbridge Cotton Mill of ten thousand spindle 
capacity at North Uxbridge. They operated it until 
the firm was dissolved in 1864. In 1856, having pur- 
chased the property in Rockdale, they built the Rock- 
dale Cotton Mill, with a capacity of ten thousand 
spindles. About 1857, they bought the stone cotton- 
mill, in East Douglass, of about eight thousand spin- 
dle capacity, and operated it until the war. 

In 1864, the firm of P. Whitin & Sons, manu- 
facturers of cotton goods and of cotton machinery, 
was dissolved and the business was divided. The 
cotton manufacturing, which had increased from one 
thousand five hundred spindles to thirty thousand, 
was retained by Mr. Paul Whitin taking the mill in 
Rockdale and the property at Riverdale, which P. 
Whitin & Sons had purchased some yeais before; by 
Mr. Charles P. Whitin taking the mill in Whitins- 
ville. and Mr. James F. Whitin taking the mill in 
North Uxbridge. Mr. John C. Whitin took the man- 
ufacturing of cotton machinery. 

At this time The Paul Whitin Manufacturing 
Co. was formed, with Mr. Paul Whitin as president, 
and his son, Charles E. Whitin, as treasurer and 
agent. To the Rockdale Mill this company soon 
added the mill at Riverdale, putting a brick addition 
to the stone building which had been occupied by 
Mr. Harvey Waters for the manufacture of scythes 
and bayonets, and filling it with cotton machinery, 
making it a mill of seven thousand spindles in capa- 
city. The company still operates both mills, making 
sheetings. 

In 1884, on the death of Mr. Paul Whitin, Mr. 
Charles E. Whitin became president, and remains 
such, and Mr. Harry T. Whitin, his eldest son, be- 
came agent. 

Mr. Charles P. Whitin enlarged the stone mill at 
Whitinsville in 1865, making its capacity thirteen 
thousand six hundred spindles. In 1866 he united 
his two elder sons, Edward and William H., with 
him in the business under the name of "The Whi- 
tinsville Cotton Mill." The same year he, with his 
brother, James F. Whitin, built "The Linwood 
Mill," of fifteen thousand spindle capacity, under 
the name of "The Whitin Brothers." Since the 
death of Mr. Charles P. Whitin. the business has 
been carried on by the sons under the same firm- 
name, the youngest son, Mr. Arthur F. Whitin, 
having been added to the firm in 1881. 

Thus has this manufacturing interest grown from 
fifteen hundred spindles in 1810 to neariy fifty thou- 



446 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



sand spindles, employing nearly eight hundred 
hands. 

WooLEX Manufacturers. — We have seen that 
the privilege at what is now Riverdale was first im- 
proved by Jas. Nutting before 1764. In July of that 
year he sold the property to Hezekiah Hall, of Ux- 
bridge. He sold it the same year, October 4th, to Ed- 
ward Hall, of Uxbridge. We are unable to trace all the 
changes, but in March, 1780, Ezra Wood sold the land, 
" together with a grist mill, and saw mill and mill 
dam, and all the other buildings on the same," to 
Henry Dunn. The property descended by will to his 
sons David and Henry. About 1817, they built the 
" cloth mill," and began the woolen manufactures of 
the town. They took wool from the farmers and 
carded it. Then the farmers spun and wove it and 
carried it back to the mill, where it was pulled, 
colored and t-heared. 

The Dunn brothers fitted up a mill which Sylvanus 
Holbrook hired, but soon left it, having purch.ased 
the property at the upper village, now Rockdale. 
Osmus Taft now hired their mill and operated it in 
1822 and '23. Then the Messrs. Dunn took the 
mill and manufactured satinets. But they becoming 
embarrassed, Deacon Solomon Nelson, a relative, and 
a Mr. Benson, from Enfield, Conn., took the busine.s8 
and carried it on. Not being successful, the business 
came into the hands of Sylvanus Holbrook about 
1829, probably by failure to redeem the property 
from mortgage given to him in 1826. Mr. Holbrook 
rented the old mill to the younger Dunn for the 
manufacture of woolen hat bodies. 

All thei-e buildings were on the east side of the 
river. January 16, 1776, John Eddy, from Smith- 
field, Rhode Island, bought the property at the 
" upper village," now Rockdale, of Thomas Emerson. 
Some time before 1814 a dam was built, and a saw 
and grist-mill erected. May 30, 1814, Mr. Eddy and 
his son Jesse sold the dam and buildings, and six- 
tenths c)f three acres and eighty-two rods of land, 
one-tenth each to certain grantees: Antipas Earle, 
Silas Earle and Timothy Earle, of Leicester, Levi 
Lincoln and Daniel Waldo, of Worcester, and Amasa 
Roberts, of Northbridge. The other four-tenths were 
to lie in common with the six-tenths — that is, two- 
tenths to Jesse Eddy and two-tenths to William Hen- 
dricks, all for the formation of a copartnership for the 
manufacturing of "woolen and cotton goods, or any 
other business mutually agreed upon." June 14th, 
the same year, these gentlemen became incorporated 
as the " Northbridge Cloth Company," and as indi- 
viduals, conveyed the property to this new company, 
January 25, 1815, and the company began the manu- 
facture of satinets, and continued it until 1819. March 
2d, of this year, the company sold its property at 
auction. It was purchased by Esek Pitts, of Mendon, 
gentleman; Samuel Pitts, of Mendon, clothier; John 
Farnam of Grafton, clothier, and Jesse Eddy, of North- 
bridge, yeoman, who continued the Inisiness. Decem- 



ber 17, 1821, John Farnam and Samuel Willis, having 
become owners of the fourth part bought by Mr. 
Pitts, deeded to Sylvanus Holbrook, a brother-in-law 
of Mr. Farnam, three-fourths of the property, Mr. 
Holbrook to take possession April 1, 1822. October 
11, 1822, Jesse Eddy sold his fourth part to Mr. Hol- 
brook, and he now became sole owner. The mill, which 
had before been called " Eddy's Mill," was now called 
" Holbrook's." Mr. Holbrook enlarged the old mill, 
and continued to manufacture satinets. The weaving 
was all done by hand until 1823, when power-looms 
were introduced. Broadcloth was also made by Mr. 
Holbrook, woven by hand on four looms, each two 
yards wide. Of this article it is said, " it was made 
of the very best stock, and was really tine and nice." 
Themanufacture of broadcloth was discontinued about 
1831. The woolen-mill was a three-set mill. The 
manufacture of satinets was continued until 1837, after 
which no woolen goods were manufactured in the 
town. The textile manufactures of the town were to 
be of cotton alone. 

Manufactures of Leather. — Among the primi- 
tive industries of the town was that of the shoemaker. 
He was soon followed by the tanner and currier, to 
prepare the material for his art. 

Benjamin Basset, John Adams, Benjamin Farrar, 
Simeon Bassett, Alfred Huse and Daniel Adams 
were long remembered as of the traveling fraternity 
of shoemakers, who carried their " kit " from house 
to house and shod the families for the season. But 
they were not to continue travelers, nor were they to 
be content to supply the home dem.and. As early as 
1810 Cheney Taft began the manufacture of the first 
" sale " work in the town. He made what were called 
" nigger shoes," in the summer, and went South to 
sell them in the winter. Others soon followed, and 
rooms were fitted up in the houses and little shops 
were built near the homes for the new manufacture. 
Between 1810 and 1820 eleven individuals were en- 
gaged in the business; between 1820 and 1830, twelve 
(some of these worked alone, others employed one or 
more hands) ; between 183:) and 1840, sixteen indi- 
viduals and four firms ; between 1840 and 1850, thir- 
teen individuals and two firms; between I860 and 
1860, six individuals and two firms ; between 1860 and 
1870, two firms ; between 1870 to December, 1877, 
three firms. But while the individuals carrying on 
the business diminished, the number of persons en- 
gaged in the work did not diminish — the individuals 
were employed by the firms. The largest number of 
persons employed was when but one firm was con- 
ducting the business, and emi>loying sixty-six hands 
in the shop and ninety-four outside. Usually more 
men were working at their homes and in shops near 
them than at the large shop or factory, taking the cut 
work and returning the finished product. 

Among the principal firms were those of J. & Z. 
Bachelor, Fuller, Bachelor & Co., Joel Bachelor, Jr., 
John M. Slocomb, A. & M. L. Taft, Bachelor & 



! 




I 



i 




NORTHBRIDGE. 



447 



Adams, A. Taft & Son, Bachelor & Allard, Allard & 
Adams, Newell, Daniels & Co., A. & A. B. Keith 
& Co. This last firm built the large four-story 
factory near the summit of the hill (still standing) 
in 1867, and introduced all the improvements in 
machinery. This firm, being changed to A. B. 
Keith & Co., continued business until May of 
1873. In July of the same year James Tucker & Co. 
took the factory and continued the business until 
December, 1S77. Of the "factory" Deacon Joel 
Bachelor, who began the business in 1827 and had 
continued it for forty years, alone and associated 
with others, took the charge from the first, and con- 
tinued in charge as long as it was in operation. Since 
1877, the factory has been closed. But few are now 
working at the business, being employed by firms in 
other towns. Many have moved away, and many 
have sought other employments. Thus this industry, 
which employed so many, in shops and at their 
homes, for so many years, has almost entirely ceased. 
The volume of this business was considerable. In 
1837 600 pairs of boots and 63,500 pairs of shoes 
were made, valued at !?50,000, and niuety-flve persons 
were engaged in the business. 

In 1871, while only one hundred and six,ty persons 
were employed by the one factory, yet by the aid of 
machinery 17,280 pairs of shoes and 95,520 jxaira of 
boots, valued at $338,480, were made, being more than 
six times the product of 1837, with less than twice the 
number of workmen — each one, thanks to machinery, 
accomplishing more than three times as much as the 
workman of 1837, and in one month all the workmen 
averaged $51.50 for the month's wages. This business 
was largely done at the Centre, and that part of the 
town has suffered severely from its extinction. 

This large development of the shoe business natur- 
ally encouraged the business of tanning and currying, 
and quite a number, as Joseph Congdon, Charles & 
Derby Bigelow, Robinson & Rice, Jere Robinson, 
Edward Proctor and Moses Walradt pursued the bus- 
iness with success, some as late as 1868. After this 
time only leather prepared elsewhere was used. 

The Gra^tite Indcstry. — From the first, granite 
for home use has been quarried in the town, and as 
mills and store-houses have been built of stone, the 
business has been quite large. Mr. Hasen O. Bean 
was the first to export granite, using the Blackstone 
Canal in the years 1827 and 1828. 

Mr. John Donegan began operations at what has 
since been known as Plummer's Quarry, in 1854, em- 
ploying some twenty men, and continued work for 
two years. At this time Mr. Israel Plummer began 
to operate the quarry, and continued the business for 
many years under the name of the " Plummer Granite 
Company," employing as many as seventy-five men 
during the season. In 1872 Mr. Henry S. Taft took 
the business and continued it until 1884, employing 
about the same number of men, shipping each year 
some five hundred car-loads of granite of ten tons 



each, one-fourth of it dressed. Since January, 1884, 
this quarry has not beer^ worked. 

In 1865 Mr. George Blanchard began operations at 
a quarry one-half mile southwest of Whitiusville, and 
has continued them to this date, employing from fif- 
teen to forty-five men. 

In 1870 Samuel Fowler & Son began operation on 
the east side of the Blackstone, about one-half mile 
below Rockdale, at a ledge which had early in the 
history of the town received the name of " Shining 
Rocks." The business is still continued by the son, 
Mr. Samuel Fowler, who employs from fifty to 
seventy-five men. 

In the manufactures of iron, cotton and in work on 
granite nearly eighteen hundred of the people of the 
town are employed 

The great amount of business done in the town 
made a bank of discount and a bank for the savings 
of the workmen very desirable, and 

The Whitinsville National Bank was estab- 
lished in 1865, as a bank of deposit and discount, with 
one hundred thousand dollars capital, with Mr. Paul 
Whitin president and Mr. H. A. Goodell cashier. 
Mr. Whiliu continued president until his death, in 
1884. He was succeeeded by Mr. Charles P. Whitin, 
who held the office until his death, in 1887, when Mr. 
James F. Whitin was made president, and still holds 
.the office. 

. The Whitixsvili.e Savings Bank was estab- 
lished in 1874, with Mr. John C. Whitin president 
and Mr. H. A. Goodell treasurer. On Mr. Whitin's 
death, in IsSS, Mr, Charles P. Whitin became presi- 
dent; at his death Mr. James F. Whitin was chosen 
to the office, which he still fills. November 1, 1888, 
there were 1238 depositors in this bank, and the total 
of their depo-its was $389,895.77. It is probable that 
nearly, if not quite, as large deposits are held by citi- 
zens of the town in saving banks in other towns. 

The growth of the town in population is as follows : 
1776,481; 1790,569; 1800,544; 1810,713; 1820, 
905; 18:i0, 1053; 1840,1449; 1850,2230; 1860,2633; 
1865, 2642 ; 1870, 3774; 1875, 4030; 1880, 4053 ; 1885, 
3786. 



CHAPTER LXVIII. 

NORTHBRIDGE— ( Continued.) 

INDrV'IDUAW. 

The briefest sketch of a town's history should in- 
clude some notice of the men who have especially 
contributed to its development. Of these a few will 
now be noticed. 

Colonel Paul Whitin, or Whiting, a.s the u&me 
was originally, who laid the more recent foundations 
of the business which now exists in the village that 
received his name, " was born in Roxbury, in that 



448 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



part of the town near Dedham, December 3, 1767. 
He was the son of Sarah and Nathaniel (Draper) 
Whiting. His father died when he was a child. His 
mother was married in 1770 to James Prentice," who 
lived at what is now known as " Prentice's Corner," 
in this town. When quite young he was appren- 
ticed to Jesse White, of this town, to learn the 
blacksmith's trade. His advantages for education 
were exceedingly limited; his whole attendance at 
school did not probably exceed six months. Few men 
have ever entered upon business life with less encour- 
aging prospects. When he closed his apprenticeship 
his health was poor and continued so for some years. 
He had no pecuniary means of his own and no rela- 
tions to whom he could look for aid. But he had 
what was better — an honest purpose to do according 
to his ability. He struggled with and overcame dif- 
ficulties to which most would have yielded. By per- 
severance and a diligent improvement of those inter- 
vals of labor that many young men spend in idleness, 
he acquired a good knowledge of those branches of 
study necessary for the successful prosecution of busi- 
ness. He was eminently a self-educated man. A 
book for aiding him in acquiring a correct use of 
language was always by him. He was as familiar 
with this as with the tools of his shop. When he 
was twenty-eight years of age he was chosen town 
clerk, and he was chosen to this office thirteen suc- 
cessive years. He was often elected to other town 
offices. He was regarded as an excellent military 
officer. He was for several years justice of the peace. 
He was repeatedly urged to allow himself to be 
chosen as Representative to the Legislature, but this 
he invariably refused on the ground that it would 
require a sacrifice iu his business, that he could not 
then afford to make. To show his habits of industry, 
it may be proper to mention that it was his custom 
to redeem, by extra labor, all the time that he spent 
in military duties or public business. 

Colonel Whitin was a lover of good order in society, 
and could never endure those practices that were an 
infringement upon it, or that wore calculated to pre- 
sent a dangerous example to tlie young. He attached 
great importance to the institutions of the Gospel, 
and was prompt to aid in maintaining them. The 
Sabbath he regarded as a holy day, and any violations 
of it he hesitated not to class with other gross im- 
moralities. Though he never made a public profes- 
sion of religion, he was regarded by those best 
acquainted with his religious feelings as a true Chris- 
tian. He died on the 8lh of February, 1831, in the 
sixty-fourth year of his age. 

Mr. Whitin married Betsey Fletcher, the daughter 
of Colonel James Fletcher, of this place, December 
3, 1793. She was, during Colonel Whitin's life, a 
most efficient helper in the work he did for the com- 
munity and the world. She survived him thirty- 
seven years, and was, until near the time of her 
death, a member of the firm of P. Whitin & Sons, 



and contributed her share to its success. They had 
ten children, of whom eight lived to years of matu- 
rity. 

Paul Whitin, Jr., the second son of Colonel Paul 
and Betsey (Fletcher) Whitin, was born February 5, 
1800. His childhood and youth were most of them 
spent hei'e. He attended the district school for the 
few months of the year it was kept. When about 
twelve he spent some time with an uncle in Amster- 
dam, N. Y., and attended school. He also had iwo 
terms at Leicester Academy. From his tenth year 
when not in school he worked in the cotton-mill and 
on the farm. At the age of eighteen he went to Bos- 
ton in the dry-goods store of James Brewer. At twen- 
ty-one he formed a partnership with a fellow-clerk, and 
opened a dry-goods store on Maiden Lane, in New 
York, under the name of Lee & Whitin. In 1826 he re- 
turned home, and, with his father and younger brother, 
John C. Whitin, formed the firm of P. Whitin & 
Sons. He took charge of the mercantile department, 
having the charge of the store, of buying the supplies 
of the mill and selling the product. For this his 
training had fitted him. He retained the same de- 
partment in the firm as reorganized after the death of 
Paul Whitin, Sr., in 1831, until its dissolution in 

1864, a period of thirty-eight years. He conducted 
it with ability and thoroughness, and thus contrib- 
uted an important element to the success of the 
business of the firm. After the firm was dissolved 
he continued in the manufacture of cotton goods, 
being president of the Paul Whitin Manufacturing 
Company, with mills at Rockdale and Riverdale, 
until his death. Though never robust of body, his 
regular habits and his attention to the laws of health 
enabled him to accomplish a large amount of busi- 
ness and to preserve life to a good old age in the full 
posse-^sion of his faculties. He always took a deep 
interest in town and public affiiirs; was early called to 
town offices. He was elected to tbe Legislature in 
1837, and to the Senate in 1849. His perfect integrity 
and his sound judgment won the confidence of all 
men, and he was sought for many places of trust, 
which he filled till very late in life. He was chosen 
director of the Blackstone Bank at Uxbridge October 
6, 1828, and remained a director until he was chosen 
president October 6, 1845, which office he filled until 

1865, when he resigned to become president of the 
National Bank in Whitinsville. This last office he 
retained until his death in 1884, thus completing 
fifty-six years of important connection with these 
banks. He was a director of the Worcester Mutual 
Fire Insurance Company from 1838, and attended a 
meeting only the day before his death ; also a direc- 
tor of the Worcester Manufacturers' Mutual from 
1860. He was a director in the Providence and Wor- 
cester Railroad from its organization until two years 
before his death, when he resigned his position. He 
was for many years an active member and trustee of 
the Worcester County Agricultural and Horticultural 



i 





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NORTHBRIDGE. 



449 



Societies. He always took a deep interest in all 
branches of agriculture and especially in horticulture, 
and did much to advance them in the vicinity. 
Though called to so many trusts, he neglected none. 
His fidelity to them was as great as to his own per- 
sonal concerns. He united with the Congregiitional 
Church at the Centre in 1820. He was very active 
in the formation of the Village Church in Whitins- 
ville, and was always true to his covenant of love to 
and interest in it, and ever faithful in attendance 
upon and support of its ordinances. He was a just 
man who feared God, a man of decided religious con- 
victi(jns and of deep feeling, though of few words as 
to his personal experiences. By his life and deeds he 
was ever a power for good in the community. Retir- 
ing in usual health on the eve of February 7, 1884, 
he fell asleep to wake in eternal life. 

Mr. Whitin married Sarah R. Chapin, of Uxbridge, 
August 21, 1S22. She was ever a most efficient 
helper to him in all good. Four children survived 
him, — Hon. Charles E. Whitin, who continues the 
business ; Mr. Henry Whitin, for many years a com- 
mission merchant in New York ; Mrs. Sarah Orvis, 
of Manchester, Vt.; and Miss Anna L. Whitin, at 
home. 

John Crane Whitin, the fourth son of Colonel 
Paul and Betsey (Fletcher) Whitin, was born March 
1, 1807. Until he was fifteen years of age he at- 
tended the school of the district during the usual 
summer and winter terms. The rest of each year, 
after he was nine years old, he was employed in the 
cotton-mill, working at first in the picker-room. 
When twelve he was placed in the repair-room, and 
worked here three years, the only apprenticeship to 
his life-work. Early in 1822 he went to New York, 
to be in the dry goods store of his elder brother Paul, 
Jr., and remained there until the latter part of 1825, 
when he returned home to form with his father and 
his brother Paul, Jr., the firm of P. Whitin & Sons, 
for the manufacture of cotton goods. He took charge 
of the manufacturing and mechanical departments of 
the business. He was soon diverted to the manufac- 
ture of cotton machinery, to which he devoted him- 
self exclusively, making it his life's work. What he 
did in this has been spoken of sufficiently in the 
chapter on " Manufactures." 

He was endowed with great energy, was full of 
enterprise, and yet sufficiently conservative for safety. 
He had capacity for very hard work ; he had, to an 
eminent degree, common sense in mechanics; he was 
quick to see what would work in a machine, and 
could construct it entirely in his mind before he 
made a pattern. This saved him from the failures so 
many mechanics have when they come to put their 
ideas into wood and iron. He never made a pattern 
which was not used enough to pay for it— a fact which 
is true of very few men who made thousands, as he 
did. He was called to various offices of trust — men 
learned to lojk on him as one in whom they could 
29 



confide implicitly. At the time of his death he was 
a director of the National Bank, Whitinsville, presi- 
dent of the Whitinsville Savings Bank, and director 
of the Providence and Worcester Railroad. He had 
been Representative to the General Court, and was 
Presidential elector in 1876. 

Mr. Whitin became a decided Christian in early 
manhood, and united with the church at Northbridge 
Centre December 4, 1831. He was one of the original 
members of the church in Whitinsville, and was 
chosen one of its deacons in the beginning, in 1834, 
and retained the office until his death, though for 
some years relieved from active service. He was 
superintendent of the Sabbath-school for twenty-five 
years. He was always in his place of service, and 
always ready to do his part in maintaining the ordi- 
nances of religion. He had a deep and intelligent 
interest in the varied benevolent causes of the day, 
which led to steady and large contributions to ad- 
vance them. He was reticent as to his own feelings, 
but clear and decided in his views, and always ready 
to act up to his convictions. His religious vows were 
as sacred as his business promises. 

Mr. Whitin married, May 30, 1831, Miss Catharine 
H. Leland, of Sutton, by whom he had several chil- 
dren, one of whom, a daughter, the wife of Josiah 
Lasell, survived him. Mrs. Catharine Whitin died 
January 31, 1873. She was a woman of remarkable 
grace and beauty of character. Mr. Whitin married, 
January 20, 1876, Miss Sarah Elizabeth Pratt, of 
Hopkinton, who survives him. Their only child, 
John C, died in infancy. 

For years Mr. Whitin had contended with a rheu- 
matic aft'ection which had rendered him liable to 
sudden death, but, conscious of his readiness for 
that event, he ever kept busied as his strength al- 
lowed in the care of his estate and in works of bene- 
faction. After a brief confinement to the house, the 
messenger came at midnight, April 22, 1882, without 
an instant's warning, but did not find him unpre- 
pared, for he had lived in the fear and the service of 
the King who called him. 

Charles Pinckney Whitin, the fifth son of 
Colonel Paul and Betsey (Fletcher) Whitin, was born 
August 6, 1809. His education was obtained in the 
schools of the town and in the academy at Leicester. 
It was such that at the age of sixteen he taught school 
acceptably in the stone school-house near Plummer's 
Corner. He early worked in the cotton-mill in which 
his father was interested, and here learned the rudi- 
ments of the art of cotton manufacture, in which he 
afterwards became so proficient. He continued with 
his father and brothers until his twenty-first year 
when he went to Willimantic to fit up and take charge 
of a cotton-mill. Having been called home by his 
father's last sickness, he ever after remained in 
his native town, and became identified with and most 
active in its growth and prosperity. The same year, 
1831, he became an active member of the firm of P. 



450 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



Whitin & Sons, which had beea formed in 1826, and 
in which he had had an interest from the first, and 
which was reorganized on the death of Colonel Paul 
Whitin. He had charge of the cotton manufacturing 
department, and in this he became an expert and an 
authority. He superintended the erection of the 
stone mill in Whitinsville in 1845, the enlargement 
of the North Uxbridge mill in 1847 and 1848, and the 
erection of the mill at Rockdale in 1856 and 1857. He 
had great interest in the improvement of the water- 
power of the Mumford River, devising and building 
the reservoirs and dams, which have increased its 
steadiness and reliability so much. 

Whenever his brother, John C. Whitin, who had 
charge of the machine shop, was absent, the care and 
responsibility of this devolved upon him, and he had 
the practical charge of the shop from April, 1860, to 
January, 1864, while his brother was engaged at 
Holyoke. When the firm of P. Whitin & Sons was 
dissolved, January 1, 1864, Mr. Whitin took the cotton- 
mills in Whitinsville and East Douglas, and carried 
on the business of cotton manufacture in his own 
name, having associated his sons with him. In 1865 
he built the mill at Linwood, with his brother, James 
F. Whitin, and in 1881 he purchased the mill in 
Saundersville. 

In all his business life he was eminently a practical 
man, quick to discern what should be done and 
prompt to do it. He was thorough and faithful, so 
that all he did was well done. He was untiring in 
industry, aud though not physically rugged, especially 
in his younger year..", he had great power of endur- 
ance. He was also a man of most excellent judg- 
ment. In his special department of cotton manufac- 
ture, it may be doubted if he had a superior, and his 
judgment was often sought by others. He was 
ob.«ervant and careful of all details, conservative of 
what had done well in the i^ast, yet quick to see a 
real improvement and ready to adopt it. He was 
safely progressive as well as careful, aud therefore 
successful in business. 

He was reared in a Christian home, and early 
yielded to religious influences, aud united with the 
church at Northbridge Centre on his eleventh birth- 
day, August 6, 1820, and for sixty-five years he 
honored his profes->ion by a consistent Christian 
youth and manhood. He was identified with the 
church in Whitinsville from the first, in 1834, and 
ever gladly did much for its prosperity by personal 
effort and generous contribution. He was deeply and 
intelligently interested in the great missionary and 
benevolent agencies of our day, and was always a 
steady and liberal contributor to them. 

He was thoughtful of the needs and interests of 
others, and ever ready to minister to their comfort and 
pleasure in many ways, often doing it iu ways 
unknown to the recipients of his bounty. He loved 
to be an unknown and unthanked benefactor. He 
was especially fond of children, and always had a kind 



word for them, and many of them received the fruits 
of his interest, not knowing whence they came. 

He united to a remarkable degree strength and 
tenderness, firmness and gentleness, vigor and deli- 
cacy. He was widely loved as well as respected. As 
a citizen he was ever studious of the best interests of 
the town and the State, and was ever ready to do his 
part to promote them. But he was never desirous of 
office, rather shunning publicity of service. He was 
selectman in 1852, and Representative of the district 
in 1859. At the time of his decease he was director 
of the Douglas Axe Company, and president of the 
Whitinsville National and Savings Bank. His great 
work was done in this home community, and it was 
well done. He was confined to the house but a few 
days, and fell asleep without pain to wake in life, 
August 29, 1887. A true man and a devout Chris- 
tian. 

Mr. Whitin married Miss Sarah J. Halliday Octo- 
ber 21, 1834, who survived him with four sons, three 
of whom, Edward, William H. and Arthur F., were 
associated with him in business, and who still con- 
tinue it. His son Lewis F. is in the commission 
business in New York. The only daughter, Helen 
L., married George L. Gibbs, of this place. She died 
on May 9, 1885. 

James Fletcher Whitin, the youngest son of 
Colonel Paul and Betsey (Fletcher) Whitin, was 
born December 21, 1814. 

His education was received in the schools of the 
town, and in the academies of Uxbridge, Leicester, 
Munsen and Amherst. On the completion of his 
schooling he went into the counting-room of the firm 
of P. Whitin & Sons. Soon the care of this depart- 
ment came to him, and he retained it until the firm 
was dissolved, January 1, 1864. In 1847 he became 
a member of the firm. When the firm was dissolved 
he took the cotton-mill at North Uxbridge. In 1866 
he built, with his brother, Mr. Charles P. Whitin, 
the mill at Linwood, and has continued in the busi- 
ness of cotton manufacture until the present time. 

He married, July 23, 1842, Miss Patience H. Saun- 
ders, of Grafton. A son, George M. Whitin, who was 
for several years thesuperintendent of the cotton-mill 
at North Uxbridge, died suddenly January 24, 1883. 
A son, Albert H., is the only child how living. 

Paul Whitin Dudley, the son of Amasa and 
Ann (Fletcher) Dudley, was born April 3, 1817, in 
Amsterdam, N. Y. His parents had removed there 
some years before from Whitinsville, but soon after 
his birth returned to their old home. Mr. Dudley's 
childhood was spent in Whitinsville, in Sutton (Man- 
chaug)and in Uxbridge. In these places, at the com- 
mon schools and the academy at Uxbridge, he obtained 
his education. He went into his father's store in Ux- 
bridge and learned the business of his life, that of a 
merchant. He continued with his father, and in the 
settlement of his business when he became unable to 
care for it himself, until he was twenty-nine, when he 



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NORTHBRIDGE. 



451 



came to Whitinsville and took charge of the store of 
P. Whitin & Sons. He retained this charge until the 
firm wai dissolved in 1864, when he formed a partner- 
ship with Mr. Charles P. Whitin, to continue the 
same business under the firm-name of P. W. Dudley 
& Co. Mr. Dudley had the active management of 
the business until his death, July 1, 1872. 

Mr. Dudley was a thorough business man, exact 
and methodical. He was untiring in industry. His 
perfect integrity and his ability inspired such con- 
fidence that he was often called to positions of trust 
in the town and in the church. He was chairman of 
the Board of Selectmen in the trying years of 1862, 
'63, '64 and '65, declining a re-election the next year. 
He was from the first a director of the National Bank. 
Individuals often called on him for help in their 
affairs, and he was most ready to assist. Though the 
calls outside of his business were so many, nothing 
was neglected, and his industry and method were 
such that nothing was half-done. 

He was a benevolent man. Hating waste, he used 
his means most generously and conscientiously for 
every good cause and for individual u§ed. Not con- 
tent with giving of his means, he gave personal 
service freely. Many can witness of these deeds of 
personal service, especially during and after the war, 
for soldiers and their families. Many of these deeds 
were known only to himself and those helped, and 
often not to them. No good cause or deserving 
person ever appealed to him in vain. He was deeply 
interested in everything ihat made for the public 
welfare, local and national. He was especially active 
and earnest in the temperance cause. At the time 
of his death he was president of the Worcester South 
Temperance Union and a member of the State 
Temperance Alliance. To this cause he gave freely 
of time and money. 

He was a very conscientious man and never hesi- 
tated to obey the voice of duty, though it might be a 
most unpleasant task, and he did the most trjing of 
duties in such an honest and gentle way as to com- 
mand the respect of those whom he might have to 
rebuke or antagonize. All knew and telt that there 
was not a trace of malice or harshness in the man. 

He was a true and fiiithful Christian. He identi- 
fied himself with the Village Congregational Church 
when he came to Whitinsville in 1846, and was 
always at hii post, and ever ready to do his full 
share and to make up, as far as possible, the lack of 
service by others. He was chosen deacon January 
11, 1866, and continued in the office until his death. 
He was also superintendent of the Sabbath school 
for several years. In this office he gave due expres- 
sion to his love for and great interest in children. 
Kind words and deeds for them were constant. 

October 19, 1842, Mr. Dudley married Miss Sarah 
A. Tobey, of Worcester. She, with four children — 
three sons and a daughter — survives him. He was 
preparing to attend the Sabbath evening service 



when he was stricken by paralysis. He remained 
unconscious until his death, the next morning. 
Though cut down in mid-life, he was not called 
until he had done a good work for the community, for 
his family and for his Master. 

JosiAH Lasell, the son of Chester and Nancy 
(Manning) Lasell, was born in Schoharie, N. Y., 
August 6, 1825. His parents were of Pilgrim extrac- 
tion, and held and practiced the faith of their fiithers 
in its finest and sturdiest qualities. Here and amid 
such home influences Mr. Lasell spent his child- 
hood. He fitted for college in his native place, and 
entered Williams College, where his brother Edward 
was professor of chemistry, in 1840. He studied law 
for a time at Schoharie; but his instincts and tastes 
for teaching drew him from the law as a profession. 
Yet, without doubt, those months spent in this study 
helped to prepare him for his busineirs career, which 
was to be his larger life-work. He first taught in the 
boys' school of Professor Piquet in Brooklyn, N. Y. ; 
then for several years in Spingler Institute, New 
York City, of which Jacob Abbott was the principal. 
In 1852 he and his brother-in-law, Professor G. W. 
Briggs, joined his brother. Professor Edward Lasell, 
of Williams College, who had projected and secured 
the incorporation of Lasell Seminary in Auburndale, 
in this State, in the enterprise of establishing a sem- 
inary of high grade for young ladies. A few months 
after they began the work Professor Lasell, the 
founder, died, and Mr. Josiah Lasell became joint 
principal with Professor Briggs, and continued in 
this work until 1860. June 5, 1855, he married 
Jane, the only daughter of Mr. John C. Whitin, of 
Whitinsville. 

In 1860 Mr. Whitin called him to his assistance in 
the conduct of the machine works he had just pur- 
cha.sed at Holyoke, in this State. He remained in 
Holyoke until January, 1864, when Mr. Whitin, 
having sold the works, and having become sole pro- 
prietor of the Whitin Machine Works, Mr. Lasell 
came to Whitinsville to have the care of the books 
and accounts of the concern, and to render l\Ir. 
Whitin such assistance as he might need. When 
the Whitin Machine Works was incorporated in 
1870, Mr. Lasell was made its treasurer, and he 
shared in the labors of the president, Mr. Whitin, 
and as the latter was obliged to lay a-<ide his work 
more and more, it devolved more and more on the 
treasurer, who relieved him almost entirely of the 
burden of the details of it. 

At the death of Mr. Whitin, in 1882, Mr. Lasell 
was made president and he also retained the treas- 
urership until January, 1886. It was largely by his 
inspiration and under his direction that the recent 
great enlargement of the works has been made. 

As a teacher Mr. Lasell had rare qualities and 
great success. He had a true teacher's genius to 
awaken enthusiasm and to impart instruction to the 
aroused pupil. Many pupils will say, as one did to 



452 



HISTOKY OP WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



the writer many years ago, "No teacher ever did so 
much for me as did Mr. Josiah Lasell." And his 
work as a teacher is fittingly commemorated in the 
name of the institution, with whose early history and 
success he had such intimate connection. 

As a business man he developed large capacity. 
Though not educated to business, bis well-trained 
mind grappled successfully with its problems. He 
took wide and far-reaching views of the varied forces 
affecting business interests, and knew and could state 
his reasons for his opinions. He believed in large 
developments yet before us, and formed his plans to 
provide for them. He was, too, the master of details, 
and had unusual capacity of accomplishing a great 
deal of work with seemingly slight effort. He was 
also able to see and appreciate the difficult and intri- 
cate mechanical questions connected with machinery. 

He was called to varied offices of trust, as director of 
the Providence & Worcester and of the Rome & Water- 
town Railroads, director of the Whitinsville National 
and Savings Banks. And very many in a large circle 
of kindred and friends naturally looked to him for 
counsel, and never failed to find in his judicious 
advice the help they sought. 

As a friend, hosts can testify how true, kind, con- 
siderate and ready with word and deed of help he 
was. Incapable of malice, he cherished the most 
charitable and kindly views even of those from whom 
he might differ or who had wronged him. Severe 
words were very rarely, if ever, spoken of any. 
Pleasant and cheery ones came easily from his lips 
and carried comfort to many hearts. As a citizen he 
took deep interest in all that concerned the country 
and the State and the community, and sought so to 
discharge his duties as should best help the public 
weal. 

In early life he cherished the Christian hope, and 
made public profession of his allegiance to Christ. 
At Holyoke he was superintendent of the Sabbath- 
school and gave efficient help in the music of the 
worship. In Whitinsville he was a Sabbath-school 
teacher until he took charge of the choir, which he 
led for several years. His interest in the musical 
service of the house of God continued until the last, 
and the last evening of his life he sang with his 
wonted fervor in a praise service, and in a few hours 
passed into the life of praise, March 15, 1886, much 
mourned and much missed as a man, citizen and 
friend. 

He left a widow and two sons, Chester W. and 
Josiah M., who continue in the business of their 
father, and two daughters, Catharine W. and Jennie 
L., the former of whom is the wife ol G. Marston 
Whitin, the treasurer of the Whitin Machine Works. 

GusTAVUS E. Taft was the sou of Cyrus and Lu- 

cinda Morse Taft. He was born in Peacham, Vt., 

August 29, 1829, to which place his father had moved 

rom this town a few years before. When he was ten 

years of age his parents returned to Whitinsville. He 



received bis education in the schools of the town and 
in the academy at Uxbridge. At seventeen he en- 
tered the machine-shop of P. Whitin & Sons as an ap- 
prentice. Here he developed his mechanical powers, 
from which so much of his success in life came. He 
continued in their employ until 1860 ; when, Mr. 
John C. Whitin having purchased the Holyoke Ma- 
chineShop, Mr. Taft went to Holyoke to be super- 
intendent of the works. He remained in this position 
until Mr. Whitin sold his interest in Holyoke, and 
took the machine shop in Whitinsville, on the dis- 
solution of the firm of P. Whitin & Sons, January 1, 
1864. Mr. Taft then became superintendent of the 
shop where he learned his trade, and he was identified 
with all its enlargements and the great growth of the 
business. To this great development he contributed 
much by his eminent abilities as an organizer of la- 
bor and a manager of men, and by his great me- 
chanical skill exercised in the improvements in tools, 
greatly increasing their efficiency, and by his inventive 
skill. He made important improvements in cotton 
machinery, in cards, in spinning-frames and looms, 
many of which were very valuable. For some of these 
he obtained patents. His most valuable patent was 
for the " Whitin Gravity Spindle," the joint invention 
of himself and Mr. Henry Woodmancy. It was obtained 
July 18, 1882. A patent was also obtained for it in 
England, France, Germany and Holland, and it has 
been made and sold abroad and in the United States 
in great numbers. It is an important application of 
a new principle to the driving of the spindle, and 
greatly increases its producing capacity. 

In 1881, Mr. Taft was made agent of the corpora- 
tion, and remained such in the active management of 
the business until his death. 

He ever had a deep interest in local and national 
affairs, though so engrossed in business that he could 
give but little time to any public affairs. But he was 
always ready to do his full share in contributing to any 
measures that would advance the interest of the com- 
munity. In all personal relations he was eminently 
friendly ; ever ready to grant a favor, and in such a 
manner that one seeking it was made to feel that it 
gave him real pleasure to do it. And if he was con- 
strained to refuse a request, it was so kindly done as 
to make manifest his regret that he must refuse. He 
remembered and helped the needy in an unostenta- 
tious way, hiding the hand whence the benefaction 
came. He was a firm believer in the protection of 
American industries, as best for workman and em- 
ployer. 

November 8, 1855, he married Miss Ruth L. Lamb, 
of Clinton, Me., who with six children survives him. 
His three sons are engaged in the same shop where 
his life-work was done. He had for years contended 
with a fatal disease, suffering much and knowing that 
he was liable to sudden death. But he kept at his 
work with great cheerfulness until very near the end, 
which came after a short confinement to the house — 





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NORTHBOROUGH. 



453 



came in an instant — June 23, 1888. A strong man, of 
large ability in mechanics and in business, of unim- 
peachable integrity, of most friendly spirit, of win- 
ning ways and kind action.' 



CHAPTER LXIX. 
NORTHBOROUGH. 

BY JOSEPH HENRY ALLEN. 
Territory^ 10,150 acfcs; poj)tttalion, in 1885, 1853, 

NORTHBOROUGH is the youngest in age, the third 
in size, and the least in population, of the four borough 
towns (so-called) formerly included in the town of 
Marlborough.^ It lies on the old county road be- 
tween Boston and Worcester, thirty-three miles from 
the former, ten from the latter; the track of the first 
emigration to Connecticut, in 1(J35, ran through its 
southeastern corner. Its shape is an irregular poly- 
gon, of six or seven sides, with a broad angle thrust 
out to the southeast ; its dimensions are from 
four to five miles each way. The larger part of it is 
valley, lying rather lower than either of the surround- 
ing towns. The A:-sabet River (here a slender stream) 
rising some mile.-* to the south, flows about three 
miles of its course, northeastwardly, through the 
town, and is joined by four brooks, — Stirrup Brook, 
which is the outlet of Great and Little Chauncy 
Ponds, making here a course of nearly two miles ; 
Hop Brook (once fringed with wild hops), which 
courses the southwest border of the town; Cold Har- 
bor Brook, which flows about three miles from 
Straw Hollow and Rocky Pond, in the edge of Boyls- 
ton, and is then joined by Howard Brook, a shorter 
stream (where possibly a few trout may still survive), 
which overflows a broad meadow a little farther north. 
The Assabet, then flowing with considerable force, 
furnishes large water-power at Hudson, Rockboltom 

1 The writer of this history gladly acknowledges his great obligations 
to the researches of Rev. L. F, Clark and Mr. Charles 0. Bachelor, in the 
early history of Northbridge. He has made free use of the materials 
they gathered. 

' In the year 165(), on petition of the inhabitants of Sudbury (founded 
in 1638), the colonial Legislature of Massachusetts Bay made to that 
town a grant of about forty-tivo square miles of territory to the west- 
ward, known as miqjsuppeiiicice, including a reservation of six thousand 
acres held by the ludians of Ognonikongquamesit. (These names are also 
written irAyjswJTerodye and Ockoocangametl : the reader takes his choice.) 
This territory— of which tlie central point is about thirty miles due west 
from Boston — was, in IGOO, incorporated as a town, under the name 
Marlborough. lu 1717 the western portion, till then known as Chaun- 
cy (a grant of land near Chauncy Pond having been made to President 
Cbauncy, of Harvard College), was separately incorporated as West- 
borough. Ten years later the eastern portion was further divided, its 
southern part becoming Southborougb ; and the North Parish of West- 
borough, organized in 1744 as a " precinct," was in 1760 incorporated as 
the "district" of Northborough, becoming a town, with right of repre- 
sentation in the Legislature, under a general law piissed in 1775. Of 
the four borough towns, Marlborough belongs to Middlesex County, the 
other three to Worcester. 



and Maynard {formerly Assabet), joining the Sudbury 
to form the Concord, and so to the Merrimack, near 
Lowell. 

Topography. — These water-courses have traced 
the lines of population and business enterprise. The 
first white settler was John Brigham, who, in 1672, 
occupied "Licor-meadow Plain," which we under- 
stand to be Cold Harbor Brook Meadow, just north 
of what went as Liquor Hill till 1834, when it took 
the gentler name of Assabet. Saw-mills and grist- 
mills were early built on all these streams. A full- 
ing-mill was set up by Samuel Wood (who removed 
from Sudbury about 1750) near where the main road 
is crossed by the Assabet ; bog-iron was found and 
worked, and potash was made hard by. A tan-yard 
was established by Isaac Davis in 1781, near the 
Assabet, where it makes the boundary from West- 
borough ; two miles farther down its course a cotton 
factory was built, in 1814, during the dearth and pov- 
erty of the War of 1812 ; and, a little farther still, 
the "new factory" was built, of brick, by the brothers 
Davis in 1832. In the south of the town, the Assa- 
bet Valley widens into "the Plain," quite flat for 
perha])s a mile and a half in length by half as much 
in width. Farther north the surface of the town is 
very diversified, with stony and rugged hills on the 
northern and western borders. 

The chief elevations are Mount Assabet (before 
mentioned), which rises about one hundred and fifty 
feet from the valley, near the geographical centre, a 
pleasant rounded and wooded eminence ; Edmond, 
Sulphur and Ghost Hills are bolder elevations to- 
wards the north; Tomlin Hill, more low and flat, in 
the southwest ; Bartlett Hill, a long and handsome 
oval, near the Boylstou line ; and Ball Hill, broad 
and stony, over which the town road climbs heavily 
towards the northwest. In general, the forests are 
well preserved on the higher ground, and give the 
town the advantage of a landscape much admired for 
its picturesque beauty. Solomon Pond (so named 
for an Indian once drowned there), of twenty-six 
acres, lies prettily among high sloping banks of pine, 
toward the northeast; and Little Chauncy, of sixty- 
five acres, in the low-lying meadows of the south- 
east. 

The rocks of the northerly hills are mostly gneiss, 
in strata lying at a dip of 70° to 80°; near their foot 
are iron and lime, not worked.' At the west is a 
large amount of micaceous slate, or schist, containing 
(it is thought) much iron. Hills and pastures are 
plentifully strewn with boulders, some of them 
weighing a great many tons. Most of these are of 
gneiss, and split favorably for building uses. In 
some parts large garnets are common : I have found 
one over an inch in diameter, and one of half that 
size, very clear and perfect. Quartz crystal is some- 
times found in very fine specimens. Some of the 

3 Lime was quarried and burned here about a hundred years ago. 



45-1 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



northerly hills are effectually paved with ledges and 
boulders.' The general quality of the soil is good, 
ihough too sandy in the south; with more gravel 
also, and less clay, than some more productive soiLs. 
Apples are a good crop, and peaches were, fifty years 
ago; but pears and quinces have never flourished so 
well. There are clay-beds, especially one of great 
value, close to the eastern boundary, where bricks of 
rarely excellent quality are made, light red and very 
hard ; these bricks were selected, among other sam- 
ples, as the best in building the great Cochituate 
Aqueduct. 

This sketch of the geology of the town would not 
be complete without a notice of the discovery, made 
November 17, 1884, of a part of the skeleton of a 
mastodon, on the farm of William U. Maynard, near 
the Shrewsbury line. The bont s are those of ayoung 
animal, which had floundered in a peat-bog and there 
perished. They were found resting on a bed of blue 
clay, seven feet below the surface of the ground — the 
peat being four or five feet in thickness. Mo^t of 
them are deposited in the museum of the Worcester 
Society of Natural History; the teeth, by which the 
species was identified, are in the Peabody Museum, 
Cambridge. This discovery is the single proof of the 
existence of that animal east of the valley of the 
Hudson.- 

Town Hi.story. — The northerly portion of West- 
borough had been recognized as a separate "pre- 
cinct," or parish, with church and minister of its own 
(the Rev. John Martyn) since 1745.' But its inde- 
pendent corporate life began with the year 1706, 
when a summons was issued to the inhabitants of the 
Second Precinct — 

To conveain at the meeting HouBe in 2d Precinct on Monday, the 
thertyetli Day of this instant, January, at one of the clock in tlie after- 
noon, then and there ... to see if tho Precinct will peticon to the 
Grate and Jenearal Cort to be Bet of a Destrict or not . . . and see if tho 
Precinct will chuse a Coniniity or order the Precinct Committee to Pre- 
ambulnte the Line between the first and second Presencts of West- 
borough . . . and employ a Servair (surveyor) to Run the Lino and set 
up Bounds where they cant be fouude [and to see] upon what tairms 
they would be set of upon ; and it was voted that we should be set of 
on the same tairms that South Brimtield was, and to have our part of 



1 Good old Silas Bailey, who, at past eighty, had just done his day's 
work with a bush-scythe, told me that when he bought his farm, near the 
north border, a neighbor more experienced, viewing it, feared at first 
that it might not have stones enough ; but, being told there were 
"enough to fence it all into acre lots," was well satisfied with the pur- 
chase. 

2 An Indian skull was found during the excavation for these remains, 
but " cannot have been long in the peat," and '* it is evident that it has 
no a.ssociatiou with the mastotlou " ("Nineteenth Report of the Curator 
of the Peabody Sluseum," where the skull now is, p. 49a). A pamphlet 
on the discovery was printed by Fi-anklin P. Rice for the "Society of 
Antiquity," "SVorcestsr ; a copy is iu the Public Library of North- 
borough. 

3Mr. Martyn was ordained May 21, 1746. ".although the ceremonies 
of the ordination took place in the meeting-house, yet it appears 
from the town records that it was in a very unfinished state, having 
neither pulpit, galleries, glass M'indows, nor even permanent floors. 
It was not till June, in the following year, that a vote could bo ob- 
tained *to glaze the meeting-house and lay the floors,' aud not till 
the next autunin that the pulpit and gallei-y-stairswei'o built." 



the town stock of amonition and watea & measeura & ministry lands, 
and also our proportion of the money that is granted or assest. 

In accordance with these votes, on the 24th of Jan- 
uary, 1766, the precinct was _ 

erected into a District by the name of Northborough ; and [it was 
ordained] that the same District be & hereby is invested 'with all the 
priviledges, powers & immunities the Towns in this Province by Law 
do or may enjoy, that of sending a Representative to the General Assembly 
excepted [this right being exercised till 1775, as a part of Westborough] ; 
their proportion of all monies, arms & ammunition, weights and mea- 
sures belonging to said town the inhabitants of said District shall have 
and enjoy, a proportion thereof equal to the proportion they paid of 
these charges of said Town according the last town tax ; 

all of which appears to have been amicably ar- 
ranged. The first corporate act of the district thus 
created is copied here in full, as a fair specimen of 
the process of organization in these small political 
comaiuiiitit-s, then (it will be noticed) under Provin- 
cial rule. It is a record of the meeting held M:irch 
4, 1766:— 

This town covined according to a warriant bearing Date the tenth of 
February Last Issued oute by Francis Whippele, Esqr., one of his 
Majesty's Justics of y* peace appointed by the Grate and General Court 
to issue Dis* Warrant & then proceeded and acted on y^ nrticela follo- 
Ing : I. Voted & chose Bezaleel Eager Moderator; 2'? Voted & chose 
Timothy Fay Pis. Clerk ; 3*1'? Voted & chose for Selectmen y ensuing 
yoare, Josiah Kice, Jacob Rice, Bez^ Eager, Timothy Fay, Jesse Brig- 
ham ; 4'? Voted for Assessors for y" yeare ensuing, Jacob Rice, Timothy 
Fay, Levy Brigham ; 5'y Voted & chose for a Towno Treasurer Jacob 
Kice ; i'^J Voted & chose for a Constibele y ensuiug yeare William Bad- 
cock ; 7'y Voted & chose Wardens ensuing yeare, Josiah Bowker & John 
Carruth ; giy Voted for Sii'A'iiyors of Highways en8U'° yeure, Saimiel 
Camwell .jun., Jon" Bruce, Samuel Maynard, Timothy Brigham ; O'y 
Voted & chi'se for Tithing men yo ensuin yeare. John Ball, Eliphalet 
Warren ; lUiJ Voted & chose lor Hogreeves y ensuing yeare, llencry 
Gaschet ; Wj Voted & chose for deare reeve for ye ensuing yeare, Sam- 
uel Gamwell ; 12>y Voted A chose for Surveyor forClaboards & Shingles 
ensuing yeare, Stephen Jenney ; IS't Voted and chose John Martyn 
for Sealer of Leather ; 14'J Voted & chose Henery Gaschet and Jorge 
Oak Fence Vewers; 15'? Voted & chose Jesse Maynard Survayor of 
Whete ; Ifl^-'' it was put to vote to see if Town would let there Swine 
go at large y« ensuing Yeare, it past in y affirmniitive ; 17^? it was put 
to vote to see if y town would chuse ye Selectmen to Joyn with y" Town 
of Westhoruugh as a Committee to divide y« Town Stock according to 
the act of Court, it past in the afBrmmitive ; 18>y it was put to vote to 
see if the town would ajourn there meeting to Lew* John Martyn's 
for fifteen minits; it past in y« atSrmmitive ; then upon y« ajouru- 
nient voted that they would reconsider y^ vote of chusing Stephen Ball 
warden; lO'y voted and chose John Carruth warden, and all y above 
said otticers have Been sworn to their Respective Oflicirs. Then Dis- 
solved said Meeting. Bezaleel Eagei; Moderator. Attest, Timothy Fay^ 
Clark. 

The first act of civil administration (April 1st) ap- 
pears to have been to build a pound for stray cattle, of 
stone, twenty-five feet square, with walls five feet 
high and two and a half feet thick, topped with tim- 
ber; but this was found too costly, and it was voted 
(June 18th) "to build the same of timber." A propo- 
sal to buy a " buering cloth " was negatived ; but 
provision was made to employ a reading and writing 
schoolmaster, with committee to provide schooling ; 
also to raise the school-money, and to provide a jury- 
list. The sum of £3 16s. was afterwards (November 
22d) granted to pay the schoolmaster's board for seven- 
teen weeks. The rate of a day's wages was fixed at 
the same date, for men working out their own road- 
tax, at three shillings for the summer and two shil- 



NORTHBOROUGH. 



455 



lings for the autumn months. The highway rate to 
repair roads was sixty pounds. For a year's care of 
the meeting-house was paid 13s. id. ; for the day's 
work of an assessor, eight shillings ; for expenses of 
a delegate to the General Court, £1 Is. 4d. 

The following year (July 29, 17(37) the district 
voted — 

to joiQ with the Church in appointing Thursliiy, August l:^, as a day 
of fasting and prayer to Almighty God to sanctify ilis Holy hand in 
taking away our PMtor (Rev. John Martyu) by Deatli, and for direction 
in resettling the Gospel among us again ; and £00 lawful money (are) 
granted for preaching the Gospel among us. ^ 

Mr. Martyn had been settled as pastor of the 
Second Parish May 21, 1746. He was a son of Cap- 
tain Edward Martyn, of Boston, where he spent his 
early life under the care of an e.Kcellent mother, who 
had been leit a widow in easy circumstances some 
time previous to young Mr. Martyn's entering col- 
lege. He graduated at Harvard University in 1724. 
For several years after he left college he devoted his 
attention to secular pursuits, and was for some time an 
inhabitant of Harvard, in this county. At the age of 
forty he directed his attention to theological pursuits, 
and became an able, faithful and useful minister. He 
possessed, in a large measure, the confidence and af- 
fections of his flock, was honored in his life and 
deeply lamented at his death. His age was a little 
over sixty. 

September 21, 1767, the district " concur with the 
church in giving Mr. Pei;er Whitney a call to settle 
as minister and pastor of the church and congregation 
in Northborough." The sum of one hundred and 
sixty pounds was voted " for settlement," to be paid 
in two installments, at the beginning and end of the 
first year, and an annual salary was granted of sixty 
pounds to be paid "in Spanish milled dollars, 6s. 
each, or in the several species of coined gold and sil- 
ver," as enumerated. In accepting this proposal Mr. 
Whitney writes: 

I am not insensible of tlie present scarcity of our Medium, and there- 
fore I object nothing against your proposed annual support for the tirst 
few years, but yet can not suppose it sufficient for my abiding support, 
and therefore if you are pleased to add to your offered salary the sum of 
£0 138. 4d. lawful money, to take place the fifth year from my settling 
among you, amounting to £|J6 13s. forepence as a settled yearly support 
I do then fully accept your invitation, and stand ready to be consecrated 
to your service (God permitting), when you shall think proper. Gentle- 
men, I hope (speaking in my fear of God) I have no disposition to build 
myself on your Ruins. I desire neither to be cumbered with abounding 
riches, nor to be straitened in my worldly circumstances ; may I but have 
what will support me in my office to the honor of Religion. 

This manly and straightforward appeal was ac- 
ceded to ; and it is later recorded, " N. B. what was 
payed to the Rev. Mr. Whitney before he was ordained 
is £25 18s. 8d." December, 1779, owing to the de- 
preciation of the Continental currency, the salary was 
raised to £2933 6s. 8rf. ; but was the next year (De- 
cember 4, 1780) restored to the original amount, pay- 
able in coin, with the addition of twenty cords of 

1 Provision for the support of public worship was made by the State 
CoDstitutioD a town charge until 18'.'^. 



wood ; and the sura of £13 6s. 8d. was afterwards 
(December 27, 1784) voted to cover arrears of loss 
by depreciation. 

Mr. Whitney (son of Rev. Aaron Whitney, the first 
minister of Petersham) was born September 17, 
1744; graduated at Harvard University in 1762; and 
was settled as minister of Northborough November 4, 
1767. "Distinguished for the urbanity of his man- 
ners, easy and familiar in his intercourse with his 
people, hospitable to strangers, and always ready to 
give a hearty welcome to his numerous friends ; punc- 
tual to his engagements, observing an exact method 
in the distribution of his time, having a time for 
everything and doing everything in its time, without 
hurry or confusion ; conscientious in the discharge of 
his duties as a Christian minister ; catholic in his prin- 
ciples and in his conduct, always taking interest in 
whatever concerned the prosperity of the town and the 
interestsof religion, he was for many years the happy 
minister of a kind and aifectionate people. At length, 
having continued in the work of the ministry almost 
half a century, he suddenly departed this life Febru- 
ary 29, 1816, in the seventy-second year of his life 
and the forty-ninth of his useful ministry.'" He was 
an eager and outspoken advocate of the patriotic ef- 
forts of '75 and '76, which his father as strongly op- 
posed, and was the author of a " History of Worcester 
County," still held in much esteem. Of his ten chil- 
dren, the most widely known was Rev. Peter Whitney, 
of Quincy (1800-43, born 1770). 

March 1, 1773, the district takes into consideration 
a pamphlet circulated from Boston, "in which the 
rights of this Province are stated, and also a list of 
grievances and infringements of those rights made by 
Administration at home ; " and it is resolved — 

that the rights of this people are very justly stated in said pamphlet, and 
that the grievances and infringements therein pointeii out are real and 
notimagenary ones, as too many indeavour to insinuate ; [also] that it is 
the indispensable duty of all men, and all bodies of men, to unite and 
streanously to oppose by all lawful ways and means such unjust and un- 
righteous incroacbments, made or attempted to be made upon their Just 
Rights, and that it isonr duty earnestly to indeavour to hand those rights 
down inviolate to our posterity as they were handed down to us by our 
worthy ancestors ; and that the thanks of this District be given to the 
Town of Boston for their friendly, serviceable and necessary intelligence, 
and that they be desired to keep up their watch and guard against all 
such unjust invaders and incroachers for the future. 

In fulfillment of this resolve, we find that the next 
year (November 28, 1774) a hundred weight of pow- 
der and three hundred weight of lead, with two hun- 
dred and forty flints, are voted for the general de- 
fence. Soon after (January 9, 1775) the district re- 
solves to join in sending delegates to the Provincial 
Congress, " whenever met or wherever met ;" and on 
the 10th of April (a few days before the battles of 
Lexington and Concord) provision is made "to pay 
fifty minute-men one shilling each for each half-day 
they shall meet to learn the military art, for sixteen 

^Allen's "Topographical and Historical sketches of the Town of 
Northborough," p. SO. 



456 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



half-daya, beginning March 27.'' For these objects 
forty pounds are appropriated, and fifteen pounds ap- 
pear as *' raised and paid." The fifty minute-men, hs 
soon as the tidings came from Lexington, before one 
o'clock of April 19th, "were directed, without a mo- 
ment's delay, to put themselves in readiness to march; 
and in three or four hours from the time when the 
news arrived they had taken leave of their families 
and were paraded in the yard of Captain Samuel 
Wood's house, whence (the Rev. Mr. Whitney having 
in a fervent prayer commended them to the protec- 
tion of the God of armies) ihey immediately set out 
on their march for the field of danger and blood." 
Two months later (June 17th) they took part in the 
battle of Bunker Hill.^ 

On the 22d of May, 1775, the district warrant still 
runs in the old way, *' In his Majesty's name." The 
next day, May 23d, we find a summons, " Greeting in 
the name of the Government and the People of the 
Massachusetts Bay." But for an interval of some 
months that followed there is a sort of interregnum; 
either the warrant issues from the county authorities 
at Worcester, or the town appears to be acting by its 
proper sovereignty. The official title *'town" first 
appears in the constable's warrant of June 6, 1775, 
when a meeting is called *' to appoint and chuse a 
person, if they see fit when meet, to represent the 
Town in the Grate and General Court or Assembly,- 
to be convened, held and kept for the service of 
the Colony at the meeting-house in Watertown, on 
Wednesday, the 19th day of July next, it being in 
observance of a Resolve of the Honorable Continen- 
tal Congress, directing and advising the same." 
This warrant, and the first exercise of complete 
town sovereignty in the appointment of its own 
Representative, mark the date of coming to its full 
majority. There follow upon the records, from time 
to time, a few items which we copy, as illustrating 
the way these little commonwealths toiled through 
the dreary and disastrous period till the return of 
peace in 1783 ; — 

June 3, 1776. Voted thiit it is the mind of this Town to be indepen- 
dent of Great Britain, in case the Continental Congress think proper, 
and that we are ready with our lives & fortunes if, in Providence, called 
to defend the same. 

July 8. Voted to assist in raising the men that are sent for. 

May 22, 1777. Appointed a Committee of three persona chosen for to 
prevent monopoly and ojipreBHion (apparently the first symptom of strin- 
gency arising from the debasement of Continental money). 

June 23. Chose Gillam IJass to take care & lay before the Court the 
evidence which may be produced against the persona in Northborough 
who are looked upon by said Town as inimical to this and the United 
States of America, agreeably to a late directing Act. [The suspected 
persons are John Taylor, Tliomaa Billings, Silvanus Billings (who made 

iln this company served as lieutenant ** Capt." Timothy Brighani, 
who had been present, as one of eight volunteers from this precinct, at 
the attack on Ticondernga, under (Jen. Abercrombie, in 17.')8. 1 remem- 
ber visiting him with my father, when near his death, at the age of 93. 

-' The following are the names of the town Representatives for nearly 
fifty years following : 1775-77, Levi Brigluun ; 1778, '82, '85, John Ball ; 
1770, '80, Paul Newton ; 1783, Seth Rico ; 1787-98 (7 years), Isaac 
Davis; 1800, 'Ui, Nulnim Kay ; 1802-20 (IS years), James Keyes. 



contrite acknowledgment ' & was received back into amity by the Town, 
May 17, 1781), James Eager, John Eager and Widow Miriam Eager. 
The estates of four of these were confiscated at the close of the war.] 
Jan. 5, 7, 1778. Voted and accei)ted the Articles of Confederation of 
the Congress of the United States of America. 

April 2. Appointed a Committee te collect clothing for the Continental 
soldiers (just after the terrible winter at Valley Forge). 

April 13. It was voted "to see if they would accept of the form of 
government [»»f Massachusetts] as it was settled by the Convention of 
this State ; and a uuanimoua vote passed in the negative." 

Juno 15. It is voted ("according to the second clawa of Warrant") 
to determine "an everidge of the whole of the publick cost tliat they 
have been at, ocationed by the present war, Hince the 19th of April, 
1775, untill this time, and all necessary cost that may in the future arise 
on account of said war, each one to pay according to his estate, as in 
other taxt's." The total amount was found to be : 

£ s. d. 

Upto June29, 1778 1474 14 1 

Future costs (estimated) 705 

Interest 42 

Clothing 140 

Additional, to Sept.28 222 13 4 

Additional, MarchS, 1779 110 

2694 7 5 

May 17, 1770. It is resolved "that a [State] Constitution, or f.irm of 
Government, [shall be] made as soon as may be ; " and the Town Repre- 
sentative is instructed " to vote for the calling of a State Convention for 
the sole purpose of funning a Constitution." 

Sept. 13. Under the pressure of financial distress, the common revolu- 
tionary expedient is adopted, of fixing a "maximum," or scale of high 
est prices to be asked for any commodity : in this scale we find Barley at 
£4 10 a bushel ; Milk at 2 sh. aquart ; labor of niaking a pair of shoes, 
48 shillings; other in proportion. As afurther indication of the range 
of prices, we find soon after (Oct. 30, 17S(i) a grant of " .iOOKO to pur- 
chase beef fur the army," and (May 17, 1781) "the Town granted tlie 
sum of £3300 to pay for three horses " for the public service. Again 
(March 6, 1780) there is an appropriation of £4000 to be equally divided 
for the building of a School-house for each of the four " Squadrons." 

May 18, 1780. Report of the State Constitution, which is accepted, 
with the recommendation of four Amendments ; but if these cannot be 
had, " will accept the Constitution as it stands." [The first of these pro- 
posed Amendments is that the Governor must belong to some Protestant 
religious connection ; the others are chiefly certain legal formalities for 
the ensuring of private justice.] 

July 13. Vuted & granted the sum of .£10.000 to pay seventeen men 
hired into the service, nine for the term of six months, & eight for the 
term of three monthi. 

Dec. 28. The town, taking intoconsideration the hardships undergone 
by those who had entered into the service of their country, and especially 
the losses they hiid sustained by being paid in a depreciated currency, 
generously voted to raise their quota of men, and to pay and clotlie thorn 
at its own expense, allowing them 4o shillings each per month, in hard 
money, and £21 per year, also in hard money, in addition to their 
clothes. Six men were called for the following summer, & the Town 
granted £122 5«. in hard money ($407.50) to pay the same ; at the same 
time they were required to purchase for the use of the army 3518 lbs. 
of beef, for which the Town granted £77 in hard money (^256,06). 
(Previous to June, 1778, it appears that this town had expended in money 
and service towards carrying on the war. £1474. 14. 1, — in a Depreciated 
currency, probably, the precise value of which it is ditficult now to de- 
termine.) 

"After the close of the war the embarrassments 
arising from the want of a circulating medium, when 
almost all were deeply involved in debt, caustd 
much uneasiness, and led the people to devise 
measurts for their removal." August 7. 177G, Isaac 
Davis was chosen as a delegate to attend a county 
convention at Leicester, on the 15th, to whom the 
following, among other instructions, were given by a 
committee appointed by the town. The delegate was 

^He "ownes that he was unfriendly in not bringing Caleb Green to 
justice, who was a notorious viUin and an enemy to his country." 



NORTIIBOROUGH. 



457 



to use his influeace " that the Convention petition his 
Excellency, the Governor & Council, to call the 
General Court together in the month of October next 
at fartherest ; and that the Convention present a 
humble and decent petition to the General Court to 
set up & establish a Mint in the Commonwealth, 
&c." Complaints were also made of the salaries of 
the civil list being i-o high, and of various other 
grievances under which the people labored. The 
delegate was also to use his influence " that the 
whole order of Lawyers be annihilated, for we con- 
ceive them not only to be building themselves upon 
the ruins of the distressed, but said order has in- 
creased, & is daily increasing, far beyond any other 
set or order of men among us, in numbers and af- 
fluence; and we apprehend they may become ere 
long somewhat dangerous to the rights & liberties of 
the people." "There was nothing, however, of the 
spirit of rebellion or insubordination in the resolu- 
tions that were passed at this meeting, or in the 
conduct which followed ; and though it appears from 
the representations of all, that the people generally 
were reduced to the greatest straits, yet only three or 
four individuals were found willing to join in the 
rebellion [Shays'] of that year, and to seek redress 
by measures of violence." ' 

It is likely that this town had its fair share of the 
suffering of that dismal "critical period of American 
history " between the close of the Revolutionary War 
and the adopting of the United States Constitution. 
But of this there is less evidence on the records than 
we might expect, excepting those troubles from ex- 
pansion of the currency hinted above. The problem 
of pauperism, however, now comes up ; and for the 
first time (November 9, 1789) we hear of a proposal 
" to see if the Town would vendue the poor oflto the 
lowest bidder." This was negatived, probably from 
compunction at the novelty of it. But six months 
later (May 10, 1790) " the same passed in the affirm- 
ative, and that there be a notification put up and the 
names of the poor put in, that are to be vendued," — 
that is, boarded at the town's expense, where they 
could be boarded cheapest.^ The ordinary rate was 
from seventy-five cents to a dollar a week. I remem- 
ber being present at such a " vendue; '' it would be 
about sixty years ago. In 1835 the town adopted the 
more humane and decent method of providing a 
" poor-farm " for those unable to maintain them- 
selves, — not " foreign paupers," but native citizens 
fallen into poverty or distress. And the number of 
those so dependent was very small, unless in such ex- 
ceptional periods as that following the Revolutionary 
War ; thus, in 1826, " only two persons have been a 



1 The paragraplis marked as quotations are from Dr. Allen's History 
of Northborougli ("Sketches"). 

2 In March, 181", " Mary Rice was put up at vendue," and struck 
off to Joseph Carruth at 88 cents, clothing and doctoring to be found 
by the town. 



town charge, the whole expense of maintaining 
whom, for a year, is less than one hundred dollars." 

The wounds of war, and of the years that followed, 
were at all events soon healed, to judge from a 
sermon preached June 1, 1796, by Rev. Mr. Whit- 
ney, in which he says : " The great increase of our 
members [since 1767, from 82 families to upwards of 
110], the remarkable growing wealth and prosperity of 
this people, must be ascribed to the peace, union and 
harmony which has subsisted among us. In consid- 
ering the number of inhabitants (not far from 800), 
the extent of territory and the distance from the 
capital, I know not a more wealthy place."^ Mr. 
Whitney's ardent hope, which he expresses in the 
same sermon, of a new and "respectable meeting- 
house," which, as he says, " proclaims the opulence 
of the place and encourages population," was ful- 
filled twelve years later, in 1808, when the present 
"First Parish" meeting-house was erected, at a cost 
of eleven thousand five hundred dollars, a large sum 
and a handsome building for its day. 

Churches. — Throughout Mr. Whitney's term of 
service, of forty-nine years, and for more than fifteen 
years afterward, "the ministry had not only a 
permanent, it bad also a secular character, which it 
has greatly lost. In a sense easily enough under- 
stood, though not at all familiar, the Town was the 
parish ; the town's peojile were the congregation. 
In a harmless and neighborly way. Church and State 
(in those narrow boundaries) were one.'* So little 
were modern sectarian differences felt, that in the 
choice of Mr. Whitney's successor, in 1816, although 
the liberal movement in theology was well j:)ro- 
nounced, only eleven votes out of one hundred and 
eight were cast against the settlement of the candi- 
date chosen, who was understood to be in full sympathy 
with that movement. This was Joseph Allen (Har- 
vard University, 1811, D.D. 1848), whose ministry, 
as sole or senior pastor, lasted more than fifty- 
six years, till his death, February 23, 1873. For 
eleven years of this period the parish was undi- 
vided. In 1827 a Baptist Church was gathered ; * 
and in 1832 " the Second Congregational Society was 
formed (under Rev. Samuel Austin Fay) by those of 
stricter orthodox or evangelical faith : the original 
members were Asaph Rice and 34 others.* And the 
next year, that is, on the 11th of November, 1833, 
the old ' Third Article of the Bill of Rights ' was 
repealed ; the citizen was relieved from all legal ob- 

3 Copied in a discourse by Rev. A. S. Galvin, of Worcester, on occa- 
sion of erecting a memorial (ablet to Peter Whitney, in the First Parish 
nieeting-honso of Northborough, May 20, 1888. 

^ From a memorial discourse by the present writer, given in the 
First Parish meeliug-house on occasion of erecting a tablet to the mem- 
ory of Joseph and Lucy Cl.xrk Allen, October 30, 1887. 

^Church reorganized, and its present house of worship built, in 1860. 

^The fii-st meeting-house of this society, on the Boylston Road, is 
now occupied by the "Allen Home School," under the charge of Ed- 
ward A. H. Allen. Their present commodious and handsome building, 
in the village, was erected in 184ti. 



458 



HISTOKY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



ligation to pay for the support of any church, and 
the voluntary system, as we have it now, came into 
full play." Since then, to meet the wants of the 
increasing Roman Catholic population (partly French 
Canadian), a succession of " visiting clergy'' hegan 
in 1850, which resulted in the building of St. Rose's 
Church, a handsome edifice, which was dedicated 
May 3, 1885.' 

Much the longest pastorate was that of Rev. Jos- 
eph Allen, which extended over fifty-six years. He 
was born in Medfield, Mass., August 15, 1790. His 
early home was on the farm that for five genera- 
tions, since 1648, had been owned and tilled by 
his ancestors ; his grandfather, a man of note and 
of amazing bodily strength, had held a King's com- 
mission in the colonial militia; his father had en- 
listed as a boy of sixteen in the Continental army, 
and endured some of the hardships of the later 
Revolutionary campaigns and of Shays' Rebellion. 
From a constitution impaired by early studies, pru- 
dent regimen had built him up to an even and 
active condition of health, which kept sound till 
past the age of eighty. His ordination as '' minis- 
ter of the town" was October 30, 1816. He mar- 
ried, February 3, 1818, Lucy Clark, daughter of 
Professor Henry Ware, of Harvard University, to 
whose intelligent and devoted co-operation much of 
the character of his ministry was due. His work 
was especially effective in the department of public 
and general education. His deiith was on the 23d 
of February, 1873. A tablet was erected by his 
children in the parish meeting-house to the memory 
of both their parents, and dedicated October 30, 
1887.' 

The next longest of the later pastorates was that 
of Rev. Samuel Stanford Ashley (b. May 12, 1819; d. 
October 5, 1887). He was born in Cumberland, 
R. I., the elde.st of eleven children ; educated at 
Oberlin, Ohio ; settled first in Fall River, Mass., 
and, in 1852, in Northborough. In 1864 he en- 
gaged in the army-service of the United States 
Christian Commission. In this capacity he was 
noted for absolute fearlessness in his humane ser- 
vice on the battle-field. At the close of the war he 
was employed by the American Missionary Asso- 
ciation to serve among the freedmen at Hampton, 
Va., and afterwards in North Carolina, where he 
was a member of the Constitutional Convention 
and Superintendent of Public Instruction. In 1881 



1 The present pastors of tlie above ctiurclies are, First Parish, Obed 
Eldridge, settled in 188 J ; Baptist, Kev. C. D Swett, settled inlS84; 
Second Congrefiational, Edward L Chnte, settled in 1885; St, Rose, 
James McCIosltey, appointed November 1, ISSfi. 

2 The names of his cliildren are Mary Ware, wife of Dr. J. J. John- 
son, now of Northborongli ; .toseph Henry (the writer of tliis sitetcli), 
now of Cambridge, Mass. ; Tbomas Pientisg, died at West Newton, No- 
vember :i'j, 1803 ; Elizabetb Waterliouse, now of Northborongli ; Lucy 
Clark, wife of A. E. Powers, of Lanaingburgb, N. Y.; Kdward A. H., 
head of a private school in Northborough ; William F., Professor in 
the State Univei-sity at Madison, Wisconsin. 



he was appointed acting president of Straight Uni- 
versity in New Orleans ; but, suftering here from 
yellow fever, returned to the North. From 1874 to 
1878 he was in the employ of the Missionary Asso- 
ciation in Atlanta, Ga. ; but failing health obliged 
him to return to country life and occupation in his 
former home. Here he resided as a useful, honored 
and public-spirited citizen, actively interested in the 
town library, the public schools, and the cause of 
temperance, until his sudden death from heart com- 
plaint, in 1887. He was, says a warm and grateful 
testimonial of the library trustee-i, " in health or 
8ickne.ss, in season or out of season, unfailing in 
his eff'orts for the interest of the charge given him." ' 

Schools. — Before the public provision, made in 
1766, private instruction had been maintained in the 
precinct by voluntary contributions (see below). In 
1770 the district (not yet a town) was divided into 
four " squadrons " for school purposes ; and, in 1780, 
an appropriation of £1000 was made to each squad- 
ron for the erection of a school-home. The whole 
sum (which was extremely "soft") amounted in hard 
money to only £52 6s. 8d., made up afterwards to 
£163 13s. 4d. There were afterwards six school dis- 
tricts ; and, sixty or eighty years ago, there was no 
gieat disparity of numbers among them; now, prob- 
ably, more than half the population are gathered 
about the centre. In 1837 a two-story brick school- 
house was built for the central district. Again, about 
1865, more definite steps were taken towards the sys- 
tem of graded schools, and, in 1878, a neat high 
school building was erected on the Common near the 
meeting-house. 

The ministers of the town have taken from the 
first the active lead that was their duty in the matter 
of public instruction, and have had in it the full con- 
fidence of the public. Dr. Allen, for example, 
"served as chairman of the school committee for 
fifty-one successive years, omitting only a season of 
two years, when a change was tried that seemed like- 
ly to do better without his aid." To this task he 
gave especial zeal and energy, the more efficient from 
the hold he had by natural temperament upon 
the affection of the young. The " district school as 
it was "—that is, with the advantage as well as dis- 
advantage of bunging together pupils all the way 
from five to twenty for the winter's school-compan- 
ionship — held, as is generally claimed, exceptionally 
high rank in Northborough : there was one season, 

3 The following is a list, nearly complete, of ministers of the several 
churches : Is* Paris*— T. B. Forbush, 1858-63 ; H. L. Myrick, 1800-68 ; 
F. L. Hosnier, lSGa-72 ; C. T. Irish, 1873-76 ; H. F. Bond, 1877-81 ; 
Obed Eldridge, 1883, 2d Congregational— S. A. Fay, 1832-36 ; D, II. Em- 
erson, 18.30-40; Joshua Bates, 1840-42, W. A, Houghton, 1843-51 ; 
S. S, Ashley, 1853-64; G, E. Sanborne, 1865-70 ; H, Button, 1870-79, 
(author of a sketch of Northborough in a history of Worcester County, 
published by C, F. Jewett, Boston, 1879) ; G. H. Adams, 1870-81 ; E. A. 
.\dams, 18^1-85 ; E. L. Chute, 1885. Baptist — (after several short terms 
of service), Charles Farrer, 1848-55 ; Silas Ripley, l/(,'6-05 ; I), F. Lam- 
son, 18Ci-7:); W. K. Davey, 187.3-77; E. A. Goddard, 1877-78; J. 
TiUsun, 1S78-S2 ; C. Titus, 188J-84 ; C. D. Swott, 18S4. 



NORTHBOROUGH. 



459 



for example (1831-32), when the five district schools 
were manned by five very distinguished students from 
Harvard College, including three of the four highest 
scholars of the senior class and the first junior 
scholar (now Professor Bowen). Under such a dispen- 
sation it may be fairly claimed that the district school, 
in its three summer and three winter months, and re- 
lieved in the interval by all the variety of country 
occupations, had a far higher educational value than 
the more perfect mechanism that has taken its place. 
The old way, it is true, had become outgrown and im- 
possible through the change in population and man- 
ners of life; but the change that came about has 
brought with it some regrets. ^ The country school 
has had the merit, among other things, of training 
and sending out a large number of young men and 
women to the work of education elsewhere, many of 
them to advanced instruction in the State Normal 
Schools. I have a list of twenty-one of these puoils 
(female) of the Normal School which was established 
successively at Lexington, West Newton and Frara- 
ingham.^ 

I copy here the following memoranda from a record 
in the handwriting of Rev. Dr. Allen : 

In tlie Law8 of Maesuchusetls it is enacted (1641) that " If any do not 
teach their children iind apprentices so much learning as nmy enable 
them to read perfectly the English language, [they shall] forfeit 20 
shillings; and the Selectmen of every Town are required to know the 
state of the families," etc. In 1770 there wore 85 families in N'orih- 
horough. These were divided into four "squadrons," and a vote was 
passed to build four school-houses, which cost each in our currency 
^150.40. Cue of these earliest school-houses is described aa "rough- 
boarded, without plastering or paint, with one door, a very large chim- 
ney in one corner, three small windows, and furniture to currespontl ; 
yet from this building graduated a Recorder of the City of New York, 
and here was partially educated a missionary to India, who was also a 
Founder of the college in Georgetown, D. C, and a Doctor of Divinity." 

In 1742 a new sclu'ulhouse was built in the North District (to take 
tho place of the old one, destroyed by fire), at a cost of 8ol7.9D ; the 
annual cost of the school was here 8S6. " The wood was furnished by 
individual;?, and cut by the boys, who made the tires. The teacher was 
at his desk as often before as after sunrise, ruling the book*, setting 
copipR, mending the goose-quill pens, and preparing practical sums for 
the scholars to work out and copy into their manuscripts. School kept 
five am! a half days in the week, with 15 minutes' recess forenoon and 
afternoon, and 3U m. for dinner; the rest of the time was devoted to 



1 Another illustration of " how we did it " in those days may be not 
out of place here. It is in a letter from the admirably skilled and suc- 
cessful master of a singing-school : "I think it was fifty-two years ago 
this coming fall (1888) that 1 attended a singing-school here [in his na- 
tive town]. Your father sent for me to do his chores and study, I 
went, and, being interested in music, I commenced to teach the boys in 
the study from the blackboard. The boys from the town heard of it. 
and, by your father's advice, I adjourned to the vestry [in the basement 
of the town-house], where I had about fifty pupils, and taught twenty 
four evenings, charging nothing. The pupils paid for the lighting. It 
was thought to be a success." This teachtr (Joseph A. Allen, of 
Medfield) was afterwards superintendent of schools in Sy?acuse, N. Y., 
where he had high reputation as an instructor ; and he was for some 
years the superintendent of the State Heform Schoid at AVestborough. 

- A list is mentioned by Dr. Allen "containing the names of fifty-seven 
teachers, male and female, whose education was obtained princi, ally in 
our public schools, who found employment as teachers, in this and other 
places, during the first thirty years of the present century." Since 
then "tho number must liave Iieeu much larger, as more than thirty 
have graduated at our Normal Schools, most of them at the one in 
Bridgewater." 



business. Imperfect lessons, whisperiDg and mischief, cost too much 

among that pine shrubbery." 

A brit.'k school-house was built in 1837 for the Centre District (estab- 
lished in 1811), at a cost of S2230 (afterwards repaired and refurnished 
at an expense of 8l"0(i)- The entire cost of school building* for lOU 
years, not including repairs and incidentals, was S-4,2G2. The appro- 
priations in the same time for schools, including the above, amounted 
to 8S3,9i;8. 

As supplementary (it would seem) to the public pchools, to secure 
more advanced instructmn, there was organized, in May, 178U, by pri- 
vate subscription, a " Seminary," at a cost of ninety-six pounds, sixteen 
shillings, three pence and three farthings, wliich sum was divided into 
35 shares ; shareholders to have their children's education at an assessed 
rate, and others to pay 4s, per month for each scholar. At a meeting of 
the Proprietors, held Monday, December 4, 1781, it was "Voted to give 
Master Flint five pound per month for the following tliree months." 
The Seminary building was " upon the common near the pond-hole." 
How long the plan was continued does not appear. 

About 1825 or 1826, courses of public lectures began 
to be given by the minister of the town, on astronomy 
and similar topic.-*, supplementary lo the common 
school course of popular education. The neat town- 
hall, built in 1822 (near where the high school now 
stands), gave convenient accommodation, and the 
lectures ripened into a "Lyceum "* (organized in 1828), 
one of the first in the country, where for more than 
thirty years free lectures were given and debaies in 
the earlier years were held once a wtek in winters. 
The coming together of so many college-men as 
teachers added greatly to the interest of these debates, 
which brought out, too, no little native talent. Mr. 
John C. Wyman, that prince of story-tellers, now of 
Boston, would probably say that some of his earliest 
lessons in oratory were received in unr modest town-hall. 
The Lyceum, in course of time, degenerated to courses 
of paid lectures, as in other places; but in its day it 
was a much-prized adjunct to the district ^chool. 

A Juvenile Library was created by annual contri- 
butions in 1824; and a "Social Library," founded aa 
early as 1792, was incorporated with the Parish "Free 
Library," in 1828. A Public Library, established in 
1800, by uniting seven existing libraries, and with the 
aid of a donation of one thousand dollars from Hon. 
Cyrus Gale, is kept in the new and commodious town- 
hall (built in 1867), and now contains something over 
seven thousand volumes. 

The following memoranda of local incidents during 
the period 1823—15 may here be found of interest : 

1S23, Nov. Votedy " not to permit Asaph Rice to use the School-house 
for religions meetings." Fo/erf, *' to provide moans to warm the meet- 
ing-bouse, [for the first time !] by a stove or otherwise." 

1824, May. ''Chose a committee of 13 to investigate means to sup- 
press the great and growing evil of intemperance ; and that a committee 
of G be chosen to assist the Selectmen in selecting intemperate persona 
to be posted up, according to law." In the same year a new hearse is 
bouglit, at a cost of 2^8.82 ; and the sum of S3U0.3(i was paid for a fur- 
nace for the meeting-house. 

1826, March. At the request of Joseph Davis and others, a committee 
was chosen to see if the town will purchase the several libraries, and 
have a Town Library. A School Committee was for the fiist time ap- 
pointed, the charge having hitherto been born by the minister and 
selectmen. 

182", April. A committee was chosen " to investigate the subject of 

encouraging the singing in this town." May. The sum of SlOO was ap- 

; propriated for a Singing-School ; any surplus to be disposed of to the 

' choir through Thaddeus Mason. Many of our older inhabitants will re- 



460 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



call the rich and bold tone§ of Mr. Mason^s fine tenor voice in the village 
choir. We iind it later (1829) " recommended that ^0 be appropriated 
as compensation to Mr. Tliaddeus Mason as leader of the singers for one 
year, and 519 to Ansou Rice for using his viol for one year." 

1828. Tlie First Report on Town-Schools speaks of their "high repu- 
tation in past years," but says their '* multiplication of studies is a very 
serious evil," that " more attention should be paid to writing," and th.it 
good order should be maintained "by persuasive and gentle measure, so 
far as may be practicable. ' The next year the number of pupils reported 
is 349. 

1829. It is voted " that the Northborough Branch of the American 
Lyceum may hold their meetings in the town hall ; " also, *' to refund 
to the members of the Baptist society their proportion of expenses of 
painting the meeting-liouse, the singing, &c,; " to procure a map of the 
town ; and "thiitit is inexpedient for the Town to take measures to be- 
come a Parish." 

18al. Veiled to accept the Gassett Donation, — a sum of 5i,000, "pre- 
sented to the Town by Henry Gassett, Esq., of Boston,— one of its pro- 
visions being that after the income hsxs reached a certain amount, fifty 
dollars shall be bestowed, once in three years, upon " the most worthy 
and best Mother, to be selected by five mothers and five fathers chosen 
by the Town," A portion of the income is devoted to the support of the 
Firat Parish Church. Also to expend 840.10 for school apparatus; to 
purchase a Poor Farm ; and not to grant a petition that the Schools be 
under the sole control of the people of the several districts, according to 
law ; so the schools are left in charge of the general town committee. 

1832. Voted not to grant the use of the town-house for public worship, 
and the following year the First Parish pay 820 rent for its use as a 
*' vestry," or lecture-room. 

1836. The committee in a long report recommend the establishing of 
a nigh School ; measures are taken looking to this, but the plan is 
abandoned in 1837, when a school building is erected in the centre dis- 
trict for two schools, a hif;Iier and a lower. In 1837 it is also " voted to 
purchase four acres of land of Lowell Holbrook for a burying-ground," 
— the beginning of the present cemetery of about ten acres (the old 
burying-ground of about 3 acres was laid out in 1729, and cleared of 
wood in 1S04). A poor-farm was purchased for $1150. In 1S38, number 
of paupers, 16; in 1840, 20. 

1840. Number of enrolled mi!itia-nien, 128 ; two years later, 189. 

1845. The first fire-engine is purchased (at second-hand) by the town 
for 8171.75. 

Health, &c. — When the "Second Precinct" of 
Westborough was organized iu 1746, there appear to 
have been forty families in the place.' In the autumn 
of this year, and for seven years following, particu- 
larly in 1749-50, " this society was visited by a very 
mortal sickness among children, by which the growth 
of the society must have been very sensibly checked, 
and which must have been attended with circum- 
stances of peculiar distress. The sickness in the 
earlier season ajipears to have been dysentery ; the 
later, throat distemper, better known now as scarlet 
fever. Sixty children out of a population which 
could not have much exceeded three hundred were 
victims of the di.sorder. Still, in 1767 the number of 
families had increased to eighty-two, and in 1796 to 
one hundred and ten. In 1810 the census gives the 
entire population as seven hundred and ninety-four, 
and in 1820 as ten hundred and eighteen, which 
seems to have been a slight over-reckoning. 

Since the mortality of 1749-50, the general health 
of the town has been exceptionally good. For forty- 
six years, beginning with 1780, the deaths were lour 
hundred and fifty, not quite ten a year (less than one 

1 The householders, who were also church members, were the follow- 
ing: Epbraim Allen, Samuel Allen, John Carruth, Gershom Fay, Silas 
Fay, Jonathan Livermore, John McAllister, Mathias Uice, Jacob 
Shephard, Joshua Townsend. (May 21, 1740), 



and a half per cent, of the population), more than 
half of them from old age. I recall a succession of 
years when (if my memory is right) the annual 
deaths did not exceed seven in a population of full 
one thousand. The growth of little manufacturing 
centres, with their varieties of a crowded foreign 
population, has, of course, much changed this ratio. 
Some seasons of scarlet-fever epidemic (especially one 
short but severe in 1839), and scattered cases of 
typhoid, have affected the health list, but have not 
altered the general good reputation of the town. In- 
creasing fiequency of drought^ and low wells had 
begun to be felt as a serious inconvenience; and in 
1882-83 (in good part by the urgency and liberality 
of Mr. D. B. Wesson, a wealthy Springfield manu- 
facturer of fire-arms, and of Hon. Cyrus Gale, an 
aqueduct was laid from a reservoir constructed at 
Straw Hollow, just over the Boylston line, at a cost of 
$58,150.44, and since then the village has been amply 
sujjplied with pure and wholesome water. The engi- 
neer's report gives the following description of the 
work : — 

The length of the dam on top is 625 feet, the greatest height in tho 
middle 20 feet, in the area of the pond created about nine acres. The 
greatest depth of water is 15 feet, and the total stfu-ago capacity is ap- 
proximately 30,000,000 gallons, or a supply for your population equal 
to at least si-x months' consumption. Tber waste gate was closed early 
in December, 1882, and the pond was first f<dl to high-water mark on 
June 14, 1883. This level gives a head of 145 feet at the railroiid 
track, which is sufficient to throw fire-streams at that point 80 feet 
high. The head at Woodville is 193 feet, and at Chapinville 205 feet. 
Fire-streams can be thrown at these points 100 feet high. 

In regard to the nature of the water secured by your plan, your peo- 
jile have already expressed satisfaction with its soft qualities, and un- 
doubtedly storage in the reservoir will tend to remove its slight color. 
On sanitary grounds, its use should become general for domestic pur- 
poses, as no well-water in your village will be found to be its equal in 
purity. Percy M. Blake, Civil Eiujineer. 

Physicians. — The first physician of the town was 
Stephen Ball (born about 1730), descendant of one of 
the early settlers of Concord, Mass. His son Stephen 
("Old Dr. Ball," 1767-1850) had a wide and long- 
continued practice in Northborough and its vicinity, 
and was a physician of high repute; he married (about 
1800) Miss Lydia Lincoln, of Hingham. The second 
of their thirteen children, " young Dr. Stephen " 
(born 1802), settled here about 1825, earning special 
reputation as a surgeon ; he removed to Boston in 
1837, where he continue! an extensive and succesiful 
practice till his death, in 1871. A younger brother, 
Abel (1810-76), was also a practitioner in Boston. 
In 1836 Dr. Joshua J. Johnson (1809-84) settled here 
in practice, removing afterwards to Worcester (1857) 
and to Keene, N. H. (1858), returning to North- 
borough in 1865, having married (1840) the eldest 
daughter of Rev. Dr. Allen. Their only surviving child, 
Mrs. William H. Johnson, lives in Westborough. In 
184.'<, Dr. Henry Jewett became a resident of this town, 

2 The most formidable drought recorded is one of three months, 
from March 20 to June 20, 1826. The coldest season known was 
that of 1816, when there was frost in every month, and the corn froze 
uin-ipened in the ear. 



NORTHBOROUGH. 



461 



where he still enjoys an excellent practice. Other 
physicians have been Henry Barnes, who married a 
daughter of Dr. Ball, Sr., died 1879, and his son, 
Henry J., practices in Boston; Dr. I. C. Guptill and 
Dr. Chas. Oakes (honia»opatbit'). 

Temperan'CE. — The evil of rum and cider-drink- 
ing (for in those days brandy, whiskey and beer were 
less popularly known) had become a general vice 
during the generation following the Revolutionary 
War. It was partly outgrown before the War of 1812, 
but had come in again as a result of camp-life in that 
war ; and many strong, substantial and prosperous 
men in this town of the generation next following 
drank themselves to poverty, their farms into debts, 
and their families to distress. As early as 1817 the 
following testimony is found — one of the very earliest 
symptoms of the great temperance movement that has 
come since— showing a practical sense of the harm 
and a desire to abate it. Its signers were among the 
leading citizens of the town, and there is no indica- 
tion of its having been urged from any outside source, 
though the minister's hand may possibly be traced 
in it: — 

Inipiessed with the helief that the practice of using wine or ardent 
spirits ou funeral occasions is attended witli needlfss expense, which, to 
the poorer class, is no inconsiderable I)urden ; and, moreover, that it 
has a tendency to interrupt tliose devout feelings and pious mediU^tions 
which such occasions ought to cull forth : We, the undel-signed, are 
willing to use our influence to discontinue such practice ; and we engage 
for the future to allow of no wine or spirituous liquors to be carried to 
the mourners at our own houses, but if any of the mourners or others 
think it necessary or expedient to use it, to cause it to be placed in a 
separate apartment for the use of such pei*sonB. — (Signed by Samuel 
Sever, William Eager and others, 30 in all.) 

Northborough was thus very early in the field in 
movements looking to the temperance reform. A 
society "for the suppression of intemperance" was 
formed May 30, 1823. The record of temperance 
organizations since this date has probably been about 
the same with other places in the vicinity; and, 
while the town has had a good repute for order and 
sobriety, there is nothing especial in this respect to 
distLnguish it from the rest. A half-century ago or 
more, it is said, each week three wagon-loads of pro- 
duce went to Boston, and each return-load included 
its barrel of rum. Since the railroad was built, with 
its vastly greater freighting facilities, there is little 
perceptible change in the outward look of things ; 
under "local option" there has generally been no 
license for legal sale of liquors ; the native popula- 
tion is said to have largely outgrown its old drinking 
habit; and such drunkenness or other disorder as there 
may be prevails more, it is likely, among the foreign 
or vagrant population. 

During the war of secession this town furnished to 
the service one hundred and forty recruits, being nine 
over and above all demands of the general govern- 
ment. Of these, two were commissioned officers ; the 
record of one of them, Capt. S. Henry Bailey, is given 
below. Appropriations for the public service were 
made by the town to the amount of $10,647.57, in 



addition to $8,840.70, which was afterwards refunded 
by the State. 

Business, &c. — Most of the manufacturing and 
other enterprises of the first century of the town's ex- 
istence have been already noted. Wool-carding, the 
making of potash, and the working of bog-iron began 
before or about 1800. The manufacture of horn- 
combs, introduced by Haynes & Bush in 1839, was 
extended in 1860 into the tortoise-shell manufacture 
of jewelry, &c., by Hon. Milo Hiklreth, who has had 
about twenty hands at one time in his employ. Two 
smaller establishments. Farewell's and Whittaker & 
Proctor's, have been started since. Ornamental 
combs, chains and large quantities of horn buttons 
are included in these industries. The tortoise-shell 
comes from Zanzibar, the Fiji Islands and other 
tropical regions. The old cotton factory, built in 
1814, was burned down in 1860, but has been 
rebuilt, and has since 1866 been carried on by Daniel 
Wood as a woolen-mill for the manufacture of blank- 
ets, &c., employing now about one hundred and 
twenty-five hands, half of them Canadian French^ 
and the rest Irish. The other factory is owned by 
Ezra Chapin, and since 1869 is used for making 
satinets. The manufacture of corsets has made a 
flourishing trade since 1877. A shoe-shop was con- 
ducted here for a few years, though not on a large 
scale, and a valuable bone-mill, established in 1860 
by J. B. Root, employs the water-power of the 
Assabet. 

The agricultural branch of the then Boston and 
Worcester Railroad, running from South Framingham, 
was completed to Northborough in 1855. It has 
since become the property of the Old Colony Railroad, 
and in 1866 was opened through to Fitchburg. It 
gives at the present time five passenger trains each 
way between this jjlace and Boston ; direct connection 
also with Taunton, Providence and New Bedford. 

Families. — The family names most conspicuous 
in the early history of the town have appeared from 
time to time in the foregoing notes. These names 
have more significance than might appear to one 
who has been familiar only with the more changing 
population of a later day. To quote from a memor- 
ial discourse before cited : 

It is said that the New England population of 60 or 70 years ago were 

1 There are in Korthborough some three hundred of these Canadian 
Trench, seventy-five families, adults and children, most of them con- 
nected with the two factories, the larger number in "Chapinsville." In 
the Factory School, established 1880, almost all the children are French, 
and in their homes use their native language, which is, however, drop- 
ped in a few years, the parents continuing to use it. These people come 
from below Moutreal, on or near the St. Lawrence. Que of the earliest 
comers, Oliver Contois (here called Counter), came in 1850, and has lived 
here ever since. Their names often undergo odd transformations, thus 
M. Pierre becomes "Mr. Stone;" M. Rivifere, **Mr. Brooks;" M. 
&irracin, *' Mr. Rice," &c. About a dozen of them only have become 
citizens, and these, mostly, a little before the late election. Not till 
within a year or two have any French children attended the high school ; 
at present there are two, but none have completed the high-school 
course of study. 



462 



HISTORY OP WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



the purest blood, or had the most of a certain family likeness, of any 
community speaking the English tongue. They had grown into it by 
Dearly 200 years of close association here, and wide separation from the 
rest of the world; and nothiufr. certainly, could do more to bring out 
and invigorate that quality than the irdependence of the town life, 
and the habit of acting together in their own little public, to decide 
all matters of common interest or duty. . . . I think that until within 
50 years it was rather uncommon to know a family that was not born, 
bred and married within the town boundaries; and the few exceptions 
only made the general fact stand out more sharply. 

It is accordingly of interest to take into our limited 
view the history of a few typical families, — not all, or 
perhaps the most familiar, of those that might be 
selected; but those of which the following memor- 
anda have been kindly put into my hands, here given 
alphabetically : — 

Bailey. — Rev. Benjamin H. Bailey, now of Mai- 
den, Mass., writes to me as follows : " My grandfa- 
ther, Silas Bailey, came from West Berlin to the old 
fatmof my boyhood [of 214 acres] about 179.5. The 
farm was bought of Abraham Munroe, grandfather of 
Mrs. F. D. Bartlett. My grandfather died late in the 
autumn of 1840, aged 84. His wife, Lavina, sister of 
Mr. Jotham Barilett, died a few weeks before her hus- 
band, aged 82. There were 11 children, 7 of whom 
grew to manhood or womanhood. Timothy, the 
oldest son, a farmer in Berlin, died about 1838, aged 
57. Silas died in Worcester in 1860, aged 86. Hol- 
loway [my father] died in Northborough, Feb. 12, 
1872, aged 87 years, 7 months. My mother, Lucy 
Sawyer, was the youngest but one of 11 children of 
Benjamin and Rebecca (Houghton) Sawyer, of Bol- 
ton. Their family consisted of 6 children, of whom 
I am eldest. Three grew to manhood, of whom two 
remain, myself and my brother, John Lewis, now 
living at Newton, Mass. Silas Henry was killed at 
Spottsylvania, Va., May 12, 1864, aged 29 years. He 
was captain of Company G, 36th Regiment Mass. 
Volunteers. His comrade in arms, now Rev. H. S. 
Burrage, of Portland, Maine, in a history of this 
regiment, and this engagement (most disastrous to 
our troops), says, p. 168: 'Of the commissioned 
officers, Capt. Bailey, the beloved commander of 
Co. G, had received a mortal wound. Corp. Hall, of 
his company, was one of the first to fall in our close 
conflict with the enemy, and some of his comrades 
carried him to the rear of our line of battle. Capt. 
Bailey moved at once to the spot, and as he was 
bending over the dying corporal, a minnie ball en- 
tered his forehead, and he fell forward upon the cor- 
poral's body. Some of his men carried him to the 
field-hospital, but nothing could be done for him. 
He breathed all day, but consciousness did not re- 
turn ; and so we were called to part with a faithful 
officer and a noble-hearted companion. He had en- 
tered the service with a patriotic desire to serve his 
country, and his last words to those whom he loved, 
written after the battle of the Wilderness, showed 
that he had counted the cost, and was willing, if need 
be, to lay down his life in the endeavor to secure the 
great objects for which on our part the war was 



waged.' In the letter above referred to Capt. Bailey 
says, after giving detailed account of the awful car- 
nage : ' We stand and wait, and fall if we must, I think, 
willing sacrifices. May God give us the victory, and 
keep us till his own time for our meeting.'" 

Ball. — Of the Ball family, several members of which 
are spoken of above, in the mention of physicians, I 
have the following account. Of the four sons of 
Nathaniel Ball, of Concord, John (who was killed by 
the Indians in King Philip's War, 1675) left five 
children ; of these, John (d. 1722) had seven ; of these, 
James (1070-1730) had eight, of whom James (b. 
1695) was the father of Stephen, the first physician 
who settled in the district of Northborough. Of his 
six children, Stejihen (1767-18.50) was the second ; a 
younger brother, Jonas, was a well-known citizen in 
my boyhood, keeping the " Ball Tavern " on the Wor- 
cester Road. Of the thirteen children of Dr. Stephen 
Ball, besides those before mentioned, were Louisa, 
wife of Dr. Fitch, of Virginia, afterwards of West 
Newton, Mass.; Elizabeth, wife of Dr. Henry Barnes; 
Harriet, wife of Charles Mayo, and afterwards of 
Jairus Lincoln and Benjamin (1820-59), who pub- 
lished a volume narrating his adventures and remark- 
able travels in Eastern Asia, the island of Java, and 
Mauna Loa, the famous volcanic island of the Hawai- 
ian group, and lost his life in an equally hazardous 
expedition in Nicaragua. Several of the others have 
left an honorable and kindly record. 

Brigham. — Conspicuous among the excellent and 
dignified fathers of the town, a few years ago, was 
Nathaniel Brigham (1785-1870), whose ancestor, 
Thomas Brigham, migrated from England in 1634, 
settling afterwards in Sudbury. The line of descent 
was through Thomas (1643-1719), David (b. 1678), 
Levi (1717-87), and Winslow (b. 1756). Of his eight 
children, Elijah W. (b. 1816) went into business in 
Boston ; Catharine married George G. Valentine and, 
with her sister Mary, lives in Northborough. (The 
brothers, Charles and Frederick Brigham (d. 1881), 
were of only remote kindred to the above.) 

Davis. — From a representative of the large and 
widely-honored Davis family I have the following : 
Isaac Davis was born in Rutland, Mass., February 27, 
1749. When a young man he came to Westborough 
to teach the tanner's trade to the sons of Mr. Stephen 
Maynard, and married Mr. Maynard's step-daughter, 
Ann Brigham. In 1781 he bought the place in North- 
borough now occupied by Mrs. George C. Davis, and 
established a tan-yard there. Of Isaac Davis and 
Ann Brigham nine children lived to maturity. Three 
sons lived in Northborough — Phinehas, b. September 
12, 1772; Joseph, b. February 28, 1774; Isaac, b. 
September 23, 17 — . Another son, John Davis, after- 
wards Governor of Massachusetts and United States 
Senator (" Honest John "), was born June 13, 1787, 
died 1854. Of the children of Phinehas Davis, Mrs. 
Nathan Davis Wells (b. November 4, 1865) and her 
son James are the only dercendants now living in 



I 





'^^ 



I 



I 



i 







4 





NORTHBOROUGH. 



463 



Northborough. Of the children of Joseph, George 
Clinton Davis (b. February 28, 1813 ; d. April 26, 1873) 
was the only one who spent his whole life in North- 
borough ; a younger son, Jiimes (b. June 20, 1818), 
now lives in this town. Of the descendants of Isaac, 
Mrs. Adeline Sanford, Miss Sarah Davis and Mrs. Ann 
Fiske also live in Northborough. 

Fay. — The Fay farm lay hid from from public 
view, more than most, among the woods and hills to- 
wards the western part of the town, but the family is 
a large and important one. Of Paul Fay (the 're- 
motest of whom I have any record : 1719-90), the son 
here best known was Asa (1762-1837, a retiring, hard- 
working, and somewhat eccentric farmer of the old 
school; and his son was Lewis (1799-1880), father of 
ten children, of whom Joseph T. (b. 1819) is engaged 
in business near the village. 

Gale. — Cyrus Gale, youngest but one of seventeen 
children, was born in Westborough October 7, 1785, 
and died in 1880, at the age of ninety-five.' He be- 
gan life at sixteen, as a market gardener, in Roxbury, 
and at twenty-one held a stall in Faneuil Hall Mar- 
ket, Boston. He removed to Northborough in 1812 
for the benefit of his failing health, and here became 
active in various lines of business, — postmaster, agent 
of the cotton factory, and storekeeper, as well as a 
large owner of land; in later years a director of the 
bank and largely interested in the railroad. His 
wife was a sister of the brothers Davis. He was for 
several years in the State Legislature, and in 1852 a 
member of the Governor's Council ; a strong friend 
of temperance, and actively interested in politics. 
An offer to the Commonwealth of land and building- 
stone, with admirable advantages of water and situa- 
tion for the Women's Prison (now in Sherburn), was 
not accepted. His wealth and public spirit were of 
essential help in the building of the handsome and 
commodious Town Hall, soon after the close of the 
Civil War, and in establishing the Public Library. 
His eldest son, Frederick William, (born 1818, Har- 
vard University 1836 ; married to Miss Sarah Whit- 
ney, of Brookline), was lost, with his wife and child, 
in the sinking of the steamship " Arctic," off the 
coast of Nova Scotia, in October, 1854. Of his other 
sons, Cyrus lives in Northborough; George died in 
1856 ; Walter Scott, born in 1832, lives in Cali- 
fornia. A daughter, Hannah, was wife of George 
Barnes, of Northborough ; died in 1851. 

Rice. — Edmund Rice, from Hertfordshire, Eng- 
land (born about 1594, died 1663), settled in Sudbury 
in 1638 or '39; had eleven children. His son, Ed- 
ward (1619-1712), had eleven. Of these, Jacob 
(1660-1746) removed to Marlborough. His son Jacob 
(1707-88), the first of the family who lived in North- 
borough, was one of a family of nine; had eight 



' At the time of^hia birth his fatlier's age was Jifty-eight, so that 
their united ages covered the extraonlinary term of one hundred and 
fifty-three years. 



children. Amos (1743-1827) had a family of ten 
children, of whom Asaph (1768-1856) was a well- 
known citizen from fifty to seventy years ago, puri- 
tanic in principle and eccentric in habit; dearly 
loving a sharp set-to of speech in town-meeting or 
lyceura debate; he drove his weekl)' wagon-load of 
country produce to Boston from his farm on the cross- 
way between the Worcester and Boylston roads, start- 
ing at two in the morning, and getting his arrears of 
sleep (it was said) as he walked beside his team of 
slumbering horses — a unique character who could not 
be spared from the reminiscencesof this time. Of his 
nine children, the two best known were Anson (1798- 
1875), kindly, public-spirited, a frequent moderator at 
town-meetings, an important figure in the village 
choir with his great bass-viol ;-' and John (d. 1881), 
a useful citizen and active business man, of excellent 
intelligence and admirable private character, who 
died, suddenly, while on the railway train for Boston 
The present representative in Northborough of this 
strong and numerous family is Charles A., son of 
Anson, born 1825. A sister, Mrs. Mary F. Sherman, 
also lives here. 

Seaver. — Samuel Seaver (1770-1838), a wool- 
carder by trade, was the father of seven children. Of 
these, the elde--t son, Abraham Wood (1809-87), went 
at fifteen into the store of Gale & Davis, afterwards 
becoming partner with Mr. Gale (Cyrus Gale & Co., 
succeeded in 1845 by Cyrus Gale, Jr., & Henry May- 
nard). Between 1845 and 1853 he was engaged in 
the paint and oil trade in Boston ; then with Milo 
Hildreth, in Northborough, in the comb manufacture. 
In 1854 he became cashier of the Northborough 
Bank (George C. Davis, president), which office he 
held, with a short interval, until his last sickness, 
"a quiet but busy man, enjoying the confidence of 
the community, well known and highly respected 
through the central and eastern portions of Worcester 
County. He has held many positions of honor and 
trust, with credit to himself and profit to others, and 
declined an appointment as Judge of the Second 
Worces er District Court." His brother Samuel was 
the father of three sons, — Edwin Pliny (Harvard 
University, 1864), superintendent of schools in Bos- 
ton, living in West Newton ; Walter, a young man of 
very winning character and noblest promise, a most 
successful teacher, who died in 1867 ; and Francis, 
cashier of the Manufacturers' Bank, Boston. 

Valentine. — From John Valentine, who came 
to Boston in 1745, there were descendants in the 
fourth generation — sons of William, who settled in 
Northborough in 1804 — Gill (born 1788), the eleventh 
child, and Elmer (born 1795), the fifteenth and 
youngest. Of the five children of the former, George 
Gill (1815-69) andThomasW. (1818-79), long ateacher 
of high repute in Brooklyn, N. Y., and elsewhere. 



- Mr. Rice sang (he told me) in the choir at Dr. Allen's ordination 
service, in ISlti, and at hia funeral, in 1873. 



464 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



are the best known names. Elmer, who was the 
founder of the Bapti>t Society in this town, was long 
a successful teacher here and an admirable writing 
master. Of his fifteen children, the eldest, Charles 
Elmer (born 1822, married Olive Seaver), an excellent 
and beloved teacher in the Boston school, was in- 
stantly killed by a passing train while leaving that 
by which he had just arrived in West Newton, where 
he resided (1870). The widow of Elmer (Rebecca 
Crawford) lives, at a great age, in Northborough. 

Williams. — George Williams, a merchant of 
Salem, and his wife, Lydia Pickering (of whom an 
admirable portrait, painted in her old age by Gilbert 
Stuart, is in the Williams house in Northborough), 
were the parents of twelve children. Of his eight 
sons, the best known names are those of Timothy, a 
Boston merchant ; Samuel, a London banker ; and 
Stephen (1772-1838), owner of a fine stock and fruit 
farm in the westerly part of Nortliborough, whither 
he removed in 1799. His portion of the family estate 
had been lost by shipwreck ; but a later inheritance 
enabled him to make the purchase of his Northbor- 
ough farm. Of his brother Samuel it is told that, 
being on his return voyage from England, his vessel 
was run down and that he found himself, roused sud- 
denly out of sleep, clinging to the shrouds or bow- 
sprit of a large ship bound for England. Thus 
forced back, he conceived a horror of the sea, and 
never visited his native country, but went into busi- 
ness in London, where he was long well known for 
his hospitalities to visiting Americans. Among his 
good gifts, he sent to his brother Stephen a number 
of very fine stock-breeding animals, and pictures of 
the noblest of British bulls adorn the walls of the 
pleasant and hospitable old house. With the kindest 
of hearts, Mr. Williams' manner was curt and taci- 
turn ; he would turn aside not to betray himself, if be- 
guiled unawares into a laugh ; he cherished, like a 
lover, his choice varieties of rare fruit; and when the 
apple-harvest came he would leave at his minister's 
back-door the briefest of written messages: "Send 
your barrels!'' A man of generous and noble traits 
who, with his wife (Alice Orne, of Salem, 1769-1856), 
a lady of dignified, refined and quiet manner, made a 
greatly prized variety among our rural jjopulation. 
His son, George Henry (married Frances E. Simesj 
of Portsmouth, N. H.), has of late years lived upon his 
father's farm. His elder daughter, Mary, married 
Captain Edward Orne, of Salem, a shipmaster' in the 
Asiatic trade ; their two sons were Henry (formerly 
of Pontotoc, Miss., and later of Memphis, Tenn., 
where he died in 1862), and Charles, long in business 
in Hong Kong, who died in New York in 1881 ; a 
daughter, Mary, now lives in Cambridge. The 
younger daughter, Elizabeth, married Benjamin D. 
Whitney, of Brookline : he lives with his daughters 
in Cambridge. Ellen, daughter of George H. Wil- 
liams, is the Northborough representative of the 
younger generation. 



Wood. — The family of Wood in this vicinity are 
descended from William Wood, who migrated from 
England in 1638. His son Michael died in Concord 
in 1674 ; his son Abraham in Sudbury in 1742, or a 
little later ; his son "Captain" Samuel came in 1749 
to Northborough, where he built a fulling-mill, and 
died in 1760. Of the twelve children of his son Abra- 
ham, representatives are found through the seven 
daughters under the family names of Davis, Garrett, 
Kice, Valentine and others. The youngest of the 
twelve, Samuel, born 1799, had four sons and one 
daughter. One of the sons, Samuel, born 1831, is now 
president of the bauk. 

Statistics. — The following figures show the recent 
growth of the town, the ratio of gain being the largest 
of the towns in this county excepting four: Popula- 
tion in 1875, 1398; population in 1885, 1853: in- 
crease, 455. 

The gain is chiefly due to the immigration of 
French, most of wliom are factory operatives from Low- 
er Canada. From 1865 to 1875 there was a decrease, 
real or apparent, of 225. In the century since 1776, 
when the population was 562, there has been a gain 
of 836, or nearly 150 per cent. Number of voters in 
1885, 393'; number of ratable polls, 573 ; number of 
families, 416; populationof native birth, 1485; popu- 
lation of foreign birth, 368 ; natives of Massachusetts, 
1485 ; natives of Ireland, 99 ; natives of Canada, 154 ; 
having both parents native, 983; having both parents 
foreign, 629; unmarried (about one-half), 976; hav- 
ing both parents Canadian French, 272 ; having both 
parents Irish, 215. 

The following list is taken from the town reports 
of 1888 :— 

State tax, $1440 ; county tax, $856 ; town grant, 
$14,300 ; overlayings, $2.36.29— total, $16,832.29. Tai 
on polls, $1186 ; tax on real estate, $11,830.23 ; tax on 
personal estate, $3108.14 ; tax on resident bank stock, 
$707.92 — total amount of tax to be collected, $16,- 
832.29. Number of polls, 593; value of real estate, 
$946,340 ; value of personal estate, $248,592 ; value of 
resident bank stock, $56,613. Bank shares are taxed 
at $113. Rate of taxation, $12.50 per $1000. Num- 
ber ot dwelling-houses, 332 ; horses, 311 ; cows, 835. 

The followingstatementis from the local newspaper: 
The daily shipment of milk from Northboro' aver- 
ages at present about 300 cans holding 85 quarts each. 
During the spring mouths the daily shipment reached 
400 cans. Twenty-two cents per can is the price paid 
during the summer. Winter pricesare a trifle higher. 
—(September, 1888.) 

The export of apples to foreign markets began in 
1864. It is estimated that in fruit seasons the exports 
amount to 10,000 barrels. 

Financial summary for the year 1887-88. Expendi- 
tures : Schools, $4836.04; highways, $1757.60; bridges, 



1 Being 21 1*5 per cent, of the population. The highest ratio in tho 
county is in Lunenburg, 30 1-2 ; the lowest in Webster, 16 per cent. 



PETERSHAM. 



465 



$294.51; snow bills, $103.70; Fire Department, 
$356.73; street lighting, $378.50; Public Library, 
$434.29 ; pauper account, $2229.76 ; cemeteries, $200 ; 
Town Hall, $377.29; water damage, $3556.97; State 
aid, $489; contingent expenses, $1958.43— total, $16,- 
972.82. Interest charges and State claims, $10,845.82; 
total, $27,818.64. 



CHAPTER LXX. 

PETERSHAM. 

BY LYMAN CI,ARK. 

LocaJily — Topography—Railway Connections — ntslorical liaowrces— Early 
Settlement— Petitioners and Proprietors — Sereices in the Indian War — 
First Meeting — Settlers — RehUions with the Indians — Alarm — Armed 
Worshippers. 

Located in the northwestern part of Worcester 
County and bounded by AtUol, Phillipston, Barre, 
Dana and New Salem, with eastern and southern 
angles connecting with Hubbardston and Hardwick, 
is found the town of Petersham, the only place bear- 
ing the name in the United States. The plantation, 
as it was originally called, was intended to be laid out 
six miles square, or containing thirty-six square 
miles. The four angles of its boundary lines coincided 
nearly with the points of the compass. A range of 
hills extends from the extreme northern portion of the 
town southward, in a position central between the 
eastern and western bounds. It is said that on these 
hills is found the highest cultivated land in Massa- 
chu<ett3 east of the Connecticut River, the eleva- 
tion being but a few feet lower than the summit of 
AV'^achusett Mountain. 

On either side of this range of hills may be found 
streams flowing southward into Swift River, or, in the 
northwestern part, northward into Miller's River. 
East and west of these streams hills or elevated 
ground may be found as the traveller approaches 
Dana on the western or Hubbardston on the eastern 
border. A portion of the territory originally belong- 
ing to the town has been set off to increase that of 
Dana- 

The railway connections of the place are with the 
Fitchburg, by stage nine miles to Athol ; the Massa- 
chusetts Central by stage, ten miles to Barre. At 
North Dana, five miles' distant, is a station of the 
Springfield and Athol Branch of the Boston and 
Albany, and at Williamsville, six miles eastward, is a 
station of the Ware River Railway. All of these 
stations are used to some extent in communicating 
with the world, that at Athol having been hitherto 
the chief point. 

Historical Resources. — Mention may properly 
be made of the early town records from 1757-1793, 
which are specially valuable; also of the early church 
records, which begin with the organization of the 
church, 1738. Rev. Peter Whitney, son of Rev. 
30 



Aaron Whitney, the first pastor, wrote the first his- 
torical sketch of the town, of which we have knowl- 
edge, in his " History of Worcester County," which 
was the first published history of the county. Jared 
Weed, Esq., prepared an address upon the history of 
the town, the MS. of which has been in possession 
of Mr. Joseph Willson, of Bellows Falls, Vt. A 
bower has twice been built upon the Common and 
the people assembled to listen to an historical ad- 
dress, followed by festivities appropriate to our 
national holiday. The first occurred July 4, 1854, 
which was specially observed in view of the comple- 
tion, on the 19th of April previous, of a hun- 
dred years from the date of the incorporation of the 
town. Dr. William Parkhurst presided. Rev. Ed- 
mund B. Willson delivered a carefully prepared, very 
full and complete address, presenting the previous 
history of Petersham. This was published in pam- 
phlet form, with historical appendices, and is the 
basis of later historical labors relative to the town, 
furnishing much of the information contained in this 
article. Reference is made to this address for more 
full information on many topics than is here con- 
tained. 

The second historical anniversary was held in pur- 
suance of a resolution of Congress relative to local 
histories, under a bower on the same spot, July 4, 
1876 ; Deacon Cephas Willard, ninety years of age, 
presided. Lyman Clark, then pastor of the First 
Congregational Church (Unitarian), delivered the 
address which was intended to supply some informa- 
tion relative to the earlier period not contained in 
the previous address, and to add historical facts per- 
taining to the period of twenty-two years which had 
passed since the previous celebration. This address 
was publi-ihed in the Athol Transcript for July 11 
and 18, 1876. George W. Horr, LL.B., in tha 
year 1879 prepared a valuable historical article for a 
" History of Worcester County." Hon. John G. 
Mudge has carefully prepared the record of the sol- 
diers of the War of the Rebellion, and furnished 
much other information. Mr. J. B. Howe has for 
many years collected materials for the history of the 
town, many items of which have appeared in the 
Athol Transcript. A valuable MS. in his possession 
contains the letters of Captain Park Holland, pre- 
pared from a diary kept by him of six years' service 
in the Revolutionary War, service at (he time of 
Shays' Rebellion, and surveying tours to the eastern 
part of what is now the State of Maine. Acknowl- 
edgments are made to these various sources of infor- 
mation contained in this article, including courtesies 
by Mr. C. B. Tillinghast, in charge of the State 
Library. The preparation of a full history of the 
town remains for the future. Probably few towns of 
the State will be found to have more interesting his- 
torical resources than are furnished by the annals of 
Petersham. 

Early Settlement. — In the month of April, 



466 



HISTORY OP WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



1733, John Bennet, Jeremiah Perley and sixty- 
five others petitioned the General Court for a grant 
of land six miles square. The proposed grant was to 
be located from a point beginning six miles from the 
northwest corner of Rutland, the southern line run- 
ning westerly six miles. The reason urged in favor 
of the grant by the petitioners was previous service 
in the Indian Wars under Captain Lovell, of Dun- 
stable, and Captain White, of Lancaster. Two 
previous petitions had been sent to the General Court 
without avail. This petition was acted upon favor- 
ably on the 2.5th day of April, 1733, the General 
Court having excluded nine of the petitioners and 
added five new names, making seventy-one proprietors. 
The grant was at the average rate of three hundred 
and twenty-four acres per man, or about twice the 
amount now allowed under the bounty laws of the 
United States, and may be thought a generous recog- 
nition of the " Hardship and Difficult marches they 
underwent " . . . " after the Inden Enemy and Into 
their Country,'' which were humbly assigned as 
reasons for the grant. 

It is probable that those marches had at some time 
led the petitioners over the lands which they thought 
desirable for a plantation, and that thus the location 
was fixed in their minds. Some of them were men 
of means, thus giving the enterprise of establishing 
a plantation responsible endorsement. The petition- 
eri lived chiefly in the northwestern part of Middle- 
sex and northeastern part of Worcester Counties. 
The towns of Lancaster, Boxford, Harvard, Lunen- 
burg, Concord, Groton, Dracut, Haverhill, Biller- 
ica, Grafton, Rutland, Sudbury, Worcester, Ames- 
bury, Exeter, N. H., Bedford, Chelmsford and other 
places were represented among the proprietors. 

Petitioners and Peoprietors. — The names of 
the original petitioners were: " Benoni Boyenten, 
Moses Hazzen, William Hutchins, Caleb Dalton, 
John Hazzen, Jacob Perley, Samuel Stickney, 
Phinias Foster, Stephen Merril, Benjamin Barker, 
Robart Ford, Abner Brown, Samuel Hilton, John 
White, Benjamin Walker, Joseph Reed, John Baker, 
John Goss, Joseph Wrighte, Richard Hall, Oliver 
Pollard, Samuel Fletcher, John Dunton, William 
Spalding, John Varnum, John Leveston, Junr., Jos- 
eph Whelock, Robarte Phelps, Jonathan Hough- 
ton, Jacob Ernes, Henry Willard, John Bennet, 
Jeremiah Perley, and in behalf of Joshua Hut- 
chins, Jathro Eames, Jonas Houghton, Ezra Saw- 
yer, James Houghton, Samuel Sawyer, Aron Rice 
(Ried ?), Jonathan Adams, Moses Chandler, Sam- 
uel Rugg, Jonathan Atherton, Ephraim Houghton, 
Jonathan Wilson, Steven Houghton, heirs of Sam- 
uel Mossmann, Benjamin Gates, Fairbanks Moores, 
Joseph Whittomb, Samuel Lamed, Daniel Hough- 
ton, Peter Atherton, John Wilder, Edward Hough- 
ton, Henry Houghton, David Whitcomb, Timothy 
Hale, Jonathan Parling, Samuel Brown, John Saw- 
yer, Joseph Willson, Samuel Willard, Ephraim 



Farnsworth, Edward Hartwell, Ruben Farnsworth." 
The five of these petitioners who were excluded 
by the General Court were: Edward Hartwell, 
Joseph Wright, Joseph Whelock, Robart Phelps 
and Jonathan Houghton, Jr. 

Nine persons required to be admitted among the 
proprietors were : Thomas Farmer, Henry Coul- 
burn, Jonathan Farrer, Samuel Shaddock, Samuel 
Trull, Jacob Corey, Joshua Webster, Abiel Foster, 
Samuel Tarbol. Thus the names of seventy-one 
proprietors were recognized in the grant, many of 
whom never became settlers, but transferred their 
lands to children or other assignees. In a sub- 
sequent report of the names by the proprietors' 
clerk, the name Aaron Ried appears instead of 
Aron Rice, and Sam" Terrill in place of Sam- 
uel Trull. It may be deemed mare likely that 
the true names were Ried and Terrill, an imperfect 
signature possibly explaining the early error, which 
was corrected by the proprietors' clerk after ample 
acquaintance. 

Samuel Willard appears to have borne the mili- 
tary rank of major; Jeremiah Perley and Jonas 
Houghton, that of captain; John Bennet and Sam- 
uel Tarbol, that of lieutenant. 

Services in the Indian War. — The following 
statement is made by Willson, in his address at the one 
hundredth anniversary of the incorporation of the 
town, of the services referred to in the petition of the 
proprietors. " What proprietors of this town rendered 
services under Captain White, of Lancaster, or what 
the particular services rendered were, it is out of my 
power to tell ; but we have the means of identifying 
above forty oftheseventy-oneproprietorsof this town, 
as having been volunteers under the famous and re- 
doubtable Captain Lovell, of Dunstable, on the last 
but one of his marches into the Indian country, — they 
constituting about three-fourths of his whole force. 
This was the expedition in which a camp of ten In- 
dians was surprised, and the whole number extermin- 
ated." It is not easy to pass this allusion without ex- 
pressing a sense of humiliation in view of the fact 
that this warfare against the Indians was carried on 
in pursuance of an ofl'er by Massachusetts of a bounty 
of one hundred pounds (sterling money) each for the 
scalps of the Indians. The scalps were brought in 
and the bounty paid. Aside from the barbarism of 
this warfare on the part of the whites, which the 
(>ctitioners shared with the people of Massachusetts, 
the character of the original proprietors, as thus in- 
dicated, is of interest when considered in connection 
with events which took place at the time of the Rev- 
olutionary War. Their martial service was the oc- 
casion of a designation of the town, which sometimes 
appears in the early records as Volunteer's Town, or, 
by abbreviation, Voluntown. The name borne by 
established usage from the date of settlement to that 
of incorporation, 1^54, was Nichewaug. This name 



/ 



PETEKSHAM. 



467 



is still preserved as the post-ofBce designation of a vil- 
lage in the southern part of the town. 

The proprietors held their first meeting in Lancaster, 
May 10, 1733 ; the second in Groton during the au- 
tumn of the same year. At this meeting, in Groton, 
it was voted that a meeting-house be built. It will be 
noted that Groton is central between Lancaster, Dun- 
stable and the neighboring towns, from which the re- 
cruits for the companies of Captains White and Lovell 
were enlisted. 

Settlees. — More of interest attaches to the names 
of the early settlers than to those of the proprietors 
as such, many of whom never located in the town, 
but disposed of their rights to others. In pursuance 
of action by the General Court, Thomas Adams, pro- 
prietors' clerk, prepared, December 14, 1750, a report 
of the names of forty-seven settlers, with the proprie 
tor's right on which they were located. This affords 
a means of distinguishing this number of settlers 
by the names which follow : John Stowill, Jacob 
Wheeler, Jonas Farusworth, Sam" Willson, Nath' 
Sanderson, Nathan Goddard, Isaac Wardj^Christ'' 
Page, Isaac Hilldrake, Nath' Stevens, Salvenas How, 
Joseph Marble, David Stone, Simeon Houghton, 
David Page, John Wilder, Junr., Dan" Mills, George 
Dobbins, Sam' Willard, Jun., Esq'., Aaron Allen, 
Ephraim Rice, Joseph Willson, Sam" Whittemore, 
William Negus, Sam" Marble, James Clemence, 
Ebenezer Davis, Thos. Robbins, Dan" Owen, Benj° 
Chandler, Nath" Wilder, Zedekiah Stone, Ebenez' 
Hill, David Lawson, Thomas Rogers, Daniel Fisk, 
Edmund Bingham, Edward Allen, Jon° Marble, 
David Lawson, Jun'., Sam" Gats, David Sanderson, 
Dan" Dunkin, Charles Wilder, Aaron Wilder, Dan" 
Spooner, Eleazer Sanger. 

The report closes with this statement : 
" There are Divers others settled on Devisions be- 
longing to the same Rights that are here settled, but 
the time being so short since I saw the act in the 
Prints that I am not aljie at present to give an exact 
account what particular Rights they are settled on 
and convey the same to the General assembly by the 
time appointed; but the number of families in said 
Township are Sixty-one." 

This report dates from four years previous to the 
incorporation of the town, 1754. The fir.^t census, 
taken in 1765, showed a population of seven hundred 
and seven. 

Tradition reports that the first two houses in the 
settlement were built by Joseph Willson and Simeon 
Houghton, the question of precedence not being 
determined. 

Relations with the Indians.— The proprietors 
of the town of Petersham acquired by purchase, in 
addition to the grant of the General Court, an Indian 
claim upon the land. Probably this contributed to 
the peaceable relations of the settlers with the claim- 
ants, no death by savage violence having ever been 
reported as occurring within the town. We have a 



glimpse of the early time in the following description, 
by Captain Park Holland, whose father came to the 
town from Shrewsbury in 1752, of an alarm at the time 
of the French and Indian War, 1756: "I recollect as 
distinctly as if but yesterday when the inhabitants 
were called upon to be ready to defend themselves. 
We were at church when news came that the enemy 
was near. The services were immediately ended, and 
each man seized his gun, which he had left at the 
door, hastened home to be ready to march in the 
morning. I well remember one of our neighbors 
coining to borrow a darning-needle of ray mother to 
mend her husband's stockings, which I very much 
wondered at, it being Sunday, not exactly seeing how 
the expected approach of the French and Indiana 
could lessen the sin of working on that holy day. I 
was then probably four or five years old." As this 
was an alarm it appears that their habit was to take 
their guns to church, which at a later date has not 
been thought to be in good form. Horr quotes 
Whitney to the same eflect in the following passage : 
"Although the prospects from the soil were very 
promising, and settlers moved in fast, yet they laboured 
under many and exceeding great di.>-:advantages, being 
then so remote from any white people, from whom 
they could procure the necessaries of life, or derive 
any aid or support. While in its infancy and strug- 
gling for life, a French war broke out, and the Indians, 
being always in the interest of the French, became 
hostile, and began to commit depredations in various 
parts of the land, which occasioned the few inhabit- 
ants great fear and danger, obliging them to build 
forts in different parts of the town, round certain 
houses, into each of which a number of families 
moved for safety and defence, and soldiers were 
stationed there as a guard to the inhabitants, and to 
reconnoitre the country. The people used to labor on 
their lands in small parties, changing work with one 
another, having their guns by them, and these, also, 
they were for a long time obliged to carry with them 
whenever they went to the House of God for religious 
worship, and also to place sentinels at the doors." 



CHAPTER LXXI. 

PETERSHAM— ( Continued. ) 

INCIDENTS OF THE REVOI.UTION. 

Emflmimfnl of a Teacher— Dedication of a Liberly Tree—Breakiyig Open 
a School-home— A Suit for Damages— A Brilliant Attorney— A Ilepre- 
sentatiee Instructs — Warlike Resolutions— Greeting to Boston — Tltat 
" Town" Invited to Petersham— The Doings of Several Parties — Rwjal~ 
isU Disarmed— A Town-meeting in 1170— The Miuter-roll— Clearing a 
Parade Ground — Captain Holland Dines with Washington — Inoculated 
with Small pox — Financial Honor of the Town. 

The town history presents a most interesting series 
of incidents connected with the Rovolution. One of 



468 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



the first grew out of the etnployment of a teacher. 
Rev. Aaron Whitney, pastor of the church and mem- 
ber of the School Board, was a royalist. (More than a 
hundred years removed from the passions of that time, 
we may well avoid tlie current epithets and show the 
literary courtesy of styling the two parties to the revo- 
lutionary stuiggle royalists and revolutionists, words 
exactly expressing the political position of the oppo- 
nents.) Eusign Man, an applicant for the position of 
teacher, was in sentiment a revolutionist ; in view of 
which Mr. Whitney refused to take part in his exam- 
ination, but was present. The teacher was employed 
notwithstanding the opposition of Mr. Whitney, and 
became a party to several events connected with the war. 
In 1768 the Massachusetts House of Representa- 
tives had forwarded an address to the King, relative to 
grievances, which was deemed by the crown offensive 
in its terms, and the House was ordered to rescind 
its action. The vote upon this question was seventeen 
in favor of to ninety-two against rescinding the peti- 
tion. The " Sons of Liberty," at Petersham, cele- 
brated, in characteristic fashion, this refusal to with- 
draw a petition for redress of grievances. They selected 
a thrifty young elm tree, and cut away seventeen 
branches, leaving, as tradition declares, ninety-two re- 
maining. With songs, toasts and patriotic ceremony 
the dismembered branches were consigned to the 
flames, and the living tree dedicated to the Goddess 
of Liberty. That Ensign Man, teacher of the children 
of the place, should take part, as he did, in such cere- 
monies, would naturally arouse theindignation of the 
royalist citizens of the town. A certain school-house 
stood upon giound which was claimed by Captain 
Thomas Beaman, as was the school-house itself, to be 
his property. For the purpose of keeping the offend- 
ing schoolmaster from using this school-house, Cap- 
tain Beaman closed the door with a padlock. Mr. 
Sylvanus How, who had formerly owned the land, 
claimed that the school-house stood in the highway, 
and, going with Mr. Man, they broke open the door. 
A suit ibr damages arose, the decision of which 
awarded the plaintiff, Captain Beaman six shillings. 
The defendants appealed and obtained, a reduction of 
this small award, but were compelled to pay the costs, 
which were a considerable sum. Utterly trivial, petty 
and insignificant as this is, it led, such being the com- 
plications of human events, to that which rises to the 
dignity of historic consequence. Sylvanus How had 
employed no less a personage than the brilliant and 
distinguished Josiah Quincy, Jr., to defend him from 
being, as he thought, unrighteously mulcted in the 
sum of six shillings for opening a school-house. This 
able lawyer was unsuccessful so far as the main ques- 
tion was concerned. A petty reduction of the petty 
fine was all he accomplished, leaving the right of the 
cause, as awarded, to the plaintiff Beaman. But Mr. 
Quincy was able to render Mr. How other and very 
much more important services, which may now be 
narrated. 



The Boston Committee of Correspondence had sent 
out its Circular Letter to the towns. Mr. How was 
chairman of the town committee to draft a reply to 
that circular. He sought unofficial assistance from 
his attorney, Mr. Quincy, who used the opportunity 
with good effect. Mr. How's associates upon the 
committee were Colonel Ephraim Doolittle, Jonathan 
Grout, Samuel Dennis, Daniel Miles, Captain Elisha 
Ward, John Stowell, Theophilus Chandler and Dea- 
con William Willard. This committee, with the 
friendly assistance of Mr. Quincy, prepared a reply to 
the circular from Boston, a series of resolutions rela- 
tive to the condition of the colonies, and a series of 
instructions to their representative to the General 
Court. Colonel Ephraim Doolittle represented the 
town and was also moderator of the town-meeting, 
held January 4, 1773, which acted upon the report. 
An excerpt from the instructions to their representa- 
tive is of special interest as showing the temper of 
the report: 

It is our earnest desire, and we liere direct you to use your utmost in- 
fluencr^ (as one of the legislative body) to uonvinco the imtion of Great 
Britain that the measures they have meted out to us will have a direct 
tendency to destroy both them and us ; and petition the King and Par- 
li.auiaut of Great Britain, in the most pathetic and striking manner, to 
relieve us from our aggravated grievances. But if this slionld fail, we 
reconunend it to your consideration and direct you to move it to the 
consideration of the honorable Court, whether it would it not be best to 
call in the aid of some Protestant Power or Powers, requesting that they 
would use their kind and Christian influence with our mother country, 
that so we m.ay be relieved, and that brjtherly love and harmony may 
again take place, and that natural alliance again be restoted between us 
and Great Britain, which may coQtinue until time shall be no more. 

An excerpt from the resolutions, known to have 
originated in the mind of Mr. Quincy, presents the 
alternative of the town in case of the failure of the 
peaceful methods of petition and arbitration: 

Eesolved, That it is the first and highest social duty of this people to 
consider of, and seek ways and meiuig for a speedy redress of these 
mighty grievances alul intolerable wrongs ; and that for the obtainment 
of this end, this people are warranted by the laws of God and nature in 
the use of every rightful art, aud energy of policy, stratagem and 
force. 

This historic deliberative action of the town re- 
commended a petition, "in the most pathetic and 
striking manner," for redress of grievances, arbitra- 
tion as the alternative; but failing in these, the town 
declared resistance warranted by use of every rightful 
art, energy of policy, strategem and force. Can it be 
truly said that this deliberative conclusion of the town 
in parliament, January 4, 1773, was in any respect 
less significant, though less famous than the actual 
use of force which began at Concord two years later? 

The letter of reply to the circular sent from Boston 
contains such a portraiture of the times that it may 
well be given entire. 

Td the Comniillee of Correspondence for the town of Boston : 

Gentlemen ; The town of Petersham having received the circular 
letter from the town of Boston, with the 8tate[luent] of rights aud 
grievances as published by them, most sensibly congratulate you on 
retiecting on that pr nciple of virtue which must have induced your 
town, at GO critical a day, to take the lead in so good a cause ; and our 
admiration is heightened when we consider your being exposed to the 



PETERSHAM. 



469 



first efforts of the iron jaws of power. The time may come when, if 
you continue your integrity, that you may be ilriven from your goodly 
heritages; and if that sliould be tlio case {wliicli God of Ilia infinite 
mercy prevent), we invite you to share witli us in our small supplies of 
the necessarys of life. And should the voracious jaws of tymnny still 
haunt us, and we should not be able to withstand them, we are de- 
termined to retire and seek refuge among the inlanil aboriginal natives 
of this country, with whom we doubt not but to iind more humanity 
and brotherly love than we have lately received from our mother coun- 
try. 

We are sensible that there i.s a number amongst us who are wicked 
enough to make use of their whole influence to divide and render the 
efforts making for a union abortive; and that they are induced to con- 
duct in this manner from the low motives of expecting to be sharers in 
the .arbitrary power which they are so active in endeavoring should 
take place, and of sharing in the unrighteous plunder of their fellow- 
men. But may God graciously disappoint their me.asures and turn 
their hearts ! We herewith send an attested copy of the doings of our 
town. If the nature of causes ever again bespeaks any more from us, 
we then again shall offer what then may appear right, for we read that 
those that were faithful spake often one to the other; and may God of 
his infinite mercy, in his own time deliver us ! 

SlLVANtrs How, per order. 
Dav[d Sanderson, Town Clerk. 

Specially noticable is the invitation given to the 
" town of Boston," in view of the then possible future 
event of being overcome by " iron jaws of power," to 
take refuge in Petersham and share with them in 
their " small supplies of the necessarys of life." For- 
tunately, the British lion was not able to drive the 
" town of Boston " to an acceptance of this hospitable 
invitation ; but it is a curious fact that a century later 
many of the people of Boston, overcome by a lion, did, 
and still do, take refuge in Petersham, to there share 
with the good people the ample supplies of the " ne- 
cessaries of life." Not the lion of the English flag, but 
the astronomical lion, whose fury brings July and 
August temperatures, constrains at least some of the 
people of Boston to favorable consideration of the 
historic invitation to Petersham. 

Of several parties to these incidents it may be said 
that Ensign Man became captivated by the charms of 
Miss Alice Whitney, the minister's daughter, whom 
he married, renouncing his former political views. 
Colonel Doolittle, although not personally present, 
was the first officer of a Worcester County regiment 
which took part at the battle of Bunker Hill. Daniel 
Miles and Sylvanus How became soldiers in the 
Revolutionary army. Captain Beaman, who locked 
the school-house door, won execrable distinction by 
piloting the British troops from Boston to Concord. 
Josiah Quincy rendered his country memorableservice 
by his eloquence and patriotism. 

Royalists Disarmed. — The town was not without 
a local exhibition of force, which, however, did not 
lead to bloodshed. Dr. Ball, of Templeton, which 
then included Phillipston, on a visit to Petersham, 
fell into a disputation with one or two young men 
who were of the revolutionary party. Separating 
with ill-feeling, the men waylaid the Templeton 
royalist on his way homeward, and pelted him with 
stones, one of which took serious, one tradition says 
subsequently fatal, effect. The outrage naturally 
aroused the royalists of Templeton, and friends of Dr. 



Ball, who came over in force and were joined by friends 
of their cause in Petersham. A like assembly of the 
friends of the colonial cause took place under the 
leadership of Captain Holman, also of Templeton, 
the result being that the royalist party took refuge in 
a house then owned by David Stone, now in possession 
of Mr. George West, and barricaded their place of 
refuge. The opposing revolutionists besieged the 
house and guarded it during the following stormy 
night, after which the royalists were induced to sur- 
render. They came out and were escorted to the 
hotel kept by Mr. Winslow, and an investigation took 
place with this result: the royalists were required to 
give up their arms and agree not to act against the 
revolutionary movement in future. The injury to Dr. 
Ball had given them just cause of complaint, but the 
cause of independence was in their estimation superior * 
to any question of personal assault and battery, and 
these Petersham patriots took occasion, in January or 
February, 1775, to thus disarm their opponents, and 
parole them substantially as prisoners of war. Tradi- 
tion declares that on that night of siege two wives, 
whose husbands were in the opposing ranks, met in 
the fields between their respective dwellings, and 
exchanged personal sympathies as neighbors and 
friends. 

A town-meeting was held May 27, 1776, " to see 
if the inhabitants will instruct their representative 
to inform the Great and General Court of this Pro- 
vince that they stand ready, and are fully determined 
to support the Continental Congress with their lives 
and fortunes, on condition they should declare the 
American colonies independent of corrupt and arbi- 
trary Great Britain." Affirmative action was taken, 
with but one negative vote. 

Enrollment of Soldiers. — The virtue of a 
promise is in the performance thereof. How well 
the town kept its promise in behalf of the cause of 
independence may be seen from its roll of revolution- 
ary soldiers. 

Col. Ephraim Doolittle commanded a Worcester 
County regiment. Capt. John Wheeler led a Peters- 
ham company in the same regiment. The names of 
the men of this company, some of whom may have 
enlisted from other towns, are given, with various 
marks of interrogation, by Rev. Edmund Willson. 
Edw. Barker (or Bowker), Lieutenant ; John Bowker, 
Lieutenant; Thos. Davenport, John Holland, John 
Roger.*, Joel Doolittle, Sergeants; Thad. Houghton, 
Corporal ; Thomas Wheeler, Drummer ; Caleb Bryant, 
Fifer; Israel Houghton, Caleb Perry, David Perry, 
Aaron Allen, Bezile Amsdel (Bezaleel Amsden ?), 
Sam. Bryant, Thomas Bowker, Ezekiel Bouker, Nat. 
Bozworth, David Clarke, Reuben Cummings, 
Ephraim Clafflin, David (Daniel?) Claflin, John 
Finney (" Fiendly '' or Findlay?) Benjamin Ganson, 
Joanna (?) Gallen, Peter Gore, Luther Holland, 
Phazez (?) Houghton, Si Ivan us How, John How, 
Jacob Houghton, Henry W. Hunt, James Havvkes, 



470 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



Thos. Jackson, Benj. Knapp, Dan'l Miles, Joab 
Miles, William Peckham, Eph. Bill, Amos Bill, John 
Bill, Luke Bill, Abel Rogers, Jabez Spear, Dav. 
Sanderson, Eph. Sterns, John Stores (Stowell?), Bug- 
gies Spooner, Eliak (im) Spooner, Wing Spooner, 
John Warden, John Wilder, Cornelius Wilder, Joseph 
Wilson. 

The following additional names are given as Peters- 
ham men who belonged to the company of Capt. 
Fletcher, of Templeton : Jotham Houghton, Eben- 
ezer Ingersoll, William Clements, Daniel Duncan, 
David Fling, Silas Harris, Stephen Hall, Robert Hill, 
Joseph Negus, Abel Wheeler. 

In the company of Captain Jonathan Holman, 
also of Templeton, were found Martin Rice, fifer, 
David Bruce, Thomas Groce, Daniel Hastings, Isaac 
Palmer, Amos Rice, Ebenezer Wilson. Seventy-two 
names are thus given as either belonging to the 
Petersham company or enlisted from the town in the 
companies of Captain Holman and Fletcher, of Tem- 
pleton. 

In addition to these names given by Willson, we 
mention those of two brothers. Captain Ivory Holland 
and Captain Park Holland. For a sketch of the life 
of the latter, see biographical notes. One incident 
of his service may be here given in his own words: 

A Dinner by 'Washington. 
In the spring of 1781, 1 think it was, our troops marched down to 
"White I'lains and formed an encampment, and while there we were 
amused hy an order that was said to liave come from Gen. Heath, but, 
as we all knew Washington's abhorrence of the sin of profanity, we 
knew well where it originated. Our parade-ground was cleared with 
much difficulty. The order was that the lirst one who was heard to 
utter an oath should dig up by the roots one of t4ie pitch-pine stumps, 
which was no very easy matter. Not long after a soldier was seen 
sweating and toiling away at one, declaring that it was paying too dear, 
and itshould be the last he would dig. Speaking of Washington's dis- 
like of profane habits reminds me of a scene at his own table, where 
twenty or more of the officers were invited to dine with him. His habit 
was usually to take a single glass of wine after dinner, and retire, leav- 
ing us to ourselves, .is he, at this time of care and an^iet3', rarely made 
any conversation except on business. We had finished our dinner, and 
AVashington had taken his wine in bis hand, when a young officer from 
New Hampshire at the end of the table, who had long been in the habit 
of using profane language, being so much engaged, forgot where he 
was, and swore an oath, when he heard a rap on the tabln by Washing- 
ton, who set down his untasted wine, arose and said, " Gentlemen, when 
I invited you here it was my intention to have invited gentlemen only, 
lam sorry to add I have been mistaken," and left the room. \ dead 
silence reigned for some time, which was broken by the offender himself 
calling us all to witness that the oath he had uttered should be his 
last ; adding he should rather have been shot through the heart than 
have deserved the reproof from AVashington. Such was our love and 
reverence for this great and good man that the most profane left off the 
habit, and it was done away with among us before the close of the 
war. 

The regiment in which Captain Holland served, 
as a matter of preparation for service, went into bar- 
racks at Bunker Hill and, this being before the dis- 
covery of vaccination, were inoculated with small- 
pox. He passed through this experience and tells us 
that "about nine hundred entered the hospital, eight 
hundred of whom recovered." Such was the cost of 
independence. 

The record of the annual town-meeting held March 



6, 1780, contains an entry which is very creditable to 
the financial honor with which the soldiers were 
treated. It appears that the town "Chose a committee 
for hiring soldiers: Joseph Gleason, Robert Peck- 
ham, John Bouker, — voted that the committee, if they 
have to hire money or soldiers, that they engage on 
the Town's credit to keep the money of Equal value." 
It will be borne in mind that the United States did 
not undertake to act upon this principle in payment 
of the soldiers of the Rebellion. 

During the Revolution the town well and patriotic- 
ally sustained the military charaitter of its population 
at the time of settlement, which gave it for a time the 
occasional name Volunteer's Town. 



CHAPTER LXXII. 

PETERSHAM— ( Co;//;« ««-(/. ) 
shays' rebellion. 

Causeti — The Insurgents at Peiham — Government Troops at Eadley — The 
Night March and Dinpersion — Eeport of Gen. Lincoln — Nar^-ative btf 
Capt. Holland — Itev. Dr Samuel Willard an Eye-Wilness — "Infantry 
in Arms ^^.~Considerate Judgment. 

The insurrection commonly known as Shays' Re- 
bellion grew out of the disorganization of society 
during the Revolution, the impoverishment of the 
people by the war (making pa3'ment of debts difficult) 
and the weakness of the civil administration under 
the Articles of Confederation. It strikingly called 
attention to the need of a stronger government and 
thus incidentally contributed toward the movement 
for "a more perfect union," by the adoption of the 
Constitution of the United States, the imperfection 
of the previous union being illustrated in this and 
other resistance to constituted authority. 

On Saturday morning, February 2, 1787, Captain 
Daniel Shays, after various efforts to interrupt the 
proceedings of the court, for the purpose of prevent- 
ing the collection of debts, was found at Pelham with 
about two thousand men. General Lincoln was at 
Hadley with an armed force of government troops. 
The situation and subsequent events are best described 
in the report of Gen. Lincoln to Governor Bowdoin 
and in historical letters by Capt. Park Holland and 
Rev. Samuel Willard, D.D. 

Gen. Lincoln's report is as follows: 

Petersham, February 4, 1787. 

Dc*ir Sir, — I ha>e been honored with the receii>t of your Kxcellency's 
favoi-B of the 'ioih ult. and the 1st inst. with the warrants. 

In my last I mentioned to you that I had various applications from 
the neighboring towns, and what answers I had given. These, I think, 
had a happy effect, and the towns have felt themselves much interested 
in recalling their men, and putting an end to the progress of the insur- 
gents. 

I remained a number of days at Hadley, refreshing our men, who had 
experienced severe fatigue ; this gave time for the Insurgents to reflect 



PETERSHAM. 



471 



upon the ofTers which bad been made to tbem, and for the selectmen to 
interpose their authority. 

Fridny we reconnoitered their post with an intention to approach 
them the next day. This mo%'ement gave them an alarm, and at 3 
o'clock Saturday morning I received a flag from Wheeler, requesting 
that he might liave a conference with Gen. Putnam. It was granted 
and they met Saturday forenoon. To provide for his personal safety 
seemed to be the principal object he bad in view — no encouragement on 
this head being given, lie retired ; and Saturday evening I was informed 
that Shays had left Pelhani, and had pointed his forces towards thia 
place, where, it was said, he expected to be joined by many others, and 
where he could make a stand, as many towns in this vicinity were in his 
interest. At 8 o'clock our troops were in motion; the first part of the 
night was light, and the weather clement ; but between li and 3 o'clock 
in the morning, the wind shifting to the westward, it became cold and 
equally, with considerable snow. The wind arose very high, and with 
light snow that fell the day before and was falling, the paths were soon 
filled up, the men became fatigued, and they were in a part of the 
country where they could not be covered in the distance of eight miles, 
and the cold was so increased that they could not halt in the road to 
refresh themselves. Under these circumstances they were obliged to 
continue their march. We arrived here about 9 o'clock, exceedingly 
fatigued by a march of 30 miles, part of it in a deep snow, and in a most 
violent storm. When this abated the cold increased and a great part of 
our men are frozen in some part or other — I hope none of them are dan- 
gerously so, and that most of tiiem will be able again to march in a 
short time. We approached this town nearly in the centre, where 
Shays had covered his men ; and had we not been prevented by the 
steepness of the hill and the depth of the snow from throwing our men 
rapidly into it, we should have arrested very probably one-half of his 
force: for they were so nearly surprised, as it was. that they had not 
time to call in their outparties, or even their guards. Ahout loH fell 
into our hands, and none escaped but by the most precepitate flight in 
different directions ; but most of their men fled for Athol. It is said 
they intended to reach Northfield. This brings him near the line of 
another State, where he may vainly hope to find an asylum. Thus, Sir, 
that body of men, who were, a few days since, offering the grossest 
insults to the best citizens of the Commonwealth, and were menacing 
even Government itself, is fast dissipating, and it will not long, I think, 
have the least existence. It must be pleasing to your Excellency to 
know that this has been efTected, and bloodshed avoided, but in an in- 
stant or two, where the Insurgents have rushed on to their own de- 
struction, after every effort had been made by the officers of Gov- 
ernment to prevent it. Thitt so little has been spilt is owing, in a 
measure, to the patience and obedience, the zeal and fortitude discov" 
ered in our troops, to whom too much thanks cannot be given. A dif- 
ferent line of conduct which Shays flattered his troops would be mani- 
fested and would have given them support, and led them to acts of 
violence, while it must have buoyed up the hopes of their abettors and 
stimulated them to greater exertions. 

As soon as the troops are able to move I shall follow Shays, and throw 
part of our force into Berkshire. Before I leave this place I shall make 
a disposition of the troops, and discharge such whole services as are no 
longer necessary. 

Notwithstanding the present state of things, much is necessary for the 
General Court to do ; and decided measures on their part will give sup- 
port to our friends and dismay to others, 

I have the honor to be with highest respect, your obedient servant, 

B. Ltncoln. 

Mr. Cabot will honor this by being the bearer of it. His great atten- 
tion to duty and bis knowledge therein entitle him to thanks. He will 
give your Excellency a more minute account of matters than I have 
been able to write. 

His Excellency Governor Bowdoin. 

An extract only can be given from the singularly 
interesting narrative of Capt. Park Holland, which 
will amply explain itself and throw fresh Tight upon 
the report of Gen. Lincoln : 

Some time in December I was appointed to take I he company raised 
in the towns of Petersham, Athol and Rutland, which was immediately 
filled by voluntary enlistment. I had enlisted as private soldiers thirteen 
old commissioned officers, among whom was Gen. Kufus Putnam, in 
whose regiment I had served during the War of the Revolution. Uur- 
ing these transactions Capt. Daniel Shays, commander-in-chief of the 



opposite party was not idle. He had collected, it was said, eight or ten 
thousand men, a part of whom, under the commaod of Luke Bay, were 
somewhere in the vicinity of West Springfield. Another large force 
commanded by Adam Wheeler collected first at Princeton, from thence 
marched to New Braintree, while Shays with the main body was in or 
near the town of Pelham. While Gen, Lincoln and his troops lay at 
Worcester, news arrived that Shays with his division was on the march to 
Springfield to tiike possession of the Continental stores, arms, ammunition, 
etc.. which were deposited there. Gen. Lincoln marched immediately 
to Brookfield, where he halted for the night. The next day we continued 
our march for Springfield, and white on the way sometime before noon 
we heard that Shays had reached there already and had had an 
encounter with Gen. Shepherd, who was there guarding the United 
States property with a detachment of government troops. We soon met 
stragglers from Shays' retreating troops, among others a sleigh with two 
or three dead men, who, as a soldier remarked, — " poor fellows, had had 
their grievances redressed forever," the "redress of grievances " being 
a term much in use among them. It was with no small grief that I 
now recognir-ed in one of the dead my old friend Spicer. ... I 
had known him as a faithful soldier through the war and as one who at 
various times had manifested much afl^ection for me. On our arrival at 
Springfield we found that Shays had made a rapid retreat towards Pel- 
ham, and Gen. Shepherd gave us the following account of the battle, if 
it could be termed such : ' Shays and his men were found to be rapidly 
marching to Springfield, where the Continental stores were deposited 
and guarded by Gen. Shepherd, who immediately sent out his aids with 
a flag to inform Shaj's that if he advanced any further he should fire 
upon him. He returned no answer, but continued marching more rapidly 
towards Shepherd, who then ordered his field-pieces loaded, some with 
balls and some with grape shot, and when within reach of the guns he 
ordered one of the field-pieces to be fired over the beads of the insurgents, 
which was quickly done, but they only quickened their march instead of 
baiting, as he had hoped they would do. Another piece was now ordered 
with as good aim as possible at the main body. This had the desired 
effect, a rapid and disorderly retreat, leaving their dead and one mortally 
wounded on the field. Gen. Shepherd remarked to me that at no time in 
his life was he called upon to perform so painful a duty as when he or- 
dered good aim to be taken at Shays and his men, many of whom had 
fought at his side and stood firm through the most trying scenes of the 
late war. I had served under Shays and knew him to be a brave and 
good soldier or officer, and I can truly say that it was with no regret on 
my part that I had not reached here in season to see him and his mis' 
taken followers fired iipon as enemies. 

While Sliays was advancing upon Springfield Capt. Day had collected 
a considerable force on the opposite side of the river at West Springfield 
to re enforce Shays if necessary. Therefore, soon as Lincoln's men had 
taken some refreshments we crossed the river to call Capt. Day to ac- 
count for bis acts and deeds, but on our arrival we found that he, in hia 
wisdom, had thought best to disband his troops, and that neither he nor 
his kinsmen were to be found. We next marched to old Hadley, think- 
ing it possible that Day might collect his men and attempt to join Shays 
at Pelham. Here we remained two or three days to refresh and wait for 
our artillery and stores to overtake us. About the third day of our tarry 
in Hadley, at sunset we received orders to march immediately as we 
supposed to Pelliam, but the fact was that Gen. Lincoln had received 
information that Shays had left Pelham and was on his way to Peter- 
sham. We left immediately, late as it was. The weather was comfort- 
ably warm, but about ten or twelve o'clock in the night the wind 
changed to the northwest, blew furiously, accompanied by a violent 
snow-squall, and became intolerably cold. The snow was deep, though 
a fine sleigh path would have made it good travelling had it not been 
that our artillery was in front with wheels so much wider than the path 
that the road was filled with loose snow, which rendered the travelling 
as uncomfortable as can well be imagined. We reached Petersham about 
sunrise next morning, tired, hungry and frozen, having travelled in the 
course of the night thirty miles, the hardest march I ever endured. I 
found myself badly frost-bitten, and found but two of my whole com- 
pany who were not more or less frozen. Shays being informed that Gen . 
Lincoln was close in his rear thought it best to leave town, and so rapid 
were his movements that many left their provisions, and some on the fire 
preparing for breakfast. Our quartermaster had gone in front of us to 
look out for houses to lodge in, so when we reached the main street we 
had only to take possession of such as were pointed out to us, some of 
which were still occupied by Shays' men, who soon left and gave us a 
peaceable entrance. Never were a good fire and breakfast enjoyed more 
highly by any set of men. The main body of Shays' troops marched 



472 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



throngh the town to the northern hounds, which pass through a valley, 
and were inamensuro out of tho colJ wind. There tbey made a halt» 
probably to consider what was best to be done; either to make a firm 
stand and give Gen. Lincoln battle or to make a final retreat. It appears 
that they cbose the hitter, as many relumed to their homes. 

Their place of haltinir, as mentioned above, was directly in front of 
my home, where my family then were, and it may be supposed felt them- 
selves in a Tery unpleasant situation, as it was well-known that I was 
out in Lincoln's Ainiy, and of course unfriendly to Shays. Of course 
they had reason to expect some abuse from them. My wife was at tins 
time confined by illness to lier chamber, but with her usual presence of 
mind she told the young man living with her to make a good fire in 
each room in the house as soon as she saw their intention of halting, and 
to bring from her cellar and pantry everything she had to offer for break- 
fast. The house was soon filled to overflowing with men half starved 
and half frozen, among whom was Mr. Converse, now quartermaster, an 
acquaintance of ours. My wifR sent for him and told him she had done 
all in her power for their relief and comfort, and hoped he would see that 
they did no damage to the honse. He assured her that he was very 
grateful, and that as fur as possible he would comply with her request ; 
which he strictly did, and after eating and warming themselves to their 
satisfaction they departed, having done no damage save clearing the 
house of every eatable thing. 

An appendix to the address of Rev. Edmund Will- 
son preserves to us a f^raphic description of the rout 
of Shays* men by an eye-witness, Rev. Dr. Samuel 
Willard. The house of his father was one of several 
that were occupied by troops, they supposing that 
their own march of the day previous had put a long 
distance between them and the forces of Lincoln. 

"I well remember," writes the Kev. I)r. Willard, of Deerfield, "the 
entrance of the insurgents into Petersham, and the alarm it excited 
among those who were known to be on the side of the Government. 
Several of the insurgents had been arrested and condemned to death for 
having been found in arms the second time, in violation of the oath of 
allegiance which had been imposed after their first capture ; and their 
party had threatened to take prisoners who should be held as hostages 
for the life aud salety of those who were under condemnation. On this 
account my father and some others secreted themselves when the insur- 
gents approached their houses. The sudden and unexpected arrival of 
Lincoln the next morning, and the precipitate retreat of Shays and hia 
army dispersed all fear, but not all trouble. The array of the Govern- 
ment was quartered upon us from Sunday morning till Wednesday, and 
left our houses in such a state as to inspire dread of armies in every 
bosom. 

'* The insurgents were little prepared to act with efBciency. To say 
nothing of their want of personal qualifications, they were deficient in 
arms. Some of the staff officers were appropriately armed ; for, in hia 
flight, one of them left at our house the only weapon which I think he 
had,— a cayie, which was nothing else than a stick stripped of its bark, 
with a pewter head, of which my boyhood took possession. 

"One or two anecdotes will show the panic, aud the want of military 
tactics which were apparent in the retreat : 

"I was out at the door on the approach of Lincoln's army ; and an 
officer of the insurgents came riding up at full speed, and gave me, a 
boy often years— the oral commission, 'Run into the house, and tell 
them to parade in a minute, for the enemy are upon us I' I went in, but 
found them in as much confusion as a hive of bees swarming. After 
they were gone, it appeared that one of them had forgotten to take his 
gun, and a brother of mine took possession of it, and it was never called 
for. 

*'It was in the midst of a violent snow-storm, or. rather, the snow was 
flying, and it was very cold. Some poor wight had his hat taken from 
his head, and, I suppose, went without a hat against that furious north 
wind to Athol, where they halted. I, myself, found the hat the follow- 
ing spring in one of our lols, and, as my head was large for a boy of 
niy age, it suited me very well, and I finished the wear of it." 

The writer has often conversed with another eye- 
witness to the scenes, a younger brother of the au- 
thor of these reminiscences, the late Deacon Cephas 
Willard, well known in Worcester County. But he, 
with a humorous twinkle of his eye, excused himself 



for not remembering details by saying, " I then be- 
longed to the infantry in arms^ and not tinder arms.** 

Other houses in the town are said to have been oc- 
cupied in similar manner, including the village tav- 
ern and that of the minister, Rev. Solomon Reed. 
He was a large, portly man, who stood guard in his 
halls for the night, as tradition affirms, with drawn 
sword, in order to prevent trespass on the part of the 
insurgents. 

The plea of Captain Holland for a kindly and con- 
siderate judgment of Shays* men ought not to be 
overlooked. He says, — 

I observe here there are many things to be considered before we con- 
demn the misled followers of Daniel Shays. Tlieir leaders wore igno- 
rant, aud many of them deceived. Our government was a new and un- 
tried ship, with many joints that needed oiling, to say the least ; with 
no chart of experience to guide us, nor map of the paht by which to lay 
our course. He who stood by the side of these men in many hard- 
fought battles with a powerful enemy, and witnessed their hardships 
and sufferings, borne without complaint, would much rather remember 
the good service they rendered their country than dwell upon what his- 
torians have set down as a blot upon their country's pages* 



CHAPTEE LXXIII. 

PETERSHAM— ( Continued. ) 

THE CHURCHES. 

A Meeting in Grofon — Aaron Wliitiiey ordained as First pastor — Opposed to 
the Uetolution — Action by the Town — A Guard at the Church-door — Solo- 
mon lieed Ordamed — Indian Com OJ'ered as Salary — A Mutual Council 
to Settle *'JurTa and Qaarrels^^ — FestuB Foster Ordained — Tlie Covenant 
Chantjid — Eev. Lnllier Willxon Installed — Disestablishment of the 
Churches — Property Transferred — The Jilinisterial Land Sold for Corn 
— Sundry Bequests — Bee. GeorgeR. ^oyes, D.I)., Settled — Biblical ScJiot' 
arship — Iter. Nathaniel Gage Settled — House of Worship Built — Clock 
and Bell — Several Pastors — Congregational Church — Baptist Church — 
Tlie VniversiUists — Methodists. 

The long and generally peaceful prosperity which 
followed the adoption of the Constitution of the 
United States gave opportunity for the growth of the 
churches, schools and industries of the county and of 
this town. The local growth may be here narrated 
from the beginning. The proprietors of the town 
voted, at their second meeting, held at Groton, in the 
autumn of 1733, to build a meeting-house. 

This action, taken in a town forty miles distant, 
recalls still earlier events. In the settlement of the 
colonies the civil and ecclesiastieal organization was 
sometimes effected on shipboard, or in England before 
the colonists embarked. The town and chuich of 
Dorchestes were organized at Plymouth, England. 
Afterward the community removed from Dorchester 
to Winsor, where it united with other towns in the 
formation of the State of Connecticut. So the erec- 
tion of a church at Petersham was ordered by a vote 
taken in Groton. Five years passed before the settle- 
ment of a pastor, preaching being maintained during 
a portion of the time. 



PETEESHAM. 



473 



In 1738 a young graduate from Harvard was dis- 
missed from the cliurch at Littleton and came to 
Nichewaug to be tlie minister of the town and cliurch 
which was yet to be organized within it. A church 
covenant was adopted and Aaron Whitney was or- 
dained and settled as minister. A proprietor's lot 
was assigned to him, with two hundred pounds in 
money as a settlement and one hundred and fifty 
pounds as an annual salary. He was ordained in 
December of the same year. Isaac Ward and Thomas 
Adams were chosen deacons. Probably the dedica- 
tion of the house of worship also took place. 

The covenant adopted was Trinitarian in form. It 
was in use until the year 1802, or sixty-four years, 
when a statement of faith Unitarian in its terms was 
substituted. The pastorate of Mr. Whitney appears 
to have been peaceful and prosperous until the time 
of the Revolution. He was royalist in sentiment, and 
this led to a vote of the town that they " will not bar- 
gain with, hire nor employ the Rev. Mr. Whitney to 
preach for diem any longer." He was treated as "an 
enemy of his country," though his character was 
blameless and his fidelity unimpeachable. Mr. Wliit- 
ney regarded the action of the town as wholly illegal 
and would have continued to preach in disregard of 
the vote of the town. To prevent this a committee 
was chosen "to see that the publick worship be not 
disturbed by any person or persons going into the 
desk but such persons as shall be put in by the Town's 
Committee." In pursuance of this vote, the commit- 
tee on the following Sunday stationed Peter Gore, a 
half-blood Indian, armed, tradition says, with a gun, 
at the door of the church, and when Mr. Whitney 
arrived he was not allowed to enter. A clear spring 
upon the Phillipston road, called " Gore spring," 
preserves the memory of Peter Gore, who owned the 
pasture in which it is found. Mr. Whitney continued 
to preach at his own house and still claimed to be the 
minister of the town. The pastorate was practically 
closed in 1777. Four of his sons were educated at 
Harvard College. 

On the 15(h of June, 1780, the town voted unani- 
mously to call "Mr. Solomoa Reed to settle with 
them in the work of the Gospel," and iurther " voted 
that the Town give him a Settlement of one hundred 
pounds Stated on Indian corn at three shillings pr 
bushel, to be paid in 30 days after his ordination." 
A yearly salary of one hundred pounds "on Indian 
corn " at the same rate was otfered. At the sugges- 
tion of Mr. Reed these proposals were so modified 
that the payment was to be made in lawful money, it 
being agreed that "each and every hundred "pounds 
when paid shall be with a sum of money sufficient to 
purchase six hundred and sixty-six bushels and tow- 
thirds of a bushel of Indian corn." The agreement 
further recited that, " Whereas, through the wiles of 
the adversary or through the weakness and Infirmi- 
ties of human nature, dissention, difficulties, Jarrs 
and Quarrels may subsist between the said Mr. Solo- 



mon Reed and the Congregation in this Town, wheth- 
er the Difficulty arises on the part of the Town church 
or on the part of s'* Mr. Solomon Reed," and provided 
that a mutual council should be called to compose 
and arrange all differences. 

These conditions having been agreed to, Mr. Reed 
was settled and his pastorate continued uniil the year 
1800, or about twenty years. This long service is 
sufficient evidence that Mr. Reed was beloved and 
respected by his people, although the truth of history 
compels one to say that he was not free from tempta- 
tion to excesses in the use of intoxicating drinks. 
Furthermore, the people were not without fault in 
this respect, the selectmen having approved a bill of 
more than five thousand pounds for liquors and other 
articles for the ordaining council by which Mr. Reed 
was settled. This statement is made from memory 
of the language of the bill which the writer has seen. 
The explanation of the astonishing sum is found in 
the date, 1780, when currency was so inflated that 
the amount in specie was probably less than two 
hundred dollars. 

In the year 1801 the church and town invited Mr. 
Festus Foster to become their minister. He con- 
sented, and was ordained January 13, 1802. Three 
months after his ordination the church substituted a 
"Christian Profession," Unitarian in sentiment, for 
the " Covenant" in previous use. The profession 
thus adopted has been continued by the First Parish, 
with slight changes, to the present time. The pas- 
torate of Festus Foster closed 1817, when he w.is 
dismissed with honorable recognition of his faithful 
services. 

Rev. Luther Willson, a native of New Braintree, 
born 1783, a graduate of Williams College, 1807, for 
some years preceptor of Leicester Academy, pastor 
of the First Church, Brooklyn, Conn., from 1813 to 
1817, was installed at Petersham, June 23, 1819. 
The pastorate contained until October 18, 1834, or 
more than fifteen years, which, although his relations 
with his people were harmonious, he characterized as 
" times of excitement and division." After resigna- 
tion, he lived in Petersham, preaching at various 
places from time to time, and died November 20, 1864, 
his grave being found in the cemetery east of the 
common. Luther Willson and Sally Bigelow were 
united in marriage November 30, 1806. Miss Bige- 
low was born July 6, 1783, and died January 29, 

1826. Luther Willson and Fidelia Wells, of Deer- 
field, his second wife, were married December 5, 

1827. She was born in Deerfield, August 6, 1797, 
and died in Bellows Falls, Vt., January 8, 1884. 

During the pastorate of Rev. Luther Willson a 
State law was passed disestablishing the churches of 
Massachusetts. A Trinitarian Congregational Church 
was organized, which included those who did not 
accept the " Christian Profession," which had been 
substituted for the earlier "Covenant." The affairs 
of the Church were to be no longer connected with 



474 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



the town. The property and records passed to the 
First Congregational Parish, which received from 
the town $3975.43 in money, that being the amount 
of a fund which had resulted from the sale of the 
" ministerial lands." These lands were one proprie- 
tor's lot set off for the maintenance of the ministry. 
They had been used by Rev. Aaron Whitney pre- 
viously to the year 1775. Two entries in the records 
of a meeting held May 24th of that year will serve to 
indicate the cause of transfer of the lands to the care 
of the town : 

" Voted unanimously, that the town will not hire the 
Eev'd Mr. Whitney to preach with them any longer, 
and that he is Dismissed from any further services as 
a Gospel Minister in this Town. . . . Voted, that the 
Selectmen take possession of and lease out the minis- 
terial lands for the most they will fetch." Three years 
later, or in 1778, it was voted to sell the ministerial 
lands. From such sale the ministerial fund was es- 
tablished. 

The report of the committee which sold the lands, 
accepted by a town-meeting, 1780, shows that four 
hundred and twenty-eight acres and one hundred and 
four rods were sold in lots to ten different persons, 
corn being the standard of value. The sales amounted 
to 6779 bushels and 22 quarts, as the value of the 
lands. The annual interest to be paid, as reckoned by 
the committee, was 405 bushels and 15 quarts. The 
rate appears to have been six per cent. The slight 
discrepancy in reckoning from these figures is 
doubtless explainable by the fact that the committee 
reckoned from a number of smaller quantities. 

Upon the separation of the afl'aiis of the church and 
town, Aaron Brooks, Esq., Jared Weed, Esq., and 
Jonas Carruth were the committee which made the in- 
ventory of church property to be transferred. The parish 
also received subsequently the sum of one thousand 
dollars, which was given by Nathaniel McCarty, his 
will having provided that the interest "shall be ap- 
plied to the support of Unitarian preaching in said 
Town," and five hundred dollars, which were devised 
by an item of the will as follows : " I give and be- 
queath to the Town of Petersham five hundred dol- 
lars, the interest to be appropriated to support the 
singing on Sundays in their meeting-house. Provided 
the inhabitants of that town see that part of public 
worship decently and properly performed ; the princi- 
pal to be perpetually kept good by a safe investment 
on land security." 

The will contained this explanation : " My induce- 
ment to these bequests is ... a desire to testify the 
interest which I continue to feel in the place where I 
long resided and where, with the blessing of heaven, 
I acquired much of my property." These bequests came 
to the church as the successor of the town in respect 
to ecclesiastical interests. 

The first vSunday-school in Petersham was estab- 
lished by Rev. Luther Willson, who was its first su- 
perintendent. Rev. George R. Noyes, D.P., suc- 



ceeded Rev. Luther Willson. His translation of a 
large portion of the Bible has given him a reputa- 
tion wider than any one denomination. His works, 
which are still in print, are a Translation of the He- 
b-ew Prophets, Translation of the Book of Psalms, 
Translation of .Job, and the New Testament Trans- 
lated from the Greek text of Tischendorf. He made 
also a collection of Theological Essays by various 
authors, for which he wrote an introduction. The 
translation of the Scriptures anticipated many of the 
changes of the Revised Version. 

Dr. Noyes was a native of Newburyport ; a gradu- 
ate of Harvard College, 1818 ; received the degree of 
Doctor of Divinity, 1839 ; settled in Brookfield, 1827 ; 
installed in Petersham, October, 1834 ; elected to a 
professorship in the Theological School of Harvard 
University in 1840. 

Rev. Nathaniel Gage was born at North Andover, 
Mass., 1800 ; graduated at Harward, 1822 ; at the Di- 
vinity School, 1826 ; was settled in the ministry at 
Nashua, N. H., and Haverhill, Mass., seven years 
each; installed at Petersham, October 6, 1841; dis- 
missed, 1845 ; afterward of Lancaster and Westboro', 
which was his hist settlement. He subsequently re- 
sided at Cambridge, preaching at Ashby and other 
places, and died in 1861. 

During the ministry of Mr. Gage at Petersham the 
house of worship, which is still occupied by the First 
Parish, was erected. It was built by a stock subscrip- 
tion of fifty-five shares of one hundred dollars each, 
which were subsequently presented by the share- 
holders to the parish. The first church edifice, which 
was regularly occupied from the year 1738, after 
several years of progress toward completion, was used 
until about the year 1780, or sixty-two years. Then 
the building of a new church was agitated, but it was 
probably 1788 when it was ready for occupation. 
Eleazer Bradshaw, Esq., of Brookfield, gave a bell 
which came from the works of Paul Revere. A clock 
was given later, 1828, by Cyrus Wadsworth. Ui)on the 
erection of the present church, 1842, the bell and 
clock were removed from the old church. That build- 
ing, which had been used for worship from 1788 to 
1842, or fifty-four years, was removed to the east side 
of the Common and devoted to secular uses until de- 
stroyed by fire, 1845. The previous removal of the 
bell and clock, and consequent preservation of those 
relics of the early time, is an occasion of special sat- 
isfaction. The bell bears the inscription : 

" The living to tlie Church I call, 
And to the grave I summon ail.'' 

Brief mention only can be made of those who have 
since served as pastors of the church. Rev. Ephraim 
Nute, Jr., was ordained October 15, 1845; dismissed, 
1848. He has since been settled in Scituate and Chic- 
opee, and has lived in Kansas, to which State he went 
in connection with a movement to settle that terri- 
tory with emigrants opposed to slavery and in favor 
of the organization of a free State. 



PETERSHAM. 



475 



Rev. Martin W. Willis, ordained at Walpole, N. H., 
184.3, was installed at Petersham, 1848. The pastorate 
continued until 1851, since which time he has been 
settled at Bath, Me., and at Nashua, N. H., subse- 
quently residing in St. Louis. 

John J. Putnam, previously settled in Bolton, was 
installed 1852. During his ministry the organ was 
purchased, which displaced the violin, violoncello and 
bass viol, which Iiad been in previous use as an aid to 
church music. 

Rev. Seth Saltmarsh served eight years as pastor 
of the church. 

Rev. Daniel Francis Goddard was born at Plym- 
outh, Mass., November 29, 1827. He studied two 
years at Amherst College, afterward preparing for 
the ministry with Rev. Russell Tomlinson, a Uni- 
versalist. He was ordained and settled over a 
Universalist Church, Boston, afterward being en- 
gaged in the ministry at Weymouth and Chelsea, 
before coming to Petersham. His subsequent em- 
ployment was at Revere, Harvard and Chelmsford. 
He died July 13, 1883. 

Rev. Thomas D. Howard, who served as pastor 
about four years, was born at Springfield, Mass., 
December 26, 1826, being the son of Charles and 
Elizabeth (Dwight) Howard. He graduated at Har- 
vard College, 1848, Divinity School, 1851, and has 
since been settled in order at Berry, Me., Sheboygan, 
Wis., Petersham, Charlestown, N. H. He united in 
marriage, 1854, with Sarah A. Eaton, of Berry, Me. 
During the War of the Rebellion Mr. Howard served 
as chaplain, and upon resigning at Petersham, served 
as secretary of the Commissioners of Prisons. for 
Massachusetts. 

Lyman Clark was born at what is now Sago, W. 
Va., 1838, being the son of Cornelius and Abigail 
(Wright) Clark, natives respectively of Bridgewater 
and Westford, Mass. The family having removed to 
Illinois, Lyman Clark served in the War of the Re- 
bellion, 1861-65. Upon leaving the army he entered 
the Meadville Theological School, remaining four 
years ; was graduated 1869 and ordained at a meeting 
of the Western Conference at Quincy, 111., October of 
the same year. He was located for several months 
at Jacksonville, III.; has been settled at Lancaster, 
N. H., 1870-74; Petersham, 1874-82; Ayer, 1882 ; to 
the present time. He was a member of the House of 
Representatives 1879, representing the towns of Tem- 
pleton, Phillipston, Hubbardston and Petersham; was 
united in marriage, 1872, with Isabel Clough, daugh- 
ter of Eben and Susan Clough, Bethel, Me. 

Rev. Isaac Francis Porter was born at Wenham, 
Essex County, Mass., June 29, 1839. He served as a 
soldier in the War of the Rebellion, attended Madi- 
son University, New York, afterward the Meadville 
(Pa.) Theological School. He has been settled in 
the ministry at Princeton, 111., Peterboro', N. H., 
Chicopee, Petersham, (1883-87), Bolton and Berlin, 
Mass. 



Henry Harrison Brown, the present pastor, was 
born at Uxbridge, 1840, the son of Pemberton 
Brown, and Paulina (Whitmore) Brown, of Sutton. 
He studied at Nichols Academy, Dudley, at Mead- 
ville and served in the War of the Rebellion from 
1862-65 ; was ordained at Petersham, 1888. 

Congregational. — An Orthodox Congregational 
Church was organized and established by council held 
January 25, 1823. Its house of worship was built sev- 
eral years later, or about the year 1829. Its pastors 
have been Rev. Mr. Wolcott, 1830-33 ; Rev. Caleb B. 
Tracy, installed June 25, 1834 ; Rev. Columbus Shum- 
way, installed October 4, 1837 ; Rev. Solomon Clark, 
installed April 13, 1841 ; Rev. A. B. Foster, installed 
May 12,1853; Rev. Lucien H. Adams, installed Oc- 
tober 28, 1862, dismissed January 2, 1865, to become 
a missionary to Turkey of the American Board of Com- 
missioners for Foreign Missions. The church has 
since been served in pastoral relations by Rev. Charles 
Kendall, Rev. Mr. Root, Rev. Wm. Miller, Rev. 
Abijah Stowell, Rev. Benjamin Ober, Rev. Charles 
W. Fifield, installed October 14, 1874 ; Rev. Elbridge 
W. Merrit, acting pastor, and Rev. David Shurtleft', 
installed May 8, 1884. 

A second church of the Orthodox Congregational 
denomination was organized in the southwest part of 
the town, on the borders of Dana and Hardwick, in 
the year 1836 or 1837, and a meeting-house was built. 
Probably the ^nearness of the locality to Dana Centre 
led to its discontinuance. 

Baptist Chuech. — At the time of the Revolution, 
and for some years afterward, a Baptist Society was 
maintained in the southwesterly part of the town, its 
church being located near the Factory Village, so- 
called, otherwise Nichewaug. Rev. Samuel Dennis 
and Rev. Mr. Sellon were pastors. The meeting-house 
was subsequently moved to Dana, where it was for 
some time occupied by the same society and after- 
ward by Universalists, finally being used for secular 
purposes. 

A branch society of the Baptist Church in Athol 
was organized in Petersham, November, 1824. Rev. 
Thomas Marshall held services for several years, he 
residing in the westerly party of the town. In May, 
1849, this branch church assumed an independent 
organization, and Rev. John Shepardson became 
their first pastor. He was succeeded by Rev. E. .C. 
Anderson, D.D., and Rev. T. T. Merriman and Rev. 
Kilburn Holt, pastor from 1882-87. Rev. Arvin Au- 
gustus Smith, the present pastor, was settled 1888. Of 
these several pastors a few facts may be given. Rev. 
Samuel Dennis was an ardent revolutionist and 
probably the author, in part, of the reply of the town 
to the Committee of Correspondence of the town of 
Boston, the resolutions sent to the General Court, 
and the instructions to their representative. His 
name appears as representative to the General 
Court, 1777. 

Rev. John Shepardson was active in the organiza- 



476 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



tion and conduct of the Highland Institute, a school 
which was for some years maintained in what is now 
known as the Nichewaug, and of which Rev. E. C. 
Anderson, D.D.. was for some time principal. 

Eev. T. M. Merriam, A.M., was the author of two 
works entitled "The Trail of History; or. History of 
Religion and Empire," and " William, Prince of 
Orange." 

Rev. Kilburn Holt had served in the ministry at 
Lancaster, N. H., and Colebrook, Mass., having 
removed to Amherst upon leaving Petersham. 

Eev. Arvin A. Smith was a graduate of Brown 
University and studied theology at Newton. 

The house of worship occupied by the Baptists was 
purchased of the Universalists about the year 1849, 

A Univeesali.st Society was organized in the 
year 1836 or 1837. It built the house of worship 
now occupied by the Baptists. The society was con- 
tinued probably until the year 1849. Rev. Mr. Wil- 
lis and Rev. Mr. Coolidge served as pastors. 

The Methodist Church. — Preaching was main- 
tained by the Methodists, and a society formed, which 
continued from 1843 to 1848 or '49. A small chapel 
was built, the use of which, for church purposes, was 
afterward discontinued. Their pastors were Rev. 
Messrs. Button, Clarke and Goodwin. 






CHAPTER LXXIV. 

VBT-BRSUAM—iConiinued. ) 

Schools— Indmtries — Wetdth—Poptilation— College Grachwtes — Congressmen 
— State Senators — RepreseutatU-es — Town OJicers — Seteotmen — Town 
Cteiks—Town Treasurers — School CommiUec^Officers 1888. 



From a letter of Captain Park Holland we have 
this account of the educational facilities of the town 
during his boyhood, or about the year 1760 : 

"Our opportunity for obtaining an education was 
very limited indeed. The Psalter and a few old 
books were all that were used in the few months' 
school we attended. . . . Our books of amusement 
were likewise very few. ^sop's Fables and occa- 
sionally some ballads brought us by a strolling pedlar, 
were the principal, and they were read with great 
pleasure; and not read merely, but often committed 
to memory." From such, not by any means worth- 
less, beginnings has grown the present modern 
school. 

Schools. — The town being large in respect to ter- 
ritory, it has been necessary to maintain schools in 
the several neighborhoods. Nine school-houses are 
still found out of the village, and formerly there were 
ten, one having been burned. Schools have been 
temporarily suspended at different times in several of 
the school-houses for want of pupils in the neighbor- 
hood, other schools being well filled. In the village 
a brick school-house is found, in which are three 



rooms, one of which has recently been occupied by 
the library, one by a primary and ungraded school, 
one by a high school. Although the population is 
below the standard which requires a high school to be 
maintained, the town has been accustomed to vote an 
appropriation for the high school from year to year. 
This voluntary action indicates the earnest interest of 
the people in the education of children. The town 
appropriates a high percentage of its valuation for 
school purposes. The number of children of school 
age, or from five to fifteen years, was one hundred and 
fifty-nine for the year 1888. A boarding-school, under 
the name of the Highland Institute, was maintained 
for several years. 

Industries. — The most common employment of 
the people from the beginnins: has been that of farm- 
ing. The necessary grist-mill, saw-mill and black- 
smith and wheelwright shops have done their work 
from an early date. No manufacturing corporation is 
at present located in Petersham. In 1847 a fire which 
swept the westerly side of the Common, destroying 
property estimated at fifty thousand dollars, burned a 
building which was fitted with engine and machinery 
for the manufacture of lasting buttons. Fourteen 
buildings were burned, including two hotels, barns 
and out-buildings, one dwelling-house, one large « 
store, one building occupied by shops, offices, etc. 
This fire inflicted permanent injury to the business 
interests of the place. 

The braiding of palm-leaf hats was introduced by 
Mr. Samson Wetherell, October, 1827. He procured 
material and employed a Miss Gilbert to teach braid- 
ing, furnishing her a room in his own house for the 
purpose. The apprentices became teachers of others 
throughout the town. The first expense was borne 
wholly by Wetherell & Brown, merchants. After- 
ward one dollar was paid by learners to the teacher. 
The leaf was first split with a pen-knife, the hats being 
whitened in a barrel with brimstone, pressed with a 
fiat-iron and barreled up to send to market. In ten 
years from the introduction the gross business amounted 
to twenty-five thousand four hundred and ninety-five 
dollars, the value of one hundred and thirty thousand 
five hundred and twenty-five hats, the product of one 
year. This continued for a long time to be an impor- J 
tant industry in many households, and is still prac- 1 
ticed to some extent. 

The seating of chairs is also practiced somewhat, 
the chair frames being distributed from the factories 
in Gardner. J 

Pearlash was at an early day produced to a consid- I 
erable extent. To meet the necessities of the Revo- 
lution, saltpetre was made to be used in manufacture 
of gunpowder. More patriotism than profit is said to 
have been connected with this enterprise. 

To meet a want caused by interrupted commerce, 
salt was made at Rochester Shore ard brought to the 
town for the use of the people. The enterprise was not 
successful, for which reason it was abandoned. 



PETERSHAM. 



477 



Paul Peckharn formerly manufactured ladders, and 
at the proper season sent them around through the 
country for sale. In this business he used a ma- 
chine, invented by himself, for dressing tapering 
conical surfaces. 

A cheese-factory was erected three-quarters of a 
mile south of the village, and the business carried on 
for some time. It was finally discontinued, and the 
building moved to the rear of the Unitarian Church, 
where it was converted first into a skating rink, and 
afterward into a tenement-house. 

Mr. Hiram Gibbs for some years carried on the 
making of staves for pail manufacture. 

German Lagara has manufactured articles of fancy 
wood- work, plates, bowls, nut-dishes, etc., which are 
sold to summer boarders and others who visit the 
town. 

Mr. Elisha Webb has, for many years, manufac- 
tured powder kegs at the south part of the town, em- 
ploying a small corps of workmen. This has for 
years been the largest manufacturing interest of the 
town. 

Formerly Petersham was a thoroughfare and stop- 
ping-place for teams passing with merchandise or 
stage-coach passengers from Boston through Sudbury, 
Shrewsbury, Holden, Rutland and liarre, to Athol, 
Orange, Greenfield, Northfield, Warwick and the 
southeastern part of Vermont. For the accommoda- 
tion of this travel there were four taverns^one in 
the eastern part of the town, two near the centre 
and one on the road to Athol at the north end. One 
of these, as Rev. Dr. Samuel Willard tel's us, main- 
tained a sign which " was somewhat emblematic of 
what a tavern should be, viz.: a tea-kettle hung 
from the arm of the post." 

John Chandler, Esq., who lived a century ago, 
kept a large deer park of seventy acres, surrounded 
by a very high Virginia fence, sufficient, as was sup- 
posed, to keep the deer safely enclosed. But tradi- 
tion tells of an exceedingly deep snow, which, drift- 
ing against the rails, compacted into a bridge, w'hich 
gave his deer their natural liberty. 

Wealth. — By the census of 1885 the population 
of the town was 1032, of whom 972 were native, 60 
of foreign birth. The dwelling-houses numbered 
278. The products of the town were valued at 
$167,583, including, with other classifications not 
here given, animal products valued at $9252 ; dairy 
products, $40,459 ; cereals, $10,297 ; wood products, 
$9299; hay, straw and fodder, $56,628. 

The property of the town, other than that classi- 
fied as products, was valued at $706,765, and in- 
cluded land, valued at $355,132; buildings, $199,274; 
machines and implements, $36,968; domestic ani- 
mals, etc., $70,609; fruit-trees and vines, $44,782. 
The total value of products and property was $874,- 
348. 

Rev. Peter Whitney, who published his " History 
of Worcester County " in 1793, states the relative 



position of the town in respect to wealth thus: 
"There are but seven towns who pay more to a State 
tax." From this it appears that Petersham was 
then eighth in the State in respect to wealth. 

Population. — The population of the town has 
declined somewhat during the present in comparison 
with the previous century. In the early settlement of 
the State, villages were often located at the summit of 
hills, presumably on account of the more defensible 
position. The possibility of a stealthy attack from a 
savage foe made it necessary to select the village site 
with a military eye. But the advent of the ponderous 
locomotive, with the necessity for a graded road-bed, 
determined the location of villages in the valleys 
rather than upon the hills. The building-up of the 
railway centres has made steady drain upon the popu- 
lation of farming communities, whether upon the 
hills or in the valleys. During at least a large portion 
of the present century the young people have con- 
stantly gone from Petersham to make homes in other 
towns and cities. The movement of population is 
indicated by s ime figures collected by Mr. Willson for 
his historical address, with the addition of the results 
of the later census returns. 

The town was incorporated 1754, the first census 
afterward being in the year 1765, the population 707. 
The subsequent numbers appear in the following order: 
1776, 1235 ; 1790, 1560 ; 1800, 1794^ 1810, 1490 ; 1820, 
1623; 1830,1696; 1840,1775; 1850,1527; 1855,1553; 
1860,1465; 1865,1428; 1870,1.3.35; 1875,1203; 1880, 
1109 ; 1885, 1032. From this it appears that the largest 
population was in the year 1800, the number next in 
order beingfor the year 1840. The number of inhabit- 
ants by the last census is the smallest since 1765. 

The depopulation of Petersham has built up other 
places, its former residents being found in Boston, 
Worcester, Fitchburg, Athol, Greenfield, New York, 
Chicago and many other places. It remains for a 
fuiure writer to narrate the exodus of this town, and 
tell of the doings of its children in their new homes. 

College Graduates.— The graduates of several 
colleges who were native inhabitants of Petersham, 
include the following names : 

Harvard Univcrsily : — Peter Whitney, A.M., class of 
1762; Paul Whitney, A.M., 1772; Abel Whitney, 
1773; William Amherst Barron, A.M., 1787; John 
Chandler, A.M., 1787; Richard Whitney, A.M., 1787; 
Nathaniel Chandler, 1792; Thomas Barron, 1796; 
Samuel Willard, S.T.D., 1803; Samuel Ward Chandler, 
1822 ; Francis Augustus Brooks, 1842 ; John Brooks, 
1856. 

Dartmouth College: — Jonathan Grout, A.M., class of 
1787; John Jackson, 1792; William Ward, 1792; 
Paul Grout, 1793 ; George Grou', 1795 ; Elisha Ham- 
mond, 1802; Abiathar Hopkins, 1806; Hutchins 
Hapgood, 1813 ; Cyrus Pitt Grosvenor, 1818; Moses 
Gill Grosvenor, 1822. 

Williams College: — Daniel Bigelow, cla^s of 1803; 



478 



HISTORY OP WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



Lewis Bigelow, 1803; Charles Goddard, 1815; Joel S. 
Sanderson, 1850. 

Amherst College: — John B. Kendall, class of 1827; 
Charles Grosvenor Goddard, 1841 ; Andrew Jackson 
Wheeler, 1846; George Sumner Grosvenor, 1858; 
Abiathar Blanchard, 1875. 

Brown University: — Aaron Brooks, 1817; James 
Willson Brooks, 18.55 ; Charles Hutchins Hapgood, 
1857. 

Middletmon College: — Fisher Ames Foster, John 
Wells Foster. 

Union College: — George Grout Hapgood, 1830. 

Yale College: — Daniel Bigelow Parkhurst, 1836. 

Congressmen. — Jonathan Grout, who came from 
Lunenburg, having served seven years as Representa- 
tive in the General Court and one year in the Senate, 
was chosen a member of the first Congress under 
the Constitution. 

Lewis Bigelow, born 1785, a graduate of Williams 
College 1803, studied law and was chosen a member 
of the Seventeenth Congress. He was the author of 
a Digest of the Cases determined in the Supreme 
Judicial Court from 1804 to 1816, a work published 
ih 1818, yet still found in law offices. A comparison 
of these dates shows that this standard work of legal 
analysis was produced before the author was thirty- 
three years of age. 

General Court of Massachusetts. — Senators — 
Jonathan Grout, John G. Mudge. 

Representatives— 3 oihna, Willard, 1761, 1763 ; John 
Chandler, 1768 ; Theophilus Chandler. 1769 ; Ephraim 
Doolittle, 1772, 1773, 1774; Jonathan Grout, 1775, 
1777, 1779, 1784, 1786, 1787; Captain Elisha Ward, 
1777 ; Samuel Dennis, 1777 ; Samuel Peckham, 1787 ; 
Park Holland, 1788, 1789; Ruggles Spooner, 1770, 
1790; Daniel Bigelow, 1791, 1792; Asa Pond, 1818; 
Joel Bryant, 1822; Hutchins Hapgood, 1823; Israel 
Houghton, 1824; Cyrus Wadsvvorth, 1827; Joseph 
Gallond, 1829, 1830, 1832; Micajah Reed, 1829, 1832, 
1833; Josiah Wheeler, 1830, 1849; Aaron Brooks, 
1834, 1835; Nahum Gale, 1836, 1837; Cephas Wil- 
lard, 1835, 1838; Seth Hapgood, 1837, 1840, 1849; 
Joseph Brown, 1839; Artemas Bryant, 1839, 1840; 
Asa Clark, 1841; Jonas Howe, 1845; Elbridge G. 
Miles, 1846; Lyman Robinson, 1848; George White, 
1851,1853; Lewis Whitney, 1852 ; John G. Mudge, 
1856,1858,1865; Josiah White, 1861; Hudson Tol- 
man, 1862 ; Stephen D. Goddard, 1869, 1873 ; Lyman 
Clark, 1879 ; Elisha Webb, 1883. 
The foregoing list is incomplete. 
ToAVN Officers. — The records for the first three 
years after the incorporation of the town are de- 
ficient. The first list of officers preserved to us is 
that chosen March 0, 1758, the town having been in- 
corporated in 1754. The list includes several offices 
now obsolete, as tithingmen, clerk of ye market, 
leather sealer, deer-reeves, hog-reeves, in the town 
records sometimes called liog-constables. The list 
of officers for that year was as follows: Joshua Wil- 



lard, Town Clerk; Joshua Wilder, Daniel Miles, 
Joshua Willard, David Sanderson, James Clemence, 
Selectmen and Assessors; Nathaniel Sanderson, Treas- 
urer; Jerameel Wilder, Benjamin Chandler, Con- 
stables ; Samuel Chamberlain, Samuel Briant, An- 
drew Dalrymple, Ebenezer Hill, Surveyors of High- 
ways and Collectors; David Stone, Joel Matthews, 
Tithingmen ; Sylvanus How, Seth Hapgood, Fence- 
viewers; Daniel Spooner, Clerk of ye Market; David 
Sanderson, Leather Sealer; Kenelm Winslow, Sealer 
of Weights and Measures; Nathan Goddard, David 
Curtice, Field-drivers; William Walker, Joseph 
Marble, Aaron Chandler, Hog-reeves; Daniel Dunkin, 
William Daget, Deer- reeve; Kenelm Winslow, 
Pound-keeper. The record shows that all were sworn 
except the town clerk, deer-reeves and pound-keeper. 
The office of deer-reeve is suggestive of the fact that 
deer were to some extent domesticated. This first 
Board of Selectmen of which we have record was 
notable by reason of the name of Daniel Miles, tw^o 
sons of whom, Daniel and Joab, served in the revo- 
lutionary army. The descendants of Joab Miles are 
now represented by Major-General Nel.son A. Miles, 
of the United States Army. 

Selectmen. — No complete account of the Board 
of Selectmen or other official boards can here be 
given. In addition to the previous names we find 
that among those who served in the years from 1757- 
1792 were Joseph Wilson, Daniel Spooner, Daniel 
Duncan, Capt. Zedk. Stone, Thomas Rogers, Selh 
Hapgood, John Chandler, Theophilus Chandler, 
Elisha Ward, Samuel Gates, Sylvanus How, Jona- 
than Grout, Simon Houghton, Asa How, William 
Willard, Ephraim Doolittle, David Stone, Samuel 
Dennis, Timothy Whitney, David Curtis, Edward 
Powers, Daniel Hastings, Samuel Briant, Ruggles 
Spooner, David McClellan, Jonathan Sanderson, 
Capt. Wing Spooner, Ebenezer Winslow, Joel Doo- 
little, John Hildreth, Robert Peckham, Thomas 
Carter, Isaac Packard, Edward Baker, Daniel Hawks, 
Samuel Peckham, Samuel Stone, Maj. Ephraim 
Stearns, Joseph Gleason, Capt. John Permenter, 
Joseph Brown, Lieut. Luke Rice, Daniel Bigelow, 
Park Holland, William Macarty, Seth Williams, 
John Demick, Joseph Negus, Joel Brooks, Ebenezer 
Hammond, Jotham Bowker. 

The following is a partial list of names of persons 
who have served on the Board of Selectmen since 
1852 as found in town reports : Asa Johnson, P. W. 
Barr, Joab Young, S. D. Goddard, Hudson Tolman, 
J. W. Upton, Oren Tower, George Ayres, J. H. 
Clapp, Hubbard Peckham, H. S. Miner, Alfred Peck- 
ham, David C. Paige, Merrick Blanchard, Josiah 
White, Elijah Hildreth, Elisha Webb, Sewell C. 
Goddard, L. P. Cutler, C. K. Wilder, F. L. Sander- 
son, Geo. Bancroft, Charles F. Paige, Merrick E. 
Hildreth, Sanford B. Cook. 

Town Clerks.— Joshua Willard, David Sander- 
son, John Chandler, Jonathan Grout, William 



PETERSHAM. 



479 



Willard, William McCarty, Samuql Peckham, Jared 
Weed, Seth Hapgood, John L. Giillond, Lyman E- 
Sibley, Chas. B. Mosely, J. G. Mudge, Lewis E. 
Whitney, H. N. Tower, Sanford B. Cook. Of these 
the veteran town clerk of the early time was David 
Sanderson, who appears to have served eighteen 
years. Jared Weed, Esq., served twenty-six years, 
from 1817 to 1842, inclusive; and Lewis Whitney, 
twenty-six years, from 1849 to 1874, inclusive. 

Town Trea.sueers. — The names of some of those 
who have served the town as treasurers are as fol- 
lows : — Nathaniel Sanderson, 1758-72. The upright- 
ness with which Mr. Sanderson discharged his duty 
is made a matter of public record. The committee 
chosen to audit his account for a period of five years 
find, in closing their report. 

That what he has paid out and ia yet in the Constable's hands, 
Amounts to Six Hundred and Forty-Two Pounds Nineteen shillings 
and one penny ; that the Treasurer lias paid out Four Pounds Seven- 
teen Shillings & four pence one farthing More than he hath Received 
In. He says that there is Now in the Treasury Five Pounds Six Shill- 
ings and Eleven pence two farthings, which, being added to the above 
Ballance, Makes Ten Pounds Four Shillings three pence and three 
farthings, which sum he says he's confident Belongs to the Town. 



William Willaro -i 
Jonathan Gbout, j 



Committee. 



Those curious in such matters may exercise their 
minds upon the question whether or not upon this 
statement Mr. Sanderson was more solicitous to do 
justice to the town, than accurate in determining 
what was due himself. 

Theophilus Chandler was chosen town treasurer, 
1772-76; David Sanderson, 1776-80; Capt. 
Ephraim Stearns, 1781-92. Of those who have 
served at later dates, the names of Jonas Howe, 
Joseph G. Parmenter, Collins Andrews and John G. 
Mudge are reported, the latter having served contin- 
uously since 1869 to date, 1888, inclusive, or eighteen 
years. 

School Committee. — The following are some of 
the names of persons who have served on the School 
Committee since 1852, the list being incomplete: — 
John J. Putnam, John Shepherdson, Luther Willson, 
Charles Kendall, L. Sanderson, John A. Wilder, 
Lyman W. Hapgood, Frank A. Wood, S. S. Tower, 
William Miller, John M. Holman, S. P. Goddard, D. 
F. Goddard, E. Jackson, Sanford B. Cook, Lewis 
W. Loring, A. Stowell, T. T. Merriman, George 
White, E. C. Anderson, Mrs. Maria N. Ayers, Ben- 
jamin Ober, C. W. Fifield, Lyman Clark, L. O. Mar- 
tin, Elisha Webb, Luther Stone, F. L. Sanderson, 
M. H. Leamy, I. F. Porter, David Shurtlefl; Mrs. M. 
R. Stone. 

The more prominent town officers for the year 1888 
are Sanford B. Cook, town clerk ; John G. Mudge, 
treasurer ; Merrick E. Hildreth, George Bancroft, San- 
ford B. Cook, selectmen and overseers of the poor ; 
Frederick Bryant, Henry L. King, Thomas S. Howe, 
assessors; Rev. David Shurtlefl" Luther O. Martin, 
M.D., Mr.s. Maria N. Ayers, school committee ; 
Daniel F. Bigelow, constable and collector of taxes. 



CHAPTER LXXV. 

VKfE^Snh.^!— {Continued.) 

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTES. 

Parh Holland — Samitvl Willard, D.D., the Blind Minister — Solomon Wil- 
lard, Builder of Bunker Hill Monument — Deacon Cephas Willard — 
Aitstm Flint, the Beloved Phijucian — William Brown Spooner, the 
Philanthropist — Timothy W. Hammond— Rev. E. B. Wilhon — Invent- 
ors — Women— Longevity. 

While no citizens of Petersham appear to have 
risen to the highest rank in connection with the 
civil and military history of the country, yet the per- 
sonnel of the town is singularly interesting in respect 
to character and attainments. It is possible here 
only to add some facts to the information previously 
published of the dwellers in or natives of the town. 
If somewhat extended narratives are given concern- 
ing a few, it is because the facts are at hand and 
with the hope that a more full history may be pre- 
pared by other hands at some future date, in which 
more ample justice can be done to the many whose 
names are worthy to be enshrined in the memory of 
those who come after, and whose lives offer examples 
worthy of imitation. 

Captaix Park Holland.— An historical letter 
written to Major Jonas Holland, of Schenectady, 
N. Y., by Captain Park Holland, informs us that 
their ancestors were from London. Upon coming to 
this country, they sett'ed at Watertown, afterward 
removing to Shrewsbury, where Park Holland was 
born, and later located in Petersham. In 1776 Park 
Holland, having been previously enrolled as a min- 
ute-man, enlisted, with thirty neighbors and friends, 
for service in a brigade of Massachusetts troops, 
which were sent to New York. He served under 
Washington at White Plains and in New Jersey. 
He, upon expiration of his first enlistment, re-enlisted 
for service during the war, with twenty-four or five 
others of Petersham. His brother, Ivory Holland, 
received a lieutenant's commission, and Park Hol- 
land was made a sergeant-major, from which rank he 
rose to that of captain, and was paymaster and agent 
to settle the accounts of the regiment. He served in 
the campaign which led to Burgoyne's surrender ; 
afterward at West Point and at White Plains. At 
the close of the war he, by public advertisement, vis- 
ited Petersham, Northampton, Worcester, Harvard, 
Danvers, Boston and Wrentham to pay the soldiers 
of the regiment. 

Captain Holland once attended a dinner given by 
Washington to some of his ofiicers, and a character- 
istic incident is narrated, showing the general's ab- 
horrence of profanity. 

The payment of the Revolutionary soldiers being 
completed. Park Holland and General Rufus Putnam 
went in partnership to survey '• the Schoodiac and 
Pa?samaquody country, the harbors, islands, &c.," of 
Eastern Massachusetts (now Maine). An interesting 



480 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



narrative of this and several other surveying tours in 
what is now Maine and Vermont is given in his let- 
ters. On one of these tours he undertook to survey 
a tract of land extending north to the height of land 
dividing the waters of the St. John from the St. 
Lawrence, an unknown distance, supposed to be fifty 
or sixty miles into the wilderness, but which proved 
to be a hundred and sixty miles from the northern 
limit of previous surveys. The hardship of this tour 
was such that Captain Holland weighed eighty-three 
pounds less upon his return than when he set out, 
much of the time having been spent without any 
proper supply of food. At the time of Shays' Rebel- 
lion (so called), a company was raised by Captain 
Holland in Petersham, Athol and Rutland for ser- 
vice of the government. No stronger testimony to 
his worth could well be given than the fact that he 
was able to enlist as privates thirteen commissioned 
officers of the Revolutionary army, including General 
Rulus Putnam, under whom Captain Holland had 
served, as he had under Captain Shays himself. His 
company marched with General Lincoln from Had- 
ley to Petersham, all but two of them being more or 
less frost-bitten on arrival. He had a wife and 
family at the north part of the town. Shays' men, 
on their retreat to Athol, halted before the house. 
Mrs. Holland, being herself ill, ordered fires built 
and food otTered to the insurgents, and by her dis- 
creet civility the household was saved from further 
injury than being stripped of food supplies. 

Captain Holland was chosen selectman, town clerk, 
and for .several years represented the towns of Peters- 
ham and, after removal to that place 1790, Belcher- 
town in the General Court. He, in company with 
another person, purchased 'of the Penobscot Indians 
one hundred and ninety-two square miles of land 
lying on either side of the Penobscot Eiver, but the 
title does not appear to have been made good. He 
removed, however, to Eddington, Maine, where his 
last days appear to have been spent attended by a 
faithful daughter, who discarded all oHers of marriage 
in devotion to her honored father's happiness. The 
story of his life was largely written out in letters 
dictated to her afier Capt. Holland ceased to himself 
use the pen, with which he had in early years shown 
much skill. He was accustomed to say that if 
"variety is the spice of life," his had been well sea- 
soned. Dr. J. G. Holland, the author, born in Belch- 
ertown 1819, was a grandson of Luther Holland who 
was a brother "of Capt. Park Holland. 

Samuel Willard. — Prom a work entitled " Sing- 
ers and Songs of the Liberal Faith," by Rev. A. P. 
Putnam, D.D., the following sketch of the life of one 
of the sons of the town is taken : 

" Rev. Samuel Willard, D.D., born in Petersham, 
Mass., April 18, 1776, was a son of William and 
Catherine (Wilde) Willard, and grandson of Rev. 
Samuel Willard, of Biddeford, Maine. Samuel Wil- 
lard, the grandfather of the Biddeford minister, was 



acting-president of Harvard College, 1701-07, and 
was the son of Major Simon Willard, who came from 
Kent, England, and bought land of the Indians in 
Concord, JIass., before the year 163.5. Joseph Wil- 
lard, another president of Harvard, 1781-1804, was 
uncle to Samuel, the subject of this sketch. The 
latter spent his early years on his father's farm. He 
began to prepare himself for college at the age of 
twenty-one, and was fitted mainly under the instruc- 
tion of Rev. Nathaniel Thayer, D.D., of Lancaster, 
Mass. Having graduated at Harvard, 1803, he was 
subsequently, for more than a year. Dr. Abbott's 
assistant in the Exeter Academy, and was afterwards 
for some months tutor at Bowdoin College, prose- 
cuting at both of these last-named institutions his 
studies in the classics, and devoting himself also to 
the study of theology, under the direction of Drs. 
Appleton, Buckminster and McKean. In September, 
ISOiJ, he removed to Cambridge, where he continued 
his preparations for the ministry, and soon obtained 
a license to preach. Economical considerations in- 
duced him to reside for a time at Andover, and it was 
while he was there that he was invited to preach at 
Deerfield, Mass. He gave his first sermon in that 
place, March 15, 1807, and received, the next June, a 
call to settle. August 12th was fixed upon for the 
ordination. The council called, in accordance with 
the custom of the churches, sat for two days, and 
after a rigid examination of the candidate refused to 
ordain him, regarding his views as too liberal for the 
orthodox standard. Here was one of the first indica- 
tions of the split that was destined ere long to divide 
the Congregational body of New England. Another 
council was called with more success, and he was 
duly ordained September 23d, of the same year. 
I'Vom that time Mr. Willard was a recognized pioneer 
of the liberal movement in Western Massachusetts ; 
bravely contending with voice and pen for larger 
freedom, and willingly suffering not a little odium 
and persecution for the sake of what he believed to 
be the truth. On the 30th of May, 1808, he was 
married to Susan, only daughter of Dr. .Toshua Bar- 
ker, of Hingham, by whom he had three children — 
Susan, Mary and Samuel, the last a graduate of Har- 
vard, 1835. About the year 1818 his eyes suddenly 
failed him, in consequence of too much study by a 
dim light. For thirteen years after this sad occur- 
rence he was able to see large objects only very indis- 
tinctly, and for the remaining twenty-seven years of 
his life he was totally blind. The amount and variety 
of intellectual and other labor which, with the faith- 
ful aid of his family, he accomplished during these 
forty years of his calamity, seem almost incredible. 
He continued his usual pastoral duties until Septem- 
ber, 1829, when he resigned his charge; then removed 
to Hingham, where for some years he assisted his 
son-in-law in teaching a school, and finally, after 
a brief residence in Concord, returned to Deerfield, 
where he spent the rest of his days, preaching occa- 



PETERSHAM. 



481 



sionally for his people, even to the very close of his 
long career.'' 

It is said that Dr. Willard, who was the author of 
four hundred and sixty-seven hymns, could repeat 
from memory any of them, also whole books of the 
Bible. He wrote several books, and numerous articles 
for religious newspapers and magazines. Samuel 
Willard died at Deerfieid October 8, 1859. 

SoLOMOx WiLLAED. — The public services of 
Solomon Willard, brother of the foregoing, were such 
as to justify extended notice of his life. He was 
born in 1783. The first twenty-one years of his life 
were spent in his native town, at the end of which 
time he went to Boston. He had only common ad- 
vantages in regard to education, but made the best 
use of those he had. His first work in Boston was 
fitting piles for wharf construction, at fifty cents per 
day. In this connection he said that his employer 
taught him to keep his broad-axe sharp. We soon 
hear of his having attended le.-sons in drawing. He 
connected himself with the Athenreum, attended lec- 
tures upon anatomy, studied geology and chemistry. 
Meantime his labors have advanced to architecture 
and designing. He built an extensive winding stair- 
way, since destroyed by fire. Going south, he made 
a model of the Capitol building at Washington. He 
became a teacher of architectural drawing and de- 
signing, and invented the principle of the hot-air fur- 
nace, taking out no patent for the invention, but 
leaving profits to be reaped by others. 

But the great work of Mr. Willard's' life was as 
architect of Bunker Hill Monument. The building 
of the monument was initiated to commemorate the 
fiftieth year of independence, but the corner-stone 
was laid June 17, 1825, the anniversary of the battle, 
rather than on Independence Day. Full information 
of Mr. Willard's connection with the monument is 
given in "The Memoir of Solomon Willard," by W. 
W. Wheildon, prepared by direction of the Bunker 
Hill Monument Association. In this work the ques- 
tion of who was the architect is fully and carelully 
considered. Several persons had prepared designs 
for an obelisk, from which circumstance arose a con- 
troversy as to who was the architect. This claim has 
been made in behalf of Alexander Paris, Horatio 
Greenough and Robert Mills, but a careful examina- 
tion of the evidence, made by direction of the asso- 
ciation having the monument in charge, makes it 
conclusively established that Solomon Willard was 
the true and only architect, as he unquestionably was 
the superintendent of practical construction from the 
beginning to the completion of the work. 

For his services he accepted no compensation, only 
allowing a commutation of his expenses, which were 
very small. His desire was to do the work as a labor 
of patriotism, having ample support from other work. 
Under his direction a quarry was purchased at 
Quincy. For the transportation of the stone to the 
seashore the first railway of the country was laid, it 
31 



being operated by horse-power. The monument cost 
about $100,000, which was estimated by Mr. Willard 
as about half the cost at current rates of the time for 
similar work. The saving grew largely out of im- 
proved methods devised by him for quarrying and 
transportation, by reason of which granite was made 
much more available as a building material, the arch- 
itecture of Boston being somewhat modified by the 
fact. 

Solomon Willard died of apoplexy February 16, 
1861. Circumstances of peculiar sadness attended 
his departure. On the morning of his death he arose 
at the usual hour and, while waiting breakfast, talked 
with a friend of the st«te of the country. Six States 
had passed ordinances of secession. Forts, arse- 
nals, mints and na^-y yards had been seized, and the 
Confederate Convention was engaged in preparing a 
Constitution in the interests of slavery. Mr. Willard 
gave way to fears and wept at the prospect of the 
country going to destruction. Being called to break- 
fast, he arose to answer the call, but instead of taking 
his seat at the table he fell upon the floor and never 
spoke again. The thought of national dissolution 
appears to have literally burst the blood-vessels of 
the brain which had devised and constructed Bunker 
Hill Monument, and to have broken the heart of one 
who loved his country faithfully. 

Cephas Willaed, a brother of Rev. Dr. Willard 
and of Solomon Willard, the architect, was born No- 
vember 29, 1786, and died November 25, 1879. His 
long life was spent as a son of the soil. Among the 
various offices held by him were those of assessor, 
coroner, deputy-sheriff and member of the House of 
Representatives. He was deacon of the Unitarian 
Church fifty-six years, and treasurer for more than 
thirty years in succession. The family to which he 
belonged had held the office of deacon for more than 
a hundred years, with the exception of a short inte- 
rim, caused by the fact that at a certain time a 
brother deacon was found walking disorderly, in re- 
spect to temperance, and all members of the diacon- 
ate resigned as a courteous way of conducting the 
brother out of office. This duty done, the church 
promptly re-elected those whose conduct had been 
worthy. 

As deputy-sheriff Deacon Willard was once found 
unwilling to perform a task to which he was invited, « 
that of assisting in the execution of the death pen- 
alty by sentence of a court. He offered to resign his 
office if the duty were required of him,'but that sac- 
rifice of position he was not allowed to make. He 
was more successful in executing the law relative to 
imprisonment for debt. In such a case he set a man 
at work on his farm until his wages were sufficient to 
discharge at once the debt and the prisoner. M^hen 
ninety years of age Deacon Willard attended the 
Centennial Exhibition at Philadelphia alone, and, 
the same year, presided over the Centennial Celebra- 
tion in his native town, his lifetime having covered 



482 



HISTORY" OP WOKCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



nine-tenths of the life of the nation. A memorial 
discourse by Lyman Clark, delivered at the occasion 
of his funeral services, was published. It will be 
noticed that the family from which these three 
brothers were descended had given two presidents to 
Harvard College. 

Austin Flint, M.D., LL.D., born in Petersham, 
1812, graduated as M.D. at Harvard, 1833, was one 
of the founders of the Buffalo Medical College, 1847. 
He was, in 1861, appointed professor of the principles 
and practice of medicine in Bellevue College Hos- 
pital, New York, and of pathology and practical 
medicine in Long Island College Hospital. AVith 
other medical works he has published a " Practical 
Treatise on the Pathology, Diagnosis and Treatment 
of Diseases of the Heart " and a standard work on 
the " Practice of Medicine." A pamphlet memoir, 
by A. Jacobi, M.D., president of the New York Acad- 
emy of Medicine, has been reprinted from the Med- 
ical Record of April 24, 1886. From it we learn that 
Dr. Austin Flint was descended from Thomas Flint, 
who emigrated from Derbyshire, England, and came 
to Concord, Mass., in the year 1638. 

He was of Puritan stock, and his father, grandfath- 
er and great-grandfather were physicians. His was 
apparently a case of inherited fitness for his work. 
Having received a liberal education at Amherst and 
Harvard, he practiced three years at Northampton 
and Boston, after which he moved to Buffalo, N. Y., 
in 1836. There he resided sixteen years, with a brief 
absence, during which he taught clinical medicine in 
Rush Medical College, Chicago, in 1847. 

He left Buffalo in 1852 to take charge of the chair 
of clinical medicine in the University of Louisville. 
Thence he returned to Buffalo in 1856. The winters 
from 1858 to '61 were spent in New Orleans, teaching 
medicine and attending Charity Hospital. In the 
year 1859 he settled in New York. He resigned his 
position as teacher of the Long Island Medical Hos- 
pital in 1868, but retained his chair in the Bellevue 
Hospital Medical College to his death. 

The Buffalo Medical Journal was founded by him 
in 1846, and edited by him for a period of ten years. 

The memoir of Dr. Jacobi closes with this tribute, — 

AugtiD Flint liad great advantages, and developed and utilized them 
for the beuetit of the many. Born with an enviable inheritance, he 
enjoyed a thorough general and special education. He had great phys- 
ical endurance and uniform health, an iniposingpreseuce, pleasant man- 
ners, and an equable temperament. With physical and intellectual 
powers he combined indefatigable love of work, which he performed 
systematically ancf energetically. He was a thoroughly modest man, 
who knew how difficult it is to nuister the depths of knowledge ; thus 
he had an unusual degree of common Bonse, which limits aspirations 
and aims. Thus ho became thorough in what he undertook to practice 
and teach. He was successful in practice, and enjoyed the confidence 
of both the profession and the public. As a teacher he is remembered 
by thousands ; hia pupils loved him and his colleagues honored him. 
His writings obtained for him a national and international reputation. 
Thoiewas no place of honor in possession of the profession of the city, 
State or country, which he has not tilled. The profession of Europe was 
anxious to show its respect for him. Thus he lived and worked to an ad- 
vanced age, disturbed by but few symptoms of evanescing powers, and 
when the time came he ceased to labor and live on the very same day. 



A letter from a relative tells us that " his manner 
to all was unusually courteous and kindly, and his 
disposition one of rare sweetness. His sympathies 
were far-reaching, and he was so tender-hearted that 
he was unable to take up surgery as a specialty, al- 
though his father, who was a physician, thought he 
showed great skill in that direction." 

He died March, 1886. The story of the medical 
profession in and from the town, led by the name of 
Flint, remains to be written in future. 

William Beown Spooner will be long remem- 
bered as an upright merchant, business man, banker 
and philanthropist. He was born in Petersham, 
April 20, 1806. At an early age he went to Vermont 
to live with an uncle. There he acquired a knowl- 
edge of the tannery, but aspired to an education and 
the legal profession. He became a merchant's clerk 
and taught school. At twenty years of age he went 
to Boston, and there finally decided in favor of mer- 
cantile life, entering the firm of Simpkins & Spooner, 
afterward forming that of William B. Spooner k Co. 
He was the first president of the New England Shoe 
and Leather Association, and for thirty-eight years a 
director of the Shoe and Leather National Bank. An 
ardent advocate of the anti-slavery cause and the 
cause of temperance, he was elected to the Massachu- 
setts House of Representatives, 1857-58. He led in 
the organization of the Massachusetts Total Absti- 
nence Society, was its first president, which position 
he held until his death. The executive ability of 
Mr. Spooner led to his being appointed in behalf of 
the State of Masschusetts as one of the Board of 
Management of the Centennial Exhibition at Phila- 
delphia, 1876, to which duty he gave much time and 
attention. William B. Spooner died at Boston, Octo- 
ber 28, 1880. His will contained various public 
bequests. A memorial has been published by the 
Massachusetts Total Abstinence Society. 

Timothy Whitney Hammond, of Worcester, son 
of Enoch and Lucy (Bowker) Hammond, was born at 
Petersham, January 26, 1814, He received such ad- 
vantages from the local schools as might be gained 
before thirteen years of age, after which he engaged 
in other employments. In 1835 he was united in 
marriage with Mary A. Houghton, daughter of Cap- 
tain Levi and Hannah Houghton. They removed to 
Worcester, 1844, where Mr. Hammond served two 
years as a clerk in the office of the Worcester and 
Nashua Railway. In 1849 he was made treasurer, 
which position he has held to the present time, or 
nearly forty years. He has been a member of the 
Worcester Mechanics' Savings Bank since 1851, of 
which he was president, 1877 ; has served as director 
of the State Mutual Life Assurance Company; per- 
formed five years of duty as a member of the City 
Council, and held the position of treasurer of the 
Proprietors of the Bay State-House. Mrs. Ham- 
mond died October 13, 1887. 

Rev. Edmund B. Willson, son of Rev. Luther 



PETERSHAM. 



483 



and Sally (Bigelow) Willson, was born at Petersham, 
August 15, 1820. He studied at different preparatory 
schools, and entered Yale College, 183-1, leaving, 1835, 
on account of ill health ; completed a course at the 
Cambridge Divinity School, and was graduated 1843. 
The settlements of Mr. Willson have been at Grafton, 
Mass., from 1844 to 1852 ; Roxbury, Ma's., First Con- 
gregational Society, 1852 to 1859, when he was called 
to the pastorate of the North Society in Salem, of 
which he is still in charge. Mr. Willson, as pre- 
viously stated, delivered the address at the centennial 
of the incorporation of the town. He served in the 
House of Representatives for the years 1883 and 1884. 
While there he introduced a measure which became 
a law, authorizing instruction in the use of hand-tools 
in the public schools. 

Several mechanical inventions have originated with 
residents of the town. Solomon Willard invented the 
hot-air furnace, taking out no patent for his invention. 

Asa Hapgood, who was a native of Barre, lived for a 
time in Petersham, where he worked as a wheelwright 
with his brother, Chauncy Hapgood ; afterward being 
employed as a railway conductor between Boston and 
New York, he gave his attention to providing for the 
comfort of his passengers at night, and invented the 
sleeping-car, by which he acquired a large fortune. 

Paul Peckham invented a machine for dressing 
tapering conical surfaces, which was used by him in 
the manufacture of ladders. 

Charles Frederick Bosworth invented a machine 
for sewing hat-braid, the patent-right of which was 
sold for a large sum, also a machine for lining hats 
and one for sewing heavy leather. 

Women. — The public records give us much less in- 
formation concerning the women who have lived in 
Petersham than they do of the lives of those who have 
been charged with responsibility for political affairs. 
Yet the town records occasionally present a glimpse 
of the life in the home and those who there presided. 
An entry in the records of May 19, 1762, is as follows : 

" Voted the number of young women the hind- 
seat on the women's side gallery in order to build a 
pew on their own cost, viz.: Sarah Rice, Eunice 
Wilder, Parsis Bowker, Esther Holland, Mehitabell 
Page, Hannah Walker, Ruth Page, Sarah Curtis, 
Molly Curtis, Susanna Miles, Jerusha Hudson, Sarah 
Sanderson, Martha Negus, Hadassa Houghton, Ann 
Wheeler." Of these, Susanna Miles was a member of 
the family of Daniel Miles, who came from Pomfret, 
Conn., and from whom Major-General Nelson A. 
Miles is descended. Esther Holland was presumably 
a sister of Captains Ira and Park Holland, of the Revo- 
lutionary army. 

Mrs. Houghton, wife of Simeon Houghton, is said 
to have claimed to have been once recognized as the 



handsomest woman in the town, her claim being based 
on the fact that she, being without classical features, 
was the first white woman, and, for a time, the only 
woman who lived in Petersham. 

Mrs. Mary Greene (Chandler) Ware was the author 
of three books entitled : " Elements of Character," 
"Thoughts in my Garden," and "Death and Life." 
She was born in Petersham May 22, 1818, being the 
daughter of Nathaniel Chandler and Dolly (Greene) 
Chandler. The father, born 1773, was the son of John 
Chandler, who built what is known as the Chandler 
house about 1766. Dolly Greene was born in Staf- 
ford, Conn, 1783. Mary Greene Chandler and Dr. 
John Ware, of Boston, were married February 25, 
1862. She having survived her husband, now resides 
in Lancaster, to which her father's family moved, 1828. 

Mrs. Caroline Hildreth, wife of Richard Hildreth, 
the historian, excelled as an artist, her first successes 
being in crayon portraits. After she had studied in 
Europe she manifested talent in oil-painting. 

Mrs. Elizabeth Barry, daughter of Dea. Cephas 
Willard, wife of Rev. William Barry, of Chicago, was 
vice-president, for Illinois, of the Mount Vernon As- 
sociation. 

Miss Lucretia Pond left public bequests in behalf 
of the Unitarian Church, and for the care of the 
cemetery in which she was buried. Mrs. Ann Inger- 
soll bequeathed her homestead to the Unitarian 
Church for a parsonage, and made a small bequest for 
the support of the public library. 

Longevity. — A considerable number of instauces 
of remarkable longevity are found in the history of 
the town. Three instances of an age of one hundred 
years or more are presented. In the year 1796, Dea. 
Daniel Spooner died, aged one hundred and three; 
Mary Farrar, died 1855, aged one hundred years; 
Lucy Robinson, who died in 18(53, was also a century 
old. The names, years of death and ages of twenty- 
four persons who have lived from ninety to one hundred 
years are as follows : Mrs. Sarah Stowell, 1830, ninety- 
nine ; Jonathan Sanderson, 1832, ninety-two ; Eunice 
Spooner, 1836, ninety-two ; Esther Gale, 1849, ninety- 
two ; Mary Curtis, 1853, ninety ; Joel Brooks, 1856, 
ninety-six ; David Wheeler, 1857, ninety ; Mary 
Dunn, 1857, ninety-four ; Bertha Covill, 1857, ninety- 
two; Josiah Newton, 1858, ninety; Caleb Chamber- 
lain, 1862, ninety-one ; Lydia Holman, 1862, ninety ; 
Elijah Pike, 1864, ninety-one ; Robert Goddard, 1868, 
ninety ; Betsey Upton, 1869, ninety-one ; Jonathan 
Simmons, 1869, ninety-nine ; Lucinda Chamberlain, 
1869, ninety; Joseph Farrar, 1870, ninety; Artemas 
Wilder, 1871, ninety-one; Hannah Loring, 1871, 
ninety-two; Caleb Bancroft, 1871, ninety-two; Eliza- 
beth Tolman, 1875, ninety-two; Cephas Willard, 1879, 
ninety-two; Celia Morse Whipple, 1880, ninety-two. 



484 



HISTORY OF WOKCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



CHAPTER LXXVI. 

PETERSHAM— ( Continued. ) 

THE REBELLION — PUBLIC SPIRIT. 

Action, Miry, liCA—Tha Financial Btirdea— The Mitsler Roll, 53d Bcgi- 
ment, 2Ut Hegimeiit, ZUl Regiment — In Other Commands — The Navf/ — 
Tito Rebellion Record — Local Improvement — The Library Estahlielted — 
3Lemori(d and Library Building Proposed— The Future Outlook. 

The Rebellion. — At the annual meeting of the 
town, held May 1, 1861, action was taken in view of 
the state of the country, it being " Resolved, That the 
Town Treasurer be authorized to borrow a sum of 
money not exceeding (ii!3000) three thousand dollars, 
to be expended, in whole or in part, under the direc- 
tion of the selectmen, for the purpose of providing 
uniforms for a military company, and supporting the 
families of those volunteers who may be called into 
the service of the State or the United States, and that 
the selectmen be authorized to pay one dollar per day 
to volunteers after they are enrolled, organized and 
accepted by the State, for their services drilling." 

It will be noticed that this action comprehensively 
assumed the entire responsibility of providing uni- 
forms, payment of the soldiers at a rate higher than 
that allowed in the United States army, and support- 
ing the families of the soldiers. Tliis appropriation 
was the beginning of the financial responsibility of 
the town on account of the Civil War. Additional 
appropriations were made from time to time, until the 
town had paid $1.3,999.76. The sum of $3195.64 was 
voluntarily subscribed by individuals, and $1800 paid 
as commutation by drafted men, making a total 
amount paid from all sources of $18,995.40. Of this 
amount only $3663.56 were refunded, leaving the net 
cost of the war to the town as such at the sum of 
$15,631.84. This represents the excess paid by the 
town in addition to its equal share paid by State and 
national methods of taxation. 

Remarkable as the exhibit is for a country town, 
the assessed wealth of which was less than a million 
of dollars, the exhibit in respect to enlistments is 
still more notable. It appears from the town records 
that there were in the town at the beginning of the 
war, 1861, one hundred and eighty-eight men liable to 
enrollment. As appears from the Rebellion record, 
published by the selectmen at the close of the war, 
there had been one hundred and seventy-seven en- 
listments in behalf of the town. Some of these were 
re-enlistments, some were secured by bounty offered 
by the town ; but the fact that the enlistments so 
nearly equaled the total number liable to enrollment 
is certainly very creditable to the patriotism of the 
town. 

One hundred and forty-seven men appear to have 
honorably served in behalf of the town, a number of 
these having re-enlisted, the total number liable to 
enrollment in 1861 being, as before stated, one hun- 



dred and eighty-eight. Hon. John G. Mudge has 
furnished the names, given below, of those who 
served, with the remarks relative to death which fol- 
low in case of all, so far as known, who are not now 
living. This roll does not include several from out of 
the town who enlisted and subsequently deserted. 

Fifty-third Regiment (Ma.ssachcsettsVolun- 
TEEEs). — Captain, John G. Mudge ; Sergeant, Joseph 
W. Upton ; Corporals, J. Benjamin Howe; Joseph M. 
Jackson, killed at Port Hudson, June 14, 1863, Ben- 
jamin W. Spooner. Privates : Jonas Brown, died 
January 29, 1879 ; Luther S. Benjamin ; Charles E. 
Ball, died June 27, 1863 ; Samuel A. Chamberlain; 
Sanford E. Chamberlain ; John F. Clark, died 1863; 
Charles E. Cook ; Horace Drury ; Geo. H. Edwards ; 
Wm. P. Fairbanks ; Augustus S. Gates ; George W. 
Gates; Sextus P. Goddard, died November 1, 1885; 
Charles F. Hapgood, died August 8, 1863 ; John F. 
Jennerson, died June 26, 1863 ; Dwight Lippitt, died 
June 6, 1863; Henry H. Lippitt; William Henry 
Mann, died April 23, 1863 ; Spencer T. Nye ; Austin C. 
Parmenter, died February, 1864 ; George H. Parmen- 
ter, died June 26, 1888 ; Lyman Peters ; Lewis D. Rob- 
inson ; George A. Rogers ; Valentine O. Rathburn ; 
Alonzo Rathburn ; John B. Stevens, died September 
4, 1863; Frederick L. Sanderson, died May 10, 1888 ; 
James H. Stowell ; Alex. E. Smith ; Charles B. Smith, 
died March 23, 1877 ; Quincy A. Shepardson, died 
July 27, 1863 ; John E. Townsend ; Lauriston A. Si- 
monds.died November 28, 1869; Augustus Wheeler; 
John A. Wilder, died November 19, 1872 ; Charles 
H. Williams; Henry Rathburn, died September 2, 
1863. 

Twenty-first Regiment. — D. Marshall Mitchell, 
died August 23, 1882; German Lagara ; Calvin C. 
Aldrich ; Daniel Noonan, died November, 1882; 
Samuel F. Young; Geo. W. Young; Dwight Ripley, 
killed at Knoxville, Tenn., November 25, 1863 ; John 
W. Clark, killed at Petersburg, Va., June 1, 1864; 
Calvin C. Barnes, died February 9, 1866 ; Geo. H. 
Holman ; Job Lippitt; Geo. D. Whilcomb ; Lyman 
D. Edwards; Abner C. Gates, died February 20, 
1865 ; Asa F. Ellis, died at Boston ; David R. Brown, 
died at Athol; Wm. H.Allen ; Benjamin W. Crick- 
ett ; Geo. O. Cook; Henry Woods; Sergeant Frank 
N. Peckham ; Hiram Newman ; Hoyt Hale, died 
August 7, 1862 ; Chas. S. Brigham, died from wounds 
received at Antietam, September 17, 1862 ; Edward 
A. Jackson, died at Gardner; Edward O. Murphy. 

Thirty-fikst Regiment.— Ellis P. Amsden, died 
September 25, 1863 ; Jacob E. Amsden, died June 3, 
1864; Zibina Cutler, died August 9, 1862; James 
Fobes, killed at Port Hudson, June 14, 1863 ; Leonard 
Stowe; George F. Newton ; William Ryan; Albert W. 
Stevens, died April 8, 1863 ; Charles A. Stone, died 
August 4, 1863 ; Horace W. Pike, died June 13, 1863 ; 
John Young, died 1883. 

In various other regiments of infantry, cavalry 
and artillery the persons whose names follow were 



PETERSHAM. 



485 



enrolled : — Joseph Roe, killed at Atlanta, Ga., July 
3, 1864; Calvin Carter, died; George A. Davis, 
killed at Ball's Bluff, October 21, 1861 ; Jacob 
Nosedale ; D. M. McChester; George W. Jillsou, died 
July 25, 1875 ; Albert Haskins ; U. P. Phinney ; 
George D. Mason, died August 10, 1878 ; Hiram 
Rathburn ; Charles A. Pelkey ; Ebeu A. Conant; D. E. 
Collins; T. E. Rossiter; Thomas Riley; Lieut. Elisha 
Eldridge ; Henry B. Aldrich ; Thomas E. Field; James 
Wilson; William M. Peckham; Sergt. George H. 
Holman, died November 17, 1864 ; Edward A. Arnold, 
died 1872; Albert Hemmenway; Almond Williams, 
died June 5, 1874 ; Josiah C. Whitney ; Dennis Brown, 
died February 20, 1868 ; David Ahern ; Isaac Williams ; 
George D. Whitcomb, died ; Samuel F. Young ; 
Winsor Gleason ; Silas Richardson, died at Anderson- 
ville, Ga., Oct. 26, 1864; James Hyde; Erastus 
Weeks; Seneca D. Weeks, died 1883; Frank Ramsdell; 
Henry H. Williams, died September 30, 1876 ; James 
Kelley; Edward Whiting, died July 8, 1865; James 
W. Browning; Daniel Blackmer; David E. Howard; 
Charles Lamphire; James Frazer; Martin Heald ; 
Patrick Dunn ; Lyman D. Edwards ; Charles R. En- 
gleharv. 

In the navy were found Leonard Brock, James W. 
Browning, James Mulligan, James Reed, John Nor- 
ris. 

The town was also credited by the State, in addition 
to these names, with eight three years' men and four 
colored recrui s for three years' service. 

In the month of April, 1866, the selectmen pub- 
lished the Rebellion record of the town, thus sum- 
ming up the results : " Civil war in our land has 
ceased. The Rebellion, the greatest the world has 
ever witnessed, has been crushed, and our gov- 
ernment, by the aid of loyal hands, stands stronger 
than ever in the hearts of the people. Our heroic 
army has fulfilled its mission ; the living have re- 
turned to their homes, its dead are the nation's richest 
legacy. Petersham has responded promptly to all 
calls upon her loyalty and patriotism. The close of 
the war finds a small surplus of men placed to her 
credit. . . . The services of her soldiers were a 
priceless heritage; their honor our honor; which we 
should ever cherish with reverence and gratitude." 

These facts are suflicient to show that the early 
reputation of the place, which gave it for a time the 
name Volunteers' Town, was well-sustained during 
the most critical period of our country's history since 
the Revolution. 

Local Improvement. — A stately row of elms near 
the place formerly occupied by Dea. Cephas Willard, 
a mile north of the village, bears witness to a spirit 
of improvement among the people more than a century 
ago. The orderly condition of the large majority of 
the farms, the erection of a commodious town hall 
and school-houses in different parts of the town, the 
building at large expense of a shed for the protection 
of horses, adjoining the Unitarian Church, are more 



recent marks of the favorable disposition of the peo- 
ple towards town improvement. In the year 1878 the 
" Petersham Village Improvement Society" was or- 
ganized, as stated in the constitution, " for the pur- 
pose of improving the good order and social condition 
of the town, adorning and beautifying the place of 
our home, promoting the public convenience and 
health, and elevating the standard of taste" of the 
people. The method of securing these objects was de- 
signed to be " by the transplanting of trees and the 
promotion of the growth of grass on the public 
grounds of the town, the establishment of sidewalks 
and improvement of the highways, encouraging the 
establishment of a public library, attention to general 
cleanliness with especial reference to the public 
health and by occasional meetings for the discussion 
of these objects and methods." 

With purposes so largely stated, the society began 
a short existence of four years, after which it became 
inactive. Yet those few years of work were sufficient 
to make a permanent impression upon the future of 
the town. Many trees were transplanted which still 
live, walks were graded, and the movement which 
finally resulted in the organization of the Petersham 
Free Library was initiated. Francis A. Brooks, Esq., 
of Boston, a native of the town, made the first con- 
tribution, $500, toward this object. Other sums hav- 
ing been secured from individuals, the town finally 
made an appropriation sufficient to increase the li- 
brary fund to more than SIOOO, with which the library 
was begun in the year 1879. Since that time it has 
received the benefit of frequent donations, with ap- 
propriations made by the town from time to time. 
Mrs. Ann IngersoU left a small bequest in its favor. 
Some historical lectures were delivered by John Fiske, 
the proceeds to be applied to library purposes. 

In the month of September, 1886, from fairs and 
other entertainments, several hundred dollars were 
raised in the hope that this would prove the nucleus 
of a library and memorial building. Various sums 
were afterwards added in the same manner, and the 
town, at the spring meeting, 1887, appropriated .$300 
with a view to adding similar sums annually. 

In the autumn of the same year, Mr. Francis H. 
Lee, of Salem, became actively interested in raising 
the sum necessary to complete the work, in which task 
he had co-operation of Hon. John G. Mudge, James 
W. Brooks, Misses Elizabeth H. and Charlotte L. 
Flint and others. By their efforts the sum previously 
assured was increased to about $5000. At the annual 
town-meeting, 1888, the sum of $2000 was appropri- 
ated and J. G. Mudge, J. W. Upton, George Ayers 
were appointed a building committee on the part of 
the town ; Misses E. H. and C. L. Flint, Francis H. 
Lee, James W. Brooks and William Sims acting in 
behalf of the contributors. Edmund Willson, of the 
firm of Stone, Carpenter & Willson, gave his ser 
vices as architect. The plan adopted was a building 
of field-stone, the rooms of the first floor to be a pub- 



486 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



lie hall, with stage, a memorial hall, a library and 
reading-room. The building fund has been increased 
to about ,1?11,000, and the erection of the library and 
memorial hall may be expected during the year 1889. 

The work of local improvement has been privately 
prosecuted by James W. Brooks who made large im- 
provements upon " The Nichewaug," formerly called 
" The Highland Institute," converting what was be- 
fore a boarding and high school building into an ad- 
mirably appointed summer boarding-house. 

Many summer residents of the town have shared in 
the spirit of improvement and have built new or re- 
modeled old houses. Several artesian wells have been 
bored for the purpose of supplying the dwellings with 
water. As a result, the future of the town is likely to 
combine, as its present condition now does, tlie attrac- 
tions of a popular summer resort with those of a vener- 
able farming community. 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 



FRANCIS AUGUSTUS BROOKS. 

The Brooks family have long been prominently 
identified with the history of Petersham. Msjor 
Aaron, who was the first of the name to settle here, 
came from Grafton to Petersham at an early day, and 
was a leading spirit in the affairs of the town. Aaron, 
his son, and father of Francis A., was born in Peters- 
ham. He was graduated at Brown University iu 
1817, and was subsequently a tutor in that institution. 
He studied law with Levi Lincoln and also with Hon. 
Lewis Bigelow. He settled in Petersham, and had 
an extensive practice in Warcester and Franklin 
Counties. 

Francis Augustus Brooks was born in Petersham, 
May 23, 1824. He was prepared for college mostly 
at Leicester Academy, and was graduated at Harvard 
University in the class of 1842. He studied law and 
was admitted to the Worcester County bar in 1846. 
He removed to Boston early in 1848, and has there 
pursued the practice of his profession for a period of 
more than thirty years. In 1873 he became engaged 
in th3 prosecution of litigation for the enforcement of 
claims of creditors against railroads in Vermont, 
which occupied his attention largely for a period of 
ten years. Since 1883 his professional work has been 
devoted chiefly to the administration of business and 
corporate trusts. 

In the general undertakings of his professional and 
business life, Mr. Brooks has met with a large measure 
of success. 

- In politics he has been a Democrat (as were many 
of his ancestors), but he has not held public office. 

September 14, 1847, he united in marriage with 
Frances, daughter of Hon. Caleb Butler, of Groton, 
Mass., who is still spared to bless his home and life. 



Of their six children, three sons survive — Frederick, 
a civil engineer in Boston ; Charles B., a stock broker 
in that city; and Morgan, a mechanical engineer, 
residing in St. Paul, Minn., and treasurer of the gas- 
light company of that city. 



CHAPTER LXXVII. 

STERLING. 

BY SAMUEL OSGOOD. 

The history of Sterling previous to the year 1781 
is inwoven with the history of Lancaster, of which it 
formed a part known at first by its Indian name, 
Chnckseit, and secondly and until the above date, 
as the "West Precinct of Lancaster," and lastly by 
its incorporated name — Sterling. 

The territory, it appears, was derived from three 
original grants. First, the mile, so called, being a 
strip of land about a mile in width, bordering on 
Lancaster and included in the first original grant of 
Nashua township made in 1643, and purchased of 
Sholan, the Sachem of the Nashuaggs, whose royal 
residence was between the Washacum Ponds, on the 
high ground overlooking both those beautiful sheets 
of water, probably not many rods distant from the 
ice-houses east of Mr. John Gates' residence. 

The character of Sholan, the Sachem at Washacum, 
is ever spoken of with favor. He not only invited 
the English to this place and sold them an extensive 
tract of territory, but hi.s deportment towards the 
settlers was always peaceable, and he was held in high 
esteem by his white neighbors. 

In view of the above facts in reference to the 
pacific character of this prince of the red men, would 
it not be a merited tribute to his memory to chanue 
the name of that beautilul and, indeed, only island 
in the West Washacum from " Wood Island " to 
Sholan ? 

Th e second grant, containing the principal part of 
the town, was purchased of George Tahanto, a nephew 
of Sholan, in 1701. 

The deed of this grant, "for and in consideration 
of" certain sums of money, paid at different times 
and to divers persons, was made to " John Moore, 
John Houghton and Nathaniel Wilder, their heirs 
and a-ssigns, to have and to hold forever." 

This deed was signed by George Tahanto (his 
mark and Mary Aunsocamug her ) mark. 

Signed and sealed in presence of John Wansquon 
his ( mark, John Aquitticus his 1 mark, Peter 
Puckataugh his p mark,) Jonathan Wilder and John 
Guild. 

The third grant was the Shrewbury Lfg. This was 
another strip of land, of somewhat irregular shape, 
get off from Shrewsbury to Lancaster by an act of the 








^ 







1 



STERLING. 



487 



Legislature in 1768. It was somethiug more than a 
mile wide, forming what is now the northern part of 
Boylston and West Boylston and extending along the 
north banlf of the Quinnepoxit River to Holden, its 
western boundary, thence northerly on Princeton line 
to the Stillwater River, its eastern boundary in the 
West Precinct. 

Subsequently, in 1808, about one-third of this 
tract was set oft' from Sterling to West Boylston. 

It will readily be seen that the town is bounded on 
the north by Leominster, on the east by Lancaster, 
on the south by Boylston and West Boylston, and 
on the west by Holden and Princeton. 

The surface of the town is agreeably diversified by 
hills, plains and valleys — woodland and nicely culti- 
vated farms — ponds and water-courses, set off' witli the 
neatly-painted and comfortable farm buildings of its 
rural population. 

The soil of the hill farms is slightly argillaceous, re- 
tentive of moisture and naturally fertile. Tlie water 
is pure, the air is bracing and healthful; and the 
scenery, especially in summer, is delightful. 

There are five principal noted hills in the town. 
These are: Justice Hill, sometimes called Gerry's 
Hill, situated in the extreme northwest; Rowley Hill, 
about two miles west of the centre, and so-called be- 
cause its first settlers came from Rowley, in Essex 
County ; Fitch's Hill, which needs not to be described 
to travelers passing from Lancaster to Princeton ; 
Redstone Hill, about a mile east of the centre, and so 
called from the color of its stones; and Kendall Hill 
to the southeast, about the same distance from the 
centre as the last named, and so called from the name 
of its first inhabitants, who came from Woburn. 

There is also North Wiccapicca Hill, a remarkably 
well-rounded, steep, sharp-pointed eminence, on the 
north line of the town, owned principally by Mr. Wil- 
liam C. Divol. It is cleared land, except a single 
clump of trees near the summit, which serves as a 
landmark for miles around. Rocky Hill, mostly in 
Leominster, projects into Sterling, on its northern 
border. South Wiccapicca is a precipitous ridge, 
running northerly from near the village to Pratt's 
Junction. 

These hills, except the two last mentioned, are not 
craggy, unsightly protuberances, but grand swells of 
arable land, finely adapted to the production of grass 
and grain. The highest point of land in the town is 
believed to be on the farm of Michael Coyne, on Row- 
ley Hill. 

The territory is also embellished by four natural 
ponds, containing, respectively, two hundred, one 
hundred and seventy, thirteen and ten acres each. 
These, in summer, contrasting with the deep foliage 
around them, are of great beauty and loveliness, set 
like immense diamonds sparkling in the sun in a rich 
bordering of emerald green. 

Stillwater River is a small stream running through 
the west part of the town, having its source a few 



miles above, in a gore of land known formerly — very 
properly — by the name of Notown. It flows through 
quite an extensive tract of meadow, once rich in the 
production of Foul meadow-grass {Poa Serotina), and 
blue-joint ( Calamar/rostis Ginadensk), two varieties 
of forage plants, held in high estimation and much 
depended on for hay by the farmers of Sterling three- 
quarters of a century ago. 

These meadows now are of little value (except it may 
be for cranberries), having, long since, become "run 
out.'' This quiet little stream, after it enters West 
Boylston, and receives the Quinnepoxit from Holden, , 
assumes the more dignified name of the South Branch 
of the Nashua. 

Various brooks wind among the hills, all finally 
emptying their tribute of waters into the Nashua. 
These now nearly useless small streams, two or three 
generations ago, when chair manufacturing was carried 
on quite extensively, were utilized in turning the 
wheels of many a "Turning Lathe" for the produc- 
tion of "Chair Stock." 

A survey of the town was made in 1830 and a plan 
drawn by the late Capt. Moses Sawyer, a prominent 
leading citizen, and for many years the only practicing 
civil engineer of the town. Capt. Sawyer possessed 
in large measure the confidence of his fellow-citizens, 
and was noted for his probity, intelligence and prac- 
tical good judgment. 

The plan drawn by him was lithographed by Pen- 
dleton, of Boston, and contains much valuable infor- 
mation in regard to the topography of the town, from 
which the writer has obtained the following particu- 
lars: 

The area of the town was found to be 19,265 acres, 
equal to nearly 32 square miles; 500 acres are covered 
with water. The population at that time was 1789. 
There wer« 256 dwelling-houses, 1 meeting-house, 1 
town house, 3 grist-mills, 7 saw-mills, 2 shingle-mills, 1 
bark-mill, 1 tannery, 10 chair maimfiictories, 3 taverns 
and 5 stores. Distance from Sterling to Boston, 89 
miles and 23 rods; distance from Sterling to Wor- 
cester, 12 J miles. There were 71 miles of roads; and 
ten acres were used by the town. A few miles only 
of new road have been added since to shorten dio- 
tances and avoid steep hills. This survey is worthy 
to be preserved in the archives of the town. 

A former survey of the town was made by William 
Moris, Esq , in 1798, but it is believed no copies of 
that survey are extant. 

Still another map of the town was made and pub- 
lished by Richard Clark, of Philadelphia, in 1855. 
This map, though more showy and pretentious in its 
style, is inferior to that of Capt. Sawyer's in point of 
valuable information. The noticeable features of 
Clark's map are that the eleven school districts are 
given in colors, and the three churches, town hall and 
several of the residences of the citizens are represented 
on the margin. 

It does not appear that any settlements were made 



488 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



within the present limits of the town until 1720. In 
that year five families came up from Lancaster and 
set themselves down on the rising lauds west of the 
village, in the direction of Princeton. 

The names of these pioneer settlers were Jonathan 
and David Osgood, Gamalial Beaman, Benjamin 
Houghton and Samuel Sawyer. 

Jonathan O.-'good located not far from the geograph- 
ical centre of the town, on the place now owned and 
occupied by Mr. George F. Davidson. He was the 
first deacon in the town, and public worship was at 
first frequently held at his house. The writer recol- 
lects clearly the large, commodious old dwelling. It 
had an antiquated appearance, and was demolished 
near the close of the second decade of the present 
century, aud the plain beautiful residence of Mr. 
Davidson was erected upon its site by the then enter- 
prising proprietor, the late Mr. Gilson Brown. 

David Osgood went a little farther westward and 
pitched his tent on the farm of the late Edward Ray- 
mond Fitch, now owned and occupied by his youngest 
son, Charles B. Fitch. The old red house yet remains, 
presenting a very neat and attractive appearance, it 
having been, to some extent, remodeled and kept in 
excellent repair. It is one of the oldest houses in the 
town. 

Gamalial Beaman went a half-mile still farther west 
and established his home on the farm now owned by 
Mr. Wm. S. Walker. The farm remained in the pos- 
session and occupancy of his lineal descendants until 
1834. 

Benjamin Houghton sat himself down about seventy 
rods due north of the last-mentioned place — on the 
I farm now owned by Mr. Asa Spencer. The old house 
remained until 1821, when it was destroyed by fire. 
It was occupied at that time by two families^Mr. 
William Reed and Simeon Toney. Traditional cir- 
cumstances and anecdotes lead us to suppose that 
Benjamin Houghton was, in his day, a stirring busi- 
ness man. He kept a tavern, and hence was known 
everywhere as "Landlord Ben." He was also a very 
large landholder, as the Proprietor's Records and the 
Registry of Deeds will amply show. An anecdote in 
reference to this used frequently to be told of him. 
Two persons were discussing the physical character- 
istics of the moon. "They tell me," says one, "that 
there is land in the moon." "No," says the other, 
" I do not believe it, for if it were so Landlord Ben 
would have a farm there." But his large estate passed 
out of the possession of his descendants shortly after 
the death of his son Joel, who died in 1816. 

Samuel Sawyer took up land and built a house a 
short distance north of Landlord Ben, on the farm 
now owned by Mr. Charles H. Newton. The old 
house remained until 1816 — standing exactly in what 
is now the roadway — when it was taken down, and 
the present more modern dwelling-house was erected 
some fifty feet in the rear of the old one, by his grand- 
son by the same name. 



The descendants of these several persons above 
named have been very numerous, and very many of 
them have been leading citizens, holding honorable 
positions not only in Sterling, but in other places 
wherever, in the course of more than a century and a 
half, some of them may have migrated. 

The meagre records of these early times furnish but 
little clue to the rapidity of the settlements, or to the 
increase of the population that followed. It is evi- 
dent, however, that large portions of the best land 
were soon taken up and brought under cultivation by 
others, also, from Lancaster, and from other towns as 
well. Tradition has it that many families came from 
Rowley, in Essex County, and settled in the more 
northwest part of the town, hence called Rowley Hill. 
And indeed, in confirmation of this, we find, in the 
Registry of Deeds at Worcester, conveyances of land 
from Benjamin Houghton to several parties from that 
town as early as 1733. 

Another exotic implanted in the virgin soil of the 
town, from which sprang a numerous and influential 
portion of its population, was that of the Kendalls 
from Woburn. Josiah Kendall came to this town in 
1736, and settled upon the farm now owned and occu- 
pied by Daniel and James F. Kendall, father and son, 
direct descendants of the said Josiah. For a further 
account of this family the reader is referred to the 
" Kendall Memorial," a family history of much merit, 
by Oliver Kendall, of Providence, R. I. 

And so rapid indeed had been the progress in popu- 
lation and general advancement, that in thirteen years 
from the first settlement the inhabitants petitioned the 
Legislature to be set off as a separate township. This 
petition, having in view a large excision of territory 
from the old town, met with determined opposition 
and was rejected. A long and a rather unpleasant 
controversy followed. But whatever of acrimony may 
have been engendered by the contest, the asperity of 
feeling was softened and the inhabitants of the west 
part of the town were in a measure pacified by being 
made a corporation by the name of the Second or 
West Parish in Lancaster. 

The Rev. Mr. Marvin, in his"Hi8toryof Lancaster," 
— page 198 — has given the names of those who signed 
this first petition " to be set up as a new township." 
They are quoted here to show who were the leading 
men of the town at that time. They are as follows : 
Gamalial Beaman (on another page called " the irre- 
pressible"), Ebenezer Prescott, Benjamin Houghton, 
Samuel Sawyer, Jonathan Osgood, Fairbank More, 
Jonathan Bealey, Thomas Ross, Joseph More,Shubael 
Bealey and John Snow. 

But this proposition for a new township was among 
the inevitable events of the future, and was a bone of 
contention between the old town and the West Parish 
for more than forty years, when, finally, on the 25th 
of April, 1781, the Legislature settled the matter by 
granting an act of incorporation of the new town by 
the name of Sterling. 



STERLING. 



489 



In 1741 or 1742 the iirst meeting-house was built, 
principally by the voluntary labor of the inhabitants, 
the town granting them but a smallsum from its treas- 
ury for the purpose. The spot whereon it was set is the 
same that is now occupied by the Unitarian Church. 
The site is included in a lot of three acres, made over 
to the First Parish by deed of gilt from Elias Sawyer, 
for the purpose of setting a meeting-house and for 
conveniency of stables and other uses. This deed 
is recorded in the Registry of Deeds, book 18, page 
129. To accommodate the increasing population, an 
addition was made to this old church in 1766. Mr. 
Goodwin says of it now, that " it must have presented 
a singular appearance with three gable ends.'' The 
pews were not sold, as in later days, but every year a 
committee was appointed to " seat the meeting- 
house," by which process those paying the highest 
taxes were accorded the most desirable sittings, and 
so on in regular gradation. 

It was not until after the adoption of the Constitu- 
tion of the United States that regular enumerations 
of the inhabitants began to be made decennially by 
law. But somewhere in the old church records it is 
stated that in 1764 the town contained 156 dwelling- 
houses and 856 inhabitants. And at the time of the 
first national census in 1790, there were 209 dwelling- 
houses and 1,428 inhabitants. Thus it is seen that 
the town made commendable and steady progress in 
the first seventy years of its existence. To the trav- 
eler or the casual visitor the place must have pre- 
sented an appearance of substantial prosperity and 
comfortable living. Large, commodious dwelling- 
houses had been built of similar style and construc- 
tion throughout. They all fronted to the south ; were 
two-storied in front, with a long roof running down to 
one low story on the north side. Two large square 
rooms occupied the ground floor on either side of the 
front door, usually distinguished — as the house stood 
square to the four points of the compas-s — as the 
"east" and " west" room, with corresponding cham- 
bers above. Immediately back of these two front 
rooms was the long kitchen, with its wide-mouthed 
fire-place and capacious oven. 

A score or more of these plain, ancient dwellings 
still remain, though all have undergone more or less 
alteration. The habits and mode of life of the peo- 
ple was as plain and substantial as their dwellings. 
They were industrious and frugal, and their way of 
subsistence, down even to the time within the mem- 
ory of persons now living, was simple and inex- 
pensive. 

The walls of their houses were unadorned with 
fresco or elegant, costly paper-hangings, and the 
floors were innocent of carpets. Neatness of person, 
however, and in household arrangements was a char- 
acteristic of the time. In summer, in the absence of 
carpets, it was the custom to sprinkle clean white 
sand on the floors, and fill the wide chimney-mouth 
with evergreen bushes, relieved here and there by 



daisies and sprigs of golden-rod. This was the old 
English fashion, as we infer from some lines of Gold- 
smith, in his " Deserted Village," where he says : 

IraagioBtion fondly stoops to trace 

The parlor splendors of that festive place : 

The white-washed wall, the nicely sanded floor 

The hearth, except when winter chill'd the day. 
With aspen boughs, and flowers, and fennel gay. 

Among the few that remain of these ancient dwell- 
ings, that now owned and occupied by Mr. Dugau, on 
the Amory Farm, best represents, in its external ap- 
pearance, the houses referred to above. 

This farm was owned many years ago by Rufus G. 
Amory, Esq., of Boston. Originally it was owned by 
Colonel Asa Whitcomb. Colonel Whitcomb pos- 
sessed a large estate, and was a noted man in his day. 
He was chosen deacon of the church in 1760, Repre- 
sentative to the General Court in 1766, '68, '69, '70, 
'71, '72, '73 and '74. He was a delegate to the Pro- 
vincial Congress at Cambridge February 1, 1775, and 
was appointed justice of the peace in 1780. Liberty 
is here taken to transcribe the account Mr. Goodwin 
has given of this eminent citizen in the Worcester 
Magazine in 1826 : 

At the commencement of the war he was one of our wealthiest citi- 
zens. He was for many years entrusted with the most important and 
responsible offices, — was Deacon of the Churcii, Representative from 
Lancaster before the division, and Jiistice of the Peace, besides his 
various military stations. Such was his zeal iu the cause of liberty, 
and so great his confidence in the patriotism and integrity of hie 
country-men that he pledged his whole fortune upon the faith of the 
paper currency, and consequently became bankrupt He removed to 
Princeton, where he died at an advanced age iu a state of abject pov- 
erty ; sustained by a conscious integrily, that never departed from him, 
and an exalted piety that elevated him above tbo ills of life. 

The farm on which he died is in the easterly part 
of Princeton, owned by Mr. Estee, formerly known 
as the Temple place. 

Another of these antiquated houses is that on the 
Kilburn Farm on Rowley Hill. This house was 
probably built by Deacon Joseph Kilburn. He was 
chosen deacon in 1767, and died in 1789. This farm 
has ever been held in the Kilburn name, and is now 
owned by Mr. Levi Kilburn, a grandson of Deacon 
Joseph. The present owner is now in the eighty- 
fourth year of his age. It is not improbable that this 
farm may be retained in the Kilburn line for at least 
another generation. 

The oldest house in the village is a part of what is 
now the Central Hotel, kept by our popular landlord, 
Mr. J. N. Brooks. This house is said to have been 
built in the year 1759, by Mr. Jabez Brooks, and, for 
much the largest part of the time since, has been oc- 
cupied as a tavern. At the time it was built there 
were but two houses within the distance of half a 
mile, — Deacon Jonathan O^'good's at the west and 
that of Mr. Roger Robbins at the east, where Mrs. C. 
A. Riley now lives. Another ancient dwelling is 
that on the north end of the Common, owned by 
Mrs. C. A. Goodnow. It is claimed by some that a 



490 



HISTORY OP WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



part of this house was the first house built in the vil- 
lege. It was, in very early times, owned and occu- 
pied by a Mr. Harris, grandfather of the late Mr. 
Clarendon Harris, of Worcester. 

The public records of the town were destroyed in 
September, 1794, by the burning of Mr. Moses Smith's 
store. Mr. Smith was town clerk at the time, and kept 
his public office in the store. The destruction was 
complete — leaving a blank in the town's history, from 
that date back to the time of its incorporation as a 
precinct — a period of more than fifty years. Subse- 
quent records, however, show that the town did not 
suffer in comparison with other towns around in the 
public spirit of its citizens or in the liberality of its 
appropriations for roads and other improvements, and 
for the maintenance of church and schools. An in- 
quiry has recently been raised, whether the town had 
ever adopted by-laws, regulating the transaction of 
public busiuess ; and in the belief that it never had 
done so, a committee was appointed at a late town- 
meeting to prepare suitable rules to be presented at 
a future meeting for the town's consideration and ac- 
tion. By a reference to the record of a town-meeting, 
held on the Sdday of November, 1794, it will be found 
that a code of by-laws for the regulation of town- 
meetings ,was adopted, which runneth as follows : 

Art. 1. To take a Beat and sit. 

Art, 2. To proceed to buBiiiesa at tlie hour appointed in the War- 
raut. 

Art. 3. To rise and address the Moderator with hats off when we 
wiah to speak and sit down wlien done speaking. 

Art. 4. That we will not presume to speak when one is orderly 
speaking before us. 

Art. 5. That we will not interrupt by attempting to converse, or trans- 
act private business when assembled for public. 

Art. 6. That the law respecting the Moderator's duty shall be read at 
the opening of every town-meeting, if i-equested. 

Art. 7. That the Moderator shall exercise the powers vested in him by 
law, and that we will strictly obey. 

Art 8. That the above articles shall be copied in a large, legible hand 
and brought in by the Clerk at the opening of every town-meeting aud 
hung up in open view of tlie town. 

In 1799 the second meeting-bouse was built, and 
located on the site of the old one at a cost of $8500. 
Mr. Timothy Hildreth was the builder. He was, at 
the time, tavern-keeper as well as carpenter. 

In the following year the town-house and school- 
house combined was erected on the spot occupied by 
the present one, which wtis formerly the site of Mr. 
Samuel Brown's blacksmith shop. (See deed of Samuel 
Brown to Ebenezer Pope, book 146, page 60; also 
deed of Ebenezer Pope to town of Sterling, book 168, 
page 66, Registry of Deeds.) It was a very plain build- 
ing — thirty-eiglit by twenty-eight feet — innocent of 
paint, and cost about $700. 

Previous to 1822 the method of supporting the poor 
was by boarding them out among such families as 
were disposed, for the sake of the income, to take them. 
The manner of disposing of them was sometimes by 
auction. But, in time, a more philanthropic sentiment 
began to prevail, and this mode of providing for the 
unfortunate poor was regarded as inhuman. In con- 



sequence, in the year above-named, a committee of 
intelligent citizens was appointed at the town-meet- 
ing, in March, to take into consideration the manner 
of supporting the poor, and report whether a change 
for the better might not be made. In due time the 
committee presented to the town an able report, set- 
ting forth the disadvantages and the inhumanity of 
the present system, and recommending the purchase 
of a farm as a better and more tconoinical way of dis- 
charging the town's obligation to this unfortunate class 
of her population. The report was accepted and the 
committee was instructed to purchase a farm at a cost 
not exceeding the sum of three thousand dollars. 
Thereupon the farm, now owned and occupied as the 
Pauper Establishment, was purchased. The former 
owner was William Morris, Esq. The farm contained 
sixty acres, and was purchased for the sum of $1900. 
Seventy-five acres have been added since the original 
purchase, making a total of one hundred and thirty- 
five acres; valued in the overseer's estimate for 1888 
at $3400. A large and commodious Almshouse was 
built in 1877, containing twenty-six rooms. Careful 
provision is made for the comfort of the inmates and 
the care of the insane. Eight rooms are suitably fitted 
up for the latter class and five rooms' are devoted to 
the common poor. The estimated value of the house 
is $3000. The other farm-buildings have been recently 
thoroughly repaired, and, to some extent, remodeled, 
and are valued at $1000. 

In 1825 a fund of one thousand dollars was estab- 
lished, the income of which to be used in furnishing 
females of limited means with fuel during the winter 
months. The fund was derived from the sale of a 
farm given to the town for that purpose by Jacob 
Conant, Esq. 

The fund is under the control of five trustees, who 
are to be cho.sen annually, and who are to render ac- 
count to the town and submit their books and papers 
to its inspection, and also to that of the donor and 
his heirs, whenever requested so to do. By the report 
of the trustees, at the annual town-meeting in March, 
1888, the principal of the fund invested was shown to 
be two thousand and twenty-four dollars, showing 
that the fund has been carefully and judiciously 
managed, while at the same time, from year to year 
it has fulfilled the purpose of the benevolent donor. 
The " Conant Fund " has relieved anxiety and carried 
cheerfulness to many a poor widow's heart as the 
cold winds of December have whistled dismally 
about her dwelling. 

The late Mrs. Emily Wilder made a bequest in her 
will of. fifteen hundred dollars for a simil.ar purpose, 
which the selectmen, as trustees, received from the 
executor of her estate in 1887, and which they have 
duly invested. 

The old town-house, built in 1800, having fallen 
int ) somewhat premature decay, partly in consequence 
of having been used as a .school-house as well as a 
town-house, was sold in 1835 to Mr. John B. Pratt, 



STERLING. 



491 



who removed it to a location a little south of the 
village on the Worcester road, kaown ever since 
by the euphonious name of " Tuggsville," and our 
present chaste and well-proportioned town-hall was 
erected in its place. It was built by Mr. John 
Springer, for many years a respected resident of the 
town. It was completed in November, 1835, and was 
immediately dedicated with appropriate ceremonies. 
Edwin Conant, Esq., delivered the dedicatory ad- 
dress, a large assemblage being present. In the 
evening following the services of dedication, a very 
pleasant musical entertainment was given, in which 
some noted singers, former residents of the town, 
took part, among wliom were Colonel Daniel New- 
hall, of Boston; Bartholomew Brown, Esq., of Bridge- 
water ; Mr. John Brown, of Boston ; Mr. Nathaniel 
Sawyer, of New York, and Mr. Cephas Newhall, of 
Sterling, all of whom were "singing masters," or, as 
in modern parlance, " professors of vocal music." 

Cemeteries. — There are four public burial-grounds 
within the limits of the town. One is situated in the 
southwest part of the town in the Leg District (so 
called) ; one near Sterling Junction ; the old village 
churchyard, where repose the remains of the first 
settlers of the town and many of their descendants; 
and the new "Oak Hill Cemetery," half a mile dis- 
tant from the village on the Lancaster road. The 
latter contains about eight acres and was purchased 
of Mr. Joel Houghton in 18.58. Much attention and 
labor of late years has been bestowed upon all these 
hallowed depositories of the dead, in repairing and 
new-setting the fences, furnishing suitable gates and 
entrances, and in removing weeds and bushes, and 
all unsightly objects which oti'end tbe moral senti- 
ment, if they do not tend to nourish the " horrors of 
the tomb." And it is pleasant to observe that all 
these sacred enclosures are being cared for and orna- 
mented, both by public and private munificence, by 
chaste monuments of marble or granite, by graded 
avenues or shaded paths, and by the planting of flow- 
ering shrubs and plants around and witliin the curbed 
family lots in a manner calculated to render them 
pleasant resorts, suited to calm contemplation, or to 
secret, holy communings of the soul with that of the 
loved but silent tenant of the grave. 

The old burial-ground was enlarged in 1837 by the 
purchase of about two acres adjoining on the south 
side, including an avenue to the Kendall Hill road, 
where there is an entrance with stone posts and an 
iron gate. It was purchased of Mr. Augustine Hol- 
combe. It was laid off into family lots, which have 
been mostly taken up, and now thickly abounds wiih 
becoming monuments, mostly of marble, of various 
styles. 

The " Oak Hill Cemetery " was laid out into burial 
lots, avenues and paths under the direction of a com- 
mittee, consisting of Daniel Hosmer, Eli Kilburn, Cap- 
tain Moses Sawyer, Luther W. Rugg and Ezra Ken- 
dall, appointed at the annual meeting in March, 1859, 



with power to employ a civil engineer ; and at a subse- 
quent meeting the same committee were authorized 
to enclose the land by a suitable picket-fence, and to 
grade the avenues and paths, and to prepare a code 
of by-laws for the regulation of the affairs of the 
cemetery. 

The committee caused a plan of the whole ground 
to be made out, by which it was shown that it con- 
tained three hundred and fifteen lots, but only one 
hundred and fifty-one lots were staked out. An 
additional number has been staked out since, and 
there are still others to be prepared for use as neces- 
sity may require. A cemetery committee is chosen 
each year, who have entire control of all burying- 
grounds, and all funds given or appropriated for the 
purpose of improving or beautifying them. 

An exceptionally interesting event occurred in this 
town in September, 1824. It was a no les-s occasion 
than the " reception " given to the Marquis De Lafa- 
yette as he passed through the town on his return to 
New York by way of Worcester and Hartford. 

From the moment Lafayette landed at New York on 
the 15th of August, after an absence of nearly fifty years, 
the whole country was aroused to the greatest enthu- 
siasm to do all honor to the great and good man who 
had rendered such distinguished service in the hour of 
the country's greatest need. The circumstances attend- 
ing his visit to Sterling were briefly these. Soon after 
his arrival at New York he set out on a journey north 
as far as Portsmouth. N. H. His route lay through 
New Haven, New London, Providence and Boston. 
Returning from Portsmouth, he left Boston, passing 
through Lexington, Concord, Bolton, Lancaster and 
Sterling on his way back to New York, by way of 
Worcester and Hartford. He spent the night at Bolton 
at the hospitable mansion of Hon. S. V. S. Wilder. At 
all places he received the most patriotic and flattering 
demonstrations of respect — the whole country ringing 
with salutes and applause. The citizens of Sterling 
were not behind in patriotic emotion or in enthusi- 
asm to pay due homage to the distinguished guest of 
the nation. Suitable preparations were made. A tri- 
umphal arch was raised in front of Mr. Bartlett's 
store, bearing the words — " The Nation's Guest." 
" Welcome Lafayette." A broad platform, about four 
feet high, was erected nearly in front of the Congre- 
gational Church, neatly covered by a carpet and 
reached by a flight of stairs. There were then no trees 
or other obstructions u pon the Common to obstruct the 
view. There was a military display consisting of the 
" Sterling Light Infantry," a fine volunteer company, 
recently organized, with new and beautiful uniforms, 
under command of Captain Phineas B. Dana; the 
"Princeton Light Infantry," another equally splendid 
volunteer company, commanded by Captain Amos 
Merriam ; the old militia company, and the artillery 
company, belonging partly in Sterling and partly in 
Lancaster, and commanded by Captain Daniel F. 
Maynard, of Sterling. Promptly in the morning, men. 



492 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



women and children came flocking to the village, 
eager to feast their eyes upon the venerable hero, 
who had early espoused the cause of American free- 
dom, and had hazarded his life and shed his blood for 
its consummation. At about eleven o'clock A.M. the 
general and his suite arrived, preceded by a body of 
cavalry and followed by a long line of carriages from 
the towns below. Alighting from his carriage and as- 
cending to the platform, he was received by the Board 
of Selectmen, who, through the chairman, Isaac 
Goodwin, Esq., made a felicitious address, to which 
Lafayette happily and appropriately responded. After 
a little time spent in hand-shaking wiih the ladies, the 
general again entered his carriage and proceeded on 
his journey amid the waving of handkerchiefs, the 
huzzas of the multitude and the salutes of the artillery. 

Ecclesiastical. — The first church in Sterling was 
organized December 19, 1744, and on the same day 
the Rev. John Mellen was ordained pa-stor. The 
pastorate of Mr. Mellen extended over a period of 
thirty-four years. From all the accounts we can 
gather of him it would seem t bathe possessed in an emi- 
nent degree the essential qualities neces:-ary to a suc- 
cessful minister of the Gospel. In average ability he 
was at least the equal of his professional brethren in 
the towns around him. Mr. Goodwin says of him 
that he "probably stood at the head of the clergy in 
the county.'' * 

Under his ministrations the affairs of the church 
and town appear to have advanced prosperously for 
many years. But those that are at all familiar with 
the history of these early times are not surprised that 
a day of fiery trial was near at hand for both minister 
and people alike. Questions of greater freedom in af- 
fairs of church and state were everywhere agitating 
the public mind. People had become extremely 
jealous of their rights and every attempt at encroach- 
ment upon them was met with bold and determined 
resistance. On the part of Mr. Mellen and his peo- 
ple it was a question of high church and prerogative 
on the one side and larger liberty on the other. 

We of the present generation can have but a fivint 
idea of the bitterness of the controversy that prevailed 
in New England for a score of years following 1760. 
Mr. Mellen was formally dismissed November 14i 
1774, but continued to hold meetings and administer 
the ordinances with his faithful adherents at his own 
house and at the school-house for a number of years 
afterwards. But through all the unfortunate disa- 
greement the moral and Christian character of the 
minister was but slightly assailed. And it is pleasant 
to remember that after his removal from town and 
resettlement over another society, he occasionally re- 
turned and occupied the old pulpit from which he had 
been, some years before, forcibly excluded, and where, 
by the irapressiveness of his discourses, he won the 
favor of those who had once been his malignaut 
foes. 

After these few troublous years the churches had rest. 



A season of quiet having now been restored and all 
asperity of former feeling having subsided, the people 
united in calling to the ministry, as the successor of 
Mr. Mellen, the Rev. Reuben Holcorab. He was or- 
dained June 2, 1779. Rev. Mr. Holcomb's pastorate 
continued thirty-five years, and was noted forits reign 
of peace and prosperity throughout. 

During all these years no dissatisfaction appears to 
have been expressed with reg.ird to the minister or 
any loud, vociferous complaints uttered against him. 
But, all on a sudden, at the commencement of the year 
1814, a petition was drawn up and signed by a hun- 
dred or more of the citizens, asking the selectmen to 
insert in the warrant for March meeting an article 
" to see if the town will choose a committee to converse 
with the Rev. Reuben Holcomb to see on what terms, 
if any, he will relinquish his pastoral office in this 
town." To the pastor and to those not in the secret 
this movement was a complete surprise. 

The vote upon the article passed in the affirmative 
and a committee of seven of the leading citizens wag 
appointed accordingly. The following are the names 
of the gentleman composing the committee: Lutber 
Allen, Joseph Kendall, John Porter, Moses Thomas, 
Thomas H. Blood, Samuel Sawyer and Aaron Kim- 
ball. 

Immediately after the official interview of the com- 
mittee with the pastor, Mr. Holcomb addressed a 
lengthy communication to the church and town, in 
which he reviewed the events of his ministry, and 
declared that, in view of the hitherto harmonious rela- 
tions between himself and his people, the above pro- 
ceeding on the part of the town " was a sudden and 
unexpected eve7if." But he at once preferred a request 
for dismission on the ground of "want of health, want 
of affection among you towards me, and as a result of all, 
the want of a prospect of usefulness and comfort." A 
mutual council was called and the request for dismissal 
was granted. It does not appear that any serious 
alienation of feeling was caused by the separation on 
the part of Mr. Holcomb and his friends and the 
society. Mr. Holcomb continued to reside on his 
beautiful hillside farm, regularly attending church 
services in the place of his former labors until his 
death, which occurred, October 18, 1826, at the 
advanced age of seventy-five years. 

The successor of Mr. Holcomb was the Rev. Lemuel 
Capen, who was ordained March 22, 1815. Mr. 
Oapen was much beloved by the people of the town, 
and his ministry, though short, was in all respects a 
happy one, abounding in great good to the community 
among whom he was called to labor. The annual 
salary of Mr. Capen was six hundred dollars. But 
this sum being inadequate to meet the expenses of 
his family, and desiring not to seem burdensome by 
asking additional compensation, " and thus (to use 
his own words) endangering that unusual degree of 
harmony and unanimity which now so happily 
subsists among you as a religious society and as a 



STERLING. 



493 



town," he felt it his duty on the 4th of January, 1819, 
to ask a dismission. An ecclesiastical council was 
called, and a separation took place. On the 21st of 
January a town-meeting was held, and the following 
vote was unanimously passed : voted, " that after ma- 
ture deliberation on the communication of the Rev. 
Lemuel Capen of the 4th instant, and the consequent 
result on that communication, we cannot with honor 
to ourselves and justice to him, but declare, that we 
received his communication with extreme regret and 
concern ; that the manner in which his request was 
disposed of was not the result of dissatisfaction as to 
his acquirements as a scholar, his deportment as a 
man, or his attainments as a Christian ; but the con- 
viction that an addition to his salary at this early period 
might materially endanger the universal harmony 
whicli.now so happily prevails among us." And after 
some further expressions of "confidence in his char- 
acter for purity of heart and rectitude of life," the 
vote concludes : " It now only remains for us to wish 
him all the joys and hopes of the good man, the 
polished scholar, the sincere friend and the real 
Christian." 

The next minister in regular succession in the an- 
cient church was the Rev. Peter Osgood, of Audover. 
He was ordained June oO, 1819. Mr. Osgood was 
never blessed with a strong physical constitution and 
his labors were frequently interrupted by ill-health. 
Previous to his settlement and for some years after- 
wards there was no other religious society in the town, 
and the number of inhabitants was larger by some 
hundreds than at the present time. Custom, more- 
over, required two elaborate sermons every Sunday. 
Consequently the duties of a minister, in those days, 
were far more laborious than now ; and besides, by 
virtue of his office, he was expected to be in a mea- 
sure the guardian of all the children of the town and 
the chief supervisor of its schools. Mr. Osgood was 
heartily interested in the education of the young. He 
labored faitlifully and earnestly to promote the highest 
welfare of the schools. He exercised a watchful care 
over them and his frequent visits to them were gladly 
welcomed by both teachers and pupils'. In this regard 
especially he is now held in grateful remembrance by 
many of the elderly people of the town. 

But his strength was not equal to his day. Under 
his pastoral and ministerial labors he felt that his 
health was gradually, but surely, giving way and that 
his "only hope of enjoying comfortable health" was 
in relief from the cares of a parish and the labor of 
study. In the spring of 1839 he felt himself com- 
pelled to ask a dismission ; but so strong was the 
attachment of his people to their minister that they 
were unwilling that a separation should take place 
until some effort for his restoration should be made 
by means of entire rest and freedom from care. Ac- 
cordingly, at the parish-meeting which followed, a 
committee was appointed to converse with the Rev. 
Mr. Osgood respecting his request for a dismission 



from his ministerial office. It was also voted unani- 
mously " that the Committee be instructed to offer to 
the Rev. Mr. Osgood a suspension of his ministerial 
duties to the Parish for one year, then to resume 
them, in case his health should warrant it." 

With this proposal Mr. Osgood complied ; but at 
the year's end it was found that his health had not 
sufficiently improved to render it prudent for him to 
resume his labors, and a release from further connec- 
tion with the society was granted, according to his 
renewed request, March 9. 1840. The vote of the 
parish granting a dismissal concludes as follows: 
"And having enjoyed the benefit of his faithful min- 
istry and witnessed his exemplary deportment for 
twenty years, do most cordially declare our fullest 
confidence in his character for purity of heart and 
rectitude of life." 

Shortly after Mr. Osgood removed to North Au- 
dover, his native town, and spent the remainder of his 
life in the quiet pursuits of agriculture on his ances- 
tral farm. But infirmities at length grew upon him 
and disease so impaired his mental faculties that he 
became insensible to all about him, even to the pres- 
ence of friends. He died August 27, 1865, in the 
seventy-fourth year of his age. 

Since the termination of Rev. Mr. Osgood's pastor- 
ate, the ministerial and pastoral office in the First 
Congregational Seciety has been held successively by 
the following clergymen, to wit: Rev. David Fosdick, 
Jr., ordained March 3, 1841, — dismissed December 8, 
1845; Rev. T. Prentiss Allen, ordained November 18, 
1846, — dismissed September 19, 1853; Rev. William 
H. Knapp, installed February 14, 1856, — dismissed 
May 5, 1858; Rev. Edward B. Fairchild, ordained 
January 19, I860,— dismissed September 22, 1863; 
Rev. Alpheus S. Nickerson, installed July 27, 1864, — 
dismissed February 2, 1869 ; Rev. Harvey C. Bates, 
ordained June 30, 1869,— dismissed March 11, 1873; 
Rev. Henry P. Cutting, installed September 1, 1873, 
. — dismissed April 5, 1881. 

Rev. J. H. Whitmore took charge of the parish 
December 1, 1884, and continued his services to the 
church and society until July 1, 1886. 

On July 1, 1888, Rev. William S. Heywood, by the 
unanimous desire of the society, assumed charge of 
the pastoral and ministerial affairs of the parish, and 
on the 1st of September moved into town with his 
family, and took possession of the parsonage be- 
queathed to the society by the late Mrs. Emily 
Wilder. 

The present house of worship was built in 1842, 
immediately after the destruction, by an incendiary 
fire, on the night of the 14th of March of the same 
year, of its predecessor, built in 1799, and dedicated 
on the first Sunday of January in 1800. The present 
house is on the same site of the two former ones. 
In 1886, under the direction of a committee ap- 
pointed by the society, it was remodeled, improved 
and beautified, Mrs. C. A. Freeman generously pay- 



494 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



ing nearly the whole of the expense, amounting to 
Boine two thousand dollars, in memorial of her de- 
ceased sister, who was a constant and devoted attend- 
ant upon the religious services of the church. The 
church organ was procured in 18.53. It was built by 
Stevpns, of Cambridge, and was paid for, partly, by a 
legacy bequeathed to the society by the late Jacob 
Conant, Esq., and partly by voluntary subscriptions 
of the members. Its total cost was $916.38. 

A ministerial library was purchased in 1846, for 
the use of the minister of the First Congregational 
Society, at a cost of one hundred and fifty or two 
hundred dollars. This library contains, among other 
standard works, the American Encyclopfedia, and, 
as far as it goes, is a valuable collection. Owing to 
the organization of other religious societies, the de- 
cease of many of its prominent members and other 
causes not easily explained, this ancient society has 
become, like many another, reduced in numbers and 
power of its influence. It still exists, however, in a 
tolerably strong and healthy condition, doing its 
share in sustaining and promoting the intellectual, 
moral and religious culture of the community. Down 
to a period as late as 1830 this was the only religious 
society in the town, and it is a singular fact that 
nearly every family was regular and more or less 
constant in their attendance upon church services on 
Sunday. The long processions of- wagons, square- 
topped chaises, and persons on horseback and on foot 
at the conclusion of the afternoon service, wending 
their way homeward on all the roads diverging from 
the meeting-house, is well remembered by many of 
the elderly people. It must not be supposed, how- 
ever, that the people were entirely united in religious 
sentiment or were satisfied with the state of things in 
regard to religious worship. There were those who 
conscientiously held to the doctrine of Universal 
Salvation, first proclaimed in this country by Rev. 
John Murray, and which had begun to be preached 
by many clergymen of ability in New England; and 
there were those of Baptist proclivities, and those 
also who entertained more distinctively the senti- 
ments of John Calvin. 

At the date mentioned above, or immediately sub- 
sequent thereto, the Universalists began to hold oc- 
casional meetings in the old town-house. 

The preachers on these occasions were the Rev. 
Hosea Ballon, Rev. Thomas Whittemore, Rev. 
Thomas Greenwood, Rev. Charles Streeter, Rev. Mr. 
Harriman (since Governor of New Hampshire) and 
others. These meetings were quite numerously at- 
tended, and such an interest was awakened that a 
society was soon formed, under the name of the 
" First Universalist Society in Sterling." 

The precise date of the formation of the society, 
as well as the settlement of its first pastor, the Rev. 
Rufus S. Pope, is not known, as the early records ap- 
pear to have been lo.^t. Under the pastoral charge 
of Rev. Mr. Pope a church was organized, and cer- 



tain articles of faith, as given below, were formulated 
and adopted, with the preamble as follows : 

Preamble (in part.) As Christiiius we acknowledge the gacred Scrip- 
tures to be the only infallible rule of faith and practice, regarding 
tbeni as given by inspiration of God, and profitable for doctrine, for 
reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness— and discarding 
all Inunan authorities and creeds, we select the following, as expressing 
the general outlines of our belief, and of the Christian religion : 

Article first. We believe there is one God and one Mediator between 
God and man ; the man Christ Jesus, wlio gave himself a ransom for 
all to be testified in due time. 

Arliele second. Wo believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God. 

Article third. We believe the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of 
the world. 

Article fourth. We believe that, by the grace of God be tasted death 
for every man. 

Article filth. We believe that God will render to every man according 
to his deeds. 

Article sixth. We believe that we ought to adorn the doctrine of God 
our Saviour in all things. For the grace of God, that bringeth salva- 
tion to all men, hath appeared. Teaching us that denying ungodliness 
and worldly lusts, we should live soberly and righteously and godly in 
this present world. 

The church was publicly recognized July 13, 1836, 
the Rev. Thom.as Greenwood, of Marlborough, de- 
livering an ajjpropriate discourse on the occasion. 

It is to be regretted that the records of the society 
were not more carefully preserved. It appears, 
however, that under the charge of its first pastor, the 
Rev. Mr. Pope, which continued somewhere from 
five to eight years, the society increased in numbers, 
and in its influence for good in the community. Its 
meetings for religious services were held in the town- 
hall until 1838. In that year the society built itself 
a neat and commodious house of worship — the same 
now owned and occupied by the Orthodox Society. 
Rev. Mr. Pope removed in 1840 or '41 to Hyannis, 
on Cape Cod, and became pastor of the Universalist 
Society in that town, and there spent the remainder 
of his life. 

The successors of Mr. Pope were as follows : Rev. 
George Proctor, from 1841 to 1847 ; Rev. Quiucy 
Whitney, from 1847 to 1848; Rev. Samuel A. Davis, 
from 1848 to 1852. 

The society continued to hold services by supplies 
for a time after Rev. Mr. Davis closed his labors. But 
owing, in part, to the death of some of the older and 
wealthy members and the removal from town of 
others, and, perhaps, not a little to indifference to the 
cause on the part of some, the society soon began to 
languish, and finally, in 1853, sold its house of wor- 
ship to the "First Evangelical Congregational So- 
ciety," which had been recently organized. Very 
soon after this the society disbanded and such of the 
members as chose went back and connected them- 
selves with the Unitarian Society, from which many 
of them had gone out scarcely a score of years before. 
But it is just to say that the Universalist Society did 
some good work during the comparatively short 
period of its existence. 

During the last fifty or sixty years there has been a 
great change in the religious elements of most 
churches and in the religious sentiments of a great 



STERLING. 



495 



majority of the people. Much of the old theology is 
discarded. Creeds have been shortened and simpli- 
fied. Men are judged less and less by the articles of 
their religious faith and moi'S and more by the 
uniform tenor of their daily life. The Universalist 
ministers of forty years ago, among whom were 
many very able and talented men, did their full share 
in establishing more rational and liberal views. 

For several years prior to 1837 there were in town 
several families of Baptists and others entertaining 
similar views, who occasionally held meetings at 
private houses and at the school-house in the Leg 
District. In the year above mentioned it was found 
that the number of these persons had so increased 
that " it was felt that a church to conduct the affairs 
and bear the responsibiUties of this gospel enterprise was 
a necessity." Accordingly, a church was thereupon 
organized, and the Rev. Cyrus P. Grovesner was 
called and became its first pastor. Mr. Moses A. 
Brown was chosen clerk, and Levi Stuart the fi^^t 
deacon of the church. Preaching services were held 
in the town-hall. Rev. Mr. Grovesner closed his 
pastorate at the end of the year and the Rev. George 
Wateis was called to succeed him. Mr. Waters re- 
mained with the church three and a half years. The 
Rev. John Allen followed Rev. Mr. Waters in 1841, 
and continued his labors until the close of 1843. 

Rev. Mr. Allen is remembered as a genial, large- 
hearted man, and was held in high esteem by his 
fellow-townsmen. Under his ministry the work of 
the church was eftectively carried on, and the moral 
enterprises of the town received his constant support. 
A society was organized embracing a goodly number 
of the town's most esteemed and influential citizens, 
and the present house of worship, beautifully located 
under the shade of the majestic elms on the north 
end of the Common, was erected. The mode of pro- 
cedure in the building of the church shows that the 
members had courage as well as faith. An instru- 
ment was drawn up and signed by twelve of the 
leading members, to wit: 

"Know all men by these presents, that we, the subscribers hereby 
agree to associate together in equal sliares, by deducting out so much as 
may be subscribed by otlier individuals, for the purpose of building a 
meeting-house for the First Baptist Society in Sterling, 

"And we bind Ourselves, our Heirs, Executors, and Administrators to 
the performance of the above undertaking." 

The object of the above Plan is to relieve and to promote the Interest 
of the said Society, and so dispose of the Pews as best to subserve their 
Interest and keep ourselves harmless for building said house of Wor- 
ship. 

Sterling, January 16, 18t3. 

(Signed) Benjamin Stuart, Jesse Curtis, Alden Bailey, Levi Stuart, 
Asa Hoppin, Amos Breck, James P. Patten, Elisha Smith, Abel F. Good- 
now, John Allen, John B. Pratt, Jonathan Nichols. 

The site of the meeting-house was purchased of 
the late Mr. Helon Brooks for the sum of one thou- 
sand dollars. 

The whole expense of the building, including 
site, was $4727.93. 

A fine-toned bell has recently been purchased, and 



other improvements made, which swells the expense 
to nearly seven thousand dollars, all of which the so- 
ciety has promptly met, in addition to the yearly 
cost of supporting the ministry nearly all the time 
since the first organization of the church. 

The ministers who have had pastoral charge of the 
society since the Rev. John Allen are Rev. Orlando 
Cunningham, six and a half year.^; Rev. Ira F. Ken- 
ney, a little over one year; Rev. William M. Guilford, 
two and a half years; Rev. John H. Learnard, two 
years and eight months; Rev. Gilbert Robbins, two 
years; Rev. William Carpenter, three and a half years ; 
S. H. Record, a Newton theological student, six 
months ; Rev. John H. Learnard, again, two and a 
half years; Rev. Samuel Clieever, nine months; Rev. 
G. 0. Atkinson, one year ; Rev. C. H. Hickock, one year ; 
Rev. S. B. Macomber, one year and four months ; 
Rev. I. C. Carpenter, two years and nine months ; 
Rev. A. H. Eitee, nearly two years, residing in West- 
borough ; Rev. D. B. Gun, nearly three years. The 
church was also supplied a short time by Deacon 
W. A. Holland and by Mr. W. B. Parshley, a student 
of Brown University. Jt has had other supplies from 
time to time, whose names do not appear on record. 
The present pastor is Rev. S. H. Whitney, who com- 
menced his services 1888. 

The clerk of the society is Mr. Thomas 0. Patten, 
and the clerk of the church is Miss Elizabeth R. 
Bailey. 

In 1851 it was deemed needful that another branch 
of the Christian Church should be built up in the 
town. There were several highly respectable fami- 
lies who could not find a congenial religious home 
with either the Unitarians, Universalists, or the Bap- 
tists, and who, by reason thereof, were in the habit of 
attending church in the neighboring towns of 
West Boylston, Boylston and Bolton. On the 23d 
of September, 1851, by request of Mark Bruce, For- 
dyce Wilder, Luther Stone, Rufus Holman, Jones 
Wilder, Silas M. Wilder, Charles H. Loring, Charles 
M. Bailey, Luther Peters and Daniel L. Emerson, a 
warrant was issued by William D. Peck, Esq., a jus- 
tice of the peace, within and for the county of Wor- 
cester, to Silas M. Wilder, directing him to notify 
and warn the above described Inhabitants to meet at 
the Town Hall on the 9th day of October next, to 
act on the following articles, viz. : 

Ist. To choose a Clerk, Moderator and such other Officers as may be 
deemed proper and necessary. 
2d. To determine the mode of calling future meetings. 
3d. To adopt such By-Laws as may be deemed necessary. 

At the meeting held pursuant to the warrant, Jones 
Wilder was chosen moderator, Silas M. Wilder 
clerk and Luther Peters, Charles H. Loring and 
John Smith, Jr., prudential committee. 

Charles H. Loring and Dr. E. C. Knight were 
chosen a committee to draft by-laws. At an ad- 
journed meeting the committee reported and their re- 
port was accepted. 



496 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



By-Laws. 

Art. 1. This Society shall bo called The First Evangelical Congrega- 
tional SociPt.v in Sterling. 

Art. 2, declares what officers the society will annually elect. 

Art. 3, defines the manner in which new members may be admitted. 

Art. 4, fixes the time for the annual meeting. 

Art. 5, prescribes the mode of calling future meetings. 

Art. 6, establishes the rule in this society that no tax shall be levied 
*'on its members until evei-y reasonable means has been exhausted ; " 
"but all funds shall be raised, and all expenses paid by voluntary sub- 
scription."' 

Art. 7, defines the number necessary to constitute a quorum for the 
transaction of business. 

Art. 8, declares how the By-Laws may be altered or amended. 

In 1853 the society purchased the meeting-house, 
built fifteen years before, and owned by the Uui- 
versalists. In 1885 the interior of the church was 
much improved by the repainting of the woodwork 
in a pleasing color and by new frescoing of the walls. 
In 1887 the society purchased the house of Silas 
Stuart for a parsonage. It is a pleasant place just a 
little retired and admirably adapted to the purpose 
for which it was purchased. No religious society 
can feel itself suitably equipped to fulfill its mission 
until it has secured a permanent and pleasant home 
for its minister and his family. The society has 
maintained religious services during the entire period 
of its exii-tence, paying its settled pastor from six 
hundred to eight hundred dollars annual salary. It 
has received aid from the HoJie Mission Society to the 
amount of about two hundred dollars annually, but 
it has paid back by frequent voluntary contributions 
to various religious enterprises a yearly sum, prob- 
ably equal to the amount of aid it has received. 
This financial exhibit is highly creditable to the 
society and evinces an energy and a spiritual life 
worthy the cause it seeks to promote. Long may it 
continue to fulfill its liigh and sacred mission and do 
its full share of work in the enlightenment and re- 
generation of the world ! 

The church was organized June 22, 1852, with 
twenty-two members. The first pastor was the Rev. 
William B. Green. Mr. Green began his ministry 
April 1, 1852, and closed July 1, 1853. 

Rev. Mr. Lothrop followed, but did not remain very 
long. 

Rev. William Miller succeeded Mr. Lothrop in 
January ; was installed May 9, 1855, and was dismissed 
October, 1858. 

Rev. J. C. Labaree next took pastoral charge, Octo- 
ber 1, 1861; was ordained February 4, 1863, and re- 
mained with the society four years. Rev. Mr. Labaree 
on leaving Sterling was called to the ministry in Ran- 
dolph, where he has since remained. He is kindly 
remembered by the citizens of Sterling, without dis- 
tinction of sect, who held him in higli respect. 

Rev. Elbridge Gerry next became acting pastor in 
1866, serving two years and four months. 

Rev. Evarts Kent came next, after Mr. Gerry, but 
remained only ten months. 

Rev. L. D. Mears began his ministry November 13, 
1870, and was dismissed by council September 9, 1873. 



The next minister was Rev. George J. Pierce, from 
January 1, 1874, to January 1, 1875. And then fol- 
lowed Rev L. B. Marsh, from 1875 to 1876. 

Rev. B. F. Perkins next assumed pastoral care of 
the society, April 1, 1877, and closed April 1, 1883. 
Rev. Mr. Perkins' services were very acceptable, and 
his pastorate was the longest of any since the forma- 
tion of the society. Immediately on his separation 
from the church in Sterling, he was called to the 
church in Saundersville, where he still continues to 
dispense the Word. No person is more cordially wel- 
comed by his former townsmen than he, whenever, on 
given occasions, he returns among them. 

Rev. O. G. Mclntire and Rev. S. H. Robinson fol- 
lowed Mr. Perkins, one year each. Both were very 
genial, pleasant gentlemen. The latter is now settled 
over the Congregational Church in Greenfield, Mass, 

The present pastor is Rev. John E. Dodge. Mr. 
Dodge was installed June 2, 1887. Under his minis- 
try, thus far, the society appears to be invigorated 
with new life, and we bespeak for Rev. Mr. Dodge a 
long and useful ministry. 

The ecclesiastical record of Sterling would not be 
complete without the mention of another important 
branch of the Christian Church. Though there may 
not be an organized society, a considerable number of 
the population are of the Roman Catholic faith, and 
attend church at either Clinton or West Boylston. 
The number of families is thirty-one. At one time 
they held church services in the town-hall, and the 
proposition to build a house of worship was seriously 
entertained. The plan, however, was abandoned for 
reasons connected with the churches in the two towns 
above mentioned. 

There are also a number of families of Spiritualists 
who hold meetings occasionally at private houses. 
These persons were formerly interested and active 
members of either one or the other of the three prin- 
cipal churches in the town, but have now, to a con- 
siderable extent, withdrawn their aid for their support. 

Education. — Sterling has ever been mindful of 
her obligations in respect to the education of the 
young. Her district schools have been her pride and 
she has ever watched over them with paternal fond- 
ness. 

The first school-house of which there is any record 
was built in 1743. This was in the centre, near the 
meeting-house. Other buildings for the same pur- 
pose were soon afterward erected in the remote parts 
of the town, as the increase of population and the 
public convenience required. One was located on 
Rowley Hill, on the site of the present school-house. 
There was another in the Chocksett District, at the 
corner of the roads, near Mr. John B. May's. 

This locaticm retained the name of the " Old School- 
house bank" long after the building was demolished. 
Another stood near the corner of Mr. Ephraim Chand- 
ler's land, opposite the present one in Redstone. This 
was the scene of the renowned nursery poem : 



STERLING. 



497 



" Mary had a little lamb, 
Its fleece was white aa snow," etc. 

Miss Rebecca Kimball was the teacher. 

Doubtless there were others io other parts of the 
town. They were rude structures with cavernous fire- 
places, but otherwise destitute of the comforts and 
conveniences of modern school buildings. In 1797 
the town waa re-districted — each new district contain- 
ing, as nearly as might be, twenty families, except the 
Centre, which contained forty families, and has ever 
since been considered a double district and has drawn 
a double share of the public money. By a vote passed 
at the same town-meeting new school-houses were 
ordered to be built in all the newly-formed districts, 
involving an expense of some three thousand dollars. 
The centre school-house was not built until the fol- 
lowing year. These new structures, except that in 
the centre, were all built upon the same general plan 
and were quite uniform in external appearance. 
These old red school-houses by the roadside — how 
vividly and sacredly, almost, are they held in remem- 
brance by many of the older people of the town ! But 
in the general progress of events all these plain, 
modest temples of learning have been in turn sup- 
planted by others of more modern construction, more 
tasteful and elegant in appearance and more luxu- 
riously furnished with conveniences and comforts for 
both teacher and pupil. 

The appropriations of money for the support of 
schools has always been generous in comparison with 
the town's valuation of taxable property. 

In 1800 the appropriation for " schooling " was five 
hundred dollars. From 1816 to 1835 it was eight 
hundred dollars. Since 1835 the yearly allowance 
has been on the increase, until it has reached, in this 
year of grace, 1888, the sum of four thousand dollars. 
In the intervening period since 1835 school libraries, 
books of reference, outline maps, eight-inch mounted 
globes, large surfaces of black-board and other needful 
supplies have been liberally and promptly furnished 
to facilitate the process of instruction. 

Parents still continue to manifest interest in the 
progress of their children by occasional visits to the 
schools and by lending their influence in other prac- 
ticable ways. But it is to be feared, however, that 
personal interest in the schools on the part of the 
community generally has abated to a considerable 
extent from what it was sixty or seventy years ago — 
or even fifty years ago — on account of the fact that 
the State has gradually assumed entire control and 
management of the public schools, to the exclusion 
of those most intimately concerned, from any voice, 
part or lot in the matter except to pay the annual tax 
assessed upon them. And, at least, whatever advance 
has been made in popular education in the last half- 
century, it cannot be denied that the old district sys- 
tem had many a redeeming feature. As the popula- 
tion of the town was larger than at present, so the 
attendance upon the school was also much greater. 
32 



It was the writer's experience to attend school in 
the Chocksett District when eighty scholars were 
daily convened within the walls of the old school 
building, whose outward dimensions were twenty-two 
by twenty-two feet. The terms of school were short, 
never exceeding ten weeks in winter and eight or 
nine in summer. The "examination '' at the close 
of the term was an event of much importance to all 
the people of the district and was usually attended by 
them in numbers oftentimes fully equal to the ca- 
pacity of the school-room. The teachers were faith- 
ful to the trusts committed to them, and a generation 
of men and women, fairly equipped, mentally and 
morally, for the duties and responsibilities of citizen- 
ship was the result of their labors. The annual 
" School Meeting," clothed with the authority, through 
its "Prudential Committee," of selecting and hiring 
the teacher, and of deciding on all other matters 
relating to the school, excepting the raising and ap- 
propriation of money, was a powerful means of awak- 
ening and keeping alive an intense interest in the 
school and a strong desire for its welfare. In about 
the year 1822 there was organized an association by 
the name of the " Sterling Mutual Improvement So- 
ciety " — changed a few years afterward to " The Ster- 
ling Lyceum" — whose declared purpose was to aid 
the teachers and improve the district school.-. 

This society had an active existence of about forty 
years. It was a powerful auxiliary in the educational 
work of the town. It convened the teachers at stated 
times for the discussion of vital questions relating to 
their daily duties in the school-room ; it called out, 
from time to time, during the winter terms, the higher 
classes in all the schools for public competiiive exer- 
cises in reading, geography, grammar and arithmetic; 
it also had lectures from " home talent" and from dis- 
tinguished speakers from the cities and various other 
places. 

It was truly a popular institution, and its regular 
meetings drew together in the town hall crowded 
audiences of old people and young, and was a potent 
instrumentality for promoting the social, intellectual 
and moral well-being of the entire community. 

Few towns of the same extent and rank have pro- 
duced a greater number of native teachers than Ster- 
ling. A list, as far as can be remembered, is subjoined 
at the end of this sketch. 

Since th^ organization of the Board of Education 
in 1837, and through the influence of Normal Schools, 
Teachers' Institutes and educational literature, im- 
proved methods of teaching and discipline have been 
adopted. Blackboard instruction in all branches ia 
resorted to, oral teaching is more frequently practiced, 
and the old ABC method of teaching young children 
to read is fast passing away. And in modes of disci- 
pline the change is not less apparent. The ferule, 
"that scepter of despotic power," is practically ban- 
ished from our school-rooms, and other ridiculous 
forms of physical torture, such as supporting a heavy 



498 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



book with the arm extended in a right line from the 
body, of bending the body forward and holding down 
a nail, or of being hit on the head by a heavy ruler, 
thrown by the master as punishment for minor of- 
fence?, is not tolerated by public sentiment and is now 
never practiced. The regular terms of school were 
oftentimes prolonged from one to four weeks by private 
subscription; and not unfreqhently a private school 
was supported in the autumn by those who felt the 
need of larger opportunities for the education of their 
children, and who regarded it more economical to 
maintain a school of higher grade in town than to be 
at the expense of board and transportation to an 
academy at a distance from home. Notwithstanding, 
scarcely a year passed in which numbers of our young 
people of both sexes did not avail themselves of the 
privilesres afforded at the high schools and academies 
of Lancaster, Worcester, Leicester, New Ipswich and 
other places to prepare themselves for teachers, or for 
entrance into some college or technical institution- 
This state of things, which, indeed, had been of long 
continuance, led to the feeling on the part of many 
that the establishment of a high school was a public 
necessity. 

At the town-meeting in themonth of April, 1883, the 
subject was brought before the town. A discussion 
followed. Rev. Mr. Perkins made a strong and con- 
vincing argument in its favor. The Irish adopted 
citizens generally were found to be favorable to the 
measure. By a yea and nay vote the question was de- 
cided afSrmatively by a fair majority. In September 
following the school went in operation with Mr. Her- 
bert B. Hayden, of Ashland, as its first principal. Mr. 
Hayden was a graduate of the Ashland Hisht School 
and had spent one year at Wesleyan University, 
Middletown, Conn. Mr. Hayden had a good measure 
of success and gave general satisfaction. He remained 
with the school five years. He left town at the close 
of the spring term, 1888. Mr. Henry A. MacGowan, 
of Clinton, was appointed to the principalship of the 
school at the commencement of the fall terra of the 
present year. Mr. MacGowan is a graduate of Am- 
herst College, of the class of 1886. He entered the 
Divinity School at Andover, but his studies in prepara- 
tion for the ministry were interrupted by ill health, 
and he was obliged to suspend his professional studies. 
Having regained his strength in a measure by rest, he 
was induced to accept the position offered him by the 
School Committee and entered at once upon its duties. 
Under his judicious and able management, as a 
thorough scholar himself, the school gives promise of 
an advanced position, and worthy to take an equal 
rank among the high schools of the State. 

Since the establishment of the High School, and 
principally through its instrumentality, a course of 
lectures has been maintained during the winter. 
These lectures are numerously attended by our people 
and afford, not only pleasant entertainment, but valu- 
able instruction. These literary entertainments are 



much enjoyed, and are looked forward to with inten st 
and pleasant anticipation. 

A fine High School building was erected in 1883 on 
a beautiful site, between the Emily Wilder parsonage 
and the old Dr. Kendall place. It was formerly 
owned by the late Jacob Conarit, Esq., and was pur- 
chased by the town of a subsequent owner of the 
property. The edifice is two-storied, with a large 
play-room in the basement. It is a neat building, 
pleasantly located, and presents an attractive appear- 
ance. 

In respect to the number of graduates from various 
colleges, Mr. Goodwin (to whom the writer of this 
sketch is indebted for most of his acquaintance with 
the early history of this town) says : " The number 
educated at the public colleges from this place is not 
Kreat, but our scholars will not suffer by a comparison 
with those of many towns who present a larger cata- 
logue." He then gives a list of nineteen graduates, 
with the dates of graduation, as follows: 

1. John Mellen (Han-ard University, 1770), for many yuars minister at 
Barnstable. 

2. Joseph Kilburn (Harvard University, 1777), minister at Wendell, 
Mass. 

:i. Isaac Bailey (Harvard University, 1781), minister at Ward, Mass. 
4. Prentiss Mellen, LL.D. (Hariard Univei-sity,'1781), chief justice of 
the Supreme Court of Maine. 

6. Henry Mellen (Harvard University, 1784), attorney at-law at Do- 
ver, N. H. 

0. Thomas Moore (Dartmouth College, 1787), settled in the ministry 
in Pennsylvania. 

7. Pieraon Thurston (Dartmouth College, 1787), minister at Soniers- 
worth, N. H. 

8. James Kendall, D.D. (Harvard University, 179G), minister of the 
ancient church at Plymouth, Mass. 

9. Bartholomew Brown (Harvard University, 1799). for some years 
counselor-at-law at Sterling, afterward at Bridgewater, Mass. 

10. Uosea Hildreth (Harvard University, 1806), minister at Gloucester, 
Mass. 

11. Amos W. Rugg (Harvard University, 1805), died soon after leaving 
college, greatly lamented. 

12. Martin Moore (Brown University, 1811), minister at NaticU. Mass. 

13. Mark Moore {Brown University, 1814), counselor-at-law in Con- 
necticut. 

14. Nahum H. Groce (Harvard University, 1808), preceptor of an acad- 
emy. 

15. Pierson T. Kendall (Harvard University, 1812), for many years 
practicing physician atSterling. 

16. Ezekiel Hildreth (Harvard University, 1814), instructor of youth 
fn the Southern States. 

17. Abel T. Hildreth (Harvard University, 1818), instructor of youth 
in the Southern States. 

18. Oliver U. Blood (Harvard University, 1821), practicing physician 
at WorceBtor, Mass. 

19. Moses G. Thomas (Brown University, 1826), many years minister 
at Concord, N. H. 

20. George Putnam, D.D. (Harvard University, 1827), minister at Eoi- 
bury until bis death, in 1872. 

21. Edwin Conant (Harvard University, 1828), counselor.at-law at 
Sterling, removed to Worcester. 

22. Josiah K. Waite (Harvard University, 1829), settled in the minis- 
try first at Fitxwilliam, N. H. 

23. Augustus K. Rugg (Union College, N. T., 1836), counselor at Al- 
bany, Ga., where be died in 184:i, much lamented. 

24. Silas Bailey (Drown University, 1838), distinguished educator, died 
in Paris, France, 1874. 

25. Mark Bailey (Brown University, 1848), professor in Oregon State 
University. 

26. Ambrose P. S. Stuart (Brown University, 1847), after spending 
three years in the German Universities of Gottingen and Heidelberg, he 



STERLING. 



499 



accepted professorships iu various colleges, and is now engaged in finan- 
cial affairs in Lincoln, Neb. 

•SI. Addison Stuart entered Brown University and went through the 
regular collegiate course, all but the last year, when he commenced the 
study of law. Has a law-office at Cedar Rapids, Iowa. 

28. William Richardson, Ph.D. (Dartmouth College, 1864), engaged in 
educational work in Ohio. 

20. Frank W. Wilder (Tufts College, 1880), counsellor-at-law and 
real estate agent, Dakota Ty. 

30. Edmund W. Powers (Tufts College, 1831), connselor-at-law, Bos- 
ton, Mass. 

31. Arthur P. Rugg (Amherst College, 1883), counselor-at-law, Wor- 
cester, MaS3. 

32. Fred. H. Wilder (Tufts College, 18S6), counscIor-at-law and real 
estate agent, Dakota Ty. 

A goodly number of the sons and daughters of 
Sterling who had charge of our schools, as teachers, 
were graduates of the State Normal Schools. They 
are as follows : 

Edwin May, graduated at Bridgewator. 

Hannah Ross, graduated at Bridgewater. 

Edward A. Lyuds, graduated at Bridgewater. 

Mary Rugg, gradu.ited at Bridgewater. 

Sarah H. Rugg, graduated at Bridgewater. 

Luther Rugg, graduated at Bridgewater. 

Mary S. Osgood, graduated at Bridgewater. 

Carrie Rugg, graduated at Salem. 

Delia S. Nourse, graduated at Salem. 

Abbie Hastings, graduated at Bridgewater. 

William Hastings, graduated at Bridgewater. 

Fannie M. Houghton, graduated at Westfield. 

Kittle Wilder, graduated at Worcester. 

Mary Boland, graduated at Franiingham. 

R. L. Chandler, Worcester. 

Florence Houghton, now a student at Framingham. 

The following are graduates from the Technical 
Institute at Worcester: 

Oliver W. Rugg, now practicing civil engineering at Worcester 
Arthur Woods, now practicing civil engineering at Worcester. 
William A. Nelson, mechanical engineer at Fitchburg. 
J. Edward Synds, engaged in the lumber business near Duluth, 
Minn. 

Libraries. — The first public library was estab- 
lished in the latter part of the last century, known as 
the " First Social Library in Sterling." It was or- 
ganized by voluntary subscription, and regulated 
by suitable by-lawa, with proper officers for its man- 
agement. The only record the writer has been able 
to find was that of the annual meeting of the proprie- 
tors in 1803, held for the choice of officers and the 
transaction of such other business as might properly 
come before it. 

It was a valuable collecti on of several hundred vol- 
umes of standard works of history, biography, travels, 
fiction and other important subjects. 

It was replenished from time' to time by a small an- 
nual tax upon the members of the association. It did 
valuable service for many years, and its benefits were 
shared by a large number of the people of the town. 
But, like all sublunary things, it had its day of pro- 
gress and decline, and in 1852 came to a final termi- 
nation by a public sale of the books at auction. 

In 1848 a small library of choice books was pur- 
chased by the town for each school district. 

In 1857 a Farmer's Library was established, con- 



taining some one hundred and fifty or two hundred 
volumes by the ablest writers upon agriculture. These 
books were subsequently turned over to and became 
a part of the Town Library. 

But the highest and grandest point in the work of 
founding a library was reached when the town, at its 
annual meeting in March, 1871, appropriated three 
hundred dollars for the purchase of books for the es- 
tablishment of a Free Public Library. Liberal ap- 
propriations have been made each year since for the 
purchase of new books and for meeting incidental ex- 
penses. Generous donations for the support of the 
library have been made by the following persons, 
most of whom were former residents of the town : 
Mr. A. K. Loring, of Boston, contributed a valuable 
package of books. The late James T. Allen, of New 
York, gave his check for three hundred dollars. 
William Frederick Holcombe. M.D., of New York, 
generously gave one hundred dollars. Rev. Geo. 
Putnam, D.D., of Roxbury, Mass. , in token of his 
friendly regard for his birthplace, also gave one hun- 
dred dollars ; and his daughter, the late Miss Carrie 
Putnam, bequeathed the sum of two thousand dollars, 
the interest of which to be used in the purchase of 
books. Edwin Conant, Esq., of Worcester, gave five 
hundred dollars, to be called the " Elizabeth Anne 
Conant Fund," the interest to be used in the purchase 
of books. From all these sources of income the li- 
brary at present contains more than six thousand 
volumes. 

For the beautiful library building that now adorns 
the village, the town is indebted to the munificence 
of Edwin Conant, Esq., of Worcester, who furnished 
the means whereby it was erected. It was built in 
188.5, as a memorial tribute to his late lamented 
daughter. Miss Elizabeth Anne Conant. 

Mr. Conaut also furnished the very neat and sub- 
stantial chairs and tables whit-h the library hall and 
reading-room contain. 

The librarian's desk was presented by the Richard- 
son heirs, as a tribute to the memory of their father, 
—the late Deacon William B. Richardson. It is con- 
structed of cherry, very neatly finished and is per- 
fectly in keeping with the pleasant surroundings, and 
bears the following inscription : 

In memory of 

Dea. William B. Richardson, 

By his Heirs, 

1880. 

The library building was formally dedicated Octo- 
ber 13, 1885. The public exercises were held in the 
Congregational Church, a large congregation being 
present, including many from the neighboring towns, 
and were as follows : 

1. Voluntary on the Organ Miss Annie M. Wilder, Organist. 

2. Anthem By the Choir. 

3. Dedicatory Prayer By Eev. J. H. Whitmore. 

4. Anthem By the Choir. 

5. Memorial Address By Eev. E. H. Hall, of Cambridge. 

6. Hymn 840 ..Hymn and Tune-Book, read by Eev. Mr. Whitmore. 

7. Benediction By Eev. S. H. Eobinson. 



500 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



Military. — The military record of Sterling has 
been an honorable one. In 1755, when the French 
and Indian War broke out, Sterling furnished her 
quota of men and supplies — precisely how many men 
is not known — but the names of more than twenty of 
her young men have been preserved whose lives were 
sacrificed in that war, in one or another of its cam- 
paigns. So also when the War of Independence 
came, the call for men was duly responded to. The 
name of Colonel Asa Whitcomb is rendered famous 
by his military service and ardent patriotism. An- 
other honored soldier who gave eight years' service 
was Lieutenant Joel Pratt. Reuben Blood, Sr., and 
Nathaniel Houghton were veteran soldiers of the 
Revolution. There were others also, but history has 
failed to record their names, and tradition has but 
imperfectly transmitted an account of their service. 
The several wars in which the country was involved, 
and in which many of our citizens participated, served 
to keep alive the military spirit and encourage military 
organizations and exercises in times of peace. If 
now they were of no great practical benefit, they at 
least served a holiday purpose. Company trainings 
and regimental musters were great social events, and 
drew together multitudes of people. In the early 
part of the present century two military organizations 
existed in the town, known as the North and South 
C )mpanies. The distinction was made by the road 
running easterly from Princeton to Lancaster, bisect- 
ing the territory of the town into two not very une- 
qual parts ; those whose residence was on the south 
side falling into the South Company and those on the 
north side into the North Company. 

In 1822 a volunteer company was formed out of the 
two already existing, called " The Sterling Light 
Infantry." In its elegant uniforms of dark blue 
cloth, with gilt trimmings and tall black plumes 
tipped with red, it presented an appearance of which 
the great Napoleon himself would have been proud. 
The officers in command were: Phineas B. Dana, 
captain ; Josiah Pope, lieutenant ; Mark Kendall, 
ensign. Ensign Kendall died the following year, and 
was buried with martial honors. 

Such was the popularity of military exhibitions at 
this time, that four years later, in 1826, another 
finely-uniformed and finely-equipped volunteer com- 
pany was raised, called "The Sterling Guards." The 
uniforms of this company were blue coats with silver 
trimmings, white pantaloons, and tall white plumes 
tipped with black. The officers first chosen to com- 
mand were : Captain, Cheney Kilburn ; Lieutenant, 
the venerable Eli Kilburn, now in his ninety third 
year ; Ensign, Silas Buss. For a period of more than 
a quarter of a century these companies were the pride 
of the town, but with the general decline of the 
military spirit, and the increasing sentiment among 
the people that war was unchristian and unneces.sary, 
they at length went down and were disbanded. From 
that time there was but slight manifestation of mili- 



tary fervor until the tocsin of war rang out over the 
country at the bombardment of Fort Sumter on the 
12th of April, 1861. Sterling now shared the indig- 
nation felt by the whole body of the people of the 
Northern States at this audacious insult to the flag of 
our country. The patrioti-sm of her citizens was 
aroused. Public meetings were held to encourage en- 
listments and to adopt measures necessary to assist as 
far as possible in crushing the Rebellion, formidable 
as it was, and in maintaining the government. 
Money was generously appropriated to meet necessary 
expenses in furtherance of the object. Young men 
came forward with alacrity and voluntarily offered 
themselves to the service of their country. But little 
difficulty, comparatively, was experienced by the 
authorities of the town in filling the quotas of men 
required by the government during the four years of 
terrible warfare. Company K of the Fifty-third 
Regiment was mainly recruited from Sterling and 
Princeton. The commissioned officers were : James 
A. Pratt, of Sterling, captain — promoted to major ; 
Samuel B. Beaman, of Princeton, first lieutenant — 
promoted to captain ; P. T. K. Burpee, of Sterling, 
second lieutenant — promoted to first lieutenant ; Ed- 
ward W. Toombs, of Sterling, second lieutenant. 
This regiment did service in Louisiana under General 
Banks. The whole number of soldiers engagfd in 
suppressing the Rebellion, residents of Sterling or of 
Sterling birth, was, as near as can be ascertained, one 
hundred and sixty-two. The number whose lives 
were sacrificed in the war was twenty-one. The 
names of these heroic sons of Sterling are engraven 
upon the " Soldiers' Monument," where they may ever 
be read and known of all men "until brass and marble 
shall have crumbled into dust." 

The ladies of Sterling were not idle, disinterested 
observers of the great civil conflict. The " Ladies' 
Relief Society " was an important factor in prose- 
cuting the war. By its unceasing labor in preparing 
hospital stores and other articles of comfort it did 
much to alleviate the hardships and sufferings of our 
soldier boys both in camp, on the march and in the 
hospital. 

The following condensed statement of the part 
Sterling bore in the struggle for national life is taken 
from the Sterling Advertiser, published by Post 59, G. 
A. R., Sterling, January, 1874: ' 

But what is old Sterling's individual record in this dread crisis? Listen 
to ft condensed report thereof. 

On Monday, April 22, 1861, one week after evacuation of Fort Sumter, 
her citizens held in the town hall their first general indignation meet- 
ing, though many a small one had been previously held in almost every 
house, store, workshop and lieM. On Tuesday, April 2:id, the ladies from 
all parts of the town assembled to consult together and enter upon 
whatever duties might await them. Six ladies (two of whom. Miss 
Josephine Bartlett and Miss Esther K. Waite, have since passed over the 
dark river) gave their names as ready for hospital service, if required. 
A Relief Society was organized, which continued its meetings and labors 
for more than four years. 

On Monday, April 29th, at their first legal town-meeting, the citizens 

1 Contributed by Miss H. M. Bubb. 



STERLING. 



501 



voted to appropriate a sum not exceeding three thousand dollara to 
equip and uniform auch fellow-townsniBn as might volunteer to serve in 
the military service of tlie United States and to assist their families 
during their absence. November 5, 1861, one hundred dollars waa 
appropriated to aid the ladies in procuring articles for use in the army 
hospitals, the same to be paid by the selectmen to the Relief Society. 
As the months of 1801 glided by, many a man who had his birth in 
Sterling or whose boyhood was passed among the hills and valleys, be- 
came numbered in his country's army for three years or during the war, 
having enlisted wherever he might be, whether far removed or hut 
slightly distant from the heart of the old Bay State. Most of these have 
left an intei'estitig record, several met death on the battle-field, others 
were wounded, some maimed for life and yet others died from sickness 
and exposure. 

July 21, 1862, the town authorized the Selectmen to pay a bounty of 
one hundred dollars to eacli citizen of Sterling who should enlist in the 
company then forming in the town for nine months' service. 

July 4, 1865, the town voted to raise a sum equal to one hundred dol- 
lars per man of the quotas of this town, under the President's orders of 
October 7, ISH:^, and February 1, 1864. April 15th the town voted to 
raise seventeen hundred and fifty dollars to procure fourteen men to fill 
her quota under the President's late call. 

Sterling continued to raise money, recruit volunteers and pay bounties 
till the end of the war. Her official record is that she furnished (in- 
cluding substitutes) one hundred and seventj'-eight men for the war, 
eight of whom were commissioned oRicers — this being a surplus of thir- 
teen over and above demands ; and she appropriated and expended 
S20,472 60, this sum being 2 l-ll per cent on tbe valuation of the town, 
and about $10.67^^ to each inhaoitant in ISiO. Her number of men 
were in proportion of one for every 10 4-5 of her population at that 
time. 

From various sources of information we learn that the number of 
Sterling boys who had active part in the contest was at least one liun- 
dred and sixty two. Fifty-four of these belonged to Company K, Fifty- 
third Regiment Massachusetts Volunteers. To more than thirty of this 
entire number their enlistment and service meant death; some fell in 
the strife, some died in hospitals from wounds and sickness and others 
came home bearing in their systems the seeds of fatal diseases sown 
therein by hardships and exposures. One more point of review. Sum- 
ming up the work of our Relief Society, we have a record of thirty-seven 
barrels, vaUied at sixty dollara each, and five boxes containing smaller 
quantities sent forth on their comforting missions ; these were filled with 
such various articles as our hospitals required — ours were not less than 
forty-eight in kind —and they were the free will offeringsof women anx- 
ious to bear their part of the heavy burdens imposed by the struggle for 
national life. 

The Soldiers' Monument, commemorating the hon- 
ored dead, was erected in 18(36. 

It was dedicated by appropriate ceremonies on the 
]7th of June. The services, on account of the rain, 
were held in the church near by, and were as ibliows: 
Organ voluntary and singing by the choir; prayer was 
offered by Rev. A. S. Nickerson ; an eloquent and 
highly appropriate address was delivered by Rev. 
George Pumam, D.D., of Roxbury ; a i>oem by Miss 
Esther K. Waite, and the following by Mrs. Mary S. 
Rugg, were each read on the occasion. 

The assemblage of people was very large, filling the 
church to its utmost capacity. 

IN MEMORIAM. 

While the summer breeze is sighing 

Through the groves in beauty lying, 

And swift-winged birds dart through the trees, 

Pouring fortb their sweet melodies, 

We have gathered, friends and neighbors, 

We have left our cares and labors. 

And, looking back o'er by-gone years. 

Would pay our tribute mid our tears. 

But what tribute shall we pay ? 

For when to speak onr tongues essay. 

The grand story of devotion 



Fills our souls with strong emotion. 
We heard the cry ring o'er our land, — 
" Freedom must live ! Lend every hand !" 
And with rapt gaze we then did see 
Self-sacrifice to our country. 

In the work-shop, upon the farm. 
Was heard the cry and the alarm ; » 

And our young men rose in their might 
And rushed unwavering to the fight. 
They thought of Anderson's starving band. 
With those supplies so near at hand ; 
And then the story of that ship 
Sprang forth like fire, from lip to lip. 

They needed not a second call — 

They thought of Sumter's battered wall, — 

How the loved ensign of the free 

Was trailed in dust by treachery ; 

And this spirit, breathing higher. 

Never once lost its patriot fire 

Till our grand army, full, replete. 

Bade treason lie down at its feet. 

Thus they left us— left here and there — 
Left in our homes a vacant chair ; 
And our hearts were so full of i>ain 
We felt we should see ihem ne'er again. 
Yet even then, when we could but cry. 
We knew it was duty thus to fly ; 
And we raised to God the earnest prayer, 
0, watch them, guard them, ever there. 

And some came not; the tidings flew 

From camp and field, the whole war through,— 

Over our bills and valleys wide — 

That some loved soldier there had died. 

And we wept at others' sorrow. 

Wept, and dreaded each tomorrow. 

Lest its coming to us might bring 

As deep and dark a sorrowing. 

How well they fought, how nobly fell, 
The records of the war shall tell ; 
One strain of trutli is breathed about. 
In duty's path their lamps went out. 

Yet one I there was — we knew him well, — 

No words there need from me to tell 

How virtue and truth with courage vied, 

And by his blood were sanctified. 

Ah ! three swift years to-day have fled, 

Since he was counted with the dead. 

The battle raged with terrific power. 

Gloom hung o'er that awful hour ; 

Then to those men the dread word flew, 

** The works must be stormed at once by you." 

0, then was need of courage rare ! 
Forgetting every wound and scar, 
His face all glowing with a light 
Reflected from the dreadful sight, 
He raised aloft hie flashing blade, 
** Come 00, my boys, come on," he said- 
God drew aside the sacred shield 
That saved his life on many a field — 
And, rushing up that parapet, 
The sun of his life grandly set. 

1 Captain Charles Goss, son of William Goss, member of 2lBt Mass. 
Regiment, killed near Petersburg, Va., June 17, 1804. The adjutant- 
general's report says : "Brave ofticers went ahead, among whom was 
Captain Charles Goss, who, in that terrible moment of trial, brought 
out all the resources of his soul, proved and tempered in more than 
twenty battles of this war." "A noble courage filled him."* *' H« 
seemed to forget the times when he had been wounded 'nigh unto 
death,' and when the line was well formed and advancing nobly, he 
fell never to rise again till a louder trumpet summon him than was 
sounded for that advance." 



502 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



A moment more — can I forbear 
To Itty one flower on another's bier ? — 
One ^ wlioBe life, for hie comrade given. 
Has a record, we know, in heaven. 

A soldier's life was ebbing fa«t, 
lie felt each moment might be his last ; 
"MIflp ! " he cried, " is there none to yield 
OrieUind hand on this bloody field ? " 
Our brother heard tluit fainting cry ; ' 
The voice of i)ity Bounded high. 
Thoufih lead around him fell like rain, 
He would bo true to manhood then ; 
He reached at length that soldier's side, 
And brought him furth, then calm'y died; 
The canDOD'8 roar, the shell's shrill scream. 
Was that brave brother's requiem. 

We know the valiant Western man, ^ 
Who fiercely fought in thebattle's van ; 
South Mountain's war-worn, crimson side 
Drank the blood when this soldier died. 
]Ie was rocked here by bia mother, 
And wo knew him as our brother ; 
His tireless spirit, spurning rest, 
Turned to the vigorous, thriving West ; 
He learned to love his country free 
On prairies boundless as the sea ; 
And, diiuking deep nf inspiration, 
He gave his life to save the nation. 

And could I here in this poor rhyme 
Eecount the many deeds snblime, 
Justice and honor still would say. 
But mean and meagre is the lay. 
Ah ! fond memories, fraught with pain^ 
Come thronging o'er me once again, 
And the red path that war has trod, 
Like Jacob's ladder, reaches God. 
Angels bright are now descending, 
This, their song, in music blending, — 

" Greater love can there never be 
Than dying for humanity." 
Do we weep that they are dead, 
When g'ory circles o'er each head? 
Death ! death >• What is it we call death ? 
It is but yielding up our breath ; 
Earth, reaching forth to take her own. 
The life immortal just begun. 

Where are these, our warrior brothers? 
Ah ! they ait here with the others ; 
Only could tlje veil be drawn. 
We should see them every one. 
We should see them in their places. 
We should know their radiant faces, 
All gleaming with celestial truth, 
And their forms of immortal youth. 

In their deep and heavenly eyes 
Mingled wonder and gladness lies ; 
They Bce the wrong by which they died. 
And now our country purified ; 
And as the freedman walks right on 
Into his future, shot with sun. 
Clasp we this truth close to our heart : 
In freedom's war each bore his part. 

As the lily, of purest white, 
Spreads fair petals to the light. 
Springing from the darkest water, — 
Beauteous summer's fairest daughter,— 

1 Lyman Broad, son of Krastus Broad, member of GTth Mass. Regi- 
ment, killed while bringing olT on his shoulder a wounded, bleeding 
comrade, whose life ho saved while he lost his own. 

2 George H. Richardson, sun of Deacon Wm. B. Richardson, member 
of 19th Indiana Reginnint, enlisted August .'iO, 18G2, and fell at the bat- 
tle of South Mountain September 14, 18G2. 



So aspiration, sad and lone, 
Hoping, praying, all unknown, 
In these lives so free laid down, 
Passed triumphant to her crown. 

While the silent earth is keeping 
All that's mortal of the sleeping, 
Resting still in her close embrace, 
Here and there, in many a place, 
We have thought to raise some token 
To these lives abruptly broken, 
Thatshall speak till stone shall crumble, 
Of those lives so grandly humble. 
Enduring granite we have brought, 
Hewu and fashioned as we ought ; 
And, rising now mid summer's beauty. 
Our monument to love and duty. 

Rest, then, embalmed and sainted dead ! 
Where valor lifts her radiant head, 
And reaching to God's white throne, 
Clasps hands with faith, and they are one. 
Hark ! triumphant bells are ringing I 
Celestial choirs, too, are singing. 
While these blest words out spirits greet,— 
'* Behold the sacrifice complete." 

The Major James A. Pratt Post, of the Grand Army 
of the Republic, was organized July 6, 1868, wilh ttn 
charter members. The whole number of member-* 
belonging to the post since its organization is sixty- 
seven. The present number of members is forty-two. 
The post has received into its treasury, from various 
sources, the sum of Ihirty-eight hundred dollars, 
and has expended the sum of thirty-three hundred 
dollars, twenty-five per cent, of which has been for 
charitable purposes. 

A very convenient Grand Army Hall has been 
fitted up in the old brick school-house, the free use of 
which is granted to the post by the town. 

Industries. — Sterling is almost exclusively a farm- 
ing town. Owing to the absence of an abundant 
water-power, the town has never been favored to any 
great extent with those mechanical and manufac- 
turing industries which have given such vigorous 
growth to adjoining towns. The only considerable 
manufacturing concern at the present time is the 
Wachusett Pottery and Sterling Emery Wheel Co. at 
West Sterling. The company has here quite an ex- 
tensive phint, using for power either steam or water. 
The business was established and formerly carried 
on by M. L. Snow, now of Saji Bernardino, Cal. The 
company has an invested capital of forty thousand 
dollars. In the pottery department the manufacture is 
chiefly confined to plain and fancy flower-pots. The an- 
nual sales in this line are about twelve thousand dollars. 
The goods are sold mostly in the New England State?. 
The emery wheel department is much the larger — 
the annual sales amounting to about forty-eight thou- 
sand dollars. The goods are largely shipped direct to 
New York, where the company has a wholesale and 
a retail establishment. Twenty-two men are employed 
in the business. 

The chair business is carried on to a very limited 
extent as compared with former years. Mr. Edward 
Burpee, who has carried on the business for fifty years, 



STERLING. 



503 



is still the principal manufacturer. He employs now 
only three or four hanch. Mr. Elisha Stuart also and 
Mr. Edwin Stevenson are in the business, but the 
amount of their production is not, at the present time, 
very extensive. Aside from these the pursuit of the 
people is agriculture alone. 

Formerly, before the use of machinery propelled 
by water or steam-power, when all kinds of manufac- 
tured articles were produced by hand-labor, the state 
of things was altogether difterent. It may surprise 
some persons to be told that, three-quarters of a cen- 
tury ago. Sterling was a leading manufacturing town 
in the county. Yet such was the fact. The principal 
article of manufacture tbtn, as now, was chairs; but 
the amount of production was more than ten times 
greater. Over a large section of the town a chair- 
shop was connected witli many a farm. There was a 
turning-lathe on almost every brook, and the forests 
abounded with pine, birch and maple— the material 
chiefly used — which, in being converted into chairs, 
gave profitable employment to the young men, built 
up the population, and gave life, energy and thrift to 
the inhabitants. Among the leading chair-makers, 
who made a success of the business and accumulated 
respectable fortunes, were such men as Gilson Brown, 
Joel Pratt, Benjamin Stuart, Nehemiah Pierson, 
Samuel Houghton and Eli Kilburn ; and, of a later 
generation, we may add James W. Fitch and Edward 
Burpee. At the period of which we write there were 
various other trades besides, in which portions of the 
people were employed. The coopering business was 
an item of some importance. The two principal men 
engaged in it were Mr. Silas Wilder and Captain John 
Davis. There was a large demand lor cider barrels, 
and the trade was remunerative. Plows and hay- 
forks were manufactured in the north part of the town 
by Mr. Silas W. Arnold. These articles of Mr. Ar- 
nold's make were decided improvements upon those 
previously in use. They were of belter finish, more 
evenly balanced, and could be more effectively 
handled by the farmer. But, in the rapid march of 
improvement, they have long since given place to 
others of more artistic construction. A large number 
of shoemakers found constant employment in supply- 
ing the demand for boots and shoes. Shoe stores 
were unknown outside the populous city, and the 
supply of these needful articles for all classes was fur- 
nished, by special order, at the shoe-shop. But the 
manufacture often exceeded the demand for home 
consumption, and the surplus found sale in Boston. 

The manufacture of hats by Blood & Rice was quite 
extensive for a period of twenty-five or thirty years, 
and gave employment to forty or more persons, in- 
cluding some females. The amount of annual sales 
was said to be about forty-five thousand dollars- 
About seventeen thousand fur and felt hats was the 
annual production, the larger part of which was sold 
in Southern markets. 

Scythe snaths of excellent quality were made iu the 



south part of the town by Silas Limson & Sons. 
Lamson's snaths were very popular, and much in de- 
mand by farmers. The annual sales amounted to ten 
thousand dollars. Owing to the scarcity of ash timber 
Mr. Lamson rrmoved to the western part of the State 
in 1833, where he increased the business to something 
like two hundred thousand dollars per year. With 
the advent of mowing-machines the sales were very 
much diminished. 

All articles of clothing were the result of domestic 
manufacture. The raw material, such as flax, cotton 
and wool, was spun and woven into cloth, the cloth 
dyed and made into garments for each member of a 
household by the females of the family. 

But with the introduction of labor-saving machin- 
ery came a change in the employments of our peo- 
ple. Owing to a want of .sufficient water-power all 
these mechanical industries had to be abandoned 
here, and were transferred to those towns having 
greater natural facilities for their prosecution on a 
grander and broader scale. 

Hence farming became, many years ago, the chief 
pursuit of the people. But agriculture, like every 
other human industry, is subject to change and im- 
provement, and surely no occupation requires greater 
practical and scientific knowledge for its successful 
execution. 

For a hundred years following the first settlement 
of the town but little was accomplished in the way of 
farming beyond the clearing of the land, the enlarge- 
ment of the area of cultivation, and the production 
of an abundant supply of everything necessary to a 
comfortable existence. Good living and contented- 
ness was the characteristic of our ancestors. In their 
homespun they were independent, peaceful and 
happy. 

About the year 1820 an important change is to be 
noted in the farming industry of the town. Pre- 
viously there was comparatively but little money in 
circulation. There were neither banks nor markets 
at which the farmer could sell his surplus products. 
A Mr. Weatherly, of Marlborough, who had started 
the enterprise of running a weekly two-horse market- 
wagon to Boston from his own vicinity, now extended 
his business to" the easterly part of this town, inducing 
some of the leading farmers to turn their attention to 
the making of butter, putting it up neatly in one- 
pound lumps, in boxes holding from twelve to thirty 
pounds each. He was soon followed by Mr. Wilkins, 
also from Marlborough, and by Mr. Randal of Prince- 
ton. The advent of these marketmen wrought a 
remarkable change in the farming interest in the 
town. Dairying, or butter-making, soon became the 
leading business ; but not butter alone, but veal, pork, 
poultry, fruit, vegetables, and whatever else of a like 
nature the farm produced, found, through these mar- 
ketmen, a ready sale in Boston, and brought a sure 
and quick return id cash the following week. This 
change led to important improvements in farm man- 



504 



HISTOKY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



agement, and also to a neater and more comely 
appearance of the general surroundings. The hay 
crop now became the chief object in the cultivation 
of the land, and was considered the most valuable 
production of the farm. Whether wisely or unwisely, 
sheep husbandry fell into discredit, and was soon 
entirely abandoned. 

During this period, which continued nearly forty 
years, the productiveness of the farms was greatly 
increased, money became more plenty, many farmers 
freed themselves from debt and secured positions of 
financial ease and independence. 

This season of prosperity was followed by another 
change in the farming interest of the town. Since 
1850 Sterling has enjoyed the advantage of three 
different lines of railroad — the Worcester and Nashua 
(now leased to the Boston and Maine R.R. Co.), the 
Worcester and Fitchburg, and the Boston, Clinton 
and Fitchburg. The two last are combined under 
the name of the Old Colony Northern Division. 
These lines of railroad afford direct communication 
with Boston, Worcester and Fitchburg three times 
daily. With the incoming of these swift messengers 
between town and city, the traditional stage-coach 
and the tardy market-wagon became obsolete and 
useless. All transportation was now by railroads, and 
this circumstance rendered possible the selling of 
milk in the Boston market, which privilege the 
farmers gradually availed themselves of, until now 
that article is the principal farm-product sold in the 
market. The daily average number of cans sold is 
estimated at one thousand. The average price per 
can at the railroad station is twenty-six cents the 
present year. The annual income to the citizens on 
this basis of calculation would amount to nearly or 
quite one hundred thousand dollars. 

Fruit-raising is an important branch of farm in- 
dustry. For the last thirty years the farmers of Ster- 
ling have given increased attention to this subject, 
until the production has assumed giant proportions. 
There are many orchards which, in favorable years, 
like the present, produce from one hundred to one 
thousand barrels of the choicest varieties of apples. 
Prominent among these is the Baldwin. But the R. 
I. Greening, the Roxbury Russet, the Northern Spy, 
the Palmer and the Gravenstein are profusely culti- 
vated as especial favorites. Peal's are raised in variety, 
but not to a great extent as a market crop. 

The Farmers' Club. — The Sterling Farmers' 
Club had its birth on the evening ot the 12th of 
November, 1857. It had a noble parentage; but 
most of the original members have passed on to 
their reward. We recall their venerable, manly 
forms, the genial expression of their countenances 
and the words of wisdom and experience which fell 
from their lips. 

Pursuant to public notice, a meeting of the citi- 
zens was held, and after being duly organized, a com- 
mittee appointed for the purpose presented a consti- 



tution, which was unanimously adopted. ^The first 
article declares that the as-ociation shall be called 
the Sterling Farmers' Club. The second defines 
the object in the these words : " Its object shall be 
to promote the interests of agriculture and the wel- 
fare of the farmer and disseminate such knowledge, 
practical and scientific, as shall conduce to that 
end." 

Another article prescribes the order of business at 
each meeting as follows: "There shall be a meet- 
ing of the club once a fortnight, and at such meet- 
ing a discussion upon a topic previously announced, 
which shall be commenced by four members desig- 
nated .at a previous meeting by the presiding officer, 
and such other exercises as the club shall deem 
proper." Fifty-one gentlemen signed the constitu- 
tion and at once became members. For more than 
twenty years the meetings of the club were well 
attended, its discussions carried on with earnestness, 
often with enthusiasm, and much practical informa- 
tion diffused among its members. 

The work of the club has been educational in an 
eminent degree. By the discussion of the multitudi- 
nous questions of farm interest it has awakened 
thought, led to inquiry, investigation, experiment 
and practical knowledge. It has encouraged enter- 
prise and promoted improvement in methods of farm 
work. In a social way, also, it has had a beneficent 
infiuence. With the exception of two years during 
the late war it has held its annual cattle-shows and 
exhibitions. Among those who have given addresses 
on these occasions are the Hon. Charles L. Flint, of 
Boston ; the late Hon. John A. Goodwin, of Lowell ; 
the late Rev. George Putnam, D.D., of Roxbury and 
the present Secretary of War, the Hon. William C. 
Endicott, ofSalem. 

Another instrumentality designed to promote the 
welfare of the farmer and the farmer's family is 
that of the order of the Patrons of Husbandry, 
which has been a successful experiment in this 
town. " The Sterling Grange, No. 53, Patrons of 
Husbandry," was organized in April, 1874. In 
some of its methods of operation it varies from the 
Farmers' Club, but is not, in any sense, in conflict 
with it. The objects of the two associations are 
identical. The Sterling Grange at the present time 
is an active force and has a membership of sixty 
persons. 

The Centennial. — The centennial anniversary 
of the incorporation of the town was observed on the 
15th of June, 1881. The subject was brought up be- 
fore the town, informally, at the annual town-meet- 
ing in November, 1879, and a committee was ap- 
pointed to take the matter into consideration and 
report at a future meeting. The committee reported 
at the annual meeting in March following in favor of 
a suitable observance of the event, which report was 
unanimously accepted, and a Centennial Committee 
was chosen and empowered to make all necessary 



STERLING. 



505 



arrangements therefor. The committee consisted of 
the following persons: Samuel Osgood, Captain Eli 
Kilburn, Dr. William D, Peck, Ezra Sawyer, Esq., 
Mr. William H. Burpee. Captain Kilburn, owing to 
the infirmities of age, declined to serve and Mr. 
Charles H. Loring was chosen in his stead. 

The committee held frequent meetings during the 
summer and winter following, and made such ar- 
rangements as were deemed proper. An act was 
procured from the Legislature of 1880 authorizing 
the town to raise money by taxation to an amount not 
exceeding five hundred dollars, for commemorating the 
centennial anniversary of its incorporation and for 
publishing the doings of the celebration. The anni- 
versary of incorporation occurred on the 25th of 
April, but on account of probable bad traveling and 
unpleasant weather at ihat time the celebration was 
postponed until the 15th of June, when it to k place 
according to the following 

PKOGHAMME. 

1781. 1881. 

Bells wore rung and Salntes fired at Sunrise, at Noon and at Sunset. 
At 9^ o'clock A. M. a Procession was formed under the direction of 
Chief Maislial, Capt. P. T. K. Burpee, in the following order: 
A platoon of Police 
Fitchburg Cornet Band. 
Maj. James A. Post, No. 59, G. A. R. 
Town Officers and Invited Guests in carriages. 
Fire Company. 
The Sterling Grange. 
Representatives of Ancient and Modern Costumes. 
The School Children. 
Tho Citizens in carriages and on foot. 
Route of Procession — through the principal sti-eets to the Unitarian 
Church. 
Th« exercises in the Church, commencing at 11 o'clock, were : 
Voluntary on the Organ, 
lat —Prayer by Rev. Henry P. Cutting. 
2d. — Hymn by the Centennial Choir under the direction of Prof. Birney 

Mann. 
3d. — 3Iusic by the Band. 

4th. — The following Address of W'elcome by the Chairman of the Cen- 
tennial Committee: 

Friends and Fellotp Citizens: 

We have assembled on this beautiful June morning to observe In a 
fitting manner the One Hundredth Anniversary of the Incorporation 
of the Town of Sterling. 

As tlie Ciiairman of the town's Centennial Committee it becomes my 
pleasant duty, in behalf of the town, to extend to you all asiuceie and 
hearty welcome to the joys and festivities of this occasion. 

To-day Sterling extends her hand in cordial greeting to all her 
friends and to all her sons and daughters from far and from near, and 
bids them "welcome home " — welcome to her hills and valleys— to her 
green fields and to her many homes smiling in peace and plenty — whose 
doors are open to receive you. 

And may it prove a benediction and a blessing to us all, that leaving 
our cares and labors and anxieties behind us, we have gathered here at 
the old homestead to revive the fond recollections of earlier years, and 
exchange friendly greetings amid the familiar scenes of our childhood 
and youth. 

One Hundred years ago, on the 25th day of April, this rural town, 
then known as tlie Second Precinct of Lancaster, was, by an Act of the 
Legislature, invested with all the rights and privileges and duties of a 
town, and took her place among her sister towns in the Comuu-nwealth 
aa the town of Sterling. 

One Hundred yearsl As a grain of sand on the globe, so is a Cen- 
tury in the Cycles of time. But as compared with human life, it is a 
long perioil and most wonderful are the changes that are wrought 
therein. 

As a suitable introduction to the exercises that are to follow, I will 



now call upon our much respected fellow-townsman, Dr. William D. 

Peck, to read the Act of Incorporation. 

5th.— Centennial Address, by Willinm yrederick Holcombe, M.D., of 

New York, a native of the town. 
6th.— Hymn. 

7th, — Music by the Band. 
8th.— Auid Lang Syne, sung by Choir and Audience. 

At the close of the eserci'^es in the Church, which 
was completely filled, dinner was served in a tent on 
the Common by Augustus Marrs, caterer of Worcester, 
and was followed by toasts and speeches by di-tinguish- 
ed speakers, and the reading of letters and poems. 

In the Town Hall there was a display of portraits 
and photographs of past and present inhabitants of 
the town, antique articles and interesting relics. 

In the evening there was an illumination, and fire- 
works on the Common, accompanied by music by the 
band. 

TOWN OFFICERS SINCF, 1794. 

1793._Selectmen, John Robbins, Joel Pratt, Silas Roper, Timothy 
Kilburn, Moses Smith. 

1794.— Town Clerk, Moses Smith. 

17(15. —Town Clerk, Moaes Smith; Selectmen, John Robbins, Timothy 
Kilburn, Moses Smith, Joel Pratt, Silas Roper; Aw-essors, Jolin Rob- 
bins, MosesSmith, Silas Roper ; Representative to General Court, Ed- 
ward Raymond, Esq. 

1^71(0. — Town Clerk, Moses Smith; Selectmen, John Robbins, Moses 
Smith, Joel Pratt, Timothy Kilburn, Silas Roper; Assessors, Robert B. 
Thomas, Moses Smith, John Robbins ; Representative to the General 
Court, Edward Raymond, Esq. 

17;>7. — Town Clerk, Moses Smith ; Selectmen, John Robbins, Timothy 
Kilburn, John Snow, Rob^ B. Thomas, Ebenezer Buss, Jr. ; Assessors, 
John Snow, John Robbing, Rob'. B. Thomas; School Committee, Israel 
Allen, M.D., John Barnard, M.D , Samuel Clark. 

1708.— Town Clerk, Moses Smith ; Selectmen, Timothy Kilburn, 
Rob'. B. Thomas, John Snow, Aaron Kimbal, Andrew Putnam ; Asses- 
sors, Josiah Kendall, John Snow, ,4aron Kimbal; School Committee, 
Israel Allen, John Barnard, Rob'. B. Thomas, Jolin Robbins, Mosee 
Smith ; Representative to the General Court, William Putnam. 

1799. — Town Clerk, Moses Smith; Selectmen, John Snow, John Rob- 
bins, Rob'. B. Thomas, Joseph Palmer, Silas Buss ; Assessors, John Snow, 
John Robbins, Joseph Palmer; School Committee, Rob*. B. Thomas, 
Israel Allen, Moses Smith, John Barnard, Luther Allen. 

180('.— Town Clerk, Moses Smith ; Selectmen, Joseph Palmer, Silas 
Buss, Rob'. B. Thomas, John Robbins, Samuel Sawyer ; Assessors, Rob'. 
B. Thomas, Joseph Palmer, Samuel Sawyer; School Committee, John 
Robbins, Ismel Allen, Rob'. B. Thomas, John Barnard, Luther Allen; 
Representative to the General Court, Benjamin Richardson, Esq. 

1801.— Town Clerk, Moses Smith; Selectmen, RolA B. Thomas, Jo- 
seph Palmer, Silas Buss, Samuel Sawyer, Paul Bailey ; Assessors, Rob'. 
B. Thomas, Joseph Palmer, Samuel Sawyer ; School Conmiittee, Dr. 
Israel Allen, Luther Allen, Rob'. B. Tlionias, John Barnard, Isaac 
Story ; Representative to the General Court, Dr. Israel Allen. 

1802.— Town Clerk, Moses Smith ; Selectmen, Joseph Palmer, Samuel 
Sawyer, Paul Bailey, Joseph Pierson, John Pcrter ; Assessors, Joseph 
Palmer, Paul Bailey, Samuel Sawyer ; School Committee, Pearson Ken- 
dall, Israel Allen, Thomas H. Blood, Luther Allen, John Barnard ; 
Representative to the General Court, Dr. Israel Allen. 

1803. — Town Clerk, Moses Smith ; Selectmen, Samuel Sawyer, Paul 
Bailey, Joseph Palmer, Joseph Pierson, John Porter ; Assessors, Joseph 
Palmer, Samuel Sawyer, Paul Bailey ; School Committee, Pierson Ken- 
dall, Israel Allen, John Barnard, Luther Allen Tho". H. Blood; Repre- 
sentative to the General Court, Dr. Israel Allen. 

1804.— Town Clerk, Moses Smith ; Selectmen, Paul Bailey. Samuel 
Sawyer, Joseph Pierson, John Porter, Barth^. Bniwn ; Assessors, Pauj 
Bailey, Samuel Sawyer, Joseph Piffrson ; Schocd Committee, Dr. Israel 
Allen, John Robbins, Tho^. H. Blood, Earth'. Brown, Pierson Kendall ; 
Representative to the General Court, Dr. Isia^-l Allen. 

1805.— Town Clerk, Moses Smith ; Selectmen, Paul Bailey, Joseph 
Pierson, Earth*. Brown, Tho*. H, Blood, John Buss; Assessors, Paul 
Bailey, Joseph Pierson, Bartholomew Brown ; School Committee, Israel 
Allen, Piei-sou Kendall, Thos. H. Blood, Barth"". Brown, Rob*. B. 
Thomas; Representative to the General Court, Dr. Israel Allen. 



506 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



1806.— Town Clerk, Moses Smith : Selectmen, Paul Bailey, Joseph 

Pierson, Tlio». H. Blood, Bart". Brown, John Buss ; Assessors, Paul 
Bailey, Joseph Pierson, Barf^. Brown ; School Connnitlee, Israel Al- 
len, Bart. Brown, T. H. Blood, Pierson Kendall, David Willard (3^), 
Rob*. B. Thomas, Sam'. Sawyer; Kepresentatives to the General Court, 
Dr. Israel Allen, Rev. Ruben Holcomb. 

1807.— Town Clerk, Moses Smith; Selectmen, Paul Bailey, Bartr 
Brown, T. II. Blood, John Buss, Moses Thomas; School Committee, 
Bartholomew Brown, T. H. Blood, Luther Allen, David Willard (S"*), 
Sami. Sawyer, Israel Allen, J. Robblus ; Representative to the General 
Court, Dr. Israel Allen. 

1S08.— Town Clerk, Moses Smith ; Selectmen, Paul Bailey, Moses 
Thomas, John Buss, Harrison Wilder, Jesse Dana ; Aesessore, Paul 
Bailey, Moses Thomas, Jesse Dana; School Committee, B. Brown, P. 
Kendall, T. H. Blood, L. Allen. Joseph Gary, M. Thomas, Israel Allen, 
Paul Bailey ; Representative to the General Court, Dr. Israel Allen. 

1809. — Town Clerk, Mosoa Smith ; Selectmen, Paul Bailey, Jesse 
Dana, Harrison Wilder, James Wilder, Gideon Beaman ; Assessors- 
Paul Bailey, Moses Suiitli, Samuel Sawyer; School Committee, Israel 
Allen, Luther Allen, Tho'. H. Blood, Pierdon Kendall, Bartholomew 
Brown ; Representatives to the General Courts, Dr. Israel Allen & 
Bartholomew Brown, Esq. 

1810. — Town Clerk, Moses Smith ; Selectmen, James Wilder, Gideon 
Beaman, Sarni. Sawyer, Thomas Sawyer, Elijah Houghton ; Assessors, 
Paul Bailey, Samuel Sawyer, Moses Smith; School Committee, Luther 
Allen, Pierson Kendall, Josejih Geary, Luther Rugg, Paul Bailey; 
RepreBtntatives to the General Court, Dr. Israel Allen, Samuel Saw- 
yer. 

1811.— Town Clerk, Mosos Smith ; Selectmen, Sanii. Sawyer, James 
Wilder, Gideon Beaman, Thomas Sawyer, Elijah Houghton ; Assessors, 
Samuel Sawyer, Elijah Houghton, .Tames Wilder; School Committee, 
Luther Allen, Pierson Kendall, T. H. Blood, Isaac Goodwin, Josepli 
Geary ; Representatives to the General Court, James Wilder, Samuel 
Sawyer. 

1812. — Town Clerk, Moses Smith ; Selectmen, Samuel Sawyer, Gideon 
Beaman, Thoma« Sawyer, Elijah Houghton, Benj. Bailey; Assessors, 
Samuel Sawyer, Elijah Houghton, Joseph Pierson ; School Committee, 
Pierson Kendall, Luther Kugg, Sam'. Sawyer, Jon*. Wilder, T. H. 
Blood, I. Goodwin, L. Allen ; Representatives to the General Court, 
Samuel Sawyer, James Wilder. 

1813.— Town Clerk, Luther Allen ; Selectmen, Elijah Houghton, 
Gideon Beaman, Benj. Bailey, Isaac Goodwin, Putnam Sawyer; Asses- 
sors, Samuel Sawyer, Elijah Houghton, Sawyer Wilder; School Com- 
mittee, I. Goodwin, T. H. Blood, Moses Sawyer, Luther Allen, P. 
Kendall, Sam'. S.iwyer, Dr. I. Allen ; Representatives to the General 
Court, Samuel Sawyer, Thoma!j H Blood. 

1814— Town Clerk, Luther Allen ; Selectmen, Elijah Houghton, 
Benj. Bailey, Isaac Goodwin, Putnam Sawyer, Luther Rugg ; Asses- 
sors, Samuel Sawyer, E»ijah Houghton & Sawyer Wilder; School Com- 
mittee, Dr. Israel Allen, Isaac Goodwin. Luther Allen, Benj. Fairbanks, 
Luther Rugg, Dr. P. Kendall, T. H. Bloocl ; Representatives to the 
General Court, Thomas H. Bli>od, Samuel Sawyer. 

1815. — Town Clerk, Moses Sawyer; Selectmen, T/uther Rugg, Jon*. 
Wilder, Silas Howe, Francis Butterick, Moses Sawyer; Assessors, Saw- 
yer Wilder, Luther Rugg, Joseph Palnifr; School Committee, Isaac 
Goodwin, Israel Allen, Moses Sawyer, Piei-son Kendall, TIio". II. Blood; 
Representatives to the General Court, Thomas 11. Blood, James Wilder. 

181G. — Town Clerk, Moses Sawyer; Selectmen, Luther Rugg, Silas 
Howe, Francis Butterick, Jow^. Wilder, Moses Sawyer; Assessors, Saw- 
yer Wilder, Luther Rugg, Nathan Waite ; School Committee, Isaac 
Goodwin, Luther Allen, Moses Sawyer, Israel Allen, Tho". H, Blood ; 
Representatives to the General Court, James Wilder, Samuel Sawyer; 
Senator from Sterling, Thomas H. Blood. 

1817- Town Clerk, Luther Allen; Selectmen, Jon» Wilder, Francis 
Butterick, Samuel Cunant, Thomas Wright, Ebn^ Pope, Jr. ; Assessors, 
Luther Rvigg, Sawyer Wilder, Nathan Waite; School Committee, Moses 
Sawyer, Jonf^. Wilder, T. II. Blood, Isaac Goodwin, Luther Allen ; Rep- 
resentative to the General Court, ; Senator from Sterling, 

Thomas H. Blood. 

1818.— Town Clerk, Luther Allen; Selectmen, Samuel Conaut, Thomas 
Wright, Siepiien Hast ngs ; Overseers of the Poor, Luther Kugg, Jona- 
than Wilder, Samuel Sawyer; Assessors. Luther Rugg, Nuthan Waite. 
Moses Sawyer; School Committee, Isaac Goodwin, David Wilder, Lutlier 
Allen, Tlio». H. Blood, Luther Rugg; Representatives to the General 
Court, Samuel Sawyer, James Wilder. 

1819.— Town Clerk, Luther Allen: Selectmen, Samuel Conant, Thomas 



Wright, Stephen Hastings, T. H. Blood, Ebn', Pope, Jr. ; Assessors, Luther 
Rugg, Nathan Waite, Mo&esSawyei, John R ibbins, Isaac Goodwin; School 
Committee, Isaac Goodwin, David Wilder, Luther Allen, T. II. Blood, 
Luther Rugg, Moses Sawyer, Jon^ Wilder, Samuel Conant, Dr. P. T. 
Kendall, Nath'. Lewis, Josiali Kendall, Jr., Rufus Hastings, Samuel 
Sawyer, Eph". Nelson, Ebn'. Pope, Jr; Representatives to the General 
Court, James Wilder, Samuel Sawyer, Esq. 

1820. — Town Clerk, Manassoh Bailey ; Selectmen, John Porter, Fran- 
cis Butterick, John Davis; Assessors, Joseph Pierson, Joseph Palmer, 
Jonathan Wilder; School Committee, the same that served last year; 
Representative t»> the General Court, Samuel Sawyer, Esq ; Delegates to 
the Constitutional Convention, Tliomas H. Blood and John Bobbins. 

1821. — Town Clerk, Manasseh Bailey; Selectmen, John Porter, John 
Davis, Francis Butterick ; Assessors. Joseph Palmer, Josei)h Pierson, 
Jomitban Wilder; School Committee, Samuel Sawyer, Riifua Hastings, 
Pliineas B. Dana, David Wilder, Mark Kendall, Angustin Holcomb, 
Jueiah Kendal!, Jr , Isaac Goodwin, Esq,; Representives to the General 
Court, Col. James Wilder and Luther Rugg. 

1822. — Town Clerk, Luther AUer. ; Selectmen, J>.hn Robbins, Harrison 
Wilder, Jamea Kilburn; Assessur--?, Moses Sawyer, Luther Rugg, Thomas 
Wright; Schotd Connnittee, the number chosen this year was 20, con- 
sisting of former members with two new members, viz.: Ezra Kendall, 
Jr. and Samuel Sawyer {S"*). 

1S2J.— Town Clerk, Luther Allen ; Selectmen, John Robbins, Harrison 
Wilder, James Kilburn ; Assessors, Jacob Conant, Jonathan Wilder, Joel 
Pratt, Jr. ; School Committee, Moses Sawyer, Kufns Hastings, Phineas 
B. Dana, David Wilder, Mark Kendall, Augusiin Holcomb, Josiah Ken- 
dall, Jr., Isaac Goodwill, L. Buss, T H. Blood, Luther Allen, J. Wilder, 
S. Sawyer, S. Conant, N. Lewis, E. Nelson, E. Pope, Jr., Dr. P. T. Ken- 
dall, Ezra Kendall, Jr., Samuel Sawyer, (:Jd) ; Representatives to the 
General Court, Luther Rugg, Jamea Wilder, 

1824. — Town Clerk, Luther Allen ; Selectmen, Isaac Goodwin, Thomas 
Wright, Tyler P. Osgood ; Assessors, Nathan Waite, Luther Rugg, 
Moses Sawyer ; School Committee, same as last year, except Oliver Blood 
and Josiah Pope instead of Mark Kendall and L. Buss. 

1S25. — Town Clerk, Luther Allen ; Selectmen, Jacob Conaut, Tyler P. 
Osgooi, Jonathan Wilder; Assessors, Moses Sawyer, IHoses Thomas, 
Luther Rugg; School Committee, same as last year--twenty members. 

1826. — Town Clerk, Lutlier Allen ; Selectmen, Jonathan Wilder, Jacob 
Conant Tyler P. Osgood ; Assessors, Moses Thomas, Moses Sawyer, 
Luther Rugg ; School Committee, Moses Sawyer, Rufus Hastings, Phineas 
B. Dana, David Wilder, A. Holcomb, I. Goodwin, L. Rugg T. H. Blood, 
S. Sawyer (■id), L. Allen, Jon", Wilder, S. Sawyer, Esq., Nalli^. Lewis, 
Eph"". Nelson, Ehnf^. Pope. P. T. Kendall, Ezra Kendall, Jr., Jot^iuii Pope; 
Representative to the General Court, Jonathan Wilder. 

1827 — Town Clerk, Luther Allen ; Selectmen, Jonathan Wilder, Jacob 
Conant, Rufus Hastings, Samuel Sawyer (2d), Nath*. Lewis ; Assessors, 
Moses Thomas, Moses Sawyer, Luther Rugg ; School Committee, Rev. 
Peter Osgood, Luther Allen, Alex"". Dustin, Rufus Hastings, Sam*. Sawyer 
(2d), Ezra Kendall, Jr,, Angustin Holcomb; Representative to the General 
Courts, JoGathan Wilder, 

1828, — Town Clerk, Luther Allen ; Selectmen, Jacob Conant, Rufus 
Hastings, Sam*. Sawyer {2dJ, Eli Kilburn, Calvin Wilder ; Assessors, 
Samuel Sawyer, Phineas B. Dana, Thomas Wright ; School Committee, 
Rev. Peter Osgood, Luther Allen, Alex'. Dustin, Rufus Hastings, Angus- 
tin Holcomb, Samuel Sawyer (2d), Ezra Kendall, Jr. ; Representatives to 
the General Courts, Ebenezer Pope, .Jonathan Wilder. 

1829. — Town Clerk, Luther Allen ; Selectmen, Jacob Conant, David 
Wilder, Nehemiah Piereon ; Assessors, Thomas Wright, Nathan Waite, 
David Wilder; Scliool Committee, Rev. Peter Osgood, Alex"". Dustin, 
Luther Allen, David Wilder, Samuel Sawyer (2d), Augnstin Holcomb, 
Ezra Kendall ; Representatives to the Geueral Court, Jacob Conant, 
Tbomas Wright. 

1830. — Town Clerk, Luther Allen ; Selectmen, Jacob Conant, David 
Wilder, Nehemiah Pierson ; Assessors, Thomas Wright, David Wilder, 
Nathan Waite; School Conmiittee, Rev. Peter Osgood, Luther Allen, 
Alex'. Dustin, Sam', Sawyer (2d), Angustin Holcomb, David Wilder, 
Ezra Kendall, ' 

1831.— Town Clerk, Luther Allen; Selectmen, 3on\ Wilder, David 
Wilder, N. Pierson, Joel Pratt, Jr., Gilson Brown ; Assessors, Thomas 
Wright, Moses Sawyer, Samuel Sawyer (2d) ; School Committee, Rev. P. 
Osgood, Alex' Dusiiii, Angustin Holcomb, Sanuiel SaM'yer (2d), David 
Wilder, E/.ia Kendall, Moses Sawyer ; Representatives to the General 
Court, Jonathan Wilder, Moses Sawyer, 

I8;i2. — Town Clerk, Luther Allen ; Selectmen, Gilson Brown, Joel 
Pratt, Jr., Eli Kilburn, Ezra Kendall, Samuel Sawyer; Assessors, Moses 



STERLING. 



507 



Sawyer, Samuel Sawyer (2d), Samuel Sawyer, Esq ; School Committee, 
Rev. Peter Osgood, Alex"" Diistio, Samuel Sawyer (2d), David Wilder, 
Muses Sawyer, Ezra Kendall, Augiistin HnJcomb ; Representatives to the 
General Conrt, Jacob Conunt, Thomas Wright. 

1833.— Town Clerk, Luther AlteD ; Selectmen, EllKilburn, Silas Buss, 
Fisk Houghton ; Assessors, Moses Sawyer, Moses Thomas, Tboniae 
Wright ; School Committee, Rev. Peter Osgood, Dr. P. T. Kendall, Au- 
gustiii Holcomb, Edwin Couant, Solon S Hastinprs, Ruben H. Sawyer, 
Tho« H. Blood ; Representatives to the General Court, Jacob Conant' 
Thomas AVi-ight. 

183J.— Town Clerk, Luther Allen ; Selectmen, Fisk Houphton, Oliver 
Johnson, Francis Butterick ; Assessors, Moses Sawyer, Moses Thomas, 
Thomas Wright ; School Committee, Rev. Peter Osgood, Dr. P. T. 
Kendall, Solon S. Hastings, Ruben H. Sawyer, Sam' Sawyer (2d), 
Moses Sawyer, Torry Houghton ; Representatives to the General Court, 
Moses Sawyer, Gilson Brown. 

1835. — Town Clerk, Luther Allen ; Selectmen, Oliver Johnson, Sam- 
uel Houghton, Charles H. Whiting ; Assessors. Moses Sawyer, Thomas 
Wright, Cyrus Holbrook ; School Committee. Rev. Peter Osgood, Dr. P. 
T. Kendall, Solon S. llaslings, Aug" Holoomb, Moses Sawyer, Samuel 
Sawyer {2d), Torry Houghton ; Representatives to the General Conrt, 
Moses Sawyer, Samuel Sawyer (2d), 

183G. Town Clerk, Luther Allen ; Selectmen, Oliver Johnson, Samuel 
Houghton, Charles H. Whiting ; Assessors, Moses Sawyer, Thomas 
Wright, Cyrus Holbrook ; School Committee, Rev. Peter Osgood, Moses 
Sawyer, Dr. P. T. Kendall, Samuel Sawyer (2d), Augustin Holcomb, 
Solon S. Hasting, Torry Houghton ; Representatives to the General 
Court, Samuel Sawyer (2d). 

1837. Town Clerk, Thomas H. Blood ; Selectmen. Samuel Houghton, 
Charles H. Whiting, William Goss; Assessors, Thomas Wright, Cyrus 
Holbrook, John Springer ; School Committee, Rev. Peter Oegood, Dr. 
Pierson T. Kendall, S. S. Hastings, Sam' i^awyer (2d), Torry Houghton, 
Samuel Osgood, Gilbert H. Howe ; Representative to the General Court, 
Emery Burpee. 

1838.— Town Clerk, Thomas II. Blood ; Selectmen, William Goss, Sam- 
uel T. Sawyer, Jon* Nichols, J. B, Goodnow, Daniel Hosmer; Assessors, 
Thomas Wright, Cyrus Ilulbrook, Ruben H. Sawyer; School Commit- 
tee, Rev. Peter Osgood, Rev. Rufus S. i*ope. Dr. Pierson T. Kendall, S. 
S. Hastings, Torry Houghton, Samuel Osgood, Gilbert H Howo ; Rep- 
resentatives to the General Court, Timothy Endicott, William Goss. 

1830.— Town Clerk, Thomas H. Blood ; Selectmen, Wm. Goss, S. T. 
Sawyer, .Ton*. Nichols, Jonas B Goodnow, Daniel Hosmer ; Assessors, 
Thonnas Wright, Rubeu II. Sawyer, Solon S. Hastings; School Commit- 
too, Rev. Peter Osgood, Rev. R. S. Pope, Dr. P. T. Kendall, S. S. Hast- 
ings, Torry Houghton, Gilbert II. Howe, Rev, George Waters; Repre- 
sentntives to the General Cdurt, Wm. Goss. Samuel T. Sawyer. 

1840.— Town Clerk, Thomas H. Blood ; Selectmen, Samuel T. Sawyer, 
Manasseh Houghton, Richard Hildreth ; Assessors. Thomas Wright, 
Ruben H. Sawyer, Solon S. Hastings; School Committee, Rev. George 
Waters, Torry Houghton, Cyra Kendall ; Representative to the General 
Court, Cyrus Holbrook. 

1841. — Town Clerk. Thomas H. Blood; Selectmen, Manasseh Hough- 
ton, Richard Hildreth, Jesse Curtis; Assessors, Thomas Wright, Ruben 
H. Sawyer, Torry Houghton ; School Committee, Torry Houghton, Ru- 
ben H. Sawyer, Samuel Osgood ; Representative to the General Court, 
Manasseh Houghton. 

1842.— Town Clerk, Thomas H. Blood ; Selectmen, Manasseh Hough- 
ton, Jesse Curtis, John W. Spring; Assessors, R. H. Sawyer, Torry 
Houghton, Luther W. Rugg ; School Conmiittee, Torry Houghton, R. 
H. Sawyer, Samuel Sawyer (2"*} ; Representative to the General Court, 
Manasseh Houghton. 

1843.— Town Clerk, Thomas H. Blood ; Selectmen, John W. Spring, 
Silas Howe, Jr., James Phelps ; Assessors, R. H. Sawyer, Torry Hough- 
ton, L. W. Rugg; School Committee, Rev. John Allen, Rev. David Fos- 
diok. Rev. George Proctor; Representative to the Legislature, Manadseh 
Houghton. 

1844.— Town Clerk, Thomas II. Blood ; Selectmen, James Phoipp, 
Samuel Houghton, Ruben H, Sawyer; Assessors, R H. Sawyer, Torry 
Houghton, L. W. Rugg ; School Committee, Samuel Osgood, Ezra Ken, 
daU, Torry Houghton, P. 3L Rugg, John M. Stevenson ; Represenlative 
to the Legislature, Samuel Houghton. 

184o — Town Clei k, Thoniiis H. Blood ; Selectmen, Samuel Houghton, 
R. H. Sawyer, Perley Bartlett; Assessors, R. H. Sawyer, Torry Hough- 
ton, Luther W. Rug;; ; School Committee, Rev. David Fosdick, Rev. 0. 
Cunningham, Samuel Osgood, Torry Houghton, John M. Stevenson ; 
Representative to the Legislature, Samuel Houghton. 

Is46.— Town Clerk, William D. Peck; Selectmen, Samuel Houghton, 



R. H. Sawyer, Perley Bartlett; Assessors, Torry Houghton, L. W. Rugg, 

Ephraini Fairbank ; School Conmiittee, Rev. 0. Cunningham, Samuel 
Osgood, Torry Houghton, J. N. Stevenson, Prentice M. Rugg; Repre- 
sentative to the Legislature, Jonas B. Goodnow. 

1847.— Town Clerk, William D. Peck ; Selectmen, R. H. Sawyer, Per- 
ley Bartlett, John H, Davis; Asspssors, R. H. Sawyer, L. W. Rugg, 
Francis Butterick, Jr.; School Committee, Rev. O. Cunningham, Rev. 
T. Prentiss Allen, Rev. Quincy Whitney, Samuel Osgood, Prentice M. 
Rugg ; Representative to the Legislature. William D. Peck. 

1848.— Town Clerk, William D. Peck ; Selectmen, Perley Bartlett, 
Benj. Stuart, Jacob Priest ; Assessors, Luther W. Rugg, Ephraim Fair- 
bank, Samuel Osgood; School Committee, Rev. 0. Cunningham, Rev. T, 
Prentiss Allen, Rev. Quincy Whitney, Samuel Osgood, Prentice M. 
Rugg; Representative to the Legislature, Williwm D. Peck. 

1849.— Town Clerk, Dr. William D. Peck ; Selectmen, Manasseh 
Houghton, John H. Davis, Levi Kilburn ; Assessors, L. W. Rugg, Eph- 
raim Fairbank, Samuel Osgood ; School Committee, Rev. O. Cunning- 
ham, Rev. T. Prentiss Allen, Rev. Samuel A, Davis, Samuel Osgood, 
Prentice M. Rugg; Representative to the Legislature, Manasseh 
Houghton. 

18511, — Town Clerk. William D. Peck ; Selectmen, Manasseh Hough- 
ton, "J )hn H. Davis, Levi Kilburn; Assessor-s, Moses Sawyer, James W. 
Fitch, John M. Stevenson ; School Committee, Samuel A. Davis, John 
M. Stevenson, Jacob N. Tolnian ; Representative to the General Court, 
Luther W. Rugg. 

1851. — Town Clerk, William D. Peck; Selectmen, Jacob Priest, Joseph 
Whitney, James Phelps ; Asses.sors, Luther W. Uugg, Silas M. Wilder, 
Samuel Osgood ; School Committee, T. Prentiss Alh-n. fSamuel A. Davis, 
J. HL Stevenson, S-muel Osgood, P. M. Rugg; Representative to the 
General Court, Luther W. Rugg. 

1852.^Town Clerk, William D. Peck; Selectmen, Joseph Whitney, 
James Phelps, J. S. Butterick ; Assessors, Samuel Osgood, Silas 31. 
Wilder, P. M. Rugg: School Committee, Rev. S. A. Davis, Rev. T P. 
Allen, Rev. William Guilford, Samuel Osgood, P. M. Rugg. J. N. Tol- 
nian, George Baws, Jr.; Representative to the General Conrt, Luther W. 
Rugg. 

1853.- Town Clerk, William D. Peck ; Selectmen, John H.Davis, 
Moses Sawyer (2d), Charles M. Bailey ; Asfeoesors, John M. Stevenson, 
James W. Fitch, Henry E. Kendall ; School Committee, Sanuiel Osgood, 
P. M. Rugg, John 5L Stevenson ; Delegate to the Constitutional Con- 
vention, Samuel Houghton ; Representative to the General Court, Wil- 
liam D. Peck. 

1854.— Town Clerk, William D. Peck ; Selectmen, John H. Davis, 
Moses Sawyer (2d), Charles BI. Bailey ; Assessors, James W. Fitch, 
Henry E. Kendall, Levi Reed, Jr. ; School Committee, Samuel Osgood, 
P. M. Rugg, Rev. Wm. B[. Guilford; Representative to the General 
Court, J. Sawyer Butterick. 

1855.— Town Clt-rk, William D. Peck ; Selectmen, Moses Sawyer (2d), 
Charles M. Bailey, L. W. Rugg ; Assessors, James W. Fitch, Prentice 
3L Rugg, John H. Davis; School Committee. Rev. T. P. Allen, Rev. J. 
H. Learned, Samuel Osgood, N. M. Lee, Jonathan Davis; Representa- 
tive to the General Court, Closes Sawyer (2d). 

1856.— Town Clerk, William D. Peck ; Selectmen, Charles M. Bailey, 
S. W Rugg, Joseph P. Heywood ; Assessors, Prentice M. Rugg, John 
H. Davis, Levi Reed; School Committee, Rev. Wm. Miller, Samuel 
Osgood, Jona. Davis, Nelson N. -Lee, Ezra Sawyer ; Representative to 
the General Court, Moses Sawyer (2d). 

1857.— Town Clerk, William D. Peck ; Selectmen, L. W. Rugg, Joseph 
P. Heywood, J. &iwyer Butterick ; Assessors, John U. Davis, Samuel 
Osgood, Perley Bartlett; School Committee, Rev. Wm. H. Knapp, Rev. 
Wm. Miller, N. M. Lee, Samuel Osgood ; Representative to the General 
Conrt, Samuel Osgood. 

1S58.— Town Clerk, William D. Peck ; Selectmen, L. W. Rugg, 
Joseph P. Heywood, J. Sawyer Butterick; Assessors, John H. Davis, 
Samuel Osgood, Perley Bartlett ; School Committee, Jon*. Dmvis, P. M. 
Rugg, John E. Grey, F. A. Sawyer, Samuel Osgood, W. A. P. Wil- 
lard. 

1859.— Town Clerk, William D. Peck ; Selectmen, Perley Bartlett, 
Asa Key es, Edward Burpee; Assessors, John H. iJavis, Samuel Osgood, 
Prentice M. Rugg'; School Committee, Samuel Osgood, J. Kendall Dear- 
ing ; State Senator, William D. Peck. 

1SG0-— Town Clerk. William D. Peck ; Selectmen, Perley Bartlett, 
Asa Keyes, Edward Burpee; Assessors, John H. Davis, P. 51. Rugg, 
Ezra Sawyer; School Committee, Prentice M. Rugg, Luther Rugg (2d) ; 
Represenlative to the General Court, Samuel Osgood. 

1861.— Town Cleric, William D. Peck ; Selectmen, Perley Bartlett, 
Asa Keyes, Edward Burpee ; Assessors, Julin H. Davis, P. M. Rugg, 



508 



HISTOEY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



Ezra Sawyer; School Committee, Benjamin Woodard, Rev. E. B. Fair- 
child, Jon*^. Davie. 

1862.— Town Clerk, William D. Peck; Selectmen, J. S. Butterick,. 
Josiah Phelps, James A. Pratt; Assessor:*, John H. Davis, P. M. 
Rugg, Ezra Sawyer; School Committee, Samuel Osgood, Rev. E. B. 
Fairchild, Rev. J. C. Labaree ; Representative to the General Court, 
Luke Sawyer. 

18r.3.— Town Clerk, William D. Peck ; Selectmen, J. S. Butterick, 
Josiah Phelps, Ephraiia Fairbanks; Aseessors, Prentice M. Kugg, 
Samuel Osgood, John Houghton; School Committee, Samuel Osgood, 
Prentice M. Rugg. 

1864. — Town Clerk, William D. Peck ; Selectmen, Ezra Sawyer. Henry 
E. Kendall, Moses B, Ileywood ; Assessors, Prentice M. Kugg, John 
Houghton, Luke Sawyer; School Committee, P. M. Rugg; Representa- 
tive to the General Court, Luke Sawyer. 

18G5.— Town Clerk, William D. Peck ; Selectmen, Ezra Sawyer, Henry 
E. Kendall, iM OSes B. IJeywood; Assessors, Prentice M. Rugg, Edward 
W. Toombs, L. W. Nichols; School Committee, Dr. F. D. Lord, Rev. J. 
C. Labaree. 

1866.— Town Clerk, William D. Peck ; Selectmen, Ezra Sawyer, Henry 
E. Kendall, Moses B Heywood ; Asses'^ors, Prentice M. Rn5g Ezra 
Sawyer, M. B. Heywood ; School Committee, Rev. Elbrldge Gerry. 

1807.— Town Clerk, William D. Peck; Selectmen, Luke Sawyer, Clin- 
ton Heywood, Edwanl \V. Toombs; Assess rs, Prentice M. Rugg, E. W. 
Toombs, Luke W. Nichols; School Committee, Samuel Osgood. 

1868.— Town Clerk, William D. Peck; Selectmen, Prentice M. Rugg, 
Clinton Heywood, S. Thuistou Wilder; Assessors, Moses B. Heywood, 
James A. Pratt, Jonathan Davie ; School Committiee, Rev. A. S. Nick-* 
erson (for three years) and Henry S. Sawj'er (for one year), 

18ii9.— Town Clerk, William D. Peck ; Selectmen, P. M. Rugg, Clin- 
ton Heywood, S. Thurston Wilder ; Assessors, M, B. Heywuod, James 
A. Piatt, Jonathan Davis; School Committee, Dr. F. D. Lord, Mrs 
Mary S. Rugg, Alvah S. Howe, Miss Abby Hastings, Samuel Osgood, 
Miss Nellie A. Willard ; Representative, Charles H. Loring. 

1870. — Town Clerk, William D. Peck; Selectmen, Ezra Sawyer, James 
W. Fitcli, Jumps A. Pratt ; Assessors, Prentice M. Rugg, Samuel Osgood, 
Clinton Heywood ; School Committee, Rev. H. C. Bates, William H. Bur- 
pee. Henry S. Sawyer. 

187i. — Town Clerk, William D. Peck; Selectmen, Ezra Sawyer, John 
H. Davis, F. L. Wilder; Assessors, P. M. Rugg, Samuel Osgood, Clinton 
Heywood ; School Committee, Rev. H. C. Bates, Jonathan Davis; Rep- 
resentative, Asa Keyea. 

1872.— Town Clerk, William D. Peek; Selectmen, Ezra Sawyer, John 
H. Davis, F. L. Wilder ; Assessors, Ezra Sawyer, Jonathan Davis, Wil- 
liam H. Burpee ; School Committee, Rev. H. C. Bates, Wm. H. Burpee, 
George K. Powers. 

1873. — Town Clerk, William 1>. Peck ; Selectmen, Ezra Sawyer, John 
H. Davis, Charles H. Loring; Assessors, Ezra Sawyer, Jonathan Davis, 
M'illiam H. Burpee ; School Committee, Henry S. Sawyer. 

1874. — Town Clerk, William D. Peck ; Selectmen, Ezra Sawyer, John 
H. Davis, Charles H. Loring ; Assessors, P. M. Rugg, Wm. S. Walker, 
A. L. Fitch ; School Committee, William H. Burpee, Rev. L. D. Mears , 
Representative, Moses B. Heywood. 

1875. — Town Clerk, Wm. D. Peck ; Selectmen, Moses B. Heywood, 
Charles H. Loring, Wm. H. Sawyer; Assessors, Jonathan Davis, P. M. 
Rugg, S. Thurpton Wilder; School Committee, Rev. L, D. Mears. 

1876.— Town Clerk, William D. Peck ; Selectn)en, Jonathan Davis, 
James Bailey, Blutcus L. Snow; AMessors, P. M. Rugg, Wm. S. Walker, 
Ezra Sawyer; School Committee, Henry S. Sawyer, Rev. Henry P. Cut- 
ting; Representative to the Legislature, Perley Hartlett. 

1877. — Town Clerk, William D. Peck ; Selectmen, Jonathan Davis, 
James Bailey, Marcus L. Snow ; Assessors, P. M, Rugg, Ezra Sawyer, 
Wm. S. Walker; School Committee, William H. Burpee. 

1878. — Town Clerk, William D. Peek ; Selectmen, Jonathan Davis, 
Marcus L. Snow, James Bailey ; Assessors, P. M. Rugg, Ezra Sawyer, 
Wm. S. Walker; School Committee, Oliver W. Rugg. 

1879. — Town Clerk, William D. Peck: Selectmen, Jonathan Davie, 
E. W. Toombs, P. T. K. Burpee ; Assessors, P. M. Rugg, Ezra Sawyer, 
Wm. S. Walker ; .Sclioul Committee, Henry S. Sawyer, 

1880.— Town Clerk, William L». Peck ; Selectmen, Pierson T. K. Bur- 
pee, Charles H. Loring, Perley Bartlett; Assessors, P. M. Rugg, Ezra 
Sawyer, S. Thurslon Wilder; School Committee, William H. Burpee; 
Representative to the Legislature, William H. Burpee. 

1881.— Town Clerk, William D. Peck ; Selectmen, P. T. K. Burpee, C. 
H. Loring, Perley Bartlett; Assessors, P. M. Rugg, Ezra Sawyer, S. 
Thurston Wilder ; School Committee, 01 ver W. Rugg. 

1882.— Town Clerk, William D. Peck; Selectmen, Jonathan Davis, E. 



W. Toombs, F. L. Wilder; Assessors, Ezra Sawyer, S. Thurston Wilder, 
Wm. S. Walker; School Committee, R. L. Chandler, J. H. Wilder. 

188a.— Town Clerk, William D. Peck; Selectmen, Jonathan Davis, E. 
W. Toombs, F. L. Wilder ; Assessors, Ezra Sawyer, S. Thurston Wilder, 
W. S. Walker; School Committee, C. D. Albro. 

1884.— Town Clerk, William D. Peck ; Selectmen, Jonathan Davis, E. 
W. Toombs, F. L. Wilder; Assessors, Ezra Sawyer, S. Thurston Wilder, 
W. S. Walker ; School Committee, J. S. Burpee ; Representative to the 
Legislature, F. L. Wilder. 

1885. — Town Clerk, William D. Peck ; Selectmen, Jonathan Davis, E. 
W. Toombs, F. L. Wilder ; Assessors, Ezra Sawyer, S. Thurston Wilder, 
W. S. Walker; School Committee, Samuel Osgood. 

1886.— Town Clerk, William D. Peck ; Selectmen, Jonathan Davis, E. 
W. Toombs, F. L. Wilder; Assessors, Ezra Sawyer, S. Thuretou Wilder, 
Henry W, Burpee; School Committee, Arthur P. Rugg. 

1887.— Town Clerk, Edward P. Bartlett; Selectmen, W. S. Walker, 
Henry W, Burpee, George F, Davidson ; Assessors, Henry W. Burpee, 
W. S. Walker, Ezra Sawyer ; School Committee, J. S. Burpee. 

1888.— Town Clerk, Edward P. Bartlett ; Selectmen, W. S. Walker, 
George F. Davidson, H. W. Burpee; Assessors, W. S. Walker, H.W.Bur- 
pee, Ezra Sawyer; School Committee, Dr. A. M. Tyler; Representative 
to the Legislature, Albeit H. Newhall. 

The following persons, natives of the town, have 
had charge of our public schools as teachers: 



Luther Allen, 
Luther Rugg, 
David Willard (3d), 
Sanuiel Sawyer, 
Jonathan Wilder, 
David Wilder, 
Moses Sawyer, 
August inellulconib, 
Mark Kendall, 
Josiah Kendall, 
Ezra Kendall, 
P. T. Kendall, 
Nathaniel Lewis, 
Oliver Blood, 
Rnfus Hastings, 
Phiiieas B. Dana, 
Samuel Sawyer (2d), 
Edwin Conant, 
Thomas S. Blood, 
James T. Allen, 
Solon S. Hastings, 
Reuben H. Sawyer, 
Gilbert H. Howe, 
Darius Ridding, 
Torry Houghton, 
Amoa W. Breck, 
Samuel Osgood, 
Charles H. Loring, 
Prentice M. Rugg, 
Joseph Gerry, 
Edmund Moore, 
Edwin May, 
Edward A. Synds, 



George Richardson, 
Luther Rugg (''d), 
William Richardson, 
Wm, A. P. Willard, 
Alonzo W. Willard, 
John Rugg, 
Henry S. Sawyer, 
Josiah H. Wilder, 
William H. Burpee, 
Oliver W. Rugg, 
Joseph H. Osgood, 
George K. Powers, 
Ezra Powers, 
Edmund Powers, 
R. L. Chandler, 
J. S. Burpee, 

E. P. Willard, 

F. B. Willard, 
Polly Kimball, 
Nabby Buss, 
Keziah Buss, 
Betsey Pratt, 
Lydia Porter, 
Caroline Allen, 
Mary Ann Phelps, 
Harriet Rugg, 
Caroline Moore, 
Emily Wright, 
Polly Belknap, 
Lucy Belknap, 
IMartba Kendall, 
Adulphia Rugg, 
Reheccah Buss, 



Lucy Buss, 
Olive L. Nelson, 
Eusebia Gerry, 
Elizabeth Parker, 
Polly A. Burpee, 
Elizabeth Bailey, 
Luciiida Hildreth, 
Jane Hildreth, 
Jane E. Sawyer, 
Mary E. Willard, 
3Iary Richardson, 
Mary Rugg, 
Nellie A. Willard, 
Sarah H. Rugg, 
Mary S. Osgood, 
Georgianna Pratt, 
Mary K. Pratt, 
Fannie Kidder, 
Delia S. Nourse, 
Mary Burpee, 
Carrie Rugg, 
Anna E. Osgood, 
Augusta Richardson, 
Jessie F. Osgood, 
Kittie Wilder, 
Gertrude H. Rugg, 
Helen Burpee, 
Flora P. Barnes, 
Mary K. Loring, 
Rosa E. Willard, 
Addie Burpee, 
Xellie Heywood. 



List of practicing physicians in Sterling: 

1774.' — Josiah Leavitt, to 1787 ; removed. 

1786.— Israel Allen, died 1817, aged sixty; John Barnard, died 1825, 
aged eighty-two ; Pierson Kendall. 

1804.— Luther Allen. 

1817.— Pierson T. Kendall, after forty years' practice, removed to Clin- 
ton, where he died January 11, 18G5, aged seventy-two years. 

1830. — Dr. Newhall, of Stow, remained but a short time, 

18;j7.— William D. Peck. 

184(1. — John S. Andrews, removed after five or six years' practice. 

1851. — E. C. Knight, remained in town only about six months. 

1854.— Thiunae II. Gage, removed to Worcester, 1856 ; A, W, Sidney, 
removed to Fitchburg. 

185U.— Frederick A. Sawyer, removed toGreenfield, 1862 ; C. E. Dowellfl, 
removed 1874. 

1862.— Friend D. Lord, removed to Newton Lower Kails, 1870. 

1870. — Warren Pierce, removed to West Boylston, 1874. 




I 



I 



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^^ ^^z^^^»^ (7 J 



t^^^ 




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i 

1 



STERLING. 



509 



1874— Herbert Slmrtliff, removed to Brockton, 1879. 

1879.— E, N. Perkins, removed to Harvard; C. D. Albro, removed to 
Melidon, 1887. 

1887. — George D. Skioner, died same year; A. M. Tyler; F. C. Gillson, 
removed to Boston, 1888. 

The above dates may not be exactly correct, but 
nearly so. 



BIOGRAPHICAI.. 



CAPTAIN ELI KILBDRN. 

Eli Kilburn was born in Princeton, Mass., April 3, 
1796. His father, Calvin Kilburn, was a native of 
Sterling, but spent most of his life in Princeton, where 
he died, January 23, 1852, in the ninety-fifth year of 
his age. His mother, Mary Stratton Kilburn, was a 
native of Rutland. She died in Princeton, September 
15, 1847, at the age of eighty-nine. 

Eli was the youngest of three sons, with two si.sters, 
one older and one younger than himself. He is now, 
and has been for many years, the sole survivor of his 
father's family. 

Eli was educated in the common schools of Prince- 
ton, and at the Leicester Academy. At the age of 
eighteen he came to Sterling, and began learning the 
chair-making business. Soon after attaining his 
majority he became a manufacturer on his own 
account. 

In 1821 he married Miss Lucinda Bailey, of Ster- 
ling, and settled near Dana's Mills, in that town. 

In 1829 he was chosen commander of a company of 
light infantry, known as the Sterling Guards. 

In 1856, at the age of sixty. Captain Kilburn closed 
his prosperous career as a chair manufacturer, and 
bought a lot in Sterling Centre, on which he built a 
house, where he has since resided. 

His wife, Mrs. Lucinda Bailey Kilburn, died in 
February, 1867, and in April, 1868, he married Mrs. 
Jane H. Powers, widow of Ezra S. Powers, and half- 
sister to his first wife. 

Captain Kilburn during his long and active life 
has held many positions of trust and responsibility. 
He served a,« justice of the peace for twenty-eight 
years, and was chairman of the board of trustees of 
Oak Hill Cemetery for twenty-nine years. 

For several years he was chairman of the Boards of 
Selectmen and of the Overseers of the Poor, and has 
served on numerous important committees in town 
affairs. 

He has settled many estates, and acted as guardian 
for sixteen minors. For thirty years he has been the 
agent in Sterling for the Worcester Mutual Fire 
Insurance Company. About two years ago he gave 
up this business, finding that his private affairs needed 
all of his time and strength. 

Captain Kilburn has been a successful business 
man, and, by persevering industry, good management 
and habits of thrift, has amassed a handsome fortune. 

Since coming to Sterling he has been an active and 



influential member of the First Congregational 
(Unitarian) Society. 

He has always taken an active interest in politics, 
and cast his first vote for President for James 
Monroe. 

During recent years Captain and Mrs. Kilburn have 
made many pleasant excursions, visiting the White 
Mountains, the Sagueuay Eiver, Niagara Falls, 
Saratoga, Washington and other places of interest, 
visiting Saratoga Springs for thirty consecutive 
years. 

Happy in his domestic life, prosperous in his busi- 
ness, honored and respected by hv3 fellow-citizens, 
sound in mind and body at the age of ninety-two, 
cheerful, hopeful, serene. Captain Eli Kilburn is to- 
day one of the best representatives of our New Eng- 
land life. 



EDWARD BURPEE. 

Edward Burpee is one of the most substantial and 
highly respected citizens of Sterling. He comes from 
a line of honored ancestry, reaching back nearly to 
the first settlement of the town. 

His great-grandfather, Jeremiah Burpee, came to 
Sterling from Rowley, in Essex County, probably 
about the year 1745 and settled on Rowley Hill (so 
called), where he died in 1817 at the advanced age of 
ninety-two years. 

The subject of this sketch was the son of Jonathan 
Burpee — a citizen of Sterling universally respected 
for the rectitude of his character — and was born June 
13, 1814. His mother's name, before marriage, was 
Fanny .Johnson, daughter of Edward Johuson. 

As Mr. Burpee was an only child he remained with 
his parents, assisting them in their labors, and, by 
their example, acquiring habits of industry and 
strength of moral character, until he was eighteen 
years of age. At this time his father obtained for him 
a situation with Joel Pratt, Jr., at that time one of 
the m( St prominent chair manufacturers in Worcester 
County. He remained with Mr. Pratt three years, 
serving him faithfully for the sum of one hundred 
dollars, with board and clothing and with the 
privilege of attending the district school in the 
winter; his entire education being such only as the 
common schools of the town at that time afforded. 
At the close of his apprenticeship to Mr. Pratt he 
left his employ and engaged service to Mr. Thomas 
Lewis (2d), a near neighbor. 

He renewed his engagement to Mr. Lewis three 
years successively. At the end of this period, in 
1838, he purchased Mr. Lewis' place and business 
and commenced the manufacture of chairs on his 
own account. In April of that year he married a 
Sterling lady, Miss Lucy Ann Smith, a daughter 
of Manasseh Smith, and began housekeeping in the 
same house he now occupies. 

In 1861 he had the misfortune to lose his wife by 



510 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



death, but in the following year he again entered 
into the marriage relation with Mrs. Mary Curtis, 
who now faithfully presides over his liousehold and 
devotedly ministers to his comfort as the intirmities 
of age begin to creep upon him. 

Thus, for fifty years, with varying fortunes, he 
has been constantly, and at times quite extensively, 
engaged in the chair business, by whicli, through in- 
dustry, economy and forethought, he has secured 
such a competency as relieves him from all anxious 
thought in respect to present wants or future needs. 

His home and attention to his own private busi- 
ness was always more congenial to his nature than 
crowded aiserablies or public office. Nevertheless, 
he has several times held the office of selectman 
and other responsible positions, and his fellow- 
townsmen have ever had implicit confidence in his 
intelligence, sound judgment and uprightne-s of 
character. He is still in business, doing a larger 
amount than any other concern of the same line 
in the town. He receives his friends with a hearty 
welcome, and entertains them with generous hospi- 
tality. 



CHAPTER LXXVIII. 
BROOKFIELD. 

BY WILI<IAM T. DAVIS. 

A LITTLE south of what is nearly the centre of 
Massachusetts there is a territory about eight miles 
square lying for the most part within the limits of Wor- 
cester County and including a small tract of land in 
Hampshire County, which, as early as the year 1647, 
attracted the attention of settlers along the coast, 
who were seeking favorable spots for farming and pas- 
turage. It was occupied by the Quabaug tribe of 
Indians, and had been cleared by them to such an ex- 
tent that its hillsides and plains, together with the 
meadows watered by the rivers and streams flowing 
through them, offered a rich prize to those who were 
adventurous enough to wander into the wilderness so 
far from the more thickly-settled villages and towns 
along and near the shore. The Quabaug Indians by 
some historians have been called a distinctive tribe, 
and by others they are supposed, with the Agawams 
and Waranakes and Naunotuks and Pacomptucks 
and Squakheags, along the Connecticut River, the 
Nipmucks proper, a little farther to the eastward, and 
the Nashaways, a little farther to the north, to have 
formed the great Nipmuck tribe. They exhibit, 
however, in their history, an individuality which 
warrants the belief that they were an independent 
tribe, acting only by voluntary association with other 
tribes and under the rule of sachems not their own. 
It is stated on undeniable authority that when suffer- 
ing from the hostile attitude of other tribes they ajj- 



pcaled to Massasoit, the chief of the Wampanosgs, 
for assistance, and that late in life that sachem dwelt 
among them and became their ruler. Indeed, it is 
more than probable that the famous warrior of Mount 
Hope was the sagamore of the Quabaugs in 1661, 
and that in that year or the next, while Wamsutta, 
his son, was the acting sachem of the Wampanoags, 
died among his new-found followers. 

At the time at which this narrative opens Spring- 
field, settled in 1636, was the only town on the west 
and the nearest towns on the east were Lancaster, 
planted in 1643 ; Concord, settled in 1635, and Sud- 
bury, in 1639. These new settlements were reached 
by the Indian trails or paths, along which the 
immigrant could only travel on horseback or on foot ; 
but these trails leading from the villages of the In- 
dians to various points on Massachusetts Bay, Mount 
Hope Bay and Long Island Sound were looked on by 
the early settlers, inured as they were to hardship 
and fatigue, and eager in their efforts to secure the 
ownership of land, as easy avenues to the prizes they 
sought. 

The territory to which we have referred was called 
Quabaug, and gave its name to the tribe occupying it. 
As pronounced by the Indians, it was Squapauke or 
Squabaug, and signified "'red water place," or "red 
pond,'' and was so called from the reddish color of 
the bottom underlying the various sheets of fresh 
water with which it abounded. According to J. H. 
Temple, whose exhaustive and interesting "History of 
North Brookfield'' hasaftbrded much material for this 
narrative, the various villages of the Quabaug tribe 
lay along the different trails which intersected its ter- 
ritory, the largest of which was the Wekabaug village, 
in what is now West Brookfield. The native word 
was Wekapauke, meaning " at the end of the pond," 
and was adopted by the English as the name of 
Wekabaug Pond, containing about three hundred 
acres and lying near West Brookfield village. An- 
other large village was Quobagud or Quobacutt, in 
the east part of Brookfield, near wh.at is now called 
Quabaug Pond, and still another was Ashquoach vil- 
lage, north of Great Pond, in Brimtield, and others 
still were the Quassuck, in what is now Sturbridge, 
and Putikookuppog, on the south side of the Quine- 
baug River, near the present line between Sturbridge 
and Bromfield. 

The Quabaug territory is watered by the Quabaug 
River, which is formed by the union of the Five Mile 
River and the Seven Mile River and flows into Qua- 
baug Pond. It leaves the pond at its westerly end 
and flows through what is now the town of Warren, 
uniting afterwards with Ware River, where it takes 
the name of Chicopee River, and empties into the 
Connecticut in the town of Chicopee. Numerous 
brooks, of more or less size and importance, enter 
Quabaug River at various points, including Moore's 
Brook, Stone's Brook, Coy's Brook, Sucker Brook, 
New Mill Brook, Cheney's Brook, Mason's Brook, 



BROOKFIELD. 



511 



Salmon Brook, Dean's Brook, Wigwam Brook and 
miuiy other small streams, some of which in early 
and later times have furnished water for wheels of 
industry. Among the ponds which dot the territory, 
are the Quabaug Pond, more than five hundred acres 
in extent; South Pond, nearly two hundred acres; 
Wekabaug Pond, three hundred acres, and Cranberry, 
North. Horse and Perry Ponds, of smaller dimensions. 
Such was the territory when, in 1647, it first came 
within the notice of the government of the Massachu- 
setts Colony. In that year the Quabaug tribe suffered 
from the raids of marauding Indians of other tribes, 
and applications for aid were sent by Quacunquasit, 
the sachem of the tribe, to the Massachusetts Gov- 
ernor. At the same time John Eliot became interested 
in the tribe, and in 1649 made a visit to their vilUiges, 
an account of which he gave in a letter, from which 
the following is an extract, dated Roxbury, Decem- 
ber 29, 1649: 

There ie another iigtd Sachem at Qviobagud, three score miles west- 
ward, and he dotb greatlj' desire that I would come thither and teach 
them and live there ; and I made a journey thither this summer and 
I went hy Nashaway ; but it so fell out that there were some stirs be- 
twixt the Narraganset and Monahegan Indians, some murders com- 
mitted, etc., which made our church doubtful at fii"stof my going; which, 
when llie Nashaway Sachem (Sholan) heard, be commanded twenty 
armed men {after their manner) to be ready, and himself, with these 
twenty men, besides sundry of our near Indians, went along with me to 
guard me ; but I took some English along with me also, so that hereby 
their good aftection is manifested to me and to the work I have in hand. 
Here also (at Quobagud) I found sundry hungering after instruction; but 
it pleased God to exercise us with such tedious rain and bad weather that 
we were extreme wet, in so mucli that I was not dry night nor day from 
the third day of the week unto the sixth, but so travelled, and at niglit 
prll off my boots, wring my stockings and on with them again and so 
continued. The rivers also were raised, so as that we were wet riding 
through ; but that which added to my afiBiction was my horse tired so 
that I was forced to let my horse go empty and ride on one of the men's 
horses, which I took along with me. Yet God slept in and helped ; I 
considered that the word of God (2 Tim. 2: 3), "Endure hardship as 
a good soldier of Christ," with many other such like meditations. . . • 
And I thank the Lord neither I nor my company took any hurt. 

The Indian trail followed by Eliot was doubtless 
one of the Connecticut trails which ran through the 
present towns of Weston, Sudbury, Stow, Lancaster, 
Princeton, Barre, New Braintree, Wa'-ren, Brimfield 
and Springfield. This simple record of the Indian 
a(..ostle shows the bold and adventurous spirit which 
characterized the early settlers of New England, who, 
having migrated from comfortable English homes and 
experienced the comparative discomforts with which a 
life in the towns and villages along the coast were 
surrounded, were willing and even eager to push still 
farther into the wilderness to unknown regions, where 
to hardship and exposure and want were added 
the dangers which the nearness of savage Indians 
constantly threatened. No explanation of this spirit 
is satisfactory that does not emphasize the greedy 
desire which every Englishman must have felt for 
that which the opportunity offered — the possession of 
land. To most, if not all, of the immigrants to our 
shores such a po>^ses>ion was a new privilege. Landed 
possessions, which in the old country were confined to 



the noble or wealthy classes, inspired them with hopes 
newly born, with aspirations never before experienced, 
and laid before their eyes visions of untold prosperity 
and worldly success. 

Such as has been here described was the Quabaug 
territory, when only a few years later, in 1660, some of 
theinhabitantsof Ipswich petitioned the General Court 
for a grant of land, which was accorded ia the follow- 
ing language of the records: 

At a great and general Court of Election held at Boston, the 20th of 
May, 1600. 

In ansr to the peticon of severall the inhabitants of Ipswich 
this Court Judgeth it meete to Graunt the petitioners sixe miles square 
or so much land as shall be coutejned in such a Compasse in a place 
nere Quoboag ponds provided they have twenty lixmilyes there resident 
within .3 yeai-s & that tbey have an able minister settled there within the 
said terme such as ther court shall approve & that they make due pro- 
vision in some way or other for the future either by setting apart of 
land in what else shall be thought meete for the Continuance of the 
ministry amongst them ; and that If they shall faile in any of these 
particulars above mentioned this Graunt of the Court to be Toyd & of 
none etfect. 

Precisely who the grantees were is not known, but 
John Warner, John Ayres and William Prichard 
were probably among their number. John Ayres and 
John Warner appeared first at Ipswich in 1648, and 
William Prichard in 1G49. These three men are sup- 
posed to have visited Quabaug in 1660 with the view 
of selecting definitely a place of settlement; but 
owing to Indian troubles no further action was taken 
under the grant until 1665. In that year it is believed 
that John Warner, with his son Samuel, John Ayres, 
Thomas Parsons and Thomas Wilson, took up a settle- 
ment, building houses and making other preparations 
for a permanent home. Wilson was probably a young 
man, and was the sonof Theophilus Wilson, who first 
appeared at Ipswich in 1636. Parsons was also a 
young man, only twenty years of age, and was born 
in Windsor. It is not unlikely that his father had 
removed from Essex County and was thus naturally 
associated with the settlers of Quabaug. 

Previous to this settlement in 1665 and since 
1647, at which date this narrative opened, new towns 
not far distant had been organized. Hadley, earlier 
known by the Indian name, Norwottock, was incorpo- 
rated May 20, 1661, and Northampton October 18, 
1654, and these towns with Springfield constituted 
Hampshire County at the date of its incorporation. 
May 7, 1662. 

These three towns, though they had long en- 
joyed the privileges of municipal government, 
had not previously been included in either Suffolk, 
Essex, Norfolk or Middlesex Counties, the four 
counties into which the colony of Massachusetts was 
divided in 1643. Special enactments were at various 
times passed providing for the administration of jus- 
tice within their limits, but they were associated with 
no county organization. As will be seen by the fol- 
lowing act incorporating Hampshire County in 1662, 
the Quabaug territory fell within its boundaries, and 



512 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



consequently Brookfield, when incorporated, became 
a Hampshire town. 

The act incorporating the county of Hampshire 
was passed May 7, 1662, and is as follows : 

Forasmuch as the inhabitants of this jurisdiction are much encrsased 
80 that niiw tliey are planted farre into tlie country upon Conecticott 
River, who, by reason uf tlieir remotenes cannot conveniently be an- 
nexed to any of the countyes already setled &, that publicke affaires 
may, with more facility, be transacted according to lawes heere estab- 
lished, it is ordered by the Court & authority thereof that henceforth 
Springfeild, Northampton and Hadley shall be & hereby are constituted 
as a county the bounds or Ijmitts on the south to be the south Ijne of the 
pattent, the extent of other bounds to be full thirtj" miles distant from 
any or either of the foresajd tonnes, & what tonnes or villages soever 
shall hereafter be erected w'tiin the foresajd precincts to be & belong to 
the sajd county ; and further that the sajd county shall be called Hamp- 
shire, & shall have & enjoy the libertjee & priviledges of any other Coun- 
ty ; & that Springfeild shall be the ehiie toune there, & the Courta to be 
kept one time at Springfeild & another time at Northampton ; the like 
order to be observed fur their ehire meetings, that is to say, one yeere at 
onetouuo A the next yeare at the other, from time to tjine. And it is 
further ordered that all the inhabitants of that shire shall pay their pub- 
licke rates to the countrey in fatt catle or young catle, aiich as are fitt to 
be putt off, that so no unnecessary damage be put on the country ; &, in 
case they make payment in corne, then to be made at such prices as the 
lawo doe comonly passe amongst themselves, any other former or an- 
nuall orders referring to the prices of corne notwithstanding. 

The settlement of these western towns, together 
with the grant of fonr thousand acres near Quabaug 
to John Eliot, stimulated the Quabaug grantees to 
occupy the lands before it was too late. Even at the 
date of their occupation the three years' limitation of 
their grant had expired, and a petition was presented 
to the General Court by the settlers, asking for a new 
grant, to which the court responded by the passage 
of the following order : 

May 15, 1GG7. In ans' to the petition of the inhabitants at Quabaug ; 
This Court having perused the grant which the Generall Court made 
anno 1060 to the tirst undertakers from that place, doe fiude that 

1. By their non observance of the condition of their grant, the same 
is altogether vojd, & that now the ordering & disposing tbereof i* 
wholly in this Court's power ; 

2. Considering that there is already at Quabatige about sixe or seven 
familyes, &, that the place may he capable of receiving many more, this 
Court will readily grant them the liberty of a township when they shall 
be in a fitt capacity. 

3. In the meane time this Court appoints Cap*. John Pynchon, John 
Aires, W"'. Prichard, Richard Coy & John Younglow, or any three of 
them, whereof Capt. Pinchon to ho one of the three who shall have 
power to admitt inhabitants, grant lands & to order all the prudentiall 
affaires of the p!ace in all respects untill it shall appeare that the place 
shall be so farr settled with able men, aa this Court may judge meete to 
give them the full liberty of a touneship according to lawe. 

4. Because the inhabitants of Ipswich made the first motion for that 
plantation, A some of them have hinn at charges about it, although by 
their remisse prosecution they have now lost all their right, yet such of 
them as shall setle there by midsummer come twelve moneth, they 
shall have an interest in the lands there in proportion with others ; but 
if, by that time, they shall not he there setled, they shall then loose 
their lauds &. all their charges, which they have been att upon ye 
place. 

5. They are to take care for the getting & mayntayning of a godly 
minister among them, i- that no evill persons, enemjes to tbe lawe of 
this commonweale in judgment or practice, be receaved as inhab- 
itants. 

G, For promoting of tbe aforesajd plantation &, incouragemeut there- 
of tl'.is Court dooth now grant that plantation seven yeares freedom 
from all publick rates & taxes to tbe country, provided these inhab- 
itants of Ipswich, which intend to inhabit at Quabauge by midsummer 
come twelve month, doe engage to give security to the abovesajd com- 
mittee, within three moneths after the date hereof, that they will per- 



forme accordingly, that so others that would setle there may not bo 
hindered. 

Richard Coy was probably an Essex County man, 
though not of Ipswich, and John Younglow was 
probably son of Samuel Younglove, who appeared 
in Ipswich in 1G35. Captain John Pynchon was 
born in England in 1G27, and came to New England 
in 1630 with his father, William Pynchon, a leader 
iu the settlement of Springfield in 1636. William, 
the father, who was at one time treasurer of the Mas- 
sachusetts Colony, and for many years an assistant 
iu the government, published in England in 1650 a 
book entitled "Meritorious Price of Christ's Redemp- 
tion," in opposition to the Calvinistic view of the 
atonement, which caused his deposition from the 
magistracy. His book was burned on Boston Com- 
mon by order of the Court, and, in consequence of 
persecutions which followed, he returned to England 
in 1652. His son, John, mentioned in the grant 
above-quoted, was for fifty years a magistrate of 
Springfield and one of the founders of Northampton 
in 1654. He died January 17, 1703. It was undoubt- 
edly thought judicious by the General Court to ap- 
point one alien member on the committee, and that, 
unlike the occupants of Quabaug lands, who were 
men probably of no experience iu public affairs, he 
should be familiar with the methods and require- 
ments of municipal administration. 

In the mean time, before the regrant was made by 
the court, the old grantees took measures to secure a 
release from the Indians of their title in the lands 
which their grant covered and negotiated with En- 
sign Thomas Cooper, of Springfield, to take a deed 
in his own nacbe. This he did, but afterwards as- 
signed his interest to the grantees. The following is 
the Indian deed : 

These Presents Testify That Shattoockquis, alias Shadookis, the sole 
& propper owner of certayne lands at Quabauge, hereafter named, 
Hath for gootl & valluable Considerations, him, the said Shattooquis 
thereunto moveinge given, graunted, bargayned & Sold, And by 
these presents Doth fully, clearily & absolutely give grant, bargayne & 
sell unto Eusigne Thomas Cooper, of Springfield, for the use & behoofo 
of the prsent English Plantera at Quabaug & their Associates & 
their successonj, & to them & their heires for evuer certayne pcells of 
land at towards or about the North end of Quabauge pond, that is to 
say, beginning at a little Jleddow at the North end of the pond Qua 
bauge, wch meddow is called Podeek, wth the land about it & soe to a 
little bill Wullamauick & from thence Northward or North & by 
East about Tliree nn'les, & soe Westward off to ye North end of Weco- 
baug Pond, taking in all the playnes, meddowes & upland from Podunk 
by Quabaug to Wecubaug pond, all the lantl betwixt as that called 
Nacommuck (vis' a brook where meddow is), and soe to Massequock- 
ummes vis* another brook where meddow is and soe through the 
playn to Wecobaug pond & then down to Lashaway, vis* the River 
wch comes from Quabaug pond all ye land as aforesaid on the East or 
Northeast side of that River, and about three miles North or North & 
by East from the River together wth the said River & the lands on tbe 
west side, or south, 'or southwest side of the said River, & particularly 
from Lashaway down the River to a brook or streame called Naltaug, & 
800 up that brook to the head of it Southward, & then from the head 
uf tliat brook to verge of a hill called Asqiioach, A soe down South- 
ward or Southeast to ye pond Quabauge, taking in all the wett meddow 
& nieddows called Masquabamick & Nanantomqua, it being about foure 
miles from the river to the verge or foote of the hill aforesaid, called 
Asquoach, and about six miles or neere thereabouts from the River at 
tbe mouth of ye brook called Naltaug to Quabaug pond. All tbe 



BROOKFIELD. 



513 



aroreeaid Ti ■-' : 
Quabauffe, 
Manequock ^ 
tomqua, M. ■ i 
laud afore dc^Lnbti 



Wecobauge to Podunk at the North «nd of 
to Qiiabaiige, called Naltaug, Lashaway 
ick, WuHammaDnuck, Poduuck, Nanan- 
oe to the hill called Asquoach, All wch 
i:tLer with the trees, waters, stones, profits, 



coinodityes & adrantages thereof & thereunto belonging the said En- 
signe Thomas Cooper, for himself and for the present Plantere at Qua- 
bang; and their Associates & successors is to have, hold and enjoy, & 
that for ever. 

And the said Shattookquis, as well for other considerations, as alao 
for & in consideration of the sunime Three Hundred fadom of Wam- 
panipeage in hand Received, doth grant, bargayne & sell All & Singu- 
lar the aforenamed Tract of land to Ensigne Thomoa Cooper, his sue 
cessors & assignes as aforesaid, & to their heires for ever. And the 
said Shattoockquis doth hereby covennate & promise to & «■*•> the said 
Ensigne Thomas Cooper that he will save ye said Thomas Cooper 
harmless from all manner of clamyes of any person or psons lawfully 
clayuiing any right or interest in the said lands hereby sold, or in any 
part thereof, & will defend the same from all or any molestation & in- 
cumbrence by any Indians lawfully laying clayme or title thereunto. 
In witness whereof the said Shattoockquis hath herewith sett his 
hand, this tent^j day of November, lliGfj : 

The mark of* * « * Sh.\ttoockqui3. 
The mark of Mettawomppe, * * * 

An Indian witness, who, challenging some interest 
in the land above sold, received part of ye pay & 
consented to the sale of it all. 
Subscribed & delivered in ye presence of 

Elizue Holtoke, 
Samuell Chapin, 
,Japhett Chapin. 
Shattoockquis, an Indian above-mentioned, did own & acknowledge 
this to be bis act & deed, resigning up all his right, title & intrest in 
the lands above-mentioned unto Thomas Cooper, his Associates & As- 
signes, as above said, this Tenth day of November, 1065. 

Before mee, John Pynchon, AseuUtnt. 

The wampumpeage, three hundred fathoms of 
which were paid for the land, was made from the 
purple and white parts of the quaw-haug shell, and 
consisted of flat, round, button-like pieces of shell, 
about a sixteenth of an inch in thickness, and a 
quarter of an inch in diameter, with a hole in the 
middle for stringing on strings of bark or hemp. 
The purple and white pieces alternated on the string, 
the purple being of double the value of the whi e, 
and tlie whole valued at five shillings per fathom. 
After wampumpeage went out of use as currency, it 
long retained a place among the Indians for the 
adornment of their persons. Before the days of the 
Pilgrims, it had a very limited use, and that only 
among the tribes on the seaboard. In 1627, when 
the Plymouth Colony effected a settlement with the 
London merchants, by which they were found to owe 
an indebtedness of twenty-four hundred pounds to 
them and other creditors, the debt was assumed by 
William Bradford, Miles Standish, Isaac Allerton, 
Edward Winslow, William Brewster, John Rowland, 
John Alden and Thomas Prence, together with their 
friends, James Sherley, John Beauchamp, Richard 
Andrews and Timothy Hatherly, of London, and the 
trading privileges of the Colony were assigned to 
them as security. In order to pay the debt, these 
gentlemen caused all the inland tribes to be instructed 
in the value and use of wampumpeage, and by its use 
they carried on so profitable a trade in the purchase 
of furs and their exportation to England as within 
nine years — the time prescribed in their settlement — 



to pay oflf the entire debt and to leave the Colony in 
the undisputed possession of all their lands. 

Until 1673 the committee appointed by the court 
held in their hands the entire management of the 
lands, and by them the allotments were made. They 
kept their Books of Records and Mr. Pynchon was 
the recorder. Their first book was probably destroyed 
by fire in 1676, and the only knowledge extant of the 
methods and plan of land distribution is derived from 
memoranda and extracts found among the papers of 
Mr. Pynchon. From them it appears that what were 
called the home-lots were laid out so as to take in 
what is now known as Foster's Hill, extending from 
Hovey's Brook on the southeast to Coy's Brook on 
the nor.hwest, including in all about five hundred 
acres. Beginning at Coy's Brook, the lots lay in the 
following order: 1. Richard Coy; 2. Thomas Par- 
sons; 3. John Warner; 4. Samuel Kent; 5. Samuel 
Warner ; 6. John Youuglove ; 7. Thomas Wilson ; 
8. Thomas Millet; 9. Meeting-House ; 10. John 
Ayres ; 11. William Prichard ; 12. James Travis; 
13. Judah Trumble ; 14. Daniel Hovey; 15. James 
Hovey; 16. Thomas Hovey. The lot on which prob- 
ably the first meeting-house was built was in the 
middle of the allotted territory, and was probably a 
little northwesterly of the present barn of Mr. D. H. 
Richardson. These lots contained twenty acres each, 
with a right to twenty acres of meadow and eight or 
ten acres of plain land, and larger lots were assigned 
to the minister and to fathers of grown-up sons. Each 
home-lot was also entitled to forty acres of upland 
and all undivided lands were held in common. 

After this liberal division of lands, it was found, 
nevertheless, that the demand of the settlers for pas- 
turage, mowing land, timber and fuel was far from 
being met, and the following petition for a further 
grant was sent to the General Court : 

To the much honored General Coiirl held at Boston, Hie l2tU of October, 
1670: 

This honored Court being pleased upou petition presented to them 
by some of the inhabitants of Ipswich for land to settle a plantation at 
Quaboag ; so far to favor their notion or to grant them a tract of land 
of six miles square for that end, and farther since to encourage the 
poor inhabitants that are upon it. The humble petition, therefore, of 
the poor inhabitants of Quaboag to this honored Court is, that accord- 
ing as they were pleased to intimate their readiness to grant us the 
liberty of a township (whereby meet inhabitants upon the place we 
should be capable of it) so they would be pleased at this time to do it. 
Our humble petition to this bon'd C't is farther, that they would be 
pleased to enlarge our grant, if they see good, for that we may go six 
miles every way from the centre. The reason of this, our request to 
the hon'd C't, is because we find the meadiw to lie very much scattered 
about the place in many small parcels far distant one from the other, 
and therefore we fear that unless the hon'd C't grant us some consid- 
erable further enlargement, we shall not be able to fetch within our 
bounds a sufficient quantity of meddows to accommodate families enough 
to make a comfortable society in a place so remote in the wilderness 
as ours is. We would further crave leave to acquaint the honored C't 
that there is a great farm of land laid out very near our plantation 
for Peter Taft, as we do adjudge, within a matter of three or four miles 
from the river, which runs through our place to Springfield, as we 
humbly conceive that it will fall within our bounds. If it should not, 
we humbly crave that the hon'd C't would grant that it may pay public 
charge with us ; it being very difficult to carry on a place so remote 



514 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



from all otlier plantations in the wooda as ours is. And tbis hon'd C't 
BO fiir countt-nancing us as they have already, doth persuade, as by way 
of humble petition, to prcseut theee tbiugs to this hood C't, submit- 
ting ourselves tbeir good pleasure concerning ub herein. Wee, whose 
nauies are here underwritteu, have sub&ciibed , hereto in the behalf o( 

the rest. 

Richard Coy, 

John Ayees, 

WlLUAM PrICHET. 

From Quaboag, October 9th, 1670. 

To thU petition no response appears to have been 
made. 

In 1673 application was made to the General Court 
for an act of incorporation as a town. We are told 
by Mr. Temple that the original petition was found 
in a junk-shop by Dr. John F. Pratt, of Chelsea, and 
he has saved it from oblivion by giving it a place in 
his valuable history. The petition reads as follows: 

To the Hiijhly Honnored General Corte of the 31fusachu8etts : 

The humble Petition of the inhabitants of Quaubauge Sheweth That 
whereas wee being not yet allowed a Township, wee are disabled as to 
comfortably carrying on ye aflTaires of the place as is requisite for the 
publieke &. our own conveniences in diverse respects as for the order- 
ing the Prudentiall affaires of the Town proper, to select men, makeiug 
& collecting of Rates, &c. Wee have, indeed, a Committee to heipe in 
these mattere, but in regard we caunot rationally desire or expect the 
p'sence & assistance of One of the Committee (vest the Honno'd Major 
Pynchon) soe often as we need by reason of his remoteness. And yett 
w^iiout his p'sence or concurrence the Committee cannot make a valid 
act. The p^mises considered, Our Humble request is, that this much 
Honno'^ Corte would be pleased to grant us the Priviledge & Libertyes 
of a Township, whereby we may be the better iuabled to carry on our 
onne matters wtiiout too much disti-action. 

And yo'' Petitione''s shall ever pray for yw prosperity If Yo^ Honno'i 
please let ye name of ye Place beBrookfeild. 
Octr. ye 10,1073. 

John Ayres, Sen'. Thomas Wilson. i 

Richard Coy, Sen'. Samuel Pricbet. 

Samuel Kent. John Ayres, Jr. 

John "Warner. Nathaniel Warner. 

Samuel Warner. James Travis. 

Samuel Ayres. Richard C-oy. 

John Youuglove. James Ilovey. 

William Pritchet. Juda Trumbull. 

Thomas Parsons. 

It is probable, judging from the names in this peti- 
tion and from the allotment of lands, that most, if not 
all, of the old Ipswich grantees had taken advantage 
of the privilege accorded to them in the re-grant. 
John Warner, Samuel Warner, John Younglove, 
Thomas Wilson, John Ayres, William Prichard, 
Daniel James and Thomas Hovey were all from Ips- 
wich, while Richard Coy, Samuel Kent, Jymes Travis 
and Judah Trumbull were Essex County men and 
probably associated with the Ipswich men in the 
original grant. 

Accompanying the petition was a letter from John 
Pynchon, desiring to be discharged from the com- 
mittee for Quabaug, and this letter also Mr. Temple 
has reproduced in his history. The deputies of the 
court, as the record states, judged 

raeete to grauut this pet, & that the name of the place be Brookefeild, 
aa is above desired, on Hono"i magistrates consenting hereto, 

William Torrev, Cleric. 

The record also states that the *'magis'« Consent hereto, provided 
they divide not the whole land of yo Tounsiiip till they be forty or fiv«ty 
familyes in y" nieane time, yt their dividings, one to another, exceed 



not two hundred acres apeec to any p'sent inhabitant, their brethren, 

the deputyes hereto consenting. 

2'2 October, 1C73, Edw. Rawson, Secrety, 

Consented to by the deputies. Wm. Torrey, Cleric. 

On the 19th of December in the year of the incor- 
poration Thomas Cooper, the grantee in the deed from 
Shattoockquis, assigned his interest in the lands con- 
veyed to him to the inhabitants of the new town by 
the following instrument: 

I, Thomas Cooper.above mentioned, doe hereby relinquish & resigne 
up all my right & title in ye lands within mentioned, to be bouglit of 
Shattoockquis, hereby declaring that my acting in ye p^^mises was only 
In the behalfe &. for the use and behoofe of the inhabitants of Quabauge 
(now called Brookfeild) & their successors. The purchase of the above- 
mentioned land being at their pper cost and charge, who had obteyned 
a grant thereof from ye Honn""* Gen'^* Corte, & are now allowed a 
Toune ; I doe therefore hereby deliver up this instrument, or deed of 
sale to John John Warner, Richard Coy & William Pritchard, of Qua- 
bauge, alias Brookefeild, for the use & as the prop^i^ right of the inhab- 
itants of Brookefeild , the said Persons beiugo betrusted by the Toune, 
or present inhabitants of Brookefeild, for taking in & receiving this 
present Deed; wherefore I doe hereby deliver it up to them, here- 
by declaring it &. the land therein mentioned to be sold to be & 
belong to the present Inhabitants of Brookefeild, as they are a Town- 
ship, and to particular psons only, according as they have or shall 
have grants of land confirmed to them. The whole tract of land 
above mentioned I doe fully & absolutely resigne up to the Inhabit- 
ants of Brooketield aforesaid, and to their successors & their beires for 
Ever, As witness my hand this 19th day of December, 1073. 

Thomas Cooper. 

December 19*i», 1073. Lieut. Thomas Cooper, above mentioned, sub- 
scribed hereunto & acknowledged the resigning up this De«d & all 
his intrest in the premises to the Inhabitants of Brookefeild, 

Before me, John Pynchon, Assistant. 

This Deed was Recorded March ye 1G73-4 By niee, 

Elizur Holyoke, Iiecordr. 

Thus it will be seen that by the early part of 1673- 
74 the town was organized, had acquired full posses- 
sion of the lands, and was ready under favorable aus- 
pices to begin a career of municipal prosperity. But 
unforeseen disasters befell the town. In 1675, within 
two years of its incorporation, it was entirely destroyed 
by the Indians in King Philip's War, its meeting- 
house and ail its dwellings were burned, some of its 
leading men, among whom were John Ayres, Richard 
Coy, William and Samuel Prichard, and James Hovey, 
were killed and families were otherwise broken up 
by the murders of wives and children. The Quabaug 
Indians, with whom for ten years the settlers had lived 
in harmony, were under the sway of Philip, and 
among the most earnest in the relentless war he waged. 
It is not necessary in this narrative to recount the de- 
tails of this war, as they may be found in a score of 
historical works to which readers have easy access, 
and may at almost any time and place refer. 

With the death of Philip, on the 10th of August, 
1676, the war ceased, and with the return of peace the 
Quabaugs left their old homes, and the scattered rem- 
nants of their tribe retreated westward beyond the 
Hudson River never to return. 

So the young frontier town of Brookfield disap- 
peared. Its twenty families, with all their remaining 
provisions, migrated to new homes; the meeting- 
house, in the erection of which, as the seal of their 
municipal union, they had taken special pride, and in 



BEOOKFIELD. 



515 



which John YouDglove and Thomas Millet had 
preached to them the word of God, was burned, their 
fields were devastated and their houses in ashes, and 
for ten years the territory of Quabaug was a deserted 
waste. The memory of past disasters and the fear of 
their recurrence prevented during that long period 
its renewed occupation and settlement. So far as the 
incorporation of the town was concerned the privi- 
leges of a town were annulled by the following act of 
the General Court, passed May 28, 1679, and approved 
on the 9th of the following month: 

At a General Court held at Boston May 28, 1679. 

For the greater comfort and safety of all people who are intended to 
resettle the villages deserted in the late war or the planting any new 
Plantation within this jnrisdiction. 

It is ordered and enacted hy this Court and the authority thereof 
That no deserted town or new Plantation shall be inhabited until the 
people first make application unto the Governour and Council or to the 
County Court within whose jurisdiction such Plantation is. And tlie 
Council or County Court are hereby ordered and empowered to appoint 
an able and discreet committee (at the charge of the people intending to 
plant) which Committee are ordered and impowered to view and con- 
sider the place or places to be settled and give directions and orders in 
writing under their hands in what form way and manner snch town 
shall be settled or erected, wherein they are required to have a principal 
respect to nearness and conveniency of habitation for security against 
enemies and more comfort for church communion & enjoyment of God's 
Worship and education of children in schools and civility with other 
good ends. 

And all such planters are hereby injoined to attend and put in prac- 
tice such orders and directions as shall be given by such committee upon 
the penalty of five hundred pounds fine to the country to be inHicted 
upon them by order of the Council or County Court for their neglect or 
refusal to attend this order. 

Passed and Consent*'d to. June 9, 1079. 

J. Dudley. 

In 168G, as has been already mentioned, the resettle- 
ment of Brookfield began, but only the family of 
John Ayres, of all the original settlers, returned. 
The new occupants of the land w'ere chiefly from 
Marlborough, Springfield, SuflSeld and Hadley, while 
a few were from the more distant settlements of Essex 
County. The first effort in behalf of a reorganizaiion 
is to be found in the following petition : 

To the HonW Simon Biadstreet Governor &c. The humble Petition 
and Request of James Ford of Brookfield. 

*' Whereas there was a Township formerly granted by the Hon'>i Gen- 
eral Court at a place called by the Indians Qnaboag & by the English 
Brookfield which was settled but by the Incursions and outrages of the 
Indians Wiis depopulated and layd waste & and hath been so for many 
years: the Ancient Inhabitants wholly deserting the same and it being 
a place very commodious for scittuation in the Road to Springfield Ac 
and may bo beneficial and profitable as well to the Country as to partic- 
ular pei-sous ; and whereas some are already seated and others would be 
willing to settle the said place againe were there some encouragement 
from the Honi Council and one to guide & order the prudential affaires 
for such a Plantation. 

Yor Petitioner humbly requests your Hou^a -would be pleased to 
appoint and impower some prudent and able persons as a Committee to 
admit Inhabitants and order the affaires of the place in forming yo 
Tonne granting Lotts & directing & ordering all matters of a prudential 
Nature till such time the Place be sattied and a competent number of 
Inhal'itautH A persons of discretion to order the affaires thereof and 
your Petitioners as in duty bound shall even pray &c. 

James Foed. 

In response to this petition, and doubtless others 
sent by the inhabitants, action was taken by the 
Council, which is stated in the records as follows: 

November 9, 16SG, Maj. John Pinchon, Joseph Hawley, Capt. Sam- 



uel Glover. Mr. Samuel Marshfield, Mr. Samuel Ely, & Mr. John Hitch- 
cock all of Springfield, are appointed a Committee for settling the Town 
of (^uabaag & the Petition of the said Town is grant«d and the afore- 
named tientleinen are to receive the claims of the sd Inliabitants, grant 
lotts to others & give necessary orders for the more orderly settlement 
of the said Toune. 

Under the operations of this committee lands were 
allotted as required, and new settlers continued to 
come in until 1688, when new troubles arose with the 
Indians and the growth of the settlement was 
checked. Its inhabitants lived in constant fear of 
savage raids, and what was called Gilbert's Fort, 
which contained barracks for soldiers and refugees, 
served as a garrison to which those in the neighbor- 
hood might flee in case of an alarm. 

In 1091, Mr. Marshall and Mr. Ely having died, 
Captain Partridge and Mr. Medad Pumroy were 
placed by the court on the town committee. 

In 1693 an Indian raid was made on the houses of 
Joseph Woolcott, Thomas Lawrence and Joseph 
Masfm, which stood at some distance from the fort, 
and Mr. Lawrence and Mr. Mason, with his son and 
the wife and two children of Mr. Woolcott, were 
killed. But notwithstanding the cons' ant fear of 
Indian depredations, the town increased in numbers, 
and a determination was manifested to make the 
settlement, under any and all circumstances, a per- 
manent and prosperous one. Indeed, not only was 
every effort made by the General Court to aid and 
encourage the outlying settlements, but direct and 
positive measures were taken to prevent their aban- 
donment. On the 23d of March, 1699-1700, it waa 
voted by the court 

that no town or precinct being a frontier of the province which the 
towns hereafter named are to he accounted ; that is to say Wells, York, 
Kittery, Amesbury, Haverhill, Dunstable, Chelmsford, Groton, Lancas- 
ter, Marlborough, Brookfield, Peerfield, Mendon and Woodstock; nor 
any of the towns following to wit Salisbury, Andover, Billerica, Hatfield, 
lladtey, Westfield and Northampton . . shall bebroken uporvoluntardy 
deserted without application first made by the inhabitants and allowance 
had & obtained from the Governor and Council in Court & Council for 
their drawing off if it appear to them that it may be of public advantage 
or that the place is not tenable. Nor shall any inhabitant of the frontier & 
other towns or precincts before named, or any of them having an estate 
of freehold in lands or tenements within the same at the time of any 
insurrection or breaking forth of any war, remove from them with in- 
tent to sojourne or inhabit elsewhere without special license firet had and 
obtained as aforesaid. 

In November, 1698, the inhabitants of Brookfield 
presented the following petition to the General Court: 

The Petition of the Inhabitants of Brookfield to the FIuui General 
Court assembled at Boston. Nov., 1698, Humbly Sheweth. 

Firstly. That we seenie to be called of God to continue our habitation 
In this place ; we are low in the world and it would be a breaking thing 
to our estates to remove to any other plantation, and the Land here ia 
very capable of entertaining a considerable body of people ; the inhabi- 
tants have been slow to come to us by reason of ye War, yet the land ia 
very Incouraging, capable to afford a comfortable subsistence to many 
ffamilies. / 

2, That it is an Intolerable burden to continue as we have done with- 
out the preaching of the Word. God doth require his people to attend 
not only ffamily woi"ship but His public worship ; it is the ordinance of 
God that on the Sabbath Day there should be an holy convocation, and 
that his Word be preached by those that are able and faithful, and our 
necessitys put us upon it earnestly to desire it. Both we and our Chil- 
dren need the Instructions, rebukes and encouragements of the Word, 



516 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



the darkness and deadiiees of our own hearts, together with the many 
snares that are in the world, are nn experimental conviction to us that 
we need al those helps and advantages that God hath sanctifyed for our 
good. 

3. That we are not aljle at present to maintain the Worahip of God. 
We are biit twelve ffaniilies, and we are not of estate sufficient to give 
suitable encouragement to a minister. We are willing to do to the out- 
side of our ability, but tho' we do as much as can be expected from us, it 
will not amount to such a Bumra as a Minister may reasonably require 
for his labour. 

4. Thnt if this Hon^ Court would please to pity us and grant us some 
help fur a few yejins for the maintenance of a godly, able Minister, be- 
sides the advantage it may be to these few familys that are here, it would 
be a means to draw many other Inhabitants to us, whereby we shall be 
BO far assisted that we may, of ourselves, be able to uphold the Worship 
of (_Jod and not be burdensome to others. 

Under th<;so circumstances we humbly beg that this Hon** Conrt would 
exercise compassion to us & arregne some reliefe to us out of the Publick 
Treasury, which we shal look \ipon not onely a testimony of your zeal 
for the worship of God, but alsoe of your tender compassion to the souls of 
those wliom God hath made you ffathers of. And your Petitioners shall 
ever pray, Ac. 

Sabiuei. Owen, Thomas Barns, 

Henky Gilbert, Stephen Gennikgs, 
John Woolcott, James Pettee, 
Saml. Davies, Wm. Bauns, 

Thomas Parsons, Thomas Rich, 
Abuah Baktlett, Danl. Price, 
John Clary, Joseph Marks. 

John Pettee, 

In response to the above petition the court ordered 
that twenty pounds be paid out of the public treas- 
ury towards the support of an orthodox minister for 
one year. The payment of this sum was delayed 
until 1701, when Rev. George Phillips, a graduate at 
Harvard in the class of 1686, and son of Rev. Samuel 
Phillips, of Rowley, was engaged to preach one year, 
and the money was drawn from the Province Treas- 
ury. 

In the same year the following petition was pre- 
sented to the General Court: 

TotheHmihl. ^\'m. Stnuahton, etc: 

The humble petition of the Committee and Inhabitants of Eroolitield 
sheweth, 

Whereas, by the Providence of God by allowance from the General 
Court and our nwu necessites and inclinations we have and are now 
settled at Brookfield and altbo' we are now but fewe in number, yethere 
is accommodations for a considerable Township; being new in our be- 
ginnings, and througli the difficulties and hazzards of the times people 
tho* otherwise well inclined to come & settle bore, yet have been slow 
in motion ibis way by reason whereof wo labour under many difficulties 
at present — Therefore move to this Court that they would be pleased to 
grant us some allowances for oure encouragement & help as foUoweth : 

First, that we may. in some measure, be in a capacity to obtain the 
benefit of an orthodox ministry of God's word (which we are in necessity 
of). That this Court would grant us such allowances towards the 
maintenance of such an one a year or two or three, which together with 
what we might do among ourselves, might incourage a minister to set- 
tle amgbt us which would tend much to advantage both as to £cclesiasti- 
cal and Civil alliiii-s. 

Second, With reference to Publick chargesiamongst us. That this Court 
would order that all men that make good a claim of a proprietie within 
the bounds of our place might he engaged to bear their part in due pro- 
portion of all charges arising, and when notified of their Rate or pro- 
portion be obliged to pay on the place from time to time or quit their 
lands, etc. 

Third, That this Court do settle and state the bounds of our Town- 
ship, the centre to be the place wheie the fii-st meeting-house stood and 
to extend six miles Ka«t, West, North and South, viz., twelve miles 
B<]iu»re extending from said centre as aforesaid. 

These things we apprehend might be a means to promote tlie welfare 
of our place so as in tiiu(* wo might be beneficial to the publick interest 



of the Province and the granting of which will oblige your poor sup- 
pliants as in duty bound for your Honours ever to pray, 

John Pvnchon, 
Saml. Partrtgo, 
John Hitchcock, 
In the name of the Committee. 
Henry Gilbert, Thomas Barns, Thomas Rich, Sani^i Davis, Steven 
Jennings, Abijah Bartlet, Samei Wheeler, Benj. Bartlett, Samuel Owen, 
Thom s Parsons, Thomas Gilbert. 
Brookfield, May 2G, 1701. 

As a result of this petition a i>]an was made of 
eight miles square, the quality of land stated and 
boundary lines described and the whole reported to 
the court in obedience to its order. In consequence 
of the loss of this plan another survey was made by 
Timothy Dwight in 1719 and the boundaries of the 
town were established by the court. 

Shortly after the engagement of Rev. Mr. Phillips 
the coming on of what was called Queen Anne's War 
once more subjected Brookfield to the dangers of 
Indian warfare. In this state of things, upon a re- 
newed application to the General Court for assistance, 
the sum of twenty pounds were allowed to be paid to- 
wards the support of a chaplain to the garrison in the 
town. No meeting-house had been erected since the 
first was burned in 1675, and it is probable that until 
the erection of the second house of worship in 1715 
Sabbath services were held in the garrison. Rev. 
Joseph Smith, a son of Lieut. Philip Smith, of 
Hadley, and a graduate at Harvard in 1695, was ap- 
pointed chaplain and was the second minister of the 
town since its reconstruction. Mr. Smith remained 
tuitil 1705, and was afterward settled in Cohansey, 
New Jersey, and Middletown, Connecticut. During 
the whole of his ministry in Brookfield and for some 
years after the sum of twenty pounds was annually 
paid by order of the court for the support of the 
ministry. 

In 1704 the condition of the town had again 
reached a low ebb. The war continued and though 
some new settlers came into the town, they for the 
most part were refugees from more exposed settle- 
ments, and brought little with them for the pro- 
motion of their own comfort or of the public good. 
This unhappy condition is well illustrated in the fol- 
lowing petition : 

Brookfielu, Dec. 14, 1704. 
To His Excelleency etc. : 

We hues names are underwriten do humbly beage your Excelancy's 
favor and that you wod consider our weke condishone ; the favor we beg 
is that we all ov us, not that such of us as find they are under such dis- 
advantages that they cant subBist there, might remove into some other 
towne where they may works fore there liveinge. by the deficulty of 
the times we are reduste to such pverty that we cant subsist except your 
onors will plese to grant us wages as soldiers k pay for our diat, for we 
raize little or none of our provision by rezen of our being draun so far 
frome our improvements of Lands. Our families are so large and our 
means are so small that we cant live without sume other imploye than 
any wo have at present. And if the honoured Cort ceases to put us in as 
soldiei-s we will as we do account it our duti conform to the orders of 
authority— but we rather, if it may be granted, choose to remove into 
other towns, and we humbly intrete that the onors of the Corte would 
pk'so to grant us pay for our diat for the time we have served as soldears. 
No more at present, but we remain youavs as foUoweth : 

IIENRV Gll.BKltT, BEN.IAMIN BaRTLETT, 



BROOKFIELD. 



517 



John Woolcott, 
SamI'I'. Owen, 
Thos. Pabsons, 
Samurl Davis, 
Philip Goss, 
Ebenk. Hatward, 
Thomas Gilbikt, 
Joseph Rice, 
Joseph Marks, 
John Clary, 
Thomas Barns, 



John Gilbert, 

Samx.1.. Owkn, Jr., 
Henry Taylor, 
Steph. Jennings, 
B3NJ. Jennings, 
Edward Walker, 
Joseph Banister, 
John Haywahd, 
John Hasiilton, 
Joseph Jennings. 



Tills petition was probably acted on favorably by 
the court, as the records show that the muster-roll for 
wages and subsistence of .soldiers posted at Brookfield 
and Springfield was increased from £271 9s. Id. for 
the four mouths ending October 18, 1704, to £426 15«. 
lOd. for the three months ending January 31, 1705. 

On the 24th of October, 1705, Rev. William 
Grosvenor was engaged to take the place of Mr. 
Smith and remained until August 25, 1708. Mr. 
Grosvenor was the son of John Grosvenor, who came 
from Chester County, in England, to Roxbury, and 
who was one of the settlers of Pomfret, Connecti- 
cut, who obtained a grant of land from the General 
Assembly in 1686 and an act of incorporation as a 
town in October, 1713. The son William graduated 
at Harvard in 1693. After the departure of Mr. 
Grosvenor, as far as can be learned, the people of 
Brookfield were without a minister until May 1, 
1711, when Rev. John James was engaged and re- 
ceived, as his predecessor had done, a stipend of 
twenty pounds from the province. Mr. James re- 
mained at Brookfield until May 1, 1714, when he re- 
moved to Wethersfleld, Conn., where he died August 
10, 1729. 

The year 1713 brought to a termination the Indian 
hostilities, which during nearly forty years had intim- 
idated the inland towns of the province and checked 
their growth. The people of Brookfield almost for 
the first time since its original settlement could now 
without distraction and alarm turn their attention to 
the pursuits of peace. In that year, in consequence of 
the death of Joseph Hawley and John Hitchcock and 
the age and infirmity of Medad Pomroy, Samuel 
Porter, Ebenezer Pomroy and Luke Hitchcock were 
appointed on the town committee, which now consisted 
of these gentlemen and John Pynchon, Medad Pom- 
roy and Samuel Partridge the surviving members. At 
a meeting of the committee held on the 4th of Sep- 
tember, 1713, it was agreed that all grants of land 
should thereafter be upon the following conditions: 
1st, that the grantees should work on the land within 
six months from the grant ; 2d, that they should live 
on it within a year; 3d, that they shall live on it three 
years from the date of the grant, and 4th, that in 
case the grantees fail in any of the above conditions 
the grants should be void. 

On the 1st of May, 1714, Rev. Mr. James terminated 
his ministry, and in the same year Rev. Daniel Elyier 
was engaged to preach. Mr. Elmer remained only 
six months and consequently received only ten pounds 



from the province treasury. He was a graduate at 
Yale in 1713, and after leaving Brookfield preached 
at Westborough, Mass., and at Fairfield, New Jersey. 
On the 17th of September, 1714, it is recorded that 
the committee unanimously agreed 

That the inhabitants build a meeting-house wherein to attend the 
worship of God, which shall be set up and erected in said place where 
fornierI.v the meeting-house was built uear old John Ayers' House Lett, 
lying near about the center of the Town ; And the Committee here and 
do by these presents order that the Constable, together with Edward 
Walker, Sen., and Joseph Banister, talce an exact list of the ratable 
estates, both real and personal, within the precincts of Brookfield, and 
cause a rate to be made for the payment of their minister and other 
charges. 

On the 22d of November, 1715, 

The inhabitimta of Brookfield agreed by the consent of the conmiittee 
to build a mecting-houee wherein to carry on the worship of Gwl ; in the 
form and manner as followetli, viz. : 45 feet in leusth and 'J^i feet in 
width and to put in Galery pieces so that they may build galeriee when 
they shall have occasion ; and to carry ou the building the said house as 
far as they can conveniently with their labour ; aud what shall be re- 
quired in money for the carrying said work to be raised by a Town rate ; 
and if any person or persons refuse to labour having suitable warning by 
the committee hereafter Darned shall pay their proportion in money. The 
inhabitants likewise agree to get the timber this winter. The committee 
chosen to oversee and take care for the carrying on of said work are 
Thomas Barns, Henry Gilbert, Lieut. Philip Goss, Ena. Thomas Gilbert 
Joseph IJanister, Edward Walker, Joseph Jennings, John Woolcott, Wm. 
Old. TlTen ordered that a rate of 15U pounds be made towards building 
the meeting-house. 

On the same day that the above vote was pas-*ed, 
Rev. Thomas Cheney was engaged to preach. On the 
16th of October, 1716, the church was organized and 
he was ordained. On that occasion the new meeting- 
house was for the first time used. The inhybitants 
voted to give him fifty-two pounds annually for three 
years and to raise the salary forty shillings a year un- 
til it reached seventy pounds. He was to have also 
all the land which the committee proposed to give 
him, to have a house and barn built for him suited to 
his wishes, he finding the glass, nails and iron, to 
have twenty-five cords of wood annually during his 
life, and one day's labor annually from each man. He 
was also to have eight acres of land fenced and made 
fit for sowing, four of which were to be on the hill. 
At his ordination Rev. Solomon Stoddard, of North- 
ampton, preached the sermon, and the following 
covenant was subscribed : 

Ton do now, in the presence of the great and holy God, the elect An- 
gels and this assembly of witnesses, enter into a solemn and perpetual 
covenant, never to be forgotten, never to be broken. 

You sincerely and cordially give up yourself to that God whose name 
alone is Jehovah; taking God the Futher to be your God and Father, 
God the Son to be your only Saviour and Redeemer, God the Holy Ghost 
to be your sanctifier and comforter. 

You submit yourself to Christ and accept him as the Prophet Priest aud 
King of your soul the Great Head of the Church, and the only Mediator 
of the covenant of grace ; promising that by the assistance of the Holy 
Spirit you will keep the coveimnt of the Lord invioUbly ; that you will 
cleave to the Lord Jesus Christ by faith and Gospel obedience ; and will 
endeavor to reform your life us to all known sin whether open orsecret — 
will live in the conscientious discharge of all duty towards God and man 
— walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blume- 
lessly ; that you will endeavor that the inward temper of your mind be 
conformed to God's will and word ; and that you will follow the excellent 
example which Christ has set you for the rule of your life. 

You also give up yourself to this Church in the Lord ; aud freely cove- 



518 



HISTORY OF WOECBSTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



nant and bind yoiireolf tu walk as a regular member of Cbrist's Church ; 
to obey tbeni tluit have rule ov*-r yon in the Lord : to read God's word 
and to live in the practice of social an<l secret prayer and in diligent at- 
tendance on the word preached and ordinances administered ; — relying 
on the grace and all-sufticiency of Christ, which are sufficient for you — 
you promise to walk according to what you now know, or shall know, to 
be your duty. 

lio you sincerely and cordially consent to the covenant now proposed ? 

We then receive you as a sincere disciple of Christ and a member of 
the same church with ourstdves — promising so long as God shall continue 
you among us, to watch over you with meekness and brotherly love ; — 
and may the Lord add to the numbers and graces of bis church, and 
finally bring us all to join tlie general assembly and Church of the Fii-st- 
born, whose names are written in heaven. Amen. 

So far as the church is concerned this may be con- 
sidered to have been its birth. Though religious ser- 
vices had been held for many years and ministers em- 
ployed, there was no formal church organization until 
the date above mentioned, October 16, 1717. The 
meeting-house, though occupied, was not completely 
finished for several years, but the church was fairly 
launched, and afterwards, with few interruptions, suc- 
cessfully maintained. The salary of the minister was 
paid by a rate or tax, which included also the current 
expenses connected with the erection of the meeting- 
house. This rate was made on the 22d of April, 1717, 
and amounted to £121 3s. Sd. The names of the per- 
sons taxed with the amounts of their tax are included 
in the following list of laud-owners who had re- 
ceived grants from the town committee from the date 
of the earliest grants down to 1768, which was the last 
year in which the aft'airs of the town were managed 
by the committee : 



Benjamin Ayres 14 6 

Edward Ayres 12 C 

John Ayres, Sr 1 4 11 

Joseph Ayres 12 6 

Mark Ayres 12 6 

Nathaniel Ayrea 12 6 

Thomas Ayres 12 6 

Samuel Ayres 

John Ayres, Jr 

Captain Thomas Baker 3 1 

Joseph Banister 2 11 fi 

Noah Barns 12 6 

Sajuuel Barns 1 10 

Thomas Barns.. 4 8 

Joshua Barns 18 3 

Abijah Bartlet (heirs) 13 

Benjamin Bartlet 13 6 

Thom.is Bartlet 14 6 

Josiah Beamin 2 8 11 

Simon Beamin, Jr 12 6 

Thoniiis Bettys (heirs) 12 6 

Wm. Biggerton 12 

Joseph Babrook 1 17 

Samuel Bush 15 2 

■\Vm. Barns 

Samuel Brown. 

John Beamin 

Kichard Coy 9 5 

John Chadwick 

Richard Coy, Jr 

John Clements 

Juhn Clary 

Thomas Cheney 

Benjamin Davis 12 6 

Samuel Davis, Sr 2 16 

Samuel Davis, Jr 12 6 

Lieut. Heury Dwight 18 9 



£ s. d. 







9 5 



Hezekiah Dickinson 

Jonathan Davis 

Robert Emmons 1 

Daniel Elwin 

Grershom Ferry 

James Ford 

Thomas Gibbs 14 6 

Ebenezer Gilhert 14 6 

Henry Gilbert 3 13 9 

John Gilbert 14 6 

Nathaniel Gilbert 12 6 

Samuel Gilbert 1 4 6 

Thomas Gilbert (Ens.j 2 3 11 

Thomas Gilbert 12 6 

Philip Goss 

John Green 

Wm. Grovesnor 

John Hamilton, Sr 3 17 

John Hamilton, Jr 12 

Joseph Hawley (Ens.) 12 

Ephraira Hayward 12 

Ebenezer Hay ward (heirs) 12 

Enoch Hinds 12 

Hopestill Hinds 1 4 

John Hinds, l 2 

John Hitchcock (Ens.) 1 11 

Luke Hitchcock (Capt.) .. 12 

Jeremiah IIow 1 5 

Daniel Hovey 

James Hovey 

Tiiumas Hovey 

John Hayward, Jr 

George Hayward 

Daniel How 

Elisha How 

Benj. Jennings (heirs) 12 

Jonathan Jennings I 14 



£ 8. d. 

Joseph Jennings 3 4 11 

Stephen JeuuingB 

John James 

Samuel King 9 5 

Benjamin Knowlton 15 

Samuel Kent 

John Kilhira 

Edwaid Kellogg 

Joseph Kellogg 

John Lawrence 

Joseph Marks, Sr 16 7 

JoBejdi Marks, Jr 14 6 

John Morse 9 5 

Thomas Millett 

Joseph Marber 

Joseph Miison 

r»aniel M':Intosh 

Tilly Merrick 

Nicholas Nichols 

James Negro 

Wm. Old 14 6 

Jabez Olmstend 15 4 

Samuel Owen, Sr 14 6 

Samuel Owen, Jr 19 4 

Robert Old 

John Parsons 1 18 3 

Thomas Parsons 15 9 

Samuel Partridge (Col.)-.- 15 8 
GoUlBl-cry Partridge (Col.) 12 6 

John Perry 14 2 

Joseph Perry 1 3 10 

Henry Peters 6 3 

Ebenezer Pomroy (capt.) 12 6 

Samuel I'orter (esq.) 18 9 

Daniel Price 2 2 

John Pyuchon (col.) 6 5 

John Pynchou (capt.) 12 6 

W^m. Prichard 

Thomas I'arsous 

Samuel Prichet 

John Patter 

James Pettcr 

George Phillips 

Ebenezer Prescott 

Juhn Rich 12 16 

Thomas Rich 14 6 

Thomas Rich, (Sr. heirs) 13 2 
Amos Kice 14 6 



£ «. 

Azariah Rice I 4 

Cyprian Rice 1 5 

Elisha Rice 1 16 

Pelatiah Rice 1 4 

Joseph Rice 

Obadiah Rice 

Peter Kice 

John Shepherd 1 4 

John Stoddard (maj.) 15 

Samuel Smith (m.) 

Preserved Smith 

Ichabod Smith 

Ebenezer Smith 

Peter Slianaoway 

Samuel Swazey 

Samuel Swazey (m.) 

Isaac Shattuck 

Henry Taylor, (heirs) 4 

James Travis 

Judah Trumble 

IMatthew Tomblin 

Isaac Tomblin 

Benjamin Thomas 

Henry Taylor 

Arthur Tucker 

John Wait 15 

Jerro Wait 15 

John Wait 15 

Joseph AVait 15 

Juhn Belding 15 

Joseph Smith 15 

Benjamin Walker 12 

Edward Walker, (Sr.) 2 15 

Edward Walker, (Jr.) 1 4 

Joseph Walker 12 

David Wedge 18 

Sauuiel Wheeler 1 9 

John White, (heirs) 1 6 

Samuel Williams, (lieut,) 17 

John Woolcott, (Sr.) 2 10 

John AVarner 

Nathaniel Warner 

Samuel W^amer 

Thomas Wilson 

John Woolcott, (Jr.) 

Joseph Woolcott 

Nathaniel Wood 

Juhn Younglove 



CHAPTEE LXXIX. 

BROOKFIELn.— (a7«i'/««fa'.) 

Up to the year 1718 the town of Brookfield through 
all the vicissitudes of its life can hardly be said to 
have enjoyed full municipal privileges. To a certain 
extent it had been under the guardianship of the 
committee appointed first by the Massachusetts Col- 
ony Court and after the charter of the Province of 
Massachusetts Bay in 1692 by the government of that 
province. This committee had always been composed 
of trustworthy men, and there seems to be no record 
of any serious dissatisfaction on the part of the people 
with their administration. In the above year the 
c(immittee then in commission asked to be discharged 
from the further performance of their duties in the 
following petition : 



BROOKFIELD. 



519 



To nU Excellettcy, Bamuel Shute, Etq., and the Hoiihl. Cotmcil and Hou*e 
of liepresentatives, convened in Geneynt Court the 2Sth of Slay, 1718. 
We nudereigued, tbe Cummitt<?e for BrookfielJ. after many Disappoint ' 
nients by wan- and otherwise, wliicli for a long time the people have 
laboured under, by the good providence of God are now so increased that 
they are now near fifty families on the place have near finished a very 
convenient meeting-house, have settled a church and ordained an ortho- 
dox and learned Minister. Wo humbly propose that they be ni«de a 
Township according to the directions of the Law by themselves & said 
Committee released— which we submit to the Courts' determination. 
And for your Excellency and Honor's shall ever pray. 

S.\MUEr. P-\RTRiDGE, "J Oommiitee 
Sawvel Porter, J^ for 
Luke Hitchcock, J Brookfield, 

This petition was granted and the following order 
was passed by the House of Representatives, Novem- 
ber 12, 1718, and after concurrence by the Council, 
was consented to by Governor^Shute: 

Ordered that the prayer's of this petition be granted, and that the In- 
habitants of the Town of Brooivfield be invested with all the powers, 
privileges and authorities to direct, order and manage all the affairs of 
said Township that other towns are or ought to be invested with. And 
that the Committee be dismisr- from the care of them with the thanks of 
this Court for their good and faithful service. The said Town to lye to 
the County of Hampshire. 

The first town meeting was held on the 15th of 
December, 1718, at which Philip Goss acted as 
moderator and Thomas Gilbert was chosen treasurer 
and clerk. At an adjourned meeting at which Thomas 
Baker acted as moderator, Thomas Barns, Philip Goss, 
Elisha Rice, Samuel Barns and Thomas Gilbert were 
chosen assessors; Tilly Merrick, Joseph Brabrook 
and Thomas Parsons a committee to examine town 
debts; Joseph Jennings and Joseph Banister meas- 
urers, and Elisha Rice, Thomas Gibbs and Jonathan 
Jennings a committee "to see that tbe grants made 
by the former committee do pay equal proportion to 
the rate committed to Constable Walker to collect 
for the meeting-house." At th's meeting it was voted 
that Tilly Merrick, Henry Gilbert, Edward Walker 
and Joseph Jennings be a committee to see that the 
town is supplied by the grist-mill with meal accord- 
ing to an arrangement which had been made with 
John Hayward. The grist-mill here referred to was 
built on land granted to Mr. Hayward about the year 
170(3. The grant included " forty acres of upland in 
the west part of the town, and fifteen acres of 
meadows ; also seventy acres joining the first lot and 
twenty-four acres of meadows for his encouragement 
to build a grist-mill in Brookfield, and on condition 
that he maintain the same in such repair as the town 
may be supplied at all times with grinding from said 
mill for the term of twenty-five year.s." The mill was 
built on the New Mill Brook, and according to Mr. 
Temple, the remains of its dam may be seeu near the 
home of Mr. Sexton Douglass. 

The first year after what might be called the second 
birth of the town, was characterized by a movement 
to establish public schools. On the 5Lh of Januari, 
1719-20, the town granted forty acres of land for a 
school, and it is probuble that a school was opened 
near that time. On the 23d of January, 1728, it was 
voted that a school be built in four several places in 



town, the town to be divided into four parts by a 
committee, consisting of Wm. Old, E|)hraim Hay- 
ward, Wm. Ayres, Samuel Barns and John Hinds, 
and twenty pounds were appropriated for the salary 
of a school-master. On the 15th of May, 1732, it was 
voted to direct the selectmen to hire four women to 
•keep school, and the sum of fifty pounds was appro* 
priated. On the 23d of November, 1739, it was voted 
to have two school-masters, and the sum of one hun- 
dred pounds was appropriated. In 1746 the town 
granted one hundred and fifty pounds, old tenor, for 
the support of a grammar school, and in 1749, three 
hundred pounds, of the same tenor. But it is not 
necessary to follow the evolution of the school system 
of the town, and state the various steps by which its 
present condition has been reached. It was voted by 
the town after the three precincts were formed, that 
each precinct should have the care of its schools, and 
from that time each precinct raised its own school 
money, selected teachers, and had the general man- 
agement of education within its borders. There are at 
present in the town fifteen schools, including the high 
school. These are the high school, a grammar, first 
intermediate, second intermediate, first primary and 
second primary, in the centre village, a grammar, 
intermediate, first primary and second primary, in the 
east village, the Potopoag, Rice Corner, Upper 
Podunk, Lower Podunk and the school over the 
river, with enrollments numbering six hundred and 
thirty-eight and average membership of five hundred 
and thirteen. 

Little of interest occurred in the life of the town 
until 1744. There had been occasional alarms on 
account of Indian raids, and at various times compa- 
nies of men had been raised to serve as scouts, and 
proper safeguards had been adopted. Brookfield was 
now scarcely enumerated among the bordtr towns, 
and its people lived to a certain extent behind the 
shield and shelter which newer towns farther to the 
west aud north had raised to protect them. Sheffield 
had been incorporated in 1733, Stockbridge, in 1739, 
Deerfield in 1682, Northfield in 1713, Saunderland in 
1714, Brimfield in 1731, Westfield in 1669, Hatfield in 
1670 and Sturbridge in 1738. But, nevertheless, occa- 
sional Indian attacks served to keep them on the watch, 
and to more or less obstruct and delay that develop- 
ment of business and trade which the older and better 
guarded settlements on the seaboard enjoyed. 

With the settlement of new towns a new adjustment 
of counties became necessary. Middlesex and Suffolk 
counties, incorporated in 1643, had become with the 
incorporation of new towns disproportionately large, 
and an exigency seemed to exist for the formation of a 
new county. In the adjustment which ensued the 
town of Brookfield was involved. On the 2d of April, 
1731, an Act was framed incorporating Worcester 
County, which included Worcester, Lancaster, West- 
borough, Shrewsbury, Southborough, Leicester, Rut- 
land and Lunenburgh, which had previously been 



520 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



included in Middlesex county, Mendon, Woodstock, 
Oxford, Sutton and Uxbridge, which had before been 
iucluded in Suffolk county, and Brookfield, which as 
has* already been stated, had previously been included 
in Hampshire county. 

In March, 1744, war was declared between England 
jmd France, and what has always been known in our 
history as the old French and Indian AVar, followed 
until the treaty of Aix la Chapelle, in October, 1748. 
In this war several Brookfield men took a prominent 
part. Joseph Dwight commanded a regiment in the 
expedition against Louisburg; Jabez Olmstead com- 
manded a company in the same expedition, and the 
following soldiers entered into the service of the 
province : 



Jonathan CInry, dnimmer^ 

Beujauihi Gilbert, ensign, 

Eteazer Haywood, 

Kdward Smitli, 

Thomas Bticliminster, captniQ^ 

JoBepli Alien, lieutenant, 

Noab A»litey, ensign. 



Beiij. Riiggles, sergeant, 
Ei>liraiiji Hayward, SL^rgeant, 
Gersbom Makepeace, clerk, 
Etlward Walker, corporal, 
SniieoQ Dwight, " 
John Wait, " 



Smtineh. 



James Converse, 
Andrew Cowee, 
Obadiah t'ooley, 
Jobn Bell, 
Joseph Banister, 
Uriah Bush, 
John Blair, 
Thom»s Banister, 
Samuel Bascom, 
Peter Blackmer, 
Klijali Bartlett, 
Jnde Convei-se, 
Gideon Cooley, 
Thomas Gilbert, 
William Dady, 
Samuel Hinckley, 
John Hamilton, 
Moses Hascall, 
Hope^ill Hinds, 

In the second French and Indian War, extending 
from 1754 to 1763, Brookfield also performed her full 
share in furnishing men. Her soldiers in this war, 
without specifying the commands to which they were 
attached or the special service in which they were 
engaged, were : 



Nehemiah Hinds, 
Jacob Hinds, 
Samuel Galloon, 
Dudley Jordan, 
Salomon Keyes, Jr., 
Richard Marks, 
Silas Newton, 
Phinehaa Powers, 
Thomas Rich, 
Solomon Rich, 
Nathan Smith, 
William Shepherd, 
John Steward, 
Simeon Dwight, 
Phiiiebas Warner, 
Henry White, 
Isaac White, 
Joseph Warner, 
James Patterson. 



Martin How, 

Arthur Tucker, 

John Tute, 

William Hair, 

"Wm. Brabrook, 

Caleb Dodge, 

Epbraim Hayward, 

Levi Hamilton, 

Setb Hamilton, 

Joseph Waite, 

Thomas Waite, 

Nathaniel Woolcott, corporal, 

David Hinckley, 

Jonathan Waite, 

Jeduthnu Baldwin captain, 

Wm. Durothy, 

Comfort Barns, 

ThoniaH Bams, corporal, 

Joseph Gilbei-t, 

Jobn Green, 

ThomaH Stevens, 



Joseph Rutland, 

Daniel Walker, 

Beiyaniin Wood, 

Corlia Hinds, 

Jedediab How, 

Simeon AValker, 

Levi Walker, 

Sylvanus Walker, 

Joseph Witt, 

Josiah Wood, 

Jonathan Gilbert, sergeant, 

Oliver Woolcott, corporal, 

Silas Walker, corporal, 

Joel Abbott, 

Onesiphonm Ayres, 

Stephen Blackmer, 

Simeon Brooks, 

John Davis. 

Oliver Evana, 

David Gilbert, 

Ebenezer Hayward, 



Eleazer Warner, 

Joseph Hamilton, sergeant, 

Abraham Adams, 

Nathan Hamilton, 

John McClure, 

Phinefaas Slayton, 

Solomon Rood, 

Jacob Wood, 

Peter Harwood, ensign, 

Wm. Bhickmer, 

Daniel Aiusworth, 

Joseph Barr, 

Adoniram Bartlott, 

Daniel Beman, 

Samuel Bliss, 

Thomas Cheney, 

Henry Chadwick, 

James Clark, 

Robert Clark, 

Josiah Cutler, 

Robert Cutler, 

Samuel Dorothy, 

Josiah Farrell, 

Ebeuezer Foster, Jr., 

Wm. Gallaway, 

David Mitchell, 

Nathan Gould, 

Jason Hinds, 

Abraham How, Jr., 

Amos Marah, 

Joshua Morris, 

Joseph Old, 

Wm. Ranger, 

Isaac Rice, 

John Rice, 

Daniel Walker, 

Beuj. Gott, surgeon's mate. 

Comfort Brabrook, 

Nathan Thompson, 

Samuel Barns, 

Uriah Gilbert, 

Joseph Walker, 

Thomiis Riggs, 

Breed Batcheller, 

Jedediih Delaud, 

Jonathan Dodge, 

Walter Dorothy, 

John Goldsbury, 

Abraham Hair, 

Wm, Ranger, 

Jobn Woolcott, 

Gideon Abbott, 

Thomas Weeks, 

Wm. Ayres, Jr., 

Edward Ayres, 

Eliphalet Hauiilton, 

John Adams, 

Ehenezer Davis, 

Solomon Flagg, 

Abner Old, 



Caleb How, 

Joseph Hatfield, 

Philip Reed, 

Henry White, 

John Williams, 

Ezekiel Woodbury, 

Samuel Church, 

Philip Gilbert, 

Obtidiah Cooley, captain, 

Moses Barns, clerk, 

Cornelius White, sergeant, 

Moses Jennings, corporal, 

Asa Bacon, 

Christopher Banister, 

Moses Bragg, 

Jabez Crosby, 

John Goss, 

Joseph Gilbert, 

Peter Hill, 

Caleb How, 

Ebenezer Killen, 

Adoniraju Walker, 

Joseph Walker, 

Jeremiah Woodbury, 

Jobn Walker, 

John Gibson, 

Wm. Virgin, 

David Palmer, 

David Gilbert, Jr., 

Jedediali Gilbert, 

Obadiah Wright, 

Daniel Gilbert, 

Philip Goss, 

Robert Clatlin, Jr., 

Thomas Cook, 

Joseph Stone, lieutenant, 

Daniel Matthews, coi-poral, 

Nath'. Paige, corporal, 

Philip Deland, drummer, 

Jabez Ayres, 

Joseph Banister, 

Matthew Bartlett, 

Obadiah Deland, 

Josiab Dodge, 

Samuel Gould, 

John Ranger, 

John Rich, 

Thomas-SIayton, 

Nathan Smith, 

Elijah Temple, 

Reuben Walker,. 

Wm. Wright, 

Peter Harwood, 

Joseph Perr>', 

Amos Tate, 

Asa Lameou, 

Joseph Barns, 

Solomon Gilbert, 

Eliakioi Spooner, 

James Thompson. 



Besides the above, the following muster-rolls are on 
record of men enlisting iu 1757 for various terms of 
service, many of whom had before enlisted: 

Captain Nathaniel Woolcott's Cmpany : 



Abraham How, lieutenant. 
Benjamin Adams, ensign. 
Thomas Taylor, ensign. 
Aaron Bartlett, corporal. 
Wm. Watson, corporal. 
Wm. Ayers, corporal. 
Daniel Gilbert, corporal. 
Moses Ayres. 
Unesiph Ayres. 
Wm. Ayres (3d). 
Jobn Uaker. 



Jeremiah Gould. 
Nathan Gould. 
Samuel Gould, Jr. 
John Hair. 
Timothy Hall. 
Joseph llatlield, Jr. 
Oliver Haywaixi. 
Corlis Hinde.^ 
Caleb How. 
Epbraim How. 
Abram How. 



BROOKFIELD. 



521 



Jacob Ball. 


Jedediah How, Jr. 


Breed Batcheller, drummer. 


Wm. Henderson, 


Thomas Ball. 


Silas How. 


Gideon Abbott. 




Elisha How. 


Aarun Bams. 


Nathl. Jones. 


Jacob Ains worth. 




Asa Lamson. 


Aduiiirnm Bartlett. 


Asa Lamson. 


Asa Bacon. 




Thomas McClure. 


Zucaruib Brown. 


John Lamson. 


Nathan Barns. 




Abner Old. 


Joseph Bartlett. 


Daniel ]!iluthews. 


Wm. Batcheller. 




David Patrick. 


Wallbew Bartlett. 


Daniel Patten. 


Zeph Batcheller. 




Thomas Ranger. 


Nathaniel Biirtlett. 


Joseph Stone. 


Thomas Brown. 




Asabel Bogere. 


Samuel Chapman. 


Arthur Tucker. 


Samuel Chapman. 




Roger Stevens. 


Benjamin Copley. 


Daniel Witt. 


Robert Chaplin, Jr. 




Wm. Tuffs. 


Nabum Euger, 


John Woolcott. 


Jedediah Deland. 




Isaac Walker. 


Solomon Flagg. 


Oliver Woolcott. 


Daniel Deland. 




Jacob Walker. 


John Goudale. 


Wm. Wright. - 


Jonathan Dodge. 




Samuel White. 


JoBeph Gilbert. 




In Capt. Sylvanus 


Walker 


's Company, 1758 


Captain Jabez Upham's Company : 


Eliphalet Hamilton, lieut. 


Cyrus Rich, 


Obiidiab Cooley, lieutenant. 


Wm. Henghaw. 


Daniel Walker, ens. 




Moses Rich, 


John White, lieutenant. 


Eben Hayward, Jr. 


Thomas Riggs, sergt. 




Daniel Rolfe, 


Benj. Walker, ensign. 


Samuel Hinckley. 


Reuben Old, sergt. 




David Slayton, 


Ebenezer Jennings, sergeant. 


John Jennings. 


Christ: Banister, sergt. 




Gad Smith, 


Nathan Ilamilton, sergeant. 


Moses Jennings. 


Obed Abbott, corp. 




Reul)en Stevens, 


Wni. Old, sergeant. 


Benj. Jennings. 


David Gilbert, corp. 




Arthur Tucker, 


Benj. Rice, sergeant. 


David McClure. 


James McClure, corp. 




Benj. Walker, Jr, 


James Brigham, corporal. 


John McClure. 


Ebenezer Davis, 




Oliver Walker, 


Joel ah Hobbs, corporal. 


Comfort Old. 


Abuer Gilbert, 




Zebulon Walker, 


Exekiel Old, corporal. 


Reuben Old. 


Nathan Goodale, 




Henry W'isdom, 


Philip Deland, corporal. 


Asa Partridge. 


Erastus Hamilton, 




Isaac Wood. 


Gideon Abbott. 


Asabel Peters. 


Job Lane. 






Abraham Adams, 
Abraham Adams, Jr. 


Daniel Rolf. 
John Ranger. 


In Capt. David McFarland's Worcester Company, 


David Aiken. 


Ephraim Rice. 


1758. 






Joseph Banister. 


Jonas Rice. 


Jonathan Dodge, sergt. 




Abner Old, 


Seth Banibter. 


Oliver Rice. 


Ebenezer Heyward, corp 




Samuel Robinson, 


John Btflenger. 


Solomon Rice. 


Charles Dorothy, 




Daniel Rolfe, 


Mosea Bnigg. 


Samuel Rogers. 


Abraham Gilbert, 




Jonathan Streeter, 


David Bridge. 


Phinehas Slayton. 


Nathan Hamilton, 




Samuel Streeter, 


Uriah Bush. 


Thomas Slayton. 


Cornelius Hinds, 




JohIjiIi White, 


James Converse. 


Josiah Stephens. 


Stephen Jennings, 




Jacob Wood. 


Jabez Crosby. 
Ebenezer Davis. 


Roger Stephens. 
John Waite, Jr, 


In Capt. Wm. Paig 


e'a Hardwick Company, 1760. 


Danipl Deland. 


Abraham Walker. 


Daniel Walker, lieut. 




Caleb Green, 


Obadifth Deland. 


Adoniram Waiker. 


Zeph Batcheller, sergt. 




Elijah How, 


Thomas Dodge. 


Joseph Walker. 


Obadiah Wright, sergt. 




John McFarland, 


John Green. 


Edward Walker. 


Ebenezer Davis, sergt. 




Asa Partridge, 


Stephen Green. 


Phinehas Walker. 


Nathan Abbott, 




Asahel Rogers, 


AmoB Hamilton, Jr. 


Reuben Walker. 


Jonathan Barns, 




Ezra Rood, 


Josiah Hamilton. 


Daniel Walker. 


Nathan Barns, 




Gad Smith, 


Eliphalft Hamilton. 


John Woolcott. 


Wm. Batcheller. 




Aaron Tute, 


Juhn Hamilton. 


Ithamar Wright. 


Comfort Gilbert, 




Nathan Tyler, 


Ezra Hamilton. 


Obadiah Wright. 


Ezekiel Gilbert, 




Zebulon Walker, 


Thomas Hamilton. 


Richard Vorci. 


John Goodale, 
Nathan Goodale, 




Thom.ia Weeks, 
John Woolcott. 


In Captain Jacob Abbott's Company : 


Solomon Goodale, 






Thomas Gilbert, lieutenant. 
Abner Brown, entign. 


Joseph Loring. 
Abraham Martin. 


There were others enlisting in various companies in 


Jonathan Abbott, clerk. 


Stephen Martin. 


1758 and afterwards 


many 


of whose names are in- 


Joseph Wood, sergeant. 


David Palmer. 


eluded in the above lists, in connection with au earlier 


Robert Claflin. 


John Peso. 


service. These were 


Rev. Eli Forbes, chaolain in the 


Uriah Abbott. 


John Phipps. 








Caleb Dodge. 


Wm. Rangef. 


Crown Point expedition, Francis Stone, David Get- 


Josiah Dodge. 


Moses Rich. 


chell, Stephen Ayres, 


Ephraim Ayres, Solomon Cum- 


Walter Dorothy. 
Abner Gilbert. 
John Gilbert. 


Philip Rich. 
Thomas Rich. 
James Rooff. 


miu^s, Daniel Dodge, Ohas. Dorothy, Jacob Getchell, 
Henry Gilbert, Jesse Gilbert, Moses Gilbert, Jonas 


Othniel Gilbert. 


Charles Rice. 


Hayward, William 


Mace, 


Samuel Palmer, Daniel 


Philip Gilbert. 


Wm. Tuffs. 


Rolfe, Caleb Thayer, 


Nathaniel Wait, Richard Wait, 


Seth Gilbert. 
John Gobs. 


John Watt. 

Samuel White. 


Solomon Walker, Zebulon Walker, Samuel Whiston, 


Peter Hill. 


Jeremiah Woodbury. 


Samuel White, John Fletcher, Beamsley Pottle, David 


In Captain William Paige 

Silaa Walker, sergeant. 


*s Hardwick Company : 

Josiah Dodge. 


Pratt, Job Smith, Lemuel Smith, Jesse Vose, John 
Whetstone, Asa Humphrey-i, James Wesson. 


Gidi--on Walker, sergeant. 


Charles Dorothy. 


But we must return to the narration of some events 


Caleb Dodge, sergeant. 


Josiah Gibbs, 


which occurred just 


before 


and during these wars. 


Joel Abbott, corporal. 
Wra. Ranger, corporal. 


Thomas Gilbert (3d). 
Amos Hamilton. 


The growth of the town up 


to the year 1741 may be 


Rufus Putnam, corporal. 


Nathan Hamilton. 


estimated to have been considerable, from the fact 



522 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



that in that year sundry inhabitants in the southwest 
part of the town joined with inhabitants in parts of 
Brimfield and of a district then called Kingsfield, but 
afterwards, in 1752, incorporated as the town of 
Palmer, and petitioned the General Court to be set 
off and incorporated as the town of Wt stern, now 
Warren. The act of incorporation obtained by them, 
passed January 16, 1741, provided that the new town 
should consist of lands bounded as follows : 

Begiuning at Brookfield, eoutUweat corner, then runniug half a 
mile north on said Bruukfield line ; then west thirty-four degreei, north 
three iiiileB and eighty rotls to the river and hounded with a small wal- 
nut etaddle etanding in tlie Kplit of a rock; thence running up the 
river to an elm tree marked ; thence crossing the river and running 
north forty-four degrees east ahout three miles and an half to Brook- 
fleld west line to a heap nf stones near a chestnut tree marked ; and 
running east eleven degrees and thirty minutes ; south one mile and an 
hundred and fifty rods, to a heap of stones on a rock at the end of a 
meadow on mill pond, then hounded on Cornelius White's land, till it 
comes to Mill Brook, bo called ; then hounded with the Mill Brook to 
the river, as the hrook ruus ; then crossing the river and extending 
southeasterly to a white oak tree, known by the name of the northeatst 
corner of the mile sfjnaro ; thence extending southeasterly to Brook- 
field south line, inter*^ecting that tine two miles and three-quartci's 
from said first mentioned aouthwoat corner bounds. 

On the 11th of December, 1747, Rev. Thomas 
Cheney, the first settled pastor of the church, died. 
Mr. Cheney was born in Eoxbury, January 29, 1(388- 
89, and was the son of William and Rebecca (Newell) 
Cheney. He graduated at Harvard College in 1711, 
and married two wives, — the first Dorothy, daughter 
of Joseph Hawley, of Northampton ; and second, 
Mary, great-granddaughter of Rev. John Cutton, of 
Boston. The death of Mr. Cheney and the loss of a 
portion of the southwestern section of the town, 
changing its geographical centre, stimulated a move- 
ment for the formation of a second precinct in the 
northerly part of the township. 

Ebenezer Wilt and others petitioned the town in 
that year to build a new meeting-house as near the 
new centre as possible, or set them off as a distinct 
precinct. At the annual meeting in March the town 
refused to grant the petition, and voted down both 
propositions, concerning the meeting-house and the 
precinct. 

In the mean time, Rev. Elisha Harding, a graduate 
of Harvard in 174.5, was invited to settle, and on the 
28th of November, 1748, the town concurred with the 
church in the invitation, and at an adjourned meeting, 
on the 22d of December, voted, after considerable 
debate, as the record states, one thousand pounds, old 
tenor currency, " for his encouragement to settle in 
the Gospel ministry," and for his annual salary the 
sum of five hundred pounds, old tenor, "accounting 
it as though it be in Indian corn, at twenty shillings 
a bushel ; Rye, thirty shillings ; Wheat, forty shillings 
• — and so the five hundred pounds to be increased or 
diminished yearly, as the prices of the grain varied." 
He was also to have free liberty to cut wood for fuel 
on the common land of the town, known by the name 
of the Rocks. 

In estimating these amounts, it must be remembered 



that what was called old tenor currency was in value 
only one-tenth of sterling — that is, that one thousand 
pounds of old tenor was really only one hundred 
pounds in sterling. 

Mr. Harding was ordained September 1.3, 1749, on 
which occasion Rev. Nathan Buckman preached the 
sermon. After the settlement of Mr. Harding, the 
dissatisfaction of the people in the north part of the 
town continued, and on the 29th of March, 1750, the 
second or north precinct was incorporated. Previous 
to that date, the town having signified that the form- 
ation of the precinct would be assented to in case fifty 
or more persons signed a request therefor, in les-s than 
ten days after such a condition was agreed upon more 
than the requisite number of signatures had bfen 
obtained, and thus, with the assurance that no further 
objection would be raised, a meeting-house was begun 
in April, 1749. 

On the 16th of the following October a covenant 
was signed by forty-two of the inhabitants, and some 
dissatisfaction having manifested itself witt\ the loca- 
tion of the meeting-house, then still unfinished, it 
was agreed to submit the location to the arbitration 
of disinterested men. The location, as originally 
selected, was approved and the building by slow de- 
grees went on to its completion. 

The incorporation of the second precinct was 
granted by the General Court in response to a petition 
signed by Thomas Hale and fifty-six others, reciting 
the grievances under which the inhabitants of the 
north part of the town labored and the advantages of 
a separate precinct. The order of the court, passed 
by the House of Representatives March 28, 1750, 
passed in concurrence by the Council March 29 and 
consented to by Spencer Phipps, Governor, was "that 
the prayer of the petition be so far granted as that 
the petitioners, with their families and estates, to- 
gether with such persons and their estates who shall, 
within three months from this time, signify their de- 
sire therefor under their hands to the clerk of the 
town of Brookfield, be and they hereby are set off a 
distinct Parish, and are endowed with all the privi- 
leges and subjected to all the duties which the other 
inhabitants of Parishes are by the laws of this Prov- 
ince endowed with or subjected to — Provided, their 
possessions do not exceed one-third part of the said 
town of Brookfield for quantity and quality." 

On the 21st of May, 1750, a meeting of the pre- 
cinct was held at the house of Jabez Ayres, in ac- 
cordance with a warrant issued by John Chandler, Jr., 
Esq., at which William Ayres acted as Moderator. 
At this meeting the following officers were chosen : 
Wm. Ayres, Precinct Clerk; Wm. Ayres, Ebenezer 
Witt, Samuel Gould, Noah Harris and Benjamin 
Adams, Precinct Committee; Joseph Stone, Col- 
lector, and Wm. Ayres, Samuel Gould, Wm. Witt, 
Jason Bigelow and Moses Ayres, Assessors. On the 
21st of September, 1750, it was voted by the precinct 
to raise by as:,es ment on the polls and estates £13, 



BKOOKFIELD. 



523 



68. 8(/. <o supply the precinct with preaching, and in 
1751 forty pounds were raised for the same purpose. 
In 1752 Rev. Eli Forbes was invited te settle with the 
sum of one hundred and twenty pounds as a settle- 
ment, and £53. Us. Sd as an annual salary. The final 
salary agreed on was after 1767 to be £66. 13«. 4d, 
and thirty cords of wood a year. The church was 
organized May 28, 1752, and on June 3d, Mr. Forbes 
was ordained. 

The covenant was signed by twenty-six males and 
twenty-two females, as follows : Eli Forbes, John 
Watson, Jabez Ayres, Ebenezer Witt, Noah Barns, 
John Culler, Benjamin Adams, Abram How, Am- 
miel Weeks, Ichabod How, Abner Taylor, Thomas 
Hale, Uriah Gilbert, Joseph Stone, Mosts Ayres, 
Charles Adams, Moses Barnes, Jason Bigiow, Nathan 
Sievens, Thomas Taylor, Ephraim Cutler, Daniel 
Newell, Jonathan Gilbert, Aaron Barns, Isaac Cutler, 
John Witt, Esther Watson, Mary Tucker, Martha 
How, Sarah Stone, Abigail Cutler, Rebecca Witt, 
Mary Witt, Abigail Gilbert, Hannah Barns, Re- 
becca Ayres, Esther Gilbert, Elizabeth Gilbert, 
Miriam Newell, Sarah Ayres, Rebecca Adams, 
Persis Adams, Naomi Taylor, Annah Barns, Phebe 
How, Mary Hale, Mary Stevens, Hannah Bartlett. 

The ministry of Mr. Forljes continued until March 
1, 1775, and June 5, 1776, he was installed over the 
first church in Gloucester, where he died December 
15, 1804. His dismission, given at his own urgent 
request, was the result of indignities shown him in 
consequence of his suspected disloyalty. It is un- 
doubtedly true that he was not by nature an enthu- 
siast and did not enter into the revolutionary spirit 
with extreme ardor, but his immediate settlement and 
satisfactory ministry in Gloucester precludes the 
belief that he entertained other than patriotic senti- 
ments during his residence in Brookfield. Mr. 
Forbes entered Harvard College in 1741 and during 
his freshman year enlisted in the Provincial army 
during the first French and Indian War.' After his 
discliarge he returned to college and graduated in 
1751 in the class with Judge William Gushing, Rev. 
Mather Byles and Rev. John Willard, receiving the 
degree of 8. T. D. from his Alma Mater in 1804, the 
year of his death. 

On the 23d of May, 1776, a call was given to the 
Rev. Joseph Appletou, of Ipswich, a graduate at 
Brown University in 1772, to succeed Mr. Forbes in 
the ministry, with the oft'er of one hundred and thirty- 
three pounds, sixteen shillings and eight pence as a 
settlement, and of seventy pounds as an annual salary 
for two years and eighty pounds afterward. Mr. Ap- 
pleton was ordained October 3, 1776, and died in his 
pastorate July 25, 1794. 

Rev. Thomas Snell succeeded Mr. Appleton and 
was ordained June 27, 1798, and continued in his 
pastorate until his death, May 4, 1862, with a salary 
never exceeding five hundred dollars a year. He was 
born in Cummington November 21, 1774, and gradu- 



ated at Dartmouth College in 1795. Until September 
21, 1851, for fifty-three years he was the sole pastor 
and senior pastor, with a colleague from that date 
until his death closed a ministry of sixty-four years. 
At this point the sketch of the Second Precinct will 
be closed in this narrative, as that precinct was incor- 
porated as the town of North Brookfield in 1812 and 
will be found further referred to in the history of that 
town in another part of this County History. 

After the incorporation of the Second Precinct a 
movement was initiated in the First Precinct to build 
a new meeting-house. The question of location be- 
came a serious one and three localities were proposed 
— the site of the old house on the hill, the plain and 
Mr. Seth Banister's lawn. The plain was in what is 
now West Brookfield, Mr. Banister's lawn was in 
what is now Brookfield and the hill was between the 
two. Tne people of the west village, though prefer- 
ring the plain, were willing to compromise on the old 
site on the hill but the people of tlie south village 
would consent to nothing but the lawn within their 
own special territory. The people of the south part 
formed a majority of the First Parish and at a meeting 
held November 20, 1753, it was voted to build a meet- 
ing house on the height near Seth Banister's house. 
On the 4th of December Jedediah Foster, Abner 
Brown, John Go^s and forty othei's living in the west 
part asked to have the parish divided into two, equal 
as to quantity and quality of lands and number of in- 
habitants. The majority objected to the terms and 
conditions of the petition, but were willing that the 
petitioners themselves might be set off as another 
parish. In the meantime the erection of tlie meeting- 
house went on and the petitioners in the west part 
applied to the General Court for an injunction. 
Without, however, going further into the details of 
the controversy it is sufficient to state that on the 8th 
of November, 1754, an act was passed by the General 
Court incorporating a third precinct and making an 
addition to the Second Precinct, which was incorpor- 
ated in March, 1750. The following is the text of the 
Act: 

Whereas, it is made evident to this court that the annexing some of 
the inhubitanta of the first precinct in the town uf Brookfield, with 
their lands, to the second precinct in said town, and the dJvidinj; the re- 
mainder of said first precinct into two precincta would serve very much 
to rt-iiiove many difficulties and inconveniencies which divers of the in- 
habitants of said first precinct at present labour under, and also very 
much to accommodate the greatest part of the iuhabitanta of said first 
precinct, — 

Be it enacted by the Governor, Council and Uouse of Representa- 
tives, 

Sect. 1. That all the lands in the present first precinct in said town, 
lying mrlhward of a line beginning at the northt-ast corner of George 
Harrington's lands, upon Spencer line, and runuinf^ westward by his, 
the said George's hinds, to Five Mile River Bridge at the country road ; 
from thence westerly on the most southerly parts and lines of the lands 
of Thomas Slayton, Captain Nathaniel Woolcet, Thomas Moor, Ebene- 
zer Jennings, John Jennings, Obadiah Rice, W"". Parks, Josiah Con, 
verse, Francis Dodge, Paul Deland, tlie heirs of John Green, deceased, 
Stephen Green and Joseph Ranger, Jun. ; and from said Ranger's south- 
west corner to the southwest corner of W™. Ayrea' meadow, on Coy's 
Brook, eo-called, near the place where the old school-house stood ; and 
from thence northward on the must eastward parts and lines of the 



524 



HISTOKY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



lands of Jolin Tuff and Josiah Gilbert, and on the most westward parts 
and lines of tlie land of Jeremiah Woodbury and John Hill to Abner 
Tyler's land ; and from thence on the most eastward part and lines of 
the lands of Jacob Abbot and Joshua Dodge and Joshua Dodge, Jun., to 
the center line of said town ; and from thence all the lands eastward of 
that part of said center line, wliicb is northward of the place where the 
above descril)ed line meets with tlie said center line to New Braintree 
District be and hereby are annexed to the second precinct in Siiid town 
of Brookfield; and that all those persons that now are or hereafter may 
be inhabitants on said lands, be and Iiereby are incorporated with the 
second precinct, and shall be always hereafter obliged to do all precinct 
duties, and shall receive all precinct privileges in the said second pre- 
cinct. 

And be it further enacted. 

Sect. 2. That tlie remaintler of tlie lands in the said first precinct in 
said town of Brookfield be divided into two precincts in manner follow- 
ing, viz. : the dividing line shall begin at the southeast corner of Paul 
Deland's land, and shall run from thence to the country road in said 
Brookfield, so as to take in and include all John Rich's land where he 
dwells, into the West Precinct or division ; and from said country road 
Baid dividing line shal' run in the midst of tile town road that leads 
Bouthwarii from said country road to the river called Qnabaug River, to 
the southeast corner of Ephraim Bartlet's land ; and from thence west- 
ward, southward of all Ephraim Bartlet's and Obadiah Wright's land, 
to Quaboag River ; and from thence the said river shall be the dividing 
line down said river to the mouth of Salmon Brook ; and from thence 
the dividing line shall run straight to a large white oak tree standing in 
the northeast corner of a tract of land called the Mile Square ; said tree 
being a boundary between the townships of Brookfield and Western ; 
and that the lands lying in the said town of Brookfield {and not in- 
cluded in the second precinct) westward of the above dividing line be 
and hereby .are made a precinct by the name of the First Precinct in 
the Town of Brookfield ; and that the inhabitants of said land westward 
of the said dividing line above described be and hereby are invested 
with all the powers and privileges and subjected to all the duties that 
precincts in this province by law are invested with and subjected to ; 
and that the lands lying in the said town of Brookfi'dd (and not in- 
cluded in the second precinct), eastward of the above dividing lino be 
and hereby are made a separate precinct by the name of the Third Pre- 
cinct in the Town of Brookfield ; and that the inhaliitants of the said 
lands eastward of the said dividing line above described be and hereby 
are invested with all the powers and privileges and subjected to ail the 
duties that precincts in this pi'ovince by law are invested with and sub- 
jected to, and be it further enacted, 

Sect. 3. That all the inhabitants of the lands which by this act are 
made the first precinct and all the inhabitants of those lauds which by 
this act are annexed to the saitl second precinct bo and hereby are and 
shall forever hereafter be exempted from paying or contributing any 
part towards the charges and debts that have already arisen or may 
hereafter arise by reason of the building the new meeting house which 
has lately been erected in said town on the lands by this act made the 
third precinct in said town, any of the votes of the late first precinct 
notwithstanding; and that all the materials of the old meeting-house 
which was lately standing in said town was taken down be equally di- 
vided between the said three precincts ; and that all the ministerial 
revenues arising from all and auy lands lying in any piirt of the said 
town of Brookfield heretofore sequestered to the use of the ministry in 
said town shall be always hereafter equally divided between the said 
three precincts ; and that the charge of the committee who were ap- 
pointed by this court in April, one thousand seven hundred and fifty- 
four, to view the said town be borne and paid by the inhabitants of said 
town. 

On the 22(1 of January, 17-55, the people of the first 
precinct voted to build a meeting-house "at the turn- 
ing of the county rode, near the northeast corner of a 
plow-field belonging to John Barns, being on the 
plain in said first precinct." It was to be forty-five 
feet long and thirty- five feet wide, and so far as can be 
learned it was finished without serious delay. The 
question now arose as to which church the Rev. Mr. 
Harding belonged. The General Ciurt had provided 
that the estates of the first parish should be held for 
the payment of his salary up to the time of the divi- 



sion, but did not determine his future relation. Owing 
to the embarrassments attending this question he was 
at his own request dismissed May 8, 1755. Two years 
later, February 1, 1757, Rev. Nehemiah Strong, of 
Hadley, was chosen pastor to succeed Mr. Harding, 
but declined on account of the insufficiency of the 
proposed salary. Rev. Joseph Parsons, of Bradford, 
a graduate at Harvard, in 1752, was then called and 
was ordained November 23, 1757. Mr. Parsons served 
until his death, in 1771, when be w^s followed by Rev. 
Ephraim Ward, a graduate at Harvard in 1763. Mr. 
Ward was ordained October 23, 1771, and served until 
his death, in 1818. Rev. Eliakim Phelps was settled 
as his colleague October 23, 1816, and alter a service 
often years and two days, two years as colleague and 
eight years, as p.istor, he resigned October, 1826 
and assumed the preceptorsbip of the Biookfield 
"Classical Female School." On the day of the dis- 
mission of Mr. Phelps Rev. Joseph I. Foote was in- 
stalled, and after six years' service retired, and died 
on the day before his proposed inauguration as Presi- 
dent of Washington College, in the Slate of Tennessee. 
Mr. Foote was succeeded by Rev. Francis Horton, a 
Harvard graduate of 1826. His ministry began Au- 
gust 15, 1832, and continued to September 15, 1841. 
Rev. Moses Chase was settled January 12, 1842, and 
was followed by Rev. Leonard S. Parker, a graduate 
of Oberlin Collegiate Institute, December 19, 1844. 
During his pastorale the first precinct was incorpor- 
ated as West Brookfield in 184.S, and for a continued 
sketch of the parish reference must be had lo the 
history of that town in these volumes. 

On the 15th of April, 1756, the third precinct, which 
is now the town of Brookfield, was organized with a 
niember.-hip of twenty-five males and fourteen females. 
The Rev. Nathan Fiske, a graduate of Harvard, in 
the class of 1754, was ordained May 24, 1758. He 
was in the class with John Hancock, Daniel Tread- 
well and Samuel West, and received the degree of S. 
T.D., in 1792. His pastorate continued until his 
death, May 24, 1799, when he was succeeded by Rev. 
Michael Stone, who was ordained March 11, 1801. 

In 1827 the society became Unitarian, and settled 
Rev. George R. Noyes October 30, 1827, who remained 
six years, and afterwards became professor of sacred 
literature in Harvard University. Mr. Noyes was a 
graduate of Harvard in 1818. Rev. Seth Alden fol- 
lowed, remaining ten years, and was followed Novem- 
ber 8, 1845, by William B. Greene, a graduate of West 
Point, who, in the war of 1861, commanded a regi- 
ment of Massachusetts Heavy Artillery. Rev. S. S. 
Hunting succeeded October 5, 1852; Rev. R. D. Burr 
November 18, 1858; Rev. Edward I. Galvin April 15, 
1863; Rev. A. Judson Rich October 31, 1870, and later 
by Rev. Henry W. Woude and Rev. Samuel Hamlet. 
The society is at prfsent without a pastor. 

On the retirement of Mr. Stone from the society, at 
the time of its change of theological belief, a new 
society was org.mized called the Evangelical Society 



BROOKFIELD. 



525 



of Brookfield, anr) he became its pastor. Rev. Richard 
WoodrufT was selected as his colleague February 5, 
1838, and dismissed September 12 in the same year- 
On the day of his dismissal Rev. Washington A. 
Nichols was ordained as colleague, and remained 
until January 11, 1843. Rev. Lyman Whiting was 
ordained on the day of the dismissal of Mr. Nichols, 
and remained four years. Mr. St^ne died in Septem- 
ber, 1852. He was followed by Rev. Je.sse R. Bragg, 
who remained eight years ; Rev. Josiah Coit, who re- 
mained seven years ; Rev. Joel M. Seymour, who 
officiated from 1873 to 1876, and afterwards by Rev- 
Charles E. Stebbins. The Revs. Charles P. Blanch- 
ard, A. F. Schaufflin and Charles F. Moore have at 
various times supplied the pulpit, but at present the 
society is without a pastor. 

About the time of the incorporation of the Third 
Precinct, a Baptist congregation held meetings in that 
part of the town, and without any further organiza- 
tion continued at intervals to hold services for forty 
years. It had no settled minister, nor any special 
place of worship. In 1788 Rev. Jeremiah Haskell 
was engaged to preach, and served several years. In 
1795 a meeting-house was built, and in 1800 a formal 
society was organized. Various ministers officiated 
until 1818, including Rev. Nathaniel Price, Rev. 
Laban Thurber, and Rev. John Chase. On the 10th 
of June in that year a church was formed with thirty- 
seven members, and Mr. Chase was ordained as its 
pastor. He died July 28, 1833, and has been followed 
in the pastorate by Rev. Benjamin B. Manning, Rev. 
Winthrop Morse, Rev. J. H. Rickett, Rev. Job 
Boomer and Rev. Andrew Dunn. 

During the Revolution Brookfield assumed and 
faithfully performed its full share. At a town-meet- 
ing held May 17, 1773, at which Jedediah Foster pre- 
sided, a committee was appointed consisting of Joseph 
Gilbert, Benjamin Adams, Benjamin Babbet, Samuel 
Hinckley and Joshua Dodge, whose report was ac- 
cepted and sent by copy to tlie Committee of Cor- 
respondence at Boston. The report declared that : 

The town will be ever ready to aesist, and in every legai and pro 
per way maintain those rights and liberties for our children, which 
with ?o much labor, blood and treasure were purchased by our ances- 
tors, whose memory is and ought to be esteemed by us ; and we hope, 
notwithstanding the attempts of the enemies of our constitution, to 
deprive us of those riglits, yet by a steady, firm and constant exer- 
tion we shall not finally be deprived of them. 

At a meeting held on the 3d of the following De- 
cember, another committee was chosen, of which 
Jedediah Foster, Jeduthun Baldwin, Joseph Gilbert, 
Benjamin Rice and Phinehas Upham were members, 
whose report, which was accepted by the town, stated 
that: 

We think it our indisponsablo duty, in the most public manner, to 
let the wurld know our utter abhorrence of the last and most detesta- 
ble j-chenie in the introduction of tea from Great Britain, to be pad- 
dled out umongat us, by which means we were to be made to swal- 
low a poison more fatal in its effecta to the national and political 
Rightu and Privileges of the People of this country than ratsbane 
would be to the natural body. 



There/ore Resolved that we will not, by aoy way or means, know- 
ingly encourage or pi-omote the sale or consumption of Tea, whatever, 
subject to a duty, payable in America, but all persons, whoever they 
may be, who shall be concerned in a transaction so dangerous, shall 
be held by us In the utmost contempt, and be deemed enumies to the 
country. 

On the 12th of September, 1774, Jedediah Foster, 
Joshua Dodge, John Phijips, Jeduthun Baldwin, Jo- 
seph Gilbert, John Lyscara, Rufus Putnam, Phinehas 
Upham, John Hobbs, Asa Biglow and Jonathan 
King were chosen a Committee of Correspondence. 
On the 19th of April, 1775, the following company of 
minute-men, attached to the regiment commanded by 
Col. Jonathan AVarren, marched for Boston in con- 
sequence of the commencement of hostilities at Lex- 
ington. 



Jonathan Barnes, captain. 

Peter Harwood, lieutenant. 

Obadiah Bartlett, Iie\iteuant. 

Jonas Brigham, sergeant. 

Aaron IVIatthews, sergeant. 

Benj. Willington, sergeant. 

James Washburo, sergeant. 

Solomon Barns, corporal. 

George Townsend, corporal. 

Jolin Bartlett, corporal. 

Daniel Barris, corporal. 

David Chauibeilaiu, drummer. 

Benj. Gilbert, fifer. 

Hosea Edson, lifer. 

Abuer Bartlett. 

Jonas Biglow. 

Nathan Barns. 

Wyman Bartlett. 

Jonathan Bond. 

Edward Marden. 

John Smith. 

Joseph Wait. 

Jabez Warren. 

Charles Wetherbee. 

John Winter. 



John Bell. 
Edrnond Bridges. 
Hugh Cunningham. 
Isaac Freomau. 
Robert Graham. 
Reuben Gilbert. 
JosirAh Ilincken. 
Timothy Hall. 
Joseph Hatfield. 
Squier Hill. 
Thomas Jones. 
Charles Knowlton. 
Jonathan Marbel. 
Alexander Oliver. 
Ezra Richmond. 
Juseph Stevens. 
Ezra Tucker. 
Moses Tyler. 
Peter Washburn. 
Wm. Watson. 
Samuel Watson. 
David Wat^lion. 
Abner Witt. 
Eleazer Woods. 



The following company of minute-men marched for. 
Boston on the same day : 



Ithamar Wright, captain. 
John Packard, lieutenant. 
Nathan Hamilton, lieutenant. 
Asa Danforth, sergeant. 
Daniel Billiard, sergeant. 
Nathan Allen, sergeant. 
Joseph Richardson, seigeant. 
Aaron Willard, corporal. 
Seth BaninteE, Jr., corporal. 
Joseph Newtun, corporal. 
Benj. Walker, corporal. 
Nathan Richardson, corporal. 
Peter Hill, fifer. 
Samuel filareh, drummer. 
Benj. Wood. 
Asa White. 
Benj. Richardson. 
Moses Barnes. 
Benj. Jennings, Jr. 
Silas Olds. 
Meazer Adams. 
Jude Adams. 
Erasiua Hamilton. 
John Gilbert. 
Ebenezer Voree. 
Samuel Pike. 
Jonas Swetter. 
Joseph Dudley. 



Theopliilus Waterman. 
Thomas Wood. 
John Wood. 
Solomon Walker. 
Wui. Warner. 
Joseph Stone. 
Abner Cutler, 
Benj. Pollard. 
Eliliu Blake. 
Wm. Gill. 
Daniel KeyeB. 
Daniel Ross. 
Levi Parker. 
John Stevenson. 
Jonathan Arms. 
Aza Willis. 
Jesse Banister. 
Reuben Gilbert. 
Aaron Gilbert. 
Samuel Kimball, 
Nath. Hayward. 
Timothy Wolcott. 
Simeon Rockwood. 
Jonas Newton. 
TheophiluB Foster. 
Benj. Bachelder. 
John Lyndes. 



526 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



There were other Brookfield men who marched for 
Boston on the 19th of April, 1775, under Capt. John 
Woolcott, but, aa it is difficult to distingulbh them 
from the Spencer men in the same company, they are 
omitted. 

In Col.Larned's regiment there were enlisted from 
Brookfield, for eight months, in 1775, the following 
men : 



Peter Harwood, captain. 
Aaa Daiifurth, lieutenant. 
Benjamin Pollard, ensign. 
George Townsend, Bergeant. 
Wni. Watson, sergeant. 
Isaac Banoii, sergeant. 
Daniel Barns, sergeant. 
Charles Rica, corporal. 
Jobn Benton, corporal. 
Reuben Gilbert, corporal. 
John Bodge, corpoi'al. 
Samuel Marsh, drummer. 
Benjamin Gilbert, drummer. 
Hosea Kdson, drummer. 
Jesse Adams. 
Obadiah Adams. 
Charles AduinB. 
Jesse Banister. 
Jonas Biglow. 
Ebenezer Baker, 
Abner Bartlett. 
Abner Cutler. 
Joseph Dudley. 
John Danforth. 
Jonathan Danforth.' 
Charles Doroughty. 
AVm. Gill. 
Robert Graham. 
Comfort GoEfs. 
Asa Gilbert. 

In Captain Joel Green's Company for same term: 

John Granger, captain. Nathan Whitney. 

Jonathan Stone, sergeant. Timothy Woolcott. 

Elijah Gumming, sergeant. Solomon Woolcott. 

Reuben Slayton, ensign. Ebenezer Ball. 

David Chamberlain, drummer. Jacob Harrington. 
Kbenezer Harrington, corporal. 

In Colonel Brewer's Regiment for the same term : 



4 



Henry Gilbert. 
Samuel Green. 
Jesse Hamilton. 
Wm. Hincken. 
Peter Hill. 
Joseph Hamilton. 
AmoH Hodgman. 
Josiah Hincken. 
Thomas Jones. 
Samuel Kimbal. 
Daniel Keyes. 
Jonathan Marble. 
Thomas Niuhois. 
Jonathan Ormes. 
Elijah Pollock. 
Ezra Richmond. 
Joseph Stephens. 
John Stephenson. 
Samuel Stephens. 
John Smiih. 
Moses Tyler. 
Solomon Wilder. 
Eleazer Woods. 
Joseph Wait. 
Abner Witt. 
Jeduthnn Wait. 
Wm. Wait. 
Wm. White. 
John Winter. 



John Packard, captain. 
Nathan Allen, seigeant. 
James Washburn, sergeant. 
Josiah Newton, sergeant. 
Jareb Bacon, corporal. 
Barnabas Potter, corporal. 
Levi Packard, corporal. 
Nathaniel Hayward, drummer 
Elijah Allen. 
Nathan Barns. 
Elisha Bartlett. 
Jedediah Gilbert. 
Aaron Gilbert. 

The following also enlisted in 1775 for eight 
months and joined various companies and regiments: 



Reuben Gilbert. 
Joseph Gilbert. 
Barzillai Hayward. 
John Hiibard. 
Eiisha Hultun. 
Robert Hojikins. 
Elias Parkinan. 
Lemuel Roas. 
Jonathan Willis. 
Josiah Wood. 
Theophilus Waterman. 
Azariah Willis. 
West Waterman. 



Betlmel Washburn, lieutenant. 
Nathan Goodale, lieutenant 
Alexander Oliver, corporal. 
Isaac Cutler, corporal. 
Moses Ayres. 
Sylvester Bishop. 
Benjamin Batcheller. 
Peter Gushing. 
Joseph Chadwick. 
Peter Bowen. 



Jonathpin Fletcher. 

John Lidillo. 

John Ptdlard. 

Isaac Hodgman. 

Nathan Hill, sergeant. 

James Hill, fifer. 

Bartholomew Hill, fifer. 

Berry Bowen. 

Moses Bowen. 

Jobn Warren, drummer. 



Stoddard Bowen. 

Jonathan Ralph. 

Pomp Lorum. 

Benjamin Hill. 

John Lynde, ensign. 

Abner Gilbert. 

Thomas Gilbert. 

David Hamilton. 

John Hayward. 

Solomon Walker, sergeant. 

Samuel Pike, sergeant. 

Ebenezer How, corporal. 

Simeon Rockwell, corporal. 

Phinehos Slayton. 

Nathan Whitney. 

Joseph Olmstead. 

Jonas Newton. 

Eli Wood. 

James Wood. 

Moses Dod^e. 

Reuben Dodge. 

In 1776 the enlistments 
terms of short service : 

David Watson, sergeant, 
Charles Bruce, sergeant. 
Wm. Smith, corporal. 
John Barns. 
Barnabas Brigham. 
Autipas Bruce. 
Hosea Edson. 
Ebenezer Field. 
John Hersey. 
Daniel Matthews. 
Abel Johnson. 
David Leland. 
Jonathan Sevier. 
Abner White. 
Joseph Gilbert, colonel. 
James Converse, colonel. 
Jonathan King, captain. 
Bufus Putnam, lieut.-colonel. 
Nathan Hamilton, captain. 
John Bowker, lieutenant. 
Joseph Olmstead, corporal. 
Thomes Kimball, corporal. 
Wm. Gilbert, corporal. 
Prince Haskell, drummer. 
■^ Barnabas Potter. 
Zadoch Gilbert. 
Edward Allen. 
Philip Allen. 
Abner Gilbert. 



Elgah Barnes. 
Jabez Crosby. 
Moses Hastings. 
John Marble. 
Daniel Moore. 
Abner Old. 
Jonas Streetpr. 
Ephraini Stone. 
Josiah Stone. 
John Woolcott. 
Moses Woods, corporal. 
Oliver Hinds,. 
John Sabin. 
Elisha Livermore. 
Elihu Blake. 
Samuel Bunn. 
Ebenezer Miller. 
John Wood. 
Joseph Wood. 
Thomiis Wood. 

were as follows for various 



Satnnel Barns. 
Solomon Wilden. 
Samuel McClure. 
Jonathan Moore. 
John Burk. 
Joiui Sabin. 
Nathan Davis. 
Ammiel Weeks. 
Stith Dean. 
Benjamin Foster. 
John Patterson. 
Wm. Cunningham. 
Stephen Chandler. 
Ebenezer Wright. 
Francis Pellet. 
Ithaniar Bowker. 
Wm. Raiment. 
Edward Stone. 
Amos Hale. 
Epbraim Wheeler. 
Jesse Wheeler. 
John Green. 
Ephraim Richmond. 
Ezekiel Bowker. 
John Bowen. 
Seth Twitcbell. 
Ichabod Warren. 
Uri Babbitt. 
Daniel Howe. 



The enlistments in 1777 and 1778 were as follows : 



Tliomas Briggs. 
Abner Cutler. 
Cornelius Gilbert. 
Robert Hall. 
Reuben Hamilton. 
Barzillai Hayward. 
Daniel Keyes. 
Jonathan Lampson. 
John Lydley. 
Alexander Oliver. 
Elijah Pollock. 
Juduthun Wait. 
Wm. Wait. 
Neheraiah Ward. 
Joshua Winter. 
Wm. Adams. 
Jason Allen. 
Joel Babbitt. 
Samuel Babbitt. 
Daniel Barris. 
Solomon Bartlett. 



Wm. Hincken, sergeant. 

Nicholas McClure, sergeant. 

John Gilbert, sergeant. 

Phillip Allen. 

John Ayree. 

Joshua Barns. 

Wm. Barns. 

Benjamin Batchelder. 

Josiah Blauchard. 

David Clark. 

Reuben Dodge. 

Jude Foster. 

Zadoclv Gilbert. 

Peter Hill. 

Silas How. 

Asa Humphrey. 

Daniel Newell. 

Comfort Old. 

Abner Perry. 

Amos Rice. 

Elishu Bice. 



BROOK FIELD. 



527 



Joseph Bartlett. 
Jareb Bacon. 

Muses BeduDah. 
John Bowker. 
Samufl Bunn. 
Elijah Callay. 
Uezekiah Cutting. 
Antipua Dodge. 
Thomas Dodge. 
John Eveleth. 
Klisha Fo8ter. 
Benjamin Gilbert. 
Henry Gilbert. 
Jedeiiiah Gilbert. 
Thomas Gilbert. 
John llayward. 
Beiyamin Hill. 
Jamc3 Hill. 
Joseph Hamilton. 
John Uoldon. 
John Hopkins. 
Joseph Green. 
Ziichariah Green. 
Elijah Harrington. 
John Hubbard. 
Samuel Lancaster, 
Isaac Lackey. 
Abner Lasell. 
Benjamin Lynde. 
Joseph Marble. 
Jonas Newton. 
Joseph Newell, 
Abnor Old. 
Jonathan Owen. 
Joseph Olmstead. 
Jesse Parker. 
Ephrain Potter. 
(Negro) Robena. 
Lemuel Ross. 
John Smith. 
Asahel Stearns. 
Gad Smith. 
Gershoni Whitney. 
Gcrsliom Whitney, Jr. 
Uezekiah Whitney. 
Israel Whitney. 
Eleazar Whitney. 
Eliiis Witt. 
Jonathan Witt. 
Lemuel Ward. 
John Warren. 
Caleb Willis. 
Jonathan Willis. 
Eli Wood. 

Joseph Wood, , 

Thomas Wood. 
Timothy Woolcott. 
Ebenezer Bacon. 
Benjamin G. Ball. 
Joseph Ball. 
Phinehas Bowman. 
Thomas Hall. 
John Burk. 
Thomas Cole, 
Jacob H. Deland. 
Abraham Hair. 
Philip Haskell. 
John Herrick. 
Joaiah Hincken. 
Amos Leonard. 
Thomas Maddeo. 
Joseph Owen. 
Mirick Rice. 
Robert Richmond, Jr, 
Wm. White. 
Daniel Gilbert, captain. 
Wm. Clapp. 



Jaaon Rice. 

Joseph Richardson. 

James Boss. 

Phinehas Stevens. 

Wm. Stone. 

Joshua Taylor. 

John Waite. 

Thomas Wedge, 

James Wood. 

John Wright. 

Asa Danforth, captain. 

James HuthAway, lieutenant. 

Jonas Bigelow, lieutenant. 

Peregrine Foster, sergeant. 

Amos Adams, sergeant. 

Abraham Adams, sergeant. 

Ohadiah Rice, sergeant. 

Joseph Richardson, corporal. 

Reuben Gill, corporal. 

Judu Adams, corporal. 

Jesse Banister, corporal. 

Nathan Hamilton, 

Phinehas Upham. 

Richard Wellington. 

Daniel Walker. 

John Hamilton. 

Daniel Bullard. 

Adoniram Walker. 

Ephraim Cooley. 

Gad Williston. 

Jonathan Snow. 

Jonathan Abbott. 

John Linds. 

John Waite. 

G&rshoin Makepeace. 

John Hob ha. 

Elisha Hamilton. 

Josiuh Hamilton. 

Samuel Owen, 

Jason Walker. 

Nathan Whitney. 

Elisha Brigham. 

Daniel Newell. 

Obadiah Wright. 

John Allen. 

Jeremiah Streeter. 

Benjamin Howard. 

Samuel Green. 

John Wade. 

Thomas Summer. 

Wm. Hamilton. 

Jamws Wat-hburn. 

P«ter Washburn. 

Sylvanus Curtis. 

Juhn Gilbert. 

John Gilbert (4th). 

Benjamin Gilbert. 

Benjamin Walker. 

Silas Stone. 

Abner Perry. 

Asa Gilbert. 

Ebenezer Bartlett. 

Philip Allen. 

Samuel Gilbert. 

Jerre Hamilton. 

Kufus Hamilton. 

Jonathan Danforth. ^' 

JoBiah Gary. 

Thomas Ranger. 

Thomas Marsh, 

Penjam Adams. 

Benjamin Barrett. 

Daniel Watson. 

Jonathan Barns. 

Jacob Kent. 

Wm. Bealfl. 

Silas Newton. 



Joshua Dodge, Jr. 
Samuel Gilbert. 
James Ross. 
Francis Stone, capt. 



Wm. Peso. 
Daniel Wait. 
Jason Rice. 
Levi Rice. 



The soldiers whose names are repeated in the above 
and following lists enlisted more than once during 
1777-78. 

The following enlisted in 1779 : 



Joseph Olmstead, lieut. 
Jesse Abbott, sergt. 
Solomon Banister, corp. 
Jonas Newton, corp. 
Josiah Hamilton, corp. 
Nabum Davis. 
Simeon Wright. 
Wm. Old. 
Daniel Upham. 
Silas Bridges. 
Benjamin Forbush. 
Oiiver Walker. 
Nathan Kice. 
Juel Jennings. 
Gerahom Jennings. 
Erastus Hamilton. 
Joseph Hamilton. 
Nathaniel Hamilton. 
Thomas Hincken. 
Simon Rice. 
Joseph Barrett. 
Josiah Cutler. 
SiliLs Hamilton 
Nathaniel Sabin. 
Peter Bowen. 
Joshua Green. 
Jacob Harrington, 
Abner Witt. 
Ca^b Loomis. 
Joseph HamiltoD. 
Ebenezer Miller. 
Thomas Wedge. 
Thomas Hincken. 
Silaa Newton. 
Thomai Hamilton. 

The enlistments in 1780 were as follows: 



Simon Rice, 
Wm. Hamilton. 
Jude Adams. 
Judeth Stevens. 
Isaiah Bowen. 
Benjamin Jennings^ Jr. 
Samuel Walker. 
Ezra Tucker. 
Jonas Biglow. 
Richardson Durham. 
Thonias Tucker. 
Nathan Moore. 
John Gilbert, (2d). 
Ephraim Cutter. 
Benjamin Bragg, 
Abner Rice. 
Obadiah Wait. 
Wm. Peso. 
Elijah Harna. 
Thaddeus Dodge. 
Jofu-ph Brown. 
John Pollard. 
Andrew Banister, flfer. 
Joseph Richardson, capt. 
Joseph 'i'hornton, lieut. 
Israel Aiken. 
Isaac Abbott. 
Oliver Gilbert. 
Noah Hatch. 
Thomas Lampson. 
Asa Partridge. 
Anthony Cutter. 
Isaac Severn. 
Ebenezer Witt. 



Jontttban Willis. 
Abner Witt. 
Wm. Kimball, 
Joseph Ranger. 
Asa Gilbert. 
Josiah Cutler. 
Wm. Peso. 
John Pollard. 
Thomas Dodge, Jr. 
Caleb Willis. 
Bueanos Ay res. 
Solomon Livermore. 
Thomas Lampson. 
Isaac Wetherbee, 
Ichabod Stockjvell. 
Aaron Forbes. 
Ezekiel Hardy. 
SilAS Barns. 
Lewis Witt. 
Nathan Moore. 
Shadrack Wetherbee. 
Thonias Hathaway, Jr. 
Nathaniel Sabin. 
Jacob H. Deland. 
Thomas Wedge, Jr. 
John Bowen. 
Levi Rice. 
Joseph Kimball. 
Jason Ayres. 
Jedediah Deland. 



Levi Kendall. 
Moses Dorr. 
John llrown, 
Wm. Posy. 
Scipio Witt. 
John Pollard. 
Moses Walker. 
Amoi Wheeler. 
Amos Rice. 
Nathan Rice. 
Silas Newton. 
Benjamin Jennings, Jr. 
Neverson Hastings. 
Abner Hebery. 
Thomas Wood, (3d). 
Nathan Davis. 
Thomaa Young. 
Ebenezer IMarsh. 
Aaron Forbes. 
Benjamin Dane. 
David Chamberlain. 
Judfc Stevens. 
Wm. Forbes. 
Eli Watson. 
Jeremiali Dewing. 
Martin Bridges. 
Elisha Whitmore. 
Peter Barton. 
Silas >Ioi-se. 
Timothy Armstrong. 



528 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



Jesse Ayrea. 
John Cox. 
Job Iliuckley. 



Samuel Lewia. 
Levi Stockwell. 
Wm. RichardsoD. 



The enlistments iu 1781 were as follows: 



Joseph Bartlett. 
George Townsend. 
Josepli KimbHlI. 
Silas Whitney. 
Kzeliiel Hardy. 
Abijah Patten. 
Asa Gould, 
Samuel StevcnB. 
Jesse Watson. 
Amos Leonard. 
Scipio Witt. 
John Rice. 
Sloses Bragg, 
John Bowen. 
Joseph Hamilton. 
Levi Rice. 
Thomas Dodge. 



John Eveleth. 
Amos Gilbert. 
Jonas Gilbert. 
Elisha Gill, 
Elipbalet Hamilton. 
Salnia Keyea, 
Samuel Pike. 
John Smith. 
Samuel White, 
Jonathan Willia, 
Jesse Banister. 
Thomas Banister. 
Simon Rice. 
Jabez Uphaoi. 
Jacob Deland. 
Joseph Cutler. 



The above is an incomplete list of the soldiers fur- 
nished by Brookfield, but it indicates plainly enough 
the active and patriotic part which the people of the 
town took in the War. Not only were men furnished, 
but the resources of the inhabitants were largely drawn 
upon and seriously depleted by the demands constantly 
arising from bounties and supplies. The action taken 
by the town at various times to meet the exigencies 
of the period shows that its aftairs were in the hands 
of earnest and devoted men who were determined that, 
so far as the burden of the War rested on them, it 
should be borne with courage and hope. Tlie names 
of the first committee ofcorrespondence,chosenin 1774, 
have already been given. In 1775 they were: Jede- 
diah Foster, David Hitchcock, John Phipps, Daniel 
Gilbert, Thomas Moore, John Lyscam, Josiah Hobbs, 
Ephraim Walker, Ithamar Wright. In 1776 they 
were: Thomas Moore, .lohn Wait, Tilly Rice, David 
Hitchcock, Jabez Crosby, Ithamar Wright, John Ham- 
ilton. In 1777 they were: David Hitchcock, Thomas 
Wheeler, Daniel Watson, Joseph Chadwick, Onesiph 
Ayres, Jonathan Bond, Ithamar Wright, Esekiel 
Olds, Jabez Crosby. 

At a town-meeting held May 22, 1776, under a re- 
solve of the General Court the question " whether the 
town would support the Honorable Congress in the 
measure if they for our liberty should see fit to declare 
thecolonie.s independent of Great Britain " was decided 
almost unanimously in the affirmative. Indetd, the 
support of the War and the defense of the rights and 
liberties of the colonies received the united sym- 
pathies of the people. There was little or no dis- 
loyalty to the patriot cause. Joshua Upham was one 
of the few pronounced loyalists in the town. He was 
a graduate of Harvard in the class of 1763, and among 
his classmates was Sampson Salter Blowens, a noced 
loyalist, who rose to high judicial distinction in Nova 
Scotia, having risen from the bar through the grades 
of attorney-general and speaker of the House of As- 
sembly to the seat of chief justice of the Supreme 
Court of the province. Mr. Upham retired to Boston, 



and soon after became colonel of dragoons and aide 
de camp to Sir Guy Carleton in New York. 

He was with Arnold in the expedition to New 
London, and in 1781 was Deputy Inspector-General 
of Refugees at Lloyds Neck, Long Island. He set- 
tled in New Brunswick after the war, and became a 
member of the Council and judge of the Supreme 
Court. He was the father of the late Hon. Charles 
Wentworth Upham of Salem. His death occurred 
while on a business visit in England, in 1808. 

Daniel Murray was another loyalist, a son of Col- 
onel John Murray, and a graduate of Harvard in 
1771. Mr. Murray entered the service of the crown, 
and was major of the King's American Dragoons. In 
1778 he was proscribed and banished, and, retiring to 
New Brunswick, where he lived after the war on half 
pay, was, in 1792, a member of the House of Assem- 
bly. He died in Portland, Maine, in 1832. Colonel 
John Murray, of Rutland, the father of Daniel, with 
the other sons, Samuel, Robert and John, two of 
whom, it is believed, lived in Brookfield, were also 
loyalists. 

In 1777-78-79 committees were appointed by the 
town to provide for the families of non-commissioned 
ofiicers and soldiers of the Continental Army. In 
1778 one hundred pounds per man and a blanket, 
were given for the soldiers in the second precinct, for 
the Continental Army; seventy pounds each to the 
militiamen, and one hundred pounds each for four 
men who were already in the field. In the same year 
it was voted to raise £988 8«. to defray the expenses 
of hiring the Continental and militia men recently 
enlisted, and also in the same year to "accept the 
confederacy of the Continental Congress, andito en- 
join it on their representatives that they consent to 
the same." In 1779 it was voted to form a State con- 
vention, " for the sole purpose of forming a new 
con.stitution." An effort had been made by the 
Legislature to form a constitution, which failed. In 
1780 the vote in favor of the new constitution stood 
one hundred and forty-three to eleven. In November 
of that year Brookfield furnished fifty-two head of 
cattle, thirty-three blankets, sixty-seven shirts, sixty- 
seven pairs of shoes and sixty-seven pairs of hose. 

In 1781 it was voted in the second precinct that 
" the sum of £1080 in hard money be assessed upon 
the polls and estates of the precinct for the purpose 
of hiring twelve soldiers for three years' service, at 
£90 each." This vote of the second precinct was 
followed in the other two precinct*, and was in obedi- . 
ance to a vote of the town that " the three precincts 
should raise soldiers for three years, or during the 
war, and choose committees to enlist men, and hire 
such sums of money as might be needed." " In the 
same year Brookfield furnished the army thirty-three 
blankets, sixty-seven shirts, sixty-seven pairs of shoes 
and sixty-seven pairs of hose, at a cost of £10,411, 
and before the close of the year, thirty-one blankets, 
sixty-two shirts, sixty-two pairs of shoes, and 15,450 



BROOKFIELD. 



529 



pounds of beef. In 1782 the town furnished thirty- 
one blankets, sixty-two sheets, sixty-two pairs of 
shoes and sixty-two pairs of hose." 

After the treaty of peace the people once more 
resumed their old occupations, and sought by deter- 
mined effort to repair their individual and corporate 
condition. Since the date of the original grant, in 
1660, there had been, up to this time, few years free 
from the alarms, and annoyances, and horrors of 
war ; now, for the first time, there seemed to be a 
pathway before them in which tbey might walk with 
prosperous steps. 

lu 1784, the town instructed its representative that 
*'it is the opinion of this town that the articles of 
confederation and perpetual union between the thir- 
teen United States, ratified and established by each 
stite in the union, are solemnly binding on the several 
states, and that no attempt ought to be made to dis- 
solve or weaken the same ; but, on the other hand, if 
we mean to support our dignity as a nation, every 
effort ought to be used to strengthen the union, and 
render the bonds indissoluble.'' Thus, in advance of 
the formation of the Con-titution of the United 
States, the people of Brookfield declared what the 
result of the Civil War has confirmed, and what now 
every citizen of our country believes, in every State 
of our Union, whether East or West, North or South, 
that the nation established by our fathers is not a rope 
of sand, but is a welded, coQipact, and forever-united 
Union. 

The annoyances of the French war in the latter 
part of the century from which the people on the 
seaboard suffered, like the summer air from the 
ocean, were not felt in the inland towns, Nor did 
the war of 1812 much disturb them. What was 
called Shays' Rebellion caused a mi)mentary ruffle on 
the surface of public affairs wbich soon subsided. The 
next real source of disturbance to the people of 
Brookfield was the movement of the inhabitants of 
the second precinct to be incorporated as a separate 
town by the name of North Brookfield. The move- 
ment began in 1810, and in that year, uider the 
direction of a committee consisting of Daniel Gilbert, 
Jason Biglow, Luke Patten. Aaron Forbes and Jacob 
Kettridge, the following petition was presented : 

To the Hon" Senate and House of Representatives; The Inhabitants 
of the Second Precinct in Brookfield humbly pray that they may be set 
oflF from the other precincts in eaid town, and be incorpomted into a 
township by the name of North Brookfield; and that the territorial 
limite of such incorporation may be the same as those whereby the said 
Precinct is designated. 

And the said inhabitants would beg leave to further state that from 
the extensive limits of said town, it being separated into three distinct 
precincts together with the necessary mode of transacting the business 
of the same by annual rotation in each precinct, tbey not only find the 
distance of travel burdeiisonie, but in considering the transactiug of 
their parochial concerns a two fold labor and expense, that the offices 
of Siiid Town are of necessity distant from the centre, and that from the 
numbers of its inhabitants and the multiplicity of the business of the 
sjiid town, the term of one day insufficient for transactiug the same." 

This petition failed to receive a favorable consider- 
ation and on the 15th of April, 1811, anothtr petition 
34 



was presented, which the town voted to oppose under 
the direction of a committee formed for that purpose, 
consisting of Dwight Foster, Seth Banister and Na- 
than Allen. The result, however, was this time 
favorable to the petitioners, and the following Act of 
incorporation, amended in some of its provisions in 
1818, was passed February 28, 1812 : 

Sect. 1. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in 
General Court assembled and by the authority of the same. That all that 
part of the town of Brookfield which has been heretofore called and 
known by the name of Second or North Parish (exceptiug that part 
of said territory now lying south of the post-road leading from Worcester 
through Spencer to Springfield) together with the inhabitants thereon 
be and the same is hereby incorporated into a separate town by the name 
of Xorth Brookfield. And the said town of North Brookfield is hereby 
vested with all the powers and privileges and shall also be subject to all 
the duties to which other corpnrato towns are entitled and subjected by 
the constitution and laws nf the Commonwealth. 

Sect. 2. Be it further enacted, That the inhabitants of the said town 
of North Brookfield shall be entitled to hold such proportion of all the 
personal property now belongiiigtoand owned by the inliaUitants of the 
town of Brookfield as the property of the said inhabitants of North 
Brookfield bears to the property of all the inhabitants of the town of 
Brookfield according to the last valuation thereof. 

Sect. 3. Be it further enacted, That the inhabitants of the said town 
of North Broiikfiold shall be holden to pay all arrears of taxes due fmm 
them together Mith their proportion (to be (iscerfained as aforesaid) of 
all the debts now due and owing from the said town of Braokfield on 
what may be hereafter found due and owing by reason of any contract 
or other matter and thing heretofore entered into or now existing. 

Sect. 4. Be it further enacted, That the s lid town of North Brookfield 
shall be bolden to support their proportion of the present pnor of the 
town of Brookfield, which proportion shall be ascertained by the present 
valuation of the town ; and all persona who may hereafter become 
chargeal'le as paupers to the town of Bruokfield and North Bruokfield 
shall be considered as belonging to that town or the territory of which 
tbey had their settlement at the time of passing this act, aiul shall in 
future bo chargeable to that town only. 

Sect 0. Be it further enacted, That the suid town of North Brookfield 
shall be bohleu to pay their proportion of all state, town and county 
tixes assessed on the inhabitants of the said town of North Brookfield 
until a new valuation shall be made of the said towns. Provided, That 
the said town nf North Brookfield shall be holden until the further order 
of the legislatuio to pay the town of Brookfield such proportion of any 
of the expenses of maintaining the bridges and causeways over the 
rivers in the town of Brookfield as a Committee of the Court of Ses.-iiona 
forthe County of Worcester shall determine ; and said Court of Sessions 
are hereby authorized on application of either of the inhabitants of 
Brookfield or North Brookfield from time to time to appoint a committee 
for the above purpose whose report made to and accepted by said court 
shall be binding on said towns. 

Sect. G. Be it further enacted, That any Justice of the Peace for the 
County of Worcester upon application therefor is hereby authorized to 
issue lier warrant directed to any freeholder in the said town of North 
Brookfield, re'iuiriug him to notify and warn the inhabitants thereof to 
meet at such time and place as shall be appointed in said warrant for the 
choice of such officers as towns are by law required to choose at their an- 
nual town meetings. 

On the 20th of February, 1818, the following 
amendatory act was passed : 

Be it enacted, that Austin Flint, of Leicester, Nathaniel Jones, of 
Barre, and Joseph Cunimings, of Ware, are hereby appointed a com- 
mittee to lienr and consider the claim of Brookfield on one part and of 
North Brookfield on the other ; and finally to determine whether the 
town of North Brookfield ought in future to pay any part of the expenses 
of maintaiin'ng the bridges and causeways in the town of Brookfield. 

Sect. 2. Be it further enacted, That from and after tlie time the report 
of said committee sliall be filed in the office of the Secretary of the 
Commonwealth tlie said fifth section of said act incorporating the town 
of North Brookfield shall be repealed, and the duties and liabilities of 
said North Brookfield resultiug from the said section shall altogether 
cease. 

On the 8th of February, 1823, an act was parsed 



530 



HISTORY OF WORCESTEF COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



by the Legislature which still further, though in a 
moderate degree, changed the bounds and contracted 
the territory of the town. It provided that Daniel 
Coney, with so much of his estate as is within the 
towns of Brookfield and Weston, in the county of 
Worcester, be and they are hereby set off from said 
towns and annexed to the town of Ware, in the 
County of Hampshire. A much earlier change in 
the boundaries which has not before been mentioned 
in the narrative was made in 1791, when the General 
Court in establishing a line between Bn-okfield and 
New Braintree s-et off a tract of land to the latter 
town and annexed to the former, "the lands of Calvin 
and Francis Stone and a part of Whitney Hill, so 
called." 

The next change in the boundaries and the next 
birth of a new town from the loins of the mother- 
town occurred in 1848. On the 22d of the previous 
November, at a town-meeting over which Alanson 
Hamilton presided as Moderator, it was voted "that 
the town choose a committee of two, nominated by 
the Moderator, one from each Parish; to present a 
petition to the next Legislature to send out a dis- 
interested committee to report to theirbody the terms 
upon wiiich this town be divided, and that the town 
will abide said decision; provided that the town 
shall not agree among themselves upon the terms of 
division previous to the first of January next, in 
which case said committee will petition the Legisla- 
ture to divide the town upon the terms agreed upon." 
John N. Fisk and Francis Howe were appointed on 
the committee. It was also voted that a committee 
of twelve, six from each parish, be appointed to 
agree on terms of division. This committee con- 
sisted of Perley Blanehard, Elliott Prouty, Alfred 
Rice, Wm. J. Adam-*, Wm. Howe, Charles Flagg, 
Baxter Ellis, Baxter Barnes, Nathaniel Lynde, Wm. 
Adams, Joseph Dane and Avery Keep. 

At an adjourned meeting held on the 27th of De- 
cember, 1847, the following report of the committee 
was adopted : 

The Conmiittoe clioseu by tlie town of Broolifield t) consider and agree 
upon an ecuiitiible division of said town into two distinct towns in such 
manner iind npon such terniB as shall subject each town to bear tlie just 
proportion of the burdens or expenses and present liabilities of the whole 
undivided town, respectfully submit tlie following report: having duly 
considered all the fucts and circumstances that we could bring to our 
minds, are of the opinii>n tlmt the town should be divided by the same 
line that divides the two ancient parishes, all the part lying west of said 
line, excci)t Prestou Haver's hind, shall be incorporated as a new and 
distinct town by the name of West Brookfield, with the following condi- 
tions on agreement, viz.: If the County Commissioners shall order either 
the road from Ware to West Brookfield depot or the road from Fiykdale 
to South Brookfield depot, or both of them to be made as they are now 
located, except a slight alteniliou muy be made without additional ex- 
pense, within two years each town shall puy an equal portion of the 
expense of making said road or roads ; also of the present debts of the 
town, if any there be, West Brookfield shall relinquish and give up to 
Brookfield all their right or interest in the town fHrni with all the per- 
sonal property on or belonging thereto, and Brookfield shall keep and 
support all the paupera who are now at the said establishment during 
their lives. West Bniokfield paying to Brookfield fifty cents a week each 
for one half the number of paid paupers now at said almshouse during 
their lives. The names of the persons to be there supported are as fol- 



lows, and no other person, viz.: Joseph Porter, Abigail Stephens, Simeon 
Johnson, David Snow, Eleanor Gilbert, Solon Phipps, Hannah Lawrence, 
Martlia Ilichardson, Elizabeth Hobbs, Harriett Richards, Sally Forbes, 
Sally Parker, Iluldah Wood, Mary Walker, Mary W'ard, Esther Jen- 
nings, Sally Thomas, Abigail I'addock, John Lindly, Wm. Richardson, 
Emily P. MurriB, Ben Hamilton. Ruth Hensbaw, insane, is to be sup- 
ported by the town of Brookfield and Harriett Cording to be supported 
in West Brookfield. All persons who may hereafter claim town aid to 
be supported or assisted by the town in whose territtrial limits they may 
have gained a settlement by the laws of the Commonwealth previous to 
the division of said town of West Brookfield, shall have the right to 
visit said Almshouse by an Agent or Committee for the purpose of seeing 
that said paupers are well treated or taken care of. 

The expense incurred by your Committee they pray may be allowed, 
and that the town direct the Selectmen to give an order to Perley Blan- 
ehard, Chairman, for the sum of sixteen dollars for that purpose. 

It was then voted to petition the Legislature for an 
act providing for admission substantially in accord- 
ance with the report, and ou the 3d of March the fol- 
lowing act was passed : 

Section T. All that part of the town of Brookfield in the county of 
"Worcester which lies westerly of the line hereinafter described, is hereby 
incorporated into a separate town by the name of West Brookfield, and 
the said town of West Brookfield is hereby vested with all the powers 
privileges, rights and immunities, and shall be subject to all tlie duties 
and requisitions to which other towns are entitled and subjected by the 
constitution and taws of this Commonwealth. The dividing lino be- 
tween the two towns shall be and the same is hereby established as fol- 
lows : Beginning at the north end of the said line at a town monument 
between Brookfield and North Brookfield, thence south eighteen and 
three-fourtha degrees west thirty-one rods and twenty-two links to u 
stake and stones ; thence south eighty-six degrees west twenty-four rods ; 
thence north eighty-four and three-fourths degrees west ten rods and 
eighteen links ; thence south fifty-six and three-fourths degrees west 
seventeen rods and five links ; thence south fifty-four degrees west fif- 
teen rods and twenty-three links ; thence south sixty-nine and one third 
degrees west fourteen rods and twenty-two links ; thence south seven 
degrees west nineteen rods and seven links ; thence south twenty-four 
and one-fonrtii degrees west nine rods and nine links; thence north 
fifty-six and one-fourth degrees west twelve rods ; thence north fifty-two 
and three-fourths degrees west sixteen rods ; thence south nine degrees 
west sixty -six rods and twenty links ; thence south fifteen degrees west 
sixty-six rods and twenty links ; thence south nine degrees west seven- 
teen rods and seventeen links ; thence south eighty-two and one-half 
degrees west fifteen rods and three links ; thence south five and one-half 
degrees east fifty-nine rods and seven links : thence south forty-nine de- 
grees west eighteen rods and twelve links; thence south thirty-three 
and one-half degrees west eight rods; thence south ten and one-hulf 
degrees east seven lods and four links ; thence south thirty degrees east 
seven rods and four links ; tlience south fifty-three and one half degrees 
east nine rods and thirteen links ; thence south thirty-four degrees west 
twenty-six rods and tliirteen links ; thence south seventy-five and three- 
fourths detirees east nine rods and twenty liuks ; thence south 
nine and one-fourth degrees west three rods ; thence south seventy-four 
degrees east sixteen rods ; thence south twenty and one-fourth degrees 
west one hundred and twenty-nine rods to the north bank of the river; 
thence southerly to the middle of the river ; thence down the middle of 
the river to a point <.>pposite the corner of land of Reuben Blair and the 
Brigham farm lying on the southerly side of said river ; thence southerly 
to said corner ; thence south thirty-three and one-fonrth degrees west one 
hundred eighty-five rods and fifteen links ; thence north sixty-eight and 
three-fourths degrees west thirty-three rods and twenty links ; thence 
south sixteen degrees west two hundred thirty-six rods and twenty 
links; thence south sixty seven and three-fourths degrees east thirty- 
two reds ; thence south seven degress west three rods; thence south 
seventy degrees east sixteen rods and eight links ; thf-nce seventeen de- 
grees west forty rods and two links ; thence south eighty-four and three- 
fourths degrees west seven roils and fifteen links ; thence south three 
and one-fourth degrees west twenty-six rods ; thence south eighty-five 
and one-half degrees west twenty-four rods and thirteen links ; thence 
north seventy and three-fourths degrees west twenty-eight rods and 
eighteen links; thence north eighty-six and one-half degrees westtwenty- 
eigat rods and five links; thence south twelve rods, thence south twenty- 
nine and ono-haU degrees west forty-four rods and fifteen links ; thence 
south seventeen one-hulf degrees west fifty-tive rods and fourteen links ; 



BROOKFIELD. 



531 



theuce auuth aerentf-fire aadoae-half degrees east ninety rods ; thence 
suuth thirteen one-third desi'eas west eishty-eightrods and twenty-two 
liulis ; thence nurtli aeveuty-fire degrees west sixty-one rods and twenty 
links ; tlieuce south nineteen and tliree quarters degrees west eiglity rods ; 
thence south forty and one-half degrees east seventeen rods ; tlience 
north twenty-live degrees east twenty-three rods and fifteen linlis ■ 
tliencjsoutli eighty degrees east fifty-four rods and ten linlis; tlience south 
tliirteeil and oue-third degrees west one hundred twenty -seven rods and 
live linlis ; thence north sixty-four degrees west sixty-eight rods and 
ten iinl<s; theuce eoutli sixty-two degrees west eleven rods and twelve 
links ; tlience north forty-nine degrees west five rods and nine links ; 
theuce north sixfy-one and one-half degrees west forty-two rods and 
twenty iinlts, to a point on the town lino between said Broolifield and 
Warner. 

The remaining sections of the act provided for equit- 
able settlements of arrears of taxes, of county taxes 
of debts, of corporate pi-operty, the support of the 
poor, the construction of roads, and further provided, 
that West Brooktield should 

Continue to be a part of the town of Brookfield for the purpose of 
electing a representative to the General Court, State officers, senators, 
representatives to Congress and electors of President and vice-Presi- 
dent of the United States until the next decennial census shall be 
taken in pursuance of the 13th article of ainendtnent of the Constitu- 
tion ; and all meetings for the choice of said ollicers shall be called by 
the selectmen of the town of Brookfield in like manner and in the 
same places as heretofore called. 

Six years later, on the 15th of April, 1854, the town 
lines were again, and for the last time, changed. An 
act of the Legislature of that date provided that 

So much of the town of North Brookfield in the County of Worces- 
ter as lies southerly of a line beginning at a stoue nionunieut at the 
old post road leadiug to Brookfield, a little Northwesterly of what is 
called the Wolcott Mill, and running thence soutii seventy-seven de- 
grees and thirty minutes east three hundred and seventy-five rods, to a 
stone monument, as now established in the line -of Brookfield and 
North Brookfield, on the easterly side of the Stephens pond, so-called 
with all the inhabitants and estjites thereon is hereby set off from the 
town of North Brookfielii and annexed to the town of Brookfield ; pro. 
vided, however, that for the purpose of electing representatives to the 
General Court to which the Siiid town of North Brookfield is entitled 
until the next decennial census shall be taken in pursuance of the 
thirteenth article of amendment to the constitution, the said territory 
shall remain and continue to be a part of the town of North Brook- 
field, and the inhabitants resident thereon shall be entitled to vote in 
the choice of such representatives, and shall be eligible to the office of 
representative in the town of North Brookfield in the same manner as 
if this act had not been passed. 

The record of Brookfield in the War of the Eebel- 
lion impresses upon us anew a realization of the im- 
mense resources of our government in bringing it to a 
successful conclusion. Every city and town and ham- 
let in the loyal North poured out its men and its 
means, and their sources of supply were far from 
exhausted when the last soldier had been drafted for 
the Confederate Army, and the last dollar had been 
expended for its support. On the 30th of April, IStil, 
at a town-meeting, at which John E. Prouty acted as 
moderator it was voted, " that every person belonging 
to this town who should enroll himself in the com- 
pany now being raised in this town and vicinity for 
the purpose of volunteering its services to the Govern- 
ment, subject to the call of the Governor shall, as soon 
as said company is accepted by the Governor, receive 
one dollar a day for every day he is called out to drill 
by the drill-master, or such officers as are authorized 
so to order. The payment of the above to be made 



weekly to the order of the drill-master, or the officer 
properly calling them out, and this shall continue 
till otherwise directed by the Selectmen." 

It was also voted, " that every private and non- 
commissioned officer when called into actual service 
shall receive from the town such an amount as shall 
make his pay, including that received by him from the 
Government, fifteen dollars per month ; that every 
private and non-commissioned officer, who has a fam- 
ily or any person dependent upon him for support, 
shall receive in addition to the above eight dollars per 
month to be paid in such a manner and to such per- 
son as the Selectmen of the town shall think best for 
the support of saiil family or dependent persons." 

It was furlher voted, " that when the company has 
been organized and accepted by the Governor, each 
and every member shall be provided with a plain, 
substantial uniform, and before going into actual ser- 
vice with an army blanket and revolver at the expense 
of the town unless otherwise provided." 

It was still further voted, '' that the Selectmen 
be authorized to borrow what money the town may 
want to carry the foregoing votes into effect, to be 
paid in one, two and three years, and the Selectmen 
to give all necessary obligations binding the town to 
pay the same sums and interests that may accrue 
thereon. And it wtis finally voted, " to choose a com- 
mittee of three to confer with North Brookfield in re- 
gard to the uniform, etc., and for the purchase of the 
same for the volunteers." This committee consisted 
of Emmons Twichell, J. S. Montague and Charles 
Fales. 

At a subsequent meeting held on the 15th of June 
in the same year, at which also John E. Prouty acted 
as moderator, it was voted " that each member of the 
family of the volunteer militia be paid one dollar per 
week for every member of the family, the sum not to 
exceed twelve dollars per month for any one family 
and the Selectmen be authorized to borrow the 
money." It was also voted " that all members that 
the Committee uniform be paid two dollars and fifty 
cents per week for five weeks, to be left discretionary 
with the Selectmen and officers of the company, when 
to be paid, and to be paid to the officers of said com- 
pany." 

At a meeting held on the following November, at 
which George W. Johnson acted as moderator, the 
committee on uniforms reported that the uniforms 
had been furnished under a contract with Marshal & 
Duncan of North Brookfield, and that the following 
men had been supplied : 

Sardus S. Sloan, captain. Benjamin Stevens. 

£lisha F. Johnson, lieutenant. Eldridge Doane. 

Lyman Doane, lieutenant. W. L. Blood, Stnrbridge. 

John W. Heath. Sidney Hewitt, Sturbridge. 

James E. Adams. F. L. Benson, Bromfield. 

Shepard Brown, L. G. Lamb, Southbridge. 

Charles N. Holmes. H. C. Ball, Amherst. 

John H. Millman . F. H. Dickinson, Amherst 

Warren A. Walker. H. C. Albee. 

Herbert Chafl'ee. George W. Burr. 



532 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



Wady H. Cheever. 
Vm. H. OrniBby. 
^Vm. H. NicJiolB. 
W'm. H. Webber. 
Kalph Preston. 
James H. Belcber. 
Everett A. Hebard. 
Ferdinand Dexter. 
Artemns D. Ward. 
Frederick Bullard. 
E. A. Rice. 



JameB B. Freeman. 
Alonzo W. Phillips. 
Alexander Budreaux. 
\Vm. A, Belcher. 
Richard Teaton. 
David Jenlis. 
John H. Price. 
L. C. MoultoD. 
S. H. Bannister. 
Edward F. Ware. 
Amasa Be mis. 



They also reported that the cost of equipment and 
drilling was fifteen hundred dollars 

At a meeting held on the 2d of January, 1S62, at 
which Austin H. Moulton acted as moderator, it was 
voted " that the Selectmen ;be authorised to pay to 
each volunteer not to exceed thirty-four in number, 
who may enlist or has enlisted under the last call of 
the President for three hundred thousand volunteers, 
the sum of one hundred dollars, to be paid to each 
volunteer upon his being mustered into the service of 
the United States, it being understood that those 
who have previously enlisted shall be entitled to the 
same bounty as those who may hereafter enlist, if 
they can be legally counted as belonging to our 
qu^ta of thirty-four men which this town must raise 
under the call above mentioned.'* At a meeting held 
on the 12th of September, 1802, at which also George 
W.Johnson acted as moderator, it was voted '* that 
one hundred and fifty dollars be paid to each man 
voluntarily as a part of the quota of the town under 
the last call for men for nine months' service whether 
enlisted before or after the first day of September, 
1862." 

The following is a list of the soldiers furnished by 
Brookfield in the War of the Rebellion, taken from 
the tablets on the interior walls of the town-house: 

Eiijhfh Regiment. 
Austin L. Nichols. 
Eleventh Regiment. 
John H. Chamberlain. 
Twelfth Regiment. 
Charles C. Guppy. 
Fifteenth Regiment. 

Sidney Hewett. 



Sardns S. Sloan. 
Frederick Bullard. 
Lyman Doane. 
H. Engene Carpenter. 
George L. Avery. 
Edwin H. Newton. 
Jamc3 E. Adams. 
Charles H. Holmes. 
Benjamin Stevens. 
Artemas D. Ward. 
John H. Johnson. 
Reuben W. Adams. 
Henry C. Alba. 
Wm. J. Babbitt. 
Sumner H. Banniater. 
Francis A. Barnes. 
James H. Bt-lcher. 
Andrew J. Benson. 
Amasa Bemis. 
Wm. A. Belcher. 
"Wady H. Cheever. 
Ezekiel M. Cooper. 
Amos Deane. 



David Jenka. 
George L. Marsh. 
Harrison Moulton. 
Lafayette C. Moulton. 
James S. Nichols. 
W^m. H. Nichols. 
Oren O. Ormsby. 
Joseph Pecot. 
Alonzo W. Phillips. 
Augustus W. Patten. 
Ralph Preston. 
John H. Prior. 
John W. Raymor. 
G. W. Allen. 
Michael Rock. 
Henry H. Slayton, 
Harrison W. Stone. 
Warren A. Walker. 
Charles P. Webber. 
Benjamin C. Wheelock. 
Richard Teaton. 
Elias H. Woodward. 



James B. Freeman. Richard Bowling. 

Samuel E. Gilbert. Ellridge Boane. 

Otis H. Hamilton. Wm. H. Walker. 

Everett A. Hebbard. 

Seventeejith Regiment. 
Wm. S. Pike. Fiancis A. Shaw. 

John H. Copp. Wm. T. Wilcott. 

Charles S. Hamilton. Emerson Wilcott. 

Wm. E. Rice. 

Eighteenth Regiment. 

Charles Biggs. 
Twentieth Regiment. 
Lewis McCrellis. 



Samuel B. Rice, 
Hubert Claffery. 
George W^ard. 

John A. Plynipton, 



Twenty-firU Regiment. 

Leonard J. Alexander. 
George W. Burr. 

T^enttf-second Regiment 

Gilbert Lombard. 

Twenty -fourth Regiment. 

Curtis Dickinson, 
Wm. H. Feary, 
Albert S. Howe, 
Henry D. Rogers, 
George N. Maynard, 
Sylvester H. Stevens, 
Frank P. Works, 



Elbridgo Howe, 
George F. Sibley, 
George A. Slayton, 
John E. Turner, 
Wm. H. Austin, 
Lorenzo Doane, 
Charles B. Carpenter, 

Peter Delane. 

Twenty-Hfth Regiment. 

Cyrus K. Webber, Hugh Jameson, 

Lyman E. Weeks, Robert Kelley, 

Edwin C. Carpenter, John Lyon, 

Wm. H. Webber, John McCarthy. 

Twenty-ninth Regiment. 
Albert H. Prouty. 

Thirty-first Regiment. 
Benjamin 0. Gay, Julius W. Johnson. 

Daniel W. Sherman. 

Thirty-second Regiment. 
Wm. Conroy, George H. Bush. 

James G. Adams. 

Thirty-fourth Regiment. 
Freeman Snow. George K. Perkins. 

George A. Haraden. John M. Putnam, Jr. 

Charles A. Porter. Loring B. Vinton. 

John W. Russell. Andrew F. Jackson. 

Ormill Young. Edwin C. Babcock. 

Marcus W. Goodell. Robert Killard. 

Ezekiel P. Kempton. Rufus S. Newton. 

Franklin L. Knox. Jacob Watson. 

Freedom N. Upham. Joseph E. Webber. 

Edward L. Drake. James R. Jorselyn. 

Edwin N. Adams. 

TJiirty- seventh Regiment. 

Joseph D. Knights. 
Forty-second Regiment. 

Edward Lackey. 
Alvin N. Lamb. 
Oliver P. Morritt. 
Charles H. Newton. 
Wm. A. Springer. 
Enoch Spencer. 
James Spencer. 

Forty-fourth Regiment. 

Frederick A. Howe. 

Fifty-fourth Regiment. 

Osborn Gallup. 
Nabum Gilbert. 
Kinkland Hawes. 
Charles F. Hobba. 
Michael McGillicoddy. 
Charles F. MuUett. 
Franklin H. Sawtelle. 
Salem F. Adams. 



Emmons E. Chapin, 
Elmer H. French. 
Wm. S. French. 
Heury R. Gilmore. 
Melvin E. Haraden. 
Charles B. Heath. 
Frederick A. Howe. 
Oren B. Chaffee. 

Wm. W. Howe. 

Francis W. Adams. 
George Varney. 
Henry 0. Adams. 
Charles Alden. 
Hinim Bassett. 
Joel Bartlett. 
Jonas M. Bellows. 
Simon Gager. 
Hiram Gallup. 



BROOKFIELD. 



533 



Fifty -seventh Regiment. 
Alexander Bedreaux. Louis Richell. 



Thomas Gray. 



Wm. Barron. 

Charles W. Baker. 
Dexter W. Trask. 
Luke Kendrick. 
Oliver Rood. 
Gilnian Doeg. 
Andrew W. Ellis. 
Jonathan M, Ames 
Wm. A. Gilbert. 



Fiftij-ninlh Regiment. 

James Lord. 
Sanford A. Sawyer. 
Sixttf-JirBt Regiment. 

John Gaul. 
Second Heavy Artillery. 

Alexander B. M^ran. 
Daniel \V Smith. 
James D. Brown. 
Benjamin II. Hatch. 
Hiram Hatch. 
Wm. H. Hatch. 
^Hchael I^IcDonald. 

Third Hcanj Artillery. 
George S. Keeler. 

Fourth Heavy Artillery. 



Henry J. Bigelow. 
Seneca B. Howiand. 
John W. Knight. 
Myron W. Sherman. 
Joshua B, Bellows. 
Wm. E.Cook. 
John D. Fiske. 

Grtiorgb H. Clark. 



Lorenzo N. Fletcher. 
George F. Fudge. 
Clark Hill. 
James A. Ilill. 
Nath'. E. Merrill. 
Anson Williams. 

Fourth Battery. 

Clement Davieuz. 



Charles A. Taylor 



Wm. Henderson. 



Rufus E. Blackmer, 

Joseph Thomi-son, 
George A. Garfield, 

Lorenzo Hazard, 
Alfred Hazard, 
James Hazard, 



John J. Hynde. 

Sixth Batten/. 

Dwight Sampson. 

Tenth Battery. 

John Nelson. 

Batialion, Masunchttsetla Rijles. 

Leonard F. Alexander. 

Second Cavalry. 

James T. Phillips. 
Third Cuvalry. 
Andrew Blair. 
Fourth Cavalry. 

Rinaldo R. GoflT, 
John A. Josselyn, 
Stephen H. Rollins. 
Fifth Cavalry. 

Richard Hill, 
George Smith, 
Austin Thomas. 
Signal Corps. 
John M. Howe. 
Firtt Artillery, U. S. A. 

John Cogan. 

Second Artillery., TJ. S. A. 

Wm. Carroll. 

Band V. S. A. 

Wm. F. Herney. 



Unassigned. 



George Allen, 
Thomas Allen, 



Hartwel! B. Martin. 



Navy. 
Patrick Tiflauy. 



The following enlisted men were killed or died dur- 
ing the war: 

John W. Heath, killed at Antietam September 17, 1SG2. 

John H. Hillman. 

Benjamin Davia. 

Slieppard Brown. 

Win. L. Blood. 

Elisha F. Johnson. 

Alfred Russell. 

James E. Sargent. 

Ferdinand Dextor, killed at Bail's Biiiff October 2, 1861. 



John F. Butters, killed March 12, 18G'l. 

Edward F. Ware, died September 23, 1862. 

Edward W. Prouty. died July 2, 18G2. 

Wm. E. Vanever, died November 5, 1862. 

Emery N. Robbing, died July 15, 1864. 

Wm. A. Mullet, died May G, 18C4. 

Charles Barnes, died May G, 1804. 

Frederick Davis, died March 17, ls63. 

George Adams, died May 24, 18G2. 

Charles A. Lyon, died December 24, 18G2. 

Edwin R. Merritt, died December l."), 1862. 

Charles E. Dickinson, died October 9, 18G4. 

Andrew J. Merritt, killed at Newbern March 14, 1862. 

Salem D. Slayton, killed at Bermuda Hundred May 30, 1864. 

Marcus E. Lyon, killed at Deep Run August 10, 18G4. 

Artemas Adams killed near Riehmond October 13. 18G4. 

Henry W. Watson, killed at Darbytown October 13, 1864. 

Owen Kough, killed in the Wilderness May 7, 18G4. 

James P. Coolidge. killed at Winchester September 19, 18Gt. 

Joseph W. Webber, killed at Winchester, September 10, 18G4. 

Hosea L. Barnes, killed at Piedmont June 15, 1864. 

Elijah C. Pearl, died December 8. 1SG4. 

Francis T. Bartlett, died December 30, 1SG3. 

Orlando F. Carpenter, died of wounds June 16, 1864. 

James Claffey, killed at Cold Harbor June 3, 1864.. 

Lyman Ilawley, killed at Gaines Mill June 27, 1862. 

Julin F. Hobbs, died Septembor 21, 18G2. ■ 

George F. Haven, killed at Knoxville November 29, 1863. 

Henry Fales, killed in the Wilderness May G, 1801 . 

James B. Freeman, killed in the Wilderness May 7, 1864. 

Harrison 3Ioulton, died at Amlersonvillo January 2 i, 1S65 . 

Martin L. D. Leach, died September 16, 18fi5. 

James C. McClure, died Aiigust 1\ 1803. 

Emerson Wolcott, died April 10, 1865. 

George W. Sloan, died July 9, 18G.5. 

Oliver F. Lakin.died October 10, 1864. 

James Tay'or, died March 2.'i, 1865. 

George R.Johnson, died April 9, 1864. 

Jefferson Richards, died June 25. 1804. 

Some of those in the above roll of the dead belonged 
to Brookfield, but enlisted elsewhere. 

The expenditures of money by the town during the 
war were $29,874.91, of which the sum of $14,106.19 
was re-imbursed by the State, as expended under the 
law for State aid. 

But this sketch with the limited space assigned to 
it in these volumes, must be brought to a close. 
Besides the Orthodox, Unitarian and Baptist churches 
already referred to, there is a Methodist church, 
established in the early part of this century, and a 
Catholic church, established about the year 1867, of 
which Father Grace is pastor. Both enjoy a steady 
and prosperous growth. The town-hou^e was built at 
a cost of about seventy thousand dollars, and there 
are two hotels, a high school, a public library, a Grand 
Army Post and a Masonic Lodge. The business of 
the town is not extensive, and is chiefly confined to 
the manufacture of boots and shoe-!, and bricks, the 
former by George H. Burt & Co., \\ho employ about 
five hundred hands, and the latter by the Brookfield 
Press Brick Company. Under the last census of 1885 
the population of the town wa-< throe thousand and 
thirteen, having increased to that number from two 
thousand six hundred and sixty, in 1875. The valua- 
tion of the town is about one million three hundred 
thousand dollars. At the last annual meeting the 
following appropriations were made to defray the 
expenses of the town for the ensuing year: 



534 



HISTOEY OF WOKCESTEK COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



Fire Department 81,250 00 

Schools 5,700 00 

Roada and Bridges ?.,0(iO 00 

Poor 2,500 00 

AlemoriHl Day 100 00 

I-ilirary 500 00 

Town Dept 3,n00 00 

Contingent 1,G0U 00 

Military Aid 400 00 

Text Books 500 00 

Cemeteries 60 00 

Transportation of Scholars 100 00 

Common 60 oo 

Water 15,000 00 

State Tax 1,042 SO 

County Tax 970 00 

Overlay and Sundries 603 91 

837,042 41 

The Merrick Public library, a valuable adjunct to 
the school system of the town and a means of improve- 
ment and cultivation to all its inhabitants, stands as 
a monument to the memory of two of its sons. Its 
foundation was laid in 18G5, for the formation of a 
library association, with a capital of two hundred and 
ninety-five dollars, divided into fifty-nine shares at 
five dollars each, which were taken, five by one per- 
son, forty by twenty persons at two each, and the 
remainder by fourteen at one each. Additions to 
this capital were made by gifts of money and books, 
and about two hundred volumes which had belonged 
to another, then extinct association, were placed on 
its shelves. Mr. George Howe, of Boston, contributed 
one hundred dollars, and his brother, Jabez C. Howe, 
two hundred and fifty dollars as mementoes of their 
attachment to an early home. With these and other 
gifts the library prospered until 18G7, when receiving 
a bequest under the will of Pliny Merrick, a native 
of the town, it was merged in the Merrick Public 
Library. Mr. Merrick said in his will : " Having 
always felt a strong attachment to the town of Brook- 
field, in which I was born, and where I -spent the 
early years of my life, and where the remains of my 
parents are entombed ; and wishing to do something 
to promote the well being and prosperity of the 
inhabitants of the town in all time to come, I do 
hereby to that end, and for that purpose, give and 
bequeath to the said town of Brookfield, the sum of 
ten thousand dollars to be preserved and maintained 
perpetually as a fund to be denominated the ' library 
fund.' The income and interest of which shall be 
appropriated to the purchase, binding and repair of 
books, to constitute a library for the free use of the 
inhabitants of the town and the visitors thereto, sub- 
ject only to such rules and regulations as the town 
shall from time to time make and present, and I in 
like manner give and bequeath to said town all my 
books which I shall own at my decease, except law 
books, to constitute a part of said library. These two 
legacies of money and books are upon the condition 
that the town shall within nine months next after the 
probate allowance of this will, vote to accept the 
same upon and subject to the conditions herein con- 



tained. If the town should not so vote the said 
legacies are to be wholly void and of no force or 
eflect." 

The legacies were accepted at the annual meeting 
of the town in April, 1867, and the library received 
ten thousand dollars and four hundred and fifty vol- 
umes, with one hundred and fifty magazines aud 
unbound serials. The fund yields an income of 
about seven hundred and fifty dollars. This income 
is expended, as provided in the will, for the pur- 
ch.ise, binding and repair of books, while other cur- 
rent expenses of the library are met by town appro- 
priations. 

The commodious and substantial building in which 
the library is now kept is called "Banister Memorial 
Hall," aud was erected by William A. Banister, of 
New York, a native of the town, at a cost of about 
ten thousand dollars, on land presented to the town 
by Nancy S. K. Felton, widow of Oliver C. Felton, 
and was dedicated January 31, 1884. At that time 
the library contained seven thousand five hundred 
volumes. The present trustees of the institution are 
Washington Tufts, D. W. Hodgkins, L. H. R. Goss, 
H. V. Crosby, E. J. Irwin and C. F. Holt. 

Judge Pliny Merrick, the benefactor aud real 
founder of the library, was born in Brookfield, Au- ' 
gust 2, 1794, and died in Boston, February 1, 18G7. 
He was the son of Pliny Merrick, a graduate at Har- 
vard in 1776, and one of Brookfield's most prominent 
men. Judge Merrick graduated at Harvard in 1814 
in the class with Martin Brimmer, Rev. Francis G. 
P. Greenwood, William H. Prescott and Rev. James 
Walker. He studied law with Levi Lincoln, and 
began practice in Worcester in 1817, subsequently 
practicing at Swansea and Taunton. In 1824 he was 
appointed county attorney, in 1832 attorney for the 
middle district, and in 1843 a judge of the old Com- 
morh Pleas Court. In 1851 he was again appointed 
judge of the Common Pleas Court, and in 1853 a jus- 
tice of the Supreme Judicial Court. He was also 
Representative from Worcester in 1827, and Senator 
in 1850. Besides the btquest to his native town, he 
made bequests to the City of Worcester for the estab- 
lishment of schools of a high grade. 

Among other distinguished men of Brookfield, the 
following may be mentioned. Jedediah Foster was 
born in Andover, October 10, 1726, and died October 
17, 1779. He graduated at Harvard in 1744, and set- 
tled in Brookfield in the practice of law. He was a 
delegate to the Provincial Congress in 1774-75, and 
was an influential member. He was chosen council- 
lor in 1774, and disapproved by General Gage, aud 
re-chosen in 1775. He was judge of the Superior 
Court of Judicature from 1776 to his death, and had 
previously been probate judge and judge of the Wor- 
cester County Court of Common Pleas. 

Dwight Foster, son 'of Jedediah, was born in 
Brookfield, December 7, 1757, and died in that town 
April 29, 1823. He graduated at Brown University 



i 




.vfe^^^v^ IUtt<^c 



cXCj 



BROOKFIELD. 



535 



in 1774 and practiced law in liis native town. He 
was Sheriff and Common Pleas Judge of Worcester 
County, a member of the House and Senate in the 
General Court, member of Congress from 1793 to 

1799, and United States Senator from 1800 to 1803. 
On the death of his father, in 1779, while a member 
of the State Convention for framing the State Con- 
stitution, he was chosen in his place. 

Jabez Upham, son of Phinehas Upham, was born in 
Brooklield in 1704 and graduated at Harvard in 1785. 
He studied law with Dwight Foster and was admitted 
to the bar in 1788. He practiced a few years in 
Sturbridge, Mass., and Claremont, New Hampshire, 
and thence removed to Brookfield, where he died, Nov- 
ember 8, 1811. He represented his native town in 
the General Court and the Worcester South District 
in Congress, resigning his seat in 1809. 

Wm. B. Banister was born in Brookfield, November 
8, 1773 and graduated at Dartmouth in 1797. He 
was a distinguished member of both the Worcester 
and Essex bars and died in Newburyport, where a 
considerable portion of his proftssional life was spent, 
July 1, 1853. 

Amos Crosby was born in Brookfield in 1761 and 
graduated at Harvard in 1786. He was a preceptor 
in Leicester Academy and tutor at Harvard. He 
afterwards practiced law in Brookfield until his death 
in June, 1836. 

Alfred D. F<)ster was born in Brookfield July 26, 

1800, and graduated at Harvard in 1819. He studied 
law with S. M. Burnside, but after a few years' prac- 
tice retired from active business. He was three 
years a member of the Executive Council, and a 
member of the Massachusetts Senate in 1848. 

Daniel Gilbert, a native of Brookfield, graduated 
at Dartmouth in 1796 and was admitted to the bar 
in 1805. He died, iVIarch 11, 1851, at the age of 
seventy-six. 

Lovell Walker was born in Brookfield in 1768 and 
graduated at Dartmouth in 1794. He practiced law 
in Templeton and Leominster, and was a member of 
the Senate in 1830 and 1831. He died March 25, 
1840. 

Among other natives of Brookfield who have dis- 
tinguished themselves either at home or in wider 
fields of enterprise may be mentioned Joseph Dwight, 
Josiah Converse, Phinehas Upham, Thomas Hale, 
Oliver Crosby, Simeon Draper and Oliver C. F'elton. 
These belonged to past generations and of the living 
it is not proposed to speak. 

With these sketches this imperfect narrative musts 
close. It is only necessary to say in conclusion that 
the writer has drawn freely from Temple's valuable 
" History of North Brookfield" as a source of supply 
of historical material, for which he desires to ex- 
press the fullest acknowledgment and the sincerest 
thanks. That history being a town publication, he has 
esteemed it a sort of town record, and therefore free 
for public use. 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 
AARON KIMBALL. 

Aaron Kimball was the son of Aaron and Silence 
(Bartlett) Kimball, and was born at North Brook- 
field, June 19, 1796. His paternal grandfather, 
Benjamin, came from Ipswich to Brookfield prior to 
1755, and since that time the family name has been 
prominently associated with Brookfield and her 
interests. 

He married Eliza Cooley of Long Meadow, by 
whom were the following children: Harriet Cooley, 
born, February 3, 1830, died February 6, 1860 ; 
Adeline Augusta, born October 1, 1832 d; Mary 
Ann, born November 15, 1834— died, 1884 ; Franklin 
Olcott, born October 26, 1838— died December 24, 
1856. 

June 21, 1853, he married Persis Stebbins of Wil- 
braham : the issue was : John Cone, bora August 16, 
1857. 

Aaron Kimball began business at Brookfield as a 
country merchant, in 1821, with small capital, except 
force and perseverance. In 1830 he formed a partner- 
ship with J. P. Robinson, and commenced the 
manufacture of shoe^ at Brookfield. In 1851 they 
opened a shoe and leather store on Fulton Street, 
Boston, from whence they removed to the well-known 
warehouse on Hanover Street, opposite the American 
House. 

For thirty-four years Mr. Kimball was the senior 
partner of the wholesale boot and shoe house of 
Kimball, Robinson and Co., Boston. 

During the financial storms of this period all their 
business engagements were met with great prompt- 
nets. The panic of 1837 especially tested Mr. 
Kimball's executive ability with great credit to 'nira- 
self 

He belonged to that school of men who did business 
on honor, and whose word wa^ considered as good as 
their bond. He possessed sterling integrity, great 
firmness, a pure character, and was considered the 
leading business man of his day at Brookfield. 

He retired from active business in 1864, and died 
at Brookfield, May 17, 1866. 



JOHN PAEMELEE ROBINSON. 

Rev. John Robinson, the supposed ancestor of the 
subject of this sketch, was the well-known pastor of 
the Pilgrim Church. He bfcame connected with 
that church at Scrooby soon after 1606 while it was 
under the ministration of Richard Clyfton. He 
was born in Lincolnshire in 1576, and entering 
Emanuel College in 1592 he took the degree of M.A. 
in 1600 and B.D. in 1607. He began his ministerial 
labors in Mendham, where on account of his puritan 
tendencies he was at length suspended from his func- 
tions. Retiring to Norwich, after preaching a short 
time to a small puritan congregation, he at last re- 



536 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



nounced all communion with the church. Robinson 
afterwards said " lhnt light broke in upon him by de- 
grees, that he hesitated to outrun those of his puritan 
brethren who could still reconcile thems'lves to re- 
main in the establishment." He was called even by 
an opponent of separatism " the most learned, 
polished and modest spirit ihat ever the sect en- 
joyed." 

In 1G08 he went with the church to Amsterdam 
where it remained a year and to Leyden in 1G09. Mr. 
Clyfton having decided to remain at Amsterdam, Mr. 
Robinson was chosen pastor and at his house on 
Clock Alley in the rear of St. Peter's Church, in 
Leyden, his congregation probably met on the Sab- 
bath. Here Robinson lived from the 5th of May, 
1611, the date of the deed of the premises, until his 
death in 1625. The records of the church of St. Peter's 
show that he was buried under its pavement and that 
the sum of nine florins was paid for the right of 
burial. This sum, however, only secured a place 
of deposit for the term of seven years and it is there- 
fore probable that at the end of that time either his 
coffin was removed to an unknown grave or his ashes 
were scattered in the burial of others. 

Subsequent to the death of Mr. Robinson his widow 
and son Isaac came to New England and frrm this 
son the subject of this sketch was probably descended, 
the line of descent from John being Isaac, Thomas, 
David, David, Noah, Hezekiah and John Parmelee. 

John Parmelee Robinson was the son of Hezekiah 
and Rebecca (Cooley) Robinson and was born in 
West Granville in the county Hampden, Massa- 
chusetts, April 24, 1809. Rebecca (Cooley) Robin- 
son, his mother, was the daughter of Josiah Cooley, 
of Longmeadow, and descended through him and 
another Josiah and two Eliakims from Benjamin, 
who came from England about 1635 and not long 
after settled in Springfield. Benjamin Cooley is 
first mentioned in the history of Springfield as 
owning land at the "long meddowe" in 1645, a 
part of the town which was incorporated as a pre- 
cinct in 1715 and a separate town in 1783. It is 
evident from the records that the Cooley family 
always retained their lands at the Longe Meddowe 
in Springfield and in Longmeadow after its incor- 
poration. Mr. Cooley was one of the selectmen of 
Springfield as early as 1646, and occupied a position 
on the Board many years. At later dates he is 
called Ensign Benjamin Cooley and is spoken of as 
distinguishing himself'in the Indian Wars. 

The other children of Hezekiah Robinson were 
Josiah C, of Longmeadow, and Noah H., of Elmira, 
New York, both deceased, and Henry A. of Spring- 
field and Emeline and Harriet R., both unmarried. 
The subject of this sketch attended school at We.=t 
Granville and afterwards at the Westfield Seminary 
where a more thorough education was possible than 
the public schools of his native town could furnish.- 
After leaving school he was in 1828 and a part of 



1829 employed as teacher in West Granville, and 
for a short time afterwards in Longmeadow, the old 
home of his mother. At the age of twenty-one he 
removed to Brookfield where with Aaron Kimball 
he engaged in the manufacture of boots and shoes. 
With devoted labor and csreful management the 
business of Kimball & Robinson after a solid foun- 
dation had been laid assumed large proportions, 
soon requiring more attention to the sale of goods 
in Boston than visits to that city twice in a week 
could furnish. In 1852 Mr. Robinson removed to 
Boston and there took up his permanent residence. 
Up to that time the Bofton business had always been 
transacted by Mr. Robinson while Mr. Kimball 
gave his attention more particularly to the busi- 
ness of the factory. Mr. Robinson had occupied 
for the transaction of his business a part of the 
office of William C. Murdock in Fulton Street (that 
part of Boston then being the headquarters of the 
hhoe and leather trade), who did a commission busi- 
ness in boots and shoes. This business Kimball & 
Robinson bought out in 1852 and for several years 
they carried on a large and increasing business at 
the old stand. During Mr. Robinson's connection 
with Mr. Kimball and afterwards in other business 
connections, his house may be said to have been the 
largest in their line of business in Boston. They not 
only sold their own goods but those manufactured by 
others in Brookfield, Medway, Hudson, Massachusetts, 
and Dover, New Hampshire, the manufacture being 
carried on on joint account and Mr. Robinson always 
making the purchase of leather. 

After remaining in Fulton Street a few years 
Kimball & Robinson removed to Hanover Street 
and occupied a store opposite the American House. 
While there two trusted employees of the house 
were taken into partnership and the firm-name be- 
came Kimball, Robinson & Co. It so remained un- 
til December 1, 1864, when the partnership expired 
by limitation, and Mr. Robinson formed a new firm, 
as-ociating with himself James Longley, Jr., under 
the name of Robinson & Longley. Mr. Longley had 
been brought up in the house and on the 24th of 
October, 1866, married Julia Frances, Mr. Robinson's 
daughter. 

At the beginning of the War of the Rebellion Mr. 
Robinson's house, like other large boot and shoe con- 
cerns of that period, suffered heavily from losses at 
the South, but by shrewd management and persistent 
effort his firm not only successfully went through the 
financial storm, but asiisted many others, as in the 
-struggle of 1857. In 1865 Robinson & Longley re- 
moved to Pearl Street, where they continued in busi- 
ness until 1867, when they were succeeded by Loring 
& Reynolds, in whose concern Mr. Robinson and Mr. 
Longley were special partners. Mr. Kimball died in 
1866, but Mr. Robinson continued his interest in the 
Brookfield factory until September, 1881, when he 
sold the property. 



1 





\k\^^vJo^ w\H:) 



4 



BROOKFIELD. 



537 



Mr. Robinson died at North Conway, N. H., 
August 5, 1882. He married, February 18, 1835, 
Eliza A., daughter of Stephen and Fanny (Paige) 
Rice, of Hardwiclc, and had four children, — Frances 
Eliza, Julia Frances, John Cooley and Anna Eliza, 
all of whom died young except Julia Frances, the 
wife, now living, of James Longley, of Boston, as has 
been already mentioned. Stephen Rice, of Hard- 
wick, the father of Mrs. Robinson, was descended, 
through Stephen, of Westboro', who married Dorothy 
Woods, of Marlboro', Beriah Rice, of Westboro'. 
who married Mary Goodenow, of Marlboro'. Thomas 
Rice, of Marlboro', who married Anna Rice, his 
cousin, Thomas Rice, of Sudbury, who married a 
wife Mary, from Edward Rice, born in England about 
1594, who came to New England before 1639, and 
settled in Sudbury in that year. 

During the residence of Mr. Robinson in Brook- 
field he was a leading man in the town, prominent in 
every good work, Ijut, with the exception of the office 
of postni.Tster, which he held under the Whig ad- 
ministration inaugurated by the election of Zachary 
Taylor in 1848, he held no public office. Aside from 
hi'* interest in the Unitarian Society, of which he was 
an active and useful member, and his interest in the 
general welfare of the town and the comfort and 
happiness of its people, he devoted his time and 
energies to his business, and neither sought nor de- 
sired public station. 

After he came to Boston, he first associated himself 
with the churclr at the corner of Beadi Street and 
Harrison Avenue, of which Rev. James I. T. Cool- 
idge, then a Unitarian, was pastor, and later with 
that of Rev. Edward E. Hale, near his residence, 
which was at the corner of Washington Street and 
Chester Park. In the ministry at large, of which he 
was once an officer, he felt a special interest, and did 
much to sustain it and promote its usefulness. 

Like other business men who, by the cultivation of 
all their powers, build up and maintain prosnerous 
enterprises in business, Mr. Robinson looked on his 
school instruction as only the beginning of knowl- 
edge, and continued through life to build on the 
foundation laid in his boyhood, and educate himself 
in wider fields of knowledge than the demands of his 
daily vocation required. Possessed of an exceedingly 
genial temperament, of good common sense, an un- 
erring judgment, an unswerving integrity, a capacity 
for honest and thorough investigation, and tastes in- 
clined as his mind developed to literary pursuits, it 
would have been difficult to find a station in public 
or private life which he could not have creditably 
filled. For many years he w.is a director in the Eliot 
Insurance Company, and afterwards one of the or- 
ganizers and a director of the Eliot Bank and its 
successor, the Eliot National Bank, until his death ; 
and to his conservative prudence and sagacious in- 
sight these institutions owed a debt of gratitude 
which they were ever ready to acknowledge. 



FRANCIS HOWE. 

Francis Howe, whose portrait accompanies this 
sketch, was descended from John Howe, the first 
American ancestor. John Howe came from Eng- 
land and first settled in Watertown whence he removed 
to Sudbury where he was living in 1639, and made a 
freeman in 1640. In 1642 he was a selectman in that 
town. He was one of the petitioners for the grant 
constituting the town of Marlboro', and in 1657 re- 
moved to that place. The petition for the grant was 
presented to the General Court in May, 1656, and 
besides Mr. Howe, the petitioners were: Edmund 
Rice, William Ward, Thomas King, John Woods, 
Thomas Goodnow, John Ruddocke, Henry Rice, 
.Tohn Bent, Sr., John Maynard, Peter Bent and 
Edward Rice. In compliance with the petition a 
plantation known by the Indian name Whipsuppe- 
nicke, was granted and laid out containing 29,419 
acres. 

It is said that John Howe was the first white man 
to take up his residence on the grant. He built a 
house and there lived until his death in 1687. By a 
wife, Mary, whose death occurred not far from the 
time of his own, he had eleven children — John, 1640; 
Samuel, 1642; Sarah, 1644; Mary, 1646; Isaac, 1648; 
Josiah, Mary again, 1654; Thomas, 1656; Daniel, 
1658; Alexander, 1661; and Eleazur, 1662. Josiah, 
(me of the above sons, married March 18, 1671, Mary 
Haynes and had five children — Mary, 1672; Mary 
again, 1674; Josiah, 1678 ; Daniel, 1681 ; and Ruth, 
1684. Josiah, one of thtse children, married June 
14, 1706, Sarah Bigelow, and Novtmber 22, 1713, 
Mary Marble, and died September 20, 1766. His 
children were — Phinehas, 1707 ; Abraham, 1709 ; 
Rachel, 1710; Sarah, 1714; Mary, 1716; Josiah, 
1720; Jacob, 1724. Abraham Howe, one of the above, 
settled in Brookfield, and married Martha Potter. 
His children were — Ephraim, born September 23,' 
1733; Abraham, 1735; Abuer, 1736; Sarah, 1738; 
Rachel, 1741 ; Martha, 1744; Persis, 1749; Eli, 1752; 
and Abraham again, 1758. Ephraim, one of the 
children of Abraham, married in September, 1757, 
Sarah Gilbert of Brookfield, and had William born 
in 1759; Molly, 1761; Rachel, 1763; Sarah, 1706 ; 
Martha, 1768; Lucy, 1769; and Josiah, 1774. 
William Howe, one of the above children, born 
November 15, 1759, was a trader in Brookfield, and 
married November 2, 1780, Abigail, daughter of Jabcz 
Crosby of Brookfield, and had Sally, 1782 ; Nancy, 
1784; JabezC, 1787; Otis, 1788; Otis again, 1790; 
William, 1792; George, 1795 ; Amos, 1797; Francis. 
1799; Oliver, 1801; Charlotte Abigail, 1804; and 
Charlotte again, 1807. Jabez C. and George Howe 
were the late distinguished merchants of Boston, 
known as partners in the well-known house, of J. C. 
Howe and Co. Otis Howe was also a merchant in 
Boston, and the three daughters,! Sally, Nancy, and 
Charlotte Abigail, married Darius Hovey and Cyrus 
Dean, of Brookfield, and Samuel Johnson of Boston. 



538 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



All the children are now deceased. BIr. Hovey was 
the father of the late Charlea F. Hovey and George 
Hovey of Boston. 

Francis Howe, the subject of this sketch, married 
in September, 1824, Maria A., daughter of Ephraira 
Richards, of Enfield, and had eight children, three 
of whom died young and five of whom survived him. 
A daughter, Abbie J., married S. R. Pattison, an at- 
torney of London, England, who has acquired some 
distinction as an author and scientist, and also as a 
philanthropist. Lucretia P., another daughter, mar- 
ried Wm. J. Pingree, ofBoston, of the firm of Wm. J. 
Pingree & Brother, one of the leading dry goods com- 
mi^sion houses in that city. Among the living chil- 
dren there are two other brothers — William, for many 
yearsa planter in Mississippi, and Frederick A. Howe, 
an esteemed and prosperous commission merchant in 
Boston. Albert R. Howe, another son, born January 
3, 1840, died in Chicago, June 1, 1884. He was major 
of the 5th Massachusetts cavalry in the War of the 
Rebellion, and after the war settled with his brother, 
William, in the South and engaged in the business of 
cotton planting. He was a member of the 43d Con- 
gress from Mississippi, and afterwards until his death 
was a merchant in Chicago. 

Francis Howe was educated in the schools of his 
native town, and began business in Enfield. As his 
business grew and his capacity for its management 
developed he found the field in which he operated too 
narrow for the full satisfaction of his active spirit, and 
he removed to Boston, where, for some years, he was 
engaged in the West India business as a member of 
the well-known firm of Pope & Howe. With the 
competence which he had acquired as the result of 
his successful business career in Boston, he returned 
to his native town, whose inland air was more conge- 
nial to him than he had found the harsher airs from 
the sea. In Brookfield, after his return, he was asso- 
ciated for some time with Chester W. Chapin, of 
Springfield, and Frank Morgan, of Palmer, in the 
ownership of a stage-line between Worcester and 
Hartford, and at the same time carried on a large and 
successful country store. He always felt a deep in- 
terest in State and national politics, and was an 
active and influential leader of the democratic party 
of the town. As the candidate of that party he repre- 
sented the town in the house of representatives in 
1841-43, and represented Worcester County in the 
Senate in 1846. Subsequent to the Kansas outrages 
and in consequence of the attitude concerning them 
assumed by the party to which he had always been 
warmly attached he became a member and one of the 
founders of the Republican party, and to that organi- 
zation and its success he lent his aid and energies. 

As a member of the Orthodox Congregational 
Church, with which he became connected in 1867, he 
was always generous in his benefactions, and in private 
charities his hand was always found open and his 
heart warm. In all the varied fields of labor into 



which he had entered he carried with him a sound 
judgment, good common sense, a firm will, unswerv- 
ing integrity, a generous spirit and a determination to 
win success. It was said, by one who knew him, "he 
will be long remembered as a gentleman of kind and 
generous feelings, courteous manners and uncompro- 
mising integrity. The church, society and the com- 
munity have suffered a serious loss and his death will 
be severely felt by a large circle of friends and rela- 
tives." Mr. Howe died in Brookfield January 4, 1879, 
leaving, besides the children above mentioned, a widow, 
who is still a resident of that town. 



LUTHER STOWELL. 

Luther Stowell was the son of Luther and Lucy 
(Richardson) Stowell and was born at Sturbridge 
December 22, 1799. He came to Brookfield with his 
parents when young and spent his life here. Jlany 
of his winters when a young man were devoted to 
school teaching. May 11, 1827, he married Sophia 
Barret, of Brookfield. Mr. Stowell was a man who 
gave close attention to his own pursuits, which were 
principally .agricultural. He was esteemed a good 
citizen, represented his town as selectman and in 
1840 and 1860 represented his district in the Legisla- 
ture of the State. Mr. Stowell was a man of good 
judgment and in his business afiairs was successful. 
He died at Brookfield August 5, 1865. 



WILLIAM A. BANISTEE. 

William A. Banister was born at Brookfield, Mass., 
June 4th, 1807. He was the son of Seth and Dolly 
(Cutter) Banister, and belongs to the sixth generation 
bearing the name at Brookfield. His paternal grand- 
father, Seth, was a leading man in military afiairs. In 
1777 had served in the Revolutionary army nineteen 
months, the highest average in the third precinct; 
commanded a company in the service and rose to the 
rank of colonel. He married Marcy Warriner, of 
Brimfield. Their children were William Bostwick, 
born November 8, 1773, a benefactor of Newbury- 
port ; Liberty, born October 16, 1775 ; Seth, born 
January 4, 1778, was a captain in the War of 1812 and 
died at Brookfield September 7, 1857. 

The issue of Seth and Dolly Banister was : Caro- 
line C, died July 11, 1879 ; William A. the subject of 
this sketch ; Eliza Ann, died 1828 ; Sarah, died young; 
and Seth W., born January 15, 1811, and died Octo- 
ber 5, 1861. 

William A. Banister spent his boyhood at Brook- J 
field, and from there went to Boston. In 1831 he en- 
gaged himself at Charleston, S. C, as a salesman. 

His close attention to his duties through three suc- 
cessive yellow fever seasons showed his devotion to 
business entrusted to him. Shortly afterwards the 
mercantile house of Banister & Ravenel was estab- 
lished for direct trade between Charleston and Europe, 
with Mr. Banister at its head. Mr. Meminger, after- 




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BROOKFIELD. 



539 



wards Confederate Secretary of the Treasury, was a 
special partner in this house. 

After this time Mr. Banister made annual business 
visits to Europe, and in 1838 was a passenger on the 
Great Western, the finest Atlantic vovage made by 
pairsenger steamer from America to England. He 
witnessed the demonstrations at the coronation of 
Queen Victoria in that year. In 1845 he moved to 
New- York city, and was associated with several large 
imjjorting and jobbing houses, taking rank with the 
first merchants of his day, and doing a business of 
several millions annually. He always showtd the 
courage, capacity and high honor which most become 
a merchant. He retired from active business in 1859. 

In 1861 he was South on business, and witnessed 
the bombardment of Fort Sumter and the surrender 
of the same on the afternoon of April 13tli. 

Mr. Banister has shown his interest in humanity 
by his works. He has assisted in educating his three 
nephews, sons of his brother, Seth W. ; has given 
several thousand dollars to the home for aged men at 
Newburyport, a beautiful gate-way to the cemetery 
at Brookfield, in conjunction with Otis Hayden, 
Esq., and donated ten thousand dollars for founding 
a public library at Brookfield. 

Of late years Mr. Banister has lived in compara- 
tive retirement, with New York City as his home. 



EDWIN RICE. 

Edmund Rice, the American ancestor of the subject 
of this sketch, came from Barkhamstead,in the County 
of Hertfordshire, in England, and settled in Sudbury, 
Massachusetts, in 1638 or 1639. He was a Selectman 
in 1G44 and for some years afterwards, and deacon of 
the church in 1648. His son Thomas Rice also lived 
in Sudbury and by a wife Mary had thirteen children, 
one of whom was Peter, born October 24, 1658. Peter 
Rice, of Marlboro', married Rebecca, daughter of 
Abraham and Hannah (Ward) Howe, of Marlboro', 
and had eleven children, one of whom was Elisha, 
born December 2, 1690. Elisha Rice, of Brookfield, 
married Martha Rice October 6, 1720, and had seven 
children, one of whom was Elnathan. Elnathan Rice, 
of Brookfield, married Lucy Walker in October, 1754, 
and had six children, one of whom was Rufus, born 
February 7, 1764. Rufus Rice, of Brookfield, married 
Betsey Moore October 2, 1786, and had nine children, 
one of whom was Shepard, born September 20, 1790. 
Shepard Rice, of Brookfield, married Mahala Carf)en- 
ter April 22, 1810, and had Elsie (1812), who married 
John E. Ainsworth, of Brimfield ; Elliot (1814), who 
married Harriet Nickols; Edwin, April 11, 1817; 
Miriam, who married Sylvanus King, of Monson and 
Leprelet. 

Edwin Rice, the son of Shepard, is the subject of 
this sketch. He received such an education as the 
schools of his native town were able to furnish supple- 
mented by that which his native gifts fortunately 



enabled him to acquire. After leaving school, with 
the other boys in his neighborhood he naturally 
drifted into the shoe establishments of Brookfield, 
then extensive and flourishing, to learn the business 
of manufacturing shoes and to prepare himself for 
active life. He soon, however, found the field into 
which he had entered too narrow for his restless spirit 
and on the 20th of April, 1841, he went to Boston 
and engaged in the retail furniture business in part- 
nership with David Walker. This enterprise proved 
unsuccessful and the end of six months found the 
concern insolvent. The creditors offered a settlement 
at a large discount on their indebtedness which Mr. 
Rice refused and after a year's hard work as SheritTs 
keeper and in other occupations he liquidated the 
entire liabilities of the concern and acquired a repu- 
tation for industry and integrity which he has retained 
through life. 

In 1845 he was appointed constalde by Thomas A. 
Davis, the mayor of Boston, and held that officer's 
warrant not far from twenty-five years. His prompt- 
ness in the despatch of business, his accurate and in- 
telligent methods, and above all his thorough honesty 
in all his dealings made him a popular ofi!icer. Among 
the leading lawyers of Court Street, Sohier and Welch, 
Hubbard and Watts, Fiske and Rand, Whiting and 
Russell, Hutchins and Wheeler, Whitman and Davis, 
and other attorneys, too numerous to mention, en- 
trusted him with their business, and his income from 
this source enabled him to make investments in real 
estate, in which he has found a profitable account. In 
1851 he was commissioned by Governor Boutwell as 
coroner, and the business of that office, by no means 
insignificant, was added to his regular occupation as 
c(mstable. This office he held about ten years, and 
he has since devoted his full time to the management 
of his real estate and other properties of which he has 
become possessed. 

When Mr. Rice came to Boston, in 1841, he settled 
in East Boston, and during the forty -seven years which 
have since elapsed he has lived within fifty feet of his 
prestnt residence in Saratoga Street. At that time 
the population of East Boston was about one thousand, 
and there are now living on the island only four fam- 
ilies that were living there then. 

Mr. Rice married March 5, 1838, Frances L. Muzzy, 
of Brookfield, by whom he had no children. His sec- 
ond wife was Abbie E. Brigham of Boston, daughter 
of Major Franklin Brigham, of Lancaster, whom he 
married August 13, 1878. He has an only child, Ed- 
win Brigham Rice, who was born December 5, 1879. 

Mr. Rice has never sought political preferment, and 
has declined all participation in the management of 
enterprises, in which he did not have a substantial 
interest. He is a large owner in the Quincy Mining 
Company, and as one of its directors makes an annual 
visit to its properties in Michigan. He is an en- 
thusiastic Mason, an active member of Joseph Webb 
Lodge of Boston, and also a member of the National 



540 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



Lancers. He is connected with the Unitarian Society 
of East Boston, having been brought up in a liberal 
faith. His father was active in the settlement of a 
Universalist churcli in Brookfiekl, and from Univer- 
salism to Unitariauism was an easy transition for the 
son. 

Mr. Rice, at the age of seventy-one, is still active in 
mind and body, and with the enjoyment ofahandaome 
competence, acquired by his own skill and energy and 
of a liappy home, he has apparently many years yet 
before him of usefulness and content. 



CHAPTER LXXX. 
NORTH BROOKFIELD. 

BV WII^LIAM T. DAVIS. 

North Brookfield is substantially the Second 
Precinct of Brookfield, which was incorporated March 
28, 1750. The petitioners for a separate precinct in 
the northeasterly part of Brookfield having failed to 
secure an act of incorporation in 1749, presented a 
petition at the next session of the General Court in 
1750, in which they stated as follows : 

Ttiat your petitioiiera under our unhappy and remote situation from 
the place of ])ublif worstiip in said town liaving often petitioned the 
town for relief either Iiy Ituilding a nieeting-liouse at or near tiie centre 
of tlie town as it now lies or to set us off as a distinct parish as per our 
former petitions may appear ; liut being often denied our request which 
we thought most rensonaltle ; the town at last made u grant to the 
inhabitants of the said part of the town that they with such as would 
join witii them— they entering their names or sending them to the 
town clerk in writing within the space of tliree months from the date 
of the gmnt, should be set off as a distinct Parish — provided they and 
their possessions di<l not exceed one-third part of said town for quantity 
and quality as per the vote or grant of the town may appear ; upon 
which vote or grant we agi'eed to build a handsome frame for the public 
worship of God ; and in April last we preferred a petition to this Hon- 
ored Court so agreeable (as we thought) to the town's vote that none 
■would oppose it ; but to our surprise we found such opposition from the 
town and some of our petitioners that caused us todesist the proceeding » 
and being willing to do anything reasonable to satisfy our disaffected 
brethren we covenanted and agreed for their satisfiction to be at the 
cost of a committee of uninterested wortliy gentlemen mutually chosen 
who have been upon the spot and heard tlio pleas and viewed the pro- 
posed parish and have returned tlieir judgment that the house stands 
just and reasonable to accommodate them its well as ourselves as per 
their return and tlie covenants we entered into may appear. Therefore 
your pctitionel'S pray that this Honored Court will incorporate ua who 
have returned our names to the town clerk agreeable to the vote of the 
town into a distinct Parish and invest us with parish privileges; granting 
also a liberty of others joyneing with us (not to exceed one-third part 
of the town as abovesaid) for the space of two years or eighteen monllis 
or as this Honored Court shall think meet; And your petitit)nei-s further 
pray that one-third part of the hinds in said town sequestered to ministry 
and school use or the incomes thereof may be set over and secured to us . 
and also that the town of Brookfield abate or reimburse to your peti- 
tioners and such as join with them llieir proportion of a tax lately 
assessed on oiir j)oll8 and estates for the settlement and ordination 
charges of (he Itev l\Ir. Klislia Harding and the repairs of tlie old 
meeting-house amounling in the whole to about twelve hundred pounds 
old tenor currency more or less. And your petitioners as in duty bound 
ghull ever pray. 

This petition was signed by Thomas Hale, Wra. 
Ayres, Ebenezer Witt and fifty-four others, and the 



record of the General Court contains the following 
order : 

That the prayer of the petitioners be so far granted as that they with 
their families and estat-^s, together with such persons and their estates 
who shall within three months from this time signify that desire 
therefor under their hands to the clerk of the town of Brookfield, be 
and they hereby are set off a Distinct Parish and are endowed with all 
the privileges and subjected to all the duties which the other inhabit- 
ants of Pai'ishes are by the laws of the Province endowed with or sub- 
jected to — Provided their possessions do not exceed one-third part of the 
said town of Brookfield for quantity and quality. 

Thomas Hcbbard, Speal:er pro tempore. 

In Council March 29, 1756, Read and Concurred. 

Samuel Holbrooe, Dep. Secy. 

Consented to 

S Phipps. 

After the incorporation of the Second Precinct the 
Second Parish was organized at the house of Jabez 
Ayres, Monday, May 21, 1750, by the choice of Capt. 
Wm. Ayres moderator, Capt. Wm. Ayres precinct 
clerk and Capt. Wm. Ayres, Capt. Ebenezer Witt, 
Samuel Gould, Noah Barns and Benjamin Adams 
precinct committee. Thomas Bartlett was chosen 
treasurer, Joseph Stone collector, and Wm. Ayres, 
Samuel Gould, Wm. Witt, Jason Bigelow and Moses 
Ayres were made assessors. The frame of a meeting- 
house was reared April 5, 1749, before the act of in- 
corporation had been secured, and, though occupied, 
it was not completed for some years. Rev. Eli For- 
busli or, as he afterwards called himself. Rev. Eli 
Forbes, was invited to settle as pastor, and was or- 
dained June 3, 1752. Mr. Forbes was born in West- 
borough in 1726, and graduated at Harvard in 1751. 
During his collegiate career he enlisted in the army 
to engage in the French war, but returned to Cam- 
bridge, and graduated seven years after he entered as 
freshman. During his pastorate he was for a time an 
Indian missionary, and established a church and school 
among the Oneidas. He was dismissed at his own re- 
quest March 1, 1775, in consequence of certain in- 
dignities resulting from an undeserved suspicion of 
his disloyalty ta the patriot cause. He was installed 
over the First Church in Gloucester June 5, 1776, 
and died in his pastorate in that town December 15, 
1804. 

The next settled minister was Rev. Jo»eph Apple- 
tnn, of Ipswich, who was ordained October 3, 1776, 
and died in the pastorate July 25, 1795. Mr. Apple- 
ton came from a good stock. He was descended from 
Samuel Applcton, who was born in Little Walding- 
field. County of Suffolk, England, in 1586, and was 
the seventh in descent from John Apulton, of Great 
Waldingfield, who was living in 1396. Samuel Apple- 
ton came to New England about 1635, and settled in 
Ipswich, where he had a grant of lands. He married 
JIary Everard, who came to New England with her 
husband and probably her children^ — John, Samuel, 
Sarah, Judith and Martha. Samuel, the second son, 
wa.i born at Little Waldingfield in 1624, and during 
the career of Andros, in New England, he took a de- 
finite and influential stand against him. He married 



NORTH BROOKFIELD. 



541 



Hannah Paine, and had Hannah, Judith and Sam- 
uel. By a second wife, Mary Oliver, whom he mar- 
ried December 8, 1656, he had John, Isaac, Oliver 
and Joannah. Isaac Appleton, one of the above chil- 
dren, born in 16G4, married Priscilla Baker, and had 
Priscilla, Mary, Isaac, Elizabeth, Martha and Re- 
becca. Isaac Appleton, one of the above, born in Ips- 
wich in 1704, married Elizabeth Sawyer, of Wells, in 
the State of Maine, and had Isaac, Francis, Elizabeth, 
Samuel, Thomas, John, Daniel, William, Mary and 
Joseph. Joseph, the youngest child, graduated at 
Brown University in 1772, and was settled in North 
Brookfield soon after he had completed his studies lor 
the ministry. He married Mary Hook and had the 
following children, all of whom were born in Brook- 
field — Phineas, born in 1779, who died in 1800 ; Jo- 
seph, born in 1781, and died in 1793; Abigail Ellery, 
born in 1784; William, Sarah Hook and Mary Ann. 
William, the youngest .son, was born in that part of 
Brookfield which is now North Brookfield, November 
16, 1786, and died in Brookline, Mass., February 15, 
1862. He came to Boston in 1807, and after a short 
career of preparation for mercantile pursuits he ad- 
vanced step by step until he occupied a place in the 
front rank of Boston merchants. He was the presi- 
dent of the Branch Bank of the United States from 
1832 to 1836 and a member of Congress from 1851 to 
1855, and in 1861-62. He was also president of the 
Provident Association, aud was a large benefac- 
tor of the Massachusetts General Hospital. He was a 
benefactor also of his native town, and as a memorial 
of him therefore, as well as of his father, this sketch 
has been introduced into this nairative. On the 16th 
of March, 1859, he gave to the church and parish, over 
which his father had ministered, a considerable num- 
ber of books and the sum of $5000 for the purpose of 
establishing a Parish Library. He provided that the 
sura of $2000 should be kept as a permanent fund, and 
that the remainder, with the income of the fund, could 
be expended in the purchase of books and paying the 
current expenses of the library. The parish accepted 
the gift, and voted that the library should be called 
" The Appleton Library." It was also voted that the 
pastor for the time being and four other persons, 
chosen by the parish, should compose a board of 
trustees to have the library in charge. The original 
board consisted of Rev. Dr. Thomas Snell, the succes- 
sor of Rev. Joseph Appleton, Rev. Christopher Cush- 
ing, Charles Adams, Jr., Dr. Joshua Porter, Bonum 
Nye and Gideon B. Dewing. The chapel was en- 
larged to receive the library, and, at the present time, 
there are nearly five thousand volumes on its shelves. 
Rev. Thomas Snell, the succe-sor of Mr. Appleton, 
was ordained June 27, 1798, and continued as sole 
pastor until Septeniber 17, 1851, and senior pastor 
afterwards until his death, May 4, 1862. His salary, 
which was objected to by some at the time of his set- 
tlement as too large, never during the sixty-four years 
of his pastorate exceeded five hundred dollars. Dr. 



Snell was an early and earnest advocate of the estab- 
lishment of Amherst College, and in 1828 received 
from that institution the degree of Doctor of Divinity. 
He was born in Cummington, Mass., November 21, 
1774, and graduated at Dartmouth in 1795. He 
taught an academy at Haverhill one year before going 
to Brookfield and was licensed to preach by the Tol- 
land Association October 3, 1797. He delivered an 
oration at Brookfield July 5, 1813 ; a sermon on the 
completion of his fortieth year in the ministry in 
1838, with a short history of the town ; a sermon on the 
fiftieth anniversary of his ordination in 1848; an his- 
torical address containing a sketch of North Brook- 
field in 1850, and another containing a sketch of his 
own church in 1852. During his pastorate a new 
meeting-house was built in 1823 and dedicated Janu- 
ary 1, 1824. The house was remodeled in 1842, 
lengthened twenty feet in 1853 and re-dedicated Jan- 
uary 18, 1854, and again remodeled in 1874. 

Rev. Christopher Gushing was installed as colleague 
with Dr. Snell September 17, 1851, and after his death 
continued as sole pastor until his dismissal, Septem- 
ber 17, 1868. Mr. Gushing was born in South Scitu- 
ate (now Norwell), Mass., and after graduating at Yale 
in 1844, entered the Andover Thiological Seminary, 
from which he graduated in 1847. He became secre- 
tary of the American Congregational Union in May, 
1867, sixteen months before his dismissal. He received 
the degree of Doctor of Divinity from Amherst Col- 
lege in 1871 and died in Cambridge October 23, 1881. 

The successor of Mr. Gushing was Rev. Gabriel H. 
De Bevoise, who was installed September 17, 1868, and 
dismissed in 1880. After leaving North Brookfield 
he was installed at Leominster in 1881. 

Rev. Sedgwick P. Wilder, born at Newfane, Vt , 
May 28, 1847, graduated at Y.ale Theological Seminary 
in 1875 and was installed June 24, 1880. 

No other religious society existed in North Brook- 
field before its incorporation as a town. The Congre- 
gational Church was the nucleus of the town, and in 
order to make its sketch complete it must necessarily 
include that part of its history which lies back of the 
incorporation. The act incorporating the town was 
parsed February 28, 1812. At a meeting of the parish 
held in 1810 it was voted to petition the Legislature 
for an act of separation and a committee was chosen 
for the purpose consisting of Daniel Gilbert, Jason 
Bigelow, Luke Potter, Aaron Forbes and Jacob Kit- 
tredge. Under the direction of this committee the 
following petition was drawn up and presented : 

To the HoitorabJe Senate ami House of liepj-eseiitativee in General Colirt 

asKemhled : 

The Inhabitiints of the Second Precinct in Brookfield humbly pray 
that they may be set off from the other precincts in said town, and be 
incorporated into a Township by the name of North Brookfield ; and 
that the territorial limits of such incorporation may be the same as 
these, & hereby the said Precinct is now designated. 

And the Kiid Inhabitants would beg leave further to state that from 
the extensive limits of said town, it being separated into three distinct 
precincts, together with the necessary mode of transacting the business 
of the same by annual rotation in each Precinct, they not only find the 



542 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



distance of travel burdensome, but in considering the transacting; of 
their parochial cuiicerus a two-fold labor and expense ; That tlie of. 
fleers of said town are of necessity distant from the centre, and that 
from the number of its inhabitants and the multiplicity of the business 
of the said town the terra of one day insufficient for transacting the 
eame. 

This petition not meeting with success, another 
was presented to the Legislature April 15, 1811, which 
was signed by Jason Higelow, Wm. Ayres (2d), Ezra 
Batcheller, Luke Potter, Daniel Gilbert, Hugh Cun- 
ningham and Amos Bond, committee. As a result 
of this second effort, the following act of incorpora- 
tion was passed February 28, 1812 : 

ACT OF INCOEPOKATION. 

Sfct. 1. Be it enacted, etc. That all that part of the town of Brook 
field whicli hiis been heretofore called and known by the name of the 
Second or North Parish (excepting that part of said territory now lying 
eoulh of the post road leading from Worcester through Spencer to 
Springfield), together with tlie inhabitants thereon, be, and the same is 
hereby incorporated into a separate town by the name of North 
BttoOKFiEi-D. And the said town of North Brookfield is hereby vested 
with all the powers and privileges, and shall also be subject to all the 
duties to which other corporate towns are entitled and subjected by the 
consiitution and laws of this Oonmiouwealth. 

Sect. 2. Be it further enacted, Tliat the inhabitants of the said town 
of North Brookfield shall be entitled to hold such proportion of all the 
personal property now belonging to and owned in common by the in^ 
habitants of the town of Urooktield, as the property of the said in- 
habitants of North Brookfield bears to the property of all the inhabi- 
tants of the town of Brookfield, according to the last valuation thereof. 

Sect. 3. Bn if further enacted. That tJie inhabitants of the said town 
of North Brookfield shall bo boldon to pay all arrears of taxes due 
from them, together witli their proportion (to be ascertained as afore- 
said) of all the debts now due and owing from the said town of Brook 
field, or which may be hereafter found due and owing by reason of any 
contract or other matter and thing heretofore entered into, or now ex- 
isting. 

Sect. 4, Be it further enacted, That the said town of North Brook- 
field shall be holden to support their proportion of the present poor of 
the town of Brookfield, whicli proportion shall be ascertained by the 
present valuation of the town ; and all persons who may hereafter bo- 
come chargeable, as paupers, to the town of Brookfield and North 
Brookfield, shall be considered as belonging to that town, on the terri- 
tory of which they had their settlement at the* time of passing this act, 
and shall in future be chargeable to that town only. 

Sect. 5. Be it further enacted, That the said town of North Brook- 
field shall bp holden to pay their proportion of all State, town and 
county taxes assessed on the inliabitants of tlie said town of Brook- 
field, until a new valuation shall bo made of the said Towns. Provided, 
That the said town of North Brookfield shall be holden, until the 
further order of the Legislutun-, to pay to the town of Brookfield sneh 
proportion of any of the expenses of maintaining the bridges and 
causeways over the rivers in the town of Brookfield, as a committee of 
the Court of Sessions for ihe county of Worcester shall determine ; and 
eaid Court of Sessions are hereby authorized, on application of either of 
the inhabitants of Brookfield or North Brookfield, from time to time, to 
appoint a committee for the above purpose, whose report, made to and 
accepted by said court, shall be binding on the said towns. 

Sect. G. Be it further enacted. That any Justice of the Peace for the 
county of Worcester, upon application therefor, is hereby authorized to 
issue his warrant, directed to any freeholder in the said town of North 
Brookfield, requiring him to notify and warn the inhabitants thereof to 
meet at such t'nie and place as shall be appointed in said warrant, for 
the choice of such officers as towns are by law required to choose at 
their annual town-meetings. 

February 20, 1818, the Legislature passed an act 
to provide for the repeal of the fifth section of the 
above act, as follows : 

Be it enacted, that Austin Flint, of Leicester, Nathaniel Jones, of 
Barre, and Joseph Curaminga, of Ware, are hereby appointed a conmiit- 
tee to hear and consider the claim of Brookfield on the one part, and 
of North Biookfield on the other ; and finally to determine whether the 



town of North Brookfield ought in future to pay any part of the ex- 
penses of maintaining the bridges and causeways in the town of Brook- 
field. . . . 

Sect. 2. Be it further enacted. That from and after the time the re- 
port of said committee, shall he filed in the office of the Secretary of 
the Commonwealth, the said fifth Section of said Act incorporating the 
town of North Brookfield, shall be repealed ; and the duties and li- 
abilities of said North Brookfield, resulting from the said section, shall 
altogether ceiise. . . . 

The first town-meeting was held on Tuesday, March 
10, 1812, and Daniel Gilbert wiis chosen moderator, 
and Moses Bond town clerk. The destruction by fire 
of the town records renders it impossible to either 
present in this narrative a list of selectmen and 
moderators of town-meetings and other officers or to 
make such extracts as would be desirable in portray- 
ing the life of the town. The first town-house was 
built in 1833. Before that time town-meetings had 
been held in the Congregational Church, as was the 
universal custom in the early days of New England 
towns, when the town and the parish were one and 
the same. Indeed, the meeting-house derives its 
name from the fact that it was the general meeting- 
place of the people. The first t(twn-house in North 
Brookfield was not built by the town, but was owned 
by a company called the North Brookfield Town- 
House Company, and occupied by the parish and the 
town for town-meetings, schools and other purposes. 
This bouse was burned in the winter of 1846, and in 
1847 a town-house was built by the town which was 
burned October 14, 1SG2, with all the records of the 
town and the books of the North Brookfield Savings 
Bank, whose treasurer, Hiram Knight, was also the 
clerk of the town. In 1863 the present building was 
erected at a cost of about twenty thousand dollars. 

Though we are unable to furnish a list of town 
officers and thus show who, in the different genera- 
tions, have been the men to whom the municipal in- 
terests have been confided, the following lii-t of repre- 
sentatives to the General Court, covering for the most 
part a period when offices sought the men and not 
men tlie offices, will, to a considerable extent, make 
up the deficiency. It is taken from the State Register 
and tbe manual of the General Court, and is believed 
to be correct, 

The following persons have represented North 
Brookfield in the General Court wholly or in part 
since its incorporation in 1812: 



1813. Thomas Hale. 

1814. None. 

1815. None. 

1816. None. 

1817. Thomas Hale. 
181S. None. 

1819. None. 

182(1. Daniel Gilbert. 

1821. None. 

1822. None. 

1823. Charles Henshaw. 

1824. None. 
18.^5. None. 

1826. None. 

1827. Eli Forbes. 

1828. Wm. Adams. 



1829. Wm. Adams. 
18.30. None. 

1831. Tyler Batcheller. 

1832. John Bigelow. 

1833. Junathan Gary. 

1834. Eli Forbes. 

1835. Tyler Batcheller. 
Oliver Ward. 

1836. Wm. Adams. 
Joseph A. Moore. 

1837. Kittredge Hill. 

1838. Chauncey Edmunds. 

Pliny Nye. 
1810. Joseph A. Moore. 

Freeman Walker. 
1840. Freeman Walker. 



NORTH BROOKFIELD. 



543 



1841. Ezra Batcheller. 
184-J. None. 

1843. None. 

1844. Uii-am Edson. 

1845. None. 

1847. None. 

1848. Amnsa Walker. 

1849. AniasH Walker. 



1850. Charles Adama. Jr. 

1851. Charles Adams, Jr. 

1852. Charles Adams, Jr. 

1853. John Hill. 
18.54. Kone. 

1855. A. L. Poland. 
185G. Levi Adams. 
1867. Warrfu Tyler. 



By an amendment of the Constitution adopted by the 
Legislatures of 1856 and 1857, and ratified by the peo- 
ple May 1, 1857, it was provided that a census of the 
legal voters in the Cominoiiwealth on the 1st of May, 

1857. should be taken and returned to the Secretary 
of the Commonwealth on or before the last day of 
June, on the basis of which the Legislature should 
provide for the creation of representative districts. 
Under this arrangement North Brookfield and Brook- 
field constituted the twelfth Worcester Representative 
District, and were represented as follows: 

1858. Amasa Walker, of North Brookfield. 

1859. Luther Stowell, of Brookfield. 

1860. J. H. Jenks, of North Brookfield. 
1801. Charles Tales, of Brookfield. 

]80i. Charles Adams, .Ir., of North Brookfield. 
1864. Edward J, Russell, of North Brookfield. 

1806. Josiah F. Hehard, of North Brookfield. 

Under the appointment of 1866, based on the cen- 
sus of 1865, the towns of Brookfield, North Brook- 
field, West Brookfield, Sturbridge and Warren consti- 
tuted the Eighteenth Worcester District, and were rep- 
resented during the ten succeeding years as follows: 

1807. JanipB S. Montague, of Brookfield. 
Charles E. Smith, of West Brookfield. 

1868. Amasa C. Monre, of .Stiirhridge. 

Joseph B Lombard, of Warren. 
1809. Ezra Batcheller, of North Brookfield. 

Daniel W. Knight, of Brookfield. 
18711. Benjamin A. Tripp, of Warren. 

John Harvey 51oore, ot Warren. 

1871. Martin L Richardson, of Sturbridge. 
George S. Duell, of Brookfield. 

1872. Daniel W. Knight, of North Brookfield. 
Simon H. Sibley, of Warren. 

1873. Noah D. Ladd, of Sturbridge. 
Wm. B. St(jne, of West Brookfield. 

1874. Wanen Tyler, of North Brookfield. 
Stilhnan Butterworth, of Brookfield. 

1875. Charles B. Sanford, of West Brookfield. 
George T. Lincoln, of Sturbridge. 

1870. Charles Fuller, of S urbridge. 
John Wetherbee, of Warren. 

Under the apportionment of 1876, based on the 
census of 1875, the same towns constituted the Twelfth 
Worcester District, and were represented as follows: 

1877. Wm. 11. Montague, of North Brookfield. 
George W. Johnson, of Brookfield. 

1878. George C. Lincoln, of North Brookfield. 
Alvin B. Chamberlain, of Sturbridge. 

1879. Theodore C. Bates, of North Brookfield. 
Joseph Smith, of Warren. 

1880. George W. Johnson, of Brookfield. 
George N. Bacon, of Sturbridge. 

1881. George A. Parratt, of West Brookfield. 
George M. Newton, of Warren (died). 
Lucius M. Gilbert, of Warren (vacancy). 

1882. Hiram Knight, of North Brookfield. 
David W. Hodgkins, of Brookfield. 

1883. Emory L. Bates, of Sturbridge. 
Horace W. Bush, of West Brookfield. 

1884. Aldeu Batcheller, of North Brookfield. 
Joseph W. Hastings, of Warren. 

1885. Edwin D, Ooodell,of Brookfield. 
David B. Wright, of Sturbridge. 



1886. Edwin Wilbnr, of West Brookfield. 
Marcus Burroughs, of W^arren. 

Under the apportionment of 1886, based on the 
census of 1885, Brookfield, North Brookfield, West 
Brookfield, New Braiiitree, Oakham, Sturbridge and 
Warren constituted the Fifth Worcester District, and 
have been represented as follows: 

1887. Edwin D. Goodell, of Brookfield. 
Samuel Clark, of North Brookfield. 

1888. George H. Coolidge, of Weat Brookfield. 
Henry D. Haynes, of Sturbridge. 

Chosen for 1889. George Bliss, of Warren. 

John B. Gould, of Warren. 

The following residents of North Brookfield have 
held other State offices since its incorporation : 

Amasa Walker, Senator, 1850; Secretary of the Commonwealth, 
1851-52. 
Freeman Walker, Senator, 1852, '53, '61. 

Charles .\dame, Jr., Senator, 1865-67, '78 ; State Treasurer, 1871-75. 
Theodore C. Bates, Senator, 1883. 

In 1854 the boundary line between North Brook- 
field and Brookfield was changed by the following 
act, pa-sed April 15th in that year : 

An act to set off a part of the town of North Bi-ookfield and annex 
the same to the town of Brookfield. Be it enacted, &c.. fis follows : 

Section 1. So much of the town of North Brookfield in the county of 
Worcester as lies soulherl.v of a line beginning at a stone monnment at 
the old post-road leading to Brookfield, a little noi-thwesterly of what is 
called W^olcott Mill, and running thence south seventy-seven degrees 
and thirty minutes east three hundred and seventy-five rods to a stone 
monument as now estiiblished in the line of Brookfield and North Brook- 
field on the easterly side of the Stevens Potid, so calU-d, with all the in- 
habitants and estates thereon, is hereby set off fro[n the town of North 
Brookfield and annexed to the town of Brookfield ; provided, however, 
that for the purpose of electing Representatives to the General Court to 
which the said town of North Brookfield is entitled until the next de- 
cennial census shall be taken in pursuance of the thirteenth article of 
amendment to the constitution, the said territory shall remain and con- 
tinue to Ilea part of the town of North Brookfield, and the inhabitants 
resident therein shall be entitled to vote in the choice of such represen- 
tatives, and shall be eligible to the office of representative in the town 
of North Brookfield in the same manner aa if this Act had not been 
passed. 

Section 2. The said inhabitants and estates so set off shall be liable to 
pay all taxes that have been legally assested on them by the town of 
North Brookfield in the same manner as if this act had not been passed, 
and until the next general valuation of estates in thisCommonwealh the 
town of Brookfield shall annually pay over to the said town of North 
Brookfield the proportion of any State or county tax which the said 
town of North Brookfield may have to pay upon the inhabitants or 
estates hereby set off. 

Section 3. If any persons, who have heretofore gained a legal settle- 
ment in the town of North Brookfield by reason of a residence on the 
territory set off as aforesaid, onby having been proprietors thereof or who 
may derive such settlement from any such resident or proprietor shall 
stand in need of relief or support as paupers, they shall be relieved and 
supported by the said town of Brookfield in the same manner as if they 
had gained a legal settlement in that town. 

Section 4. The selectmen of the town of Brookfield shall annually 
until the next decennial census, fourteen days at least before the second 
Monday of November, furnish to the selectmen of North Brookfield a 
correct list, so far as may he ascertained from the records of the town of 
Brookfield or any of its ofiicers, of all persons resident on the territory 
hereby set off who shall be entitled to vote for representatives as afore- 
said in North Brookfield. 

Section 5. This Act shall take effect from and after its passage. 

The part which North Brookfield took in the sup- 
pression of the Rebellion was what might have been 
expected in view of the character of its leading men. 
The spirit and energy displayed by these men, some 



544 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



of whom were largely engaged in Southern trade, but 
whose patriotism controlled and suppressed every 
unworthy and selfish motive, deserve a commendatory 
reference in this narrative. A public meeting was 
held on the evening of the 19th of April, 1861, on 
the reception by telegraph of I lie news of the »ttack 
on the Sixth Regiment in Baltimore, "to see if 
North Brookfield will respond to the call of the Presi- 
dent by raising a company of volunteers to offer their 
services to the government." The meeting was 
called to order by W. S. Phelps, who was chosen 
chairman, and it was addressed by J. E. Green, 
Freeman Walker and others. An enrollment list was 
opened for signatures, which was headed by Joseph C. 
Fretts and Charles Perry, whose example was soon 
followed by others. It is a singular fact that these 
two men, whose promptness to enlist in the cause of 
their country inspired the young men of the town to 
enter the service, should have both been killed at the 
battle of Antietam. After the adoption of appropri- 
ate resolutions the meeting was adjourned to the next 
evening of Saturday the 20th, and on that occasion 
the town hall was filled by citizens of North Brook- 
field and the adjoining towns. The enrollment of 
volunteers continued and the selectmen were requested 
to call a meeting of the town at the earliest practic- 
able day. The meeting called by the selectmen was 
held on Monday, April 29th, and before that time 
the spirit of the town had been thoroughly aroused 
by the passage of troops on the railroad bound to the 
front. At' this meeting it was voted that each volun- 
teer who shall serve in the company now being 
raised in the town until mustered into the military 
service shall receive one dollar a day while engaged 
in drilling and when mustered in shall be supplied 
with a substantial unifoim and a good revolver, and 
while engaged in active service his family shall re- 
ceive eight dollars a month. Freeman Walker, John 
Hill and Augustus Smith were appointed a committee 
to procure the supplies voted by the town. At a 
subsequent meeting these gentlemen resigned and 
Charles Adams, Jr., J. F. Hebard and A. Woolworth 
were chosen in their place. On the 3d of June it 
was voted to pay State aid to the families of volun- 
teers in accordance with an act of the Legislature 
which had just been passed. On the 3d of March, 
1862, it was voted to pay State aid to families of 
volunteers to the amount the State promises to re- 
fund, and on the 3d of July it was voted to pay a 
bounty of one hundred dollars to each volunteer who 
shall enlist for three years and be credited to the 
quota of the town before the 1st of August, and on 
the 22d of August it was voted to pay the same 
bounty to volunteers for nine months' service. 
On the 8th of December, 1863, James Miller, Charles 
Adams, Jr., and T. M. Duncan were chosen to aid the 
selectmen in the work of obtaining recruits. On the 
5th of April, 1864, the bounty to three years volun- 
teers was increased to one hundred and twenty-five 



dollars, and on the 26th of June it was voted that a 
bounty of one hundred and twenty-five dollars be 
paid for ene year's men, two hundred and twenty-five 
dollars for two years' men and three hundred and 
twenty dollars for three years' men. The amount of 
money appropriated and expended on account of the 
war was $34,825.55, of which the sum of $17,886.47 
was expended in State aid and refunded by the State. 
The following list covers the various enlistments of 
Brookfield men, some of whom re-enlisted and 
whose names therefore appear more' than once on 
the list: 

TIiom?8 S. Bates, tliree years let T^egiment, niusician 

Andrew Anderson, three years 2d Regiment, unassigned 

George Christy, tliree years 2d Keginient, unjissigned 

Jonn Congdon, three yeai-s 2d Regiment, unassigned 

James Erwiu, three years 2d Regiment, unassigned 

Frederick Fuller, three years 2d Regiment, Co. K 

Win. Green, three years 2d Iteginieilt, Co. E 

John II. Jones, three years 2d Regiment, unassigned 

Frederick Otto, three years 2d Regiment, unassigned 

George Ring, three years 2d Regiment, Co. F 

Wm. Rogers, three years 2d Regiment, Co. C 

Wm. Ryan, three years 2d Regiment, Co. C 

Charles Sanford, three years 2d Regiment, unassigned 

Peter Ward, three years 2d Regiment, Co. F 

John Waterman, three years 2d Regiment, Co. D 

Henry Williams, three years 2d Regiment, unassigned 

Jean Williams, three years 2d Regiment, unassigned 

"Wm, Clark, three years.... 11th Regiment, Co. I 

George A. Bates, three years 12th Regiment, musician 

Christopher Kelley, three years 12th Regiment, Co. I 

John I\Iiller, three years 12th Regiment, Co. C 

Alplionse W. Prouty (corp.), three year3..13th Regiment, Co. F 

Thomas Sullivan, three yeal-s l;lth Regiment, Co. H 

■Wni. J. Bahbitt, three years 15th Regiment, Co. F 

Francis A. Barnes, three years loth Regiment, Co. F 

Charles H. Bartlett (corp.), three years 15th Regiment, Co. F 

Henry R. Bliss, tliree years 15th Regiment, Co. F 

Oliver Bliss, three years 15tli Regiment, Co. F 

W. II H. Brewer, three years 15th Regiment, Co. F 

Theodore Cnmmings, three years l.'ith Regiment, Co, F 

Amos Dean, three yeal-s 15th Regiment, Co. F 

CM. Deland (corp,), three years lath Regiment, Co. F 

David M. Earle (sergt.), throe years 15th Regiment, Co. F 

Henry G. Earle, three years 15tli Regiment, Co. F 

Elias D. Ellis, three years loth Regiment, Co. E 

Albert H. Foster (sergt.), three years 15tli Regiment, Co. F 

Joseph Fretts (corp.), three years 15tli Regiment, Co. F 

Wm. Graham, three years 15th Regiment, Co. F 

J. E. Greene (capt.), three years 15th Regiment, Co. F 

Stephen Harrington, three years 15th Regiment, Co. F 

G. W. A. Hill, three years 15th Regiment, Co. F 

John Howard, three years 15th Regiment, Co. F 

John A. Hughes, three years 15th Regiment, Co. F 

John II. Johnson (nins.), three years 15th Regiment, Co. P 

Aniasa B. Kimball, three years 15th Regiment, Co. F 

Daniel W. Knight (1st It.), three years 16th Regiment, Co. F 

Harrison S. Lamb, three years 15th Regiment, Co. F 

Jeremiah Lynch, three years 15th Regiment, Co. F 

George L. Marsh, three years 15th Regiment, Co. F 

Henry II. Moulton, three years 15th Regiment. Co. F 

Elijah Nicliols three years 15th Regiment, Co. F 

John R. Nichols (sergt.), three years 15tli Regiment, Co. F 

A.S. Pellett, three years 15th Regiment, Co. F 

Charles Perry, three years 15th Regiment, Co. F 

J. W. Rayniore, three years 15th Regiment, Co. F 

Edwin A. Rice, three years 15tll Regiment, Co. F 

Michael Rock, three years 15th Regiment, Co. F 

E. J. Uussell (capt.), three years 16th Regiment, Co. F 

Henry E. Smith (2d lieut.), three years 16th Regiment, Co. F 

Benjamin Stevens (corp.), three years 15th Regiment, Co. F 

H.W.Stone, three years 16th Regiment, Co F 



NORTH BROOKFIELD. 



545 



Charles C. Torrey, three years, 


...15th Regiment, Co. F 
..15th Re^'iment, Co. F 








Joseph L. Walker, (corp.), three years... 


..30th Regiment, Co. E 


F. A. Walker (Bt. Br. Gen.), three year 


s..l5th Regiment, Co. F 
...15th Regiment, Co. F 


B. C. WheHlock, three years 






Elias H. Woodward, three years 

Edward C. aiills, three years 


..15tb Regiment, Co. F 
..18th Regiment, Co. K 
...19th Regiment, Co. I 
..20th Regiment, Co. E 
2Uth Regiment, Co. E i 
...20th Regiment, Co. E 


F. S. Amidon (mus.), nine months 


...42d Regiment, Co. F 
...42d Regiment, Co. F 


Charles Kosenburg, three years 

F. A. Barnes, three years 

C. M.Deland (1st lieut.). thrae years 


John Barstow, nine months 

Sylvander Bothwell (corp.), nine month 

Warren S. Bragg, nine months 

Emerson Dane, nine months 

Freeman Doane, nine months 

F. R. Doane, nine months 

Hubbard S. Doane, nine months 

T. M. Duncan (1st It.), nine months 

Hiram Eaton, nine months 

Andrew J. Fisher, nine months 

F. H. Fisher, nine months 

Leroy Glazier, nine months 

James F. Harlow, nine months 

J. F. Ilibard, nine months 

Sumner Holmes (sergt), nine months.... 

Willard M. Howe, nine months 

James A. Knight, nine months 

James Miller (corp.), nine months 

Wm. H. Montague (sergt.), nine months 

Charles Parkman, nine months 

Henry L. Parkman, nine months 

Samnel J. Pepper, nine mouths 

Frank A. Smith, nine months 

Melville W. Smith, nine mouths 

Edward A. Spooner (corp.), nine months 

Elijah Stoddard, nine months 

Emerson Stoddard, nine months 

George A. Tucker, nine months 


....42d Regiment, Co. F 
3...42d Regiment, Co. F 
....42d Regiment, Co. F 
...42d Regiment, Co. F 
...42d Regiment, Co. F 
...42d Regiment, Co. F 
..42d Regiment, Co. F 
... 42d Itegiment, Co. F 
...42d Regiment, Co. F 
...42d Regiment, Co. F 
....42d Regiment, Co. F 
....42d Regiment, Co. F 
....42d Regiment, Co. F 
...42d Regiment, Co. F 
....42d Regiment, Co. F 
....42d Regiment, Co. F 
....42d Regiment, Co. F 
....42d Regiment, Co. F 
....42d Regiment, Co. F 
...42d Regiment, Co. F 
....42d Regiment, Co. F 
....42d Regiment, Co. F 
...42d Regiment, Co. F 
... 42d Regiment, Co. F 
...42d Regiment, Co. F 
...42d Regiment, Co. F 
...42d Regiment, Co. F 
....42d Regiment, Co. F 




...2Uth Regiment, Co. B 








...20th Regiment, Co. G 




..2Cth Regiment, Co. K 

..20th Regiment, 

..20th Regiment, Co. K 
....2'M Regiment, Co. G 


Henry E. Smith (2d Heut.), three yeare 




Curtis Dickinsou, three years 

Henry J. Page (corp.), three years 

Nathan Reynolds (corp.), three years.... 


...24th Regiment, Co. I 
...24th Regiment, Co. I 
...21th Regiment, Co. I 


Edwin M. Tucker (sergt.), three yeara.. 
Charles H. Asliby (miis.), throe years.... 


...24th Regiment, Co. I 
..23th Regiment, Co. H 
.-25th Regiment, Co. I 


John Burns, three years '. 

George H. Couch, three years 


..25th Regiment, Co. E 
..25th Regiment, Co. H 


Wni. Dunn, three years 


.25th Regiment, Co. H 
..25th Regiment, Co. H 






. 25th Reo'iment Co. C 


Albert T. Holniaii, three years 

Henry S. Johnson, three yeai-s 

Palmer P. Johnson (mus.), three years.. 
Stephen B. Kemp, three years 


...25th Regiment, Co. C 
..25th Regiment, Co. H 
..25th Regiment, Co. H 
.25th Regiment, Co. H 
..25th Regiment, Co. E 
..25th Regiment, Co. E 
..25th Regiment, Co. G 
.25th Regiment, Co. H 
..25tli Regiment, Co. E 
.25th Regiment, Co. H 
..27th Regiment, Co. B 
..27th Regiment, Co. B 
. 27th Re""iment Co B 


John McCarthy, three years 

Timothy McCarthy, three years 

Josiah C. Meade (sergt.), three years 


Charles P. Barton, 100 days 

John F. Boyd (corp.), 100 days 

Abijah D. Cutler 100 days 


....42d Regiment, Co. F 
...42d Regiment, Co. F 
..42d Regiment, Co F 


David Mitchell, thiee yeara 

David Price, three years 


Henry B. Dewing (corp.), 100 days 


...42d Regiment, Co. F 


George C. Smitli, three years 


Wm. B. Fay, 100 days 

• Warren Hanson, 100 days 

George R. Harris, 100 daj's 

Edward Hunter, 100 days , 

Albert L. Stoddard, lOOdavs 


...42d Regiment, Co. F 
....42d Regiment, Co. F 
....42d Regiment. Co. F 
...42d Regiment, Co. F 


Addison Leacii (luus.), three years 


B. Doun, three years 28th 


Regiment, unassigned 
Regiment, unaesigned 


Alfred Lafleur, three yeai-s 2Sth 


Emerson Stoddard, 100 days 

E. H. Tucker, 100 days 

Lyman Tucker, 100 days 

Wm. H. Walker, 100 days 

Sumner Walker, 100 days 

Wm. H. Warren, 100 days 

Charles W. Knight, nine months 

Albert F. Potter (sergt.), nine months.... 

Israel C. Earle, nine months 

Wm. B. Fay, nine months 

Marcellua Whitman, nine months 

TliGophilus D. Freeman, three years 

Leander Bell (corp.), three years 

Win. Barron, three years 

Wm. Bates, three years. 

C. L. Brigham, three years 

James Burke, three years 

Patrick Crowley, three years 

H. W. Gould (Corp.), three years 

John Gaul, three years 57th 

Timothy Howard, three years 57th 


...42d Regiment, Co. F 
...42d Regiment, Co. F 
....42d Regiment, Co. F 
...42d Regiment, Co. F 
...42d Regiment, Co. F 
...42d Regiment, Co. G 
..44th Regiment, Co, B 
.44th Regiment, Co B 
.4Gth Regiment, Co. G 
..4Gth Regiment, Co. G 
...53d Regiment, Co. F 


Fnmk Warren, three years 

E. W. Johnson, three years 


..28th Regiment, Co. C 
. 3l8t Regimant, Co. D 
..3lBt Regiment, Co. H 
...3l8t Uegiment, Co. H 
...34th Regiment, Co I 


D. W. Sherman (sergt.), three yeara 


James P. Coolidge, three years 

Charles E. Granger, three years 34tl 


..34th Regiment, Co. A 

Regiment, uuassigned 

ith Regiment, musician 

th Regiment, musician 


John L. Hibard, three yeai-s 34 


Andrew F. Jackson, three years 

George H. Perkins (2d It.), three yeare.. 


..34th Regiment, Co. F 
..34th Regiment, Co. A 
.34th Regiment, Co. A 
..3]th Uegiment, Co. C 
.34th Regiment, Co. A 
1 Regiment, unassigned 
..34th Regiment, Co. A 
..3Gth Regiment, Co. D 
.36th Regiment, Co. E 
.3Cth Regiment, Co. K 
.30th Regiment, Co. E 
..3t)th Regiment, Co. K 
s, 3Gth Regiment, Co. E 
.Siith Regiment, Co. E 
„3Gth Regiment, Co. E 
.30th Regiment, Co. E 
.:JGth Regiment, Co. K 


.56th Regiment, Co. D 
.57th Regiment, Co. D 


George S Prouty (corp.), three years 

John W. Russell, three years 

Asa Smith, three yeare 34t 


..57th Regiment, Co. B 
..57th Regiment, Co. D 
.57th Regiment, Co. B 


Leander Bell, three years 

Moses A, Cheever, tiiree yeai-s 

Jiimes B. Cummiiigs, three years 


Regiment, unassigned 
Regiment, unassigued 




Cornelius McCarthy, three years 


.57th Regiment, Co. B 


Addison S. Hair, three years 


George W. Harwood (Ist It.), three year 






Wm. J. Haskill (sergt.), three years 






Frank L. Jenks, three years 






Moses P. Snell (capt.). three years 






A. M. Thompson, three years 




.50th Regiment Co B 










'gioient. 




1 Transferred from 15tb R 













35 



546 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



D. H. Howard (coip.), tliree years 59tli Regiment, Co. B 

Timothy Howiiid, three years 59th Kegimeiit, Co. B 

Cornelius McCartliy, three years S9th Kefjinient, Co. B 

Michiiel BIcNamcra, throe years 59th Regiment, Co. B 

John Qnigley, three years £9th Regiment, Co. B 

John F. Boyd (coi-p.), one year C2(i Regiment, Co. A 

John R. Kicliols (coip.), oue year C2d Regiment, Co. A 

George H. Perkins (2a it.) 127th (Colored) Regiment 

Moses P. Snell (Ist It.) :JlJth (Colored) Regiment, Co. I 

Dennis O'Brien, three years 1st Cavalry, unassignod 

Peter Cahiil, three years 3d Cavalry, unassigned 

Henry O'Brien, three years 3J Cavalry, unassigned 

B. P. M' heeler, three years 3d Cavalry, unassigned 

Charles K. Amidon, tliree years 4th Cavalry, Co, F 

Samuel C. I'lagg, three years 4th Cavalry, Co. A 

Daniel Kerrigan, three years 4th Cavalry, unassigned 

Asa R. Luce, three years 4th Cavalry, Co. C 

Samuel Nealon, three yeara 4th Cavalry, Co. G 

James O'Brien, three y^ars 4th Cavalry, unassigned 

Eugene Passage, three years 4th Cavalry, unassigned 

N. M. Perkins, three years 4th Cavalry, Co. E 

William Pope, three years 4th Cavalry, Co. C 

John W. Riiymone, three years 4lh Cavalry, Co. C 

Henry H. Stone, three years 4th Cavalry, Co. D 

Peter St. Peter, three years 4th Cavalry, Co. D 

George A. Tucker, three years 4th Cavah-y, Co F 

James \V. Simmons (corp.), three years 5th Cava'ry, Co M 

Daniel C. Brown, three years. ..1st Batt. Frontier Defence, Co. D 
Charles L. Chapin, three years.. 1st Batt, Frontier Defence, Co. A 
Charles Hartwell (corp), a yrs., Ist Batt. Frontier Defence, Co. D 

N. B. Slaxwell, three years 1st H. A., 'Jo. E 

Thomas Moran, three years 1st H. A , Co. B 

George R. Spooner, three years 1st H. A., Co. I 

Charles Anderson, three yeare 2d H. A., Co. C 

"Wm. C. Bloom (corp.), three years 2d H. A., Co. D 

John Burton, three years 2d H. A., Co. E 

John Green, three years 2d H. A., Co. D 

Frank L. Jenks, three years 2d H. A., Co. — 

James H. Rowan, three years 2d H. A., Co. I 

Wm. A. Snow (seigt 1, three years 2d H. A., Co. — 

Osborne Walker (corp.), three yoara 2d H. A., Co. I 

Nicholas Adam-, three years 3d H. A., Co, K 

Otis G. Jones, three years, 3d H. A., Co. I 

Edward J. Russell (capt ), throe yoars 3d H. A., Co. — 

Augustus Edwards, throe yeai-s 4th H. A., Co. E 

Eugene Glazier, three years 4th H. A., Co. E 

Siimuel \V. Maxwell, three years 4th H. A., Co. E 

EJward H. Spooner, three years 8th H. A., Co. D 

Nathaniel H. Foster (major), three years 12th H. A. 

John Q. Adams (corp.) Ninth Battery- 
Oliver Bliss Vet. Reserve Corps 

Theodore Cummings Vet. Reserve Corps 

John A. Henry Vet. Reserve Corps 

Jeremiah Lynch Vet. Reserve Corps 

Elijah Nichols Vet. Reserve Corps 

Jasou T. Stoddard (sergt.) Vet. Reserve Corps 

George F. Tucker. 

Robert E. Beecher (lieut.-col.) 73d Ohio 

Robert H. Clark 1st Connecticut 

William Clark 35th New Jersey 

John H. Jenks (sergt.) 14th Now Hampshire 

John H. Lamb 9(li Maine 

Davids. Monlton 82d New York 

Edwiu A. Rice Ist Connecticut U. A. 

The following soldiers died in the service: 

Henry R. Bliss, killed at Antietam, Sept. 17, 18G2. 
Thomas S. Bates, died in Washington, Feb. G, 1864. 
Wm. Bates, killed in the Wilduiness, May 13, 18G4. 
James P. C'oolidge, killed at Winchestt-r, Sept. 19, 1804. 
Wm. Clark, killed in Georgia, Liec. lo, 18(34. 
N. S. Dickinson, died of wounds, Aug. 18, 1804. 
Peter Devlin, died at Nashville, June 5, 1865. 
Joseph C. Fretts, killed at Antietam, Sept. 17, 1862. 
Andrew J. Fisher, died Aug. G, 18G3. 
John W. Gilmore, died at Newhern, April 13, 18G2. 



Lyman H. Gilbert, killed at Petersburg, Sept. 30, 1864. 
Thomas Griflin, died at Salisbury, Dec. 7, 1864. 
Albert T. Hulman, died at Newborn, Sept. 23, 1862. 
John A. Hughes, died May 16, 1SG3. 
Wm. F. Hill, died in Virginia, Aug. 28, 18C3. 
James Heiidei-soii, died at Newbern, Oct. 3, 18G4. 
J. U. Jenks, killed at Cedar Creek, Oct. 19, 1SG4. 
James A. Knight, died Aug. 10, 1863. 
John F. Lamb, killed at Petersburg, June 29, 1864. 
David S Monlton, killed at Fredericksburg, Dec.13, 1862. 
N. B. Maxwell, died at Andersonvilie, Aug 23, 1804. 
Timothy McCarthy, died at Andersonvilie, Sept. 2, 1864. 
Henry H. Monlton, died at Andersonvilie, Jan. 23, 1865. 
Charles Perry, killed at Antietam, Sept. 17, 1802. 
Albert F. Potter, died at Newbern, Jan. 28, 1863. 
George S. Prouty, killed at Piedmont, June 2, 18154. 
George L. Sherman, killed at Spottsylvania, 3Iay 12, 1864. 
Lyman Tucker, died at Alexandria, Sept. 11, 1801. 

Alvin M. Thompson, died at Andersonvilie. , 1864. 

Louis D. Winslow. killed at Spottsylvania, May 12, 1804. 

It has been stated, in an earlier part of this narra- 
tive, that the Congregational Church was the only- 
church ia the precinct at the time of its incorpora- 
tion as a town. Not an inconsiderable number of 
its people were connected with a Baptist society in 
Brookfield ; but to that organization outside of the 
limits of the town, no special reference will be made. 

The foundation of the Methodist Episcopal Society 
seems to have been laid about the year 1829. From 
that time until 1833 Sabbath services were held, 
with some intermissions, in the Old Congregational 
Church. In the latter year, on the 30th of January, 
a new meeting-house was dedicated, and in 1834 
North Brookfield was made a station under the 
charge of Rev. Henry Mayo. The society, for many 
years after 1840, held services in the town-hall and 
other available places until their present church was 
dedicated, May, 1861. The following list of preachers 
up to 1885 is given by Mr. Temple in his history : 



James Shepard 1841-42 

C. W.Ainsworth 1843 44 

Frederick Stewart 1845 

Albert A. Cook 1816 

George W, Weeks 1S47 

E. F. Newell 1847 

Juhn Goodwin 1848 

George Bowler 1819-50 

John Goodwin 1851 

P. Wallingfurd 1852-53 

M. LelKngwell 1854 

W. J. Pomfret I8.J5-57 

J. W. Coolidge 1858-50 

Daniel Atkins 1800-61 

N. F. Stevens 1802 



E. S.Chase 1SG3 

Edwin S. Snow lSGi-G5 

George Hewes 1866-67 

Gilbert R. Bent. l868-li9 

L. P. Causey ISTO 

Samuel A. Fuller ISTl 

W. A. Cheney 1872-73 

E. U. leesenian 1873 

Reuben W. Harlow .1874 

George E. Chapuum 1S7J-7G 

J. M. Avaun. 1877-79 

John W. Fulton 18-0-81 

J. S. Barrows 1882-S3 

E. R. Watson 1SS3 

Porter B. Strattan 18S4-So 



On the 29th of October, 1853, a second Congrega- 
tional Society was formed, called the " Union Con- 
gregational Society." The church was organized 
June 7, 1854, and on that day Eev. Levi F. Waldo 
was installed. After his dismissal, June 13, 1856, 
the society remained without a pastor until the in- 
stallation of Rev. William H. Beecher, June 3, 1857. 
Mr. Beecher remained until May 14, 1801. After a 
short supply of the pulpit by Rev. J. E. Tower, Rev, 
Luther Keene was installed in 1862, and continued 
in the pastorate until April 29, 1867, Rev. Johu 
Dodge supplied the pulpit about three years and a 



NORTH BROOKFIELD. 



547 



half from December 2, 1867, and was followed in a 
supply by Rev. Charles E. Coolidge for about a year 
and a half. On Sept. 6, 1876, Rev. George W. Wil- 
son was ordained, and remained until June 1, 1878. 
Rev. John W. Hird was installed March 28, 1879. 
The meeting-house of this society was built in 1854. 

St. Joseph's Parish, the Catholic Society, began to 
hold services in June, 1851. Soon after that date 
North Brookfield became a mission church of that in 
Webster, and later of that in Ware, during which pe- 
riod it was under the charge of the pastors in those 
towns. While under the charge of Rev. William 
Moran, of Ware, the present church was begun in 
October, 18G6, and completed in July, 1867, and 
placed under the charge of Rev. Edward Turpin. 
After the death' of Father Turpin, at the close of a 
single year's service. Rev. Henry M. Smyth was 
placed in charge, whose pastorate also vtas terminated 
b}' death at the end of three years. 

Rev. Michael Walsh followed, and remained thir- 
teen years, until his death, when Rev. James P. Tuite 
was transferred from Clinton to North Brookfield. 
The society has a parsonage, with fifteen acres of 
land, a church and a cemetery of four acres, and is 
free from debt. Its membership numbers nearly 
twenty-three hundred. 

The schools of North Brookfield have not been 
under the care of the old town of Brookfield since 
the incorporation of the Second Precinct, in 1750. 
In 1756 the town of Brookfield voted that the school- 
money raised in each of the three precincts should 
be expended within said precinct according to its pleas- 
ure. The Second Precinct, under this vote, assumed 
the right to levy and collect a tax within its own limits 
for the support of its own schools, and this right was 
always exercised during its life as a precinct. In 
1760 the Legislature confirmed the right, and the 
precinct built its school-houses, appointed teachers, 
and raised money for the support of schools. 

In 1791 the precinct was divided into seven school 
districts, and, until 1805, chose a School Committee to 
take charge of all the schools in the precinct. Dur- 
ing the four years after that date each district chose 
its own committee, but in 1809 the old practice was 
resumed. It is beliered that the districts as formed 
in 1791 continued until the final abandonment of the 
school district system, in 1869, except that in the 
mean time the central district had been divided into 
two, thus making eight instead of seven. On the 
abandonment of the district system, the school-houses 
which had been built at the expense of the districts 
were appraised at ten thousand dollars, and that sum 
was raised by tax, and each taxpayer credited with 
his due share. According to the last report of the 
school committee there were, at the close of the last 
year, nineteen schools in the town, including the 
high school, which was opened August 19, 1857, 
under the care of 0. W. Whitaker, a graduate of 
Middlebury College. The high school house, built in 



1856-57, was burned May 14, 1878, and a new brick 
building was erected on the old site. For the year 
1887-8 the sum of $8500 was appropriated for schools, 
in addition to the Dog Fund of $401.28 and the State 
Fund of S202.95. 

The population of North Brookfield, in the early 
years of its municipal life, did not rapidly increase. 
In 1820 it was 1095 and in 1840 had only reached 
1468. In 1875 it was 3749, in 1880 4459 and in 1885 
4201. The advance in population was owing to the 
introduction and gradual enlargement of the manu- 
facture of boots and shoes in the town. Oliver Ward, 
of Grafton, first began the business in 1810, and in 
his shop many of those who, in later years, carried on 
a large business, served their apprenticeship. Mr. 
Ward's business rapidly increased, but in the panic 
of 1837 was so extended and incurred such serious 
losses that he abandoned and never resumed it. 

In the mean time, the well-known firm of T. & E. 
Batcheller, both of whose members, Tyler and Ezra, 
had been brought up by Mr. Ward, started in busi- 
ness. The business of this firm was begun in a small 
way by Tyler Batcheller in 1819, who in 1825 took 
his brother Ezra into partnership and established the 
firm above mentioned. In 1830 Freeman Walker was 
admitted into the firm as a partner and the firm-name 
was changed to T. & E. Batcheller & Walker. Mr. 
Walker, however, retired in 1834 and the firm re- 
sumed its old name. In 1852 Charles Adams, Jr., 
Alfred H. Batcheller, Wm. C. King and Hervey I. 
Batcheller were admitted as partners, and the firm's 
name was changed to T. & E. Batcheller & Co. In 
1848 Tyler Batcheller removed to Boston to take 
charge of the business, for the transaction of which, in 
connection with their manufacture, a store had been 
opened; and in 1860 Mr. Adams retired, followed 
soon after by Hervey J. Batcheller, and by Mr. King 
in 1865. Losses in Southern trade during the war 
caused a temporary suspension of the firm, from 
which, after the payment of all its liabilities, it soon 
recovered, and during which Ezra Batcheller died, 
October 8, 1862. The present firm-name is E. & A. 
H. Batcheller, and by the employment of not far from 
one thousand hands the annual product of the con- 
cern is not far from two millions of dollars. 

The Batcheller family is descended from Joseph 
Batcheller, who came to New England from Canter- 
bury, England, in 1636, and settled in Wenham. By 
his wife, Elizabeth, he had Mark, John, Elizabeth 
and H?nnah. John, the second child, married, in 
July, 1661, Mary Dennis; and second, in May, 1666, 
Sarah, daughter of Robert Goodale, of Salem. His 
children were Joseph, born in 1660 ; John, born in 
January, 1666-67 ; Mark, born in 1678; Elizabeth, 
Ebenezer, Hannah, Mary, Sarah and David. David, 
the last-mentioned child, married Susannah Whipple 
and had David, 1710 ; Susannah, 1712 ; Joseph, 1713; 
Nehemiah, 1716; Abraham, 1722; Amos, 1727; and 
Susannah again, 1731. Abraham, one of these chil- 



548 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



dren, removed from Wenham, the old family home, 
to Westborough, and theoce to Sutton, and married 
Sarah Newton. Her children were Abraham, 1752; 
Abner, 1755; Vashti, 1757; Joseph, 1759; Benjamin, 
1762; Ezra, 1764; Sarah, 1706; and Amos, 1768. 
Ezra Batcheller, one of these children, moved from 
Sutton to Brookfield in 1802, and married, in 1789, 
Mary, daughter of Daniel Day ; and second, in 1814, 
Widow Ann Mayo. His children were Willard,born 
in 1789, and died in North Brookfield in 1853; 
Daniel, born in 1791 ; Tyler, born in Sutton, De- 
cember 20, 1793; Alden, born in 1796; Orra, born in 
1799; and Ezra, born in 1801. Tyler Batcheller, one 
of the above sons, was the founder of the Batcheller 
business in North Brookfield. He married, April 6, 
1819, Nancy Jenks, of North Brookfield ; and second, 
October 8, 1829, Abigail J. Lane, of North Brook- 
field. His children were Mary Day, born September 
12, 1821, who married Abel Harwood, of North 
Brookfield; Martha Ann, born December 7, 1823, 
who married Aaron D. Weld, of North Brookfield ; 
Emeline, born December 22, 1826, who married Wm. 
C. King, of North Brookfield ; and Hervey Jenks, 
who was born in 1828. 

Ezra Batcheller, brother of Tyler and his partner, 
many years, born in Sutton July 21, 1801, married 
first, April 7, 1824, Kelutia Parks, of North Brookfield, 
and second, March 25, 1851, Lutheria Cummings, of 
Ware. His children were Lucius Edwin, born July 
6, 1825; Elizabeth Henry, born December 17, 1826; 
Alfred Hubbard, born July 23, 1830; George Ezra, 
born December 14, 1833; Mary Eelutia, born October 
16, 1835, and married Josiah W. Hubbard, of Boston; 
George Ezra, again, born December 6, 1838; Sarah 
Cheever, born October 3, 1844, and Frank Arthur, 
born October 15, 1852. 

Among the corporations and institutions in North 
Brookfield may be mentioned the North Brookfield 
Savings Bank, the North Brookfield Free Public 
Library and the North Brookfield Railroad Com- 
pany. The Savings Bank was incorporated March 
3, 1854, and, according to its last report, its deposits 
were 1519,427.02. Its officers at the same time were: 
S. S. Edmands. president; Bon um Nye, treasurer; and 
Bonum Nye, clerk. 

The Free Library may date its origin May 17, 1879, 
when, at a town-meeting, it was voted to accept various 
sums of money for its establishment. These sums 
created a fund to which the past and present scholars 
of the high school and citizens generally subscribed 
five hundred dollars; William H. Montague, one 
hundred dollars; Theodore C. Bates, five hundred 
dollars, and Alfred ii. Batcheller one thousand dol- 
lars, with which trustees, appointed by the town, or- 
ganized the enterprise. The library, with a reading- 
room, was opened November 26, 1879. The town 
makes an appropriation annually for its maintenance, 
and its shelves now contain about four thousand 
volumes. 



The railroad company was organized January 14, 
1875, with a capital of one hundred thousand dollar.s — 
ten thousand dollars of which was subscribed by in- 
dividuals, and ninety thousand dollars by the town. 
The road was opened January 1,1876, and a lease for ten 
years, which has been renewed for an additional term 
of fifty years, was made to the Boston and Albany 
Railroad Company, that company supplying the roll- 
ing stock. During the time of the first lease of ten 
years the company received under its lease $24,443.74, 
or, in other words, a dividend on its stock of an aver- 
age of little less than two and a half per cent, per year. 

In addition to Oliver Ward and the members of the 
Batcheller family, who have been prominent in the 
alfdirs of the town since its incorporation, may be 
mentioned: Hiram Ward, the firms of Johnson & 
Edson, and Dewing & Edmands, C. & D. Whiting, 
Whiting & Haskell, Whiting, Lowe & Co., Bond & 
Jenks, H. B. & J. N. Jenks,Woodis & Crawford, Jenks 
& Miller, Gulliver & Jenks, Gulliver, Duncan & I 
Howe, Gulliver & Stone, P. K. Howe, Fullnian, Liver- 
more & Montague, Olmstead & R. Walker and A. & 
E. D. Batcheller, all of whom have engaged at various 
times in the manufacture of shoes for long or short 
periods. Nor must mention be omitted of Theodore 
C. Bates, Amasa Walker, Freeman Walker and 
Charles Adams, jr., all of whom have been not only 
prominent and useful citizens, but well known and in- 
fluential in the walks of public life. Of Mr. Bates, 
who is still among the living, it is not proposed here 
to specially speak. It is sufficient to say that he is 
not only honored and esteemed amoiig his neighbors 
and immediate friends, but has been deservedly the 
recipientof public honors whose measure, if his life and 
health be preserved, it is safe to predict, is not yet full. 

Amasa Walker was born in Woodstock, Conn., 
May 4, 1799. He was descended from Augustine 
Walker, who was in Charlestown in 1641, and was 
the son of Walter and Priscilla (Carpenter) Walker, 
who removed while Amasa was yet an infant to the 
Second Precinct of Brookfield (now North Brookfield). 
He was educated in the common schools of North 
Brookfield, and in 1814, at the age of fifteen years, 
he entered a store in that town and afterwards one in 
South Brookfield, and finally the store of Moses 
Bond in North Brookfield. During most of the time 
from 1817 to 1820 he taught .school, and in the latter 
year went into business in West Brookfield, continu- 
ing his interest until 1823. For a short time afterwards 
he was the agent of the Methuen Manufacturing 
Company, and in 1825 he removed to Boston, where 
he remained until 1840, a partner in the house of 
Carleton & Walker until 1829 and during the re- 
mainder of the time in business alone. In 1833 he 
delivered an oration before the Young Men's Society 
in Boston, in 1839 was president of the Boston 
Temperance Society, and in 1840 retired from busi- 
ness. In 1843 he returned to North Brookfield and 
in 1844 delivered a course of lectures at Oberlin 



4 



I 



I 



I 




' i"iiiiiii ;; 




NORTH BEOOKFIELD. 



549 



College. In 1848 he was a member of the Free Soil 
National Cjuvention at Buffalo and was the success- 
ful candidate of that party for the State Legislature. 
In 1849 he was chosen to the Senate and in 1851 
Secretary of State. In 1853 he was a member of 
the convention for revising the Constitution of the 
Commonwealth and in 1854 was chosen president of 
the North Brookfleld Savings Bank at the time of its 
organization. In 1859 he delivered a course of lec- 
tures on political economy in Amherst College and in 
1862 was chosen a Representative to Congress. In 
1867 he received the degree of Doctor of Laws from 
Amherst and died at North Brookfield, October 29, 
1875. He married, July 6, 1826, Eraeline, daughter of 
Jonathan Carleton, of Boston, who was at that timehis 
partner in business. On the 23d of June, 1834, he 
married Hannah Ambrose, of Concord, N. H., whose 
three children survived him. 

Francis A. Walker, of Boston, is one of these 
children and was born in Boston, July 2, 1840. He 
removed with his father to North Brookfield in 1843 
and was educated in its public schools preparatory to 
his admission to Amherst College in 1856, from which 
institution he graduated in 1860. He studied law 
with Charles Devens and George F. Hoar, then in 
partnership in Worcester, and in 1861 wag made 
sergeant-major of the Fifteenth Massachusetts Regi- 
ment of Volunteers, under the command of Colonel 
Devens. On the 14th of September, 1861, he became 
assistant adjutant-general on the staff of General 
Darius N. Couch, and on the 23d of December, 1863, 
a colonel on the staff of the Second Army Corps. 
In 1865 he was breveted brigadier-general. He was 
wounded at Chancellorsville. captured at Ream's Sta- 
tion and confined in Libby Prison, and on his ex- 
change left the service on account of impaired health. 
After his discharge he taught two years in the Wil- 
liston Seminary, was then for a time connected with 
the editorial department of the Springfield Republican, 
and in 1870, after having had charge for a time of the 
Bureau of Statistics, was made Superintendent of the 
National Census of that year. He is now at the 
head of the Institute of Technology in Boston. 

Freeman Walker was the brother of Araasa, and 
born in North Brookfield December 12, 1803. He was 
educated in the public schools of his native town, 
having, in addition, the advantages of one term in the 
Monson Academy. In the winter of 1822-23 he 
taught school in Western (now Warren), and in 1823 
entered as clerk the store of Newell & Taintor. 
In the latter part of that year he went to Methuen to 
take charge of a store connected with the Methuen 
Manufacturing Company, of which his brother Amasa 
was agent. In 1826 he joined his brother in Boston, 
and became a clerk in his employ, in which po.-ition 
he continued until January 1, 1830, when he became 
a partner in the shoe manufacturing company of T. 
& E. Batcheller & Walker at North Brookfield. In 
1834 he retired from this firm, and in 1835 began 



manufacturing shoes on his own account, and so con- 
tinued until 1842. As moderator, selectman and 
overseer of the Poor he commanded the respect and 
confidence of his fellow-citizens, and as Representa- 
tive to the General Court in 1840 and 1841, and as 
Senator in 1852, 1853 and 1861 he had opportunities 
of a wider field of action, He married, June 3, 18iJ0, 
Mary, daughter of Amos Bond, of North Brookfield, 
and died July 13, 1883. 

Charles Adams, Jr., was descended from Henry 
Adams, who came from England and settled in Brain- 
tree. He was the son of Charles Adams, a physician 
in Antrim, N. H., and was born January 31, 1810. 
He received his education partly from the public 
schools and partly from private instruction under the 
care of Rev. John Bisbee, of Brookfield, and Rev. 
Josiah Clark, of Rutland. He went to North Brook- 
field in 1832, and entered the business office of T. & 
E. Batcheller, where he remained twenty years as 
book-keeper. In 1852 he became a partner in the 
firm and so continued until his retirement in 1860. 
Besides holding various town offices he was a Repre- 
sentative to the General Court in 1850-51-.52and 1862; 
a State Senator in 1865-68 ; a member of the Excu- 
tive Council in 1867-68-69-70, and treasurer and 
receiver-general of the Commonwealth from 1871 to 
1875 inclusive. He received the degree of Master of 
Arts from Dartmouth College in 1878, and died at 
North Brookfield April 19, 1886. 

With these sketches, this narrative, short as it is, must 
be closed. The writer is aware of its imperfections, 
but they are such as must be attributed to the scan- 
tiness of material essential to its completion. As 
was stated by him in his sketch of Brookfield, he has 
been indebted in its preparation to Mr. Temple, the 
historian, who has so thoroughly gathered the har- 
vest that little has been left to th(,se coming after him 
but the satisfaction of entering his granaries and filch- 
ing from his store. 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 



TYLER AND EZRA BATCHELLER. 

The following account of this firm, and the men 
who were associated in its management, was prepared 
by Mr. Charles Adams, Jr., and was the last literary 
work of his life. It is printed, without alteration, 
from his manuscript. 

Of all the men who have been citizens of this town 
since its incorporation, no one, probably, has done so 
much to promote its material growth and prosperity as 
Deacon Tyler Batcheller; and a history of the town, 
without a brief sketch, at least, of his active and use- 
ful career, would lack an essential element. He may 
truly be called the founder of ihe now large and 
flourishing central village of North Brookfield. He 



550 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



was born, as will be seen in the genealogical record, 
December 20, 1793, in the town of Sutton, where he 
lived with his father till April, 1802, when the ftimily 
removed to this town, which, however, was then the 
North Parish, or "Second Precinct in Brookfield;" 
his father purchasing of Solomon & Edmund 
Matthews, by deed, August 19, 1801, and for many 
years occupying the farm ever since known as the 
" Batcheller place," now (3885) owned by J. Winslow 
Bryant. At an early age, probably in his fifteenth 
year, he went to Grafton and learned the trade of 
shoemaking of Mr. Nathan Johnson. At the close 
of his apprenticeship there be returned to North 
Brookfield, and was employed in the establishment of 
Mr. Oliver Ward, who, in 1810, had commenced in 
this town the manufacture of "sale shoes," the first 
and only manufactory of the kind in the State, west 
of Grafton. In the family of Mr. Ward he found a 
pleasant and congenial home for about eight years. 

In 1819 he commenced business on his own account, 
at the " Wetherbee bouse," so called, which stood on 
the spot now occupied by the house of Mrs. Erastus 
Hill. Having married, the same year, be resided 
there with his family ; the back part of the house 
serving as his manufactory. At first his entire busi- 
ness consisted only in what shoes he could make with 
his own hands; soon, however, taking into his service 
one or two apprentices, and his brother Ezra, who 
had already learned the trade of Mr. Ward. The 
first shoes he made were chiefly of a low-pri:ed 
quality, especially adapted to the Southern trade. 
These he packed in empty flour-barrels and consigned 
to Mr. Enoch Train, who in those days ran a line of 
sailing packets between Boston and Havana. On 
these small consignments a large per cent, of profit 
was realized. In 1821 he purchased the "Skerry 
house" and farm in the centre of what is now the 
main village of the town, expecting to enter into pos- 
session the first of the following April ; but in 
February, 1822, his dwelling and shop at the 
Wetherbee place were totally destroyed by fire, and 
he at once removed bis family to his new purchase, 
the "Skerry house," where he resumed and continued 
his business in an out-building on the premises, until 
1824. In that year, having previously taken into his 
service several additional employes, he built a small 
two-story shop, which is now a part of the immense 
structure known far and wide as the " big shop," into 
which January 1, 1825, he removed his business, and at 
the same date took into partnership bis brother Ezra, 
continuing the same business, though somewhat 
enlarged, under the firm of T. & E. Batcheller. From 
this time forward to the end of his life the two 
brothers were associated as partners through all the 
changes in their business ; and in giving a history of 
it, their names cannot be dissociated. Tyler, the 
senior, attended to the purchase of stock and to all 
other business abroad ; while Ezra was the efficient 
and popular superintendent, almost always at home. 



and at his post, giving direction to all matters per- 
taining to the manufactory. Harmonious in all their 
business relations and interests, as well as in all 
measures devised for the public weal, the act of one 
was the act of both; and in most matters their names 
were usually coupled, and they were familiarly spoken 
of as " the Deacon and Ezra." 

They now added to their business the manufacture 
of " Batcheller's Retail Brogan," an article adapted to 
the New England trade, and kept for sale in all the 
stores in this and many of the neighboring towns ; 
their main business, however, being the manufacture 
of goods for the Southern and Western Slates. The 
firm of T. & E. Batcheller continued, with a con- 
stantly increasing business, until January 1, 1830, 
when, by the admission of Freeman Walker, it was 
changed to " T. & E. Batcheller & Walker." The 
business having largely increased, the factory was now 
enlarged to three times its original size. In 1831 
they introduced the manufacture of Russet Brogans, 
specially for the trade of the Southern States — the 
first that were made in Massachusetts. They soon 
became a leading article in the shoe trade and con- 
tinued to be so for many years. Mr. Walker retired 
from the firm in 1834, and the firm resumed its former 
style of "T. & E. Batcheller." At this time the 
business had increased from its small beginnings to 
what was then considered very large ; but the manu- 
facture for an entire year then was probably no more 
than the product of a single week iu the " big shop " 
at the present time. Nothing that could properly be 
called machinery had been introduced to prepare the 
stock for bottoming, none of which was done in the 
factory, but was put out and done by workmen in 
their small shops in this and most of the towns in the 
vicinity — in some instances the stock was carried to 
a distance of twenty to thirty miles. 

The firm of T. & E. Batcheller continued until 
June 10, 1852, when Charles Adams, Jr., Alfred H. 
Batcheller, William C.King and Hervey J. Batcheller 
were admitted to the firm, and its style changed to 
T. & E. Batcheller &Co.; meanwhile a store bad been 
established in Boston for the transaction of their 
business, and Tyler Batcheller had found it necessary, 
for greater convenience, to remove his residence to 
Boston the latter part of 1848. Mr. Adams retired 
from the firm January 1, 1860, the firm-name remain- 
ing the same, and Hervey J. Batcheller retired soon 
after. The business had then increased, from the day 
of small things, to nearly a million and a half of 
dollars annually. In April, 1861, the Southern 
Rebellion broke out, paralyzing for a while almost 
the whole business of the country. This firm suffered 
with the rest, and their business being very largely 
with the Southern States, their losses were propor- 
tionally large. A suspension was inevitable, and they 
were temporarily under the general financial cloud. 
But an arrangement, highly honorable to them, was 
soon made, and in a few months they were enabled 



I 
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f 
i 



NORTH BROOKFIELD. 



551 



to pay, and did pay, every dollar of their indebted- 
ness, principal and interest. But Tyler Batcheller, 
the founder and for years the sole proprietor and 
manager of the business, and the efficient senior 
partner of the firm from its beginning, did not live to 
see that fortunate consummation. The disappoint- 
ment and anxiety caused by the apparent loss of a 
large fortune — the accumulations of a half-century of 
successful business — the inability to meet present 
pecuniary liabilities ; the future darkened by the civil 
war in which the nation was then involved, the 
termination and result of which could not be antici- 
pated by any human foresight ; — in the midst of this 
accumulation of adverse and discouraging circum- 
stances, and probably to some extent in consequence 
of them, his health failed, and his constitution, never 
robust, and which had begun to feel the eflfects of 
advancing years, seemed entirely to give way, and 
after a brief confinement to his house and bed, and 
without any clearly-defined disease he died, October 
8, 1862, nearly sixty-nine years of age, — apparently 
of mere exhaustion of the vital powers, accelerated, 
probably, by mental care and anxiety. Thus ended a 
life distinguished for industry, energy, perseverance, 
integrity and usefulness. If his life had been spared 
but a few months longer he might have seen the 
cloud, which overhung their business at the time of 
his death, dispelled, all the pecuniary liabilities of 
the firm paid in full, an ample competency for himself 
and family retrieved from the wreck of the old busi- 
ness, and a most favorable prospect for a future busi- 
ness, which, although he did not live to see it, was 
more than realized by the surviving partners, of 
whom his brother Ezra was henceforward to the end 
of his life the able and efficient senior partner. Mr. 
King retired from the firm in 1865. 

In the early years of Tyler Batcheller there were 
no special indications of the prominent positions he 
was destined to fill in the community, and in the 
business world. In boyhood he was noted for his mild 
and peaceful disposition ; never zealously mingling 
with his contemporaries in their noisy and boisterous 
sports; then and always modest and unassuming in 
his deportment ; improving to the best of his ability 
the very limited advantages afforded in those days for 
schooling : a very few weeks in the district school 
each winter being the extent of his school education 
— a defect which was ever a source of regret to him. 

He was very early inured to habits of industry and 
economy, which he retained through life. The fol- 
lowing incident exemplifies both traits. The first 
three years of his service with Mr. Ward were the last 
three years of his minority, and his stipulated wages 
went to his father; over and above which, during that 
time he earned and saved five hundred dollars — a 
large amount for those days — the interest on which, 
as he told the writer, was his self-restricted annual 
allowance for clothing for several years — until he 
went into business on his own account. 



He united with what is now the First Congrega- 
tional church in North Brookfield, June 8, 1817. In 
the spring of 1818, in connection with Joseph A. 
(afterward Deacon) Moore, he organized and superin- 
tended the first Sabbath-school in town, and for six- 
teen years he was a member of the supervising com- 
mittee of the same. 

September 15, 1820, he was elected a deacon, when 
he was twenty-seven years of age, and continued in 
that office twenty-eight years — until he removed his 
residence to Boston. 

He was married April 6, 1819, to Miss Nancy Jenks, 
daughter of Mr. Nicholas Jenks, one of the early 
residents of the town. She was a most estimable lady 
and helpmeet, the mother of all his children. Her 
early and lamented death, in 1828, was a great lots to 
the whole community. She was born August, 1796, 
and died October 5, 1828, leaving four small children 
— three daughters and a son. He married for his 
second wife, Octobers, 1829, Miss Abigail Jones Lane, 
daughter of Captain Samuel Lane, a very worthy 
young lady who had been an inmate of his family 
four years, and had the care of all his children, to 
whom she was now called to be a second mother; the 
oldest was only seven years old at the death of their 
mother. She lived to see the daughters all married, 
and survived her husband six years. She was born 
at Bedford, Mass., August 1, 1810, and died at Boston, 
March 10, 1877. 

The "Skerry farm," which he purchased in 1821, 
covered a large portion of what is now the central 
village — the whole of the northeast quarter and part 
of the southeast, on no part of which was there any 
building except the old Skerry house in which he 
lived until 1836, when it was demolished, and a new 
house built on its site, and which was his home until 
he removed to Boston in 1848. It is now occupied as 
a part of the " Big Shop,'' and is the southwesterly 
portion of it. About 1825 the land on the streets by 
which the fiirm was bounded began to be wanted for 
building lots. In disposing of them Mr. Batcheller, 
with a view to the development and growth of the 
village, rather than to his individual interest, adopted 
the liberal policy of selling them at only about their 
value for agricultural purposes, to men of good char- 
acter who would probably become permanent citizens 
and to workmen whose services were wanted in or 
near his manufactory. The first sale was to his 
brother and partner, Ezra Batcheller, where Frank A. 
Smith now lives : and in a few years those streets were 
lined by neat residences owned and occupied by a 
very desirable class of citizens. When "Grove 
Street" was opened through his land, and real estate 
had largely increased in value, he was asked by 
several individuals at the same time to set a price on 
building-lots; he declined, giving as a reason that 
several of his interested friends had intimated to him 
that at the prices at which he had been parting with 
building-lots, he was doing less than justice to him- 



552 



HISTORY OF WOKCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



self, and perhaps to them. He accordingly proposed 
to leare the price to be made by two disinterested 
men mutually agreed upon, and that he would abide 
by their decision. The proposition was accepted, and 
carried into eflect. 

In 1848 it became necessary, for the convenience of 
the extensive business of the firm, that he should 
remove to Boston, which he did in December of that 
year, and, as was said at his funeral, " he carried his 
religion with him." He attended meeting regularly 
at Park Street Church, and November 2, 1850, he and 
his wife united with that church, then under the pas- 
toral care of Rev. A. L. Stone, now of San Francisco, 
Cal. September 17, 18.'i7, he was elected a deacon of 
that church, and to the close of life remained an active 
and devoted officer. He was also for several years a 
member of the Prudential Committee of that society. 

Mr. Batcheller was an original member of the Bos- 
ton Board of Trade: was chosen a member of its 
Committee of Arbitration, and served on other impor- 
tant committees. 

In removing his legal residence to Boston Mr. 
Batcheller did not forget the town of North Brook- 
field, where he had passed nearly a century of his life, 
— nor the church and society there with which he had 
been connected more than thirty years, as was shown 
by his frequent visits and acts of liberality and benefi- 
cence. 

Ezra Batcheller, the junior member of the original 
firm, if less prominent before the public, was, equally 
with his brother, an efficient and essential factor in 
the growth and prosperity of the manufacturing estab- 
lishment. And to his business tact and energy is 
largely due the prompt extrication of the concern 
from their temporary embarrassment in 1861. He 
was a large-hearted, public-spirited man, of earnest 
piety ; and his memory is fragrant of good deeds and 
an honorable and useful life. 

The present firm name is E. & A. H. Batcheller 
& Company ; and this is the only boot and shoe man- 
ufactory now in operation in North Brookfield. In 
1875, as appears from the census report, they gave 
employment to 927 males and 150 females, and manu- 
factured goods of the value of $1,817,000. Their 
facilities for business have been considerably increased 
since that date. 



HON. CHARLES ADAMS, JR., A.M. 

According to his own prepared family record, Mr. 
Adams is descended from Henry\ who came from 
England and settled in Braiutree; the line running 
through Edward- of Medfield, John' of Medfield, 
Abraham* of Brookfield, Jesse" of Brookfield, Charles, 
M.D.^ of Antrim, N. H., and Oakham, Mass. 

Charles, Jr.', was born at Antrim, in the part then 
known as Woodbury Village, now South Antrim, 
January 31, 1810, and died at North Brookfield, April 
19, 188G. In addition to the advantages of the com- 
mon schools, he attended a select school in Brookfield 



under Rev. John Bisbee, and studied eight months 
with Rev. Josiah Clark, of Rutland. This completed 
his school education. He served an apprenticeship 
of five years in a country store at Petersham, and was 
employed as clerk, for a single year by J. B. Fair- 
banks, of Ware. He came to North Brookfield in 
1832, and entered the employment of Messrs. Batch- 
eller, shoe manufacturers, as book-keeper and account- 
ant, which position he held for twenty years. In 
1852 he became a member of the firm, and so con- 
tinued until 1860, when he retired with a competence. 

Mr. Adams was much in public life — having held 
by election most of more responsible town offices : was 
representative to the General Court fVir the years 
1850, '51, '52 and '62; State Senator 1865, '66, 77 and 
'78 ; member of the Executive Council 1867, '68, '69 
and '70; Treasurer and Receiver-General of the Com- 
monwealth 1871, '72, '78, '74 and '75. He was also 
honored with special trusts ; was commissioner of 
the Norwich and Worcester Railroad Sinking Fund ; 
and for many years president of the North Brookfield 
Savings Bank. Perhaps it is enough to say, that in 
all these offices and trusts he fully met the expecta- 
tion of his constituents for industry, ability, foresight, 
good judgment and integrity. 

In manners, Mr. Adams bad the dignity, without 
the preciseness, of a gentleman of the old school of 
official station. What was lacking in courtliness was 
more than made up by self-poise and an unaflected 
cordiality that won esteem, while it did not lessen re- 
spect. Always collected and maintaining a proper 
self-respect, he yet was at home equally in the kitchen 
of the farmers and the parlors of the educated. He 
saw a true manhood in whomsoever it existed, and 
yielded it due homage ; he detected and did not con- 
ceal his contempt for mere pretence and outside 
show. 

Though he often lamented his early disadvantages 
of schooling, yet he was, in the best sense, an educated 
man — not "self-made " as the popular phrase is, which 
implies the creatingof one's surroundings and means. 
Rather, he subjected those surroundings to his will, 
and made them the means to develop and furnish his 
mind ; and thus was educated and trained. He 
utilized whatever advantages were within his reach, 
whether at home or at school, behind the counter or 
in the counting-room ; first as a subordinate and after 
as partner, owner and director. He was a learner, 
always and everywhere; seizing the opportunities, 
which both old and young so often throw away, to 
gain knowledge of men, and methods, and principles, 
and business, as well as books. And this early train- 
ing, and the formation of habits of observation and 
inquiry and research, and this steady application to 
the work and duty of the hour, laid the foundation of 
the self-reliance and power of concentrated effort 
which fitted him for the higher duties and responsi- 
bilities of business life and official position. He suc- 
ceeded because he had paid the full price 'of success. 



I 



NORTH BROOKFIELD. 



553 



Nor was his lack of school privileges apparent. He 
was well read in general and local history, as well as 
in political economy, the industrial sciences and 
finance. His ■aiemory was retentive, and was well 
stored with available knowledge. He was a good 
talker; and though commonly very practical in con- 
versation, he yet possessed a mobile fancy and a vein 
of humor slightly imbued with satire that, combined 
and incited by refined instincts and pure thoughts 
and associations, made him a desirable acquisition to 
any social circle. 

In the quiet life of a busy manufacturer, and even 
in the responsible station of a State official, there is 
little of incident and few turns of affairs to attract 
special notice and give interest to a biographical 
sketch. The startling situations, and conflicts, and 
triumphs which attach to military and professional 
life and make the reputation and renown of men of 
those classes and furnish the emphatic points in their 
biographies, are either wanting in legislative, and 
judicial and mercantile experience ; or they are 
of strictly personal and temporary concern. They 
may have touched matters of success or popularity, 
vital in their day ; but that day was a brief one, and 
results affected mainly the parties immediately in- 
terested. 

While a member of the Legislature and the Execu- 
tive Council, Mr. Adams gave his attention largely to 
matters of banking and finance, and questions grow- 
ing out of the State's connection with the Troy and 
Greenfield, and the Boston, Hartford and Erie Rail- 
roads, and other corporations. He was chairman, or 
a member of the appropriate committees. To these 
committees is entrusted the shaping of the financial 
policy of the Commonwealth. And as several of his 
terms of service followed close upon the ending of 
the late Civil War, his sound views and practical good 
sense made his influence at that juncture of especial 
consequence. The reports from his pen are dis- 
tinguished by a broad grasp, and able reasoning, and 
safe conclusions. 

Mr. Adams did not claim to be a popular speaker, 
and attempted nothing in the line of oratory. He 
wrote out his intended remarks ; and as he was a 
good reader, he made a favorable impression when- 
ever he chose to appear before the public. He had 
himself and his theme well in hand ; his points were 
clearly put ; his evident mastery of his subject enlisted 
the hearer's attention, while his unaffected earnest- 
ness made a deep impression, if it did not carry con- 
viction. 

His style of writing was largely influenced by his 
leading pursuits. It was direct, unadorned, and what 
in Addisonian times would have been called didactic. 
He used Anglo-Saxon words and idioms ; and the 
guiding thread of logic was always apparent in his 
sentences and consecutive sections. Having Scotch 
blood in his veins, it was only natural that he should 
have a love for Scottish history and literature. He 



became particularly fond of the poetry of Gray and 
Burns, and the poetry and romance of Sir Walter 
Scott. And the chance he had of going abroad in 
1871, to complete the sale of Slate bonds in London, 
and which opportunity he embraced for extended 
travel in Scotland as well as on the Continent, intensi- 
fied the early passion, and gave direction to his study 
and reflection in later years, after his retirement from 
office. 

In a paper which he wrote in 1873, on " The Life 
and Times of Robert Burns," he tells us how he was 
first led into this attractive field. " In the year 1827, 
when I was in my seventeenth year, in a trade with 
another young man, to make the bargain even, I re- 
ceived a copy of ' Burns' Poems ' in two small red- 
morocco bound volumes, without at the time knowing 
or caring who Robert Burns was. On opening the 
books I was delighted to find in them several songs 
which I had often heard sung by my mother — a de- 
scendant from clan McAllister — who was a fine singer 
— of course the finest I had then heard, and you will 
pardon me if I say the finest I have ever heard to this 
day (in my estimation). Some of her favorites, which 
I found in these volumes, were ' Bonnie Doon,' ' John 
Anderson my Jo,' ' Auld Lang Syne,' ' Highland 
Mary,' 'The Lea-Rig,' etc. And the reading of these 
songs in their peculiar dialect, naturally led my 
thoughts beyond the songs themselves and the singer, 
and awakened an interest in the author and his life 
and home ; and thus insensibly I became an ardent 
admirer of Burns and Scotland." He then relates his 
visit to the Land of Burns in 1871, and gives expres- 
sion to the thoughts inspired by the sight of the 
places and associations amid which the poet lived and 
wrote. 

This paper, filling sixty-three closely-written pages 
of manuscript, reveals a trait of character which was 
prominent in all his life, viz., a tender and apprecia- 
tive regard for his mother; and it furnishes k fair 
sample of his literary style. It is characterized by 
vivid descriptions of natural scenery and peasant life. 
He groups the hamlet, and its occupants and home- 
surroundings in a spirited picture, charming by its 
lights and shades, its mingling of the real and ideal, 
and all enveloped in the fitlul sunshine and mists of 
the Ayr and Ayrshire. This paper, and a diary kept 
by him, and since writt^ out in full, take rank above 
many modern published e-says and books of travel. 

Mr. Adams prepared and delivered an address at 
the semi-centennial of the Oakham Sabbath-School, 
May, 1868 ; an address at the centennial of Antrim, 
N. H., June 27, 1877, in response to the toast — 
"Scotch character: still marked by grit and grace;" 
an address delivered on Washington's birthday, 1874; 
and read a paper on North Brooklield family history 
before the New England Historic-Genealogical So- 
ciety, February, 1884 ; and had partly completed a 
Sketch of the Life of Thomas Gray. But his principal 
literary work was the compilation of family biog- 



554 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



raphies, comprising the leading Brookfield settlers, 
and filling ten large quarto volumes. These manu- 
script volumes contain historical matter, personal 
anecdotes and adventures, and family memorials of 
great value to genealogists, and are a monument of 
the author's patient research and discriminating judg- 
ment. 

Both by nature and self-culture, Mr. Adams was a 
conservative man. But his was a conservatism that 
is an element of strength, and not of weakness ; 
which was a consequent of deliberation and forecast, 
and not of timidity. He built on well-laid founda- 
tions and not on the sand. He made no more 
" haste " than " good speed." The meteor may out- 
dazzle the evening star, but Jupiter remains king of 
the nightly heavens. 

And this habit of mind fitted him for his work in the 
State treasurership and his other financial trusts. A 
wise conservatism always begets confidence, and, when 
joined with a clear head and habits of investigation, 
is the common antecedent of permanent .success. This 
trait appeared as a factor in his daily life, in his 
friendships, in his views on education, on political 
and moral reforms, and on questions of theologv and 
religion. He learned the Assembly's Shorter Cate- 
chism from his mother, and was accustomed to recom- 
mend it as a safe manual of Scripture doctrines to be 
taught to children. He was for fifteen years a mem- 
ber of Dr. Snell's Bible class. And he united with 
the Presbyterian Church because of its steadfiist ad- 
herence to the old standards of faith and practice. 

Mr. Adams was tender and strong in his social 
friendshi[)s, and his heart and purse were open to 
the calls of the needy and suffering. He bestowed 
his charities freely, but unostentatiously, on those 
who had a claim on his generosity and kindness. 
Many a widow and orphan will miss his timely help, 
and cherLsh and bless his memory. 

He received the honorary degree of Master of Arts 
from Dartmouth College in 1878. 



CHAPTER LXXXI. 

WEST BROOKFIELD. 

BY WII-I.IAM T. D.WIS. 

The town of West Brookfield should have been 
called Brookfield. It was the first place of settle- 
ment on the origin.al grant ; it held the first church, 
and holds the ancient burial-ground within its bor- 
ders, and was made the First Precinct when the old 
town of Brookfield was divided into three. On the 
28th of May, 1750, the Second Precinct was incorpor- 
ated, including substantially the territory now 
included within the limits of North Brookfield, and 
on the Sth of May, 1754, the Third Precinct was 



incorporated (now Brookfield), leaving the west part 
(now West Brookfield) to retain the name and powers 
of the First Precinct. The steps taken to obtain the 
divi-ion of the town into precincts, and the several 
acts of incorporation, may be found stated in detail 
in the history of Brookfield in these volumes. A 
sketch of the church in the First Precinct up to the 
date of the incorporation of West Brookfield may 
also be found in that history ; this narrative, therefore, 
will be confined chiefly to the career of the town 
since its incorporation. 

In 1812 the town of North Brookfield was incor- 
porated. The division of the remainder of the old 
town of Brookfield, after Warren or Western, as it 
was originally called, had been set off in 1741, and 
North Brookfield in ISl'J, was accomplished without 
contest and by general consent. At a town-meeting 
held on the 22d of November, 1847, at which Alanson 
Hamilton acted as moderator, it was voted " that^the 
town choose a committee of two, one from each Par- 
ish, to present a petition to the next legislature to 
send out a disinterested committee to report to their 
body the terms upon which the town be divided, and 
that the town will abide said decision, provided that 
the town shall not disagree among themselves upon 
the terms of division pi'evious to the first of January 
next, in which case said committee will petition the 
legislature to divide the town upon the terms agreed 
upon." The committee consisted of John M. Fiske 
and Francis Howe, the former from the First and the 
latter from the Third Precinct. A committee of 
twelve was also appointed, consisting of Baxter Ellis, 
Baxter Barnes, Nathaniel Lynde, Wm. Adams, Joseph 
Dane and Avery Keep, from the First Precinct; and 
Parley Blanchard, Elliott Prouty, Alfred Rice, AV'm. 
J. Adams, Wra. Howe and Charles Flagg, from the 
Third Precinct, to consider terms and conditions of 
a division, and report to the town. At an adjourned 
meeting, held on the 27th of December, the commit- 
tee made the following report, which was accepted : 

Tlie Committee cliosen by the town of Brookfield to consider and agree 
upon »n equitiible division of said town into two distinct towns, in such 
manner and on such terms as shall subject each town to bear its .jt.st 
proportion of the burdens or expenses, and prevent liabilities of the 
whole undivided town, submit the following report ; — Having duly con- 
sidered all the facta and circumstances that we could bring to our minds, 
tbey are of the opinion that the town should bo divided by the same 
line that divides the two ancient parishes, and the part lying west of 
saiil line, exceiit Preston Howe's land, shall be incorporated asanew and 
distinct town, by the name of West Broolifield. w ith the following con- 
ditions or agreement, viz. :— If the County Commissioners fchall order, 
either the road from Ware to West Brookfield depot, or the road from 
Fiskdale to South Brookfield depot, or both of them, to be made as they 
are now located, except a slight alteration may be made without addi- 
tional expense within two years, each town shall pay an equal portion 
of the expense of making said road or roads, also of the present debts of 
the town, if any tliere be ; West Brookfield shall relinquish and give up 
to Brookfield all their right or int-rest in the town farm, with all the 
pei-sonal property on or belonging tlu-reto ; Brookfield shall keep and 
support all the paiipers who are now at the said establishment during 
their lives, West Brookfield paying to Brookfield lifty cents a week each 
for one-half the number of saitl paupers now at said alms-house during 
their lives. The names of the persons to be thus supported areas follows, 
and no other person, viz. : — Joseph Porter, Abigail Staples, Simeon 



WEST BROOKFIELD. 



555 



Johnson, Darid Snow, EleanorGilbert, Solon Phipps, Hannah Lawi'ence, 

Maiiha Richiinlson, EUzab^lh Ilobbs, Harriet Richards, Sally Forbes, 
Sally Parker, Huldali Wood, Ulary Walker, Miuy M'ard, Esther Jennings, 
Srtl'y Thoiuas, Abigail Paddock, John Lindley, William Kicbardson, 
Emily P. Morso nnd Orin IIjiniiltDn. Ruth Henshaw, insane, is to be 
supported by the town of Brooktitdd, and Harriet Candy to bo supported 
in West Bi'oukfield. All persons who may hereafter claim town aid are 
to be supported or assisted by the town in wliose territorial limits they 
may have gained a settlement, by the laws of the commonwealth, prior 
to the division of said town. West Brookfield shall have the right to 
visit said alms-house, by an agent or committee, for the purpose of seeing 
that said paupers are well treated or taken care of. The expensfs 
necessarily incuired by your committee tliey pray may be allowed, and 
that the town direct the Selectmen to give an order to Parley Blancliard, 
their chairman, fur the sum of sixteen dollars for that purpose. 

On the 4th of February the town voted to petition 
the Legislature for an act incorporating the new 
town substantially in accordance with the terms of 
the report, and on the 3d of March, 1848, the follow- 
ing act was passed : 

AN ACT TO TSCORPOnATE THE TOWN OF WEST BHOOKFIELD. 

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General 
Court assembled and by the authority of the same as follows : 

Sec. 1. All that part of the town of Brookfield, in the Covinty of Wor- 
cester, whicli lies westerly cf the line hereinafter described, is hereby 
incorporated into a separate town by the name of West Brookfield, and 
the said town of West Biookfield is hereby vested with all the powers, 
privileges, rights and immunities, and shall be subject to all the duties 
and requisitions to which other towns are entitled and subjected by the 
constitution and lawa of the Commonwealth. The dividing line be- 
tween the two towns shall be and the same is hereby established as fol- 
lows : Beginning at the north end of said line at a town monument be- 
tween Brookfield and North Brookfield; thence south eighteen and 
three-fourth degrees west tliirty-one rods and twenty-two links to a 
stake and stones ; thence south eighty-six degrees west twenty-four rods ; 
thence north eighty-four and three-fourths degrees west ten rods and 
eighteen links ; thence south fifty six and three-fourths degrees west 
seventeen rods and five links; thence south fifty-four degrees west fif. 
teen rods and twenly-threo links ; thence south sixty-nine and one- 
third degrees west fourteen rods and twenty-two links; thence south 
seven degrees west nineteen rods and seven links ; thence souih twenty- 
four and one-fourth degrees west nine rodsand nine links; thence north 
fifty-six and one-fourth degrees west twelve rods; thence north fifty- 
two and three-fourths degrees west sixteen rods ; thence south nine de- 
grees west sixty-six rods and twenty links; tht-nce south fifteen degrees 
west sixty-six rods and twenty links; thence south nine degrees west 
seventeen rods and seventeen links; thence south eighty-two and one. 
half degrees west fifteen rods and three links ; thence south five and 
one-half degrees oast fifty-nine rods and seven links ; thence south fifty, 
nine degrees west eighteen rods and twelve links ; thence suuih forty- 
three and one-half degrees west eight rods; thence south ten and one- 
half degrees east seven rods and four links ; thence south thirty degrees 
east seven rods and four links ; thence south fifty-threeand one-half de- 
grees east nine rodsand thirteen links; thence south thirty -four degrees 
west twenty-six rods and thirteen links ; thence south seventy-five and 
three quarters degrees east nine rods and twenty links; thence south 
nine and one-fourth degrees west three rods ; thence south seventy-four 
degrees east sixteen rods ; thence south twenty and one-fourth degrees 
west one hundred and tweiity-nino rods to the north bank of the river; 
thence southerly to the middle of the river; thence down the middle of 
the river to a point opposite the corner of land of Reuben Blair and the 
Brigham Farm, lying on the southerly side of said river ; thence south- 
erly to said corner ; thence south thirty-three and one fourth degrees 
west one hundred and eighty five rods and fifteen links; thence north 
sixty-eight and three-fourths degrees west thirty-three rods and twenty 
links; thence south sixteen degrees west two hundred and thirty six 
rods and twenty links; thence south sixty-seven and three-fourths de- 
grees east thirty-two rods ; thence south seven degrees west three rods ; 
thence south seventy degrees east sixteen rods and eight links ; thence 
south seventeen degrees west forty rods and two links ; thence south 
eighty-four and three-fourths degrees west seven rods and fifteen links; 
thence south three and one fourth degrees west twenty-six rods ; thence 
south eighty-five and one half degrees west twenty-five rods and thirteen 
links ; thence north sevent-- and three fourths degrees west twenty -eight 



rods and eighteen links ; thence north eighty-six and one-half degrees 
west twenty-eight rodsand five links; thence south twelve rods; thence 
south twenty-nino and one-half degrees west forty-four rodsand fifteen 
links; thoncc south seventeen and one half degrees west fifty-five rods 
and fourteen links ; thence south seventy five and one half degrees east 
ninety rods; thence south thirteen and one-third degrees west eighty- 
eight rods and twenty-two links ; thence north seventy-five degrees west 
sixty-one rods and twenty links; thence south nineteen and three-fourths 
degrees west eighty rods; thence south forty and one-half degrees east 
seventeen rods ; thence north twenty-five degrees east twenty-three rods 
and fifteen links; thence south eighty degrees east fifty-four rods and 
ten links; thence south thirteen and one-third degrees west one hun- 
dred and twenty-seven rods and five links; thence north sixty-five de- 
grees west sixty-eight rods and ten litiks ; thence south sixty-two degrees 
west eleven rods and twelve links ; thence north forty-nine degrees west 
five rods and nine links ; thence north si.xteen degrees west twelve rods ; 
thence north sixty-one and one-half degrees west forty-two rods and 
twenty links, to a point on the town line between said Brookfield and 
Warren. 

Section 2. The inhabitants of West Brookfield shall be holden to pay 
to the collector of Brookfield all arrears uf taxes legally assessed on them 
in the said town of Brookfield before the passage of this act, and also 
shall !»e holden to pay tlieir proportion of State and County taxes that 
may be assessed upon them previously to the taking of the npxt State 
valuation, said proportion to be ascertained and determined by the 
town valuation of the town of Brookfield next preceding the passage of 
this act ; and the said town of West Brookfield shall be holdon to pay 
one-half of the debts due and owing from the town of Brookfield at the 
time of the passage of this Act, and shall be entitled to receive one-half 
of all corporate personal property except as hereinafter provided and all 
assets now owned by said town of Brookfield ; and tlie town of West 
Brookfield shall i>e entitled to receive one-half of the school fund be- 
longing to or receivable by the town of Brookfield. 

Sec. 3. The poor farm belonging to the town of Brookfield shall re- 
main and continue to be the property of the town of Brookfield, togeth- 
er with all the personal property on or attached to said farm. And the 
said town of Brookfield shall support during their lives the following- 
named persons, provided the same shall continue to be paupera and re- 
quire support to wit: Joseph Porter, Simeon Johnson, David Snow, 
Elenor Gilbeit, Abigail Staples, Solon Phipps, Hannah Lawrence, Mar- 
tha Kichardson, Elizabeth Hobbs, Hannah Kichard.-*, Sally Forbes, Sally 
Parker, Huldah Wood, filary Walker, Mary Ward, Esther Jennings, 
Sally Thomas, Abigail Paddock, John Lindley, Wm. Richardson and 
Emily P. Morse. And the said town of West Brookfield shall pay to the 
town of Brookfield the sum of twenty fiv.e cents per week for the sup- 
port of each of said persons respectively so long ds they shall severally 
live, whether they thall continue paupers or otherwise. And the town 
of Brookfield shall hereafter support Ruth Henshaw, a pauper, and 
the town of West Brookfield shall support Harriett Casey, a pauper, 
so long as they shall respectively requiie support. The towns of Brook- 
fiidd and West Brookfield shall be respectively liable for the support of 
all other persons who now do or hereafter shall stand in need of relief as 
paiipers wliose settlement was gained by or derived from a residence 
within their respective limits. 

Sec. 4. If the County Commissioners shall, within two years, order 
the construction of the road which has been located from Ware to West 
Brookfield Depot, and the road which has been located from Fiskdale 
to South Brookfield Depot on either of said roads as the same are located 
or 80 altered as not to increase the expense, the towns of Brookfield and 
West Brookfield shall each pay one-half the expense of said road or 
roads. 

Sec. 5. The town of West Brookfield shall continue to be a part of 
the town of Brookfield for the purpose of electing a Representative to 
the General Court, St;ite otficers, Senators, Representatives to Congress, 
and electors of President and Vice-President of the United States, until 
the next decennial census shall be taken in pursuance of the thirteenth 
article of amendment of the constitution ; and all meetings for the 
choice of Siiid officer shall be called by the selectmen of the town of 
Brookfield in like manner and in the same phices as heretofore called ; 
and the selectmen of West Brookfield shall make a true list of all per- 
sons in said town qualified to vote at every such election, and shall, ten 
days at least before the day of every such election, deliver the same to 
the selectmen of Brookfield, to be used by them in the same manner 
for such elections as if prepared by themselves. 

Sec. 0. Any justice of the peace within and for the county of Wor- 
cester is hereby authorized to issue his warrant directed to any principal 
inhabitant of the town of West Brookfield, requiring him to notify and 



556 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



warn the inhabitaiite thereof qualified to vote in town affairs to meet at 
the time and phico tliereiri appointed for the purpose of choosing all 
auch town nflflcers as towns are by law authorized and required to 
choose at their annual meetings ; and such justice, or in his absence, 
such principal inhabitant shall preside till ttio cliuice of a moderator in 
said meeting. 

In conformity with the provisions of the act of 
incorporation, Elisha Hammond, of West Broolcfield, 
a justice of the peace, issued a warrant to George S. 
Duell, a principal inhabitant of West Brookfield, 
requiring him to notify and warn the inhabitants of 
said town qualified to vote in town affairs to meet at 
tlie town hall in said town on Monday, the 27th of 
March, 1848, to choose town officers and raise such 
sums of money as might be needed for town affairs, 
and also to decide on the manner of calling meeting-* 
of the town. The town hall, so called, was the Con- 
gregational Church, which had in alternate years with 
the Congregational Church in the south part of the 
town been used for town meetings. The warrant was 
dated March 11th and was duly served by Mr. Duell, 
who made his return of service on the same. At the 
meeting Alansim Hamilton was chosen moderator, 
and a prayer was offered by Rev. Leonard S. Parker, 
then pastor of the Congregational Church in West 
Brookfield. The following town officers were chosen 
for the year: Selectmen, Alanson Hamilton, Eli 
Chamberlain, Baxter Barnes, Mandley Peirce, 
Bramin Sibley; Town Clerk — Jacob Dupee; Asses- 
sors — Alanson Hamilton, William Cowee, William 
R. Thomas; Tre.isuier — Lucius Tomblin ; Oierseers 
of the Poor — Jesse Bliss, Seth Crabtree and Avf ry 
Keep; Visiting School Committee — Leonard S. 
Parker, William Curtis and William R. Thomas; 
Fence- Viewers — Nathaniel Lynde, Joseph A. Sprague 
and John M. Fiske ; Measurers of Wood and Bark — 
Lucius Tomblin, William Cowee and T. Lindsey ; 
Measurers of Leather — H. Brown, B. T. Leland and 
Joseph A. Sprague; Sealer of Weights and Meas- 
ures — William Barrett; Surveyors of Highways — 
Horace F. Watson, Bostwick Gilbert, Linus Banister, 
William Barrett, Augustus Makepeace, Seth Crabtree, 
Warren Blair, Bramin Sibley, Mandley Peirce and 
Aretas D. Gilbert; Surveyors of Lumber — George 
H.Gilbert, Lucius Tomblin, Senate Johnson; Fire- 
Wards — Avery Keep, J. M. Fiske, H. Brown, G. 
Crowell, A. C. Gleason and G. W. Lincoln ; Field- 
Drivers — I. Lincoln, G. Crowell, E. W. Coombs, 
Joseph A. Sprague, J. M. Fiske, Arad Gilbert, C. T. 
Cooke and Avery Keep. 

It was voted to put out the collection of taxes to 
the lowest bidder, and George S. Duell took the col- 
lection for one and a quarter per cent. George S. 
Duell and Charles Cutter were chooen constables, and 
it was voted that warrants for town-meetings should be 
posted at least seven days at the Congrtgational 
Church and at the school-house near the hou-e of 
William Adams. 

Josiah Henshaw, Nathaniel Lynde and Isaac Gil- 
bert were chosen a committee to ascertain the finan- 



cial condition of the town and report at an adjourned 
meeting on the 17th of April. At the adjourned 
meeting the committee reported that the outstanding 
orders of the two towns amounted to §750. Due on 
account of schools, $80 ; due on account of tax abate- 
ments, $50; due on account of poor, $153.52; due on 
account of contingent expenses, $100.48— $1,134. 
Assets deducted, $434.45 — amount of indebtedness, 
$699..55, one-half of which is West Brookfield's share : 
$350. 

The committee recommended appropriations which 
were made as follows: One-half of iudebtness of the 
two towns, $350 ; schools, $900 ; roads, $300 ; con- 
tingent and tax discount, $225 ; poor, $450 — total 
appropriations, $2,225. 

It was also voted that the sum of six hundred dol- 
lars be worked out on the roads as a labor tax. The 
following is a list of the selectmen of the town 
since its incorporation, chosen in the years set against 
their names : 



1848. 


Alanson Hiiniilton. 




Warren A. Blair. 




Eli Chiimhcrlain. 


1859. 


Wm. B. Stone. 




Baxter Barnes. 




William Adams, Jr. 




Mandley Peirce. 




Warren A. Blair. 




Bramin Sibley. 




Raymond Cummiuga 


1849. 


Same. 




Francis 11. Barnes. 


185U. 


Baxter Ellis. 


1860. 


Josiah Henshaw. 




Ebeuezer Fairbanka. 




Raymond Cumniings 




Willard Gilbert. 




Henry P. Barrett. 




Benj. W. Leiaud. 




Francis H. Barnes. 




Daniel C. Snow 




Amos C. Allen. 


1851. 


Willard Gilbert. 


1861. 


Raymond Cumniings 




Aretas D. Gilbert. 




Amos C. Allen. 




Adulphus Hamilton. 




Augustus Makepeace 




Horace G. llawson. 




William Foster. 




William Cowee. 




E. W. Ccoinbs. 


1852. 


Hammond Brown. 


1862. 


Raymond Cummings 




Seth Crabtree. 




Amos C. Allen. 




Joshua Robs. 




Augustus Makepeace 




Horace G. Rawaon. 




E. W. Coombs. 




Abijah Cutler. 




William Foster. 


1863. 


Horace G. Rawson. 


1863. 


Hammond Brown. 




Mandley Peirce. 




Amos C. Allen. 




Chaniiler Giddings. 




Abner C. Gleason. 




JoBeph W. Woods. 




Daniel Allen. 




Joseph Dane, Jr. 




H. L. Banister. 


1854. 


Chandler GiddiogB. 


18G4. 


Hammond Brown. 




Joseph W. Woodd. 




Amos C. Allen. 




Joseph Dane, Jr. 




Abner C. Gleason. 




Bramin SibU>y. 




Daniel Allen. 




John R. Snow. 




Zebulon E. Cary. 


1865. 


George H. Gilbert. 


1865 


AuiosC Allen. 




Moses Hall. 




Abner C. Gleason, 




George Ganlt. 




Sanford Adaras. 




Cheney Dane. 




Zebnion E. Gary. 




Chandler Giddings. 




David S. Lawrence. 


1856. 


Hammond Brown. 


18GC 


Amos C. Allen. 




Moses Hall. 




Sanford Adams. 




Bramin Sibley. 




David S. Lawrence. 




DaTid B. Gleason. 




0. A. Davis. 




Charles E. Smith. 




R. K. Jlakepeace. 


1857. 


Alanson Hamilton. 


18G7. 


George Crowell. 




Wm. B. Stone. 




Daniel Allen. 




Ebonezer B. Lyndo. 




L. H. Clianiberlaiu. 




Charles E. feniith. 




Warren L>aue. 




George A, Baniee. 




Wm. H. Baines. 


1858 


Alanson Hamilton. 


1868 


George Crowell. 




Win. B. Stone. 




Daniel Allen. 




George A. Barnes. 




L. U. Clmmbfrlain. 




William Puigo. 


1869. 


Benjamin Aiken. 



WEST BROOKFIELD. 



557 



1871. 
1872. 



1874. 
1876. 
1876. 



0. P. Maynard. 

Wm. B. Stone. 

B. P. Aiken. 

Wm. B. Stone. 

Kaymond Ciimminga. 

Same. 

Kaymond Cummings. 

.TolinB. Tomlilin. 

George A. Parralt. 

Raymond Cummings. 

H. G. Rawson. 

Edward McEvoy. 

Same. 

Same. 

B. P. Aiken. 

B. K. Makepeace. 
Wm. H. Allen. 
Edward SIcEvoy. 
Wm. H. Allen. 
Raymond Cummings. 
J. G. Bruce. 

C. H. Fairbanks. 
Raymond Cummings, Jr. 
Edward McEvoy. 

W. A. Blair. 
W. A. Blair. 
Edward McEvoy. 
R. K. Makepeace. 
W. A. Blair. 
Edward McEvoy. 



1882. 



1883. 



1885. 



1888. 



Royal K. Makepeace. 
E. W. Coombs. 
Edward McEvoy. 
R. K. Makepeace. 
R. K. Makepeace. 
Philip M. Butler. 
Joseph Eaton, 
Edward McEvoy. 
E. W. Coombs. 
Philip M. Butler. 
E. W. Coombs. 
Edward McE%-oy. 
Amos C. Allen. 
Charles H. Allen. 
E. W. Coombs. 
Charles H. Allen. 
Charles B. Hensbaw. 
E. W. Coombs. 
Charles H. Allen. 
John T. Gulliver. 
E. W. Coombs. 
George A. Parratt. 
J. T. <iulliver. 
Sauford Adams, 
Amos C. Allen, 
G. H. Coolidge. 
Sanford Adams. 
George H. Brown. 
G. H. Coolidge. 



The moderators at annual meetings have been : 

L. Fullam 1868-69 



Lyman H. Chamberlain 1870 

L. Fullam 1871-72 

Lyman H. Chamberlain. ...1873-78 

L. Fullam 1879-80 

Lyman H. Chamberlain 1881-83 

EbenczerB. Lynde 1884-S5 

George H. Coolidge 1886-88 



Alanson H^tmilton. 1849-50 

Hammond Brown 1851-54 

George W. Lincoln 1855-58 

D . S. Menell 1859 

Josiah Henshaw 1860 

George W. Lincoln 1861-62 

Jusiah Henshaw 1863 

Hammond Brown 1864-66 

Lyman H. Chamberlain 1867 

Jacob Dupee served as clerk from 1848 to 1857, in- 
clusive; E. Hutchins Blair, from 1858 to 1879, inclu- 
sive, and in 1880 H, W. Bush, the present clerk, was 
chosen, Lucius Tomblin served as treasurer from 
1848 to 1851, inclusive ; Oliver S, Cook, from 1852 to 
1856, inclusive; Hammond Brown, from 1857 to 1859, 
inclusive ; E. H. C. Blair, from 1860 to 1866, inclusive ; 
A. C. Gleason for the year 1867, and E, H, C. Blair 
from 1868 until his death, in May, 1887, George H, 
Fales was then appointed to fill the vacancy and was 
chosen by the town at the annual meeting in 1888. 

While presenting lists of the most prominent officers 
of the town, it will not be out of place to include in 
this narrative the names of those who have represented 
the town in the General Court, In the act of incor- 
poration it was provided that for the purpose of choos- 
ing these, West Brookfield should form a part of 
Brookfleld until the next State census in 1850, In 
1848 the two towns chose no representative and in 
November, 1849, Oliver C, Felton, of Brookfield, was 
chosen to represent them. Those chosen in West 
Brookfield at the election in the following years 
were ; Chosen in 1850, William Curtts ; 1851, Horace 
J. Rawson ; 1852, none; 1853, Baxter Barnes; 1854, 
William R. Thomas; 1855, none; 1856, John M, 
Fales, 

The Legislatures of 1856 and 1857 adopted the 



Twenty-first Amendment to the Constitution, which 
was approved by the people May 1, 1857, providing 
that a census of the legal voters of each city and town 
should be taken on the first day of May, 1857, and 
returned to the Secretary of the Commonwealth on or 
before the last day of June, and a census of the in- 
habitants of each cily and town in 1865, and every 
tenth year thereafter, including the legal voters. The 
amendment also provided that the House of Repre- 
sentatives should thereafter consist of two huudred 
and forty members, who shall be apportioned by the 
Legislature, at its first session alter the return of the 
census, to the several counties of the Commonwealth, 
according to their relative numbers of legal voters 
and the apportionment certified to the mayor and 
aldermen of the city of Boston and to the county 
commissioners of other counties than Suffolk, who 
shall, on the first Tuesday after the receipt of the 
apportionments, divide their counties into representa- 
tive districts and assign to each its number of repre- 
sentatives. Under the apportionment of 1857 the 
towns of Warren, West Brookfield and New Braintree 
constituted the Eleventh District of Worcester County 
and were entitled to one Representative. The follow- 
ing is a list of the Representatives cho.-en to represent 
that district in the nine succeeding years : 

Chosen in 1857, Samuel E, Blair, of Warren ; 1858, 
Nelson Carpenter, of Warren ; 1859, George Crowell, 
of West Brookfield; 1860, Joseph Rawson, of West 
Brookfield; 1861, Lucius J. Knowles, of Warren; 
1862, Sexton P. Martin, of New Braintree; 1863, 
John M. Fales, of West Brookfield ; 1864, Lucius J. 
Knowles, of Warren ; 1865, Nathan Richardson, of 
Warren. 

Under the apportionment of 1866, based on the 
census of 1865, the towns of Sturbridge, Brookfield, 
West Brookfield, North Brookfield and Warren con- 
stituted the Eighteenth Worcester District and the 
following were chosen to represent that district in the 
ten succeeding years : 

Chosen in 1866, James S. Montague, of Brookfield, 
Charles E. Smith, of West Brookfield; 1867, Amasa 

C, Morse, of Sturbridge, Joseph B. Lombard, of War- 
ren ; 1868, Ezra Batcheller. of North Brookfield, Dan- 
iel W. Knight, of Brookfield ; 1869, Benjamin A. 
Tripp, of Warren, John Harvey Moore, of Warren ; 
1870, Martin L. Richardson, of Sturbridge, George S, 
Duell, of Brookfield ; 1871, Daniel W, Knight, of 
Brookfield, Simon H. Sibley, of Warren ; 1872, Noah 

D. Ladd, of Sturbridge, William B. Stone, of West 
Brookfield; 1873, Warren Tyler, of North Brookfield, 
Stillman Butterwprth, of Brookfield; 1874, Charles B, 
Sanford, of West Brookfield, George T, Lincoln, of 
Sturbridge ; 1875, Charles Fuller, of Sturbridge, John 
Wetherbee, of Warren, 

LTnder the apportionment of 1876 the same towns 
constituted the Twelfth Worcester District and were 
represtnted as follows during the ten succeeding 
years : 



558 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



Chosen in 1876, William H. Montague, of North 
Brook6eld, George W. Johnson, of Brookticld ; 1877, 
George C. Lincoln, of North Brookfield, Alvin B- 
Chamberlain, of Sturbridge ; 1878, Theodore C. Bates, 
of Norlh Brookfield, Joseph Smith, of Warren ; 1879, 
George W. Johnson, of Brookfield, George N. Bacon, 
of Sturbridge; 1880, George A. Parratt, of West 
Brookfield, George M. Newton, of Warren, died (Lu- 
cien M. Gilbert, of Warren, filled vacancy) ; 1881, 
Hiram Knight, of North Brookfield, David W. 
Hodgkins, of Brookfield ; 1882, Emory L. Bates, of 
Sturbridge, Horace W. Bush, of West Brookfield; 
1883, Allen Batclieller, of North Brookfield, Joseph W. 
Hastings, of Warren; 1881, Edwin D. Goodell, of 
Brookfield, David B. Wright, of Slurbridge; 1885, 
Edwin Wilbur, of West Brookfield, Marcus Bur- 
roughs, of Warren. 

Under the apportionment of 1886 the towns of 
Brookfield, West Brookfield, North Brookfield, New 
Braintree, Oakham, Slurbridge and Warren consti- 
tuted the Fifth Worcester District and the following 
Representatives have been chosen to represent it : 

Chosen in 1886, Edwin D. Goodell, of Brook- 
field, Samuel Clark, of North Brookfield ; 1887, George 
H. Coolidge, of West Brookfield, Henry D. Haynes, 
of Sturbridge ; 1888, George Bliss, of Warren, John 
B. Gould, of Warren. 

In the early life of West Brookfield little occurred 
to arrest the attention of the historian or interest the 
reader. Its current flowed wiih gentle tide, bearing 
satisfactory prosperity to its enterprises and peace and 
happiness to its people. Its real history lies back of 
its incorporation far in the past and is owned in 
common with its sister towns. Brookfield, though 
the Third Precinct, inherits the name and records of 
the original town, while West Brookfield, really the 
mother instead of sister of the towns at the north 
and south, and holding within its borders the ancient 
landmarks of Quabaug, has scarcely passed the for- 
tieth year of its municipal age. It would be a fitting 
acknowledgment of its historic record to place in its 
keeping the ancient archives and christen it anew 
with the name which rii;htfully belongs to it. South 
Brookfield is the title which Brookfield often bears in 
the records, and to an impartial eye it seems more ap- 
plicable to-day to the town from which West Brook- 
field was separated in 1848. 

As owners in common of the memories of the good 
old town, the citizens of the three towns of Brookfield, 
North Brookfield and West Brookfield celebrated the 
anniversary of our national independence on Satur- 
day, the 3d of July, 1858. The purpose of the 
celebration was a double one, — both to celebrate the 
event which the day commemorated and, as stated by 
the committee in their circular, sent to the sons of 
the three towns, to make preliminary arrangements 
for the two hundredth anniversary of the settlement 
of the town, which would occur in 1860. The circular 
was signed by Aaron Kimball, Francis Howe, Lewis 



Abbott, S. W. Banister, Perley Stevens, Luther 
Stowell, Oliver C. Ftlton, Calvin Jennings, Otis 
Hayden, Emmons Tvvichell and Alfred Rice, of 
Brookfield ; Araasa Walker, Daniel Whitney, Hiram 
Edson, Charles Duncan, William Adams, George H. 
Lowe, Royal Pickard, Ezra Batchellor, Lysauder 
Brewer, James H. Hill and Bonum Nye, of North 
Brookfield, and Alanson Hamilton, Nathaniel Lynde, 
Ebenezer Merriam, John M. Fales, Augustus Make- 
peace, Ebenezer Fairbanks, David A. Gleason, David 
L. Merrill, Raymond Cummings, George W. Lincoln 
and Warren A. Blair, of West Brookfield. At that 
time the population of the three towns, in the order 
here given, was 2007, 2.307 and 1363 respectively. A 
dinner was held in a tent pitched on the Common in 
Brookfield and nine hundred guests were seated at 
the tables. A procession, under the Chief Marshal 
George D. Clapp, with Tyler Hosman and Henry L. 
Mellen as his aids, contained four divisions in the 
following order and marched through the principal 
streets to the tent: 

Firgt Division. 

Bunds Cornet Band, '10 pieces, 

Cataract Engine Company, of Brookfield, Capt. A. H. Moulton. 

Committee of Brookfield. 

Speakers and guests. 

Citizens. 

Second Jjivision. 

American Engine Company, of West Brookfield, Capt. C. B. Sanford. 

Committee of West Brookfield. 

West Brookfield Glee Club. 

Citizens. 

Third Diviition. 

Committee of North Brookfield. 

President, Vice-President, Chaplain. 

Guests. 

Citizens. 

Foui-th Diriaion. 

Bay State Engine Co., East BrookOeld, Capt. C. K. Willard. 

Challenge Engine Co. (Juvenile), East Brookfield, Capt. E. J. Kichols. 

Guests aud Citizens. 

Hon. Amasa Walker, of North Brookfield, presided, 
assisted by the following vice-presidents: Hon. Fran- 
cis Howe, Hon. Oliver C. Felton, Abraham Skinner 
and Aaron Kimball, of Brookfield ; Hon. Alanson 
Hamilton, Nathaniel Lynde and Ebenezer Merriam, 
of West Brookfield, and Colonel Wm. Adams and 
Pliny Nye, of North Brookfield. D. L. Morrill, of 
West Brookfield, was toast-master. The speakers, 
besides the president, were Hon. Pliny Merrick, 
Hon. Dwight Foster, George Howe, of Boston, Wm. 
Howe, of Brookfield, Henry Upham, of Boston, Rev. 
C. Cushing, of North Brookfield, and Dr. Hitchcock, 
of Newton. 

On the 15th of March, 1860, the following circular 
was issued, preliminary to the celebration of the two 
hundredth anniversary of the settlement of the town. 
The original grant was made May 31, 1860, but for 
some reason it was thought expedient to celebrate the 
event on the 4th of July. 

Brookfield, March 15, ISGU. 
Dear Sir; The present year marks the two hundredth Anniversary of 
the settlement of the town, and it is thought desirable and proper that 
the event should be commemorated in a suitable manner 



WEST BROOKFIELD. 



559 



A general meeting of the citizens of the several towns, into which the 
ancient town of Broolitield has been divided, has been held, and the 
undersigned appointed a Committee to make arrangements for the occa- 
sion and invite tlie attendance of all who may feel au interest in it. 

We, therefore, respectfully extend to you an invitation tube present 
on the Fouith of July next, the day fixed upon, as on the whole the 
most eligible and convenient. 

The Committee are especially desirous that all who originated in, or 
have been residents of this place, should join in this Celebration. 

The Sons and Daughters of Brookfield are scattered far and wide in all 
the States in the Union ; but the Committee trust they will be happy to 
come together on an occasion so fraught with interesting associations 
and reminiscences. 

The first settlejnent having been made in that part of the old town 
now incorporated as West Brookfield, and the site of the first Bleeting- 
House, the old garrison which stood successfully the Indian Siege of 
1675, the Gilbert Fort and the first Grave Yard being also in that section, 
the Committee have decided to hold the proposed celebration in that 
town. Kev. Lyman Whiting, of Providence, R. I., has been invited to 
deliver the address, aud every effort will be made to give interest to the 
occasion. 

A large tent will be erected upon the Common, in which the services 
will be held and the dinner be provided. 
Tickets to the Tent and Dinner, one dollar. 

We have the honor to be, 

Respectfully Yr obt servants, 
Aaron Kimball. Francis Howe. 

O. C. Felton. Enmions Twichell. 

Luther Stowell. A. H. Jloulton. 

George W. Johnson. H. L*. Mellen. 

George Forbes. Pliny Doane. 

• Wm. Adams. Kzra Batcheller. 

Charles .\dams, Jr. Hiram Cari-uth. 

Pliny Nye. Amasji Walker. 

Bonimi Nye. E. D. Batcheller. 

T. M. Duncan. G. B. Dewing. 

Alanson Hamilton. Nathaniel Lynde. 

Alfred White. Jusiah Henshaw. 

Baxter Barnes. Raymond Cumminge. 

Charles E. Smith. John M. Fales. 

L. H. Thomjison. S. N. White. 

G. W. Lincoln. 

The celebration was cariied out in accordance with 
the plans of the committee. The streets and houses were 
decorated, and Wednesday, the 4th of July, will long 
be remembered by the sons and daughters of the 
ancient s-ettlement. At nine o'clock the citizens of 
V/est Brookfield, uader escort of the Oakham Band, 
proceeded to Foster's Hill, the site of the first church 
and fortification, aud there met the citizens of Brook- 
field and North Brookfield, attended by the Brookfield 
Cornet Band, and marched to the Common. There a 
formal procession was organized under Chief Marshal 
S. D. Cooke and marched to tlie old burial-ground, 
and thence to the tent on the east end of the Com- 
mon, where the tables, set for twelve hundred, were 
completely filled. Hon. Amasa Walker acted as 
president of the day, and called on Rev. Dr. Joseph 
Vaill, of Palmer, to invoke the divine blessing. After 
the dinner Mr. Walker addressed the assembly and 
Rev. Lyman Whiting, of Providence, followed with 
an historical address of nearly two hours in length. 
After the addnss speeches were made by Rev. C. 
Gushing, of North Brookfield, Dr. Eliakim Phelps, of 
Philadelphia, a former pastor of the First Prtcinct 
Church, N. B. Chamberlain, of Boston, Rev. Mr. Burr, 
of Brookfield, Rev. C. M. Cordley, of West Brookfield, 
T. M. Duncan, of North Brookfield, Rev. W. H. 



Beecher, of North Brookfield, Wm. B. Draper, of 
New York, Dr. John Homans, of Boston, Dr. Jabez 
B. Upham, of Boston, Rev. Hubbard Winslow, of 
Brooklyn, Judge Danforih, of New York, and Josiah 
Gary, of St. Charles, Missouri. 

But the memories of the early settlers of Brookfield 
were destined to be soon revived by events less joy- 
ous and peaceful. The hill-sides and plains of this 
ancient settlement, so accustomed to scenes of warfare 
in their earlier days, within a year after the celebra- 
tion again witnessed preparations for hostile strife. 
Since the grant of 1(!60 no generation had passed 
away without learning something of the hoirors of 
war. They had fought for years with the Indian hordes 
at their doors; they had fought for independence; 
they had fought to assert the rights of an infant nation 
against an insolent foe; they were now to take up 
arms to preserve a Union which had been dearly pur- 
chased in Revolutionary days. 

During the War of the Rebellion West Brookfield 
was not behind other towns in the Commonwealth in 
patriotic endeavors to sustain the government and 
till the ranks of the army. At a town-meeting held 
April 29, 1861, at which George W. Lincoln was 
chosen moderator, it was voted to pay each volun- 
teer twenty dollars when mustered and furnish each 
with a revolver. The tov/n also pledged itself to 
properly support families of soldiers in the service, 
and passed the necessary votes to enable the select- 
men to borrow money for the purpose. When nine- 
months' men were called for, a bounty of one hundred 
and fifty dollars was paid to each volunteer credited 
to the quota of the town, and in 1864 one hundred 
and twenty-five dollars in gold was paid to the men 
enlisting on its quota for three years or the war. 

The following list of soldiers enlisting in the town, 
taken chiefly from the town's Rebellion Record, but 
enlarged and corrected by the Adjutant-General's 
Roll, is as nearly accurate as it is possible to make it: 

Tliomas Reese, three years 2d Regiment, Co. H 

J. H. W. Bartlett, three years 2d Regiment, Co. V 

Simon Curley, three years 3th Regiment, Co. H 

Joseph W. Cutler, three years luth Regiment, Co. V 

Caleb C. Brock, three years luh Regiment 

Franklin W. Fellows, three years 12th Regiment, Co. I 

John Mundell, three years 12lh Regiment, Co. It 

Perez B. Sampson, three years 12th Regiment, Co. K 

George W. Shaw, Jr., three years 12th Regiment 

Julius A. Anisden, three years 12th Regiment, Co. F 

Albert Lynde. three years 13th Regiment, Co. B 

Jabez A. Blackmer, three yeai-s 13th Regiment, Co. K 

Bernard R. Gilbert, three years 13th Regiment 

Lyman W. Gilbert, three years 13th Regiment, Co. D 

Wm. L. Adams, three years 13th Regiment, Co. F 

Emerson il. Bullard, three years ^ I3th Regiment, Co. F 

Albert W. Livermore, three yeare 13th Regiment, Co. F 

C. W. Marsh, three years 1.3lh Regiment, Co. F 

A. N. Potter, three years 13th Regiment, Co. F 

Justus C. Wellington, three years lath Regiment, Co. P 

Wm. A. Mullet, three years 13th Regiment, Co. F 

Edward U. Prouty, three years 13th Regiment, Co. F 

C. S. Lowe, three years 13th Regiment, Co. F 

Henry C. Read, three years 17th Regiment, Co. G 

George W. Temple, three years 17th lieginient, Co. G 

Charles Eiggs, three yeais ISth Regiment, Co. O 



560 



HISTOKY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



L. B. Bliss, three yeara lOth Regiment, Co. C 

John Mann, tlirne years 19tli Regiment, Co. G 

Lewis McCrellis, three years 19th Regiment, Co. G 

Win. DiiKgett, three years 19th Regiment, Co. I 

Blartin J. Gilbert, tluee years 2iith Regiment, Co. K 

I(*auc M. Sampson, three years 2iith Regiment, Co. iv 

Benjamin F. Sampson, three years 2(ith Regiment, Co. K 

Samuel B. Rice, three years 21st Regiment, Co. B 

Joseph P. Adams, three yeara 21st Regiment, Co. C 

Eilwin T. Brown, three years 21st Regiment, Co. C 

C. C. Buck, three years 2l8t Regiment, Co. C 

Eli Tjier, three years 21st Regiment, Co. C 

Leonard F. Alexander, three years 2l8t Regiment, Co. F 

John L. Powers, three years 22d Regiment, Co. O 

John F. Hastings, three years 25th Regiment, Co. C 

E. P. Buck, three years 25tli Regiment, Co. D 

F. E. Buck three years 2.5th Regiment, Co. D 

Albert Peck, three years 25th Regiment, Co. C 

George K. Howe, three years 25th Regiment, Co. C 

Franli Warren, three years 28th Regiment 

George Day, three years 32d Regiment, Co. A 

Joseph W. Adams, three years M4th Regiment, Co. I 

George E. Adams, three years 34th Regiment, Co. I 

Charles H. Allen, three years 34th Regiment, Co. I 

Eldridge B. Ainsworth, three years 34th Regiment, Co. I 

Pliny F. Barr, three years 34th Regiment, Co. I 

Azor \V. Barlow, three years 34th Regiment, Co. I 

Edwin W. Barlow, three years 34th Regiment, Co. I 

Daniel Boyle, three years 34th Regiment, Co. I 

Lorenzo Chickering, three yeara 34th Regiment, Co. I 

Edward L. Drake, tlireo years 34th Regiment, Co. I 

Ephraim Carey, three years 34th Regiment, Co. I 

John E. Farley, three years 34th Regiment, Co. I 

Harvey Gilbert, three years 34th Regiment, Co. I 

George 11. Gilbert, three years 34th Regiment, Co. I 

John MeCioskey, three years 34th Regiment, Co. I 

James Murujell, tliree years 34th Regiment, Co. I 

James M. Pratt, three years 34th Regiment, Co. I 

Henry L. Ross, throe years 34th Regiment, Co. I 

Harvny E. Truesdell, three years 34lh Regiment, Co. I 

Daniel C. Spear, tliree years 34th Regiment, Co.,1 

Abner Wiknt, tlitee years 34th Regiment, Co. I 

Alfred D Washburn, three years 34th Regiment, Co. I 

Charles Thompson, three years 34th Regiment, Co. D 

Sylvanus T. Barlow, tliree years 34th Regiment, Co. I 

Dennis M. Smith, three years 34th Regiment, Co. I 

Charles E. Cutler, three years 34th Regiment, Co. I 

George Jennings, three years 36th Regiment 

Augustus J. Amsden, tliree years 3;ith Regiment, Co, E 

Horace W. Bush, 100 days 42d Regiment, Co. E 

Herman A. Gilbert, 100 days 42d Regiment, Co. F 

Tliadeiis C. Merritt, 100 days 42d Regiment, Co. E 

Wm. H. Barnes, 100 days 42d Regiment, Co. F 

Abijah D. Cutter, 100 days 42d Regiment, Co. F 

Ralph A. Dupee, 100 days 42d Regiment, Co. F 

Will H. Lombard, 100 days 4Gth Regiment, Co. G 

•S. Waldo Allen, nine months Slst Regiment, Co. F 

Joseph E. Bailey, nine months 51st Regiment, Co. F 

D. Wilnon Barlow, nine niontlia 51st Rfgiment, Co. F 

Edward M. Ciane, nine months 51st Re.iment, Co. F 

Patrick J. Dillon, nine months 51st Regiment, Co. F 

Wm. A. Hitchcock, nine months 5lst Regiment, Co. F 

D. W. R. Hinckley, nine months 51st Regiment, Co. F 

"Wm. A. Sprague, nine months ^ 51st Regiment, Co F 

Wni. R. Thomas, nine months 5Ist Regiment, Co. I 

Wm. G Lawrence, nine months 51st Regiment, Co. I 

Samuel D. Richards, nine months* 51st Regiment, Co. I 

S. F. Reach, one year 54th Regiment, Co. F 

Marial 3Iallet, three years 57th Regiment, Co. G 

Lewis Bovier, three years 57th Regiment 

John IMantell, three years 58tli Regiment 

Orin Kddy, 100 days GOth Regiment, Co. F 

Cornelius McQuirk, one year 6l6t Regiment, Co. A 

George H. Nichols, one year Gist Regiment, Co. H 

Joseph Dealcy, one year 61st Regiment, Co. H 

Isaac N. Piouty, one year 1st Cavalry, Co. F 

Edmoud Metier, one year 2d Cavalry, Co. K 



Peter Floyd, one year 2d Cavalry, Co. G 

Andrew J. Emery, one year 2d Cavaliy, Co. A 

IMartin Fallon, one year 3d Cavalry, Co. B 

Patrick G. Dillon, one year 3d Cavalry, Co. D 

Albert Barney, one year 4th Cavalry 

Rnfiis E. Blackmer, one year 4th Cavalry 

Jabez A. Blackmer, one year 4th Cavalry, Co. F 

JacobCoombs, one year 4th Cavalry, Co. D 

Isaac M. Jones, one year 4th Cavalry, Co. E 

Patrick Odell, one year 4th Cavalry, Co. D 

Calvin H. Root, one year 4th Cavalry, Co. F 

Ira T. Sibley, one year 4th Cavalry, Co. D 

Lucius Truesdell, one year 4th Cavalry 

Daniel Lawler, one year 4th Cavalry 

George E. Wellman, on© year 4th Cavalry, Co. F 

Amos S.Jackson, one year 6th Cavalry, Co. I 

James Dillon, one year 2d H. A. 

John Dillon, one year 2d H. A. 

John W. Ward, one year 2d H. A. 

Wm. Seward, one year 2d H. A. 

Daniel Bluller, one year 2d H. A. 

Daniel Buckley, one year 2d H. A. 

Jerome Hamilton, one year 2d H. A. 

Wm. P. Howe, one year 3d H. A. 

Pliny Cooper, one year 3d II. A. 

James Collins, one year 3d H. A. 

Charles A. Tyler, one year 6tli Bat. 

Anthony Collum, one year 4th Bat. 

Charles A. Gleasou. 

Michael Joyce. 

William Hall. 

Oliver Santon. • 

Moses Renicr Unattached H. A. 

Eden Woodbmy Unattached H. A. 

George McFurlan. 

Frederick A. Varnum Unattached H. A. 

Albert H.Tirrell. 

Samuel Twigg Frontier Cav. 

Frederick Rand Frontier Cav. 

Lyman B. Bliss Yet. Reserve 

The following soldiers were either killed or died 
while in the service : 

Simon Curley, killed June 23, 1863. 

Wm. L. Adams, wounded at Antietam September 17, 1862, and died 

November 7th. 
Emersun H. BuIIard, died June 15, 18G2. 
Albert W. Liverniore, died January 8, 1803, 
Justus A. Wellington, killed in October, 18113. 

Wm. A. Mullet, wounded at Spottsylvania, and died May 23, 1864. 
Edwin T. Brown, wounded at Petersburg, and July 27, 1864. 
Leonard F. Alexander, killed June 2, 1864. 
George E Adams, killed at Newmarket, Va., May 15, 1864. 
Edwin W. Barlow, killed at Snicker's Gap July 18, 1864. 
Daniel Boyle, died in Danville Prison in 1865. 
Lorenzo Chickering, wounded at Winchester September, 1864, and 

died September 2oth. 
Harvey Gilbert, killed June 5, 1864. 
George H. Gilbert, wounded at Petersburg April 2, 1865, and died 

May 4th. 
Harvey E. Truesdell, died in hospital March 7, 1864. 
Alfred D. Washbuin, died in hospitjil June 3, 1864. 
S. Waldo Allen, died July 12, 1863. 
John Mundell, killed at Fredericksburg May 8, 1864. 
Daniel Lawler, killed October 24, 1864. 
George E. Howe, killed at Petersburg, May 6, 1864. 
Charles E. Cutler, died in I'. S. Hospital at Baltimore, July 30, 1864. 
Lewis Bovier, died July 20, 1865. 
Moses Renier, died February 23, 1865. 
Herman A. Gilbert, died at Alexandria, September 23, 1864, 

An important event in the history of the town was 

the establishment of a public library. No town can 
have a complete educational system without such an 
institution. It supplements the public schools, and 
carries on and perfects the work begun by them. The 



WEST BROOKFIELD. 



561 



time is not far in the past when education was said 
to be finished at the schools. There was little of gen- 
eral instruction after the school-days were over, ex- 
cept what a greedy mind here and there, from a keen 
observation of the world and from a native gift of ab- 
sorption, could unaided and with difficulty acquire. 
The consequence was that there were to be seen in all 
our towns men of fair business and social standing 
who, from its want of use and development, had lost 
the little general knowledge obtained at their desk at 
school, retaining only that which their special busi- 
ness or trade had made demands upon. They were, 
perhaps, shrewd, industrious and prosperous, but they 
were nevertheless ignorant men. Now, since the in- 
troduction of libraries into our small communities, 
education is never finished. The school-boy grows into 
manhood holding fast to the fruits of public school 
instruction, while craving and reaping more from 
his constant use of these store-houses of knowledge. 
And, indeed, in these latter years, when immigrants 
from abroad, well advanced in life, are finding their 
way into every city and town without early education, 
and too old to use our public schools, these institu- 
tions have become the indispensable means of that 
popular enlightment without which the standard of 
our republican government would be dangerously 
lowered, if not permanently weakened and destroyed. 

The West Brookfield Free Library and Reading- 
Eoom owes its origin to a law passed in 1869, requir- 
ing towns to appropriate the annual dog fund for the 
support of schools or for a public library — that fund 
being created by fees paid annually for the licenses 
of dogs, and being the residue after the deduction of 
amounts paid to owners of sheep for damage inflicted 
by dogs. 

In the early days of the Plymouth Colony it was 
provided by law that "all such profits as might or 
should annually accrue to the Colony from time to 
time from fishing with nets or seines at Cape Cod, 
for mackerel, bass or herrings, should be improved 
for and towards a free school in some town of the 
jurisdiction." Thus the fathers of New England set 
an example in the thrifty use of the tribes of the sea 
in the establishment of free schools, which their sons 
of to-day have followed in a similar use of the crea- 
tures of the land for their permanent preservation. 

In the autumn of 1873 the town voted to establish 
a public library, and the dog-funds of 1871, 1872 and 
1873 were appropriated in its aid. It was placed in 
an ante-room of the town-house, and opened to the 
public January 5, 1874, with two hundred and 
ninety-eight volumes. The room was fitted up and 
lighted by the liberality of Mr. Lemuel Fullam, a 
public-spirited citizen. In March, 1874, Mr. T. S. 
Knowlton was chosen librarian, and still holds that 
office. During the first year Mr. Charles Merriam, 
of Springfield, a native of the town, presented five 
hundred volumes to the library, and five hundred 
dollars in money, and at the close of the year there 
36 



were fourteen hundred and eight volumes on its 
shelves. Mr. Merriam continued his gifts of books 
until they reached finally the number of about one 
thousand volumes. In 187(> he gave to the town 
fifty shares of New York Central and Hudson River 
Railroad stock, valued at that time at fifty-six hun- 
dred and fifty dollars, — "to be kept permanently 
invested safely, and never on personal security only, 
the annual income to be used for the benefit of the 
Library or Reading Room, which are to be kept 
always free to all the citizens of the town of a suita- 
ble age, and under such rules and regulations as the 
town may establish." He further provided that in 
case the library should be abandoned, the money 
should be paid to the public town libraries of Brook- 
field or North Brookfield, if such should be in exist- 
ence; but, otherwise, the town of West Brookfield 
might appropriate the sum to any general educa- 
tional purpose for the benefit of the town. 

At a town-meeting, held April 15, 1876, the town 
formally accepted the gift, and thanked Mr. Merriam 
for his liberality. But his liberality had not reached 
its limit. In 1880 he addressed the following letter 
to the town, which, as a memorial of his enlightened 
generosity, is made a part of this narrative : 

Springfield, February 3, 18&0. 
To the Town of West Brookfield : 

It is, I believe, already known to many of your citizens tliat I have 
formed the purpose of erecting within your limits a buildiug to be 
used for a Free Public Library and Reading Room, and presenting it to 
my native town. The site has already been purciiased, ou tlie so-called 
Tainton lot, next west of the Town Hall, and the contract closed for 
the erection of the building. It had been my intention to complete the 
edifice, and then ask its acceptance by the town. But it is to be 
fiuished next October, and there will then remain four or five months 
before your usual town-meeting in the spring, and it seems proper and 
desirable that the town should own the property before entering upon 
its occupation. I understand there is no legal difficulty in making the 
transfer, although the building itself is yet to be erected. 

I therefore propose to the town to make a present formal and legal 
transfer to it of the lot mentioned, with the Imildiug to be erected on 
it, to be used perpetually as a free Public Reading Room and Library for 
the town of West Brookfield. The town will maintjiin it as such un- 
der any By-laws and regiiiations it may think proper to establish ; but 
under such regulations it is to be free to all, with no fee or charge to 
any citizen for admission to the privileges of the library and reading 
room. The town shall keep the building 'constantly insured for sucli a 
sum that, if destroyed, the town engages to replace it by another equally 
convenient. It is not required that the same site should always be 
used if a ch.ange becomes necessary or desirable. I am to be at liberty 
to go ou and complete the building according to my plans. Three of 
your own citizens — Dr. Blodgett, Mr. Fullam and Mr. Knowlton, have 
been kind to act as an Advisory Committee in the matter, and can give 
the town any desired information in regard to these plans. 

From long observation I have come to feel strongly the undesirable- 
ness of attaching any other than indispensable conditions to matters 
looking far into the future, as unforeseen circumstances may greatly 
change the conditions. I will not, therefore, add any to my donation 
other than these I have mentioned. I would, however, recommend — 

First, That the upper hall, which I intend shall be a large and con- 
venient one, be not used, unless rarely and occasionally, for religious 
worship, for the reason that the town is made up of different religious 
denominations, and such use by one might awaken jealousy in others, 
and I would like this buildiug and its pui-poses to be such as that all 
shall feel in them a common interest. 

Second, For similar reasons I would not use the hall for political pur- 
poses, as caucuses and the like. 

Third, For moral and religious considerations and as I now, judge for 



562 



HISTOKY OF WORCESTEK COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



the best interests of the comnmnity, I would not open the library and 
reading room for general use on the Sabbath. Nor, 

Fourth, Let the hall for purposes of mere amusement and entertain- 
ment, especially such as sorae may bonestly deem objectionable, as balls, 
theatrical and minstrel performances, etc. 

A general reason, perhaps in itself sufficient for not using the hall for 
purposes I have mentioned, would be that all the citizens of the town 
may be united in regard to its use. Then, too, tbe little sums to bo 
obtained for rental for objects with regard to which there was a differ- 
ence of opinion, would hardly compensate for the objections, and you 
have other places available for these purposes and it would seem desira- 
ble to keep the hall for uses somewhat in sympathy with the general 
design of the building. There will be many of these, as lectures, 
debates, scientific exhibitions, farmers' clubs, etc., wholly unobjectionable, 
and tbe income from which will help towards making the library and 
reading room selfsustaiuing. Yet if the town at any time think it expe- 
dient to use the building for the foregoing or similar purposes, I would 
not be understood as interposing any objection but that becoming the 
property of the town the gift in these respects be absolute and unquali- 
fied. 

In case tbe donation, lapses from a failure of the conditions or tbe 
town's declining or neglecting to use tbe building for the objects for 
which it is given for any considerable period, the properly shall revert 
to the same purposes as provided for the lapsing of the endowment of 
$5,(100 given by me for a library fund in March or April, 1870. 

Upon the town's passing a vote of acceptance of my proposition, re- 
cording the vote on its records, placing my proposal on file and sending 
me a certified copy of tbe vote, I will make out a deed of conveyance. 

I have been prompted to make this proposition by a desire to do some- 
thing for my native town, which shall be an expression of my gratitude 
for the early educational advantages it afforded me, and at the same time 
be of permanent benefit to its citizens, especially the young. I recall, 
too, the value such an institution would have been to me in my own 
early life, and entertain, I trust, a not improper wish to be jdeasantly 
remembered by a good influence perpetuated. 

I may be allowed to express the hope that the town will cherish the 
institution as one in which all its citizens have an interest, and may find it 
of lasting value. Such value will, of course, depend largely upon a wise 
discretion being exercised in selecting and encouraging the reading of 
books and periodicals, instructive and improving, as well as a due pro' 
portion of those of a right character more especially designed for enter- 
tainment, amusement and relaxation, 

Chatiles QlEaRI&M. 

At the annual town-meeting held April 5, 1880, the 
gift of Mr. Merriam was formally accepted by the 
town, and at a lown-meetiug held in October steps 
were taken for the dedication of the building, which 
took place on the evening of Friday, November 12th, 
in the same year. On that occasion Homer B. Sprague, 
of Boston, delivered the dedicatory address, and short 
speeches were made by Rev. Mr. Gushing, William B. 
Stone and L. H. Chambirlain. Letters were read 
from Governor Daniel H. Chamberlain, a native of 
West Brookfield, and from Mr. Merriam, the benefac- 
tor, who was prevented by the infirmities of age from 
being present. Mr. Merriam died at his residence in 
Springfield, July 9, 1887. According to the report to 
the town of the Library Committee ma^e for the year 
ending February 29, 1888, the number of books in the 
library, at that date, was 5754, and 11,231 had been 
taken out during the year by 595 persons. During 
that year the library was credited on the treasurer's 
books with $200 income from the Merriam Fund, Dog 
Fund $192.89, and appropriations amounting to .1300, 
making a total of $()92 89. It may be proper to add, 
in closing the sketch of the library, the items of Mr. 
Merriam's various gifts, exclusive of one thousand 
volumes of books presented by him in the earliest 
stages of its career: 



Cost of land 82,245 17 

Cost of building 10,:iOO 00 

Architect 600 00 

Gas fixtures 310 00 

Furnace 325 00 

Furniture 1,001) 00 

Cash for books 600 00 

Endowment Fund of 1876 5,000 CO 

Sundries 944 25 

821,3-iO 42 

The public schools of West Brookfield, as well as its 
library, reflect credit on the town. According to the 
liist report of the School Committee, for the sake of 
convenience of description, the town is divided into 
five districts, containing in all nine schools, with rolls 
of 286 scholars, and an average attendance of 87 per 
cent. In Distiict No. 1, there are five schools — a 
grammar school with an average attendance of 24; 
a first intermediate, with an average attendance of 26 ; 
a primary, with an average attendance of 27; a pri- 
mary, with an average attendance of 36; and another 
primary, with an average attendance of 36. 

The Second District school has an average attend- 
ance of nineteen ; the Third District of nine, the 
Fourth of seven, and the Fifth of five. The grammar 
school teacher receives $50 per month ; the first 
intermediate, $36 ; the first primary, $36 ; the second 
primary, $32 ; the third primary, $32 ; Second District, 
$28; Third District, $28; Fourth District, $24, and the 
Fifth District, $24. The amount of money available 
for the support of schools for the year was $3217.54, 
of which the sum of $3,000 was appropriated by the 
town, and the sum of $217.54 was received from the 
State fund. The appropriations made by the town 
for the various departments for the year ending at 
the above date, February 29, 1888, were : 

Schools J3()00 00 

Roads and bridges 10(,0 00 

Poor 600 00 

Contingent Fund I20i) 00 

Debt and interest 1000 00 

Street lamps 300 CO 

Common 100 00 

Firemen 600 00 

Memorial Day 50 00 

Library .'iOO no 

tS150 00 

At the time of the incorporation of the town, in 
1848, the ancient First Parish of Brookfield was the 
only one within its borders. A meeting-house was 
built in, or soon after, 1673, probably on Foster's 
Hill, but was burned during King Philip's War. 
It is probable that John Younglove and Thomas 
Millet preached to the settlers during the short 
time they remained on their grant. Mr. Younglove 
wai at Quabaug, the Indian name of Brookfield 
before the settlement, as early as 1667. After the 
destruction of the settlement he removed to Hadley, 
where he taught school. In 1681 he is mentioned as 
living in Suliield, .ind there he died June 3, 1690. 
Thomas Millet seems to have succeeded Mr. Young- 
love and died early in 1676, before Philip's War was 



WEST BEOOKFIELD. 



563 



over. It is not probable that either Mr. Younglove 
or he were ordained ministers. After the resettle- 
ment of Brookfield, in 1686, it is not believed that any 
meeting-house was built until 1715. Religious ser- 
vicei had probably been held in the garrison on Fos- 
ter's Hill, and the preacher seems to have been styled 
chaplain, and to have been appointed by the govern- 
ment of the Province, with an annual allowance 
towar Is his salary from the Province treasury. On 
the 22d of November, 1715, the inhabitants agreed to 
build a meeting-house, which was erected on Foster's 
Hill, about half a mile southeast of the first meeting- 
house. On the 16th of October, 1717, it was so far 
completed that it was used on that day for the ordi- 
nation of Rev. Thomas Cheney, who had accepted 
an invitation to settle as pastor. On that day the 
First Church of Brookfield was formally organized, 
and a church covenant signed, which may be found 
in a more detailed history of the church, in the his- 
tory of Brookfield in these volumes. At the ordina- 
tion of Mr. Cheney, Rev. Solomon Stoddard, of 
Northampton, preached the sermon. Mr. Cheney 
was born in Roxbury in 1G90, and graduated at Har- 
vard in 1711. He died December 11, 1747, and his 
grave is at Brookfield. Rev. Elisha Harding, a Har- 
vard graduate in 1745, succeeded Mr. Cheney, and 
was ordained September 13, 1749, on which occasion 
Rev. Nathan Bucknam, of Medway, preached the 
sermon. During his ministry the Second Precinct 
(now North Brookfield) was incorporated, March 28, 
1750, and the Third Precinct (now Brookfield) Novem- 
ber 8, 1754. 

In 1755 the First Church built a new meeting- 
house and abandoned the old house on Foster's Hill. 
It was voted, January 22d, in that year, " to build a 
meeting-house for public worship at the turning of 
the county rode, near the northeast corner of a plowed 
field, belonging to John Barns, being on the plain in 
said First Precinct." It was also voted that the 
house should be built " with timber and wood," and 
be forty-five feet in length and thirty-five feet in 
width. The location of this church was near that of 
the present Congregational Church, on the west side 
of the Common. 

On the Sth of the following May Mr. Harding was 
dismissed, and on the 1st of February, 1757, Rev. 
Nehemiah Strong, of Hadley, was chosen pastor, but 
declined. Rev. Joseph Parsons, Jr., son of Rev. 
Joseph Parsons, of Bradford, and a graduate of Har- 
vard in the class of 1752, was then engaged, and was 
ordained November 23, 1757. At his ordination 
Rev. Joseph Parsons, of Bradford, Rev. David White, 
of Hardwick, Rev. Joshua Eaton, of Spencer, Rev. 
John Tucker, of Newbury, and Rev. Isaac Jones, of 
Western (now Warren), took part in the services. He 
continued in his pastorate until his death, January 
17, 1771, at the age of thirty-eight years. 

Rev. Ephraim Ward, born in Newton in 1741, and 
a Harvard graduate in the class of 1763, followed Mr. 



Parsons and was ordained October 23, 1771, serving 
until his death, February 9, 1818. Dr. Lyman 
Whiting, in his address on the two hundredth anni- 
versary of the settlement of Brookfield, said of him 
that " he was esteemed throughout his pastorate, 
which was little short of forty-seven years, as the ur- 
bane Christian scholar, illustrating the graces of the 
village pastor, so admirably pictured by the godly 
Herbert : 

As a tender father 

Dotb teach and rule the church and is obeyed. 

And reverenced by it, so much the rather. 

By how much he delighted more to lead 

All by bis own example in the way, 

Than punish any when they go astray." 

At his ordination Rev. Jason Haven, of Dedham, 
preached the sermon, and the churches of Western, 
Ware, Spencer, Sturbridge, Newton, Weston, Walt- 
ham and Dedham were represented. 

On the 23d of October, 1816, Rev. Eliakim Phelps, 
a native of Belchertown and born March 20, 1790, 
was settled as the colleague of Mr. Ward, and at his 
ordination Rev. Jedediah Morse, of Charlestown, the 
distinguished geographer, preached the sermon. In 
1818, on the death of Mr. Ward, he became his suc- 
cessor in the pastorate. He was a graduate, in 1814, 
of Union College, of Schenectady, and received the 
degree of Doctor of Divinity from his alma mater in 
1842. On the 25th of October, 1826, he was released 
from his charge to assume the preceptorship of a 
" Classical Female School," which at one time flour- 
ished in West Brookfield. At a later date he was the 
principal of the Female Seminary at Pittsfield, and 
in 1860, at the time of the Bi-Centennial Celebration, 
he was living in Philadelphia, and was present and 
spoke on that occasion. 

On the day of the release of Dr. Phelps from the 
church. Rev. Joseph I. Foote, also a graduate of 
Union College, was installed, and was dismissed May 
1, 1832. Mr. Foote was born in Watertown, Conn., 
November 17, 1796, and graduated at Union College 
in 1821. At his ordination Rev. Herman Humphrey, 
president of Amherst College, preached the sermon. 
In 1833 he had a pastorate in Salina, N. Y. ; in 1835 
in Cortland, N. Y. ; in 1839 in Knoxville, Tenn. ; and 
in the latteryear was chosen president of Washington 
College, in Tennessee, but died April 21, 1840, before 
his inauguration. 

Rev. Francis Horton, a graduate of Brown Uni- 
versity in 1826, was installed August 15, 1832, on 
which occasion Rev. Thomas Snell, of North Brook- 
field, preached the sermon. He was dismissed Sep- 
tember 15, 1841, and succeeded by Rev. Moses Chase, 
who was settled January 12, 1842, and dismissed Oc- 
tober 28, 1842. 

Rev. Leonard S. Parker, born in Dunbarton, N. H., 
December 6, 1812, and a graduate of Oberlin Colle- 
giate Institute, was installed December 19, 1844, and 
dismissed April 7, 1851. At his installation Rev. 
Thomas Snell preached the sermon. 



564 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



Eev. Swift Byington succeeded November 7, 1852, 
and served until his resignation, November 1, 1858. 
At his ordination Rev. Henry M. Dexter, now living 
in New Bedford, preached the sermon. Mr. Byington 
was born in Bristol, Conn., February 4, 1824, and 
graduated at Yale in 1847. 

Rev. Christopher M. Cordley, born in Oxford, Eng- 
land, January 2, 1821, was settled June 28, 1859, and 
continued in the pastorate until June 23, 1862. 

Rev. Samuel Dunham, a Yale graduate in 1860, was 
ordained October 4, 1864, and dismissed October 27, 
1870. At his ordination Rev. E. C. Jones, of South- 
ampton, Conn., preached the sermon. 

Rev. Richard B. Bull was installed March 12, 1871, 
and dismissed July 6, 1874. The pulpit has since 
been supplied by Rev. S. C. Kendall, Rev. Mr. Steb- 
bens. Rev. Frederick Allen, Rev. E. S. Gould and the 
present acting pastor, Rev. Thomas E. Babb. 

Among the prominent members of this church 
have been Henry Gilbert, his son, John Gilbert, 
Joshua Dodge, Joseph Jennings, Comfort Barnes, 
John Cutler, Jedediah Foster, Thaddeus Cutler, 
Othniel Gilbert, Thomas Rich, Joseph Cutler, Levi 
Gilbert, Samuel Barnes, John Ross, Nathan Buck- 
nam Ellis, John Wood, Josiah Gary, Alfred White, 
William Spooner, Reuben Blair, Jr., Jairus Abbott, 
Josiah Henshaw, Baxter Ellis, Jacob Dukes, Liberty 
Sampson, Solomon L. Barnes, Moses Hall, Samuel 
Newell White, Enos Gilbert, Nathaniel Lynde, 
Ebenezer B. Lynde, Avery Keep, John M. Fales, 
Raymond Cummings, Adolphus Hamilton, Wm. B. 
Stone, George Merriam, S. D. Livermore, A. C. 
Gleason, Edward T. Stowell, Warren A. Blair and 
others too numerous to mention. This list includes 
nearly all the deacons of the church since its organi- 
zation and some laymen of later years. 

On the 29th of October, 1792, it was voted to build 
a new meeting-house on the land given to the pre- 
cinct by Lieutenant John Barnes for that purpose, 
and its dedication occurred November 10, 1795, on 
which occasion Rev. Enos Hitchcock, of Providence, 
preached the sermon. A bell was hung in its tower 
in 1799, and in 1838 it was remodeled and turned 
round to a right angle with its former site and re- 
dedicated January 1, 1839. Rev. Hubbard Winslow, 
of Boston, preached the dedicatory sermon. In 1855 
the present bell was hung, and in 1856 a new organ 
replaced an old one which had been in. use since 1826. 

The old meeting-house was removed to another lot 
and for a time devoted to town and parish purposes. 
In 1809 it was sold by auction for one hundred and 
eighty-six pounds. The last meeting-house mentioned 
was burned February 28, 1881, and, having been re- 
built on the same site, was dedicated September 15, 
1882. 

The first burial-ground, probably, in consequence 
of the hard clay found near the old meeting-house on 
Foster's Hill, was located in the fields about one hun- 
dred rods distant from the meeting-house, and re- 



mains of the old grave-stones have been found 
sufficiently preserved to mark the spot. At a later 
day a second burial-ground was laid out in the west- 
erly jiart of what is now West Brookfield, and at a 
still later day a third one was laid out neartr the 
village. 

A Methodist Episcopal Church was organized in 
October, 1851, and purchasing a meeting-house in 
Templeton, removed it to West Brookfield, where it 
has since been used as a place of worship. Rev. Mr. 
Winslow was its first pastor and he has been followed 
by Rev. Mr. Clark, Rev. Alpheus Nichols, Rev. J. S. 
Barrows, Rev. G. H. W. Clark, Rev. William Black- 
man, Rev. Mr. Miller and others. 

A Catholic Society was organized a few years since, 
but has neither church nor pastor. Its services are 
held in the town-hall under the ministrations of 
Father Grace, of Brookfield. 

The business of Brookfield is moderately large, but 
not sufficient to indicate any considerable immediate 
growth. The boot and shoe establishments are those 
of Mcintosh & Co., employing about fifty hands; M. 
J. Savage & Co., employing about thirty ; George H. 
Fales, about fifty ; J. T. Wood & Co., about fifty, and 
Allen & Makepeace, employing a somewhat smaller 
number. Besides these industries there is a con- 
densed milk factory carried on by W. K. Lewis' Bros. 
& Co., and a branch of the Bay State Corset Company 
having its main establishment in Springfield. The 
farming interests of the town are considerable, and 
its product of butter and cheese for distant markets is 
by no means insignificant. The town is well situated 
on the line of the Boston & Albany Railroad, about 
midway between ^Vorceste^ and Springfield and ac- 
cessible by express and other trains in about two 
hours from Boston. It is laid out with wide and 
pleasant streets, and though bleak in winter is fiinned 
in the heat of summer by airs from Long and Coy's 
and Foster's Hills, and across the meadows of the 
Quabaug. An attractive Common ornaments the 
central village, graced by a fountain presented by 
George M. Rice, of Worcester, and surrounded by a 
fence, the gift of Hon. J. Henry Stickney, of Balti- 
more, a grandson of Rev. Ephraim Ward, who gave 
the town thirty-five hundred dollars for the purpose. 
Few towns can be found along the hill-sides and in 
the valleys of Ma.ssachusetts presenting greater at- 
tractions to those who seek relaxation from the toils 
of business or the invigorating influences of a pure 
and healthy clime. 

The Common above referred to was the gift of 
David Hitchcock, who, November 7, 1791, "granted 
and quit-claimed to the first parish in Brookfield a 
certain tract of land in said parish, containing three 
acres, more or less, to be held by said parish in its 
corporate capacity forever; provided said tract shall 
never be sold to any individual or individuals, 
but shall always remain open as a common for public 
use." 



WEST BROOKFIELD. 



565 



J. Henry Stickney, of Baltimore, through whose 
liberality the Common was graded and fenced, is a 
native of West Brookfield. He belongs to a branch 
of the Stickney family which settled in Essex County 
in the first half of the seventeenth century, and 
which had its estates in the town of Stickney, in 
England. Thomas Stickney, the grandfather of the 
benefactor, removed from Boston to Leicester and 
occupied an estate which makes one of the illustra- 
tions in the history of that town by Emory Wash- 
burn. His son Thomas removed to West Brook- 
field and married a daughter of Rev. Ephraim Ward, 
already mentioned as a pastor of the First Church. 
Mr. Ward was a cousin of General Artemas Ward, 
of the Revolution, and his wife was Mary Colman, 
of Boston, a relative of Rev. Benjamin Colman, of 
the Brattle Street Church. J. Henry Stickney was a 
son of the last-mentioned Thomas and was born in 
the parsonage house facing the Common. At the age 
of nine or ten years he went to Worcester, where his 
father had at one time lived, and from there went to 
Hopkins Academy in Hadley, where he closed his 
school-days. After leaving Hadley he entered the 
hardware store of Jlontgomery Newell, of Boston, as 
an apprentice, receiving a compensation of fifty dol- 
lars a year. At the age of twenty-two years he went 
to New York, where he spent a year and then joined 
some relatives in Baltimore, where he was employed 
for a term by his uncle, Benjamin Colman, who was 
at one time a partner of Nathan Appleton in Boston. 
In November, 1834, he began what was a new busi- 
ness in Baltimore, the American hardware business, 
and became the agent in that city for a large part of 
the manufacturers of the country. He had accounts 
in nearly every State in the Union, and by his exact 
methods and rigid integrity commanded the confi- 
dence of the business community. Having acquired 
a competence, he retired from active business pursuits 
and is now living at his home in Baltimore at a 
somewhat advanced age, but with a health and vigor 
of body and mind which enables him to gratify and 
enjoy the refined tastes in literature and art which in 
his busy life he has not failed to cultivate. He is a 
lover of the past and its representative men, and to 
the pursuits of an antiquary he has devoted time and 
money, to the satisfaction besides himself of others 
who were less able to follow them with success. The 
towns of Plymouth and Topsfleld and Duxbury and 
West Brookfield have cause to remember his liberality 
long after the hand which has dispensed it shall have 
lost its power to give. 

The town has two hotels, a commodious town-house, 
built in I860, a savings bank, incorporated in 1872, a 
Fire Department with steam apparatus and an abund- 
ance of water, supplied by aqueducts from copious 
springs on the slopes of neighboring hills. In earlier 
times two newspapers were published in the town, but, 
as in many other New England communities, the fa- 
cility and cheapness with which the metropolitan press 



furnishes everywhere its supplies have rendered the 
local press both unprofitable and unnecessary. The 
Moral and Political Telegraph or Brooifield Advertiser, 
published by Thomas & Waldo, and the Political 
Repository and Farmer's Journal, by E. Merriam & Co., 
are scarcely remembered by any now living. 

The population of the town, which from the date of 
its incorporation until 1880 had slowly, but gradually, 
increased, was found in 1885, in consequence of the 
destruction of one of the shoe establishments of the 
place, to have fallen off nearly two hundred. There 
is no reason, however, to doubt that from this new 
starting-point another gradual increase will set in. The 
population at each census since the incorporation has 
been as follows : 1850, 1.344; 1855, 1.364; 1860, 1548; 
1865, 1549; 1870, 1842 ; 1875, 1903 ; 1880, 1917; 1885, 
1747. 

Some of the distinguished men who, in earlier times, 
were born or lived within the limits of the town have 
been referred to in the history of Brookfield accom- 
panying this sketch. Most of those who in later years 
have been conspicuous in the various walks of life 
have served the town in responsible offices, and have 
been referred to in the lists presented on earlier pages 
of this narrative. 

It would be improper, however, even at the risk of 
repetition, to omit particular reference to a few of the 
men who have given West Brookfield distinction in 
the past. General Joseph Dwight, a graduate of Har- 
vard in 1722, who lived in the town for a time; Joshua 
Upham, a distinguished Loyalist, a graduate of Har- 
vard in 1763, who became a judge of the Supreme 
Court in New Brunswick ; Jabez Upham, a Represent- 
ative in Congress ; Jedediah Foster, a graduate of 
Harvard in 1744, who became judge of Probate and 
member of the convention for framing the State Con- 
stitution ; Dwight Foster, a graduate of Brown Uni- 
versity in 1774, who became Senator of the United 
States, and others of equal or less reputation served to 
give to West Brookfield, or Brookfield, as it then was, 
a standing in the councils of the Province and State 
of which few towns in Massachusetts could boast. 

Among those who have obtained distinction in 
broader fields of labor than were open to them at 
home may be mentioned Charles Merriam, of Spring- 
field, already referred to as a benefactor of the town ; 
Daniel H. Chamberlain, a graduate of Yale College, 
and the distinguished ex-Governor of South Carolina; 
Rev. Leander T. Chamberlain, of Norwich, Conn.; 
Rev. Enos Hitchcock, of Providence; Rev. Caleb 
Sprague Henry, the well-known professor and author ; 
Lucy Stone Blackwell and Rev. Austin Phelps. 

Lucy Stone was descended from Francis Stone, 
who lived before 1742 in that part of New Braintree 
which was annexed to North Brookfield in 1854. 
Francis Stone, son of Francis, was born in 1742. He 
was with his father in the French wars, and his father 
was killed at Quebec under Gen. Wolfe in 1759. 
Francis, the son, was a captain in the Revolution, and 



566 



HISTOEY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



one of the leaders in Shays' Rebellion. After the dis- 
persion of the insurgents at Petersham in February, 
1787, he fled to Vermont, where he remained until the 
decree of amnesty jiermitled him to return. He mar- 
ried, September 11, 17G0, Martha, daughter of Abel 
Chase, of Sutton, and second, in June, 1777, Sarah 
Witt. Her children were Amy, Sally, (who married 
Hugh Barr, of New Braintree), Luther, Jonathan, Cal- 
vin and Francis. Francis, the last-named of these 
children, born November 9, 1779, lived on Coy's Hill, 
in West Brooktield. He married, March 27, 1804, 
Hannah Matthews, and had Bowman, 1805; Francis, 
1807 ; Elizabeth Matthews, 1808 ; Wm. Bowman, 1811 ; 
Luther, 1813; Rhoda, 1814; Luther again, 1816; Lucy, 
1818 ; and Sarah Witt, 1821. Lucy was born August 
13, 1818, and graduated at Oberlin College. She 
early attached herself to the anti-slavery cause and 
to the advocacy of woman's rights, in which she dis- 
tinguished herself as a forcible and eloquent speaker. 
She was married in 1855 to Henry B. Blackwell, but 
is usually called by her maiden name. 

Austin Phelps, the son of Rev. Eliakim and Sarah 
(Adams) Phelps and grandson of Deacon Eliakim and 
Margaret (Coombs) Phelps, was born in West Brook- 
field Jan. 7, 1820, and graduated at the University of 
Pennsylvania in 1837. He was ordained pastor of 
the Pine Street Congregational Church in Boston in 
1842, and in 1848 was appointed Bartlett proffssor of 
sacred rhetoric in Andover Theological Seminary. 
He married, in 1842, Eiizalieth, daughter of Professor 
Moses Stuart, who is well known as the ailthor of 
"The Sunny Side," and other works. Their daughter, 
Elizabeth Stuart Phelpa, is better known than her 
mother as the author of "Gates Ajar,'' and other 
works too numerous to mention. 

With the mention of these distinguished sons and 
daughters of West Brookfield this imperfect sketch 
must close. The reader who would learn more of 
the early history of the settlement of Quabaug and 
of the three towns into which its territory has been 
finally divided, is referred to the able and exhaustive 
history of North Brookfield, written by J. H. Temple, 
and published by that town in 1887. 



BIOGR.\PHICAL. 



JOHN M. FALES. 

In the middle of the seventh century James Fales 
came from Chester, England, and settled in Dedham. 
His children were James, John, Mary, Peter, Hannah, 
Martha, Rachel and Ebenezer. John Fales, one of 
these children, had Hannah, Martha, Rachel, Ebene- 
zer, John,' Joseph and Mary. .John, one of these chil- 
dren, had a son Daniel. Daniel Fales married Sally 
Pratt, of Sherburne, and had Leander, Mary Ann, El- 
mira L., John M., Charles, Martha S., Sarah E. and 
Daniel H. Leander lived in Shrewsbury; Mary Ann 



married a Parker, and lived in Holliston; Elmira L. 
married a Lincoln, and lived in Brookfield; Charles 
lived in Brookfield; Martha S. lived, unmarried, in 
Shrewsbury; Sarah E. married a Flagg, and lived in 
Westboro'; and Daniel H. married a Thurston, and 
lived in Brookfield. 

John M. Fales, the subject of this sketch, \vas born 
in Shrewsbury August 25, 1805, and married Mary S. 
Trask, of Leicester, May 12, 1831, by whom he had 
Ann Eliza, who married Dr. J. Blodgett, now of West 
Newton; George Henry, who married Laurinda T. 
Tomblin, daughter of Lucius Tomblin, of West Brook- 
field; John, who died at the early age of twelve years; | 
Leander, who died at the age of seven-teen years; ' 
Francis Theodore, who married Esther Grifiin, of 
Enfield; and Mary, who died in infancy. From 
James Fales came the Fales families of Holden, 
Troy, Bristol, Taunton, Foxboro' and Milford. The 
Fales family was a very prolific one, David, of the 
third generation, the son of the second James, having 
had twenty-four children, and more than fifty of the 
descendants of the first James having had ten. 

John M. Fales attended school in Shrewsbury, and 
afterwards went to Dedham, where he learned the 
trade of making shoes. The trade he learned included 
all the branches of the trade, and it is said that the 
first pair of shoes he ever wore he made himself 
About the year 1831 he went to Brookfield and there 
opened a custom boot and shoe shop. After a short 
time his success in business warranted the initiation 
of a new enterprise, and with good business qualities 
and ample experience he entered into the wholesale 
manufacture of boots and shoes. In this business he 
was the pioneer in Brookfield, and before his death, 
which occurred in 1867, he established a large trade, 
in which he employed about one hundred and seventy- 
five hands. Before the war his business, like that of 
other shoe manufacturers, was largely at the South, 
but his adherence to principle saved him when the 
war broke out from those serious losses which many 
less conscientious than himself incurred. 

In 1860, at a time when dealers at the South boy- 
cotted Northern manufacturers who advocated meas- 
ures opposed to the extension of slavery into the Terri- 
tories, he was asked, in a letter from S. Kirtland, one of 
his customers in Montgomery, Alabama, if he intended 
to advocate the Republican cause. To this letter he 
made the following answer: 

'^\^^:sT Brookfield, March 10, 1860. 

Ma. S. KlBTLAMD, 

Dear Sir, — 

Tours of the 3"* inbt. is received, neliirg bij" views in relation 
to the Republican pai'ty, and saying, if I endorsed their principles, you 
should not trade vvitli me. In reply I v^ould fay tluit I sell lioots. not 
principles. I shall vote the coming Fall, if I am alive and well, lur the 
nonnnee of the Itepublican party for pre(^iclent, and if you see fit to give 
nie your orders, I shall lie pleased to fill thini, hut not under any con- 
sideration will I sellniy jirinciples tosell hoots. H 
Yours Respectfully, John M. Fales. " 

During the war he was successful in securing army 
contracts, and these he filled with a promptness and 





^^^s^ 



/ 




#/? 




<^^^i 



•^ 



WEST BKOOKFIELD. 



567 



fidelity which did not always characterize negotia- 
tions with the government. After the war his busi- 
ness was largely in the West, and his orders were re- 
ceived directly at the factory and filled without the 
intervention of middle-men in Boston or elsewhere. 

Mr. Fales, at the time of his death, which occurred 
October 27, 1867, was a member in full standing of 
the Orthodox Congregational Church in West Brook- 
field, and made its interests and prosperity his chief 
concern. He was an active member of the Repub- 
lican party, and as its candidate represented his 
native town in the House of Representatives in 1847, 
and his Representative district, composed of Warren, 
West Brookfield and New Braintree, in 18G4. 

Mr. Fales was a man of indomitable courage, firm 
will, strict integrity and judicious benevolence. He 
sought no public station, and attended with thorough 
devotion to the demands of his business, but whenever 
appealed to in the interests of the community in which 
he lived, was lavish in the use of time and money to de- 
velop and promote them. George H. Fales, the son of 
John M. Fales, was appointed town tre.-tsurer of West 
Brookfield in May, 1887, on the death of E. H. C. 
Blair, and was chosen to that office by the town at its 
annual meeting in 1888. Mr. George H. Fales car- 
ries on the business of the manufacture of shoes at 
the factory occupied by his father, and is a successful 
business man and an esteemed citizen. 



EBENEZER B. LYNDE. 

The subject of this sketch is descended from Enoch 
Lynde, a merchant of London, who married Eliza- 
beth Digby and died in London in April, 1636. Enoch 
had three children, two of whom died in infancy. 
Simon, the surviving child, born in London in June, 
1624, followed the occupation of his father and 
finally, after carrying on business for a time in Hol- 
land, came to New England in 1650 and settled as a 
merchant in Boston, where he married, in February, 
1652, Hannah Newgate. He had seven children, one 
of whom, the seventh child, Benjamin, became chief 
justice of the Superior Court of Judicature, and had 
a son bearing his name, who was elevated to a seat 
on the same bench. Simon Lynde was made a justice 
for the county of Suffolk and died November 22, 
1689, at the age of sixty-five years. Hannah, the 
wife of Simon, daughter of John Newgate, by his 
last wife, Ann, born June 28, 1635, died December 
20, 1684. John Newgate, her father, was born in 
South wark near the bridge in 1580, and came to New 
England. He had three wives. By the first two he 
had Sarah, who married Capt. Peter Oliver, and 
another daughter, who married .Tohn Oliver. By his 
last wife, Ann, he had, besides Hannah, Nathaniel, 
who married a daughter of Sir John Lewis and left 
Capt. Nathaniel Newgate his heir. John Newgate 
died September 4, 1665, at the age of sixty-five years. 
Ann Newgate died in 1679, at the age of eighty-four 



years. Nathaniel Lynde, son of Simon, took with 
him to Saybrook the old parchment containing the 
family record and family arms, which is still in the 
possession of the branch of the family to which the 
subject of this sketch belongs. Nathaniel Lynde, 
the fourth son of Simon and brother of Benjamin, 
was born in Boston, November 22, 1659, and became 
a merchant. He removed to Saybrook, Conn., and 
married, in 1683, Susanna, daughter of Governor 
Willoughby. He was a man of undoubtedly large 
means for the times and held a prominent po.si- 
tion in the government of the Province. He was 
one of the early benefactors of Yale College, having 
given a house and land for the foundation of a col- 
lege at Saybrook, which afterwards was absorbed by 
the institution at New Haven. 

Nathaniel Lynde had eight children, all of whom 
but Samuel were girls and died in infancy.'^'^amuel 
Lynde was born at Saybrook in October, 1689, and 
educated at Yale. He was first justice of the peace 
and member of the Council for the county of New 
London and married Rebecca Clark. The preci.se 
location of the residence of the Lynde family at 
Saybrook was at what is still called Lynde's Point, 
at the mouth of the Connecticut River. 

Samuel Lynde had three children, two of whom died 
in infancy. The third child, Willoughby Lynde, was 
born at Saybrook in 1711, and also educated at Yale. 
He married, November 19, 1736, Margaret Corey, and 
had one child, Samuel, who was born at Saybrook 
October 14, 1737. Samuel was also educated at Yale, 
and married, in July, 1758, Phebe Waterhouse. He 
also lived in Saybrook and had nine children, the last 
of whom was Nathaniel, who was born at Saybrook 
May 18, 1784. Nathaniel removed to that part of 
Brookfield which is now West Brookfield in 1805, 
and following the occupation of a farmer, soon became, 
as he continued to be until his death, a large owner of 
land. He married, July 15, 1806, Sally, daughter of 
Caleb Hitchcock, and died February 25, 1865. At 
the organization of the town, in 1848, he was one of a 
committee of three appointed to ascertain the finan- 
cial condition of the town and report recommenda- 
tions for appropriations. His judgment was largely re- 
lied upon in placing the new town on a sound financial 
basis. In 1858, on the occasion of the celebration by 
the three towns, Brookfield, North Brookfield and 
West Brookfield, of the anniversary of the Declara- 
tion of Independence, and in 1860, on the occasion 
of the bi-centennial celebration of the settlement of 
Brookfield, he was one of the committee of arrange- 
ments. The children of Nathaniel and Sally (Hitch- 
cock) Lynde were Caleb Hitchcock, who died early; 
Mary Pemberton, who married Elijah Albord, of 
West Brookfield, afterwards president of the North- 
western Stage Company, and living in Indianapolis 
and Washington City ; Samuel Willoughby, living in 
Richmond, Indiana; William Waterhouse, who die 1 
in Cincinnati ; Sarah, who married James Van Uxum 



568 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



and died in Richmond, Indiana ; Henry, living in 

Greggsville, Illinois; Elizabeth Allen, who married 
Charles Woodward, living in Cincinnati; and Na- 
thaniel, who died young. 

BIr. Lynde married a second wife, Eunice Phelps, 
daughter of Ebeuezer Bissell, of Windsor, Conn., and 
had Ebenezer Bissell ; Eunice Phelps, who married 
James M. Diirkee, of Pittsfield ; Ellen Augusta, who 
married Horace White, of Boston ; and Albert, who 
died young. 

Ebenezer Bissell, one of these children and the sub- 
ject of this sketch, was born in West Brookfield Au- 
gust 31, 1823, and was educated in the public schools 
of his native town and at the Leicester Academy. 
Like his father, he is an extensive owner of real estate 
and the occupation of farming, which came to him 
by inheritance, he has pursued with energy and suc- 
cess. He married, January 23, 1850, Minerva Jane, 
daughter of Joseph L. White, a successful manufac- 
turer in North Adams, and has had the following 
children : Augusta, who was born July 28, 1851, and 
died February 5, 1852 ; Annie Dewey, who was 
born January 12, 1854, and died October 21,1854; 
Herbert Bissell, who was born January 15, 1857, and 
is now living in West Brookfield unmarried ; Nathan- 
iel White, who was born .Tanuary 4, 1859, and, after 
graduating at the Yale Scientific School and the Col- 
lege of Physicians and Surgeons in New York, be- 
came, as he now is, physician at the Inebriate Asy- 
lum at Fort Hamilton, New York ; Mary Finney, the 
youngest child, born November 4, 18G8, who is now 
pursuing a course of instruction at the Wheaton Semi- 
nary in Norton. 

Mr. Lynde early won a prominent position in his 
native town and has always continued to occupy it. 
Though at all times reluctant to assume public office, 
his clear head and sound judgment, combined with a 
strong will and an unusual executive ability, have 
often been sought by his fellow-citizens, and, when 
sought, they have been freely and willingly lent. He 
has served on the Board of Selectmen and as modera- 
tor of town-meetings, and in various ways he has 
brought his active influence to bear in the promotion 
of the interests and welfare of the town. As a gen- 
eral adviser and friend, as a promoter of peace and 
good-will, as the earnest advocate of philanthropic, 
educational and religious enterprises, in a word, cov- 
ering all, as a kind neighbor and good citizen, he oc 
cupies a place which every man should be proud to 
fill. The affection and esteem in which he is held by 
the community at large he possesses also in the nar- 
rower field of the Congregational Church, of which he 
is a member. To his energy and fidelity much of its 
prosperity is due, and to his business foresight may 
properly be attributed the insurance of its meeting- 
house, burned in 1881, without which the injury in- 
flicted upon the society would have been well-nigh ir- 
reparable. But the reputation of Mr. Lynde has not 
been confined to his church or town. Beyond their 



borders his influence has been felt and his usefulness 
acknowledged. In 1877 and 1878 he represented his 
district in the Massachusetts Senate, and the position 
there sought by him as a member of the Committee 
on Agriculture enabled him to do something to ad- 
vance and promote the welfare of the farming inter- 
ests of the State, to which, during his life, he had 
been actively and intelligently devoted. 



CHAPTER LXXXII. 

PAXTON. 

BY LEUYARD BILL. ' 

If lines were drawn diagonally across the Com- 
monwealth, from and to each of its four corners, the 
point of crossing would be within, or nearly so, the 
borders of the little town of Paxton ; hence it might 
be truly said, speaking geographically, that this town 
is the " axis " of the State, and that the high point of 
land known as Asnebumskit Mountain is the " hub " 
itself; thus may the least of towns aspire to rival, in 
some senses, the greatest ! 

This town lies about fifty-five miles west of Boston, 
and some seven miles from the city of Worcester, and 
is bounded and described as follows, namely: On the 
north by Rutland, on the east by Holdeu and Worces- 
ter, on the south by Leicester, and on the west by 
Spencer and Oakham. The town is situated upon 
high and rugged lands, and belongs to that class of 
towns known as the " hill towns " of the State. The 
general elevation above tide-water would not be very 
far from eleven hundred feet; indeed, the village 
" common " is, to be tolerably exact, eleven hundred 
and thirty -five feet above the sea, while the southern- 
most spur of the White Mountain range, Asnebum- 
skit, is about fourteen hundred feet above water level, 
and is, with the exception of Mount Wachusett, the 
highest land lying east of the Connecticut River. 
The land surface is not so broken and irregular as 
might be inferred from its considerable elevation, but 
is rather a succession of rounded hills on which are 
situated some of the best of farming lands and farms, 
and again the valleys stretch away, here and there, 
into level tracts both fertile and pleasant, and between 
the hills and valleys of this town are found many 
thrifty homes and a comparatively contented popula- 
tion. 

This town does not rank among the ancient corpo- 
rations, but yet it has passed its first century, and 
may be said to have seen "generations come and go." 
The reasons which moved the early settlers to ask to 
be incorporated were various, but chief among those 
they gave in their petition was " the great difficulties 

^ Copyright applied for and all righto reserved. 



PAXTON. 



5G9 



they labored under in attending public worship, in 
consequence of the great distance they were from its 
places in the towns to which they belong." The fore- 
going petition was presented to the Legislature in 
1701, and was unsuccessful, as nearly every petition 
of this nature is apt to be on its first presentation. 

The people thus petitioning for a separate munici- 
pality were citizens of Leicester and Rutland, and the 
tract of land desired by the petitioners was that por- 
tion of the two towns lying contiguous, viz. : the 
southern part of Rutland and the northern portion of 
Leicester, making a tract of about four miles square. 
They comiilained in their fir.-t petition and subsequent 
appeals to the General Court that the distance to 
places of worship was great, and doubtless the same 
reason held good when it came to the transaction of 
the business of the two towns, since the centre of each 
of these towns was full five miles distant, and we can 
well imagine the condition of the highways in those 
early days, when the best were but very indifferent 
roads, while the side-ways were mere bridle-paths, 
making it quite a task in the inclement season to 
perform those public duties incumbent upon them. 

The inhabitants, however, had the merit of per- 
sistency, and the following year they again petitioned 
and were again rejected; but nothing daunted, they 
still worked for the accomplishment of their final pur- 
pose ; so in 1763, feeling, doubtless, the inconvenience 
of their position more and more, they again renewed 
their importunities and received some support from 
one of the towns, but the other (Rutland) opposing, 
the case was still deferred. 

The following petition was presented to the authori- 
ties of Leicester by the undersigned, and this town, 
at a town meeting held on May 16, 1763, voted 
affirmatively on the petition, which was the first 
favorable action looking towards the establishment of 
the new town : 

To the Seleclmeti of the Uywii of Leicester, mid the other inhahitaiits of the 
same : 

The fietition and desire of the subscribers hereof humbly showeth, — 
Tli.1t wliereas, in the government of Divine Providence, our iuhubitauts 
are sy a great distance from tlie place of public worship in thiH town, 
which, together with the snow and moisture of the land, it is exceed- 
ingly difficult, a great part of the year, to attend on the public worship 
of God in this town ; We look upon it ajs our bounden duty to endeavor 
to Bet up the Gospel among us, by which we, with our families, might 
more constantly enjoy its means of grace. 

In order to accoiuplish the good end of setting up the Gospel, we pro- 
pose, if possible to obtain leave so to do, to erect a town or district be- 
tween the towns of Leicester and Rutland, by taking two miles oflF each 
town to make up the contents of four square miles. Wherefore your 
petitioners humbly and earnestly desire that, for the good end above 
jirupused, you would now sett off, by a vote of this town, two miles at 
the north end of this town, the lands with the inhabitiince thereon, to 
be laid out and connected with the south part of Rutland that is a<I.iotu- 
irig the same, to be erected into a town or district by order of the Great 
and General Court of this province, as soon aa may be, that we may set up 
a Congregational Church and settle a gospel minister, according to the 
constitution of tlie churches in the land ; winch we judge will be for the 
advancement of religion and our comfort if it be obtained in the way 
of peace. So wishing your health and peace, as in duty bound, we sub- 
scribe your petitioners : 

Leicester, May 13, 1763. 



Oliver Witt, 
Timothy Barrett, 
Abraham Smith, 
Abner Morse, 
William Thompson, 
Jason Livermore, 
Nathan Livermore, 



James Thompson, 
'William Thompson, Jr., 
Ahijah Bemis, 
Daniel Snow, Jr., 
James Nichol, 
Is ulc Bellows, 
Daniel .Steward. 



Finally a fourth attempt was made by these people, 
and the petition this time headed by one Oliver Witt, 
followed by many others, was duly presented to the 
Legislature, and this time with better results, for it was 
ordered " that Jedediah Foster, of Brookfield, and 
Col. Williams, on the part of the House, and Benjamin 
Lincoln, of the Council, be a committee in the recess 
of this court to repair to the place petitioned for to 
be erected into a parish, at the charge of the 
petitioners, anjl that they hear all parties interested 
for and against said corporation, and report at the 
next sesiion whether the prayer thereof should be 
granted." 

This committee held several meetings, at which 
there were hearings of all the parties interested, and 
at the succeeding session of the General Court re- 
ported, on June 23, 1765, a bill entitled, " An Act for 
Incorporating the Southerly part of Rutland and the 
Northerly part of Leicester, in the county of Wor- 
cester, into a District by the name of Paxton." This 
bill, after brief reference to the appropriate com- 
mittee, was reported back to the full house and 
speedily passed both branches of the General Court, 
and received Governor Francis Bernard's signature 
on the 12th of February, Anno Domini 1765. Thus 
was the frail bark of Paxton duly launched, possessing 
all the rights, privileges and immunities of any other 
town, except the right to send a representative on its 
sole account, but gave the right to "join with the 
town of Leicester and the precinct of Spencer" in 
choosing a representative to the Legislature. 

It is proper to make some reference to the name 
given the town by the ait of incorporation, and per- 
haps no better account can be given than the follow- 
ing, which has come under our observation, viz.: 
" When the. bill for incorporating this town passed 
the House of Representatives no name was inserted ; 
the blank was filled in the Council by the word 
Paxton, in honor of Charles Paxton, who at that 
time was marshal of the Admiralty Court and a friend 
and favorite of Francis Bernard, the Governor, and 
of Thomas Hutchison, the Deputy-Governor. It is 
said that Paxton promised the town a church-bell if 
it was named for him; this promise was never ful- 
filled. (Charles Paxton, although poli.shed in manners 
and of pleasing address, was an intriguing politician 
and a despicable sycophant ; ' every man's humble 
servant, but no man's friend,' as his paper figure was 
labeled, when, on Pope's day, as the anniversary of 
the gunpowder plot was called, it was paraded 
through the streets of Boston standing between the 
effigies of the Pope and the devil. He was the tool 
of Charles Townsend, the Chancellor of the English 



570 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



Exchequer, and with him devised the scheme of 
raising a revenue from the coloniei) by a tax on 
glass, paper, painter's colors and tea. The passage of 
this bill by the Parliament of England was greatly 
aided by Paxton, and returning to Boston, he was 
put at the head of this internal tax system, and 
made himself especially obnoxious to the people by 
reason of his issuing search-warrants to discover sup- 
posed smuggled goods, and his course was so insolent 
and tyrannical that he became an object of public 
hatred, was even hung in effigy upon Liberty Tree, 
and was subsequently, by tlie wrath of the people, 
driven into Castle William, and finally, at the evacu- 
ation, he departed with the British troops and went 
to England, where he died in 1788." 

The course of this man, who had christened the 
town with his own name, was such that the bad 
odor of it reached the inhabitants of the newly- 
fledged district and they were intensely disgusled, 
and among the earlier public acts of the citizens was 
to petition for a change of name, and why the Legis- 
lature did not grant this reasonable request is a mar- 
vel. It should be attempted even at this late day, 
and there is no good reason why a new name would 
not be readily granted. 

There have been several additions at sundry times 
to the territory of Paxton. At one time, on the peti- 
tion of John Davis, Ebenezer Boynton, Nathan Har- 
rington, Samuel Harrington, Micah Harrington and 
Ephraim Harrington, of Holden, their estates were 
set oft' from Holden on February 13, 1804, and attached 
to the town of Paxton, and, by this act, the town line 
was extended so as to border on Worcester. Still 
another addition from Holden was made in April, 
1839. Again, in 1851, a small strip was added from 
the same source, and there is still room for improv- 
ing the present zig-zag boundary line between Holden 
and Paxton. The total acreage is now about eight 
thousand five hundred acres. The population of Pax- 
ton at the time of incorporation is not known, but it 
is presumed to " have been some hundreds," says an 
unknown writer in the Worcester Ifigazine, pub- 
lished a half-century or more ago. It is quite likely 
that the settlement of this portion of the country was 
well under way the latter part of the first century after 
the landing of the Pilgrims. It was, indeed, about 
1720 that Rutland was incorporated and Leicester 
settled, and all this region of country taken up grad- 
ually by natural gravitation of the population west- 
ward, this section being at that period of time the 
"great west," and had its border-wars and conflicts 
with the aborigines and their allies. Doubtless there 
were wise men in- those days who were wont to say 
to the wayward and the self-aspiring in the crowded 
centres of population along the seaboard : " Go west, 
young man, go west." And so, in the lapse of time, 
these hill-towns, with those in the valleys, have filled 
up and the great army of emigrants has continued 
from that day to this to flow westward, founding new 



States, enlarging the boundaries of civilization and 
establisliing both law and liberty, on firm foundations, 
over a vast territory. 

Thus these hill-towns, so despised in the eyes of some 
ephemeral writers who draw distressing pictures of 
"abandoned farms, dwindling villages, decayed meet- 
ing-houses, diminished schools and poor highways," 
have contributed largely to the public weal. 

The marvelous strides this country has made in the 
last century are chiefly by reason of the inexhaustible 
supply of men and women drawn from the hills and 
valleys of New England, where they have been trained 
in the schools of industry and frugality. These have 
given direction and force to the upbuilding of the 
great region of the West. Thus, while it is true that 
the populations of the hill-towns, with some of those 
even in the valleys here in New England, have dim- 
inished, the cause is not permanently disturbing— 
since the era of cheap lands is about closing and the 
reflex tide cannot be far distant when New England 
will be filled to overflowing, and then this assumed 
prophecy of a premature decay will have been forgot- 
ten. The country is to be taken as a whole and not 
judged by any of its minor members. 

The statement that there " were some hundreds " 
of people in the district of Paxton at the time of 
incorporation could hardly have meant more than 
two or three hundred at the most, for in 1790 the 
number was but 558; in 1820 it rose to 613 and in 
1850 to 870, while in 1880 it had fallen to 592, and 
in 1885 the State census gave the town only 5G1. 

The population in 1870 was, we believe, well 
towards nine hundred, but, in part owing to the 
destruction of one of the chief industries by fire, 
which, unfortunately, was never re-established, it 
has gradually fallen to a point in numbers to about 
what it was one hundred years ago. 

The town is at the present time purely agricul- 
tural, there being no manufacturing of any descrip- 
tion carried on here. 

In former years the boot and shoe industry was 
the principal business, or, at least, monopolized a 
very great share of the attention of the people ; and 
the product of the shops was equal, if it did not 
greatly exceed in value the products of all the farms 
in town. 

In 1820 John Partridge established the boot 
business in Paxton, and continued in the same line 
to the time of his decease, which occurred some 
fifteen years since, having been in business over 
half a century. The next notable firm to follow in 
the same line of industry was that of Messrs. 
Lakin & Bigelow, and they were succeeded by R. E. 
Bigelow & Son. All of these parties accumulated 
quite large fortunes, but none of their descendants 
reside within the town at the present time. 

The town of Paxton is so situated, and has such 
natural beauty of landscape, and from its summits 
such extended and charming views of the surround- 



PAXTON. 



571 



ing country, that its ultimate destiny is by no means 
uncertain. Already many scores of visitors rest 
here during the summer months, and annually 
come back to "view the landscape o'er" and 
breathe again the wholesome and health invigorat- 
ing air of these primeval hills and valleys. From 
the top of Asnebumskit, on a clear day, a score of 
towns may be seen, and from its summit a fine bird's- 
eye view of the city of Worcester can be obtained, 
which alone well repays the tourist for all his labors. 
There is still another eminence, known as Crocker 
Hill ; this swell of land lies a few rods east of the 
village, and from the top there is a fine view of 
Wachusett, also of Monadnock and the Hoosac 
Mountains. This point is a charming spot to all 
who have any taste for the beautiful in nature. The 
wonder is, that some capitalist does not secure it, 
pitch his tent on the same and invite the world to 
dine with him and spend all of the " midsummer 
nights" at this breezy and delightful place. On 
"Christian Hill," west of the village church, is an- 
other landscape to the northward which is unsurpassed 
for quiet loveliness. Some day an artist will discover 
it, and it will then be famous for its exceeding beauty. 

It may be thought unusual for elevated lands to 
hold many ponds or lakes ; but, however that may be, 
Paxton has a goodly supply, inasmuch as there are 
some half a dozen artificial or natural ponds within 
the town's boundaries. 

Of these. Lake Asnebumskit is by far the most 
interesting. This is located at the northern slope of 
the mountain whose name it bears, and covers, per- 
haps, sixty acres, "more or less," as the legal phrase 
is. It is elliptical in form and has an average depth 
of perhaps seven feet. All the sources of supply for 
this attractive sheet of water come from the springs 
in and around it. These springs are uniformly cold 
and clear ; especially is this true of one at the south- 
ern shore, near the present carriage-way to the 
lake. The outlet is at the extreme northern end, and 
the flow is considerable. It supplies the Haggett Pond, 
and in its rapid descent furnishes power for Harring- 
ton's grist-mill, planing-mill and saw-mill, and then 
turns abruptly eastward, flowing through Holden, 
and on to the Quineposet and Nashua Elvers, and 
thus to the sea. 

This lake has been famed for its fine pickerel and 
perch, and for many years afforded most excellent 
fishing for many people far and near. Latterly, 
liowever, its supply diminished, and some dozen years 
ago a i^yi citizens formed a club and, securing a lease 
from the Commonwealth, stocked it with black-bass, 
and these were left for several years to increase, but 
when fishing was recommenced it was discovered that 
the bass had destroyed th« most of the native fish, 
and, .as many of the bas3 made their escape through 
the lake's outlet, little headway was made in stocking 
the pond. The club subsequently relinquished to 
the town all their rights, whereupon the town took 



out a lease, and all have the old-time privilege 
restored, but the fish are not plentiful in the lake at 
this time. 

Bottomly Pond is the largest body of water in the 
town. It is about one mile in length, has irregular 
shores, and is of varying width, while its depth must 
average ten feet or more. It is for the most part an 
artificial pond, and is used as a storage-pond for the 
mills below, of which there are quite a number. 
This pond liei just south of the village and west of the 
Worcester and Paxton county road, but only the 
southern end is in view from the highway mentioned. 
It is there that the joke concerning the " Paxton 
Navy-Yard" was perpetrated, which is so frequently 
mentioned even to this day. It was some years ago, 
and in the lateautumn, as the stage-coach with its com- 
plement of passengers reached this place in the high- 
way (Arnold's Mill), where there was aflbrded a toler- 
able view of the lake. A sailor passenger, who had at 
least " three sheets in the wind," on gazing out and see- 
ing the forest trees at the left, with their bare trunks and 
branches in close proximity to the water, recalled his 
wanderingsenses sufliciently to exclaim '' Is — hie — this 
— hie — the navy-yard?" The solemn quiet which had 
prevailed with the passengers in the coach up to this 
time was suddenly broken. The ludicrous remark, 
and the very absurdity of the whole subject, as 
applied to a section of country twelve hundred feet 
above tide-water and fif"ty miles inland, and coming, 
to 3, from a furloughed sailor just ofTship, was too much, 
and ail, as it were, "tumbled "to the same, and the 
ioKe seems ever fresh in the mouths of men inclined 
to poke a little fun. 

Turkey Hill Pond is a natural body of water near 
the Barre county road, about two miles north of the 
centre of the town. It is perhaps a fourth of a mile 
in width. Its waters are dark and the fishing is fair, 
though not nearly as good as in former years. The 
outlet is at the southern extremity, and forms what 
was once known as Jennison's Brook, crossing the 
highway near what is now known as the " town-farm," 
and empties into Comins' mill-pond, formerly Jen- 
nison's mill-pond, and thence southwesterly through 
Spencer and the Brookfields to the Chicopee River. 
Formerly there was at the outlet of this pond a fulling- 
mill and carding-factory. 

There are several small streams flowing into this 
Jennison Brook within the limits of the town. One 
of these rises in the southwesterly part of Rutland, 
passes into Paxton, and unites with the brook above 
named in the meadow below Comins's mill. Another 
rises about five hundred yards southeast of t-he meet- 
ing house, on lands owned by the late John Partridge, 
and flows southerly across the village farm of the 
writer into Lakin's meadow and thence northwesterly 
to Howe's meadow, where it unites with the brook 
above named. The third takes its rise in the south- 
westerly portion of the town, and joins the above 
brook just over the Spencer line. These three forks 



572 



HISTOKY OP WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



are the head- waters of the Chicopee River, that rising 
on the Partridge land being the most easterly, and, 
perhaps, is the true head of the Chicopee. 

The head-waters of the Blackstone River are found 
on the old Col. Snow Farm, and near the road leading 
from Paxton to Holden. The spring is on land now 
owned by Peter Daw. There are numerous other 
springs lower down the brook which is known as Ar- 
nold's Brook. The stream was given the last name of 
Oliver Arnold, who lived in the present old red house, 
adjoining thehighway at the junction of the Worcester 
and Leicester roads ; he kept a saw- and grist-mill 
there, and had an artificial reservoir, which has since 
been enlarged and repaired, and, like the brook flow- 
ing into it, was and is called Arnold's Pond. The old 
saw-mill site is still visible, a few rods west of the 
county road. Mr. Arnold had a son Elisha, who is 
living in this town at the present time. The pond 
last named is used as a storage reservoir for the mills 
below, and its waters flow into Bottomly Pond, pre- 
viously mentioned. 

There is another small stream, which has its source 
in a spring on the southeast face of Asnebumskit 
Mountain, and flows across the county road souther- 
ly, and is the head-water of Lynde Brook which forms 
a source of supply for the city of Worcester. 

While speaking of these brooks, we are reminded 
of a house in this town, owned and occupied by Tyler 
S. Penuiman, situated about a mile east of the village. 

This house stands on a slight rise of ground, in such 
a way that rain falling upon the roof flows away into 
the waters of the Blackstone River on the one side, 
while upon the other the water goes to the Chicopee. 
There is, too, a well-known spring, famed for its cool, 
sweet water, which bubbles up near the trunk of a 
large tree just west of the Rutland highway, and less 
than a mile from the centre, where the water flows a 
short distance into a marshy tract, out of which two 
streams come, one going northerly into the Quine- 
poxet, while the other goes southerly to the Chicopee. 

The original growth of forest trees here must have 
been quite large and very genera!. At the present 
time pine and hemlock predominate, though there are 
samples of about every other sort of timber found in 
New England. As an illustration of the size of some 
of the earlier timber, it may be interesting to note 
that this sketch is penned on a table made of a single 
pine board, three and a half feet in width, manufac- 
tured from a tree cut in this town some fifty years ago. 
The older growth of wood disa)>peared long since, 
and at the present time the second growth has about 
all been removed, and yet it would be diflTicult to say 
whether there i8,*or is not, as much land given up to 
the growtli of forest trees as at any time within the 
past hundred or more years. 

Among the early settlers in what is now Paxton, 
the names of Josiah Livermore and his brother, Jason 
Livermore, appear. This was about 1748. They 
came from the town of Weston, and settled in what 



is now the southwestern part of this town, on 
lands considerably improved. About the same time 
came Abijah Bemis, and from the same town, 
or Waltham. There were also living near the 
Livermores : William Thompson, James Thompson, 
James Beniis, William Wicker, Jacob Wicker, John 
Wicker, Isaac and Ezekiel Bellows. 

Captain Raljih Earle, an early settler, owned and 
lived on the farm which once belonged to the late .Joseph 
Penniman ; and his was one of the first fifty families 
which settled in Leicester, and he was one of the 
grantees named in the deed of the proprietors of Lei- 
cester, and was assigned to Lot No. 47. On the other 
hand, in the Rutland portion of the new town, Seth 
Metcalf made an early settlement, as did Phineas 
Moore, who lived on the Rutland road, a mile or so 
north of the present meeting-house, and, by the way, 
it is proper to say that the line dividing the towns of 
Leicester and Rutland ran east and west, by the 
present north side of the meeting-house as it now I 
stands. Othersof the early settlers were: John Snow, 
David Davis, Benjamin Sweetser, Samuel Moore, 
Jonathan Witt and Oliver Witt. 

We have seen that the act of incorporation of the 
" District of Paxton " transpired on the 12th of Feb- 
ruary, 1765. Very speedily " a warrant," dated the 
25th of February, 1765, was issued by John Murray, 
of Rutland, a justice of the peace, the same being 
addressed to Pbineas Moore, "one of the principal 
inhabitants " residing within the new district, re- 
quiring him to warn a meeting of the inhabitants for 
the choice of officers. We append a copy of the first 
warrant calling the first district meeting : 

Worcester 88. To Mr. Phineas Moore of Paxton in the county of 
Worcester and one of the principal Inhabitants of Said District. Greet- 
ing—Whereas I tiie subscriber am Impowered hy an act of tliis Province 
to call a meeting of the Inhabitants of the District of Paxton to Choose 
Town Offlcers &c. 

[Seal] These are therefore on his Majestys name to Require you 
forthwith to Warn and Notify the Said Inhabitants of Paxton Qualified 
to Vote in Town AflTairs to meet at the House of Mr. Jno. Snows Inn- 
holder in Said Paxton on Monday the Eleventh Day of Blarch Next at 
nine of the Clock in the forenoon then and there to Choose a Moderater, 
District Clerk, Selectmen, assessor, warden, Constables, Surveyors of 
highways, Tythingmen, Feuceviewers, Sealers of Leather, Sealers of 
weights and measures. Sealers of Boards, and Shingles, and all other 
ordinary Town Officere as Towns Choose in the month of March annually ; 
hereof Fail not and make Due Return hereof with your Doings hereon 
unto me at or before the Said meeting. Given under my hand and Seal 
at Rutland in Said County this 23th Day of Fob. 1TG5 and in the fifth 

year of his Majesty's Keigu. 

Jno. Murray, Jus. of the Peace. 

This first town-meeting was at the house of one 
John Snow, who kept a tavern or hotel, and who 
lived just east of the present village, on the Holden 
road, on the place known to the present inhabitants „ 
of Paxton as the old Colonel Snow or Bellows place. | 
This place has now no farm buildings upon it, they 
having been destroyed by an incendiary fire about ten 
years since. 

The meeting was held on March 11, 1765. Captain 
Samuel Brown was chosen moderator, and Ephraim 
Moore district clerk, and the following district ofiicers 



J 



PAXTON. 



573 



elected, namely: Selectmen, Oliver Witt, Ephraim 
Moore, Samuel Brown, Timothy Barrett, Abraham 
Smith ; Clerk, Ephraim Moore ; Treasurer, Ephraim 
Moore; Wardens, William Thompson, Jr., Jonathan 
Knight ; Assessors, Oliver Witt, Ephraim Moore, Aa- 
ron Hunt ; Constable, John Livermore ; Surveyors of 
Highways, Abner Moore, Ebenezer Hunt, Jr., Elijah 
Howe, Thomas Cutler; Sealer of Weights, etc.. 
Captain Samuel Brown ; Tything-men, Samuel Man, 
Ralph Earle ; Hog-reeves, Jonathan Morse, William 
Martin ; Deer-reeves, James Ames, William Whita- 
ker; Pound-keeper, Jonathan Knight; together 
with other officers, such as measurers of boards and 
shingles, etc. 

They probably had a jollification at the close of 
this meeting. Remembering that in those early days 
the inhabitants had no town halls, either old or new, 
in which to meet, their next be<t place was at some 
public house, or tavern, as they were then called, and 
we have seen that they first gathered at an inn. In 
those they found good cheer, even if the accommoda- 
tions were circumscribed. Here, too, the old-time 
flip-mug, or glass, served for the whole company, and 
was I'requeutly replenished, as everybody in those 
days indulged, more or less, in the "flowing bowl." 
It is sometimes asserted in these days that temper- 
ance has not made any progress, but in these century 
mile-stones we can note a world of advancement. 
Why, a hundred years ago the clergy, as well as the 
people, partook of the ardent, even at the laying of 
the corner-stones and dedication of church edifices, 
and also after the Sabbath sermon all would repair to 
the nearest tavern for " refreshment." Now, in New 
England these things have all passed away, so far as 
the public eye or public approval is concerned. 
Strange to say, however, the people did not lack for 
piety in those sturdy days, for among the very first 
things done, of note, by this district of Paxton was 
to provide by vote for the building of a '' meeting- 
house." 

At the next district meeting, held on April 1, 1765, 
" it was put to vote to see if the district will Build a 
Meeting House in said Paxton and of what dimen- 
sions they will Build it, also to see if the district will 
agree upon some place for to Sett Said meeting House 
on." It was also voted " to build a house of worship 
fifty feet in length and forty in width with twenty two 
foot posts and to set the house at the Gate behind 
John Snow's farm in Mr. Maynard's pasture." ' In 
the following autumn a grant was made of £13 6«. 8rf. 
for the support of the gospel during the winter. In 
the following spring (March 3, 176(i), the sum of 
£250 was voted " for a meeting house and a meeting 
house place." When the building had advanced to the 

1 During the year a good deal of dissatisfaction was manifested about 
the location, and several efforts were made, at subsequent meetings, to 
change the decision, and we believe it was finally located on land of Seth 
Snow, who subsequently gave the town the land around it for a town 
*'common." 



point of raising the frame there was a general turn- 
out of tlie citizens interested, and the records say a 
supper was provided for the occasion. The building 
was so far completed by the end of the year that its 
use commenced. Its appearance has been described 
by Mr. Livermore,^ in his Centennial address, as " a 
plain, square structure, standing in the middle of the 
Common in primitive simplicity, without dome or 
spire, destitute of external ornament and internal 
embellishments, its prominent sounding-board above, 
and its deacon seat and its semi-circular communion 
table at the base of the pulpit; its uncarpeted aisles 
and pen-like pews, with their uncushionedand hinged 
seats, to be turned up and let down at the rising and 
sitting of their occupants, with a clatter sufficient to 
have awakened a Rip Van Winkle ; its negro seats 
in the rear of the front gallery and the old people's in 
front of the pulpit, for the use of the deaf; its two 
corner pews perched aloft over the gallery stairs. 

*' ' Through which, and the scuttles above, were the ways 
To the attic, the arsenal of those early days.' " 

Thus did the inhabitants of this new district of 
Paxton keep faith with the General Court. They 
had asked to be set up in housekeeping, and gave as 
a reason that it was burdensome and extremely in- 
convenient for them to go so many miles to attend 
upon church service, and it cannot be denied that 
they were sincere and honest in their request. They 
had, indeed, other and important reasons for separa- 
tion, but the foregoing was the chief one given. 

One writer says that there was an attempt to form 
at first an Episcopal Church, but it failed, and had 
the effect to put off' the formation of any other till 
September 3, 1767, when the present Congregational 
Church was organized, and the meeting-house com- 
pleted during this year. 

Regular preaching heretofore had not been estab- 
lished, but yet services had been held by the Rev. 
Henry Carver and by Rev. Mr. Steward, who also 
taught school here at this early date in the history of 
Paxton. 

The names of those subscribing to the covenant at 
the time of organization were Phineas Moore, John 
Snow, Jason Livermore, David Davis, Benjamin 
Sweetser, Silas Bigelow, Samuel Man, Oliver Witt, 
Stephen Barrett and Samuel Brown. 

In the early part of 1767 a committee was ap- 
pointed to secure a permanent pastor, and they sub- 
sequently reported in favor of the Rev. Silas Bige- 
low. On May 14, 1767, the district voted him the 
sum of £133 6s. Sd., as a settlement grant, and also 
voted a yearly salary of £53 6s. 8d. for the first four 
years, and £66 13s. 4d. as long as he shall continue 
his relations as a minister. 

In response to the call of the parish and district of 



2 George W. Livermore, of Cambridge, a native of Paxton, delivered 
the Centennial address in 1865. 



574 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



Paxton to become their settled pastor, the Rev. Silas 
Bigelow returned the following answer, viz. : 

To ye JixluihiUints of ye District of Paxton, Christian Friends and Breth- 
ren : 

I liiiVo fiilteii very serious Notire of ye Sovereign Hand of Divine 
Providence in Condnctinp: me to yon, and would in some suitable and 
Grateful manner attend to ye kind acceptance my labours have met 
with among yon ; and ye Regard which you have manifested to nie 
(how unworthy so ever) in Electing me to be your Pastor. I observe ye 
Degree of unanimity and undeserved Affection with which you have 
Done this, and I can't but be apprehensive of Harmony and unanimity 
afford some of ye Best encouragements to hope for success, and yt ye 
Great End of ye Gospel ministry may be obtained in the Conversion of 
Souls to God and ye edifying of Saints in Faith and Comfort to Salva- 
tion. Nor would I fail to take Due Notice also of ye Provision which 
you Have made for my Settlement and Support among ,vou ; and it is Fit 
you should give Praise to God who both enabled you to maintain ye gos- 
pel and ye ordinences thereof, and so far inclined your hearts thereto ; 
At ye same time I am obliged to appraise you (not, I hope. From any 
avoricious Disposition, nor Because I would rather seek yours than you, 
but because I would fain Promote your real Benefit and highest welfare) 
that after Taking ye Befit Advice I can get, not merely From those in 
Ministerial life, but From others in Civil Character, I fear I shall not 
be able (from The Sujtport you have offtred) to answer your expectations 
from me in ye office I must Bear, nor to sustain the Dignity and Dis- 
charge the duties thereof But having sought earnestly to ye God of 
all Wisdom and Grace for Direction in the most weighty and important 
affair ; Considted such as are esteemed Respectable for their Capacity 
and Integrity, and Deliberatel.v considered everything as well as I 
could within myself, I accept of your Call, Determining by the Grjice 
of God to Devote myself to ye work of ye Gospel Ministry among 
you ; not Doubting your Readiness to Do what you can to free me from 
ye unnecessary cares and Incumbrances of Life; yt so I may more fully 
give up myself to this Great and arduous work. Concluding with 
Rom. 15 : ao and 32. Now I Beseech you, Brethren ; for ye Lord Jesus' 
Bake and for ye love of ye spirit yt ye strive together with me in your 
prayers to God for me ; That I may come unto you with Joy by ye will 
of God, and may with you be refreshed. So Prays your Friend and 
Servant in the Gospel of Christ. 

Paxton, June -Jo, 17(j7. . SiL.\s Bigelow. 

Mr. Bigelow was ordained on October 21, 1767. 
His pastoral labors were compf.ratively of brief 
duration, since his decease occurred on November 
16, 176!), at the age of thirty years. He was buried 
in the public cemetery, near the southeast corner 
and but a few paces from the present meeting- 
house. All accounts agree that this first pastor 
was a devoted minister of the Gospel; a man of 
unusual intellectual endowments, coupled with great 
dignity of manner, and he was also a man much 
esteemed for his high Christian character and greatly 
beloved by all of the parish over which he had so 
briefly presided.' 

Under his ministry the kindliest of feeling had 
sprung up among all the members of the society, 
and had his valuable life been spared to this people, 



1 The undersigned met on Nov. 9, 17G7, and made choice of pews in 
the cooipleted church. The prices they were to pay ranged from four- 
teen to twenty-two dollars. The district voted to give them the prefer- 
once as to choice, since the.v were the heaviest tax-payers on real estate. 
The district also voted to give them deeds of the pews. 

Capt. Oliver Witt, Timothy Barrett, Abraham Smith, Capt. Ephraim 
Moore, Heaekiah Newton, Capt. Samuel Brown, Jonathan Smith, Elijah 
How. Jeremiah Newton, Jonatlian Knight, Samuel Man, Ebenezer 
Hunt, Jr., James McKennen, Capt. Ralph Earle, Paul llow, Phineas 
Moore, Jacob Sweeter. Ebenezer Hunt, Abijah Bemis, Peter Moore, 
Abner Morse, David Davis, William Whitaker, William Thompson, Seth 
Soow. 



much greater good must have been accomplished. 
The Rev. Mr. Bigelow was from the vicinity of 
Concord, it is believed ; of his early education we 
have no present data. He was of a family, how- 
ever, quite celebrated for their learning and prom- 
iuence in public affairs. 

He lived on the western slope of Asnebumskit, 
on what is now known, and has been these many 
years, as the "old Bigelow place." His first wife 
was from Lexington. There is one memento of 
this family still preserved. It is an antique clock, 
one of the well-known " grandfather's clocks," so- 
called, reaching from floor to ceiling It was a 
bridal present from her parents in Lexington, where 
the clock was made, as indicated on its face. It 
remained in the family several generations and on 
the farm more than one hundred years, and is 
now in the possession of the wife of the writer (a 
descendant), and is doing duty as faithfully as when 
first set in motion by the hand of the bride, a century 
and more since. His second wife was a Mrs. Sarah 
Hall, of Sutton ; intentions of the marriage were pub- 
lished September 22, 1769, as shown by the records. 

On Noveniber 28, 1770, the Rev. Alexander Thayer ' 
was ordained as the successor of Rev. Silas Bigelow. 
His paslorate continued for nearly twelve years. He 
was dismissed on August 14, 1782. His relations with 
the church during the last half of his ministry were 
anything but agreeable. He was suspected of being 
a loyalist. " This suspicion (says one writer), whether 
well or ill-founded, was sufficient to create a degree of 
coldness, and, in some instances, a fixed dislike, ei^pe- 
cially among those, who, from other causes, had be- 
come disaffected." It is reported that his salary was 
another cause of trouble, lie complaining that the 
currency had much depreciated, and that he was 
justly entitled to a grant to make it equivalent to 
what it was when first settled, and it is not un- 
likely, from a review of the whole matter, there 
was really just ground for complaint upon both 
sides, and entire condemnation of either party would 
be very unjust. 

The Rev. John Foster' followed Mr. Thayer. He 
found the church divided and inharmonious. He en- 
deavored to reconcile them, but was unfortunate in 
being a positive man, and in expressions was perhaps 
injudicious. 

At all events the old troubles were not healed, but 
broke out afresh, when it was proposed to settle him. 
The first council refused to grant a settlement, but a 
short time afterwards a new council, composed of 
different members from the first, voted to ordain and 
settle him, which was accordingly done on September 
8, 1785. He was dismissed in 1789. During his ]>as- 
torate there was a secession of about twenty, who 



2 He married Miss Abigal Goulding, of Holliston, in 1773. 
" He was married in September, 1785, to Mrs. Eunice Stearns, of Hol- 
den. 



PAXTON. 



575 



formed a new church, and so continued till 1793, 
when a reunion occurred. 

Mr. Livermore relates several anecdotes of Mr. 
Foster, one of which will interest the general reader. 
" In those days, when capital punishment was to be in- 
flicted it was the law that public religious exercises 
should be held, and the criminal had the privilege of 
selecting the preacher. Mr. Foster was selected, and 
at the appointed hour the house was crowded, and in 
the audience were many clergymen. Mr. Foster being 
selected only to preach, asked the first minister he 
saw to offer prayer. The invitation was declined, and 
several others were similarly invited and all declined, 
whereupon Mr. Foster stepped to his piece, with the 
remark in an undertone, though loud enough in the 
general hush of the occasion to be heard by all, 
'Thank God, I can pray as well as preach.' It is 
reported that his prayer was so soul-stirring and sin- 
cere that all were moved to tears, and many wept 
aloud." 

Mr. Foster is reported to have been a man of bril- 
liant attainments, and a very eloquent preacher, but 
possessed some other qualities that neutralized greatly 
these gifts. The Rev. Daniel Grosvenor was installed 
on the 5th November, 1794, as the successor of Mr. 
Foster. He came to this people from a church in 
Grafton, where he had been pastor. There was, for a 
season, quiet and considerable religious interest mani- 
fested under this aflable and able pastor. But the 
old trouble would not wholly down, but, ghost-like, 
came to the surface. 

Mr. Grosvenor's health was poor at best, and he 
felt unequal to the task of reconciling the factions, 
and finally asked to be dismissed, which was granted 
on November 17, 1802. 

One proof that the old troubles were the causes of 
the unhappy condition of things at the time, and 
prior to the retirement of Mr. Grosvenor, is that they 
continued to be a disturbed church for several years 
alter he left, and some years came and went before a 
pastor was again settled over them. 

Mr. Grosvenor lived a half mile northeast of the 
church on the Holden road, where Peter Daw now 
lives. 

In 1808, February 17th, the Rev. Gaius Conant was 
ordained, and he remained with the society for many 
years. He lived and died in the square-roofed house 
now occupied by Deacon Levi Smith, situated about 
half a mile due east from the church. He was dis- 
missed September 21, 1831, and the same council 
ordained the Rev. Moses Winch. It was in 1830 that 
the Congregational Society was organized separately 
from the town. Mr. Winch's ministry must have 
been a very quiet one, and without any very disturb- 
ing circumstances, since very little is said respecting 
his stay here. He was discharged in 1834, August 
28th. 

The Rev. James D. Farnsworth succeeded Mr. 
Winch and was ordained on the 30th of April, 1835, 



and continued his labors till May 7, a.d. 1840. He 
was succeeded by the Rev. William Phipps, A.M., 
who was ordained November 11, A. d. 1840. Some- 
thing more than a passing notice should be given 
this eminently gifted divine. He was for more than 
twenty-eight years connected with the history of the 
Congregational Church in this town. He was born 
in Franklin, this State, on October 31, 1812. He was 
the son of William and Fannie (Moulton) Phipps, 
with a line of ancestry traceable back to old England ; 
to the father of Sir William Phipps, one of the early 
Governors of Massachusetts Colony. He was a quiet, 
gentle man, and true, yet did not lack force or brav- 
ery. He was resolute for worthy ends, and brave in 
self-denial. He early learned the trade of a cabinet- 
maker in his father's shop, which trade, in those days, 
meant quite as much an ability to manufacture a vio- 
lin as a bureau, and as an illustration of his mechani- 
cal genius in this direction, it is told that he made in 
the days of his apprenticeship a fine bass-viol, with 
five strings, on which he was wont to play as an 
accompaniment to his vocal songs. He was a great 
lover of music and possessed a fine, rich, bass-tone 
voice, and always sang with an enthusiasm never to 
be forgotten by sympathetic hearers. He found his 
trade especially useful to a " country minister" in a 
small place, and on a small salary, since many of 
the things he needed he either had to make or go 
without. His inventive faculty was by no means in- 
considerable. He constructed models of an improved 
school-room, a turret wind-mill, a drawing globe, a 
seed-sower, an upright piano and other u?elul and 
fancy things. He was a natural student, ever fond of 
the companionship of good books, and was diligent 
in everything. He attended Day's Academy in 
Wrentham; from there he entered Amherst, and grad- 
uated in the class of 1837. On leaving college he 
taught, as principal, in the academy at Edgartowa, 
for one year. He married, in 1837, Miss Mary C. 
Partridge, of Franklin, who still survives at the age 
of eighty-eight. They had seven children, of whom 
five are living — two sons and three daughters. The 
sons, George G. and William H., have taken up the 
profession of their father. The former is settled at 
Newton Highlands, while the latter is preaching in 
Prospect,Conn. Mr Phipps was first settled in thistow'n. 
He was an earnest preacher and profounily interested 
in all good works. He served for very many years 
as the head of the School Committee, and his school 
reports are good reading to-day, and display 
much thought, earnestly and gracefully expressed. 
He wns wont to do anything he had in hand with 
"all his might," whether tuning a piano, or raising 
the finest vegetable in town. Those, whether in the 
church or out who became intimate, were not the ones 
to turn from him, for they best realized his largeness 
of heart and generosity of spirit. 

But few of his sermons were ever published, barring 
a few Thankgivin^ discourses, fugitive pieces in var- 



576 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



ious newspapers and a number of musical composi- 
tions. 

Of the latter, it was as easy for him to write the 
poetical stanzas as the melodies that floated tbeni. 
Had he been more favorably situated, as to leisure 
and means, he might readily have made his mark as 
an inventor or author, but he preferred to remain 
where he felt an all-wise Providence had placed him. 
His mark was, however, made honestly and deeply on 
the generation of youth that grew up under his long 
and faithful ministry here. 

In 1869 he accepted a call to Plainfield, Conn., and 
was there installed June 9th. He died on June 18, 
1876. 

The Rev. Thomas L. Ellis succeeded Mr. Phipps, 
and was installed November 26, 1871. He died, after 
a brief pastorate, on November 12, 1873. He was 
followed by the Rev. Francis J. Fairbanks. He was 
hired in the early part of 1874, and continued his 
labors here till October, 1877. He was a well-educated 
man, and devoted in his work. The Rev. Otis Cole, a 
Methodist divine, was next hired by this society, and 
commenced his labors on January 1, 1878, and con- 
tinued for two years, when he removed to New Hamp- 
shire. He was a man of great simplicity, and yet of 
very great power as a preacher and much beloved by 
all, both by those in and out of the church. The 
following summer tlie society engaged Mr. John E. 
Dodfje, who was licensed to preach. He filled the 
pulpit for several years and was then ordained and 
settled, continuing his labors a couple of years there- 
after. In June, 1887, he asked for a dismissal, having 
been called to the church in Sterling. Both Mr. and 
Mrs. Dodge were earnest in their labors in behalf of 
the church and community. 

The Rev. Alpha Morton succeeded to the pastorate. 
He was engaged in June, 1887, and still continues his 
active labors with this people. He is an able man 
and of the highest character. 

The old church edifice erected by the district of 
Paxton in 1767, paid for by a general tax, was used 
for all town-meetings after its erection, and the 
" deacon's seat " was the place occupied by the 
moderator of the town-meetings. In 1835 it was 
voted to remove the building to its present site and 
both enlarge and repair it, the town putting in a 
basement story for a town-hall, and it is now a very 
dignified edifice of the usual village style. Subse- 
quently the church, feeling the need of a room for 
vestry purposes, entered into an agreement with the 
town, otlering to light and warm and care for the said 
town hall for all town purposes on condition of its 
use by them as a vestry. In 1888 the town, stimulated 
by the gift of one Simon Alien, erected a new town 
hall, concerning which additional particulars are given 
further on in our history. 

Leaving the history of the church and taking up 
that of the town, it will be remembered that the 
" District of Paxton " was chartered in 1765, Feb. 



12th, and was "to join Leicester and the precinct of 
Spencer" in electing a Representative to the Legis- 
lature. This restriction was removed by an act bear- 
ing date July, 1775, viz. : " Whereas there are divers 
acts or laws heretofore made and passed by former 
General Courts or Assemblies of this Colony for the 
incorporation of towns and districts, which, against 
common right and in derogation of the rights granted 
to the inhabitants of this Colony by the charter, con- 
tain an exception of the right and privilege of choos- 
ing and sending a representative to the Great and 
General Court or Assembly. Be it therefore enacted and 
declared by the Council and House of Representatives 
in General Court assembled, and by theauthorityof the 
same, that henceforth every such exception contained 
in any act or law heretofore made and passed by any 
General Court or Assembly of this Colony for erecting 
or incorporating any town or district, shall be held 
and taken to be altogether null and void, and that 
every town and district in this Colony consisting of 
thirty or more freeholders and other inhabitants 
qualified by charter to vote in the election of a repre- 
sentative, shall henceforth be held and taken to have 
full right, power and privilege to elect and depute 
one or more persons being freeholders and resident in J 
such town or district, to serve for and represent them 1 
in any Great and General Court or Assembly hereafter 
to be held and kept for tliis Colony according to the 
limitations in an act or law of the General Assembly, 
entitled an act for ascertaining the number and regu- 
lating the House of Representatives, any exceptions 
of that right and privilege contained or expressed in 
the respective acts or laws for the incorporation of 
such town or district notwithstanding." 

On August 22, 1774, the following committee was 
chosen to consult and report on the state of public 
affairs, viz. : Capt. Ralph Earle, Lieut. Willard 
Moore, Dea. Oliver Witt, Phineas Moore and Abel 
Brown. They also voted to purchase a barrel of 
powder in addition to the stock (some two barrels) 
then on hand. All the able-bodied men of all ages, 
capable of bearing arms, were formed into two 
military companies, one of which was called the 
" Standing," and the other the " Minute Company."' 

On the 17th of January, 1775, thirty-three men 
were ordered by the town to be drafted as minute- 
men. They chose Willard Moore to be their captain. 
He went with his command on April 19, 1775, to 
Cambridge, on receiving intelligence of the begin- 
ning of hostilities at Lexington and Concord. 

The following is a copy of the agreement of the 
minute-men at Snow's in 1775 : 

We the Subscriboi'S, Do engage for to Joyn the Miinite Men f>f this 
District and to March with them Against oiiv Common Eneinys When 
we are called for, if so be tliat the Minute Conipiinys are kept np as 
witness our hunda : Marmaduke Earle, Joniih Newton, ttiTifJ Goo<1enow, 



1 A Committee of Safety was chosen on March 20,1775, consisting of 
Willard Moore, Pliineas Moore, Abraham Smith, Ralph Earlfi and David 
J>avis. 



PAXTON. 



577 



.Jr., Abijah Brown, Joeepb Knight, Clark Karle, Nathan Swan, Jonah 
Hnwe, Ithniiiur Bigeluw, John Davis, John I'ilce, Pliineas 3Ioore, John 
Flint, Elienezer Hunt, Tliuinas lianih, Oliver Earle, Jonatlian White, 

Hezelciah Newton, Steplien Barrett, Samuel , Daniel Steward, Joseph 

Prescott. 

The duties of the committee named abave were 
various ; among other matters, to observe and report 
to the people the action of Congress, and also the 
acts of the colonists and the doings of the home 
government, and last, but perhaps not least, to keep 
watch of certain susjiected Tories in the district, of 
whom there were a number. 

Captain Willard Moore, with a number of his men, 
soon enlisted in the Continental Army. He was 
promoted to the rank of major and took part with 
his men in the battle of Bunker Hill, where he was 
killed, t'lgether with several of his men. The 
" standing company,'' already named, was commanded 
by Captain Ralph Earle,' with John Snow as lieu- 
tenant, and Abel Brown as ensign. They were 
chosen as officers at the district-meeting on January 
17, 1775, and did valiant service, and bore their share 
of the hardships of the long campaigns for liberty and 
independence. 
At the town-meeting held April 6, 1775, Lieutenant 
■ Willard Moore was chosen delegate to the Provincial 
Congress, held in Concord, Mass., and was instructed 
to " use his influence in Congress that government be 
assumed in case that it shall prove certain that 
Great Britain intends to enforce the late acts of Par- 
liament by the sword." 

The town, at various timesduring the Revolutionary 
period, appropriated about ten thousand pounds as 
bounties, besides paying heavy taxes to the Provin- 
cial government amounting to many hundreds of 
pounds. Then, too, there were frequent purchases of 
beef for the use of the army, sending as high as nine 
thousand pounds at one time as their quota of the 
supplies needed by the government " at the front.'' 

In addition to the regular companies named, there 
were, the record4 say, many volunteers going forward 
on their own responsibility and their own patriotic 
impulse to defend their imperiled country. 

In the following year (1776) the records show a 
warrant directed to the " Constable of the Town of 
Paxton." 

There is a warrant dated May 13, 1776, calling a 
meeting on the 23d of that month, for the purpose of 
choosing " a person to represent them in the Great 
and General Court " that year, agreeably to a pre- 
cept directed " to the town " for that purpose. 

On May 23, 177G, the town made choice of 
Abraham Smith as its first representative to the 
General Court, and the record shows the clerk of the 
meeting to have signed himself as the town clerk, all rec- 
ords prior thereto having been signed by the district 
clerk. 



^ Capt. Ralph Earle married theVidow Naomi Kinnicutt, of Provi- 
dence, in 1775. 

37 



In June, 1779, there was a special call for repre- 
sentatives to meet in Cambridge, for the purpose of 
framing a State Cjustituiion, and under this call, on 
August 10, 1779, Adam Maynard was chosen as the 
delegate. This very year it would seem by the rec- 
ords that Abraham Smith continued as the represen- 
tative to the General Court, while Phineas Moore 
was the delegate to the convention held in Concord. 

These w-ere stirring times with the colonists, and 
besides the care of founding States was the added 
one of taking up arms to maintain them and estab- 
lish liberty. In all of these serious affairs the new 
town of Paxton discharged all of her obligations 
with highest credit. In the earlier contests between 
the French and Indians this town furnished, in 
1766, five men as her quota in a call for one thousand 
men from Worcester and Hampshire Counties. 
Their names were : Ezekiel Bellows, Jacob Wicker, 
Jason Livermore, David Wicker and John Wicker. 
These men were in the command of Gen. Ruggles, 
and saw service at Crown Point, Fort Edward and 
Ticonderoga. 

This town is proved by all the ancient records to 
have been eminently patriotic in the time of the 
Revolution. All of the demands for men and means 
were met, though doubtless their efforts at times were 
very great. The prolongation of the war, saying 
nothing of the cost incurred in getting Veady for the 
contest, was a very serious matter, but through all 
these trials the true patriots never flinched. 

Among their first acts was an attempt on their 
part to rid themselves of the name of Paxton, now- 
odious by reason of his loyalty to and influence with 
the enemy of the colony. They failed in their 
patriotic endeavor to secure a change of name, as we 
have seen. 

The Hon. George W. Livermore, of Cambridge, a 
native of Paxton, relates the following incident 
which happened here: Jason Livermore and his 
three sons were plowing in the field when informed 
by a messenger of the incursion of the " regulars " to 
Lexington and Concord, and that the company of 
which they were members would march forthwith. 
The father said : " Boys, unyoke the cattle and let us 
be off." No sooner said than done; and they at once 
made ready and marched, with the household pewter 
dishes melted into bullets, to Cambridge, and there 
joined the Continental army, and on June 17, 
1775, they bore a part in the great battle of Bunker 
Hill. The wife and mother, Mrs. Jason Livermore, 
was left with a lad but twelve years of age, to culti- 
vate the farm and care for the stock. This was suc- 
cessfully done, and it is further stated that she made 
a hundred pounds of saltpetre for the army, during 
the summer, in addition to her other duties." Mrs. 
Livermore died at the extreme age of ninety-nine 
years and ten months. In the following year this 
same Jason Livermore, together with one Samuel 
Brewer, of Sutton, raised a company and proceeded 



578 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



to Charlestown, and from there were ordered to Tlcon- 
deroga and Mount Hope, where they were stationed 
for some time. It is fully believed that the town of 
Paxton must have sent more than a hundred men 
into the ranks of the patriot soldiers of the Revolu- 
tionary army ; and history declares that few, if any, 
towns contributed, proportionately, more for the 
achievement of our independence, according to their 
means, than this. It is also reported that towards the 
close of the war '" their individual and public suffer- 
ing was extreme, and at times almost intolerable; " 
yet at no time did their courage flag or the fires of 
patriotism grow dim. 

The qualification for voting in 1770 was the pos- 
session of sixty pounds' worth of property or an 
annual income of three pounds sterling. At the first 
State election there were twenty-four votes cast for 
John Hancock for Governor. The amount assessed 
at this time in the town on both polls and real estate 
was £29,400. The State tax in 1780 was as high as 
£5,120, old tenor.' 

Provision for the education of the young was made 
as early as 1769 in the new district. On January 9, 
1769, a warrant was issued calling a meeting to con- 
sider, among other things, the division of the town 
into " squadrons " or school plots, as per the recom- 

• Among the ijames found in the early records it is interesting to note 
the following, viz. : — Dr. Sanil. Stearns, who married in 1773 Sarah 
Witt. This Dr. Stearntj was the practicing physician in this town at 
and before the Revolution. Then there appear the names of Samuel 
Gould, Capt. Kalpli Earle, Ephraim Moore, Marniaduke Earle, Willard 
Moore, Paul How, Kev. Silas Bigelow, Ithamar Bigelow, who had sons 
Timothy, Silas, Lewis and Ithamar ; Samuel Brown, \Vm. Thompson, 
who had sons William and James ; Danl. Upham, Hezekiah Newton, 
John Newluill, .lames Earle, Oliver Earl, Wm. Livermore, John Liver- 
more, Braddyl Livernioro. Wm. Martin, Thos. Lamb, Silas, Ezekiel and 
Joseph Bellows, Jacob Sweetser, Saml. Sweetser and Stephen Sweetser, 
David Davis, Kphin. Davis, ^roji. Hunt, Jonathan Ames, Seth Swan, 
Jabez Newhall, John Warren, Daniel Steward, M. B, Williams, .\dam 
Maynard, Ptoses JIaynard, David Goodenow, John Knight, Wm. Whita- 
ker, David Wicker, Abel Brown, Danl. Knight, Joltn Flint, Clark Earl, 
Nathan Sergeant, Danl. Bemis, Heiy. Cutting, Dexter Earl, David 
Peirce, who had sons David, (^ad, Aaron and Job ; James Washburn, 
Joseph Penuinian, Hezidtiah Ward, Phiny Moore, Pliineas Moore, 
Sanmel Brigluun, Seth Metcalf, Benj. Wilson, Dr. Tliad. Brown, Dr. 
Saml. Forrest, Dr. Caleb Sliattuck, — these were all residents and prac- 
ticing physicians, between 17G5 and 1800, in this town — Samuel and 
Ebenezer Wait, Jude Jones, Timothy Bigelow, married .\nna Earl in 
1797 ; Itliamar Bigelow, Jr., married Sophie Earle in 1801 ; Daniel \b- 
bott, D. H. Grosvenor and Jonathan P. Grosvenor, Levi Boynton Dr. 
Absalom Russel, Dr. Loaini Harrington, was married to Delia Newton 
in 18011 by Nathaniel Crocker, Esii. ; Taylor Goddard, Frederick Flint, 
.Joseph Knight, Benj. Wilson, Thomas Wbittemore, Wm. Howard, 
Henry Slade and his sons .Vntliony, John and Henry ; Wintlirop Earle, 
Braddyl Livermore, Amos W^are, Klisha Ward, Ebenezer Bointon, had 
children, Ebenezer, Jr., born in 1770, Silas, Jeremiah, .Vlpheus, Phebe, 
Levi, Uanuati, Asa and David ; Samuel Jennison, Ebenezer Estabrook, 
William Earle, Robert Crocker, Emory Earle, Seth Jletcalf, Jr., John 
Pike, Francis Pike and Clark Pike, Thomas Read, Jiicob Earle, Rnfus 
Earle, Artenias Earle, Nathan Cass, Bloses Gill Grosvenor, son of Rev. 
Daniel Grosvenor, Geo. W. Livermore, son of Brjiddyl Livermore, born 
Oct. 15, 17H4 ; ThmldeuH Estabrook, Ephruim Carrllth, .John Brigham, 
Joseph Day, Nathaniel Lakin, Samuel Partridge, John Partridge, Kl- 
bridge Gerry Howe, son of .lonah Howe, born .\ug. 14, 1799 ; .lohn 
Howe, Jonathan Ctiase and son, Horner Chase ; Ralph Earle Bigelow, son 
of Ithamar Bigelow, Jr. ; Oliver .\rrmld, .Vmasa Earle, Silas D. Harring- 
ton, f>Hniel Lakin, .lolin Bellows, Sam'l Wait, Daniel Estabrook, son of 
J..iiah l'>fabr.iol.-, Ii.irn in IH07 ; Jacoh Karle, Dr. Edward M. W'heeler. 



mendation of a previously-appointed committee who 
had reported favorably. This committee (chosen in 
October, 1768) consisted of Captain Oliver Witt, 
William Whitaker, William Thompson, Willard 
Moore and Jonathan Knight. 

There were (in 1769) five districts established, and 
the committee for each " school plot " were as follows : 
For the Northeast, Phineas Moore, Hezekiah Newton 
and Stephen Barrett ; for the Southeast, Daniel Stew- 
art, James (Hover and Francis Eager; for the South- 
west, Abner Moore, James Thompson and Jason 
Livermore; for the Northwest, Abraham Smith, Wil- 
liam Whitaker and Jonah Newton ; for the Middle 
plot, Captain Paul How, John Snow and Ralph 
Earle. 

The following names of the heads of families living 
in the several .school plots or divisions, together with 
the number given the said divisions, must be of 
general interest even at this date, viz. : 

Northeaal School Plot, No. 1.— William Allen, Capt. Saml. Brown, En. 
Stephen Barrett, Aaron Bennet, .Samuel Estabrook, Jno. Fersenden, 
Zach ? Gates, Aaron Hunt, Ebenezer Hunt, Sanniel Man, Phineas Man,, 
Elijah Man, Peter Moore, Ephraim Moore, Willard flloore, llezikiah 
Maynard, Hezikiah Newton, Silas Newton, Benj. Pierce, Jacob Sweetser, 
Jacob Sweetser, Jr., Benj. Sweetser, Ebenezer Wait, Antipas How, 
James .\me8. 

Southeaat School PIU, No. 2. — Capt. Jesse Brigham, Joel Brigham, En. 
Timothy Barrett, Thomas Denny, Wm. Earle, Jr., .\ntipas Earl, Francis 
Eager, Newdiall Earl, James Glover, Zach. Gates, Wm. Howard, Jabez. 
Newhall, Daniel Steward, Danl. Snow, Asa Stowe, Joseph .Sprague, DauL 
Upham, Capt. Oliver Witt, Elijah Dix, Jedediah Newton, Ebenezer Boy- 
ington, Jon'^ Wheeler, Jr., Jeremiah Fay. 

Sonthwefl tchual Plot, No. 3. — Ezekiel Bellows, Joseph Bellows, AbijaU 
Bemis, Jont. Brigham, Jacob Briant, John Livermore, .\bner Morse^ 
.lames Nico], Seth Swan, Wm. Thompson, Wm. Thompson, Jr., Wm, 
Wicker, David Wicker, Samuel Wicker, Jacob Wicker, David Newton,. 
Jonathan Knight, Ji-., James Pike,Solomon Newton. 

Norllmcsl School Plot, No. 4 (now West School District).— Joel Brigham, 
Jonathan Clemmer, David Goodenow, Ebenezer Hunt, ."r., James Mc- 
Kennon, Seth Metcalf, Jaasaniah Newton, Jonah Newton, Nahnni 
Newton, John Smith, Abraham Smith, Jonas Smith, Wm. Whitaker, 
W'm. Wliitaker, Jr. 

The Middle School Plot, No. b.^ (now the Centre School).— Abel Brown^ 
Col. Gardner Chandler, Capt. Thos. Davis, David Davis, Wm. Earle^ 
Capt. Ralph Earle, Samuel Gonld. Wid. Daraarius How, Wm. Martin, 
Shadariah Newel, Ebenezer Prescott, David Pierce, Jonathan Knight, 
Daniel Kniglit, Jno. Snow, Seth Snow, Adam Maynard, Elijah Dem- 
mon, Capt. Paul How, Jonah How, .Saml. Brewer, Eleazer Ward, James 
Logan, Andrew Martin. 

The Northwest (or West, as it is now known) School- 
house was located, in these early days, just west of the 
road leading from " Hows Hill," now " Davis's Hill," 
to Jennison's Mills (Comins' Mills), a few rods south- 
ward of the pond and across the highway. About 
1820 the present brick school-house was erected just 
west of the mill-dam. Some fifty years ago or more 
Homer Chase taught this school, and lived at the 
house near by. It will be recollected by the older 
citizens that years ago the seats were arranged in two 
rows, which brought the scholars in two lines, one 
directly back of the other. 

A class in reading was up, and a notably <luil 
scholar was proceeding, and, as usual, was being 

-The number of districts now is the same a« in 1769. 



PAXTON. 



579 



prompted by his neighbor behind him, who could 
overlook his book. It was the habit of this dull reader 
to use his finger to keep his place, and as he was being 
coached, his finger prevented the party prom[)ting 
from seeing the words ahead, so he whispered to this 
dull reader, " Skip it;" the reader supposed they were 
the next words in order for him to repeat, and he 
drawled out, '*S-k-i-p i-t," which had the result to 
*' bring down the house,'' as modern people speak. 

At the Southwest School, forty years ago, there were 
as many as sixty scholars in attendance, and this was 
true of most of the other schools in town, whereas, at 
the present time, they would not average a dozen 
pupils to a school-house, outside of the Centre District; 
and what is true of this town is nearly true of all the 
back towns in New England. The Centre School 
building used to stand north of its present location, 
near where Hiram P. Bemis now lives, on the Rut- 
land road. It was a square-built house, and when 
abandoned, it was used to erect the house now owned 
by H. C. Eamcs, on the Barre road. Mr. D. Gates 
Davis remembers when more than sixty scholars at- 
tended at this school. 

We herewith append a list of prices established in 
1777 by the authorities of Paxton : 

Agreeably to late act of the Great and (ieiieral Court of Massachu- 
setts Bay To Prevent Mocopoly and oppresiuu ; The Selectmen and 
Committee of correspondence for the Town of Paxton have Agreed upon 
and affixed the Prices hereafter set down to the Following Articles in 
the Town of Paxton, X'v/,. : — 

Men's Labour at Fanning Work in the months of July and August. 
3 shill. per day ; The months of May, June and September, 'Zs. 'id. per 
day; The months of April and October, Is. 9rf. per day; The months of 
November, Deceuibex*, Jan., February and March, \s. id. per day ; 
Wheat, 68. per Bushel ; Rye, 4s, 3<l. per Bushel ; Indian Corn, 3». ; 
Oats, Ifl. Sd. per Bushel ; Barley, '.is. 'id. per Bushel ; Spanish Potatoes, 
Is. per Bushel in the fall of the year and not to exceed \s. 4(i. at any 
other se:ison ; Beans, G.s. per bushel ; Peas, 7s. per bushel ; Sheeps Wool, 
2s. per lb. ; Fresh Pork, well fatted, 3 pence 3 farth. per lb. ; Good 
Untss-fed Beef, 2 pence 3 farth. per lb. ; Stall-fed Beef, 3 pence 3 far- 
thing per lb. ; Raw Hides, 3 pence per ib. ; Green Calfskins, G pence 
per lb. ; Imported Salt, 13 shillings per bushel; Salt manufactured of 
Sea water, 15s. per bushel ; West India Rum, S«, 2rf. per Gallon; New 
England Rum, os. per Gall. ; Best Moscorado Sugar, £3 (>s. Srf. per 
Hundred Wt. aud .'« pence 3 farthings- by the single pound; ilohuises, 
4«. 8(i. per Gallon ; Chocolate, is. 9d. per lb. ; Best new milk Cheese, 5 
pence 1 farthing per lb. ; Butter, 9 jience per lb. ; Tan-i Leather, If. 3d. 
per Ib. ; Curried leather, in Proportion; Homespun yard-wide Cotton 
. . . ; Cloth, 38. Gd. per yard ; Mutton, Lamb and Veal, 3 pence per 
lb. ; wheat Flour, 18s. per hundred Wt. ; Best English Hay, 28. Sd, per 
llundreii Wt. ; Teaming work, Is. Gd. per mile for a Ton; Turkies, 
Dunghill Fowls and ducks, 4 pence per lb. ; Geese, 3 pence per lb. ; 
Milk, 1 penny 3 farthing per quart ; Good Merchantable white pine 
Barn boards, 2b. Sd. per hundred feet ; Men's best yarn Stockings os. 4rf. 
per pair ; Sleu's best Shoes made of neat Leather, Ss. per pair ; Wo- 
men's best Calf Skin slioes, Gs. SJ. per pair; Making Men's Shoes, 2s. 
Sd. ; Making Women's leather shoes, 2s. Srf. ; Good Salt Pork, 8 pence 
per lb. ; Cotton, 3s. Sd. per lb. ; Good well-dressed merchantable Flax, 
I shilling per lb. ; Coffee, Is. Hd. per lb. ; Yard wide tow Cloth, 2 shill- 
ings per yard ; Good yard-wide Stripped Flannel, 38. per yard ; Fried 
Tallow. 7 pence per lb. ; Rough Tallow, 4 pence 2 farth. per lb. ; Men's 
board, r>s. per week ; Women's board. 2s. Sd. per week — .Taverners ; 
Oats, 2 pence 2 farthings for 2 Quarts ; A mug of Flip made with half 
a pint of West India Rum, Is. Id. ; a mug of Flip made with half a pint 
of New England Rum, 9 pence ; a Common meal of Vituals, 9 pence ; 
lodging a person a night, 4 pence; Keeping a horse a night or 24 
liours on English Hay, 1 shilling : Keeping a yoke of oxen a night or 



24 hours on English Hay, 1 shilling; Charcoal, 3 pence {Kr bushel at 

the pit ; Shoeing a horse round and Steeling toe and heel, Gs. 3d. ; 
Weaving Plain Towel Cloth yard-wide, not to exceed 3 pence2 farthings 
per yard ; sjiwing White pine hoards, Is. Id. per Hnn'* feet; Tanner's 
Bark Oak — Delivered at the Yard, 128. per Coid — j)rice for tanning,! 
penny 3 farthings per lb. ; horse hire, 2 pence per mile ; Cyder not to 
exceed Gs. at the press in time of the (ireatest Scarcity ; Carpenter's 
work, 3 shilling per day ; Price of Taylor's work to be advanced one- 
eighth part above what was usual when Labour at farming work in the 
Summer Season was 26. M. per day ; Best Homespun Woolen Cloth of a 
Good Colour full"* and Press** not to exceed Ss. per yard, and all other 
articles not her enumerated are to hear a price in a just Proportion to 
the Particularly Montione<l, According to former Customs and urfages. 
Dated at Paxton, Feby. 7, 1777. Agreed to by the Selectmen and Com- 
mittee of Correspondence of Paxton. Attest, 

AUBL Brow-v. 

On September 14. 1791, Beth Snow, of Paxton, gave 
by deed to the town, one and a half acres and fifteen 
rods, " whereon the meeting-house stands," the whole 
forming nearly a square tract for " the use and benefit 
of thetonn." The bounds are given in Book llA, 
page 134, as certified to by Artemas Ward, register of 
deeds, Worcester, and are as follows, viz.: 

A certain tract or parcel of common land lying in Paxton aforesaid, 
whereon the meeting-house stands, for the use and benefit of the said 
town, and is bounded as follows, viz. : beginning at a stake and stones 
on the south line of the burying-yard, thence East 3° S. nine rods and 
nine tenths to a stake and stone, being the Northwest cornci of Frederick 
Hunt's land ; thence South 13° 40' W. eighteen rods and eight-tenths of 
a rod to a heap of stunts on the West side of said Hunt's barn, said line 
strikes the Nortliwest corner of SJiid barn ; thence South 29^ Ejist ten 
rods and seven-tenths to a stake and stone.'* ; thence West 12° 30" N. foui- 
rods to a stake and stones by the Southeast corner of Tteacon Timothy 
Barrett's horse-shed ; thence N. .32° West seven rods to a stake and stones 
near the Northeast coiner of the store ; thence W. 8° 4i' N. eight rods 
and six-tenths to a stake and stones by the Northwest corner of my 
dwelling-house ; thence S. 4o°30' W.six rods to a stake and stones ; thence 
W. 10° N. two rods and five-tenths to a stake and stones ; thence East 42° 
N. nine rods to a stake and stones near the Southeast corner of Abner 
Morse"s horse-stable ; thence N. 8° E. running on the West side of the 
horse-stables eighteen rods to the first-mentioned corner; said tract con- 
tains one acre and a half and fifteen rods by measure. 

The town, after about 1800, moved along the even 
tenor of its way, without alarming incidents, until 
1812, when, at a special meeting of the town, held 
August loth, of that year, it was voted to clioose a 
committee to attend a county convention called to 
consider the state of the country, and Nathaniel 
Crjckcrand liraddyl Livernaore were appointed as the 
delegates. There was also a petition or memorial or- 
dered at this meeting to be sent to the President, and 
the following persons were appointed to prepare the 
same, viz. : — Nathan Swan, Nathaniel Lakin, David 
Davis, Jr., Braddyl Livermore and Jonathan P. Gros- 
venor. The war was of short duration, terminating 
in a successful issue for the government. 

Of Indian history little is known. Paxton was for 
many years a part of other towns, and their history 
would in part be its history, but long before the sur- 
rounding towns were incorporated there were conflicts 
with the aborigines in this vicinity, though yet not 
much that can be localized as having happened with- 
in the present territory of the town. Yet there was 
one Indian resident of this town who made it his 
home during the greater portion of his life, and his 



580 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUxNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



name was Aai'on Occuiii.' He was the last remnant 
and representative of his race. He lived al^out one 
hundred years ago, and had las home near the south- 
west noint of Turkey Hill Pond. He lived in peace 
and quiet with his white neighbors, who learned to 
like him, and were, at times, much interested in him : 
"He was a tall, well-formed man, very lithe and 
strong, and in feats of running, jumping, wrestling 
■or lifting, no white man in the town could approach 
liim. He clung to his ancient arms, and always was 
seen with bow and arrows, and with these primitive 
weapons his aim was unerring and fatal. He was a 
temperate and peaceful man and came to be respected 
and was a frequent visitor during the long winter 
evenings, at the dwellingH of his neighbors, whom, in 
broken English, he would entertain by his wonderful 
stories of his ancestors and their exploits. Close by 
his cabin was a large flat rock, on which he pursued 
his occupation of beating brooms and making baskets, 
in which arts he was a master, and his wares found 
ready sale in the vicinity. Thus he lived till one 
eventful winter night, when he went to visit at the 
old red house on the hill, a half-mile or so west 
of his cabin, now the home of Oris Howe. It was 
an icy time, bitter cold having followed a storm of 
sleet. The face of the country was glass, with ice. 
Occura finally departed, and with a bound he started 
forward down the hill, but he never reached his cabin 
home alive. The ne.\t morning he was found di^ad at 
the foot of a sharp declivity, with a gash in the back 
of his head caused by a sudden fall on a sharp stone 
above the ice. He, in the darkness, had, doubtless, 
miscalculated his footing and thus came to his sudden 
death. He was buried in the public cemetery of the 
town." 

Of Indian relics there are few ; still, some arc found 
of course, but not in numbers that would lead us to 
think any tribe made its permanent home on these 
liilis. There is, however,just west of the Barre road, 
beyond the causeway, adjacent to the house of the 
late Benjamin Maynard, "a low, hollow rock," which 
tradition says was an Indian " Mortar," u-ed by them 
for grinding corn. The story of the " Indian Oraves" 
was related by John Metcalf, who lived to be ninety 
years old and had a clear memory up to the close of 
his long life. He died about 1884. His statement 
was that southwest of said Turkey Hill Pond, on a 
long ridge, is the spot where a party of Indians 
killed a number of white men, as described in a book 
giving an account of the Indian Wars. Here seven 
white men were killed and were buried under a large 
oak tree. The mound may still' be seen surrounded 
(or was) by flat .^^tones, not far from the stump of a 
large oak tree. The original account stated "that a 
party of white men were attacked on a hill at the 
southwest corner of a pond with a large hill on the 
east side of it, about ten miles from Quinsigamond 



1 Related to lis by George Maynard of Worcester. 



(Worcester) and on the road from Quabog (Brook- I 
field) to Wachusett, and were buried under a large 
oak tree." Jlr. Metcalf showed this account to one 
Artemas Howe, of this town, and together they iden- J 
tifled this place as the spot referred to. 1 

George Maynard states that at one time he sank a 
shaft into this mound and below yellow earth became 
to a black mound, such as might appear in any very 
ancient grave. 

Of murders there have been several within the 
present limits of the town since its first settlement. 
The first great crime of this character occurred on 
what is known as the o'd " Carruth Road," which 
formerly led from just below "Comins l^Iill " (once 
" Jennison's Mill ") to the north into the Barre 
Road and on to West Rutland. Less than a half- 
mile from the mills named lived Daniel Cam])bell, a 
Scotchman, who was killed March 8, 1744, by one 
Edward Fitzpatrick, an Irishman who was in the em- 
ploy of Campbell. Fitzpatrick disposed of the body 
in the wood-pile, the whole covered over with a few 
rails. There was a general rally of the neighbors to 
search for the mi>sing man. It was agreed that should 
the body be found the horn (conch-shell) should be 
blown to give notice. At the sound of the horn Fitz- 
patrick, who was standing in the doorway of the house, 
e.Kclaimed, " My God ! it is all up with me," or words 
to that effect. Fitzpatrick was tried the following 
September, found guilty and sentenced to be hanged 
on the 18th of October following. Campbell was 
buried in the old cemetery at Rutland Centre, and on 
his tombstone is the following inscription, viz. : 
" Here lies buried y' body of Mr. Daniel Campbell, 
born in Scotland, who came into New England A. D. 
1716, and was murdered on his own farm in 1774, 
aged 48 years. . . . Man knoweth not his time." 
This Carruth Road was much used in the days of 
which we write, it affording a short route to Barre and 
that section, to people in the vicinity of Jennison's 
Mills; besides, many came over this road to trade at 
.lennison's. 

One Aaron Coggswell lived on the right as you go 
up this road. He is the ancestor of the present 
Coggswells of Leicester. Beyond Mr. Uoggswell 
lived Ephraim Carruth and further on Daniel Camp- 
1 bell and others. This Mr. Carruth, for whom the 
road was named, caipe from Marlboro' along with the 
Hows. After the murder of his neighbor, Campbell, 
his family, which was quite large, became discon- 
tented and he returned to Marlboro. He was a sur- 
veyor and once surveyed the farm of David Davis, 
who lived at C. A. Streeter's. Mr. Carruth was not 
in favor with Jonah How, who lived on what is now ' 
called " Davis' Hill." This How had a pasture up 
on the Carruth Road where he kept his sheep in sum- 
mer, and each year he lost a good lamb. At the close 
of the season, finding a lamb gone as usual, and hap- 
pening to meet Carruth, said to him that he had got a 



J 



PAXTON. 



581 



new name for his pasture and now called it Pilfer- 
shire. After that no Iambs were missed. The local- 
ity still goes by the new name among the old people 
of the neighborhood. 

Some twenty-five years ago, at the time of grading 
the Great Road, as the Barre Road was then called, 
many men were employed, among whom was one 
Doyle, an Irishman. He boarded at the first house 
beyond the brook on what is now called the West 
Road (New Braiutree Road), a quarter of a mile or 
less west of the Common. In the evening of May 11, 
1862, one Henry Watson, an Englishman, was going 
by to his home, known as the Stillman Smith place, 
beyond Pudding Corner. As he came opposite the 
house some conversation occurred with this Doyle, 
who demanded some rum of Watson, which he refused, 
whereupon Doyle became angry, and stepping to the 
woodpile, took up a hemlock stick and chased Watson, 
who ran to the next house, where Samuel Peirce 
lived, and as he passed on to the veranda at the west 
side of the building he was struck and killed. Doyle 
at once fled to Worcester, where he was arrested, tried 
and sentenced to a long term of imprisonment at hard 
labor. There was, some years ago, a human skeleton 
found in the front yard of a small farm-house, now 
occupied by H, Sweetser, on the road leading to Pine 
Hill, in the northerly part of the town. This 
brought to mind the fact that a peddler by the name 
of Livermore, who staid over-night in this neighbor- 
hood, some years prior, was suddenly missed from 
the community, and was thought to have been foully 
dealt with, as a quarrel was believed to have occurred 
at Widow Samuel Sweetser's that night. An inquest 
was held, but nothing was established, though Ben- 
jamin Maynard, who was present, stated that some of 
the parties living there were much disturbed and 
seemed guilty. At all events, the principals soon 
after left, and have never returned. 

A man by the name of Charles Conners, in Feb- 
ruary, 1802, was frozen to death in his sleigh at the 
foot of the hill near Pudding Corner, on the New 
Braiutree road, east of the school-house. He had 
been to Worcester, and, addicted to drink, had pro- 
cured a bottle of liquor, and, over-indulging, had be- 
come insensible from two causes, — the liquor and the 
cold. The day had been somewhat mild and fairly 
pleasant, but in the early afternoon the wind rose and 
it grew cold rapidly, and before sunset the wind had 
risen to a blizzard, and the thermometer dropped 
during the night to 30° below zero. He was found 
in the morning, sitting nearly upright, with his hat 
oft" and an empty bottle beside him. The reins had 
become tangled, and had turned the horse to the side 
of the road, where he stopped, and was yet alive. 
The man lived at North Spencer, and the team be- 
longed to Samuel Cunningham, of that place. The 
day he was found the thermometer at noon stood at 
28° below, the coldest day for three-quarters of a cen- 
tury in this locality. 



At one time in the spring of the year, as a com- 
pany of workmen were engaged repairing the road 
near the present town- farm. Captain B was hold- 
ing the plow when a skeleton was turned up. All 
were horror-stricken, and the captain left and went 
to work elsewhere, being unable to witness the scene. 
It was told by him that it must be the body of a 
Mrs. Hunt, who had lived on the cro.s.s-road near by, 
and who, having died of the small-pox, was hur- 
riedly buried there. But this was not credited by 
the citizens. The other theory was that a young 
man, who, a year before, was working for the captain, 
had suddenly disappeared without any very good ex- 
planations, and it was believed the body was his, 
especially as an investigation showed the remains to 
be those of a male person. 

Among the notable people who were born or lived 
in Paxton was the Livermore family. .Tason Liver- 
more was one of the early settler.", and lived in the 
southerly part of the town, near Pudding Corner, and 
had several children. 

He was in the engagement at Bunker Hill, as has 
already been shown, and was a man of high courage 
and great patriotism. He was for many years a 
prominent citizen here. His son Braddyl also be- 
came prominent, and was well known for his capacity 
to transact business, and stood high among his towns- 
men. His son, George W. Livermore, a graduate of 
Harvard, and now of Cambridge, became a distin- 
guished citizen of that place, and returned on June 
14, 1865, and delivered the historical address at the 
centennial celebration, and to him, as well as to other 
writers, are we much indebted for many of the facts 
herewith embodied. 

Few men in our early history were as distinguished 
as Doctor Samuel Stearns. He was a somewhat cele- 
brated man in his day, as well as prominent as a 
practicing physician. He traveled much between 
1778 and '85, and he made the journey from Southern 
Georgia to Mafsachusetts on horseback. He relates 
leaving Georgia in February, with the trees bloom- 
ing, and he so timed his journey as to reach Massa- 
chusetts in early June, having a succession of bb s- 
soms for a thousand miles. He married Sarah Witt 
of Paxton March 7, 1773. 

In 1782 he was in Europe, and continued his trav- 
els there for several years. He published a volume 
of his letters from England and the Continent writ- 
ten in 1784.' He speaks of meeting Minister John 
Adams at the Hague, and spending some time with 
him in driving about the country. Doctor Stearns 
was very fond of art, and greatly admired the paint- 
ing of Rubens, as well he might. He visited the 
Hague in the summer of 1784 and was a guest of John 
Adams, the American minister, of whom he speaks in 

1 This vulume was published by Isai.ih Thomas of Worcester, in 1710* 
entitled, " A Tour in Holland," with a preface by John Trumbull, the 
celebrated author of "McFingal." 



582 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



the highest praise. Iii speaking of the ambassador he 
says hij livery is the same as the American uniform. 
He also says that in popularity and influence at that 
court Mr. Adams bore the palm of the diplomatic 
body. He adds that Mr. Adams talks but little, but 
what he says is direct and forcelul; that America 
.stands indebted to him principally for three important 
acquisitions — the defeat of Sir Joseph Yorke and se- 
curing the patronage of Holland in a critical moment, 
the extension of our limits and the security ot our 
fisheries. The head(iuarters of the embassy was the 
Grand Hotel, which Mr. Adams had purchased for 
the permanent quarters of United States ministers. 
Dr. Stearns relates an incident which, but for him, 
the life of Mr. Adams might have been in great jeo- 
pardy, viz. : — They were driving along the banks of a 
canal in Delft when a child was discovered struggling 
for life in the waters of the canal. Mr. Adams drew 
oft' his overcoat and was about ready to leap into the 
water when the Doctor interfered. At this juncture, 
a workman close by had made the plunge and saved 
the.drowning child. 

The Earles were numerous and prominent in the 
town's early history and for many years afterward. 
Marmaduke Earle came from Leicester and settled 
where Nathaniel I'arkhurst now lives, about a mile 
west of the centre, on the Barre road. He had four- 
teen children. 

Capt. Ralph Earle, of Leicester, was the best-known 
of any of the Earle family. He took a part in the 
Revolutionary War and performed other and valuable 
service. One of his sons, R. E. W. Earle, became 
famous as an artist. He made a painting of Niagara 
Falls which attracted much attention, and subse- 
quently he resided in the South, where he became an 
inmate of the family of General Jackson, at the 
"Hermitage." He painted several portraits of the 
general and his family. He died there in 1837, and 
was buried in the garden, beside the graves of Jackson 
and his wife. Captain Ralph was a member of im- 
portant committees raised by the town at sundry 
times during the Revolution ; was for a time chairman 
of the selectmen, and occasionally served as modera- 
tor. He was also captain of the Standing Company 
in the Revolution. 

Philip Earle' was a public man and was engaged in 
the manufacture of scythes, below Jennison's Mills, 
just west of the highway. Here he had a trip-ham- 
mer and carried on quite a business. The mills above 
named were lirst owned by one Silas Newton ; he lived 
on Brigham Hill, where one Brigham subsequently 
lived. Newton had a fulling mill, besides a saw and 
grist-mill and shingle-mill. He sold to Samuel Jen- 
nison, who is reputed to be a rough sort of a man. 
He kept a wet grocery store in the basement of his 
house, and it used to be a much frequented resort. 
He sold to Homer Chase, his son-in-law, who con- 

1 This I'liilip wiia a son iif I'^Iarnmdiike Eark- aud sticceeded to the 
Ijiisiiifss of one ./oel t'rusaiiian. 



tinned the store business. Homer was a son of Jona- 
than Chase, who lived where Horace Daniels now 
lives. 

The Davis family was likewise conspicuous, and the 
first Simon Davis came from Concord to Rutland, 
where he had a son David, who settled in Paxtou, 
where Charles A. Streeter now lives. He had a son 
David, Jr., who lived at the foot of the hill, just west 
of his father's place. There was a tan-yard just back 
of this last-named house, where considerable business 
was done annually. At this time there was another 
tan-yard near Pudding Corner, on the Bellows place, 
where an equal amount of tanning was done. This 
Davis family are the ancestors of Mr. D. Gatej Davis, 
who, until lately, lived where Jonah Howe formerly 
lived. 

The Peirce family came here from New Hampshire, 
but of all the members perhaps John D. Peirce is the 
most conspicuous. His father was Gad Peirce, and 
his grandfather David Peirce. The subject of this 
brief sketch came to live at the Peirce homestead, in 
the easterly part of the town, on the farm now owned 
and occupied by Horace Peirce. He lived with Job 
Peirce, an uncle. He, at the age of siyteen, decided 
to secure a liberal education, and, with the assistance 
of the Rev. Mr. Conant, a near neighbor, he went to 
Leicester Academy. He joined the church at that 
place. He fitted for college, entered Brown Uni- 
versity and graduated with Elbridge Gerry Howe, of 
this place. He married in Sangerfield, New York, 
studied for the ministry and settled in York State as 
a Congregational minister. He subsequently went to 
Michigan and preached for a time at Marshall, and at 
same time kept the post-oflice (in a cigar-box). When 
Michigan was admitted into the Union he was ap- 
pointed State Superintendent of Instruction. He took 
an active part thereafter in all educational art'airs and 
advised a liberal policy for the State, which was 
adopted, and has left its impress on that great Com- 
monwealth to this day. He was at one time promi- 
nently named for United States Senator, but being a 
Whig and they in the minority, he decided to change 
his politics, and soon after ihe party he espoused be- 
came the minority and so he died a disappointed man 
in some respects. But his life was made valuable to 
his fellow-men in the founding of a new State. 

Of the Harrington-, first came Nathan Harrington 
from Weston and settled on the farm just north and 
under the shadow of Pine Hill. He had children — 
Nathan, Lemuel and Samuel. The first son settled 
in Barre, Vt., the second lived and died in Hardwick, 
Mass., while Samuel remained at home and had 
children — Lucy B., Elizabeth F., Samuel D., Lemuel, 
David, Simon G., Abigail and Lucinda. Samuel D. 
had children— Samuel, who lives in Boston ; Nathan, 
living in Toledo, Ohio ; and Eliza, who married Rev, 
Charles Morris aud lives in Gloucester. 

David Harrington, last above named, married Miss 
Olive Holmes in October, 1830. He lived and died 




? 



r 



<r 



-^t / r c^^ 







,,;^4^-^-'^ 



PAXTON. 



583 



on his farm in Paxton. He celebrated the fiftieth 
anniversary of his marriage on October 29, 1880. 
There was a large company of relatives and friends 
from far and near present on that occasion. Mr. 
Simon G. Harrington is still living at the advanced 
age of eighty years and upwards, at his farm on the 
Rutland Road. He represented the town some years 
since in the Legislature and is one of the brightest 
and ablest men in this vicinity. 

Silas D., son of Dr. Loami Harrington, was a very 
prominent man in the public affairs of this town. On 
November 17, 1877, he celebrated his fiftieth wed- 
ding anniversary. He died suddenly soon after, 
while on a visit to Millbury. He was for many years 
one of the selectmen and much respected. His por- 
trait can be seen in the new town hall. 

The Howe family is a numerous one in Paxton, 
and the first settler here was one John How, who 
came from Marlboro', Mass., in 1742, and pur- 
chased lands of an agent of the Crown, and the old 
deed, now in possession of Dr. A. J. Howe, bears 
the seal of the colonial government. The place 
purchased by John Howe is now owned by Deacon 
Keep, and is situated about a mile west from the 
centre. This John Howe deeded the place to his son 
Paul Howe, and he to his son John, and he to 
Samuel H. Howe, the father of the present Dr. An- 
drew Jackson Howe, of Cincinnati. Of the Howe 
family born in Paxton, Dr. Howe is the most dis- 
tinguished. His father moved to the edge of Lei- 
cester, where Mr. Watts now lives. At the age ot 
twenty, Andrew bought his time of his father, agree- 
ing to pay one hundred dollars for his " freedom," 
a transaction not unknown in those days. Young 
Howe worked in a saw-mill and thereby kept Ins 
engagement with his father as to the payment of the 
"time" or freedom money. He then went to Graf- 
ton, where he worked for an uncle in a shoe-factory. 
While thus engaged he made the acquaintance of 
Dr. Calvin Newton, who, being interested in him, 
consented to take Andrew as a student on condition 
that he acquire the education requisite to enter 
college. The young man, nothing daunted, subse- 
quently entered the Leicester Academy, where he at- 
tended two years, taking high rank as a student, 
From there he went to Cambridge and was admitted, 
and during the four years there he held a reputable 
place in his class, thatof 1853. While fitting for college 
he was obliged, out of study hours and during vaca- 
tions, to labor at whatever his hands could find to do ; 
sometimes he was busy with wood-chopping and 
threshing and boat-building. After graduation at 
Harvard he prepared his way as best he could pe- 
cuniarily for entering upon a course of medical lec- 
tures at Jefierson College, in Philadelphia. The 
next year he attended hospital instructions in New 
York. The year following he took temporary charge 
of Dr. Walter Burnham's piactice in Lowell, Mass. 
In 1855 he was appointed to the professorship of 



surgery in the Eclectic Medical Institute of Cincin- 
nati, Ohio, a position he has held ever since. 

He is the author of a treatise on General Surgery, 
and also of works on special branches of surgical 
science. He has, during his residence in Cincinnati, 
performed all the great operations of a surgical char- 
acter and he is favored with a wide range of patron- 
age. In 1886 Dr. Howe made a tour of Europe, 
visiting the famous hospitals of the Continent, and 
became acquainted with the distinguished men of his 
profession. As a recreative indulgence. Dr. Howe 
has cultivated a taste for biological investigations, 
and has acquired some distinction as an anatomist. 
For many years he was one of the curators in the 
Cincinnati Society of Natural History. Dr. Howe 
married, in 1858, Georgiana, the oldest daughter of 
George Lakin, of this place. 

The familiar faces of Dr. and Mrs. Howe are occa- 
sionally seen in town revisiting the places familiar in 
their childhood, and renewing old acquaintances, by 
whom they are ever cordially welcomed. 

Jonah How lived on Davis Hill, and died there 
aged eighty-four years. Artemas How was also 
prominent in public afl'airs. 

Rev. Elbridge Gerry Howe, son of'.Tonah Howe, was 
a graduate of Brown University, and went West on 
missionary work and established the first Congrega- 
tional Church at Waukegan, 111. He was four times 
married. He leaves two sons, E. G. Howe, Jr., and 
Ira Howe. Rev. Mr. Howe was one of those men who 
left the world better by having lived in it. He was 
pre-eminently adapted to missionary labors, in which 
he had great success. He was always an earnest 
speaker and always found on the side of right on every 
jiulilic question. He was an honest man and of exalted 
cliaracter. 

The Grosvenor family were among the notable 
people during their residence in this town. A brief 
sketch has already been given of the Rev. Daniel 
Grosvenor. Jonathan P. Grosvenor was a prominent 
man, occupying offices of trust and honor for many 
years. He was a justice of the peace, and lived on 
the farm now owned by Peter Daw. Here met some 
of the most cultivated people in town. His daughter, 
Lucy Grosvenor, married David Manning, Sr., of this 
place, and subsequently they removed to Worcester, 
where they at present reside. 

Capt. Tyler Goddard, who lived just north of the 
meeting-house at the junction of tlie Rutland and 
Holden roads, was the first postmaster in Paxton. 
The office was established December 10, 1816, and 
he held the place till 1841. He kept a small grocery 
store just across the road west of his house, in what is 
now the new burying-ground. An anecdote is related 
of him that one time, in order to cure David Sweetser 
of the bad habit of borrowing jugs, filled one for him 
in which oil had been kept. This ^ug came back and 
with it the lost jugs, and a pretty free expression of 
miscellaneous statements on the part of Sweetser, to 



584 



HISTORY OF WOKCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



the great amusement of Capt. Goddard. Luther God- 
dard, of Worcester, is a son of Tyler, and was for 
some years the town clerk of Paxton. The next post- 
master was S. D. Harrington, followed by Otis Pierce, 
and in 1801 Nathaniel Clark was appointed and still 
holds the office. ( )f town clerks Ephraim Moore was 
first and William H. Clark, the present incumbent, 
the last chosen. 

The Bigelows have ever been prominent in town 
since the advent of the Rev. Silas Bigelow. He had 
a brother, Ithamar Bigelow, who also lived on Asney- 
bumskeit and he had sons Silas and Ithamar, Jr. 
Silas Bigelow had children : John Flavel, George Xor- 
raan, Artemas E. and Adaline E. Ithamar Bigelow, 
Jr. had children : Ralph Earle, Walter R. and Lewis. 
Ralph Earle Bigelow had children : Caroline, Eme- 
lineand John C. Lewis Bigelow bad children': Henry, 
Charles, Edward, George, Phoebe and Eliza. 

In the late Civil War this town contributed seventy- 
four men, and of this number fifteen lost their lives 
while in the service. The records show that on the 
26th July, 1862, a bounty of one hundred and ten dol- 
lars was voted. On August 9th the amount was 
raised eighty-five dollars. On December 8th the town 
offered one hundred and ten dollars for nine months' 
men, and one hundred and sixty dollars for those en- 
listing for three years. These otters were in addition 
to any bounties or gratuities proffered by the State or 
United States governments. There was an additional 
bounty offered in June, 1864, of one hundred and 
twenty-five dollars. In the year 1871 a granite 
monument was erected on the "Common " in mem- 
ory of those losing their lives during the four years' 
contest with the Southern States. An iron railing 
surrounds this shaft, and within the inclosure there 
are four cannon donated by Congress. On this shaft 
are the names of twenty-one of our soldiers who died 
by reason of the Rebellion. 

On June 14, 1865, the town celebrated the centen- 
nial of its incorporation. There was a large assem- 
blage of the sons and daughters of the town on that 
occasion. There was a public meeting in the church, 
at which Hon. George W. Livermore, of Cambridge, 
Rev. John F. Bigelow, D.D., of Brooklyn, Prof George 
N. Bigelow, also of Brooklyn, and Rev. George G. 
Phipps, now of Newton Highlands, delivered 
addresses. They were all natives of this town. A 
public dinner was served on the " Common," opposite 
the church, of which many hundreds partook. It was 
a grand gala occasion, and the reunions were many 
and most cordial, and the memory of them is as a sweet 
savor to all participating. 

In 1888 the town erected a new town hall, in part 
out of tlie proceeds of the estate of the late Simon 
Allen, who left by will his entire property in trust to 
the town, which was to be used in the building of a 



town hall, the same to be called Allen Hall. The 
amount of his estate was twenty-two hundred dollars, 
but the prolonged illness of his widow reduced this, 
amount to fifteen hundred dollars. During the life- 
time of his widow the property could not be used for 
the purpo.se designated by the testator, but on her 
decease, which occurred in 1887, the Allen fund was 
turned over to the town treasurer, and at the annual 
meeting of the town in March, 1888, it was voted to 
add a thousand dollars to the Allen fund and go for- 
ward with the building, the town appointing the fol- 
lowing persons as a building committee, viz. : L. Bill, 
William Brown, A. S. Graton, E. P. Keep and H. H. 
Pike. 

The land for the location was given by the writer, 
and in the following July the contractor began his 
work, and by the 20th of the following October the 
building was completed, and was formally dedicated 
on November ], 1888. The <ledication address was 
delivered by Col. William B. Harding, of Worcester, 
the i30em by George Maynard, also of Worcester, with 
remarks by Rev. George H. Gould, D.D., and Scrip- 
ture reading and dedicatory prayer by Rev. Alpha 
Morton. 

The chairman of the selectmen,' Ledyard Bill, re- 
ceived the keys from H. H. Pike on behalf of the 
building committee. The church choir, under the 
leadership of Oliver Goodnow, who for over fifty years 
has been connected with church music here, gave 
choice selections ; the exercises in the main hall clos- 
ing with America, in singing which, all joined. A 
public dinner was served in the lower hall by the 
Ladies' Union, of which Mrs. Nathaniel Clark is 
president. The building stands on the west side of the 
Barre Road, opposite the '' Common." It is a plain 
appearing structure, but inside it is all that will be 
reijnired for yeilrs to come. The total cost will not 
be far from forty- five hundred dollars. Simon Allen 
was born in 1806, in Holden, in the house near the foot 
of the big hill, on the Paxton and Holden Road, 
on the south side of the highway, and east of Mr. 
Metcalf's. He attended the Northeast School in 
Paxton a portion of his youth. He moved to Shrews- 
bury, where he married Miss Fannie Norcross. He 
was a boot and shoe-maker, and followed that trade 
while in Shrewsbury. He moved to Paxton in 1840, 
and bought a farm of the elder John Slade, on the 
Rutland Road, where George A. Brown now lives. 
He was a plain, unassuming, honest man, and re- 
spected by all who knew him. He died December 
29, 1880, and was buried by the side of his first wife, 
near the west entrance to the Public Cemetery. He 
was twice married, but left no children. 

1 The first boHnl of selectmen chosen in ITO.'j was Oliver Witt, Ephraim 
Moore and Saninel Hruwn, while the last hoard chosen in tSSS was Led- 
yard Bill, A. S. Graton and I,. T. Kirhy. 



WEST BOYLSTON. 



585 



CHAPTER LXXXIII. 

WEST BOYLSTON. 

BY HORATIO HOUGHTON. 

West Boylston is situated seven miles Crom 
Worcester, by wliicli it is bounded on tlie south, and 
is about forty miles from Boston. Its territory ex- 
tends about five miles from north to south and about 
three and a half miles from east to west. In shape it 
very much resembles an Indian tomahawk without a 
handle. Its territory has been covered in part by the 
organization of six other towns, previous to its incor- 
poration as the town of West Boylston in January, 
1808. At the first incorporation of Lancaster, in 
1653, its soutliwesterly corner boundary did not toucli 
tlie present limits of West Boylston, it being near the 
house on the Robert Andrews place in Boylston. The 
extension of Lancaster in 1711 covered all of the ter- 
ritory of this town lying east of the Stillwater River 
and north of a line drawn from near the present cen- 
tral bridge, nearly east to near the southwest corner 
of the first Lancaster grant in Boylston. 

At the incorporation of Worcester, in 1722, it in- 
cluded the territory afterwards set off as Holden in 
1741. Shrewsbury was incorporated in 1727 and in- 
cluded all the territory lying between Lancaster and 
Worcester, the strip of land lying between the Still- 
water River and what was afterwards Holden, of 
about a mile in average width and about four miles 
in length, receiving the name of " Shrewsbury Leg." 
That part of this strip now within the town of Ster- 
ling still retains the name of "The Leg." In 17(iS 
all of this leg lying north of the Quinnepoxet River 
and covering the present village of Oakdale was ceded 
to Lancaster. 

"A petition, dated May 15, 1780, asking to be set 
off from Lancaster to Shrewsbury, was sent to the 
General Court, signed by the following persons : — 
Aaron Sawyer, Nathaniel Lamson, Silas Hastings, 
John Glazier, John Dunsmore, Ezra Beaman, Na- 
thaniel Davenport, Wm. Dunsmore, Silas How, Jo- 
seph Sawyer, Robert Andrews, Jr., Nathaniel Hast- 
ings, Oliver Sawyer, Frederick Albert, Micah Har- 
than, Elijah Ball, Hugh Moor, Levi Moor, Josiah 
Bennet, Sam'l Bigsby, Phineas How, Jacob Winn, 
Edmund Larkin." 

Several of these men were then living within the 
limits of Shrewsbury, but it is probable that some of 
their landed estates extended into Lancaster; a part, 
too, were residents of territory now in Boylston and 
part in West Boylston. This petition was granted 
February 2, 1781, making a new line between Lan- 
caster and Shrewsbury; but just where this line was 
located cannot now be given. 

Sterling was incorporated the same year, 1781, and 
covered all the territory belonging to Lancaster then 



lying within the present limits of West Boylston. 
Boylston came next as a town, in 1786, and took a 
part of this territory from Sterling. In 1796 the 
"Second Precinct of Boylston, Sterling and Holden " 
was formed, taking from Sterling about two thousand 
three hundred acres, from Holden a strip of land 
about sixteen hundred rods long, one hundred rods 
wide at the north end and about one mile wide at the 
south end, and from Boylston all the rest of the terri- 
tory was taken, now embraced in West Boylston, ex- 
cept the long neck of land extending to the line of 
Shrewsbury. This neck, which is about a mile wide 
at its northern end and about one hundred rods at its 
southern extremity, is about two miles long and 
covers about one-half of the grant of one thousand 
acres made to the town of Maiden in 1665, by the 
colonial authorities of Massachu-etts, and which is 
more particularly described hereafter, was added to 
the said precinct territory, when the town was incor- 
porated in 1808. 

It will be thus seen that all that part of the 
" Shrewsbury leg," lying north of the Quinnepoxet 
River, now embraced in the limits of this town, and 
covering the village of Oakdale, has been within the 
limits of five different towns, — first to Shrewsbury, 
from 1727 to 1768 ; then to Lancaster until 1781 ; 
then to Sterling, until 1786 ; then to Boylston, until 
1808, when it became a part of West Boylston. Sev- 
eral other portions of the town have be(n within the 
limits of four different towns, and there are no por- 
tions of it which have not been in three different 
ones. 

The natural scenery of the town is multiform, and 
in many places somewhat romantic in appearance, as 
it strikes the eye of a stranger, being diversified with 
hills and valleys, and in all directions interspersed 
with streams and springs of water, suited to the needs 
and wants of its inhabitants. Much of its soil is fer- 
tile, and with good management and cultivation well 
repays the labor of the skillful and industrious hus- 
bandman. Legendary history points to the fact that 
before its occupation by white men it had been peo- 
pled by Indians, and many places have been pointed 
out as the location of their corn-fields and dwellings, 
its first white settlers often finding specimens of 
Indian stone implements. The first white persons, 
of whom we have any history, locating within its 
territory were Jacob Hinds, Joseph Wooley, Ebene- 
zer Frizzol, Benjamin Bigelow, Jonathan Fairbank, 
Aaron Newton, Ezekiel Newton, Edward Goodale, 
Stephen Belknap, William Whitney, Phineas Ben- 
nett, Jonathan French, Jonathan Lovell and Josiah 
Wilder, who came here from older towns below about 
1720. These men, with their families, settled in the 
southeastern part of the town, and to protect them- 
selves from any possible trouble from their Indian 
neighbors they built a garrison, or block-house, to 
which they could repair for the night as a place of 
security when danger was apprehended. This block- 



586 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



house was situated about forty rods north of the line 
of the Worcester and Nashua Railroad, and about 
half a mile from Boylston town line. A well, con- 
nected with ihi-i fort, is still in excellent preserva- 
tion, and the outlines of an old cellar are plainly to 
be seen. Other families soon followed these first 
spoken of, and within a few years are known to have 
had settlements in nearly all the parts of the town. 
There are no accounts that any of these early settlers 
were troubled by the Indians, and it is not known 
that any lived within the town limits after its first 
settlers located here. 

The circumstances which finally led to the forma- 
tion, first, of the Second Precinct, and afterwards of 
the town, are given in the sketch of the life of Major 
Ezra Beaman on other pages of this history. 

At the time of the incorporation of the town there 
were in it ninety-eight dwelling-houses and about the 
same number of families, one hundred and sixty 
ratable polls and one hundred and five legal voters. 
There were three school -houses, one church, one cot- 
ton-mill, two grist-mills, two saw-mills, one clothiers- 
mill, one tannery, four blacksmith and one cabinet- 
maker's shops, two book-binderies, three stores and 
one tavern. There were sixty farmers, ten or twelve 
mechanics, several laborers, one clergyman and but 
one person of foreign birth. 

At the first election in West Boylston, held on the 
first Monday in March, 1808, the following town 
officers were chosen : Moderator, Silas Beaman ; Town 
Clerk, Robert B. Thomas ; Selectmen, Ezra Beaman, 
Jonathan Plim])ton, William Fairbank, Silas Bea- 
man and Amos Lovell ; Assessors, Robert B. Thomas, 
Silas Newton and Moses Perry ; Treasurer, Ezra 
Beaman ; Constable, Silas Beaman. At the first 
election for State officers, in April, 1808, there were 
eighty-five votes cast fiir Governor — Christopher Gore 
had si.'ity-six; James Sullivan had eighteen: and 
Levi Lincoln had one. 

Since 1849 the candidates for President have re- 
ceived votes as follows in this town : In 1840, Whig, 
169; Democratic, 36; Liberty, 17. 1844, Whig, 138; 
Democratic, 37 ; Liberty, 06. 1848, Whig, 56 ; Dem- 
ocratic, 27; Liberty, 201. 1852, Whig, 47; Demo- 
cratic, 41 ; Republican, 184. 1856, Whig, 3 ; Demo- 
cratic, 27 ; Republican, 296. 1860, Whig, 5; Demo- 
cratic, 66; Republican, 326. 1864, Lincoln, 287; 
McClellan, 48. 1868, Grant, 279 ; Seymour, 18. 1872, 
Grant, 300 ; Greeley, 40. 1876, Hayes, 304 ; Tilden, 
88. 1880, Garfield," 290; Hancock, 51. 1884, Blaine, 
231; Cleveland, 110. 1888, Harrison, 221; Cleve- 
land, 88. 

The population of the town in 1885 was 2927 ; 
voters, 506; valuation, $1,173,443. 

The town is made up of seven different villages. 
West Boylston proper covering the Central, Valley, 
Lower Factory, Depot and Old Common villages, and 
comprises about three-fifths of the town, with its out- 
lying farm population. Oakdale, covering the vil- 



age of Harrisville, makes the other two-fifths of the 
town. The Worcester and Nashua Railroad passing 
from south to north, and the Central Massachusetts 
Railroad passing from east to west through the town, 
crossing each other's tracks at Oakdale, gives the town 
full and constant connection of travel to all parts of 
the country. There are also lines of telegraph and 
telephone wires connecting with the main lines 
throughout the continent. 

At the time when the precinct was incorporated, 
by a provision in the act, any persons, with their fam- 
ilies, living within its limits, and who did not sign 
the petition for it and preferred to retain their con- 
nection with the old parishes, were allowed to do so by 
notifying the clerk of said Second Precinct within six 
months after the passage of the said act. The follow- 
ing-named persons availed themselves of this privi- 
lege: Jonas Temple, Jacob Hinds, Thomas Keyes, 
Thomas Keyes, Jr., Micah Harthan, Elijah Goodnow, 
Aseal Partridge, and Jesse Dana, of Boylston ; Saul 
Houghton, Joshua Houghton, Jonas Mason and Jona- 
than Prescott, of Sterling. 

At the incorporation of the town in 1808, three of 
the.se individuals were allowed to retain their citizen- 
ship, and pay taxes on their estates in the old town 
to which they belonged. They were Jonas Temple 
and Thomas Keyes, to Boylston, and Jonas Mason, to 
Sterling; and they tenaciously adhered to the privi- 
lege, so liberally granted, until their decease, when 
their real estate, within the limits, came under the 
jurisdiction of West Boylston. 

The town officers for 1888 were as follows: 

Town Clerk, Horatio Houghton ; Selectmen, H. E. 
Morton, D. P. Waite, J. E. Peirce; Assessors, S. P. 
Hallock, J. E. Peirce, J. L. Howe ; Overseers of 
Poor, Silas Newton, Wm. R. Walker, Francis Mer- 
riam ; Treasurer, Geo. F. Howe; Collector, F. H. 
Baldwin ; School Committee, Rev. W. W. Parker, 
Geo. F. Howe, S. S. Russell, J. E. Peirce, S. P. Hal- 
lock, J. M. Lord, Henry Boynton, Geo. E. Dana, 
Warren Howe, E. B. Berry, A. H. Murdock, Geo. B. 
Newton ; Constables, F. H. Baldwin, James Doyle, 
E. A. Newton ; Library Directors, Geo. L. Hyde, H. 
E. Morton, H. O. Sawyer, Geo. B. .lohnson, H. Hough- 
ton; Auditor, Geo. L. Hyde. 

Moderators. — The following persons were sever- 
ally moderators of the annual March Meeting, for 
the first fifty years, from 1808 to 1858 : Silas Beaman, 
Silas Newton, Paul Goodale, William Fairbank, 
Robert B. Thomas, Dr. John M. Smith, Andre Taft, 
J. F. Fay, E. M. Hosraer, D. C. Murdock, Benj. F. 
Keyes, J. C. Lovell. Since 1858 the jjosition has 
been filled by D. C. Murdock, J. C. Lovell, W. N. 
White, Geo. H. Jefts and Geo. F. Howe, Mr. Howe 
having presided for twenty-one years. 

Chairman of Selectmen. — The following gentle- 
men served as chairman of the Board of Selectmen in 
the years from 1808 to 1858: Ezra Beaman, four 
years; William Fairbank, one year; John Temple, 



WEST BOYLSTON. 



587 



six years ; Robert B. Thomas, three years ; Ezra 
Bigelow, three years; Joseph Hinds, four years; 
Francis Davis, one year ; Joseph White, four years ; 
Silas Newton, one year; Asa Bigelow, one year; 
Dennis Harthan, two years; Benj. F. Keyes, two 
years ; Thomas Holmes, one year ; E. M. Hosmer, 
three years ; Lotan Cleveland, five years ; D. C. Mur- 
dock, four years; Addison Lovell, one year; Jona- 
than Peirce, one year; L. M. Harris, one year ; John 
Prentiss, one year; Samuel Lawrence, one year. 
Since 1858 the position has been held as follows : 
Levi Goss, one year; W. N. Wliite, one year; C. H. 
Baldwin, one year; D. C. Murdoch, five years; E. F. 
Brigham, four years ; W. B. Harris, two years ; 
Stephen Holt, four years ; L. M. Harris, one year ; 
S. H. Smith, seven years; S. F. Hemenway, two 
years; Aaron Goodale, one year; H. E. Morton, two 
years. 

The office of treasurer of the town was held during 
the first fifty years by the following persons: Ezra 
Beaman, Ezra Beaman, Jr., Barnabus Davis, Jona- 
than Plyrapton, Andre Taft, Francis Davis, John 
Lees, Seth White, Thomas Holme.-i, Ezekiel Peirce, 

A. E. Winter, E. B. Newton, Moses Brigham, Samuel 
Brown, E. W. Holbrook, Dennis Harthan, Oliver B. 
Sawyer, who continued to hold the office until 1862. 
Since that year George F. Howe has served as treas- 
urer 22 years, and Henry A. Sawyer, 5 years. 

From 1808 to the present time the office of town 
clerk has been held by the following persons: Robert 

B. Thomas, 1 year; Joseph Hinds, 4 years, Ezra 
Bigelow, 10 years ; Francis Davis, 2 years ; Seth 
White, 5 years; Ephraim Bigelow, 7 years; B. F. 
Keyes, three years ; Barney Howe, 10 years ; O. B. 
Sawyer, five years; H. F. Holt, 1 year; Edward 
Howe, 3 years ; H. O. Sawyer, 1 year ; H. Houghton, 
29 years. 

Represextatives to the General Court. — The 
following persons represented the town in the House up 
to the year 1857, after which the district system went in- 
to operation: Ezra Beaman, 4 years; Barnabus Davis, 
fj years ; Joseph Hinds, 5 years ; Robert B. Thomas, 5 
years ; Silas Newton, 1 year ; Thomas White, 1 year ; 
Silas Walker, 1 year; Dennis Harthan, 1 year; B. F. 
Keyes, 1 year; Levi Pierce, Jr., 1 year; Samuel 
Brown, 1 year; Brigham Prescott, 3 years; Addison 
Lovell, 1 year; Amos Child, Jr., 3 years; Eli W. 
Holbrook, 2 years ; E. M. Hosmer, 2 years ; O. B. 
Sawyer, 1 year; D. C. Murdoch, 2 years. The Four- 
teenth District of Holden, Paxton and this town, was 
represented in 1859 by Winson N. White; in 1862 by 
L. M. Harris, and in 1864, by D. C. Murdoch. The 
Eighth District, of Sterling, Boylston and this town, 
was represented in 1867 by W. McFarland ; in 1870, 
by Stephen Holt; in 1872, by Rev. J. W. Cross; in 
1875, by Geo. F. Howe. The Sixteenth District, of 
Boylston, Northboro, Shrewsbury and this town, was 
represented in 1876 by Henry Pierce; in 1880, by H. 
O. Sawyer ; in 1884, by H. Houghton. For the Thir- 



teenth District, composed of seven town?, and enti- 
tled to two representatives, H. E. Morton went from 
this town for two years, 1886 and 1887. 

At the date of the incorporation of the town there 
were within its limits three school-houses. The first 
year the town voted fifty dollars as an appropriation 
for scliools. In December, 1808, the town voted to 
" divide the town into four school districts, two south 
of the river and two north." These houses were 
located, one near where the present South School- 
house stands ; the second, about eighty rods north- 
west of the old (Common ; the third near the present 
location of the double house in the Northeast District ; 
and the fourth above the village of Oakdale, or near 
the house of Pliny W. Stearns. A fifth one was 
built soon afterwards on " French Hill," at the Lower 
Factory village. The sixth house was built in 1843, 
and the seventh and eighth within the next eight 
years. For several years the town used the school- 
room in " Thomas Hall " for a high school. It was 
not until after the close of the late Civil War that 
the town took decided steps to relieve the over- 
crowded condition of our schools. Four two-story 
and one single-story house were built, and the town 
now has fourteen fine school-rooms, several of which 
have extra recitation and play-rooms attached. There 
is one high school and one grammar school, both in 
the same building, which have sessions of about forty 
weeks in the year. This building has, within the 
past two years, been much enlarged, with additional 
recitation and other rooms, making it a model house. 
A valuable apparatus for illustrations has been col- 
lected and is being added to from year to year. A 
valuable library of scientific, historical, biographical 
and mechanical works has been started, and now 
numbers over two hundred volumes. 

Besides these two schools, there are three interme- 
diate, one mixed and seven primary schools, hold- 
ing sessions of thirty-three weeks each during the 
year. 

Previous to 1840 the schools had not probably 
averaged sessions of more than twenty to twenty-four 
weeks in the year. To show their gradual increase, 
a few items are given, and as a further contrast of 
causes and effects, pauper expenses for the same years 
are given. 

In 1810 the town made an appropriation of $150 
for schools. In 1840 the sum was S600. In 1888 
the appropriation was S'oOOO. In 1810 the town 
appropriated for the support of i)aupers S290. In 
1840 the amount was $500, and in 1888 the sum was 
$2000. 

The population of the town in 1810 was about 600, 
in 1840 about 1600, and in 1888 about 2950. 

The Public Town Library was established in 1878. 
Previous to that year some individuals had endeavored 
to start an interest in such an institution, but up to 
that time no action had been taken by the town in 
the matter. To David Childs, of Wayland, a native 



588 



HISTORY OP WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



of the town, and his widow, Lydia Maria Childs, are 
we indeljted for the starting influence which finally- 
established this valuable addition to the town's 
property. Mr. Childs, in his will, left the sum of one 
hundred dollars for the town library of his native 
town, sujjposing no doubt that the town had one. 
His widow, who was the executrix of the will, pro- 
posed to pay this sum over to trustees provided the 
town would take steps to establish a library. She 
afterwards added a collection of about one hundred 
volumes to this bequest. By individual elforts and 
several other donations, with an appropriation by the 
town of six hundred dollars, the sum of over twelve 
hundred dollars was raised, and the instilution was 
successfully started on a small scale. Since that year 
it has constantly grown, and at the present time has 
a valuable collection of over three thousand volumes. 
It has a fine, large room, as a book and reading-room, 
large enough for its needs for many years to coiue. 

The vital statistics of the town since its incorpora- 
tion are as follows : The number of births for the 
first fifty years, from 1808 to 1858, were 1694; from 
1858 to 1888, 2554, making the whole number 4248. 
The number of marriages from 1808 to 1858 were 
693; from 1858 to 1888, 1236, making the whole 
number 1929. The number of deaths from 1808 to 
1858 were about 1100 ; from 1858 to 1888, 1549, mak- 
ing the whole number 2649. This does not include 
the statistics for 1888. 

Over the large streams the town has five bridges. 
Of these, one is built of stone, with three arches, over 
the Nashua River at the Valley village, and was built 
in 1856 at a cost of about four thousand dollars. The 
river at this point rendered it difficult to build a per- 
manent structure, owing to curves in the banks and 
of quicksands at the bottom. Much expense has 
been laid out since the bridge was built, in walling 
the banks and in flagging the bottom of the river. It 
is now considered a substantial and enduring struc- 
ture, likely to withstand all action of the water for 
centuries to come. This bridge is known as the 
" Beaman Bridge," and is the lowest one on the river- 

The next one above, at the Central village, is an 
iron bridge of one hundred feet span, built in 1875, at 
a cost of about three thousand dollars, and is con- 
sidered a strong and substantial structure. This bridge 
is also over the Nashua River. 

The third bridge is over the Stillwater River at 
Oakdale, and was built in 1879, of fifty feet si)an, and 
another of the same span was built over the tiuinne- 
poxet River, at Harrisville, in 1880. Both these 
bridges are of iron, and believed to be strong and 
durable ones, certainly great improvements over the 
old wooden bridges of former times. 

The fifth bridge is a wooden one over the Quinne- 
poxet River in Harrisville. It has been built but a 
few year:*, but shows evidence that it must be replaced 
ere many more years pass. 

During the past five years the town has made two 



decided improvements to theirstreets — first, by naming 
and erecting the signs at the principal crossings, and 
second, by putting up of lamps for lighting the streets 
by night, on all the streets of the villages. 

There are in the town a Masonic Lodge, one of Odd 
Fellows, a Grand Army Post, a Grange of Husbandry, 
a Council of Royal Arcanum and five diftereat 
religious societies. 

A Masonic Lodge, " The Boylston," was instituted 
in this town March 8, 1876, and has kept in good 
condition to the present time. A very neat and 
pretty lodge-room was fitted up for its use over the 
Baptist Church, where all its meetings are held. 

The Centennial Lodge of Odd Fellows was organ- 
ized here October 24, 1876, and holds its meetings 
also in the Masonic Hall. This hall was formerly a 
difficult one about getting an easy access to ; but by 
the rtmodeling of the church, a few years since, the 
way to it was made much more easy, and possibly 
access to a membership to the two lodges has also 
become less difficult. 

A " Grand Army Post " was organized here soon 
after the close of the war, — the " George D. Wells 
Post, No. 28," — and has been kept in a flourishing 
condition ever since. An auxiliary society, ''the 
Ladies' Relief Corps," was connected a few years 
since, and the two societies are doing a large amount 
of relief work for soldiers and their families. They 
have a very neat and convenient hall for their use, 
located at the Valley station. 

A Grange, No. 106, was instituted here a few years 
ago, and has kept up a good- work! ntr lodge, — holds 
its regular meetings with full numbers and no abate- 
ment in the interest manifested at the time of its 
start. Thomas Hall has been fitted up for its use. 

Beaman (Council, No. 964, Royal Arcanum, was 
instituted here in 1887, and holds its regular meet- 
ings in the Grand Army Hall. 

The first church (Congregational) in the territory 
now West Boylston was formed in 1796, consisting 
of thirty-three members, embracing widely different 
opinions relative to religious doctrines. The majority 
favored Arminian sentiments, while a minority were 
decidedly Calvinistic. Rev. William Nash, the first 
minister, favored the Arminian side, and on that 
account was opposed by the minority, who were 
never satisfied with his preaching. In 1802 religious 
conference meetings were originated and regularly 
held once a month by a respectable portion of the 
church, the meetings being open to all who wished 
to participate in them. ''Mr. Nash, although urged 
to participate, refused to favor or in any way afford 
aid and assistance in their maintenance, the majority 
of the church also refusing any assistance or counte- 
nance therein." 

In 1809 the first religious revival in this tow'n oc- 
curred, and continued with great interest for several 
months. It caused much excitement and severe op- 
position, although a large portion of the people were 



AVEST BOYLSTON. 



589 



fdvoraljly affected thereby. The meeling-house of 
this society had been built in 1794, and "was dedi- 
cated to the service and worship of God January Ist, 
1795," the sermon on the occasion being preached 
by Rev. Daniel Grosvenor, of Paxton. Several can- i 
didates were successively heard, and it was not until 
March, 1797, when the call was extended to Mr. 
Nash to settle. He was a graduate of Yale College 
and a native of Williamsburg, Mass. He was not 
ordained until October 11, 17'.)7, with a stipulated 
salary of !i?333. 83. Mr. Nash understood that a por- 
tion of the society was opposed to his becoming its 
minister, and in his letter of acceptance he wrote 
regretting " the want of unanimity," and further 
siys : " Those gentlemen to whom my services have 
not been as acceptable as I could wish, I respect."' 
" In acting agreeably to their own best judgment, 
they have exercised a right which belongs to every 
Christian, and ought not, on that account, to receive 
the censure or dissatisfaction of any." This opposi- 
tion to Mr. Nash seemed for a while to remain dor- 
mant, but was never extinguished, and in 1812 it 
became so great that an attempt was made to dismiss 
him. In 1814 his health became seriously impaired, 
rendering him unable to preach or discharge paro- 
chial duties. In 1815 he was dismissed at his own 
re(]uest. Mr. Nash had purchased the large farm in 
the south part of the town, which had been known 
as the "David Childs Place," where he continued to 
reside to the time of his decease, in 1829, aged sixty 
years. Mr. Nash married Elizabelh Doubleday in 
1801. One son and a daughter — Charles and Eliza- 
beth^are still living in the city of Worcester. 

After the dismission of Mr. Nash various candidates 
preached here, but it was not until December, 1820, 
that Rev. ,lohn Boardman, from Newburyport, was 
invited to settle by a vote of sixty-five to twenty-eight, 
and he was ordained February 28, 1821, with an an- 
nual salary of five hundred dollars. In 1834 Mr. 
Boardman was dismissed at his own request, and he af- 
terwards settled in East Douglas, where he died in 1842. 
It was during the pastorate of Mr. Boardman that the 
meeting-house on the old Common, the first one built, 
was burned in 1831. Mr. Boardman, with a majority 
of the church, being of the Calvinistic faith, left that 
location and built the brick house on the north side 
of the river, where the church and society have since 
continued to worship. 

In September, 1834, Rev. Elijah Paine, a native of 
Ashfield, Mass., and who had been a settled minister 
at Claremont, N. H., accepted an invitation to settle 
over this church and society, and was installed No- 
vember 3d, of that year, at a salary of six hundred 
dollars. Mr. Paine died here very suddenly Septem- 
ber 14, 1836, aged thirty-eight years. 

In 1837 Rev. Brown Emerson was ordained as Mr. 
Paine's successor, at an annual .salary of six hundred 
dollars. He was dismissed at his own request Novem- 
ber 6, 1839. 



Rev. Joseph W. Cross, who had been settled in 
Boxboro', Mass., was installed over this church and 
society March 11, 1840, at an annual salary of seven 
hundred dollars. He remained as pastor until March 
16, 1859, when he was dismissed. Mr. Cross still re- 
mains a citizen of the town, having just passed the 
eightieth anniversary of his birth, being active and 
vigorous for one of his age. Mr. Cross has been fol- 
lowed by Rev. Messrs. H. M. Hitchcock, James H. 
Fitts, Wilbur Johnson, William W. Parker, Francis 
J. Fairbanks and Millard F. Hardy, who is the present 
pastor. 

The Baptist Church and Society can date their 
origin back about eighty years, or about the year 1810, 
from which time the denomination has gradually in- 
creased to the present time. They formed their first 
society organization in 1813, but had no regular 
preaching until 1819, when a church was organized of 
about fifty members. Their first minister was Rev. 
Nicholas Branch, who has been followed by Rev. 
Messrs. Allen Hough, C. C. P. Crosby, Abiel Fisher, 
Joseph G. Binney, Lorenzo O. Lovell, Sewell S. Cut- 
ting, Leonard Tracy, Kazlett Arvine, Timothy C. 
Tingley, Zenas P. Wild, George R. Darrosv, J. M. 
Follett, Charles F. Holbrook, Edwin Bromley, George 
Colesworthy, Isaac Sawyer, Alvan M. Crane, J. W. 
Brigham and L. W. Frink, who is the present pastor. 
For several years this society worshipped in a small 
church, located in what is now the village of Oakdale. 
Their present meeting-house was built in 1832. About 
five years since this house was entirely remodeled, 
the old pews taken out, new windows put in, and the 
wh9le inside changed, making the house very neat, 
pretty and convenient. At the present time the so- 
ciety is engaged in building a parsonage-house in 
near proximity to their meeting-house. 

The Methodist Society began to hold meetings here, 
first in different halls, then in the meeting-house of 
the Liberal Society, on the old Common, then in Free- 
dom Hall at Oakdale. In 1858 they built their present 
neat and convenient house at Oakdale, and have, up 
to this day, maintained a strong and flourishing so- 
ciety. In 1854 Rev. David Higgins was their pastor. 
He has been followed by Rev. Messrs. J. H. Gaylord, 
I. B. Bigelow, J. W. Coolidge, S. J. Abbott, Daniel 
Atkins, Burtis Judd, Walter Wilkie, AVm. P. Black- 
mer, L. A. Bosworlh, William Pentacosl, William 
Gordon, Elias Hodge, C. A. Merrill, Wm. J. Hambie- 
ton and S. L. Rogers, who is now the pastor. 

The Liberal Congregational Society was an outcome 
from the first religious society formed in town. There 
had all the time, from the first starting of that society 
in 1794, been in it several grades of belief, and when 
the first meeting-house was burned, by being struck 
by lightning, August 23, 1831, a permanent separation 
occurred. 

The Calvinistic portion built the present brick 
house at the Valley, and the remaining portion or- 
ganized a Unitarian Society and rebuilt a neat and 



590 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



pretty house nearly on the spot where the old one 
was burned. This house, together with the brick and 
the Baptist house, were all completed in 1832. After 
this time the society never settled a minister, but for 
several years employed different clergymen, both of 
Unitarian and Univeraalist sentiments, to supply their 
puli>it. In 1859 Rev. .1. H. Willis, Universalist, came 
here and preached until 18(52, when, principally ow- 
ing to many of its members going into the army, the 
meetings were discontinued and Mr. Willis removed 
to Worcester. With this exception the society had 
had no stated preaching for over thirty-five years. 
Other denominations have used the house for a few 
months at a time, and the society has kept up its or- 
ganization to the present time by the annual choice 
of parish officers. The house stands in by far the best 
location for a public building of any one in town, front- 
ing, as it does, on a public common. 

The Catholic Society was formed here some thirty 
years since, and just before the Civil War built their 
tirst house of worship. For several years they had no 
resident pastor, priests from abroad supplying for 
their needs until about 1873, when Rev. Father An- 
thony.!. Derbuel came here and remained until his de- 
cease. May 21, 1886, aged forty-nine years. He was 
a very genial and intelligent man, a native of France, 
and was liked by every one making his acquaintance. 
The next year Rev. Father Daniel F. Feehau came, 
and remained until November, 1888, when he removed 
to Fitchburg. Rev. Father J. V. Campeau has lo- 
cated here as his successor. The first church built by 
this society had only a seating capacity of about three 
hundred, and they, having outgrown its size in 1882, 
built their present large and commodious house near 
the Baptist meeting-house, it being much the largest 
church building in the town. 

For the past year meetings have been held by the 
Episcopalians in a hall at the Valley, and it is said 
there is some talk of building and forming a perma- 
nent society here in the near future. 

The town is favored with a large water-power, af- 
forded by two streams which unite in this town, and 
form the south branch of the Nashua River. The 
first of these is the Quinnepoxet River, coming from 
the west through Holden, and on this stream are 
situated three cotton-mills and a small shoddy-mill, 
described hereafter. 

The second stream is the Stillwater River, flowing 
from the north through Sterling, on which are situ- 
ated the cotton-mills of the West Boylstou Manufac- 
turing Company, the most extensive one within the 
town. At a short distance below these mills the two 
streams unite, and after flowing for about two miles 
enter the town of Boylston. On the main river at 
the central village is a cotton-mill on one side of the 
stream and a large grist-mill on the other. About 
sixty rods below the last mill, the water is turned into 
an artificial canal and carried nearly half a mile to a 
large artificial basin or pond, creating the power to 



operate the extensive works of the Clarendon Mills, 
the water then flowing through a canal for about a mile 
before it again unites with the main river. Besides 
the power aflferdcd by these large streams, there is a 
small stream called " Maiden Brook,'' on which there 
are at present two small jirivileges — the first operating 
machinery for making excelsior and also some basket 
machinery ; the second, a saw and shingle-mill, being 
the only one now operated by water-power in the 
town. Many years since, there was another small 
mill on this stream used for mechanical purposes, 
which was burned. On this privilege no mill has 
since been erected. Still another mill was erected 
and used for making shoddy for a few years, when it 
was burned, about twelve years since, and about the 
same time a freshet carried away the dam, and al- 
though some attempts have been made to rebuild, no 
work has been started up to the present time. Many 
years since there was a small privilege operating a 
.small mill on Gates Brook for various mechanical 
work, but mill and dam were torn away about twenty 
years ago. Another small power was obtained by 
carrying the water by a canal from this brook about 
half a mile to the Brimhall Place, on Worcester 
Street, but this establishment disappeared several 
years ago. 

The first cotton-mill to be described is that of 
Samuel K. Warfleld, on the Quinnepoxet River, and 
near the line of Holden. On this privilege a saw- 
mill had been erected, and operated for about forty 
years. In 1808 Mr. Warfield, having bought the 
mill and other buildings, with the farm connected, 
put up a small building of wood, with machinery of 
1500 spindles capacity, which was ready and put in 
operation for the manufacture of satinet warps the 
same year, employing about fifteen hands. This 
was intended as merely a temporary arrangement, as 
the first building was so built and arranged as to be 
easily changed into tenements at any time when a 
larger factory building of brick should be erected. 
In 1881 this contemplated work was done ; the dam 
was raised, so as to increase the capacity of the 
pond, and a brick mill, of two stories, with the di- 
mensions of 120 by 70 feet, was finished in 1882. 
Its capacity is 3200 spindles, and used for the manu- 
facture of yarn and satinet warps, employing twenty- 
seven hands and using about 700 bales of cotton dur- 
ing a year. Mr. Warfield also erected, about the 
same time, a small shoddy-mill, on the wasteway be- 
low the first mill, which was burned in 1885. It was 
immediately rebuilt, and has been run most of the 
time since, giving employment to about three men. 

The second cotton-mill is also on the Quinnepoxet 
River, and is a substantial building of stone, with 
brick trimmings, finished and put in operation in 
October, 1874, by L. M. Harris & Company. The 
dam for this mill was built the previous year, the 
whole making a new establishment, has the capacity 
of 5540 spindles, and it is known as the " Whiting 



WEST BOYLSTON. 



591 



Mill.'' The third mill, on the same stream, is also 
owned by L. M. Harris & Company, and is of the 
capacity of 3790 spindles, and is known as the 
Harris Mill. They are used for the manufacture of 
light sheetings and shoe drills, using about 1200 
bales of cotton yearly, and employing about 100 
hands. The water-power of the two mills is rated 
at 213 horse-power, and within the past few years 
the owners have put in steam-engines of 12.3 horse- 
power, enabling them to run all their machinery at 
such times as water may fail. At the point where 
the last-named mill now stands, a saw-mill was 
built by Henry Holt, about sixty years ago. After a 
few years he enlarged his building, and put in ma- 
chinery for making cotton yarn. In 1845 the Messrs. 
Harris bought the mill, farm and houses, and con- 
tinued the manufacture of yarn for about two years. 
In 1847 they commenced the manufacture of cloth, 
and followed it until 1853, when the mill was 
burned. This building was of wood. Steps were at 
once commenced for rebuilding, and the present 
building of stone, on a larger scale than the one 
burnt, was finished, the machinery all in and was 
put in operation in just one year after the fire. At 
the time when the Messrs. Harris carae here, in 
1845, there were only the mill and two houses at 
this point. Now, in connection with the two mills, 
there are about twenty-five houses, several of them 
being tenement houses, the whole making what is 
known as the village of Harrisville. 

The fourth establishment for the manufacture of 
cotton goods is situated in the village of Oakdale, on 
the Stillwater River, and is owned and operated by an 
incorporated c(mipany, known as the West Boylston 
Manufacturing Company, and it is much the largest 
establishment in the town, being of the capacity of 
17,000 spindles, employing 375 persons, and using 
about 4,000 bales of cotton yearly in the manufacture 
of various fine cotton goods or fabrics. 

The company was first incorporated in 1814 for the 
making of wire and cotton goods. The manufacture 
of wire was never started, and it would seem that no 
business was very energetically entered into, as the 
company charter was lost by neglecting to make the 
annual choice of officers. Up to this time the mill 
had been only a small one, built of wood. In 1823 
the company was re-chartered and commenced the 
building of their first brick mill, finishing it in 1824. 

In 1825 the first looms for weaving cloth were put 
into the mill, after which time all the several parts of 
the work of making cloth was done by machinery, and 
the business proved very successful for several years. 
About the last of the year 1839 the mill was com- 
pletely destroyed by fire. In 1840 the mill was rebuilt 
on about the same scale and capacity. In 1868 the 
company built a dam of great strength and several 
feet higher than the old one, increasing their pond to 
several times its previous capacity and increasing 
greatly their water-power, and built^an additional mill 



of stone. On September 7, 1871, the whole establish- 
ment was destroyed by fire, being the most disastrous 
fire which has ever occurred in the town. The com- 
pany rebuilt the present mill in 1872. The company, 
during the late Civil War, changed a part of their works 
and made the manufacture of army blankets a very 
successful business. After the war they used five setts 
of woolen machinery in making satinets. At present 
nothing but cotton goods are made, and the company 
have commenced putting in foundations for quite an 
extensive addition lo the main part of the mill. 
Besides the mills, the company owns thirty-two 
houses, many of them large tenement houses, a 
large brick store-house, store, barns, etc. Besides 
the waters of the Stillwater River, this company 
controls the waters of the Quinnepoxet River by a dam 
built below Harrisville, which turns the water into a 
canal by which it is carried into their large pond. The 
company also control the waters irom the Washacum 
Lakes in Sterling, the waters of which can be raised 
about four feet above their natural level by a short 
dam, and thus creating a large reservoir, to be drawn 
from in time of low water. The company have also a 
large steam-engine for use when needed to increase 
their motive-power. Another great addition made to 
their facilities for dealing with fires was the building 
of a large reservoir for holding water, of the capacity 
of 60,000 gallons, situated on a hill much higher 
than their building, which is kept constantly full 
by pumping, and can be used at a few moments' warn- 
ing in extinguishing fires in any part of their build- 
ings, or of the village of Oakdale. 

The fifth cotton-mill is situated on the Nashua 
River at the Central Village, and on the south side 
of the stream. This is the mill of E. W. Holbrook, 
which has a capacity of three thousand six hundred 
and forty-eight spindles, and employs fifty hands. 
On the north side of the stream is the large grist- 
mill of Edward A. Cowee, each party owning one-half 
of this privilege and power. 

In the place where the cotton-mill now stands, a 
saw-mill was first erected several years belore the in- 
corporation of the town, and was one of the saw- 
mills in use at that date. A few yeais afterwards 
Ezekiel Peirce and his brother erected here a scythe- 
factory, putting in the first trip-hammer used in this 
section. This trip-hammer, with its noise and opera- 
tion, for a long time was a wonder not only to 
the people within hearing «f it, but often brought 
strangers from a distance to witness its wonderful 
performances. This scythe-factory was run until 1831, 
when Dr. John M. Smith and Ephraim Bigelow 
bought out the works and erected a small cotton- 
mill, which they put into operation the following 
year. Mr. Bigelow had previously made cotton yarn 
in a room over the saw-mill for several years pre- 
I vious to that date. Mr. Bigelow was a man of con- 
j siderable mechanical ingenunity, and it was while 
I here that was first started the germ of the remarka- 



592 



HISTOKV OF WOKCESTEK COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



ble machines afterwards perfected by his two sons, 
Erastus B. and Horatio N., after their removal to 
Clinton (then Lancaster), about 183(5, for the weav- 
ing of coach lace, counterpanes, carpets, etc. 

In 1841 these mills passed into the hands of Mr. 
Holbniok an<l Oliver Eldridge, and they were run 
under the superintendence of Mr. Holbrook until 
January 9, 1848, when they were entirely destroyed 
by fire. 

Nothing was done towards rebuilding until 1853. 
In that year Mr. Holbrook erected the first part of 
the present mill, starting it into operation the follow- 
ing year, in company with L. M. Harris, making 
light cotton sheetings, and continuing their success- 
ful manufacture up to the present time. He has, 
from time to time, made additions and improvements 
in buildings and machinery, until both are of about 
double their capacity from the time of their starting. 
He put in an engine of seventy-five horse-power in 
1883. 

Within the past five years Mr. Holbrook has also 
built a large reservoir of thirteen thousand five hun- 
dred gallons capacity above his building, to which 
water is pumped and kept constantly filled to be used 
in cases of fire. Its great utility was remarkably 
demonstrated during the past year, when, the grist- 
mill on the opposite side of the river getting on fire, 
with little prospects of any part of the buildings or 
contents being saved, the attachment of hose to this 
reservoir and running the same to the mill sufficed 
in a few minutes to subdue the Hames and save nearly 
the whole contents of the buildings. 

On the north side of the stream was erected both a 
grist-mill and a clothier's mill previous to or about 
1761. The river at this point at that date was no 
doubt the dividing line between Lancaster and 
Shrewsbury. Micah Harthan, according to the mili- 
tary record of Lancaster, was engaged as a soldier in 
the expedition against Ticonderoga in 17.')8, and on 
his return from that unfortunate expedition no doubt 
engaged in the running of the two small mills at this 
point, and probably they were built by him. They 
have been widely known as the Harthan Mills, and 
were owned for nearly a century by the Harthans, tlie 
sons and grandsons of Micah. 

Micah Harthan was bnrn probably in Marlboro' in 
1735. In the time of the Revolution his name does 
not appear among those enrolled as subject to do 
military duly, it probably being considered that his 
business as a clothier was of too much importance to 
take hini away from it. He died in 1803, when the 
business of the grist-mill went to his son David. 
Both the grist and clothier's mills were burned in 1801. 
A new grist-mill on improved plans was erected at 
once, and a small fulling-mill was also built and run 
for a number of years by Oliver Moore, who ran this 
mill until his death in 1831. It was afterwards used 
for a few years by Sanuiel Flagg & Co. as a machine- 
shop. In 1842 Charles M. Harris came here from 



Rhode Island, and in company with Mr. Wilder used 
this mill for the business of making cotton-yarn, 
which was continued until 1847, when this and the 
grist-mill were burned. At the time of this fire 
machinery had been put in the upper story of the 
grist-mill for making twine and wickiug ; both this and 
the grist-mill being run by Childs & Dinsmore. 

The cotton-mill was never rebuilt, and for about 
three years nothing was done towards rebuilding the 
grist-mill. During this time a run of stones was put 
into the machine shop of Mr. Holbrook, on the op- 
posite side of the river, by James E. Wood, who run 
it until the new mill on the old site was started in 
1851. In 18.50 Mr. Ruel G. Cowee came here from 
Gardner and built the present mills, which have the 
best reputation for making flour and grinding all 
kinds of grain of any mill in the region. 

For several years the upper story of the mill was 
used for mechanical j)urposes, making weather-strips 
&c., but for the last twenty years the whole of the 
first buildings, with many additions, have been used 
for the greatly increased business. Mr. Cowee died ^l 
October 5, 1882, since when the business has been 
carried on by his grandson, E. A. Cowee. 

The sixth establishment, or cotton-mill, is what is 
now known as the " Clarendon Mills," situated at 
what is known as the Ijower Factory village. The 
waters of the Nashua River at this point were turned 
into a canal and carried about half a mile from their 
natural course into a large artificial basin, and, after 
driving the machinery of this mill, flow in a canal 
about a mile before again uniting with the main 
stream. This work was first started by Major Ezra 
Beaman about 1793, to operate a saw and grist-mill. 
The saw-mill remained in operation until about 1872. 
The grist-mill was in a few years removed, and the 
first cotton-mill was started in the town; just the date 
of its starting cannot be learned, but it had been in 
operation several years before the incorporation of the j 
town, in 1808, Up to 1819 nothing had been done I 
beyond making yarn by machinery. Alloftheweav- I 
ing had been done by hand-work on the old looms, ' 
worked by females at their homes, and yarn from 
this mill was carried many miles away from the 
mills, was woven in the looms by the fireside of 
many a country home and returned as cloth to the 
mill. In 1819 twelve looms were put into operation 
in this mill, and from that date there was a rapid in- 
crease or growth of the cotton manufacture in this 
town, and which made it the leading industry, as it •• 
will long continue the leading one of the town. 
About that date a company was incorporated for this 
mill, under the name of the " Beaman Manufacturing 
Company," and continued its existence until 1873. 

In 1847 and '48 the company enlarged the capacity | 
of their pond or basin to more than double its first 
condition, removing the old wooden building, working 
it over into several tenements, and built the main part 
of the present mills of brick. This was only one 



WEST BOYLSTON. 



5fl3 



story above the basement. The two wings, of two 
stories — also of briclf — were added in 1854. In 1874 
a change was made in the ownership, and the com- 
pany was reorganized under the name of the " Clar- 
endon Mills." This mill has a large steam-engine 
attached, of sufficient power to run one-half of the 
machinery in times of low water, or when otherwise 
needed. In 1881 they added a building for a bleach- 
ery of thirty-two Ijy sixty feet, and two stories high, 
thus enabling them to finish the goods made ready 
for the market. They manufacture at present coun- 
terpanes, sheetings, corset-jeans and sateens, making 
ladies' fine dress goods from Nos. 30 to 50 yarn. The 
mills are of the capacity of 10,950 spindles, and give 
employment to one hundred and ninety operatives. 
For many years they have been under the superin- 
tendence of Mr. George M. Lourie as resident agent. 
They are delightfully situated in what has ever proved 
to be a very healthy part of the town ; and, with its 
pretty pond, buildings and avenues lined and shaded 
by several varieties of trees, many of them planted near 
a century since, it presents to the eye a view both 
beautiful and romantic. Passing travelers, at about 
sunset of a pleasant day, often remark this pleasing 
appearance as their eyes take in this view from the 
upper railroad station in this town. A pleasing item in 
connection with these mills is worth recording. Mi?s 
Parney Underwood began work in them in 1822, and 
worked constantly for a period of about sixty-three 
years. She has not worked in them for three years past, 
but still remains hale and vigorous for one of her age. 

Next to the cotton manufacture, the bottoming of 
boots has for many years been the leading industry of 
the town. This business had become one of importance 
in 1842, at which time there was probably about two 
or three hundred pairs of boots bottomed per day for 
Worcester manufacturers, in this town. This business 
continued to increase until, a few years before the 
Civil War, there were over two thousand pairs of boots 
so bottomed daily for Worcester parties, and con- 
tinued with about the same amount of work until 
about ten years ago, when the business began to de- 
crease, and now but few boots are bottomed here for 
Worcester men. 

In the year 1850 a boot manufactury was erected 
near the upper railroad station in this town, and was 
in operation about twenty-three years, making some 
fifty cases of boots per day. Since 1875 it has been 
vacant. In 1851) another establishment was started 
on the north side of the river, making from fifty to 
one hundred cases per day until January 23, 1866, 
when the shop was burned. 

A still larger shop was erected the same sea-son, and 
steam-power was added. After that time they in- 
creased their business, making some seasons as many 
as two hundred cases per day up to 1878. Since that 
time a much smaller number of boots has been made 
in this shop, but the business has been regularly 
carried on. 
38 



About 1860 an establishment was commenced at 
Oakdale for the manufacture of ladies' shoes, employ- 
ing some twenty hands, with steam-power. This 
business was continued until 1878, when the shop 
was closed. Since that year the shop was used, a year 
or more, for making men's shirts. The business was 
afterward moved to Leominster. 

In former years the manufacture of grain-cleaning 
and fanning mills was carried on here to a small 
extent. 

The manufacture of hand-made oak baskets has 
been carried on in this town for more than seventy 
years. Formerly a two-bushel basket was as large as 
was made or wanted. Now they are made of the capa- 
city of thirty bushels for factory use, and machinery is 
used to work out some of the larger parts of the 
baskets. At this time from ten to twelve persons are 
employed in this business. 

The manufitcture of school apparatus was begun 
here over sixty years ago, and a few years afterwards 
the manufacture of a small machine called a "Warper 
Stop Motion " was begun by the same parties, and 
carried on until about one year ago, when the busi- 
ness was removed to Clinton. The making of school 
apparatus had been given up for many years pre- 
viously. 

Another business followed for the past twenty-flve 
years has been the manufacture of whatnots, brackets, 
and a variety of house ornaments, in which both 
steam and water-power have been used. The same 
parties have built a few church and parlor organs 
within a few years. 

A steam mill, for sawing lumber, planing and 
matching boards, and the manufacture of packing- 
boxes, was started at Oakdale about five years since, 
and employs five or si.\ men all the year. 

The following histories of individuals are of those 
men who have for their lifetime been connected with 
the growth and prosperity of the town, and to whose 
energy, thrift and plans it owes its existence and 
present standing: 

Ezra Beaman, Esq., more generally known as 
Major Beaman, was the eldest son of Jabez Beaman, 
and was born in Bolton, October, 1736. The father, 
having purchased a large tract of laud, removed here 
wiih his family in 1746, where he lived until his death 
in 1757. Major Beaman then became proprietor of 
the homestead and began that career of usefulness 
and success which contributed so much to the forma- 
tion of the town. In 1758 he married Persis, daughter 
of Deacon Cyprian Keyes, of Shrewsbury, with whom 
he lived about thirty years. She died in 1788, leav- 
ing six children — Jabez, Ezra, Levina, Persis, Betsey 
and Eunice. He afterward married Mary Boylston, 
of Charlestown, who survived him and died June 
6, 1813, aged sixty-two years. 

Major Beaman was endowed by nature with a 
strong mind, possessing a remarkable spirit of enter- 
prize, together with great energy and resolution, 



594 



HISTORY OF WORCESTEE COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



which enabled him to devise and execute various 
schemes and plans, not only for his own prosperity, but 
also for the interest and advantage of the community 
around him. His designs seldom failed to result 
auspiciously and in accordance with his desires and 
anticipations. He possessed and held a large amount 
of real and personal property, tl-.ereby constituting 
him by far the wealthiest man of the then inhabitants 
of the town. He was not only an active, leading man 
in his own vicinity, but sustained a prominence and 
wielded an extensive and controlling influence in the 
community at large. Whenever a project of a public 
nature, having the benefit of the community as its 
object, was originated and brought up for considera- 
tion, he was the first to be consulted as to its import- 
ance and practicability, when his judgment and ex- 
pressed opinions generally had the efffect to cause the 
adoption of the scheme or its rejection and abandon- 
ment, thus clearly demonstrating and unmistaka- 
bly manifesting the high estimation in which he was 
held by the leading portion of his fellow-citizens for 
his practical wisdom and sound judgment. Many of 
the public roads in this vicinity were projected by 
him, and although it has been handed down that he 
met with a strong and determined opposition, time 
has shown that most of these highways were located 
where they have proved to be of the most advantage 
to the after-growth of the town and county. Major 
Beaman was a patriot, a firm and ardent friend to his 
country, being one of the active and unflinching spir- 
its of the American Revolution. He early took a 
decided stand against tyranny and oppression, taking 
up arms in favor of the rights of his country, march- 
ing to the battle-field to resist the encroachments of 
the enemy. He was with the American army at 
Cambridge in 1775, and performed a conspicuous part 
during that memorable period. He was ever ready 
to render aid and assistance in any emergency, not 
only by his influence, but when circumstances re- 
quired, he promptly devoted his time, his property 
and his personal exertions for the purpose of sustain- 
ing and pushing forward the arduous struggle for 
American independence. It would seem that he was 
one with many others who had virtually pledged their 
lives, their property and their sacred honors in favor 
of obtaining liberty, justice and equal rights for them- 
selves and their posterity. 

In looking back and judging at this day, it seems 
to the writer that the leading trait in his mind and 
character was thoroughness and durability — every- 
thing was done to last for many generations. 

He began in early life to set, in and along the 
highways adjacent to his own lands, a variety of 
shade trees, — elms, maples, buttonwoods and others. 
One of these buttonwood trees, set when he was 
thirteen years of age, is now an enormous one of its 
kind, measuring at its base over twenty-two feet in 
circumference. The many trees set by him now 
form one of the great beauties of our town, especially 



of that part of it in and around what are now the 
grounds of the Clarendon Mills corporation. In the 
highway, and against lands formerly owned by the 
Beamans, stands an enormous " White Oak " tree, 
which must be now several centuries old. Tradition 
says it was an ancient boundary tree, some believing 
that it was on the line of the extension of Lancaster 
in 1711, and of the Davenport farm. Certainly Major 
Beaman made it a boundary tree in selling land, and 
having the wish to preserve and insure its existence 
against the axe of any future vandal, he filled its 
trunk with large spikes, driving many pounds of 
iron into it. This tree is still thrifty and growing, 
and measures around its base twenty feet eight 
inches, and at six feet from the ground about fifteen 
feet in circumference. J 

In 1764, Major Beaman built the large and com- f 
modious dwelling-house on what is now called East 
Main Street, at the Valley, in this town. This house 
was built in a thorough and substantial manner, of 
the best materials, and was at the time, no doubt, 
one of the best houses in its vicinity. It was de- 
signed for a public-house and, as a remarkable fact, it 
was kept as such by the two Ezra Beamans for about 
a century. 

About sixteen years since, the main part of this 
establishment, being in the way of the line of one of 
our streets, was moved about thirty rods away and 
fitted up as a separate house ; all of its timbers being 
sound and in good condition, it promises to last 
another century if properly cared for. The large 
" Ell " of the old house was fitted up in its old loca- 
tion and makes a good substantial farm-house. One 
of the barns, eighty feet in length, has also been 
moved across the street and fitted up for tenement- 
houses, and thus changing very much the appearance 
of the old place. 

Another feature of the old place was a large stone 
watering trough, erected over a century ago by Major 
Beaman, supplied by an aqueduct leading from a 
spring about forty rods away, with a constant stream 
of cool water, coming from an iron spout in a stone 
column towering above the trough, on which was 
ever found hung a dish from which the traveler 
could slake his thirst. This trough has been moved 
from its former location across the street, and still 
remains as a noted resort for thirsty horses and other 
beasts, but the old time "dipper" for man's use has 
long been missing. 

To Major Beaman is the town indebted, more than 
to all others, for its existence as a town. The inhabit- 
ants of Boylston having decided to build a new 
meeting-house, a difficulty arose in regard to its 
location. The majority were in favor of building near 
the location of the old house, while a large minority, 
led by Major Beaman, wished to build about half a 
mile northwest of the old house, and nearer the centre 
of the territory of the town. It becoming apparent 
that no compromise could be effected, the minority 



WEST BOYLSTON. 



595 



seceded and built a new house on what is now known 
as the "old Common " in West Boyslton, in 1793 and 
1794, and petitioned the Legislature for an act of 
incorporation as a town. In this effort they were 
joined by persons both from the towns of Sterling and 
Holden. Each of the three towns strongly opposed 
the movement, and it was defeated. They then 
applied for incorporation as a precinct, or parish, and 
this was granted in June, 179(i, and it was made the 
"Second Precinct of Boylston, Sterling and Holden." 
In the survey, by Silas Holman, of the territory at 
the time of the first application, 4075 acres were 
claimed as being in Boylston, 23(37 acres in Sterling, 
3646 acres in Holden and 1392 acres in Worcester. 
The petition for a separate precinct was signed by 
forty-three voters of Boylston, twenty-three from 
Sterling, nineteen from Holden and three from Wor- 
cester. The act of incorporation did not include any 
of the territory from Worcester. At a meeting held 
by these people, December 17, 1792, it was first 
decided to build a meeting-house, and iu order to raise 
funds for the purpose, it was voted to sell the projected 
number of pews at auction, and sixty-six pews were 
thus sold for the amount of $1938.25. Of these, 
Major Beaman bid off thirty-one. At an adjourned 
meeting, held February 4, 1793, it was decided " to 
build a belfry to their house," and on the 13th, 14th 
and 15th days of June, 1793, the frame of the house 
was raised. About this time Major Beaman proposed 
that, for the amount realized for the pews sold, and 
the ownership of those unsold, he would finish the 
house. The language of the record gives this account 
of the result : 

" This " proposition " was agreed to, and within the 
term of about eighteen uionths from the time it was 
raised he accomplished the work in a very decent 
and faithful manner, and at an expense far exceed- 
ing any pecuniary compensation which he can expect 
or hope for in return." Major Beaman also projected 
and built the dam on the Nashua River, with the 
canal, of near a half-mile in length, into which the 
water is turned and taken to the artificial pond, now 
owned and used by the Clarendon Mills Company, 
making it one of the most valuable water-powers in 
the town. On this he erected a grist-mill and a saw- 
mill, which were used as such until after his death. 
At the incorporation of the town, in 1808, Major 
Beaman, at the meeting held the first Monday in 
March, was chosen chairman of the Board of Select- 
men and treasurer. He was also chosen as the town's 
first Representative to the General Court, and he 
was, each following year, re-elected to these offices, 
holding them to the time of his death, June 4, 1811, 
in the seventy-fifth year of his age. 

At his death all of his children were living, and his 
property was equally divided, after his widow's dower 
was set off. She only survived him about two years, 
when all of his property came into the possession of 
his children. Jabez, his eldest son, who left no issue, 



died in 1812, about one year after his father. In the 
settlement of the real estate left by Major Beaman, 
three commissioners, consisting of Silas Holman, of 
Bolton, with James Longley and Jotham Bush, of 
Boylston, were appointed to appraise and divide the 
real estate, and by a reference to their report, the 
following facts are gathered. There were twelve par- 
cels of real estate, consisting of 819 acres, with 
buildings, all valued at $35,765; thirty pews in the 
meeting-house on the old Common, valued at $1212; 
two horse-sheds, $48, and one pew in Boylston 
meeting-house, $30.50. None of this real estate was 
sold, but after one-third of it was set off as the 
widow's dower, some parts of it were setoff to each of 
the six children, the largest proportion to Ezra 
Beaman, Jr., who was to make each one's portion 
equal by the payment of money. By the death of 
the widow and of the eldest son, Jabez, within t^wo 
years after this division, Ezra Beaman, Jr., came into 
possession of the homestead and the greater propor- 
tion of the landed estate, which he held during his 
long life. 

The last Ezra Beaman never married, but lived to 
the good old age of ninety-two years and seven 
months, his decease occurring July 24, 1863. In 
many respects he was like his fiither, and always 
seemed to have his father's life and example before 
him ; often quoting his words and telling of his acts, 
and priding himself in " doing everything just as his 
father did." He was a generous man, a good and 
useful citizen, respected and liked by every one. At 
his death the naoie of Beaman became extinct in this 
town. He was the last one of his name, and since 
that time one thing after another has been changed 
until very little is left to remind us of the name. A 
number of years before the death of the last Ezra a 
movement was started to have the name of the town 
changed to "Beaman," and by a large majority, at a 
meeting called to act on the matter, a vote was psissed 
in its favor; but finding that the then only represen- 
tative of the name was strongly opposed to it, the 
matter was dropped. The first incorporated cotton- 
mill in town was for many years known as "The 
Beatiian Manufacturing Company," but in its re- 
organization, a few years since, it took the name of 
the "Clarendon Mills." The old farm was cut up 
and sold to many different parties, leaving only one 
hundred and forty-five acres, with a remnant of the 
old buildings, as the only portion of the old place 
now intact. In naming the streets of the town, three 
years ago, one short street received the name of 
"Beaman." 

William Thomas was one of the early settlers in 
this town, on a small farm on what was then called 
"Shrewsbury Leg," now owned by J. B. F. Prescott, 
in the village of Oakdale, where he lived until his 
decease in 1810, aged eighty-five years. He possessed 
a peculiar relish for literature and science, ^nd de- 
voted much time to reading and study. He had a 



596 



HISTOllY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



peculiar taste for astronomical research and calcula- 
tion, and this no doubt had a great influence in 
shaping and forming the character of his eldest son, 
Robert Bailey Thomas, Esq., born in 1766 and 
died in 1846, aged eighty years. He resided in the 
house in Oakdale now occupied by Charles M. Harris. 
He was a prominent man in the town, was its first 
town clerk, several times chairman of the Board of 
Selectmen, represented the town in the State Conven- 
tion of 1820 for revising the Constitution, and was 
several years a member of the State Legislature. He 
was a justice of the peace, and for many yeans did all 
the conveyancing and other legal writing for his 
townsmen. He originated and established the Fann- 
ers' Almanac in 1793, annually preparing and fur- 
nishing the matter for that popular and widely-known 
manual to the end of his life. He accumulated a 
laj-ge property, and being very liberal and public- 
spirited, contributed much towards the welfare and 
growth of the town. He was the largest contributor 
towards the building of the largest hall in the town, 
and it was named "Thomas Hall" as a compliment 
to him. This hall was intended for school and relig- 
ious purposes, and it has been used by the town for 
over forty years for all of its public meetings. Mr. 
Thomas leaving no children, and dying intestate, hia 
property was divided between his widow and two 
children of a brother. He married Hannah Bearaan, 
of Princeton, who survived bim and died in 1855, 
aged eighty-one years. 

Thomas Keyes, Jr., was born in the town April 
20, .1802, and died October 30, 1831, aged twenty- 
nine years. He was the son of Thomas and Lydia 
Keyes, and grandson of Thomas Keyes, who settled 
here in 1767. Very early in life he manifested 
a strong inclination for invention and mechanical 
work, but as his friends intended and expected that 
he would lead a farmer's life, those traits wei'e dis- 
couraged, and it was not until after his majority that 
he could devote any time to his natural inclinations. 
Had he lived a few years longer there is little doubt 
that he would have achieved a name that would have 
been a world-wide one. Astronomy was one of his 
favorite studies, and his great mechanical ingenuity 
led to the construction of the orrery, an instrument 
since becoming well known, for the purpose of illus- 
trating the movements of the solar system. It is so 
simple and easy of management that it has become 
one of the most valuable instruments in use for the 
purpose it was intended for. With the orrery, one of 
his last designs was the construction of an apparatus 
which was to embrace the Lunariura and Tellurium 
on a different plan from any then known. Unfortu- 
nately, the traces of the designs which he left were 
so obscure that it was impossible for any one to un- 
derstand them well enough to complete it. A board 
on which he had begun to trace these plans was the 
last wtirk of his life, he being suddenly stricken by 
the disease from which he never recovered. Another 



invention of his was a stop-motion, a machine used 
in the warping of cotton and woolen yarns. This 
machine was afterward improved and perfected by 
his brother-in-law, David C. Murdock, and for about 
half a century was the only machine used for the 
purpose, and was in use in every cotton-mill in this 
country and many in Europe. 

Mr. Keyes was very much interested in education, 
and exerted a great influence among his associates in 
the promotion and sustaining of lyceums and debat- 
ing societies. It was a leading trait in his character 
to fully communicate information and especially to 
explain to others any discoveries he chance<l to 
make. 

He married Eveline Murdock April 10, 1S27, who 
died at the age of twenty-four years. 

David C. Murdock was born here December 21, 
1805, and died October 15, 1886. He was the son of 
Deacon Artemas Murdock, and spent all of his long 
and useful life in this town. He was a natural me- 
chanic, and learned the trade, and worked several 
years as a machinist. About the time of the de- 
cease of his brother-in-law, Thomas Keyes, Jr., be- 
fore spoken of, he engaged in the manufacture of 
school apparatus and other small machines, made 
mostly for J. M. Wightman, of Boston, and contin- 
ued the business until 1868, when his establishment 
was burned, and losing all his tools, patterns and 
models, this work was never resumed. 

Soon alter the death of Mr. Keyes he made im- 
provements on his stop-motion machine, and so 
perfected it that it had continued to grow in favor un- 
til it had been introduced into nearly every cotton- 
mill in the country. On rebuilding, after the fire in 
1868, he gave his whole attention to this machine, 
and had ahnost a monopoly of making any machines 
for tending warping of cotton yarn. Mr. Murdock 
was a man of much intelligence, and all his life-time 
exerted a great influence in town and public affairs. 

He served many years as chairman of the Board 
of Selectmen, being in that position during the time 
of the late Civil War, when his activity and exer- 
tion went far towards the town's doing with credit 
its fullshare of carrying to success that great strug- 
gle. He sent two of his sons into some of the first 
regiments raised in the county, who served through- 
out the war, both reaching captain's positions. He 
served as a representative to the General Court four 
years, for many years was on the School Board and 
for nearly all his life, after thirty years of age, he 
was connected, in some capacity, with the town gov- 
ernment. He married Adeline King, also of this 
town, October 6, 1829, who survived him less than a 
year. She died June 30, 1887. 

Eli W. Holbrook, was born in Rutland, Mass., in 
1809, and first came to this town in 1818, when 
about nine years of age, a poor boy entirely depend- 
ent on his own thrift and energy to obtain a living, 
he being the eldest of several children. His mother, 




S^/> H-ir-l^/(j-r-^/-t>^t^ 



WEkST boylston. 



597 



with six children, living in Rutland, had, up to this 
time, supported her family by weaving cotton cloth 
in a loom worked by hand, at her home, coming or 
sending to West Boylston for the yarn, and returning 
the cloth. She removed here in the above year and 
continued to weave in the hand-loom for about four 
years, or until the work that was commenced on 
power-looms in 1819 had increased, in 1822, to such 
an extent as to do about all of this part of the work. 
Eli went at once into the mill here and commenced 
his long life-time connection with the cotton manu- 
facture, which is more fully noted in the history of 
the different mills in town, on other pages of this his- 
tory. Mr. Holbrook continued all bis life to be one 
of the leading men in the town. With a genial and 
kindly disposition he united a large benevolence and 
public spirit, spending much time and money in im- 
proving the public ways, by grading, setting out of 
trees, and other work thereon. He was a large con- 
tributor towards the support of the Gospel and many 
benevolent institutions, and was ever a leading mem- 
ber of the Congregational Society. His kindly na- 
ture ever made him a favorite with all the young 
folks, and he was ever noted as retaining the services 
of bis employes for long periods of time. He was 
connected with the town's government for many 
years, serving as selectman, assessor, and in other 
positions. He represented the town two years in the 
Legislature. He was very successful in his business 
and accumulated a handsome competence. April 30, 
1835, he married Miss Adeline Worcester, of this 
town, with whom be lived over half a century. She 
died February 5, 1887. He suffered several of the 
last years of bis life from failing eyesight, but other- 
wise lived an active life until a few weeks before his 
death, which occurred November 26, 1888, being but 
a few days short of seventy-nine years of age. He 
leaves two daughters and five grandchildren. 

Physicians. — Dr. Amariah Bigelow was the first 
practitioner to settle within the limits of the town. 
He came here in 1780, and married Persis, daughter 
of Major Ezra Beaman. He lived on the farm at the 
south part of the town, which, for long yeai's, has 
been known as the John Temple farm. He died 
very suddenly in 1787, leaving a widow and three 
children. His widow afterwards married John Tem- 
ple, still remaining on the farm where she began life 
with Dr. Bigelow until her death, in 1832. 

Dr. Uriah Bigelow came here in 1788, and, after 
remaining a few years, went to Central New York, 
where he died at an advanced age. 

Dr. Nicholas Jenks, from North Brookfield, settled 
here in 1809. He lived in what is now Oakdale, 
where he also kept a store. After a stay of ten years 
he removed to Southbridge. 

Dr. John M. Smith settled here in 1819, where he 
remained fifteen years, when he, too, went to South- 
bridge, and died there in the meridian of life. 

Dr. Jacob Moore settled here in 1828, and died in 



1831. He was a young man very much liked by 
every one, and gave much promise of usefulness in 
his future career. He married a sister of Dr. John 
M. Smith. 

Dr. Sherman Smith, a brother of Dr. John M. 
Smith, came here in 1831, and remained for a few 
years, and then went to Walpole, N. H., where he 
died suddenly in 1852. 

Dr. Samuel Griggs came here in 1832, and stayed 
here until 1846, when he removed to Westboro', where 
he afterward died. 

Dr. Ephraim Lovell was a native of this town, 
being a son of Amos Lovell. He began practice 
here in 1841, and continued until the time of his 
death, in 1869, although, for the last four years, he 
was in failing health, and had an assistant. He was 
a man of a very amiable character, and was greatly 
beloved by every one who knew him. 

Dr. George W. Warren came here as a successor to 
Dr. Griggs in 1846. He was a graduate of Amherst 
College, coming here as his first place for practice, 
and still remains, having followed his profession for 
more than forty years. Within the past two years he 
has associated with himself his son. Dr. Ernest L. 
WArren, a very promising young man in the calling. 

Dr. John S. Andrews came here from Sterling, and 
remained several years previous to 1859, when he 
sold out and removed from town. 

Dr. Franklin L. Hunt came here in 1859 as the 
successor of Dr. Andrews, and remained until he 
joined the army in 1862, as elsewhere noted. 

Dr. Charles A. Wheeler settled here two or three 
years before the war, and he, too, went into the army, 
as noted in the military records. 

Dr. Lemuel H. Hammond came here as an assist- 
ant to Dr. Lovell in 1866, and removed to Worcester 
in 1869, where he still has an extensive practice. 

Dr. E. C. Peck came here as a successor to Dr. 
Hammond, and remained until 1882, when he went 
from town. 

Dr. Warren Pierce came here from Sterling about 
1873, and remained until 1881, when he removed to 
Plymouth, where he still remains in the practice of 
his profession. Dr. Pierce was one of the most skill- 
ful physicians who had ever lived in the town. 

Dr. William A. Earle came here in 1881, and still 
remains, having established an extensive practice. 

During the past twenty years several French Cana- 
dian physicians have come here and remained a few 
months and then have gone elsewhere. 

Three or four others, native-born doctors, have 
tried the field, but have not succeeded in establishing 
a foothold, and after a trial of a few months have left 
the work to the old incumbents. 

The accounts of a few individuals who were natives 
of the town and who received a liberal education, fit- 
ting them for a professional life, is here given very 
briefly. 

pjphraim Hinds, son of Benjamin Hinds, was born 



598 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



in this town (then Shrewsbury), in 1780. He was a 
lawyer and lived away from town, following his pro- 
fession until about si.xty years of age, when he again 
came to this town, buying a small farm, on which he 
lived until his decease, June 18, 1858. He left three 
sons and one daughter. 

John Reed, son of Capt. John Reed, was born here 
about the year 1800. He was fitted for and entered 
Harvard College, where be proved himself to be one 
of the smartest young men of his cla-s. But owing 
to his great propensity for fun and causing the faculty 
much annoyance and trouble, his father was notified 
" that it would be best to take his son away." He, 
however, had managed to obtain an education rank- 
ing him as a great scholar for his age. He followed 
the business of teaching for several years, being very 
successful. He left town during the late war and soon 
after died. 

Dr. Ephraim Lovell, son of Amos Lovell, Jr., was 
born here in 1812. He studied for and fitted himself 
for a physician. He settled here in 1841, and followed 
his profession very successfully until his decease in 
1869. 

Rev. William Murdock, son of Arteraas Murdock, 
was born here in 1812. He was a graduate of Amherst 
College, and was settled afterwards for several years 
in the ministry at Candia, N. H. Having a difficulty 
about his throat which prevented the use of his voice 
in a great measure, he returned to this town about the 
year 1852, and went to work for his brother, David C. 
Murdock, where, from his great natural mechanical 
ability, he ever seemed as much at home as in the 
pulpit. He died very suddenly November 13, 1879, 
aged sixty-si.^: years, four mouths, ten days, leaving 
a widow, two sons and one daughter. 

Sylvanus Morse, sou of Joseph Morse, was born 
here about the year 1800, received a college education 
and was the principal of Bradford Academy for sev- 
eral years. He returned to this town, and opened a 
family school in 1845, and was quite successful for a 
few years, when he sold out and again left town. 

Dr. George W. Peirce, son of Levi Peirce, was born 
in 1819. He studied medicine and established him- 
self in the town of Leominster about 1845, where he 
was a successful practitioner for many years. He died 
in that town in 1885. 

Henry F. Harris, born here August 19, 1849, son of 
Charles M. Harris, graduated from Tufts College, and 
has been for several years in successful practice as an 
attorney in Worcester, Mass. 

Edward A. Murdock, son of David C. Murdock, 
was born here May 24, 1854, studied medicine, and 
first established himself at Waltliam, and afterwards 
removed to Spencer, Mas^., where he is in the very 
successful practice of his calling. 

Louis Cutting, born here November 11, 1849, son of 
John 8. Cutting, has for the past two or three years 
been studying law and is now located in Worcester, 
where he has been admitted to the bar. 



Alfred Lovell, son of Addison Lovel, born Decem- 
ber 28, 1851, graduated as a civil engineer at the 
Technical School in Worcester, about the year 1875, 
and is now located at Rustic, N. J. 

Albert W. Hinds, son of Albert and grandson of 
Ephraim Hinds, Esq., has recently graduated from 
Brown University, and is fitting himself for a teacher. 
He was born in this town November 30, 1864. 

Elmer F. Higgins, born January 21, 1862, and 
Tracy L. Newton, born February 20, 1867, both na- 
tives of this town, are now students at Brown Uni- 
versity. 

David Bigelow Lovell, son of Portland Lovell, 
born here March 22, 1865, is a student at a medical 
school in New York City. 

Llewellen Drake, born in Maine, and a graduate of 
our High School in 1885, and Harry L. Peirce, born 
here November 1, 1870, and was a graduate of the 
school in 1888, have both entered Colby University, 
at Waterville, Me. 

MiMTAEY. — One of the first settlers of this town of 
whom we have any account as having enlisted for any 
of the military movements was Benjamin Bigelow, 
who enlisted as a soldier in 1745, in the expedition 
for the capture and reduction of Louisbourg, then be- 
longing to France, and considered the Gibraltar of 
America. The capture and possession of this place 
was regarded at the time as a great achievement, and 
highly important in its advantages to the British 
Crown. On his return from this expedition Mr. Bige- 
low brought with him several articles of iron manu- 
facture, fiome of which are yet in use on the farm 
which he then occupied, and which is now in the pos- 
session of Thomas N. Keyes. 

E^phriam and Ithamar Bennett, sons of Phineas 
Bennett, one of the earliest settlers of this town, en- 
listed as soldiers in the army sent to Ticonderoga in 
1758, and attempted to capture the fortress at that 
place. They were in the so-called "Morning Fight," 
which resulted, after four hours of hard fighting, in 
a disastrous defeat to the English army, and both of 
these two young men were killed in the terrible con- 
flict. 

At the commencement and during the progress of 
the war for the American Revolution the inhabitants 
of the district now comprising the town of West Boyl- 
ston were zealous and active in all the efforts made to 
obtain and secure for the Colonies liberty and inde- 
pendence. Major Ezra Beaman was a prominent and 
leading spirit in this important and patriotic work, 
and nearly every one around him was also firm and 
determined in favor of freedom and the rights of the 
people. 

On several special and important occasions the citi- 
zen soldiers here turned out, readily leaving their 
families and business to engage in the service of their 
country, and that without pay or remuneration, other 
than the satisfaction of having discharged their duty. 
' During the continuance of the war several men here 



I 



I 



WEST BOYLSTON. 



599 



enlisted and joined the regular army at different 
periods, all of whom, with one exception, served out 
their time, returned home and lived to enjoy the bless- 
ings and advantages resulting from the toils and suf- 
fering which they had bravely endured. The names 
of these enlisted men were Ezra Beaman, John Bixby, 
Joseph Bixby, Zacharlah Child, Joseph Dwelley, 
William Fairbauk, Oliver Glazier, Benjamin Hinds, 
Jr., Jason Hinds, Ebenezer Inglesby, Ebenezer Pike, 
Paul Raymond, Isaac Smith, John Temple, Nathan 
Wilder and John Winn. 

Of these men, the history of Ezra Beiman is given 
in another place ; of the two Bixbys, no reliable ac- 
count of their subsequent life can be found. Their 
father, Samuel Bixby, came from Woburn and settled 
here about 1750, and both he and his wife died in 
1800, since which time no one of the family seems to 
have lived in the town. 

Zacharlah Child was born in 1763, being the eldest 
son of David Child, who was the owner and jiroprie- 
tor of the farm afterwards owned and occupied by 
Rev. William Nash, the first settled minister here 
under the precinct formation. Mr. Child was a young 
soldier, but served with credit, and after an honorable 
discharge settled on a small farm adjoining bis 
father's, and in 1784 married Lydia, daughter of 
David Bigelow, of Worcester, and had a large family 
of children. He died in 1845, aged eighty-one years. 
His wife survived him and died in 1849, aged eighty- 
five years. For many of his last years Mr. Child was 
in the receipt of a pension. 

Joseph Dn-elley was born in Worcester, and after 
the war he purchased a farm in this town, the same 
afterward owned by Dea. James Fiske, which he 
owned and occupied about forty years, when he sold 
out and removed to Oakham, where he died in 
1840, aged seventy-five years. He enlisted into 
the army when only fifteen years of age, served 
faithfully during the last three years of the war, en- 
during cheerfully many hardships and trials. He 
was in all the movements which resulted in the sur- 
render of Cornwallis at Yorktown, and received an 
honorable discharge at the war's close. 

William Fairbank was born in 1758, being the 
youngest son of Jonathan Fairbank. He was a 
farmer and occupied the farm now owned and occu- 
pied by James W. Robbins. He was a man of ability 
and prominence in the t<iwn, being often chosen to 
ofiices of trust and responsibility by his fellow-towns- 
men. During the last years of his life he received a 
pension from the government. He died here in 1840, 
aged eighty-one years. 

Oliver Glazier was born in 1763, and was the son 
of John Glazier, of Boylston. In 1785 he married 
Rachel Hastings, of Boylston. They had ten chil- 
dren, all of whom outlived their parents. His wife 
died in 1841, when he went to Northboro' to live with 
his eldest daughter, witli whom he continued to live 



until his decease in 1855, aged ninety-two years, living 
the longest of any of these soldiers. 

Benjamin Hinds, Jr., and Jason Hinds were sons 
of Benjamin Hinds, and soon after the war are said 
to have gone to Maine and settled there. They were 
brothers to Jacob and Joseph Hinds, who both settled 
in this town and had families, but at the present time 
there is but one representative of the name in town, 
Solon Hinds, son of said Joseph Hinds, now over 
eighty years of age. 

Ebenezer Inglesby. The only account we can give 
of him: is that he settled in this town about 1750, and 
removed therefrom in 1794. " He married a daughter 
of Aaron Newton and had a large family of chil- 
dren." 

Ebenezer Pike settled in this town about 1760, and 
died here at an advanced age. " He was a soldier in 
the Revolutionary War and served his country faith- 
fully." 

" Paul Raymond was an early settler here, but re- 
moved from town previous to 1780." Probably he did 
not live here after the close of the war. 

Isaac Smith was born abaut 1755, and came to this 
town soon after the close of the war, when he married 
Prudence Cutting, and settled on a farm one mile 
west of the old Common, where he lived until his 
decease in 1824. Of him it is said "He was a soldier 
of the Revolution, and performed good service during 
that memorable struggle ; and by the faithful dis- 
charge of duty, and the fatigue and hardship en- 
dured, he merited and ought to receive the gratitude 
and veneration of future generations. He was truly 
one of those brave spirits who, by their persevering 
eff'orts and untold sufferings, helped to consummate 
our nation's independence." 

John Temple, the oldest son of Jonas Temple, of 
Boylston, was born in 1762 and died in 1841, aged 
seventy-nine years. He was, next to Major Beaman, 
of these Revolutionary heroes, the one mostidentified 
with the town's growth and prosperity. He first 
married Lois, daughter of Micah Harthan, who only 
lived one year after her marriage. In 1793 he married 
Persis, daughter of Major Beaman, and the widow of 
Dr. Amariah Bigelow, with whom he lived until 1832, 
when she died, leaving two children by Mr. Temple 
and two by Dr. Bigelow. Mr. Temple was an enter- 
prising and successful farmer, possessing and occupy- 
ing an extensive farm in the southerly part of the 
town, which had been previously owned by Dr. 
Amariah Bigelow. Mr. Temple was all his life a 
prominent citizen of an energetic temperament, 
which enabled him to act with promptness on mat- 
ters of importance. " He was chosen several succes- 
sive years as chairman of the Board of Selectmen, 
and frequently was called to the performance of 
other important duties of a public character. After 
the decease of his second wife he married Polly 
Dakin, of Boylston, who survived him and died in 
1856." 



600 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



Nathan Wilder, son of Abner Wilder, was born in 
1760 and died in 1822, aged sixty-two years. Of him 
we only have this meagre history: " He married and 
had children, some of whom were living twenty-five 
years after his decease." 

John Winn, son of Jacob Winn, was born in 1760 
and died in 1843, aged eighty-three years. He mar- 
ried Abigail Cross, of Boston, who survived him and 
died in 1853, aged eighty-nine years. Mr. Winn was 
a cooper by trade and occupied, during his life, the 
premises now owned by Mrs. Cranson Cook, on the 
road to Lancaster. Mr. and Mrs. Winn had several 
children who survived them, but at the present time 
no one of the name is a resident in the town. And 
it is a singular and remarkable fact that of the six- 
teen Revolutionary soldiers of this town there is not 
a single descendant of the same name now living in 
the town. 

We have no records of any persons having enlisted 
or of serving in the second war with England in 
1812, but as other towns of the county were called 
upon to furnish men for temporary service, this town 
may have done so ; but at a meeting held on the 3d 
day of July, 1812, the following votes were passed by 
nearly a unanimous one of the meeting, only two 
voting adversely : "That the town disaproves of the 
late declaration of war against Great Britton." Also 
chose the selectmen and town clerk a committee to 
prepare certain resolutions, expressive of the sense 
of the town. 

In the Mexican War two young men volunteered 
and went with the army to Mexico. George Flagg, 
son of Francis Flagg, was in most of the hard battles 
which resulted in the capture of the city of Mexico. 
He was taken sick while on his return and died in 
the hospital at New Orleans July 26, 1848, aged 
twenty-four years. 

Charles W. Allen, son of Daniel W. Allen, served 
through the war with credit and came home after its 
close ; he remained here about two years and then went 
to California, where he died November 12, 1867. 

West Boylston, in common with the towns of the 
whole North, was thoroughly aroused at the first in- 
dications that the South would rebel against its law- 
ful government, and all such steps were at once taken 
to render all the aid to the constituted authorities to 
maintain the integrity of our Union, in the power of 
the town to show and maintain. Many meetings 
were held, volunteers for the army were encouraged 
to enlist, money was raised lor their equipment and 
for the care of the families of all who had one to 
leave. Our young men were urged to drill and 
otherwise perfect themselves for soldiers, and in fact 
all persons in town — men, women and children — 
seemed to vie with all others in their efforts to meet 
the needs of the hour. At the firat legal meeting 
held by the town, after the fall of Fort Sumter, April 
29, 1861, the town voted to appropriate two thousand 
dollars for the equipment of a military company. It 



also voted to pay the men for the time spent in drill- 
ing, also to pay all the needed aid to families of men 
who should volunteer. The town also chose an effi- 
cient committee to attend to all the necessary work. 
As a consequence the town had volunteers in nearly 
all of the first regiments that went into the field, hav- 
ing men in all the regiments raised in the county. 
During tlie war the town sent into the army two 
hundred and fifty-two men. Of these, twelve were 
commissioned officers and two were surgeons. The 
commissioned officers were : Major Alonzo D. Pratt, 
of the Thirty-fourth ; Major Addison A. Hosmer, of 
the Twenty-eighth; Ca|)tain Pelham Bradford and 
Captain Woodbury Whittemore, of the Twenty-first 
Captain Charles C. Murdock, of the Twenty-fifth 
Captain George L. Murdock, of the Thirty-fourth 
Captain C. Alden Pratt, of the Forty-second : Lieu- 
tenant, William D. Toombs, of the Second ; Lieuten- 
ant Harlan P. Houghton, of the Thirty-fourth; Lieu- 
tenant James Conner, of the Forty -second ; Lieuten- 
ant Albert M. Murdock, of the Fifty-seventh, all 
Massachusetts infantry regiments; and Lieutenant 
Elliot F. Brigham, of the Fourth Massachusetts 
Cavalry. Only one of these officers lost his life 
while serving in the army. Lieutenant Albert M. 
Murdock, while leading an assault on Fort Stead- 
man, at Petersburg, Va., March 25, 1865, was almost 
instantly killed. His last words were, "Save the 
flag, boys.'' He was a very promising young man, 
the only son of Cyrus Murdock, only nineteen years 
of age when he left the Highland Military School 
at Worcester to join his regiment in the last year of 
the war. He took part in all the hard battles of the 
Wilderness and around Richmond, and ever showed 
himself a cool and brave officer. 

Several of the other officers received wounds in the 
many battles they were engaged in, and most of them 
won their promotions by their services ; but all came 
home and, so far as known, are all still living and 
filling responsible positions in life. 

The two surgeons were Dr. Franklin L. Hunt, of 
the Twenty-seventh, and Dr. Charles A. Wheeler, of 
the Twelfth Regiment. 

Dr. Hunt was a young man of talent, of a very 
genial disposition and greatly beloved by all his 
acquaintances. He had only been in the practice of 
his profession three years when he joined his regi- 
ment at Newbern, N. C, in August, 1862. On No- 
vember 18, 1862, while riding just outside the lines at 
Washington, N. C, he was fired upon and killed by 
straggling guerrillas. His body was recovered, brought 
home and buried at Douglas, his native town. He 
left a young wife and two children. 

Dr. Wheeler served through the war, came home 
and afterwards resumed his practice in Leominster, in 
this county, and still remains in that town. 

Probably no soldier of the great Civil War was 
better or more widely known than Sergeant Thomas 
Plunkett. He came to this town when about twelve 



WEST BOYLSTON. 



601 



years of age and lived here until the commencement 
of llie war. He enlisted from the town as a member 
of Company E of the Twenty-first Regiment, and 
saw much hard service and lighting previous to the 
battle of Fredericksburg, Va. In this battle he was 
the color-sergeant of his regiment and liad both arms 
shot away by a fragment of a shell. Notwithstanding 
the great loss of blood and the delay before his 
wounds could be attended to, his indomitable will 
carried him through, and he survived his irguries 
and lived until March 8, 1885, receiving from every 
one love and respect for his patriotism, courage and 
great physical loss. He held positions of trust at the 
Custom House and Stale House in Boston several 
years before his death, and was at his post at the 
State House nearly up to the da}' of his death, although 
his friends urged him to retire. His death was an- 
nounced in the House of Representatives March 10th, 
when it was voted "to appoint a committee of eight 
to attend his funeral," and also "that a guard should 
be detailed by the Sergeant-at-arms to carry the colors 
which were borne by Sergeant Plunkett at the battle 
of Fredericksburg to the funeral," which was held in 
Mechanics' Hall in Worcester, and drew together a 
concour:-e of people large enough to twice fill that 
great hall. The Governor and staff, a large number 
of the State officials, many members of the General 
Court, many military companies, different Grand 
Army corps and citizens from all parts of the State 
came together to do this brave soldier honor. He 
left a wife and two sons. 

After his recovery from his wounds his many friends 
raised for him such a sum of money as rendered him 
independent during his lifetime. He resided in this 
town several years after his return and marriage, but 
for the last few years he was a resident of Worcester, 
Mass. 

At one time efibrts were made to have him pro- 
moted, and an application was made to Governor 
Andrew to give him a commission. This would have 
been gladly done, but after much thought and delib- 
eration, that noble Governor says, "No! as sergeant 
he has achieved his wide reputation, and as such he 
will be longer remembered, so let him be ever known as 
Sergeant Plunkett." 

During the war the town paid for recruiting and 
other expenses, with the amount of State aid paid to 
families, about forty thousand dollars, besides which, 
the ladies of the town raised, in various ways, upward 
of twelve hundred dollars in money, and sent stores of 
clothing, etc., to the hospitals at several times during 
the great struggle. 

The following-named soldiers were killed or died 
while connected with the army : 

Charles F. Bigelow, Co. D, 24th Regt.. came home sick from Charles- 
tOD, S. C, aud died SOOD after. 

George L. Bigelow, of the 34th Regt., died in .\ndersonville Prison. 

William H. Blunt, Co. D, 2d Kegt., was mortally wounded at Gettys- 
burg. 



Amos W. Broad, Co. C, 15th Regt., supposed to hare been lost at sea. 

Isaac Child, Co. D, 2d Eegt., killed at Antietam, Md. 

Benoni H. Colvin, Co. E, 42d Regt., came home sick aud died soon 
after. 

Frederick Colvin, Co. D, 2d Regt., killed at Winchester, Va. 

Joseph E. Esterbrook, Co. K, 5.3d Regt., died at New York. 

Patrick Fitzpatrick, Co. E, 42d Regt., died at New Orleans. 

Harluw Getchell, Co. C, 15th Regt., wounded at Antietam, and died in 
hospital. 

.Tuhn II. Horan, Co. E, 2l8t Regt., died at Newborn, N. C. 

Leonard T. Hosnier, Co. E, 2Ist Regt., died at Washington, D. C. 

Geo. B. J. Hosiner, Co. D, 2d Regt., transferred to Signal Corps ; died at 
Newbern, N. C. 

Dr. Franklin L. Hunt, of the 2Tth Regt., killed by guerrillas, at Wash- 
ington, N. C. 

Jonas C. Keyes, Co. G, 2d H. \., died in Andersonville Prison. 

Charles H. Kidder, 7th Light Battery, died at Memphis, Tenn. 

Thomas Lynch^ Co. G, 2d H. A., died in .\ndei'Bonvine Prison. 

Leonard F. Blaban, Co. E, 42d Regt., died at New Orleans. 

Mercail Mallett, Co. G, 57th Regt., killed in the battles of the Wilder- 
ness, Va. 

Lieut. Albert H. Murdock, a7th Regt., killed at Fort Steadman, Va. 

Geo. B. Newton, Co. D, 2d Regt,, died at Baltimore, JId. 

Samuel E. Pratt, Co. A, l.ith Regt., died at Yorktown, Va. 

Joseph T. Smith, Co. K, 15th Regt., mortally wounded, and died at 
.\ntietam. 

.Iihn B. Tallnian, Co. C, 34th Regt., killeil iu Shenandoah Valley. 

iVIartin N. Trask, Co. I, 25th Regt., died at Fortress Monroe. 

Thomas Watson, Co. K, 2d Regt., killed at Cedar IMountain, Va. 

James Welsh, of the 34th Regt., died at Florence, S. C. 

Newton Wellman, Co. E, 2lBt Regt., died at City Point, Va. 

William F. Wilson, U. S. Engineer Corps, died in hospital at Point of 
Rocks, Md. 

Alfred M. Whyte, Co. D, 2d Regt., died of wounds, at Antietam, Md. 

Nelson Wright, Co. E, 42d Regt., died at New Orleans. 

Farms. — There are in town about eighty farms of 
from thirty to two hundred acres each, on which the 
business of farming, in its various branches, is nearly 
the exclusive occupation of their owners ; while there 
are about twenty smaller farms of fifteen to thirty 
acres each, which occupy the time of their owners 
only a part of the time, the business lieing combined 
with, usually, some mechanical work. A majority of 
the larger farmers make the production of milk their 
principal business. This is sold from door to door in 
town early each morning. Several routes are supplied 
daily in Worcester, while many of the large farmers 
at the north part of the town send their milk by rail- 
road to Boston. But little, comptiratively, of butter 
and cheese are made. Considerable attention is given 
to raising vegetables and small fruits for home and 
Worcester markets. The great grain staples of corn, 
wheat, rye and oats are not raised to as great an extent 
as fifty years ago. 

From old records we learn that during the period 
from 1760 to 1820 not less than three thousand bushels 
of rye were annually raised in the town, with about 
the same quantity of corn and oats, and during the 
winter season much of this was taken to Boston 
market, where the farmers could realize $1.25 per 
bushel for the corn and rye. Large quantities of 
cider, too, were made, every family feelingthe necessity 
of " putting in " for home use several barrels. Large 
quantities of this, too, were taken to market, selling at 
from one to two dollars per barrel. Nearly every large 
farmer considered that a cider-mill was a necessary 



602 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



appendage to his farm. Sixty years ago there were 
not less than thirty of these mills in town ; now there 
is but one. Sixty years ago grafted fruit-trees were 
almost unknown ; now, but few apple-trees of natural 
fruit are allowed to grow. 

Hills. — Of the different hills in the town, " Mai- 
den Hill" is the most prominent and is much tlie 
largest and most elevated. This hill originally lay 
entirely in Holden, the line between Holden and 
Boylston running easterly of it. The early settlers of 
Holden gave it the name of " Mount Carmel," but in 
the memory of old people it has always been called by 
its present name. In changing the line between Hol- 
den and West Boylston, in the formation of the pre- 
cinct in 1787, and the town in 1808, the line was 
changed and fixed on the easterly side of this hill 
for its entire length. Just how this hill received 
its name seems to have been forgotten by all of 
our old people. 

We now offer the following history of facts, be- 
lieving that it will show when and why it was 
done. In 1665 the Colonial authorities made a grant 
of a tract of one thousand acres to the town of Mai- 
den, to help support the Gospel, which is described 
and located as follows : 

One thousand acrea of upland and meudow, about two miles distant 
southwesterly from the southwest coruer of Lancaster Bounds, as also 
about a mile distant Southwesterly from Ihe lands formerly granted 
and laid out unto Capt. Kichard Davenport, beginning at the south 
end of a high, rocky, pine hill, at a little red oak marked M, and 
from thence a line upon an East South East point, 212 rods, unto a 
pine marked M, and from thence a line upon a South point 040 
rods ; and from thence a line upon a West North West point 370 
rods ; and from thence a line upon a North by East point, six degrees 
Easterly, Q-An rods ; and these four lines so run making up the full 
compliment of the aforesaid one thousand acres, aa is more plainly 
described by a Plott. 

In 1736 the location of this tract of land came into 
the courts of this county in a dispute between Mai- 
den and Shrewsbury partie.s, the latter contending 
that " Maldeu Hill" was the hill named, and that 
the tract lay southerly of its southerly point, while 
the Maiden parties contended that it lay nearly 
two miles easterly of that point. In the long and 
somewhat bitter quarrel the name of Maiden was 
given to the hill and also to the brook rising in 
Holden and flowing around its southerly end, then 
along its easterly side to the Quinnepoxet River, 
and these names have ever since attached to both 
hill and brook. The location of the Maiden grant 
was decided, after the matter had been in the courts 
about two years, in favor of Maiden. Said location 
will be found in another page of this history. 
Maiden Hill is very rocky and uneven, with but little 
good grazing land. It contains some fine granite 
quarries. 

"Wellington Hill " was the name given to the 
long hill in the southerly part of the town, extending 
for a distance of about two miles north and south, over 
the ridge of which the line dividing this town from 
Boylston runs. The name of " Bond Hill " has for 



many years been given to this hill by the people of 
both towns. 

" Davenport Hill," in the northeastern part of the 
town, also lies partly in this town and partly in Boyls- 
ton. The high hill in the north part of the town has 
been sometimes called "Carter's Hill," but is not 
often spoken of as having any name. A new road 
has recently been built, nearly over its summit, from 
Oakdale, opening a beautiful prospect from its loca- 
tion, and it is suggested that "Prospect Hill" would 
be an appropriate name for it. Another high hill, 
extending southerly from the old Common, is usually 
spoken of as " Keyes' Hill." 

All four of these last-named hills are considered to 
be some of the best farming and grazing lands in 
town. " Pine Hill " is located in the easterly part of 
the town, and is a small, rocky hill, only producing a 
stunted growth of pine and shrub oaks. " Eames 
Ledge" is the name given to another rocky hill, lying 
directly south of the Worcester and Nashua Railroad, 
where said railroad was cut through the " big ledge." 
This was really the " high, rocky pine hill " named 
in the old grant of " Maiden farm," in 1665. 

The views from many points on these hills, into and 
over the valleys of our rivers, present to the eye of the 
beholder some very pleasing and picturesque scenes. 
At some points there seems to be barely room for the 
streams and a narrow road ; then a wide expanse of 
beautiful intervale opens to the eye, with grand old 
trees here and there, and rows of buildings on their 
margins. These intervales are probably some of the 
best farming lands in the county, and in extent cover 
several hundred acres, the largest one being below 
the junction of the Stillwater and Quinnepoxet 
Rivers, and extending into the town of Boylston. 

Pleasure Resort. — Pleasant Valley has been 
one of the most attractive and romantic places in the 
town to show to strangers. Situated in the south- 
easterly part of the town, and entirely surrounded 
by forests, is a small circular valley of about four 
acres, with hilts on all sides, except at one end, where a 
carriage-road makes access easy ; it seems like a nat- 
ural amphitheatre, with a natural growth of short green 
grass, on a surface seemingly as level as art could make 
it. In spring and summer it always presents to the eye 
a charming and beautiful spot. A singular fact in 
relation to this ground is th.at no tree or shrub has 
ever sprung up and grown from it, and nothing but 
the same short, wild grass has covered its surface. It 
has ever been the resort for parties of pleasure, com- 
ing from far and near to spend a few hours in this 
pleasant retired spot. Many years since, when travel 
between Worcester and points north was done by 
stages, one of our genial old stage-drivers would often 
take his load of passengers the mile from his route to 
show them the beauties of Pleasant Valley. It was no 
doubt once the bed of a pond, and, owing to some 
underground leakage, was drained. In the spring 
of the year, and in times of great rains, quite a stream 



I 



WEST BOYLSTON. 



603 



of water runs towards it, but finds some underground 
passage, and never fills this basin. About a hundred 
rods from it, and seventy to one hundred feet lower, 
at the edge of the intervale, is a remarkable spring 
of water, nearly as cold as ice-water, and constantly 
flowing through quicksand at all times of the year, 
in a volume of force to fill a pipe of three to six 
inches. Whether there is any connection between 
the two or not may be difficult to prove; but the 
theory has been suggested that the water going in 
from above finds icy chambers beneath, melting 
enough to pass off through the spring below. Both val- 
ley and spring have been, since the town was settled, 
places of attraction, both to old residents and visitors. 

Remarkable Longevity. — Mrs. Sarah Goodale 
was born in the town of Marlboro' in 1714, and 
married Edward Goodale, one of the early settlers of 
this town. They had five sons and one daughter— all 
born within twelve years of each other. The father 
died when about forty years of age, leaving his family 
in possession of a farm, with very little other property. 
Mrs. Goodale being a strong, robust woman, deter- 
mined to keep her family together, and succeeded so 
so well that she was enabled to pay to each one on 
coming to their majority their full proportion of the 
value of the estate, although she herself had become 
the bona fide owner of the homestead, She had 
become their legal guardian, and had assumed the 
control of the farm and business. These children all 
lived to old age, and in their turn manifested the 
same dutiful care and respect for their honored 
mother, during the latter portion of her life, which 
she had bestowed on them while in their childhood 
and early years. She died here in 1810, being in her 
ninety-seventh year, and at that time the oldest person 
who had died in the town. Herchildren all survived her 
and died as follows: Moses died in 1815, aged seventy- 
five years; Elizabeth died io 1837, aged ninety-six 
years; Aaron died in 1817, aged seventy-four years; 
Paul died in 1828, aged eighty-one years; David died 
in 1832, aged eighty-two years ; Peter died in 1834^ 
aged eighty-two years. This mother and all of these 
children were professors of religion, and manifested 
through all their lives a due regard for its principles 
in their treatment of each other and the world at 
large. 

At the close of the first half-century of this town's 
existence, in 1858, Miss Sarah Harthan was the oldest 
living person in the town. She was the eldest child 
of Micah Harthan, and was born in Lancaster in 
1763, where she resided for eighteen years, then 
resided in Shrewsbury five years, afterwards in Boyls- 
ton twenty-two years, and during the remainder of her 
life her residence was in West Boylston. It is a 
remarkable circumstance that during the first sixty 
years of her life she was a resident of all the four 
towns named, and never changed her place of abode. 
She died in the fall of 1858, aged nearly ninety-six 
years. 



" Anthony Taylor, son of Eleazer Taylor, of Boyls- 
ton, was born in 1749, came to West Boylston in 1808 
and lived here until his death, in 1819. He was a 
large, stout-built man, and supposed by his cotempo- 
raries not to be surpassed in muscular strength by any 
man in New England. In early life he performed 
several extraordinary feats, the relation of which 
might seem to challenge the belief of the most credu- 
lous. Yet, the credibility of those persons who wit- 
nessed and have given an account of these wonderful 
exhibitions of power and strength manifested and put 
forth by this man, render it quite certain that noth- 
ing more than the truth has been related about his 
great strength. One instance of his extraordinary 
muscular power was given while he was serving with 
the army at Cambridge in 1775. Approaching a 
field-piece, he lifted it from the ground and would 
have put it on his shoulder had not others interfered, 
both to save himself and the cannon from injury. 
Other accounts relative to his uncommon physical 
force were often cited and believed by persons of in- 
disputable testimony." Had this great force of body 
been directed by a like force of mind, wc should, no 
doubt, have now been able to record the history of a re- 
markable personage ; but we find in the records of the 
town for the year 1809 that the town voted "to put up 
at auction the town's poor, to be taken by the lowest 
l)idder," and " Anthony Taylor was bid off' by .lonathan 
Plympton at one dollar and three cents per week." 
In 1818 the price paid to Aaron Goodale was two dol- 
lars per week. Thelast yearof his life Anthony Taylor, 
with six other paupers, were all bid oflT by '' Jacob 
Hinds, to be cared for, for the year ensuing, for the 
sum of two hundred and sixty dollars," which sum 
was " to include clothing and nursing," and was not 
" to be reduced if any of the number should die be- 
fore the year's end." This practice of " auctioning 
off'" the town's poor was followed for several years 
later, but for the past fifty years other and less annoy- 
ing methods of arranging for their care has prevailed. 
Samuel Whitney is believed by his descendants to 
have been the first white man th.at lived on the terri- 
tory of what is now West Boylston. He certainly 
came here alone from Lexington, Mass., early in the 
last century, and made an opening in the northwest 
part ofthe town, on lands which, for several generations, 
have been owned and occupied by descendants of his, 
the Masons. He came here with only a dog for a 
companion, and using a great hollow log as the main 
part of his house, lived here alone for four years, ex- 
cepting in the winter seasons, when he returned to his 
family at Lexington. He was sometimes visited by 
Indian neighbors, but never had any trouble with 
them. After being here two years, early one fall 
morning be imagined he could hear a voice calling 
pig ! pig ! and was so impressed by it that he took his 
dog and gun and, crossing the Quinnepoxet River and 
following a southerly course about two miles, found 
another white man, a Lovell, who had been living 



604 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



there about six months. That nioniing his pig had 
strayed away and he had been using his voice, to its 
loudest extent, in calling it. 

After living on his clearing alone tour years, Mr. 
Whitney brought his family to the ])lace and settled 
down for a permanent home. They had three daugh- 
ters to afterwards grow up and marry, the first one to 
a Thomas, the second to a Whittaker, the third to a 
Mason, the descendants of the last living on the same 
spot up to the present time. 

The EARTHiiUAKE. — The Great Earthquake, as it 
has been termed, happened late in the evening of No- 
vember 18, 1755, and as it left its only traces within the 
limits of this town, it can be claimed as exclu.sively 
local, even although at the time of its occurrence 
the territory where its effects are, and long will be 
visible, was within the limits of Holden, and before 
that town's incorporation, of "Worcester. "At the 
time of its occurrence it produced great commotion, 
alarm and consternation. Dwelling-houses were 
shaken so severely as to cause kettles and other things 
to rattle and make much noise, plates and other arti- 
cles were thrown from shelves, and people who had 
retired found their beds rocking like cradles." Soon 
afterwards it was discovered that a large piece of land 
of some acres in extent, situated in the northwest 
part of this town (then Holden), had sunk several 
feet ; an acre or more seems to have sunk from forty 
to seventy-five feet. Some accounts of the occurrence, 
which have been heretofore given, say " that trees and 
stumps were split, parts of which were found at oppo- 
site sides of the opening." A visit to the spot at the 
present day will give the visitor a good idea of what 
happened, with the extent of the convulsion. The 
location is on the banks of the (iuinnepoxet River, 
about forty rods above the mills of S. R. Warfield. 
and near to Holden line. At this point there was a 
high blurt' of from fifty to eighty feet high rising from 
the river's bank. The opening, as now seen, is but a 
few feet above the river's bed, but on its other side, 
being somewhat oval in shape, it rises abruptly in 
many places at least seventy feet, being as steep as 
the earth would naturally fall. These banks are now 
covered by a growth of trees of large size. A road 
has been made down one side of this opening, and a 
good growth of grass is cut in the pit each year. This 
earthquake was felt over a large extent of territory, 
from Chesapeake Bay to Halifax, but this was the 
only location where any of its ert'ects were so fully 
manifested. It ha|)pened in the same month and 
year with the terrible convulsion which destroyed a 
large portion of the city of Lisbon in Portugal. The 
year following this earthquake a terrible sickness 
raged in this vicinity, which, at the time, was attrib- 
uted to this convulsion. It was confined mostly to 
young people and children, a large number of whom 
died. 

The Hard Winter. — The winter of 1780 has ever 
been spoken of as " the hard winter " by those whom 



some of our present citizens remember as recalling 
its severity. It was remarkable for the great depth 
of snow, and the severe cold which continued for 
several months, or from November until near the 1st 
of April. Snow had fallen early in November be- 
fore the ground had frozen, and all the succeeding 
storms were of snow, no rain falling for a period of 
over five months. Towards the last of December a 
snow-storm commenced and lasted several days, cov- 
ering rocks, fences and buildings to such an extent 
that no roads were opened for several weeks. No 
teams were used, wood for fires was cut from day to 
day and transported on hand-sleds, by men and boys 
wearing snow-shoes. Thi.^, too, was the only mode of 
communication between neighbors, when any heavy 
articles were moved; all grain to and from the mills 
was taken in this way — in fact, all travel was limited 
to snow-shoes and hand-sleds as the means of pass- 
ing from one point to another. 

This great accumulation of snow remained about 
two months, when, the weather moderating some- 
what, it began to settle and eventually all vanished 
without any fall of rain, leaving the ground warm 
and dry, ready for cultivation. No records appear 
that give any indication that the season following 
was in any way a remarkable one, but, on the 19th 
of the following May, we have an account of a re- 
markable phenomenon recalled as " The Dark Day." 
Early in the morning of that day the atmosphere 
had the appearance of being filled with a dense fog 
of yellowish hue, rolling about in large masses, con- 
stantly rising and moving along. It was so dark at 
midday that it was necessary to use lighted candles 
while people ate their dinners. So strange and 
novel was the appearance on that day that many 
were struck with consternation, and nearly all work 
and business came to a standstill. The night follow- 
ing was an uncommonly dark one, but nothing un- 
usual followed this phenomenon, after that one day 
and night. 

On September 23. 1815, occurred what has been 
termed the " Great Blow," which proved very destruc- 
tive in this vicinity, causing great damage to fruit and 
forest trees, buildings aud fences. Fruit of all kinds 
was nearly all blown from the trees, while large num- 
bers of fruit and forest trees were uprooted and de- 
stroyed. Traces of this tempest are to be seen to this 
day, where large trees were uprooted. It was undoubt- 
edly the most des ructive tornado which has occurred 
in New England since its settlement by white men, as 
it extended over a large portion of it. 

About fourteen years since a whirlwind or tornado, 
starting in the southwest part of this county, swept 
through this town with great force, leaving a path of 
only a few feet in width, tearing up, twisting and 
breaking all trees in its course, several of which were 
of large size. P^ortunately, no persons and only two 
buildings were in its path, and the buildings were 
only struck on one side. After passing through this. 



J 




641 U 



-U^W/^ 




o^^itoif^ (yyu ^^fT^o/vyyO 



WEST BOYLSTON. 



605 



town it appeared to have spent its force, but traces of 
it were seen for eight or ten miles beyond the limits 
of the town to the northwest. 

In 1790 there were four families within the limits 
of what is now West Boylston, and all living in the 
same neighborhood, whose children, in the aggregate, 
numbered forty-five, all of whom, with two exceptions, 
lived to mature life, were married and had from five 
to ten children each. 

On the farm of the late Addison Lovell, on Mai- 
den Hill, is an apple tree grown from a twig, which, 
with others, was bound to the yoke of a pair of oxen 
which came with the first Lovell to this spot, as its 
fir.st settler, over one hundred and fifty years ago 
The tree is still in a bearing condition. 

The location of the two old grants of land made 
by the Colonial authorities, more than two hundred 
years ago, were located as follows, it being under- 
stood that, owing to the imperfect compasses used in 
former times, as well as the taking of difficult measure- 
ments and the disappearance of the marked boundaries, 
an exact location cannot be now given of these tracts 
of land. 

Davenport Farm. — This was a tract of land of 
six hundred acres, granted to Capt. Richard Daven- 
I)ort in 1658, who was at that time in the military 
employment of the government, and was afterwards 
killed by lightning at a fort in Boston harbor. This 
tract was a right-angled triangular shaped lot, with 
its longest line extending nearly east and west on the 
old south line of Lancaster, about two miles, with its 
western end somewhere between our present stone 
bridge and the central bridge, and with its two 
shorter lines, of about four hundred and forty 
and four hundred and seventy rods, meeting near the 
present boundaries of Boylston and West Boylston, 
and showing that this tract covered all of the 
large intervale farms on the Nashua River, be- 
ginning at the west end, with the old Beaman farm, 
in this town, and extending easterly over the inter- 
vening farms, with the old Davenport farms, in Boyls- 
ton, at its eastern extremity. After-surveys of this 
tract showed that it contained nearly nine hundred 
acres. 

Malden Farm. — This was a tract granted to the 
town of Maiden in 1665, of one thousand acres. 
This tract was about two miles long, two hundred 
and twelve rods wide at its northerly and three hun- 
dred and seventy rods at its southerly end. The 
tract was afterwards about equally divided from south 
to north by a line running on the present boundary 
line between Boylston and West Boylston, commenc- 
ing at the corner of Shrewsbury and running 
northerly, over Wellington or Bond's Hill, to the 
first angle on the old Dunton farm, thus showing 
that this tract was located, one-half in the present 
town of Boylston, the other half in West Boyls- 
ton, with a corner at its southwest angle extending 
into Worcester. 



In looking back, at this day, to the time when these 
two tracts were located, with the idea that at that time 
both must have been in a complete wilderness, it seems 
wonderful that they should prove to be the best land 
in the region of their location. The Davenport tract 
covers wliat has proved to be intervale land, second to 
none in the State, except perhaps the Deerfield mead- 
ows. 

The Maiden grant, too, covers some of the be.st up- 
land and meadow farms in this town and Boylston, 
both showing that the men and explorers who located 
these tracts were men whose instincts and sound judg- 
ments were strong ones. 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 
LINUS M. HARRIS. 

The subject of this sketch, Linus M. Harris, the 
senior member of the firm of L. M. Harris & Co., was 
the son of Henry and Waty (Smith) Harris, and was 
born in Scituate, R. I., October 24, 1814. He was the 
eldest child of the large family of a poor man, who 
was only able to give him the benefit of what school- 
ing he could get from attending the winter terms of 
a common country school until he was fourteen years 
of age, when he went into a cotton mill as "back boy ,'> 
and commenced a connection with the cotton manu- 
fiicture which has continued to the present day. In 
addition to his boyhood schooling, he attended a 
school the winter after his eighteenth birthday. His 
experience in factory life, as a hoy, was commenced 
in the Richmond mill in Scituate, R. I., where he 
worked three years; then in the Sprague mill, at 
Smitbfield, R. I., one year; then with the Blackstone 
Manufacturing Co., at Mendon, Mass. (now Black- 
stone), two years ; then at Woonsocket, R. I., ten 
years (up to 1845), when he came to West Boylston. 

While living at Woonsocket he married Mi.ss 
Armilla E. Rounds at Providence B. I., October 24, 
1838, it being the twenty-fourth anniversary of his 
birth. Before leaving Woonsocket they had three 
children, all of whom died before the family came to 
Massachusetts. In 1845 Mr. Harris came to this town 
and commenced business in the Holt Mill at Harris- 
ville, as noted elsewhere, where he remained about 
nine years, when he went into business with E. W. 
Holbrook at the Central Village, on the rebuilding of 
his mill in 1854. In 1865 Mr. Harris left the Hol- 
brook Mill and resumed the principal management of 
the mill at Harrisville, which he still retains, together 
with the Whiting Mill, built a few years afterwards. 
Of these two mills he is an equal owner with his 
brother, Charles M. Harris, and brother-in-law, Alfred 
Whiting. He is also one of the owners in the large 
mills at Oakdale, known as the West Boylston Manu- 
facturing Company, and also of two smaller mills in 
Holden on the Quinnepoxet River. Mr. Harris has 



606 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



been a very successful man in his business, liaving 
accumulated a handsome competence, and has ever 
been an active and influential man in public and town 
affairs, serving several years on the Board of Select- 
men and going to the (Jeneral Court as Representa- 
tive, etc. 

Both Mr. Harris and his wife are still vigorous after 
a married life of over fifty years. Since living in 
West BoylstoD, three daughters and one son have 
been born to ihem, all of whom are living and are 
active, influential members of the community where 
they live, the youngest being now about thirty-six 
years of age. 



CHARLES M. HARRIS. 

Charles M. Harris, son of Henry and Waty S. 
Harris, was born in Proi'idence, R. I., August 3, 
1822. The family moved soon after to Scituate, R. I., 
where, when old enough, young Charles went to 
school about eight weeks in the summer and winter, 
or as long as the money raised for schools would last, 
eked out by the teachers being boarded around among 
the families who had children to send to school, the 
school-rooms being fitted up with oak slabs for seats, 
which were raised so high from the floor that the feet 
of the smaller children would hang several inches 
above it. This style of schooling continued until he 
was about thirteen years of age. After that time he 
was ibrtunate enough to get two short terms of school 
in the winter when a year or two older. This consti- 
tuted all the school attendance of the subject of this 
sketch. At six years of age he was put into the 
Richmond Cotton Mill at Scituate, to work between 
schools, where by working from fourteen to fifteen 
hours a day his services were considered worth fifty 
cents per week or a trifle over half a cent an hour. His 
wages gradually increased to seventy-five cents, one 
dollar and one dollar and twenty-five cents per week 
up to the time when he was fourteen years of age, 
and from that time they continued to advance until, 
at twenty years of age, he was receiving from six to 
seven dollars for a week's work. 

From the Richmond mill he had gone to the 
Sprague mill at Smithfield, R. I.; from there to the 
Blackstone mill at Mendon, Mass.; then to Woon- 
socket, R. I. In the spring of 1842 he began the 
manufacture of thread in company with David S. 
Wilder at Woonsocket, and in the fall of that year 
they came to West Boylston, and buying the small 
mill at the central village, began the manufacture of 
satinet warps. They also leased a mill in Uolden, in 
which they carried on the same business. In 1845 he 
sold out his interest in these mills and formed a part- 
nership with his brothers, who had bought the "Holt 
mill '' at Harrisville. The next year he, with his 
brother Gideon, went to Scituate, R. I., and leased 
the old Richmond mill, in which he began work as a 
boy, where they remained about two years, when they 
returned to Harrisville, largely increased the capacity 



of the mill there and were doing a good business up 
to the time when the mill was burned in 1851. The 
mill was rebuilt, the machinery was all in and work 
was resumed again in a year from the date of the fire. 
In 1857 Mr. Harris went to Poquonnock, in the town 
of Windsor, Ct., and run a mill three and a half 
years, and from there went to Savage, Howard 
County, Md., and, in company with another party, 
run a mill one year and a half, then came back to 
West Boylston, having been very successful in busi- 
ness at each of these places. 

In 1861 he, with his oldest brother, Linus M. Har- 
ris, and J. H. Lane, of New York, bought the large 
mills of the West Boylston Manufacturing Company, 
at Oakdale, and he assumed the general management 
of the business. Here he has remained up to the 
present time. The history of these mills is given on 
other pages of this history, and does not need repeat- 
ing. There is little doubt that the growth and suc- 
cess of the business of this company is largely owing 
to the business talent and large executive ability of 
Mr. Harris since his connection with it. In Novem- 
ber, 1848, he married Miss Emily Dean, who is still 
living. They have had three children, all now living. 
Henry F. is a lawyer in Worcester; Charles M., Jr., 
is a superintendent in the mill, aud Emily A. is the 
wife of Alonzo R. Wells. 



SAMUEL R. WARFIELD. 

Samuel Randall Warfield, son of Luther and Alcey 
Thompson Warfield, was born in Mendon, Mass., 
September 28, 1821. He received a good education 
in the common and high-schools of his native town 
and Millbury, Mass., his father moving to Millbury 
when Samuel was twelve years of age. He began 
work in acotton-miil there and when twenty years of 
aye was a " mule fixer." Soon after he was promoted 
to overseer of the weaving-room. In 1851 he began 
business at Millbury for himself in the manufacture 
of thread or yarn, and continued it until 18.5t>. In 
October of that year he went to Perkinsville, Vt., 
where he followed the same business eight years. He 
then went to Griswold, Ct., and remained in the 
same business about three years. 

He bought the property in this town in 1868, his 
oldest son, Edwin R. Warfield, coming here to super- 
intend the building up and starting of the works. 
This son failing in health, Mr. Warfield came here 
three or four years afterwards and has ever since re- 
mained here. 

Edwin R. Warfield died November 10, 1876, aged 
twenty-seven years. He was a very energetic and 
capable man, and his loss was a sad one to his father. 
It interfered much with the plans he had made for 
the future. Those plans, however, so far as they re- 
lated to the developing of the fine water-power in this 
town, have been since carried out, as is shown in the 
history of his mills on other pages of this history. 











c^^'^/U,-^-d-'^^-^::>^ 



I 



BLACKSTONE. 



607 



Mr. Warfield has proved himself to be a very energetic 
and capable man of business, and has been a very 
successful one. He is still hale and hearty, promising 
to remain so for many years to come. 

He married Miss Eliza Jane Maxwell in February, 
1843, who is still living. They have had four children, 
two of whom died while young. The fourth, Austin 
H. Warfield, is now about thirty-six years of age, is 
married, and is an active business man, associated 
with his father in his present business. 






CHAPTER LXXXIV. 
BLACKSTONE. 

BY .\DRIAN SCOTT, M.D. 

1. Purchase of the Territory. — The legal 
title to the soil of what now forms the town of Black- 
stone was passed from the aboriginal owners to people 
of the English name in the deed delivered to Moses 
Payne and Peter Brackett, of Braintree, by an Indian 
chief, on the 8th day of September, 1662. 

To the whole of the purchase then made the name 
of Mendon was soon afterwards given. The town of 
Blackstone, the last of several towns carved, in whole 
or in part, out of that territory, was really marked out 
by the estaldishment of the so-called South Precinct 
in 1766, but it was nearly eighty years later before the 
town was incorporated. 

It contains almost exactly one-fourth part of the 
land granted in that original deed, and its propor- 
tional price would be the sum of six pounds sterling, 
which we will trust was duly and faithfully paid to 
the natives in current coin of the realm of. King 
Charles II. 

2. Its Bounds and Area. — The South Precinct 
of the town of Mendon was separated from the First 
Precinct by a vote of the General Court, November 
8, 1766. The bounds are given as follows : Beginning 
at the southwest corner of Mendon, then on Uxbridge 
three miles one hundred and twenty-eight rods to a 
stake and stones on Capt. Daniel Taft's farm ; thence 
turning and running east eight degrees south to stake 
and stones by road leading from Thomas Taft's to 
John Boyce's ; continuing the same course to a stake 
and stones by road leading from I)am Swamp to Ens. 
Benjamin Darling's; continuing the same course to 
a stake and stones on the east side of Rehoboth Road, 
south of Darius Daniel's orchard ; then the same 
course to a pine tree at Bellingham line, with Daniel 
Taft's and Joseph Day's farms on the north side of 
line. 

The area thus included is stated to be 10,295 acres 
by Mr. H. F. Walling, who made a survey by order of 
the town in 1854. The westerly line, as stated above, 
is 3 miles 128 rods ; the northerlv, 4 miles 248 rods ; 



the easterly, 3 miles 100 rods ; and the southerly, 
about 4 miles 230 rods. The latter line, as part of the 
disputed boundary between Massachusetts and Rhode 
Island, has fluctuated much. 

3. Topography and Geology. — The whole town / 
lies in the valley of the Blackstone River, which/ 
flows through its southern section. Northerly from 
the river the surface rises -in some places with ab- 
ruptness — and continues to rise beyond the town's 
limits. Two-thirds of its area is included in this de- 
scription without much variation from the course of 
four or five small streams trending southerly into the 
river. Fox Brook, the largest of these streams, has 
its head-waters in several brooks issuing from the 
spurs of Chestnut Hill, the largest, or main stream, 
issuing from the extensive Pine Swamp between 
Caleb Taft's and the Uxbridge line. The eastern 
third of the town is occupied by the Mill River 
valley, itself a tributary of the Blackstone, but not 
reaching it within the town limits. This stream has 
also in much of its course steep, precipitous banks 
the intervales being generally where smaller streams 
are received as tributaries. The largest and most im- 
portant of these is Quickstream, which rises in an 
extensive swamp beyond the town limits in Belling- 
ham. Second in size is the Hop Swamp Brook, ris- 
ing in Mendon, and in its southeasterly course drain- 
ing the locally famous Dam Swamp. 

The town has no natural lakes or large ponds, and 
the area occupied by its streams is stated by Mr. 
Walling to be ninety acres. The highest land is found 
in the extreme northwest, in the hills collectively 
known as Chestnut Hill. More isolated are the 
Daniels Hill, north of the centre of the town, and 
Waterbug Hill, a little southwest of the centre. East 
of Mill River, Candlewood Hill stretches north and 
south a distance of about two miles. Pond's Hill 
overlooks the village of Waterford, and presents ab- 
rupt sides, both towards Fox Brook on the west and 
Blackstone River on the south. 

The rocky bed underlying these hills is mainly 
gneifS, with some granite in the northwest. In all 
parts of the town granite boulders are found, and 
these afford material for walls. But no quarry of 
good granite is known to exist within the town limits. 
In the Mill River valley the hills in many places have 
the conical appearance of sand dunes near a sea-coast, 
and many of them are composed of quite pure white 
sand. 

In the Mendon town records, under the year 1700, 
it is recorded that votes were passed in relation to iron 
ore and an iron mine in the southern part of the 
town. It is plain, however, after a careful considera- 
tion, that this must have referred to Iron Mine Hill 
in Cumberland. By records a little earlier and later 
it appears that even Woonsocket Falls were then 
claimed as within the town, and a similar exercise of 
squatter sovereignty claimed Iron Mine Hill. It does 
not appear that any metals have been found in the 



(i08 



lliaXOKY OF WORCESTER COUiNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



soil of Blackstone beyond the quantity known to 
chemists as " traces." 

4. Flora and Fauna. — The chestnut, birch, 
maple and walnut are the predominant forest trees in 
the town, although the pine swamps have been of 
great value in the past. Oaks of several species are 
found rather plentifully, and numerous other woods 
have representatives. The denuding of the forest 
surfaces, through the demand for fire-wood and lum- 
ber, has had its usual effect upon the streams and in- 
directly upon the fertility of the meadows and the 
quality of the crops grown upon them. 

No larger game than the red fox now haunts our 
woods, although in colonial times wolves and deer 
were plentiful. Woodchucks and skunks are great 
pests to the farmers, and rabbits are still to be found 
in young pine and other undergrowth. 

5. Soil and Productions. — The town offers a 
great variety of soils, from one of almost pure sand 
to rich, deep loam. Mill River Valley has in the 
northern end of the town light, sandy soil, free from 
stone, easily worked and giving early crops. But dry 
weather seriously affects and sometimes ruins crops. 
The lower end of this valley is now but little used as 
tillage land. Fifty years ago, liy a system of trench 
irrigation, the meadows southward from the Old 
Forge Pond were made very productive. The central 
and western parts of the town present a better soil, 
but a very rocky one. The Chestnut Hill region, with 
its famous Benson Great Meadow, has some good 
farms, but they require on the part of their owners 
unremitting toil of the most arduous kind. South of 
the Blackstone River again the soil is lighter, but 
gradually grows stonier as one approaches the Rhode 
Island line. 

The raising of cattle, hogs and sheep, once the pre- 
dominant farming interest of the town, has nearly 
ceased. The production of milk to sell in the villages 
and market gardening with the same end now occupy 
nine-tenths of the farmers. There are a good many 
orchards growing fine fruit, but the number of trees 
is slowly diminishing. There are a few good cran- 
berry bogs, but the crop is uncertain unless artifi- 
cially protected from the frosts. 

G. The Earliest Settlers. — The town of Men- 
don was settled under the proprietary system, each 
settler having his grant, his common right in all the 
unappropriated land, and his share when any section 
was divided. It is probable that the earliest settlers 
took up their abode here not far fiom the year 1700. 
They entered the town from two points — on the west 
at Chestnut Hill, whence they passed down to the 
Blackstone River at Millville; on the east they set- 
tled up and down the Mill Riveras far as Woonsocket 
Falls. Exact knowledge as to the earliest proprietors 
is perhaps unobtainable. Some who came very early,. 
however, are mentioned in the records so definitely 
that we can grasp the fact. 

In the Mendon records we find that Jonathan 



Richardson had land laid out on the lower course of 
Mill River in 1700 and upon (iuickstream in 1702. 
Of this man we know nothing further, save the fact 
that in 1699 he received the usual bounty per head 
from the town of Mendon for killing five grown 
wolves. It is probable that this pioneer in the pleas- 
ant fields of the coming East Blackstone was accom- 
panied by other proprietors and those who were not 
proprietors. Two years before, in 1698, the Rehoboth 
road was laid out down through the Mill River Valley 
from Mendon town to the Dedham- line, correspond- 
ing nearly to the Bellingham line. Elm Street in our 
days represents this most ancient of our legal high- 
ways. By family tradition rather than by any records 
we know that the founders of the two families of 
Daniels and Thayer were fairly settled in the north- 
eastern portion of the tow-n about 1710, and owned 
and occupied the land in that section by proprietor's 
rights. 

We find the heads of these families distinctly re- 
corded in 1718, when the selectmen laid out a road 
from the Coverdale place to Hop Brook, at the pres- 
ent residence of Sylvanus White, forming what is 
now the northerly half of Blackstone Street. Eleazer 
Daniels, Josiah Thayer and Lieut. Samuel Thayer 
asked land damages on account of this new highway, 
and were granted the same out of common land. 

Two years before this, in 1716, the town appointed 
a committee to lay out a road from the iron works to 
Dedham. These iron works were probably the forge 
established by Jonathan Richardson at the easterly 
end of the Forge Pond, on Mill River, and the road 
then laid out would be the Bellingham Street of the 
present. 

With the settlement of this Mill River valley, and 
its reduction to fertile fields, grew up the need of a 
grist-mill in the neighborhood. The first mention of 
this mill is in 17.5.3, when it was spoken of as some- 
thing well known under the title of Cargill's Mill. 
James Cargill belonged to the Society of Friends, and 
in the lists of Quakers prepared for the town August 
30, 1756, his name appears. Not far from this time 
the grist-mill became the property of Seth Kelly, who 
came to Mendon from Sandwich, in Barnstable 
County, and married a daughter of David Daniels, 
son of Eleazer, previously mentioned. This mill has 
since been known as Kelly's Mill, having remained 
in the hands of his lineal descendants. A saw-mill 
was added at an early date, and in the first quarter of 
the present century a cotton-mill was built to be run 
by the same water privilege. In 1809 Seth Kelly the 
younger and James Paine erected a wooden mill for 
manufacturing cotton goods on the south side of Park 
Street, just below the old forge. About 1823 was 
built the machine-shop of Paine & Ray, on the 
Quickstream, on the location of the satinet-mill at 
present owned by Mr. Perrin. Some four or five 
years later Caleb Colvin built a small cotton-mill of 
brick, and Messrs. Paine & Ray one of wood, locally 



BLACKSTONE. 



609 



known as the Squat Mill, near the junction of the 
Quickstream with Mill Eiver. From about 1825 to 
1835 this portion of the town was blessed with great 
business activity and success. Colonel Joseph Ray 
owed his military title to the fact that he was colonel 
of a militia regiment composed of companies from 
Mendon, Uxbridge, Milford and Douglass. 

The first post-oiEce in what is now the town of 
Blackstone was established in 1822 at Five Corners, 
with Samuel Allen as postmaster, and wiili the name 
of South Mendon post-office. Daniel Kelly was soon 
after made postmaster, and the office was transferred 
to his house at the foot of the Handy road. Upon 
Mr. Kelly's death, in 1826, Elbridge G. Daniels was 
appointed postmaster, and held the position until 
1850, the post-office being kept in his house opposite 
the Coverdale stand. The name of the office was 
changed to North Blackstone in 1845. 

The people of the Mill River section of the Mendon 
South Parish seem to have been largely Anabaptists 
and Friends. Until the beginning of the present 
century the latter had attended the meeting in Men- 
don village, where the Friends built a meeting-house 
in 1729. In 1799 Samuel Smith, a well-to-do farmer 
belonging to the society, conveyed a piece of land to 
trustees for the erection of a meeting-house on the 
southern margin of his farm. Here, in 1812, was 
erected the building still standing, and meetings 
twice in the week were held here with the greatest 
regularity for many years. This meeting absorbed 
the membership from Mendon Meeting when the 
latter was discontinued in 1841. The Anabaptists 
were associated with others of that view in the town 
of Bellingham, and never erected any house in East 
Blackstone. 

Turning now to the westerly side of the town, we 
find that, traditionally, at least, the Southwick family 
is the oldest of the white settlers within the town's 
limits. That name is intimately associated with those 
of Aldrieh and Taft in South Uxbridge, and un- 
doubtedly families of those three names owned land 
within our limits before the new settlers came down 
irom Mendon way. South of the Blackstone 
River the Mendon proprietors, about 1700, found 
themselves in conflict with a proprietor, acting 
under authority from the Providence Plantation, of 
the name of Samuel Comstock. The Southwicks, 
it is presumed, were settled upon grants of land re- 
ceived from him. 

Korth of the Blackstone, and at Chestnut Hill, the 
earliest names seem to be those of Benson and Dar- 
ling. In the village of Millville, encroached upon by 
Main Street, just beyond the residence of Willard 
Wilson, is a neglected burying-ground, containing 
seven tombstones, whose inscriptions are still legible 
in whole or in part. These bear the names of Benoni 
Benson, died in 1761, aged 71 years; Abigail Benson, 
died in 1751, aged 32 years; Hannah Goldthwaite, 
died in 1800, aged 70 years; John Goldthwaite, died 
39 



in 1800, aged 69 years; John Darling, died in 1760, 
aged 75 years ; Daniel Darling, died in 1745, aged 64 
years; Darling, died in 1746. 

These are said to be the oldest inscriptions upon 
gravestones in the town, and point to a settlement 
early in the eighteenth century. From the Mendon 
records, under date of May 16, 1732, we learn that 
Samuel Thompson then owned a grist mill on the isl- 
and, at what is now Millville. He bargained with 
the town to maintain the bridge from the island to 
the south bank of the Blackstone River, provided the 
town would build and maintain the bridge on the 
north side. From this will date the first lay out of 
Central Street, in Millville. Towards the close of the 
century a fulling-mill was built here, and in 1814 
Esek Pitts built the first woolen-mill ever erected upon 
the Blackstone River. The Island Mill was erected 
in 1835. The Stone Mill, destroyed by fire in 1874, 
and since partially rebuilt, was erected by Collins 
Capron in 1825. The entire river privilege was 
bought out by Welcome Farnum in 1845, and the 
brick mill was added by him directly after to the com- 
bination already existing. The forging of axes and 
scythes was a Millville industry early in the century. 

A post-office was first established in Millville in 
1827 and Willard Wilson was postmaster at three 
diflerent times, viz. : 1827-42, 1845-49, 1853-61. 
Preston Warfield was the postmaster in 1842-43, and 
George Staples, 1843-45. Preserved L. Thayer was 
twice postmaster, 1849-53 and from 1861-73. 

The first church erected in Millville appears to have 
been the one on Central Street, of which the base- 
ment is now occupied as a store by Thomas T. Smith. 
It was built in 1833 by the Methodist Reformed 
Church Society. In 1838 a second church was erected 
by the Presbyterians on Bow Street, but the society 
was short-lived and the church building became the 
property of the Methodist Episcopal Church about 
1850. 

It must be remembered that the original settlers of 
this section and their descendants were in general 
either Friends attending the South Uxbridge Meet- 
ing, or Presbyterians attending the Chestnut Hill 
Meeting. The latter was the religious centre of the 
South Parish, incorporated in 1766. Its substantial 
wooden meeting-house, built in 1769,. is still stand- 
ing in a well-preserved condition. On the 14th 
September, 1768, Rev. Benjamin Balch was settled 
as its pastor; but owing to disputes with his people 
about the " provisions and other necessaries of life," 
especially fire-wood, included in the loose end of the 
arrangement for his salary, he fell into the contempt 
of his parishioners and fled in the night, March 27, 
1773, to the town of Dedham. No settled pastor 
was had after him until the Rev. Preserved Smith 
came in 1805. He remained seven years and his 
memory is blessed. The society became extinct be- 
fore the Millville Church was built. 

The valuable water-powers at Millville and Woon- 



610 



HISTOKY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



socket had been occupied and used for nearly a cen- 
tury each before a yet more valuable one, interme- 
diate between them, was taken advantage of and 
developed by the Blackstone Manufacturing Company. 
This company, consisting of Nicholas Brown and 
Thomas P. Ives, the surviving partners of the old- 
time commercial firm of Brown & Ives, with Samuel 
Butler, Cyrus Butler and Seth Wheaton, purchased 
some two hundred and sixty acres of land on both 
aides of the river about the year 1804. These 
men were all residents of Providence, R. I., and had 
made fortunes in commerce before turning their at- 
tention to manufacturing. The section of land thus 
purchased was practically uninhabited, and the first 
building erected by the new owners of the soil was 
a large building to aflbrd shelter and cooking facilities 
for the workmen, known as the Cook House. It was 
long since demolished, but stood somewhat north of 
the present Arcade Building. Work was pushed 
upon dam, mill and tenement houses, but it was not 
until 1809 that the mill was completed and work was 
begun. At first and for a good many years the cotton 
was spun at the mill and the weaving was done on 
hand-looms in the lonely farm-houses scattered 
through the surrounding country. 

A respected fellow-townsman, whose memory of 
Blackstone Village dates back to the year 182u, gives 
the following description of it as it was at that date. 
A street, corresponding to our present Main Street, 
crossed the mill-trench to the north of the site of the 
iron bridge, passing through the lower ground. The 
high bluff, now known as the New City and the High 
Rocks, was common laud crowned with a thick growth 
of oak wood, but having no houses. Westward of our 
Mendon Street, from the company's barn northward 
to the tavern stand at the four corners, were very 
rough rocky pastures and wooded swamps. Eastward 
were heavy woods close up to the road, full of game 
in those days, wood pigeons, partridges, rabbits and 
gray squirrels. Yankee Yard was then an open lot 
without a house. Back Street (now Middle) had eight 
houses and Mill Street (now Church) was pretty nearly 
as now, save that no church was there nor Arcade, the 
site of the latter being a sand-bank. Farther down, 
from the site of Masonic Hall eastward to Fox Brook, 
Main Street became a mere cart- path through swamp 
and wouds. The Rhode Island side of the river was 
reached over a woodeu bridge occupying the site of 
the present one on Mendon Street in the rear of 
Blackstone Mills. As to the mill itself, only the old, 
or No. 1 Mill of the present buildings, existed. Where 
now stand the stone mills of later date were then sev- 
eral wooden buildings, containing a grist-mill, saw- 
mill, blacksmith-!.hop and machine shop with a wood- 
shop above it. Hereabouts stood also a gambrel- 
roofed house occupied as a residence by superintend- 
eats and overseers. This was afterwards moved to 
the corner of Mendon and Canal Streets and is now 
the boarding-house. A little up the intervale stood 



a house where the cloth was bleached and calendered, 
while the old brick tenement house with wooden ex- 
tensions, north of Main Street and beside the New 
York and New England tracks, was built and used for 
years as a dye-house, its location being determined by 
a fine spring of water in the rear of it. On the ground 
now occupied by the tracks of the Providence and 
Worcester Railroad, from the counting-room towards 
the iron bridge and on that occupied by the Black- 
stone Station, stood a row of buildings. First, a stone 
boarding-house nearly fronting the present counting- 
room site ; secondly, a stone store almost on the site 
of the railroad station-house ; thirdly, a stone store- 
house; and fourthly, quite up under the bluff, were 
sheds for horses and the hand fire-engine. This row 
of buildings has entirely disappeared, but they played 
a very important part in the village life of 1820. The 
store especially was a depot of supplies for the country 
round about. Blackstone had its hotel at that date in 
the second house above the Arcade, on what is now 
called Church Street, and a landlord in the person of 
one William Bussey. The Cook house was occupied 
by one Southworth at this time, who made shuttles 
there. The old vestry building, now revamped to do 
service as a public library building, was both church 
and school-house. The school was kept in session for 
forty weeks in the year, the long winter term of six- 
teen weeks always being taught by a master. For text- 
books a full equipment numbered only a Webster's 
Spelling-Book, a Columbian First Class Book, a Da- 
boll's or Adams' Arithmetic, Morse's Geography (ab- 
ridged), Murray's English Grammar and a New Testa- 
ment. In the average New England winter the Black- 
stone Company used to have much trouble in keeping 
its great stone mill warm, although four-foot wood 
was crowded into its numerous fire-places without 
stint. A trial of box iron stoves gave not much better 
results, and the problem was not settled until Lehigh 
coal came to the rescue. The superintendent was a 
man named Tripp, who had lost the sight of one eye, 
a driving business man, well-liked by the mill-help. 
As superintendents' names we find Tripp's succeeded 
by Whipple, Waterman and Hartshorn down to 1833, 
when Holder Borden came under the new title of 
agent of the Blackstone Manufacturing Company. 
He was succeeded by Silas H. Kimball in 1834, who 
remained in charge until 1853, and was succeeded by 
Henry C. Kimball, his son, the present agent. Four 
large additions to the mill-buildings, forming by them- 
selves a connected group apart from the No. 1 Mill, 
were erected in 1841, 1845, 1847 and 1854 respectively. 
In 1820 no village existed in what we call Water- 
ford. Only three farm-houses were to be found in all 
that section — Peter Gaskill's (now David's), Cogswell 
Chase's, not far from the present residence of Daniel 
Chase, and Elisha Gaskill's, just eastward of Chase's, 
near the brook. Pond Hill was covered with a heavy 
forest growth, predominantly pine, in which the wild 
pigeons found a congenial home. The snaring of 



BLACKSTONE. 



611 



pigeons in the season for the market was an impor- 
tant business with Peter Gaskill, who even in those 
days was not unmolested by mischievous boys. 

In 1825 Welcome and Darius D. Farnum built a 
satinet mill which in local terms was afterward known 
as Waterford No. .3. This mill was an extremely 
profitable investment from the start. The present 
No. 2 Mill was built in 1828 to supply it with cotton 
warps, and was used lor that purpose for ten or twelve 
years. No. 1 Mill, just across the town and State line, 
was built in 1835. The erection of these mills and 
their steady profitable manufacture of woolen goods 
soon produced a village of wage-workers in their im- 
mediate vicinity. Just at the time the Farnums 
began their local enterprise the canal from Providence 
to Worcester was being built. The only mention of 
this canal in the Mendon records is under date March 
C, 1826, when it was " Voted that Washington Hunt 
be an agent to call on the Blackstone Canal Company 
to make good the damage done to the road between 
Fox Brook and Rhode Island line." The growth of 
Waterford village was rapid. A post-office was 
established there in 1831 with James Wilson, Jr., as 
postmaster. He was succeeded in 1833 by Darius D. 
Farnum, and the latter by Welcome Farnum in 1811. 
The office was discontinued in 1850, when the villages 
of Blackstone and Waterford, having coalesced by 
natural growth, united in a post-office on the "Square." 
Blackstone village had its first postmaster in 1825 in 
Daniel Kelly ; its second in 1831 was James S. Warner, 
and its third iu 1837, and up to the union, John Cady. 

In 1822 there was organized the Mendon Free-Will 
Baptist Church of Clirist, which held its meetings in 
private houses and the old vestry at Blackstone until 
the building of the Blackstone Church in 1836, when 
it held its meetings for some four years in that build- 
ing. Finally in 1841 this society erected its own 
home in the Waterford Church, at the corner of Main 
and Blackstone Streets. Its first regularly settled 
pastor was Elder Ma.xcy W. Burlingame, who remained 
with the society from 1831 to 1846. In 1845 it was 
re-named the Free-Will Baptist Church of Waterford. 

The old vestry at Blackstone has been twice men- 
tioned. This building, erected by the Blackstone 
Manufacturing Company sometime previous to 1820, 
was used for many years as both school-house and 
church. In 1836 the company built a fine wooden 
church building, which was used by the Waterford 
Society for several years. In 1841 the Blackstone 
Congregational Church was organized with Rev. 
Michael Burdett as its first pastor and he remained 
with the society until 1852. The Blackstone Company 
has steadily sustained this church with liberal assist- 
ance, giving the use of its building to the society and 
maintaining it in repair. 

Under date of August 22, 1791, the Mendon rec- 
ords contain the report of a committee of ten who 
had been appointed to redistrict the town into school 
districts. This committee reported the bounds of 



thirteen districts, of which seven appear to have been 
in the South Parish. The following are the words of 
the report defining what is now the Five Corner Dis- 
trict: "Beginning at the Wid. Margaret Daniel's, 
excluding her, thence east on the Mill River to 
where David Handy lives, including him, thence to 
Hop Brook bridge (so called) on Smithfield road, 
thence to Benjamin and Nicholas Thayer's, including 
them, thence northward to the first bound." The 
East Blackstone and the Harris Privilege Districts 
were combined as follows : " Beginning at Hop 
Brook bridge, thence to Anthony Chase, including 
him, thence to Cumberland line, thence to Belling- 
ham line, thence to Jotham Pickering's, including 
him, thence to Ichabod Pickering's, including him, 
thence to Seth Kelly's, including him, thence to first 
mentioned bound." The Waterford and Blackstone 
Districts were defined thus: "Beginning at George 
Gaskill's, including him, thence to Cogswell Chase, 
including him, thence up stream to the Great River 
until it comes south of Matthew Darling's house, 
thence to Jacob Aldrich's, including him, thence to 
Gideon Thayer's, excluding him, thence to the first- 
mentioned bound." Millville District was divided in 
two by the Blackstone River. The southern section 
is bounded : " Beginning at Uxbridge line, where it 
crosses the Great River, thence down stream the 
Great River to the Colony line, thence west on said 
Colony line to Uxbridge line, thence on Uxbridge 
line to the bound first mentioned." The northern 
section was bounded : " Beginning at Uxbridge line 
diiectly west of the Widow Warfield's house, thence 
to Benjamin Blake's, excluding him, thence to Mat- 
thew Darling's, including him, thence south to the 
Great River, thence up stream said river till it comes 
to Uxbridge line, thence to first mentioned bound." 
The Chestnut Hill District, less extensive than at 
present, was bounded: "Beginning at Nathaniel 
Taft's, including him, thence to Col. Joseph Chapin's 
old house, including him, thence to Uxbridge line to 
Jacob Taffs, including him, thence to Levi Young's, 
including him, thence to Jesse Tourtelotte's, includ- 
ing him, thence to first mentioned bound," which ap- 
pears to be a section of the North Parish. Now 
Mendon: "Beginning at Timothy Alexander's, in- 
cluding him and Simon Alexander, thence to David 
Legg's, including him, thence on Uxbridge line un- 
til it comes directly west of the Widow Warfield's 
house, thence to Asa Blake's, including him, thence 
to Benjamin Blake's, including him and his son, Zac- 
cheus, thence to the first mentioned bound.'' Be- 
tween the Five Corners District and the district just 
described was another district now divided between 
them : " Beginning at Damp Swamp road, where the 
Parish line crosses, thence to Timothy Alexander's, 
excluding him, thence to Benjamin Blake's, exclud- 
ing him, thence to the road south of said Benjamin 
Blake's house, thence to Gideon Thayer's, includino' 
him, thence east to Hop Brook bridge, thence up 



612 



HISTOKY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



stream said brook to the first mentioned bound." 
As thus defined the school districts remained until 
September 2, 1811, when the town accepted the re- 
port of a committee, advising the union of the two 
sections at Millville into one district, and the con- 
stituting of the village property of the the Black- 
stone Manufacturing Company a new district. The 
first part of this change did not prove acceptable, for 
on the 5th of June, 1812, it was "voted to set oil" all 
the inhabitants on the west side of Black^tone River, 
except Esek Pitts, Daniel Southwick and Nathaniel 
Capron, as a school district." On the 2Sth of June, 
1824, the school districts were again defined, but sub- 
stantially as already described. Prudential school 
committees were first chosen on 25th of August, 1827, 
and on that date the number of districts was un- 
changed, but at their election, April 15, 1833, two 
new districts are added — -Pickering's, or Harris Privi- 
lege, and Waterford. A few years later we find the 
whole number of districts in the South Parish to be 
eleven, and with that number the town of Blackstone 
began its corporate existence. Both Chestnut Hill 
and the Five Corners had school-houses shortly 
after 1790. 

The Division of the Town or Mendon. — 
The question of the division of Mendon into two 
towns makes its appearance in a petition to the 
selectmen late in the year 1815. A town-meeting 
was desired — 1. To see if the inhabitants will vote to 
have the South Parish set ofl" into a town by itself. 
2. To choose a committee to agree upon the division 
line of said town. 3. To act upon any other business 
relative to said division that the town shall see fit. 
Signed by John Pond, Henry Thayer, John Thomp- 
son, Smith Daniels, Elisha Thompson, I^ewis Allen, 
Daniel Darling, Timothy Chase, Nicholas Thayer, 
Luther Warfield. A warrant drawn upon this peti- 
tion called a town-meeting at the South Parish 
(Chestnut Hill) meeting-house on the Ist day of 
January, 1816, and on that day Joseph Adams was 
chosen moderator, and the proceedings were summed 
up in the one line of the clerk's record • " Voted to 
adjourn this meeting without day." 

At this time Blackstone Village was beginning to 
exist, and its people felt it a hardship to be obliged to 
travel six or seven miles to reach the town-meetings 
when lield in Mendon Village.' On the other hand, the 
development of the new village called for increased ex- 
pense upon bridges and highways, as well a* a new 
school. Thus, in the first ten years of this century, the 
town of Mendon raised an averageof $580ayear for the 
repairs of bridges and highways. In 1810 it was 1700, 
in 1812, $1000, and in 1816, $1200, and the average 
for the second decade was $930 a year. Similarly 
during the first decade an average of $460 was yearly 
a])propriated for schools, and in the second $620. In 
1820 the appropriation was $800, and it did not drop 
below that figure in the following years. When 
Waterford Village started into existence in 1828 the 



school money was raised to $1000. To the people of 
the North Parish this swelling of the taxes was un- 
welcome because the money raised extra went to the 
southern part of the town. From 1820 to 1840 the 
Mendon records show almost every year's action 
taken at town-meeting in relation to laying out new 
roads, relaying old ones, or building bridges in the 
South Parish. Sometimes this action was negatived. 
The older settled portion of the town frequently put a 
veto upon the schemes for improvement proposed by 
its growing southern half, and, when it did so, mur- 
murs of discontent and threats of secession would 
arise. 

One improvement long struggled for was the section 
of Mendon Street between the town-house and the 
Samuel Verry homestead. For residents upon what 
is now known as Milk Street there was no means of 
reaching Blackstone village except by coming east 
by the Five Corners or by going over Waterbug Hill. 
On the 5th of May, 1823, a committee of three was 
appointed to consider and report on a road between 
the two points named. At an adjourned meeting on 
the following 2d of June the road was rejected. It 
came up with ill fortune time after time, until on 
April 7, 1828, when it was " voted to accept of a road 
laid out near Nathan Verry's house to near John 
Mann's house (tavern), provided the petitioners build 
the road and pay all land damages for the sum of 
three hundred dollars." From this hard bargain the 
town somewhat relented, for on May 4, 1829, an extra 
one hundred dollars was voted for completing this 
road. When the county road was in contemplation 
from the Uxbridge line to Blackstone Mills, at a town- 
meeting May 16, 1825, Warren Rawson was chosen 
an agent to oppose the new road " in every stage of 
it." This struggle to preserve the old order of things 
on the one hand, and on the other to create a new 
market and a new centre of human interest, could 
have but one issue. But it was long delayed and the 
fight had many curious episodes. On the 26th of 
September, 1823, a town-meeting warrant had the 
article, "To see if the town will vote to be divided 
into two separate towns," and the vote as recorded 
was forty-five yeas and sixty-two nays. On the 1st of 
March, 1824, a similar article was dismissed the war- 
rant without a test vote. September 12, 1825, it was 
voted to choose a committee of ten persons, fivp Irom 
each parish, to take into consideration and consult on 
measures relative to a division of the town and make 
report at the next town-meeting. On the part of the 
South Pari.sh was chosen Ichabod Cook, Asa Kelly, 
Elijah Thayer, Nathan Verry and Esek Pitts. The 
appointment of this committee caused great excite- 
ment, and town-meetings were held October 3d, No- 
vember 28th and December 9th, remonstrating against 
division, appointing committees to oppose division 
before the General Court, and a committee " to take 
into consideration the inconveniences complained of 
by a portion of the inhabitants in regard to the at- 



BLACKSTONE. 



613 



tendance upon town-meetings and the transaction of 
mnnicipal business." Finally, at a meeting held De- 
cember 15th, the committee appointed September 
12th reported against division, and the report was 
accepted, one hundred and eigbty-three yeas to 
seventy-eight nays. Meanwhile, June 30th of this 
same year, Seth Hastings and one hundred and 
eighteen others had put in a petition that Meudon 
North Parish be incorporated as a new town ; and on 
the 19th, 20th and 21st of October, 1825, a special 
committee of the General Court visited Mendon to 
give the subject a hearing. When tbis committee 
reported to the Committee on Towns, February 7, 
1826, the report recommended that the petition he 
granted. Meanwhile the opponents of division had 
sent in four petitions against it, with the names of 
Joseph Adams, James S. Warner, Rufiis Aldrich and 
Jesse Tourtelotte beading them respectively, and con- 
taining a total of about two hundred and forty 
names. In the records of Massachusetts General 
Court for 1826 is the following curious record : 



} 



Commonwealth of Massachusetts 
la Senate, June SessiuD, 182G. 
Upon the suggestion of the Committee on Towua that the Petition of 
Seth Hastings and others for a new town, cannot be found, it waa Or- 
dered, that the Committee have further time allowed them until the 
next Session of the Legislature to report on the subjert matter of said 
Petition and that the Petitioners have leave to tile a new Petition in the 
meantime. 

Attest : Paul Willaud. 

The friends of division did not hesitate to declare 
there had been foul play on the part of their oppo- 
nents, and that the petition of Seth Hastings had 
been stolen. But the outcome was so ludicrous, and 
the majority of the people so strongly opposed to 
dividing the town, that the petition was not filed 
anew. In the spring town-meetings of 1827 the 
matter was discussed somewhat and then allowed to 
die a natural death. The quarrel went on, however, 
in regard to new roads, the place of holding town- 
meetings and other subjects of public policy. The 
town-meeting question was compromised by holding 
some of the meetings at the Chestnut Hill meeting- 
house, some at the Coverdale tavern, and the more 
important ones at the old meeting-house in Mendon 
village. When the latter building was sold and de- 
molished in 1843, meetings were voted to be held at 
Marsh's Inn instead. 

A new disturbing question arose the nest year, 
when it was voted to build a town-house. Naturally, 
both ends of the town wanted it, but for it to be lo- 
cated in either end would entail great trouble and ex- 
pense in reaching meetings, upon a large proportion 
of the voters. The centre of the town was still a 
wilderness of forests and swamp, — the Dam Swamp 
heretofore mentioned. However, at a meeting on Dec- 
ceraber 2, 1843, it was " voted that tbe town-house be 
built in Nicholas Thayer's pasture, where a road from 
Samuel Very's cider mill will communicate with a road 
from Artemas Thayer's road to Millins Taft's." This 



location would have necessitated building two new 
roads in order to reach the new town-house; so some 
half-hour later it was reconsidered, and then " voted, 
that the town-house be located at, or near, the corner 
of the roads by Samuel Very's cider mill.'' At sub- 
sequent meetings the same year this vote was attacked, 
and finally, when it came the turn to hold a meeting 
at Mendon village, the action taken December 2d 
was annulled. With the new year the fight was re- 
newed, and the frequent town-meetings held in differ- 
ent quarters of the town were a series of farces, each 
reconsidering what its predecessor had done, and an- 
nulling it. Before the middle of 1844 petitions were 
again in circulation, praying for a division of the 
town. The order of notice from the General Court 
was read before a town-meeting held January 30, 1845, 
and the meeting voted 239 to 168, not to oppose the 
division. 

Welcome Staples, the town's representative to the 
General Court, was instructed to vote for division, and 
Washington Hunt, John G. Metcalf, Aaron Burdon 
and Henry' A. Aldrich were chosen agents to defend 
the petition before the Committee on Towns. The 
body of the petition was as follows : 

The petition of the undersigned, qualified voters in the town of Men- 
don, in the county of Worcester, respectively represent that the popula- 
tion of the town, by the last census, was .3,521, since which time it has 
greatly increased ; that the town is divided into two parishes, viz. : the 
First, or North Parish, and the Second, or South Parish, by a territorial 
line running nearly east and west ; that the principal portion of the 
population is located at the extreme north and south parts of the town ; 
that the town has no town house nor any convenient place near the 
centre of the town to hold town meetings or to transact town business ; 
that the town is well located to divide into two towns, there being a 
thin population along the dividing line of the parishes, and a range 
of liills and wild, uncultivated land ; that the inhabitants of the two 
parishes have different interests and areengaged in different occupations 
and that it will greatly accommodate the inhabitants if the town was 
divided into two towns. 

The petition was signed by Joseph G. Davenport 

and 766 others. Against the division a counter-pe- 
tition was filed, the body of which was as follows : 

The undersigned, freeholders and legal voters of the town of Men- 
don, do respectfully and urgently remonstrate against the division of 
the town of Mendon into two towns by your honorable body on the pe- 
tition of "Joseph G. Davenport and others, or on any other petition, 
present to your honorable body the following reasons for ao remon* 
strating: 

1. The geographical dimensions of the town is not above the average 
of towns in our county of Worcester, being 21,000^ acres within its, 
claimed boundaries. 

2. Rhode Islaed claims a part of onrterritory, and which claim is now 
pending for adjudication in the Supreme Federal Court. 

3. The division of the town will cause great inconvenience in the 
School Districts. 

4. The town baa an almshouse establishment amply sufficient for the 
town, as it now is, with paupers, which may lead to e.xpensive and vex- 
atious litigation if the town is divided. 

5. The petitions have been prematurely presented to your honorable 
body, as we nndel-staud the Revised Statutes. There has never been any 
notice served upon this town up to this day. Some of tbe petitioners 
for a division (we understand) have stated that unfair means were used 
to obtain their signatures. Almost all our transient male population (if 
our information is correct), from twenty-one years upwards, have been 
induced to petition for a division of the town, and whether they are all 
voters is very questionable ; and we think that more than one-third of 
the population of Mendon aro transient people, loaving a large proper- 



614 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



tion of the freeholders to defend themselves against a nieusnro in which 
these can have but little interest. 

This petition of remonstrance was signed by Oba- 
diah Wood and three hundred and thirteen others. 

A bill was reported by the Committee on Towns, 
February 2G, 1845, went through the usual stages and 
became a law by the signature of the Governor, 
March 25, 1845 : 

AN ACT TO INCOnrORATK THE TOWN OF BLACKSTONE. 

Be it enacteil. Ac, as follows: 

Sect. 1. All tliat part of Meiidon, in the county of Worcester, which 
lies south of the line dividing; the South Precinct from the First Pre- 
cinct in faid town, ns established hy an act of incorporation in the year 
one thousand seven hundred and sixty-six, shall be, and the same is 
hereby incorporated into a separate town, by the name of Blackstone ; 
and the said town of Blaclisttme is hereby vested with all the powers, 
privileges, rights, and iuiniunities, and subject to all the duties and 
lequisitions to which other towDS are entitled and subjected by the Con- 
stitution and laws of this Commonwealth. 

Sect. 2, All the real and personal estate belonging to and held in 
common, by the inhabitants of the present town of Mendon, shall be 
gold, and the proceeds thereof shall be applied to the payment of the 
debts and charges now due and owing from the town of Mendon ; and 
the surplus, if any, shall be divided between the said towns of Mendon 
and Blackstone, according to the valuation next preceding the passage 
of this act ; and if the siiid proceeds, together with the money now in 
the treasury and available debts due the town, shall be insufficient to 
pay the debts and charges aforesaid, said town of Blackstone shall pay 
her proportionate part, according to the valuation aforflsaid. 

Sect. 3. All persons legally settled in the present town of Mendon 
who are now, or who may hereafter become chargeable as paupers, and 
all persons who may hereafter become legally settled in either of said 
towns of Mendon and Blackstone and become chargeable as paupers, 
shall be supported by that town within the territorial limits of which 
they may have gained a legal settlement, or in which their settlement 
may have been perfected. 

Sect. 4. The inhabitants of the town of Blackstone shall be holden 
to pay all State, county and town taxes legally assessed on them to the 
treasurer and collector of the town of Mendon ; and all moneys now in 
the treasury of said town, or that may hereafter be received from taxes 
now assessed, or directed to be assessed, shall be applied to the purposes 
for which they were raised and assessed, the same as if this act had not 



Sect. 6. The town of Mendon shall pay to the town of Blackstone a 
just proportion of the Surplus Revenue of the United States, received 
by the town of Blendon, to be apportioned according to the census 
taken by authority of the State, in the year one thousand eight hun- 
dred and thirty-se\en, in pursuance of "An Act concerning the deposit 
of the Surjjlus Kevenue," and the town of Blackstone shall receive, in 
payment of their proportion, any bonds and notes secured by moitgage 
on real estate within the limits of said town of Blackstone ; and the 
said town of Blackstone shall be holden to refund to the town of Men- 
don the proportion of said Surjilus Revenue so to be received by them 
whenever the town of Slendon shall be required to refund the same to 
the (jommonwenlth. 

Sect, 6. The said town of Blackstone shall remain a part of the 
town of Mendon for the pvnpose of electing a representative to the 
General Court, to which the town of Mendon is entitled, until the next 
decennial census of the inhabitants shall be taken, in pursuance of the 
thirteenth article of the Amendments of the Constitution. And the 
meeting for the choice of such representative shall be called by the 
selectmen of Mendon ; and the warrant shall specify ten o'clock in the 
forenoon as the time when the polls at such elections shall be opened ; 
and the same shall be opened accordingly, and be closed by one o'clock 
in the afternoon of the same day. 

Sect. 7. The selectmen of Blackstone shall make a true list of per- 
sons belonging to said town qualified to vote at every such election, 
and the same shall be taken and used by the selectmen of Mendon for 
such election, in the saue manner as if it had been prepared by them- 
selves. Such meetings shall he held in the towns of Mendon and 
Blackstone respectively, in alternate years, commencing with the town 
of Bliickstone ; and the selectmen of Mendon shall appoint such place 
for meeting to be held in Blackstone as the selectmen of Blackstone 
shall, in writing, request. 



Sect. 8. Any justice of the peace within and for the county of 
Worcester is authorized to issue a warrant, directed to some principal 
inhabitant of said town of Blackstone, requiring him to notify and 
warn the inhabitants thereof, qualified to act in town affairs, to meet at 
such convenient time and place as shall be appointed in said warrant, 
for the choice of all such officere as towns are, by law, required to 
choose in the months of March or April annually. 

Sect. 9. This act shall take effect from and after the' passage of the 
same. Approved by the Governor, March 25, ISIS. 

A true copy. 

Attest, James P. Hayward, Tuicn Clerk. 

The Town Annals. — 1845. — The first town-meet- 
ing of the new town was called by Dan Hill, a justice 
of the peace, on the 27th March, 1845, two days 
after the Governor's signature was affixed to the 
act of incorporation, in a warrant directed to Wash- 
ington Hunt and giving warning only of a choice of 
town officers. At the meeting, which was held April 
5th, in the meeting-house at Chestnut Hill, at one 
o'clock in the afternoon, Jared Benson was chosen 
moderator, and the following annual officers were 
elected: Town Clerk, James P. Hayward; Select- 
men, Emory Scott, J.imes Comstock, Jared Benson, 
Daniel Southwick, Hezekiah Harrington ; Assessors, 
Welcome Thayer, Daniel S. Southwick, Jared Ben- 
son, Jr. ; Overseers of the Poor, Willard Wilson, 
Samuel Verry, Caleb Taft ;■ School Committee, Louis 
Cook, Orrin Sargent, Earl Joslin ; Constable, Kufus 
Hayward; Trea-urer, James P. Hayward. This 
meeting was adjourned to April 19th, at the same 
time and place, when, under a new warrant, twelve 
hundred dollars were appropriated for schools, six 
hundred dollars for support of the poor, six hundred 
dollars for town incidentals, and eight hundred dol- 
lars for highways and bridges. Laban Bates was 
chosen assessor in place of Welcome Thayer, excused. 
Voted to repair highways by allowing each man ten 
cents per hour, oxen and cart ten cents per hour, for 
plough five cents per hour. Voted to choose a com- 
mittee, one from each original school district, to re- 
port at an adjourned meeting what alterations in the 
school districts are necessary. Laban Bates, of 5th; 
Emory Scott, of 6th; Horace Benson, of 9th; Caleb 
T. Wilson, of 10th; Samuel Verry, of 11th; Peter 
Gaskill, Jr., of 12th ; Lyman C. Curtis, of 13th ; 
Hezekiah Harrington, of 14th ; Libbeus L. Wood, 
of 15th; Enos Hayward, of 16th, and Eli Kelly, of 
18th, were chosen said committee. Kufus Hayward 
bid off the collection of taxes at auction for seven- 
teen dollars. It was voted not to choose any tything- 
men, that the selectmen should be the Board of Health, 
and that this meeting adjourn to April 26th, at two 
in the afternoon, at Henry Coverdale's house. There 
voted to purchase Millens Taft's farm for the poor of 
Blackstone at three thousand dollars. Very little 
else was done at this meeting and it was adjourned 
to May 3d, when the committee on school districts 
made u report, which was accepted, and the following 
prudrntial committee was chosen. No. 1 (Chestnut 
Hill District), Horace Benson; No. 2 (Verry District), 
Millens Taft; No. 3 (Five Curners District), Eben- 



BLACKSTONE. 



615 



ezer Chase; No. 4 (Upper Cinada District), William 
A. Kelly; No. 5 (Lower Canada District), Lyman 
Paine; No. 6 (Pickering District), LibbeusL. Wood; 
No. 7 (Waterford District), Welcome Farnum; No. 8 
(Blackstone District), Silas H. Kimball ; No. 9 
(Town-House District), George W. Hunt; No. 10 
(North Millville District), Newbury Darling; No. 11 
(South Millville District), Lyman C. Curtis. 

It was getting to be a troublesome matter for all the 
voters to travel either to the extreme northeast 
corner (Coverdale's) or the extreme northwest corner 
(Chestnut Hill) to a town-meeting every week, so at 
a meeting called at the Verry Tavern, so called, on 
the 7th of June, it was voted to choose a committee 
to take into consideration and report at this meeting 
the location and size of a building for a town-house. 
Dan Hill, Dr. Abel Wilder, Willard Wilson, Jared 
Benson and Francis Kelly were chosen and forth- 
with reported, " that it is expedient to build the 
house seventy feet by fifty, with about eighteen feet 
posts, and that it be located on such spot of ground, 
near the Verry Tavern, as is suitable and can be ob- 
tained on fair terms." This report was accepted, and 
Dan Hill, Washington Hunt and Jared Benson were 
chosen a committee to build. 

Another meeting was immediately called for the 
purpose of reconsidering, but it failed of its purpose, 
and the present town-house was at once built. It was 
completed in season to be used the 10th November, 
following, at the annual election of State officers. 

The Surplus Revenue of the United States received 
through the town of Meudon, and amounting to §4,- 
803.45, was disposed of by voting to loan it on security 
satisfactory to the selectmen. 

The selectmen during the year erected stone-bounds 
on the westerly side of each highway, between Men- 
don and Blackstone, and perambulated the bounds 
with the selectmen of Uxbridge, Mendon and Belling- 
ham. 

The assessors for 1844 in Mendon, through Preserved 
S. Thayer, reported the valuation and polls in the 
South Parish as follows: Real estate, $548,299; per- 
sonal estate, $366,025; total, $914,324. Polls, 696. 

The assessors for 1845 in Blackstone reported for 
that year: Real estate, $635,660; personal estate, 
$442,286; total, $1,077,946. Polls, 792. Bateon$1000 
was $2.60. Poll-tax, 68 cents. 

On November 10th, before voting for State officers, 
the voters of Mendon and Blackstone, in the latter's 
new town-hall, balloted for Representative. Rufus 
Hayward, of Blackstone, had 163; Alanson S. Free- 
man, of Mendon, had 96; Charles L. Harding, of 
Blackstone, had 75; scattering, 6; and there was no 
choice. 

November 24th, a second meeting was held for choice 
of Representative. Rufus Hayward had 191, Alanson 
S. Freeman had 96, Charles L. Harding had 22, scat- 
tering 27, and Rufus Hayward was elected. 

1846. — Town Clerk, James P. Hayward; Selectmen 



Emory Scott, Daniel Southwick, Moses Daniels, James 
A. Baldwin, Samuel Thayer; Assessors, Preserved S. 
Thayer, Arthur Cook, Jr., Millens Taft; Overseers of 
Poor, Willard Wilson, Caleb Taft, Hiram Metcalf; 
School Committee, Arthur Cook, Jr., Horace Thayer, 
Dan A. Comstock; Town Treasurer, James P. Hay- 
ward. 

The annual March meeting passed a resolution in 
favor of the Boston and Southbridge Railroad, then 
petitioned for before the General Court. 

The stone arch bridges over the canal at Millville 
and over Fox Brook, at Waterford, were built this 
year. 

Rev. Benjamin D. Peck was settled pastor over the 
Waterford Free-Will Baptist Church, where he re- 
mained about two years. 

On the 9th November the voters of Meudon and 
Blackstone were to meet in Harrison Hall, Mendon, 
to elect a representative to General Court. The 
Mendon voters opened the polls promptly at 10 A.M., 
cast their ballots and closed the polls before the ma- 
jority of the Blackstone voters arrived. There was no 
choice. The Blackstone men organized a new meet- 
ing and elected Dan Hill; but he was refused a seat 
in the General Court, and the two towns went unrep- 
resented that session, as Mendon refused to call an- 
other meeting for an election. In the opinion of Mr. 
Dan Hill and most of the Blackstone people, this 
manoiuvre was in the interest of a railroad company 
proposing a terminus in Woonsocket, R. I., instead of 
Blackstone. 

The Blackstone River Lodge of Odd Fellows, No. 
106, was organized. 

1847. — Town Clerk, James P. Hayward ; Selectmen, 
Dan Hill, Caleb Thayer, Rufus Hayward, Stephen J. 
Sherman, Samuel Chase; Assessors, John Cady, Wil- 
liam Legg, Ebenezer Chase ; Treasurer, James P. Hay- 
ward ; School Committee, Arthur Cook, Francis S. 
Weeks, Rev. Benjamin D. Peck; Overseers of Poor, 
the selectmen. 

The town unanimously voted resolutions to be pre- 
sented to the General Court in favor of the railroad 
from Boston to pass through Blackstone Village, and 
appointed Dan Hill its agent to present it. 

At the April meeting Emanuel N. Paine was chosen 
selectman in place of Caleb Thayer, and Preserved S. 
Thayer assessor, in place of William Legg, declined to 
serve. 

At the April meeting there was an article " to see if 
the town will consent to an alteration, or new location, 
of the county road in the village of Millville over a 
portion of an ancient burial-ground near the resi. 
dence of Willard Wilson." And the town voted that 
this article " be referred to the selectmen to examine, 
and grant the request of the railroad company, if they 
see fit." The railroad here referred to was the Provi- 
dence and Worcester, which put its first train through 
the 17th of September following. 

The Blackstone (No. 4) Mill and the Lincoln House 



616 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



were built this season, which was further rendered 
nota'ble by tlie settlement in town of Paul P. Todd, 
the eminent attorney and legal adviser. 

A Methodist Society was formed at Waterford, with 
Jeremiah N. Hanaford as pastor, and meetings were 
held for about two years in " Odd Fellows' Hall," now 
the residence of Thomas Campbell. 

1848. — Town Clerk, James P. Hayward; Selectmen. 
Dan Hill, Emanuel N. Paine, Hezekiah Harrington ; 
Assessors, Arthur Cook, Willard Wilson, Lyman Paine ; 
Overseers of the Poor, Millens Taft, Lyman Paine, 
Whitney Alexander; School Committee, Rev. Benja- 
min D. Peck, Arthur Cook, Thomas Davis ; Treasurer, 
James P. Hayward. 

Early in the year (January 10th) the town voted 
"That the Selectmen be authorized to loan .S700 of 
the 'Surplus Revenue' money for one year, without 
interest, to Oliver Johnson, of New York (or to some 
other person whom they may deem suitable), to ena- 
ble him to procure a printing-press and appurtenances 
for publishing a newspaper in this town. And for 
security they are to take a mortgage on said press and 
appurtenances. It being understood that the paper 
is to be conducted independent of party, both in pol- 
itics and religion." The paper thus inaugurated 
under town auspices was a weekly four-page paper, 
called the Blackstone Chronicle, first issued February 
26th. It failed before the 1st of the following Octo- 
ber, and the town had lo take the press and type. 

Canal Street was laid out by the selectmen October 
13th, accepted by the town October 21st, and was buik 
at once by Welcome Farnum. Federal Street was 
laid out by the selectmen October 21st, and was 
accepted by the town November 7th. 

The union meeting of the two towns to elect a 
Representative to the General Court again failed to 
make any choice November 13th, as did also a second 
meeting November 27tb, although at the latter meet- 
ing the Blackstone voters combined on Samuel V. 
Stone, and gave him 245 votes in a total of 499. 

Rev. Benjamin D. Peck, removing from town, was 
succeeded in the Waterford Parish by Rev. Thomas 
Brown, and on the School Committee by Rev. Michael 
Burdett. 

1849.— Town Clerk, James P. Hayward ; Select- 
men, Millens Taft, Lyman Paine, Daniel Southwick; 
Assessors, Arthur Cook, Richard Battey, Joseph 
Southwick ; Overseers of the Poor, Whitney Alexan- 
der, Richard Battey, James Comstock ; School Com- 
mittee, Thomas Davis, Dr. Moses D. Southwick, Ar- 
thur Cook ; Town Treasurer, James P. Hayward. 

At a thinly attended town-meeting, held May 19lh, 
the school district system was abolished, and votes 
passed looking to the purchase of school-houses from 
the districts, and the building of new bouses by the 
town. This radical step was reversed at the ad- 
journed meeting, August 18th. 

The St. John's Protestant Episcopal Church was 
organized May 14th at Millville, with Rev. John W. 



Birchmore as pastor. Some trouble having arisen in 
the Methodist Reformed Church in the same village, 
certain members withdrew, and called Rev. Daniel 
Fillmore as minister. 

The meeting, November 12th, to elect a representa- 
tive to the General Court, resulted in no choice, and 
again the two towns were unrepresented. 

The Blackstone Savings Bank w.as incorporated 
April 20th, but failed to do any business. The Wor- 
cester County Bank was incorporated May 1st, with 
a capital of one hundred thousand dollars, by Wel- 
come Farnum, Silas H. Kimball and Dan Hill. It 
was located for many years in Blackstone Block, a 
large brick structure erected this year by Welcome 
Farnum. 

On the 15th of May the long-awaited first train 
over the Boston road arrived in Blackstone from 
Walpole. The road was then known as the Norfolk 
County Railroad, and its completion had been due 
almost solely to the iron will of Welcome Farnum. 

Napoleon J. Smith put out his shingle in the vil- 
lage as attorney, and remained some two years. 

1850. — Town Clerk, James P. Hayward ; Select- 
men, Emory Scott, Jared Benson, Jonathan F. Com- 
stock ; Assessors, Arthur Cook, Jared Benson, Jr., 
Rufus A. Benson ; Overseers of the Poor, Caleb 
Thayer, Millens Taft, James P. Hayward ; School 
Committee, Dr. Moses D. Southwick, Emanuel N. 
Paine, Daniel Wheelock ; Treasurer, James P. Hay- 
ward. 

School Districts Nos. 10 and 11, the two sections of 
Millville, were joined this spring into one district, 
No. 10. This district then proceeded to build a new 
brick school-house on Central Street, now owned by 
the town. 

The liquor question puts in its first appearance in 
Blackstone town-meetings, and Millens Taft, Fred- 
eric M. Ballou and Jared Benson, Jr., were chosen a 
committee to enforce the license law of the Common- 
wealth. 

The small-pox broke out among the people work- 
ing in Eli Kelly's factory at Upper Canada (East 
Blackstone), and the town voted a general vaccina- 
tion, a hospital and a quarantine of the sick. 

St. Paul's Church was founded in the autumn, the 
first place of worship constructed by the Roman 
Catholics in the town, although for more than fifteen 
years previously services had been held in private 
houses. Rev. Charles O'Reilly was its first priest. 

St. John's Protestant Episcopal Society saw the 
corner-stone of its beautiful stone edifice laid by 
Bishop Eastburn July 16th. 

The Methodi>t Episcopal Church of Millville was 
organized March 8d. 

Rev. Martin J. Steere was installed as pastor at the 
Waterford Church. 

The North Blackstone post-office was removed to 
Lower Canada, and Moses Kelly became its new post- 
master. 



BLACKSTONE. 



617 



Bridge, Waterford and Cross Streets were laid out 
and accepted August 31st. The two latter form our 
present Market Street. 

Park Street was accepted October 26th. 

Caleb Thayer was chosen Representative to Gen- 
eral Court November 25th. 

1851. — Town Clerk, James P. Hayward ; Selectmen, 
Laban Bates, Henry S. Manstiekl, Jr., Richard Battey ; 
Assessors, Emanuel N. Paine, Frederic M. Ballou, 
Moses D. Southwick ; Overseers of Poor, Whitney 
Alexander, Lyman Paine, Ariel Thayer, Jr. ; School 
Committee, Dr. Moses D. Southwick, Martin I. Steere, 
Thomas Davis; Treasurer, Alexander Ballou. 

Representative Caleb Taft was instructed to vote 
against a division of the county of Worcester, which 
matter was being agitated. 

Lincoln Street, from Fletcher's store to the Jacob 
Southwick house, was laid out wider by the selectmen 
and was accepted April 7th. 

The Fugitive Slave Law of 1850 awakened the fol- 
lowing protest, written by Daniel Hill, Dr. Moses D. 
Southwick and Thomas Davis, and adopted by the 
town April 7th : 

Hesolred, Th.it we adhere to the doctrine that '* all men are born free 
and equal," not because it is a sentiment, solemnly declared by our 
fathore, in defence of which they pledged "their lives, their fortunes 
and their sacred honor," but because it is, as declared by theni, a self- 
evident truth, ajiplicable to every age and to every race ; and those, and 
those only, who have sacrificed their convictions on the altar of ambi- 
tion or self-interest, would deprive the African of this God-given birth- 
right. 

liesotved. That the Fugitive Slave Law, recently enacted by Congress, 
is not only contrary to the fundamental principles of our government, 
but it is an act which attempts to transform us into slave catchers, requir- 
ing us to sacrifice the noblest feelings of our nature, which prompt us to 
aid the weak rather than the strong, and by no means to strengtlien the 
arm of the oppressor. 

Itesohed, That the attempt to justify this Law on the plea that it is 
necessary to preserve the union of these States, is but declaring that this 
Union cannot exist on the principles of .Justice, Humanity and Right- 
eousness (and therefore is not worth preserving), a declaration which we 
are unwilling to admit. 

Ilesoh-ed^ That so great and indiscriminate is our abhorrence of 
slavery, if one who had basely sold himself to Southern slave holders 
should escape from his keepers and seek our protection, we could not so 
far *' conquer our prejudices " as to "perform the disagreeable duty " of 
rendering aid in returning him into bondage. 

Jiemtvi'd, That we regard it as the duty of the Legislature of this Com- 
monwealth, now in session, to pass an art, without further delay, secur- 
ing to all persons, claimed as fugitives from hihor, "the privilege and 
benefit of the Writ of Habeas Corpus"' and the " right to a trial by 
Jury," and in all Constitutional ways protecting them against tho atro- 
cious provisions of this abominahle Fugitive Slave Law. 

Unsolved, That a copy of these resolutions be transmitted to our Repre- 
sentative in the General Court, with a request that he present them to 
that body. 

" Our Representative," Mr. Caleb Thayer, was at 
that time balloting in the Legislature for Charles 
Sumner as Senator in the National Congress, a re- 
sult secured on the twenty-sixth ballot. This was 
the time of the famous coalition between the Demo- 
crats and Free Soilers. A largely attended Teachers' 
Institute was held in April. 

St. Paul Street was laid out October 4th, and ac- 
cepted by the town November 10th. 



Laban Bates was chosen Representative to the Gen- 
eral Court at the meeting, November 24lh. 

James Mason having mysteriously disappeared 
from Waterford, a town-meeting was held December 
9th, and a reward of fifty dollars offered for the re- 
covtery of his body, and five hundred dollars for evi- 
dence convicting any one for taking his life. 

Napoleon J. Smith took down his shingle in Black- 
stone village as attorney-at-law, and William L. 
Southwick first put his out. 

Rev. Nelson Goodrich succeeded the Rev. Mr. Fill- 
more as pastor of the Methodist Episcopal Church at 
MillviUe. 

1852.— Town Clerk. James P. Hayward; Select- 
men, Laban Bates, Richard Battey, Henry S. Mans- 
field ; Assessors, Willard Wilson, Richard Battey, 
Welcome A. Thayer ; Overseers of the Poor, " Voted 
not to choose any Overseers of the Poor ;" School 
Committee, Martin J. Steere, Thomas Davis, Dan A. 
Comstock ; Treasurer, Alexander Ballou, in place of 
James P. Hayward, excused. 

At the April meeting Dr. Moses D. Southwick was 
chosen to the Board of School Committee in place of 
Dan. A. Comstock, excused, and to the Board of As- 
sessors in place of Willard Wilson, excused. Dan 
Hill and Aaron Burdon were chosen additional asses- 
sors. The County Commissioners had re-located the 
County road (Main Street) over the Blackstone Com- 
pany's mill trench and the Providence & Worcester 
Railroad, and the town opposed the re-location. 
» Rev. Martin J. Steere was chosen Representative 
to the General Court at the adjourned meeting, No- 
vember 22d. 

Rev. Michael Burdett closed his connection with 
the Blackstone Congregational Church February 10th, 
and Rev. Joseph W. Backus was ordained as his suc- 
ce^'sor September 29th. 

Rev. John E. GiflTord became pastor of the Method- 
i.st Episcopal Society of Millville, and in the same, 
village Rev. Spencer M. Rice became rector of St. 
John's Protestant Episcopal Church, May 17th. 

St, Paul's Church was completed in its original 
form and dedicated by Bishop Fitzpatrick. 

1853. — Town Clerk, James P. Hayward ; Selectmen, 
Millens Taft, John C. Scott, Lyman Paine ; Asses- 
sors, Willard Wilson, Ara Paine, Welcome A.. Thayer ; 
Overseers of Poor, Richard Battey, John G. Gatchell, 
Albert Fairbanks ; School Committee, Spencer M. 
Rice, Rev. Joseph W. Backus, Dr. William M. Kim- 
ball ; Treasurer, Andrew Comstock. 

Willard Wilson was elected delegate to the State 
CoHi^titutional Convention. Dr. William M. Kimball 
having declined to serve on School Committee, Fran- 
cis Kelly was elected. 

With the increase of population came an increase 
in the number of grog-shops, and the constables were 
directed to prosecute those who violated the law. A 
lock-up was now first voted. 

The Blackstone Manufacturing Company, February 



618 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



14th, gave a bond to the town to keep in repair the 
western abutment of the New City bridge for ten years, 
the town on its part withdrawing opposition to the 
re-location of the County road (Main Sireet) at that 
point. 

On April 4th an article in reference to a map of the 
town was referred to the selectmen. This must refer 
to the map "Surveyed by Order of the Town, by H. 
F. Walling, 1854," a very accurate map. 

After three separate attempts to elect a Representa- 
tive to the General Court there was no choice, and 
the town was not represented in the Legislature of 
1854. The law requiring only a plurality for election 
was passed in 1854, and thereafter there was no fur- 
ther troubl.e on this score. 

Darius Bennett was made postmaster of the Black- 
stone office and remained therein until 1861. Willard 
Wilson for the third time became postmaster at 
Millville. 

The Blackstoue River Bank, of Millville, was in- 
corporated March 30th by Edward S. Hall, Charles 
E. Hall and Spencer M. Rice, with a capital of one 
hundred thousand dollars, but it never materialized. 

The Union Hotel was built and gas main laid from 
Woonsocket to Blackstone Village. 

1854.— Town Clerk, James P. Hayward; Select- 
men, Millens Talt, Eleazer W. Barrows, Seth T. 
Aldrich ; Assessors, Dan. Hill, Emanuel N. Paine, 
Dan. A. Comstock ; Overseers of the Poor, James P. 
Hayward, Richard Battey, Asa Paine ; School Com- 
mittee, Rev. Joseph W. Backus, William B. Rice, 
Rev. Edmund M. Tappan ; Treasurer, Moses Farnum 
(2d). 

In February the town voted a remonstrance against 
the Charles River Railroad (eventually Woonsocket 
Division, N. Y. & N. E.), and sent Dan. Hill to pre- 
sent it to the Legislature. Just at this time Welcome 
Farnum was making his la^t desperate endeavor to 
push through to New York City a western extension 
of his Norfolk County road. He succeeded — and 
failed ; not through lack of wisdom in making a wise 
plan, but through the business stringency now begin- 
ning, which culminated in 1857, and the failure of 
promised assistance from others at this critical junc- 
ture. 

Dan. Hill was excused from acting as assessor, and 
William Cook was elected. By a vote of 119 to 82 
was adopted an act of the General Court of 1854 es- 
tablishing a Police Court. 

Dr. J. C. Rutherford was appointed physician to 
the Board of Health (Overseers of the Poor) at a 
salary of five dollars per annum. 

Silas A. Burgess, Esq., opened an office at Black- 
stoue for the practice of law. 

John S. Ilaradon was elected to the General Court 
as representative November 13tli. 

Blackstone No. 5 Mill, the last of the large addi- 
tions, was built this year. 

Rev. Edmond M. Tappan succeeded Martin J. 



Steere as pastor of the Waterford Free- Will Baptist 
Society. 

By the failure of Mr. Farnum, the Millville manu- 
facturing interests on the Blackstone passed into the 
hands of Edward S. and Charles E. Hall. 

The St. John's Episcopal Church was consecrated 
December 7th. 

1855.— Town Clerk, James P. Hayward; Select- 
men, John C. Scott, Rufus A. Benson, Lyman Paine; 
Assessors, William Cook, James B. Hall, Joseph G. 
Ray; Overseers of the Poor, Willard Willson, John 
B. Salisbury, Welcome A.Thayer; Town Treasurer, 
Eleazer W. Barrows; School Committee, Rev. Ed- 
mund M. Tappan, Dr. George E. Buliard, Alexander 
Ballon, Jr. Dan. Hill was justice of the Police 
Court. 

A war had now broken out against the Police Court, 
and at a meeting February 1st Lyman Legg was 
chosen agent to secure a repeal of the act establish- 
ing it. 

It was voted to purchase five hundred of Mr. 
Walling's map and that each tax-payer might have 
one for sixty cents. This was all reversed at another 
meeting on the 8th. It would appear that very few 
of Mr. Walling's maps were actually circulated in the 
town. After two more meetings the town voted Mr. 
Walling two hundred dollars for publishing the map. 

John Cady was appointed liquor agent under the 
new law, and Dr. George E. Buliard another. The 
latter settled in town this year. 

Henry S. Mansfield was chosen representative to 
General Court. 

March 18th, Rev. Joseph W. Backus resigned his 
ministry at Blackstone, and was succeeded in Sep- 
tember by Rev. Thomas E. Bliss. Rev. John A. M. 
Chapman was assigned to the Millville Methodist 
Society, and Rev. Alfred B. Goodrich was called to 
the St. John's Society. 

The Blackstone Library Association was organized 
October 4th at the house of Mr. Welcome Farnum, 
whose wife, sister to the historian, George Bancroft, 
took great interest in the matter, and secured many 
valuable donations from literary friends of her 
brother. The original list of officers was as follows: 
President, Thomas Dermot; Recording Secretary, 
James K. Comstock; Librarian, George B. Allen. 

A visit of a special committee of the Legislature 
sent out to examine and report upon the condition of 
the Boston and New York Central Railroad put up 
for dinner at the Union House April 17th, and scan- 
dalized the natives by bringing with them "36 bottles 
Extra Champagne Wine and 48 bottles of Brandy." ■ 

1856. — Town Clerk, James P. Hayward ; Selectmen, I 
Lyman Paine, Joseph Southwick, Seth T. Aldrich ; 
Assessors, James B. Hall, Arthur Cook, Albert Gas- 
kill ; Overseers of the Poor, Willard Wilson, John 
B. Salisbury, Welcome A. Thayer; School Commit- 
tee, Rev. Edmund M. Tappan, Dr. George E. Bul- 
iard, Rev. Thos. E. Bliss ; Treasurer, Walter Thorpe. 



BLACKSTONE. 



619 



The Police Court was abolished April Ist. 

The rapid growth of the three villages — Water- 
ford, Blackstone and Millville — -had strained the old 
arrangements for schooling children, both in respect 
to rooms and the amount of money. The Blackstone 
Manufacturing Company had erected an elegant 
building with four school-rooms the year preced- 
ing, and given itsj use to the district. The rural dis- 
tricts had dwindled in population until several of 
them numbered scarcely more than a dozen children 
of school age. It cost as much for each of these 
schools as for one in the village with sixty to eighty 
l)upils. To remedy this inequality, it was proposed 
to reduce the number of districts, and a committee 
was appointed to report upon the feasibility of 
doing so. 

Emanuel N. Paine was elected Representative to 
the General Court. 

The Waterford stone dam, near the Union House, 
was built by Daniel F. Simmons. The dam, together 
with the abutments, is one hundred and sixty feet 
long, of solid masonry, faced and capped with wrought 
stone. 

At the first anniversary meeting of the Blackstone 
Library Association the officers reported fifteen hun- 
dred volumes secured, "only about 100 volumes be- 
longing to the department of novels and tales." 
Lectures were given during the fall and winter under 
the auspices of the association, amongst the lecturers 
being Wendell Phillips, Ralph Waldo Emerson, 
Rev. Theodore Parker, Rev. Thomas Starr King and 
others. 

The Blackstone Athenseum, a rival library associa- 
tion, was organized February 26th. Rev. Asa U. 
Swinerton was assigned to the Methodist Society, 
Millville. 

The Blackstone River Lodge of Free and Accepted 
Masons organized under dispensation January 1st. 

1857. — Town Clerk, James P. Hay ward; Selectmen, 
John C. Scott, Andrew Comstock, Caleb Colviu ; As- 
sessors, Arthur Cook,' Estus Lamb, Joseph Tucker ; 
Overseers of the Poor, Willard Wilson, John B. Salis- 
bury, William A. Dodge; School Committee, Rev. 
Edmund M. Tappan, Rev. Thomas E. Bliss, Dr. 
George E. Bullard ; Treasurer, Charles W. Baker. 

Estus Lamb having declined to serve as assessor, 
David Brayton was cho-en. The committee in charge 
of re-districting the town into school districts made 
a radical report, reducing the number of districts to 
five. This report was at first accepted, and then, at a 
subsequent meeting, reconsidered and rejected. 

Samuel Thayer, Jr., was chosen Representative to 
the General Court. Rev. William N. Morrison was 
assigned to the Millville Methodist Church. Rev. 
Charles O'Reilly, of the St. Paul's Church, died in 
September, and was succeeded by Rev. Edward J. 
Sheridan. 

1858.— Town Clerk, James P. Hayvvard ; Select- 
men, Richard Battey, Welcome Thayer, John B. 



White; Assessors, Arthur Cook, Daniel N. Chdse, 
William Legg ; Overseers of Poor, James P. Hay- 
ward, Caleb Taft, Channing Smith ; School Commit- 
tee, Arthur Cook, for one year, William L. South- 
wick, two years, Moses D. Southwick, three years ; 
Treasurer, Moses Farnum. 

Channing Smith having declined to serve as over- 
seer, Ebenezer Chase was chosen. The Blackstone 
Manufacturing Company had brought suit against 
the town for over-assessment, and Dan Hill was ap- 
pointed general agent by the town to defend the suit. 
An article to see if the town would establish a high 
school was dismissed. John B. White was chosen 
Representative to General Court. Rev. Justus Er- 
skine succeeded Rev. E. M. Tappan at Waterford 
Baptist Church. Willard Wilson becirae trial justice. 

About the middle of May Rev. B. G. Northup, 
agent of the State Board of Education, lectured in 
the New City School-house, afternoon and evening, to 
teachers. The afternoon lecture covered methods 
of instruction, dwelling especially upon President 
Dwight's advice to the young man to " open his 
eyes." The evening lecture was upon the subject of 
moral and intellectual culture. 

Early in May occurred a great strike among the 
operatives of the Waterford woolen-mills. The Nos. 
1 and 2 Mills were run at this time by Evans, Sea- 
grave & Co., and the No. 3 Mill by Bradford & Taft. 
The two former had been stopped all winter, but the 
latter had run steadily, being the one bright spot in 
the hard times of the past year. The strike, which 
was general in the three mills, was caused by a reduc- 
tion of 20 per cent, in the rate of wages. 

The papers in Massachusetts discussing large trees 
gave, after due inquiry, the precedence to Blackstone. 
The largest tree in the State at that time was supposed 
to be the elm standing near the Nicholas Thayer 
homestead. The trunk measured 22 feet about near 
the ground, and 20 feet around 10 feet above the 
ground. It spread from the trunk with seven large 
branches, giving a *hade 125 feet in diameter. 

1859. — Town Clerk, James P. Hayward ; Select- 
men, Emanuel N. Paine, William Kelly, Mowry 
Lapham ; Assessors, Arthur Cook, Sylvanus H. Ben- 
son, Joseph G. Ray ; Overseers of Poor, John B. 
Salisbury, William Sargent, William A. Kelly ; 
Treasurer, Moses Farnum ; School Committee, Jo- 
seph Thayer, for three years. 

Silas A. Burgess was chosen selectman and Richard 
Battey assessor in place of William Kelly and Joseph 
G. Ray respectively, as the latter did not take the 
oath of office. District No. 2 was annexed to No. 9. 
Joseph G. Ray was chosen Representative to the 
General Court. At this time Blackstone by itself 
formed the Twenty-first Worcester District. 

About the middle of May occuri'ed the sad cas-ualty 
by which Miss Georgiana IJrown, of Pawtucket, a 
teacher in the New City School, and Miss Frances 
Cady, only daughter of Mr. John Cady, formerly 



620 



HISTORY OP WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



postmaster, were drowned by going over the Black- 
stone dam while out boating with Mr. Walter Thorpe. 

Some time in March a rabid dog owned in Con- 
cord, Mass., passed through the village, biting numer- 
ous other dogs and two or three persons. About the 
10th of April a boy named Thomas Quinlen, fourteen 
years old, one of those bitten, died with all the 
symptoms assigned to hydrophobia. 

During the year Mr. Freeman Kurd was engaged 
in building the Edward Harris New Privilege dam 
across Mill River in the southeast corner of the town, 
flowing many acres of meadow land in Blackstone. 

Rev. William H. Bowen became pastor at Water- 
ford Baptist Church, and Rev. Charles A. Merrill 
was assigned to the Methodist Episcopal Church at 
Millville. 

I860.— Town Clerk, Dr. George E. Bullard ; Select- 
men, Richard Batty, Mowry Lapham, Joseph G. 
Ray; Assessors, Arthur Cook, David Brayton, Syl- 
vanus H. Benson ; Overseers of the Poor, William 
A. Kelly, Lyman Legg, Hiram Daniels ; Treasurer, 
Moses Farnum ; School Committee for three years, 
Henry C. Kimball. James P. Hayward was chosen 
assessor in place of David Brayton, who declined 
serving. Mr. Hayward also declining, and Arthur 
Cook failing to take the oath, the latter was re-elected 
and Marius H. Warfield was chosen. Mowry Lap- 
ham resigned in September and Millens Taft was 
chosen selectman for the unexpired term. Charles 
H. Fletcher was chosen Representative to the Gen- 
eral Court. February 2'2d, Rev. John V. Lewis be- 
came pastor of St. John's Society at Millville. 

The Blackstone Block was built by Welcome Far- 
num in 1849. In planning a building for the Wor- 
cester County Bank, for which a charter had been 
procured, Mr. Farnum, with his characteristic enter- 
prise, concluded to put up this large block, containing 
stores, offices and a large hall for public meetings 
and entertainments. His original plan was to locate 
it on Main Street and to have a building just one 
hundred feet in length ; but failing to make satis- 
factory terms for the purchase of a lot, it was placed 
upon its present site, where the- size of the lot 
limited the building to eighty-two feet. This block 
was subsequently mortgaged to Edward S. Hall, of 
Millville, and after Mr. Farnum's failure was trans- 
ferred to Joseph Almy, of Slatersville. In 1859 it 
was sold at auction and purchased by Dan Hill, 
who deeded it to Albert Gaskill in 1863. In 1870 
he sold it to Charles A. Pierce, and the latter dis- 
posed of it in November, 1874, to Mr. William 
Keely, in whose possession it has since remained. 

1861.— Town Clerk, Dr. George C. Bullard ; Select- 
men, Emory Scott, John C. Scott, Daniel N. Chase; 
Assessors, Millens Taft, Libbeus L. Wood, Willard 
Wilson ; Overseers of the Poor, Ruins Hayward, John 
G. Gatchell, Lyman Legg ; Treasurer, Richard K. 
Randolph ; School Committee for three years, Henry 
S. Mansfield ; for one year, William L. Southwick. 



The people living in the old Second School Dis- 
trict being aggrieved at the vote annexing them to 
No. 9, secured at a special meeting, February 9th, 
a re-division assigning three families to District 
No. 3. 

The first evidence in the town records of the 
e-xistence of Civil War occurs in the warrant drawn 
April 23d, in which occurs an article " To see if 
the town will vote to appropriate any money in aid 
of citizens of this town who may volunteer their 
services to the United States to suppress rebellion 
or invasion, and who shall be called into active ser- 
vice for said purpose and to aid the families if in 
destitute circumstances, or to act in any way relative 
to the same." 

At the meeting held May 1st it was voted to adopt 
the following resolutions offered by Dan Hill, Esq. ; 

The President of the United States having called upon all good citizens 
to aid him in his effort-' to enforce the laws and suppress an insurrection 
which threatens to overthrow the Government : We, the citizens of 
Blackstone in Towr. Meeting assemhled, deeply impressed by the perils 
that beset us, but with unfaltering confidence in God and the Right : — 
Inspired by the cherished memory of the heroic deeds and manly sacri- 
fices of our patriotic Fathers, and impelled by a solemn sense of duty 
which we owe to our posterity, no less thjin to ourselves — declare our 
readiness to aid, to the full extent of our ability, in sustaining this 
Government and in crushing tlie rebels that assail it. And we hereby 
"pledge our lives, our fortunes and our sacred lionor," that, come weal 
or come woe, we will never prove recreant to the Government to which 
we justly owe allegiance, and from which we derive so many blessings — 
a Governmeut which is the only formidable foe of Despotism and 
Tyranny, and the last hope of Civil and Religious Liberty in the World. 
In this "irrepressible conflict " between Freedom and Slavery, every 
pulsation of our hearts is for Freedom, and in lier sacred cause we are 
ready to give buttle— our watch-word ** The Government and the enforce- 
ment of the laws," — our banner the Stars and Stripes. 

Upon the firing upon Fort Sumter immediate 
steps had been taken to raise a company, and after 
several exciting meetings, a company of ninety-six, 
afterward known as Company K, Fifteenth Regiment 
Massachusetts Volunteers, was enlisted and drilled 
under command of Captain Moses W. Gatchell, with 
Edwin B. Staples, first lieutenant, and Caleb H. 
Arnold, first sergeant. The men were mustered in 
July 1st, the officers August 1st, and the regiment was 
sent to Maryland, where it was placed on the right 
wing of the Army of the Potomac. October 21st, at 
the battle of Ball's Blufl', Captain Gatchell and three 
privates in the company were killed. Lieutenant 
Staples resigned the following year to accept a posi- 
tion in the Fourth Regiment Massachusetts Cavalry, 
in which he gained the rank of major. Caleb H. 
Arnold became second lieutenant of Company K, 
January 3, 1863, and died of wounds received at the 
battle of Gettysburg, July 20, 1863. Mellville How- 
land, acting as first sergeant and lieutenant, died in 
Maryland, August 28, 1862, and Thomas Furnald, 
succeeding him as first sergeant, was killed at the 
battle of Antietam, September 17, 1862, as were six 
others in the company. George W. Bolster became 
second lieutenant June 9th, and first lieutenant 
November 7, 1862, and resigned March 18, 1863. 

A large number of Blackstone men enlisted in 



BLACKSTONE. 



621 



companies raised in Woonsocket, and served in 
various Rhode Island regiments as well as in other 
Massachusetts regiments than those named. 

Owing to the change in administration, Darius 
Bennett, the postmaster at Blackstone, was supplanted 
by Sylvanus H. Benson, and Willard Wilson, at Mill- 
ville, by Preserved L. Thayer. 

Rev. George M. Hamlin was appointed to the 
Methodist Society at Millville. 

18G2. — Town Clerk, George E. BuUard ; Selectmen, 
John C. Scott, Emory Scott, Joseph G. Ray (this 
board also acted as Assessors and Overseers of the 
Poor) ; treasurer, Richard K. Randolph ; School Com- 
mittee, Frank Kelly, three years, John V. Lewis, two 
years. Dr. Wm. H. Kimball, one year. 

The earlier meetings of this year were mainly taken 
up with discussions of the manner in which aid 
should be given the families of soldiers now in the 
service. July 17th was held a meeting to take 
measures to raise forty-two volunteers under the call 
of President Lincoln. This was just after the failure 
of General McClellan on the Virginia Peninsula, and 
extra inducements were needed. The town voted to 
call in and place on deposit in the Worcester County 
Bank three thousand one hundred and fifty dollars 
of the " surplus revenue," and that every man volun- 
teering before August 10th should be paid a bounty 
of seventy-five dollars. The matter was the subject 
of two more meetings, the bounty for men enlisiing 
for three years being made three hundred dollars, 
and for those enlisting under the new call for nine 
months a bounty of one hundred dollars was voted. 

Joseph G. Ray having moved out of town, Estus 
Lamb was elected August 30th to the Board of 
Selectmen. Chauning Smith was chosen Representa- 
tive to the General Court. 

Captain Daniel W. Kimball, Company K, Fifty- 
first Regiment Massachusetts Volunteers, had enlisted 
sixty men, and wanted overcoats for them, which the 
town voted November 5tb, appropriating ten dollars 
apiece, and John S. Needham to furnish them. The 
Fifty-first was a nine months' regiment. 

August 23d, Rev. George M. Hamlin and Dan Hill 
were appointed to the Board of School Committee in 
place of Rev. John V. Lewis resigned, and Dr. Wm. 
M. Kimball declined to serve. 

Rev. J. A. Howe was called to the pastorship at 
Waterford, aud Rev, George Rumney to St. John's 
Society at Millville, in place of Mr. Lewis. In June 
Rev. John E. Edwards was called to the Blackstone 
Society. 

1863. — Town Clerk, James K. Corastock ; Selectmen, 
James P. Hayward, Lewis W. Taft, Sylvanus H. 
Benson ; Assessors, William A. Northup, Lyman 
Paine, John C. Hobbs; Overseers of the Poor, Hiram 
Daniels, Andrew Kelly, Channing Smith; Treasurer, 
Moses Farnum ; School Committee, Le Roy Chilson, 
three years, Edwin Jenckes, one year. 

James P. Hayward declined to serve, and William 



A. Northup was elected selectman. Lyman Paine 
declining to serve as assessor, Arthur Cook was chosen. 
Charles A. Wright became trial justice. 

Early this year broke out the " Hickey Hall" school 
war, waged by Dan Hill of the General School Com- 
mittee against the Blackstone Manufacturing Com- 
pany. The bitter conflict ended with the company 
still in possession of their own school-house, and the 
committee letting their wrath coruscate in a most 
unique annual report. 

The subject of State aid to the families of soldiers 
and sailors came up from time to time, and was settled 
on the libera! side. Limited at first to families of 
volunteers, residents of the town, in the army, it was 
extended to volunteers in the navy, to the families of 
drafted men, to those not residents in the town, and 
was made perpetual to the families of those killed, or 
who died in the Union service. 

James K. Comstock was chosen Representative to 
the General Court. Rev. Lewis B. Bates was appointed 
to the Methodist Church, Millville. The Kelly cotton- 
mill at Upper Canada (East Blackstone), hitherto 
used to manufacture bagging, was converted into a 
woolen-mill. 

Tuesday, July 21st, arrived home Company K, 
Fifty-first Mass.achusetts Volunteers, Captain Daniel 
W. Kimball, and they were given an ovation. They 
had served at Newborn, N. C, on the Virginian 
Peninsula and, during their last month, with the 
Army of the Potomac in Maryland. On Wednesday, 
July 22d, the company re-assembled to attend the 
funeral of Lieutenant Caleb Arnold, Company K, 
Fifteenth Regiment, who had died of a wound received 
at the battle of Gettysburg. 

1864. — Town Clerk, James K. Comstock ; Select- 
men, Sylvanus H. Benson, John S. Needham, Andrew 
Kelly; Assessors, Arthur Cook, Silas A. Burgess, 
Estes Burdon ; Overseers of the Poor, Hiram Daniels, 
Channing Smith, Clovis L. Southwick ; Treasurer, 
Moses Farnum ; School Committee, Rev. J. Erskine 
Edwards. 

April 16th the town voted to borrow $7500 to be 
applied by the selectmen as bounties of $125 apiece 
to the men volunteering to fill the town's quota under 
the calls of the President, dated October 17, 1863, and 
February 1, 1864. Sylvanus H. Benson had been 
made recruiting officer for the town at $3 per day, and 
his energetic labors kept the town's credit pretty well 
up with the various calls, and earned him the sincere 
gratitude, in this respect, of his fellow-townsmen. 

Night police were enjoyed by the village people from 
shortly after the March meeting until May 21st, when 
the police were ordered paid up and discharged by 
the town. At this meeting too, it was voted " that 
the clergymen, lawyers, doctors and selectmen of this 
town, irrespective of denomination, be appointed a 
committee to use to the utmost extent their powers of 
moral suasion to do away with the sale and consump- 
tion of intoxicating liquors." 



622 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



July 14, 1864, the President called for more soldiers, 
and Blackstone's quota was fifty-six, of which only ten 
were already secured. The town voted, August 19th, 
$5750, in order to give each of the remaining forty-six 
a bounty of §125. H. K. Merrifield opened a law- 
office. John S. Needham was elected Representative 
to the General Court. Dr. Moses D. Southwick was 
also elected Senator for the Southeast Worcester 
District. Arthur Cook was appointed trial justice. 
Eev. E. W. Porter began his first ministry at Water- 
ford this year. The Kelly & Paine cotton-mill in 
East Blackstone, owned and run by Andrew Aldrich, 
was burned in March. Waterford No. 1 was burned 
this year, causing great loss to the wage-workers of 
that village. 

February 6th died Dr. Abel Wilder, for more than 
forty years engaged in the practice of his profession 
in this community. Dr. Wilder was born in Ash- 
buruham, Ma?s., June 24, 1786. He was the seventh 
son in a family of twelve children and was brought 
up to hard work on the farm until he was fifteen, 
when he was apprenticed to shoemaking. After he 
was twenty-one he set himself to acquire an educa- 
tion, and when twenty-four he began studying medi- 
cine, attending lectures at Dartmouth College, and 
supporting himself by teaching school. He began 
his practice in Winchendon and married there. He 
went to Swansey in 1815, removed to Walpole in 
1819, and came to Blackstone in 1823, where he re- 
mained until within a few months of his death, which 
occurred at the home of his son in New York. He 
had a family of twelve children, eight of whom sur- 
vived him. 

February 7lh died Dr. Horatio Stockbridge, in the 
seventy-sixih year of his age. He was the son of 
Hon. David Stockbridge, of Hanover, Mass., where 
he was born. The family descends from John Stock- 
bridge, who came from England in the ship " Bless- 
ing" in June, 1635, and settled in Scituate, Mass. 
In 1804, at the age of sixteen, he was sent to Harvard, 
College and remained two years. He studied medi- 
cine with Dr. Freeman Foster, of Scituate, and Dr. 
James Mann, of Wrentham. He« first practiced in 
Berwick, Maine, afterwards in Medway, Mass., and 
came to Blackstone in 1819. Here he remained until 
1833, when he opened his long famous apothecary 
shop in Woonsocket. His son Horatio Stockbridge 
survives him. 

April IGth died in Mendon, where he had but re- 
cently moved, Dan Hill, a native and, save a few 
months, always a resident of Blackstone, who.se life 
for a long period of years was closely identified with 
the history of the town. As a member of both 
branches of the State Legislature, as justice of the 
Police Court, and in the various oflices and agencies 
which the town could bestow, he always commanded 
respect, not only by his marked abilities, but his un- 
swerving integrity and uprightness of purpose. 

1865. — Town Clerk, James K. Comstock ; Select- 



men, Andrew Kelly, John S. Needham, Arthur Cook: 
Assessors, Arthur Cook, William A. Cole, Estus Bur. 
don ; Overseers of Poor, Hiram Daniels, Channing 
Smith, Clovis L. Southwick ; Treasurer, Richard K. 
Randolph; School Committee, Ellis T. Haywood. 

At a meeting January 21st the town voted $4,250 
to be divided in bounties of 1125 to each of the 
thirty-four men in the town's quota under the call of 
the President, December 19, 1864. 

April 3d it was voted to establish a High School 
forthwith, and that the School Committee procure a 
suitable room for such school. That Henry C. Kim- 
ball, Laban Bates and Milieus Taft be a committee on 
building a High School-house, and that it be located 
on or near the corner of Church and Mendon Streets, 
in Blackstone village, provided the Blackstone Manu- 
facturing Company will give the lot to the town for 
this purpose. The High School was begun in Septem- 
ber in the grammar school room of the New City 
building, with Daniel A. March, a graduate of 
Amherst College, as principal. It was also voted to 
redistrict the town according to the plan submitted 
by the School Committee, which reduced the number 
to eight by dividing No. 4 between Nos. 5 and 3, and 
re-numbering so that Chestnut Hill was No. 1 ; Five 
Corners, No. 2 ; East Blackstone, No. 3; Pickering, 
No. 4; Waterford, No. 5 ; Blackstone, No. 6; Town 
House, No. 7 ; Millvijle, No. 8. 

Estus Lamb and Henry S. Mansfield were added to 
the committee on the High School building. C. G. 
Keyes, Esq., opened a law-ofiice in the Arcade. Hiram 
Daniels was chosen Representative to the General 
Court. James K. Comstock was appointed post- 
master at Blackstone Post-OlEce. Jerome B. Bolster 
took an office at Blackstone as attorney-at-law. 

May 23d, Bernard Creighton, of Waterford, brought 
home a sick daughter from Dedham, who proved to 
have the small-pox. From large exposure twenty- 
three cases resulted, with seven or eight deaths. 

The Waterford No. 1 Mill was rebuilt three 
hundred and fil'ty feet long and fifty feet wide. 

18(j6.— Town Clerk, James K. Comstock; Select- 
men, Estus Lamb, Henry C.Kimball, Silas A. Burgess; 
Assessors, Estus Burdon, Hiram Daniels, Clovis L. 
Southwick ; the latter declined, and William A. Cole 
was chosen ; Overseers of the Poor, Clovis L. South- 
wick, Lewis W. Taft, Moses A. Daniels ; Treasurer, 
Moses Farnum ; School Committee, Jerome B. Bolster. 

Voted to accept of the list of by-laws in relation to 
truancy offered by Silas A. Burgess, Esq. Estus Lamb 
and Henry C. Kimball having declined to serve as 
selectmen, Milieus Taft and Libbeus L. Wood were 
chosen. The committee on building a High School- 
house reported a plan of building, and the proposal of ^ 
the Blackstone Manufacturing Company to give the ^ 
town a lot so long as certain conditions were fulfilled. 
The report and proposal were both accepted, and six 
thousand dollars was appropriated for the building, 
which was continued in the charge of the same com- 



BLACKSTONE. 



623 



miltee of five. Ellis T. Hayward having resigned 
from the School Committee, Dr. Moses D. Southwick 
was chosen. About three weeks later, April 21st, an 
attempt was made to reverse the town's previous action 
in regard to High School building, but without suc- 
cess. The " Harris Road " (the southern half of pres- 
ent Farm Street) first came under discussion at this 
meeting, and Francis Kelly, Millens Taft and William 
G. Hadley were appointed a committee on the part of 
the town to build the road. The order of the County 
Commissioners upon the road occupies the first twenty- 
one pages of Vol. 3, Town Records. May 19th, the 
town resolved vigorously against the road and in- 
structed its committee to fight for a reversal of the 
County Commissioners' decree. 

Rev. William Kellen was appointed to the Method- 
ist Society at Millville. 

John S. Needham was chosen Representative to 
the General Court. 

By the lamented death of Jerome B. Bolster, Octo- 
ber 27th, there was a vacancy on the Board of School 
Committee, which was filled by the appointment of 
Rev. E. W. Porter. 

In the month of March, Patrick Hughes disap- 
peared, and three weeks later his body was found in 
the Blackstone River. Foul play was suspected, but 
not proved. 

1867. — Town Clerk, James K. Comstock ; Selectmen, 
Henry K. Merrifield, Stephen S. Benson, Welcome A. 
Thayer; Assessors, Estes Burdon, Robert J. M. Chase, 
Lyman Paine ; Overseer of the Poor, Clovis L. South- 
wick, Edmund 0. Bacon ; Treasurer, Moses Farnum ; 
School Committee, William A. Cole, 1 year, Henry 
C. Kimball, 2 years, Sylvanus H. Benson, 3 years. 

Voted to abolish the school districts. This vote led 
to a series of votes at the following meeting, April 6lh ; 
the most important in the whole history of the town. 
It was ordered that the Blackstone Manufacturing 
Company's school-house at the New City be purchased, 
that steps be taken to build a new school-house at 
Wateiford, that all the school property of the districts 
be appraised and paid for by the town, and that S5000 
more be appropriated to complete the High School- 
house. 

The New City School-house was appraised at $12,- 
500 ; Chestnut Hill, $1400 ; Verry, $50 ; Five Corners, 
$300; Lower Canada, $1400; Pickering, $100; Town 
House, $150; Millville, $8000,— total, $23,900. The 
town books do not afford data for stating the cost of 
the Waterford school-house. This year the first iron 
bridge at the New City was built and the stone-arch 
bridge on Lincoln Street, over Fox Brook. The 
" Harris Road " was fought, but in vain. The town 
had to build it. The selectmen, contrary to custom, 
made no report of the indebtedne-s of the town March 
1, 1868. It is probable these various undertakings 
were in such stages, that it was impossible. On March 
1, 1867, it was $25,586; March 1, 1869, it was $68,316,— 
an increase of $42,730 in two years' time. 



September 9th, Rev. E. W. Porter was appointed to 
the School Committee in place of Henry C. Kimball, 
resigned. 

Moses Farnum was elected as Representative to the 
General Court. 

Rev. Henry W. Conant was appointed to the Meth- 
odist Society, at Millville. 

Henry K. Merrifield, Esq., succeeded Arthur Cook 
as trial justice, and held the position for six months, 
when he resigned to accept a position in an insurance 
oflSce in Worcester. He was succeeded by Theodore 
S. Johnson, Esq., of Worcester. 

Jeremiah Gatchell was appointed postmaster at 
Blackstone P. O. 

1868. — Town Clerk, James K. Comstock; Select- 
men, George E. Bullard, Millens A. Taft, Daniel S. 
Southwick ; Assessors, Lewis R. Daniels, Jeremiah 
Gatchell, Alexander Blanchard ; Overseers of the 
Poor, Willard Wilson, Step'nen Tucker, Lawrence 
Boy Ian ; Treasurer, Moses Farnum. Alexander Blan- 
chard declined to serve, and Willard Wilson was 
chosen. School Committee, William A. Cole for three 
years ; Samuel Thayer, Jr., for one year. 

March 2d, when most of the above officers were 
chosen, was an extremely bleak and snowy day. 
Whether owing to the storm, or to dissatisfaction with 
the management of town affairs, the result was the 
placing in office of men for the most part of the oppo- 
site politics of those who had controlled the town for 
some years. The selectmen having, under a vote of 
the town, contracted with George M. Blanchard to 
build a stone lock-up, and the town having rescinded 
its vote, the lock-up was not built, but the town paid 
rather more than its cost would have been in the way 
of damages and costs to Mr. Blanchard. Forty-two 
thousand dollars of the town debt was funded with the 
State treasurer, under vote of November 4th. 

Rev. M. E. Phetteplace was called to the Baptist 
Society at Waterford, and Rev. Frederick C. Newell 
was appointed to the Millville Methodist Society. A 
missionary effort for several months in East Black- 
stone, by Joseph iMiett, of Woinsocket, led to the ap- 
pointment of Rev. Thomas B. Gurney to that field. 

August 9th died Rufus Hayward, a native of Mendon 
but a resident of Blackstone the greater part of his life, 
and thoroughly identified with the political history 
of the town. For many years he was the leader of 
the Democratic party in the town. He was an active 
politician, a man of genial temperament and a kind 
neighbor. He had filled various town offices, and was 
once elected to the General Court as Representative. 
He was found dead in his bed at the Lincoln House, 
having probably died of apoplexy. Daring this year 
work was prosecuted on the road-bed of the Boston 
and New York Railroad, and there was an unusual 
number of fatal acciden's on the tracks. 

1869. — Town Clerk, Jeremiah Gatchell ; Selectmen, 
George E. Bullard, Louis R. Daniels, Daniel O'Sulli- 
van ; Assessors, Jeremiah Gatchell, Willard Wilson, 



624 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



John C. McCarthy ; Overseers of the Poor, John G' 
Gatchell, Joseph Byrne, Samuel Verry ; Treasurer, 
Moses Farnum ; School Committee, for three years, 
Samuel Thayer, Jr. Willard Wilson having declined 
to serve as assessor, Americns Welch was chosen, 
Samuel Verry having declined to serve, and Joseph 
Byrne having removed from town, Millens A.Taft and 
Bezaleel Richardson were chosen overseers of the 
poor. 

A new school-house was built at the Five Corners. 
May 24lh the County Commissioners laid out that 
part of St. Paul Street extending from Canal Street to 
the Rhode Island line under the tracks of both rail- 
roads. Pearl Street, in Millville, was laid out at this 
time with mutual asseverations of interest on the part 
of town and railroad in its behalf The " Hiram 
Daniels road" (section of IMendon Street from Milk 
Street to Asylum Street) first appeared in town affairs 
November 2d, when a committee was appointed to oji- 
pose it before the County Commissioners. 

Blackstone failed to secure the election of a Repre- 
sentative to General Court in the election this fall. 

March .31st Junius Bates was appointed postmaster 
at the Blackstone office. April 24th the Methodist 
Episcopal Society of East Blackstone was organized, 
and a church, costing about $3500, was erected during 
the summer. The organization of the Quickslream 
Lodge of Good Templars on March 22d afforded a 
powerful auxiliary to the church continuing to the 
present time (January 1, 1880). 

Edmund O. Bacon, late landlord of the Lincoln 
House, was appointed one of the deputy sheriffs of 
Worcester County at the beginning of January. The 
firm of Bates & Comstock (Laban Bates and James 
K. Comstock), who had been engaged in the grocery 
business in Blackstone Block for twenty years, sold 
out in May to John W. France. 

A new depot was built at Waterford as a Union 
station for both railroads. In November the small- 
pox was again introduced into Blackstone and re- 
sulted in forty cases and eight deaths. 

1870. — Town Clerk, Jeremiah Gatchell ; Selectmen, 
Darius Bennett, Ow?en Bradley, Micaj ah Fuller; As- 
sessors, Daniel N. Chase, Maurice Gary, Louis R. 
Daniels ; Overseers of the Poor, John G. Gatchell, 
Samuel Thayer, Sr., James H. Boyle; Treasurer, 
Moses Farnum ; School Committee, for thiee years, 
Michael Fagan. 

The new school-house at the Town House was 
built. This provided all the eight districts with 
good houses except No. 4, — " Pickerings." An arti- 
cle in the April warrant to repair or to rebuild in 
No. 4 simply secured a vote to repair, — an injustice 
which the town has not yet (1888) reversed in its 
treatment of tliis district. 

April 30th the town resolved against the " Hiram 
Daniels Road," and appointed a committee to oppose 
it. It is difficult to understand why this road created 
so much opposition. The construction of five or six 



miles more of such road, in certain lines, would ena- 
ble the town to close up nearly double that length of 
poor road difficult to keep in repair. August 2d, 
20th, 30tb, three town-meetings were held in regard 
to increasing the number of school-rooms at Black- 
stone and Waterford, and using the ui)per story of 
the High School-house as a library and reading- 
room. At the third meeting the whole scheme was 
negatived. Lyman Paine was chosen representative - 
to the General Court. I 

The Blackstone River Lodge built the Masonic 
building on Main Street, at a cost of eight thousand 
dollars. It was dedicated Washington's Birthday by 
a fair and ball. The building is sixty feet deep by 
thirty-two feet wide, and two stories in height, the 
end fronting the street. The heavy stone arches on 
the Boston Road in Waterford village were com- 
pleted during the year after several intermissions in 
the work. 

The Blackstone Valley Lodge of Good Templars 
became extinct in June. Rev. T. H. Bannon, of the 
St. Paul's Society, falling into poor health, he re- 
signed, and in October Rev. William A. Power was 
installed. Rev. James H. Cooley was assigned to 
the East Blackstone Methodist Episcopal Society, 
and Rev. Thomas S. Thomas to that of Millville. 
Rev. James Rand was called to Waterford Church. 

A lock-up was finally instituted in August in the 
Union House basement. 

1871. — Town Clerk, Junius Bates ; Selectmen, Da- 
rius Bennett, Micajah Fuller, Owen Bradley; Asses- 
sors, Jeremiah Gatchell, Louis R. Daniels, David M. 
Gaskill; Overseers of the Poor, John G. (jatchell, 
Samuel Thayer, Sr., Estes Burdon ; Treasurer, Moses 
Farnum; School Committee, for three years, William 
A. Cole, April 3d, Louis R. Daniels and David M. 
Gaskill having declined to serve as assessors, Patrick 
Kennedy and Americus Welch were chosen. John 
G. Gatchell and Samuel Thayer, Sr., having declined 
to serve as overseers, Stephen Tucker and James H. 
Boyle were chosen. It was voted to increase the 
School Committee to six, and John Worrall was 
chosen for three years. Welcome A. Thayer two 
years, and Horace H. Benson for one year. The lat- 
ter having declined, Samuel S. White was appointed. 

Blackstone sent no representative to General Court 
this year. Silas A. Burgess, E.sq., was appointed 
trial justice in August, T. S. Johnson having resigned 
to accept the position of clerk of the Municipal Court 
at Worcester. 

Rev. Samuel E. Evans was appointed to the Meth- 
odist Society at Millville. In April the Blackstone 
Library Association and the Athenteum held a union 
meeting, and effected an organization under which 
their libraries, conjointly numbering nearly three 
thousand volumes, were united and placed together 
in the Arcade. The last week in July the house and 
barn of Mr. Bernard Hoye and the barn of Mr. L. .S. 
Penniman were destroyed by tire, causing a loss of 



BLACKSTONE. 



625 



some five thousand dollars. The fire was checked by 

the powerful force-pump of Waterfonl No. 3 Mill, 
then run by Needham & Mason. All these buildings 
were promptly rebuilt. 

The first week in August died Varnum Bartlett, a 
native of Cumberland, R. I., but a resident of Black- 
stone for a quarter of a century, and bis shoe-store 
on Main Street was one of the old landmarks of the 
town. His honest dealing secured a largeijatronage 
in trade, and he was a successful business man of the 
old school. 

A lively interest in temperance work prevailed 
during the year among the several societies, religious 
and lay. In October the St. Paul's Temperance So- 
ciety celebrated the anniversary of the birth of Rev. 
Father Matthew, and by the interest aroused largely 
strengthened its membership. 

1872. — Town Clerk, Junius Bates ; Selectmen, 
Henry S. Mansfield, Samuel S. White, Augustine H. 
Rankin; Assessors, F. Myrick Thayer, Americus 
Welch, Robert J. M. Chase; Overseers of the Poor, 
Caleb S. Taft, Darius Bennett, Michael Rowan ; 
Treasurer, R. K. Randolph; School Committee, 
Henry C. Kimball, Louis A. Cook, for three years, 
John S. Needham, two years, Alvin C. Robbins, one 
year. 

April 15th, F. M. Thayer and R.J. M. Chase having 
declined to serve as asse-sors, Jeremiah Gatchell and 
John S. Needham were elected. It was voted to 
chooae Road Commissioners, and there were elected, 
Andrew Kelly, for three years, Samuel S. White, 
for two years, Henry S. Mansfield, for one year. 

John C. Scott was elected representative to the 
General Court. The new Board of Road Commissioners 
laid out a continuation of Main Street from New City 
iron bridge over the Blackstone Dam to Millville, 
passing near the houses of George Hanney and 
James Pitts to Central Street. This was accepted 
and ordered built and then the acceptance was 
revoked. 

Rev. S.imuel D. Church was called to the pastorship 
of the Waterford Society, Rev. Walter J. Yates was 
appointed to the Methodist Society at Millville, 
and the Rev. E. N. Maynard at East Blackstone. 
Rev. Edward H. True became rector of St. John's 
Parish, Millville. 

August 1st, the Second District Court of Southern 
Worcester, embracing the towns of Northbridge, 
Douglas, U-\bridge and Blackstone, took the place of 
the trial justice courts, with Arthur A. Putnam, Esq., 
as justice. It holds sessions every week-day alter- 
nately at Blackstone and Uxbridge — Mondays, Wed- 
nesdays and Fridays at Blackstone; Tuesdays, Thurs- 
days and Saturdays at U.Kbridge. The court has juris- 
diction in all civil actions where the amount does not 
exceed three hundred dollars, and a trial by jury 
may be had on the demand, in writing, by either party. 

1873. — Town Clerk, Aaron S. Esty ; Selectmen, 
Jeremiah Gatchell, Lawrence Boylan, Albert Smith ; 
40 



Assessors, Americus Welch, Miilens Taft, Michael 
Rowan ; Overseers of the Poor, Micajuh Fuller, Dan- 
iel Hefl'erman, F. Myrick Thayer; Treasurer, Austin 
A. Wheelock ; School Committee, Horace A. Ben- 
sou, Dr. Robert Booth, for three years, Welcome A. 
Thayer, one year. It was voted to abolish the Board 
of Road Commissioners. Milieus Taft having declined 
to serve as assessor, Daniel Wheelock was chosen. 
Town liy-laws, oftered by A. A. Putnam, Esq., in re- 
gard to obstruction of sidewalks, disturbance in streets, 
fast driving, etc., were adopted and were subsequently 
approved by Judge Devens, of the Massachusetts 
Superior Court, as required by law. The sum of one 
hundred dollars was now first voted to be placed at 
the disposal of " Gatchell Post, G. A. R.," for the 
suitable observance of Memorial Day. The " Hiram 
Daniels road " first ordered by the county commis- 
sioners January 4, 1871, had been so far successfully 
resisted because the lay-out crossed the Town Asylum 
Cemetery. The commissioners now executed a Hank 
movement and issued a decree, June !•, 1873, and the 
road was built by a contractor. 

On the evening of October 16th occurred the great 
firein Wilder's Lane, which destroyed eight dwelling- 
houses and several barns. The Woonsocket steam 
Hre-engine prevented a more extensive conflagration 
by its opportune arrival. Several meetings were now 
held to secure fire apparatus, but there was no result. 
Eighteen families were rendered homeless, and alto- 
gether some fifty families moved their household 
goods at considerable loss, so that this fire caused a 
widespread feeling of insecurity. 

Albert Smith was elected Representative and Jere- 
miah Gatchell Senator to the General Court. Lyman 
Legg was appointed postmaster at Millville. Rev. 
Albert W. Moore was called to the vacant pul()it at 
Blackstone, January 22d. Deacon Daniel Gunn 
died February 21st, aged sixty-five years. He was 
born February 6, 1808, at Swauzy, Vermont, and 
<'ame to Black-tone in 1833, where he resided until 
his death. He was an ardent and devoted member 
of the Waterford Church. The Worcester County 
National Bank removed to Franklin in August. 

1874. — Town Clerk, Aaron S. Esty ; Selectmen, Jere- 
nnah Gatchell, Matthew Faulkner, Albert Smith ; 
Assessors, Americus Welch, Philip Nully, Millens 
Taft ; Overseers of the Poor, Micajah Fuller, Rich- 
ard Newsome, William G.Miller; Treasurer, Austin 
A. Wheelock ; School Committee, Welcome A. 
Thayer, John P. Needham, three years each. 

There was considerable agitation during the year 
for a new town hall, to be located at the village. 
One proposition was to purchase " Block Hall." 
Nothing was accomplished, however, in this direc- 
tion, the committee reporting through its chairman, 
John S. Needham, "in view of the present depressed 
state of business the committee recommend a post- 
ponement, but not an indefinite postponement of 
the subject." 



626 



HISTOKY OF WORCESTEK COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



The town having paid no attention to the decree 
of the County Commissioners in relation to the 
" Hiram Daniels Road," they had built the road, and 
now served notice upon the town to pay the expenses 
and charges of completing, amounting to $5505, into 
the county treasury. This the town voted to do, 
October 3 ; then also voted " that a committee of 
three be appointed to take into consideration the 
matter of inducing capitalists or mechanics to locate 
in this town." The committee was Jeremiah Gat- 
chell, Daniel Simmons, John' C. Scott. 

Albert Smith and Jeremiah Gatchell were again 
elected Representative and Senator respectively, to 
the General Court. 

Thanksgiving morning, November 26th, a fire 
destroyed the barn, paint, wheelwright and black- 
smith shops, and the dwelling-house of Micajah 
Fuller, the barn and greater part of the Lincoln 
House, owned by Martin Jenckes. As in the preced- 
ing year, the Woonsocket steam fire-engines came to 
the rescue. At a meeting, December 9th, it was 
voted to have a steam fire-engine, and five thousand 
dollars was appropriated for its purchase. 

In February a disastrous fire in Millville destroyed 
the large stone woolen-mill. The satinet-mill at 
Upper Canada, run by John C. Scott, was burned this 
year. 

1875. — Town Clerk, Junius Bates; Selectmen, 
Henry S. Mansfield, Patrick Kennedy, Samuel S. 
White; Assessors, Americas Welch, William A. Cole, 
John Gallagher; Overseers of the Poor, Micajah 
Fuller, Alonzo W. Southwick, Dennis McMullen ; 
Treasurer, John S. Needham ; School Committee (for 
three years), Alvin C. Robbins, Andrew Kelly. 

John S. Needham having declined to serve as 
treasurer, Daniel Wheelock was chosen. The steam 
fire-engine company of the town was organized. The 
town accepted the selectmen's lay-out of Farnum 
Street, September 18th. Patrick Kennedy was chosen 
Representative. Rev. Edwin G. Babcock was as- 
signed to the Methodist Society at Millville, and Rev. 
William R. Mays to East Blackstone. Under the 
kindly infiuence of Rev. William A. Power was 
formed, in St. Paul's Society, the Young Men's Catho- 
lic Union, a literary society, which long held weekly 
meetings, and collected a considerable library. 

Mr. John Needham, after twenty-three years' resi- 
dence in town, having removed to Lawrence, Mass., 
to become superintendent of the Washington Mills 
in that city, the Rev. S. D. Church was chosen to 
fill the vacancy on the Board of School Committee. 
In May John L. Utley opened a law-office in Black- 
stone. Myron Daniels was appointed postmaster at 
East Blackstone. .Tune 9th died Dr. Moses D. South- 
wick. He was born in Mendon, July, 1805, on the 
farm of his father, George Southwick, where his early 
life was spent. By teaching school he won his way 
through Brown University, graduating in 1828, and 
Bowdoin Medical College in 1831, having read medi- 



cine with Dr. Usher Parsons, of Providence, R. I. 
He practiced a short time in Bellingham, but soon 
(1834) removed to Millville, where he spent the rest 
of his life. He was a man of sterling character, of 
vigorous powers of mind, well-balanced, and of 
remarkably even temperament. 

1876. — Town Clerk, John Nugent; Selectmen, 
Americus Welch, Patrick Kennedy, Matthew Faulk- 
ner ; Assessors, Americus Welch, James Dollard, 
Patrick Baxter ; Overseers of the Poor, Micajah Ful- 
ler, Willard Bennett, Richard Newsome ; Treasurer, 
Horatio Stockbridge; School Committee, James Dol- 
lard, three years; Austin A. Wheelock, one year. 

Francis N. Thayer was chosen Representative to 
the General Court. The town now voted to reduce 
the Board of School Committee to three members 
again. 

In December Rev. Theodore G. Wilder was called 
to the Waterford Baptist Society, and May 21st Rev. 
George F. Walker to the Blackstone Church. Rev. 
William H. Turkington was appointed to the Method- 
ist Society, Millville, and Rev. N. G. Axtell to East 
Blackstone. Rev. John D. McConkey took charge 
of St. John's Parish October 14th. Francis N. 
Thayer, a native of the town, having been admitted 
to the bar of Worcester County, opened an office in 
Blackstone Village. 

Rev. S. D. Church closed his pastoral labors at the 
Free Baptist Church, in Waterford, on Sunday, June 
4th. He returned to the church in Taunton, Mats., 
where he first entered upon his pastoral <luties and 
where he then served for six years. Mr. Church was 
a devoted student, a man of excellent abilities and 
attainments, and as a Hebrew scholar ranked high in 
his denomination. 

Early in the year was completed Institute Hall, a 
large and handsome edifice, near the St. Paul's 
Church, devoted to the social and educational inter- 
ests of its people. The building is .of wood, eighty 
feet long by forty-five feet in width, and two full 
stories in height above the basement. 

1877. — Town Clerk, John Nugent; Selectmen, 
Americus Welch, Thomas T. Smith, Daniel Wheel- 
ock ; Assessors, Americus Welch, William L. Reade, 
Olney L. Pickering; Overseers of the Poor, Micajah 
Fuller, Richard Newsome, Alonzo Southwick ; Treas- 
urer, Joel Hervey; School Committee, Henry C. 
Kimball, three years. 

This spring the town was seized with one of its 
periodical spasms of small economy and fixed the 
price at which its servants must work. This process 
involved the choice of a new tax collector and the 
consequent loss to the town within two years of sev- 
eral thousand dollars. It was voted that the School 
Committee shall appoint a superintendent of schools, 
and that board appointed Alvin C. Robbins. The 
committee appointed to secure the settlement in town 
of additional manufacturing enterprises were active 
during "the year, and the valuable water privilege at 



i 



BLACKSTONE. 



627 



Millville, on the Blackatone River, was sold by its 
Worcester owners to the Woonsocket Rubber Com- 
pany, of Woonsocket, R. I., and the Lawrence Felt- 
ing Company. 

Rev. R. D. Dyson was appointed to the Methodist 
Society at Millville and Rev. Charles Nason to the 
East Blackstone Society. The Mansfield Scythe 
Factory, built in 1871, oft' Central Street, Millville, 
was purchased by Messrs. Booth & Kidd and con- 
verted into a woolen-mill with four sets of machinery. 
Dr. Frank J. King opened his office in Millville in 
August. 

The last week in October the Waterford No. 8 
Mill was totally destroyed by fire. This mill was the 
oldest of the Watei ford Mills, having been built by 
Welcome Farnum in 1825. The loss of this mill was 
a serious drawback to the town and resulted in the 
removal of many industrious families and good citi- 
zens elsewhere. 

1878. — Town Clerk, John Nugent; Selectmen, 
Americus Welch, Terrence McGinley, Michael Tuite ; 
Assessors, Americus Welch, Patrick Baxter, Dennis 
J. Connors; Overseers of the Poor, Micajah Fuller, 
Peter McCooey, William F. Byrne; Treasurer, Austin 
A. Wheelock ; School Committee, for three years, 
Adrian Scott. 

April 1st, it was voted, " that the assessors be in- 
structed to abate all taxes assessed on the real estate 
of Messrs. Cook & Banigan, for the term of five years 
from the date of their purchase in the village of Mill- 
ville, except upon the valuation upon said real estate 
of that date." This vute was passed in behalf of the 
improvements made at Millville by the Lawrence 
Felting Co., consisting of the Felting Jlill and its 
adjuncts, machinery, &c. 

At this meeting the following resolutions were 
passed : 

Resolred, That the inhabitaiifs of the Town of Blsiclietone, in town, 
meeting assemliied, leceive with regret tlie information of tlie death of 
ourreepected former fellow-citizen, Sylvanns H. Benson. 

ReauUe'i, That we deem it our duty to express in our name our regard 
for tlie various imi)nrtalit public services wliicli distinguislied Ills oliicial 
life and to mark with appiopriate honor the points of his character and 
the integrity of his aduiiniatration of the several departments which 
have been intrusted to his care. These entitle him to the afTectioiiate 
remembrance of the inhabitants of this Town and an honorable place in 
the history of its public servants. 

Resolved, That the Town Clerk be requested to transmit copies of the 
foregoing resolutions to the family of our deceased friend and to have 
the same placed upon the records of the Town. 

September 27th the town voted to fund the town debt 
by establishing a Sinking Fund. Commissioners 
were elected as follows : Jeremiah Gatchell, for three 
years; Lawrence Boylan, for two years; Henry S. 
Mansfield, one year. 

Frederic Thayer was chosen Representative to the 
General Court. 

Rev. John H. Sherman was appointed to the Meth- 
odist Society at Millville. 

Rev. Jesse C. Heald was called to St. John's So- 
ciety July 1st. 



Channing Smith died August 29th, in the eighty- 
first year of his age. 

1879. — Town Clerk, Daniel Wheelock ; Selectmen, 
Americus Welch, Terrence McGinley, Frederick 
Thayer; Assessors, Americus Welch, Mathew Marty, 
James A. Kidd ; Overseers of the Poor, Andrew 
Kelly, Francis N. Thayer, Lawrence Gibney ; School 
Committee, Augustus Wilcox, three years, — Dennis 
McCaffrey, one year, to fill vacancy caused by the 
resignation of Henry C. Kimball ; Treasurer, Leonard 
T. Gaskill. 

The proceedings of the previous September, in re- 
gard to the Sinking Fund, not appearing upon the 
records in sufficient form, were void. The town, 
therefore, again pas.sed its vote establishing a Sinking 
Fund, ordering the assessors to assess each year one 
and one-half mills on each dollar of taxable property, 
and elected Jeremiah Gatchell for three years, Henry 
S. Mansfield for two years and Rice A. Brown, Jr., 
for one year. Sinking Fund Commissioners. 

The revised Truant Laws oftered by Adrian Scott, 
chairman of the School Committee, were accepted 
and adopted by the town and were approved by the 
Superior Court, Francis H. Dewey, Nov. 15th. 

A committee was appointed to name the public 
roads and streets in the town. The committee 
reported, November -llh, forty-four public and two 
private ways with names, and the report was adopted. 

Agitation was begun of the question of enlarging 
the Town Asylum, and it was referred to the Over- 
seers of the Poor. 

JIajor Edwin B. Staples died October 20th, at Sar- 
asota, Flurida, whither he had gone for his health. 

Edward B. Savage, Esq., attorney-at-law, opened a 
law-office in the Union House in September. 

Mr. Francis Kelly died the latter part of August, in 
the seventieth year of his age, at Dorchester, Mass., 
where he removed some three years previous. He 
was a native of Bellingham, but came to Blackstone 
when a young man and resided in this town over forty 
years. His life-long occupatiou was teaching. He 
had an aptitude for teaching, and his schools were 
characterized for good order and discipline, a system- 
atic pursuit of studies and a strict attention to the 
rules and duties of the place. He filled many impor- 
tant town ajjencies. 

1880. — Town Clerk, John Nugent; Selectmen, 
Americus Welch, William J. Bowes, Lawrence Don- 
Ion, Jr. ; Assessors, Americus Welch, George Wil- 
liams {1st), Louis R. Banigan ; Overseers of the Poor, 
Daniel Heft'ernan, James H. Boyle, Andrew Kelly ; 
Treasurer, Lawrence Boylan ; School Committee, 
Dennis McCaflrey (for three years), Samuel S. White 
(for two years, to fill a vacancy caused by removal of 
Augustus Wilcox). 

" Voted that all persons building in the town for 
manufacturing purposes will be abated their taxes 
for the term of five years, provided the amount of 
said investment be not less than $50,000." Under 



628 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



this vote the Woonsocket Rubber Company began, in 
1882, their large factory, upon which taxes were 
abated from 1883 to '88. 

The new Almshouse was the subject of two meet- 
ings during the spring, and was eventually built on 
the old road opposite the old house, instead of upon 
the new section of Mendon Street, where it would 
have been much more accessible and in a much more 
sightly location. 

Rev. Ck'orge F. Walker having resigned his charge 
at the Blackstone Church, the society remained with- 
out a settled pastor for several years. 

Rev. Lewis Dexter was settled at the Waterford 
Church. 

A new church, known as St. Augustine's, was 
built at Jlillville by the Roman Catholic Society of 
that village, which continued under the charge of 
Rev. William A. Power, of Blackstone. 

Lyman Legg having been removed from the Mill- 
ville post-office, Matthew Blanchard was appointed 
postmaster. 

1881.— Town Clerk, John Fay ; Selectmen, Amer- 
icas Welch, William.!. Bowes, Lawrence Donlon, Jr.; 
Assessors, Americus Welch, Michael Tuite, George 
Baxter ; Overseers of the Poor, Daniel Heffernan, 
James Meagher, John Clark ; Treasurer, Austin A. 
Wiieelock; School Committee, for three years, Adrian 
Scott. 

The school-house at Millville was enlarged during 
the summer. The school-house in the Pickering Dis- 
trict becoming untenable, the school was suspended 
after the spring term. During the summer the iron 
bridge at the New City began to give signs of weak- 
ness, and August 22d a committee of five was appointed 
to conti'act for a new bridge. The Providence and 
Worcester Railroad having refused to bear its propor- 
tion of the expense, a committee of three was ap- 
pointed November 11th to a.scertaiu that company's 
liability. The contract of the company with the 
town upon the construction of the first iron bridge, 
in 18()7, as well as all other records bearing upon the 
subject, were submitted to Francis P. Goulding, Esq., 
of Worcester, and Judge E. Rockwood Hoar, of Bos- 
ton, who gave it their opinion separately that the 
railroad company was chargeable. The attorney for 
the company, having reviewed these opinions, gave 
his assent thereto, and the company eventually 
helped pay for the new iron bridge. 

Americus Welch was chosen Representative to the 
General Court. 

Rev. Wilbur S. Smithers was assigned to the Meth- 
odist Society at F^ast Blackstone. 

1882.— Town Clerk, William F. Byrne; Selectmen, 
Americus Welch, Louis R. Banigan, Lawrence Don- 
lon, Jr. ; Assessors, George Williams, John J. Hefl'er- 
nan, John Conway; Overseers of the Poor, Daniel 
Hefternan, Patrick Baxter, Francis McMnnus ; Treas- 
urer, Austin A. Wheelock; School Committee, for 
three years, Horatio Stockbridge. 



Street-lights, to the number of thirty, were first 
voted July 28th. 

The New City iron bridge was erected, and a relay 
of South JIain Street was made by the selectmen. 

Americus Welch was again elected Representative 
to the General Court. 

Early this year the proprietor of the Franklin Sen- 
tinel at Franklin, Mass., undertook to revive the 
Blackstone Valley Clironicle by printing a Blackstone 
edition of his paper, with Edward Savage, Esq., as 
local editor. 

1883.— Town Clerk, William F. Byrne; Selectmen, 
Americus Welch, Louis R. Banigan, George F. 
Creighton ; Assessors, Americus Welch, James A. 
Kidd, Edward McCooey ; Overseers of the Poor, 
Patrick Kennedy, James H. Boyle, George Wil- 
liams ; Treasurer, Austin A. Wheelock ; School Com- 
mittee, for three years, Orlando Scott. November 
6th Francis McManus was chosen in place of James 
H. Boyle, deceased. 

March 12th the town adopted a town seal as fol- 
lows : " Voted, that the Town adopt as a design for a 
Town Seal, a shield, one-half of which shall contain 
the coat-of-arms of the Blackstone Family, the other 
half contain the representation of the tower of the 
old Blackstone Mill. Below this, upon a scroll, the 
Blackstone motto, ' T>o well and doubt not,' with 
flowers ; and above the shield a scroll with the date 
of the Town's incorporation, 1845 ; and upon the 
margin shall appear, ' Nepmug Country until 1667; 
Mendon, 1667; ' and directly above the shield, in the 
margin, ' Blackstone.' " 

The New York and New England Railro.ad removed 
its unsightly wooden bridges over Main and Canal 
Streets, and substituted iron bridges during the fall 
and winter. Under a decree of the County Commis 
sioners, the company was allowed to erect piers be- 
tween sidewalks and roadways upon both streets. 

Rev. A. A. Briggs was appointed to the Methodist 
Society at East Blackstone. 

Decenil)er 10th the village of Blackstone was startled 
to learn that Dr. William M. Kimball had been found 
in his office in an apoplectic shock and unable to 
speak. He lived about two days, but did not recover 
the power to speak. Dr. Kimball was born in South- 
bridge, studied with Dr. Miller, of Providence, and 
attended lectures at the Berkshire Medical School 
and at Harvard Medical School, graduating from the 
latter. He settled in Blackstone in 1840. | 

1884.— Town Clerk, William F. Byrne ; Selectmen, 
Americus Welch, Louis R. Banigan, George F. 
Creighton; Assessors, John F. Campbell, Orlando 
Scott, Edward McCooey ; ' Overseers of the Poor, 
Daniel Heffernan, Francis McManus, George Wil- 
liams; Treasurer, Austin A. Wheelock ; School Com- 
mittee, for three years, Adrian Scott. November 4lh 
Edward R. Thompson was chosen in place of Daniel 
Hefl'ernan, deceased. 

April 7th it was voted to build a new bridge overthe 



^t,"- 



^JWIHtlliAi'ii \ 





^ .^^ 




I 



BLACKSTONE. 



G29 



Blackstone River, near the Union House, and twelve 

tliousand dollars was appropriated therefor. October 
7th the County Commissioners re-located 8outh Main 
Street and awarded land damages. 

Daniel Wheelock was chosen Representative to the 
General Court. 

Rev. William J. Alger became rector of the St. 
John's Parish, Millville, in place of Rev. Jesse C. 
Heald, who removed to TariftVille, Conn. 

Rev. Michael Kittredgewas placed in charge of the 
St. Augustine Society. ' 

Rev. A. J. Church was assigned to the Methodist 
Society at East Blackstone. 

Rev. Leroy M. Pierce was settled at Blackstone 
Church. 

1S85.— Town Clerk, William F. Byrne ; Selectmen, 
Americus Welch, Patrick O'Donnell, John J. Dorsey ; 
Assessors, John F. Campbell, Orlando Scott, Edward 
McCooey ; Overseers of the Poor, Patrick Kennedy, 
Francis McManus, George Williams (1st); Treasurer, 
Austin A. Wheelock : School Committee for three 
years, Horatio Stockbridge. 

April (5th, it was voted to have Road Commissioners, 
and the ballot taken elected Peter Maloney, for three 
years, Cornelius R. Day, for two years, and Americus 
Welch, one year. It was also voted to adopt the sys- 
tem for keeping town accounts and printing town re- 
ports offered by Americus Welch. The grade of that 
portion of South Main Street recently re-located was 
fixed, and the width of the sidewalks was established 
at two-elevenths of the established width of each 
street, equal to nine feet upon Main Street, and all 
roads three rods wide. 

This year was rendered memorable by the famous 
strike at the Millville Rubber Work?, the disastrous 
effects of which upon the prosperity of the village 
and the town are not yet entirely overcome. The 
strike began the latter part of June, and lasted sev- 
eral months. In September the attitude of the strik- 
ers was so threatening, when the company substituted 
new help, that the selectmen judged it prudent to 
bring down a company of Worcester city police. 

Rev. Edward P. Phreaner was appointed to the 
Methodist Society at Millville. 

The different temperance organizations in town, 
united with the clergy, and a strong public sentiment 
that the liquor dealers were acting unscrupulously in 
selling to minors, on Sundays, etc, gathered force 
during the winter and manifested its strength at the 
ensuing annual election. 

Matthew Blanchard, the postmaster at Millville, 
having died suddenly in January, his wife was ap- 
pointed, and still holds the position (January 1, 1889). 

William Byrne was appointed postmaster at Black- 
stone in August, in place of Junius Bates, and Caleb 
Colvin at East Blackstone in place of Myron Daniels. 

1886.— Town Clerk, Michael Carroll ; Selectmen, 
Adrian Scott, Patrick Kennedy, James P. Mulvey; 
Assessors, John F. Campbell, Orlando Scott, Edward 



McCooey ; Overseers of the Poor, Daniel W. Heffer- 
nan, Francis McJIanus, John P. Maloney; Treasurer, 
Austin A. Wheelock; School Committee for three 
years, George K. Marshall; Road Commissioner, Sal- 
mon Blanchard. 

Prospect Street was laid out by the Road Com- 
missioners, accepted by the town and ordered built. 
The following resolution, oflered by Hon. Jeremiah 
Gatchell, was read and adopted : "Resolved, That the 
Boards of School Committee and Selectmen be re- 
quested to arrange a system of payment of the salaries 
of the teachers of the several schools in town, by 
which they may receive their salaries in regular 
monthly instalments." 

Since March, 1886, in consequence of the above re- 
solve, the teachers in the public schools have been 
paid monthly while schools were in session. 

Forest fire wards were first appointed July 3d, un- 
der the law of 1886, and I-ouis R. Daniels, William 
A. Aldrich and John DoUard constitute the board. 

The northerly abutment of the Central Street 
wooden bridge, Millville, having partially fallen in, a 
heavy masonry abutment was built during the fall and 
winter under the charge of Cornelius R. Day, chair- 
man of Road Commissioners. 

The County Commissioners re-districted Worcester 
County and placed Blackstone with Mendon, Milford 
and Hopedale in the Eleventh District, with two rep- 
resentatives. Both representatives were chosen from 
Milford this year. 

November 15th, Daniel W. Heffernan having re- 
moved from town, Patrick Kennedy was chosen 
chairman of the Overseers of the Poor. 

The Blackstone Valley C/ironicle again came to an 
end about April 1st, the new series reaching Vol. V., 
No. 13, before its final demise. 

Rev. Mr. Woodward was assigned to the Methodist 
Society at East Blackstone. 

The town at its annual March election voted on the 
question of license to sell intoxicating drinks — " Yes," 
259, "No," 369, and no licenses were issued, not to 
apothecaries even. 

1887. — Town Clerk, Michael Carroll; Selectmen, 
Adrian Scott, John W. Cannon, James P. Mulvey ; 
Assessors, John F. Campbell, James P. Mulvey, 
Joseph Byrne; Overseers of the Poor, Patrick Ken- 
nedy, Thomas Downey, Patrick R. Shea ; Treasurer, 
Austin A. Wheelock; Road Commifsioner for three 
years, Patrick Haggerty ; School Committee for three 
years, Adrian Scott; for one year (to fill vacancy 
caused by the resignation of Horatio Stockbridge), 
Rev. John D. McGann. 

June ISth, .lohn F. Campbell was elected chairman 
of the Board of Selectmen in place of Adrian Scott, 
resigned. 

Thomas McCooey was elected representative to the 
General Court. 

January 4th was organized East Blackstone 
Grange, Patrons of Husbandry, No. 137, of Massa- 



630 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



chusetts, with twenty-seven charter members. Its 
meetings were held weekly during the year at Cover- 
dale Hall, corner of Elm and Blackstone Streets, and 
at the close of the year it numbered nearly seventy 
members. 

Rev. E. W. Porter began his second ministry at the 
Baptist Church iu Waterford. 

The town at its annual March meeting reversed its 
position upon the liquor license question, the vote 
being ".Yes," 337 ; " No," 146. 

1888.— Town Clerk, Michael Carroll; Selectmen, 
Patrick Kennedy, John Conway, Thomas McCaffrey; 
Assessors, John F. Campbell, Robert Miller, Joseph 
Byrne ; Overseers of the Poor, Patrick Kennedy, 
Patrick R. Shea, Thomas Downey ; Treasurer, Law- 
rence Boylan ; Road Commissioner for three years, 
Michael A. Bradley ; School Committee for three 
years, Joseph Byrne. 

April 2d it was voted that a committee of three be 
appointed to purchase a lot of land as a site for a 
new school-house in Millville. May 2d, four thousand 
dollars was appropriated for a lot and building, and a 
lot having been secured by gift from the Lawrence 
Felting Company, a school-house with two rooms was 
erected and furnished in season for two schools to be 
held therein, December 1st. 

The Blackstone Library and Athenteum Associa- 
tion, havintr been dormant for .some years, a proposi- 
tion on the part of the majority of its stockholders, 
that the town take the books as the nucleus of a pub- 
lic library was accepted, as was also the ofter of the 
Blackstone Manufacturing Company of the old vestry 
building as a library room, rent free for ten years. 

The lay-out of Preston Street, Millville, as made 
by the road commissioners, was accepted, and the 
road ordered built May 2d. The stone arch over Fox 
Brook, Main Street, Waterford, was widened and 
sidewalks built during the fall. May 2d it was also 
voted to divide the town into voting districts, but 
when the selectmen had established the bounds the 
town did not accept the same. 

Thomas McCooey was again elected representative 
to the General Court. 

St. Augustine Church was greatly enlarged and 
beautified during the fall to accommodate its increas- 
ing number of communicants. 

Rev. James H. Nutting, of Woonsocket, was 
assigned to supply East Blackstone Methodist 
Society. 

The Baptist Society at Waterford thoroughly reno- 
vated its church building this summer, and greatly 
increased its interior beauty and convenience. 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 



DANIEL S. SOUTHWICK. 

Mr. Southwick was born in Blackstone, Mass., 
March 25, 1805. He was left an orphan at an early 



age and went to live with his uncle, Jacob Southwick, 
where he remained until his uncle's death. Daniel 
having reached the age when it became necessary for 
him to think of learning a useful trade, found employ- 
ment with Ale.xander Wilson, one of the old time 
scythe-makers. This was the time when numerous 
small scythe-shops were scattered over the county. 
So well satisfied was Mr. Southwick with his employer 
that he remained with him twenty years. At the age 
of twenty-eight he built the home where he resided 
until his death, February 17, 1886. During his life- 
time he held many important offices in his town and 
was ever faithful to all trusts reposed in him. The 
friendless poor, the unfortunate and those in any 
trouble, ever found in him a .sympathizing friend. In 
all matters of business he was prompt and punctual, 
his word was as good as his bond, and throughout a 
long life he maintained this character. He married 
Sally Wilson January 28, 1832. In his family rela- 
tions he was the loving husband and the kind father. 
In the community in which he lived he was a re-, 
spected citizen, and there having rounded out the 
three-score years and ten allotted him, he passed to 
his reward, leaving a widow, two sons, two grand- 
children and one sister. 



JAMES C. SOUTHWICK. 

James C. Southwick, the son of Daniel, grand- 
son of John, and great-grandson of Jonathan, is a 
direct descendant from Lawrence, the Pilgrim, who 
came from England to America in l(i27, and probably 
settled in Salem, although his name does not appear 
on the records until 1639, when he and his family 
were admitted to membership in the First Church of 
Salem, and land was given him by the town on 
which to carry on the business of manufacturing glass 
and earthen-ware. The subject of this sketch was 
the only son in a family of seven children, five of 
whom are now living. He was born in Mendon 
(now Blackstone), December 12, 1824, on the home- 
stead which has been occupied by the three preced- 
ing generations. In early life he attended the dis- 
trict school in his native town, and supplemented his 
education at Scituate, R. I., and at the Worcester 
Academy. 

When a young man he purchased a farm adjacent 
to the old homestead, which he carried on until the 
decease of his father, when he bought the latter 
place, which he still occupies. Mr. Southwick is a 
progressive agriculturist, and has all the modern ap- 
pliances for farm work. In his religious views he is 
liberal, believing in deeds rather tha,n creeds. Sep- 
tember 18, 1845, he married Elizabeth F., daughter 
of Wilder Holbrook. They have had fimr children, 
viz. : Medora E., born June 17, 1847, who married 
Josiah B. Davis, of Black'-tone; Eva A., born Au- 
gust 14, 1852, who marri. i Charles H. Buflum, of 
Oxford, and died May 31 1 883, three years after her 
marriage ; De Etta, bo.iJ February 28, 1859, who 





^,^?^£-:i^ -Z^ i^^^^^-Z'/^i^y^^^^'' 



SPENCER. 



631 



died August 7, 1860 ; Wilder D., born April 19, 1866. 
The latter having completed a course of study in 
the American Veterinary College, at New York, re- 
ceived his degree in 1887, and is now practicing as a 
veterinarian in Woonsocket, R. I. 



CHAPTER LXXXV. 

SPENCER. 

BV J. W. TEMPI,E. 

History whex a Part of Leicester. — As 
Spencer was originally a part of the town of Lei- 
cester, its early history would be incomplete without 
speaking briefly of the mother township, from its 
purchase until the separation between it and Lei- 
cester took place. In the latter part of the seven- 
teenth century certain gentlemen, known as "pro- 
prietors," purchased large tracts of land within what 
is now Worcester County, to settle " plantations " 
thereon, and it is reasonable to suppose, as a specula- 
tive venture also. These purchases were made upon 
conditions that a "certain number of families, within 
a certain number of years, shall there be located, and 
a sufticieut quantity of land thereof shall be reserved 
for the Gospel ministry and a school." In this man- 
ner, and upon like conditions, was purchased a 
" tract of land, eight miles square, lying near the 
new town of the English, called Worcester, to be 
called Leicester and to belong to the County of Mid- 
dlesex." The deed of this tract was from the heirs 
of Oraskaso, "sachem of a place called Tontaid," 
and was dated the twenty-si.xth day of January, 
Anno Domini one thousand six hundred and eighty- 
six. 

This, then, was the first step taken towards settling 
this wilderness, and the history of Spencer must 
necessarily date from this purchase, although it was 
fifty years or more before the division was had which 
made it a separate and distinct town. 

For more than a quarter of a century there was 
nothing to encourage the "proprietors" to go for- 
ward, settle and develop the tract, as the depreda- 
tions by the Indians in the surrounding towns were 
of such serious nature that a postponement of the 
project seemed the only alternative. A few years 
previous to this purchase, King Philip and his war- 
riors were raiding the territory in this immediate 
vicinity, murdering the inhabitants, laying waste the 
towns or causing them to be abandoned, through 
great fear; and since these incursions were more or 
less frequent until 1713, it remained a wilderness up 
to this date, without a "single white inhabitant." 

At the conclusion of peace, in 1713, another and 
successful attempt was made to put the original plans 
into execution. Inasmuch as the "proprietors" had 



not been able to fulfil their part of the contract, viz., 
to settle the number of families in the time required 
according to conditions imposed by the General 
Court, their right to proceed further without per- 
mission from the said General Court had lapsed. 
Accordingly, as early as possible after this period, 
application was made to this body for carrying into 
eftect the spirit and letter of the first-named agree- 
ment, and consent obtained. This they did by a 
petition, praying a "confirmation of the said tract to 
them and their associates," and their prayer was 
granted upon conditions similar to those made in 
the previous contract. 

An early meeting of these gentlemen was called to 
enter into and consummate arrangements for settling 
a part of this grant, and it was decided that the East 
half should be used for this purpose, while the West 
half should be retained by the " proprietors." Thus, 
early in the history of the town, the two sections 
came to be known as the East, or settlers' half, which 
is now Leicester, and the West, or proprietors' half, 
now Spencer. 

A survey was made of the East half, house-lots 
were laid out and inducements to settlers were offered 
similar to those in other localities, viz.: that one 
shilling an acre, a nominal price, should be charged, 
"provided the purchaser should agree to settle a 
family thereon within three years from the date of 
purchase." As a further inducement, every house- 
lot should be supplemented with an additional one 
hundred acres in some other part of the town, for 
every ten acres of house-lot. Thus, by paying forty 
shillings, the purchaser became possessor of four 
hundred and forty acres of land. These lots were 
made accessible by public highways, running north 
and south, east and west, abutting upon each. Lots 
were also set apart for the Gospel ministry and school 
purposes agreeable to the original contract. With 
fair prospects now of a more lasting peace between 
settlers and Indians, the proprietors again indulged 
the hope of locating a settlement here that might yet 
rival, in population and business enterprise, many of 
the older towns in the county. 

Yet, a decade passed before the number of families 
necessary to the carrying out of the original conditions 
were located, but within twenty-five years from the 
planting of the first habitation " the town had in- 
creased rapidly in population and wealth." The 
entire interest of the proprietors now being trans- 
ferred to the West half, early preparations were 
made by them for further development of these 
lands and favorable inducements offered to settlers 
for this purpose. They caused a survey to be made 
of the tract, dividing it into eighty lots of two hun- 
dred and fifty acres each, and two of these lots were 
set apart for ministerial and school purposes. They 
also entered into an agreement with the purchasers, 
that "as soon as twenty-five families were settled 
within the limits of the said eighty lots, the proprie- 



C32 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



tors, as an encouragement to the settlement of relig- 
ion among them, will advance and give the sum of 
forty pounds towards building a meetinghouse." 

First Skttlers. — Later these original lots were 
sub-divided, and the first one of them sold was in 1717, 
to Nathaniel Wood, containing one hundred acres, 
and was situated near the Brookfield line, on the old 
County Road. Up to 1725 but two other lots had 
been sold to families who had located thereon, viz., 
to Samuel Bemis and John Graton. The land of the 
former adjoined that of Nathaniel Wood, while that 
of the latter was situated in the southeast part of the 
plat or near the "Styles reservoir," now so called. 

The process of settling this half was a slow one, and 
as late as 1740 it contained i)robably not more than one 
hundred and fifty inhabitants. For more than twenty 
years these sturdy pioneers struggled manfully against 
poverty and want without complaint in regard to 
their condition, but there was a growing feeling that 
they had been neglected, on the part of the town au- 
thorities in repeatedly refusing to grant them " roads 
for their better accommodation." Both church and 
school were located in the east half, and although they 
contributed_by tax towards their support, yet, practi- 
cally, they were deprived the benefit of them. The re- 
cords show that when they asked that " roads might 
be laid out, at the just expense of both parts of the 
town, so that the inhabitants might get to meeting,'' 
the request was not only refused, but was "regarded 
as an injustice." The need of roads appeared to be a 
constant source of grievance to these people, and up 
to 1736 little or nothing had been done in this direc- 
tion to relieve their pressing wants. Under these 
circumstances the minister and highway tax had be- 
come burdensome to them, and it is not surprising; 
perhaps, that they should early seek some measure, or 
measures, that would, sooner or later, relieve them 
from such an embarrassing position. At this time the 
town was about to settle a minister and provide for 
his support; therefore a tax of one penny per acre was 
laid upon all the lands of the proprietors and indi- 
vidual settlers. This act was so unsatisfactory to the 
people of the west half that they forwarded a petition 
to the General Court, asking that they might be ex- 
empt from paying this tax " unle-s their proportion 
might be applied towards the support of preaching 
among themselves." The House of Representatives 
was inclined to grant the request, but the Council op- 
posed the petition, alleging an "error in directing the 
petition, &c.," which was in all probability a pretext 
only, as upon this and other subsequent occasions 
they too plainly indicated that they had little or no 
sympathy in common with the people. The peti- 
tioners had entertained strong hopes that this request 
would be favorably considered by the proper author- 
ities, and that, ere long, the difficulties in regard to 
both meeting and minister would be obviated. In 
this they were disappointed. But the dawn of a 
brighter day aw dted them, for closely following this 



event the proprietors came to their assistance with 
pecuniary aid and a Mr. Cunningham donated them 
land for a meeting-house and other ])urpo8es, which 
in time was erected, and by these gifts they early came 
into possession of a place of worship and minister. 

Now that this institution had become a fixed fact 
for this part of the town, and consequently a centre 
around which a settlement might sooner or later de- 
velop, it was not a surprise to the people of the "set- 
tlers' part" that a division of the town should be seri- 
ously agitated. Whatever might have been said by 
the people of the west half about distance from the 
church or school or bad or no roads, their objective 
point was undoubtedly that they be "set off" into a 
new town. The first move in this direction was in 
1741, when a petition was presented to the town, in 
town-meeting, asking that they be made a separate 
and distinct town, and there seemed to be no objec- 
tion to granting this request. Stimulated by this 
success, a petition was now prepared and forwarded 
to the General Court, asking that a legal division 
might be had, and a bill favorable to the petitioners 
passed both Houses, but when it came to the Governor 
— Shirley — for his signature he refused it. This 
action was disappointing to both sections, as each had 
now come to feel that the interests of the whole 
would be best subserved by a separation. With this 
feeling now dominant, it is singular that so important 
a matter should be allowed to rest, but for nearly 
three years following there is no record showing to 
the contrary, and the supposition is that no further 
action was taken during this period. But early in 
174.3 the subject was again agitated with renewed 
enthusiasm. It was then decided that a committee 
of both proprietors and settlers request of Gov- 
ernor Shirley a personal interview "that they might 
lay their case before him in a more friendly way," 
and induce him, if possible, " to reconsider his recent 
decision." But their efl^brts were fruitless, and Hij 
Excellency could not be induced to change his for- 
mer opinion, much less consent to any measure or 
bill to form a new and distinct town. At this junct- 
ure, in his judgment, it was not politic to do so. This 
action of the Governor's towards these people was a 
very unpopular one for hira, and did much to 
strengthen the feeling of dislike that was taking root 
in their hearts for royalty, whether in Governor or 
subordinates. 

It was thought that further effort looking towards 
separation must be abandoned for a time until a new 
expedient presented itself, which, if successful, might 
be made an entering wedge in the near future for 
more satisfactory results. It was that application be 
made to the (ieneral Court to be created into a pre- 
cinct, as this would give them an ecclesiastical gov- 
ernment at least, independent of the east half. Ac- 
cordingly, on the 31st day of May, 1744, Mr. James 
Ormes was chosen to present a petition to this body, 
representing " that the difficulties which moved him 



SPENCEK. 



633 



to apply, that they should be a distinct township, do 
still subsist, and may in a great measure be removed 
by their being made a precinct." In this they were 
successful, and an act of incorporation, as such, was 
granted the 18th of June following. 

Precinct. — In compliance a warrant was issued, 
calling a meeting of the " Freeholders and other In- 
habitants of the Precinct, or Parish, Qualified by Law 
to vote in Town affairs, which as yet has never been 
had," and on the 10th of September, 1744, the follow- 
ing precinct officers were chosen, viz.: Jonathan 
Lamb, moderator ; John Stebbings, clerk ; Samuel 
Bemis, John Newhall and James Willson, assessors; 
David Adams, collector; David Allen, treasurer; 
Samuel Bemis, John Cunningham, Jonathan Laml), 
John Stebbings and James Willson, committee for 
calling precinct meetings. From this date and until 
April 12, 1753, all calls for parish meetings were dated 
" Leicester West Parish," etc. 

The advantage derived by this new order was to 
give them the liberty of action in parish matters, as 
they could now choose officers to regulate their church 
affairs, but in all things else they were subject to the 
town, as heretofore. 

The perplexing question of better roads was yet a 
matter of serious consideration, and five years after 
the above proceedings an earnest appeal was made 
to the selectmen "to lay out suitable roads for their 
accommodation," and while this request was not now 
considered unreasonable, inasmuch as the town had 
expended considerable money for the same purpose in 
the East half, yet they were not disposed to grant the 
request. Further appeals to the town authorities 
were regarded useless, but still believing their claims 
to these improvements to be valid, they resolved to 
take their case before the Court of Sessions for adju- 
dication. They, therefore, petitioned this body, ask- 
ing " that they cause certain roads to be laid out." 
The selectmen were cited to appear and " show cause 
why this request should not be granted," and the 
town chose a committee of citizens to appear with 
the selectmen in support of their position. The case, 
however, did not reach the court, as before the day 
appointed for a hearing a compromise had been 
arranged between the parties, the result of which was 
that before the close of the year eleven of the much- 
needed roads were laid out and constructed. This was 
very satisfactory, as the roads contributed largely to 
the comfort and convenience of the West Parish, 
but the feeling still existed that the differences be- 
tween the two sections were again liable to arise 
under the same regime, and that the proper remedy, 
under the circumstances, would be found in a division 
of the town. This view of the matter was now 
entertained by the East Parish, and they not only 
gave their consent to a dissolution, but expressed a 
desire to unite with the West Parish and work har- 
moniously together to accomplish that jiurpose. Ac- 
cordingly, on the 22d of November, 1749, the follow- 



ing petition was presented to Acting Governor 
Phipps, viz.: 

Petition to the Itonorable Spencer Pbipps, Lieut. Governor, by the 
siiliacribere, a committee of the town of Leicester, stating that the in- 
habitants of the westerly part of said town have built a meeting-house, 
and settled a minister, and stating further, that about Eight years 
ago, moved to tlie town of fjeiceeter to be set off and made a distinct 
town, which was readily granted, whereupon application was made to 
the court, about three years afterwards, for the same, but instead of 
being made a town, was made a Precinct only, which was very griev- 
ous to both, nor had the town any opportunity given them to offer any 
reasons to the Honorable Court to the contrary, although they have 
many to give, and one was that the west partcalled upon the select- 
men of Leicester to lay out roads for them, upon the joint expense of 
both parts of the town, so that the inhabitants of the west part might 
get to meeting, Ac. They further state that when the hinds of the 
easterly part were laid out, sufficient land was appropriated for roads, 
but when the west part was divided, it was laid out into lots, and 
no land left fur roads, and now the east part was called upon to be 
at their proportion of the expense, which tliey considered unjust. 
That the inhabitants of the west part preferred a complaint to the 
court of sessions, for a committee to lay out roads for their accom- 
modation. They therefore pray the Court to erect the west part of 
Leicester into a distinct and separate town, &c. 

Daniel Denny, 
Steward Soi'thqate, 
Joii.v Brown. 

The matter was now pressed upon the General Court 
by the people of both sections, and as a result, this 
body, as it had done on two former occasions, passed 
a bill in compliance with the request as set forth in 
the petition, but again His Excellency vetoed it, 
giving as his reasons for doing so, that he would not 
consent to this or any other bill " unless provision be 
made that the number of representatives be not 
thereby increased, or a clause suspending the execu- 
tion of the act until His Majesties pleasure shall be 
known thereon, be inserted in the said act." This 
shallow message exasperated the House, as the only 
conclusion to be reached by them was, that their 
combined judgment in this matter was entitled to lit- 
tle or no weight by him, or that he had not manliness 
enough to assert the authority vested in him until lie 
should first learn "His Majesties pleasure" there- 
upon. 

This position of the Governor did not, however, 
change the sentiment of the House in relation to the 
equity of the prayer of the petitioners, and they at 
once addressed a communication to him setting forth 
their views in regard to the relations of His Majesty 
to his subjects, also stating that " the number of 
Representatives the town of Leicester, by charter and 
laws of the Province, are entitled to is not enlarged 
by this bill," and in closing, they " flatter themselves 
that your Honor will give his consent.'' But His 
Excellency was immovable, and this appeal had no 
effect. This, and the previous experience of the 
people in this direction, taught them that the House 
of Representatives was the only branch of the govern- 
ment that had a common feeling with them, and this 
was accounted for because it was made up of the 
people, and for the people, and they could better 
appreciate their condition and necessities. Notwith- 
standing this last attempt resulted in failure, they 



634 



HISTORY OP WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



were not discouraged, as the cause for which they 
were laboring was as vital to them now as ever, and 
there was no good reason why they should, at this 
time, retreat from the position taken. They did, 
however, allow it to rest for tliree years, at the end of 
which time it was renewed with their old-time energy- 
A parish meeting was called March 6, 1753, and a 
committee, consisting of Benjamin Johnson, Lieu- 
tenant John White and Deacon John Worster, was 
chosen to again petition the General Court to be in- 
corporated as a separate town. The action of the 
House of Representatives, on this occasion, was en- 
dorsed by the Council, but again the result was a 
failure for want of His Excellency's signature, 
although an act was finally passed, which received 
his consent, erecting the precinct into a separate and 
distinct district, to be known as Spencer, " with all 
the powers, privileges and immunities that towns in 
the Province may enjoy, that of sending a Represen- 
tative to the General Assembly only excepted," but 
giving the said district " full liberty and right to join 
with the town of Leicester in choosing a representa- 
tive," they paying their proportional part of the ex- 
pense of the same. This, then, was another step 
secured towards the one great object and aim of these 
people, yet it did not, by this act, dissolve entirely the 
relations existing between Leicester and Spencer. 
There were other districts in the province, similarly 
situated, subject to the same restraints, etc., which re- 
mained in force until 1775, at which time they were 
removed. In 1780 tlie ''right" of representation was 
guaranteed under the Constitution. 

Town Origin. — The birth of the town then, really, 
dates from this act, — although by it, it did not attain 
the full dignity of a township, owing to the terms im- 
posed. By this act one Thomas Steel, Esq., was "em- 
powered to issue his warrant, directed to some princi- 
pal of said district, requiring him to notify and warn 
the inhabitants of said district to meet at such time and 
place as shall be therein set forth, to choose all such 
officers as shall be necessary to manage the affairs of 
said district." In accordance with this authority, in 
him vested, he issued his warrant to Captain Benjamin 
Johnson, and a meeting for the above purpose was 
called, at which the- following officers were elected, 
as directed by the law, viz. : Captain Benjamin John- 
son, moderator; Captain Benjamin Johnson, town 
clerk ; Deacon John Worster, John Cunningham, 
John Muzzy, Deacon James Willson and Captain 
Benjamin Johnson, selectmen ; Captain Benjamin 
Johnson, treasurer; Samuel Bemis and James Ormes, 
constables ; the selectmen were voted assessors ; En- 
sign John Stebbings, Samuel Garfield, John Prouty, 
Caleb Bridges and Robert Griffin, highway surveyors 
on the north side of the county road; Jacob Stod- 
dard, Jonathan Lamb and David Adams, highway 
surveyors on the south side of the county road ; 
James Richardson, highway surveyor on the county 
road ; Joshua Draper and Benjamin Woodard, hog- 



reeves ; Deacon John Worster and Thomas Bridges, 
fence-viewers; Israel Holton, sealer of leather ; Lieu- 
tenant John White, sealer of weights and measures ; 
John Draper and Jacob Stoddard, tythingmen. One 
of the first acts passed by the district was to " allow 
Lieut. John White the sum of £2 ISs. 4d. for his ser- 
vices in going to the Grate and General Corte in 
order to git us to be a District." 

The town was never made such by any special act 
of incorporation, but it became one, virtually, by an 
act of August 23, 1775, which made all places, incor- 
porated originally by the name of districts, "towns, 
to every intent and purpose whatsoever." Agricul- 
ture was the only occupation known to these people, 
at this early period, and the cutting away of the for- 
ests, sowing and gathering the fruits of the ground, 
were the only sources of revenue with which to meet 
the wants of the family and various taxes. The 
plow, hoe and other like implements assisted largely 
in supplying the scanty food, while the spinning- 
wheel and loom, with industrious hands to guide 
them, furnished the family clothing " fit for mill or 
meeting." The district at this date, 1753, numbered 
about five hundred inhabitants. 

Location. — The town lies south of the centre of 
the county, and about midway between the eastern 
and western boundaries. On the north are the towns 
of Oakham and Paxton, on the east Paxton and Lei- 
cester, on the south Charlton, and on the west Brook- 
field and North Brookfield. It is quite regular in 
shape, forming nearly a parallelogram, being about 
eight miles long by about four miles wide, and con- 
taining thirty-two square miles, more or less, or ris- 
ing twenty thousand acres. 

Situation. — It is pleasantly situated upon the 
"Great Post Road," running from Worcester to 
Springfield, twelve miles from the former and thirty- 
six miles from the latter. Its villages, aside from 
the main or central one, are Hillsville, northwest; 
Upper and Lower Wire Villages, northeast; and 
South Spencer, southwest. 

POMDS, Rkskrvoirs anp STREAMS. — It is fairly 
well watered by ponds, reservoirs and small streams. 
Among the latter, the principal one, known as 
Seven Mile River, enters the town at its north bound- 
ary, and, emerging from the Browning Pond, takes a 
southwesterly course through the town. It is swollen 
to a river of moderate dimensions before reaching 
Podunk Pond, in the town of Brookfield, and thence 
its waters pass into Long Island Sound, by way of 
the Connecticut River. In addition to the water it re- 
ceives from its main supply, it is fed by numerous 
small brooks, and a principal tributary called Turkey 
Hill Brook. 

This stream enters the town at its northeast 
corner, its source being Turkey Hill Pond, lying 
in Paxton and Rutland. It runs in a southwesterly 
course, and makes a junction with the Seven Mile 
River near the old " Daniel AVniitteniore " place, so- 



SPENCEK. 



635 



called. A small stream which takes its rise in Shaw 
Pond, Leicester, connects with the Turkey Hill 
Brook near the main mill of the Spencer Wire Com- 
pany, upon which stream the extensive works of this 
company are situated, the same being about two and 
a quarter miles northeast from the post-office. 

Another small stream passes through the centre of 
the village, and connects with the Seven Mile River 
at the " Great Meadows," its source being Whitte- 
raore, or Moose Pond. A tributary from the south is 
Cranberry Meadow Brook, which rises in Cranberry 
Meadow, and flows north, through " Howes Pond," 
connecting with it a quarter of a mile north of the 
South Spencer Station, on the Boston and Albany 
Railroad. The streams, or brooks, in the southeast 
part of the town iiow in this direction, and event- 
ually reach the Blackstone River, which runs to Nar- 
ragansett Bay. Although most of these streams are 
unimportant, yet in "ye olden tyme " they furnished 
the power for various small mills and factories lo- 
cated upon them, for grinding grains, manufacturing 
powder, wire, hoes, scythes, etc. 

The principal body of water (natural pond) within 
its borders is the Whittemore or Moose Pond. It is 
situated in the centre of the township, and covers 
about eighty acres of land, is very pure and wholesome 
water, being fed almost entirely by springs, and yields 
in the winter a harvest of excellent ice for summer 
consumption. In winter, also, it is a fine sporting 
field for persons of piscatorial habits, as it contains hard, 
luscious pickerel, that sustain a wide reputation. 
Brooks and Browning Ponds, lying on the north, are 
quite large bodies of water, but they are principally 
in the towns of Oakham and North Brookfield. There 
are two large reservoirs — one the "Sugden," lying 
wholly in Spencer, and situated near the Upper Wire 
Village, and the other the "Styles," situated at the 
southeast corner of the town, and lying one-half in 
Spencer and one-half in Leicester. Cranberry Meadow 
and Burntcoat Ponds cover over a considerable terri- 
tory, the former lying between Spencer and Charlton, 
and the latter three-fourths in Leicester. The other 
ponds, or small reservoirs, contain water enough to 
make them an important auxiliary to steam, and are 
made fairly remunerative when used in this con- 
nection. 

Soil. — The soil, when properly cultivated, yields 
abundant crops of grass, grains, potatoes, &c., and 
compares favorably with the average farming lands 
of the county. 

Surface. — The surface is very irregular, but not 
abrupt, is diversified by hills and valleys, some of the 
hills forming the highest points of land between 
Springfield and Worcester, on the line of the Boston 
& Albany Railroad, and are very symmetrical in form. 
They overlook a large extent of country to the north, 
west and south, and from the summit of some of them 
the eye takes in an extended sweep of country, dotted 
with houses, ponds, streams, valleys, other hills and 



distant spires, in neighboring towns, all combining to 
form a scene not to be surpassed in the country. 

Geological. — The geological formation of the 
town consist? mostly of gneiss rock; mica and chlorite 
slate are found, and the rock is generally unfit for 
building purposes. The highest ledges retain a hori- 
zontal position, while in the low river bottoms they 
are tilted about one-third, showing that the disturbing 
force has been a sinking, rather than an uplifting one. 
Trap prevails to some extent in the north part; the 
boulders correspond with the native ledges, and 
scratches of glaciers are found. 

The Village. — The village spreads out over a very 
uneven surface. The original streets are crooked and 
narrow, but in the more modern portions they are 
laid out with more regularity, wider and more con- 
venient for travel and business. 

Railroads. — The railroad accommodations are 
limited to one line, viz. — the Boston and Albany, 
which is located two and one-quarter miles from the 
business centre, the station being at South Spencer. 
This was a long distance to transport the large number 
of passengers and amount of freight laid down at this 
depot, and numerous coaches and heavy teams were 
constantly employed for this purpose. In 1870 a route 
was surveyed from the Boston and Albany Railroad at 
South Spencer to the central part of the village, and 
in 1872, at a town-meeting, the town was called upon 
to subscribe to the capital stock in a railroad to con- 
nect these two points ; but at this meeting it was voted 
" to pass over the article." Various surveys were now 
made, covering this and other routes, but the matter 
was not brought before the town again until April 7, 
1877, when the article was again passed over. Several 
more meetings were held for this purpose, but with 
like results, until, at a meeting April 3, 1878, the town 
voted to subscribe to two hundred and fifty shares 
(twenty-five thousand dollars) of the capital stock in 
said road, which action caused the road to be forthwith 
constructed, greatly to the relief of the increasing 
traffic and to the convenience and comfort of the 
traveling public. 

Meeting-Houses. — CongregaHonalista. — The Jint 
care of the settlers here, as elsewhere, was to arrange 
for such shelter as would meet the wants of their fami- 
lies ; then, as they invariably carried .their religion 
with them, it became their next duty to provide for a 
metting-house and minister, that their spiritual wants 
might be properly cared for. April 2, 1739, Samuel 
Bemis and John Stebbiugs were chosen a committee 
by the settlers of the west half to proceed to Boston 
for the purpose of meeting the proprietors, then and 
there, "to come into some arrangement about the 
building of a meeting-house and having the gospel 
preached to them." At the meeting held for the pur- 
pose it was voted " to lay a tax of three pence per 
acre on their lands the following year, and two pence 
per acre for the next two years, to assist the settlers 
in building a good, substantial meeting-house, forty- 



636 



HISTOKY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



five foot in length and thirty-five foot in width, and 
towards the minister's support." As a further assur- 
ance that the undertaking should be a success, 
Nathaniel Cunningham, of Cambridge, donated to 
them by deed, February 26, 1740, two acres of land 
" for the accommodation of a meeting-house, a train- 
ing-field and such other public uses as the town shall 
direct, forever." In all probability they were about 
erecting this house in the year 1743, although the re- 
cords do not indicate that such was the case, as on 
the 30th of November of that year it is recorded that 
the proprietors held a meeting at which a report of 
the parties who contracted for the building of the 
same was considered by them. That the house was 
occupied when in a very crude condition, the re- 
cords, further on, give conclusive evidence. It was 
covered with rough, unplaned boards, having a 
ground floor and loose flooring for the galleries, the 
inner walls unfinished, the interior lighted by a few 
small windows, the glass set in leaden sash. Yet. 
notwithstanding it was a rude and uninviting struc- 
ture, it afforded the inhabitants shelter from the sun 
and storm, and furnished them an altar around which 
they could gather for religious worship and instruction. 

It became necessary now to make some arrange- 
ments for seats, or pews, and on the 7th of Novem- 
ber, 1744, a meeting of the inhabitants was called, 
"to see if they would come into any method in order 
to build the body of seets," and also " to see what 
method they will come into to dispose of the pews." 
The " body of seets " was located in the centre of the 
house, on either side of the centre aisle. The wall- 
seats, on the west side of the house, were for the 
elderly men without pews and those on the east side 
for the elderly women without pews. The galleries 
were for the younger people and the sexes were 
separated in the same manner as below. At the last 
meeting a " comity " was chosen to build the "body 
of seets" and to " mark out. Dignify and set a prize 
on the pew spots." This work having been com- 
pleted, the following plan was adopted for disposing 
of the "spots," viz. : "The man that shall be highest 
in valuation of real-estate shall have the first choice, 
and the next in succession until the pews are all 
taken up." According to this plan Samuel Bemis 
was entitled to the first choice, and it was voted that 
" he have the Pew Spot on the Rite hand side of the 
Coming in of the South Doore, prize £5 Os. Orf. ; Left. 
Jonathan Lamb shall have the Pew Spot on the easte 
end of the polpet ajoining thereunto, prize £4 Os. Od." 
And so on until twelve spots had been assigned and 
located. The sum of two pounds was the lowest 
price paid. 

One year later the sura of £25 was voted " to defray 
the charges of building a polpet. Deacon's sect, body 
of seets and ministerial pew." For nearly five years 
the "doors" had been without proper fastenings, and 
on the 28th of March, 1748, a committee of three, viz. : 
Lieutenant White, Deacon Worster and Daniel 



Knapp, was chosen " to procure a Lock and Key 
for the meeting-house Doore, at the cost of the 
Parish." 

From this time until March 2, 1767, the subject of 
finishing the building had Ijeen discussed and voted 
upon at nearl)' every district meeting held, and small 
sums of money appropriated to finish or improve some 
part of the same, and at a meeting held this day it 
was voted to raise the sum of £50, "to finish the 
meeting-house decently." This sum, however, was 
never raised, but four years later, or at a meeting held 
February 13, 1771, it was decided to build a new 
house, the size of which should be fifty-six feet in 
length and forty-seven in width, " and upon the spot 
where the old one now stands." After the usual pre- 
liminaries had been arranged and details decided upon, 
as far as possible, the contract was awarded to Daniel 
Baldwin, " to build it in a proper manner," for the 
sum of seven hundred pounds, he taking the old 
building as part pay. As he declined to take the 
responsibility of raising the new one, the selectmen 
were m.ade a committee to attend to it, with authority 
to expend an amount which had been appropriated 
for that purpose, and in their report to the town they 
certify that it was expended for " Liquor, ropes and 
other things." The house contained sixty-eight pews, 
forty-six being located on the floor and twenty -two in 
the galleries, and the same system was adopted for 
disposing of them as in the previous house. The 
appraised value of these pews was fixed at five hundred 
pounds. In 1801 a tower and cupola were added to 
the house, and three hundred dollars was voted for 
that purpose. This improvement suggested a bell, 
and the sum of $426.87 was secured by private sub- 
scription for one, and in town-meeting it was voted 
" that the names of the generous subscribers be entered 
upon the town records." 

Up to 1821 no means had been provided for warm- 
ing the meeting-house, but this year it was decided 
to introduce stoves, " under the inspection of the 
selectmen." For two years their experience with 
this " innovation " was not wholly satisfactory, be- 
cause of the propensity of these stoves to smoke, and 
a committee of three was accordingly appointed " to 
take into consideration the subject of stove-pipe, or 
funnel, in the meeting-house ... to remedy their 
smoking." This committee attended to their duty 
and recommended alterations " at the outlet by carry- 
ing the funnels out at the east and west windows." 

In 1838 this meeting-house was repaired by turning 
a quarter around and fronting it to the south, with 
new inside finish, new pews, etc., making it to con- 
form, .as nearly as possible, " to the meeting-house 
recently fitted up in Paxton." It was completed and 
dedicated on the 14th of November of this year. 
May 1, 1843, during a high wind, the spire of this 
church was blown oft', and passing down through the 
roof, damaged the ceiling and interior to some extent. 
On the 1st of January, 1862, it was entirely destroyed 



SPENCER. 



G37 



by fire, and from this period, until a new house was 
erected, religious services were held in the Town 
Hall. Preparations were at once made to rebuild, 
and on the 8th of April, 18t)3, the new edifice was 
dedicated. 

On the ground floor of the new building was the 
vestry, and on the second floor the audience room. 
In 1881 this vestry was enlarged, a church parlor aud 
kitchen were fitted up for the convenience of church 
and society gatherings and other parochial purposes. 
In 1885 it was generally felt that this building had 
become inadequate to the growth of the church and 
society, and it was proposed to enlarge the audience 
room and change the entire arrangement, providing 
the alterations could be done without expense to the 
society. Individuals responded generously by sub- 
scriptions to carry out the plans suggested, and an 
addition of twenty feet was made to the north end of 
the building. The organ and singers' seats were 
placed in the rear of the pulpit, the pews were re- 
arranged, the walls beautifie<l by fresco decorations, 
and gas, public water and steam-heating apparatus 
were introduced. It was re-dedicated December 22d 
of this year. These alterations transformed the 
building into an attractive edifice both inside and 
out, and by these changes the proportion of the whole 
structure was greatly improved. The front and 
steeple are of a mixed order of architecture, bold in 
outline and projection, and from base to pinnacle the 
symmetry is well preserved. 

The late Isaac Prouty, while living, expressed a 
desire that the church building might, sooner or later, 
be remodeled, and that he would subscribe the sum 
of five thousand dollars towards the payment of the 
same. The work now having been completed, his 
heirs, in accordance with his wish, presented this 
amount to the subscription fund, with a request that 
it be received as a " memorial of him.'' 

Singing. — From the days of our forefathers, singing 
has been considered an exercise in the service of the 
church, next in importance to the " preaching of the 
Word," and in its rendering was regarded by them as 
(/evotional. If, during the last half of the nineteenth 
century it has become emotional, it certainly is not 
the fault of the forefathers. 

In the early days the deaconing of the hymn or 
psalm was a necessary custom, as but few, joining in 
the exercise of song, possessed the hymn or psalm- 
books; consequently, the service was of a purely con- 
gregational nature. In 1782 an attempt was made to 
place singing seats in the gallery of the meeting- 
house, " that the singers may sit together," but just 
what time they were allowed to "sit and sing togeth- 
er " is not recorded. The chorister, in those days, 
held that j>osition by the united vote of church ami 
congregation, and the first to occupy that position was 
Dr. Ormes, in 177U. The next was John Muzzy, Jr., 
in 1775, and, in 1782, Lieutenant Jonas Muzzy, with 
Mr. Oliver Watson as assistant. 



The first hymn-book that came into general use was 
the " Watts' Psalms and Hymns," adopted in 1769, 
after an animated controversy of ten years or more, 
and it remained in use until 1862. It was exchanged 
for the "Sabbath Hymn-Book," which was used until 
1885, when the " Laudes Domini " took its place. 

The first instrument introduced into the choir was 
the bass viol in 1829, and was played by O. S. Worth- 
ington and others, and the next was the double bass, 
played by William G. Muz^y. Then followed the 
violin, flute and other instruments, and, later on, the 
reed and pipe-organ. In 1863 the latter, a two-bank 
organ with twenty-eight stops, was purchased of Wil- 
liam A. Johnson, of Westfield, Mass., the maker of it, 
and, in 1887, at the remodeling of the church, it was 
taken down by G. H. Ryder & Co., of Boston, and 
enlarged by the addition of five new stops, and other- 
wise improved in power and gpneral appearance. The 
singing, up to and at the present time, is by a volun- 
teer choir. 

Universalis/a. — In 1808 the citizens of Spencer were 
asked to remonstrate against certain towns (including 
Spencer) being incorporated into a religious society to 
be called the "Universal Society;" but in town- 
meeting they voted "to take no action relating to 
the subject." Some of the inhabitants were, how- 
ever, agitating the advisability of a separation from 
the established church, but no decided move in this 
direction was taken until 1820. This year David 
Adams gave notice that he had become a member of 
the " Second ITniversalist Society in Brookfield and 
Charlton," and before the close of 1821 forty-three 
persons had withdrawn to join this and a Baptist 
Society about to be formed in this town. This year, 
also, the town and parish had so far become sepa- 
rate and distinct bodies, as to cause the making aud 
collecting of the ministerial tax to be done by the 
Congregational Society. 

In 1830 a Universalist Society was incorporated 
with ten members, and in 1833 a meeting-house was 
erected, in which services were held until 1840. The 
society, from this time, gradually decreased in num- 
bers, until it ceased to exist, and the house and 
church property were disposed of. 

This building stood upon the west corner of Main 
and Wall Streets, and twenty years after it was aban- 
doned for church purposes it was converted into a 
boot-factory. For many years it retained its original 
outward appearance, until, finally, such additions 
were made to it, that it entirely lost its identity. 
From about 1875 occasional meetings of this denom- 
ination were held in the town hall, but in 1881 the 
society was reorganized under the general statute of 
this State, and at a meeting on the 26th of October of 
this year they adopted a cou'ititution and by-laws 
and voted "to purchase land and build a church." 
This edifice was erected in 1882 and dedicated Feb- 
ruary 20, 1883, with Rev. F. A. Bisbee as pastor. 

Externally, this is an attractive brick structure 



638 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, 3IASSACHUSETTS. 



while internally it is very complete in its modern 
arrangements, which consist of a commodious audi- 
ence-room, chapel and church parlors upon the 
ground floor. Upon the basement floor is a spacious 
room for entertainments and church gatherings, with 
a kitchen conveniently connected and abundantly 
supplied with all the conveniences required in this 
department. 

Mefkndht. — In 184(1 a few families, representing the 
Methodist faith, assembled themselves together and 
held public religious meetings in the audience-room 
of the Universalist meeting-house. In 1841 a society 
was organized in conformity with the rules of this 
denomination, and made use of the town hall for 
holding meetings for nearly six years. In 1847, to 
accommodate their increasing numbers, they pur- 
chased land and erected a very sub-stantial church 
building with belfry and spire. It contained a vestry 
upon the first floor and audience-room upon the sec- 
ond. In 1872-73 the house was remodeled by mak- 
ing additions upon either end, repainting and fresco- 
ing both audience-room and vestry and adding parlors, 
kitchen and other ante-rooms. It has a large mem- 
bership. 

Baptists. — The formation of the Baptist Society 
January 30, 1810, resulted from a division of the Bap- 
tist Society in Liecester, which took place in 1818. 
Their meeting-house was erected in the northeast part 
of the town (called North Spencer) in 1820. There 
was preaching at this house, at intervals, up to 1840, 
but their membership diminished so rapidly after this 
date that stated services were wholly abandoned. In 
1878 the society was reorganized with twenty-one 
members, holding services in a small hall in the town- 
house at first and later in a private hall fitted up for the 
purpose, until in 1885 a new brick church building 
was erected. The size of the audience-room, 39 x 49 
feet, with a seating capacity of 330; the vestry, 
39 X 40 feet; parlor, 17 x 20; and kitchen, 12 x 17. 
The ceremony of the laying of the corner-stone was 
held on the 7th of September, 1885, and on the 21st 
of June, 1887, the church was formally dedicated. 

St. Mary's (Boman Catholic). — In 1845 a few scat- 
tering families of this faith worshipped at rare in- 
tervals, in .the houses of private individuals. In 
1851 this, with several other parishes, was placed un- 
der the charge of a clergyman, and in 1853 the parish 
had grown numerically sufiicient to warrant the 
building of a church, and one was completed this 
year. It was a handsome frame building, with tall 
spire and bell. In 1855 the parish was attached to an 
out-mission to Webster, and so remained until 1857, 
when it was placed under the charge of the Jesuit 
Fathers, resident of the Holy Cross College, Worces- 
ter. This year the Catholic population numbered 
less than one-fifth the inhabitants of the town, but 
thirty years later those who affiliated with this 
church numbered about five-eighths of the whole. 
In .1871 they were given a resident pastor, in the 



person of Rev. Julius Casson. He died in July, 
1879, and was succeeded by Rev. Thos. D. Beaven, 
and in 1883 Rev. Bernard S. Conaty came as assis- 
tant pastor. In November, 1888, Father Beaven was 
assigned a charge at Holyoke, Mass., and a few 
weeks later Father Conaty was transferred to Spring- 
field, Mass. In 1883 they began the building of a 
new brick church edifice, and dedicated it in 1887, 
as the Church of the Holy Rosary. The general 
style is cruciform, and outwardly it is a stately and 
beautiful exemplar of church architecture. The 
nave is one hundred and forty-five feet in length, 
and the transept eighty-eight feet, and the interior 
decorations are a high order of ecclesiastical art. 
The windows are a prominent feature in these dec- 
orations, and the fifteen, in the chancel and aisles, 
represent the Fifteen Mysteries of the Rosary. The 
two large transept windows, thirty by twelve feet, 
are fine works of art. In 1886 the growth of the 
church occasioned the separation of the English and 
French-speaking portions of the parish, and the Old 
St. Mary's was set apart for the latter, under the 
charge of Rev. C. R. Veins, pastor, and Rev. J. A. 
Manceau as assistant. In December, 1888, Rev. G. 
R. Dolan was transferred from Springfield, Mass., to 
the charge of the new church. 

jMiiiistc7-s. — The fact that the inhabitants of the 
west half could not easily enjoy the privileges of the 
sanctuary had an important bearing upon their 
early eflforts in securing for themselves a place of 
worship and a gospel teacher. About the time the 
frame of the first meeting-house was erected, the 
Rev. Joshua Eaton began preaching as a candidate 
for minister, to be settled over them, and on the 17th 
of May, 1744, a church was formed and a covenant 
subscribed to, between himself as pastor and certain 
of the inhabitants. Shortly after this compact he 
received an invitation from the church and people 
" to become our Gospel Minister," which was ac- 
cepted by him, and on the 7th of November following 
he was duly ordained as such. The following pastors 
represented their respective churches at this service, 
viz.. Rev. Mr. Prentice, of Grafton ; Rev. Mr. Plall, of 
Sutton ; Rev. Mr. Cheney, of Brookfield ; Rev. Mr. 
Goddard, of Leicester ; Rev. Mr. Webb, of Uxbridge, 
and Rev. Mr. White, of Hardwick. This was then 
designated as the " Second Church of Christ in Lei- 
cester." The terms of settlement gave to the minister 
"all the land-tax, an additional sum by subscription 
and £1.50, old tenor" (equal to $66.67), as salary, and 
this sum was to be increased by £5 each year until it 
reached £200 annually. As the currency depreciated 
this sum was increased, until in 1766 it was made 
about equal to $244, where it remained until his 
death. 

Mr. Eaton was a native of Watertown and a gradu- 
ate of Harvard University in 1735. After two years 
of law study he practiced at the bar about five 
years, then began the study of theology and fitted 





2ra 



SPENCER. 



639 



himself for the ministry. He remained in charge of 
this parish until his death, which occurred April 12, 
1772. " He was greatly beloved by his people, 
tender and sympathetic in his nature, plain and 
practical in all his preaching," and although the 
profession of law presented more worldly attractions, 
yet he felt that the ministry was his calling and that 
he would not " return to the practice of the law, 
with its tumult, dissipation and snares that attend 
court, on any consideration." The parish was now 
obliged to resort to candidates, and after six Sabbaths' 
trial, the Kev. Joseph Pope, of Pomfret, Conn., was 
invited to occupy the pulpit with a view to settle- 
ment. His manner and preaching soon won the 
hearts of the people and they heartily concurred with 
the church in calling him to become their pastor, 
and at a meeting, February 15, 1778, the district so 
expressed themselves. They agreed that his settle- 
ment should be the sum of £133 6.?. 6rf., lawful money, 
and that they woulil pay one-half at the end of the 
first year, and the balance at the close of the second 
year, with a stated salary of £67 (lf244) annually, "so 
long as he shall continue in that office in this place," 
and his ordination took place the 20th of October 
following. A committee was chosen " to provide 
entertainment for the Council, Gentlemen of Liberal 
Education and Mr. Pope's relatives and friends,'' but 
Dr. William Frink, a parishidner, relieved the com- 
mittee of that duty, as the following note ex- 
plains : 

Gentlemen Freeholders of Spemer^ Oreelhtg — You are welcome to the 
entertainment which the council had at my house on the 20th clay of 

Oct^ last. 

I am your honorahU* servant, 

William Fkink. 

A vote of thanks was presented to him, by the in- 
habitants, for " so great a favor " 

Mr. Pope's pastorate was one of kindness and 
brotherly love for all his people, and during the long 
and wearisome years of the Revolution the attach- 
ment between pastor and people never abated, but it 
continued warm and abiding until he was separated 
from them by death. Whether or not it was the cus- 
tom of these people that the public meeting should 
be opened with prayer, the first and only record of 
that exercise w.is at an annual meeting held March 
5, 1781, when Mr. Pope was sent for "to open the 
town-meeting with prayer." 

Mr. Pope married Miss Anna Hammond, of New- 
ton, who survived her husband thirty-three years, 
living to the great age of one hundred and four years, 
six months and twenty-eight days, " Honored and 
beloved by all, cheerful in her old age, and a beauti- 
ful illustration of that perfect peace vouchsafed to 
those whose souls are stayed on God." 

As a scholar Mr. Pope was more than a peer of the 
profession of those days. He enjoyed the confidence 
and esteem of all within the limit of his acquaint- 
ance, and after a faithful service of forty-six years, as 
pastor, his health failed him, and it was the unani- 



mous wish of the people that a colleague be settled 
with him. The Rev. Stephen Crosby, of Thompson, 
Conn., came to preach, as a candidate to fill this 
position, and at the expiration of ten Sabbaths he re- 
ceived a unanimous call to become the junior pastor, 
and accepted the same. His salary was fixed at six 
hundred and fifty dollars per year, "as long as he 
should remain in that office, and should regularly 
supply the pulpit in this place." Notwithstanding 
the unanimity in which the call was made, there ap- 
pears to have arisen a difl'erence of opinion in regard 
to the construction of the terms of settlement, which 
caused some unfriendly feelings. However, the ma- 
jority sustained Mr. Crosby in his version of it, and 
on June 111, 1819, he was duly ordained. 

Although there was no outbreak to disturb the har- 
mony between pastor and people during the follow- 
ing four years, yet it was apparent that the majority 
were feeling not a little disturbed at the persistent 
and selfish manner in which he insisted upon his in- 
terpretation of the contract with the parish. For two 
years a spirited correspondence passed between the 
minister and parish ; committees were chosen, request- 
ing " Mr. Crosby to alter the contract between him 
and the people ;" votes were taken upon propositions 
suggested by him, which were generally unfavorable 
to his view of the question ; yet be protested against 
dissolving the compact. But on the 3(Hh of May, 
1825, a council was convened to consider the situation, 
and they were unanimous in their opinion that his 
pastorate should cease, and he was accordingly dis- 
missed. 

Mr. Crosby received his education at Brown Uni- 
versity, Rhode Island, and Union College, Schenec- 
tady, N. Y., and graduated in 1817. He studied 
theology under Doctor Knott, president of the latter 
college. 

Nearly a year now passed without any stated sup- 
ply in the parish, but during this time the Rev. Levi 
Packarti, of North Bridgewater, Mass., had occupied 
the pulpit as candidate for that place. Be was so 
well liked by both church and people that a call was 
extended to him April 3, 182(5, to settle with them as 
their minister. The terms proposed by the church 
and parish were, " that the contract should be 
dissolved, after six months' notice, by either party, 
and a salary of five hundred and fifty dollars per 
annum.'' With a slight modification in them, 
which was agreeable to the parish, Mr. Pack- 
ard accepted. The change in the conditions was, 
"that the salary should be four hundred and seventy- 
five dollars per annum and a respectable dwelling- 
house for himself and family during his continuance 
with the society as minister." Arrangements were at 
once made tor his ordination, which took place June 
14, 1826. Previous to this, on the 18th of May, of 
this year, a lot had been selected by a committee of 
the town and a vote passed to build a parsonage. 
When completed this dwelling cost two thousand 



640 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



dollars, and was the same building and premises 
owned and occupied by the late Isaac Prouty. On 
the 3d of May, 1847, Mr. Packard purchased this 
property of the town. 

He was a man of more than ordinary ability ; a kind 
neighbor and citizen. He was ambitious to see the 
society over which he had charge prosper in increas- 
ing numbers and devotion to the Master. Whenever 
the times pressed heavily upon the parish he was 
quick to comprehend the situation and liberally re- 
mitted portions of his salary, and this considerate 
generosity was duly appreciated. 

Being of the "Old School," he was stern in his 
conviction of duty as he understood it, and perhaps 
was judged too harshly for the bold stand he took in 
sustaining it. On account of a conflict of opinion 
between the principles which he maintained and 
more modern ones, entertained by the younger mem- 
bers of both church and parish, on the 3d of Sep- 
tember, 1853, he asked that he might be dismissed 
from the pastorate. He was a graduate of Brown 
University in 1821, and completed his theological 
education with Rev. Joseph Ide, of Medway, Mass. 
His pastorate continued over this people twenty-seven 
years. 

The Rev. Stephen G. Dodd, of Milford, Conn., sup- 
plied the pulpit after it was vacated by Mr. Packard, 
and in due time received a call from the church, in 
\yhi(h the parish concurred, to become their pastor. 
With his salary, a parsonage was to be furnished, 
and, in case of dissatisfaction by either party, six 
months' notice was necessary to terminate the rela- 
tions. These terms and conditions being satisfactory 
to the parties interested, he was installed August 23, 
1854. 

Mr. Dodd was not a brilliant man, in the common 
acceptation of the term ; but his kindness of heart 
and .sympathetic disposition won for hira the most 
profound respect. Even in his temperament, gentle 
in his manners and po.ssessing an unusual degree of 
forbearance, he secured to him.self lasting friends, 
both among his parishioners and the peo|)le of the 
town. His services ended October 1, 1860, and he 
was dismissed by Council June 5, 1861. His pastorate 
extended over a term of six years. He was a grad- 
uate of Princeton College, New Jersey. 

A call was now extended to Rev. T. T. Waterman, 
of West Killingly, Conn., to fill the vacancy caused 
by this resiguation, and accepted by him. His terms 
of settlement difl'ered from the preceding only that 
three instead of six months' notice be given in case of 
dissatisfaction. His installation took place imme- 
diately following the ratification of the resignation of 
Mr. Dodd, and by the same council. 

Mr. Waterman was an older preacher than the 
former pastor, and consequently came to the duties 
incumbent upon him with ripe experience and a 
thorough knowledge of the relations which should ex- 
ist between pastor and people. He was enthusiastic 



in his preaching, presenting his subject with ardor 
and his prayers were fervent, with a flow of word and 
soul which were, at times, eloquent. 

In closing his labors he made no communication to 
the church, resigning his office as pastor ; therefore 
when his letter-missive was presented the council had 
no action to take upon the matter. His ministry was 
of short duration, and ended January 1, 1863. 

December 8, 1862, the parish warrant contained an 
article "to see what measures the society will take to 
supply themselves with a minister after July 1, 18(J3." 
The action upon this article gave the prudential 
committee authority to confer with the Rev. James 
Cruickshanks, of Chelsea, Mass., and " engage him, if 
possible, to preach for the society for one year." He 
was employed as supply for the above term. After 
len months the church and parish united in a call to 
him to become their settled minister, which he ac- 
cepted, and January 13, 1864, he was regularly in- 
stalled. 

Mr. Cruickshanks was a preacher of superior abil- 
ity ; his sermons were well grounded upon a sound 
evangelical doctrine, and all his literary efforts bore 
marks of culture and high scholarly attainments. He 
remained in charge of his duties eight years, his re- 
signation taking effect July 2, 1871. 

He was followed by Rev. H. A. Shorey, of . 
Camden, Me., who was installed September 6, 1873, 
and dismissed January 1, 1877. His successor. Rev. 
A. S. Walker, of Gloversville, N. Y., was installed 
November 14, 1877, and remained in his charge ten 
years, when he was dismissed, September 1, 1887. 
The Rev. Erastus Blakslee, of Fair Haven, Conn., 
followed, and after preaching three months was in- 
stalled May 15, 1888. 

The Revolution. — The military reputation of 
.Spencer from the French and Indian Wars to the 
closing of the late Rebellion has been one of patriot- 
ism and courage, and the town has furnished liberally 
of both men and means in all the conflicts for free- 
dom. 

Edmund Bemis and James Smith were in the great 
expedition sent out under Sir William Pepperell, in 
conjunction with Admiral Warren, for the capture of 
Louisbourg in 1744, the former serving with some dis- 
tinction. James Smith, Jr., was in a later service; 
John Stebbings was captain in the regiment of Col. 
Timothy Ruggles at Fort Edward in 1755 and 1756^ 
where he died. In the same expedition Capt. Philip 
Richardson and his lieutenant, John Wicker, were in 
command of a company, and before the war closed, 
which was substantially in 1762, the following persons 
participated, viz.: Israel Richardson, Jonas Berais, 
James Capen, William May, Josiah Robinson, Jr., 
James Stebbings, Joseph Worster, Nathaniel Par- 
menter, David Prouty and Daniel Hill. 

Thus early in the history of the country the people 
of Spencer were being trained in the art of war by 
actual service, willingly fighting the battles for Eng- 



SPBNCEK. 



6-tl 



lish sovereignty. (At this period most of tlie people 
supposed themselves loyal to the Kiug, and were 
ready to shout, " God save King George I ") Scarcely 
had the people recovered from the shock occasioned 
by these frontier wars before they were called upon to 
enter upon another contest, fraught with greater 
hardships and more personal sacrifices. The British 
ministry were begitining to press measures which 
some of the leadinj;- spirits regarded as infringements 
upon the liberties of the American people. A spirit 
of resentment to these acts, born, perhaps, without 
any ambitious design of dissolving connection with 
Great Britain, in a few short years became universal, 
and as a result the War of the Kevolution. 

This town distinguished herself — not by sending 
into the army illustrious men, for those she had not — 
but by promptly furnishing her quota of the soldiers 
called for and patiently bearing the heavy burdens 
imposed by the war with as much patriotism and loy- 
alty to the cause of freedom as the average American 
community of those times. Chief among these bur- 
dens was the payment of taxes necessary in the pros- 
ecution of the war. These they met heroically ; but 
the system of taxation early iustituted by the British 
government against the colonies, of which these 
people' were a part, was both obnoxious and oppress- 
ive to them. "Taxation without representation" 
they considered unjust, no matter how trifling the 
tax, and objected to it as it involved a principle, and 
many of the wisest Englishmen of that day regarded 
their objections as reasonable. The people of Spencer 
were by no means alone in this reasoning. The 
Stamp Act of 1765 and later Revenue Acts were 
particularly obnoxious, and Spencer was in full sym- 
pathy with the town of Boston, which was first to 
enter a protest against these and other like measures. 
Circulars and pamphlets sent out from Boston fired 
the hearts of the people and probably had much to 
do in hastening the conflict which soon followed. 
For seven years the people of Boston and immediate 
vicinity were discussing the situation and attempting 
to solve the problem involving their relations to the 
mother country. Very early, however, those towns 
more removed from the immediate effects of these 
acts began to comprehend the design of Great Britain 
towards the American people, and the eftect produced 
by this literature upon them was very marked. 

The towns of Leicester, Spencer and Paxton, being 
united as a representative district, met in convention 
January 1, 1773, " to consider these circular letters 
concerning the state and rights of the Province," and 
" spirited and patriotic resolutions," endorsing the 
views of Boston, were adopted and instructions of the 
same nature were prepared and ibi warded to their 
representative in the General Court, Thomas Denny, 
Esq., of Leicester, requesting that his course of action 
be guided by the " spirit and letter of these instruc- 
tions." For two years these towns acted jointly in 
these deliberations, adopting patriotic measures, for- 
41 



mulating instructions to representatives or delegates 
in convention or Congress and api)ointing Committeea 
of Correspondence. 

The British Government, from policy, had, up to 
this time, abandoned some of the taxes upon imported 
articles, but among those upon which a tax still 
rested was tea, to give, as Lord North proudly said, 
"the King an opportunity to try the question with 
America." The opportunity soon presented itself, 
and the result was the " Boston Tea Party " of Decem- 
ber 16, 1775. 

The people of Spencer were heartily in sympathy 
with that movement, and on the 27th of December, at 
a convention of the above-named towns, strong reso- 
lutions were presented condemning the use of tea, 
" while ladened with a tribute, contrary to our con- 
sent," and declaring that " we will not use it in our 
families." The women, too, acted as patriotically as 
the men of the convention, and they declared "that 
any of the sisters found using the destructive herb 
should be treated with scorn and contempt." 

The resolves of the Great Continental Congress, for 
the non-importation of goods, wares and merchandise, 
were also cordially endorsed by these towns, at a 
convention held two days later, and the people of 
Spencer found no difficulty in abstaining from the 
use of such goods. The women, also, on this occa- 
sion affirmed that the " home spun " should be suffi- 
cient for the wants of themselves and their families 
on all occasions. 

At a meeting held December 15, 1774, the town 
voted that sundry " Province assessments be paid to 
Henry Gardner, Esq., of Stow, and not to Harrison 
Gray, Province Treasurer," and they further added 
that they would " defend the assessors or constables 
from any damage of what kind or nature soever, that 
may arise from conforming to the votes or orders of 
this meeting." But the spirit of resistance to the real 
or imaginary encroachments made upon them by the 
British authorities was not confined to words or reso- 
lutions. Long before the conflict between the colo- 
nies and mother country began active measures had 
been taken, and a stock of powder, bullets and flint 
had been provided, and minute-men raised, that they 
might be prepared for an emergency at a moment's 
warning. 

Under a warrant dated April 29, 1774, the town 
voted to raise " Fifty efl'ective men, and that one 
pound of powder and Bullets answerable, be delivered 
out of the town's stock to each soldier," and any 
amounts remaining in the treasury from unexpended 
appropriations were also ordered to be used for 
patriotic purposes. At the raising of the meeting- 
house, in 1772, the sum of £1 6s. 6rf. was still in the 
hands of the treasurer, and it was ordered that 
£1 Os. 6d. be given to the Continental committee, and 
six shillings be paid to Jeremiah Whittemore " for 
bringing a Barr of Lead from Boston for Bullets." 

A meeting had been called for the 24th of April, 



(U2 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS 



1775, " to make provisions for the company of minute- 
men in case of any special Imergency, such as pro- 
viding Waggons and Drivers to carry their Baggage, 
and support them before they can be otherwise sup- 
plied." But before this meeting convened they were 
called to '' march in the Defence of our Just Rights 
and Liberties before the day came.'' The signal 
lantern had been hung out from the belfry of the old 
North Church, and messengers had brought the word 
to this and other towns in all directions from Boston, 
that "the war had begun, the British troops were 
marching on Concord." Although this was not in the 
days of the telegraph or telephone, yet the news of 
this movement sped with a rapidity almost rivaling 
these modern inventions, as on the afternoon of that 
eventful day, April 19th, "Capt. Ebenezer Mason, 
with a company ot fifty-six men, buckled on their 
knapsacks, shouldered their muskets, and before the set 
of sun were on the march for Cambridge." Tiie follow- 
ing are the names of those composing this company, viz. : 
Captain, Ebenezer Mason ; Lieutenant, Abijah Liver- 
more ; Ensign, Jo.seph Livermore ; Sergeants, Benja- 
min Bemis, Jr., William Green, William White and 
Samuel Hall ; Corporals, Oliver Watson, Jonas Muzzy, 
Asa Sprague and Jedulhan Green ; Drummer, James 
Draper ; Fifer, Luther Prouty ; Privates, John Draper, 
Jesse Bemis, Isaac Prouty, Nathaniel Wilson, Isaac 
Livermore, Michael Hatch, Jonathan Rich, John 
Waite, John Knapp, Joseph Grout, Benjamin Gleazen, 
Joseph Wheat, Levi Thayer, Joshua Draper, Jr., 
Elisha Whitney, Reuben Lamb, John Hatch, Amos 
Whittemore, Wright Woodward, Samuel Bemis, Rand 
White, Benjamin Sumner, John Woodward, Jr., Jonas 
Lamb, Thomas Sprague, John Bemis, John Ball, 
David Livermore, James Watson, Robert Watson, 
Thomas Whittemore, Nathaniel F. Loring, David 
Rice, Richard Huttice, Samuel Garfield, Jr., Nathaniel 
Cunningham, John Lamb, Jr., Asa Whittemore, .John 
Worster, Elijah Southgate, Knight .Sprague, David 
Lamb and Timothy Capen. Of this company forty 
enlisted, upon arriving at Cambridge, into the service 
for eight months ifnder Captain Joel Green, with 
David Prouty as his lieutenant. In Captain Seth 
Washburn's company of Leicester, which left there 
on the 17th of June for Boston, were nine men from 
Spencer, viz. : Ensign Joseph Livermore, Corporal 
Elijah Southgate, Privates Andrew Morgan, Jonas 
Lamb, Peter Rice, Thomas Sprague, John Hatch, 
Wright Woodward and Isaac Livermore. Those that 
participated in the battle of Bunker Hill were Joseph 
Livermore, Elijah Southgate, Jonas Lamb, Peter Rice, 
Thomas Sprague and Isaac Livermore. In the unfor- 
tunate expedition against Quebec, in 1775, were four 
Spencer men, viz. : John Guilford, Daniel Ball, Benja- 
min C. Ball and David Chamberlain. Although the 
town had no officers of high rank, it will ever be proud 
of those holding the minor offices, together with the 
rank and file who served in the army of the Revolution. 
REPRESENTATIVE.S. — On the 17th of June, 1775, 



the town elected their first representative to the Great 
and General Court, to be convened at Watertown on 
the 19th, and Oliver Watson was selected for that 
post of distinguished honor. He was re-elected in 
1776. 

Declaration of Independence. — In June of 
this year a resolve of the General Court was forwarded 
to the various towns in the Provfnce to ascertain the 
minds of the inhabitants of said towns in regard to 
declaring the Colonies independent. In response to 
this resolution the town voted, emphatically, that 
they "Do Fully, Freely and Solemnly engage, with 
their Lives and Fortunes, to abide by and support 
said Congress in all such measures as they shall think 
proper to come into for the safety of the United 
Colonies." 

The Continental Congress, having no power to 
manage trade, could not force Great Britain into a 
trade treaty ; consequently the continued importation 
of English goods caused consternation in the Colonies, 
and balances, which were heavily against them, and 
which must be settled in coin, were forwarded to 
England by boxes and barrels. This caused Congress 
to issue its paper money as a circulating medium, 
and this act, together with the unfortunate condition 
of the country, with the evils of the war pressing hard 
upon them, added another and serious embarrassment. 
The people of Spencer early took into consideration 
the situation, and resolved to do what lay in their 
power toward maintaining the value of the currency. 
The first of a series of instructions to their Representa- 
tive, Mr. Watson, was that " he use his influence in 
the support and credit of the paper currency of this 
Colony, and if any person or persons shall, by petition 
or any other way, motion or move for the discredit of 
said currency, that his or their names be published to 
the world." On the 4th of July, 1776, the ever mem- 
orable Declaration of Independence was signed, and 
agreeable to orders of the Continental Congress it 
stands recorded upon the town's records, " there to 
remain a perpetual memorial thereof" 

State Constitution. — The following October the 
question was submitted to the town, " Whether they 
will give their consent that the present house of 
representatives, together with the council, shall 
enact a Constitution and form of government for the 
State of JIassachusetts Bay." A meeting was called 
to consider this important question, and, upon pre- 
sentation of the article, it passed in the negative, and 
the following were their reasons for sustaining the 
vote : " First — There being many of the members 
of this town absent and in the army at this time, 
therefore not in a proper capacity to consent. Sec- 
ondly — We do not understand, by said hand-bill, that 
after our perusal of s'' constitution, if not agreeable, 
we have no liberty to make objections, and if made, no 
encouragement of any alterations ; and, thirdly — As 
circumstances, are at this day, we are of opinion a 
form of government ought to be suspended for the 



SPENCER. 



043 



present.'' To frame a Constitution for a great State, 
under these circumstances, they felt to be a matter 
of grave import, and, in their judgment, the people 
should be allowed more time for its consideration. 

Prices of Commodities. — Prices of all commodi- 
ties were high, a depreciated currency was the only 
available money, and people were put to their wits' 
ends to meet their obligations, and trade generally 
was in a demoralized condition. Early in 1777 the 
General Court sought to remedy one feature of this 
evil, viz., the exceeding high prices, and an act to 
prevent monopoly and oppression '' was passed by 
that body. A committee for the purpose, together 
with the selectmen of the towns and districts, wtre 
required to fix prices upon agricultural laborand pro- 
ducts ; also upon all goods, wares and merchandise 
necessary to the support of the people, or in use in 
the various trades. The following are some of the 
prices " fixed " for the tow n of Spencer, viz. : "Farm- 
ing labor not to exceed 3s. per day ; a day's work for 
a yoke of oxen Is. 6rf. ; wheat 6s. per bushel ; corn 3s. ; 
rye 4s.; beef 20^. per pound; shoes 3s. per pair; 
meal of victuals 9(i. ; West India rum 8s. 2(/.' per gal- 
lon ; New England rum 5s.; W. I. flip lid. per 
mug; N. E. flip 9rf., etc." This scheme, however, 
was not a success. 

A Credit Measure. — During the years which im- 
mediately followed the Revolution the people here, 
as everywhere else among the colonies, were greatly 
crippled financially, and it required the united wis- 
dom and watchfulness of the General Court to de- 
Tise means and measures for the best interests of the 
people and for bolstering up the currency and credit 
of the country. 

Near the close of the year 1777 an act passed the 
House and Council calling in the State's money or 
bills of credit and putting the same on interest, which 
act appeared to be an oppressive one, and the inhabit- 
ants of this town instructed their representatives to 
" use every effort in their power to procure a repeal of 
the said act, as they considered it injurious to the 
poorer sort of people." A still further objection was, 
that " it would become payable about the same time 
that a large amount of the Continental money would 
be called in " The act, however, was not repealed, 
and, at a meeting December 29th, they proceeded to 
arrange for their proportion of the " called money," 
and voted "that £991, 17s. be assessed upon the Polls, 
Real and Personal, Estates of the inhabitants, for the 
purpose of paying the town's proportion of Four 
Hundred Thousand Pounds, which is now called in 
by way of Loan." This assessment represented about 
thirteen hundred dollars in hard money, and was a 
burdensome tax for the people to meet at this time. 

Articles of Confederation. — January 5^ 1778, 
a meeting was called to hear read the "articles of 
Confederation for a perpetual union between the 
United States of America," and a committee was 
chosen for the purpose of examining said articles. 



This committee reported that " we find them to be, 
according to our best judgment, a well-concerted plan 
for the rule of government for the United States of 
America," and without further comment it was voted 
that "the representative be, and he is hereby directed 
to give his consent in the General Court to authorize 
the delegates of the State to ratify and confirm the 
said articles of confederation." At a meeting called 
May 4th, following, to hear the form of government 
proposed for Massachusetts Bay, a committee was 
chosen, consisting of Joshua Barton, Oliver Seagerand 
Elijah Howe, to consider the same. Their report was 
unfavorable, and, after a long debate, the question was 
put, "whether, or not, the town would approve of the 
Constitution," and it passed in the negative, one hun- 
dred and two voting against it, and none voting for it. 
They also sent to the General Court a remonstrance 
against adopting the instrument, and, from the tone 
of their "long debate," their reasons, in sustaining 
their vote, were, in substance, that the fundamental 
principles, in such a form of government, should 
originate with the people, through their delegates in 
convention for the purpose, as such a method was 
more in harmony with the great principles that un- 
derlie a free government, and eminently more demo- 
cratic ; and then, that the doings of such a convention 
be submitted to the people for their acceptance or 
rejiction. 

Aid to Soldiers and their Families.— AI- 
I though at this time the people were absorbed in dis- 
cussing matters of state, as they understood them, 
they were not unmindful of the wants of the soldiers 
in the field, or their dependants at home. At this 
meeting aid was voted to their families, and a supply 
of shoes, stockings and shirts was forwarded to the 
soldiers in the camp or field. 

Early in 1778 nine men enlisted into the army for 
nine months, and each received, as bounty, a note of 
thirty pounds, given by the selectmen, and on the 
8th of June, of the same year, the town voted the 
selectmen authority to draw the sum of two hundred 
and ten pounds and interest from the treasury " to 
pay the said notes when they shall become due." 

In 1779 six soldiers were furnished to go to Rhode 
Island, and eighty-four pounds in bounties was voted 
them for this service, and at the same time sixty 
pounds was voted to " provide for the families of the 
soldiers who are in the public service.'' 

Returned Tories. — The spirit of self-sacrifice 
that actuated these people was a noble one, and dur- 
ing the years of anxiety and hardship through which 
they had already passed their deliberations were 
marked by an earnest regard for the welfare of the 
country and their posterity. Actuated by this ardent 
love of country, they demanded that cowards in it 
be disgraced or otherwise punished, and traitors to it 
hanged. 

It was the spontaneous overflow of this sentiment 
that prompted a hearty response to the town of Bos- 



«i4 



HISTORV OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



ton, by resolutions, in regard " to certain Inimical per- 
sons Lately Returned into the State." .January 21, 
1770, resolves were offered in town-meeting, the third 
of which read as follows, viz. : 

IieiioIve{1, Tlmt we will, to the utmost ut" our power, aid and assist the j 
ciTil magistrate in tlie execution of all laws made fur the purpose of ex- 
fludinjj all such hntefid creatures from among ns. 

The persons referred to were Tories, or Loyalists, 
as they styled themselves, who fled the country at the 
commencement of the Revolution, but were now ap- 
pearing again in Boston and other towns in the State, 
and their presence was as obnoxious now as at the com- 
mcncementof thetroubles with Great Britain, to which 
country they preferred to give their allegiance. Al- 
though their appearance again was so dista-teful, the 
magnanimity of the people, after the conclusion of 
peace, not only allowed their return to their homes, 
but even invited it, and they freely forgave them the 
heinous sin of disloyalty. 

More Soldiers and E(}uaijzing Expense. — 
During the year 1779 the energies of these people 
were severely taxed in devising ways for furnishing 
men to fill up the army, and raising money and 
material for the support of the same. On the 21st of 
June the sum of five thousand four hundred pounds 
was voted to pay for the services of seven men hired 
for the Continental Army, four for Rhode Lsland and 
others for guard over prisoners in the barracks at Rut- 
land. This year a committee was chosen " to see if 
the burdens caused by the expense of the war'' could 
be equalized, and each made to bear his proportion of 
the cost; but after giving the matter careful considera- 
tion, it was found "that it was very difficult to do 
each person justice, and we omitted to proceed on 
sd business." 

Instructions to Representative. — On the 7th 
of August following. Deacon John Muzzy was chosen 
representative, and instructed "to have particular 
regard for the United States, the Stale and his con- 
stituency, to support the credit of the currency, and 
not to give his consent to any act for making up the 
sink of money between debtors and creditors, 
either public or private, soldiers and officers of the 
Continental Army excepted." 

Prices Regulated. — August 17th, Major Asa 
Baldwin was chosen delegate to a convention to be 
held at Concord on the first Wednesday in October, 
to take into consideration, among other matters, the 
regulating of prices of the necessaries of life. The 
following is a partial list of prices, established by the 
convention, and they indicate the condition ef the 
currency at that period, viz.: Corn, S14 per bushel 
rye, $7 ; wheat, $27 ; oats, |6; hay, $5 per hundred; 
labor, 19 per day ; beef, 92 cents per pound ; butter, 
$1.83; cheese, 92 cents; men's shoes, $20 per pair; 
stockings, $12, etc. 

Condition of Money. — The condition of the 
•finances was growing worse daily, and at the begin- 



ning of 1780 one dollar in currency was valued at 
about one-sixtieth of a hard dollar. This situation 
pressed so heavily upon the people, that many were 
obliged to ask an abatement of their taxes for this 
and the past year. 

The Constitution. — On the 27th of May, of this 
year, they were called upon to consider a new Consti- 
tution for the government of the Commonwealth, and 
after earnest discussion, with the exception of one 
article, the whole document received the unanimous 
approval of the town. The exception was to article 
two of the third section of chapter one, relating to 
the House, of Representatives. In their judgment 
the small plantation4 were deprived of representation, 
and "they should be allowed to join two or more of 
them together, in choosing one or more representa- 
tives." This was, in substance, an amendment 
unanimously agreed upon by them, and language 
similar was, later on, made a part of the Constitution. 

Governor. — In the autumn of this year the town 
cast its first vote for Governor, and .John Hancock re- 
ceived the whole number of votes cast, viz : sixty- 
nine. The first representative under this new legime 
was John Bisco, Esq. 

During this and the two succeeding years the town 
responded to the calls for more men for the army, 
raised money for bounties and other purposes, cared 
for the families of the soldiers and forwarded requisi- 
tions of beef and other supplies to headquarters. The 
appropriations for 1780, for war and kindred expenses, 
were : July 11th, £19,000 to pay for services of six 
and three-months' soldiers; October 12th, £48,-156 for 
the same purpose ; £3,565 for horses purch.ased ; and 
£12,000 for beef supplies, aggregating nearly £90,000, 
or about $4,000 in coin. 

Watchful.— In 1780 the General Court passed an 
act for repealing, or "taking of the new emissions of 
money," and the people of Spencer thought this to be 
a " notorious Breach of y° Public faith and a grand 
Reflection on y* Continental Congress," and they for- 
warded a remonstrance and petition to that body, 
asking for the immediate repeal of said act, request- 
ing, at the same time, that the " vote be taken by yea 
and nay, and published, that the good people of the 
Commonwealth may have a Greater Opportunity to 
Guard against Enemies of the Glorious cause of 
America." They watched closely the doings of the 
General Court, condemning that which seemed op- 
pressive or unjust, and commending when they felt 
that the people would be benefited thereby. 

In 1781 they were passing through the severest 
crisis of their existence, the heavy war debt causing 
burdensome taxes, the resources of the country nearly 
exhausted, and the Continental money almost worth- 
less. Nothing could procure the men and materials 
called for but hard money, and the town was in great 
danger of having executions levied upon it for defi- 
ciencies in men and beef. June 20th the sum of 
£416 hard money was raised for supplies of men and 



SPENCER. 



(545 



beef, and a committee of three, viz. : John Bisco, 
Lieutenant John Muzzy and Lieutenant John Wor- 
ster, were chosen to procure the same. All transac- 
tions were now made upon a hard money basis. 
Spencer filled her last quota in March, 1782, the war 
being now virtually over; still there were men in the 
field to be cared for, as it was not yet considered safe 
to disband the army. 

Grievance. — The following five years was a pe- 
riod full of grievances and, sad to relate, of mis- 
guided judgment. In the winter of 1781-82 the 
General Court passed the Valuation and Excise Acts, 
and the town, upon their consideration, freely ex- 
pressed their disapprobation of them in a remon- 
strance as being "unjust and oppressive, and an In- 
fringement on y" National Rights of mankind.'' That 
part relating to the valuation they characterized as 
"unjust and unreasonable as Nebuchadnezzar's de- 
manding of his magicians an interpretation of his 
untold Dream," and they demanded that both be re- 
pealed. 

April 9, 1782, a meeting was held at Worcester to 
take into consideration " the many grievances of the 
good people of this commonwealth," and Isaac Jenks 
was sent as delegate from the town. On the 16th of 
May following he was elected representative, and a 
long list of instructions, suggested by the recent con- 
vention, were given him, of which the following is 
but a fractional part, viz. : " that it shall be unlawful 
for the Creditor to sue, until the Debtor be notified ; 
that all state securities, whether notes or certificates, 
be made Lawful tenders ; that all goods or estates, 
taken on execution, be appraised to the Creditor, &c., 
&c." 

In 1785 the people were in a most " Distressing and 
Disagreeable" condition. No cash was to be had; 
stock and produce, though they had it, would not 
pay debts, unless sold at too great sacrifice, and they 
asked the General Court to relieve them, by making 
paper money pass equal to silver or gold, or real and 
personal estates a tender in discharge of debts. But 
this they could not do. The town was now deficient 
in its taxes, executions had been served upon it for 
their payment, and they were obliged to pawn their 
State securities to satisfy these demands. These 
securities were, however, subsequently redeemed. 

On the 26th of June, 1786, a convention was called 
at Leicester to see if means could be devised which 
would bring " relief for grievances, done one way or 
other, occasioned by. the scarcity of the Circulating 
Medium," and John Sumner was chosen delegate. 

Grievances were now, with common consent, the 
order of the day ; but Spencer was not alone aff'ected 
by this malady. Other towns and plantations in the 
State bear record of the same disease, contracted un- 
der the same infiuences. Business was at a stand- 
still, while the State and Continental debts were 
enormous, and the people were called upon, by way 
of taxation, until their patience was well-nigh ex- 



hausted. Property was seized for debt ; people were 
thrown into jails, and great distress prevailed here 
and throughout the Commonwealth. High salaries 
of public officers, fees of lawyers and sherifi's and 
costs of courts, when compared with their own scanty 
means of subsistence, and, added to these, their own 
jealousy towards those officials and courts, were, ac- 
cording to their reasoning, sufficient grounds for 
complaint, and for a resort to force, if need be. 
Their animus was especially directed to the courts, 
and they demanded that they be abolished, as " their 
existence was a burdensome exjjense." This, and the 
nursing of the feelings which led to it, were but the 
wild vagaries of the communistic ideas, better known 
to the present age than to the people of those times. 

Shays' Reeelliox. — It was this condition of the 
social atmosphere that led to the inglorious Shays' 
Rebellion, which " began with high-sounding trumpets 
at Worcester, about the 3d of December, 1786, and 
vanished like a mist on the hills of Princeton," not 
far from a month later. Some of the good people of 
Spencer took part in this unfortunate fracas, among 
whom were found commissioned officers of the militia. 
At its close they were temporarily disqualified, and 
ordered to renew their allegiance to the government, 
which they humbly did. One Abijah Livermore and 
six confederates broke into the town magazine and 
took away the stock of powder, balls, etc., but soon 
after the insurrection was stamped out, he, with three 
others, made a written confession to the inhabitants 
of Spencer, in which they " craved the assistance to 
live to the Honor of the town and the Glory of God 
in all our future conduct." 

Henry Gale was one of the leaders in this revolt, 
and after his capture was sentenced to death for high 
treason. The people of Spencer interested themselves 
in his behalf, and forwarded a petition to His Excel- 
lency, Governor Hancock, asking that he might be 
pardoned, " as he appears to be very Penitent and 
Humble for his very wicked crime." He was brought 
to the g:illows for execution, but was there reprieved 
and afterwards pardoned. 

Committees of Cokrespondence. — The Commit- 
tees of Correspondence, during and after the war, 
were: — in 1774, John Cunningham, Oliver Watson, 
Asa Baldwin; in 1775, Oliver Watson, Moses Liver- 
more, John Muzzy; in 1776 and 1777, Asa Baldwin, 
Jeremiah Whittemore, Joshua Draper, David Prouty, 
Knight Sprague, Benjamin Gleason ; in 1778, Joshua 
Lamb, John Muzzy, Joshua Bemis, John Worster, 
John Watson; in 1779, James Livermore, Benjamin 
Gleason, John Worster, John Muzzy, Jacob Upham ; 
1780, John Muzzy, Johnson Lynde, John Sumner, 
Benjamin Bemis, Jonas Muzzy ; in 1781, John Sum- 
ner, Jonas Muzzy, Johnson Lynde, Jeremiah Whitte- 
more, Nathaniel T. Loring ; in 1782, Asa Baldwin, 
Jeremiah Whittemore, Captain Ezz'kiel Newton; in 
1788, James Hathaway, Jonas Muzzy, Isaac Morgan. 

The Late Rebellion.— In the late Rebellion 



646 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



the military spirit of this town wjs aroused, as in 
days of yore, and men and means were furnished 
without stint or grudging, in the grand effort made 
for the preservation of the Union. The echo of the 
first gun fired on Sumter, and the clash of arms in 
the streets of Baltimore, had scarcely died away be- 
fore the heroic spirit of the people of Spencer 
showed itself, with but one feeling of sentiment and 
purpose, viz. : that the government should be sus- 
tained at all hazards in this hour of her need. From 
this moment until the closing scenes at Petersburg 
the citizens never faltered in their duty to the Union 
cause ; and the courage and bravery of the men 
sent out were honorable' alike to the town as her 
citizens and to themselves as soldier.^. Before the 
first call of the President for seventy-five thousand 
soldiers, men were volunteering into the service of 
the government, and the .sound of the fife and dram 
resounded through the streets, calling them — not to a 
holiday festival, as was their wont, but to the stern 
realities of a bloody war. 

On the 2;)th of April, 1861, a town-meeting was 
called, " to see what measures the town would take 
to furnish outfits and uniforms for a company of 
volunteers about to be organized for the service of 
the government." At this meeting the selectmen 
and assessors were made a " Committee of Safety," 
and their duty was to "supervise, expend and lay 
out such a sum of money, not exceeding ij.5000, as 
may be necessary," paying the members of the com- 
pany "seventy-five cents for each one-half day they 
drill during the next thirty days." The.se men were 
at first placed under the military instruction of Col. 
Alonzo Temple, of Spencer, a militia officer of the 
old school, but later on Capt. J. M. Studley, of 
Worcester, became their drill-master, and their time 
was now occupied in becoming familiar with the 
manrouvres of the soldier in camp or field. When 
the time for their service should arrive, the town 
stipulated that they should be paid a further sum of 
ten dollars per month, in addition to their govern- 
ment pay. This company left town for camp at 
Springfield, arriving there .June 20th, and on the 21st 
were mustered into the service of the United Sta'es 
for the term of three years. It numbered fifty-one 
men, and formed parts of Companies F, G, H and 
K, of the Tenth Massachusetts Regiment. 

At the above-named meeting a committee of 
eleven citizens was chosen for recruiting purposes, 
and the ladies were invited to procure a flag for the 
volunteer company. The Committee of Safety were 
also ordered to '■ purchase a flag, to be erected on the 
town-house." This committee, according to instruc- 
tions, purchased the uniforms for the company in 
training. For these, together with a flag and staff, 
and the drilling of the volunteers, they expended the 
sum of .12463.75. One of their important duties 
was the care of the soldiers' families, and this they 
attended to most carefully and conscientiously. 



At a town-meeting held July 19th, measures were 
discussed for offering bounties, and it was decideil to 
pay the sum of $100 each " for thirty-two persons 
who shall enlist into the service of the United States 
at such a time as the committee of safety shall pre- 
scribe," and a further sum of .f 50 each " to all who 
remain in the service more than one year," and an 
additional sum of |5 "to all who shall enlist to-day." 
This number was the town's quota under the Presi- 
dent's call. May 29, 1862, for 300,000 troops, to 
serve for the term of three years, or until the end of 
the war. On the 4th of August fellowing, another 
call was issued for 300,000 men to serve for nine 
months, and in response to this a town-meeting was 
held, to make provisions for their quota under it, and 
a bounty of SlOO was voted to each volunteer, to- 
gether with aid to the families of nil such. 

At an adjourned meeting, held September 11, 1862, 
eleven persons were chosen to notify the enrolled mi- 
litia to meet at the town-house for medical examina- 
tion, preparatory to a draft, "if one is found neces- 
sary." On the 17th of October, 1863, a call came 
for 34 men more, and on the 25th of February fol- 
lowing, an additional one for 25 men. In the mean- 
time a draft had taken place, and by it 28 men were 
secured, either by voluntary enlistment, furni-hing 
substitutes or paying a commutation fee of $300. 
This number was further increased by ten soldiers re- 
enlisting and 49 new recruits, and the town now had 
a surplus of 23 men, which could be applied on fu- 
ture calls. August 20, 1864, a meeting was held to 
arrange for 39 soldiers to fill the quota of the town, 
under the last call of the President, and a bounty of 
$125 was ottered to such as would enlist. December 
24th the selectmen were authorized "to procure all 
the soldiers that, in their judgment, they think the 
town will need." April 26, 1866, the town refunded 
the sura of $5955 to such of the enrolled militia as 
had previously subscribed to the war expense ac- 
count. 

lilany of the soldiers, at the expiration of their 
long or short terms of service, having a desire to 
witness the closing scenes of this gigantic Rebellion, 
re-enlisted "for the war," with an enthusiasm all 
the more earnest for the hardships they had endured 
or dangers encountered in behalf of the cau<e. 
Spencer furnished 319 men for the war, which was a 
surplus of 32 over and above all demands, among 
whom, at its close, were eight commissioned officers. 

The first regiment forwarded to the seat of war, in 
which were Spencer soldiers, was the Tenth Massa- 
chusetts, and they were engaged in the battles of 
Williamsburg, Fair Oaks, Malvern Hill, Fredericks- 
burg, Gettysburg, Rappahannock Station, Wilderness, 
Spottsylvania Court-House, Cold Harbor, Petersburg, 
&c. The Fifteenth Regiment contained five men 
from Spencer, who went into camp June 28, 1861, and 
were under fire the first time at Ball's Bluff, October 
21, 1861. This body of troops went into the engage- 



SPENCER. 



647 



ment with six hundred and fifteen men and came out 
with only three hundred and eleven fit for duty. The 
Twenty-first contained twenty-six Spencer men, and 
went into camp July 19, 1861, on the agricultural 
grounds, Worcester, and they reached Annapolis, 
Md., on the 29th of August following, and on the 
6th of July, 1862, embarked in the Burnside expedi- 
tion to North Carolina and took part in the battles of 
Roanoke Island, having fifty-seven men killed and 
wounded. In one year the regiment had lost one 
hundred and thirty men, in killed, disabled by wounds, 
prisoners and discharged. At the expiration of their 
term of service all but twenty-four men re-enlisted 
for a term of three years, and nearly all the Spencer 
soldiers returned with there-enlisted. Besides Roan- 
oke Island, they were engaged in the battles of 
Newbern, Camden, second Bull Run, Chantilly, South 
Mountain, Antietam, Fredericksburg, Wilderness 
Spottsylvania and Petersburg. The Twenty-fifth, with 
nine Spencer men, followed the Twenty-first on the 
7th upon the same expedition, and their lo.ssat Roan- 
oke Island was six killed and 42 wounded. It was 
also in the engagements at Xewbern, Port Walthall 
Station, Arrowsfield Church, Drury's Blufl, Cold 
Harbor, Point of Rocks, &c. 

The Thirty-fourth went into camp June 3, 1862, with 
forty-three Spencer soldiers. Their first year's experi- 
ence was garrison and picket duty in front of Washing- 
ton. From the time of its first engagement it passed 
through the battles of Newmarket, Piedmont, Lynch- 
burg, Winchester, Fisher Hill, two battles at Cedar 
Creek, Petersburg and Richmond. June 16, 1865, 
the original members were mustered out of the service 
and the remainder transferred to the 24th. The o7th 
contained sixteen Spencer men and was raised in the 
spring of 1864. It left the State in April and 
"fought its way from the Wilderness to Hatcher's 
Run, bearing a part in nearly every battle which 
occurred between these two points." For three 
months, following January 1, 1865, they were in the 
lines before Petersburg, marching and fighting until 
Lee's surrender. The (JOth was a one hundred days' 
regiment, and in it were fifteen men from Spencer ; 
also twenty-five men were distributed through the 1st, 
2d, 3d, 4th and 5th Cavalry and ten men in the 2d 
and nth Heavy Artillery. Spencer was also repre- 
sented in the Ist, 9th, 12th, 19th, 24th, 28th, 36th, 
•50th, 54th Massachusetts Regiments, the 154th New 
York, the California Artillery and the navy. 

Tablets erected in the town-house bear the follow- 
ing names of those brave and true men who gave their 
lives in defence of the liberties of their country, viz. : 
Oscar R. Bemis, 10th Regiment, died in hospital at Bal- 
timore, Md., August 22, 1862 ; Harry F. Adams, 21st 
Regiment, died at home on a furlough, May 19, 1863 ; 
Frederick A. Bemis, 21st Regiment, killed at Chan- 
tilly, Va., September 1, 1862; Elbridge C. Barr, 21st 
Regiment, killed at Fredericksburg, Va., December 13, 
1802 ; Frank Bird, 57th Regiment, killed at Wilderness, 



Va., May 6, 1864; Dwight Chickering,34th Regiment 
killed at Snickers Ford, Va., July 18,1864; Henry 
C. Chickering, 34th Regiment, lost from transport. 
May 2, 1865 ; Isaiah Crosby, 10th Regiment, killed at 
Malvern Hill, Va., July 1, 1862; Thomas Carney, 
10th Regiment, died in hospital, Washington, D. C, 
August 30, 1861 ; James Crook, 2d Heavy Artillery, 
died at home on a furlough, April 25, 1865 ; Freeman 
Davis, 15th Regiment, killed at Wilderness, Va., May 
6, 1864; Louis Dana, 2l8t Regiment, killed at New- 
bern, N. C, March 14,1862; Nathan S.Dickenson, 
25th Regiment, died in hospital, Philadelphia, Pa., 
August 18, 1864 ; Lucien Fogg, 10th Regiment, 
killed at Wilderness, Va., May 12, 1864; William A. 
Frink, 25lh Regiment, killed at Drury's Bluft', Va., May 
1(), 1864 ; George Farrel, 5th Cavalry, died at Point 
Lookout, Md., July 29, 1864; Joel W. Green, 1st 
Cavalry, died at Potomac Creek, Va., January 22, 
1863 1 David Green, 3d Cavalry, died in hospital, 
Louisiana, July 28, 1864 ; Gardner M. Gage, 34th 
Regiment, killed at Berryville, Va., October 18, 1863; 
George W. Henry, 21st Regiment, killed at Roanoke 
Island, N. C, February 8, 18(i2 ; Otis M. Hunter, 
34th Regiment, killed at Harper's Ferry, Va., April 
10, 1864; Leroy Haws, 34th Regiment, died on trans- 
port, April 3,1865; Dennis Harrington, 25th Regi- 
ment, died in hospital, New-bern, N. C, September 
21, 1862; Sylvester D. Johnson, 10th Regiment, 
killed at Fair Oaks, Va., May 31, 1862; Daniel 
Kelly, 9th Regiment, died in hospital, Fairfax, Va., 
October 20, 1862 ; Waldo H. Luther, 10th Regiment, 
died at Newbern, N. C, October 23, 1864; Edward 
A. Lamb, 60th Regiment, died at Indianapolis, Ind., 
October 31, 18()4; Abraham Luchay, 57th Regiment, 
killed at Wilderness, Va., May 6, 1864; James 
Larkey, 21st Regiment, died at Arlington, Va., June 
1, 1864; Alfred W. Midgely, 10th Regiment, died of 
wounds. May 12, 1864 ; Joseph Mead, 21st Regiment, 
died at Danville, N. C, January 15, 1865 ; George W. 
Nason, 2d Heavy Artillery, died at Newbern, N. C, 
April 15, 1865; Nelson Reno, 4th Cavalry, died at 
Jacksonville, Fla., September 5, 1864 ; Samuel D. 
Sargent, 21st Regiment, killed at Roanoke Island, N. 
C, February 8, 1862 ; Jarius Sessions, 46th Regiment, 
died at Newbern. March 10, 1865 ; Edmund Toomey, 
10th Regiment, died at Harrison's Landing, Va., July 
19, 1862; John M. Worthington, 10th Regiment, 
killed at Winchester, Va. September 9, 1864; Horace 
Wilson, 24th Regiment, died in hospital, Newbern, 
N. C, April 26, 1862. 

The whole amount of money expended by the town 
on account of the war, exclusive of State aid, was 
$27,101.70 ; for State aid, $23,529.92. 

Schools. — The advantages for schooling in the 
West Precinct of Leicester were very limited during 
its early history as a precinct. Indeed, there were no 
schools in this part of the town until 1748, when a 
term of ten weeks was granted them, and three years 
later another term of six weeks. In 1753 this pre- 



G4S 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



cinct contained a population of more than two hun- 
dred people, and while they were paying taxes for 
the support of schools in the East Precinct, yet they 
were of little or no value to them, owing to the great 
distance to travel and poor roads to reach them. In 
1755, two years after being incorporated into a parish, 
the sum of sixteen pounds was raised for schools, and 
the annual appropriations for this purpose, up to 
1775, averaged thirty pounds. There were, as yet, no 
school-houses here, but for several years the question 
of building one or more had been before the parish. 

In 176G the town was divided into six school 
"squadrons," three on the east and three on the west, 
and it was voted that " schools be kept in such as the 
inhabitants shall appoint," and private houses were 
used for this purpose. Two years later, houses were 
erected in some of these, but, as each was so sparsely 
settled and embraced so much territory, schools kept 
in them could not be made either practical or profit- 
able. 

In 1786 it was decided to reduce the size of the 
" squadrons," making them ten in number, and a vote 
was passed " to build houses in each," but the impov- 
erished condition of the town at this time prevented 
the carrying out of this vote, and they were not com- 
menced until 1790. In 1792 two hundred pounds 
were raised to finish school-housps already in process 
of construction, and also to build more, and in 1795 
an additional sum of four hundred pounds was voted 
for the same object. The houses were now com- 
pleted and the late divisions were now known as 
wards or districts, and in 1810 were formally num- 
bered from one to ten inclusive, and duly recorded. 

In 1849 another district was added by a division of 
Nos. 9 and 10 into three separate districts, and this 
was recorded as 11. 

The first School Committee chosen in the town was 
in 1815, and the member? thereof were required to 
visit the schools twice each year, to note the progress 
of the various classes and their standing in reading, 
spelling and pronouncing, also in writing, arithmetic 
and English grammar, and "more especially their 
decent and respectable behuvior both in and out of 
school." It was also obligatory upon the committee 
to instruct the scholars in their " duty as to piety and 
morality." At the first visit of the committee they 
required each scholar to write his or her name upon 
a slip of paper, and the same again at the close, "that 
by this test they might ascertain what proficiency the 
pupil had made during the year." 

The growth of the town from 1795 to 1837 did 
not require extra school facilities, and annual appro- 
priations ranging from five to eight hundred dollars 
gave them a fair amount of schooling, both summer 
and winter. 

In 18.32 a school sustained by private subscription 
was opened in the vestry belonging to the Congrega- 
tional Church, in which the higher branches were 
taught, and remained there until a room for school 



purposes was fitted up on the first floor of the old 
town-house building, where it was transferred and 
the same grade continued until 18-57. In 1856, the 
population having reached the required number 
named in the school law making a high-school 
obligatory, steps were now taken by the town to 
comply with that law. Additional land adjoining 
that upon which the vestry stood was given them by 
William Pope, Esq., for a high-school building, and 
" a large and commodious edifice, 60 x 40, two stories 
high, with cupola and bell," was erected. The school 
and ante-rooms were upon the first or ground floor, 
and the second floor was used as a hall. Mr. Charles 
E. Denny, a respected citizen of Spencer, bequeathed 
the sum Of two thousand dollars towards the payment 
of this building, and in appreciation of this generous 
act the hall was thereafter to be known as " Denny 
Hall." In 1888 this building was moved to the south 
side of Main Street, near the Baptist Church, to be 
used as a graded or grammar-school, to give place to 
a new high-school building. 

In the school year of 1865-66 fifteen schools were 
maintained in the eleven districts. 

The first important addition to the district schools 
was in 1867, in District No. 9, when a substantial 
brick building, three stories high, was erected, which 
would accommodate three hundred scholars. The 
rooms were spacious, well lighted and ventilated, and 
it cost, when built, $22,000. In 1885 steam-heating 
apparatus was added and in 1887 gas for lighting. 
From 1865 to 1888 the population of the town tre- 
bled in numbers, necessitating a continued enlarge- 
ment of school buildings in many of the districts, 
while within a radius of one-half mile from the centre 
extraordinary facilities were required. Within the 
latter limits six large brick structures have been built, 
the last one completed in 18SS, which will accommo- 
date two hundred and eighty scholars, and the aggre- 
gate sittings in the six is sixteen hundred and twelve. 
They are unique in architectural designs and con- 
structed with great care in reference to sanitary 
arrangements ; airy and well lighted and furnished 
with all the modern improvements. 

The High School building, built in 1888, is the gift 
to the town of Spencer by David Prouty, Esq., a life- 
long resident and honored citizen. The dimensions 
of this building are eighty-five by ninety-two feet, two 
stories high, with a basement. It is built of brick and- 
stone, and the style of architecture, above the base- . 
nient, is Romane:ique in type. Upon a front corner 
is a tower eighty-three feet in height, and at its base 
a corner stone, with the inscription: "David Prouty 
High School." 

The basement contains tvvo large play-rooms, a 
laboratory and library room, heating apparatus, store- 
rooms, etc. On the first floor is the principitl's office, 
school and recitation rooms, and upon the u]iper floor 
a large hall used for meetings and entertainments in 
connection with class exercises. The cloak-rooms. 



SPENCER. 



649 



closets, hails and stairways are large and convenient. 
This majiuiHcent gift was erected at a cost of forty- 
five thousand dollars. 

The appropriations for schools from 1753 to 1795 
varied from £'20 to £50 annually ; from 1795 to 1850, 
$.500 to S1600 ; in 1865, $3000 ; 1875, $11,000, and in 
1887, $22,000. The number of scholars in 1840 was 
324; in IStiO, 346; in 1880, 1521, and in 1887,2110. 
In 1869 the town paid the sum of $95,000 for new 
school buildings, and improving old ones, equipments 
and supplies, and for teachers' .services and expenses 
for maintaining the schools, the sum of $150,000. 

The number of school-houses in 1888 were 15 ; the 
number of rooms occupied, 34, and the number of 
teachers employed, in all grades, 52. 

This generous record is indicative of the steadily- 
growing interest the inhabitants have manifested 
over the intellectual training of the younjr. 

Datid Prouty. — David Prouty was the fourth of 
that name in direct descent from Richard Prouty, 
who was a resident of Scituate, 5Iass., as early as 1667. 
The first David in the line moved to Spencer early in 
the eighteenth century, purchasing and settling upon 
a lot north of the centre of what was, years after, 
Spencer Township. He had a son David, born in 
1739, who was conspicuous as a soldier in the war 
with the French, a captain in the War of the Revolu- 
tion, a major in the State militia and for many years 
selectman and assessor of Spencer. He had a son 
bearing his name, born in 1772, who also participated 
in the honors of the town as selectman for many 
years and Representative to the General Court ; and 
he had a son of the same name, born October 13, 1813, 
and is the suliject of this sketch. 

Mr. Prouty was reared as a farmer and continued 
in this occupation until he reached the age of twenty- 
three years. The year following he left the farm and 
entered the employ of Mrs. Hannah Hatch, widow 
of the late Eli Hatch, manufacturer of wire, and in 
1840 he purchased these works of her. This was his 
first business venture, and he remained in it until 
1846, when he disposed of the works to Liberty 
Prouty, that he might take possession of the farm in- 
herited by him from his father, who died in 1845. In 
1850 he sold this farm and came to "the village" and 
erected the dwelling-house he now occupies, moving 
into it January 6, 1851. In 1852 he entered the 
boot-firm of Charles E. Denny & Co., but in 1853 this 
firm was dissolved, in consequence of the ill-health 
of Mr. Denny, and in 1854 a second dissolution 
occurred, by the death of John G. Prouty, a member 
of it. John Boyden then became partner, under the 
firm-name of Prouty & Boyden, until 1857, at which 
time E. Jones & Co. took the interest of Mr. Boyden 
in the concern, and the name of the firm was changed 
to David Prouty & Co. In 1859 Isaac L. Prouty 
bought out the interest of E. Jones & Co , but the 
style of the firm remained the same, and in 1862 T. C. 
Prouty was admitted to the partnership. 



This business relation continued until 1876, when 
Mr. Prouty retired from it and an active business 
life. 

There are qualities in the make-up of individuals, 
which, if well balanced and blended, are a guarantee 
to success. These Mr. Prouty possessed in a marked 
degree, viz., prudence, good management and a sound 
judgment; and they were in a great measure the 
secret of his prosperity. 

Being a man of quiet and unpretending habits, 
whether in a social or more public way, unneces- 
sary or outward demonstration or show was always 
carefully avoided by him. He has represented 
his fellow-citizens in the General Court, has held 
many offices in the gift of the town, and in any, or all 
of them, there has been no question raised as to his 
faithfulness, honesty or capability. 

In his business efforts he has been richly rewarded 
with an ample fortune, and in his quiet way has made 
it the source from which many charitable objects have 
obtained pecuniary relief, and no worthy charity has 
appealed to him in vain. He has merited and still re- 
ceives the kindest remembrances of his fellow-citizens, 
and they trust he may live long to enjoy the fruits of 
his generous charities. 

He married Caroline, daughter of Dr. Jonas Guil- 
ford, of Spencer, Jan. 14, 1840. She died Nov. 14, 1863. 
Dec. 16, 1867, he married Mrs. Sarah B., widow of the 
late Charles E. Denny, sister of his former wife, and 
she died January 3, 1873. By his first marriage he 
had but one child, a son, Jonas Guilford Prouty, born 
September 21, 1844, and he died at the age of nine- 
teen years. Mr. Prouty was deeply afflicted by this 
loss, as it not only destroyed in him bright hopes for 
the future, but this death left him childless and alone. 
Possibly it may have warmed his heart towards other 
worthy young men, as he has been deeply interested 
in a number of such, and they have reason to thank 
him for material aid rendered them. The spontaneous 
gift of the David Prouty High School Building was 
a noble illustration of a desire to confer a lasting bene- 
fit upon the young of this and future generations who 
shall seek it for moral and mental improvement. 

Roads. — The traveled ways of the early settlers 
were the foot-path, which led from house to house, 
and the bridle-path, which led to town. Later on, 
these ways became roads, and at the present time, 
after passing through the various changes of straight- 
ening, widening and gr.iding, many of these " primi- 
tive paths " constitute important highways in this 
town. There is no record showing when the " Great 
Post. Road" was laid, but it was a public traveled 
way previous to 1726, as during that year the town — 
Leicester — was " presented " at the Court of Quarter 
Sessions for having no bridge across the " Seven Mile 
River." If the road had not a recorded location at 
that time, it must have had a little later on, as in 
1728 the town was assessed the sum of £12 2s. 5d., it 
being their proportion of the expense of locating it. 



650 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



After having been " presented " the second time at 
the court for the same oftence, in 1729 they caused a 
bridge to be built. In 1800, complaint having been 
made by the attorney-general of the " badness of the 
Great Post Road," an eft'ort was made to convert it 
and the North County Roads into turnpikes, but the 
town successfully remonstrated, by petition to the 
General Court, against it. In 1807 this road was 
altered and improved, by straightening easterly and 
westerly, from the house of Amasa Becnis, near Wesc- 
ville, now so called. Further alterations, in location, 
east of this point had been suggested from time to 
time, and the commissioners called upon to make 
them, but as late as 1832 no important changes had 
been made. This year, however, they ordered specific 
repairs through "the village," and September 10th the 
sum of eight hundred dollars was voted ''for repairs 
near the houses of Joseph Mason and Walton Liver- 
more." In 18")6 general alterations were made in the 
road from Brookfield to Leicester lines, re-locating it 
in places, widening, cutting and filling it in others, 
and marking the boundaries by stone posts at each 
angle along the whole line. The North and South 
County Roads were located in 1756 and '57 respec- 
tively. The Great Post Roatl was the busy one of 
these three highways, as the principal business be- 
tween the country towns and Boston centred upon it. 
It was the main thoroughfare between Hartford and 
. Worcester, and was the route over which the first line 
of stage-coaches between these two points plied. This 
line was established in 1783, and the trip was made 
in four days. 

Tavern.s. — Spencer was a famous stopping-place 
for these coaches I'rom the days of the " three 
taverns " in 1788 to the supplanting of them by rail- 
roads. It was a relay station for change of horses 
while its taverns furnished travelers with sub- 
stantial food and drink, and it was not unusual 
to see fifteen coaches congregated here at the noon 
hour, and upon extra occasions, twenty-five. The 
Centre was early designated as " Upper and Lower 
Villages," the meeting-house being the nucleus of the 
former, and the "three taverns" the latter. These 
taverns, in 1788 the only three dwellings in the 
lower village, were the " Jenks," which occupied the 
site of the Massasoit Hotel ; the " Mason House, " be- 
neath the "big elms'' near the boot factory of J. 
Prouty & Co., and the "Livermore House," on the 
site of the residence of J. W. Temple. In 1743, 
Josiah Robinson built a small dwelling upon lot 
No. 22, which was purchased in 1754 by one John 
Flagg and kept by him as a public-house for seven 
years. In 1775 Isaac Jenks became owner of the 
property and the house was ever afterward known as 
the " Jenks Tavern," and was the most famous of all the 
inns in Spencer with the traveling public. A French 
gentleman who chanced to spend a night under its 
roof in 1788 spoke in high terms of the manner in 
which it was kei)t in comparison with French taverns- 



He said, " the chambers were neat, the beds good, the 
sheets clean, the supper passable ; cider, tea, punch 
and all for fourteen pence per head." Also, General 
Washington passed the night here October 22, 1779, 
and Mrs. Jenks, the hostess, was ever proud to refer 
to the event, as her illustrious guest complimented 
her at the breakfast-table by saying, " Madam, your 
bread is very beautiful." 

There were but two dwellings in the " Upper Vil- 
lage " at this time, viz., the " Morse House," now 
standing on the west corner of Main and May Streets, 
and the " Pope Mansion." This latter, the oldest 
dwelling standing in town, was built in 1745 for Rev. 
Joshua Eaton ; and four years after the Rev. Joseph 
Pope succeeded Mr. Eaton. The former occupied this 
house with his bride. At his decease it came into 
possession of his son, William Pope, Esq. ; then was 
owned by Hon. William Upham, son-in-law of the 
latter; and since his death, Mrs. Lucretia H., widow 
of the late William Upham, has owned and occupied 
the premises. 

This building has been carefully preserved for 
nearly a century and a half, and bids fair to pass far 
into the twentieth century us a veuerabl-j land-mark 
representing the birth of the " Leicester West Pre- 
cinct." 

Town Pound. — Upon a small piece of land, "five 
or six rods square," at the west end of the meeting- 
house, was located the town pound, stocks and 
horse-block. The two latter " fixtures " did not 
survive the eighteenth century. There is no record 
showing at what date the pound was built ; but it 
was undoubtedly of early origin, as in 1768 a new 
one appeared to be necessary, the town voting then 
to build "a new one with stone," and appropriated 
£7 for the purpose. It would seem that they had 
but little use for it, as in 1772, and again in 1790, 
articles were in the warraut of these years, " to see if 
the town would use the stone to underpin the meet- | 
ing-house," or " to take the stone to fence the bury- ' 
ing-ground." Previous to 1796 one or more attempts 
were made to move it; but this year the ground upon 
which it stood was wanted for horse-sheds, in con- 
nection with the meeting-house, and it was voted 
"to build a town pound on Jeremiah Whittemore's 
land, at the corner of the town road where it turns to 
Benjamin Gleason's, of the same bigness of the old 
one, three sides of stone and one of wood." The 
contract for building was awarded to Mr. Whitte- 
niore for £11. This enclosure remained until 1877, 
when the wall was taken down and the pound aban- 
doned. 

Post-office and Postmaster.^. — The first post- 
oflSce established in town was on the Ist of October, 
1810, and was kept in the "Jenks tavern." Isaac 
Jenks and his son, Isaac, Jr., were postmasters until 
December 15, 1825. At this date Charles Bcmis re- 
ceived the appointment, and moved the otiice to the 
tavem in the "Upper Village." Amasa Bemis, Jr., 



SPENCER. 



651 



was appointed postmaster August 12, 1828, and Na- 
thaniel Wilson February 25, 1831. Eleazer B. Dra- 
per became postmaster October 24, 1832, and he 
removed the office to the first location. William 
Bush, Jr., succeeded him September 22, 1845, and 
after two years he moved the office to the store of Dr. 
L. Bemis, now corner Main and Elm Streets, east 
side. April 3, 1849, Dexter Bemis received the ap- 
pointment. The next appointee was George H. Liv- 
ermore, January 13, 1851, and he located the office at 
"Union Building." The 3d of May, 1853, AVillard 
Rice became postmaster, and he changed the location 
to the ell part of the "Solomon Davis" house, corner 
Main and Elm Streets, west side. May 23, 1845, 
Luther Hill was appointed, and he removed the 
office to the "Bemis Store." July 11, 1861, Eli J. 
Whittemore was made postmaster, and it was again 
taken to Union Building, where it has remained to 
the present time. Horace A. Grant was postmaster 
September 2ii, 1864, and Emerson Stern was ap- 
pointed May 18, 1869, and no change has been made 
since his appointment. 

Cemeteries. — The first public burial-place in the 
town was upon about one acre of land, donated by 
Mr. Cunningham, and was the north part of the meet- 
ing-house and training-field lot. In 1791, 1817 and 
1857 one-half acre each year were added, making the 
lot contain about three acres.. In 1872 afurtber addi- 
tion was made, and at this time a trust fund was raised 
by parties having an interest in the protection and 
preservation of the family lots, monuments and other 
stones that marked the burial spots. The sum sub- 
scribed for this purpose was three thousand and 
thirty-five dollars, and the town was made trustee of 
the fund. New lots were located, concrete walks laid 
out and from time to time appropriate monumental 
and other work erected in memory of the departed. 

The first person buried in the original lot was Eliz- 
abeth Adams, in 1742. In 1759 John Stebbings and 
others were given permission to erect tombs on the 
burying-ground. In 1790 this lot was inclosed with 
a "Good stone wall, with two Gates for to Pass and 
Repass." In 1793 it was voted " to purchase a car- 
riage to carry Corpse to the Graves," and in 1794 a 
house was built for the hearse and a pall purchased. 
This was the only burial-ground until 1845. On the 
20th of May of this year B. H. Kinney, of Worcester, 
purchased four acres of land lying partly on and 
forming the west bank of the " Seven i\Iile River," 
near the "Whittemore Bridge," so-called. He laid 
this out into burial-lots, avenues, paths, etc , and 
while it remained in his possession it was dedicated 
with appropriate ceremonies as " Pine Grove Ceme- 
tery." This lot lias been added to at two different 
times, until it now contains about twenty-five acres. 
It is owned by an association of proprietors belonging 
to Spencer, and the spot selected for it shows ability 
and taste to provide a home for the remains of loved 



ones. It is superintended with excellent judgment 
and care. 

In 1864 the Catholics purchased three acres of land 
for a cemetery lying on the west side of the great post 
road, one mile west of the post-office. In 1868 they 
bought thirteen acres upon the east side of the road 
and opposite this lot, and subsequently, four and one- 
half acres more were added. The new ground is 
! neatly laid out, with a circular drive around a cen- 
tral mound, upon which is erected the Holy Cross. 
They have considerable fine monumental work, and 
are doing much each year to beautify the place. 

Division of the CouuTy. — As early aa 1798 the 
question of a division of Worcester County came be- 
fore the town, but the people were as loyal to the old 
county at this time as tliey had been to the country 
during the late perilous times, and did not cast a sin- 
gle vote in its favor. In 1828 another attempt at 
separation was made by taking sixteen towns from 
this county and four from Middlesex, and a petition 
from parties interested was presented to the General 
Couri, for that purpose. The vote of the town upon 
the question was two in favor and eighty-five against. 
A third time, in 1874, the people were requested to 
vote for or against a division, and they were as 
decided in their opposition to it as ever, and in- 
structed their Representative " to oppose any legisla- 
tion tending to make any change in the county." 

Statistics. — The population in 1776 was 1042; in 
1790, 1322; in 1800, 1432; in 1810, 14.53; in 1820, 
1548 ; in 1830, 1618 ; in 1840, 1604 ; in 1850, 2243 ; in 
1860, 2777; in 1865, 3026; in 1870, 3953; in 1875, 
5451 ; in 1880, 7460 ; and in 1885, 8250. The number 
of polls in 1800 was 285 ; in 1810, 301 ; in 1820, 347 ; 
in 1830, 386 ; in 1840, 395 ; in 1850, 591 ; in 1860, 715 ; 
in 1870, 940 ; in 1880, 1671 ; in 1888, 2039. In taking 
the valuation, and assessing the taxes of the town 
from 1753 to 1824, two lists were made and called the 
"North Side List" and "South Side List," the great 
post road being the dividing line. From the latter 
date this division was abandoned, and but one list 
made of the whole. The valuation in 1860 was 
$1,286,333; in 1870, $2,121,210; in 1880, $3,048,520 ; 
in 1888, $3,918,150. The number of houses in 1764 
was 100 ; in 1850, 341 ; in 1860, 485 ; in 1875, 666 ; in 
1885, 1003, and in 1888, 1088. 

Connected with State (Jovernment. — The 
following persons have been cimnected with the State 
government, viz. : William Uphatn, Councilor in 
1878-79. Senators: James Draper in 1831-32; Wil- 
liam Upham in 1859; Luther Hill in 1867; Charles 
P. Barton in 1883, and George P. Ladd in 1888. 
Delegates to Constitutional Convention : John Bisco 
in 1779; James Draper in 1820, and Jabez Green in 
1853. Representatives to the General Court: Oliver 
Watson in 1775-76-77-80; John Bisco in 1777-80- 
81 ; John Muzzy in 1779 ; Isaac Jenks, 1728 to 1786 ; 
James Hathaway, 1787 to 1794; Benjamin Drury, 1794 
tol811; Jonas Muzzy, 1811-12 ; Phineas Jones, 1812 ; 



652 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



James Draper, 1813 to 1819, and 1828 to 1832, and 
183G and 1837 ; William Bemis, 1820; Rufus Adams, 
1823 and 1832 ; William Pope, 1827 ; Walton Liver- 
more, 1831; David Prouty, 1833-34; Lewis Bemis, 
1834-35 ; Amos Brown, 1835 ; Dennis Ward, 1836-37- 
39-47-56; Walter Sibley, 1838; Eleazer B. Draper, 
1839-40-41-45; Jonas Guilford, 1842; Jabez Green, 
1843-44-50; Milton Boy den, 1848 : William Baldwin, 
1851; Alonzo Temple, 1852 ; Alanson Prouty, 1853; 
William Henshaw, 1854; William Upham in 1857- 
72; John L. Bush, 1859; George L. Hobbs, 18C1 ; 
Luther Hill, 1863-65-70-87-88 ; Dexter Ballard, 1867; 
Erastus Jones, 1874 ; David Prouty, 1876 ; James 
H. Ames, 1878; John W. Bigelow, 1880; Isaac L. 
Prouty, 1881-82; Joseph W. Temple, 1884; James 
Holmes, 1886. 

Spencer, for several years after its incorporation, 
elected a representative alone ; then a representative 
district was formed of Leicester and Spencer. In 
1866 the towns of Leicester, Spencer, Southbridge, 
Charlton and Auburn formed a district, and in 1876 
Southbridge, Spencer, Oxford and Charlton were 
made a representative district. In 1887 the district 
was again changed to Leicester and Spencer. 

Physicians. — The physicians of Spencer, previous 
to 1800, were James Ormes, from 1732, and later on, 
Asa Burden, William Frink, Benjamin Drury and 
Jonas Guilford. At the present time they are E. R. 
Wheeler, E. W. Norwood, F. J. Sanborn, E. A. Mur- 
dock. Marc Fontaine, Ishmael Verner and Eli Bar- 
nard. 

Hox. James Draper. — James Draper was born 
February 26, 1778. He traces his ancestry to James 
Draper, of Yorkshire, England, who was born in 
1618, and came to this country " between 1640 and 
1650,'' and located in Roxbury, Mass. .Tames, the 
subject of this sketch, was a native of Spencer, as 
were two generations of his ancestors, and after a 
long and useful life he quietly passed away at the 
great age of ninety years, eight months and one day. 
His early life was devoted to the farm, but as this 
occupation was not altogether congenial to his taste, 
by close application to the limited educational ad- 
vantages of the times, he fitted himself to perform 
such duties as an adviser or magistrate was expected 
to be familiar with in those days. With this qualifi- 
cation, and possessed of a good degree of intelligence, 
he very soon became a leading man in the town, and 
in the various positions in which he served his towns- 
men, acquired their confidence and established a high 
reputation among them and throughout the county. 
Although of an irascible nature, his kindness of heart 
and sincerity of motive enabled his many friends not 
only to overlook this characteristic, but to fully ap- 
preciate his abundant good qualities and worth. 

In 1810 he was appointed a justice of the peace 
under Governor Gore's administration, and held the 
office more than fifty years. He ably performed the 
duties of it, whether called to act within the imme- 



diate vicinity of Spencer, or, as was often the case, in 
the more remote parts of the county. As a magis- 
trate, his decisions or rulings were made after a con- 
scientious consideration of the case in question, and J 
by common consent it was admitted they were ren- \ 
derod in a fair and impartial manner. He was re- 
garded as good authority in matters of common law, 
and was well qualified for writing deeds, wills, agree- 
ments or other legal documents, and being a practical 
surveyor, was particularly adapted for the work of con- 
veyancing. He was county commissioner for several 
years, was twelve times elected as representative to 
the General Court, and twice to the State Senate. j 
In 1820 he was delegate to the convention for making ' 
or altering the Constitution and, at times, occupied 
other positions of importance in the Commonwealth. < 
In town artairs he was selectman, assessor, town clerk 1 
and treasurer for many years. I 

In his early life, when church and town were one i 
and the same, he was prominent in the management 
of the former and interested in whatever pertained 
to it, and although a man of liberal spirit, he had a 
strong sentiment of veneration for whatever was spir- 
itual and sacred. He was a great lover of music, and 
in his younger days taught singing-school in his na- J 
tive town. He composed some music, and at his de- i 
cease considerable in manuscript was found among 
his effects. At the installation of Rev. S. G. Dodd 
an anthem, written by iiim, was performed by the 
choir, and was regarded as a very worthy produc- 
tion. 

In 1840 Mr. Draper completed a history of the 
town of Spencer, relating to " facts, incidents and 
events" recorded therein, with "brief notices and 
genealogies of families,'' and three hundred copies of 
it were published. In 1860 he revised this history 
with "additions and improvements," to this latter 
date. The genealogical department contains a list of 
more than five hundred families, and the history, as 
a whole^ is a work of considerable merit. 

Mr. Draper married Lucy, daughter of Captain 
Samuel Watson, of Leicester, January 6, 1805. She 
died July 7, 1848. Their children were four daugh- 
ters, all of whom lived to be married, but only one 
survived the father. 

Town-House.— From 1744 to 1838 all meetings for 
the transaction of public business, of whatever nature, ' 
were held in the meeting-house. At this latter date 
objections were raised to the further use of this house 
forthese jjurposes, and the subject of building a town- 
house was, at the earliest moment, brought before the 
town. 

At a meeting previous to April 1, 1839, a commit- 
tee was chosen to purchase a lot of land for a town- 
house, and after consideration a lot four by five 
rods, on the corner of what is now Main and 
Maple Streets, the same being a part of the pres- 
ent " Union block lot," was bargained for and pur- 
chased. Then at a meeting, the above date, it was 



1 



SPENCER 



(553 



voted " that the town take measures to build a town- 
house, or building for the purpose of transacting Pub- 
lic town business." At a subsequent meeting, how- 
ever, the purchase of this lot of "4x5 rods,'' and all 
the business connected therewith, was reconsidered, 
on account of strong opposition to the location, and 
the lot upon which the present house stands was sub- 
stituted. A building was at once contracted for, the 
same to be " .50x40 feet, 2 stories high with cupola," 
the first floor to be used for rooms for selectmen, 
weights and measures and other town purposes, and 
the second floor for a town hall. While this building 
was in process of construction, town-meetings were 
held at the taverns of Eleazer B. Draper and Dexter 
Bemis. 

In 1S59 a bell was purchase<l and hung in the cu- 
pola, but in 1803 this became injured to such an ex- 
tent that the selectmen were authorized to replace it 
by a new one " to weigh not less than 1800 pounds." 

In 1871 the town had increased in population to 
such an extent that the old town-house was wholly 
inadequate to the wants of the public, either in hall 
facilities or rooms for the transaction of the town 
business. Consequently, at a meeting called for the 
purpose this year, it was voted to build a new town- 
house,- " not less than 60, nor more than 80 feet 
in width, and not less than 80, nor more than 100 
feet in length, 3 stories high, with bell, clock and 
memorial tablets." A committee of thirteen was 
chosen to arrange the details and attend to the 
building of the same. The old house was disposed 
of, and a large brick structure erected on the spot 
of the old one, containing rooms on the first floor 
for the use of town officers, a lock-up and the Fire 
Department; also waiting-rooms, a hall, reading and 
library rooms. On the second floor is the main 
hall, with a seating capacity for a thousand people, 
and convenient ante-rooms, and the third is occupied 
as a Masonic hall on the east side,'and on the west 
a large hall for entertainments, with kitchen attached. 
The cost of this building, with furniture, was §57,870. 

Town Farm. — The question of purchasing a farm 
upon which to maintain the town's poor was under 
consideration by the town for several years previ- 
ous to 1825. This year a committee was chosen, 
with authority to negotiate for the Eleazer B. Dra- 
per farm of ninety-six acres, and the Joseph Cheever 
farm of sixty-six and a half acres, to be used uni- 
tedly as a "town farm." After purchasing the farm 
and furnishing equipments, making repairs, etc., 
upon the same, the total cost was 16,142.61. On the 
28th of March, 1826, " Rules and Regulations " for 
the government of the inmates and the observance 
of good order" were adopted and entered upon the 
town records. In 1841 a new barn "72x38 feet with 
16 foot posts" was built. Three years later, and 
also in 1851, propositions were entertained in town- 
meeting to dispose of the whole or a part of the 
farm, and committees were chosen to effect a sale 



accordingly, but without success. In this latter 
year the sum of $600 was raised "to build a new 
house and repair the old one.'' In 1871 the farm 
barn was raised, turned one-half round and a cellar 
excavated under the whole building, and in 1880 
the house was enlarged by an addition of sixty by 
thirty feet, two stories high. 

The whole building at the present time contains 
thirty-two rooms, and the halls, sleeping apartments 
and waiting-rooms are well ventilated and warmed 
by steam-heat. 

The farm is pleasantly and healthfully located two 
and a half miles north of the village, and is under a 
good state of cultivation. The sunny exposure of the 
" home " and farm buildings, together with an ex- 
tended southern view, lend a charm to the spot, 
whether viewed by inmate or visitor. It has been 
the study of those in charge of this institution to 
make it a cheerful and comfortable retreat for the 
town's unfortunates, and their efforts have been at- 
tended with marked success. 
! Fire Department.— Since first the need of better 
protection against fire was felt the town has been gen- 
erous and wise in adopting safeguards for preventing 
or extinguishing fires. In 1830 dwellings and other 
buildings in the immediate vicinity of the village had 
become numerous enough to demand provisions for 
their l)etter security against this element. At a meet- 
ing held March 7th, of this year, this subject was dis- 
cussed and an appropriation of one hundred dollars 
was made towards the purchase of a fire-engine. This 
machine was a primitive affair, operated by two hori- 
zontal levers, requiring eight persons to "man the 
breaks," and often five times this number, with buck- 
ets in hand, to supply it with water. On the 26th of 
the same month, a further sura of thirty-five dollars 
was voted to purchase hose for this engine. A small 
building was erected on what is now "Union Block" 
lot, to house the new fire apparatus. This "tub en- 
gine" proved of but little value, as the buildings in- 
creased in number and size, but was the only appliance 
for protection again.st fire for nearly twenty years. In 
1840 the town voted the sum of five hundred dollars 
to purchase a hand fire-engine and the committee, 
chosen for the purpose, selected a " Hunneman ma- 
chine," with hose-reel and five hundred feet of hose. 
The small engine was now abandoned, the house dis- 
posed of and a new one erected on the east side of the 
town-house. A company of forty-five members was 
organized, and this organization has been well main- 
tained to the present time. In 1851 the first board of 
fire wards was chosen, viz., Alonzo Temple, David 
Prouty and Andrew J. Roberts. The fire companies 
held their meetings in the new building until 1859, when 
the town granted the department the use of a room in 
the town-house building for business purposes. In 
1871 a Hunneman steam fire-engine and hose-car- 
riage was added at a cost of five thousand eight hun- 
dred dollars; and in 1874 a hook-and-ladder truck. 



654 



HISTORY OF WOKCESTER COUNTY. MASSACHUSETTS. 



fully equipped for service, provided. A large and 
convenient room was now fitted up in the new town- 
house for the storage of the fire apparatus and use of 
the department. In 1882 a double tank fire-extin- 
guisher was purchased, and in 1883-8-1 two new hose- 
reels were added lo the equipments. 

These additions necessitated a more abundant water 
supply, and reservoirs were, from time to time, lo- 
cated in convenient places for this purpose, at a cost 
of more than ten thousand dollars. In 1882 the in- 
troduction of public water-works added materially to 
the efficiency of this department by the location of 
eighty-eight hydrants exclusively for fire purposes. 
The manual force aggregates eighty men. Although 
an expensive necessity, the citizens have freely voted 
money to sustain the Fire Department, and they fully 
appreciate the perilous and responsible labors ren- 
dered by the firemen. They have expended, since 
1849, the sum of sixty-five thousand dollars for en- 
gines, hose, equipments and services of men; and for 
engine-houses a further sum of twenty-five thousand 
dollars. 

Water Works. — In 1882 steps were taken to pro- 
cure a supply of pure water for the town, as it was 
feared by medical experts and others that in the 
thickly-settled portions of the village the water had 
become contaminated to such an extent as to affect 
the sanitary condition of the people in these locali- 
ties. A supply by gravitation was essential, if possi- 
ble, and "Shaw Pond," in Leicester, was found to be 
the only body of water of sufficient altitude and 
supply. The town took this, by charter from the 
General Court, but subsequently transferred their 
interest in it to Messrs. Goodhue & Birnie, of Spring- 
field, Mass., and they constructed the works as a pri- 
vate enterprise. In 1884 the town purchased them 
of the owners for two hundred and forty thousand 
dollars. The receipts for the six months ending 
January 1, 1885, were $7,036.97 ; for the year ending 
January 1, 1886, $14,171.38 ; 1887, $15,094.81 ; 1888, 
$15,324.79. The whole number of miles of pipe laid 
to January 1, 1888, was twelve and three-quarters, 
and at this date the daily consumption, 153,000 
gallons. 

Library. — January 7, 1867, " about thirty young 
people of both sexes," members of the High School, 
met at the house of Emory Shumway and organ- 
ized themselves into a society "for social and intel- 
lectual improvement," and after the choice of offi- 
cers proceeded to the further business of adopting a 
constitution and by-laws. This society was to be 
called the Young People's Library Association and 
the object was to establish a High School Library. 
As a prerequisite to membership one must be a mem- 
ber of the High School and pay a fee as follows, viz : 
" For a young gentleman twenty-five cents, and for 
any lady twelve cents," and at each weekly meeting 
a tax of five cents for the former and three cents for 
the latter. These moneys were to be used as a fund 



for the purchases of the library. One year later it 
was voted to change the name to the " Spencer " 
Library Association, and the constitution was altered 
accordingly. April 21, 1858, by vote of this body, it 
was made a " Public " Library, with a membership 
fee of one dollar per year, half-yearly or quarterly in 
the same proportion. The first installment of books 
purchased was one hundred and ninety volumes, and 
the first librarian John W. Bigelow. These books 
were kept in an ante-room on the floor of the "Denny 
Hall," but subsequently they were arranged in cases 
in the hall. 

About the year 1862 twenty-nine persons, princi- 
pally farmers, organized themselves into a body, 
called the Spencer Agricultural Library Association, 
and purchased one hundred and ten volumes, relating 
to farming interests, and these were kept in a case in 
the store of Temple & Whittemore, they acting as 
librarians. In 1864 it was thought best to merge this 
into the Public Library, and, on the 30th of Novem- 
ber the following proposition was submitted, at a 
meeting of the members of both, viz.: " That the 
members of the Agricultural Association have free 
use of the Spencer library for the space of four years, 
as an equivalent for its books." This arrangement 
was accepted, and their books were transferred to the 
cases of the latter. Until the year 1869 the funds for 
the purchase of books were obtained from member- 
ship fees and fines and the proceeds of " fairs," to 
which the public gave generous support. 

November 8, 1870, a proposition was made by the 
Library Association to turn over to the town their 
books, cases and other property, upon conditions that 
the town should assume the indebedness of the a.sso- 
ciation, and " keep the library in good condition." 
This proposition was accepted, and from this date it 
became the propeity of the town. At the next an- 
nual meeting of the town it was voted that the money 
known as the " Dog Fund " be expended for standard 
books, to be added to the library, and their " use be 
free to the town." This " fund" was annually 
thereafter appropriated for the use of the library. In 
1871 a spacious room was fitted up in the town-house, 
to accommodate the large number of books already 
accumulated, and, a few years later, further additions 
to this room were made for the same purpose. In 
1888 a public library building was erected for the use 
of the library and a free public reading-room. This 
beautiful building was the gift to the town of Mr. 
Ilichard Sugden, a highly respected citizen. It is 
of brick, with brown-stone trimmings and gran- 
ite basement. The main room is thirty-two by sixty 
feet. The front projection is eleven by thirty-nine 
feet, and at one corner is an ornamental tower fifty- 
two feet in height. The projection is used for an en- 
trance hall, librarian's and delivery room. In the 
rear of these is the library and reading-rooms, and 
these rooms are essentially one, being separated by 
a screen only. The shelves on the floor are arranged 



I 



gf 



18^ 





SPENCEK. 



655 



to accommodate from eight to ten thousand books, 
while the galleries, which are reached by a spiral 
stairway, furnish shelf-room for an additional twenty 
thousand volumes. It is a substantial and enduring 
edifice, and reflects great credit upon the generous 
and noble-hearted giver. His portrait, in oil, occu- 
pies a prominent place in the main room. This 
building is called the " Richard Sugden Library." 
It was completed at a cost of twenty-five thousand 
dollars. The number of volumes in the library 
January 1, 1887, was 6,272, and the number of books 
taken out from March, 1887, to February, 1888, was 
16,384. 

Rich A Ki> Sugden. — Richard Sugden was born in 
an obscure village near Bradford, England, March 26, 
1815. His parents were of humble origin and circum- 
stances, and he struggled hard, from boyhood to early 
manhood, to overcome these embarrassing conditions 
of birth. He gave his daily labor for his board alone, 
while his scanty clothing was obtained from hours of 
overwork, and it required weeks of such toil to pur- 
chase a single garment even. Although he was 
deprived of the privilege of an ordinary education, 
yet in a small way he was able to gratify a longing for 
books and the current literature of the day. There 
were but two libraries in the neighborhood in which 
he lived, one containing three volumes, viz. : the 
Bible, Baxter's Saint's Rest and Bunyan's Pilgrim's 
Progress; the other was the treasure of an old Welsh 
cobbler,- consisting of about sixty volumes, carefully 
secured in a box beside his bench. He became a 
confidant of this man, and as a consequence was 
privileged to take a book for perusal, once a week, 
from this primitive library. His method for procuring 
a newspaper was novel and business-like. Fourteen- 
pence per copy was required to purchase one paper 
each week, and he and six comrades formed a club at 
a cost of two-pence each per week, and in this way 
obtained the coveted prize. 

This ardent love for literary information followed 
him to manhood, and when the cares of business were 
laid aside for the day, the book and paper were the 
solace of his evening hour. Works of history and 
autobiographies of self-made men were his favorite 
reading, and now, in his riper years, when the cares 
of business press less heavily upon him, he scans these 
works, together with the popular magazines, as eagerly 
as in his younger and more vigorous days. Blessed 
with a retentive memory, and being an intelligent 
reader, he possesses a fund of knowledge which 
renders him an entertaining companion for social 
conversation. 

At twenty-eight years of age he embarked in an 
emigrant ship for America, and, after a prosperous 
voyage of twenty-seven days, landed in New York, 
March 29, 1845. During the passage he formed the 
acquaintance of a young Scotchman, whose brother 
in America had sent him a small hand-book, descrip- 
tive of the manufacturing towns in Massachusetts. 



From this he learned that wire was manufactured in 
Spencer and card clothing in Leicester. Wire- working 
being his particular trade, he decided to make one of 
these two points his first stopping-place. Reaching 
the latter, he applied for, and obtained work of, 
H. A. Denny, in a small wire-drawing mill in Cherry 
Valley, Leicester. Two years later he and a fellow- 
workman — Nathaniel Myrick — came to Spencer and 
purchased the small wire-works owned by Roswell 
Bisco. In 1850 they purchased the machinery of a 
mill in Cherry Valley in which H. G. Henshaw 
was interested, and moving it to Spencer, admitted 
Mr. Henshaw to the firm. The business was expand- 
iogquite rapidly, but the feeble health of Mr. Henshaw 
made this a partnership of short duration. The firm 
became Myrick & Sugden again, and so continued 
until Mr. Myrick retired from it in 1870. Harry H., 
son of Mr. Sugden, was now admitted, but in a few 
years this firm was dissolved by his death. In 1876 
Mr. Sugden purchased the large works of J. R. & J. 
E. Prouty, in the " lower wire village," and converted 
the combined business into an incorporation called 
the Spencer Wire Company, of which he is president 
and general manager. 

From the time of entering upon his business life, 
the characteristics of his younger days have been 
steadily developed and strengthened by the experience 
of years, until now, in a matured manhood, he is able 
to enjoy, with satisfaction, their fruits. 

At the age of seventy-three years he is still hale 
and hearty, and though he has resigned the details of 
the business to subordinates, he still gives his personal 
attention to its general management. 

Street Lamps. — Previous to 1872 the village was 
partially lighted by street lamps, erected and cared 
for mostly by private individuals. This year the 
town voted " to light all the lamps at the expense of 
the town," and this mode of street lighting continued, 
with many additions to the number of lamps, until 
1887. A three years' contract was made at this time 
with the Spencer Gas Company, to light the streets 
with electricity, and sixty electric lights were distrib- 
uted through the various parts of the village. The 
cost to the town for these lights was to be S.SJ cents 
per evening for a single light. From 1872 to 1888 the 
town expended the sum of $16,000 for street lamps 
lighting and maintaining the same. 

SuADE Trees. — Much interest has been taken by 
the inhabitants of the older portion of the village in 
setting out and preserving shade and ornamental 
trees. The number of growing trees, of all sizes and 
ages, add materially to the attractiveness of the streets 
and general appearance of the village. Some of the 
older ones are majestic. This is true of the three 
" big elms " near the corner of Main and Mechanic 
Streets. They were set out on the day the battle of 
Bunker Hill was fought, and the " oldest inhabitant," 
at the present time remembers that his father in- 
formed him that while engaged in planting these 



056 



HISTORY OF WORCESTKll COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



elms he distinctly heard the booming of the cannon 
while the battle was in progress. In 1871-72 the 
town appropriated one hundred and fifty dollars each 
year " for setting out shade trees in the public 
streets." 

Societies. — The Ladies' Benevolent Society, con- 
nected with the Congregational Church, is the old- 
est social organization in town, dating from 1821. 
But one of the original members survives, viz., Mrs. 
Dennis Ward. The Si. Jean Baptiste is the largest 
society .and contains a membership of five hundred 
and sixty-two and has a relief fund of 110,000. The 
other societies are the Masonic Lodge, chartered De- 
cember 11, 1872; the Ancient Order of Hibernians, 
organized 1872 ; Royal Arcanum, 1879 ; Home Circle, 
Daughters of Rebecca, Association Mallet, Independ- 
ent Order of Odd Fellows, F. A. Stearns' Post, No. 37 . 
G. A. R. ; Institute Canadien-Francaise; Luthe"^ 
Hill Camp, Sons of Veterans ; Sons of Temperance' 
Fanciers' Club, Firemen's Relief Association, Wom- 
an's Christian Temperance Union and Patrons of 
Husbandry. This latter was organized February 11, 
1875, with twenty charter members, but in April. 
1877, it, like many other granges, gave up its organi- 
zation. It was re-organized July 27, 1882, and, at the 
present time, Parsiello Emerson is master. 

Farmers' AND Mechanics' Association. — August 
26, 1884, a few farmers, and others interested in agri- 
culture, met at the town hall to consider the advisa- 
bility of holding a " Fair and Cattle Show the coming 
fall " and following this meeting several more were 
held for a further exchange of opinion upon the pro- 
ject. In the interim an interest developed sufficient 
to cause an association to be formed and officered as 
follows, viz.: George Wilson, president, and Thomas J. 
Comins, secretary and treasurer, and the first fair and 
exhibition was held October 1, 1S84. Meetings and fairs 
were held annually thereafter and were attended with 
such success as to encourage the members to apply 
for a charter, that they might become a State institu- 
tion. One was granted March 8, 1888, and by it they 
became known as the "Spencer Farmers' and Mechan- 
ics' Association." The following April Nathaniel 
Myrick, a former resident of Spencer, donated to this 
body property to the value of $2000, to be used toward 
the purchase of a park and fitting up the same with a 
racing course and buildings. Thirty acres of land 
were bought, lying south of and adjoining the Pine 
Grove Cemetery, and suitable luiildings were erected 
for the accommodation of agricultural and live- 
stock exhibits. A good one-half mile track was also 
laid out and constructed for horse sports and other 
exhibitions. 

The cost of the land, buildings, track and other im- 
provements was about eight thousand dollars. The 
main building, forty by eighty-four feet, two stories 
high, contains an exhibition-room upon the ground- 
floor, the second being used as a dining-hall, and has 
a seating capacity of three hundred and sixty 



people. Rooms for a kitchen and steam cooking 
apparatus are conveniently attached. The crockery 
service, consisting of twelve hundred pieces, was also 
a donation from Mr. Myrick, and upon each piece is 
apju-opriately inscribed the giver's name. In appre- 
ciation of these generous gifts, the grounds are called 
"The Nathaniel Myrick Park." The premiums 
paid at the fair held October 4 and 5, 1888, amounted 
to eight hundred and seventy dollars, and the mem- 
bership of that date was five hundred and sixty. The 
officers during the year 1888 were Chas. N. Prouty, 
president ; Thos. J. Comins, secretary ; I. L. Prouty, 
treasurer, and John G. Avery, delegate to State Board. 
Gas Works. — In 1886 the Spencer Gas Company 
was chartered, with Luther Hill as president and 
Edwin Evans as general manager. From July 1, 

1887, to July 1, 1888, the works distributed eleven 
million feet of gas, used for heating, lighting and 
cooking purposes, and at the latter date had laid 
twelve miles of gas-pipe. 

Banks. — The Spencer Savings Bank was incorpor- 
ated in 1871, with Wm. Upham, president, and Erastus 
Jones, treasurer, and was kept at the office of E. 
Jones & Co. until January 1, 1876, when it was 
moved to the banking-rooms of the Spencer National 
Bank. January 4, 1877, Mr. Jones became president 
and W. L. Demond, treasurer. The latter resigned 
the office in June, and Asa T. Jones was chosen in 
his place, and October 1, 1886, C. T. Linley succeeded 
Mr. Jones. The deposits January 1, 1875, were 
$94,647; January 1, 1880, $221,462, and January 1, 

1888, $470,266. 

The Spencer National Bank was chartered in 1875 
with a capital of one hundred and fifty thousand dol- 
lars, with Erastus Jones as president ; W. L. Demond, 
cashierandC.T.Linley,assistantcashier. Mr. Demond 
resigned July 1, 1882, on account of ill health, and Mr. 
Linley was appointed October 1, 1882, as his succes- 
sor. The office for the transaction of business was first 
opened in rooms in the I. Prouty & Co. boot factory, 
but January 1, 1876, was moved into their new quar- 
ters in " Bank Block." 

Newspapers. — In 1872 Tlie Spencer Sun, a weekly 
newspaper, was founded by Stillman B. Pratt, of Marl- 
boro', Mass., and the concern was known as the " Sun 
Publishing Company.'' January 1, 1873, Samuel 
G. Ames became editor and proprietor, and April 27, 
1875, he sold the paper and business to James Pickup, 
who continued it until liis decease, June 20, 1887. It 
was then purchased by H. M. Converse, the present 
proprietor and manager. 

October 10, 1885, the i§)c«ce7'5?irte<m was established 
by A. H. Johnson, manager, and H.N. Carter, editor. 
On account of failing health Mr. Johnson sold out the 
business to Mr. Carter, and January 8, 1888, it was 
merged into the Spencer Sun, and the paper was 
known as the Sun-Bulkiin. It was, however, soon 
changed to the original Spencer Sun heading. 

Bakeries. — David Girouard esLablished in the fall 



SPENCER. 



657 



of 1873 a bread bakery in Spencer, situated upon Elm 
Street, south of the railroad track. He has had several 
partners in this establi^^hment from time to time, but, 
at present, the business is carried on by the D. Girou- 
ard Co. October 29, 1883, this concern started a 
cracker bakeiy at the corner of Chestnut and Maple 
Streets, and are now turning out about twenty-five 
barrels of crackers daily, which they sell principally 
to the New England trade. They also manufacture 
pastry and small bread. This company was incorpo- 
rated at the above date, and is composed of D. Girou- 
ard, P. Berthiaume, D. Parent, A. Dufault, F. Collette 
and A. Girouard. In June, 1879, B. C. Dustin opened 
upon Wall Street a bakery for the manufacture of 
plain and fancy bread, cake and pastry. In 1886 he 
associated his son with him in the business, as B. C. 
Dustin & Son, and in 1888 they enlarged their estab- 
lishment and added the manufiictory of confectionery 
to the works. Their trade is not confined to Spencer, 
but extends to the Brookfields and Leicester. 

Public Park. — The towu owns a beautiful park of 
fourteen acres, situated upon the south shore of the 
" Whittemore Pond." The tract is well-shaded by a 
heavy growth of native pine trees, and the land slopes 
gradually to the water's edge. It is encircled with a 
broad, well-laid drive, and is a refreshing spot to 
while away a pleasant hour, in vehicle or on foot, in 
the heat of a summer's day, or after the labors of the 
day have closed. The trees, with their cooling shade, 
and the pond, across which can be had a charming 
sail, make this an attractive resort for private lunch 
parties or picnics. 

This park was the generous gift of Judge Luther 
Hill. Mr. Hill is a native of Spencer, and has been 
a public man in the town since he was twenty-five 
years of age. He was born November 22, 1825, and 
in 1845 he was appointed postmaster, which office he 
held eight years, was a deputy sheriff three years, and 
has been a justice of the peace and quorum, notary 
public and trial justice for many years. While hold- 
ing the latter office, he has tried more than six thou- 
sand criminal cases and, although not a lawyer by 
profession, has never spared money or pains to become 
well-posted in matters of law. He has held many 
town offices, was chairman of the Board of Select- 
men twelve years, and moderator of the town-meet- 
ings thirty years. He has been actively prominent in 
all public improvements, such as new streets, public 
buildings, railroad, sewers, water and gas works. He 
is president of the latter company. Mr. Hill is a man 
of strong likes and dislikes, of temperate habits and 
a Republican in politics. 

Lawyers. — In 1813, Bradford Summer opened a 
law office in Spencer, but remained a few weeks 
only. Subsequently he became quite a prominent 
and successful lawyer in Boston. John Davis, after- 
wards Governor, was established here in 1815 for a 
short time. He was succeeded by William S. An- 
drews in 1816, and he by Daniel Knight in 1817. 
42 



Napoleon B. Smith was located here in 1852 and 
William T. Harlow in 1854. The latter practiced his 
profession until the breaking out of the late Eebel- 
lion, when he was appointed captain of a company of 
volunteers and he, with it, joined the 21st Mas-a- 
chusetts Regiment. Soon after his return from the 
war he was appointed assistant clerk of the Superior 
Court for the county, which office he still holds. 
Albert W. Curtis opened a law office in 1874 and is 
in practice here at the present time. There are also 
Lawyers Jerry R. Kane, D. J. Cowen and C. S. Dodge, 
lu the early history of the towu John Bisco, Esq., 
was a magistrate, and later on James Draper, Esq., and 
for more than a quarter of a century Luther Hill, Esq., 
has held that position. 

Men of Note. — Spencer has produced but few 
men that have become distinguished, socially, politic- 
ally, or otherwise, outside our own State. The bent 
and training of her sons has been decidedly of a 
businci^s nature, and in this school they have become 
business men that have given her, and themselves, an 
honorable and extended record. She has, however, 
sent out two men, whose genius as inventors has 
been recognized and appreciated far and wide. 
One made for himself a world-wide reputation. 

William Howe, the inventor of the " truss wooden 
bridge," was born in Spencer, May 12, 1803, and the 
system designed and made practical by him was the 
safest and most reliable of any in use in his day. It 
was not confined to bridges alone, but was extensively 
used in the construction of roofs to large buildings, 
depots and other like structures. These wooden 
bridges and other structures had their day, serving 
their purpose admirably, and reflected great credit 
upon the genius which conceived them, but are now 
superseded by devices in iron, although the principle 
of the "truss" is still retained. Mr. Howe early be- 
came a resident of Springfield, where he died. 

Elias Howe, Jr., nephew of William Howe, was 
born in Spencer, July 9, 1819, and his invention has 
not only made him eminently great throughout the 
civilized world, but the principles embodied in the 
sewing-machine conceived by him, live, at the pres- 
ent time, without a rival. 

His early years were passed upon the farm and in 
the mill, and later on in machine shops at Lowell 
and Boston. At twenty-five years of age he de- 
veloped his invention and in 1845 completed his first 
machine. For ten years he was involved in expen- 
sive law-suits, but he eventually substantiated his 
claims to the patents involved, and from this time 
was able to enjoy the rich fruits of his genius. Be- 
side the plaster bust of this inventor, the museum con- 
tains an oil painting of the old home of the " Howe 
family." 

Museum. — Previous to 1874 certain individuals had 
private collections of natural curiosities, historical 
relics and sundry mementoes of the early history of 
the town. At a town-meeting in March of that year, 



658 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



they asked the town to accept these collections and 
hold them in trust for a public museum, which was 
done, and a board of trustees was appointed to have 
charge of them. They occupy an ante-room fitted up 
for the purpose in the basement of the Library Build- 
ing, and comprise a large collection of Indian relics 
and many souvenirs of the Revolution and late Rebel" 
lion, also a bust of Elias Howe, the inventor of sewing- 
machine. 

Infectious Diseases. — Excepting the years 1841, 
1853 and 1874, the town has not been visited by any 
sweeping contagious or other diseases that have given 
the inhabitants real cause for alarm. In 1777, 1836 
and 1849 small-pox prevailed to some extent, and re- 
sulted in one death in each of these years. In 1853 
the same disease appeared in the central part of the 
village, causing some anxiety on the part of the 
neighborhood and town authorities. There were 
several cases of varioloid, with one case of small-pox 
which resulted fatally. In 1874 this malady again re- 
appeared, and 'for a time promised to be of a very 
serious nature. The selectmen, however, took active 
measures to prevent its spreading, by isolating the 
cases that were past removal and establishing a " pest- 
house " for new ones, or exposures. This building 
was located two and one-half miles south of the Cen- 
tre, and was owned by Ira E. Lackey. These vigorous 
precautions were effectual, and the disease, with One 
exception, was confined to this hospital. The sub- ' 
jects were mostly from the French population, and 
the six deaths re-vulting were persons of this nation- 
ality. The town expended on account of this sick- 
ness the sum of 13722.21. 

In 1778, 1792, 1795 and 1802 dysentery and scarlet 
fever prevailed, and several families were deeply af- 
flicted, in the loss of children, by their ravages. In 
the summer and fall of 1841 the former disease caused 
consternation in the immediate vicinity ofthe village, 
the fatality amounting to forty deaths, viz., thirty-two 
children and eight adults. A protracted drouth of 
four months was the attributed cause. October 
1st a freezing storm of rain and snow set in, and from 
this time no new cases appeared, and the old ones 
were convalescent. 

In 1860 the pleuro-pneumonia, so prevalent through- 
out New England, received the closest attention of 
the town authorities. The regulations ofthe General 
Court " to prevent the spread of the cattle disease " 
were strictly enforced by them. Some cattle were 
killed, and hay, grain and other food was destroyed 
by their order. 

JosiAii Green. — It has been said that " Josiah 
Green was the founder of the wholesale peg boot 
manufacturing interests in this country," but whether 
this be true or not, he certainly has a reasonable claim 
to being one of the foremost in this branch of the boot 
industry. He was born of humble parentage, in 
the town of Leicester, August 9, 1792. His early 
education was necessarily limited, as in the economy 



of the family the children's time was an indispensable 
factor in their support, and they could not take 
advantage, even ofthe short allowance of the school- 
ing in those days. The greater part of his early life 
was occupied upon the farm, but in the fall of 1811 
he and his elder brother undertook the manufacture 
of sewed shoes as a business hazard. They began 
with a capital of five dollars and forty cents, in the 
house of John Hubbard, a near neighbor, and their 
mother raised and spun the flax and made the thread 
used in the manufacture of their work. The leather 
used for the goods was the splits and remnants of card 
leather, such as was used by the card manufacturers 
of Leicester. This was taken to the leather dresser, 
one Abel Chapman, of Leicester, oiled, blacked and 
finished ready for use. Their product, during the 
winter, was a "one-horse load," or about two hundred 
and thirty pairs, and in early spring these were taken 
to Boston by Josiah, to be disposed of. This was a 
large amount of goods to be offered upon the market 
at one time, and only one party, an auctioneer, was 
found willing to undertake the sale of them. He 
purchased six pairs at two dollars and thirty cents 
per pair, with the privilege of the lot, if the venture 
should prore a success. It was satisfactory, and he 
took the balance. Receiving the money for them, 
Mr. Green purchased leather to make up another lot, 
and returned home. The second " load " was com- 
pleted and sold with satisfactory results. In 1814 
they made a " two-horse load," designed for the 
Albany market, but these were sold to some army 
speculators before reaching Albany, at two dollars and 
twenty-seven cents per pair. Two years later tlie 
broth«r3 found they had accumulated three thousand 
dollar.s, and the elder proposed that they retire from 
business and purchase, each, a farm. The partner- 
ship was dissolved, and Nathaniel removed to Maine 
and invested his money in land, but Josiah continued 
in the manufacture of boots. This year, 1816, he 
came to Spencer, and on the 4th of September, 
married Tamer, daughter of Robert Watson, of Lei- 
cester. He had just purchased the farm, which 
was later on owned and occupied by the late Samuel 
Adams, using one room in the dwelling-house as his 
shop. This was his first year for making pegged 
boots, and for a while all the pegs he used-were made 
by himself, with the aid of a common shoe knife. The 
plan of disposing of his goods now was a novel one. 
It was to take them around the country in a one or 
two-horse wagon, to sell or return when called for, 
and on his next trip collect for what had been sold, 
and if the arrangement had been mutually satis- 
factory, they would assoj-t up the sizes of those unsold 
and continue the relations. These "sale boots" were 
denounced in the strongest terms by the village and 
traveling shoemaker. October 13, 1820, his wife died, 
and October 2, 1821, he married Sybil, daughter of 
Deacon Reuben Underwood, of Spencer, and by this 
marriage they reared a family of eight children. In 





Je^^U^a^y ^'~Y^-'zX^e-i^ 



SPENCEK. 



659 



1831 he purchased the homestead upon which he 
resided until his death, December 28, 1876, and the 
room in the old mansion now used as a parlor was 
his work-shop until 1834. This year he built and 
occupied a small factory opposite his dwelling, on the 
Great Post Road. It was enlarged at two different 
times to accommodate an increasing business. His 
boots had a wide reputation and were extensively 
known as "Green's boots." He was alone in his busi- 
ness until 1852, when his son, Henry R., and son-in- 
law, Emory Shumwaj', were admitted as partners. 
The latter left the concern in 1856, and was succeeded 
by Edward, Mr. Green's youngest son. He retired 
from the firm in 1865, and his interest was purchased 
by his brother, Jonas U. Green. In 1866 Mr. Green, 
Sr., retired from the business, leaving his interest to 
Josiah, Jr., who remained in the firm until his death, 
in 1886. Jonas U. disposed of his interest in the con- 
cern in 1877. In 1887 Henry R. retired, and since then 
the business has been conducted by Charles H., son of 
Henry R., and Austin F. Southwick, son-in-law of 
Josiah, Jr. In 1874 a new factory, four stories high, 
was erected connecting with the old one to the west 
of it, and over the main entrance to the new building 
is the old sign, " Josiah Green's, Boot Manufactory. 
Established in 1812." 

Mr. Green was emphatically a self-made man, and, 
for the days in which he was in active business life, 
possessed more than ordinary ability. As an old 
school man he was among the foremost in his line of 
trade, and noted lor vigor, indomitable perseverance 
and an iron will. His careful and judicious manage- 
ment enabled him to pass through the several notable 
seasons of depression and disastrous failures in the 
business community, commencing with 1837, pre- 
pared at any time to meet all his liabilities with one 
hundred cents on every dollar of his indebtedness. 
For more than a half-century he was closely identified 
with the business interests, growth and prosperity of 
Spencer, and it was a source of gratification, in his 
declining years, to feel that he had been instrumental 
in bringing about such a grand result. "Learning 
the trade" in those days meant a thorough knowledge 
of the business in all its details, and many of his 
workmen left his employ to engage in the business on 
their own account. According to the laws of trade, 
some were a success and some a failure, and of the 
former class the most successful of his apprentices 
were Charles E. Denny and Asa T. Jones. 

Boots and Shoe.s. — The business upon which the 
town has relied for its growth and support is the 
manufacture of boots and shoes, although of late 
years the business of the wire manufactories and also 
the manufacture of woolen and satinet goods have 
contributed largely towards the success of the town. 
Prior to 1872 the manufacture of leather goods was 
distinctively boots, but since that date shoes have 
been added, until at the present time they occupy a 
prominent position in this traffic. Charles Watson 



was the first to commence in this business. He begao 
in 1809, but his enterprise was not a success finan- 
cially, and was therefore temporarily abandoned. 
Josiah Green and his brother were the next to 
venture in it, and for a full history of the rise and 
progress of their undertaking, see biography of Josiah 
Green. In 1820 Isaac Prouty began making boots as 
a custom boot-maker, and the further history of the 
firm of Isaac Prouty & Co. will be found under the 
life sketches of Isaac Prouty and Charles N., his son. 
From 1835 to 1842 several new firms started out in 
the business, but the " hard times" of 1837 and other 
causes, later, proved disastrous to them. In 1838 
Charles E. Denny started the business in a small 
building which stood west of and adjoining ihe prem- 
ises of Horace A. Grout. 

Mr. Denny afterwards built a boot-shop on the lot 
now knowu as the " Guilford place," corner of Main 
and Linden Streets. In 1850 this building was 
moved to the present Cherry Street, between Maple 
and Linden Streets, and converted into a dwelling. 
He then built what is now a part of the David 
Prouty factory, and this year he formed a partner- 
ship with John G. Prouty, as Charles E. Denny & 
Co. In 1852 David Prouty was admitted to the firm, 
the style remaining the same. (See biography of 
David Prouty for the continuation of the business in 
this factory until Mr. Prouty retired from it, in 1876.) 
From 1880 until the present time the business has 
been carried on by Bemis & Allen. 

In 1844 the firm of L. & 0. Warren occupied the 
basement of the Universalist Church, corner of Main 
and Wall Streets, on the site of the factory of E. E. 
Kent & Co., for the manufacture of boots. Three 
years later they disposed of this business to Jeremiah 
Grout, J. L. Bush and G. F. Grout, who continued it 
iu the same place until 1850. This firm then pur- 
chased the carpenter-shop owned and occupied by 
Temple & Livermore, for joiners' work, and also by 
William Bush, Jr., for carriage-making and repair- 
ing. This shop stood upon the site of the present 
boot factory of Bacon, Kent & Co. After enlarging 
the same, they moved their works into it. 

In 1865 the Messrs. Grout retired from the busi- 
ness and Mr. Bush continued alone for two years, 
when H. A. Grout became a partner, under the firm- 
name of Bush & Grout. December 21, 1875, this 
building was destroyed by fire, but was rebuilt and 
occupied by them until 1880, when they disposed of 
the property to Prouty & Bacon, and this factory 
has been occupied by the firm of Bacon, Kent & Co. 
to the present time. 

In 1850 Charles Watson, Jr., Dexter and Lorenzo 
Bemis began the manufacture of boots in the base- 
ment vacated by Grout, Bush & Co., and while there 
they erected a boot-shop upon the site of the " Drury 
factory," which, at that date, was the largest building 
used for this purpose in the town. During 1857 this 
firm dissolved, and in 1858 Charles & George Wat- 



660 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



^■\ 



son commenced the business again in the same fac- 
tory, and continued it until 1864, when they dis- 
solved partnership. Charles Watson remained alone 
until 186(), at which time he retired on account of 
failing health. 

George Watson purchased the building erected by 
Howland & Merritt in 1836 for a clothing manufac- 
tory and af(erward3 used as a store, and made suita- 
ble additions and changes for a boot factory. He 
formed a partnership with J. Edward Bacon, and 
they began the manufacture of boots here in 1865 as 
George Watson & Co. Mr. Watson died in 1866, and 
Mr. Bacon continued the business until 1867, when 
he, in company with I. Rich Kent, of Calais, Vt., 
purchased the property, and carried on the business 
under the firm-name of Kent & Bacon until the de- 
cease of Mr. Kent, in 1875. 

In 1871, '72 and '73 this firm, in connection with 
H. G. Lamb, of Charlton, Mass., manufactured 
women's, misses' and children's shoes in a small build- 
ing, next door (east) to this factory. In 1876 Mr. 
Bacon entered the firm of Bush & Grout, under the 
firm-name of J. E. Bacon & Co., and remained with 
them one year. In 1878 he returned to his old fac- 
tory, and took as a partner Van R. Kent, the style of 
the firm being J. E. Bacon, and they continued in 
business until 1881. This factory remained unoccu- 
pied until 1885, when A. B. Bacon and Emory F. 
Sibley formed a co-partnership and began the manu- 
facture of boots in it. December 6, 1886, this build- 
ing and contents were destroyed by tire, and was a 
total loss. (For the rise and progress of the business 
of Asa T. Jones and E. Jones & Co., see biography 
of Erastus Jones.) 

In 1850 a building was erected upon, or near the 
site of B. C. Dustin & Son's bakery, Wall Street, by 
Cheney Hatch, of Leicester, for a boot manufactory, 
and was used for this purpose by William L. Powers 
and George D. Hatch, under the firm-name of Pow- 
ers & Hatch. After three years of unsuccessful labor, 
they retired from the business. In 1857 George H. 
Livermore and D. A. Drury formed a partnership, 
known as Livermore & Drury, and commenced the 
same business in this building. 

In 1860 they purchased the Universalist Church 
property, fitting it up into a boot factory, and moved 
their works into it. They remained here, however, 
but one year, closing up their business in 1861. 
Manufacturing was carried on one year, in the Powers 
& Hatch building, by Prouty, Bigelow & Co. 

In 1867 D. A. Drury and Frank E. Dunton entered 
into partnership under the style of D. A. Drury & 
Co., and started the boot business in the factory of 
the late Charles Watson, and this firm continued to 
manufacture here until the building was destroyed 
by fire, in 1874. Mr. Drury erected a new building, 
and for six years following his partners were Christo- 
pher Prince, Theodore Green and Walter Eldredge. 
He enlarged the factory and works twice during this 



time, and for the last two years of his manufacturing 
he was alone in the business. The building was un- 
occupied until 1886, when, during the labor troubles 
of that year, a co-operative boot and shoe company 
was organized and used it as their manufactory for 
four months, after which they moved to smaller quar- 
ters on Cherry Street, between Mechanics and Maple 
Streets. In August, 1888, at a meeting of the stock- 
holders it was voted to clo?e up the business and 
" dispose of it to the best advantage." This year the 
" Drury building" was purchased by Bacon & Sibley, 
and this firm are carrying on the boot business in it 
at the present time. 

In 1867 Dexter Bullard, John Boyden and Isaac 
Prouty & Co. became partners in the business, under 
the firm-name of Bullard & Boyden, and they occu- 
pied the factory built by the latter parties in 1856. 
In 1869 J. W. Temple purchased the interest of Isaac 
Prouty & Co., and the style of the firm was changed 
to Bullard, Boyden & Co. In 1876 Mr. Boyden re- 
tired and the concern became Bullard & Temple. 
In 1883 Mr. Temple retired from the business and a 
new firm was formed by Mr. Bullard, F. G. Mullet 
and F. A. Rice, under the firm-name of D. Bnllard 
& Co., and this concern continues the same at the 
present time. 

In 1863 the boot firm of Shumway, Temple & Co., 
of Warren, Mass., moved their works to Spencer, and 
into the Livermore & Drury factory, which had been 
purchased by Mr. Shumway. This concern manufac- 
tured here for two years, when Mr. Temple left the 
firm. It was continued by E. Shumway & Son near- 
ly two years longer, when the business was closed 
up, and in 1868 the property was sold to Edward E. 
Kent. Mr. Kent formed a business connection with 
David Prouty & Co., under the style of Proutys & 
Kent, and they carried on the manufacturing of 
boots from 1868 to 1874, at which time the Proutys' 
interest ceased and was purchased by Charles N. 
Myriek, and the firm-name changed to E. E. Kent & 
Co. Mr. Myriek remained a partner two years, when 
he retired on account of ill health, since which time 
Mr. Kent has been sole owner and proprietor. There 
are, then, eight boot and shoe manufacturing estab- 
lishments in the town at the present time. 

In 1837 the value of leather goods made was 
$106,496; in 1845, $93,100; in 1865, $835,800; in 
1875, $2,185,000; in 1880, $2,.347,000; and in 1S8.'>, 
$2,617,736. The total value of all the goods, df 
whatever nature or kind, made in town in 1885 was 
$3,627,467. 

Number of Business Fiems. — The number of pri- 
vate firms in Spencer in 1885 was eighty-three and 
one corporation with a capital stock of $75,000. 
The capital invested in these establishments, includ- 
ing plant, was $1,580,794. 

Isaac Peouty. — No family name in Spencer is so 
common and none embraces so great a number of 
people as that of Prouty. The family sprung from 



i 



SPENCER. 



661 



one Richard Prouty, wlio resided in Scituate, Mass., in 
1667. Isaac Prouty is the fourth generation from 
Richard, and is the subject of this sketch. 

He was born December 9, 1798, and was the founder 
of the well-known boot manufactory of Isaac Prouty 
& Co. In 1820 his occupation was making boots to 
order, from measure, in a small room in his own 
dwelling-house in North Spencer, so called. Little 
by little his work increased until he found it necessary 
to employ help to meet the demands of " the trade,'' 
and soon was forced to build a small one and a half 
story building in which he could extend the facilities 
for manufacturing. This building, together with a 
barn and other store-houses, subserved his purpose 
until 1855. He had subsequently purchased the 
homestead of Rev. Levi Packard in " the village," 
and this year he caused a factory to be erected upon 
the westerly part of this lot, and in 185G occupied it 
for his business and the dwelling for his residence. 

This factory, for those days, was a spacious one, 
being thirty by sixty feet, with three stories and a 
basement. The system and management was now 
thoroughly reorganized, and a partnership formed 
with two of his sons, Lewis W. and George P., under 
the firm-name of Isaac Prouty & Co. With the aid of 
machinery, which they now added, they were, in a 
great measure, able to supplant hand labor most ad- 
vantageously. 

This was really the first aggressive step taken by 
Mr. Prouty, looking towards an extension of business, 
and the success which in the following six years at- 
tended the undertaking proved the wisdom of it. His 
aim was now to build up and develop a large manu- 
facturing enterprise, and in this effort he was heartily 
seconded by Lewis W., who had become superinten- 
dent and business manager under his father's direc- 
tion. 

In 1862 it became necessary to increase the factory 
capacity, and for this purpose they purchased the 
" Mason property " and erected a building forty-two 
by one hundred and four feet, five stories with base- 
ment, adding an engine and boiler to run the works 
by power. The old firm moved into this factory in 
January, 1864, and Charles N., a younger son, was ad- 
mitted to the firm, the firm-name remaining the same. 
By these improvements and with the addition of valu- 
able room and machinery adapted to power, the con- 
cern made a radical change both in mode and facility 
of doing business. Mr. Prouty was early convinced 
that machinery was eventually to be an important 
fiictor in cheapening the cost of manufactured goods, 
and also in enabling the manufacturer to produce a 
greater quantity in a given time, and he was foremost 
to introduce such machines as promised good work 
and quick results. He lived to see their enterprise 
outgrow these accommodations and to plan for a fur- 
ther enlargement of the factory of one hundred and 
thirty by forty-two feet, with new engine, boilers, etc. 
But while in the midst Jof these improvements he 



was taken sick, and died after an illness of seven 
days. Five days later his son, Lewis W., followed 
him. 

Mr. Prouty was noted as a careful and shrewd busi- 
ness man, giving his individual attention to his entire 
business, watching closely every detail, and scanning 
as closely the economy of the various departments 
in their use of stock and other materials. He 
thoroughly believed in the old maxim, " economy is 
wealth," and to practice it was one of the important 
distinguishing features of his business life, and was 
a strong corner-stone to that structure. Success, 
which he in his life planned with much care. He 
was one of the most unpretending of men, and to an 
unfamiliar observer was indifferent to what was tran- 
spiring around him, but in matters of business, or 
socially, he was quick of hearing and keen of vision, 
and it was a matter of trifling importance that escaped 
either. His customs and habits were those of the 
New Englander of an earlier date, and he per- 
sistently ignored the conventionality of the people 
during the latter days of his life. He clung tena- 
ciously to the social and domestic habits formed in 
early life, but in his business he was decidedly modern 
and progressive. He was a tireless worker, and this 
characteristic was prominent from the commence- 
ment of his business enterprise. He died at the age 
of seventy-three years, but remained vigorous and 
attentive to the demands of business up to the begin- 
ning of his last sickness. 

Charles N. Prouty was born October 6, 1842, and 
he remained at the homestead until he reached the 
age of seventeen years. At this age he was em- 
ployed as clerk in the country store of Grout, 
Prouty & Co., and the experience gained there, in a 
year's service, by contact with the people and mat- 
ters pertaining to business, he regards as the first and 
valuable step in his business education. From 
eighteen to twenty years of age he attended school 
at Wilbraham, Mass., and at the close of his last 
school year returned home, and was admitted a part- 
ner in the firm of Isaac Prouty & Co. Four years 
previous to the death of his father and brother, early 
in 1872, he acted as general superintendent of the 
labor department of this manufactory, employing the 
help and having the charge of the manufacturing in- 
terests generally. 

The death of these two business members of the 
firm following so closely upon each other were 
events of extraordinary importance to the surviving 
members, and how to meet the situation and over- 
come it was their first care and thought. Unex- 
pected responsibilities, with new cares and burdens, 
were suddenly thrust upon them, but they must, if 
possible, show themselves equal to the emergency. 
It is true that each had ably filled a position in the 
prosecution of the business thus far, but to the 
knowledge of the markets, for buying and selling, 
the financial management and the relationship be- 



662 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



tween manufacturer and customer, they were strang- 
ers, as these duties had been the exclusive preroga- 
tive of father and brother, now gone. 

They at once reorganized the concern, and it con- 
sisted of George P., Charles N. and Jason AV., a 
younger brother, and they still retained the old firm- 
name of Isaac Prouty & Co. Each entered upon his 
duties full of confidence and hope, and each took a 
position in the management of the business where he 
thought he could best promote the interests of the 
concern. Many of the important details were as- 
sumed by George P. and Jason W., while by common 
consent the general management fell to the lot of 
Charles N. Under the circumstances this was a 
difficult task for him to perform, but as time passed 
on, and he became more familiar with the new du- 
ties, he gave evidence, by his management, that he 
was abundantly able to assume the trust so suddenly 
imposed upon him. 

The business received a fresh impetus under this 
new order, and in a short period of time it became 
necessary to increase the facilities, by additions and 
extensions, in both buildings and motive-power. 
These have been made from time to time, until at 
present the building contaihing the boot and shoe 
departments measures 457 feet in lebglh by 42 
feet in width, and is five stories high, with basement. 
There are also two large brick store-houses, for 
leather and manufactured -^goods, and still another 
one of brick, used for [be manufacture * of boot and 
shoe boxes, lasts, etc. ■ • ';•.■■'■. ^ . • 

The main building 'is" divided inlo fire-proof s'ec- 
tions, and the whole ■ establishment provided with 
the latest improvements as safeguards against fire.. 
It is lighted by the incandescent' electric light, and 
the motive-power for the whole works is supplied by 
a 250 horse-power engine, and four 100 horse-power 
boilers. In 1872 this concern turned out 20,000 
cases of boots, valued at $500,000, and in 1886 the 
value of the boots and shoes combined was more 
than $2,000,000. 

Mr. Prouty married Jennie, daughter of Selby 
Richardson, of Spencer, May 25, 1804. 

Erastus Jones. — Erastus Jones was born Septem- 
ber 11, 1825. His father. Dr. Asa Jones, was a native 
of Charlton, Mass., where he studied medicine, and, 
in 1811, began his practice in Spencer. Here he be- 
came a physician of considerable note. Asa, his old- 
est son, commenced the manufacture of boots in 
Spencer in 1841, in the chambers of the " Livermore 
House," corner of Main and North Streets. Four 
years later he moved these works to his factory situ- 
ated upon the site of the residence of AsaT. Jones, 
son of the elder member of this firm. Erastus, the 
younger son, and subject of this sketch, spent several 
years in his brother's employ, learning the trade and 
the details of the business. In 1846 he was made a 
partner, under the firm-name of A. T. & E. Jones. 
Although he had hardly attained his majority when 



he took upon himself these duties and responsibilities, 
yet his early business training and habits of industry 
were an assurance of his future success. 

This partnership continued until 1862, when Asa 
T. retired from the business, and the style of the firm 
was changed to E. Jones & Co., by the admission of 
Hezekiah P. Starr as partner, and, in 1871, Frank E. 
Dunton was admitted, without change in the firm- 
name. In 1860 the rapid increase of business caused 
a demand for more room, and the present factory of 
E. Jones & Co. was erected. Several important addi- 
tions have been made to this building from time to 
time. January 1, 1886, Mr. Starr retired from the 
concern. 

Mr. Jones is a man of marked characteristics, in 
both his business and private life, and his kind and 
generous disposition, through long years of inter- 
course, has endeared him to his business associ- 
ates and numerous employes. They have found him 
to be a man of few words, but yet enough to convey 
an unmistakable meaning, although spoken in an un- 
obtrusive way. He is quiet to a fault, if that be pos- 
sible; nevertheless, there is an energy in this quiet- 
ness which has made his business life a success, and 
in a more private way has established for him a well- 
merited reputation for shrewdness and sagacity. Be- 
inga man of few words, subjects under his considera- 
tion have always been carefully weighed and his 
opinion given only after the most mature delibera- 
tion. His honiur as a business man has never been 
doubted, and, as a private citizen, he commands the 
respect of all. ■ 

He is president of the Spencer National Bank, and 
for many years has been treasurer of the town.' He 
• has been Representative to the General Court, and in 
various' ways has occupied positions of honor and 
trust. His life, from the beginning of his business 
career, has been one of untiring industry, and, 
with few exceptions, he has given it his daily care 
and management. This fidelity has returned to him 
a handsome fortune, from which many an honest, 
needy object has found pecuniary relief. Subscriptions, 
gifts and donations have been bestowed without num- 
ber, although the public have had little or no knowl- 
edge of these numerous benefactions. His motto 
most emphatically is, — " Let not thy left hand know 
what thy right hand doeth." 

Mr. Jones was married to Mary I. Starr, of Thom- 
aston. Me., June 5, 1850. 

Cotton and Woolen Industries. — "Clearing 
up " a spot to build a log-house or other rude struc- 
ture for a place to live, then planting and gathering 
in his crops was the Jirsf business of the pioneer; next 
came the indispensable grist and saw-mills, and when 
the housewife began the manufacture of "homespun," 
the fulling-mill became a necessity also. The former 
were located upon small streams in various parts of 
the town, while the latter, two in number, were 



i 






'^^:<'<L^Ct^t^ ^J-z^-T^z^.-C^ 



SPENCER. 



6K3 



situated at the foot of "Sumner Hill/' juwt below the 
pre»ent (jriBt-mill of T. J. BeinJH. 

The first record of these fulling-millh is in 1791, 
although they were probably established at a much 
earlier date. One, at a later date, was owned by 
William Sumner and one by Willard Kice. This year 
— 1791 — the property and industries of the t<jwn were 
made returnable by law to the Secretary of State, and 
was as follows, viz. : Whole number of dwellings and 
other buildings, 186; 6 grist and (i saw mills, 2 
fulling and all other mills and 1 pot and pearl-ash 
works. 

In 1811 the number of buildings remaine'l the 
game, but one "Tan House" and one " other mill" 
was added. This " other mill " was probably the one 
built in 1810 and known as the "Green Factory," and 
this was the first businessenterpriseof any magnitude 
started in the town. This was built for the manufac- 
ture of wwjien goods and was owned and operated for 
several yearn by .labez Howe, Isaac .Jenks and Willard 
Rice. In 182o this became the property of Willard 
and Horace Rice, and was run as the Spencer Woolen 
Company. From this period until 18H7, when it was 
destroyed by fire, the ownership was fluctuating, but 
it was owned and run principally by Reuben Whitte- 
more, Amoi' Brown and Augustus Rider. 

Ojnnected with this mill was another one standing 
upon the site of the present " Upham and Sagendorph 
Mill." This was originally a "trip-hammer" shop, 
for the working of iron in some form, but was con- 
Terted into a wvden-mill about the time the " upper" 
one was built, and this was known as the " lower 
mill." The pr'xluct of these two " four set" mill", 
containing thirteen looms, for the year ending April 
1, 18-37, was thirty-four thousand yards of woolen 
'•''ith, valued at eighty-seven tbousaod dollare. 

i he " upper " property lay in ruins until 1840, 
■Ktiea it was purchase^! by Alonzo Temple, and he 
erected a sUme taat/irw upon it. In 1841 Silas Eld- 
ridge bfjught this property and i'lTtatA a co-partner- 
ship with hisbrother N'athaniel and William Henshaw 
under the firm-name of Silas Eldridge & Oj., for the 
manufacture of cotton cloth and satinet war[>s. 

In 184o Xathaniel Eldridge left the firm, and in 
1849 Silas Eldridge retired from it and active business. 
The busineiiB was continued by Mr. Henshaw until 
18-52, when the factory was again burncL In 18o7 
Mr. Henshaw built a grain and griist'aiill in its plaice, 
and he, together with Jame^ Capen an partner, 
occupied the premises until 1870, when Mr. Henshaw 
retired. The business on this property has remained 
the same up to the present time, but with changes in 
maoagerg and ownership. 

In 184-3 Thomajs H. Shorey purchased the property 
of the " lower mill" from Whittemore &, Brown, and 
in 1844 he formed a partnership with*Henry J. Lyman 
' - the manufiicture of satinet goods, but in 184-5 Mr, 
rev purchased the interest of the latt«T, and the 
iivia diEMlved. In 1^46 this mill wag operated by 



Baker, Sibley & Co. ; in 1847 and '48 by Baker & Bel- 
lows, and from that time until I8l!0 by Mr. Shorey. 
In 1860 and 1867 tbe work was carried on by I'eel & 
Meyerg, and from 18*58 U) 1871 by Joseph Peel. 
During these years the machinery wag employed in 
tbe manufacture of satinets. It was now in a dilapi- 
dated comiition, and standing until 187-0, became 
almoHt a ruin. This year the privilege was purchasfs*! 
by Upham & Sagendorph, and Uiey erected a three-get 
mill upon tbe site for the manufacture of fine woolen 
goods and fancy cassi meres. Jan. 1, 1880, Oe^rge I'. 

I lyadd purchascl the inU^rest of Mr. Sagendorph in 
this property, and it was run by I'pham & I^add until 
• he partnership was dissolved by the death of the 

' former, since which time Mr. Ladd bag been proprie- 
tor and g(jle manager. 

' A short distance below this mill, and gtanding upon 
the game gtreara, was a partial ruin of one of the 
earlier grigt-millg. In 18.32 a new building wag erected 
near tbe old one by Am'/s Brown, and used as a grist 
and flouring-mill until 1841, when the property wag 
gold to Samuel O. lifted, of Brookfield, and chi verted 

' into a manufactory of wheeig and wheel nUtck. He 

! ma/le quite extensive improvement* on the pr«mise», 

I by enlarging and repairs, for the better accowmo<la- 

' tion of his works. He cmtinuci this business until 

' 184-5, when it was close"! up, and in 184*; the privil<:^e 
and property wag purchase'l by Henry J. Lyman. 
The two original mills were moved away and used for 
dwelling and store-house, and Mr. Lyman built a two- 
get mill upon the old location, taking Mr. Upham a« a 
partner in the business. For a further hisU^ry of thii 
mill, gee biography of William Upham until his de- 
cease, after which this property pagse*! intf* the hands 

J of Mr. Ladd, and he ig carrying on the busiaets at the 

, present time. 

! In 184'J Edward Smith, of North Brookfield, Ma»»., 
formerly in the employ of Samuel d. R*ed, built what 
was afterwards known a«the " Draper Mill," in which 
he attempted the manufacture of cotUjn battg and 
wicking in a very small way, but the business was not 
a success. Thi» building wag then occupied by L. 
J. Knowleg and Warren H. Sibley, under the firm- 

' name of Kuowles <Sc Sibley, and they carried on 
the manufacture of cotton warps in it until 1849, 
when they closed up their business here and 
transferred their workg to Warren, Masg. In 18.5'^ 
.Eli J. Whittemore leased it for a term of three 

, years for a manufactory of carriage-wheeU and spokes, 
and December 1-0, 18-52, the building wag considerably 
damaged by fire. In 18-54 it wag again changed to a 
galioet mill, and ag such was run one year by Wm. 
Stanley and George C Holden. From 18-5-5 10 1868 
Mr. Stanley was iatere-sted in the mill, operating it at 

. times ID oonoection with Mr. Upham, and then again 
on big own ajisoount. lo 1849 Mr. Upbau became 
aceoclated with Hugh Kelley in this property, and 
it was thereafter known as the Spencer W'xden 
Company. At the death of Mr. Upham, Mr. Ladd 



664 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



took his interest in the business, and is carrying on 
the worlis at the present time in connection with Mr. 
Kelley. 

When Nathaniel Eldridge left the concern of Silas 
Eldridge & Co., in 1845, he went to what is now called 
" Westville," made a water privilege, and built a mill 
for the manufacture of satinet warps. He continued 
in this mill until 1854, at which time he was obliged 
to close up his affairs. This property, after remaining 
idle for some time, was purcha.sed by W. G. Fay, G. 
B, Dewing and John Gilman, of East Brookfield, and 
this company manufactured denims and balmoral 
skirts for a season, when Mr. Gilman bought the in- 
terests of Fay and Dewing, changing the works to 
denims and batting. In 1871 he sold the mill and 
privilege to Upbam & Stanley, and they changed the 
machinery for the manufacture of satinets. This rela- 
tion between these parties remained until Mr. Upham's 
death. These several mills contain eleven sets of 
machinery and one hundred and one looms. They 
are run under the direct management of Mr. Ladd, 
he being the sole owner of the "Valley Mill," and 
one-half owner in the remaining three. The produc- 
tion aggregates one hundred thousand yards of fine 
cassimeres per month. 

Hon. William Upham. — William Upham was 
born in Brimfield, Mass., February 27, 1825. His 
parents were William and Nancy Smith Upham, and 
the father died when William, Jr., was but two and 
one-half years old. When four years of age, he was 
taken by a kind friend of the family. Deacon Jacob 
Bishop, with whom he lived, receiving the care and 
love of a son, working on the farm and receiving the 
benefit of the district school until sixteen years of 
age. Later he attended school at Warren Academy, 
and until twenty years of age he spent the fall and 
winter months at school or in teaching. 

He came to Spencer in 1845, and entered the em- 
ploy of his brother-in-law, Henry J. Lyman, as a 
common mill-hand. In 1846 he formed a co-part- 
nership with Mr. Lyman, in the manufacture of 
satinet goods in a small way. In 1853 he purchased 
Mr. Lyman's interest in the business, and continued 
it, enlarging the capacity of the mill from time to 
time until 1S65. He then disposed of the property 
and business to E. D. Thayer, of Worcester, to en- 
gage in an enterprise in Boston ; but in 1868 he 
returned to Spencer, and leased the mill but recently 
sold, for a term of three years, at the expiration of 
which he re-purchased it. This was known as the 
"Valley Mill," and in 1874 George P. Ladd be- 
came one-half owner in this property. For several 
years Mr. Upham had more or less business connec- 
tion with William Stanley in what was known 
as the "Draper Mill;" but in 1868 he formed a part- 
nership with Hugh Kelley in this mill, which 
was thereafter known as the "Spencer Woolen Com- 
pany." Two years later he associated himself again 
with Mr. Stanley, and they purchased the " West- 



ville" property, replacing the cotton with woolen 
machinery, and commenced the manufacture of 
woolen goods. In 1876 he entered into partner- 
ship with Noah Sagendorph, and they erected the 
mill known as the "Upham & Sagendorph Mill," 
and their business relations continued uniil 1880, 
when Mr. Sagendorph withdrew from the firm, and 
was succeeded by Mr. Ladd. At the time of his 
death Mr. Upham was the head and general manager 
of these several mills. The product of the "one-set" 
mill in 1845 was about five thousand yards of goods 
per month, while in 1880, under his judicious manage- 
ment, the production of the above mills reached a 
total of one hundred thousand yards monthly. 

Mr. Upham enjoyed the confidence of all who 
knew him, and when the citizens honored him with 
any office in their gift, they felt that the duties of 
that position would be faithfully and conscientiously 
performed. He was elected to town office in 1858, 
and from that date he served the town in most of ita 
important offices. Two years he represented this 
district in the General Court, and one year was a 
member of the Senate. He was elected to a seat in 
the Executive Council, serving the first year with 
Governor Alexander H. Rice, and the second with 
Governor Thomas Talbot. He filled these positions 
with credit to his constituency and honor to himself. 
He always took a deep interest in the political affairs 
of the town or Stale, and would never countenance 
dishoTiorable means to reach a desired end. He 
was fortunate in the position he occupied with his 
employes, as he was scrupulously exact in his treat- 
ment of them, never giving offense, but, on the con- 
trary, manifesting at all times the kindest regard for 
their welfare. This friendly interest, on his part, 
was the natural overflow of a sympathetic nature, 
and he easily won their confidence and affection. 
As a citizen, he gave liberally of time and money to 
such local enterprises or improvements as would pro- 
mote the best interests of the town ; and as a neigh- 
bor, his words of cheer and encouragement were not 
without a potent influence. 

His temperance principles and habits were formed 
in early youth, and through all his life he was a con- 
sistent and energetic worker in the cause. He was 
thoroughly in sympathy with the principles of the 
prohibitory liquor law and favored a rigid and impar- 
tial enforcement of it. Being a member of the Con- 
gregational Church, he took a deep and active inter- 
est in its welfare, and gave generously towards its 
support: His benevolence, in church or out, was a 
distinguishing feature of his character. Mr. Upham 
was a member of the Raymond California excursion- 
ists who left the East in May, 1882, for San Francisco 
and surroundings, and at a re-union of the party at 
the Palace Hotel* on the eve of their departure for 
home, June 13th, he was stricken with apoplexy and 
died on the morning of the 14th, at the age of fifty- 
seven years, three months and dseventeen days. Mr. 




^ / 



l/v ^--^^-o^:--^=:^it-^>^-^^ 



SPENCER. 



665 



Uphara married Lucretia H., daughter of Wm. Pope, 
Esq., of Spencer, June 28, 18.53. 

Some years previou.s to 1825 (there is now no way 
of fi.xing the precise date) a small mill for the manu- 
facture of linseed oil was located a few rods below 
the T. J. Bemis prist-mill. One Gardner Washburn 
was accidentally killed while employed there, by being 
"caught by a rope which was used in raising the 
press-beam." In 18.3.3, or earlier, this property was 
owned and occupied by Willard Kice, and he changed 
the location of the works by removing the dam and 
buildings farther "down stream," making what is 
known as the privilege of the " Livermore Box Manu- 
fitctory." Later on, this oil-mill was converted into 
a woolen factory, with one set of machinery, and from 
1837 to 1839 'the works were run ,by Chapin & 
Prouty. Near the close of the latter year it was 
partially destroyed by fire. 

In 1841 Danforlh Burgees bought the property, 
repaired the buildings, and fitted them for the manu- 
facture of cotton wadding and batting, and, with the 
excejition of the years 1846, '47 and '48, in which 
Dexter and Lorenzo Bemis were partners with Mr. 
Burgess, he owned and operated these works alone, 
until 1851. In 1853 Winthrop Livermore started the 
business of manufacturing boot, cloth and other 
boxes at " Howe's Mills," two and a half miles south 
from the post-ofEce, introducing machinery to do 
the work usually performed by hand. He remained 
here until 18G0, when he moved "to town," and be- 
came owner of the above privilege, erecting new and 
suitable buildings for the better accommodation of 
his increasing works. He was identified with this 
industry until his death, after which his son, Warren 
J. succeeded to it. The latter continued to carry on 
the business here until 1886, when he moved the 
machinery in these works to a brick building on the 
premises of Isaac Prouty & Co., and carries on the 
business there at the present time. The old works 
are unoccupied. The largest yearly production of 
Mr. Livermore's works was 100,000 boxes, consuming 
2,000,000 feet of lumber. 

One of the first saw-mills erected in the town was 
known as " Howe's Mill," and was situated two and 
a half miles southerly from the village. The working 
of lumber has been carried on there until the present 
time. The location of the miU, however, has been 
changed and also the ownership, but it has never 
passed out of the possession of the Howe family. 
Ebenezer Howe is the present owner and proprietor. 
He has been engaged in the manufacture of cloth, 
boot and shoe boxes for twenty-five years or more, 
and has produced 30,000 annually, using nearly 
750,000 feet of himber. 

Manufacture of Leather. — Tanning and curry- 
ing was an enterprise commenced in the early part of 
the present century and carried on by Ebenezer 
Mason. These works were located upon the site of 
the " Hey wood block." Mr. Mason was succeeded by 



Thomas Pierce, who occupied them from 1825 to 
1832, then Pierce & Barnes from 1833 to 1834 and 
Barnes & Muzzy in 1835. Following them, some 
years later, was Joseph W. Morse and .Tosephus 
Muzzy, under the firm-name of Morse & Muzzy. 
Their shop was located at the corner of Lake and 
Powers Streets, and was owned by the former. 
They carried on the business here until the build- 
ing was destroyed by fire, in 1858. In 1859 a new 
one was erected, and the works were again operated 
by Mr. Mor.se until his decease, in 1860. In 1802 
Edward E. Kent leased the establishment for one 
year, and in 1863 purchased it, carrying on the 
same business until 1864, when he turned it into 
a boot- factory. It was, after this date, operated 
by Mr. Kent, then by Kent & R. S. Watson, and 
lastly by Mr. Watson alone, until his death, in 
1875. The building was then converted into a 
tenement-house, and is now known as " Condrick's 
block." 

In 1851 Edward Proctor began currying rough 
leather in a shop near his present residence, and 
continued the business until 1868. In 1864 Isaac 
Prouty & Co. erected a building for this enter- 
prise on North Street, which was run about two 
years, when it was closed up and the building 
moved away and tliis was made into a dwelling. 

In 1837, 800 hides were used, valued, when fin- 
ished, at $3,000 ; in 1845, 2,000 hides, at S4,500 ; 
and in 1865, 3,200 hides, valued at $19,000. 

Boot and Shoe Heeh. — In 1865 a Mr. Rice started 
a small business in the manufacture of heels for 
women's, misses' and children's shoes. About this 
time William A. Barr, of Spencer, made eight 
dollars' worth of these goods, and taking them to Lynn 
realized sixty' dollars for the lot. He returned home, 
and on October 1st of this year bought Mr. Rice out 
and continued the business, which, under his man- 
agement, has proved to be a prosperous one. On 
October 1, 1883, he took his son into partnership, 
and the firm has been, since that date, William 
A. Barr & Son. They have a manufactory now, 
sixty by forty, three stories high, well eijuipped 
with rollers, presses and all the latest improved 
machinery, with steam-power for the business, and 
employ fifty girls in the works. Their sales have 
reached seventy thousand dollars annually. In 
connection with this business they have oil ex- 
tracting work-i, and the sales of "chip and naphtha 
grease " have reached twelve thousand dollars annu- 
ally. 

Wire Works. — From a very small beginning, the 
wire industry has grown to be an important enter- 
prise in the town. At the commencement of the 
War of 1812 with England, the importation of wire 
ceased, and "Yankee ingenuity" was called into 
requisition. The card-factories of Leicester prom- 
ised to be a market for the article, and being 
convenient and near at hand, the genius of some 



HISTOKY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



of the citizens of Spencer was exercised with very 
favorable results. The first experiment in this line 
was by Windsor Hatch and Charles Wat«on, about 
1812, at the house of Jacob Watson (later known 
as the Warner Livermore house), and the wire was 
drawn from two tubs by hand. This was a small 
seed from which a larger plant was to spring in 
the future. About this same date Elliot Prouty 
began the business below what is now the " Sugden 
lower mill," but it was not until 1820 that wire- 
drawing became an industry, and then, only in a 
small way. Mr. Russell Prouty commenced it this 
year, in connection with his brother Elliot, and 
they were followed by Foster & Eoswell Bisco, 
and in 1847 Myrick & Sugden succeeded the Bisco's. 
Below, on the same stream, was the small works 
of Eli Hatch, in 1830, and in 1840 this mill passed 
into the hands of David Prouty, and in 1840 he 
sold the same to Liberty Prouty. Mr. Prouty's 
sons, Jonas R. and Joel E., succeeded him, and 
they built up a large and prosperous business 
after a labor of about twenty years. 

In 1876 this concern was consolidated with that of 
Myrick & Sugden, and made a stock company, called 
the Spencer Wire Company. In 1837 the total pro- 
duct of four wire-mills was 1 9 tons, valued at !5!lO,000 ; 
in 184-5 two wire-mills, 32,000 pounds, value $8000; 
and in 1888 the product of the consolidation was 1200 
tons, valued at .f lGit,000. 

■ ScYTHKS, Hoes and Cutlery. — Joel Wright 
came to Spencer in 1809 and began the manufacture 
of scythes, and in 1812 Ziba Eaton came to work 
in his manufactory for him. The latter purchased 
the works of Mr. Wright, continuing the scythe busi- 
ness and, a little later on, adding hoes and cutlery. 
These works were situated near the '' Wright hous»," 
northeast from the "Upper Wire Village.'' Mr. 
Wright soon after started the manufacture of hoes 
and cutlery. Eli Putnam was early connected 
with this business. These works were closed about 
1S53. In 1837 eighteen hundred scythes were manu- 
factured, valued at $1200, and in 184.5 two thousand 
and forty scythes, at a value of $1530. In 1850 car- 
riage-springs were manufactured in one of these 
shops by Sibley & Belcher. 

Powder. — The manufacture of powder was one of 
the early industries of the town, and was first carried 
on by Isaac & Lemuel Smith, from 1812 to 1815; by 
the latter from 1815 to 1824; by Smith & Walton 
Livermore from 1824 to 1831 ; and by Livermore & 
Lewis Bemis to 1835. For two years Mr. Bemis car- 
ried on the works alone, and from 1838 to 1851 his 
partner in the business was Edward Hall, the firm 
being Bemis & Hall. In 1837 there were manufac- 
tured at the two mills 162,500 pounds of powder, val- 
ued at $14,.500; in 1845 one mill produced 132,500 
pounds, valued at $15,000; and in 18()5 the produc- 
tion was valued at $12,500. But little, if anything, 
was done at this business after this latter date. Du- 



ring the year 1840 two mills blew up, killing three 
persons, and in 1853 another explosion took place, in 
which five men lost their lives. 

Centennial. — The centennial of our national his- 
tory was appropriately observed by a grand display 
of various organizations in the town, on parade ; an 
address by Hon. George H. Loring, and a public 
dinner. 

By-Laws. — Previous to 1875 by-laws had been 
adopted by the town at various times, but on the 2d 
of November of this year a full code, I'egulating the 
town, was accepted in town-meeting, and on the 8th 
following were approved by the Superior Court. Ad- 
ditional ones were made and approved in 1887 con- 
cerning dogs, and minor alterations were made in 
them in 1881. 

Salaries. — The number of salaried persons em- 
ployed during the year ending June 3, 1885, was 
nineteen, and the amount of salaries paid was 
$16,969. 

Wages. — The total amount of wages paid in 
the business establishments for the year ending as 
above was .$694,908, and the average number of days 
of actual running time worked in sixty of them was 
three hundred and seven. 

Growth. — In the census of 1880 there were thir- 
teen cities and towns in the State which presented 
most striking instances of growth, independent of 
annexation. Upon this list Spencer stood third, and 
her rate of gain was eighty-eight and a fraction per 
cent. 

Old Customs. — One of the oldest customs of the 
town was to allow the swine, horses and cattle of the 
inhabitants " to run at large, yoked and ringed as the 
law directs'' Strangers' cattle were charged two 
shillings eighteen pence per head, and shtep one 
shilling, "to run on the Common." 

In 1757 it became a question how the voters should 
be notified of the town-meetings, and it was decided 
that "in the future they be warned by the constable 
going from house to house;" and at a later meeting, 
by vote of the town, they were allowed " to keep on 
their hats while in meeting," if they pleased to 
do so. 

In 1759 the ministerial and school lands were sold, 
the former bringing £100 14s. or $357.67, and the 
latter £130 IGs. lOrf. or $436.14. On the 6th of May, 
1822, the.-iC moneys were divided and loaned as fol- 
lows, viz. : To Jerfmiah Watson, $183.00 ; to Nathan 
White, $152.87; and, being the ministerial fund, these 
amounts were made payable to the Congregational 
Society. Of the school fund $113.33 was loaned to 
Joseph Prouty ; $93 33 to E-tate of Elisha Prouty ; 
$165.28 to Chark-s Watson, and $64.41 to John 
Muzzy. 

In 1794 the General Court ordered a survey of the 
town to be made, and the work was let out to the 
lowest bidder. John Sumner, being the lowest, was 
made chief, at 5a. 6d. per day, and Levi and Zerub- 



NEW BRAINTREE. 



667 



abel Baldwin were assistants, at 2s. Sd. and 2s. 5d. 

per day, respectively. In 1830 a second survey 
was made by William Baldwin, under the same 
authority. 

Small Industrie.';. — Braiding palm leaf bats and 
labor upon hand cards were about the only industries 
that furnished employment for the women and chil- 
dren in the early part of this century, by which they 
were able to earn a little " spending money " for extra 
occasions. Hand cards were manufactured in Leicester 
from 1758, and until machinery superseded the nim- 
ble fingers, the setting of card teeth by hand consti- 
tuted the " small work " of many families in Spencer. 
This was especially children's work, and no " time 
off" could be had by either boy or girl until the 
" stent " at card-setting had been performed. 

Braiding the palm leaf was more of an indu.*try,and 
was " farmed out " to the workers of straw in the fame 
manner as were the cards. The number of palm leaf 
hats manufactured in Spencer in 1837 was twenty- 
nine thousand eight hundred, valued at seven thou- 
sand dollars. 

Old Landmarks. — Of the twenty-five buildings 
(e.xclusive of barns) located upon the Great Post 
Road between Brookfield and Leicester lines in 1800, 
eight were standing in 1888, six of them but little, if 
any, changed from their original appearance and con- 
dition outwardly. These are the Pope Mansion, 
Mason House, Emerson Shepherd's, Aaron Watson's, 
Edward Proctor's and Israel Taft's. There are two off 
of the great road, on Ash Street, viz., Alford Wilson's 
and the old house of Thos. B. Clark. 



CHAPTER LXXXVI. 

NEW BR.^INTREE. 
BY GEORGE K. TUFTS. 

Introductory. — New Braintree is nearly in shape 
of an isosceles triangle, with sides of six miles and 
base of nine, nearly in the centre of' the State, 
bounded by Oakham and Barre on its northeast 
side and Hirdwick, from which it is separated by 
Ware River on its northwest side, and by Brookfield 
and North Brookfield on its . base or south line. It 
contains 191 square miles. The surface is uneven 
and hilly. Its highest elevation is " Tufts Hill," in 
the eastern part, 1179 feet above sea level. It 
was made up of the territory of three towns — 
" Braintree Grant," a tract of 6000 acres, lying be- 
tween Rutland and Brookfield, designated by the 
triangle C B A on the annexed plan ; all that part of 
Lambstown (Hardwick) east of Ware River marked 
DEB, and about 1200 acres from the north part 
of Brookfield, south of line O M. That part, 400 
acres north of Ware River, C D X, was annexed to 



Hardwick in 1814. N is the common land, in the 
centre of which the church stands. A, point of in- 
tersection with Spencer, Oakham, North Brookfield ; 
E, with Ware and Brookfield. A tract of 320 acres, 




PLAK OF NEW BRAINTREE. 

lying the whole length of line AM, and omitted by 
error in original survey, was afterwards given to 
John Quincy, Speaker of the House, and assigned to 
New Braintree. 

Before its settlement fires made in the woods had 
destroyed almost its entire growth of wood and tim- 
ber ; so it was feared there would not be a sufficient 
supply for the settlers, but Whitney writes, 1796, 
that " through their care and prudence there had, 
within a few years, sprung up fine growths of wood." 
At that time there were two hills of note — "Mo- 
hawk," probably "Tufts" Hill, and "Rattlesnake's 
Rocks," in the west part, a name that has passed 
away with its occupants. A plain extends across 
the west part, at the extreme south end of which, on 
land of W. & E. Pepper, is the narrow pass referred 
to by Capt. Wheeler in his " narrative," where, on 
his way under Capt. Hutchinson, with twenty men, to 
treat with Philip, August 2, 1675, he was surprised 
by the Indians, and eleven killed or mortally wound- 
ed. "Meminimisset was the name given by the 
Indians to the low lands at the upper end of this 
plain, once a hideous swamp." Here w.is formerly 
an Indian town of considerable importance and a 
military stronghold, the headquarters and chief 
place of rendezvous of the Indians when Brookfield 
was destroyed. Here Mrs. Howard, taken captive 
at Lancaster in 1679, was brought' with two children, 
and one died. On the hill rising east from the 
plain is a small stone monument, resembling a 
tomahawk, which tradition affirms marks its grave. 
The town is well watered with springs and brooks. 
At the base of Tufts Hill, on its north and west 
sides, are the sources of the two brooks which, 
afterwards meeting at "Webb's" Pond and flowing 
snuthe.ist and west under the name of Sucker Brook> 
supply the water " privileges " at Wait's Corner 
and " Pepper's Mills," and empty inio Quaboag 
Pond. The first saw-mill erected in Brookfield, in 
1709, was in that part of it afterward set off and 



668 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



forming a part of New Braintree, and located just 
above the bridge, east of '' Pepper's Pond." A com- 
pany of nine, headed by Thomas Barnes, received 
a grant of forty acres for their encouragement to 
build the mill. This privilege was afterwards used 
for a malt-mill. 

Pepper's Mills were used as a blacksmith forge and 
trip-hammer. The first mill erected by an inhabitant 
of "Braintree Grant" was at ivhat is now "Webb's 
Pond." Daniel Mathews, Jr., of Southboro', a mill- 
wright, bought the privilege in 17-19, and erected a 
.saw-mill soon after. His house was on site of present 
residence of J. T. Webb. The general appearance of 
the town is attractive. Whitney writes of it, " Excel- 
lent for grass and good roads. Its homes are neat and 
commodious." It has surely gained in these attrac- 
tive features since 1795, and added, on miles of road, 
lines of shade trees of maple, ash and elm. It has 
many really fine residences, especially that of Mr. 
Francis Shaw. The first road built in town was in 
1730, from the "Old Furnace," by Pepper's Mills to 
Brookfield. 

The population was, in 1776, 798; 1790, 939; 1800, 
875; 1810, 912; 1820, 888; 1830, 825; 1840, 752; 1850, 
852; 1860,805; 1870,640; 1880, 610; 1885,558. Its 
valuation 1776, — real, £3226; personal, £1435, includ- 
ing 272 head of cattle and horses. Highest valuation, 
1871, $590,430; number of heads of stock, 1.340. 

Braintree Grant. — In 1666 the freeholders and 
other inhabitants of Braintree, in town-meeting, passed 
the following resolution: " Whereas, much of the best 
and most available arable surface is held by non-resi- 
dents and citizens of Boston as a matter of speculation 
and by others in large farms, that it is a source of 
great inconvenience to the permanent inhabitants of 
the town, as they in their poverty are not able to pay 
the high rents asked, nor the necessary expenses of 
the town ; therefore. Resolved : To petition the 
General Court for an additional grant of land." In 
answer to this petition the court, in consideration of 
the reasons therein expressed, judged meet to grant 
'hem "sixe thousand acres of land in some place, 
limited to one place, not prejudicing any plantation 
or particular grant." In 1670 Braintree selected a 
tract lying between Braintree and Plymouth, which 
was not confirmed by the court. No further action 
was taken until 1679, when Braintree again petitioned 
the court that "since the Lord out of his rich grace 
had made them lords of the heathen land" (referring 
to their victory over Philii)) "they might have an op- 
portunity to have ratified the former grant." In 
answer to this petition, October, 1679, the court al- 
lowed the petitioners "to lay out their sixe thousand 
acres of land in any vacant place within the Court's 
jurisdiction." Here the matter rested for thirty-four 
years, until June, 1713, when Braintree chose a com- 
mittee to ascertain if the former grant had "lapsed," 
and if not, to find and lay out the six thousand acres 
granted in 1666, and do what is needful to be done in 



the space of one year and have for their work, if eSec- 
tive, thirty pounds; otherwise nothing. 

The treasurer was evidently never called upon to 
pay the money, for in June, 1714, we find Colonel 
Edmond Quincy, in behalf of Braintree, petitioning 
the court for the api)ointmeni of a surveyor to lay out 
the land. The petition was granted and a surveyor, 
Samuel Jones, Jr., appointed. 

December 17, 1715, in the House of Eepresentatives 
it was ordered that " a Plot of six thousand acres of 
land, lying in angle between Brookfield and Rutland, 
be accepted, and land confirmed to Braintree as by 
plan annexed, in fulfillment of original grant." This 
six thousand acres was nearly in form of a right- 
angled triangle, with right angle B at a point just 
southeast of the present residence of Alfred Boyden ; 
the upper acute angle C included the farm recently 
occupied by Colonel Joseph Robinson in Hardwick. 
The perpendicular B C of the triangle is identical 
with the west line of our present common, while the 
base A B extended to would be identical with the 
present boundary between lands now owned by Mr. 
J. B. Fobes and Mrs. S. W. Peckham. For twelve 
years after the "Braintree Grant" was confirmed, it 
was a constant source of contention in Braintree 
town-meetings. A vote to sell it would be passed at 
one meeting, only to be reconsidered and reversed at 
the next, and sometimes the same meeting, and vice 
versa. No rule of division of the land could be 
agreed upon. A question arose as to the ownership, 
whether it belonged to the town in its corporate capa- 
city, or to its inhabitants in 1666 (the time of the 
original grant) and their posterity, or the inhabitants 
of 1715, when the grant was confirmed, and we find 
the town on record at difterent times as in favor of 
each of these views. Finally, in 1727, a vote was 
passed that, to promote peace, the land be divided as 
equally as possible between the two precincts of 
Brainlree, to be henceforth managed, improved and 
further divided or disposed of as each should decide, 
from henceforth and forever. Here " Braintree Grant " 
disappears from Braintree records, and does not again 
reappear until 1749, when it appeals to the Gen- 
eral Court, to be admitted into the sisterhood of 
towns. 

For some years portions of the " Grant " were used 
for pasturing of stock during the summer season by 
residents of Braintree, and hence came the title of 
" Braintree Farms." It seems reasonable to suppose 
that previous to 1738 it was extensively settled, as the 
inhabitants in Lambstown, east of Ware River, peti- 
tioned the General Court in that year to be annexed 
to the " Grant" without success. 

March 20, 1749, George Shaw, James Robinson, 
John Wilson, James Thompson, Jona Cobleigh, John 
Blair, Jacob Nichols, Jona. Higgins, William Baxter, 
Edward Euggles, John Barr, Roger Sprague, Abram 
Joslyn and Andrew Shaw (total, fourteen), all occu- 
pants of Braintree Farms, with John Peacock, Joseph 



NEW BRAINTREE. 



669 



Little, Eleazer Warner, Beriah Hawes, James and 
Edward Blair, David and James Woods, Matthew 
Barr, Josiah Benet, Samuel Steele, David Ayres, 
Phineas Warner, William Anderson, Israel Day, 
Samuel Ware, Hugh Barnes and Wareham Warner 
(total, eighteen), from Hardwick, east of Ware River, 
and Joseph and Jacob Pepper, and Joseph Pepper, 
Jr., Moses and Obed. Abbot, David and Solomon Gil- 
bert, Joseph and Sarah Barnes, Thomas Hammond, 
Eben. Spooner and Roger Haskell (twelve), from the 
north part of Brookfield, met and chose their " well- 
beloved and faithful " friend, James Thompson, to 
convey their petition to the proprietors of the land 
known as " Braintree Farms," that inasmuch as the 
petitioners make a body large enough to support the 
gospel, and were a long way off from any preaching, 
and for the interest of said proprietors, they would 
unite with them in a petition to the General Court to 
be set off as a separate district. 

May 31, 1749, James Thompson, in behalf of said 
petitioners, memorialized the Governor, Council and 
House that, being of sufhcient ability to make a town 
or district, being of one mind and having obtained 
the full consent of the non-resident proprietors, 
humbly prayed their excellencies and honorables to 
consider the premises and order therein as they 
should deem best. 

The names of the non-resident proprietors were, 
Thomas Hovey, Nathan Goodell, John Weeks, 
Joseph Tidd, Wm. Wheeler, Edmond Quincy, Wm. 
Torrey, Thomas Cutler, .Joseph and Thomas Crosby, 
Richard Faxon, Moses Belcher, David Rawson, Josiah 
Ruggles, Samuel Paine and Eben Adams. 

March 6, 1749, Hardwick in town-meeting op- 
posed this petition, and August 11th chose an agent 
to present their reasons for it to the General Court ; 
but October Sth, of the same year, voted its " willing- 
ness" to the annexation. In June, 1749, a counter- 
petition, signed by James Craig, Samuel Crawford, 
Alex. Bothel and others from the west wing of Rut- 
land (now Oakham), and Adam Homes and Robert 
Hunter, from Braintree Farms, was presented to the 
court praying that inasmuch as the two tracts of land 
aforesaid laid in a commodious form for a township, 
being about five miles square, capable of a sufficient 
number of settlements to support a minister, and 
neither could ever be accommodated for public wor- 
ship as it was or by annexation to any town, that 
ihey might be set off as a separate township. On 
both these petitions the court ordered the usual 
notices served on all jjarties interested to appear at 
its next sitting and show cause, if any existed, why 
they should not be granted. The proprietors of Rut- 
land warmly favored the plan. 

In August following a committee, consisting of 
James Minot and John Otis, with three others added 
by the House in December, was appointed to take 
the several petitions into consideration and report. 
December 9th this committee reported that the west 



wing of Rutland and Braintree Farms ought to be 
set off with their inhabitants into a separate district, 
with all powers then conferred upon towns except the 
right of representation in the General Court. This 
report the Council accepted and sent down to the 
House for concurrence; but that body refused to con- 
cur and ordered the several petitions and the report 
upon them back to. the committee for further con- 
sideration. January 3, 1750, the same committee 
agiin reported to the Council that after another care- 
ful review of the situation they saw no reason to 
change their opinion, but reaffirm.ed their former one, 
and further recommended that the petitioners for a 
union of Braintree Farms and portions of Hardwick 
and Brookfield be dismissed. This report was also 
accepted by the Council and sent to the House for 
concurrence, but the House again refused to concur 
and referred the whole matter to the next General 
Court To this the Council agreed. It is well to state 
here that the religions preferences of the petitioners 
had much to do with their choice of their future 
townsmen ; those desiring a union of the west wing 
with the Farms being Presbyterians, while the 
petitioners for a union of the Farms with portions of 
Brookfield and Hardwick were nearly all Congrega- 
tionalists. 

The latter party, defeated twice in the Council and 
as many times victorious in the House now went to 
work with renewed zeal and vigor. March 22, 1750, 
they again sent a petition to the Council, desiring a 
speedy answer by the sending of a committee to view 
the lands designated unless it saw fit to grant the pe- 
tition without such viewing. To this the Council re- 
plied by the appointment, April 20th, of another 
committee of which Samuel Watts was chairman and 
who were instructed to repair to the land, view it and 
report in following May. 

To this committee the inhabitants of the Farms pre- 
sented the following reasons against a union with 
West Wing : let. The quality of the land in the West 
Wing was so inferior to that in the Farms it could 
not pay its share of the common expenses. 2d. They 
hoped the Court would not impose upon their con- 
sciences by forcing them to unite with a society dif- 
fering so much in religious views; that the boast had 
already been made by some of their neighbors of the 
Wing that they would soon have a Presbyterian min- 
ister over them. 3d. A union with a part of Hard- 
wick was much more desirable, because they were 
better able to pay common charges and were well- 
agreed to unite. The inhabitants of Hardwick, east 
of Ware River, informed the committee that, having 
been annexed to Hardwick for want of a better place, 
they were not essential to its support ; that in the lo- 
cation of Hardwick meeting-house no regard was paid 
to their interests, as it was understood they would at 
some future time be annexed to the Farms. 

At this juncture Brookfield, hitherto silent, inter- 
posed a vigorous protest against any scheme, as it 



670 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



termed it, of its neighbors of the Farms to benefit 
themselves at the expense of Brookfield, giving as a 
reason fur tlie delay of its protest that it had never 
been officially notified of the petitions. The full pro- 
test of Brookfield, for which there is no space here, 
gives credit to the adroitness of its author, and was 
without doubt the cause of the subsequent action of 
the Council, to whom it was referred. 

The committee, appointed April 20th, reported 
June 14th that the tract of land known as Braintree 
Farms, that part of Hardwick east of Ware Eiver, 
and seven families in Brookfield, with their estates, 
viz. : Joseph Pepper, Moses Abbott, David and Jona. 
Gilbert, Sarah Barnes, Eben. Spooner and Joseph Pep- 
per, Jr., be erected into a distinct and separate pre- 
cinct, and invested with all powers and privileges ac- 
corded other precincts. The same day the Council 
refused to accept this report, and ordered the petition- 
ers to be dismissed and sent it to the House for con- 
currence. The House refused to concur and oi'dered 
that the report be and hereby is accepted, and then 
sent it back to the Council for concurrence. The 
Council referred it to the next General Court, but 
after pigeon-holing it for three months, reconsidered 
its action and ordered it accepted. Here the fight 
ended. What reasons or persons, if any, influenced 
the Council to decide uniformly against the popular 
voice, as expressed in the petition and uniform action 
of the House, is a matter of conjecture. It is noted in 
this connection that all but eight of the origin.al pe- 
titioners for a union of West Wing with the Farms 
■withdrew their request for that union three weeks be- 
fore the report of the committee, recommending that 
union, was made. 

First Doings. — June 13, 1751, the court issued 
the final order constituting the precinct and appoint' 
ing Eleazer Warner to call the first meeting. Agreed 
to by Council and signed by Lieutenant-Governor. 
The powers conferred included all rights of towns ex- 
cept that of representation in General Court. Nor did 
the precinct become a town until 1776, when it be- 
came so by a general law of the province. The name 
of New Braintree was given to the precinct the next 
April. A space of one hundred and ten years inter- 
vened between the date of the original grant and its 
incorporation. There were at this time forty-five 
families in town. The first meeting for the choice of 
officers was held March 13, 1751, at the house of David 
Ayers (on the site of the present residence of Francis 
Shaw). Officers chosen : Eleazer Warner, moderator ; 
David Woods, town clerk ; Eleazer Warner, David 
Gilburt and Cornelius Cannon, selectmen and asses- 
sors ; James Woods, treasurer; James Thompson, 
constable; James Blair, tything-man. Two of these 
had already taken part in the organization of Hard- 
wick, 1739 — Cannon as its first town clerk, and War 
ner as chairman of its first Board of Selectmen. 

Church Buildings. — At the next meeting, March 
25th, voted " to find the centre of the tract of land al- 



ready laid off in this district, and that it be the pre- 
fix! spot for a meeting-house." This vote was re- 
scinded at a later meeting, and a deed of another 
piece of land for the meeting-house was accepted, but 
no record exists of the deed or by whom given. Ten 
pounds were appropriated for preaching, and a com- 
mittee chosen "to procure a preacher as soon as con- 
veniently he could be had." 

October 4th the town finding it difficult, by reason of 
smallness of its numbers and straitness of its circum- A 
stances, to secure sufficient support for a minister, pe- ■ 
titioned the General Court for authority to lay a tax of 
twopence per acre on all lands, improved or otherwise, 
in the district. The court granted them one-half the 
gum asked for for three years. This tax amounted to J 
fifty pounds, and was the sum annually paid the min- 5 
ister for twenty-five years. The next step was the 
erection of a meeting-house. A vote was passed in 
November to procure the material the coming winter. 
Robert Hunter was chairman of the building commit- j 
tee. January 1, 1752, voted " To build a house 40 by I 
50 feet and 20 feet between joints," "to be enclosed 
and clay-boarded." The price of labor per day in 
winter in its erection was one shilling fourpeuce. It 
was not ready for occupany until July, 1753, and then 
but little better than a barn. For fourteen years it 
was minus lath and plaster. It faced the west on site 
of present building, and for twenty years nothing was 
erected to shield the worshippers, when the doors 
were opened, from the cold blasts that swept thirty 
miles in a straight line unimpeded. Our forefathers 
must have valued highly Gospel privileges to sit four 
hours each Sabbath in a room the natural tempera- 
ture of which was at zero, with nothing but their own 
breaths and a kw foot-stoves to warm them. In 1772 
porches were added at the east and west ends. It is 
said that one winter the cold was so intense that the 
snow on the south side of the meeting-house roof 
never melted a drop for six weeks in succession. For 
a long time there was no belfry, and the bell hung by 
itself on the Common. The house was colored a dingy 
yellow. The fore-doors on the south side were double. 
There was a single door at each end. The broad 
aisle led directly from the fore-doors to the pulpit on 
the north side and the deacons' seat in front. The main 
floor, for a space of ten feet in from the walls on all 
sides and ends, was assigned for the pew ground. 
This was divided into twenty-one lots, appraised at 
three to seven pounds each, old tenor, according to 
its dignity (location), and assigned by a special com- 
mittee, appointed by the town, to twenty-one free- ■ 
holders, according to their ability to pay, age and in- ■ 
fluence in the community. James Blair had the first 
choice. The bounty money received from sale of 
pew-ground was used to build a "decent" pulpit, 
deacons' seat and a "suitable body of seats." In ad- 
dition to the bounty, each purchaser of pew-ground 
must build his own pew and ceil the walls against it. 
The seats in the body of the house were plain benches 



NEW BRAINTREE. 



671 



occupied by the other members of the district, seated 
annually by a special committee who were governed 
in their duty by the same law as that which assigned 
the pewground, viz.: the relative standing in the 
community of the attendant. A feeling of uneasiness 
arising in the pit that the pews had got their privil- 
eges too cheap, an " indifferent committee was selected 
from Brookfield and Hardwick to fix the bounty." 

On the two ends and south side were galleries, the 
west half occupied by men and the east half by women. 
Young men must receive special permission to oc- 
cupy these seats. Five shillings annually were allowed 
the sexton, James Thompson, for sweeping the house 
and shutting the doors. As the town grew in numbers 
and wealth the pews encroached upon the pit, the pit 
becoming better able to build pews. Every available 
foot of ground on main floor and in galleries, and 
even in the porches, was used for pews. From 1790 
to 1800 the town had the largest population of any 
time in its history, and the old house was not only 
too small, but unsuited to the improved tastes and 
pockets of the people. The erection of a pew house 
was begun in 1800 and completed in 1802. The frame 
is the same as that of the present structure. Henry 
Penniman gave three hundred dollars to buy a new 
bell, and his son, Henry, and son-in-law, Joseph 
Bowman gave two hundred dollars to buy a new town 
clock. In 1806 Henry Penniman, Jr., asked and ob- 
tained leave of the town to place an organ in the new 
church. The value of this addition in church wor- 
ship seems not to have been appreciated by all, for 
one deacon was heard to remark that he'd " rather 
hear the filing of his old saw than that noise." In this 
building no alterations were made until 1846, when 
it was lowered six feet and entirely remodeled, with 
town-hall and vestry below ; dedicated October 26, 
1846, the fiftieth anniversary of the settlement of 
Rev. John Flske, D.D. A new organ was bought at 
a cost of eleven hundred dollars. In 1877 house re- 
paired at a cost of six hundred dollars, of which three 
hundred dollars was contributed by Edward Fiske, of 
Brooklyn, N. Y. 

Although one of the first acts of the new district was 
the selection of a committee to provide a preacher, 
two years passed and none of the many candidates 
beard were sufiiciently acceptable to be called. Dis- 
couraged, the district appointed February 23, 1753, 
a day of fasting and prayer for divine help, and in- 
vited the neighboring ministers to take charge of the 
services. In July, voted to hear Rev. Benjamin 
Kuggles, of Middleton, on condition that he be dis- 
missed from the pastorate he then held. In this they 
were both shrewd and honorable. Mr. Kuggles came, 
was liked, and invited to preach longer. Five of the 
neighboring ministers were consulted as to the ad- 
visability of settling him, and invited to preach a 
lecture to the people Jan. 23d. Feb. 4th, a call was 
extended to Mr. Ruggles. The settlement given him 
was thirty pounds, and annual salary fifty pounds. 



This call Mr. Ruggles accepted, " sensible in a meas- 
ure of the difficulty of the calling, but relying upon 
the sincerity and fidelity of the people." He was in- 
stalled April 17, 1754. To the council installing him 
was referred by the district a petition of several of its 
members for the free use of the meeting-house two 
Sabbaths yearly that the sacrament might be ad- 
ministered in the Presbyterian way by one of their 
order. The council decided that though w^illing to 
promote union and communion between the sects, yet, 
considering the circumstances and fearing the conse- 
quences, they did not deem it wise to grant it. 

Of Mr. Ruggles a successor writes that he was "a 
man of average ability and sincere piety, and his re- 
lations to the people were entirely harmonious and 
productive of great blessing." To this end he con- 
tributed more than his share. A letter from him to 
the town, when the matter of a colleague and his pro- 
portionate salary was under consideration, reveals 
some of his trials and the spirit in which he bore 
them. He writes "My salary has never been paid when 
due. Not only for one year, but for the twenty years 
I have been here it has been six and seven months 
overdue, so that I have been straightened for money 
to buy the necessaries of life, and often obliged to 
borrow so small a sum as half a dollar of the Treasu- 
rer (Dea. James Woods), who, out of his own money, 
would give me a dollar, or if I asked one dollar he 
would give me two. Every town around, altho' poorer 
than this town, has paid their minister more. In 
those days," he adds, " I kept these things much to 
myself, careful that neither by word or deed it might 
get abroad to the discredit of the town." His 
name heads the long roll of the Brookfield Associa- 
tion of Ministers, of which he was one of the original 
five founders when it was organized, June 22, 1757. 
Mr. Ruggles was sole mini.ster twenty-four years and 
associate senior pastor six years, until his death, Jan- 
uary 6, 1784. The whole period of his ministry was 
fifty-nine years. 

After a period of five months on probation, in July, 
1778, Rev. Daniel Foster received a call from church 
and town to become associate minister with Mr. Rug- 
gles, with one thousand pounds settlement and sixty- 
six pounds, thirteen shillings and four pence annual 
salary, and thirty cords of wood eight feet long 
at his door, the salary to be regulated by the follow- 
ing standard, i. e., rye at four shillings and Indian 
corn at two shillings eight pence per bushel. Mr. Foster 
accepted the call, " relying upon their generosity as 
to Temporals while he ministered to them in Spir- 
ituals." October 28th was set apart for the ordina- 
tion. Seventeen churches were invited. Committees 
were chosen to carry the letters missive, to prop the 
meeting-house and to keep the doors and reserved 
seat^. In his examination by the council Mr. Foster 
differed in a measure in his theological views from 
the majority of its members, but it was finally voted 
satisfactory and the ordination proceeded. He was 



672 



HISTORY OP WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



born September 1, 1750; ordained October 28, 1778. 
Januar)' 2S, 1779, married Miss Betsey Reed, of West- 
ern. February 17, 1779, bought of Eev. Benjamin 
Kuggles the premises now occupied by Mr. Frank 
Gaffney for .12350. 

His ministry continued until his death, September 
1, 1795. Mr. Foster was a man of much personal 
magnetism, especially popular with the young men, 
who, at his decease, out of respect wore a badge of 
mourning on their left arms for thirty days. He was 
fluent and often extravagant in speech. A good din- 
ner appeared to be more to his liljing than spiritual 
penance. He was an unbeliever in creeds. Soon 
after his settlement some of the church-members 
avowed their belief in his denial of some of the funda- 
mental truths of the Gospel and presented their 
grievances at a church-meeting. The church sus- 
tained its pastor. Several attempts, among them -an 
appeal to the Association, were made to reconcile the 
differences. In most cases they seem to have been 
successful. One or two, however, joined the Baptists, 
two absented themselves from church and rode every 
Sabbath to Rutland for conscience' sake. 

Rev. John Fiske, D. D., writes that he seems to 
have overcome opposition and ultimately won the 
affections of his people. His death was the occasion 
for many popular expressions of grief; all the min- 
isters in the association were invited. Tlie town paid 
all the bills and had printed the funeral sermon. 
After Mr. Foster's decease the town was without a 
minister more than a year. August 15, 1796, a unan- 
imous call from church and town was given Rev. 
John Fiske, with a settlement of two hundred and 
thirty pounds, and an annual salary of ninety-five 
pounds. He was installed October 26th. Rev. Dr. 
Lyman, of Hatfield, preached the sermon, afterwards 
published. The installation services occupied two 
days and closed with a ball on the evening of the 
second day, in which all that could, joined. 

Rev. John Fiske was born at Warwick, October 26, 
1770. Fitted for college partly with his pastor and 
partly with his brother, Moses ; graduated at Dart- 
mouth, 1791 ; studied theology with Dr. Lyman, of 
Hatfield ; licensed to preach and ordained to the 
ministry at Hadley, May 6, 1794; labored for a sea- 
son in Northern New York ; attacked with fever and 
ague and returned to Massachusetts ; preached a 
while at Milford and North Brookfield. Overtures 
to settle at both places were made him, which he de- 
clined; received degree of D.D. in 1844 from Am- 
herst College, of which he was one of the founders 
and long a trustee — published a spelling-book in 
1807; "Fast Day Sermon," in 1812; "Dedicatory 
and Semi-centennial discourse," in 1846; was chosen 
first president of the Brookfield Auxiliary Foreign 
Missionary Society 1824, and held that office twenty 
years. During his ministry of fifty-eight years in 
New Braintree he was called to one hundred and 
twenty-one councils and attended one hundred and 



fifteen. As Dr. Fiske's pastorate covered a period 
of marked changes and great contrasts in not only 
the social customs, but also the moral and religious 
sentiments and practices of the people of this town 
and all New England as well, a glimpse at the state 
of society at the close of the eighteenth century 
through his eyes may be of interest: "There were 
really two classes of ministers as to theological doc- J 
trines and the methods the gospel reveals whereby " 
sinners are to obtain an interest in Christ, altho' no 
division had taken place nor had it entered into any 
one's heart to conceive of it. There was then no 
Unitarian ism in this Association, but the character 
of Christ was not frequently brought into view in 
preaching. While some of the older ministers were 
sound in the faith and preached the doctrines of 
grace with consistency and earnestness, others had 
become comparatively lax, and were disposed to 
avoid in their preaching what they esteemed doubt- 
ful points and things not well understood nor re- 
ceived by the people. There were great objections to 
metaphysical subtilties. The character of the preach- 
ing was defective as to doctrine and pungency. The 
great day of labor of the minister was the Sabbath. 
It was expected of him that he deliver two sermons 
on the Sabbath and administer the Sacrament of the 
Lord's Supper once in two months, except in winter, 
when it was the cause of much sufl'ering. No custom 
existed of holding an evening or third service. He 
was wont to exchange one-fourth to one-third of the 
time and to go and come to the place of exchange 
the same day — such arduous labors were generally 
thought to require the sujtaining power of comfort- 
ing cordials and the best dinner that could be pro- 
vided between services and were always furnished 
without grudge or measure. He was often called upon 
to preach a service to an aged person unable to at- 
tend church at his own home. On the records of the 
Association, which he was expected to attend three 
times yearly, no allusion was to be found to seasons 
of prayer for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon 
the churches, for no such seasons were held. Noth- 
ing was said concerning the state of religion in them. 
No question proposed for discussion was selected on 
account of its relation to the spiritual condition of 
the people, or aim at the conversion of sinners or 
edification of believers. Formalism reigned. No 
multiplied meetings or visitations; no efforts to pub- 
lish the gospel at home or abroad or difluse knowl- 
edge by lectures, conferences, Sabbath-schools, Bible 
classes or anniversaries. 

"Of the church it might be said 'Like people, like 
priest.' If the minister did little, the church would 
do less, and be less concerned for its own or others' 
salvation. In some of the churches there had been 
revivals of religion, but in most of them there never 
had been any, nor were they expected, and in some 
not desired. No efforts were made to obtain them, 
—no weekly prayer-meeting. There were no young 



NEW BRAINTKEE. 



673 



people in the church by profession of faith. Their 
membership was neither expected nor sought after. 
It was held in the estimation of sober people that 
when persons entered into family relations and be- 
came parents, they should join the church and have 
their children baptized, but in one-third of the 
churcires the latter was performed and the former 
neglc'ited. Religion among professors and others 
alike was seldom a topic of conversation. There were 
many social gatherings and festivities and much story- 
telling, but little said or done to promote godliness. 
There were some godly persons in church who were 
waiting and praying for better times, but their num- 
ber was so few that they found their cross too great 
to venture forth against the strong current of public 
sentiment. The people at large were apparently (but 
only apparently) more religious than now. Every 
person, except a few obstinate Baptists and occasion- 
ally an emigrant from Rhode Island, all of whom were 
looked upon as pestilent fellows, paid a tax in pro- 
portion to his worth in support of the Congregational 
ministry ; exemption from this tax was no more 
thought of than exemption from support of Govern- 
ment. Both were paid on same principle, viz. : from 
necessity laid on them by the strong arm of the law. 
There was one advantage in this custom. Every in- 
habitant had a right to such services of his minister 
as he might need. ' There was no stealing of preach- 
ing or begging of prayers.' There was much ignor- 
ance of the nature of personal religion. Infidelity 
prevailed. Paine's ' Age of Reason ' was widely 
circulated and had many believers. The Bible was 
almost a proscribed book, but little read in families 
by youth. Morals were much vitiated. There was 
much lewdness in language and action ; much Sab- 
bath-breaking. The great roads were filled with 
teams on their way to and from market, and with 
droves of cattle, sheep and swine. 

''AH classes of persons. Christians and sinners, high 
and low, rich and poor, could meet on same platform 
solar as drinking rum and brandy was concerned; 
almost all men would drink, and multitudes to re- 
pletion, on such occasions as town-meetings, rais- 
ings, huskings, auctions and trainings. Especially 
was indulgence thought to be not only allowable, 
but praiseworthy, on the glorious Fourth of July. It 
would have been looked upon as a most indecorous 
thing in the year 1800 had a Christian funeral been 
attended at which the mourners, bearers and other 
friends were not comforted together in well-filled 
tumblers of grog. It was a dark day for New Eng- 
land churches. But at the beginning of the 19th 
century light began to dawn out of darkness. Min- 
isters began to talk and pray and preach dilFerently. 
They appointed church-meetings for conference and 
prayer, instituted Bible-classes and Sabbath-schools 
for the young, preached the Gospel to the poor, and 
interpreted literally the last command of Christ. 
They found many supporters in the church, and 
43 



the result was not one, but repeated visitations of 
the Holy Spirit upon pastors, churches and congre- 
gations, that recalled the day of Pentecost.'' Dr. 
Fiske was, from the first, fully in spirit and action 
with these movements. As a result, from 1800 to 
1821, with one exception, the church received yearly 
accessions to its membership by profession of faith. 
From 1809 to 1811, forty-five ; 1819 to 1821, one hun- 
dred. In 1810 it was formally and publicly re-or- 
ganized with articles of faith essentially the same as 
in 1850. The later largest accessions during Dr. 
Fiske's ministry were in 1826, thirty; 1831, twenty- 
five ; 1845, forty-three. 

1817, Sabbath-school was first organized. 

The church was first gathered and formed (as by 
memorandum of Deacon Jonathan Woods), April 
18, 1754, date of the installation of Mr. Ruggles. 
No records exist for forty-two years, except in 1778 
and 1779. Since 1800 there has been from it a 
constant emigration. Its membership, in 1800, was 
fifty-eight ; 1888, seventy-three ; and teaching as 
high as two hundred in the interval. Its deacons 
have been William Witt, Samuel Ware, James 
Woods, Jonathan Woods and Jonathan Gould chosen 
previous to 1775 ; George Barr, between 1775 and 
1800; Abijah Bigelow, 1805; James Woods, 1808; 
Jacob Pepper and Samuel Warner, 1815 ; Phinehas 
Warner, 1817 ; Francis Adams, 1828 ; Amasa Bige- 
low, 1830 ; Welcome Newell, 18.30 ; Henry M. Dan- 
iels, 1855; Elbridge Gleason and Moses Pollard, 
1802; Dwight G. Barr, 1871. In 1819 a legacy of 
one hundred dollars was left by Lieutenant Jonas 
Newell to the church for the purchase of furniture 
for the communion table. 

Of Dr. Fiske, Rev. Mr. Hyde wrote : 

It was especially true of him that he was youug when he was old and 
lived until he died. In person, tali and well-proportioned, with large and 
regular features and but slightly bended form, with eye still liright and 
voice Btill strong and clear, with slow but solid footstep ; generally 
reading, writing, singing or talking when he was not Tisiting or sleep- 
ing, he seemed, when I firet knew him, at 83 years of age, to be about 
as vigorous as he was venerable, — with a serene and intelligent counte- 
nance, with mild and dignified manners, with an active and well-bal- 
anced mind, — discriminating in .Judgment, skillful in management, 
cautious and yet determined in action, in conversation at once inquisi- 
tive and iustructive, deeply interested in the practical aflaire of men aud 
with as deep an insight into their character and motives, he made his 
presence to be felt by all around him, without ever attempting to exert 
an influence or make an impression. Fixed in his opinions and ways, 
but seldom arbitrary, strict in his principles, severe in his sense of pro- 
priety without being sanctimonious, equable in temperament and yet 
playful in feeling, generous in sympathy and uncommonly companion- 
able to those who really knew him, siding always with a noble impulse 
and a steady faith in favor of whatever seemed right or useful, ner- 
vously sensitive to suflFering, timid and sometimes impatient, but always 
submissive aud trustful, thoroughly republican in simplicity, truly 
patriarchal in hospitality, he presented to my eye a rounded complete- 
ness of character seldom found, except in those who have grown old 
with a silent and natural growth without any special excitement or con- 
straint, but in the quiet service of the Gospel. In the pulpit he 
spoke not with enticing words nor impassionate appeal, but with ster- 
ling good sense and with great appropriateness, particularly in prayer. 
In all the councils of the Church, especially in diflicult cases, he was 
emiuently wise and eflicieut. 

He died, 1855, at eighty-five years of age and 
sixty-first of his ministry. 



674 



HISTORY OP WOKCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



May, 1853, a call was extended to Rev. James T. 
H3'de to become associate pastor with Dr. Fiske ; 
salary, eight hundred dollars. The call was unani- 
mous by the church aud three to one in the society. 
The call was accepted, and Mr. Hyde ordained 
June 22d following. Mr. Hyde was a graduate of 
Yale College, ranking second in his class. He was a 
varied and accurate scholar, an able writer and 
preacher of refined tastes. His natural gifts were of 
a high order. Most of those opposed to calling Mr. 
Hyde were men of extremely liberal views — two 
or three Unitarian, or with Unitarian views, prom- 
inent in society, to whom Mr. Hyde's strong 
orthodoxy and forcible expression of it were dis- 
tasteful. During the two years following his 
settlement twenty withdrew from the society, many 
of them large property-owners, part from dislike 
of Mr. Hyde, part on account of the greatly 
increased rate of taxation, and part through fear 
of a still higher rate. The breach widened. That 
spirit of bitterness which Dr. Fiske, in his com- 
munication to the society on the eve of settling a 
colleague, deprecated, had already sprung up. A few 
determined that Mr. Hyde must go and a few deter- 
mined that he should stay. Finally, the good sense 
of the majority triumphed. The votes on the two 
following resolutions, taken in June, 1855, indicate 
the true state of affairs. The first resolution wan, 
" That we, personally, without reference to the feel- 
ings or acts of others, are satisfied with the ability 
and faithfulness of our Pastor." Yeas, 26 ; nays, 2 ; 
silent, 5. The 2d, " That it is expedient under exist- 
ing circumstances that the pastoral relation be dis- 
solved." Yeas, 19; Nays, 6.' August 13th the disso- 
lution was effected. Notwithstanding his compara- 
tively unsuccessful pastorate, which he attributed in 
a measure to his own inexperience, he always retained 
a strong affection for his first parish, remarking to the 
writer that he would have been content to have lived 
and died among this people. He died while Profes- 
sor of Pastoral Theology in Chicago Seminary. It 
was said of him that "no man in all the West would 
be more missed. Another might fill his chair in the 
seminary, but no man in all the land could be found 
to touch the seminary at so many points or be so con- 
spicuously useful in all that concerns the welfare of 
the Churches." Rev. John H. Gurney received a 
unanimous call to succeed Mr. Hyde, and was in- 
stalled April 23,1856; salary, nine hundred dollars. 
A resolution, "That the Church for a third service in 
the Sabbath be free to other denominations when un- 
occupied by the pastor," was lost by a majority of one. 
Mr. Gurney possessed, in addition to other ministerial 
qualifications, a strong mind, good common sense, a 
fondness for agriculture and the highest capacities of 
a citizen. His pastorate lasted thirteen years, during 



f Fonrtcen persons voting yea on firet resolution also voteil yea on 
second. 



which there was one extensive revival. May 3, 1871, 
Rev. John Djdge was installed. His pastorate was 
terminated by his death, in June, 1872. He was 
much esteemed and beloved. He was succeeded by 
Rev. William B. Bond October 30th of same year, 
whose pastorate continued seven years. Of him it 
could be said, " he never preached a poor sermon." He 
was the last settled pastor. Since then the church 
has been supplied successively by Rev. William 
Barrows, D.D., Rev. T. A. Merrill and Rev. U. W. 
Small. 

Education. — The support of schools has always 
been liberal and hearty. In 1796 Whitney writes : 
" The people in New Braintree are particularly atten- 
tive to the education of their children and youth. 
They have eight reputable school-houses, and in the 
winter season as many in.structors ; two Latin grammar 
masters, and in the summer they have generally two 
or three masters and as many mistresses, and they 
expend more annually in supporting schools than in 
supporting their public teacher of piety, religion 
and morality, though he is honorably maintained." 
This interest was fostered and increased by Dr. Fiske, 
who for fifty-five years held the active superintend- 
ence of the schools, who exercised a sort of parental 
care over them, and whose constant aim was to raise 
the standard of qualifications among teachers. In 
1845 and for several years previous, the amount rais^ed 
per scholar exceeded that of any town or city in the 
State, excepting Boston and six adjoining towns. In 
the published address at the semi-centennial of the 
Brcokfield Association, New Braintree is accredited 
with having furnished to that date eighteen ministers 
to the Congregational denomination, — two more than 
any other town in the association. There have been 
thirty-two liberally educated and professional men 
from this town, of which the following is a list: 

Levi Washburn, gradnated at Dartmoutli; died 1776. 

Jonatluin Gould, graduated at Brown, 17SG ; died 1704 ; minister. 

James Tufts, graduated at Brown, 17S'.I; minister. 

Joseph Delano, graduated at Brown, 1790. 

Edwards Whipple, graduated at Williams, 1801 ; minister. 

Ijutlier Wilson, graduated at Williams, 1807 ; minister. 

Thonuis I'ope, graduated at Harvard, 1800 ; lawyer. 

Frederic Matthews, graduated at Harvard, 1816; Lawyer, 

liUke B. Foster, graduated at Vermont University, 1811 ; minister. - 

Henry H. Penniinan, graduated at Harvard, 1822; teacher. -_ 

Charles Fames, gmduated at Harvard, 1831 ; Iftwyer. 

Fredei ic C. Whipple, graduated at Union, 18^17 ; lawyer. 

Waldo F. Converse, graduated at Wesleyan University, 18;ilt ; l:t\\} ■ 
aud business. 

Kli W. Harrington, graduated at Amherst, 18;j:i ; mimster. 

Charles D. Bowman, graduated at Harvard, 1838 ; lawyer. 

Wm. Peunimau, graduated at .Amherst. 

Joseph Wjislibnrn, graduated at Vale, 1703 ; minister. 

James Woods, graduated at Columbia, 1832 ; minister. 

GustAvus Davis, D.D., minister. 

Jesse A. Pennimau, graduated at Amherst, 1833-35; ininiBter aDd.j 
physician. 

Charles Delano, graduated at Amherst, 1840 ; lawyer. 

Wm. Barrows, D.D., graduated at Amherst, 1840; minister. 

Wni. Miller, graduatedat Amherst, 1842; minister. 

Simon Barrows, graduated at Drtrtmouth,.1842 ; minister. 

Lewis Barrows, grailnated at Waterville ; minister. ■ 

David Burt, graduated at oberlin, 1848 ; minister. 



NEW BRAINTEEE. 



675 



George H. Gould, D.D., graduated at Amherst, 1850; minister. 

Heury M. Daniels, graduated at Chicago Theological Seniinary, 1861 ; 
minister. 

Nathan Thompson, graduated at Amherst, 1801; minister and teacher. 

Charles S. Brooks, graduated at Amherst, 18G3 ; minister. 

George K. Tufts, graduated at Yale, lS(i3 ; husiness. 

Henry Penniuiao, graduated at Andover Theological Seminary, 18^*2; 
minister. 

Kniorson Warner, physician. 

James Tufls, born 1764, completed his theological 
studies with Dr. Emmons, of Franklin, and ordained 
November 4, 1794, over the Congregational Church at 
Wardsboro', Vermont. His pastorate continued 
forty -seven years, until his death. He was a minister 
highly resjjected and venerated in the circles in which 
he moved. 

Luke B. Foster, born 1789, son of Rev. Daniel 
Foster, second pastor of this church, had but oue 
pastorate, at Rutland, commencing 1813, and con- 
tinuing four yeais till his death, 1817. 

Edwards Whipple, born 1778, was one of the three 
most distinguished scholars in his class. He studied 
theology and was installed at Charlton, January 25, 
1804 ; remained there seventeen years ; dismissed 
March, 1821 ; was then installed colleague pastor at 
Shrewsbury, where he remained one year, until his 
death, September 17, 1822. He was an able and 
faithful piistor, a man of decided talents and undoubted 
piety. 

Luther Wilson, born 1783, son of Joseph and Sarah 
Mathews Wilson, fitted for college at Leicester 
Academy, entered Yale 1804, and Williams 1805 ; 
became English preceptor at Leicester Academy 
180G ; received his degree 1807. Made principal of 
Leicester Academy a few years later, and filled that 
position three and one-half years ; studied theology 
with Rev. Zephauiah Swift Moore, D.D. ; settled over 
First Congregational Church, Brooklyn, Connecticut 
as colleague pastor with Rev. Josiah Whiting, D.D. , 
June "9, 1813. During this ministry he changed his 
theological views and became Unitarian ; resigned 
his charge September, 1S17; in.^talled pastor First 
Congregational Church, Petersham, June 23, 1819; 
resigned his pastorate October 18, 1834 ; died Novem- 
ber 20, 1864 ; married November, 30, 1806, Sally, 
daughter of Abijah Bigelow, of New Braintree. 

Thomas Pope commenced practice of law in Dud- 
ley, where he married, raised a ftimily, lived and 
died. 

Frederic Matthews, son of Elisha Matthews, grad- 
uated at Harvard Law School ; commenced practice of 
Ills profession at Albany, N. Y. ; remained until his 
death, about 1820. 

Uustavus F. Davis, born in 1797, in Boston. At three 
years of age his fiither died, and mother married 
Adiu Ayres, who removed to New Braintree in 1812. 
Young Davis went to Worcester to learn a trade ; was 
converted, and became a Baptist, under the preaching 
■ if Elder William Bently ; began to preach at the age 
. of seventeen in .Hampton, Conn.; at nineteen was 
settled over the Baptist.Church at Preston, Conn.; -at 



twenty-one became pastor of the church at South 
Reading (now Wakefield), Mass.; removed to Hart- 
ford in 1829, as pastor of the church there ; died in 
Boston, while on a visit there, September, 1836. He 
was never a graduate of any college or other institu- 
tion; a self-educated man, but largely interested in 
the cause of education ; a trustee of Trinity College, 
and of the Connecticut Literary Institution ; received 
the degree of D.D. from Wesleyan University, 1835. 

Henry N. Penniman was for many years principal 
of a boarding-school in New York, and afterwards in 
business. 

Waldo F. Converse began study of law in 1840 ; 
commenced practice in Sandusky, Ohio, 1842; con- 
tinued in practice until 1S50, afterwards engaged in 
business ; is now president of Sandusky Machine 
and Agricultural Works. 

Simon Barrows, born 1811, studied theology at 
Union Seminary, N. Y., engaged in various ways in 
cause of education, then entered into the active and 
hard duties of home missionary life beyond the Mis- 
sissippi. Sometimes pastor of four churches, he has 
carried the New England church and school system 
into our border land. 

Lewis Barrows, born 1813, has devoted hi^ whole 
life to missionary work on the border. 

William Barrows, born 1815, completed his theolog- 
ical studies at Union Seminary, N. Y., 1843, and since 
that has been variously in the Gospel ministry. There 
is space for a few quotations from a sketch of him in 
the " History of Reading,'' where he has resided since 
1856: " Dr. Barrows comes of a type of family slowly 
disappearing from New England. His early home 
was a family of twelve; a farm of sixty acres and ob- 
stinate for boy's culture; parental common sense; a 
spindle; a loom; annual barrels of home beef and 
pork; a few books well chosen; a district school well 
attended without regard to weather and the Sabbath 
uniformly divided between home and the Lord's house 
3 miles away. The old-fashioned virtues, ideas and 
knowledge ruled the home more than a dinner, new 
jacket, or 2-story house. No winter snows were too 
lively or deep for the ox-sled and aioad of neighbor- 
hood children on the way to school, where the fire- 
wood was 4 feet long and many of the boys 6. Nat- 
urally, from such a home the boys entered college, yet 
with pecuniary struggles. Garden roots were culti- 
vated by day and Greek roots by night by the young- 
est of the three in Phillips Academy. In theseminary 
private teaching by the hour, theological polemics in 
the seminary, classics in Brooklyn and five minute 
lunches in Fulton Ferry were sandwiched together. 
So every bill was paid and every borrowed dollar re- 
turned. Ill health has hardly cost him a day from 
the pulpit, perhaps because he has kindled so many 
vacation camp-fires all the way from New Brunswick 
to the head-waters of the Missouri and Columbia. Dr 
Barrows has had tlii-ee pastorates and was for some 
years secretary of the Congregational & Publishing 



67() 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



Society and the Massachusetts Home Missionary So- 
ciety. He has taken deep interest in western civiliza- 
tion and Christianization, and with tliis in view has 
made eleven tours over the border and published 
'The General, or Twelve Nights in the Hunter's 
Camp,' a true narrative of his brother William's life ; 
'Oregon : The Struggle for Possession ;'' The United 
States of Yesterday and To-morrow ;' also 'The Church 
and Tier Children;' 'Purgatory, Doctrinally, Practi- 
cally and Historically Considered;' 'The Indian Side 
of the Indian Question.' " 

William Miller graduated at Andover Theological 
Seminary, 1845, and settled at Halifax, Vt. ; has been 
in ministry forty-two years. 

David Burt, born 1822, graduated at Andover Theo- 
logical Seminary 1851 ; preached at Raymond, N. H., 
1851-55, at Rutland 1856-58, and acting pastor at 
Winona, Minn., 1858-66; engaged in work of Freed- 
men's Bureau 1866-68; State Superintendent of 
Schools in Minnesota (1875) until his death, 1881. 

Eli W. Harrington, born 1804, graduated at Ando- 
yer Theological Seminary 1836; pastor at Lunenburg 
1836-47 ; Marion, N. H., 1848-50 ; Rochester, Mass., 
1850-59; North Beverly 1860-67. Since that time 
impaired health has interfered with continuous pas- 
toral service. 

Charles D. Bowman studied law at Harvard Law 
School and practiced in Oxford, where he died. 

James Woods was for many years a minister in San 
Francisco and Sacramento, Cal., where he died. 

Charles Delano, born 1820, called at his death, 1882, 
the most distinguished member of the Hampshire 
County bar. Member of Congress 1859-63, resident 
of Northampton, a close student, a man of broad 
culture, social, public-spirited, liberal, whose integrity 
and conscientiousness were never questioned. 

George H. Gould, born 1827, graduated Union 
Seminary, 1853. For eleven years his impaired 
health seriously interfered with the continuity of his 
public ministry. Traveled in Europe four years 
with John B. Gough;1862 and 1863 with Olivet 
Church, Springfield ; 1864-70 with Centre Church, 
Hartford, Conn. ; has since resided in Worcester and 
been acting-pastor of both Piedmont and Union 
Churches. What a few churches have lost by his 
inability for continued pastoral service, the general 
public has gained. 

Henry M. Daniels, graduated Chicago Theological 
Seminary, 1861 ; pastor First Congregational Church, 
Winnebago, 111., 1861-75 ; home missionary at 
Dallas, Texas, 1875-79; at Lebanon, Md., 1880-83 ; De 
Luz, Cal., 1883-88. 

Nathan Thompson, born 1837, graduated Andover 
Theological Seminary, 1865 ; home missionary, at 
Boulder, Col., 1865-75; acting-pastor at Roxborough 
and South Acton, 1876-81 ; president of Board of 
Trustees of Colorado University ; principal Lawrence 
Academy, Groton, Mass., 1881-86; principal Elgin 



Academy, Elgin, 111., 1886-88 ; author of two local 
histories. 

Chas. S. Brooks, born 1840, graduated Andover 
Theological Seminary, 1869; pastor Congregational , 
Church, Tyngsboro', 1869-72 ; church at South Deer- 
field, 1873-77 ; Second Congregational Church, Put- 
nam, Ct., 1877-87 ; installed pastor Rollstone Congre- 
gational Church, Fitchburg, 1887. 

Henry Penniman, graduated Andover Theo- 
logical Seminary, ordained over First Church, East 
Derry, N. H., 1884. 

Willard Barrows, born in 1800, early in life left the 
East for the Mississippi Valley, and was for many 
years deputy-surveyor for Government of wild lands 
in Missouri, Arkansas, and the territory comprising 
the present States of Wisconsin, Minnesota and Iowa. 
The first map of the latter he published from his own 
field-notes, which, with his brief historical outline, 
was afterwards published by the State in 1845. 
Afterwards he wrote out the history of a part of 
Iowa, published io " Annals of Iowa." In 1850 he 
led a company of sixty men and one hundred and 
twenty-five horses over the plains to California, in 
the wild rush for gold, when he gained the title of 
" General.'' In 1864, he made up a private party for 
adventure into Montana and Idaho, 1600 miles and 
160 days; and another the next year to the same 
region, via the Missouri River, 3000 miles. Died 
1868 — ending the career of a stirring frontier man, 
honored, beloved and lamented. 

Revolutionary Period. — On the first Monday 
in June, 1773, in reply to a letter from " ye Inhabit- 
ants of ye Town of Boston," the town voted, "That 
the Freeholders and other Inhabitants of ye Town of 
Boston hereby receive the hearty thanks of this 
district for the vigilance, firmness and wisdom which 
they have discovered at all times in support of ye 
rights and liberties of the colony, and so heartily con- 
cur with them in all their constitutional determina- 
tions.'' March 7, 1774, a committee was chosen to 
draw up something in reply to "ye Inhabitants of ye 
Town of Boston" relative to the difliculties the Prov- 
ince labors under. April 4th the following resolves 
were reported, which being twice read and con- 
sidered, were passed unanimously : 

Ist. That we will, in conjunction with our Brethren in America, Risk 
our Fortunes & even our Lives in defence of his Majesty Kinp George 
the third, His Person, Crown and Dignity, and will also with j» 'same 
Resolution as his free-born subjects in this country, to the utmost of our 
Powei And Ability, Defend our Charter Rights that they may transmitted 
Inviolate to the Latest Posterity. 

2. Retohed that every British Subject in America has by our happy 
constitution as well as by Nature, the sole Eight to dispose of his own 
Property either by himself or by his Representative. 

3. Resoheil that y° net of y« British Parliament Laying a Duty on Tea 
Laniled in America payable here is a Tax whereby the Property of 
Americans is taken from them without their consent. 

Therefore Hemhuil, That we will not, either by ourselves or any for or 
under us, b>iy or sell or use any of y East India Company Tea Imported 
from Groat Brittain, or any other Tea with a Duty for raising a Revenue 
thereon in America, which is affixed by acts of Parliament on the same. 
Neither will we suffer any such Tea to be made up in our Families. 



NEW BRAINTEEE. 



677 



liesotut'd, that all such persons as shall purchase, sell or use such Tea 
shall be for the future deemed unfriendly & Enemies to the happy Con- 
stitution of this Country, 

At the same time — 

Voted Ninety-one Pounds to provide a Town's Stock of Towder & 
Lead & Flints with. 

August 25th Deacons James Woods and Samuel 
Ware were appointed a committee to meet like com- 
mittees from other towns in the county, "to consider 
what measures they ought to come into at tliis critical, 
difficult day," and a Committee of Correspondence 
was chosen. September 2d Deacon James Woods 
chosen a delegate to a Provincial Congres? to be 
held in October; the town then chose officers for a 
standing miUtia. November 7th a committee of 
seven, chosen to inspect all tea-drinkers and post 
their names. January 9, 1775, the town accepted 
the proposal of the minute-men to serve without 
pay, on condition that the other members of the dis- 
trict provide themselves with arms and ammunition. 
Same date a committee chosen to receive and for- 
ward the donations to the poor of Boston, and a 
committee chosen to see that the Provincial and 
Continental resolves be strictly adhered to. 

May 22, 177(3, "the Question being put whether 
y" Town would willingly support y' General Congress 
if it shall declare Independence. Passed unani- 
mously in the affirmative." 

February 17, 1777, Ephraim Woods chosen dele- 
gate to a County Congress, to obtain a more equal 
and just representation in the General Court for 
smaller towns. 

February 24th the Committee of Safety, to pre- 
vent monopoly ajid oppression, fixed a uniform 
j.rice of all produce and merchandise and all kinds 
of labor. Following are a few of these prices : 

" For men's labor in haying or reaping, 3 shillings 
per day, & the same for Carpenters ; Blacksmiths for 
plain shoeing, all round, 4 shillings ; with steel 
corkings, 5 shillings. To Cordwainers, for making 
good men or women's shoes Strong, 2 shillings 8 
pence pr., exclusive of thread. 

" Doctor's Fea for riding, 6 pence per mile & Busi- 
ness in proportion. Good wheat, 6 sh. per bu.; Rye, 
4 sh. ; Ind. corn, 8 sh. ; Oats, 1 sh. 8 Pence ; Fresh 
Pork, 4 Pence lb. ; Grass-fed Beef, 2} Pence ; Stall- 
fed do. 3J pence; N. B. Rum, 5 sh. per gall. ; Good 
W. I. Flip, 10 pence per mug ; Horsekeeping at 
Farmers, 1 sh. pr. night by hay, & 6 Pence bv grass. 
One meal of victuals of the best, ten pence, other 
victuals accordingly ; new-milk cheese, six pence per 
lb. ; firkin butter, 8 pence lb. ; Beans, six shillings 
bu. ; Potatoes, one shilling per bu. in fall, one & six 
pence in spring; good yarn, men's stockings, 5 shill- 
ings 4 Pence pair; mutton, four pence; veal, two 
pence per lb. ; Home-made flour, twenty shillings 
per cwt. ; Eng. Hay, 2 shillings cwt. ; hire of a horse, 
2 Pence pr. mile ; maid labor in spring, 3 shillings 
per week. Mch. 31 a bounty of 20 pounds w.as 



offered soldiers who should enlist in the Continental 
Army for 3 years, & a com. chosen to collect evidence 
against all persons appearing enemical to this coun- 
try. June 5, 1778, Voted that the town has no ob- 
jection to articles of Confederation & perpetual 
Union between the United States of America. But 
the town refused, 54 to 4, May 19, & again May 31, 
1780, to adopt the Constitution of the state of Mas- 
sachusetts Bay, except on certain conditions, one of 
which was a provision for a Judge of Probate & 
Register of Deeds in each town in the county.'' 

The total cost to the town of the war is unknown, 
but the records from 1778 to '82 are replete with 
votes for filling quota of men and horses, paying 
bounties, monthly wages and furnishing clothing and 
provisions to soldiers and their families. A com- 
plete list of the members of the company of minute- 
men from New Braintree that marched to Boston 
April 19, 1775, may be found on the town records. 

The town furnished sixty-seven men for three 
years, nineteen men for six months, seventeen men 
for nine months; thirty-eight men for three months, 
and fifty men for a less period of service in the Revo- 
lutionary War. 

May, 1786, the town gave instructions to its Repre- 
sentative to the General Court, Captain Artemas 
Howe, setting forth the great extortion and oppression 
practiced by the lawyers of the Commonwealth ; their 
growing importance as a class in numbers, wealth 
and grandeur, and the danger to civil liberty thereby; 
the tardiness in obtaining justice in the courts and 
the high fees of certain court officers; that instead of 
the courts and juries being enlightened and assisted 
in searching after and doing justice in the cases that 
came before them by the gentlemen of the bar, they 
were left by them more perplexed and embarrassed ; 
and expressing the belief that our only hope of ex- 
istence as a nation rested in the frugality, economy 
and industry of the people. 

Shays' Rebellion. — The views embodied in these 
resolutions seem to have been held by the large mass 
of the people of the State. Many were embittered 
by the feeling that adequate compensation had never 
been made the soldiers for their sacrifice in saving 
the country, nor the widows and orphans of those 
who were killed. That many in office who had re- 
mained at home had enriched themselves at the ex- 
pense of those who had gone to the war. The debtor 
class was large. The war had demoralized the people. 
The majority hoped for a remedy for many of the 
existing evils through the constituted authorities and 
the General Court, peacefully ; but a great many 
were in favor of resorting to force for a redress of 
their wrongs. Conventions were held in several 
counties. September 25th a committee chosen by the 
town recommended that for the peace of the town no 
representative should be sent to the General Court 
that year. This was the act of the minority, who 
had no faith in legislation to attain their ends. At ^ 



678 



HISTOKY OF WOKCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



subsequent meeting the conservatives rallifd and 
voted to send its representative as usual and seek re- 
dress in a lawful way. The trouble culminated in 
what is known as " Shays' Rebellion." Twenty-three 
from New Braintree joined Captain Shays, some of 
them soldiers in the late war. A large body of in- 
surgents collected at New Braintree. Their chief 
acts were to obstruct the courts and prevent their 
assembling. 

Jan. 30, 1787, the town characterized the proceed- 
ings of the " Regulators," as they termed themselves, 
as illegal and irregular, and chose Rev. David Foster, 
Benjamin Joslyn and Percival Hallf Esq., a commit- 
tee to confer with General Lincoln and officers, and 
Captain Shays and officers, for the purpose of effect- 
ing a leconciliation. February 3d, voted to petition 
the General Court for a general pardon of the insur- 
gents, provided they laid down their arms and re- 
turned to their allejiiance, and issue circular letters 
to a number of towns in this and other counties to do 
the same. February 5th, met and heard the report of 
the conference with General Lincoln, including a 
letter to the town, in which he advised them " to call 
home, without delay, all the men then with Captain 
Shays belonging to the town, and not to aflbrd any 
aid, support or comfort to any of y "■ insergents." When 
this letter was received, after being several times 
read and considered, such a disagreement appeared 
concerning the adoption of the course advised, that 
the meeting adjourned without action. Captain Ar- 
temas Howe was appointed major and commissioned 
as aid-de-camp of General Warner, August 28, 1886, 
in the campaign against the insurgents. The other 
men from New Braintree, who were in the service of 
the State and endured the sufferings and dangers of 
the night-march from Hadley to Petersham, which 
Minot styles " one of the most indefatigable marches 
ever performed in America," which resulted in the 
rout of the rebels, were: Sampson Whitherley, First 
Lieutenant ; Wyman Hoit, Second Lieutenant: 
Elisha Mathews, Sergeant ; John Doty, Corporal ; 
John Thompson, Corporal; James Woods, Corporal; 
Elijah Barnes, Robert Voaks, William Tidd, Percival 
Hall, Isaac Denni, George Whetherell, James Wes- 
ton, Privates: John Stevenson, Drummer; Samuel 
Shaw, Sergeant ; Lemuel Kenned}-. 

March 17, 1787, twenty-two took the oath of 
allegiance. Some of the insurgents fled from the 
State, and among them Capt. Francis Stone, who, if 
not a citizen of the town at the time, was closely con- 
nected with some of its families. Hence we find the 
town, May 21st, instructing its representative to use 
his utmost exertions for a general pardon of the in- 
surgents, that the banished might return home. The 
town further instructed him that " In all free govern- 
ments that idea ought ever be kept in view that the 
rulers and ministers of state are the honorable ser- 
vants and not the haughty masters of the people ;" 
tlfat he should use his influence to restrict the num- 



ber of lawyers in the commonwealth to a small num- 
ber of approved and upright character, to dismiss the 
Courts of Common Pleas, sheriffs and deputy-sheriffs 
of the county, empower the selectmen to do the busi- 
ness of judge of probate and have the General Court 
removed from Boston. 

Miscellaneous. — June, 1790, the town adopted an 
act to discourage unnecessary lawsuits, providing for a 
committee of three discreet freeholders, to whom should 
be submitted for settlement all demands whatsoever 
held by one citizen against another. The fees of the 
committee were two shillings each for each case. 
Any person refusing to submit his claim to the com- 
mittee for settlement should be deemed unfriendly to 
the peace of the town and bad members of society, 
and treated by the inhabitants with contempt and 
neglect as to dealings and intercourse, save in the 
bare offices of humanity, and should have no votes 
for any town office for three years. 

March 20, 1702, the town became security to 
Maj. Joseph Bowman, Elias Hall, Moses Hamilton 
and John Joslyn in a contract to support the entire 
poor of the State for ten years. They in turn agreed 
to collect all taxes during that time free of expense, 
to take all kinds of produce in payment of taxes at a 
generous price, and to purchase at a generous price 
from said town all produce needed besides for the 
support of said poor. They were authorized to i>ro- 
cure immediately materials for and proceed to erect 
suitable buildings for their accommodation. The 
present residence of Wm. A. Felton was one of these 
buildings. The town was opposed to the War of 
1812. 

July 2, 1812, voted to co-operate with the town of 
Boston in using all constitutional means to avert it. 
July 24th memorialized the President of the United 
States disapproving of the war and abhorring an alli- 
ance with France. 

In 1818 stoves were first introduced into the meet- 
ing-house at a cost of one hundred and seventy-five 
dollars. 

Previous to 1826 the support of the poor had been 
put up at auction to the lowest bidder. In 1833 the 
town i)urchased the Little farm and supported its 
poor thereon. In 1835 rules were adopted for the 
regulation of its pauper establishment. 

March 20, 1843, Congregational parish organized 
with a membership of seventy-nine. Until then re- 
ligious institutions had been supported by a town 
tax. 

War OF Rebellion, 1861. — The first town-meet- 
ing to act upon matters relating to the War of 
the Rebellion was held May 7th, at which the select- 
men were authorized to pay each volunteer belonging 
to the town five dollars per month while in service, 
in addition to regular pay, and four dollars per month 
to his wife and two dollars to each child under twelve 
years of age. 

July 21, 18C2, voted to pay a bounty of one hundred 



4 



NEW BKAINTKEE. 



679 



dollars to each volunteer who enlists for three years 
and ten dollars additional to those who enlist within 
one week. 

August 2(ith, the bounty for three years' volunteers 
was raised to two hundred dollars and the bounty tor 
volunteers for nine months fixed at one hundred and 
fifty dollars, which, November 4th, was raised to two 
hundred dollars. 

April 11, 18G4, voted a bounty of one hundred and 
twenty-five dollars to volunteers for three years' ser- 
vice, and this bounty was continued to be paid until 
the end of the war. The town raised .$9000.55 for the 
war and seventy-eight men — four beyond her quota — 
two-thirds of the men subject to military duty and 
one-tenth of her population. One only, Lieutenant 
George Davis, was a commissioned ofiicer. The fol- 
lowing are the names of the volunteers on town 
records : 

For Three years. — Nahum H. Ayres, John Birming- 
ham, Henry H. Bush, Albert Barrett, Josiah C. Con- 
verse, George Cooley, Daniel W. Dean, Carlton 
DeLand, Kichard T. Davis, George A. Davis, Joseph 
Goddard, Lyman A. Holmes, William Hunter, Wil- 
liam Jerome, Harrison Lamb, Peter McCue, Henry 
Mullett, David D. Pierce, Sidney Smith, Jr., Josiah 
Tuly, Oramel F. Thresher, Charles Q. Wetherell, Al- 
bert G. Wilder. 

For Nine Months.- — Rufus Boyden, Loring S. B.ir- 
low, Frank D. Brigham, Alfred D. Barr, Michael 
Bowen, Benjamin Fagan, Theodore S. Pierce, Brig- 
ham Pierce, Elijah T. Randall, Albert A. Thresher, 
George Woods. The rest of the seventy-eight were 
furnished from the surplus in other towns, this town 
paying the bounties. 

Business. — In 1791 Joseph Bowman, Jr., entered 
into trade in foreign goods in a small one-storied 
building, situated at the north end of the present line 
of horse-sheds. In 1793 Henry Penniman, Jr., be- 
came a partner with him and for twenty years the 
firm of Bowman & Penniman was a household word 
in many homes in towns in the west part of Worces- 
ter and east part of Hampshire Counties. Mr. Penni- 
man retired in 1813 and was succeeded by John 
Wetherell. In 1824 Mr. Wetherell removed to Peters- 
ham and Amory H. Bowman assumed the manage- 
ment of the business, his father furnishing the capi- 
tal. In 1835 he was succeeded by Benj. F. Hamilton, 
who remained till 1840, when Edwin A. Read (who 
had had charge of the currying business of Hiram 
Wadsworlh, at Barre Plains), in coinpauy with Sam- 
uel Wadsworth, took the place until 1850. The firm 
was successively Read & Wadsworth, Read & Smith 
and Read & Anderson. In 1850 Wm. Bowdoin com- 
menced business and sold out in 1855 to Charles B. 
Frost. In 1858 Abijah Eddy succeeded Mr. Frost and 
remained until the spring of 1863, when a protective 
union store was opened with Mr. Frost as agent. 
In 1865 Mr. Frost bought out the stockholders and 



December 1, 1886, sold out stock and store to George 
K. Tufts, who now occupies it. 

In 1812 Elisha Mathews, in company with Deacon 
James Woods, induced by the high price of wooleu 
goods incident upon the war, purchased a water 
privilege and erected a mill one-fourth mile below 
the saw-mill built by his father, Daniel, on the same 
stream, and commenced the manufacture of woolen 
cloths. Mr. Mathews was on his way to market with 
his first load of cloths when peace was declared and 
prices dropped. Deacon Woods soon sold out his 
interest, and Mr. Mathews continued for some years, 
but at a constant pecuniary loss. The enterprise 
ruined him financially. In 1839 Isaac Hunter, Jr., 
James Hunter and T. P. Anderson commenced the 
manufacture of shoes under contract with Clark 
Bates, of South Carolina, to furnish two thousand 
pairs per month. In March, 1840, Anderson with- 
drew and David Wetherell took his place. The en- 
terprise was a failure through the rascality and 
irresponsibility of the parties to whom the goods 
were sold. The business, which was carried on in a 
part of the store, closed in 1841. In 1848 a steam 
mill was erected by a stock company. This was sold 
to Joel Garfield, and then to Jos. P. Cheney, and 
finally to James Penniman, and burned in 1853 ; re- 
built in 1854 by a stock company and sold to Jos. M. 
Green, Wm. A. Mixter, Moses Pollard, Henry A. 
Hoyt and Hollis Tidd ; burnt in 1863. Henry A. 
Delano made carriages and wagons from 1820-60, and 
later Wm. T. Felton carried on the same kind of 
business. 

The pursuits of the inhabitants have been almost 
wholly agricultural. Whitney writes of New Brain- 
tree, 1796 : " For its bigness it exceeds any other town 
in the county in fine grazing land, as is evinced by 
the annual product of the dairy & Beef." Then the 
product of beef far exceeded that of the dairy. An 
inventory of that time shows that one man was taxed 
for twenty-eight oxen ; several years after the same 
farm maintained thirty cows. The increased profits 
of the dairy over those of beef changed the business 
from fatting cattle to making cheese, j\nd the labor 
also from out-doors to in-doors. New Braintree 
cheese had acquired an enviable reputation in Boston 
as early as 1800, and many a dairy of cheese from 
other towns passed through the hands of Bowman & 
Penniman to be sold as New Braintree make. Pre- 
vious to 1865 cheese was made in private dairies ; 
during that year the New Braintree Cheese Manufac- 
turing Company w.as organized, with a capital of 
§4000, and erected and furnished a factory at a cost of 
$11,000. The greatest quantity of milk received for 
eight months was 3,021,000 lbs. The cheese factory 
in 1886 became a creamery, and was then abandoned. 
Making milk supplanted making cheese for Boston 
market. In 1888 not one dairy in town made cheese 
through the season, a thing that had not been before 
for a century. 



G80 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



There has been but little manufacturing. Samuel 
Harrington made, in a small way, shoe-shaves for 
several years. 

Besides the mills already referred to, there was a 
grist-mill built by Solomon Mathews on the site of 
the present residence of Mrs. li. F. Hamilton, on the 
stream north of the road. 

Physicians — Dr. Percival Hall was probably the 
first physician in town and almost the only one for 
thirty years. He commenced practice about 1760 ; 
married a daughter of Deacon Samuel Ware, 1764; 
removed to Boston 1793. One of his children, Bet- 
sey, born February 29, 1780, died at the age of one 
hundred and four years. He was a very popular 
man, holding many town offices, and especially in 
demand as chairman of committees to draw up in- 
structions to Eepresentatives. His productions are 
models in their clear, concise and comprehensive 
statements of the points at issue, and would do 
credit to any statesman of to-day. Dr. John Frink 
practiced in 1786-87. In 1794 Dr. Benjamin Sever- 
ance succeeded Dr. Hall, and continued until his 
death, in 1832. During that time there were usually 
two physicians. Dr. Thomas Fletcher, 1789-91 ; 
Dr. John Blair, Jr., 1793-98; Dr. Increase Ma.- 
thews, 1799; Dr. March, 1803; Dr. Fairfield, 1805; 
Dr. John Field, 1810-15 ; Dr. Luther Spaulding. 
1816-20; Dr. Thomas Boutelle, 1820-24; Dr. Daniel 
McGregor, 1825-33; Dr. Oramel Martin, 1833-45; 
Dr. Julius Miner, 1847-52; Dr. A. A. Kendall, 1852- 
65 ; Dr. Saxton Martin, 1857-66. Since that time 
there has been no resident physician. 

" Dr. Martin was a Democrat in politics. When he 
came, that party in town numbered four ; during his 
stay it increased to thirty-five. He was thoroughly 
Democratic (as that word was used then) in town, as 
well as in State and national afi'airs, and believed that 
the ability to govern existed in the many, not the 
few ; accordingly, he labored in all town elections for 
a more equal distribution of town offices." 

The only resident lawyer there has ever been was 
Hon. Charles Allen, who came here from Worcester 
after being admitted to the bar in 1818; practiced 
six years and then returned to Worcester. 

Building. — A prominent feature of the Centre is 
the long row of horse-sheds. Previous to 1816 there 
were but three sheds to shelter the horses from heat, 
cold and storm on the Sabbath, owned by Eli-sba Ma- 
thews, Lieutenant Jonas Newell and Captain Abijah 
Bigelow. These, with the old school-house, built in 
1774, that replaced the first, built in 1760, " twenty 
feet square with chimney in the middle,'' occupied 
the present site of the store. In 1816 Joseph Bow- 
man exchanged the land on which the sheds now 
stand with the town for a portion of the land on 
which the store is, and Bowman & Wetherell erected 
the brick store, sixty by thirty feet and thirty feet 
high, at a cost of thirty-five hundred dollars. The 
same year a woodeu building, tweuty-seven by forty- 



three feet, and two storied, was built five hundred 
and fifty feet farther north, the lower part of which 
was used for a school-room and the upper for a hall. 
In 1865 the building was enlarged, the lower part 
converted into a cheese factory and the hall retained. 
In 1861, five school-houses were built; cost, $;5,000. 

In 1837 the New Braintree Temperance House was 
erected by a stock company (co.st, six thousand dol- 
lars) to furnish a place of entertainment free from 
the sale of intoxicating liquors, and for thirty years 
it remained true to its name. It chauged owners 
twice, and was burned in 1880. Much of the stock, 
with a par value of one hundred dollars, sold at 
eight dollars. 

Miscellaneous. — In 1810 the town was visited 
with the spotted fever, and two hundred and forty 
dollars paid for attendance of physicians. In 1860 
pleuro-pneumonia appeared among cattle ; two whole 
herds were slaughtered and five hundred dollars paid 
for relief of the owners. The greatest loss to the town, 
and one which badly defaced the looks of the Cen- 
tre, was by fire, in 1880 — one-third of an acre covered 
with buildings being burned. The cheese factory. Tem- 
perance House and Bigelow House were destroyed, 
and but for the timely assistance of fire companies 
from North and West Brookfield, the church and 
other buildings must have shared the same fate. 
Loss, fifteen thousand dollars. A new cheese factory 
is on site of the old one. A reward of one thousand 
dollars offered failed to find the incendiary. 

March 7, 1832, the New Braintree Thief Detect- 
ing Society was formed, with a membership of forty- 
eight. It has been chiefly a social organization, 
having observed for the last forty years, on the first 
Wednesday in Junuary, nearly every anniversary of 
its formation by a hot turkey supper. Sometimes the 
attendance reaches one hundred-. For many years a 
characteristic feature of society was the annual 
temperance supper, instituted for the encouragement 
of the Temperance House. It was thoroughly dem- 
ocratic. Everybody was expected to attend and re- 
spond to a toast. It was the occasion for much 
badinage, wit and some eloquence. 

The Free Public Library was founded in 1878 on a 
gift of one hundred dollars by F. W. Delano, of Bos- 
ton, and was sustained for a few years by private 
contributions and the exertions of the Young Ladies' 
Literary Society. In 1884 it became the property of 
the town. It numbers eight hundred volumes, well 
selected. 

The Third Regiment State Militia, including, with 
others, one company of militia from this town and 
one comjmuy of grenadiers from New Braintree and 
Oakham jointly, mustered every alternate year on 
the parade-ground granted by Henry Penniman. 
The commissioned colonels of the Third Regiment 
from New Braintree were Samuel Mixter, Louis 
Blackmer, Henry Penniman, Stejjheu Fay, Asa Barr, 
Koswell Converse and Amory H. Bowman. 



NEW BRAINTREE. 



681 



In politics the Federalists, Wbigs and Republicans 
have in succession usually been in a majority. Not- 
able exceptions occurred in the reign of the Know- 
nothing party and in the Presidential election in 
1884, when Blaine and Cleveland polled the same 
number of votes. The greater inequality was in 
1803, when Gerry, the Democratic candidate for Gov- 
ernor, received only one vote against eighty for 
Strong, his opponent. There has been but little dis- 
position for frequent changes in office. Men once 
chosen to office, and proving themselves capable and 
faithful therein, have received the continued support 
of the people. 

In 17% Whitney wrote of the people of New 
Braintree, " They have the reputation of being good 
husbandmen, frugal and industrious, and they live 
much independent." This frugality and industry 
brought most of them a competence and many 
wealth. But this wealth was held in no miserly 
spirit. They could beautify their own homes and 
the Lord's house, erect and sustain a public house of 
entertainment in the interests of temperance, give 
liberally to promote education at home and abroad, 
and in support of all benevolent objects. They were 
liberal in appropriations for musical education. The 
" independent " spirit referred to increased with the 
increase of wealth and intelligence. There was a 
just pride in the relative position the town held 
among other towns and in the character of its men. 

IxDiviDUALS. — Of the early settlers, Capt. Eleazer 
Warner was already a veteran soldier. He was born 
in 1686, and early entered the military service of his 
country during the French and Indian Wars. At 
twenty-seven, was an attendant of a commission sent 
by Governor Dudley to Canada to redeem prisoners 
in the hands of the French ; is on record, at forty, as 
teacher of the first school taught in Brookfield. In 
1822 he married Prudence, sister of Comfort Barnes, 
who built the first house on Brookfield soil, that after- 
ward became New Braintree, and located on the south 
bank of Sucker Brook, opposite to the house of .Ton- 
athan Nye ; removed 1730 to the place known after- 
wards as the " Perez Cobb " place, near the North 
Cemetery, a portion of which house he built. In the 
" History of Hardwick" he is referred to as probably 
the first settler in Hardwick, and his son, Wareham, 
as the first white child born on New Braintree soil ; 
his nephew, Joseph Barnes, was the second. His farm 
included a part of the Indian fort before referred to. 

Three brothers, active in the town's early history, 
were David, James and Jonathan Woods, who came 
from Marlboro' respectively in 1744, 1746 and 1752. 
David was town clerk (1750-78) and assessor ; Jona- 
than, second representative to General Court ; James, 
moderator, treasurer, delegate to Provincial Congress 
and first representative to General Court. Jacob 
Pepper was at least fifty times moderator of town- 
meetings. John Barr, who came from Ireland about 
1730, became the owner of five hundred acres of land 



in the southwestern part of the town, including a 
large part of present School District No. 5. Corne- 
lius Cannon came from Dartmouth in 1737, and set- 
tled on present residence of Mr. Graves. John Pea- 
cock, a native of Ireland, was a soldier in the French 
and Indian War, and his son, John, Jr., an adjutant 
in Col. Timothy Ruggles' regiment, 1757. Oliver 
Cobleigh was also a soldier in that war. The Abbots, 
Barneses, Gilberts and Cannons were all connected by 
marriage, as well as the Peppers, Woods and Barrs. 
Abraham Hunter, the father of all the Hunters ex- 
cept Robert, came in 1753, having purchased a large 
tract of land in the east part of Braintree grant, 
which he divided among his sons and daughters. 
Daniel Matthews, who erected the saw-mill in 1749 
at Webb's Pond, married Huldah, sister of Gen. 
Rufus Putnam. To him the general was apprenticed 
at fifteen years of age. Mr. Matthews was a member 
of Committee of Correspondence and an inspector of 
tea-drinkers, 1774. Wm. Tufts came from Brook- 
field in 1758, purchased land of Richard Faxon, an 
original proprietor, and was for many years a mem- 
ber of the School Committee. 

Joseph Bowman came from Lexington about 1765. 
He was an ensign of a company of fifty men from 
this town who marched to Boston on the report of the 
attack upon the company at Lexington on the 19th 
of April, 1775. He soon after joined the army, and 
commanded a battalion at the battle of Bennington 
and other battles, which resulted in the capture of 
Burgoyne. He was not only a leading man in New 
Braintree, but his family, uniting the blood of the 
Bowmans and Munroes of Lexington, became one of 
the most influential in this part of Worcester County. 
His daughters intermarried with the Delanos, Woods, 
Matthews, Fields, Hoyts, &c., in the town. His son, 
Hon. Joseph Boivman, born September 11, 1771, 
entered mercantile business in his minority in New 
Br lintree without capital or expectation of any. 
His marriage with the sister of his partner, Col. 
Henry Penniman, materially aided him, but he was 
mainly indebted for his success to his untiring energy, 
industry and perseverance, his sagacity, judgment 
and unyielding integrity. He remained in trade 
thirty-five years, and accumulated a large fortune. 
He became the leading merchant in the region, and 
his store the principal place of resort for surrounding 
towns. For twenty-one years he was president of the 
Hampshire Manufacturers' Bank at Ware. In politics 
a Whig, but always reserving the right of individual 
action, independent of party. Office sought him, not 
he the office. He was elected representative to the 
General Court in 1806 and thirteen times thereafter ; 
Senator, 1828-29 ; member of Governor Lincoln's 
Council in 1832-34. He was a liberal supporter of 
religious and educational institutions. In private 
life most agreeable, hospitable, courteous and even- 
tempered. Few retain the confidence of the public 
as long as he. He died January 30, 1852. 



682 



HISTORY OP WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



Henry Penniman came from Mendon, 1785, and 
was for many years the largest landholder in value, 
if not in acreage. His gifts to the town were, in 1795, 
six acres of land for a training-field (value, $333.33), 
east of Centre, and $300 for a new bell in 1800. His 
son, Colonel Henry Penniman, and Joseph Bowman 
gave a new town clock in 1802; was partner in 
trade with Mr. Bowman 1793-1813; also gave an 
organ for the church, and his family supplied it with 
players for more than thirty years, one daughter 
commencing at nine years of age. Colonel Penniman 
was a trustee and a liberal donor to the funds of 
Amherst College; was much in town affairs and twice 
Representative, but declined more honors. 

Lieutenant Samuel Mister came from Brookfield, 
1775, and reared a large family, who became con- 
nected by marriage with the Tidds, Popes and Greens. 
His son, Honorable Samuel Mister, was in nearly 
every town office, and settled estates, etc. ; Repre- 
sentative, 1818-19; Senator, 1833-35; Councillor, 
1837-38. A man of great native sagacity and in- 
fluence. 

The three brothers Tidd came from Lesington 
(Ebenezer and Joseph, 1768), the former receiving by 
his father a large portion of the farm formerly occu- 
pied by Hollia Tidd, the latter the farm now occupied 
by Mr. Mahan. Benjamin came in 1790, and located 
where Frank Roch now lives. He was a member of 
the company under Parker that took part in the 
struggle at Lexington, April 19th, at Cambridge, 
June 17th, and served Dorchester the following year. 
Ebenezer, as well as his sou Hollis, were prominent 
men ; the latter was an aid to General Crawford, 
School Committee over thirty years ; Representative, 
and filled other offices. The limited space allotted to 
New Braintree in this history of the county forbids 
mention, as they deserve, of many others equally 
prominent and influential, such as Captain Benjamin 
Joslyn, Gideon and Philip Delano (the latter a model 
town clerk for thirty-four years), Elisha Mathews, 
Colonel Roswell Converse (who, in compliance with 
Dr. Fiske's wish, bought and fitted a parsonage, run- 
ning the risk of returns for the investment), Josiah 
Gleason, Amasa Bigelovv, James Bowdoin and scores 
of others (not omitting the women), some of whose 
names are on record and more not, all of whom con- 
tributed equally, by private virtues as well as public 
services, to make the town in a peculiar sense a 
representative New England town. 

Of the original settlers the following are, with one 
or two exceptions, resident descendants : 

David Woods. I Hon- Bouum Nye. 
1 Mrs. Wm. Bowdoin. 



James Woods. 

John Barr 

and 
Jona. Woods 



Mrs. D. G. Barr. 



D. G. Barr. 



t Moses Thompson. 
James Thompson. I C. B. Thompson. 

' Miss E. A. Hoyt. 
Eleazer Warner. ■! R. P. Warner. 



■{ 



Wm. Anderson. ] Wm. E. Anderson. 
Jacob Nichols. | H. L. Pollard. 



Sam'l Harrington. 
Abraham Hunter. 



Wm. Tufts. 



Adam Homes. 



j Nath'l Harrington. 

f John Hunter. 
1 Mary Hunter. 
r Hon. Washington Tufts, who, a life- 
I long Democrat, was sent, 1875, to 
, the State Senate from a Republican 

district. 
I Geo. K. Tufts. 
I Mrs. C. Wilcox. 
1 Mrs. D. Wetherill. 



John Barr. ^ J. H. Barr. 

George Woods, j Mrs. J. H. Barr. 
Jona. Woods, i 

and i Geo. D. Woods. 

Jacob Pepper. ( 
Joseph Pepper. ] All of that name. 

Ebenezer Tidd. | Mrs. J. P. Gleason. 

Benjamin Tidd. ] Mrs. Charles Burt. 

H. A. Hoyt. 

, „ Geo. K. Tufts. 

Joseph Bowman. < ht- t-. a tt i 

' Miss E. A. Hoyt. 

Mrs. H. M. Tufts. 

T^ • 1 lu fi, I Mrs. H. M. Tufts. 

Daniel Mathews. < ^, ^, ^ ^ 
I Geo. K. Tufts. 

Location. — So far as known, the original settlers 
located themselves as follows, the second column 
indicating present occupants of their farms, with due 
allowance for additions and subtractions incidental 
to a century and a half: 

Former. Presunt. 

JaiiiL'B Robinaou Col. Roijiusou Place, Hurdwick 

Julin Wilson Tlioiiiaa Loring 

James ThonilJaon Eat. M. H. Fay 

Jotia, Cobleigh E. of Geo NeeiUiain 

Julin Blair Joaitib Buali, near Pond 

Jacob JJichola H. L. Pollard 

John Barr .Tohn Cooney, where house was bnmed 

Abram Joslyn Edwin Hoar 

Joseph Little C. P. and H. I, Howard 

Eleazer Warner L. Crawford, "Perez Cobb house" 

BiTiali Hawee, DenniaHealey, on discontinued road to Ilardwick 

Kdwanl Blair Jerry Mara 

Bavid Woods Alfred Buyden 

James Woods Horatio Sloore 

John Barr J. E. Fobes, John Sibley, M. Greenwood, P. 

Monahan. 

Samuel .Steele Geo. P. Vaughn 

George Wooda W. W. Gray 

David Ayera Francis Shaw 

Phinelias Wurner J. H. Thresher 

Wm. Anderson Wm. E. Andereon 




^^c 



^;? 



NEW BRAINTREE. 



683 



Samuel Ware Geo. F. Snow 

Warehani Warner John O'Brien 

Juseph Pepper Wtn. A. and E. Pepper 

Jacob Pepper J. E. Barr 

Dloees Abbot Dwight Tyler 

David and Jona. Gilburt M. Cota 

Sarah Barnes John Cooney,,opp. side of brook 

Ebenezer Spoouer M. D. PecUliaiii 

Wui. Tufts John P.Day 

Abraham Hunter J. P. Hunter, H. Moore, M, lago, J. D. 

Frost and pt. by John Danbruskie 

Adam Homes John Danbrusliie 

Cornelius Cannon M. Graves 

The cemetery in District No. 3 was given, in 1756, 
to the town by Edward Blair. For many facts and 
dates the writer is indebted to Mr. George D. Woods; 
for some facts relative to that portion of ihe town for- 
merly in Haidwick, to the " History of Hardwick" 
to C. B. Tillingbast, acting State librarian, for his 
uniform courtesy and assistance in furnishing access 
to original documents. 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 

BENJAMIN F. HAMILTON. 

Benjamin F. Hamilton, son of William and Rhoda 
Hamilton, and a direct descendant in the fourth 
generation of James Hamilton, father of Alexander 
Hamilton, of Revolutionary fame, was born in Con- 
way, February 18, 1809. He received a common- 
school education in his native town. His was one of 
the old families of the town, and the name Hamilton 
was the name of the leading physician of Conway 
for nearly a hundred years. During his minority he 
engaged with his brother and uncle in the manufac- 
ture of woolens. 

To him much was intrusted of the buying, selling 
and general management of the business. The de- 
pression in American manufacturing in competition 
with that of England after the declaration of peace 
following the War of 1812 rendering the business 
unproiitable, Mr. Hamilton went to Taunton as a 
clerk. From Taunton, in 1829, when twenty years 
of age, he came to Barre, in the employ of Harding, 
Woods & Co., as a clerk and book-keeper in their 
general store, remaining for six of the most receptive 
years of his life in one of the best kind of schools 
for the study of human nature that ever existed. 
Mr. Woods endorsed his services with him in this 
remark, that " He had been one of the most faithful, 
accurate and honest clerks he ever had in his em- 
ploy." While in Barre he married Catherine Wil- 
son, who died December 16, 1837, and by whom he 
had one child — Catherine — born December 11, 1837, 
who also died. 

In 1835 he purchased of Amory H. Bowman his 
stock of goods in the old " Brick Store," and came 
first to reside in New Braintree. Here he remained 
until 1840, then removed to Petersham, where, in 
company with Sampson Wetherell, he engaged in 



the same kind of business. It was customary then 
for country traders to purchase large quantities of 
leaf, parcel it out among their customers to be 
braided into hats, then buy the hats and pay for the 
same from the store. The depression in the hat 
business, and the consequent failure of many large 
houses, caused the failure of many smaller firms, of 
which Hamilton & Wetherell were one. Mr. Hamil- 
ton returned to New Braintree, and spent the re- 
mainder of his days in farming. 

May 27, 18-H, he married Hannah D. Gleason, 
daughter of Josiah Gleason, of New Braintree. 
During his residence in New Braintree he was 
closely identified with its interests, civil, parochial, 
business and political, and was, for a longer or 
shorter time, the official head of all of them. He 
was thoroughly faithful to all these interests while in 
his charge. 

From 1863-68 he was a member of the Board of 
Selectmen, one year its chairman. For the first fif- 
teen years of its existence he was a director of the New 
Braintree Cheese Manufacturing Company, and five 
years its president. For eighteen years he was a 
member of the Parish Committee, and much of the 
time its chairman. It was a favorite saying of his 
that " He had been a member of this Parish for a 
longer consecutive time, and paid a parish tax a 
greater number of years, than any other living mem- 
ber, with perhaps one exception." In his theological 
views he was diametrically opposed to the tenets 
held by the various preachers, to whom he listened 
nearly forty years, but in the practical af)plication of 
religious truth he stood upon the broad ground, so 
common to many men of all denominations, that 
" Faith without works is dead also," — a doctrine that 
an eminent divine once said would have classed the 
Apostle James as a Unitarian had he lived in our 
day. 

Channing, the great apostle of Unitarianism, never 
had a more devout admirer than Mr. Hamilton. 
To say that he was always cool and deliberate in 
judgment, or wise and temperate in action, would be 
to say more than he would have said of himself. He 
was always true to his convictions an I fearless in 
their expression. He believed that truth was its 
own greatest safeguard and its declaration better 
than its suppression. 

Besides, he never hit a man in the back ; his 
blows were always in front, and whatever criticisms 
he had to make were made in so open a manner that 
the one criticised had ample opportunity to defend 
himself. If he sometimes went to extremes, he 
never did things by halves. If he was impulsive, he 
was also generous. He was methodical in business, 
paying close attention to details, enterprising and 
public-spirited. He died August 28, 1884. 



684 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



J. p. GLEASON. 

Josiah Parsons Gleason, son of Josiah and Mary 
(Hitchcock) Gleason, was born in New Braiiitree, May 
15, 1S22. His early education was mainly obtained in 
the district-schools of his native town, supplemented 
with a term or two each at Leicester Academy in 
1835, at Phillips Academy, Andover, 1836, and at 
Munson Academy and Hadley in 1839. In 1837 and 
'38 he was clerk in the store of his brother-in-law, J. 
S. Marsh, in Hardwick, Mass. He became the home 
son and at the death of his father came into possession 
of the "Homestead " of about 250 acres, situated on 
the west slope of Fort Hill, overlooking the beautiful 
valley of the Ware River, and one of the most pro- 
ductive farms in New Braintree. 

He was a member of the Board of Selectmen from 
18(55 to 1884, excepting 1808, and several years its 
chairman ; assessor from 1867-80. He was always 
the scribe of both boards, and the entire transactions 
of both during his membership are recorded in his 
bold, legible handwriting. His public as well as 
private affairs have always been conducted on busi- 
ness principles, with promptness, accuracy, thorough- 
ness and system. He has always advocated a liberal, 
but never extravagant, expenditure of the public 
funds, both for the general interests for which the 
town provides, such as schools, etc., as well as for 
special objects which the law does not make obligatory. 

In politics he has always held it to be the right 
of the individual to form his opinions and act in 
accordance with his own convictions, independent of 
the opinions or acts of others, although by so doing 
he occupied a position oi>posed to the party to which 
he nominally belonged. Hence he has found himself 
at different times allied to both parties. In his early 
life he was much in general society, but later a family 
of wife and eiL'ht children furnished him with ample 
opportunities for the play of h's social faculties, and 
this devotion to home has been fully reciprocated 
even after its younger members had grown to ma- 
turity and made homes of their own. 

He married, November 21, 1849, Mary Newton 
Makepeace, born May 19, 1822 ; died September 16, 
1855. His children by this marriage were : Josiah 
Makepeace, born September 11, 1850, died March 
2, 1852; Mary Parsons, born May 29, 1852 ; Robert 
Rantoul, born September 7, 1855, died September 
22, 1855; Albert Makepeace, born September 7, 18.55. 

He married, February 24, 1859, Ellen Augusta Tidd, 
daughter of Hollis Tidd, Esq., born April 30, 1831, 
The children by this marriage are : Edward Hollis, 
born February 4, 1860 ; Herbert Parsons, born Au- 
gust 1, 1861; Alexander DeWitt, born March 1, 1863; 
George Davis, born November 21, 1864 ; Ronald 
Prentiss, born August 24, 1866 ; Alice Hamilton, born 
October 15, 1870. 

Albert Makepeace Gleason married, September 8, 
1883, Elizabeth Aiken, of Greenfield. 

Edward Hollis Gleason married. May 80, 1885, 



Julia Hamilton, of Boston. Children: Ellen Harris, 
born August 23, 18SG; Hollis Tidd, born April 13, 
1888. 



CHARLES EAMES. 

Charles Eames was a native of New Braintree. 
His mother was a descendant of the Ebenezer Tidd 
who emigrated from Lexington to this place in 1768. 
He was fitted for college when twelve years of age, 
but did not enter till the next year. He graduated at 
Harvard at the age of eighteen, the first scholar in a 
class in which were Wendell Phillips and Motley, the 
historian, with both of whom his friendship lasted 
till his death. In early life he acquired fame by his 
eloquence and rare oratorical powers. At the close of 
Mr. Polk's administration he was appointed commis- 
sioner to the Sandwich Islands, to make a commercial 
treaty with that government, which he accomplished. 
President Pierce appointed him Minister Resident at 
Caraccas, Venezuela, with which government he also 
negotiated a treaty. On his return from that country 
he resumed the practice of law in Washington. 

During the War of the Rebellion he was counsel 
for the Navy Department and the captors in all the 
prize cases, and for the Treasury Department in all 
the cotton cases. It was in arguing before the 
Supreme Court of the United States the great prize 
case of the "Sir William Peel," in which William M. 
Evarts was the opposing counsel, that he was stricken 
down with the disease that terminated fatally in two 
months. He rallied sufficiently in a month to appear 
again in the Supreme Court as counsel for the navy 
and the captors in the great prize case of the " Grey 
JacKet," involving a million of dollars, which he 
gained for the government, and that ended his pro- 
fessional career. He died March 16, 1867, in his 
fifty-fifth year. For many years his house was a great 
centre of celebrities in politics, jurisprudence, letters, 
art and society. Governor Andrew, in a notice of his 
death which he wrote for a Boston newspaper, said : 
" I think this tribute is due to a native of Massachu- 
setts, the first scholar in his class at Cambridge, and 
a lawyer who has won the leading reputation for his 
mastery of the learning of Prize, and the various 
other questions arising out of the War of the Rebel- 
lion, involving, as they do under our special national 
statutes, a great, difiicult and philosophical branch of 
judicial study. 

" Mr. Eames was the special counsel of the Treasury 
Department in all the great cotton cases, in which he 
has displayed alike ingenuity and native sagacity and 
skill. 

"Many of our Ma-sachusetts people will always re- 
member the house of Mr. and Mrs. Eames as the most 
hospitable, agreeable and attractive house in Wash- 
ington. With great simplicity, but with every charm 
of gracious and cordial manners, they received con- 
stantly, informally, and for years. There all the be.-»t 
and strongest men were to be seen, and though not 




f-''WWi 




^^^^-^^^^ 






^t,^t^'?^^V,_^£_Y^ 




'^^^^T-ti/x^'^-.it/ ^^^/T^T^-Z^-rTT.^ 



NEW BRAINTREE. 



685 



exclusive in a political sense in their friends, Mr. 
Eames was still, while with Democratic antecedents, 
warmly and faithfully loyal to the most advanced 
ideas, both during and since our struggle with the 
rebels. His employment professionally by the gov- 
ernment in no sense seemed to compromise his thor- 
ough and manly regard for the truth, as it naturally 
lay in the mind of a man trained to tliink, and edu- 
cated in the original ideas of Massachusetts. To his 
birthplace, to his native Commonwealth, he was faith- 
fully and warmly attached." 

Ah International Episode. — "By a curious coinci- 
dence, just as our attention is turned to Mr. Sandham's 
notable painting of the 'Battle of Lexington,' I 
have received a call to-day from a Scotch gentleman 
who is the great-great-grandson of Major Pitcairn. 
He was greatly interested in our Pitcairn pistols and 
other relics, and spent several hours in looking about 
town. To make the coincidence still more striking, 
his wife, who accompanied him (an American ladyl, 
is a descendant of Joseph Tidd, who lived in the old 
Tidd homestead, which is still standing in Lexington, 
and whose sons, Benjamin and John, were in Captain 
Parker's company on the 19th of April, 1775. 

" It is related by this John Tidd that, being one of 
the last to leave the Common, he was pursued by the 
British, struck down and robbed of his arms. At the 
same time his cousin. Lieutenant William Tidd, re- 
treating up Hancock St., was chased by a British 
officer (supposed to be Pitcairn), who cried out, 'Stop 
or you're a dead man.' The plucky lieutenant sprang 
over a pair of bars, made a siand, took aim and fired 
at his pursuer, who dodged the shot, wheeled about, 
and hastened back to join his men. That a de- 
scendant of this ' Britisher ' should, after one hundred 
years, marry a descendant of this ' rebel,' and that 
the two should to-day come with eagerness to see, for 
the first time, the spot where their ancestors fought 
against each other, is a fact as strange as anything in 
fiction. Cupid has healed many a wound, but he was 
more than usually adroit when he contrived that a 
Pitcairn should at last marry a Tidd." 



MOSES THOMPSON. 

Moses Thompson, son of Nathan and grandson of 
James Thompson, the first captain of militia in 
town, whom, under the title of their "well-beloved 
and faithful'' friend, the inhabitants of '' Braintree 
Farms " selected from among their number to con- 
vey their petition to the non-resident proprietors, and 
secure their co-operation in their efforts to become 
incorporated as a town, and who afterwards bore 
the petition for incorporation to the General Court, 
was born in the south room of the house now belong- 
ing to the estate of M. H. Fay, formerly the resi- 
dence of his grandfather. 

November 21, 1807, when James Thompson first 
came to reside here, there was only one standing 



tree on the farm — a rock maple. The whole terri- 
tory of the " Farms " had been burned over by the 
Indians, to afford pasturage for deer. 

Nathan, the father, died when Moses was seven 
years old. He remained with his mother three years, 
then went to live with Moses Felton, where he re- 
mained four years, and afterward two years with 
Joseph Bowman. His mother having bought the 
farm now owned by Michael Boyle, on the road to 
West Brookfield from Wait's Corner, Moses went to 
live with her. 

At twenty-two he bought of Baxter Ayres a farm 
in North Brookfield, where he remained five years. 
While there he married, June 29, 1830, Hannah 
Bush, daughter of Josiah and Molly Bush, born 
December 4, 1811, who has been a faithful and de- 
voted wife and mother. They came to New Brain- 
tree in 1831, and bought of Daniel Woods the home- 
stead they now occupy. This farm Mr. Thompson has 
about doubled in area since the original purchase. 
Mr. Thompson is the only living original member of 
the Congregational Parish, that has always retained 
his connection with it. He was for many years its 
treasurer and collector and a member of its commit- 
tee annually chosen to manage its affairs. He held 
the office of tovirn treasurer, with the exception of 
two years, from 1858 to 1884, and for some years had 
the sole management of its town farm, with its 
occupants. He is conspicuous for the same traits 
that created public confidence in his grandfather, and 
his faithfulness, integrity and good sense have espe- 
cially characterized his public and private dealings. 
He likes trust and responsibility. He has always 
been a constant attendant of divine worship (includ- 
ing fast and thanksgiving days), and a constant and 
liberal supporter of religious institutions, not from 
impulse, but from principle, and equally liberal in 
his support of schools. 

He is peculiarly fond of his family and friends, of 
visiting and receiving visits, and seldom is to be seen 
riding unaccompanied by one or more of his grand- 
children. He is a descendiint, through his moiher, 
Molly Doty, of Edward Doty, who came over in the 
"Mayflower" in 1620, "and was a party to the first 
duel fought by Englishmen in New England." 

His children are : Charles Bush, born September 
20, 1834; Nathan, born August 26, 1837; Harriet 
Delia, born November 6, 1841. 

Of these, Charles married, January 23,1858, Eliza- 
beth D. Fagan, born February 6, 1837. Their chil- 
dren are: George Hilliard, born May 22, 1863; An- 
nah Maria, born April 30, 1865, died April 13, 1877; 
Frances Hunter, born May 21, 1867; Harry William, 
born November 8, 1873, died April 8, 1877 ; Charles 
Moses, born September 13, 1875, died April 6, 1877 ; 
Ethel Garfield, born September 21, 1878 ; Gertrude 
Elizabeth, born February 14, 1884. 

Of these, George Hilliard married, December 10, 
1887, Adelaide Wight, born June 28, 1863. They 



G8G 



HISTORY OP WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



have one child — Georgia Elizabeth — born September 
10, 1888. 

Nathan (to whom further reference is made in list 
of educated men) married, January 1, 1870, Mary E. 
Dartt. Their children are: Clarence Dartt, born 
February 14, 1871, died September 10, 1871 ; Mary 
Florence, born January 3, 1873; Helen Morton, born 
March 9, 1875. 

Harriet Delia married, April 9, 1874, L. Kirke 
Harlow, who died March 1.5, 1887. 



CHAPTEB, LXXXVII. 

LEICESTER. 

BY REV. A. H. COOLIDGE. 
SETTLEMENT. 

Location — Indian Deed — Proprietors — Incorporation ~ Settlemml — Bardahips 
— Snow Storm — TItomas Green— Strwj'jleB — Uiiriil Life — Houses — BlilU 
— LovelVi Wai — Fortifii'd Houses — UiKonraxjements — Spencer "set 
ojfy^^ also parts of Paxhn and Auburn — Cyclone. 

The town of Leicester stands upon the ridge of the 
water-shed of Central Massachusetts, one thousand and 
seven feet above the sea level. Its waters flow east- 
erly, through Lynde and Kettle Brooks, into the 
Blackstone River; southerly, through French Eiver, 
into the Quinebaug and Thames, and westerly from 
Shaw Pond, through the Chicopee River, into the 
Connecticut. Lynde Brook Reservoir, on the east, 
is one of the sources of water supply for Worcester, 
and Shaw Pond, on the we.st, is the source of the 
supply for Spencer. Leicester is about forty-eight 
miles from Boston. It is six miles west of Worcester 
and five hundred feet above that city. Its location is 
42° 14' 49" north latitude, and 71° 54' 47" west 
longitude. 

Its villages are the Centre, at first called Strawberry 
Hill ; Cherry Valley, two miles east of the Centre, 
generally so-called since 1820; Rochdale, at first 
South Leicester, named Clappville, from Joshua 
Clapp, who purchased the mill property in 1829, and 
changed to Roiihdale in November, 1869; Greenville, 
which about the middle of the present century began 
to be so called from its founder. Captain Samuel 
Green ; Manuville, two miles north of the Centre, 
which was named after Mr. Billings Mann about the 
year 1856 ; and Lakeside, which has come to be so 
called within a few years. The northeast part of the 
town is called " Mulberry Grove," the name being 
first given in 1827 to the estate of Silas Earle, on 
wbich he raised mulberry trees and produced silk 
from the silk-worm. 

At the time of its original purchase the township 
of l^eicester was a part of the extended domain of the 
Nipmuck tribe of Indians. The character of this tribe 



had been greatly changed, and many of its members 
had been converted to Christianity through the labors 
of John Eliot and Daniel Gookin. Gookin, in his 
" Historical Collections," mentions seven " new pray- 
ing towns" among the Nipmuck Indians. One of these 
was in Oxford and another was Pacachoag, in Wor- 
cester and the southeastern border of Leicester. That 
the Indians of Leicester had been brought under the 
same influences is indicated by the fact that one of the 
signers of the deed is styled '" deacon." Few Indian 
relics have been found here, there are few Indian tra- 
ditions, and there is little to indicate that the place 
ever had a considerable native population, although 
it was of sufficient importance to have a sachem. 

The Massachusetts Colony, like the Plymouth, re- 
cognized the claim of the aborigines to the land, and 
secured it of them by fair purchase. The territory 
embracing Leicester, Spencer, a pait of Paxton and 
a small portion of Auburn was bought of the Indians 
by nine gentlemen of Roxbury and vicinity, who be- 
came the original "Associate Proprietors." The 
sachem, Oraskaso, had recently died, and the deed is 
signed by his heirs. The price paid for the laud was 
fifteen pounds. New England money. 

The deed is an interesting historical document. It 
declares 

TlKit the heii-8 of Oraskaso, Sachem of a place called Towtaid, situate 
and lying near the new town of the English, called Worcester, with all 
others which may, under them, belong nntu the same place aforesaid, 
Towtaid, these heirs being two women, with their husbands, newly 
married; which, being hy name called Philip Tray, with his wife, 
Momokhue; and John Wampkson, with Waiwaynom, his wife, for 
divers good causes ami considerations us thereunto moving ; and more 
especially for and in consideration of the sum of fifteen pounds, current 
money of New England to us in hand paid by Joshua Lamb, Na- 
thaniel Page, Andrew Gardner, Benjamin Gamblin, Benjamin Tucker, 
John Curtice, Richard Draper and Samuel Ruggles, with Half Brad- 
hurst, of Ruxbury, in the county of Suffolk, in New England, the re- 
ceipt of which we do fully acknowledge ourselves to be fully satisfied and 

paid, have given a certain tract of land coutiiining, by estimation, 

eight miles square, situate, lying and being near Worcester aforesaid, 
abutting southerly, on the lands of Joseph Dudley, Esq., lately pur- 
chased of the Indians ; and westerly, the most southernmost corner of a 
little pond called I'aupakquamcock, then to a bill called Wakapukotow- 
now, and from thence to a little hill called Mossonachud, and unto a 
great hill, called Aspomsok ; and so then easterly, upon a line, until it 
comes against Worcester bounds, and joins unto their bounds ; or how- 
soever otherwise abutted and bounded, &c. 

In witness whereof, the said Philip Tray and Momokhue, and John 
Wampscou, Waiwaynow, being their wives, have hereunto set their 
hands and seals, this twenty-seventh day of January, anno Domini^ one 
thousand six hundred and eighty-six. 

Signed, sealed and delivered, in presence of us : 

Phillip Tuay X his mark. [Seal.] 
Momokhue Tr-kt X her mark. [Seal ] 
John Wamscon. [Seal.] 
Waiwaynow Wamscon X her mark. [Seal.] 
Wandwoasiag, X the deacon, his mark. [Seal.] 
Jonas, his X wife's mark. [Seal.] 

Tom Tray X his mark. 

No.vAWANO X his mark. 

Cai'T. Moogus X his mark. 

Andrew Pitteme x his mark. 

The deed was acknowledged before William Stough- 
ton, " one of his Majesty's Council, of his territory 
and dominions of New England," June 1, 1087. 

Twenty-seven years afterward the number of proprie- 



LEICESTER. 



687 



tors was increased to twenty-two. They were men of 
wealth and influence, and some of them were owners 
of large tracts of laud in other towns of Central Massa- 
chusetts. None of them ever settled in Leicester. 
The purchase was a pecuniary investment, but was 
also designed to encourage the speedy settlement of 
the province. 

The speculative venture was, however, for a long 
time unremunerative, and Towtaid remained for 
almost twenty seven years an unbroken wilderness. 
The period was unpropitious for interior setilement, 
and it was well that none was undertaken. Leicester 
was thus saved from perils and horrors to which other 
towns were subjected, while her primeval forests 
waited in silence for more peaceful occupation. 
Under the influence of the Christian religion, the 
Nipmuck Indians had become a peaceable and 
friendly people ; but upon the outbreak of King 
Phillip's War, they became divided and broken. 
That wily and powerful chief came among them, and 
by persuasions and threats, and by the lorce of his 
fiery eloquence, won a portion of them to his cause. 
Many of them remained true to their English neigh- 
bors ; but others followed their great leader. Their 
savage instincts were reawakened, they took the war- 
path, and brought disaster and ruin to the scattered 
settlements. In this, and the successive French and 
Indian Wars, all the earlier settlements of Central 
Massachusetts were broken up. Worcester was twice 
attacked, and the colonisls killed or driven out. 
Lancaster was burned, and its people massacred. 
Brookfield suffered the same fate; and the interesting 
colony of Huguenots in Oxford, were attacked, and 
forced to abandon their homes, their vineyards, their 
church and the burial-place of their dead. 

There was little encouragement in circumstances so 
adverse to seek homes on the bleak hills of Leicester, 
in the heart of the Indian territory. 

After the close of the French war in 1713, measures 
were taken to make the grant available. The original 
deed was recorded March Sth, 1713-14. The title 
bad been confirmed by the General Court, February 
15th, with the usual conditions, that portions of the 
land should be reserved for the Gospel ministry, and 
for a school, and that within seven years fifty families 
should settle themselves, with reasonable provision 
for self-defence, on a part of the land. This was a 
virtual, and indeed is the only, act of incorporation of 
the town of Leicester. 

The early English explorers found on Leicester 
hill a luxuriant growth of strawberries, and therefore 
gave the place the name of Strawberry Hill, which it 
had hitherto retained. It now received the name of 
Leicester, and was assigned to Middlesex County. 
It was on the 23d day of the same month that 
the number of proprietors was increased from nine 
to twenty-two. At this meeting the proprietors 
voted_ to offer one-half of the town to settlers, and 
chose a couimiltee, consisting of Colonel William 



Dudley, Captain Joshua Lamb, Captain Thomas 
Howe and Captain Samuel Euggles, to determine 
which half should be opened for settlement, and which 
should be reserved for later and more advantageous 
sale. They decided to offer for occupation the eastern 
half. On the 14th day of Jlay the allotment was 
made ; and the next day the committee came to 
Leicester to locate the lots. In June the township 
was, by order of the General Court, surveyed by John 
Chandler, " to fix the bounds." 

Fifty " house-lots," of from thirty to fifty acres each, 
were laid out, and sold for one shilling an acre, with 
" after rights " of one hundred acres for each ten acres 
of " house-lot." Thus the purchaser secured a farm 
of five hundred and fifty acres for fifty shillings. The 
lots were to be settled in three years or forfeited for 
the benefit of the public. One lot of forty acres was 
to be reserved for the ministry, one of one hundred 
acres for schools, and three lots of thirty acres each 
for mills. 

Special grants were also made of seven and a half 
acres of "meadow," to each lot, for "feed." These 
meadows were evidently regarded as of special v.alue ; 
but the event has proved that the hilly ridges and 
slopes are more productive. The cedar swamps were 
left undivided. 

The lots were numbered, and the purchasers drew 
for choice. The first choice was drawn by John 
Stebbins. He chose the lot on Strawberry Hill, on 
which the house of Kev. Samuel May now stands. 
Here the first house in town was probably built. 

At a meeting of the proprietors, held July 23, 1722 
a committee of the proprietors was appointed to con- 
vey deeds to those who had complied with the terms 
of purchase. The deed itself was not, however, ex- 
ecuted till January 11, 1724, (O. S.), more than forty- 
seven years after the purchase of the town. It was 
recorded November 29, 1729. 

The names of purchasers were John Stebbins, 
Joseph Stebbins, James Wilson, Samuel Green, 
Arthur Carey, Moses Stockbridge, Hezekiah Euss, 
John Peters, William Brown, Thomas Hopkins, 
Daniel Denny, John Smith, Ralph Earle, Nathaniel 
Kanney, Samuel Stimpson, Benjamin Woodbridge 
John Lynde, Josiah Winslow, Josiah Langdon, 
Joshua Henshaw, Joseph Parsons, Nathaniel Rich- 
ardson, John Menzies, Joseph Sargent, Daniel Liver- 
more, James Southgate, Daniel Parker, William 
Brown, Thomas Baker, Richard Southgate, William 
Green, Samuel Prince, Dorothy Friar, Thomas Dexter, 
William Kean, James Winslow, Stephen Winchester, 
Paul Dudley, John King. 

Thomas Baker and Joseph Parsons did not settle 
in Leicester. 

These men and their families, and those who had 
already joined them, together with those who soon 
afterward united their fortunes witii the infant colony, 
were the founders of Leicester. Some of them were 
men of superior quality. To the hardships and toils 



GS8 



HISTORY OP WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



of these pioneer families, to their intellectual and 
moral character and their Christian fortitude, the town 
is largely indebted for its prosperity and its worthy 
standing and honorable history. 

The settlement of the place began soon after the 
allotment was made. In a few instances the purchasers 
engaged families to hold the lots for them, but others 
took direct possession. 

According to early traditions, the first inhabitants 
found upon their arrival a solitary hermit, named 
Arthur Carey, living on the hill which from him was 
named Carey's Hill. Whitney, in his County History, 
states that he " went thither and digged a cave in the 
side of this hill, and lived there as a hermit many 
years, while that part of the country was in its wilder- 
ness state." What were his feelings wlien his solitude 
was disturbed by the approach of civilization no one 
now can tell, nor what had been the romance or the 
tragedy of his life, nor why he had retired from the 
world and buried himself in the lonely forest. 

Leicester was then an unbroken wilderness. Wor- 
cester was just beginning, for the third time, to be re- 
settled. There was no settlement of whites, except 
Brookfield, between Leicester and the Connecticut 
River. Bears and wolves and wild-cats and moose 
and other wild beasts roamed undisturbed in the 
forests, and the place was infested with serpents. 
The dams and curious homes of the beaver were long 
afterward visible in the meadows. There were, as 
late as 1740, pits for the capture of wolves ; and the 
names "Moose Hill," "Raccoon Hill" and "Rattle- 
snake Hill" are suggestive of realities familiar to the 
early inhabitants, while " Bald Hill " stood peculiar 
as a tract of land which had been already cleared. 

The first town-meeting of which there is any record 
was on March 6, 1721-22, although meetings had evi- 
dently been held for two or three years previously. 
A meeting-house had already been built. Judge John 
Menzes^had served the town in the General Court the 
year before, and was re-elected the two succeeding 
years. He declined any remuneration for bis services, 
"being fully satisfied and paid." The precedent thus 
established was so popular that when, in 1724, a suc- 
cessor was to be elected, it was voted that whoever 
should be chosen "should be paid the same as Judge 
Menzes and no other." Lieutenant Thomas Newhall 
was then elected "to serve on the above conditions." 

At the first recorded town-meeting Samuel Green 
was chosen moderator, first selectman, first assessor 
and grand juror. The town offices then were the same 
as those now filled at town-meeting. Two tithing- 
men were also elected to keep order in the meeting- 
house. 

At first the families were sheltered in rude log- 
houses. The first impression which one of these 
houses made upon the mind of a little child is indica- 
tive of their outward aspect. Daniel Henshaw came 
to Leicester about thirty-four years after its first set- 
tlement to take possession of a house already built for 



the family. The household goods had been moved 
from Boston on an ox-cart. As the family approached 
the house, by the narrow cart-path, the little daughter 
exclaimed "Oh, father, this is Leicester jail, isn't it? " 
In this household was a dog, named Hero, which came 
with the family from Boston. There was then no 
regular means of communication with the outside 
world, and Hero was for several years the mail-carrier 
of the family. Receiving verbal instructions as to his 
destination, he hastened at a rapid pace to Boston, 
with letters fastened to his neck, delivered them as 
directed, and after rest and refreshment returned with 
letters to the home friends. 

In February and March of 1717, when there were 
only a few families here, and these were provided with 
hardly more than temporary shelters, the whole of 
New England was visited with a series of snow storms 
of almost unparalleled severity. For several weeks 
no mails could reach Boston, and when they came 
they were brought by men on snow-shoes. The low 
houses were covered so that in some cases the chim- 
neys could not be seen. Families for days were prison- 
ers in their own houses, and first made their exit from 
the atlic windows. Many domestic animals perished, 
and some were said to have been rescued alive week.s 
afterward. After the storm ceased, cattle could be seen 
walking over drifts twelve feet deep, and feeding upon 
twigs on the tops of trees. Such was the welcome of 
these hills to the men and women who settled Lei- 
cester. 

It was not far from this time that Dr. Thomas Green, 
then a boy of eighteen years, was left alone, in the 
summer, in charge of his father's cattle. Attacked 
with a fever, he sheltered himself under a shelving 
rock, by the stream on which his father's mill after- 
ward stood. Here, alone in the wilderness, his shrewd- 
ness saved him. He tied one of the calves within 
reach, and as the cow came to it, nourished himself 
with her milk. In this distressing condition he re- 
mained till found by passing land-owners, in the vicin- 
ity. They hastened on to inform his friends. His 
father at once came and removed him back to Mai- 
den, on horseback — a four days' journey. 

The progress of the settlement for many years was 
slow. Its location was isolated, and the people, on 
their scattered farms, must have been lonely in the 
extreme. Expected and unexpected difficulties op- 
posed their prosperity. The soil was hard and cold, 
although in many parts rich and strong. They cut 
down the forests and cleared the fields, they were busy 
"breaking stubble," "ditching meddows," "split- 
ting ye hills," and making roads. They struggled with 
rocks, and winds, and snow, and sufl'ered from cold, 
the degrees of which there were no thermometers to 
mark. Portions of the town were infested with rat- 
tlesnakes, and as now there were various enemies to 
vegetation. A bounty of "Six Pence pr. hed"wa3 
voted by the town " for killing Battel Snakes/' In 
one year, nearly a quarter of a century after the incor- 



LEICESTER. 



689 



poration of the town, Benjamin Richardson received 
eleven shillings as a bounty for killing twenty-eight 
rattlesnakes ; and in 1740 the town paid in bounties 
forty-one pounds and three pence "for killing rattle- 
snakes, jays, red and gray squirrels, red-headed wood- 
peckers, and black birds," and even then there were 
" pits '' for the capture of wolves. 

The life of the town in the last century was primi- 
tive and rural. The cattle ran at large, and the office 
of " hog rieVe " was no sinecure. In the town records 
are voluminous minutes of the special marks which 
each person adopted to distinguish his own cattle; 
and of the horses, cows, hogs, " hiffers," " steares," 
etc., which had " strayed " and were " taken up in 
damiag." The question annually came up whether 
" horses might go at large, being fettered and clogged 
as the law directs," and whether "hoggs" .should "go 
at large, yoked and ringed as the law directs." 

Even the best of the houses were devoid of archi- 
tectural attractions, and of the conveniences and com- 
forts which we regard essential. They are described 
as "small, low one-story buildings,"' with a "front 
room and kitchen," and in some cases an added bed- 
room. The hinges of the doors were of wood ; there 
were no handles; and the wooden latch was raised by 
a " latch string " passing through a hole to the out- 
side. The fire in the immense fire-places served to 
scorch one side, while the other was freezing. The 
hard necessities of frontier aftbrded little opportunity 
for adornment. 

The people generally rode on horseback, the wo- 
men often seated behind the men on pillions. In 
1790 a lady, attended by her husband, rode from 
Leicester to Vermont on horseback, holding a child 
two years old in her arms. In 1733 there were four 
chairs in town. Daniel Henshaw's family came to 
Leicester in a chaise in 1748. In his account-book 
that year and onwarrl there are charges for the use of 
a "chair." The rate from Leicester to Boston or 
Maiden was three pounds. There was not a "buggy 
wagon " in town till 1810. Books were rare. Thomas 
Earle was repairing watches in 1768 and later. In 
Daniel Henshaw's account-book is a memorandum of 
his verbal agreement to "take care," for a year " of 
his watch when wanted, for one cord of wood.'' 
Watches, clocks and looking-glasses, however, were 
evidently rare. The hour-glass measured the hours, 
and " dinner-time " was indicated by the shadow at 
the " noon-mark " on the window-sill. 

In 1722 the town voted that if Joseph Parsons would 
build a "corn-mill it should not be taxed." The mi 11 was 
soon afterward erected at the outlet of " Town Meadow," 
where Sargent's brick factory now stands. The first 
saw-mill was built by Captain Samuel Green, at Green- 
ville. He also, in 1724, built a grist-mill on the same 
stream, where Draper's grist-mill now stands. The 
" Mill lot " of Thomas Richardson also came, prob- 
ably, into his possession, so that he became the owner 
of the original mill lots. The second saw-mill was 
44 



built by Richard Southgate, in Cherry Valley, on the 
Auburn Road. William Earle had a grist-mill on 
" Hasley Brook" before 1730. 

There was a carpenter here in 1717, and a few years 
later two other carpenters, a mason, a wheelwright 
and a tailor. 

There was plenty of land, and land which had 
been secured at low rates. But, although the first 
distribution was on equitable terms, the equality of 
ownership did not long continue, and it came to 
pass, in the buying and selling of " rights," that some 
of the farms contained from twelve to fifteen hundred 
acres. 

Even that early period of labor and struggle was 
not exempt from class distinctions and jealousies. 
.Some of the families that came early to Leicester were 
in those days regarded as rich. Some were well-edu- 
cated and refined. Ooming'thus from Boston, w-hich had 
been settled a hundred years, their style of dress and 
their manners were doubtless somewhat in contrast 
with those of some of their neighbors. Soon after the 
family to which reference has already been made came 
to town, the congregation, one Sunday, was startled 
by the entrance of a man dressed in smallclothes, a 
green calamanco coat and gold-laced hat, and with a 
cavalry sword hanging at his side, which thumped 
against the floor as he strode to his seat. When asked, 
at the close of the service, the occasion of this re- 
markable display, he said, " It is to let the Henshaws 
know that there is a God in Israel." 

In 1722, when there were hardly fifty families on 
the scattered farms in the wilderness, the Indians of 
Maine and Canada resumed hostilities. This war is 
called " Lovell's War," from its most tragic incident, 
" Lovell's fight," in which Colonel Lovell routed the 
savages, but lost his own life on the shore of the 
beautiful lake in Fryeburg, Maine, which bears his 
name. 

There were no general engagements in this region, 
but the frontier towns were harassed and kept in fear 
four years by roving bands of Indians, who lurked in 
the woods waiting to shoot down or capture their un- 
suspecting victims. The tidings that Worcester was 
threatened, and that three men had been shot and 
scalped in Rutland, naturally alarmed the people of 
Leicester. Although there are no traditions of similar 
attacks here, the marks of bullets in the fortified King 
house remained for a century afterward. In a letter 
to Lieutenant-Governor Dummer, Thomas Newhall 
gives information that " a man reaping here, informs 
us an Indian had got within seven rods of him, and, 
looking up, he had a certain discovery of him ; and 
stepping a few rods for his gun, he saw him no more, 
but hastened home." 

Draper, also, in his " History of Spencer," informs us 
that " the earlier settlers of the town were frequently 
alarmed and disturbed by small parties or individual 
Indians prowling about the n'eighborhood, or through 
the town." Indians were also said to have been seen 



690 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



in the woods southwest of Greenville; but they were 
'deterred from making an attack by the fact of forti- 
fied houses in that neighborhood. 

In 1722 two Worcester men were sent to Leicester 
as scouts. In the correspondence of those years 
there are affecting references to the sad, anxious and 
defenceless condition of the people. In an appeal 
for help from Worcester, in 1724, to Colonel John 
Chandler, of Woodstock, who had command of the 
defensive forces in this vicinity, there is this signifi- 
cant reference to Leicester : " As to Leicester, the 
people there more need helj) from us than are able to 
render us any." Colonel Chandler himself, in a let- 
ter to Lieutenant-Governor Dummer, seconding the 
request for protection, expresses his regret, in view 
of the disappointment of " the poor people of Worces- 
ter, Leicester," etc., in not receiving it, and pleads 
for " consideration of the distressed circumstances of 
the poor people of these towns." Soon after, twenty- 
nine soldiers were posted in Leicester. 

The next April the Lieutenant-Governor gave Col- 
onel Chandler notice of the apjiroach of several par- 
ties of Indians from Canada, and ordered him to 
visit and warn the towns. The whole region was 
soon thrown into consternation by tidings that two 
companies of Indians were between them and "the 
Warchusetts," and the citizens of Leicester applied 
to the Lieutenant-Governor for speedy assistance of 
soldiers to defend them. " Our number of inhabit- 
ants," they write, " is very small, and several were 
much discouraged ; it was so late last summer before 
we had soldiers that we were exceedingly behind 
with our business." That year the town was, by the 
General Court, released from the payment of the 
"Province tax" of seven pounds, on account, as the 
people in their petition say, " of being a frontier," 
and " being very much exposed and reduced to very 
low circumstances by the late Indian war." 

The house of the minister was, at the first, sur- 
rounded by a "garrison" or stockade, and in 1726 
this defense was, by vote of the town, repaired and 
strengthened. There was also a garrison on the 
place of Judge Menzes, the outlines of which, near 
the Henshaw place, remained till the middle of the 
present century. A hou.se at Mannville was also for- 
tified. The house of John King, between Leicester 
and Greenville, was made a fort. This house still 
stands, a solitary relic of those early times. 

After its early trials and struggles, the town seems 
to have prospered generally as a farming community. 
Some of the early inhabitants were men of means, as 
well as of culture and standing, and other valuable 
families came into town. The farms greatly increased 
in value, and, with the building of better houses, the 
removal of the forests and the laying out and im- 
provement ©f roads, the prosperity and comfort of 
the people were increased. Still, the growth of the 
place vi'as slow, and there were repeated periods of 
great trial and depression. After forty years, there 



were less than one hundred families in the Eastern Pre- 
cinct. At the time of the Declaration of Independ- 
ence the population was ten hundred and seventy- 
eight. There was no increase during the war. At 
the opening of the present century the number was 
eleven hundred and three. 

During a considerable portion of the last century 
the town, like other communities, suffered from the 
depreciation of the currency, and losses I'rom State 
loans and private banking enterprises. These diffi- 
culties confronted the settlers almost at the first, and 
were increased by the heavy demands made necessary 
by successive wars; in the time of the Revolution 
paper-money depreciated so rapidly that it became 
necessary to rate its value every few weeks. It finally 
became worthless. 

Even in these circumstances money was counter- 
feited, and in 1747 we find the town voting Mr. 
William Green the sum of " 2 pounds towards the 
counterfeit bill he took as town treasurer." 

The danger oi' small-pox at times called for town 
action. The question of establishing an inoculating 
hospital was evidently a subject of controversy. It 
was finally disposed of in 1777 (after being repeatedly 
deferred) by a vote "that the physician provide a 
hospital at his own cost, subject to the selectmen." 
September 17, 1792, the town "voted to have small- 
pox in town by inoculation." 

At the March meeting in 1771 the town voted 
" that a list presented by the selectmen of the names 
of those persons who have come into town, and the 
place where they came from since June 1, 1767, be 
put on the town records, in order that posterity may 
know when and from whence they came, and that the 
selectmen be directed to present such a list at the 
town-meeting in March for the future." Such a list 
was presented every year; notices were recorded of 
persons who came to town until the year 1780 ; and 
as late as 179.S certificates were x'ecorded of persons 
taken into houses and families. 

On the afternoon of July 10, 1759, the town was 
visited by a remarkable cyclone. Two numbers of 
the Boston Post of that time are largely devoted to 
the details. It struck the tavern-house of Mr. Sam- 
uel Lynde, the last on the road to Spencer, passing 
from southwest to northeast. The house was lifted a 
considerable distance from its foundations, " and in 
the space of two minutes tore all to pieces." Several 
persons in the house were severely injured. " A little 
girl, being also at the Door, was carritd by the Force 
of the Wind upwards of 40 rods, and had an arm 
broke." Four women were afterwards found in the 
cellar, "but could give no account how they got 
there." Articles from the house were found in Hol- 
den, ten miles distant, and " a watch was taken up 
above a mile from where the house stood." The 
barn and farm buildings were " torn to pieces," and a 
horse was killed. Trees were torn up by the roots, 
and fences broken down. A negro " standing at the 



LEICESTER. 



691 



door of that House was carried near 10 Rods Distance 
in the Air," and was so mucli injured that he died ; 
and "a Pile of Boards ('tis said 7,000 Feet), being 
near the house, was shivered to Splinters, and carried 
to a great Distance, so that there was not Pieces 
large enough to make a Coffin to bury the Negro in." 

It is said that purchasers who drew lots on the 
Connecticut Road, near what is now the line between 
Leicester and Spencer, expected, as was natural, that 
this would be the centre of the town, with all the 
advantages of such a position. But favorable as that 
locality might have been as the site of a village, the 
basis of separation between the two parts was laid at 
the beginning, when the eastern half was selected for 
prior occupation. After disposing of the eastern 
portion, the proprietors divided the western hall 
among themselves, and the farms began slowly to be 
taken up. Befoie 1725 there were only three families 
in this part of the town. The two sections were so 
far apart, and the circumstances of their early settle- 
ment were so unlike that their interests were never 
identical. There were differences with reference to 
laying out roads and the adjustment of appropria- 
tions ; and the western portion was not satisfied to be 
without a minister, and desired to have the money 
raised by them for the ministry used for a minister in 
their jiarc of the town. They also wished to be ex- 
empted from taxation for the schools, the advantage 
of which they did not enjoy. In 1741 the inhabitants 
petitioned to be " set off" as a town. The General 
Court readily passed an act of incorporation, but it 
was vetoed by (.Tovernor Shirley. 

In 1744, July 18lh, they were incor|)orated as a 
parish, and called ''The Westerly Parish of Leices- 
ter." Five years later both precincts petitioned the 
General Court "to erect the west pait of Leicester 
into a distinct ami separate town." A bill of incor- 
poration was passed, but it was vetoed by Lieutenant- 
Governor Phipps, on the ground that it would in- 
crease the number of representatives to the General 
Court. The House protested against the arbitrary 
action of the royal executive, but without effect. In 
April, 1753, the precinct was made a district, with all 
the prerogatives of a town except that of sending a 
representative to the General Assembly. The bill 
was signed iiy Lieutenant-Governor Spencer Phipps, 
April 12, 1753, and his honor condescended to have 
the town called after his own first name. In 1775, 
upon the outbreak of the Revolutionary War, the 
town assumed its right to send a representative to the 
Assembly, and in 1780 the right was made constitu- 
tional. 

Upon the incorporation of Paxton, February, 1765, 
a strip of land two miles in width was set off to that 
town ; and when Ward (now Auburn) was incorpo- 
rated, April 10, 1778, the town parted with a small 
tract of land. 



CHAPTER LXXXVIII. 

LEICESTER— (Cb;///«?/ra'.) 

FRENCH AND REVOI,UTION.\RY WARS. 

Lficester in the French Wftra — Louisbowg — Ma&uicre of Fort H'tWian* Henry 
— Quehec — Oitonel William Henslmw — Revolutionary War — Leading 
Patriots — Town Meetinffs — "Instructions" — Committte of Correspon' 
dence — " Minnte-men " proposed — Tea— Courts — Provincial Congress — 
Ammunition Stored— lotb of April— Colonel William Kenshaw^s Orderly 
Books — Bunker Hili — Peter Salem — Prorincial Congress — Suspected Per- 
Sfins — War Expenses — Soldiers — Leicester Men in the Service. 

French War.— The history of the connection of 
Leicester with the wars of the last century shows how 
true it is that the life of a little settlement in the 
interior is identified in all its interests with the great 
movements of society and of nations. The people of 
Leicester had a somewhat prominent part in shaping, 
as well as in determining, some of the great issues 
which distinguished the last century. The convul- 
sions of the old world, and the conflicts between the 
old world and the new, were felt on the hills of Lei- 
cester. While the jieople of the town were occupied 
with their arduous labors, and were struggling with the 
difficulties of a new country and of frontier life, they 
also accepted their full share of the service, and the 
burden of these exhausting wars in which the ener- 
gies of the province were so largely engaged during 
the middle portion of the century. 

The colonies loyally and heartily supported the 
mother country in the French wars from 1744 to 1763, 
and accepted with enthusiasm the hardships and suf- 
ferings of the several campaigns. They saw the perils 
to which their own settlements were exposed by the 
alliance of the French with the Indians, and compre- 
hended, to some extent, the magnitude and importance 
of the great struggle between England and France for 
supremacy in America. "Our people," wrote Benja- 
min Henshaw, of Connecticut, " are prodigiously spir- 
ited to help in the work." 

In the several ex|)editions and engagements of the 
war of 1744 many Leicester men took part. The 
earlier enlistment rolls are not to be round, and there- 
fore the names of most of these men are unknown. 

In 1745 the Legislature of Massachusetts planned 
an expedition for the reduction of the fortress at 
Louisbourg, on the island of Cape Breton. There are 
no means of knowing to what extent Leicester re- 
sponded to this call. Captain John Brown com- 
manded a company in the expedition, and was present 
at the surrender of the place. James Smith died in 
the expedition. Other Leicester men shared in the 
terrible hardships of the six weeks' investment of the 
fortress. The next year a French fleet was sent to 
recover the place, and to ravage the coast of New 
England. The approach of this fleet caused great 
alarm, and an attack on Boston was expected. In 
September Captain Nathaniel Green, " in his Majesty's 
service in Leicester," received and executed an order 



692 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



from Colonel Jolia Chandler for an immediate draft 
of twenty-five men, with ammunition and provision 
for fourteen days, to march for the defence of Boston. 
The fleet, however, was scattered by a storm, a pesti- 
lential fever broke out among the men, the whole ex- 
pedition was given up, and the two admirals, in their 
chagrin, took their own lives. In the winter of 1747 
and 1748 men were sent to Colraine, and to Fort 
Massachusetts, in Williamstown, for the protection of 
that region against Indian attacks ; and others enlisted 
in the " Canada expedition." 

In the French and Indian War, which broke out in 
1754, still larger demands were made upon the town 
for soldiers. Leicester was represented by its sol- 
diers, in the earlier campaigns of this war, under 
General Winslow, and at Crown Point. In 1756 
fifteen men enlisted in the expedition against Crown 
Point. They were in the company of Captain John 
Stebbins, son of the early settler by that name, but 
then a resident of Spencer. In that year twenty 
men from Leicester joined the army, only two ol 
whom were conscrijjts. 

Thomas Newhall had command of a company of 
cavalry. Nathan Parsons, a native of Leicester, and 
son of the first minister, was present at the surren- 
der and the " Massacre of Fort William Henry," as 
was also Knight Sprague, then a boy of 16 years. 
Governor Washburn, in his history, gives in detail 
Mr. Sprague's reminiscences of that terrible scene in 
whinh men and women were the victims of the wild 
and drunken fury of the savag&s. " Sprague es- 
caped after being partially stripped, and made bis 
way to Fort Edward. On the way he passed his 
captain, who had been entirely stripped and many 
women were in no better condition. The yells of the 
savages, the groans of the wounded and dying, the 
shrieks of the affrighted women and frantic soldiers, 
and the dead who lay scattered around them, made 
it a scene of unsurpassed horror. Fifteen of his own 
company of fifty were killed soon after leaving the 
fort." 

In the final struggle of that war, in which Que- 
bec was taken by (leneral Wolfe, and Canada was 
wrested from the French, a large number of Leices- 
ter men participated. The names of twenty-three 
are given in Washburn's History. Dr. Thomas 
Steele, of Leicester, was surgeon's mate in the same 
campaign and there were probably other Leicester men. 
It was at this time that Colonel William Henshaw 
began his distinguished military career. He received 
a commission as second lieutenant March 31, 1759, 
in Colonel Timothy Rugglcs' regiment, in the com- 
pany of Captain Jeduthan Baldwin, and served from 
May 10th to November 28lh, in two campaigns. 

He kept a diary of the daily experiences of these 
months, which is now in the possession of his grand- 
daughter, Miss Harriet E. Henshaw, of Leicester. 
Marching orders were received on the 9th of May. 
" The Carriages to be loaded by Day Break to Mor- 



row Morning, and all the Troops that have passed 
Muster to gett themselves ready to march to Morrow 
Morning by Sunri,se." The troops were conveyed on 
horseback and in carriages. It was a journey of 
fourteen days through the forest and over " the 
mountains." They passed through the " Land of 
Contention," the disputed territory between the 
States, and, at length reached Albany, where they 
" drawed Tents and Provisions, and encamped on 
the Hill 100 rods from Albany City." They were 
stationed most of the time at Fort Edward and 
Crown Point. 

"In the month of .Tune," Lieutenant Henshaw 
writes, " I was taken from the Provincials and did 
duty in one of the British regiments under General 
Amherst, which afforded me opporttmity of becoming 
acquainted with discipline." The severity and in- 
human cruelty of the British "discipline" are evinced 
by such entries as the following: "Sentenced 200 
lashes each ; " " Two R. I. men whipped, One 1000 
lashes, the other 500 lashes.'' While he was at Fort 
Edward, news was received of the taking of Ticon- 
deroga, upon which the " other prisoners were par- 
doned." Here, also, the news of the taking of Que- 
bec was received. 

The Revolutionary Wak. — In the preliminary 
stages of the Revolutionary struggle the town of Lei- 
cester acted a prominent and distinguished part. 
There were men here of unusual ability. Some of 
them were well educated, and many were trained for 
military service in the French wars. Several of the 
leading families were intimately associated with the 
Revolutionary leaders in Boston. Hon. Joseph Allen 
was a nephew of Samuel Adams. Adams, Warren, 
Otis and Hancock often met at the house of Joshua 
Henshaw, in Boston, before his removal to Leicester, 
to discuss and mature their plans. Other leading 
citizens were in the confidence of the Revolutionary 
leaders. 

There was then no mail service, but early and con- 
fidential information was received by couriers on 
horseback, respecting the movements of the English 
and the plans of the patriots. 

The records of the town show what a power the 
town-meeting was, in which, as the revenue com- 
missioners of Boston complained, " the lowest me-/ 
chanics discussed the most important points of 
government with the utmost freedom," and with what 
effect it unified and voiced the spirit of the people. 

During all the years of British aggression, of the 
war, and the period which followed, in which the! 
state and the federation were taking form, they came 
together in these meetings, in " the first meeting- 
house," and deliberated upon the great questions of 
principle and policy involved in the Declaration of 
Independence and the organization of government on 
the basis of personal liberty. From these town- 
meetings there issued manifestoes really statesmanlike 
in their grasp and expression. 



LEICESTER. 



693 



The whole original township acted together until 
1775. The people were truly loyal to the King until 
they saw that war was inevitable. Some of them, the 
Dennys, the Stebhingses, the tSouthgates and others, 
came directly from England to Leicester. The town 
had heartily responded in former wars to every call 
of the mother country. They approved the " Protes- 
tant succession" and were ready to hazard " their" 
lives in defence of "the person, crown and dignity" 
of the King; but they were equally ready to maintain 
their own rights and to resist every encroachment 
upon their own liberties at whatever cost. 

Nearly ten years before the war began, the town, 
with the districts of Spencer and Paxton, adopted 
the practice of giving formal instruction.s to their 
Representatives to the General Assembly, and, from 
time to time, of passing resolutions representing 
their opinions upon public aft'airs. 

In October, 1765, having elected Capt. John Brown 
Representative, they proceeded to give him formal 
instructions in "this critical juncture." The Stamp 
Act had been passed and was soon to be enforced, and 
Courts of Admiralty had been ordereil for the trial 
of otfenders without jury. The excitement occasioned 
by these acts had been so great that a mob had, in 
August, burnt the house of Lieut.-Gov. Hutchinson. 
With these facts fresh in mind, the town and districts 
gave extended and specific instructions to tlieir Rep- 
resentative, in whose "ability and integrity" they 
confided. They declared their ''inexpressible grief 
and concern" in view of the " repeated taxes," and 
especially the "Stamp Act," which tliey "had no 
voice in Parliament in making;" and expressed their 
alarm at the " unparalleled stretch given to admiralty 
jurisdiction," " by which every man is liable to be 
carried a thousand miles before a Court of Admi- 
ralty," "tried without jury," "amerced," "'taxed 
with costs," and, if unable to pay, " to die in pri,5on 
in an unknown land, without friends to bury him." 
They also expressed their disapproval of all "tumult- 
uous ravages," and especially that " wherein our 
Lieut.-Gov. suffered," and their surprise that he 
should "charge the outrage to the province, thus 
representing them as an ungrateful and disloyal 
people." 

In the summer of 1768 the colonies were aroused 
by new acts of oppression. The General Assembly of 
Massachusetts was dissolved by the Governor, and 
not allowed to meet again while it refused to withdraw 
an appeal to the other colonies. A sloop-of-war was 
anchored in Boston harbor, and troops were ordered 
to Boston to subdue the rebellious spirit of the peo- 
ple. In consequence of these proceedings the citizens 
of Boston called a conference of towns. Ninety-six 
towns responded. The call was issued September 14th, 
and five days afterward we find the citizens of Lei- 
cester in "the first meeting-house," called together 
hastily, and without due notice, to act upon the prop- 
osition. The proceedings of this meeting were legal- 



ized at the next March meeting, and thus recorded. 
Capt. John Brown was chosen delegate to the con- 
ference, " without any authority," and, in resolutions 
which breathe the spirit of fervent loyalty to the King 
and devotion to the English Constitution and the 
Magna Charta, and which yet declare the "dissolu- 
tion of the 'General Court' a real grievance," in- 
structed "to give his advice and use his influence 
that all rash measures be prevented, and every mild 
one adopted that may be consistent with Englishmen 
claiming their rights." The hour of rebellion had not 
yet come, but it was rapidly approaching. 

In January, 1770, a meeting was called to "see if 
the town will come to any note or vote about the pur- 
chasing of goods of those that import from Great 
Britan, contrary to the agreement of the principal 
merchants in Boston and most others on the conti- 
nent." A vote of thanks was jiassed to those merchants 
who were thus '.sacrificing their own interest for the 
good of their country." The call for this meeting was 
prepared by William Henshaw, and was signed by 
twenty-eight persons. They asked the town to vote 
that those who should offend by purchasing the pre- 
scribed goods " shall be deemed enemies to America, 
and as such shall be recorded in the town's book of 
records," and the town appears to liave adopted the 
[)roposal. 

In May following, a military company of forty-six 
men was formed for drill. The ne.xt year the town 
bought one hundred pounds of |)owder, also bullets 
and flints. 

In 1772 Committees of Correspondence were organ- 
ized under the leadership of Samuel Adams. They 
proved to be one of the most efl'ective agencies in ad- 
vancing the Revolutionary cause. Two years later, 
Daniel Leonard, the Tory writer, pronounced them 
" the foulest, subtlest and most venemous serpent ever 
hatched from the egg of sedition. It is the source of 
the rebellion. I saw the small seed when it was 
planted; it was a grain of mustard. I have watched 
the plant till it has become a great tree.'' They were 
at first voluntary bodies, but were afterward recognized 
by the Legislature. The date and manner of the ap- 
pointment of the committee in Leicester are not 
known. It was in existence and in correspondence 
with the Boston committee in January of 1773, within 
less than four months after the introduction of the 
system. Later the committee was chosen annually by 
the town. 

Of the first committee William Henshaw was the 
chairman and Thomas Denny, Joseph Henshaw, Rev. 
Benjamin Conklin, Hezekiah Ward and Thomas New- 
hall were members, together with William Green, 
Samuel Green and Joseph Sargent, who were added 
the same year. 

A convention of the Committees of Safety in the 
county assembled in Worcester in August, 1774. The 
meeting was opened with prayer by Rev. Mr. Conklin, 
of Leicester, and William Henshaw was made clerk. 



k 



694 



HISTOEY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



Joseph Henshaw and Thomas Denny were also prom- 
inent members. The Leicester and Worcester com- 
mittees were appointed a committee for the county, to 
conduct correspondence, and call a county congres- 
sional convention. The convention was continued by 
adjournment till May 31, 1775. 

It was in accordance with the recommendation of 
Col. William Henshaw in the convention, and upon 
his motion, that the famed companies of "Minute- 
Men" were organized, who in the emergency proved, 
as he in his motion expressed it, "ready to act at a 
minute's warning." He also presented the resolution 
in response to which six thousand men came to Wor- 
cester, armed and officered, and prevented the assem- 
bling of the Inferior Court. At this time .Judge Steele, 
of Leicester, was compelled, with other justices, to 
sign an assurance that the court would stay proceed- 
ings. He was also forced to make a written apology 
for a letter of congratulation which he, with other 
justices, had sent to Gov. Gage upon his assumption 
of command at Boston. 

Early in the year 1773 the town and districts again 
met to instruct their representative, Mr. Thomas 
Denny, and to pass resolutions. The meeting was 
" full," and continued till a late hour. "The votes 
were unanimous." These resolutions and instruc- 
tions contain a brief but comprehensive statement of 
the wrongs, and a declaration of the rights of the 
province. They were still loyal to the crown, but 
they resolve, " We have a right to all the liberties 
and privileges of subjects born within the realm of 
England; and we esteem and prize them so highly, 
that we think it our duty to risk our lives and for- 
tunes in defence thereof.'' Mr. Denny was re-elected 
in May, and again instructed. 

The patriots of Boston were greatly encouraged by 
the response of the towns of the interior. Two 
weeks after the instructions had been given to Mr. 
Denny, the Boston Committee of Correspondence 
wrote to the committee in Leicester, acknowledging 
the receipt of a copy of the proceedings, and added, 
" We think it must supprize our Oppressors to read 
your very ingenious and sensible Resolves, and your 
Instructions to your worthy Representative." 

To this letter the committee replied .at length, 
through Colonel Heushaw : " We have paid, and are 
still willing to pay due obedience to laws, — made by 
our own consent, — and lawful authority ; but he who 
tamely submits to 'the tyrannical Edictsof the British 
Piirliament and Ministry,' is unworthy even of the 
name of ' an American.' " 

In November, 1773, four days before the arrival in 
Boston of the vessels loaded with tea, the Boston 
committee, in a long letter on "that worst of plagues, 
the detested tea," wrote to know the sense the 
"towns have of the present gloomy situation of our 
public affairs." To this the Leicester committee re- 
plied in no doubtful terms, expressing obligation to 
the committee in Boston for their " vigilance," and 



for their " late proceedings and manly resolutions in 
regard to the detestable tea sent here by the West 
India Company," "and as you have reque-ited our 
advice, we shall, as a committee, freely give it: and 
that is to go on as you have begun, and on no ac- 
count suffer it to be landed, or pay one farthing of 
duty." This was two days before the tea was thrown 
overboard. Joshua Henshaw is understood to have 
been one of the " tea party." 

On December 27 the town and districts responded. 
They were loyal still to the crown, and ready to haz- 
ard their lives in its defence, but they asserted their 
provincial rights of property and person, denounced 
the Stamp Act as " a usurpation of authority to which 
no power on earth is entitled, and contrary to the 
fundamental principles of our happy Constitution ;" 
and promised to oppose, " at the hazard of their 
lives and fortunes," any impositions unconstitution- 
ally laid upon imported articles. 

They also resolved "That we will not use any tea 
in our families or suffer any to be consumed therein 
while loaded with a tribute contrary to our consent, 
and that whoever shall sell any of that destructive 
herb shall be deemed by us inimical to the rights of 
his country as endeavoring to counteract the designs 
of those who are zealous for its true interests." They 
enforced these proceedings by choosing a committee 
of fourteen to " inspect any teas sold or used in the 
towns and districts and report the names of offenders 
at the annual meeting." 

.The objection of the ])eople to " tb.at destructive 
herb" was not to the tea nor to the tax, but to its im- 
position by a government in which they had no rep- 
resentation, and in 1781 we find the town voting to 
license persons "to sell Bohea tea and other Indian 
teas, according to the law of 1781," imposing " excise 
duties.'' 

One of the acts of the crown which awakened 
special alarm, and against which the people indig- 
nantly protested, was that which provided that the 
judges of the Superior Court should be paid out of 
the royal treasury. Chief Justice Oliver was the 
only judge who accepted this provision, and the 
House of Representatives took prompt measures for 
his impeachment. Upon the meeting of the court 
in Worcester in April, 1774, the grand jurors, instead 
of coming forward to be sworn, presented a written 
protest, refusing to serve if Justice Oliver was to sit 
with the court. This protest was drawn up by Col. 
Wm. Henshaw. "By his own confession," it 
declares, " he stands convicted, in the minds of the 
people, of a crime more heinous, in all probability, 
than any that might come before him." The chief 
justice, however, was not present, and the business ' 
of the court proceeded without interruption. In a 
subsequent letter to the court, a draft of which, as 
well as the original protest, is in the possession of his ' 
granddaughter, Col. Henshaw, after explanations and 
the expression of satisfaction at the course of the 



LEICESTER. 



695 



judges, makes complaint of what he styles "a great 
hardship," and at that early day recommends the 
course which now universally prevails in the courts. 
The complaint was of " having a foreman imposed 
upon jurys by the Court, which we think ought to be 
chosen by the Jurors." The reason given i.s that "the 
Jurors who live in the vicinity are better acquainted 
with the abilities of their neighbors than the judges 
can be." " We hope," he writes, " that this error in 
appointing a Foreman will be soon rectified, & the 
power vested in the Jurys to choose their own foreman 
by a fair Vote, which we think would be of vast 
utility to the Public and for the facilitating business 
& saving expense to the County." 

The year 1774 was one of agitation and prepara- 
tion. Repeated acts of oppression were effectually 
e.xhausting the loyalty of the people to the mother 
country, and the spirit of resistance was growing 
more determined. Eighteen town-meetings were 
held this year, and repeated instructions and resolu- 
tions were voted, some of which rank with the ablest 
and most eloquent manifestoes of that period. They 
cover the wliole range of questions involved in the 
struggle, and counsel the most determined resistance. 
In May they protested again-st the Port Bill. In 
July resolutions, prepared by a committee, were 
adopted, which clearly, comprehensively and elo- 
quently discuss the issues of the hour, and declare 
the duty of citizens loyal, at the same time, to the 
Province and to the rightful authority of the Crown. 
It is a dignified and determined declaration of rights, 
by the town of Leicester and the districts of Spencer 
and Paxton assembled, "not tumultuously, riotously 
or seditiously, but soberly and seriously, as men, as 
citizens and as Christians, to take into our considera- 
tion the present distressed state of our affairs." They 
pledged themselves not to purchase goods imported 
from England, and to have no dealings with those 
who import such goods while the duty on tea is con- 
tinued, unless " other measures of redress be recom- 
mended by General Congress." They also urge the 
people to " associate together, and discourse and in- 
form themselves of their rights and privileges as 
men, as members of society and the English Consti- 
tution." 

In September Thomas Denny was chosen Repre- 
sentative to the Great and General Court, which, 
driven from Boston, met the next month in Salem, 
and instructed to be sworn only by an officer ap- 
pointed under the charter, and to refuse to be sworn 
by the Lieutenant-Governor. The Legislature was 
prorogued by the Governor, and immediately re- 
solved itself into a Provincial Convention or Con- 
gress. 

Mr. Denny was delegated to represent the town in 
this " convention " at its meeting the next month in 
Concord, — •" An assembly," as they suggest in their 
instructions, " in which at this dark and difficult day, 
perhaps the most important business will come be- 



fore you that was ever transacted since the settle- 
ment of North America." " Everything now con- 
spires to prompt the full exertion of true policy, 
valor and intrepidity." The instructions are under 
ten "particulars." They urge, since " charters have 
become bubbles," resistance to all compromise, and 
" compliance with the advice of the Continental Con- 
gress." They urge an " endeavor to have the militia 
of the Province put on the most respectable footing, 
and that every town be supplied with one or more 
field pieces, properly mounted and furnished with 
ammunition. A militia composed of the yeomanry 
and proprietors of the country is its surest defence : 
therefore we esteem it a matter of the last necessity 
that they be properly disciplined and taught the arts 
of war with all expedition, as we know not how soon 
we may be called to action." 

They demand restitution for the removal of arms 
and ammunition from Boston and Cambridge, and for 
loss and damage resulting from the blockade of 
Boston. They urge the encouragement of arts and 
manufactures, by granting premiums and prevent- 
ing importation, recommend intercolonial corre- 
spondence and the apprehension and trial of persons 
" inimical to their country." 

Mr. Denny died soon after the assembling of the 
Congress, and Col. Joseph Henshaw was chosen his 
successor. He was briefly instructed to promote with 
all his influence "any plan for the common good, 
generally adopted by the Congress," and urge upon 
it "an immediate assumption of government." " Par- 
ticular matters will no doubt turn up in the course of 
the session, which, as we, your constituants, are not 
now apprized of, so cannot particularly instruct." 
This was January 9, 1775. 

The anticipated "matters" were not far in the 
future. When they did "turn uj)" they found the 
people in this hot-bed of treason ready to convert 
their resolutions into actions. The standing com- 
pany of the town was under the command of Capt. 
Thomas Newhall and Lieutenants Benjamin Richard- 
son and Ebenezer Upham. An "independent com- 
pany of volunteers," formed in 1770, had been re- 
organized, with Seth Washburn as captain and Wil- 
liam Watson and Nathaniel Harrod as lieutenants. 

THe town had also made some provision for ammu- 
nition. The minute-men had met weekly for drill, 
under an officer of the regular army, whom they had 
hired. 

In February the Committee of Safety and Supplies of 
the Provincial Congress decided to remove the powder 
stored at Concord to Leicester ; also eight field-pieces, 
shot, cartridges and two brass mortars, with bombs. 
The letter of Joseph Henshaw to his brother, whom 
he styles "Brother Billy," gives minute directions 
with reference to the storing of the six or seven hogs- 
heads of powder in the barns of Colonel Henshaw, 
Major Denny, Captain Newhall and Captain Green. 
It was afterward decided to distribute these stores in 



696 



HISTORY OP WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



nine towns, of which Leicester was one. In all the 
correspondence of these years the greatest secrecy was 
observed. The letters were often without signature, 
and often signed by fictitious names. 

In March there were rumors of the movement of 
the British forces, and Colonel Henshaw and Joseph 
Allen walked to Worcester over the snow-drifts on 
" rackets " to ascertain their truth. It is said that at 
one time Mr. Allen had his knapsack and his trunk, 
with his wedding suit, packed, not knowing whether 
he should first be called to battle or to his marriage. 

The scenes of the 19th of April, and indeed of the 
period which immediately followed, are graphically 
given by Governor Washburn in his history. Many 
of them were told him by the actors themselves, who 
have long been dead. 

Early in the afternoon of the 19th of April an un- 
known horseman rode rapidly through the village, 
stopped long enough before the blacksmith's shop to 
say, "The war has begun ; the regulars are marching 
to Concord," and then hurried on to alarm the towns 
beyond. " I saw," wrote Col. Wm. Henshaw, " the ex- 
press that came from the town of Lexington, inform- 
ing that the enemy had killed several men in that 
town." The blacksmith, who was Captain Seth Wash- 
burn, dropped a ploughshare on which he was work- 
ing, rushed into the road and discharged his musket. 
The members of the companies were called together 
from all parts of the town. At four o'clock every 
minute-man was on the common. They were uni- 
formed, but they came with their Queen's arms, and 
with their powder-horns and shot-pouches. Members 
of their families and other friends were assembled to 
render assistance and to bid them God speed.'' 

Dr. Honeywood, an Englishman — the physican of 
the place — had never till that hour had confidence in 
the ability of the province to resist the power of Great 
Britain, but when he saw that little company of reso- 
lute, determined men, who had come at a moment's 
warning, some of them leaving their plows in the fur- 
rows, he said: "Such men as these will fight, and 
what is more they won't be beat." 

The pastor of the church. Rev. Benjamin Conklin, 
himself a " high liberty man," was present, and before 
the company started, as the men leaned upon their 
muskets and all heads were uncovered, committed 
them, in prayer, to the guidance and protection of the 
God of battles. " Pray fi)r me and I will fight for 
you," said the captain to his venerable mother, and 
then gave the order, " Forward ! " 

Within three hours after meeting on the Common, 
the company marched. They halted in front of the 
house of Nathan Sargent, in Cherry Valley, and Mr. 
Sargent, to supply the need of the company, melted 
down the leaden weights of the family clock, and dis- 
tributed the bullets to the company. 

There were forty-three men in the company. Cap- 
tain Thomas N. Newhall, with the standing company 
of the town, consisting of thirty-four men, marched a 



little later. Companies from Spencer and other 
western towns followed. The march of the companies 
was rapid till they reached Marlborough, where 
they heard of the retreat of the British. Lights 
were burning in every window on the way through 
the night. Regimental officers in town were equally 
prompt in joining their commands. 

A part of the company returned after a few weeks' 
service. Others enlisted under Captain Washburn 
for eight months. There were fifty-nine men in this 
company, most of them from I^eicester. The embargo 
of Boston and its occupation Ijy the regulars rendered 
it necessary to call upon the towns to contribute for 
the support of its poor. Thirty-six were apportioned 
to Leicester. In May Leicester was also required to 
furnish one barrel of powder and twelve muskets for 
the use. of the province. 

Colonel William Henshaw, who reached Cambridge 
on the forenoon of the 20th, was a member of the 
council of war, and, with Colonel (Jridley and Rich- 
ard Devans, reconnoitred the heights of Cambridge 
and Charlestown. The report of the committee is 
signed by Colonel Henshaw, as chairman. It recom- 
mended the fortification of Bunker Hill and the 
construction of redoubts between C'liarlestown and 
Cambridge. Colonel Prescott was detailed to exe- 
cute this plan, but decided to fortify Breed's Hill, in 
stead of Bunker Hill. On the 27th of .lune Colo- 
nel Henshaw was commissioned adjutant-general 
of the Provincial army, under (ieneral W. Ward. 
Upon the arrival of Washington, he was, on the 3d 
of July, superseded by (ieneral Gates, adjutant of the 
American army. He was, however, persuaded to re- 
main as assistant of General Gates. The Orderly 
Books, in four volumes, covering the period from 
April, 1775, to October, 1770, are in the possession of 
his granddaughter, Miss Harriet E. Henshaw, of 
Leicester, and are an invaluable treasure. The first 
volume was published by the Massachusetts Historical 
Society, as its centennial volume. It contains the 
roster of the regiments, the " Parole " and " Counter- 
sign " for each day, the " Officer of the day " and 
" Field-oflicer" and the general orders from April 20, 
1775, to Septemlier 2i3th of the same year. 

On the day of the battle of Bunker Hill, Captain 
Washburn's company, which formed a part of the 
regiment of General Artemas Ward, in command of 
Lieutenant-Colonel Jonathan Ward, marched from 
Cambridge, by way of Lechmere Point, and took posi- 
tion at the rail-fence, "gallantly covering the retreat.'' 
It was to them a thrilling hour. They saw the hur- 
ried movement of the troops, they heard the beat of 
drums, the roar of British artillery and " the cracking 
of musketry over in Charlestown." Just before 
marching. Captain Washburn addressed his company 
in words of counsel and encouragement and com- 
mitted them to God in a fervent prayer. " Some of 
them often spoke," says Washburn in his history, " in 
their old age, of the unfaltering confidence with 



LEICESTER. 



C97 



which, after this, they went through the experiences 
of the day." On their way to Charlestown Neck, 
they were met by a man on horseback, supposed to 
be Dr. Benjamin Church, afterward proved to be a 
traitor, who inquired of Lieutenant-Colonel Ward to 
what point he was marching. He answered, '' To tlie 
hill." "Have you not had counter-orders?" " I 
have not." " You will have soon," he said, and com- 
manded the regiment to lialt. Most of the regiment 
therefore remained behind ; but Captain Washburn 
stepped forward and said, "Those are Tory orders ; I 
sha'n't obey them. Who will follow me ? " The en- 
tire company followed the captain, and two other 
companies with Ihem left the regiment and moved on 
toward the scene of action, exposed to the shot of the 
British fleet ; the captain gave any wlio might be 
afraid the privilege of going back. Not a man of 
that brave company left tlie ranks. "Then we'll all 
go together," said the captain; and the whole com- 
pany started on " double quick " and ascended the 
hill. Charlestown was on fire and the enemy were 
advancing on the redoubt. A ball lodged in the car- 
touch-box of the capt.ain. The company for a time 
fought at the rail-fence, but were soon obliged to re- 
treat. Several of the company were wounded and borne 
from the field under fire. One of the two strands 
of Daniel Hubbard's cue was cut otl' close to his head 
by a ball. Abner Livermore's canteen was shot away 
and rolled toward the enemy. His brother Isaac ran 
and secured it, saying, " I'll be darned if the regulars 
shall have that rum." Samuel Sargent lost the con- 
tents of his canteen, but saved the ball that pierced 
it. Four balls passed through the captain's coat and 
one through his wig. Israel Green, a native of Lei- 
cester, had three sons in the battle, one of whom was 
killed, the second died of wounds received, and a 
third was killed in the battle of Monmouth. 

Among the soldiers in this battle was Peter Salem, 
a negro, and formerly a slave. He was a native of 
Framingbam, and in Colonel Nixon's regiment. It 
was the shot from his musket which killed Major 
Pitcairn, just as he mounted the redoubt and shouted, 
" The day is ours." After the war he came to Leices- 
ter, where he remained until, in his old age and 
poverty, be was taken to the poor-house in Framing- 
ham, where he died. 

In July of this year the inhabitants of Leicester, 
having chosen Hezekiah Ward Representative to the 
Provincial Congress, instructed him with reference to 
his duties. " To this important now," they say, 
" posterity will look back with joy and admiration, 
secure in the enjoyment of their inestimable liber- 
ties, or with keenest sensations of grief, while they 
drag the galling chain of servitude." He was di- 
rected to comply with the orders of the Continental 
Congress, to oppose the accession to power of those who 
had proved inimical to their country, or had failed to 
give it their support, "waiting the tide of events;" 
to watch " with jealous yet candid eye the disposition 



and motions of the American army, always remem- 
bering the importance of preserving the superiority 
of the civil power over the military ;" to urge the 
execution of the laws against immorality and vice ; 
and to act for the interest of the cause in relation to 
other specific matters. 

In May, 1776, instructions were given to Setli 
Washburn, as Representative to the General Court, 
urging the utmost deliberation and caution in the 
measures of the court for protection and organization. 
At the same meeting it was " Voted by the inhabit- 
ants then present, unanimously, That in case the 
Honorable the Continental Congress should declare 
these Colonies independent of Great Britain, they 
would support said Congress in effectuating such a 
measure at the risk of their lives and fortunes." 

With this declaration this remarkable series of in- 
structions and resolutions ends. They cover a period 
of nearly eleven years previous to the Declaration of 
Independence. There is hardly a question involved 
in the controversy with the mother country, or the 
policy of the colonies, which they do not discuss. In 
clearness and breadth of view, in forethought and 
wisdom, in felicity and eloquence of expression, and 
in fervent, self-sacrificing, courageous, invincible pa- 
triotism, they are hardly surpassed, even in the his- 
toric productions of that period. Bancroft, in bis his- 
tory, quotes from them, as illustrative of the spirit 
of the time. 

But the time for manifestoes had irow passed ; the 
time for action had come. Henceforth the work of 
the town, as its records also show, was enlisting sol- 
diers, raising bounties, hiring soldiers, providing for 
the purchase of ammunition and entrenchirrg tools, 
and the pay for carting provisions, buying beef and 
clothing for the army, aiding companies that had done 
more than their share of service, authorizing the 
selectmen " to supply the necessities of life to sol- 
diers," abating the poll-taxes of soldiers, caring for 
soldiers' wives, providing for families of officers and 
soldiers and fixing the prices of commodities. There 
was no authorized government and all difficulties 
were settled by arbitration. 

The people were also careful to guai'd themselves 
against tr-eachery. Too many of the leaders of the 
Revolutionary movements were here to render the 
toleration of spies safe, and the people were too much 
in earnest to bear patiently the opposition of men 
"inimical" to the cause. In 1774 the selectmen, 
through Colonel Henshaw, had informed at least one 
suspected man that his " residedence " would be " pe- 
culiarly disgirstful to the Inhabitants." " And as well- 
wishers of the peace and order of the town, we think 
it advisable that you move from hence as soon as may 
be ; as the people, roused with the insults they have 
already sustained, will, in all probability, pay you a 
visit less respectful than the Intimation you now 
receive." Three years later Colonel Henshaw was 
instructed, by vote of the town, to " procure what 



698 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



evidence he may be able of the inimical Disposition 
of any inhabitent of this town toward the United 
States of America, which inhabitent may be so voted 
to be, in the opinion of the town." One such man 
was at that time voted, in the opinion of the town, 
"inimically disposed." In July of the next year it 
was " Voted that the selectmen be directed to prefer 
a petition to General Court, that William Manning 
and family may be removed from this town." 

When the Declaration of Independence had been 
adopted it was, in accordance with the direction of 
the Council, copied on the town records. 

These minutes are full of interest and instruction. 
They show the true character of the people and the 
power of their deliberation and united action. Lord 
Germaine did not speak without provocation when 
he said, "This is what comes of their wretched old 
town-meetings." 

According to a report made to the town in 1784, 
the town paid in bounties, from 1775 to that time, 
£9268 6«. (probably equivalent to about $11,000 in 
coin) to 244 soldiers. It is estimated that the town 
raised for the expenses of the war over $18,000, in 
addition to State taxes. There were twenty-eight 
requisitions upon the town for soldiers. These were 
filled by more than 254 men. Beside these were the 
men who marched on the 19th of April and at least 
thirty who enlisted for three years in 1777 and 1778. 
Some of these soldiers were veterans of the French 
wars ; others were boys of sixteen years. 

It is to be remembered that the population of the 
town in 1776 was only 1078, and that it decreased 
during the war. There were in Leicester in 1777 
only 212 men over sixteen years of age, and the 
names on the muster-roll were less than half the 
number of enlistments and re enlistments in the 
quotas of the town. The valuation of the town 
seven years after the close of the war was only 
$140,000. 

In 1781 the town was divided into ten classes, 
which were each to furnish their proportion of 
soldiers upon requisition of the government. So ex- 
haustive was the demand that it was necessary to 
hire substitutes from other places to meet it. The 
town was repeatedly under the necessity of electing 
new selectmen and assessors, on account of the ab- 
sence of the regular incumbents in the army. 
Women worked in the fields, because all the male 
members of their families were in the war, and 
farmers sold their cattle to raise money for the pay- 
ment of taxes. 

The number of commissioned officers from Lei- 
cester was large, in proportion to the size of the town. 
Col. William Henshaw, to whom we have already 
referred, was in command of a regiment in the battle 
of Long Island. He was with a picket-guard which 
was cut off from the main body by a superior force 
of Hessians, and cut its way through with great gal- 
lantry and little loss of life. 



Col. Seth Washburn was fifty-two years old when 
the war began. He was in the battle of Bunker Hill, 
and afterward, though not in the army, was muster- 
master for Worcester County and served the cause on 
several important committees. 

Col. Samuel Denny marched as lieutenant-colonel 
with the minute-men, on the 19th of April, and 
served as colonel during the early part of the war. 

Dr. John Honeywood was surgeon and died in the 
service at Fort Ticonderoga. 

Dr. Israel Green was at Saratoga when Burgoyne 
was taken. 

Dr. Austin Flint enlisted, at the age of seventeen, 
as a soldier and was present at the taking of Bur- 
goyne. He was afterward surgeon. 

Lieut.-Col. Joseph Henshaw marched with the 
minute-men. He afterward served on important 
committees, conferring with other States. 

Capt. David Henshaw was in the service three 
years. 

Capt. John Southgate, Capt. William Todd and 
Lieut. William Grossman were also in the service. 

Lieut. Nathan Craig was at the battles of Bunker 
Hill and Saratoga. 

Lieutenant Joseph Washburn was at the battles of 
Saratoga and Monmouth, and also at Valley Forge. 
Captain Thomas Newhall was in command of the 
standing company on the 19th of April, and was 
muster-master for Worcester County. Captain John 
Holden served through the war, and was present at the 
storming of Stony Point. Captain .John Brown com- 
manded a company in the French War, and was in 
the battle of Bunker Hill as a sergeant. Rev. Benja- 
min Conklin was probably a chaplain. 

Joseph Bass, of the " water service," who resided 
in Leicester after the war, was one of the heroes of 
what Irving, in his "Life of Washington," calls the 
" gallant little exploit " on the Hudson, the at- 
tempted " destruction of the ships which had so long 
been domineering over its waters," by means of fire- 
ships. Washburn, in his history, gives an extended 
narrative of the affair. Bass had charge of one of the 
sloops, the " Polly," which was supplied with inflam- 
mable materials, and which, under heavy fire of ar- 
tillery, he fastened to the tender of one of the frig- 
ates, setting it on fire and destroying it with most of 
the men on board. Bass, with all his men, leaped 
into the life-boat, and rowed away without injury. 
The frigates escaped, but were prudently withdrawn 
from so dangerous a locality. 

Solomon Parsons was severely wounded in the bat- 
tle of Monmouth. He was shot, his thigh was 
broken, and afterwards, as he lay upon the ground, 
he was robbed, stabbed and roughly dragged about 
by the enemy, and narrowly escajjed being run over 
by cavalry and artillery. He lay all the afternoon of 
that terribly hot day, in the sun, until he was rescued 
by Lieutenant Joseph Washburn. 

These facta and figures give but a faint idea of the 



LEICESTER. 



699 



burdens and sufferings of the people in the gloomy 
period of the Revolution, and the strain upon their 
resources and fortitude. They did not flinch when 
the time came to test the sincerity and value of their 
resolutions. They well redeemed the pledge to main- 
tain the cause of independence at " the risk of their 
lives and fortunes." 



I 



CHAPTER LXXXIX. 

LEICESTER— (aj«i'/««f-a'..) 

stills OonstitHttvn : Oi>jecti"ii>', Adopiioii—Jeidomij of liujht»—Shaya' In- 
surrection: Citnses, Convention, High reeling. Dispersion of the Iw 
aurgents, C'nptnin Dnif, Oath of Allegiance — Vine for Nonltepresenta- 
titni in the t','entr(il Court — Slavery in Leicester — ^^ Instructions^^ — 
Jews ; Aaron Ijopez — liiveni Letter to Colonel Ilenshom. 

Soon after the Declaration of Independence 
measures were taken for the organization of a Con- 
stitutional State Government. These movements 
were, however, regarded premature and ill-advised. 
In October, 1776, the town voted that the House of 
Representatives of this State ought not to institute 
any new form of government at present, and chose a 
committee "to show the court why the town objects 
to settling a new constitution.'' Some of these ob- 
jections stated were that there was no provision for 
amendment, that the town was not fully represented, 
that they were not allowed a Representative, and 
" that a number of the first principal inhabitants'' 
were " in the service." The Constitution first formed 
was rejected by the people. 

In 1779 the town voted unanimously to send two 
men — Seth Washburn and William Henshaw- — "to 
frame a Constitution of Massachusetts." These gen- 
tlemen were prominent in the conventi(m. The Con- 
stitution was the next year approved by the town, 
article by article, by a large majority. 

Struggling against the oppression of the mother 
country, the people were equally jealous of any en- 
croachments upon their rights by the government 
they were seeking to organize and establish. In their 
various resolutions and other acts in the later years 
of the last century there is evidence of their determi- 
nation to secure a government " of the people, by the 
people and for the people." They protested against 
" monopolies.'' In 1777 they earnestly condemned 
the act of the General Court, calling in bills of credit 
.and sinking them in a loan, as "cruel and oppressive" 
and " grinding the faces of the poor." In January 
of the next year they raised twelve hundred pounds 
and loaned to the State. In 1787 they instructed their 
representative, Samuel Denny, to oppose the excessive 
tax on farmers and on polls ; also to oppose high sal- 
aries, as in present circumstances it was not well to 
"support courtly dignity." They expressed them- 
selves as opposed to the "support of commerce," so "as 



to prevent their giving due encouragement to our own 
manufactures.'' The location of the Legislature ap- 
peals to have been a subject much agitated, and at 
the same time the town declared " the setting of the 
General Government in the town of Boston is* Mat- 
ter which the Citizens of this Commonwealth are 
not generally satisfied with," and advised that its re- 
moval to some other place be tried by " experience." 

The eight years' struggle of the Revolution had 
hardly ended when the State was threatened with a 
formidable civil war. It was the natural reaction 
from the long-continued strain upon the endurance 
of the people. They bad been taxed to their utmost 
limit ; all interests had suft'ered ; the people were im- 
poverished ; the currency had depreciated and finally 
became valueless ; the State had no credit; the con- 
dition of the Government and of the community was 
one of bankruptcy ; and thousands of suits were 
brought before the courts, and forced sales were nu- 
merous. Some of the acts of the Legislature were 
regarded as oppressive. General conventions were 
held in the county to confer with reference to these 
complaints. Two of these were in Leicester. The 
presence of wise and loyal men like David Henshaw 
and Col. Thomas Denny was a check upon rash 
action. When at length the dissatisfaction developed 
into insurrection, under the leadership of Daniel 
Shays, the town withdrew its delegates. The excite- 
ment was intense and the sentiments of the people 
were divided, some sympathizing with the insurgents 
and joining their ranks. As in the War of the Roses 
the parties bad their distinctive badges, the insurgents 
a green sprig and the supporters of the Government 
a white fillet of paper. The Rev. Benjamin Conklin, 
loyal to the nation and the commonwealth as in the 
days of the Revolution, was repeatedly forced to leave 
his home and hide himself to escape seizure by the 
insurgents in the night. 

The same loyal leadership and the same patient 
devotion to the governmeut which were conspicuous 
in the Revolution, held the town to a wise and patri- 
otic course. Every man in town over twenty years 
of age was by vote required to take an oath of allegi- 
ance to the State, and the list of those who thus com- 
plied was to be reported at town-meeting. 

The excitement and peril of the rebellion culmi- 
nated in Worcester, in December, 1786, in an attempt 
of the insurgent army to prevent the opening of the 
court. The house of Mr. Joseph Allen, then residing 
in Worcester, was guarded by a sentinel, who opposed 
him with a fixed bayonet to prevent him from going 
to court. Seth Washburn seized the guard and 
wrested his musket from him. Lincoln, in his "History 
of Worcester," states that Justice Seth Washburn him - 
self was also met by the guard, and that two friends 
who " seized the gun presented to his breast "were 
arrested and detained in custody. 

On the memorable 8th of December, the day in 
which Shays and his army retreated from Worcester 



k 



roo 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



in a snow storm of such severity and cold so intense 
that many of his men were overcome and some were 
frozen to death, Luke Day, one of the insurgent 
captains, reached Leicester with one hundi-ed and 
fifty ii^n, but was prevented by tlie storm from join- 
ing the main body at Worcester. Scant courtesy did 
tlie rebels receive from the sturdy patriots of that day. 
When this same Day, on his way from Worcester to 
Springfield on a cold winter day, entered the house of 
Nathan Sargent and made free to warm himself by 
the fire and ostentatiously announced himself as Capt. 
Day, he soon found himself, with hat and sword pre- 
ceding him, floundering in the snow-drift outside. 
Several Leicester men participated in the march 
through drifting snow and were present on the 3d of 
February when the insurgents, upon the approach of 
the State forces to their rendezvous at Petersham, tied 
without the liring of a gun, so completely discomfited 
that, as Lincoln in his "History of Worcester" e.xpresses 
it, " liad an army dropped from the clouds upon the 
hill the consternation could not have been greater.'' 
Dr. Austin Flint was one of the number, having, as 
he said, volunteered "to help drive the Mobites out." 

During all the later years of the century per.-ons 
who engaged in trade or kept public-houses were re- 
quired to take a stringent oath of allegiance to the 
republic. 

For many years the salaries of representatives to 
the "Great and General Court" were paid by the 
several towns. The town in 1789 was fined for not 
sending a representative ; and in a memorial, an 
ancient copy of which is before the writer, the town 
petitioned to have the fine remitted. The memorial 
bears date of May 10, 1790, and is strikingly illustra- 
tive of the straits into which the people had been 
placed. They were still in debt for money borrowed 
to be loaned "to the Commonwealth " and for the 
payment of " soldiers," and for the erection of a 
" House of Public Worship," and they were " at a 
greater expense than most towns for repairing their 
roads owing to their hills being wet and rocky.'' 

Slavery has never existed under the Constitution of 
the Slate of Massachusetts. There were slaves in the 
Province till the time of the Revolution, but the Con- 
stitution adopted in 1780 declared the right of "all 
men to enjoy aud defend their lives and liberties." 
The number of slaves in Leicester was small; still 
they were here ; Titus and Cain, and Ctesar, and 
Quashi, and Prymus, and Ponipey, and Will, and 
Pegg, and Jenny, and Dinah, and Prince, and Jethro 
the last person buried in the burying-yard by the 
church ; but they were treated as wards rather than 
as slaves. They lived, and worked, and ate with the 
families, in some cases were paid wages, and in re- 
peated instances were set free. Mr. Ralph Earle not 
only freed his slave Sharp, but also gave him in 1701) 
a farm of thirty acres. But slavery, even in its mild- 
est form, was discordant with the spirit of a freedom- 
loving people. In 1773 th* town gave expression to 



its views on the subject in instructions to its Repre- 
sentative, Mr. Thomas Denny: "And as we have 
the highest regard for (so as even to revere the 
name of) liberty, we cannot behold but with the 
greatest abhorrence any of our fellow-creatures in a 
state of slavery." 

An interesting episode in the history of the town 
was the settlement here, in 1777, of a colony of Jews- 
Mr. Aaron Lopez, who was carrying on an extensive 
business in Newport, R. I., that year removed to Lei- 
cester, Newport beiig then in the possession of British 
troops; with him came several other Jewish families. 
There were about seventy persons in all, twelve of 
them being slaves. He built, on the part of the 
present Common now owned ^y the Academy, a house 
in the central room of which he " kept store," in 
which, in the words of H. G. Henshaw, Esq., he 
"carried on a successful trafic in Bohea and Gun- 
powder teas, serges, calamancos,," and doubtless 
a variety of other articles. Mr. Rivera had a store 
on the site of the hotel. "They were too patriotic 
to refuse in payment for their commodities Conti- 
nental bills, the currency of the times ; but felt rather 
scrupulous about holding such treacherous paper over 
the Sabbath, and were careful to pass it off to the 
farmers in exchange for neat stock or srain." They 
were strict in the observance of Jewish law. They 
carefully observed the seventh day, and also refrained 
from business on Sunday. A child having incau- 
tiously tasted of pork, at a neighbor's house, was 
treated with an emetic, by way of purification. 

Mr. Lopez wa.s a man of high character and stand- 
ing, courteous and affable in manner, of extensive com- 
mercial knowledge and strict integrity in business, 
hospitable and benevolent. His style of living was 
\ for those days elegant. His stock in trade at the 
time of his death was valued at $12,000, and his 
estate at .1100,000. Abraham Mendez and Jacob Reed 
Rivera were other prominent members of the colony, 
and carried on business, though on a smaller scale. 
On the 20th of May, 1782, Mr. Lopez, while on his 
way, in a sulky, to Providence, accompanied by his 
family in a carriage, was drowned before their eyts at 
Smithfield, R. 1., in Smith Pond, into which he had 
driven to water his horse. At the close of the war 
the company returned to Newport, followed by the re- 
spect and regard of the people, with whom they had 
found a hospitable and congenial home. After J 
tlieir departure a friendly correspondence was main- 
tained and probably an interchange of visits. One 
of the letters remains. It was written by Mr. Rivera 
to Col. Henshaw, in a clear and beautiful hand, and 
the whole style and spirit of the letter are indicative 
of the intelligence and high character of the writer, 
i and of his appreciation of the friendship of the people 
I of Leicester, and of the value of our national institu- 
tions. " I am happy," he writes, " to find my country- 
men (the Spanish nation) begin to divest themselves 
from bigotry, ignorance and indolence, and adopt in 



LEICKSTER. 



701 



their room learning, liberty and liberality of senti- 
ments in religious matters. That system, with prop- 
per encouragements to arts and sciences, make no 
(ioubt, will, in time, enable them to arrive to that 
state of perfection that will class them with all othei 
civilized and enlightened nations, and enrich thai 
impoverished nation, and I am confident to say, 
great advantages will derive to that nation in par- 
ticular, and the whole world in general, from the 
American Revolution." 



CHAPTER XC. 

LEICESTER— ia>«//««('rf). 

ECCLESI.4STICAL. 

'l'li€ Firet t'linrch: Fir^t Mcetiiig-Honse, Hev. Daviil P-u-goMS, Conlrorersij 
ii'fih the Town, Iter. LUtrid Goddard, WliileJieM and Edward/:, Rev. Jonepli 
ttirhertg. Iter. Ben.iauiiii 0>fiktin, Dr. Moore, Dr. Nelson, Later Pastors, 
Second Meeting-No»se, Present Meettng-HotiKe, Church Ulasic, Bible 
Itcadiiifj, Siindntf-School Parish. Friendjy^ Meeting: Origin, Mieling 
House, Second House, Acis Sn-i/t, Intelligence, Anti-Hlaeery, Mulberrii 
Grove School. Greenville Baptist Clntreh ; Clntreh in Sutton, Post^irf, 
Dr. Thmnas Green, Other Poslors, Snndaii-Sehool, One Hundred nnd 
Fi.ftieth Anniversary. Second Congregational Church : Organization. 
Pastors, tlirisl Church, Itochdale, Methodist Episcopal Church, Chemj 
Valley, Centre, Wesleyan Methodist Church, lioman Catholic Church, 
St. Thomas^ Church, Cherry Valley. 

First Congregational Church.— The records 
of the First Congregational Church previous to thi 
settlement of the Rev. Zephaniah Swift Moore, in 
1798, are lost, with the exception of a few detached 
pages. The exact date of organization is unknown. 
The town was incorporated in 1714, and the farms 
purchased by the settlers began to be occupied soon 
afterward. It is not probable that church privileges 
in .some form, and church organization were long 
neglected. A meeting-house had been built in 1719. 
It stood on the Common, nearly in front of the 
present church. It was a small and very plain, 
rude structure. It had a door in front and one on 
each end. It was clap-boarded, but not painted. l! 
was without a porch, belfry, gallery or pews. The 
windows were small and lighted with diamond-shaped 
glass. It was sealed to " the great girt," but prob- 
ably not overhead. Like all the churches of the time, 
it was without heating apparatus of any kind. Later, 
individuals built in it their own pews on the "pew 
ground" or "pew spots." There were comfortless 
" body " seats, the women sitting on the west side and 
the men on the east. Galleries were added about 
1728. Repairs and modifications were made from 
time to time, by the addition of pews, placing seats 
in the galleries, adding in 1743 twelve feet on the 
back side, putting on a new " ruff," moving the pulpit 
to the back side, re-coveriug the house with " the old 
clap-boards taken off the back side," putting up steps, 
and in 1754 a sounding-board. lu this house the peo- 



ple from all parts of the town came together to wor- 
ship God. In it they held their town-meetings and 
all other public gatherings, and it was here that they 
earnestly, courageously, eloquently and with states- 
mandike ability and forethought enunciated the prin- 
ciples of liberty on which our republic was founded. 

The first town action with reference to the settle- 
ment of a pastor appears to have been taken Novem- 
ber 28, 1720, when it was voted that Mr. David Par- 
sons be our Gospel minister. Two days later a call 
was sent him by a committee. In this letter they 
write, " Rev'd Sir, we with one heart and consent 
Do call and Invite you to be our Jlinister in the 
Work of the (inspel amongst us, if you see Cause to 
accept and see your way clear to remove; but alas if 
we reflect back upon ourselves, we can't but see we 
are utterly unworthy of so great a Blessing; but if you 
have such a Blessing to bestow on us, as we hope you 
will be, we desire forever to praise his name for his 
(xoodness to us ward.' He was to " have the forty- 
acre lot next the Meeting House," and "rights," "as 
other forty-acre lots," and a salary of sixty pounds, 
and sixty pounds settlement. As he hesitated to ac- 
cept on these terms, thirty individuals agreed to add 
to the amount, so that the salary should be seventy- 
five pounds, and the settlement one hundred pounds. 

Rev. David Parsons was born in Northampton in 
1680, graduated from Harvard College in 1705, pastor 
of the church in Maiden twelve years, where he had 
a church quarrel and lawsuit with the town ; installed 
at Leicester in 1721, dismissed March 6, 1735, and 
died in Leicester, where he was buried October 12, 
1743. Whitney, in his " History of Worcester County," 
gives the date of his installation as, " by the best ac- 
counts now to be had, September 15, 1721," but the 
town records indicate that he was already pastor early 
in the year. The town, " reduced to low circumstances 
by reason of the Indian War," soon found it difficult 
to comply with the conditions of settlement, and pe- 
titioned the Legislature for aid, which was granted to 
the amount of ten pounds. But the salary continued 
to be in arrears and Mr. Parsons appealed to the Leg- 
islature, and the town was notified to show cause. 
This was the beginning of a quarrel which lasted for 
sixteen years. Within six years the town, which had 
regarded itself "unworthy of so great a blessing," 
voted "that the town be willing that Mr. Parsons 
should remove, and remain out of this town." The 
town strenuously endeavored for years "to be relieved 
from Mr. Parsons' bondage," but in those da\'S such 
an endeavor was attended with insurmountable ditli- 
culties. Memorials were made by the parties to the 
Legislature, complaints to the Quarter Sessions and 
appeals to the General Court. Those who were con- 
scientiously opposed to Mr. Parsons were released by 
act of the Legislature from his support upon six 
months' notice, on condition of providing "an able 
orthodox minister, generally to dispense the Word of 
God among them," or attendance and taxation in 



702 



HISTORY OP WORCBSTEE COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



some neighboring congregation. The ( leneral Court 
passed an act releasing the town from Mr. Parsons' 
support, but the act was vetoed by Governor Belcher. 
"Six Worcester gentlemen came as mediators," but 
were unsuccessful. There were dift'erences among the 
people and changes of town action in relation to the 
subject. Succes.sive councils were called, one of 
which sat four days in Watertown, and adjourned to 
Boston, where it was continued four days longer. The 
result of this council reproves Mr. Parsons for "any 
rashness in his words, and hastiness in his actions," 
aud shows that he had been arbitrary, had called the 
meetings of his opposers a " Mob," had assumed jiower 
not belonging to "a pastor according to the constitu- 
tion of these churches; " that he, with "rash and inju- 
rious "expressions, had ordered the deacon "out of his 
seat," and had recognized the minority, composed of 
his friends, as the church, and I'eceived members into 
the church without due authority. But they judged, 
"as a former council did," that he liad been "shame- 
fully treated with respect to his support," and de- 
prived of his "just and full title to lands in Leicester." 
The communion service had been withheld from his 
use and that of the church. "They had opposed his 
going into the ])ulpit on the Lord's Day," and "set 
up another in opposition to him," and had withdrawn 
from public worship to " private assembling.'' "The 
like was never done in this land before." He was at 
length dismissed by a mutual council. This contro- 
versy with the town, however, continued and he pro- 
vided that his grave should not be with that of his 
people, but in his own grounds. The stone stood for 
many years near the Paxton Road; it for a time was 
lost, but at length was found in the house upon the 
place, used as the Hoor of the oven. It has now found 
a resting-place in the church building, together with 
that of Mrs. Parsons. 

More than a year intervened before the settlement 
of the next pastor. In December a fast was ap- 
pointed " in order to make choice of a minister." 
The Rev. David Goddard was the choice of the peo- 
ple. He was born in Framingham, September 2(), 
1706; graduated at Harvard in 1731; ordained June 
30, 1736; and died .January 19, 1754, at Framing- 
ham of " the great sickness," in that region, of wliich 
in the town of HoUiston, tifty-four out of a population 
of four hundred died in six weeks. He was a man 
of devoted i)iety, morbidly conscientious, sympa- 
thized with the people in their tinancial straits, and 
was in full sympathy with the great religious move- 
ments of his time. In the afternoon of October 15, 
1740, Rev. George Whitefield preached in Leicester, 
and in January, 1742, Rev. Jonathan Edwards, of 
Northampton, spent several weeks here in evangelis- 
tic labor. In connection with this work there were 
evidently some extravagances. Dr. Hall, of Sutton, 
while preaching here, was disturbed by " a woman 
somewhat troublesome," "frequent in fainting fits." 
Mr. Parsons, however, like Mr. Edwards, was judi- 



cious and cautious, and discountenanced all excesses ; 
and his ministry was fruitful iu spiritual results. 

The Eev. Joseph Roberts, the third pastor, was 
born in Boston in 1720, and graduated from Harvard 
College in 1741. He was ordained October 23, 1754. 
His avaricious disposition soon occasioned dissatis- 
faction, and he was dismissed by council, December 
14, 1762. He removed to Weston, where he was an 
active patriot, and was a member of the State Consti- 
tutional Convention in 1779. Engaging in business, 
he lost, and refusing to pay the debts of the company, 
was in prison, as a debtor, three years. He became a 
misanthrope and a miser, and lived like a beggar. 
He died April 30,1811, at the age of ninety-one. 
After hia death bags of money were found in his 
house, the bags so rotten as to burst when lifted. 

His successor was Rev. Benjamin Conklin, who 
was born in Southold, L. I. ; graduated from Prince- 
ton in 1755 and installed November 23, 1763. He 
was dismissed, on account of failing health, June 80, 
1794, and died iu Leicester, January 30, 1798. Dr. 
Moore, in the church records, gives his age as sixty- 
six years and six weeks. The inscription on his 
grave-stone is, " aged 65 years." He was a promi- 
nent adviser and actor in the Revolutionary struggle, 
a member of the Committee of Correspondence, and 
suppo.sed to have been at one time a chaplain in the 
army. He was respected and beloved by his people, 
and the record of his patriotism, in the sti'uggle with 
England and in the Shays' insurrection, adds lustre 
to the annals of the town. It is related of him that 
when asked if he would preach in the pulpit of a 
distinguished Unitarian minister, his answer was, 
" Yes, I would preach on Mars Hill if I could get a 
chance." 

Rev. Zephaniah Swift Moore, D.D., was ordained 
January 10, 1798. He was born in Palmer, Novem- 
ber 20, 1770; graduated from Dartmouth College in 
1793 ; and was dismissed October 8, 1811 ; made 
prefessor of languages in Dai-tmouth College in 1811 ; 
president of Williams College in 1815; and of Am- 
herst in 1821. He left a permanent influence ui>on 
the church and the town. He was a man of marked 
intellectual power and literary culture. His style 
was clear, simple and persuasive. When he was 
called to Dartmouth College, his people regarded his 
appointment as little less than robbery. When he 
left town they accompanied him in carriages, and the 
children stood, with uncovered heads, in long lines 
on each side of the way while he passed. 

Professor William Tyler, D.D., of Amherst Col- 
lege, describes him as " a man of medium size, but 
commanding presence, weighing some two hundred 
and forty pounds, yet without any appearance of 
obesity, neat in his dress, retaining the use of short 
breeches and long hose, which were particularly be- 
coming to his person. In his manners there was a 
union of suavity with dignity, rare anywhere, espe- 
cially in persons bred in the country, which marked 



LEICESTER. 



703 



him as a gentleman of the old school, one of nature's 
noblemen, and which, while it attracted the love of 
his pupils, invariably commanded also their respect." 
Rev. Dr. Thomas Snell, of North Brookfiekl, in his 
funeral sermon characterizes him as " by nature a 
great man, by grace a good man, and by the provi- 
dence of God a useful man, a correct thinker and a 
lucid writer, a sound theologian, instructive preacher 
and greatly beloved pastor, a wise counselor and 
sympathizing friend, and a friend and father espe- 
cially to all the youog men of the infant college in 
which he was at the same time a winning teacher and 
a firm presiding officer." 

Rev. John Nelson, D.D., was the sixth pastor of 
the church. He was born in Hopkinton, Mass., 
May 9, 1786. He was graduated from Williams Col- 
lege in 1807, and studied theology with Rev. Samuel 
Austin, D.D., of Worcester. He remained pastor of 
the church till his death, December 0, 1871, a period 
of fifty-nine year.s, nine months and two days. 

It is said that there were twelve hundred sleighs on 
and around the Common on the day of ordinaticm, 
and that there were three thousand people assembled, 
only a portion of whom could, of course, enter the 
church. It was during the ministry of Dr. Nelson 
that the church had its principal growth, there being 
at the time of his settlement only sixty-five mem- 
bers. He was an interesting and animated preacher, 
a favorite in the surrounding churches, and honored 
and beloved by his own people. He received the 
degree of D.D. from Williams College, in 1848, was 
a trustee of th,tt college from 182(j to 18.'53, and of 
Amherst College from 1889 to 1848. He was a trus- 
tee of Leicester Academy from 1812 to his death, in 
1871, and president fom 1884. He was for many 
years a corporate member of the American Board of 
Commissioners for Foreign Missions. He was chap- 
lain of the local regiment of militia sixteen years 
from 1812. He was often appointed to preach on 
public occasions, and was per-ionally identified with 
the great moral and religious movements of his time. 
" Dr. Nelson descended from a strong, intelligent 
and pious ancestry. He early became a Christian, 
and united with the church. He was profoundly 
reverential and consecrated in spirit. He was pre- 
eminently judicious and considerate in action, and 
singularly broad and catholic in bis moral and reli- 
gious judgments. Forgetful of self, he was always 
thoughtful of the happiness of others. Nurtured in 
a genial and happy home, inured to labor and hard- 
ship in his struggles for an education, brought while 
in college into the atmosphere of a great religious 
awakening and intense missionary zeal, and actively 
associated with the great moral and religious move- 
ments of his time, he was trained and fitted for the 
ministry which he accomplished. His qualities 
were of the enduring kind. He loved his people 
and he loved his work. He was pastor of the church 
for nearly sixty years, and his loving, pure and gen- 



tle spirit won for him the lasting respect aud affec- 
tion of his people, and of all who knew him." ' 

The fiftieth anniversary of his settlement and 
marriage was celebrated May 6, 18(52. His sermon 
was from Job 82 : 7 : "I said days should speak ; and 
multitude of years should teach wisdom." Governor 
Washburn presided at the after-dinner exercises, and 
addresses were made by several clergymen. Kev. 
George Blagden, D.D., presided at the golden wed- 
ding. The occasion was as interesting ai it was 
rare. 

In consequence of failing health it became neces- 
sary for Dr. Nelson to have assistance in the pastoral 
office, and on the 4th of March, 1851, the Rev. An- 
drew C. Dennison was ordained, as his assistant. He 
was born in Hampton, Conn., June 27, 1822 ; was 
graduated from Yale College in 1847, and from Union 
Theological Seminary in 1850. He was dismissed in 
March, 185(3, and afterward settled at West Chester 
and Portland, Conn. He is now pastor of the Con- 
gregational Church in Middlefield, Conn. 

Rev. Amos H. Coolidge, the present pastor of the 
church, was born in Sherborn, Mass., August 17, 1827, 
graduated from Amherst College in 1858 and from 
Andover Theological Seminary in 1856. He was 
ordained April 21, 1857. The day was made memor- 
able by one of the most remarkable snow-storms of 
modern times. Eighteen inches of snow fell, and the 
furious winds blew it into drifts which made the 
roads impassable. Only about one hundred persons 
attended the services, and but a small fraction of the 
council was present. The sermon was by Rev. Prof 
Austin Phelps, D.D., of Andover Theological Semi- 
nary. 

The second meeting-house was built in 1784, a little 
in the rear of the old site. The pulpit was in front oc- 
tagonal. It had over it asounding-board, and just below, 
the "deacons' seat." There were galleries on three 
sides of the house, which, with the pulpit and dea- 
cons' seat, were painted to resemble shaded marble. 
The pews were square, and each seat was hung upon 
hinges. In prayer-time they were turned up and 
their united fall as the congregation resumed their 
seats justified the fears of the Philadelphian, unused 
to such an amen, in his movement to escape from the 
house. A belfry and steeple were added afterward, 
and in 1826 the building was moved back to the 
location of the present church building. In 1829 the 
interior was entirely renovated. A bell and a clock, 
made by George Holbrook, of Brookfield, were placed 
on it January 13, 1803. The bell was re-cast in 1810 
and again in 1834, and about the year 1884 Joshua 
Clapp, Esq., presented the town with a clock. The 
first organ was jjurchased in 1827, the second in 1844 
and the third in 1867. The house was first warmed 
by fires about the year 1821. 

The present meeting-house was dedicated Novem- 

' Proceedings of tUe Worcester Society of Antiquity, 1887. 



704 



HISTOEY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



ber 13, 1867. In 1888 the interior was changed by 
the removal of the organ-loft and galleries for tlie 
choir to the rear of the pulpit. 

For more than sixty years the singing was purely 
congregational. The hymns were read by the deacon, 
and then sung line by line by the congregation. In 
1780 a choir, by permission, occupied the front seat 
in the gallery. There was a short trial of sound be- 
tween the deacon and the choir, in which the choir 
gained the permanent advantage, not, however, with- 
out greatly scandalizing some of the members, and 
causing them to leave the house. 

Bible-reading formed no part of the service here 
in the last century'. The first Bible thus used was 
published by Isaiah Thomas, and was presented to the 
society by Col. William Henshaw. It was read for 
the first time by Dr. Moore, May 4, 1800. The first 
action with reference to "apian of Sunday-school" 
was taken May 3, 1819, and at first the schools were 
held in school-houses in different parts of the town. It 
is believed that before the year 1887 there had been 
but three regularly elected superintendent.s. The first 
was Deacon Joshua Murdock. Deacon Christopher 
C. Denny was elected in 1848, and Hon. Charles A. 
Denny April (>, 18(52. He resigned after twenty-five 
years' service. 

The parish was at first identified with the town, and 
its business transacted in the regular town-meeting 
till 1794. After this time those voters who had not 
withdrawn to other societies met after the regular 
town-meeting, on the same day, until February 9, 
1833, when "The First Parish of Leic-ester " was or- 
ganized. 

Friend.s' Meetin(t.' — Until about eighteen years 
after the incorporation of Leicester the people of the 
entire original township worshipped together on Straw- 
berry Hill. A Society of Friends was then organized. 
It belonged to the " Yearly Meeting of Friends for 
New England," a body composed of several " Quarterly 
Meetings," each made up of minor " Monthly Meet- 
ings," which, in turn, embraced subordinate "Pre- 
parative Meetings," containing one or more "Meetings 
for Worship." The Meeting here was not only a 
Meeting for Worship, but a Preparative Meeting. " The 
Leicester Preparative Meeting" was at first a sub- 
ordinate of the Smithfield, R. I., Monthly Meeting, 
but after the division of that Meeting in 1783, it be- 
came subordinate to the Uxbridge Monthly Meeting. 

In 1732 Ralph Earle, his three sons— William, Rob- 
ert and Benjamin — Thomas Smith, Daniel Hill, Na- 
thaniel Potter and .loseph Potter declared themselves 
to the clerk of the town to be Friends and asked, on 
account of conscientious scruples, to be released from 



1 For most of the facta relating to the "Friends' Meeting," the writer 
is indebted to Dr. Pliny Earle. The history of tlie Bapti!*t Chiircli was 
written by Rev. H. E. Estes, D.D., and that of the Second Unitarian 
Church by Rev. S. May. The writer is indebted also to Rev. D. F. Mc- 
Grath, the parish priest, for the facts relating to the Roman Catholic 
Church. 



paying " any part of the tax for the Seport of the min- 
ister or ministers established by the Laws of the prov- 
ince." At the Smithfield Monthly Meeting, held Jan- 
uary 29, 1739, according to the records, "Friends at 
Leicester make report to this meeting that they have 
agreed upon a Place for Building a Meeting- House at 
the Burying Place between Ralph Earle's and Na- 
thaniel Potter's; and this meeting doth appoint Ben- 
jamin Earle, Nathaniel Potter, Thoinas Smith and 
John Wells, all of said Leicester, to take Deed of the 
same; and Benjamin Earle, Thomas Smith and Na- 
thaniel Potter are appointed to undertake for Build- 
ing said House." The .same meeting afterward con- 
tributed "four Pounds" toward its construction. The 
lot on which the house was built was a part of the 
farm which Robert Earle received from Ralph Earle, 
his father, with a small tract from the farm of Na- 
thaniel Potter, located by the brook, and added in 
order that the horses of the worshippers, let loose to 
feed during the service, might have water. The land 
was conveyed to Samuel Thayer, of Mendon, Mass., 
on the 13th of August, 1739, and by him to the per- 
sons appointed by the Monthly Meeting on the 27th 
of December of the same year. It was "to go entire 
and without any division unto ye survivor asd sur- 
vivors of them, and to the heirs and assigns of ye sur- 
vivors or survivor of them forever." The U.xbridge 
Monthly Meetings were held here three times in the 
year, and for a time the Smithfield November Quar- 
terly Meeting. Washburn describes the house built 
at this time as "a low, one-story building, twenty by 
twenty-two feet." It was sold, removed and converted 
into a dwelling-house in 1791, and has since been 
destroyed. 

The second meeting-house was Ijuilt in 1791. It 
remained many years after the meetings were dis- 
continued. Its location was secluded and singularly 
attractive. It was surrounded and shaded by ancient 
forest trees, and stood amid the graves of the wor- 
shippers of successive generations, some of them 
buried without reference to family relationship, and 
with graves marked simply by rough head-stones. It 
was of two stories, the upper floor being upon three 
sides a gallery, connected with the lower by an oblong 
opening in the centre. On a part of the lower floor 
were elevated seats for ministers, elders and over- 
seers. The men were separated from the women by 
a partition, the upper part of which was hung on 
hinges so jls to open and form one audience-room. 
The object of this partition was to separate the sexes 
at the business meetings, the women as well as the 
men holding a meeting of their own, the two 
I being theoretically upon an equality. The house was 
taken down about twelve years ago. 

In 1826, according to Washburn's history, the so- 
ciety had al)Out one hundred and twenty members. 
This number was probably never exceeded. The last 
minister of the Gospel, recognized by the Yearly 
Meeting, who was a member of the Leicester Meeting, 



LEICESTEK. 



705 



was Avis Swift, wife of Josiah Keene. She resided 
in Leicester from about 1812 to 1820. She was born 
in Nantucliet, and was " a woman of much religious 
experience, of superior intellectual powers and of a 
large intelligence, and was greatly beloved by all who 
had the privilege of her acquaintance." She after- 
ward lived in Lynn, where she died. In consequence 
of the removal of members from town, the society be- 
came reduced in numbers and the meetings were dis- 
continued in 1853. 

The Quakers, as the Friends are generally called, 
were averse to public life. They could not conscien- 
tiously take or administer an oath, and they were 
originally disposed to separate themselves as mucli 
as practicable from " the world's people." This dis- 
position diminished with the lapse of years. Dr. Pliny 
Earle, to whom we are indebted for most of the facts 
of this history, truthfully says that " during the first 
quarter of the current century a no inconsiderable 
part of the most intelligent and highly cultivated 
society in the town was to be found among them.'' 
Early in the last century they in theory and practice 
renounced slavery. They were in this respect evidently 
in harmony with the sentiment of the people of the 
town, which found, as we have seen, an early and 
emphatic public expression. The Friends, however, 
were first to adopt the anti-slavery principle as one 
of the canons of their organization, and remained 
true to that principle in all the struggle. 

In 1827, May 15th, a boarding and day school for 
young ladies was opened at the house of Pliny Earle, 
situated at the junction of Mulberry and Earle Streets, 
and continued till 1839. It was known as the " Mul- 
berry Grove School," and was taught by Sarah Earle 
and her sisters Lucy and Eliza ; the farm-house near 
being used for the recitation rooms. Sarah Earle was 
principal till her marriage, in 1832, when she was suc- 
ceeded by Eliza. The French language and painting 
were taught; but it was professedly an English school, 
and the instruction was characterized by great 
thoroughness. The public examinations were in the 
Friends' meeting-house. At one of them Governor 
Emory Washburn, being present, remarked that he 
had often heard of the excellence of the school, but 
"the half had not been told." 

Greexville Baptist Church. — Some of the first 
settlers in Leicester were Baptists, and among them 
Dr. Thomas Green. He was dismissed from the First 
Baptist Church in Boston to aid in forming a church 
in Sutton in 1785. At least eight other persons re- 
siding in Leicester, — Thomai Richardson, Daniel 
Penny, Elisha Nevers, Martha Green, Joshua Nichols 
Abialhar Vinton, Bathsheba Nevers and Lydia Vin- 
ton — had been baptized in Sutton and Leicester by a 
Baptist minister, named John Converse, three years 
before. On the 28th of September, 1737, Dr. Green 
and Benjamin Marsh were ordained associate pastors 
of the church in Sutton, "and September 28, 1738, 
by mutual agreement, the brethren in Leicester be- 
45 



came a church by themselves, and Green their pas- 
tor." ("Backus' History," vol. ii., page 31.) 

Since its organization the pastors of the church 
have been Thomas Green, 1738-73; Benjamin Fos- 
ter, D.D., 1776-82; Isaac Beall, 1783-88; Nathan 
Dana, 1794-97; Peter Rogers, 1803-13; Benjamin N. 
Harris, 1827-30; John Green, 1830-40; Moses Har- 
rington, 1840-49 ; L. O. Lovell, 1856-58 ; H. C. Estes, 
1860-62 ; N. B. Cooke, 1862-68 ; L. Holmes, 1869-76 ; 
J. Sawyer, 1876-77; J. W. Searle, 1877-81; A. W. 
Spaulding, 1882-86 ; H. C. Estes, D.D., 1886. Dr. 
Estes was graduated from Waterville College (now 
Colby University) in 1847. 

Dr. Thomas Green was a man of great ability, 
prominence and influence. He was largely engaged 
in business and remarkably successful. He was a 
physician, eminent in his profession, with a prac- 
tice that extended into neighboring States, and with 
many medical students under his instruction. And 
he was quite as distinguished and successful in his 
work of the ministry. After his death it was said 
of him in an English periodical that he had bap- 
tized not less than one thousand persons. The Rev_ 
Isaac Backus, the historian of the Baptists in New 
England, visited him in 1756, held a meeting with 
his people, and the next day wrote the following 
words in his journal : "Oct. 19th. I can but admire 
how the doctor is able to get along as he does, 
having a great deal of farming business to manage, 
multitudes of sick to take care of, several appren- 
tices to instinct in the art of physic, and a church 
to care for and watch over ; yet in the midst of all 
he seems to keep religion uppermost — to have his 
mind bent upon divine things — and to be very bold 
in Christian conversation with all .sorts of people." 

His successor. Dr. Foster, was ordained October 
23, 1776. In January of that year he had married 
Elizabeth, the youngest daughter of Dr. Green. He 
was a graduate of Yale College, and distinguished 
for his learning, faithfulness and successful work. 
Under his ministry the church was much enlarged 
and strengthened. He was the author of two learned 
works published while he preached in Leicester, 
and in recognition of the ability shown in another 
work published later, he received the degree of 
Doctor of Divinity from Brown University in 1792. 
After having been pastor of the First Baptist 
Church in New York ten years, he died there of 
yellow fever in 1798, at the age of forty-eight years. 

Under the ministry of the Rev. John Green the 
church enjoyed much prosperity. In those ten 
years the additions were ninety-six, and the mem- 
bership was increased to eighty, the largest in its 
history, though at one time in Dr. Forbes' minis- 
try the number of members was seventy-six. The 
membership is now fifty-four. 

When the church has been without a settled min- 
ister it has often had valuable stated supplies from 
ministers living in Worcester or elsewhere: Nathan 



706 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



Price, 1799; Ebenezer Burt, 1802-3; Benjamin M. 
Hill, 1816-18; Luther Goddard, 1821; Ebenezer 
Burt, 1824-25 ; Otis Converse, 1850-51 ; John F. Bur- 
bank, 1852-53 ; N. Hervey, 1854-56. 

Benjamin M. Hill was a distinguished man, not 
yet ordained when he preached in Leicester, but 
afterwards pastor in New Haven, Ct., and Troy, N.Y., 
nearly twenty year.«, then corresponding secretary of 
the American Baptist Home Mission Society twenty- 
three years, and widely known and honored as the 
Kev. Dr. Hill, who died in 1881. 

In 1747 the church had a house of worship alreadv 
built and occupied, which, with its grounds and the 
cemetery adjoining, two acres in extent, was the gift 
of Dr. Green, of whom, after his decease, the his- 
torian, Isaac Backus, said, " He was the main support 
of his society in temporals and spirituals all his 
days." That house was repaired in 1779 at a cost of 
three hundred and fifty pounds, and again it was re- 
paired and enlarged in 1824 ; then, after it had been 
occupied more than a hundred and ten years, it was 
replaced by a new and atiractive house, with organ, 
bell and clock, which was dedicated in 1860 and is 
now occupied. 

The Sunday-school was commenced in 1821. At 
first it was held in the afternoon " after meetings." 
For several years its numbers were few, sometimes 
ten, sometimes twenty-five and, like most Sunday- 
schools of that time, it was suspended during the 
winter. But, in 1829 and 1830, it received a sudden 
and surprising impulse. In ihe latter year its num- 
ber of scholars was increased to eighty, and in 1834 
it rose to one hundred and sixty. Since then the 
school has numbered about one hundred — sometimes 
more, sometimes less. 

On Friday, tlie 28th of September, 1888, the one 
hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the founding of 
the church, commemorative services were held, in 
which the Green family, descendants of the first 
pastor, took part ; and an interesting feature of the 
exercises was the presentation of a fine brass tablet, 
which had been placed upon the wall by the H^ n. 
Andrew H. Green, of New York, in memory ot his 
distinguished ancestor. Dr. Thomas Green. 

Second Congregational Society. — "In the au- 
tumn and winter of 1832-33," says Washburn, in his 
"History of Leicester," "several families in the town 
formed a Unitarian Religious Society." In April, 

1833, sixteen gentlemen — among whom were Waldo 
Flint, Isaac Southgate, Joseph D. Sargent, John 
Whittemore, Dwight Bisco, Lyman Waite, Silas 
Gleason and Edward Flints — applied to be incorporated 
as " The Second Congregational Society in Leicester," 
and received incorporation on the 13th of said month. 
From that time forward regular services of worship 
were held in the old Town Hall, and in June, 

1834, the society gave a unanimous call to Rev. 
Samuel May, of Boston, to become their minister, 
which he accepted. On the 12th of August following 



their new meeting-house was dedicated, when Rev. 
James Walker, of Charlestown, preached the sermon ; 
and, on the following day, Mr. May was ordained by 
an ecclesiastical council, of which Rev. Dr. Aaron 
Bancroft, of Worcester, was moderator. The sermon 
of ordination was by Rev. F. W. P. Greenwood, of 
King's Chapel, Boston ; the ordaining prayer by Dr. 
Bancroft; the charge by Rev. Dr. Charles Lowell, of 
Boston, and the right hand of fellowship by Rev. 
Samuel J. May, then of Brooklyn, Conn. A church 
of twelve members had already been gathered. The 
sermons of Rev. Messrs. Walker and Greenwood were 
printed in a neat pamphlet. Mr. May continued 
minister for twelve years, and in the summer of 1846 
resigned the office. Since his time the changes in the 
ministry have been many ; but the society has been 
sustained by an honorable devotedness on the part of 
its members, and the list of its ministers includes the 
names of men of eminent ability. Those whose terms 
were of two years or more duration were as follows : 
Rev. Frederick Hinckley, 1847-48; Rev. James 
Thompson, D.D., who had just closed a long and 
prosperous ministry in Barre, 1849-51 ; Rev. Wm. 
Coe, of Worcester, 1851-54; Rev. Joseph Angier, 
of Milton, 1855 and 1856 ; Rev. F. Macintyre, of 
Grafton, 1858-59; Rev. James Thurston, 1862-64; 
Rev. J. J. Putnam, of Worcester, 1864-65. In 1866 
considerable changes were made in the interior of the 
meeting-house, on the completion of which Rev. 
Everett Finley became minister, February, 1867, and 
continued until his death, which occurred early in 
1869. His body lies buried in Leicester, in Pine 
Grove Cemetery. In July, 1869, Rev. David H. 
Montgomery became minister, and so continued eight 
years. Rev. S. B. Weston followed. During his 
ministry a question arose as to the application of the 
trust fund left to the society by Isaac Southgate, Esq., 
which being, by mutual agreement, referred to arbi- 
tration, it was decided unanimously that the fund was 
not available in Mr. Weston's case. Mr. Weston 
received the decision with honorable good feeling, 
resigning his office in 1881. It was not until 1883 
that the society were prepared to settle a minister; 
but in September of that year Rev. Lewis G. Wilson 
was ordained by an ecclesiastical council, of which 
Rev. Dr. A. A. Livermore, of Meadville, Penn., was 
moderator. Mr. Wilson continued two years. Rev. 
Rodney F. Johonnot was ordained in September, 
188G, and bis ministry continued until September, 
1888. 

Christ Chuech, Rochdale. — The fiftieth anni- 
versary of Christ Church in Rochdale was celebrated 
July 4, 1873. The sermon of the rector. Rev. B. P. 
Cooley, preached on that occasion, gives the history 
of the church to that date. " Divine service, accord- 
ing to the Liturgy of the Protestant Episcopal 
Church, was performed for the first time in Leicester, 
Mass., and for the first time, it is believed, in Wor- 
cester County, on the sixth day of July, 1823." The 



LEICESTER. 



707 



^1 



church owed its origin to Mrs. Ann Wilby, an Eng- 
lish lady who came to Leicester in 1822. She was 
buried under her pew in the church in 1820. Her 
family, with that of Mr. James Anderton, were the 
only Episcopalians in town. Services were for some 
time held in the hall of Hezekiah Stone's tavern. 

The church building was erected in 1824, first oc- 
cupied on Easter Sunday, April 18, and consecrated 
May 26 by Right Rev. Alexander V. GriswoUI, D.D. 
Rev. Joseph Muenscher, D.D., became minister of 
the parish March 14, 1824. He resigned the cure 
March 10, 1827. He was also the village school- 
teacher. He was born in Trovidence, R. I., Decem- 
ber 21, 1798, and graduated from Brown University in 
1821, and Andover Theological Seminary in 1825. 
His marriage to Ruth, daughter of Joseph Wash- 
burn, was the first solemnized in a church, according 
to the Episcopal form, in Worcester County. Among 
the positions afterwards held by him was that of Pro- 
fessor of Sacred Literature, and later, Instructor in 
Hebrew in the Episcopal Theological Seminary, 
Gambier, Ohio. He was succeeded by Rev. Wil- 
liam Horton, D.D. Rev. Lot Jones became rec- 
tor in June, 1827. He was afterwards rector of the 
Church of the Epiphany in New York. He died 
in Philadelphia in 1865, while in attendance 
upon the General Convention, in consequence of a 
fall upon the steps of St. Luke's Church. Rev. C. 
Millett became minister in 1833. He was afterwards 
rector of the parish in Beloit, Wis. In August, 1834, 
Rev. Henry Blackaller became rector. He resigned 
in the spring of 1838. He died June 21, 1862, at the 
,ge of sixty-nine. Rev. Eleazer A. Greenleaf im- 
mediately succeeded him, remaining one year. Rev. 
John T. Sabine was minister one year, beginning in 

1839. He died March 15, 1851, aged -shOji-wb*. Rev. 
William Withington became minister in February, 

1840, and remained one year. He was succeeded for 
one year by Rev. Fernando C. Putnam. From 1842 
to 1844 the church had no rector, but was under the 
missionary charge of Rev. Orange Clark, D.D., who 
also ministered to the churches in Hopkintou and 
Montague. This was a period of great depression, 
but the church was " saved from utter ruin by the 
occasional missionary services of Dr. Clark and a few 
staunch churchmen on the spot." Rev. James L. 
Scott became minister in October, 1845, being or- 
dained to the deaconate and priesthood here, after 
acting as lay reader for nearly fourteen months. He 
retired in April, 1849. Rev. J. Hill Rowse was rector 
from June 10, 1849, until his death, July, 1870. Dur- 
ing his absence of three years as chaplain in the 
army. Rev. William B. Colburn and Rev. R. S. Paine 
officiated. 

Rev. B. F. Cooley, his successor, resigned October 
1, 1875. Rev. S. R. Bailey followed in the autumn 
of the same year, and retired October 1, 1879. Rev. 
Thomas W. Nickerson came to the church February 
8, 1880, and is still its minister, his rectorship being 



the longest in the history of the church, with the ex- 
ception of that of Rev. Mr. Rowse. 

Rev. Mr. Rowse was chaplain in the Foster Gen- 
eral Hospital, in Newbern, N. C. He was in that 
city in September, 1864, when it was visited with 
yellow fever. Says Captain J. W. Denny, then in 
command of the Twenty-fifth Regiment, " We met 
Chaplain Rowse, a faithful, earnest chaplain among 
the soldiers; he looked worn out. He said he had 
buried thirteen soldiers that forenoon, and as many 
waited his oflices. We said to him, ' Chaplain, you 
are not able to do this work ; you look worn out, and 
ought to leave immediately in order to save your own 
life.' ' No,' replied the chaplain, ' I am sick and 
weary. Some one may be called upon to bury me 
next, but I must not leave these soldiers; if I must 
die, I will die at my post of duty."" He had the 
fever, but recovered. 

Methodist Episcopal Church.— In the fall of 
1842 a series of meetings, continuing eight weeks, was 
held in the town hall, under direction of Rev. Horace 
Moulton, of Oxford. In these services he was assisted 
by his wife, Mrs. Elizabeth Ann Moulton, a woman of 
great religious fervor and zeal. 

As the result of these efforts, a Methodist Episcopal 
Church was organized October 15, 1844. The first 
minister of this church was Rev. William C. Clark. 

In 1845, in consequence of differences of opinion 
with reference to the Episcopal mode of church 
administration, and the duty of the church in relation 
to slavery and temperance, the church was divided, 
and a Wesleyan Methodist Church was organized. 
The Methodist Episcopal Church then removed to 
Cherry Valley, and a house of worship was erected 
for it in 184b. The funds for building were sub- 
scribed by persons of difl'erent denominations, who 
recognized the need of religious services in Cherry 
Valley, and the control of the church was committed 
to trustees. It was stipulated in the compact that it 
was to be " a house of religious worship for the use 
of the ministers and members of, and the friends of, 
the Methodist Episcopal Church in said Leicester, 
according to the rules and discipline of said Church 
in the United States of America, except the First 
Calvinistic Congregational Church of said Leicester, 
or the Episcopalians of Cherry Valley, shall wish 
to occupy every other Sunday night for a third reli- 
gious service, in which case they shall have the 
right." 

This house was burned in February, 1856, and re- 
built by the trustees. 

The appointments for the ministry of this church 
have been — Revs. George Dunbar, J. T. Pettel, 
George F. Pool, T. W. Lewis, D. Z. Kilgore, W. B. 
Olds, Daniel Atkins, G. E. Chapman, J. W. P. Jor- 
dan, Albert Gould, from 1859 to '60; W. F. La- 
comb, from 1861 to '62, who enlisted as a member of 

1 Wearing the Blue in th M isa. Vol. Inf., p. 298. 



708 



qiSTOKY OF WOKCESTEK COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



the Forty-second Kegiment; W. W. Colburn, from 
1863 to '64; George Lewis, 1865; George F. Eaton, 
1866 to '67; Charles H. Hanniford, 1868; Burtis 
Judd, 1869; J. B. Treadwell, 1870 to '71 ; A; Cald- 
well, 1872 ; N. Bemis, 1873 to '74; F. M. Miller, 1875 
to '76; J. W. Fulton, 1877 to '79; W. A. Braman. 
1880; W.N. Groome, 1881 to '82; W. E. Dwight, 
1883 ; S. H. Noon, 1884 to '86 ; J. A. Mesler, 1887 to 
'88. 

In 1867 a Methodist Episcopal Church was formed 
in the Centre, worshipping in theWesleyan Methodist 
Church. This church continued to hold services and 
receive ministers appointed by the Conference for a 
few years, when it was merged in the Methodi.-it 
Episcopal Church at Cherry Valley, the appointee of 
that church preaching at the Centre Sunday after- 
noons. The ministers have been Revs. Mr. Chase, 
Frederick M. Miller, L. P. Causey, Samuel F. Fuller, 
Eratus Burlingham and H. D. Weston. 

Wesleyan Methodist Church. — After the sep- 
aration in 1845, those who objected to the Episco- 
pacy, and the position of the Methodist Episcopal 
Church on the subject of slavery and temperance, 
organized themselves into a Wesleyan Methodist 
Cliurch, March 1, 1845. The pastor, Rev. Wm. C. 
Clark, remained with this church, and, indeed, was 
the active agent in securing its organization. His 
successors were Rev. Messrs. Christopher C. Mason 
David Mason, Simeon E. Pike, J. A. Gibson, 
Thomas Williams and Benjamin N. Bullock. 

The house of worship on Pleasant Street was dedi- 
cated July 15, 1846. The services were entirely sus- 
pended in 1861. 

Roman Catholic Church. — The first Roman 
Catholic Church in town was St. Polycarp's, and was 
erected in 1854, half a mile east of Strawberry Hill. 
The cornerstone of the present church, St. Joseph's, 
was laid on the same site, September 1, 1867, Rev. 
Robert W. Brady, president of Holy Cross College, 
officiating. The church was dedicated January 2, 
1870, Right Rev. John J. Williams, present Arch- 
bishop of Boston, officiating, The old church was 
taken down and moved to Rochdale during 1869, 
and was dedicated as St. Aloysius' Church. Novem- 
ber 21st of the same year. Right Rev. John J. Wil- 
liams officiating There was no resident pastor of 
the parish until August 1, 1880. The two churches 
were attended by the Jesuit Fathers from Holy 
Cross College, Worcester, in the following order: 
January, 1854, Rev. Peter Kroes ; August, 1856, Rev. 
J. C. Moore, S. J. ; August, 1857, Rev. P. M. Jolehi, 
S. J. ; January, 1858, Rev. Eugene Veterneli ; Octo- 
ber, 1859, Rev. A. F. Ciampi, S. J.; August, 1861, 
Rev. J. B. Galney, S. J.; January, 1864, Rev. J. B. 
O'Hagan, S. J.; August, 1864, Rev. Charles Kelly, 
S. J.; Auguit, 1867, Rev. P. V. McDermott, S. J.; 
June, 1869, Rev. J, B. O'Hagan, S. J.; September, 
1870, Rev. A. J. Ciampi, S. J.; January, 1871, Rev. 
Albert Peters, S. J. ; August, 1872, Rev. W. F. Ham- 



ilton, S.J. ; August, 1873, Rev. P. J. Blenkinsop, 8. J. 
These clergymen were generally educated in Eu- 
rope, as they were Jesuit Fathers and professors at 
the college. Some of them were men of eminent 
scholarship. 

Rev. D. F. McGrath became the priest of the par- 
ish August 1, 1880. He was born in Milford, Mass., 
August 15, 1848 ; graduated from Holy Cross College 
in 1870, and from Grand Seminary, in Montreal, in 
1873. When he came to the parish it was incum- 
bered with a debt of six thousand five hundred dol- 
lars, which was increased to fourteen thou.sand five 
hundred dollars in remodeling and repairing the 
church, building a fine parsonage and by accompany- 
ing expenses. This was the amount of indebtedness 
January 1, 18S4. By February 1, 1888, this debt was 
entirely paid, and all the parish property, including 
eighteen acres of land, is held free of indebtedness. 

According to a census taken in January, 1888, by 
Father McGrath and his assistant. Father Kenney, 
there were in town three hundred and twelve Roman 
Catholic families, with a total of one thousand five 
hundred and thirty-six persons attached to St. 
Joseph's and St. Aloysius' Parishes. 

St. Thomas Church.— In the year 1873 the Rev. 
B. F. Cooley, rector of Christ Church, Rochdale, 
commenced service in the Methodist Church in 
Cherry Valley, on Sunday afternoons. These services 
were continued for several years by him and his 
successor. Rev. S. R. Bailey. The first service and 
also later services on week-days were held in the 
house of Mr. Cheney Barton, in which the Rev. H. 
Blackaller had held .similar services more than thirty- 
five years before. The church was afterward made a 
mission of St. Matthew's Church, Worcester, which 
relation its'ill holds, although it has been self-sup- 
porting since 1886. 

Rev. E. Osgood took charge, probably in the 
autumn of 1878, and continued until early in the year 
1881. The Rev. Julius Waterberry was in charge 
from 1881 to 1882. He was a beautiful singer, a man 
of culture, of wide information, and pleasing and 
refined manners. He died in Boston, on Good Fri- 
day, 1882, and his memory is cherished with affijction 
by the members of his charge. It was while he was 
connected with the church that " Shamrock Hall " 
began to be used as the place of worship. 

He was succeeded by Rev. H. Hague, the present 
incumbent, who assumed charge on the first Sunday 
of August, 1882. 

The church was built in 1884, and consecrated 
February 14, 1885, by Bishop W. R. Huntington, 
D.D., of Grace Church, New York. Since that time 
a pipe-organ has been placed in the church. The 
church contains five memorial windows, one of them 
in memory of Rev. Julius H. Waterberry. 

The mission was first named "The House of 
Prayer," but in 1884 it was changed to '• St. Thomas' 
Church." 



LEICESTER. 



709 



CHAPTER XCI. 

LEICESTER— (a)«//««^a'.) 

SCHOOLS. 

First Town Action — Schoolmastrrs — Schoiyl-lio^tset — Town Fined— District 
Sfjstpm — Amount Raised for Schools— Districtti Abolished — High School — 
Leicester Accidemt/ — Founding — Buildings — Teachers — Funds — Military 
— Reorganizalion — Cent^nnitil Annicersarg. 

Although in the original legislative title of the 
town provision was made for school-houses, no action 
appears to have been taken upon the subject till the 
last day of the year 1731. It was then voted "to 
choose a committee of three to provide a school- 
master ; and that the said committee agree with a man 
to keep school for three months, and no longer; and 
that the school be kept in three parts of the town, so 
as may be most for the conveniency of the inhabitants' 
children going to school." The sum of $8.75 was 
appropriated to meet the expense. He was to teach 
the children to " reed and wright." His own educa- 
tion, such as it was, must have been acquired with- 
out much help from teachers, as he probably came to 
town where there were no schools, when less than ten 
years of age. This provision was for the whole of 
Leicester and Spencer. The next year there was no 
school, and the town was called to account before the 
Quarter Sessions. The sum of .f 17.50 was appropriated 
the next winter, and after a delay of nearly a year, the 
same teacher was employed, and taught three months at 
$3.75 per month in the house of Mr. Jonathan Sar- 
gent, opposite the spot where the Catholic Church now 
stands. The next winter Mr. Lynde taught in three 
different places, one month in each place. " If the 
town employed him any more, they was to come to 
new tarms." 

In 1736 the town "voted to build a school-house 
sixteen feet in width, twenty feet in length and six 
and a half feet between joynts; and that it be .set in 
the north side of the meeting-house, about ten rods, 
in the most convenientest place." It is described by 
one who remembered it as " an old shell of a build- 
ing." 

The next school-house was built as early as 1G72, 
where Sargent's brick factory now stands. Another 
school-house in the centre was built in 1791. 

In 1736 the town was again presented before the 
Quarter Sessions for failing to provide a school, and 
fined £-1 12s. The ne.xt year John Lynde taught 
school one month and Jo-hua Nichols ten days. The 
.school-house was probably built in 1738. Its cost was 
$-1,784. Mr. Samuel Coolidge taught the school in 
1739 six months, at SI. 32 per week. In 1742 the 
school was taught by John Gibbons through the year, 
in the four quarters of the town, "so as to have the 
remote ends of the town have some benefit of the 
same." In 1742 it was taught in six places by Mr. 
Adam Bullard. The amount expended for schools 



the next twenty years was on an average $133.33 per 
year. In 1765 the town voted to raise £120 to build 
five school-houses in the East, Southeast, Northwest, 
and Northeast Districts. 

The school-houses were all completed in 1767. The 
amount assessed in each district was finally appropri- 
ated to its own school-house. This was the beginning 
of the "district system" in town, which continued 
until April, 1869, when it was annulled in accordance 
with the statute of the State. 

" Schooling mistresses " were first employed in 1766. 
In 1774 the number of districts was increased to nine, 
and on April 15, 1776, the nine districts were officially 
defined, and the different families assigned to their 
respective districts, .and thus recorded. Notwith- 
standing the heavy burdens of the Revolutionary 
War, when a proposition wa.s made in town-meeting 
to suspend the schools, it was promptly voted down. 
A " town " or high school was organized in 1856, of 
which Mr. C. S. Knight was the first teacher. For 
several years it was migratory, being held one term 
each year at the Centre Village, Clappville and Cherry 
Valley. It was permanently located at the Centre in 
1859. In 1867 an arrangement was made by which it 
was combined with the Academy, and this union has 
been continued to the present time, with the ex- 
ception of four years, during which the Academy was 
temporarily suspended. All the advantages of that 
institution are now open to the children of the town 
who are qualified to enter upon a high school course. 
The annual amount raised by the town for schools 
at the close of the last century was iJSOO. In 1850 it 
was $1,200. The appropriation for 1888 was $7,500. 

Leicester Academy. — Leicester Academy had its 
origin in the intelligent forethought and unselfish 
enterprise of its founders. Col. Ebenezer Crafts, of 
Sturbridge, and Col. Jacob Davis, of Charlton. They 
were imblic-spirited, patriotic men. They clearly saw 
that Christian education was essential to the success 
and perpetuity of those free institutions which had 
been won at such a cost. There was no academy in 
Central or Western Massachusetts, and the provision 
for general education was exceedingly meagre. Col. 
Crafts was a liberally educated man, graduated from 
Yale College in 1759. He was an ardent patriot, and 
marched to Cambridge at the first call to arms, with 
a company of cavalry which he had already organized. 
He also commanded a company of one hundred men 
under Gen. Lincoln, for the suppression of the Shays' 
Rebellion. After the close of the war he appeiws first 
to have conceived the idea of establishing in Wor- 
cester County a school for classical and English edu- 
cation. He interested in the undertaking Col. Davis, 
who had also been a soldier in the Revolution, and 
was a man of wealth and broad public spirit. 

While they were considering the matter circum- 
stances directed their attention to Leicester as a de- 
sirable location for such an institution. Upon the 
departure of the Jews, the store of Mr. Lopez, with 



710 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



the land, was advertised for sale at auction as "a 
large, commodious double mansion, and a noted place 
for trade." There was one acre of land. It was, as 
nearly as can be ascertained, upon the original lot 
No. 1. It had been successively owned by John 
Stebbins, Rev. Joseph Roberts, Rev. Benjamin Conk- 
lin ; the western half by Benjamin Fosgate, who built 
on it a small store about the year 1770; by Joseph 
Allen and Henry Bass. In 1777 Mr. Lopez added to 
the western half-acre a half-acre purchased of Mr. 
Conklin, and built upon it "the splendid mansion" 
now offered for sale. 

Col. Crafts, watchful for opportunities to carry out 
his purpose, was at the sale. While there he con- 
ferred with his associates and decided to make the 
purchase, and the place was "bid off" to them for 
£515. It was deeded May 7, 1783, to Col. Crafts, Col. 
Davis and Asa Sprague, of Spencer, who soon after- 
ward transferred his interest to Col. Crafts. Col. 
Crafts then addressed a petition to the Legislature for 
an act of incorporation, stating that a "large and 
commodious building, with about one acre of land," 
had been secured " with intent and design to pro- 
mote the public benefit in the education of youth, as 
said buildings are exceedingly well calculated for an 
academy." He asked for an act similar to that re- 
lating to Andover, " whereby the same may be made 
respectable ; whereby the advantages of education of 
youth may be promoted ; whereby advantages may 
arise not only to the individuals, but to the public in 
general, and prove a blessing to our land of liberty." 

The petition appropriately bears date of July 4, 
1783. The petition was presented to the Legislature 
by Col. Seth Washburn, February 7, 1784. Final 
action was deferred until the sum of £1000 should be 
raised for the academy in addition to the real estate. 
There were then only one hundred and fifty families 
in town, and a population of about a thousand. They 
were impoverished by the war, but they came to the 
rescue in a spirit of noble generosity ; and within 
seven weeks more than the required amount was 
raised, as stated in the Spy, " by the town of Leicester, 
and a few gentlemen of that and this pl.ace." The 
town appropriated £500 ; citizens of Leicester con- 
tributed £367 ; and the amount was raised by Judge 
Gill, of Princeton, and others to £1355. The act of 
incorporation was passed March 23, 1784. It was 
signed by John Hancock, Governor, and Samuel 
Adams, President of the Senate. The property was 
deeded to the trustees in May, 1784. 

In May the trustees made provision for subscrip- 
tions through the selectmen of the several towns of 
the county for the institution. It "is devoutly 
hoped," they say, " that it will not be suffered to 
wither and decay, or, for want of nourishment, to be 
removed to some more fertile soil." Clergymen were 
also appealed to, and Rev. Joseph Buckingham, in 
his Thanksgiving Sermon that year, made an appeal 
for add. Isaiah Thomas interested himself at once 



in the movement, and in November the Spy stated 
that " there would soon be opened at Leicester an 
Academy, for the purpose of promoting the sciences, 
&c.," and "the people of this large county" weie 
"urged to exert themselves to second the endeavors 
of those gentlemen who have laid this generous and 
laudable plan of another channel for public educa- 
tion." 

Dr. John Pierce, who came as assistant preceptor 
in 1793, describes this '' mansion " as " an oblong, 
barrack-looking building." The rooms were about 
seven and a half feet in height. The southwest 
" parlor " was the school-room of the principal pre- 
ceptor, and the southeast that of the English pre- 
ceptor. The central front room was used as a dining 
and rhetorical hall, while the three rooms in the 
rear were used by the stewards. The southwest 
chamber was occupied by the two preceptors, who 
sometimes took a visiting friend .is a third occupant 
of their bed. The other chambers were for students, 
who were at times crowded six and even eight in a 
room. There was on the roof a small cupola, with a 
bell, the gift of Mr. Thomas Stickney. 

The meeting-house stood west of the academy. 
In the rear were the grave-yard and the training- 
field. 

The first meeting of the trustees was held April 7, 
1784. They moved in a body to the meeting-house, 
where public services were held. The Rev. Mr. Con- 
klin preached a sermon from Proverbs 11 : 25, and 
the Rev. Thaddeus Maccarty offered prayer. The 
trustees then partook of an "elegant repast," in 
"Commons Hall." Hon. Moses Gill, of Princeton, 
was elected president. Rev. Benjamin Conklin vice- 
president. Rev. Joseph Pope (of Spencer) secretary, 
Joseph Allen, Esq., treasurer, and Colonel Crafts 
"steward and butler." Committees were chosen to 
select teachers, and prepare to open the school " with 
all convenient speed." 

Benjamin Stone, a native of Shrewsbury, a grad- 
uate of Harvard in 1776, was engaged as principal 
precejjtor, at a salary of sixty pounds a year, after- 
wards raised to eighty-five pounds. He left in 1787, 
and was afterward preceptor of West ford Academy. 
He died in Shrewsbury in 1832, at the age of seventy- 
six. He was a well-qualified and faithful teacher, 
and always retained a deep interest in the academy. 
The school opened with three pupils, — Samuel C. 
Crafts, son of the founder; Ephraim Allen, of Stur- 
bridge ; and Samuel Swan, of Leicester, then six 
years of age. They were all graduated afterward at 
Harvard College. Mr. Crafts removed to Vermont, 
was a member of the first Constitutional Convention 
of that State, chief justice of the County Court, 
Representative and Senator to Congress and Governor 
of the State. 

Mr. Allen became an eminent physician in Salem, 
N. Y., and Mr. Swan was established as a lawyer in 
Hubbardston. He was a valuable friend of the in- 



LEICESTER. 



711 



stitution, and a contributor to its funds. Eli Whit- 
ney, of Westboro', inventor of the cotton-gin, en- 
tered the school soon after. Such was the quality of 
the first pupils in Leicester Academy. 

The number rose to twenty before the- close of the 
term. In the autumn term Thomas Payson was en- 
gaged as English preceptor, and the number of pu- 
pils was between seventy and eighty. 

At the time of the next annual meeting of the 
trustees, July 4, 1785, " the youth of that seminary 
entertained a large and respectable audience with 
specimens of their literary improvements." Dra- 
matic entertainments continued for many years to 
be given by the school, sometimes occupying the 
morning, afternoon and evening. They were held in 
the meeting house, which was crowded to its fullest 
capacity, the people coming from all the surrounding 
towns. On one of these occasions a Congregational 
minister of the county played, behind the scenes, the 
bass viol accompaniment to the " Scolding Wife." 
" Colloquy," " Poem," " Dialogue," " Greek Oration," 
" Farce," " Greek Dialogue," " Comedy," the entire 
(Addison's) "Tragedy of Cato," " Latin Dialogue," 
" Description of a Mighiy Good Man " and " Descrip- 
tion of a Mighiy Good Woman" are among the parts 
which appear on the programmes of these entertain- 
ments. 

The exhibitions, from time to time, were subjects of 
action by the trustees, in the way of provision and 
limitation. In 1796 provision was made for examin- 
ation by the trustees. In 1840 the custom was intro- 
duced of inviting some former member of the institu- 
tion to deliver an address in connection with the 
anniversary exercises. A statement of Dr. Pierce 
illustrates the style and dignity of the instructors. 
" According to the custom of the times, I then wore a 
cocked, or three-cornered hat. My hair was queued 
with a ribbon half-way down my back. I had silver 
knee-buckles at my knees; my plated shoe-buckles 
covered more than half my insteps." 

The range of studies was very varied. Students 
were fitted for college, while in the English depart- 
ment the lowest common branches were taught. Dr. 
James Jackson, English preceptor in 1796, says, " I 
believe all my pupils had learned the alphabet before 
I saw them. I taught spelling, reading, writing, 
English grammar and arithmetic, and perhaps, to a 
few of the pupils, some of the higher branches." The 
charge for tuition was one shilling per week for the 
classics, and nine pence for English branches. 

The institution soon found itself embarras->ed in its 
finances. The currency was depreciated. The Shays' 
Rebellion " threatened the country with civil war. 
The income of the funds was so reduced that it was 
necessary to d'spense with the services of the principal 
preceptor. The " large and elegant house '' soon proved 
inadequate and uncomfortable, and came to be looked 
upon, in the words of an early teacher, as "the old, rick- 
ety, inconvenient Jewish house," of which theseats were 



"old and crowded," and which was heated by an "old- 
fashioned box-stove," so that "teachers and students " 
were " infested and inflated with steam and smoke." 
Measures were taken as early as 1786 to rebuild, but 
there were no means, and the institution was forty 
pounds in debt. It was a gloomy period in the his- 
tory of the infant academy. In the general depres- 
sion the school had become greatly reduced in num- 
bers. In this emergency the town again showed its 
intelligent appreciation of the value of the institution, 
and, notwithstanding the embarrassed condition of its 
own resources, appropriated fifty pounds toward the 
salary of ihe preceptor, who received, in addition, the 
amount of tuitions. 

The trustees had already appealed to the churches 
for funds ; they now turned to another source. It was 
at a time before moralists aud Christian men had 
come to understand the true character and demoral- 
izing tendency of the lottery system. The trustees 
obtained permission of the Legislature, and issued a 
lottery " for the repairing Leicester Academy and 
making additional buildings thereto." 

The public were urged to purchase tickets on the 
ground that " the Academy at Leicester is established 
for promoting piety and virtue, and for the education 
of youths, etc." Rev. Mr. Conklin was one of a com- 
mittee to ask the General Court for an extension of 
time and an increase of the amount from £600 to 
£1200; S1419.22 was thus raised for the academy. In 
1792 the Legislature made a grant of a town in Maine 
to the academy, which, in a few years, added $9,200 
to the funds of the institution. With the adoption of 
the Federal Constitution confidence and prosperity 
returned to the country, aud the academy felt the re- 
action. In 1804 the funds had increased to §16,703.68. 

After long delay and various changes of plan, the 
new building was begun in 1805. A half-acre of land 
east of the original lot had the year before been pur- 
chased of Mr. Dall, of Boston, for seven hundred 
dollars. Still further addition of land was made by 
gift and later by purchase of Dr. Austin Flint. The 
architect of the new building was Rand White, of 
Leicester, who received as remuneration $9.84. 

The corner-stone was laid on the 14th of May with 
much ceremony. A procession, consisting of "Artif- 
icers," the corner-stone drawn by seventeen horses, a 
band of music, the president of the board, the build- 
ing committee, and trustees, magistrates, selectmen of 
Leicester, citizens and students of the academy moved 
through the streets to the place, the stone was laid 
by the master-builder and the object of the structure 
was stated by the president, who offered prayer. 

The procession then passed into the meeting-house, 
where there were further exercises. The building 
was ready for occupancy in January, 1806. It was of 
three stories, with a cupola. It was dedicated on the 
4lh of July, 1806. Again a procession was formed 
on the Common, consisting of the band, students, 
preceptors and trustees, and moved from the old to the 



n2 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



new building, where the structure was received by 
the board, and the president. Dr. Sumner, delivered 
an address. At the church, whitlier the procession 
pxssed, prayer was offered by Dr. Sumner, and Dr. 
Aaron Bancroft delivered an address on the " Import- 
ance of Education." On both of the occasions de- 
scribed. Dr. Sumner, witli great white wig and trian- 
gular cocked hat, was a conspicuous figure. The cost 
of the building was $9,054.36. It was built by the 
"job" in a very unsatisfactory manner. The founda- 
tions were not sufBciently firm and " settled," causing 
the building to be "racked and injured." It was 
hastily and unskillfully covered and finished, so that 
"the winds and storms of heaven " had free access. 
The subsequent expense and labor of repairs were 
fruitless, and after twenty-six years it gave place to 
the present structure. 

Apparatus for the illustration of the sciences had 
already been purchased, consisting of globes, a tele- 
scope, microscope, electric machine, thermometer and 
surveying instruments. 

It was at first understood that the principal was re- 
sponsible for the management of the school, but it is 
evident that the two departments soon became quite 
distinct. Dr. James Jackson, who was English pre- 
ceptor in 1796 and 1797, says, "'The schools were 
conducted quite independently of each other," and 
that he believed that the principal "had no right to 
control 'him.' Certainly, he never did." In 1821, 
however, the trustees, to prevent all misunderstand- 
ing, declared the principal preceptor the authoritative 
head of both departments. The English teacher 
presided over his own school-room, with power to 
punish. One of the penalties was the imposition of 
fines; this, however, was, by vote of the trustees in 
1834, prohibited, and at the same time expulsion was 
made subject to the approval of a committee of the 
trustees. For many years corporal punishment was 
resorted to in cases of discipline, and there are still 
traditions of severe inflictions and even of struggles 
in the school-room, and of guilty boys, in thoughtful 
mood and with sad apprehensions, accompanying the 
principal from the academy to the gloomy seclusion 
of his own barn. 

The funds of the academy after the erection of the 
second school building in 1.S06 amounted to $8,992.21. 
In 1814 Captain Thomas Newhall left a legacy of 
$1,000, and $1,000 additional for the tuition of pupils 
in town residing over a mile from the academy. 
Small sums were afterward subscribed at different 
times, and the State gave land in Paxton, which had 
been held by an alien, and had "escheated" to the 
Commonwealth, which was sold for $400. 

In 1823 "sundry individuals in the town of Leices- 
ter, procured by subscription a philosophical ap- 
paratus, and presented it to the academy, cost over 
$.500." That year the academy received its first con- 
siderable legacy. Captain Israel Waters, of Charlton, 
" was," in the language of Governor Washburn, " the 



architect of his own fortune." He was born in Sutton. 
A poor boy, lie pressed his way to wealth by his own 
industr}', enterprise and determination. His business 
was the manufacture of leather, in the northerly part 
of Charlton. He made the academy his residuary 
legatee, and established the Waters Fund, "for the 
purpose of supporting an instructor, or instructors, of 
the Congregational Calvinistic order " " in the town of 
Leicester forever." The will provided, in case of the 
removal of the school from town, that the trustees 
in town should take the fund and u«e the interest 
for maintaining a public school, called the Waters 
School or Academy. If the time should come when 
there would be no such trustees, the selectmen were 
to fulfill the trust. The amount received from this 
estate was something over $8,000. 

In 1831 the academy received $4,686.36 and also 
the avails of certain lands in Maine and Vermont 
from the estate of Hon. Isaiah Thomas, the distin- 
guished Revolutionary patriot, original publisher of 
the Worcester Spy, and founder of the American 
Antiquarian Society ; and the same year $250 by the 
willofHon. NathanielMaccarty, of Worcester. In 1832 
the value of the funds was $21,970 67. The building 
of the new academy in 1834, with the other expenses, 
reduced the amount, so that in 1844 it was only 
$13,611.72. The next year Hon. Daniel Waldo, of 
Worcester, for seventeen years a valuable member 
of the board of trustees, left the academy the sum of 
$6,000, to constitute the Waldo Fund, the interest of 
which was to be used for the " payment for able in- 
struction in the various branches of knowledge, etc' 

It is, however, to James Smith, Esq., of Philadel- 
phia, that the institution is most largely indebted for 
its endowment. He was born in Rutland, January 
20, 1788, came to Leicester in 1810 a pale-faced, poor 
boy, all his worldly goods tied in a pocket handker- 
chief. First a clerk in the store of Colonel Thomas 
Denny, wliose daughter Maria he married in 1815, he 
became his partner in the manufacture of card cloth- 
ing. The foundations of liis wealth were laid in the 
period of the last war with England. In 1826 he re- 
moved to Philadelphia, where he continued the same 
business. Some years ago, addressing the students of 
the academy, he said : " I early in life formed this 
determination, that I would be useful." That resolve 
was the key-note of his life. 

He helped many who were in straits. He took 
especial pleasure in aiding young students, especially 
those who were fitting themselves for Christian work. 
He gave during his life, and in his will, liberal dona- 
tions to viwious literary institutions. In 1852 he 
gave to the academy $10,000, on condition that $5000 
additional should be raised. The condition was com- 
plied with. Honorable Stephen Salisbury and Joseph 
A. Denny, Esq., contributing $1000 each, Thomas 
Denny, Esq., of New York, J. Wiley Edmands, of 
Newton, Ichabod Washburn, of Worcester, and John 
A. Smith subscribing $600 each, and other Individ- 



LEICESTER. 



713 



iial sums varying from $100 to $5 each. In 1877 he 
placerl in the hands of the trustees $15,000, to he 
added to the amount already given, thus making the 
Smith Fund §25,000. This fund became available in 
1879, after his death. 

Benjamin Stone was principal of the academy from 
June, 1784, to October, 1787 ; Amos Crosby from 
October, 1787, to July, 1788. He was a native of 
Brookfield and graduated at Harvard in 1786 ; after- 
ward a lawyer in Brookfield. He is described as ''a 
man of great quickness and ready wit and with con- 
vivial tastes and habits" which developed into dissi- 
pation. Samuel Sumner, son of Dr. Sumner, of 
Shrewsbury, was principal from October, 1788, to 
July, 1790, a graduate of Dartmouth in 1786, after- 
ward a clergyman. David Smith from July, 1790, to 
May, 1792; a native of Ipswich, graduated from 
Harvard 1790; afterward a clergyman. Ebenezer 
Adams, after teaching one year in the English depart- 
ment, was principal from May, 1792, to July, 1806; 
born in Ipswich in 1765, graduated from Dartmouth 
in 1791. He is represented as one of the ablest, most 
beloved and most successful of the early principals of 
the Academy. He passed with the institution through 
its gloomy period of depression, into the dawn of its 
returning prosperity, and did much to shape its future 
character. From July, 1806, to October, 1807, Rev. 
Zephaniah Swift Moore discharged the duties of prin- 
cipal, while at the same time pastor of the church. 
Simeon Colton was principal from October, 1807, to 
February, 1809. Luther Willson from February, 1809, 
to August, 1812; born in New Braintree ; graduated 
from Williams in 1807. Josiah Clark from March, 
1812, to August, 1818; born in Northampton 1785; 
graduated from Williams in 1809; afterward pastor of 
the church in Rutland and many years a trustee. 
Bradford Sumner, one term, 1818 and 1819; graduated 
from Brown in 1808. John Richardson, from Feb- 
ruary, 1819, to August, 1833; born in Woburn, grad- 
uated from Harvard in 1813. He is remembered as a 
thorough disciplinarian, a good scholar and instructor. 
Luther Wright, from August, 1833, to August, 1839 ; 
born in East Hampton and graduated fromYalein 1822. 
He was a man of great vigor, a good scholar and effec- 
tive teacher. Under his administration the school 
greatly increased in numbers. He was afterward prin- 
cipal of the Williston Academy, Easthampton. 

In 1832 the second academy building was sold for 
four hundred dollars. The new building was erected 
on the site of the old. Mr. Elias Carter was the 
architect. It is of brick, three stories in height. It 
was one hundred and two feet in length, the centre 
forty-two feet by forty, and the wings thirty feet 
square. The east wing has in part been occupied by 
the principals and their families, and the west as a 
boarding-house. The upper rooms were for the asso- 
ciate preceptor and students. The building was 
completed and finished in the winter of 1833, and on 
the 25th of December was dedicated. 



Addresses were made by Rev. George Allen on be- 
half of the trustees, and Mr. Luther Wright, the 
principal preceptor. The subject of Mr. Wright's 
address was "Education." It was published, to- 
gether with a " Brief Sketch of the History of Lei- 
cester Academy," prepared under the direction of the 
building committee. The cost of the'edifice was ten 
thousand dollars. Mr. Wright was principal for six 
years, with Mr. Joseph L. Partridge as assistant, and 
also Miss Elizabeth Holmes during the last four 
years. She was the first female teacher of the 
academy and held the position twelve years. During 
the period of Mr. Wright's administration the school 
greatly increased in numbers. 

Joseph L. Partridge followed as principal from 
August, 1839, to November, 1845. In his time the 
number of pupils reached one hundred and seventy- 
five, which is believed to be the largest in its history. 
He was born in Hatfield in 1804 and graduated from 
Williams in 1828. He has been on the board of 
trustees for fourteen years, and, residing in Brooklyn, 
N. Y., is still, at the age of eighty-four, a regular at- 
tendant upon its meetings and an active and valuable 
member. 

Josiah Clark, Jr., born in Leicester in 1814 and 
graduated from Yale in 1823, was principal from 
January, 1846, to January, 1849, when he became 
principal of Williston Seminary. The academy at 
this time held high rank as a fitting-school. " I am 
sure," says Hon. W. W. Rice of Mr. Clark, in his 
centennial address, " that he might have been the 
great master, but Leicester let him go." " He was 
an accomplished scholar, courteous in manner, but 
decided in principle, with a clear head, a large heart 
and a beautiful spirit." 

The English department was also conducted with 
marked ability for ten years, from 1834, by Luther 
Haven. Burritt A. Smith was principal from July, 
1849, to August, 1852. 

From August, 1852, to June, 1860, Alvan Hyde 
Washburn was principal. He was a man of high 
character, excellent scholarship and refined taste. He 
afterward became an Episcopal clergyman. He was 
killed in the fearful railroad accident at Ashtabula, 
Ohio, December 29, 1876, not a vestige remainiug to 
mark his identity. 

After the large increase of funds in 1852, extensive 
alterations and improvements were made in the 
building, at a cost of about forty-two hundred dollars. 
The main building above the school-rooms was con- 
verted into a large and attractive audience-room, and 
named Smith Hall. 

In this hall are hung portraits of benefactors and 
trustees of the institution. The re-dedication took 
place October 26, 1853. Hon. Thomas Kinnicutt 
.'poke for the trustees, and Mr. Washburn, the prin- 
cipal, delivered an address upon "Old and New 
Methods," which was published. 

The town in 1856 organized a high school under 



714 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



the requirements of the State law, and other schools 
of the same nature were mulliplied in the vicinity. 
As the number of pupils in the academy became 
reduced, the school was closed at the end of the 
summer term of 1860, and remained suspended till 
January, 1862, when it was re-opened, with ten pu- 
pils, under William B. Phillips, a graduate of Brown 
University in 1856. In April the term opened with 
forty pupils, and H. G. Merriam was engaged as 
teacher in the English department. 

Mr. Phillips left at the end of the year, and John 
Avery had charge of the school one term. He was 
born in Conway, and graduated from Amherst in 
1861. He was an eminent linguist. Oriental scholar 
and author, and afterward was professor in Iowa Col- 
lege and Bowdoin College. 

Henry G. Merriam, after teaching in the English 
department a year, was made principal in May, 1863, 
and resigned June, 1865. He was graduated from 
Brown University in 1857. In 1862 the boys of the 
school were organized into a military company, and 
afterward into a battalion. Mr. Merriam, a thor- 
ough disciplinarian and teacher, conducted the 
school with ability and energy, and under his ad- 
ministration the numbers increased to about one 
hundred, and all the rooms for students were 
crowded. It was in the time of the war, and the 
military training met a popular need. Company, 
battalion and skirmish drill became important feat- 
ures in the daily exercise of the pupils and promi- 
nent attractions in the public examinations. The 
effect of this training appeared in the erect bearing 
and grace of the " Leicester Cadets." They were 
received with favor when they appeared in Worces- 
ter on parade and drill. The government, on rec- 
ommendation of the academy, readily gave commis- 
sions to a number of young men, and they went 
immediately into active service. In 1863 a proposi- 
tion to make the school a State military academy 
was taken into consideration ; and on the 2d day 
of August a State Commission visited the school, and 
expressed much gratification with the proficiency of 
the military training. The Hon. Edward Everett 
was chairman of the commission, and addressed the 
pupils in his peculiarly felicitous and eloquent 
manner. 

George W. Waite, of the class of 1861 at Amherst, 
was principal from August, 1865, to April, 1867, and 
Wm. C. Peckham, class of 1807, Amherst, from June, 
1867, to June, 1868. Darius P. Sackett, a graduate of 
Yale 1866, was principal preceptor from August, 1868, 
to March, 1871. His administration raised the school 
to a high rank in discipline, scholarship and general 
character, not far surpassed in the previous history of 
theacademy. Heisnowprincipalof theSackett School, 
in Oakland, Cal. Charles A. Wetmore succeeded him, 
in March, 1871. He was born in Norwich, N. Y., 
November 8, 1843, and graduated from Hamilton 
College in 1869. He was an enthusiastic and inspir- 



ing teacher, entirely devoted to his work, although a 
great sufferer from asthma the last year of his life. 
In the summer of 1874 he went to Jefferson, N. H., 
for his health, where he died suddenly July 6th. 
James 0. Averill, of the class of 1870, at Amherst, 
was principal one year, from August, 1874, and D. 
Newton Putney, three years, from August, 1875. 

In 1867 the meeting-house of the First Church was 
purchased and removed to its present position, in 
the rear of the academy. The upper part was con- 
verted into rooms for students and the lower into a 
gymnasium. 

In the summer of 1878 the school was again sus- 
pended, in order that the funds might accumulate 
sufficiently to warrant extensive repairs and better 
provisions for its work. These improvements were 
made at a cost of six thousand one hundred dollars. 
The school-rooms were finished in ash ; the labora- 
tory was reconstructed and fitted for practical use for 
students in chemistry and zoology ; and a new, con- 
venient and attractive hall was finished in the east 
wing for cabinets and the department of physics. It 
is named " Murdock Hall," in honor of Mr. Joseph 
Murdock, at whose expense the work was done, and 
who has furnished it with a telescope, sets of globes, 
charts and other facilities and adornments. He has 
also refinished the gymuasium. 

In 1887 Dr. Pliny Earle presented to the academy 
his valuable cabinet of shells and minerals, collected 
in connection with his extensive travels in various 
parts of the earth. It contains probably over twelve 
thousand specimens, many of them rare and beauti- 
ful. He also provided an appropriate case, and en- 
dowed the cabinet with a fund of one thousand dol- 
lars. 

In 1888 Mr. J. Bradford Sargent, of Leicester, 
fitted a room in the tower of the gymnasium as a 
weather station, and furnished it at large expense 
with a set of meteorological instruments, which for 
delicacy and beauty are supposed not to be equaled. 

In the fall of 1882 the academy was reopened 
with Mr. Caleb A. Page, a native of Burlington, 
Me., a graduate of Bowdoin College, in 1870, as 
principal. He still retains the position. The 
school is organized in three departments : The 
classical and scientific four years' courses, and the 
three years' business course. The number of pupils 
hin been about eighty. Since the reorganization 
many members have been prepared for difl'erent col- 
leges, and for normal and technical schools; while 
others have gone from the business department into 
eligible mechanical and mercantile situations. 

The centennial anniversary of the academy was 
celebrated September 4, 1884. A large number of 
the former members of the institution assembled in 
the morning at the academy building — among them 
Edmund J. Mills, of Sutton, a pupil in 1803, and theu 
in the ninety-fifth year of his age. An address of 
welcome was given by Rev. A. H. Coolidge, the 



LEICESTER. 



715 



president of the board of trustees. An historical 
address was given by Hon. W. W. Rice, and a poem 
by Rev. Thomas Hill, D.D. The company, to the 
number of seven hundred, then took dinner in a Yale 
tent on the Common. Rev. A. Huntington Clapp, 
D.D., presided in a very felicitous manner. Among the 
addresses were those of Lieutenant-Governor Oliver 
Ames, A. L. Partridge, Esq., Dr. Thomas Hill, Prof. 
F. A. March, Judge Asa French, John E. Russell, 
Esq , Colonel Homer B. Sprague, Rev. M. B. Angler, 
Rev. A. C. Dennison, Rev. J. L. Jenkins, Judge C. 
C. Esty, Mr. Wm. B. Earle and Rev. Samuel May. 
Dr. Pliny Earle read a short original poem, as did 
also Captain J. Waldo Denny and Rev. A. C. Denni- 
son. The occasion was one of rare interest and 
pleasure. In the evening there was a delightful 
reunion in the academy. An association of the Alumni 
of Leicester Academy was organized, of which Hon. 
Oliver Ames, now Governor of Massachusetts, was 
president. The association has since then held an 
annual reunion at the Leice.ster Hotel, in June. 

The academy has numbered among its trustees such 
men as Hon. Thomas Gill, Lieutenant-Governor of 
Massachusetts ; Colonel Rufus Putnam, one of the 
founders of the North West Territory ; Hon. Levi Lin- 
coln, Attorney-General, United States ; Rev. Thaddeus 
Maccarty, pastor of the old South Church, Worces- 
ter ; Hon. Dvvight Foster, United States Senator; 
Rev. Aaron Bancroft, D.D., pastor of the Second 
Congregational Church, Worcester; Hon. Nathaniel 
Paine, Hon. Aaron Tufts, Hon. Daniel Waldo, 
Samuel M. Burnside, Esq., Hon. Levi Lincoln, 
Governor of Massachusetts; Hon. Abijah Bigelow_ 
Hon. Stephen Salisbury, Hon. Samuel Mixter, Ichabod 
Washburn, Rev. Seth Sweetser, D.D., Hon. George 
F. Hoar, United States Senator ; Hon. A. D. Foster^ 
Rev. Horatio Bardwell, Judge Henry Chapin, Rev. 
Samuel May, and many other prominent men of 
Leicester, together with former teachers and pupils of 
the academy elsewhere mentioned. Many of the 
teachers of the academy afterward became distin- 
guished in other positions. Among these are Rev. 
John Pierce, D.D., for fifty-two years pastor of the 
church in Brookline; Theodore Dehon, D.D., Bishop 
of South Carolina; Dr. James Jackson, for many years 
at the head of the medical profession in Boston ; Dr. 
John Dixwell and Dr. George Shattuck, also eminent 
physicians in Boston ; Hon. Timothy Fuller, father 
of Margaret Fuller, Representative in Congress ; Rev. 
John N. Putnam, the learned Professor of Greek in 
Dartmouth College ; Prof Francis A. March, of 
Lafayette College, Pennsylvania; William M. Poole, 
the eminent librarian, author of "Poole's Index'' 
and " Index of Periodicals " ; Hon. W. W. Rice, for 
ten years member of the national House of Repre- 
sentatives. 

Only a few of the many pupils of the academy who 
have become distinguished can be mentioned : Hon. 
Samuel C. Crafts, Representative and Senator in Con- 



gress and Governor of Vermont ; Eli Whitney, in- 
ventor of the cotton-gin ; Hon. William L. Marcy, 
Secretary of State, United States; Hon. Wm. Upham, 
United States Senator from Vermont; Rev. Gardi- 
ner Spring, D.D., New York ; Hon. John Davis, United 
States Senator and Governor of Massachusetts ; Hon. 
EbenezerLane, Chief Justice of Ohio; Colonel Thomas 
A-ipinwall, United States consul at London; Hon. 
David Henshaw, Secretary of the Navy ; Rev. George 
Allen ; Hon. Charles Allen, Representative in Con- 
gress and judge; Dr. Levi Hedge, professor in Har- 
vard College ; Hon. Emery Washburn, Governor of 
Massachusetts ; Rev. Thomas Hill, D.D., president 
of Harvard University from 1862-68 ; Hon. Pliny Mer- 
rick and Hon. Benjamin F. Thomas, judges of the 
Supreme Court of Massachusetts ; Rev. A. H. Clapp 
D.D., Judge Asa D. French, Hon. Oliver Ames, 
Governor of Massachusetts. 



CHAPTER XCII. 

LEICESTER— (Cowi'/wHef/.) 

BUSINESS. 

Card Bvsmess — Woolen Manufacture — Boot and Shoe BusincBS — Tanning 
and Currying Business — Leiceslt^ National and Savings Banlii — Miscel' 
laneous Industries. 

Card Business. — Leicester for many years con- 
tinued to be a purely agricultural community, the 
people dependent for a living upon the products of 
their farms. In the latter part of the last century the 
industry was introduced which became the distinctive 
business of the town, and for a long time the principal 
source of its prosperity and wealth. 

In this enterprise Mr. Edmond Snow was the pio- 
neer. He began the manufacture of hand-cards in 
1885. 

Pliny Earle commenced the same business in 1786. 
In 1789 we find him receiving an order for card cloth- 
ing from Alray & Brown, of Providence, R. I., and 
with it a reference to the fact that he had already cov- 
ered carding machines in Worcester. 

Soon after this Samuel Slater came to this country, 
and the next year, under the auspices of Almy & 
Brown, began the manufacture of cotton goods by 
machinery moved by water-power; and Mr. Earle 
supplied him with the cards by which the cotton was 
prepared, which was first spun in this way in the 
United States. Hitherto, cards had been made in 
"plain" form, but the filleting for Mr. Slater was set 
diagonally or " twilled." The sheets were of calf-skin. 
The holes were pricked by hand, with two needles fas- 
tened into a handle. The teeth were cut and bent by 
machinery and set by hand. The statement that one 
hundred thousand holes were thus pricked probably 
falls below the fact. About the year 1797 Mr. Earle 



716 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



invented a machine for pricking "twilled" cards, for 
which, in 1803, he secured a patent. It was based upon 
a principle previously unrecognized in American card 
machinery, and was not only involved in all subsequent 
pricking-machines, but is continued in Mr. Wliitte- 
more's machine for pricking and setting^that wonder- 
ful mechanism the credit for inventing which is so 
largely due to Eleazer Smith, and of which John 
Randolph, speaking on the extension of its patent, 
said, " Yes, I would renew it to all eternity, for it is 
the only machine which has a soul.'' In 1791 Mr. 
Earle associated with himself his brothers Jonah and 
Silas, in the firm of Pliny Earle & Brothers. They 
were probably for some years the largest manufac- 
turers of card-clothing in the country. From their 
factory at Mulberry Grove, hand-cards were taken by 
horse-teams even to Charleston, S. C. They manu- 
factured machines for carding both cotton and wool, 
and also had wool -carding mills in several towns in 
Worcester County and Rhode Island, for the conve- 
nience of the farmers. Pliny Earle died in 1832, and 
the business was conducted in his name till 1849 by 
his son, William B. Earle, who had had charge 
of it from the year 1819. He devoted much of his 
skill to the improvement of the card-setting machine, 
and as an expert in that machinery is said to have 
had no superior. In 1837 he received of the Massa- 
chusetts Charitable Society in Boston, a silver medal 
for one of his machines. 

Silas Earle withdrew from the firm and carried on 
the business independently, at the Marshall house, 
on Marshall Street, from about 1806 till the time of 
his death, in 1842. His machines were bought by 
Timothy K. Earle, who then commenced the business, 
but soon removed to Worcester. 

Daniel Denny in 1792 made hand-cards on Denny 
Hill. 

Woodcock & Knight. — Wiuthrop Earle began the 
machine-card business in 1812, in a building in the 
rear of Col. Thomas Denny's factory, which stood 
east of the Leicester Hotel. He died in 1807, and 
John Woodcock continued the business in connection 
with the widow until her marriage to Alpheus Smith, 
1808, when Mr. Smith assumed her share. Mr. 
Woodcock invented the machine for splitting leather 
to a uniform thickness. 

In 1811 the factory was moved west of the hotel, 
and the next year was enlarged by Mr. Woodcock. 
In 1812 James Smith joined the company, which 
took the name of Woodcock & Smith. Mr. Wood- 
cock retired in 1813, and the next year John A. and 
Rufus Smith took his place, forming the firm of 
James & John A. Smith & Co. Rufus Smith died in 
1818. In 1825, October 18th, John Woodcock, Hiram 
Knight and Emory Drewry became partners. In 
1827 and 1828 they built the Brick Factory. Mr. 
Drewry left the firm in 1829, and continued to manu- 
facture cards on Pleasant Street, a mile from the vil- 
lage. In 1836 they added to their business the manu- 



facture of card-clothing in Philadelphia, with George 
W. Morse as a partner, and continued it for about ten 
years, as the firm of James Smith & Co., while carry- 
ing on business in Leicester as Smith, Woodcock & 
Knight. They removed to the Central Factory, north 
of the Church, in 1846. In 1848 T. E. Woodcock 
and Dexter Knight, .sons of the senior members, were 
admitted to the firm, which took the title of Wood- 
cock, Knight & Co. 

In 1867 the fathers disposed of their interests to 
their sons (T. E. Woodcock, Dexter, George M. and 
James J. Knight). They dissolved in 1881 and sold 
the building and machinery to the Card-Clothing 
Association. The factory was much enlarged and 
improved in 1866. 

Capf. Isaac Sonthr/aie and Col. Henry Sargent, both 
of them enterprising and public-spirited citizens of 
.Leicester, began the manufacture of machine-cards in 
1810, as the firm of Southgate & Sargent, in Colonel 
Thos. Denny's house. Col. Sargent withdrew in 1812 
and was in the same business till his death in 1829, 
his I rother (Col. Jos. D.) being with him from 1814 
to 1819. Capt. Southgate, in 1826, associated with 
himself Joshua Lamb, Dwight Bisco, Joseph A. Denny 
and Jolin Stone, as the firm of Isaac Southgate & Co., 
manufacturing machine-cards in the building west of 
the hotel. Mr. Stone died in 1827, Mr. Lamb retired 
in 1831 and Capt. Southgate in 1843, when the name 
was changed to Bisco & Denny. In 1828 they built 
the Central Factory and in 1845 the present factory | 
of Bisco & Denny. In 1857 Charles A. Denny and j 
George Bisco joined the firm. Jos. A. Denny died in ■ 
1875 and Deacon Bisco in 1882, when John W. Bisco ' 
joined the firm. In 1857 a branch establishment was 
opened at Manchester, N. H. _ 

Colonel Joseph D.Sargent first made hand-cards at ^ 
his home, on the road from Cherry Valley to Auburn, 
beyond Denny Hill. After separating from his 
brother in 1819, he continued to manufacture hand- 
cards at the Brick Factory till his death, in 1849, but 
sold the other part of the business to Lamb & 
White, in 1836. Silas Jones, Nathan Ainsworth and 
William Boggs were at different times his partners. 

Josiali Q. Lamb and Alonzo l-TAi/emanufactured ma- 
chine-cards in Sargent's brick factory from 1836 10 
1846, when Mr. Lamb retired and Mr.White continued 
thebusine-s at the same place until his death, in 1850. 
Christopher C. Denny became associated with Mr. 
White in 1846, in the firm of White & Denny. In 
1868 Mr. Denny disposed of his interest to H. Ar- 
thur White, and the firm of White & Son continued 
business till 1888, when, H. A. White having pur- 
chased the interest of the father, the concern was 
consolidated with the " Decker & Bonitz Card Cloth- 
ing Company," incorporated under the laws of M.issa- 
chusetts, which also carries on an extensive business 
in Philadelphia. Mr. White assumed the manage- 
ment of the Leicester branch. This corporation pur- 
chased the Central Factory, which they enlarged and 




c/' 



/> 



LEICESTER. 



717 



renovated, and added new buildings for the accommo- 
dation of their new power-plant, and the grinding of 
cards under patents owned by the corporation, and 
for additional facilities for their increasing business. 

The firm of /. & J. BInrdock had its origin in 1840, 
in that of Southgate & Murdock, composed of Sam- 
uel Southgate, Jr., and Joshua Murdock, Jr. Mr. 
Southgate retired in 1844, and Mr. Murdock con- 
tinued the business alone until 1848, when his brother 
Joseph joined him, and the firm-name of J. & J. 
Murdock was adopted, which is still used. In 1858, 
John N. Murdock came into the firm. In March, 
1883, Joshua died, and, in the following June, Julius 
O. Murdock was admitted, forming the present com- 
pany. For the first eight years the business was 
small. When the present firm was organized the 
company had only thirteen machines. 

In 18-57 they bought the business of Baylies Up- 
ham, thus adding twenty machines to their plant that 
year. Previous to 1864 the motive-power was horses 
in a circular tread-mill. In that year steam was 
substituted for the primitive horse-power. At the 
present time they have one hundred and thirty-seven 
machines, capable of producing more than one hun- 
dred thousand feet of cards yearly, and their machine 
card business is the largest in town. The business 
has from the first been carried on at the same site. 
J. & J. Murdock's factory was enlarged in 1856 by 
the addition of sixty-six feet, and, in 1866, it was 
further enlarged by what is now the main building, 
thirty-five by one hundred and fifty feet. In 1868 a 
new branch of the business was added, and machin- 
ery put in for currying and finishing the leather for 
cards, eighteen thousand sides yearly being finished 
and used for this purpose, in addition to a considera- 
ble quantity of cloth. 

In the early part of the year 1888 a dynamo was 
put in and the works lighted by electricity. 

After leaving the firm of James & John A. Smith 
& Co. in 1830, .lohn A. Smith began the manufacture 
of card-clothing on the site of the present Wire Mill. 
In 1844 he was succeeded by the firm of Southgate & 
Smith, consisting of Samuel Southgate, Jr., and John 
S. Smith. In 1859 Horace Waite, who had been 
making hand-cards on the first floor of Waite's factory 
while Southgate & Smith were using the upper floor, 
succeeded Mr. Southgate, and the firm became Smith 
& Waite. Mr. Smith retired in 1867, and the firm of 
E. C. & L. M. Waite & Co. was organized. Mr. Horace 
Waite died in 1871, Lucius M. retired in 1874, and 
the business has since been continued by Edward C. 
Waite. 

Josephus Woodcock, Benjamin Conklin and Austin 
Conklin, as the firm of Conklin, Woodcock & Co., 
began the machine-card business on Pleasant Street 
in 1828 ; dissolved in 1830, when Mr. Woodcock, with 
his brother Lucius, formed the firm of J. & L. Wood- 
cock. Danforth Kice was with them from 1831 to 
1836, and William P. White from 1848 till his death, 



'n 1881. Charles H. then took the interest of his 
father, Josephus Woodcock; Henry Bisco joined the 
company, and the business was continued in the name 
of L. Woodcock & Co. until 1888, when it was given 
up, and the machinery sold to the Card Clothing 
Association. Mr. Lucius Woodcock died in 1887. 

Baylies Upliam manufactured machine-cards from 
1825 till 1857, when he sold to J. & J. Murdoch. 
From 1825 till 1833 Samuel Hurd was in company 
with him, and from 1849 to 18.55 Irving Sprague. 

After leaving Mr. Upham, Mr. Hurd united with 
James Trask in the manufacture of machine and 
hand-cards, on the Trask place, on Mount Pleasant, 
Mr. Trask died in 1848, and Mr. Hurd removed to the 
rear of White & Denny's factory. In 1862 he sold to 
L. S. Watson, but continued to make cards till 1866 
on commission. William F. Holman manufactured 
hand-cards from 1867 to 1873. 

Claramon Hunt made cards on a foundation of 
wood from 1868 to 1874 in White & Denny's factory, 
and then sold to L. S. Watson & Co. 

In 1842 John H. & William Whiltemore began the 
manufacture of card-clothing in the building west of 
the Friends' burying-ground, which William Earle 
was at the same time using for making card-machines. 
In 1845 they received their brother James. John H. 
was killed on the Western Railroad in 1851, and the 
firm assumed the name of W. & J. Whittemore. 
James died in 1882. William F., his son, joined the 
company in 1874. After making cards about a year 
at Mannville, the Whittemores removed to the Centre 
Village, and occupied, for a few years, the building 
on Market Street in which is now Wheeler's meat- 
market. They then built their factory, which was 
much enlarged in 1883. 

Cheney Hatch, first on Pleasant Street, then on 
Main Street, made cards from 1823 to 1836, when he 
sold to Alden Bisco, who soon sold to Henry A. 
Denny, who, in 1849, took into partnership his sons 
— Joseph Waldo and William S., — as the firm of 
Henry A. Denny & Sons. In 1854 they sold to 
White & Denny. 

Henry A. Denny commenced making hand-cards 
in 1823, with Emory Drury, as the firm of Drury 
& Denny, on Pleasant Street, about a mile south of 
Main Street, where Samuel D. Watson had before 
carried on the same business two or three years. 
They dissolved, and he continued alone, on the 
corner of Main and Mechanic Streets. Afterward he 
w.as associated with Reuben Merriam, until 1836, 
when he purchased the factory hitherto used by 
Mr. Hatch. 

Cnl. Thomas Denny, with William Earle, made 
hand-cards on Denny Hill. In 1802 he began the 
manufacture of cards, hand and machine, on the 
corner of Main and Market Streets, which he con- 
ducted on an extensive scale till his death, in 1814. 
He had in the same building the post-office and a 
store. 



718 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



Jonathan Earle manufactured cards on Mount 
Pleasant from 1804 to 1813. 

Alpheus Smith built a brick factory, afterward the 
house of H. G. Henshaw, where he manufactured 
card clothing from 1813 to 1823, and was succeeded 
by his brother Horace. 

James Stone made hand-cards from 1849 to 1853. 

Roswdl Sprague built a store opposite the academy, 
and in it manufactured cards. 

Reuben Merriam, in the same house, made hand 
and machine-cards, and built card-machines for 
many years, from 1821, George W. Morse and Henry 
A. Denny being at times his partners. 

Capt. WUliani Sprague <& Sons were engaged in the 
same business ; also Brigham Barton, Bernard Upham, 
Samuel D. Watson, Aaron Morse, Guy S. Newton, 
Timothy Earle, Samuel Southgate, William H. Scott, 
Oliver Sylvester and others. 

Joseph B. and Edward Sargent began the manu- 
facture of hand cards at the " Brick Factory," May 
1, 1854. (ieorge H. Sargent came into the firm 
January ], 1859, at which time the well-known Sar- 
gent Hardware Commission House was established, 
in New York City. They carried on the hand-card 
business in Leicester on a large scale, purchasiLg the 
interest of several other firms. About the year 1868 
they removed the business to Worcester, and in 1883 
sold to L. S. Watson & Co. 

L. S. Watson & Co. are the principal hand-card 
manufacturers in the country. Like other interests 
in town, this enterprise has gradually grown from a 
very small beginning. Lory S. Watson came to 
Leicester from Spencer in 1842, and in company with 
Horace Waite bought one-half of Col. Joseph D. 
Sargent's machinery. Waite & Watson made hand- 
cards in the "Brick Factory" till 1845, when the 
co-partnership was dissolved, each partner taking 
one-half of the machines. At this lime Mr. Watson 
had eight card-setting machines, which were dis- 
tributed in different factories, in which he hired 
power. The coarse cards were pricked at Mulberry 
Grove by one of Silas Earle's pricking-machines, and 
the teeth set by hand. About the year 1861 he 
bought out Samuel Hurd and George Uphara. In 
this year he built the present factory, and introduced 
for power Ericson's hot-air engine. In 1865 he took 
his son Edwin L. into partnership, under the title of 
L. S. Watson & Co. The factory was enlarged in 
1866, and steam-power was introduced. In 1878 the 
building was again enlarged, and again in 1885. It 
is in size one hundred feet by forty feet, and of four 
stories, and there are also separate store-houses. In 
1883 they bought the hand card machinery and 
stock of Sargent Hardware Co., and for nearly two 
years carried on a branch establishment in Worcester. 
At present they have one hundred machines, and 
manufacture about 14,000 dozen pairs of hand-cards 
annually. In 1873 the company began the manu- 
facture of wire heddles, which they have continued 



as a separate department. The capacity of the wire 
heddle machines is 100,000 daily. 

The history of Leicester is closely identified with 
the rise and development of card manufacture in 
this country. At first the entire process was hand- 
work. The holes were pricked by hand. The ma- 
chine for pricking was then invented, and for many 
years the setting of teeth by hand furnished employ- 
ment for women and children in their homes through- 
out this whole region. In this way they could, at 
one time, earn fourteen cents a day. This continued 
through the first quarter of the century, when the 
card-pricking and setting machine began to come in- 
to general use. 

The use of power in the preparation of the leather 
is of much more recent date. As we have seen, Mr. 
John Woodcock invented the machine for splitting 
leather, something like seventy-five years ago, and 
the preparation of the leather by power has been 
coming into use within the last twenty-five years. 
Cloth also is now extensively used. 

At first the machines were moved by hand. Dog- 
power was then introduced, then horse-power. Thirty 
years ago White & Denny's factory was the only 
establishment in which steam-power was employed. 
It is now used in all. Within two years the heavy 
machines for grinding cards after they are set, has 
been brought into general use in town. The busi- 
ness now requires larger facilities and capital than 
were necessary at an earlier period. There has been 
a change in the number and magnitude of the manu- 
facturing establishments. There are at present only 
five card-clothing factories in town. Formerly many 
men made hand-cards on a small scale. Now there 
is only one firm in town engaged in this branch of 
the business, and there are only three manufactories 
of cotton and woolen hand cards in the country. 
There were made in the year 1887 by all the card- 
clothing manufacturers in the country 975,742 square 
feet, valued at $1,219,677. Of these, 216,468 feet were 
made in Leicester, valued at $270,585. 

Woolen Manufacture. — Samuel Watson is en- 
titled to the position of pioneer woolen manufacturer 
in Leicester. During the War of 1812, or as Washburn 
states, "previous to 1814 he enlarged his clothier's 
shop," and began the weaving of woolen cloth upon 
looms moved by hand. The mill was located on the 
Auburn road near Main Street, on the privilege used 
by Richard Southgate for his saw-mill, the second 
erected in town. Alexander Parkman afterward 
used it as a fulling-mill, and was followed by 
Asabel Washburn. According to Washburn's his- 
tory Mr. Watson leased the mill to James Anderton, 
who had been bred a woolen manufacturer in Lan- 
cashire, England, who disposed of his interest to 
Thomas Bottomly, " who continued to carry on the 
business there until 1825." The building was burnt 
February 11, 1848. 

Mr. Bottomly may truthfully be termed the found- 






a-t>{i^. 



LEICESTEK. 



719 



er of Cherry Valley as a manufacturing village. 
When he came to Leicester there were, as nearly as 
can be ascertained, only ten houses in what is now 
the village. Most of the present residences were 
built in his lifetime, and it was by him that the three 
brick factories were erected. He was a native of 
Yorkshire, England. He had worked in the factories 
as a child, but was afterward a shepherd on the 
moors, where he earned money with which to come 
to America. He came to this country in 1819, land- 
ing at Philadelphia, where he worked for a short 
time, and then started on foot for Rochdale, where 
was James Anderton, whom he had known in Eng- 
land. He found himself without money before the 
journey was completed, and always remembered with 
special gratitude the kindness of a family in Connec- 
ticut who entertained him over the Sabbath. He 
worked in Rochdale for a time, and came to Cherry 
Valley, and built what is now Olney's Mill in 1821, 
and was running it as late as 1824. The cloth was 
woven by hand in a building before used as a tan- 
nery, where the post-othce now stands. 

There was a saw-mill here at an early date owned 
by Benjamin Studley. About the year 1765 the privi- 
lege, with an acre of land, was bought by the " Forge^ 
Partners," who erected a building for some kind of 
iron-works. They, however, sold the property, which 
was called the " Forge Acre," to Matthew Watson, 
who had there a saw-mill till about the year 1S21, when 
Thomas Bottomly built on it a woolen-factory of brick. 
Such is the early history of this site, with a few varia- 
tions, as given by Governor Washburn and also by 
Joseph A. Denny, Esq., except that Washburn makes 
1820 the date of building the mill, while Mr. Bottom- 
ly's son Wright places it 1821. 

There have been various transfers of the property 
since that time. It passed from Thomas Bottomly to 
the Bottomly Manufacturing Company June 1, 1827, 
from them back to Thomas Bottomly November 10, 
1846, from him to Samuel Bottomly March 10, 1849, 
from him to George Hodges July 6th of the same 
year, and December 21st one-half of Mr. Hodges' in- 
terest to Benjamin A. Farnum. June 20, 1855, Samuel 
L. Hodges came into possession of his father's inter- 
est, and October 9, 1857, that of Mr. Farnum, making 
him at this date the sole owner of the property. The 
factory was partially destroyed by fire September 7, 
1864; up to Mr. Hodges' time broadcloths of superior 
grade were woven here. He introduced the manufic- 
ture of flannels. By his energy and public spirit Mr. 
Hodges did much to build up Cherry Valley. 

In 1866, October 9th, the property was conveyed in 
trust to George H. Gilbert, Jr., George Hodges and 
Henry C. Weston, and by them to B. A. Farnum, 
June 7, 1867, Mr. and Mrs. Hodges giving them a 
quit-claim deed ihe same day. Frank C. Fiske came 
into possession January 1, 1870. The mill was nearly 
destroyed by fire June 3, 1874. Albert T. B. Ames 
purchased it August 1, 1874, and at the same time made 



a declaration of trust as to one-half of the property, 
held for George W. Olney, who with him formed the 
company of George W. Olney & Co. They rebuilt 
and opened the mill in the au'umn of 1874, and con- 
tinued to run it till February, 1876. George W. 
Olney came into entire possession March 22, 1876, and 
reopened the mill June 14, 1876, since which time he 
has continued the manufacture of flannels. Two con- 
siderable additions have since been made to the main 
building — one in 1881, and the other in 1885. A store- 
house and other buildings and several tenement- 
houses have also been erected, and the general aspect 
of that part of the village much improved. The 
factory contains seven seta of cards, forty-six looms and 
four thousand two hundred and forty spindles. Mr. 
Olney is largely interested, also, in manufacturing 
in Lisbon, Maine. 

In 1821 James Anderton began the manufacture of 
broadcloths and cassimeres in the south part of the 
town, in a small wooden mill, built about this time, 
by Thomas Scott, on the site of the present Lower 
Rochdale Factory. The Leicester Manufacturing 
Company was soon incorporated, and continued the 
same business, being afterward united with the Saxon 
Manufacturing Company, in Franiingham, as the 
Saxon and Leicester Company. Mr. Joshua Clapp 
bought the property in 1829 and continued the same 
line of manufactures till 1840. For two or three years 
little was done in the mill. It then came into the 
hands of John Marland, of Andover, who sold it in 
1845 to Barnes & Mansur, who added the manufac- 
ture of flannels. The building was burned in 1846. 
The same year Mr. Reuben S. Denny bought out Mr. 
Mansur's interest, and, with Mr. Barnes, built a brick 
factory on the same site, which was completed in 
1847. Mr. Denny in 1850 bought out Mr. Barnes. 
This factory was burned in 1851, and rebuilt in 1852. 
Meantime, about the year 1844, a wooden building 
had been erected on the site of the present Upper 
Factory, where the manufacture of carpets was carried 
on for a year with indifferent success This building 
Mr. Denny bought while erecting his new factory, 
and manufactured white flannels. It was burned in 
1854, and the present brick building took its place. 

In 1856 Ebenezer Dale, representing the firm of 
Johnson, Sewall & Co., of Boston, came into possession 
of both factories and a large property, real and per- 
sonal, connected with them. In the two mills are 
thirteen sets of machinery. Since 1859, first as the 
Clappville Mills, then as the Rochdale Mills, they 
have manufactured flannels and ladies' dress goods, 
averaging for the last twenty years from one to one 
and a half million yards. New and improved ma- 
chinery has within a few years taken the place of the 
old. E. G. Carlton has for thirty years been the agent 
and manager, and the reputation of the products of 
the Rochdale Mills is exceeded by few, if any, manu- 
facturing establishments in the country. 

In 1838 Amos S. Earle and Billings Mann, as the 



720 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



firm of Earle & Mann, began the manufacture of sat- 
inets in the building near the corner of Mannville 
and Earle Streets, at Mannville, in which Earle & 
Bros, had made card-machines and Amos S. Earle 
had afterward made hand-cards. Mr. Mann removed 
from town in 1844. Nathan Daniels became Mr. 
Earle's partner, and the firm of Earle & Daniels 
built forty feet of the present mill. Mr. Daniels died 
and the estate being solvent, it was bought by a syndi- 
cate of creditors. 

Meantime Mr. Mann had been engaged in the 
same business in Holden with Albert Marshall. In 
1853 Mann & Marshall purchased the property, en- 
larged the mill and continued the manufacture of 
satinets twenty-two years. They were heavy losers 
in the Boston fire in 1875, and were obliged soon after 
to suspend business. George and Billings Mann were 
associated with them for about one year. In 1879 
George and Billings Mann and John P. Stephen, 
their brother-in-law, began business. They have en- 
larged and improved the plant, built cottages for the 
operative-) and conducted a prosperous business. 

Cherry Valley Woolen- Mills. —\n\&Z6T\iOi. Bottomly 
laid the foundations of the factory now run by the 
Cherry Valley Woolen-Mills on the privilege early 
occupied by Nathan Sargent as a grist-mill. In 1837 
he began there the manufacture of broad-cloths. He 
sold to Effingham L. Capron in 1845. 

In 1859 the mill was owned by E. D. Thayer and 
used by Mowry Lapham and James A. Smith, under the 
firm-name of Lapham & Smith, until )862, when Mr. 
Smith sold to Mr. Lapham and removed to Rhode 
Island. 

In 1863 the building was destroyed by fire, and 
the privilege remained vacant till 1865, when George 
N. and James A. Smith bought it and built a six-set 
mill for the manufacture of fancy cassimeres. In 
1868 George N. Smith sold his share to James A. In 
1876 the factory was nearly destroyed by the " Flood." 
Mr. Smith rebuilt in 1878 and leased to Eli Collier 
and A. E. Smith. Collier & Smith dissolved in 1879, 
and A. E. Smith continued the business until 1887, 
when the mill was leased to the present "Cherry 
Valley Woolen-Mills" Company. The property was 
sold to F. T. Blackmer, Esq., of Worcester, in 1881, 
and is now owned by his heirs. This mill now 
maiuifactures ladies' dress and skirt goods. 

Kettle Brook, which furnishes the water-power for 
all the factories in Mannville, Lakeside, Cherry Val- 
ley, Valley Falls and Jamesville, and which has repeat- 
edly, in time of freshets, been the source of serious ap- 
prehension through the valley, was originally only a 
little stream winding in picturesque beauty through 
meadows and forests, and leaping down the rocks 
through narrow defiles. Says one who lived by it 
" When I wa« a little girl. Kettle Brook was a small 
stream of water, that I have waded across many 
times." 

Collier's i/t7/.— About the year 1835 L. G. Dickin- 



son built the embankment north of Main Street, and 
the dam south of the road, where Collier's mill stands. 
To this place Mr. Dickinson moved his saw-mill, 
which formerly was located where A. W. Darling & 
Co.'s mill now is. This mill of Mr. Dickinson was 
used as a saw-mill until 1844, when it was converted 
into a satinet factory. The business was carried on 
by Jonathan Earle. In the same building was the 
cabinet shop of Silas A. Morse. It was burned to the 
ground March 24, 1848, but afterwards rebuilt by 
Mr. Dickinson, of lumber from an old church in 
Charlton. It was leased to Baker & Bellows October 
1, 1848. October 1, 1853, it was leased to Eli Collier. 
It was burned January 5, 1866, but rebuilt the next 
summer from the lumber of the Lower Tophet ma- 
chine-shop and was leased to Collier. April 8, 1881, 
it was sold to Collier & Butler. September 1, 1888, 
Butler sold out to Collier. It has been a satinet-mill 
since it was first changed from a saw mill. 

Chapel Mill.—h\ the year 1836 or '37 John Waite 
bought land of Samuel Waite, built a dam and canal 
and erected a mill where the Chapel Mill now stands, 
on Chapel Street, a few rods north of Main Street. 
Here he made churns. It was afterwards a shuttle- 
shop, it was used later, about 1844, by H. G. Hen- 
shaw for drawing wire. It was here that Richard 
Sugden, whose extensive wire business is one of the 
important factors in the wealth of Spencer, first drew 
wire in this country; both he and Mr. Myrick worked 
for Mr. Henshaw. In 1849 Myrick and Sugden 
bought the machinery of Mr. Henshaw and formed a 
partnership under the name of Henshaw, Myrick & 
Sugden, of Spencer. The partnership was dissolved 
in 1854. 

The Chapel Mill property was afterward owned by 
N. R. Parkherst, and was sold by him to L. G. Dick- 
inson, October, 1854. It has been occupied by John 
Q. Adams, who used it for a shoddy-mill, and by 
Bottomly & Fay, who made satinets there. 

James Fay was in business there when it was 
burned, March 7, 1865. The property was bought by 
Samuel Chism, of Newton, and he rebuilt from the 
lumber of the old Baptist Church in Greenville, thus 
giving to the mill the name of Chapel Mill. It was 
leased to H. G. Kitredge, who made satinets there for 
two years, then to George A. Kimball and I. R. Bar- 
bour, who occupied it until sold to William N. Pierce, 
April 18, 1871. It was then leased to James A. Smith 
& Co., who made satinets there until March 6, 1879. 
May 5, 1879, it was leased to Collier & Butler for 
three years and nine months, when A. E. Smith 
bought the property and used it as a satinet-mill 
until May 1, 1887. George N. Smith then leased it 
and made satinets until June 15, 1887, when it was 
burned. Collier & Butler bought the property, re- 
built the mill and leased it to George N. Smith, who 
now occupies it. 

There are in 1889 ten woolen-mills in the town of 
Leicester, and nine firms engaged in the manufacture 



LEICESTER. 



721 



of woolen cloth. The average annual value of the 
products of these mills is about $1,286,000. 

A. W. Darling & Co.— In 1827 Thomas Buttomly 
built a dam upon Kettle Brook, on Chapel Street, 
about half a mile from the corner of Main Street. 
The pond formed thereby was considered a reservoir 
for the privileges below until 1S47, when the present 
Bottomly Mill was erected by Thomas Bottomly. 
Previous to this, about 1833 or 1834, L. G. Dickenson 
erected a saw-mill on the same privilege as the pres- 
ent mill. In 1845, Mr. Bottomly opened a brick-yard 
on this spot, and made the brick of which, in 1847, 
he began the present Bottomly Mill. About the 
same year he caused the Waite meadow to be over- 
flowed ; this was the beginning of the Waite resers'oir ; 
the property afterwards came into the hands of Booth 
Bottomly. 

In 1874 E. D. Thayer bought the property of the 
trustees of the Bottomly estate, and has owned it 
ever since. 

Booth Bottomly began to manufacture here in 1855 
or 1856, and continued until his death in 1868. Other 
firms who have occupied the mill are R. L. Hawes 
& Co., George Kimball & Co., for a short time ; E. D. 
Thayer, for twenty years, Bramley Bottomly being 
for some years associated with him. After 1870 or 
1877 the Hopeville Company used the mill for a few 
years, then E. D. Thayer, Jr., from 1884 to 1886, 
when the firm of A. W. Darling & Co. assumed the 
business. It is a four-set satinet-mill. 

The Greenville Woolen- Factory was first built in 
1871 by A. W. & J. D. Clark. It was of wood, 
fifty feet square, and three stories high, with a brick 
picker-house adjoining. The buildings were rented 
to Joseph Peel, of Spencer, who began the manufac- 
ture of woolen goods in the winter of 1872, and con- 
tinued until January, 1877; since that time the 
business has been carried on by J. D. Clark. The 
mill was enlarged in 1880. 

The Lakeside Mami/acttiri?ig Co. — In 1847, D. 
Waldo Kent put up a saw-mill at Lakeside. In 1853 
he built his planing-mill and box-factory. In this 
building, in 1857, he set up the first circular saw-mill 
introduced into this part of the State. In 186(; he 
began the manufacture of shoddy, and, in 1880, of 
satinets. The present factory was erected in 1883. 
Since April, 1885, it has been running night and day. 
The surroundings of the factory have been much 
improved, and around it has sprung up a neat little 
village. The business of the Lakeside Manufactur- 
ing Company is carried on by P. G. & Daniel Kent. 
The factory was first lighted by electricity in July, 
1887. In 1885 they bought the Jamesville Mills, in 
Worcester, and, with the two mills, they are said to 
be the largest manufacturers of satinets in the 
country. 

77(6 Leicester Wire Company had its origin in 1871. 
At this time Mr. Cyrus D. Howard, an experienced 
workman, set up machines and began the drawing of 
46 



wire for cards in the building which had been used 
by successive firms as a card manufactory, and later 
as a box shop. Thomas Shaw was afterward associated 
with him for a short time as the firm of Cyrus D. 
Howard & Co. David Bemis went into company 
with Howard in 1876, as the firm of Howard & 
Bemis. In 1880 J. Bradford Sargent joined the firm, 
which became Howard, Bemis & Co. Mr. Howard 
retired in 1884, and the Leicester Wire Company was 
organized. Harry E. Sargent came into the firm in 
1885, and Mr. Bemis retired. Of this firm H. E. Sar- 
gent is president, and J. B. Sargent treasurer. The 
new buildings were erected in 1881, and engine-house 
and boiler in 1883. The machinery is principally 
employed in drawing card, reed and stone wire. 

The iMkeside Woolen Mills put in a dynamo and 
lighted their factory by electricity in July, 1887. Since 
that time dynamos have been placed in the card 
factories of J. & J. Murdock, and Decker, Bonitz & Co. 
On December 10, 1887, an electric plant was estab- 
lished at the Leicester Wire Company's works, by 
which the other card factories are lighted, also the 
Leicester Hotel, the stores in the centre, and several 
private houses. 

Charles W. Warren began the making of shoe-count- 
ers in the house on the southwest corner of Main and 
Rawson Streets about the year 1852, then moved to 
the house on the lot between the bank and the post- 
office about the year 1854, there manufacturing in- 
soles. The buildings were burnt in 1862. In 1867 
he built his house and factory on Pleasant Street. 
The factory has been several times enlarged, and is 
devoted to the manufacture of shoe-heels, employing 
about forty persons. 

Boots and Shoes. — The only shoe manufactory in 
town is that of Horace & Warren Smith, on Mt. 
Pleasant, begun in 1865. Among those who at dif- 
ferent times have carried on the boot and shoe business 
are Amasa Watson, Delphus Washburn, Baldwin Wat- 
son, Cheney Hatch, Wm. F. Holman. 

About the year 1849 several gentlemen formed a 
company for the manufacture of boots, having in 
mind the increase of business in town. The work 
was at first carried on in the house on Market Street 
in which is Wheeler's meat market, where there was 
horse-power. After a few years it was removed to 
Main Street, where now stands the house of E. D. 
Waite. On the 26th of September, 1860, the building 
was burnt. The company had met with heavy losses 
in consequence of the failures of that period, and 
after the fire the business was abandoned. 

Leather. — The tanning and currying of leather 
appears to have been a prominent industry in former 
times. Elijah Warren had a tannery on the main 
road, half a mile from the Spencer line, at a very 
early date. He was succeeded by his son, Joseph. 
Henry E. Warren afterward owned it, and had also a 
tan-bouse north of Main Street, near the Spencer line. 
It was burned in 1S4S. John Lynde, the early settler, 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSxiCHUSETTS. 



also had a tannery in the north part of the town. 
Jonathan Warren had a tanner)' on Pine Street, two 
miles from the village, anil was succeeded by his sons 
Jonathan and Elijah. It was burned in 1825. Lieut. 
Jonas Stone built a tannery at the foot of Strawberry 
Hill in 1790, where work was continued by different 
persons for thirty or forty years, — among them 
Thaddeus Upham, and E. H. & Georgo Bo wen. Mr. 
Studley had a tannery in Cherry Valley, where the 
poat-ofiice now stands. Aniasa Warren and Horace 
and Baldwin A\'atson were tanners in the west part of 
the town. 

Leander Warren, when a young man, began the 
currying business near the house of his lather, Joseph 
Warren. In 1S45 he bought the place south of the 
Centre School-house, where he carried on the business 
till his death, in 1802, when he was succeeded by John 
N. Grout. Since Mr. Grout's time there has been ro 
currying done in town, except in connection with 
Murdock's Card Manufactory. 

A. Hankeij ct' Co., Manufacturers of Mad tine Knives. 
— In 1798 Caleb Wall bought land of the Green family 
and built above the present works of A, Haukey & 
Co. a blacksmith shop, where he made scythes, carry- 
ing on a large business. In 1830 Thomas Wall and 
Nathan Harkness built on the present site of the 
" Lower Shop," and carried on the business three or 
four years, and were followed by Cadsey, Brown & 
Draper. 

In 1848 Hankey, Stiles & Co. purchased the prop- 
erty and remodeled it for the manufacture of machine- 
knives. The firm was Anthony Hankey, Francis 
Stiles and H. C. Bishop. About 18.31 Mr. Haukey 
went into the dredging business in Boston, where he 
had invented a dredging-machine. The business 
in Greenville was carried on by Stiles & Co. (F. Stiles 
and F. W. Taylor) until a few years later, when Mr. 
Hankey returned and managed the business under 
the lirm-uame of Stiles & Co. This partnership was 
dissolved July 14, 18(56. and in October of the same 
year Stiles sold his entire interest to A. Hankey & Co. 
J. E. Jones was admitted as a partner, but he only 
remained a short time. The firm was A. Hankey 
and George A. Corser. In February, 1877, Hankey 
bought out Corser, and continued the business alone 
until March, 1881, when J. X. Rogers was admitted 
to the partnership under the old firm-name of A. 
Hankey & Co., which continues to this date. 

In 1881 a system of improvements was inaugurated. 
The old buildings were torn down and new and larger 
ones erected; new water-ways and new machinery 
were added, and it is to-day the largest and most com- 
plete shop in the world for the exclusive manufai'ture 



of machine-knives. The products of this .shop go to 
all parts of the world, in many instances direct to 
Cuba, South America, Spain, Germany and China. 
In 1887 a branch was started in Philadelphia. It is 
an interesting fact that the first knives that were u.sed 
on a planing-machine in this country were forged by 
hand by Mr. Hankey in Boston, and also that the first 
dies for cutting out paper collars were made at this 
shop. 

Leicester Natioxal Baxk. — "Leicester Bank" i 
was chartered as a State bank March 4, 182(5, with a 
capital of one hundred thousand dollars, which in 
1853 was increased to one hundred and fifty thousand 
dollars, and in 1854 to two hundred thousand dollars. 
John Clapp was made president of the bank April 
2(5, 182(5; N. P. Denny, October 4, 1830; Joshua 
Clapp, October 3, 183(5 ; Waldo Flint, October 2, 1837 ; 
Joseph A. Denny, October 1, 1838; Cheney Hatch, 
October 2, 1843 ; Charles A. Denny, December 16, 
1878. John A. Smith wiis appointed cashier May 26, . 
1826; H. G. Henshaw, October 21, 1826; D. E. ' 
Merriam, Decemlier 15, 1845 ; George H. Sprague, 
May 20, 1885. The institution was made a national 
bank March 21, 1865. 

The first bank building was in connection with the 
old town-house, built in 1826 by the town and the 
bank. In 1853 the bank was removed to the brick 
building east of Leicester Hotel. In 1871 the present 
bank was completed and the business removed to it. 

Leicester Savings Baxk. — The Leicester Savings 
Bank was incorporated April 17, 1869. Cheney 
Hatch was elected president May 5, 1869, and Lory 
S. Watson, May 21, 1879. D. E. Merriam was the 
first treasurer, appointed May 14, 1869, and was suc- 
ceeded by the present incumbent, George H. Sprague, 
May 24, 1885. The present amount of deposits is 
three hundred and ninety-one thousand two hundred 
and eighty dollars. 

Miscellaxeous Ixdustkies. — There have been 
several hatters. John Whittemore bound books 
where the Whittemore Card Factory now stands. 
Hori Brown had a printing-office on the west corner 
of Main and Mechanic Streets, where he not only did 
job-work, but printed books; among these was 
"Scott's Lessons," printed in 1815. 

At the foot of the hill, from 1823 to 1853, was the 
grocery of Evi Chilson, especially prized by students 
of the academy for the rare quality of its entertain- 
ment for the inner man. It is remembered by them 
after many other things are forgotten. 

It would be impossible to mention all the different 
kinds of business carried on at different times in town, 
or to give the history of the many stores. 



LEICESTER. 



723 



CHAPTER X C 1 1 1. 

hUICBSTER— (Continued.) 
THE CIVIL WAR. 

Sirth Massachusetis Ifigliitfnt — ll'or Mcetiiign — Tweiily-ji/lli lieijiiiiettt — 
Fifteenth, Tweulii-fii-M, Tlnitij-/ouyth, Foity-eecoiid — Action of thi 
Town — Other Solfliers — Expenditures — Casualtien — Close of the War. 

News ol' the attack on Fort Sumter reached Lei- 
cester on Saturday, April 13, 18G1, and occasioned 
the most intense excitement. Then first the people 
comprehended the fact that the war had begun. 
Young men at once declared their intention to re- 
spond to the first call for soldiers, and men too old for 
service avowed their readiness to make any sacrifice 
required for the preservation of the Union. From 
that day to the cluse of the war the town of Leicester 
loyally and liberally accepted all the demands of the 
government upon it for money and for men. The 
call of President Lincoln for 75,000 volunteers met 
here the same prompt answer which it received 
throughout the loyal North. 

Leicester had a special interest in the Sixth Massa- 
chusetts Regiment, the first to march from the State 
and to receive the baptism of blood. Its commander. 
Col. Edward F. Jones, was a native of Leicester, as 
was also Joseph Waldo Denny, lieutenant in the 
Worcester Light Infantry. They had been pupils 
together in Leicester Academy. There were other 
Leicester men in the regiment. 

There were sixteen Leicester men in the Third 
Battalion of Rifles, which left Worcester on the 20th 
of April. Their names were: Henry H. Bowman, 
Bramley A. Bottomly, Michael Collins, John P. Crim- 
mins, Jacob H. Gibson, George W. Hatch, John 
Kirk, Joseph Laverty, Martin Leonard, Randall 
H. Mann, John McDonald, John Moriarty, J. Daw- 
son Robinson, Emerson Stone, Jesse S. Scott and 
William B. White. Church Howe and Myron J. 
Newton enlisted in the Sixth Regiment. 

The battalion was stationed at Fort McHenry, and 
returned on the 2d day of August, and was re- 
ceived with great joy. Several of these men re- 
enlisted, and their records are given in connection 
with the regiments which they joined. The evening 
before the departure of the Third Battalion for the 
seat of war, news of the attack on the Sixth Regi- 
ment had been received, and had deepened the agi- 
tation. That day the national flag, before seldom 
seen except on government buildings, and sometimes 
on the Fourth of July, was thrown to the breeze on 
the flag-staflf on the Common. The war was the all- 
absorbing subject of thought, conversation, discourse 
and prayer on the following day, which was the 
Sabbath. 

On Monday evening, April 22d, was held the first 
of those memorable war meetings, which made the 



town-hall a historic building, and in which the fer- 
vent patriotism of the people of Leicester found 
earnest and eloquent expression, as in the days of 
the Revolution it had done in the old "First Meet- 
ing-House." On the 2i3th forty or fifty of the young 
men of the town commenced military drill in the 
town-hall, under the instruction of John M. Studley, 
of Worcester. A town -meeting was held the 4th of 
May, and .I^SOO was rased and appropriated, and a 
committee was authorized to borrow .f.5000 if neces- 
sary. A bounty of $10 a month, in addition to 
government pay, was offered to volunteers, and uni- 
forms, guns and equipments were to be furnished if 
necessary. The women were equally patriotic and 
efficient. Their first meeting for work was in the 
town-hall, May 18th, where, in response to notices 
from the pulpit the day before, they assembled, to the 
number of about sixty, and with four or five sewing- 
machines and many busy hands, made garments for 
the Third Battalion of Rifles. On the 15th, at ^ 
o'clock on a pleasant May day, a beautiful flag was 
raised over the Centre School-house, with music by 
the band and addresses by the School Committee — 
Dr. Pliny Earle, Dr. John Murdock and Rev. A. H. 
Coolidge. Flags were also flying in diflerent parts of 
the town. Says one, writing at the time, " The war 
feeling seems to absorb every other thought, and the 
subject of religion seems secondary to patriotism, 
which now occupies the mind notonly of the private 
individual, but the pulpit and the press." 

There had not been for a generation such a revul- 
sion of feeling as was occasioned in town by the ex- 
aggerated tidings of the disaster of Bull Run. Men 
turned pale, and abandoning all hope of easy victory, 
nerved themselves for the long struggle, which was 
not to be ended until many of our own citizens had 
laid down their lives for tlieir country. 

In the early autumn of ISdl the Twenty-fifth Mas- 
sachusetts Regiment was formed, with a larger num- 
ber of men from Leicester than any other three 
years' regiment. In it were many representatives of 
the families in town, and it was followed in all its 
eventful and honorable career with the special so- 
licitude and interest of the people. 

The national fast, appointed by President Lin- 
coln for September 26th, on account of the peri- 
lous and gloomy condition of the country, was a 
memorable occasion in Leicester. Services were 
held in the First Church. The attendance was 
large, and the congregation deeply affected. The re- 
cruits for the Twenty-fifth Regiment were to leave 
for camp that day, and this fact added to the impres- 
siveness of the occasion. 

In this regiment were Corp. Augustus Adams, in ten 
engagements, taken prisoner at Drury's Bluff", died at 
Florence, S. C; Charles M. Ball, arm broken at Cold 
Harbor, killed at Petersburg; Corporal James Brady, 
Edwin Y. Brown, William Carson, David B. Collier, 
in six engagements; Isaac Creed, in eight engage- 



r24 



HISTOKY OF WOKCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



ments, three wounds at Cold Harbor ; Otis Cutting, 
wounded at Drury's Bluif ; William Eddy, wounded 
at Petersburg ; William Fernley, taken prisoner at 
Drury's BluH', died at Andersonville; Owen Finnegan, 
in several engagements, wounded at Arrowfield 
Church; Horace L. Fisk; James S. Foster, died at 
Newbern ; Levander M. Gould, died at Newbern ; 
James Gehegan, wounded at Arrowfield Church, in 
ten engagements; John Galooly, died at Charlotte, 
N. C; David Gotha, in seven engagements ; George 
W. Gould, killed at Cold Harbor ; Edward R. Graton, 
wounded at Roanoke Island and died of the wounds. 
He was saved from instant death by his prayer-book, 
the ball stopping at the verse, 

Tbuu, gracious Lord, art luy defence, 
On thee my liopes rely. 

Braman Grout, in two battles ; George L. Grout, in 
two battles ; Thomas Grooves, died at Newbern ; 
William Henshaw, Patrick W. Hannagan, wounded 
at Cold Harbor; Albert S. Hurd, killed at Cold Har- 
bor, in most of the battles of the regiment ; George 
E. Kent, wounded at Roanoke Island, died at New- 
bern ; Hugh Kenney, in three engagements, wounded 
at Arrowfield Church ; Peter Kenney, wounded at 
Arrowfield Church and at Cold Harbor ; William H. 
Kenney, killed at Cold Harbor ; Sergeant John Kirk, 
in most of the battles of the regiment, taken prisoner 
at Drury's Bluff; Eugene D. Lacount, wounded and 
taken prisoner at Drury's Bluff; Michael Leonard, 
wounded at Drury's Bluff; John McMannis, wounded 
at Drury's Bluff; Corporal Randall Mann, killed at 
the battle of Roanoke Island; John McLaughlin, in 
ten battles, wounded at Cold Harbor; Lyman Moul- 
ton, killed at Cold Harbor ; Ezra Reed, Albert Stock- 
dale, wounded at Arrowfield Church and at Petersburg ; 
First Sergeant Emerson Stone, lost an arm at Drury's 
Bluff, passed as captain of United States Colored Ti'oops 
just as the war came to an end ; Sergeant H. A. White, 
wounded in the foot at Drury's Bluff, in the battles of 
his regiment till his discharge in the summer of 1864. 
The Twenty-fifth Regiment formed a part of the 
Burnside Expedition in North Carolina, and remained 
in that State till 1864, when it was united with the 
Array of the James, serving in Virginia before Rich- 
mond and Petersburg. After suttering severely and 
becoming reduced to a mere skeleton, it returned to 
North Carolina, and being recruited, participated in 
the closing scenes of the war under General Sherman. 
It will be noticed that the casualties of Leicester men 
in this regiment were especially numerous at Cold 
Harbor. Of the charge, in which the Twenty-fifth 
Regiment bore the brunt, Gen. Horace Porter writes 
in the Centuri/, of June, 1888 : " Perhaps the most 
striking case of desperate and deliberate courage 
which the history of modern warfare has furnished 
was witnessed at Cold Harbor. The men had been 
repeatedly repulsed in assaulting earthworks, had 
each time lost heavily, and had become impressed 



with the conviction that such attacks meant certain 
death. One evening after a dangerous assault had 
been ordered for daylight the next morning, I noticed 
in passing along the line that many of the men had 
taken ofl' their coats and seemed engaged in mending 
rents in the back. Upon closer examination I found 
that they were calmly writing their names and home 
addresses on slips of paper and pinning these slips 
upon th(i backs of their coats, so that their dead bodies 
might be recognized upon the field and their fate 
made known to their friends at home. Never was 
there a more gallant assault than that made by those 
men the next day, though their act of the night be- 
fore bore painful proof that they had entered upon 
their work without a hope of surviving. Such courage 
is more than heroic, it is sublime." Of this charge 
Gen. P. D. Bowles, who had command of the Con- 
federate line, wrote, "The regiment that made this 
gallant charge was the Twenty-fifth Massachusetts. 
This we learned from the twenty-odd officers and men 
who fell down among the dead and wounded at the 
first fire. Not since the charge of the six hundred at 
Balaklava has a more heroic act been performed." 

During the summer the Fifteenth and Twenty- 
first Massachusetts Regiments were enlisted. In the 
Fifteenth were from Leicester, W. H. Bergen, Simeon 
E. Ball, who died in the service at Poolesville, 
Md.; Henry Carpenter, in all the engagements from 
Ball's Blufl', in which the Fifteenth suffered so severely, 
to Gettysburg, in both of which battles he was severely 
wounded ; H. R. Dawson transferred to the Twentieth; 
Chas. W. Clifford; the three Davis brothers. Freeman 
wounded at Ball's Blufi', reinlisted in the Fifty-seventh 
Regiment and killed in the battle of the Wilderness ; 
William M. who returned from Libby prison and died; 
Alfred W., who died from wounds at the battle of An- 
tietam ; Charles A. Gleason, who was taken prisoner 
at Antietam and again in the AVilderness, and who 
was in Libby prison, Andersonville and Milan, where 
he died; Charles H. Gough, killed at Ball's Blurt', the 
first Leicester soldier who lost his life in the service ; 
Maj. Church Howe, first in the Sixth Regimen t and then 
in the Fifteenth, in thirteen battles; lieutenant quar- 
termaster in the Fifteenth Regiment, provost mar- 
shal at Harper's Ferry, and senior aide-de-camp to 
Major-General Sedgwick; Peter McGee; Sergeant 
John A. Richardson transferred to the Twentieth Reg- 
iment ; Samuel Slater ; Corporal Charles W. Wood in 
eighteen engagements, taken prisoner at Gettysburg 
and again at Petersburg, confined at Andersonville, 
Milan, Savannah, Albany and Thomasville. These 
men were, with few exceptions, sharers in the hard- 
ships, the battles and the sufferings of this historic 
regiment. 

In the Twenty-fir.st Regiment were James Bell, 
who, in the battle of Chantilly, becomingseparated from 
his regiment and finding himself surrounded by the 
enemy, continued to fight single-handed and was shot. 
Horatio N. Barrows in five battles, wounded at An- 



LEICESTER. 



r25 



tietam ; Edgar C. Felton, also in the Thirty -sixth and 
Fifty-sixth ; Thomas Hurst, killed at Newbern ; John 
Hopkins, transferred to the Thirty-sixth and to the 
Fifty-sixth; James Lackey, also in the Thirty-sixth 
and Fifty-sixth, died of wounds received in the Wil- 
derness; Barney McNulty, also in the Thirty-sixth 
and Fifty-sixth; Wm. McGrath, transferred to United 
States Cavalry; Jesse S. Scott, musician, also in the 
Fifty-seventh ; Frank H. Southwick, wounded at An- 
tietam; Wm. W. Scott, afterward asst. quartermaster 
at Chattanooga; Edgar Salisbury, wagoner. 

John Graham was in the Signal Corps and also the 
First Frontier Cavalry. Jerome Bottomly,artificerand 
Andrew Crossley were in Co. C, Battalion United States 
Engineers' Troops, enlisting in the autumn of 1861, 
and serving three years. The company was recruited 
by Captain (afterwards Major-General) James B. ,"\Ic- 
Pherson, its first commander. They were engaged in 
all the varied duties of military engineers, laying 
out roads, fortifications and defences of various kinds, 
and especially in building pontoon bridges, often in 
the face of the enemy. They assisted in building 
one across the Chickahominy and another over the 
James, each two thousand feet in length. They 
often acted as inftintry. The names of seventeen 
battles of the Rebellion are inscribed on their colors. 

In the summer of 1862 the Thirty-fourth Regiment 
was organized. Leicester contributed to it the fol- 
lowing men : Edwin N. Adams, transferred to the 
Twenty-fourth Regiment ; Henry H. Bowman, first 
in Third Battalion RiHes, in seven engagements ; 
Alexander Benway, John A. Barr, Joseph R. Brooks, 
Frederick S. Blodgett ; Corporal Henry Converse in 
nine engagements ; Timothy P. Griffin, principal mu- 
sician ; Edwin Holden in sixteen engagements, wound- 
ed at Fisher's Hill ; Edwin Hoyle, wounded and a 
prisoner six months at Andersonville; Lincoln L. 
Johnson died at Harrisonburg, Va. ; Sergeant Alfred 
James in eight engagements, wounded at Fisher's 
Hill ; Franklin B. King, Lieut. Ira E. Lackey, Mat- 
thew Malloy, Corporal Rufus H. Newton, in sixteen 
battles, wounded at Winchester, and severely at 
Petersburg; Frank Pollard, Michael Rice, in fifteen 
engagements, wounded at Petersburg ; Corporal 
James Rawdon, died of wounds; Lieutenant Walter 
W. Scott in ten engagements ; John Shean, Henry 
Southwick, Corporal Henry E. Williams, wounded in 
the battle of Piedmont, a minie-ball passing through 
the left arm, through the body, and lodging in the 
right arm, captured and taken to Libby prison. 
John Sherman, James Sherman, Owen Smith, 
also as Leicester soldiers, Joseph P. Morse, from 
Worcester, and Norris Morse, of Spencer. The regi- 
ment left Worcester August 15, 1862. It served 
principally in the Shenandoah Valley, under Gener- 
als Sigel, Hunter and Sheridan, until March, 1865, 
when it formed a part of the Army of the James 
until the surrender of Richmond. Some of these 
men were with Sheriden at the time of his famous 



" ride." They participated in the various forced 
marches, raids, skirmishes and battles of that heroic 
commander, as well as in the later battles of the war. 
The duties of the town officers during this and suc- 
ceeding years were very arduous and perplexing. No 
pains were spared to fill each new order for men. In 
July, 1862, the town was called upon for forty-five 
men as its quota of the three hundred thousand called 
for by the President. In anticipation of the order a 
meeting of the citizens was held in the Town Hall ou 
the evening of the 14th day of July. It was a rainy 
night, but the attendance was large, and stirring ad- 
dresses were made by'the clergymen and several other 
citizens of the town. It was voted expedient to pay 
liberal bounties, and the selectmen were requested to 
open a recruiting oflSce and call a legal meeting 
forthwith. The next day a guarantee subscription of 
81,000 for bounties was secured. On the 22d a com- 
pany of thirty-two Spencer volunteers passed through 
town, escorted by the Spencer and Leicester fire 
companies and the Leicester Cornet Band. They 
halted a few minutes before the cottage of the vener- 
able Dr. Nelson, who briefly addressed them. The 
town-meeting was held on the 26th of the same 
month, and it was unanimously voted to pay a bounty 
of $100 to all volunteers who had already enlisted or 
who should enlist under this call ; that an additional 
bounty of $50 be paid to all who should remain in the 
service longer than one .vear ; and an extra bounty of 
$25 to any who should enlist before the next Monday, 
at 9 o'clock, P.M. The meeting was adjourned to the 
evening, when patriotic addresses were made by 
.several gentlemen. On the 28th a mass-meeting was 
held, but the process of filling the quota was difficult 
and slow. It was not completed when another call 
was issued for three hundred thousand men, to serve 
nine months. The town was ordered to furnish sixty 
men. On the evening of the 18th of August another 
war-meeting was held in the Town Hall. It was 
large, and proved to be the most stirring and eventful 
of those remarkable assemblies. John D. Cogswell, 
chairman of the Board of Selectmen, presided. Ad- 
dresses were made by various prominent citizens. 
The chairman, in a few earnest words, urged all 
who could to enlist at once, and then placed his own 
name at the head of the list. Sixteen came forward 
at once, in the words of the Worcester Spy, "amidst 
the cheers and enthusiasm of the large number of 
ladies and gentlemen, who remained to a late hour." 
Among the number was the Rev. William F. Lacount, 
pastor of the Methodist Church in Cherry Valley. 
The quota was filled in a few days by volunteers. 
"Among them," as was truthfully stated in the Spy . 
" were the present and former chairmen of the Board 
of Selectmen, and many of the enterprising young 
men from the best families of the village. The in- 
dustrious mechanic left a prosperous business, the 
minister his people, the collegiate his college class, and 
the husband and father the comforts and pleasures of 



726 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



home to unite in putting down speedilj' this wiclced 
and savage rebellion." Before August 30th tifty had 
volunteered, all but four of whom became members 
of a company recruited from Spencer, North Brook- 
field and Leicester, of which John D. Cogswell was 
captain, and T. M. Duncan, of North Brookfield, and 
Lyman A. Powers, of Spencer, lieutenants. On Sep- 
tember 18 the company thus formed came together 
in the Town Hall, where the Leicester ladies served 
a collation, long remembered by these men in the 
subsequent days of army rations. Addresses were 
made by citizens and officers of the c(jmpany, which 
was conveyed to its camp on the Agricultural Grounds 
in Worcester, preceded by the band, and escorted by 
the Union Fire Company. It was finally assigned, as 
Company F, to the Forty-second Massachusetts Regi- 
ment. They sailed on the ith of December under sealed 
orders. After a long, stormy and perilous voyage, 
they reached New Orleans the 29th of December, 
where they served under General Banks. They were 
in no battles, but were engaged in arduous guard and 
picket duty. 

They were mustered out of service August 20, 1863. 
A public reception had been arranged for them on 
their return, and tables were set in the Town Hall, 
but they were so much worn by their hardships in 
the malarial regions of New Orleans and so many 
were ill that the purpose was abandoned. 

In this regiment were thirty-eight men from Leices- 
ter, — Albert M. Adams (who afterward enlisted in the 
Second Iowa Cavalry ; was captured in Tennessee by 
Hood's army December 17, IS'U, while on a charge; 
taken on foot to Meridian, five hundred and ninety 
miles, through mud, and over frozen ground, the last 
half of the way barefoot ; thence in stock care to 
Andersonville, thence to Macon, Ga., thence to Al- 
bany, Ga., thence on foot to Thoniasville, Ga., thence 
by rail to Baleluin, Fla., thence on foot to Jackson- 
ville, " arriving under the Star Spangled Banner April 
29, 18(55 "), George Adams, Sergeant Bramley A. 
Bottomly, Corporal Charles B. Brown, Henry Bisco, 
Moses Bagley, Captain John D. Cogswell, Albert 
W. Cargell, Corporal James H. Croome, Clark K. 
Denny, Lewis W. Gates, George D. Hatch, Edward 
W. Hubbard, Henry E. Holbrook, William H. Haven, 
Charles S. Knight, John Craft, Rev. William F. La- 
count (pastor of Cherry Valley M. E. Church, who 
acted a part of the time as chaplain and the rest as 
hospital nurse), Franklin JI. Lamb (musician), Charles 
M. Marsh, Horatio P. Marshall, Peter McArdle, 
George Morgan, Albert S. Marsh, George Mann, 
Thomas Nolan, jVIartin Procter, Thomas H. Robinson, 
George M. Roberts (afterward lieutenant in the Six- 
tieth Regiment), William C. Sprague, Charles Sander- 
son, William .1. Sprague, Corporal George L. Stone, 
Thomas S. Snow, Orderly Sergeant Josepli A. Titus, 
(afterward lieutenant in the Sixtieth Regiment), 
Charles H. Warren, Corporal Charles H. Woodcock, 
Eli Wrigglesworth (also in the Twenty-ninth Regi- 



ment), Albert M. Goulding, Warren E. Howard and 
John F. Kibler (first in the Fifty-first Regiment), en- 
listed in the Forty-second Regiment, in its second 
term of service for one hundred days. 

July 13, 1863, fifty-two men were drafted from Lei- 
cester. Some of them paid the commutation fee of 
three hundred dollars or furnished substitutes, while 
others were, for various reasons, exempted, so that it 
is believed that none of them entered the service. 
This was a time of unusual excitement. The riots 
in New York and threatening demonstrations in 
other places encouraged resistance and awakened 
apprehensions. Wliatever of disloyal feeling existed 
in town then found expression in protests and the 
encouragement of discontent. Information was re- 
ceived of threats to gain possession of the enrollment 
list, or burn the office where it was kept. The office 
was consequently guarded several nights by armed 
men, and the town, to some extent, patrolled. The 
danger may have been exaggerated, but the facts 
illustrate the feverish condition of the public mind at 
this time. 

In November, 1863, the Rev. Mr. Coolidge re- 
ceived leave of absence from his church, and spent 
about two months with the Army of the Potomac, in 
the service of the Christian Commission. In all 
the years of the war the women vied with the men in 
loyal service. Every call for help met a prompt re- 
sponse, and there were many meetings for sewing 
and the ])reparation of hospital supplies, while the 
children made " comfort bags," furnished with sew- 
ing materials, for the convenience of the soldiers. In 
all this work, Mrs. Billings Swan, whose great regret 
was that she had not sons who were able to go to the 
war, was a conspicuous leader. 

Mrs. Nelson, wife of the senior pastor of the First 
Congregational Church, although seventy-live years 
of age, labored unremittingly, and encouraged others 
to do the same. She knit one hundred pairs of 
stockings for the soldiers, and enclosed a note in the 
hundredth pair to the soldier who should receive it, 
to which she received an answer. 

On the 21st and 22d of February, 1865, a fair was 
held in the Town Hall. Governor Emory Washburn 
was president, and made an opening address. The 
amount realized was $2636.07, which was equally di- 
vided between the Sanitary and Christian Commis- 
sions and the Freedmen's Aid Society. 

In the Massachusetts Fifty-seveuih Regiment were 
James Ackley, wounded at Spotsylvania, first serving 
in the navy, under Admiral Farragut on the Mii^sis- 
sippi River, at the capture of New Orleans ; William 
H. Anthony, shot at the North Anna, and killed by 
a charge of grape while being carried from the field ; 
Freeman Davis, first in Fifteenth (wounded at 
Bull's Bluff), killed in the Wilderness ; Oliver Gosler, 
died of wounds near Petersburg; Phineas L. Hol- 
brook, wounded at North Anna; Edward A. Hawes, 
Emerson B. Lacount, musician ; Patrick H. Mann- 



LEICESTEK. 



vllle, enlisted at fifteen years of age, killed at the 
battle of North Anna ; Henry C. Maloney,died in the 
service ; Joseph B. Winch, Sergeant Horace S. Pike, 
wounded at Petersburg ; Jesse S. Scott, principal 
musician ; Charles W. Gleason. 

Hiram Streeter was also a member of this regiment. 
When friends endeavored to dissuade him from leav- 
ing his wife and young children, he said: "I have 
decided that it is my duty to defend my country, if I 
die in so doing.'' He enlisted, and after participating 
in the battles of the Wilderness and North Anna, was 
killed by a minie ball, before Petersburg, June 17, 
1864. 

In the Sixtieth Massachusetts Regiment, one hun- 
dred days' men, stationed at Indianapolis, were 
Corporal Alonzo W. Bond, Francis A. Bond, Aaron 
T. Cutler, Lewis R. Dowse, William Graham, John 
T. Gough, Lieutenant George R. Roberts, Lieutenant 
Joseph A. Titus, Heury L. Watson and Alphonso 
Woodcock. 

In the Second Regiment was Edwards D. Farr, 
wounded in the foot at Cedar Mountain, twenty-four 
hours on the battle-field ; came from it on crutches 
made with a pen-knife ; died of the wound in the 
Massachusetts General Hospital, where he had suf- 
fered amputation. In the Tenth were Silas Bercume, 
wounded at Fair Oaks, re-enlisted in the First Con- 
necticut Cavalry, taken prisoner at Ashland, in 
Libby Prison, Andersonville, Savannah and Milan ; 
James E. Bacon, William Conway, who died in the 
service. In the Eleventh was George McDonald, 
missing after battle in the Wilderne.ss. 

In the Twelfth were the brothers Charles B. Fris- 
bee (in fifteen battles, wounded at Antietam) and 
Albert Frisbee (in all the engagements of the regi- 
ment till taken prisoner at Gettysburg, in prison at 
Belle Lsle, Libby and Andersonville, where he died. 
Their brother, William, was in an Ohio regiment, 
and was wounded in Georgia. Lovell P. Winch was 
in the Thirteenth ; John Denny, in the Nineteenth; 
Henry R. Dawson, in the Twentieth. John Lord was 
in the Twenty-second, killed at the battle of Chicka- 
hominy. Lieutenant John Minor was in the Twenty- 
eighth ; also Jesse Pollard, who was wounded in the 
second battle of Bull Run, and also at Secessionville, 
S. C. Eli Wrigglesworth was in the Twenty-ninth. In 
the Thirtieth were Sergt. Aaron Bowman (in all the 
battles of the regiment till his death at Baton Rouge, 
La.), Henry S. Thayer (who died at New Orleans), 
and James H. Whitney (who died in Mississippi). 
Captain Thomas Burt was in the Thirty-first ; also 
in a Connecticut regiment ; assistant provost mar- 
shal at New Orleans. Alexander H. Fairbanks and 
George E. Sibley were in the Sixty-first, and James 
H. Knight in the Sixty-second. 

George Armitage was in the First Cavalry ; Henry 
J. Biggs in the Second Cavalry, also John Trim, 
Lewis Gosler, Dennis S. Quinn. In the Third Cav- 
alry, John Crogan, Eugene Eschman ; in the Fourth 



Cavalry, David Dawson, bugler; Thomas Doyle, first 
in the Fifty-first Infantry, died of wounds at Magno- 
lia, Florida; in the First Frontier Cavalry, Rodney 
W. Greenleaf 

In the Second Heavy Artillery, James Flannigan, 
Andrew Stowe, who died at Andersonville, and 
Charles L. Cummings, also in the Fifty-first Infantry; 
in the Third Heavy Artillery, John Crogan. 

Edward May, paymaster in the naval service. 
Joseph Doran was also in the naval service. 

In addition to those named are the following men 
who enlisted in the quotas of other places — in what 
regiments is not known : Dexter Austin, John Brooks, 
Andrew Clark, John Darling, Charles Fay, Michael 
Fritz, Patrick Henry, E. Hastings, James Morgan, 
John L. O'Brien, Owen Rice and Hugh Hopkins. 

In addition to those who enlisted from town were 
men who were purchased as recruits from other places. 
Some of these are known to have done good service ; 
of others little is known. In the Second Heavy Artil- 
lery were William Henry Harrison, James Lowell, 
Edward McKay, John McDonald, Walter Stone. In 
the Second Massachusetts Regiment were Richard 
Lynch, John Mailer and Edward Shandley, In the 
Veteran Reserve Corps, Oliver Santum and Corporal 
Edward Kendall. In addition to these were Patrick 
Dowd, of the Fifty -sixth ; Alexander H. Fairbanks, 
of the Sixty-first ; Samuel Slater, of the Fifteenth 
and Twentieth; James Scott, of the Fifty-eighth; 
James Smith, of the Twenty-seventh ; Rodney W. 
Greenlief, of the First Battalion, Frontier Cavalry, 
William H. McGregor, also of First Battalion, Fron- 
tier Cavalry, and Corporal George H. Lancaster, of 
the Third Heavy Artillery. 

The following is a list of the names of recruits pur- 
chased by the town whose designation and history are 
unknown : Wm. Adams, Lewis L. M. Arnold, Jas. 
Barnes, Antoine Bownett, Jesse C'roslin, Mark Colman, 
James Delany, Michael Demsey, John Doyle, Eliakim 
H. Eaton, Jas. Edmanson, Joshua H. Eldridge, Jno. 
F. Farrell, Henry Hastings, John F. Kenuiston (un- 
assigned recruit), James Leary, John L. Labene, 
William H. Leighton, Cornelius Leary, David G. 
Lambert, John Lee, Albert L. Loud, John Lindsey, 
Geo. S. Little, Wm..J.-Lord, Patrick Lynch, Edw. L. 
Limmiuson, Stephen Lynch, John Lindsey, John 
Mullen, James Miller, Shubal Mayo, John Mooset, 
Sawney Nelson, William Ottevall, Owen Rice, Wm. 
Reese, Owen Smith, Henry Stewart, Samuel Stewart, 
Samuel Taylor, Edward Vaughn, George Varnum, 
Charles Vose, Edward Cottey, George Donnelly, 
Thomas Graves, Martin McBride, Oscar B. Phelps. 

Eleven of the recruits are recorded as deserters. 
Their names are omitted from the roll of honor. With 
all the pains taken to make the list of soldiers com- 
plete, there are doubtless inevitable omissions. 

The highest rank to which a soldier attained in the 
service is given in the lists. Some enlisted for other 
towns. The number of battles in which a soldier 



728 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



was engaged is in some cases given; in others it is 
unknown. 

As nearly as can be ascertained, the town furnished 
three hundred and twenty men for the war, of whom 
two hundred and forty-eight were in three years' 
regiments. Six were commissioned officers. Dr. John 
N. Murdock and T. E. Woodcock furnished substi- 
tutes. The military expenses of the town were $42,- 
653.28, of which $12,383 were, however, for State aid. 
A league of enrolled men was organized in the sum- 
mer of 1864, which raised $4,400 for the purchase of 
recruits, and $2,960 were raised by citizens not liable 
to a draft. 

Considerable sums were also raised for the Sani- 
tary and Christian Commissions. Throughout the 
entire war the women were untiring in their interest 
and labors for the relief of the suffering soldiers. 

The names of Leicester men are on the rolls of 
twenty-eight Massachusetts regiments, and others en- 
listed in other States and in the regular army. At 
least thirty-three died in the service ; eleven were in 
Rebel prisons, of whom seven died. The sons of 
Leicester were in over a hundred battles. 

The premature announcement of General Lee's 
surrender occasioned such a thrill of joy as had not 
been experienced since the close of the Revolutionary 
War. The bells were rung, cannons were fired, and 
responses were heard from surrounding town.'. News 
of the actual surrender arrived on the morning of the 
10th of April, and was followed by the firing of can- 
non and the ringing of bells, and in the evening by 
the playing of the band and a general illumination. 
The terrible revulsion came on the loth, with the 
tidings of the assassination of President Lincoln. 
The feeling here, as elsewhere, was intense ; every 
other interest was forgotten, business was suspended, 
the bells were tolled during the afternoon, and 
ministers laid aside their preparation for the next 
day, unable on that memorable Sabbath to speak 
uj5on any other theme thaa that which alone inter- 
ested the people. On the day of the funeral the bells 
were tolled and services, attended by people from all 
parts of town, were held in the First Church. " It 
was a large, sad audience." 

During the morning service," on the 14th of May, 
a message was brought to the church containing the 
news of Jefferson Davis' capture, and the welcome 
fact was announced from the pulpit. 



CHAPTER XCIV. 

LEICESTER— (a>«//««rt/.) 

imiscei.lanb;ous. 

Individuah <ind li'nidntces — PhyBiciatis— Lawyers— Items of Interest — Bury- 
iii<l- Grounds— Vast- Offices — Fire Department — TuveJ'tis —Libraries — Clteiry 
]''dleif Flood — Histories — Celebrations. 

Individuals asd Residences. — In a sketch so 
brief as this there can be special mention of only a 
few of the many persons who are worthy of such 
notice. To some of these reference has been made 
in other connections. 

The Earle families generally resided in the north- 
east part of the town, where they erected substantial 
homes, some of which are still an ornament to that 
neighborhood. They were so numerous that in 1812, 
when Rev. Dr. Nelson visited the Northeast School 
on examination day, he found that of the forty pupils 
present, twenty-one were grandchildren of "Uncle 
Robert " and "Aunt .Sarah " Earle. Ralph Earle, 
the ancestor of the Leicester Earles, came to town in 
1717 from Freetown, Mass. He became a large land- 
owner and the head of a family, members of which, 
in their different generations, have had more than a 
local reputation. Among these, Ralph, his great- 
grandson, takes special rank as an artist. He made 
full-length portraits of Dr. Dwight, of Yale College, 
and others in Connecticut, and portraits of "many 
of the nobility and some of the royal family" of 
England. For a time he was under the instruction 
of Benjamin West in London, and he was made a 
member of the Royal Academy in tliat city. He 
painted the battle of Lexington and other battle- 
scenes of the early period of the Revolution, which 
were engraved. He has the distinction of being the 
first historical painter of America. A landscape view 
of Worcester, taken from Denny Hill, is now in the 
possession of Deacon C. C. Denny. His brother, 
James Earle, was also a painter of "considerable 
eminence." He was married in London, but died in 
Charleston, S. C, on a visit to America. Thomas 
Earle, grandson of the Ralph who came to Leicester, 
was a mechanic of remarkable skill. His home was 
on Bald Hill, in Cherry Valley, opposite Olney's 
factory. He jjlanted rows of sycamores in front of 
his house on the day of the battle of Lexington, 
three of wdiich are still standing. A musket of su- 
perior quality and beautiful finish, which he made for 
Col. William Henshaw, is preserved in good condition. 
Gen. Washington so much admired it that he ordered 
one like it for himself. Mr. Earle made the gun with 
great care, and when it was completed he loaded and 
primed it, placed it under water to the muzzle over 
night, and in the morning discharged it at the first 
pull of the trigger. He afterward shouldered it and 
carried it on foot to General Washington in New 
Y'ork. 



LEICESTER. 



729 



Thomas Earle, the son of Pliny, born in Leicester 
and educated at the academy, was, in 1840, candidate 
«f the Liberty party for Vice-President, with James 
G. Birney. He was an able editor and an influen- 
tial writer in opposition to slavery. His home was 
in Philadelphia. He is described as " a man of pow- 
erful intellect," " enlarged views," " of warm and 
generous impulses," " a philanthropist whom oppres- 
sion could not swerve ; a politician whom politics 
could not corrupt ; 'and a Christian whom sect could 
not circumscribe.' " Notices of other members of this 
family will be found in the history of Worcester. 

The Henshaw place, northeast of Henshaw Pond, 
at iirst called Judge's Pond, was owned, and the 
house first built, by Judge John Menzies, who came 
from Ro.xburj'. in 1720. He was from Scotland, a 
member of the Faculty of x'Vdvocates in Edinburgh, 
and was appointed judge of the Court of Admiralty 
of Massachusetts, Rhode Island and New Hampshire. 
He was the first reprejentative of the town to the 
Oeneral Court. 

The place was afterward owned by Judge Thomas 
Steele, who has already been mentioned. After the 
Revolutionary War it came into the Henshaw fam- 
ily, where it has remained. Captain David Hen- 
shaw purchased it in 1782. Still later it was the 
home of Hon. David Henshaw. He was appointed 
collector of the port of Boston, by President Andrew 
Jackson, in 1829, and served with great credit to 
himself and advantage to the department. He was 
appointed Secretary of the Navy by President .John 
Tyler, served for a short time, but his appointment 
was not confirmed by the Senate, which was of the 
opposite political party. 

The mansion-house on Mount Pleasant was built 
in 1772 by Joseph Henshaw, who also gave to the 
hill its name.' He was a graduate of Harvard, in 
1748. His connection with early Revolutionary 
events has already been referred to. He was a man 
of wealth, and loaned to the government, in its time 
of need, at least a hundred thousand dollars. At this 
house he took the mail from the courier, before the 
establishment of a post-office here. In 1795 the place 
came into the hands of James Swan, who fitted up 
the house and grounds in a style of magnificence far 
surpassing anything in this region. His wealth was 
supposed to be immense. After a few years reverses 
came upon him, he retired to France, and in 1830 re- 
appears upon the opening of the Debtor's Prison, in 
Paris, as one who was set free, after occupying the 
same room thirty-two years and one day. 

Daniel Denny, from whom descended all of that 
name in town, came from Combs, Suffolk County, 
England, to Boston in 1715, and removed to Leices- 
ter in 1717. The prominent position of the members 
of this family, in connection with town and national 
affairs, has already been indicated. 



• X'lt Lewis Allen, as Washburn states. 



Deborah, the daughter of Daniel Denny, was the 
wife of Rev. Thomas Prince, D.D., of the Old South 
Church, Boston. Colonel Samuel Denny lived on 
Moose Hill ; he was lieutenant-colonel of the minute- 
men and colonel of the First Worcester County Regi- 
ment, a member of the General Court, and of the 
convention to ratify the National Constitution. 

St. John Honeywood, son of Dr. John Honeywood, 
graduated with high honors at Yale in 1782, was a 
lawyer in Salem, N. Y., and one of the electors for 
John Adams. He died at the age of thirty-four. 
Says Washburn : " He gave early evidence of having 
been endowed by nature with the eye of a painter and 
the sensibility of a poet." A posthumous volume of 
his poems was published in 1801. 

Colonel Henry Sargent was one of the wealthy and 
prominent men of the town honored with civil and 
military office. Two of his sons were graduated from 
Harvard College, and were physicians in Worcester. 
Dr. Henry Sargent died in 1857. Dr. Jos. Sargent 
died in 1888, after a long practice in the profession, in 
which he held high rank. The Sargent family has 
been one of standing in the town, and other members 
are elsewhere noticed. 

The Green family came from Maiden, and were at 
one time the most numerous in town. Members of 
this family have been already noticed in connection 
with the early history of the town. The Southgate 
family were from England, and have also been promi- 
nenLly identified with the town's history. 

The large residence east of the Common was built 
by Joshua Clapp, the enterprising and generous 
Clappville manufacturer. Mr. Denny, in his "Rem- 
iniscences," says of him that he was " a decided and 
active temperance man in the early days of the reform." 
In 1S?S he bought the hotel in the Centre village, and 
converted it into a temperance house. Mrs. Ellen E. 
Flint afterward owned the Clapp place for many 
years. She was a woman of strong character, benevo- 
lent and public-spirited. She built the massive walls 
which have given to the place the name of " Stonewall 
Farm." The place, some time after her death, came 
into the hands of Dr. Horace P. Wakefield, who 
resided there several years. It was then purchased 
by Hon. Samuel Winslow, mayor of Worcester, re- 
modeled and much enlarged, and is now his summer 
residence. 

Phineas Bruce was elected to Congress in 180.S, but 
never took his seat. 

Hon. William Upham was educated at the acad- 
emy; was district judge in Vermont and United 
States Senator. 

Hon. Nathan Allen was a member of the House of 
Representatives ; also Hon. John E. Russell, elected 
in 188G. 

Three persons at least, in Leicester, have lived to a 
remarkable age. Elihu Emerson was born in West- 
field, Mass., .Inly 21, 1771. He resided for many 
years with his daughter, Mrs. Dr. Edward Flint, 



730 



HISTORY OF WORCESTEE COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



where he died October ?>l, 1873, at the age of one 
hundred and two years, three months and ten days. 
Ebenezer Dunbar was born March 29, 1777, in 
Leicester, where he alwa)'.s resided. He died No- 
vember 4, 1877, and was thus one hundred years, 
seven months and six days old. 

Mrs. Lydia Watson, the widow of Mr. Robert 
Watson, is still living in her one hundred and third 
year. She was born in Spencer, January 5, 1777. 

Physicians. — The first physician in Leicester was 
Dr. Thomas Green, already noticed as the first pastor 
of the Baptist Church in Greenville. 

Dr. riiny Lawton taught school in 1748 and 1749 
and was then called " Doctor." He died, in 1761, of 
small-pox, which he contracted while in the cour- 
ageous discharge of his duty, and was buried in his 
own field. 

Dr. John Honeywood was in practice here in 1763. 
He was an Englishman and his interest in the early 
Revolutionary movements, and his death while serv- 
ing in the American army, have been already noticed. 
He was a well-educated and skillful physician. 

Dr. Solomon Parsons taught school in 1751. He 
was a son of Rev. David Parsons, born April 18, 1726, 
and died March 20, 1807. His wife died the .same 
year as Dr. Lawton, of small-pox, and he was under 
the necessity of burying her alone, by night. He is 
supposed to have been surgeon in the army in 1701. 
Dr. Isaac Green, son of Di-. Thomas Green, was 
born in 1741 and died in 1812. He was surgeon in 
Col. Samuel Dpuny's regiment in 1777, and was at 
Saratoga at the taking of Burgoyne. 

Dr. Edward Ravvson was born in Mendon in 1754 
and died in 1786. 

Dr. Absalom Russell practiced here a few years 
and was a surgeon in the Revolutionary army. 

Dr. Robert Craige, Dr. Jeremiah Earned and Dr. 
Thomas Hersey were in practice in town during the 
last half of the last century, and also Dr. Thaddeus 
Brown. 

The mo.st eminent jihysician of ihe town, after Dr. 
Thomas Green, was Dr. Austin Flint. He was born 
in Shrewsbury, January, 1760; came to Leicester in 
1783, and died August 20, 1850. He is characterized 
by Governor Washburn as "an intelligent, well- 
informed man, of strong will and indomitable cour- 
age;" of "affable manners" and with a "rich fund 
of anecdote and good sense." He entered the army 
at the age of seventeen and his record in the Revolu- 
tion and "Shays' Rebellion" has already been given 
He was for twenty successive years moderator of 
town-meeting, for fifteen years town clerk, for sixteen 
years trustee of the academy, for about thirty years a 
magistrate and for five years a Representative in the 
Legislature. He not only practiced throughout the 
town, but also in other towns. He kept a record of 
the births at which he rendered professional aid. The 
number is 1750. His wife (Elizabeth) was the 
daughter of Col. Wm. Henshaw. 



Dr. Edward Flint, his son, elsewhere noticed, be- 
gan practice here in 1811. 

Dr. Ames Walbridge came to Greenville about the 
year 1830, and died there July 30, 1867, at the age of 
seventy-five. 

Dr. Jacob Holmes was a physician in Leicester 
from 1834 to 1847. Rev. Isaac Worcester, M.D., who 
married the daughter of Colonel Henry Sargent, was 
for a short time in practice here, as were also Dr. C. D. 
Whitcomb and Dr. James P. C. Cummings and Dr. 
E. A. Daggett, who was followed by Dr. John P. 
Scribner. Dr. George O. Warner came to Leicester 
in 1S6() and remained until his death, November 12, 
1885, at the age of forty-six. He gained a very ex- 
tensive practice throughout the entire town and 
region. He was for a short time an army surgeon. 
He was kind and sympathetic and his death was 
universally lamented. 

The present physicians in the village are Dr. Fred. H. 
GIHbrd, graduated from the Harvard Jledical School in 
1874. Dr. Charles H.Warner graduated from the Har- 
vard Medical School in 1870, and commenced practice 
in Leicester in 1885 ; and Dr. Charles G. Stearns, 
graduated from Amherst College in 1874 and from 
the Harvard Medical School in 1881. He commenced 
practice here in the winter of 1885. Dr. Leonard W. 
Atkinson graduated from Boston University ^ledical 
School in 1884, began practice in Cherry Valley in 
1885. 

Lawyers. — Christopher J. Lawton came to Lei- 
cester, 1735; practiced until 1751. 

Hon. Nathaniel Paine Denny graduated at Harvard, 
1707; settled in Leicester in 1800; practiced for t\venty 
years ; and represented the town in the Legislature 
ten years. 

Bradford Sumner, graduated at Brown University, 
1808; came to Leicester, 1813 ; practiced until 1820. 

David Brigham, graduated at Harvard, 1810; came 
to Leicester in 1817 ; practiced a little more than two 
years. 

Daniel Knight, graduated at Brown University, 
1813 ; came to Leicester, 1821. 

Emory Washburn, graduated at Williams College 
in 1817; practiced in Leicester from 1821-28. 

Waldo Flint, graduated at Harvard in 1814 and 
came to Leicester in 1828. He was afterward for 
many years president of the Eagle Bank, Boston. 

Silas Jones succeeded Mr. Flint, but only practiced 
for a short time. 

Henry Oliver Smith a native of Leicester, gradu- 
ated at Amherst, 1863, and since 1866 has practiced 
in Leicester. 

Items of I^'TEREST. — A few items of interest 
from Washburn's history and other sources are 
added here. The first public conveyance for passen- 
gers was the line of "stage-wagons" between Boston 
and Hartford, opened October 20, 1783, by Levy Pease, 
of Somers, Conn., and Reuben Sikes, of Hartford. 
Before this the mails were carried on horseback. 



LEICESTER. 



731 



There are persons now living who remember to have 
seen sixteen stage-coaches at one time around the 
tavern on Leicester Hill. In the last century two 
huge hor.se-blocks near the meeting-house and the 
public stocks were conspicuous objects on the Com- 
mon. The last " pillory " was built in 1763, for thir- 
teen shillings, by Benjamin, Tucker. George Wash- 
ington, on his journey to Boston in 1789, passed 
through Leicester October 22d, and met a delegation 
of gentlemen from Worcester on the line between the 
two towns. Lafayettte, on the 3d of September, 1824, 
passed through the south part of the town " attended 
by a troop of horse and an escort of military officers, 
citizens, etc." 

Colonel Thomas Denny introduced the first piano 
to the town about the year 1809. The second be- 
longed to the daughter of Captain John Southgate a 
few years later. The first carpet in town was woven 
by Mrs. David Brya^nt early in the present century. 

In the first quarter of the present century there was 
in the Centre Village a literary association composed 
of the younger women, which met from house to 
house, and is represented to have had a brilliant suc- 
cess. Some of the productions of its members found 
a place in the Worcester Spij, among the " Blossoms of 
Parnassus." " History,'' says Washburn, " can only 
record the fact that it once existed, flourished many 
years and disappeared." It has had, however, many 
successors. 

Buryinh-Groitxds. — The first burying-ground in 
town was the church-yard back of the early meeting- 
house, which was surrounded by a brush fence. It 
dates back to 1714. The Greenville Cemetery was 
opened about the year 1736 ; the Elliott Burying- 
yard, in the north part of the town, in 1756. The 
burying-ground of the Friends at Mannville was in 
existence as early as 1739. The Rawson Brook Cem- 
etery dates back to 175.), and the Cherry Valley 
Cemetery was opened in 1816, and the Pine Grove in 
1842. In these several burying-places have been 
laid about 2800 bodies. The number of deaths in town 
since 1800, recorded on the town books and elsewhere, 
is 3469. In the first decade there are 98, in the sec- 
ond, 150 ; in the third, 193 ; in the fourth, 265; in the 
fifth, 324; in the sixth, 431 ; in the seventh, 474; in 
the eighth, 552 ; from 1880 to 1883, 451. These facts 
are from the record of C. C. Denny, Esq., who has 
made a careful investigation and study of the subject. 

Post-Office.s. — A post-office was established in 
Leicester aliout 1798, and Ebenezer Adams, Esq., was 
the first commissioned postmaster. He was succeeded 
by Col. Thomas Denny, Col. Henry Sargent, John 
Sargent (appointed April, 1829), Henry D. Hatch, 
L. D. Thurston, the present incumbent appointed. 

The post-office in Rochdale was established in 1824, 
and Rev. Joseph Muenscher was the first postmaster. 

The post-office in Cherry Valley was established in 
1859, with Henry Tainter, postmaster. 

Fire Department. — The date of procuring the 



little engine upon which the town depended many 
years for extinguishing fires is not known. A fire- 
engine, called " LTnion No 2," was purchased in 1841, 
partly by the town and partly by individual subscrip- 
tions. It came to town April 20th. A steam fire- 
engine was bought in 1869, and in 1886 it was re- 
placed by the present steam-engine. In 1885 a 
steamer was obtained for Cherry Valley, and chemi- 
cal extinguishers for Rochdale and Greenville. 

Taverns. — The first tavern was on the corner of 
Main and Paxton Streets. It was occupied by Na- 
thaniel Richardson in 1721, John Tyler 1746, John 
Tyler, Jr., 1755, Seth Washburn 1756, then by John 
Tyler, by Benjamin Tucker 1761, Edward Bond 1767- 
It was then burnt and rebuilt, occupied by Elijah 
Latbrop 1776, Peter Taft 1778, Reuben Swan 1781, 
William Denny 1801, Aaron Morse 1810. 

The second tavern was opposite the Catholic Church, 
built by Jonathan Sargent as early as 1727. He was 
succeeded by his son Phineas, and he in 1776 by 
Nathan Waite. 

James Smith had a tavern in the last house in Lei- 
cester, on the road to Spencer, in 174<J. He was fol- 
lowed by Samuel Lynde in 1755; the house was de- 
stroyed by the hurricane in 1759. 

Phineas Newhall built in 1776 a tavern on the lat- 
nuck Road, where the last house in Leicester stands, 
which was open for many years. 

The first tavern on the site of Leicester Hotel, oppo- 
site the Common, was built in 1776, by Nathan Waite. 
Jacob Reed Rivera, the Jew, bought it for his store in 
1777. Here a hotel has been kept by successive land" 
lords to the present time. Among these was John 
Hobert, who had charge of it from 1799 to 1817, and 
gave to it a wide-spread reputation as an excellent 
hostelry. In later years, notwithstanding the growth 
of the temperance sentiment in town, this hotel con- 
tinued to defy the public will. It at length became 
so intolerable a nuisance that it was purchased by a 
company of citizens and closed. In 1882 it was 
burnt. In 1885 this company built the present 
Leicester Hotel, which has since been kept by L. G. 
Joslin, and has become a favorite resort for "summer 
boarders." Duriug the Revolution Abner Dunbar 
had a tavern on Mouut Pleasant (Benjamin Earle 
place), and George Bruce about the beginning of 
this century kept public-house on Mount Pleasant, in 
the residence before occupied by Major James Swan. 

Samuel Green had a tavern in Greenville. The 
Rochdale Hotel was built by .Samuel Stone about 
1810, and was first kept by Hezekiah Stone. 

Libraries. — In 1793 provision was made for a 
"Social Library," the "Proprietors" first meeting 
December 10th. The fire-engine company established 
a library in 1812. A "Second Social Library " was 
commenced in 1829. These several libraries had 
fallen into disuse, but in 1858, by the efibrts of the 
writer, they were united, and removed to one of the 
rooms of the Town House, and again opened for cir- 



T62 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



culation. This library, containing about eight hun- 
dred and fifty volumes, was, in 1861, oftered to the 
town, and at the town-meeting held March 4, 1861 
was unanimously accepted. The library has grad- 
ually increased, and in February, 1888, the number 
of volumes was si.x thousand two hundred and twenty- 
eight. There are branch libraries at Rochdale, Green- 
ville and Cherry Valley, and the books are largely 
used in all parts of the town. The library has 
received donations of books from many individuals. 
Among these should be especially mentioned Waldo 
Flint, Esq., who gave to it nearly three hundred and 
fifty volumes. Over five hundred volumes from his 
own library came to it after his death. The library is 
also indebted to the interest and liberality of Abraham 
Firth, Esq. Mrs. E. H. Flint, Governor Washburn 
and many others have been its generous friends. But 
the library is most of all indebted to Rev. Samuel 
May for his long-continued devotion and services. 
He has taken upon himself as a free-will service the 
arrangement and care of books, the preparation and 
publishing of catalogues, and the general supervision 
of the library. The management of the library is 
committed to a Board of Directors consisting of five 
members, one of whom is annually chosen to serve 
five years. On the 18th and 14th days of January, 
1873, the library was placed in the new " Memorial 
Hall," an attractive room in the Town House. It 
has already nearly outgrown these accommodations, 
and waits the time when wealthy and generous friends 
shall make provision for a library building. D. E. 
Merriam, who died in 1888, left toward this object 
$5,000. 

Cherry Valley Flood.— On March 29tli, 1876, 
the dam of Lynde Brook Reservoir, the water supply 
of Worcester, gave signs of weakness. The water sur- 
fiice of the lake is 1870 acres and there were in it at 
the time 663,330,000 gallons of water. There had 
been heavy rains. Four days before one of the series 
of dams on the Kettle Brook, into which Lynde Brook 
empties, gave way, occasioning great damage to roads 
and bridges and flooding a part of Cherry Valley. 
The water of Lynde Reservoir was at the time run- 
ning over the flash-boards, twenty-seven inches higher 
than the dam. A leakage at the lower waste-gate 
house showed signs of increase, and this was the sig- 
nal of danger. 

Strenuous eftbrts were made through this and tlie 
next day to save the dam, or at least hold it in place 
till the waters could gradually escape. Loads of 
earth and stone and large trees were thrown in above 
the dam. Meanwhile the alarm was given to families 
along the stream. Dwelling-houses were deserted, 
mill property was removed to the hill-sides and 
crowds of people stood upon the banks awaiting the 
result. The dam stood through the day and night 
and through the ne.xt day, and it was hoped that the 
calamity might be averted. All through the night 
and the ne.Kt dav the anxious watch continued. At 



about ten minutes before six, in the afternoon of 
Thursday, March 30th, a little stream of water broke 
out above the lower gate-house. The alarm was given ; 
the dam was cleared of men and teams. The stream 
enlarged each second, earth and stones were thrown 
up, the bank of the dam caved in, the stone wall stood 
for a minute and then §ave way, and the reservoir 
poured its contents into the channel below. The 
scene is described by many who witnessed it as grand 
beyond description. The water came rushing and 
roaring down the course of the brook, tearing out a 
gorge a hundred feet in width and carrying the solid 
masonry far down the stream. Those who were in 
Cherry Valley could hear the grating of the rocks 
ground together by the force of the waters. As it 
passed down the ravine its appearance was grandly 
beautiful. The water, nearly fifty feet in height, 
came surging, seething, rolling on, lashed into foam, 
a white feathery vapor rising above it. When it 
reached the street it tore away the bridge and road- 
way and then spread out over the meadow, converting 
the lower parts of the village into a sea, and then at 
Smith's dam was forced through the narrow passage. 
It passed through the centre of Mr. Olney's house, 
leaving the walls standing. The barn and carriage- 
house were separated and then floated out gracefully 
on the water, only to be wrecked when they reached 
the rocks below. Several tenement houses were de- 
stroyed. The flood tore away most of Smith's factory, 
annihilated Bottomly's mill and carried away the rear 
of the several factories along the stream and the dams ; 
it wrenched away the boiler of Ashworth & .Jones' 
mill and deposited it half a mile below, and swept 
away the engine and boiler of Smith's mill so that 
they were never found. At the corner of the James- 
ville Road and Main Street it struck the bank, and be- 
came a whirlpool as it turned southerly to Jamesville, 
where it was divided. A part of the flood followed 
the stream, inflicting damage upon the dam and fac- 
tory. The other part followed the Boston & Albany 
Railroad for nearly two miles, gullying out the track 
and destroying the double arch bridge. The scene 
after the flood was one of wild desolation, the fields 
and meadows being covered with boulders and the 
ilibris. The spot was visited by thousands of people 
during the next few days, some of them coming from 
a distance. The estimated number on one day was 
thirty thousand. 

HisTOKiKs. — Leicester is unusually rich in annal- 
ists and historians. First among these is Governor 
Emory Washburn, to whose "Topographical and His- 
torical Sketches of the Town of Leicester," published 
June, 1826, in the Worcester Magazine and Historical 
Journal, his " Brief Sketch of the History of Leices- 
ter Academy," published in 1855, his several addresses 
on anniversary occasions, and his " History of Leices- 
ter," published in 1860, the town is indebted for the 
collection and preservation of the facts of its early 
history. In the preparation of his history he was 





'^^kJ^^ly^^ (^ 




LEICESTER. 



733 



more largely than is generally known indebted to 
Jos. A. Denny, Esq., who gathered much of this 
information, and whose " Reminiscences of Leices- 
ter," published about fourteen years ago in the 
Worcedtr Spy, whose history of the schools, published 
in the School Report of 1849, whose various compila- 
tions from the Town Records, whose identification of 
locations, and whose personal journal, covering a 
period of eighteen years, including that of the Civil 
War, entitle him to the distinction of the annalist of 
Leicester. Miss Harriet E. Henshaw in 1776 pub- 
lished "Reminiscences of Colonel William Henshaw," 
which are rich in interesting and curious information 
relating to the Revolutionary period. Not only local, 
but other historians are indebted to her rich stores of 
ancient manuscripts, including the Orderh' Books of 
Colonel William Henshaw, Adjutant-General of the 
Provincial Army, containing the official records of 
the Revolutionary army during the first year of the 
war, letters of the Committee of Correspondence, and 
other documents of inestimable historical value. 
Draper's "History of Spencer" and Whitney's "His- 
tory of Worcester County" are also sources from 
which light is also thrown upon the early history of 
the town. The academy has also had its historians. 
A brief but valuable sketch was published in 1829 in 
connection with Principal Preceptor Luther Wright's 
address. Rev. S. May, in the " Proceedings of the 
Worcester Society of Antiquity," 1882, has a paper 
on the academy. Governor Washburn's history, and 
the address of Hon. W. W. Rice at the centennial 
anniversary of the institution, are both of them the 
result of much careful research. The historical ser- 
mon of Rev. I>. F. Cooley, at the fiftieth anniversary 
of Christ Church, Rochdale, and " The Religious 
History of the First Congregational Church in 
Leicester," by Rev. A. H. Coolidge, have also been 
published. To these sources of information is to be 
added the historical sermon of Rev. Hiram Estes, 
D.D., at the one hundred and fiftieth anniversary of 
the Baptist Church in Greenville. The manuscript 
journal of Ruth Henshaw, reaching back into the 
last century, gives an insight into the life of the early 
times, and serves to verify some of the facts and dates 
of history. The letters of Grace Denny, of England, 
published in the " Genealogy of the Denny Family," 
prepared by C. C. Denny, Esq., are of special interest, 
referring as they do to the situation of the place soon 
after its settlement. 

Celebrations. — In addition to celebrations in town 
which have been noticed in other connections, are 
others of an interesting character. The four towns, 
Leicester, Spencer, Paxton and Auburn, which wholly 
or in part were embraced in the original township, 
united in celebration on the 4th of July, 1849, in the 
grove, on Grove Street. Hon. Samuel Draper, of 
Spencer, presided. More than two thousand persons 
were present. The citizens of Spencer, preceded by 
the fire company, were escorted into the village. 



under the direction of Henry A. Denny as chief mar- 
shal, by the Leicester Fire Company, with the North- 
bridge Band. Four Revolutionary soldiers were 
honored guests. The address was by Hon. Emory 
Washburn, and is a valuable contribution to the 
Revolutionary historj' of the towns. Rev. Dr. Nelson 
was chaplain. Among the after-dinner addresses was 
that of Hon. Joseph Sprague, ex-mayor of Brooklyn, 
N. Y. 

The 4th of July, 1871, was chosen as the date of 
celebrating the one hundred and fiftieth anniversary 
of the organization of the town by the several towns 
of the original township. The exercises were in a 
large tent on the Common. Rev. S. May, in behalf 
of the Committee of Arrangements, introduced the 
exercises of the morning, which consisted of music 
by the Worcester Band, singing, prayer by the chap- 
lain, Rev. A. H. Coolidge, and a learned and eloquent 
historical address by Governor Emory Washburn. 
About eight hundred sons and daughters of Leicester 
sat down at the tables, Capt. J. D. Cogswell as mar- 
shal having charge of the arrangements. Jos. A. 
Denny, Esq., as president of the day, introduced the 
after-dinner exercises. Dr. J. N. Murdock acting as 
toast-master. Addresses were made by Hon. Waldo 
Flint, Abraham Firth, Esq., Hon. Edward Earle, Gen. 
E. T. Jones, Hon. N. Sargent and others. 

In 1876 the towns again united and celebrated the 
centennial of the Declaration of Independence. The 
morning exercises were in the town hall, and Rev. S. 
May was president of the day. John E. Russell, Esq., 
delivered an eloquent address. The singing was un- 
der the direction of Mr. Thomas S. Livermore, and 
the music by the Leicester Cornet Band. The com- 
pany then moved in procession, under Capt. J. D. 
Cogswell as marshal, to Sargent's Grove, where after- 
dinner addresses were made by the several clergymen, 
teachers of the academy and others. 

The principal addresses on all these occasions have 
been published, and are invaluable sources of import- 
ant and interesting local and general history. 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 



DR. EDWARD FLINT.' 

Dr. Edward Flint behmged to a family of physi- 
cians. His grandfather. Dr. Edward Flint, of Shrews- 
bury, was the physician of that town during a long 
life. His father, Dr. Austin Flint, born in Shrews- 
bury, established himself in Leicester in 1783, at the 
close of the War of the Revolution, in which he had 
been an army surgeon, lived here a long and honored 
life, professionally eminent, and died at over ninety 
years of age. His elder brother was Dr. Joseph H. 

'By Rev. Samuel May. 



734 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



Flint, of Noriliam|)toii and Springfield, wliose son 
Austin became distinguislied in New York, Ijotli in 
practice and as a medical aullior; and who left a son, 
also named Austin, as successor to his labors and hon- 
ors. Dr. John Flint, of Boston, was a cousin, and 
studied medicine with him. And his only son, John 
Sj'denham Flint, was a physician for some ibrty years 
in R<ixbury, held in the highest esteem there, an<l 
died in April, ISST. 

Dr. Edward Flint, second son of Dr. Austin and 
Elizabeth (Henshaw) Flint, of Leicester, was born 
November 7, 1789. He studied medicine with his 
father, and established himself in its practice in Lei- 
cester in ISIL Six years later he was married to 
Harriet, eldest daughter of Klihu Emerson, Esq., of 
Norwich, Vt. Soon after marriage he built the house 
in the centre of the town which he occupied during 
life, and where his widow now resides in her ninety- 
first year. Dr. Flint died May 30, 1880, being, like 
his father, a few months over ninety years of age. 
Three children was born to them — Charlotte Emerson, 
Sally, and John Sydenham. The daughters were 
very excellent and attractive young women, but they 
both died in early womanhood. Their loss severely 
tried Dr. Flint's faith and firmness; but no murmur 
escaped him. Seven years after his own death, his 
only son died, as already stated, and the mother is 
now left childless, but is ministered to, in her aire and 
many infirmities, with unsurpassed devotedne.ss. 

Dr. Flint succeeded to his father's large practice, 
which extended beyond the town limits. He gave his 
life, in the strictest sense, to his profession, and to 
those who needed his services, making no discrimina- 
tion among those who were able and those who were 
not able to pay him for that service. It was a life 
uneventful, but steadily laborious, and attended with 
frequent exposures. A physician has peculiar oppor- 
tunity to render charitable service, and Dr. Flint had 
his full share of such experience; and as he had a 
great repugnance to pressing the collection of debts 
due him, it followed that an unusual amount of such 
indebtedness was never paid. A recent writer in a 
Health Journal says : " It is safe to say that but few 
physicians in general practice manage to collect more 
than one-half of their bills," and enlarges upon the 
wrong thus done. Cases of destitution will always 
occur, and our physicians may be safely trusted not 
to forget them ; but it should cease to be thought 
allowable for others to use a doctor's time and ser- 
vices .without compensation. Attempts, on various 
grounds, were made to introduce other physicians to 
the town, but the general respect and confidence of 
Leicester people were never withdrawn from Dr. 
Flint. Washburn, in his " History of Leicester," says 
of him: "The rank and position which Dr. Flint 
sustains in the community have been the natural re- 
sult of the many years of honorable and successful 
pursuit of the jirofession of his choice." 

He was a life-long friend of temperance. When 



his house was built — which was before the day of tem- 
perance societies — he induced the workmen to give up 
the customary strong drink, and he I'uriiished them 
hot coffee in its place, which Mrs. Flint daily made 
for them. He never permitted wine or strong drinks 
to be i)laced on his table, nor offered to visitors, and 
never used them himself. He told the present writer 
that be had an early lesson on the subject, in seeing 
his father always pass the mug or glass untasted, as it 
went the rounds among the neighbors collected at 
some public place. His horses and his dogs were 
more than his servants : they were his friends and he 
was theirs. He had a quaint humor, with a somewhat 
rough manner, in both respects resembling his father. 
When a boy he one day brought from the post-office 
to his father a small packet; his father, on opening it, 
said, " Here, Ned, take off your jacket," which being 
done, the father rolled up the boy's sleeve, and with 
no further notice made an incision in his arm and in- 
serted some vaccine matter, and thus, as he always 
claimed, he became, with little previous notice, the 
first subject of vaccination in the town of Leicester. 



IIKX. .lOSHUA .MURDOC'K.' 

The older readers of this history will be glad to rec- 
ognize in the accompanying engraving the likeness 
of Dea. .Toshua Murdock. He was the son of William 
and Achsah Murdock, and was born in Westminster, 
Mass., October 28, 1780. He served a regular appren- 
ticeship as cabinet-maker to Artemas Woodward, of 
Medfield, Mass. He was united in marriage with 
Clarissa Hartshorn, of Medfield, June 3, 180C, and 
soon removed to West BoN'lston, and, with his brother 
Artemas, began the business of cabinet-making. In 
1811 he came to Leicester and purchased the place 
still owned by the family. His cabinet shop was 
east of the house. Here he carried on the business 
for many years, employing a number of hands. He 
was in every sense a master-workman. The products 
of his skill were at once thorough and elegant, and 
many highly valued and beautiful specimens are still 
retained in various families in the vicinity. 

In 183:!, and again in 1834, the town expressed its 
appreciation of him by electing him to the House of 
Representatives in the Legislature of the State. He 
was for many years treasurer of the First Parish, first 
elected when the affairs of the parish were managed 
by the town, through the selectmen. He was also 
trustee of the invested funds of the church and 
parish to the time of his death. He was made deacon 
of the church January 7, 1817, and retained the office 
through life. He was the first superintendent of the 
Sunday-school, and held that oflice, as nearly as can 
be ascertained, more than twenty-five years. 

In April, 1812, he with his wife united with the 
First Congregational Church — the first persons to make 



I B.y A. H. Coolidgo. 



i 



f w 





^i'-^^^T-'Z^ -£> ,^-'^^^^«^7'^>^iit^^Z>^ 



LEICE8TEK. 



735 



n public profession of faitli after the settlement of Dr. 
Nelson, the month before. He possessed a singularly 
even and benign spirit, sweetened by genuine piety. He 
was always very modest and retiring, yet he cheerfully 
accepted the cares and responsibilities of liis otfice in 
the church, and was always heard with interest and 
pleasure in the several meetinfi;s of the church. The 
writer remembers him with the deepest respect and 
tenderness as one of the truest, most helpful and syra- 
I)athetic of his friends in the first years of his min- 
istry. 

He died suddenly, in his shop, December 30, 1859. 
A memorial sermon was preached by the junior pastor, 
January 8, 1860, from Prov. 20: 6—" Most men will 
jiroclaim everyone his own goodness ; but a faithful 
man who can find?" 



JOSEPH A. DENMY, ES(J.' 

Jcseph Addison Denny was the grandson of Daniel 
Denny, who settled in Leicester in the spring of 1717. 
He was one of the twelve children of Joseph Denny. 
His mother, Phd'be Denny, was the daughter of Col. 
William Henshaw. 

He was born May 13, 1804, and passed his early 
childhood in the house on Main Street now owned 
by tlie family of the late John Loring. His mother 
died when he was eleven years old. About two years 
later he left home and was a clerk in the store of H. 
G. Henshaw, Esq., in New Worcester, for two or three 
years. He then returned home, and attended school 
at Leicester Academy for several terms. About the 
year 1823 he was engaged as a clerk in the store of 
James & John A. Smith, in a building west of the 
Leicester Hotel. There he remained until 1826, when 
he commenced the manufacture of card-clothing, 
which he continued until lS'"i7. 

He was a diligent and intelligent student, and pro- 
ductious of his pen at this period, which are still pre- 
served, indicate unusual thoughtfulness as well as lit- 
erary taste. He early formed the determination of 
making his life a success in the truest sense. He even 
gave up the games and other amusements in which 
many of the young were absorbed, that he might se- 
cure his evenings for useful reading. When he reached 
the age of twenty-one years he wrote a series of reso- 
lutions for " future guidance.'' These resolutions are 
indicative of his early purpose, as well as of his later 
character. Among them are the resolutions to abstain 
from the use of " ardent spirits," gambling and pro- 
fane language. The platform of business principles 
which he then adopted is worthy of the consideration 
of the young, and is given in his own words: "Resolved, 
That if frugality and application to business will en- 
sure me a competency of wealth, I will never be poor. 
That, while I have my health, I will never spend 
faster than I earn, and on the contrary, while I have 
a sufficiency, 1 will never deny myself the conveni- 

■ Bv Kov. .\. H. CiJuliilgct. 



ences of life fa- the purpose of hoarding up treasure. 
That, while I am prospered in business, I will never 
refuse charity, where I think it my duty to extend it. 
And should I ever accumulate property, may I have 
the satisfaction of reflecting that it was not obtained 
by oppressing the poor, unfair dealing or any other 
dishonorable means, and may a bountiful Providence 
prosper my undertakings." 

In the year 1826 he entered the firm of Isaac 
Southgate & Co., which, as has already been stated, 
developed into that of Bisco & Denny. It was in 
the beginning a small enterprise. The pricking and 
tooth-forming machines were moved by hand, and 
the cards sent out to be set by women and children. 
The business increased gradually, and prospered so 
that by careful attention to its details he secured a 
competence. 

He was also largely interested in the establish- 
ment of the Leicester Boot Company. He was a 
prominent director and valued adviser in the State 
Mutual Life Assurance, and the Merchants' and 
Farmers' Mutual Fire Insurance Companies in Wor- 
cester, from the date of their organization to the 
time of his death. He was a director and for a 
time the president of the Leicester Bank. He was 
assistant assessor in the Internal Revenue Depart- 
ment during and after the war. He served the town 
as selectman and School Committee, and from 
March, 1850, to the time of his death, in 1875, was 
town clerk. He was, in 1857, elected to the House 
of Representatives in the Legislature of the State. 
His services for the academy, to whose interest he 
was earnestly devoted, were invaluable. He was a 
trustee from August 20, 1834, and treasurer from 
May 11, 1853, till his death, in 1875. He gave to 
this institution his personal services, and contributed 
liberally to its funds ; and it was through his influ- 
ence that most of its present endowment was se- 
cured. With many of the former pupils of this in- 
stitution the thought of Leicester Academy and 
Joseph A. Denny are inseparable. His portrait has 
a jilace with the founders and benefactors of the 
academy in Smith Hall. Mr. Denny was a man of 
literary tastes, and spent much time in reading, thus 
familiarizing himself with history and the best lit- 
erature. 

He at different times traveled in various parts of 
the country, and had a comprehensive appreciation 
alike of its resources and its need. He took special 
pains to familiarize himself with statute law. He 
wrote legal documents, and had charge of pecuniary 
trusts, and settled estates. He wrote many wills, and 
often, by wise suggestion, impressed upon men in the 
disposal of their property the importance of making 
liberal provision for their wives, a consideration 
which is too often found overlooked. Although 
never admitted to the bar, he was still a legal ad- 
viser, consulted by people of his own and neighbor- 
ing towns. This service was to a large extent gra- 



73G 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



tuitous. He was pre-eminently the friend and helper 
of widows and orphans, and of the pool. Men and 
women of all classes and ditierent nationalities re- 
sorted to him for counsel and help. They came to 
him with their quarrels, their business perplexities, 
their financial troubles, their plans and enterprises 
and their sorrows ; and found in him an attentive 
listener, a sound adviser, a generous helper and a 
sympathizing friend. He was, perhaps, more than 
any other person, familiar with the locations and his- 
tory of Leicester and the lives of its former in- 
habitants; and to him, more largely than is gener- 
ally known. Gov. Emory Washburn was indebted for 
the materials of his excellent history of the town. 
His manuscript notes, his " Reminiscences of Leices- 
ter," published in the fVorcester Spy, and his journal 
which is a record of passing events, are of great his- 
torical value. He may be truthfully termed the an- 
nalist of Leicester. 

In 1874 he made a tour of Europe, which was a 
source of great profit and enjoyment to so intelligent 
and appreciative an observer. He was especially 
interested in visiting the home of his ancestors and 
his relatives in England. 

He united with the First Congregational Church 
in July, 1827, and through life was one of its devoted 
and helpful members and a constant attendant upon 
all its services. He was, for many years and at the 
time of his death, a teacher in the Sunday-school. 
He was interested in the great missionary enter- 
prises, both home and foreign, and contributed liber- 
ally to them. He set apart at the beginning of each 
year a certain portion of his income for benevolent 
objects, :ind regarded one-tenth of a successful busi- 
ness man's )irofits as too little to be thus employed. 
He was interested in young men who were struggling 
for an education, and gave liberal aid to those who 
were preparing for the ministry. He had a large 
circle of friends, and was widely known. He mar- 
ried, April 30, 1829, Mary Davis, the daughter of 
Major Joel Davis, of Rutland, Mass., who survives him. 
They had two children, — Mary Elizabeth, the wife of 
Deacon Lyman D. Thurston, and Hon. Charles Ad- 
dison Denny. He built the house in which he so 
long resided in 1837. He had all the qualities 
which made home and social life delightful. He 
was fond of children, and his conversation was in- 
structive and entertaining. He died February 25, 
1875, of pneumonia, after a few days' illness. It was 
said of him at his funeral, which was largely attended 
in the First Congregational Church : " He under- 
stood better than most men the truth that while men 
die, institutions and influences live, and was largely 
endowed with that rare, unselfish wisdom which qual- 
ifies one to build the foundations of the public wel- 
fare deep and enduring. The effects of this purpose, 
which, to a large extent, dictated the policy of his 
life, will be more fully understood and acknowledged 
in the future than they can be now, and his name 



will go down to posterity as one of the benefactors of 
the town." 

He kept from .January 1, 1857, to September, 
1874,a personal journal, which is of great value as a 
record also of local and public events in one of the 
most eventful periods of our national history. A few 
days before his death he completed a transfer to this 
journal of the diary of his European travels, and for- 
mally concluded the series of entries with these sig- 
nificant words: "And here I will close this daily 
journal of my own private matters, which I have 
kept for almost eighteen years, intending it princi- 
pally as a business memoranda. It has often been 
useful to me as a reference; but as I have fewer 
business transactions, and have just recorded the 
history of one of the most important transactions of 
my life — a voyage to Europe — I will here close my 
record, blessing God for his care and protection, not 
only during this voyage, but a long life, now reach- 
ing more than three-score years and ten." 



UWIGHT BISCO.^ 

Dwight Bisco, who was for sixty years one of 
the leading citizens and business men of Leicester, 
was born in Spencer April 27, 1799, one of several 
sons of Jacob Bisco. Upon his father's farm he 
lived and worked until twenty-two years of age, 
when, with a silver dollar as his only money capital, 
he came to Leicester, and engaged in the employ- 
ment of Cheney Hatch, one of the card-clothing 
manufacturers, — a business of which Leicester then 
had almost a monopoly. Bringing with him good 
character, intelligence, habits of industry and self- 
control, and not afraid of work, he steadily acquired 
skill in this intricate and difiicult manufacture. 

In 1S2() he associated himself as partner with Isaac 
Southgate, Joshua Lamb, John Stone and Joseph A. 
Denny, another house in the same business. In 1843 
Mr. Denny and he bought the interest of the other 
partners, and continued the business, under the name 
of Bisco & Denny, until Mr. Denny's death, in 1875. 
It was then passed on by Mr. Bisco into the hands of 
his sons and of Mr. Denny's only son, he continuing 
to occupy himself in the factory until February, 1882, 
when he entirely withdrew, being then in his eighty- 
third year. 

In middle life he had invested the chief part of his 
savings in the Leicester Boot Company. It was un- 
fortunate, and was brought to an end by the burning 
of the company's buildings and stock, September 25, 
1860, inflicting on him a total loss of all he had paid 
in. With a quiet courage he applied himself again 
to business, as closely as in his youth, and was en- 
abled to make good his loss, and to present to his 
eight children, at the Thanksgiving dinner-table, five 
hundred dollars each. 



1 B.v lie 



ainuel Miiy. 




^/U2fk/' ^L<i o^ 




,^^'^'~?g<»'?'^ 




LEICESTEK. 



737 



His marriage with Ruth Woodcock (daughter of 
John Woodcock, Sr., and sister of John, Josephua 
and Lucius, of the following generation), in 1826, 

I founded a family life of great happiness and unity 
for more than fifty years. When they celebrated 
their golden wedding, January 8, 1876, " we saw 
them," said Rev. Mr. Coolidge, " standing together, 
a spectacle rarely witnessed, an unbroken family," — 
parents, children and grandchildren, — a circle which 
death had then never entered. But in September of 
that year Mrs. Bisco died, with little warning ; and 
Mr. Bisco suffered the severest loss which could pos- 
sibly happen to him. He had become very deaf, and 
her loss was the more severe. Their children, who 
are all living, are Emily A., Charles D., George, John 
W., William, Henry, and Frederick A. ; all married 
but William. Mr. Bisco died December 7, 1882. 

He was repeatedly a selectman of the town ; a di- 
rector of the Leicester Bank eleven years ; treasurer 

. of the Pine Grove Cemetery Company forty years ; 

I treasurer of the Unitarian Congregational Society as 
long, and a deacon of that church. He was a mem- 
ber of the State Legislature in 1847 and '48. In a 
notice of him in the Christian Register, Mr. Abraham 
Firth wrote of "his marked faithfulness in all these 
relations, and in every sphere of life in which lie 

f moved. He was always found on the side of virtue, 
and of political and spiritual freedom. Brought up 
under the teaching of Calvinism, it never satisfied 
him." 

One who was long in daily business association 
with him wrote, in the Worcester Spy, " he was 
known among his associates as an honest, upright 
man, of superior sense and judgment." His pastor, 
during his later years, wrote of him, " I have never 
known a truer man, nor one of greater strength of 

I character." His first minister, at the funeral ser- 
vices, paid a warm tribute to his character and life. 
" No man in Leicester," said a fellow-citizen, " has a 
better record than Dwight Bisco." A memorial book 
of Mr. and Mrs. Bisco has been printed. 



CAPTAIN HIEAM KNIGHT.' 

Captain Hiram Knight was one of the successful 
business men of Leicester, who, beginning life with- 
out pecuniary advantages, have secured fur them- 
selves a handsome property. His father, Silas Knight, 
was a wheelwright, and in very moderate circum- 
stances. He was a Revolutionary soldier and pen- 
sioner. He lived to the venerable age of eighty-five 
years and five months. His mother was seventy-si.\ 
years and si.x months old at the time of her death. 
Her maiden name was Martha Goodnow. 

Hiram Knight was born in Oakham, August 22, 
1793. When about twenty-one years of age he came 
to Leicester for employment. He was married by 

1 By Rev. A.. H. Coolidge. 



Rev. John Nelson, D.D., April 28, 1818, to Olive 
Barnes. Her mother was Betsy, the daughter of 
William Green, who was born in Leicester in 1743, 
and was the son of William and Rebeckah Green. 
Their first home was on Main Street, in the house 
afterward occupied by the Leicester Boot Company. 
The ne.xt year he removed to the academy, of which 
he was steward from 1819 to 1822. In 1823 he pur- 
cha.sed the old " Green Tavern," on the corner of 
Main and Paxton Streets. Here for about two years 
he resided, engaged during the time in the occupa- 
tions of butchering, tavern-keeping and for a time 
was associated with Reuben Merriam in card-making 
and a store. In 1825 he became a member of the firm 
of James & John A. Smith & Co., who built and 
occupied the factory where the Wire Mill now stands; 
and also the brick factory above and the boarding- 
house. The history of this company, which was 
afterward the firm of Smith, Woodcock & Knight, 
and later of Woodcock, Knight & Co., is given 
elsewhere. Mr. and Mrs. Knight kept the board- 
ing-houses for this firm till about the year 1832, 
when the family came back to the Green tavern. Mr. 
Knight w-as in the card business till 1867, when he 
transferred his interest to his sons. He, with John 
Woodcock and George Morse, was in partnership with 
James Smith & Co. at the formation of that house in 
Philadelphia in 1836, and retained his interest for a 
number of years. 

The lower factory of his firm was to a considerable 
extent built under his supervision. He superintended 
the building of the Brick Factory and the boarding- 
house. He also had general charge of the building 
of the brick school-house on Pleasant Street. His 
own residence, on the site of the old tavern, and now 
occupied by his son Dexter, was erected in 1843. 

Mr. Knight had agricultural tastes, and at one time 
had considerable land, which he cultivated and im- 
proved. He was an active member of the Worcester 
Agricultural Society. 

He was one of the directors of the Leicester Na- 
tional Bank from 1850 to 1874. Between the years 
1836 and 1844 he served the town in the various 
ofl[ices of moderator of town-meetings, selectman and 
assessor, etc. He was appointed justice of the peace 
by Governor Boutwell. He was one of the early 
members of the Second Congregational Society, Uni- 
tarian. In politics he was a Democrat, but reserved 
the right of independent thought and action. He 
was a member of the State Constitutional Conven- 
tion in 1853. In early life he was somewhat active 
in military affairs, and was captain of the local mili- 
tary company. 

Captain Knight was engaged in the manufacture 
of card-clothing in the period of the rapid develop- 
ment of that industry, when inventive genius was 
perfecting the wonderful machine for card-setting, of 
which a gentleman once said, after admiringly 
watching its almost human movements : " Why ! it 



738 



HISTOKY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



thinks!" He had not been trained to tlie business, 
but was a natural mechanic, inventive and ingen- 
ious ; and though not forward in asserting his claims, 
made many valuable improvements in the machinery 
for card-making. According to the testimony of his 
partner, Mr. John Wo.odcock, he made the iirst 
card clothing set by machinery in Leicester. 

Captain Knight vi'as a man of sound judgment, 
self-reliant, and of strict business integrity. He gave 
close attention to his business and was successful. 
He was wise and cautious in his investments, and 
became one of the wealthy men of the town. For 
his success he was largely indebted to his wife. She 
was a woman of domestic tastes, and devoted herself 
untiringly and efficiently to the varied duties of the 
household, acting her part with true womanly fidelity 
and fortitude in all the varied experiences of the 
family, in prosperity and in trial and sorrow. She 
was married at the age of seventeen years. 

They had eleven children, seven of whom died 
young ; the three older at the ages of nine, ten and 
twelve years respectively. Their daughter Susan 
died in 1856, at the age of twenty-five. She is re- 
membered as an excellent scholar, retiring in man- 
ners, and loved by all her associates. Three sons 
survive— Dexter, James J. and George M. 

Captain Knight died May 6, 1875, at the age of 
eighty-one yeara and eight months. His wife sur- 
vived him about four years, and died April 19, 1879, 
at the age of seventy-eight years. 



REV. SAMUEL MAY. 

Eev. Samuel May, the first minister of the Second 
Congregational (Unitarian) Church and Society, and 
who continued such for twelve years, was born in 
Boston, April 11, 1810, oldest son of Samuel and Mary 
(Goddard) May. Four years a pupil of Deacon 
Samuel Greele, afterwards for three years at the Pub- 
lic Latin School of Boston, and one year at the Bound 
Hill School, Northampton, he was graduated at Har- 
vard College in 1829. 

After spending nearly a year in study with his 
cousin, Rev. Samuel J. May, at Brooklyn, Ct., he 
entered the Cambridge Divinity School in the fall of 
1830, and was graduated there in 1833. The society 
at Leicester was then young, having been incorpor- 
ated in April, 1833, and holding its meetings in the 
old Town Hall. Mr. May spent six or seven weeks 
in their service that autumn, then left to fulfill some 
other engagements, and returned in March, 1834, to 
begin a second engagement. That spring he receiveil 
and accepted the society's call to be their minister, 
and was ordained as such August 13th, the services 
being held in the society's new church, which had 
been dedicated the evening previous, when the late 
Rev. Dr. James Walker, then of Charlestown, preached 
the very impressive discourse, afterwards so widely 
circulated by the American Unitarian Association, 



entitled, " Faith, Regeneration, Atonement," showing 
these to be successive periods and steps of the reli- 
gious life. 

Mr. May's ministry was one of fair success. Rela- 
tions of good will and friendship were formed, which 
continued far beyond the terra of his ministerial con- 
nection, and to the close of life of his parishioners in 
nearly every instance. Entire harmony of feeling exist- 
ed between them, except with regard to one question, 
viz. : that of slavery in the United States, and whether 
a Christian minister should or should not take part in 
the eflbrt to bring that condition of slavery to an end. 
Mr. May regarding it his duty to take such part, and 
to seek to induce his hearers to do the same, several 
persons were so much dissatisfied as to withdraw 
themselves from the society. One or more others who 
remained being similarly dissatisfied, Mr. May de- 
cided to resign his ofiice rather than be a cause of di- 
vision, and the connection was closed in the summer 
of 1846. 

Mr. May has continued to have his residence at 
Leicester to the present time. In 1835 he was married 
to Sarah Russell, third daughter of Nathaniel P. Rus- 
sell, of Boston. Their children, all born in Leicester, 
and still living, are Adeline, Edward, Joseph Russell, 
and Elizabeth Goddard. The daughters reside with 
their parents. Edward is a pay director of the 
United States Navy, and Joseph R. is in commercial 
life in Boston. Edward married, in 1871, Mary Mig- 
not Blodgett, of Boston. They have four children. 

Soon after resigning his position at Leicester, Mr. 
May was minister of the First Ecclesiastical Society, 
Brooklyn, Ct., until June, 1847. Then he became the 
general agent of the Massachusetts Anti-slavery So- 
ciety. He held this place, with the exception of 
about a year and a half of impaired health, for 
eighteen years, and until 1865, the time when, by 
amendment of the Constitution, slavery in the United 
States ceased to exist. He was also, for several 
years, corresponding secretary of the American Anti- 
slavery Society. 

From 1841 to 1865 Mr. May refused to take any 
political action under the United States Constitution 
because of its recognition and support of slavery — 
refused, that is, to vote for officers who must take 
an oath to support the Constitution. When the 
Constitution was amended he resumed the exercise 
of the citizen's duties. At the outbreak of the War 
of the Rebellion, in 1861, he gave such aid as be 
could to the cause of the Union,- and to its armies 
in the field, speaking and acting publicly. 

He early took a decided stand against the use of 
intoxicating drinks ; was a member of town, county 
and State societies formed to promote total abstinence 
from their use ; and joined with others to establish 
the Leicester Hotel as a house in which no such 
drinks should be sold. 

Mr. May served upon the town School Committee, 
at two diflerent periods, for twenty-one years. He was 




.,.^" 



...i>" 




/-^^i-^,^ (yp^t^-^(-^ ' 




LEICESTER. 



739 



chosen one of the directors of the town's public 
library at its establishment, in 1861, and still con- 
tinues as such, having served nearly twenty-eight 
years. In 1874 he was elected a trustee of Leices- 
ter Academy. In 1875 he was a member of the 
State Legislature, representing, with Mr. Pliny 
Litchfield, of Southbridge, the district formed of the 
towns of Leicester, Spencer, Charlton, Southbridge 
and Auburn. As House chairman of the Committee 
on Federal Relations, he took an active part in the 
State's commemoration of the one hundredth anni- 
versaries of the battles of Lexington, Concord and 
Bunker Hill. At the town's celebration of the cen- 
tennial of American Independence, July 4, 1876, 
Mr. May was chairman of the town's committee. 
He edited the pamphlet which records in full that 
day's doings in Leicester. 

He is a member of the American Social Science 
Association, of the Worcester Society of Antiquityi 
and of the Bostonian Society. He was chosen secre- 
tary of the Class of 1829, Harvard College, at the time 
of graduating, and has held the office to the present 
time. He aided in the compilation of the large 
pamphlet which records the one hundredth anniver- 
sary of the foundation of Leicester Ac/demy, and the 
proceedings of that occasion, September 4, 1884. 



PLINY EARLE, A.M., M.D.' 

Dr. Pliny Earle was the fourth son of Pliny Earle, 
the great-grandson of Ralph Earle, who came to 
Leicester in 1717. His mother was the daughter of 
William Buffum, of Suithfield, R. I. He was born 
December 31, 1809, and his childhood was passed in 
the home of his father at Mulberry Grove. He was 
a pupil in Leicester Academy, and afterwards in the 
Friends' School, in Providence, R. I., where he was a 
teacher in the winter of 1828-29, and also from 1831 
to 1835, when he was made principal. 

He pursued the study of medicine, first with Dr. 
Usher Parsons, of Providence, and afterwards at the 
University of Pennsylvania, from which he was 
graduated with the degree of M.D. in 1837. The 
next two years were spent in Europe ; one in the 
medical school and the hospitals of Paris, and 
the other in a tour of professional and general 
observation, " in which he visited various insti- 
tutions for the insane, from England to Turkey.'' 
The results of these observations were published in 
1840, in a pamphlet entitled " A, Visit to Thirteen 
Asylums for the Insane in Europe." He had an 
office in Philadelphia for a short time, but in the 
spring of 1840 became resident physician of the 
Friends' Asylum for the Insane, near Frankford, now 
a part of Philadelphia. In 1844 he was appointed 
medical superintendent of the Bloomingdale Asylum 
for the Insane, in New York City. In 1849 he made 

1 By Rov. A. H. Coolidge. 



another tour in Europe, visiting thirty-four institu- 
tions for the insane in England, Belgium, France and 
the Germanic countries, and, upon his return, pub- 
lished his book upon " Institutions for the Insane in 
Prussia, Austria, and Germany." In 1853 he was 
elected a visiting physician of the New York City 
Lunatic Asylum, on Blackwell's Island. 

In 1855 he returned to Leicester for rest and the 
confirmation of his health, and passed several years 
on the homestead of his grandfather, Robert Earle 
near Mulberry Grove (now called " Earle Ridge") 
During this time, however, he spent the winters of 
1862-63 and 1863-64 in the care of the insane soldiers 
of the army and navy, at the Government Hospital 
for the Insane near Washington, D. C, of which his 
former pupil. Dr. Charles H. Nichols, was superin- 
tendent. He also wrote for the medical periodicals, 
and acted as an expert in the trials of several impor- 
tant cases involving the question of insanity before 
the legal tribunals of Massachusetts and the adjoin- 
ing States. 

It was in these years of comparative rest that he 
rendered the town essential service as a member of 
the School Committee. In this relation the writer, 
together with Dr. J. N. Murdock, was associated with 
him. In this period the public schools were subjected 
to a thorough reorganization, and new and more prac- 
tical methods of instruction were introduced. In 
these services Dr. Earle exhibited the same executive 
force, the same mastery of details, the same practical 
wisdom, the same contempt of shams and ability to 
puncture them, and the same personal integrity and 
demand for strict uprightness and fidelity in those 
who were under his supervision, which characterized 
his administration of the institution in Northampton, 
of which he was afterward the head. In one respect 
he was in advance of the time. He came early to 
appreciate the importance of objective illustration, 
and the practical application of school instruction. 
He required pupils to use books only as instructors, 
and to know things and not mere words. 

Without seeking the position, he was appointed 
superintendent of the State Lunatic Hospital at 
Northampton, Mass., July 2, 1864, and held the office 
twenty-one years and three months, resigning it Octo- 
ber 1, 1885. He made that hospital in many respects 
a model institution for the insane ; and its trustees, in 
the resolutions passed at the time of their acceptance 
of his resignation, expressed as follows not only their 
own conviction, but the general judgment with refer- 
ence to the value of his administration : " In its man- 
agement he has combined the highest professional 
skill and acquirement with rare executive ability. 
By his patient attention to details, by his wisdom and 
firmness, his absolute fidelity to duty and devotion to 
the interests of the hospital, he has rendered invalua- 
ble service to the institution, and to the community 
which it serves." They alsT express the hope that 
" he will continue to make his home in the institution, 



740 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



that they may continue to profit by his counsels ; and 
they will provide that his rooms shall always be open 
and ready for his use." This offer Mr. Earle accepted, 
although his summers have been spent at Mulberry 
Grove. 

The Northampton Hospital had been erected in 
opposition to a widely prevalent opinion that it was 
not, and never could be, needed, — an opinion which 
delayed its construction, made the obtaining of appro- 
priations very difficult, and finally compelled the 
trustees to put it in operation in a very incomplete 
condition, internally. The Civil War had tended to 
restrict the price of board for public patients to a very 
low limit, and in 1864, when Dr. Earle took charge of 
it, it had never paid its current expenses. He imme- 
diately addressed himself to the task of making it 
not only a first-class curative institution, but a self- 
supporting one as well. He purchased supplies at 
wholesale and in open market. He reorganized and 
reduced to a very complete system all the departments 
— domestic, economical, financial and medical — with 
checks and counter-checks for the detection of loss, 
or of waste by carelessness, as well as for the exposure 
of unfaithfulness in the discharge of duty toward the 
patients, or in other respects. The so-called "moral 
treatment " of the patients was amplified, made more 
diversified, and extended over a greater portion of the 
year than in any other American hospital. 

The pecuniary results of this system were the pay- 
ment of current expenses in the second year, and, 
during the whole period of Dr. Earle"s service, the 
purchase of land at a cost of over twenty-five thou- 
sand dollars ; the payment for all ordinary repairs, 
and over one hundred and seventy-three thousand 
dollars for buildings and other improvements, and an 
increase in cash assets and provisions and supplies of 
over forty-three thousand dollars, all of which became, 
of course, the property of the State, without any 
assistance from the State. The results as productive 
of an improved curative institution, being less tangi- 
ble, cannot well be illustrated, but, as reflected in 
current public opinion, they were equally succets- 
ful. 

The importance of occupation for the insane was 
early recognized by Dr. Earle, and it has nowhere in 
New England been practically applied to a greater 
extent than at Northampton. As early as 1870 it 
was. estimated that not less than two-thirds of the 
manual labor necessary to the running of the hos- 
pital was performed by patients. 

Believing that a large part of the excessive cost of 
such hospitals as that at Danvers adds nothing to the 
curative capability of the institutions. Dr. Earle con- 
demned such expenditure as unwise political econ- 
omy, ostentatious charity and gross injustice to the 
payer of taxes. 

Dr. Earle has been instrumental in introducing im- 
portant changes in the treatment of the insane. In 
18-15 he established a school for the patients in the 



men's department of the Bloomingdale Asylum, and 
this was continued for two years. As early as 1840, 
while in the Frankford Asylum, he gave illustrated 
lectures (jn physics to the inmates. " This was the 
first known attempt to address an audience of the 
insane in any discourse other than a sermon, and has 
led to that system of entertainments for the patients 
now considered indispensable in a first-class hospital." 
At Northampton he gave a great variety of lectures, 
upon miscellaneous subjects. One course of six lec- 
tures was upon diseases of the brain, which are ac- 
companied with mental disorder. The average number 
of patients who attended them was two hundred and 
fifty-six. " This is the first time," he says in his 
annual report, "that an audience of insane persons 
ever listened to a discourse on their own malady." 
His observation of the effect on the audience was not 
unlike that of other preachers. If the listeners were 
slow to take the application to themselves, they were 
quite ready to appropriate it " to their neighbors." 
He also secured lectures and entertainments from 
other sources, and provided amusements in which the 
inmates participated. 

Dr. Earle is the author of many papers upon in- 
sanity and other subjects, which have been published 
in the Journal of Insanity, the American Journal of 
the Medical Sciences, etc. Some of these have been 
issued in pamphlet form. He anticipated by many 
years the valuable treatise of Dr. B. Jay Jeffries, in 
a paper on "The Inability to Distinguish Colors." 
His twenty-two reports of the Northampton Hospital 
are classics in the literature of mental disease. By 
a combination of causes the public, so far as they 
knew or cared about the subject, had come to the 
belief that from seventy-five to ninety per cent, of 
the insane can be cured at the hospital. Dr. Earle 
became convinced of the erroneousness of this belief, 
and was the first hospital superintendent who com- 
bated it. His researches upon the subject extended 
over a series of years, were embodied in his annual 
reports, and at length in 1887 collected and published 
by the J. B. Lippincott Company, in a book entitled 
"The Curability of Insanity." 

The doctor showed that one cause of the false opinion 
in regard to curability was the reporting of repeated 
recoveries of the same person, in paroxysmal insanity. 
One patient was reported cured six times in one year, 
another seven times, a third sixteen times in three 
years, and a fourth forty-six times in the course of 
her life, and she finally died a raving maniac in one 
of the hospitals. Judging from the results of the 
doctor's researches, not one-third of the persons ad- 
mitted to the Massachusetts insane hospitals have 
been permanently cured. 

Of his work on The Curability of Insanity a re- 
viewer writes: "This book may mark an epoch in 
the literature of insanity, since it has changed the 
whole front of that literature, and set in motion in- 
vestigating forces which will carry out its main doc- 




o:J h^xA^oL^ 



i-^^^oCocJZy 



LEICESTER. 



741 



trinp into many useful details, upon wbicli the veteran 
author has not dwelt." 

He wrote the article on insanity in the United 
States Census of 18(30, and about ninety articles of 
reviews and bibligraphieal notices of insane hospital 
reports and other publications on mental dis- 
orders, which appeared in the American Journal of 
Medical Science between the years 1841 and 1870. 

In a third visit to Europe, in 1871, he visited forty- 
six institutions for the insane in Ireland, Austria, 
Italy and intervening countries. His several foreign 
tours gave him opportunity to form the acquaintance 
and enjoy the hospitality of many professional, 
pliilanthropic and literary people; he was well ac- 
quainted with Elizabeth Frye, knew the poet, Sam- 
uel Rogers, and, at their own homes and tables, 
met socially the Howitts and Charles Dickens. 
He also cheri^hes pleasant memories of American 
missionaries in the Levant fifty years ago ; of Rev. 
Jonas King and other missionaries in Athens; 
Cephas Pasco, at Patrass ; Simeon Calhoun and 
David Temple, of Smyrna; Wm. Goodell, Rev. Mr. 
Shauffler and Henry A. Homes, at Constantinople. 
He received kind attentions from all of them, and the 
home hospitality of several. 

Dr. Earle was one of the original members and 
founders of the American Medical Association, the 
Association of Medical Superintendents of American 
Institutions for the Insane, the New York Academy 
of Medicine, and the New England Psychological 
Society, of which last-mentioned association he was 
the first president. He was also president, in the official 
year 1884-85, of the Association of Superintendents. 
Besides holding a membership of various medical so- 
cieties, he is a member of the American Philosophi- 
cal Society ; fellow of the New York College of Phy- 
sicians and Surgeons; corresponding member of the 
New York Medico-Legal Society and the Med- 
ical Society of Athens, Greece, and honorary mem- 
ber of the British Medico-Psychological Association. 
In 1853 he delivered an adjunct course of lectures on 
" Mental Diseases " at the College of Physicians and 
Surgeons in New York City, and in 186.3 he was ap- 
pointed Professor of Materia Medica and Psychologic 
Medicine in the Berkshire Medical Institute at Pitts- 
field, Mass. Insanity had never before been included 
among the required subjects of instruction in any full 
professorship at any one of the American medical 
schools. After the delivery of one course of lectures 
the doctor resigned his professorship, as he had been 
called to the superintendency of the Northampton 
Hospital. 

In his specialty Dr. Earle is recognized as an author- 
ity. " He was one of the medical experts summoned 
to the trial of Charles J. Guiteau, for the murder of 
President Garfield. After an attendance of one week 
his health gave way, and he was obliged to leave; but 
he approved, and still approves, the verdict which 
held the prisoner responsible for the homicide." 



In 1888 he published alarge volume on the geneal- 
ogy of the Earle family, a work of great labor, and a 
model of its class. From this book many of the dates 
and material facts of this biography are taken. Dr. 
Earle still holds his birthright membership in the 
Society of Friends. 

Dr. Earle's generous and valuable gift to the acad- 
emy in which he pursued his early studies has been 
elsewhere noticed. He has never wavered in his at- 
tachment to Leicester, and its people claim him as 
one of her honored sons. It is their hope that the 
day may yet be long deferred when it will be suitable 
to pronounce his eulogy, and give full expression to 
the general respect and regard in which he is held in 
his native town. 



JOSHUA MUEDOCIC' 

Joshua Murdock, the principal founder of the ex- 
tensive card-clothing establishment of J. & J. Mur- 
dock, was the son of Deacon Joshua Murdock. He 
was born in Leicester, October 3, 1815; educated in 
the town schools, in Leicester Academy and Amherst 
Academy. At the age of sixteen years he engaged 
himself to the firm of Smith, Woodcock & Knight, 
serving a regular apprenticeship of nearly five years, 
and remaining with them till 1838, when he entered 
the employ of James Smith & Co., of Philadelphia. 
In 1840 he returned to Leicester and commenced the 
card-clothing business with Samuel Southgate, Jr. 
As has already been stated, alter the retirement of 
Mr. Southgate in 1844, Mr. Murdock continued in 
business alone till 1848, when his brother Joseph, who 
had been engaged in trade at the South, returned and 
associated himself with him under the firm name of 
J. & J. Murdock. He lived to see the gradual 
growth ef the enterprise from the small beginning and 
to witness and enjoy its great prosperity. Mr. Mur- 
dock was for several years a selectman of the town, 
also a director of the National Bank and a trustee of 
tlie Savings Bank. Under the district system he was 
for many years the prudential committee of the centre 
schools. He discharged the duties of this oifice with 
exceptional wisdom and efficiency, and to him the 
marked excellence and improvement of the village 
schools at that period are largely due. He united 
with the First Congregational Church in Philadelphia 
in 1840 and removed hi^ relation to the First Church 
in Leicester in 1842. He was always interested in 
the welfare of the church and society, and was a lib- 
eral contributor for the support of its ordinances. He 
was wise and cautious in judgment, and was identified 
with all the public enterprises of the place. He was 
so extremely modest and retiring, he shrank so instinc- 
tively from all obtrusion upon the public, and from 
the expression of his views, and especially his feelings, 
that he was fully known only to the few who were 
placed in intimate relations with him. He was in- 

»By Eev. A. H. Coolidge. 



742 



HISTOKY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



telligent, sound in judgment, a man of deep and 
kindly feelings and positive decision of character, but 
always reticent. 

Mr. Murdock was first married in Philadelphia, 
by Kev. Albert Barnes, D.D., June 16, 1842, to Ange- 
lina Maull. He was married by Rev. John Nelson, 
D.D., to his second wife, Julia Trask, the daughter 
of Samuel Hurd, of Leicester, January 10, 1849. 
Their only child, Caroline, is the wife of Alexander 
De Witt, of Worcester. 



EDM'AED SARGENT.' 

Jonathan Sargent, from whom theSargents in town 
descend, came to Leicester as early as the year 1728 
from Maiden, Mass. Among his descendants have 
been many men of more than ordinary standing and 
influence. To some of these we have already referred. 

Col. Joseph D. Sargent, the father of Edward Sar- 
gent, was one of the most enterprising and successful 
business men in the town, and one of its most public- 
spirited and highly honored cilizens. His three sons 
— Jos. Bradford, George H. and Edward Sargent — 
have been associated in extensive business interests 
in Leicester and elsewhere. 

Edward Sargent, the subject of this sketch, was 
born in Leicester, March 25, 1832. He was the son of 
Joseph D. and Mindwell (Jones) Sargent. He re- 
ceived his education in the Leicester schools and the 
Academy. He, wilh his brother Joseph B., as has 
been before stated, began the manufacture of hand- 
cards, at the " Brick Factory," on the 1st of May, 1854. 
On the first day of the year 1859 they received their 
brother, George H., into the firm, and at the same time 
organized the Sargent Hardware Commission House 
in New York City. Mr. Sargent was connected with 
this company through life. They built extensive 
works for the manufacture of hardware in New Haven, 
and have becorue the largest hardware concern in the 
country. While the company were manufacturing 
cards in Worcester, Mr. Sargent spent several winters 
there. Aside from this he passed his life in Leicester, 
and was one of its wealthy and valued citizens. He 
was a selectman of the town. He was interested in 
everything that related to the welfare of the plaoe, 
and contributed liberally both money and personal 
supervision to all public improvements. He was at 
diflerent times nominated as a candidate for the State 
Legislature, and, though not belonging to the winning 
party, he had the habit of running invariably beyond 
his ticket, in his own town, in which he was a general 
favorite. In the time of the Civil War he was an ar- 
dent patriot, and freely contributed to all its demands. 

In 1864 Mr. Sargent completed the building of his 
elegant residence, opposite the attractive sheet of 
water on what was originally the " Town Meadow," 
where the beavers built their houses and dams, and 
through which ran " Rawsou Brook," but which has 

1 By Rev. A. H. Coolidge. 



long been called, after his name, " Sargent's Pond." 
This house is now the home of his son, J. B. Sargent. 
At the same time Mr. Sargent built his handsome 
stable for his horses. He was a good horseman, and, 
especially in the earlier years of his life, very fond of 
the horse and of driving. He regarded time as too 
valuable to be wasted in making distances on the road. 

He was married, February 9, 1858, by Rev. A. H. 
Coolidge, to Adelaide Sophia, the daughter of Austin 
F. and Sophia (Hatch) Conklin. She was a woman 
of amiable and cheerful spirit and superior intelli- 
gence and worth. After twenty-five years of married 
life she died on the 11th day of February, 1881. They 
had three children, — Joseph Bradford, Winthrop 
(who died in childhood) and Harry E. 

Mr. Sargent was much affected by the death of his 
wife, to wh ira he was devotedly attached, and survived 
her less than two years. He died January 3, 1883. 



BILLINGS MANN.^ 

The village of Mannville received its name from 
Mr. Billings Mann, to whom it is largely indebted. 
He, with Mr. Albert Marshall, carried on the manu- 
facture of woolen cloth, in the first of the series of 
factories on Kettle Brook, on the corner of Earle and 
Mannville Ssreets. Around this mill there has grad- 
ually grown the little village that bears his name. 

Mr. Marshall, a worthy and highly-esteemed citizen 
of the town, is still living, at an advanced age. 

Mr. Mann was born in Worcester in 1797. He was 
the son of Joseph and Mehitable (Billings) Mann. 
His father was a clothier, and he worked with him 
dressing cloth. He thus became familiar with the 
details of his subsequent business. His education 
was that of the common school. On the 21st of July, 
1822, he married Jemima, the daughter of Eliot and 
Jemima Wight, of Bellingham, Mass., by whom he 
had one daughter, who was married to Maj. Theron 
E. Hall. The same year, at the age of twenty-five, he 
began the manufacture of woolen cloth in Fitchburg. 
In 1828 he removed from Fitchburg to Worcester, 
and engaged in manufacturing with Mr. Gunn. 
In 1837 he was in the business in West Rutland. The 
next year, 1838, he first came to Leicester, and, as 
has been elsewhere stated, was associated with Mr. 
Amos Earle in the manufacture of satinets. In 1844 
he associated himself with his brother-in law, Mr. 
Albert Marshall, in the same business, in Holden, as 
the firm of Mann & Marshall. Here he remained 
till 1853, when, with Mr. Marshall, he came to Lei- 
cester. They purchased the mill property and com- 
menced the manufacture of satinets, as elsewhere 
stated. 

Mr. Mann's home, to the time of his death, was on 
the corner of Earle and Mulberry Streets, the place 
which Ralph Earle had occupied in 1717. 

-By Rev. A. H. Ccolidgo. 




tr c^ 





try^y-i-o 



LEICESTER. 



743 



His first wife died July 21, 1822, and on the 2l6t 
of July, 1828, he married Harriet L., the daughter of 
Josiah Daniel, of Dedham, by whom he had seven 
daughters and three sons, two of whom, George and 
Billings, are successors in the business. Mrs. Mann 
was a woman of rare excellence and beauty of char- 
acter. She presided over her large household with 
queenly dignity and grace, and of her, with full 
truth, it could be said, " Her children rise up and call 
her blei^sed." She died February 20, 1878. Her ill- 
ness was protracted and her sufferings intense, but 
she endured them with a truly Christian spirit of 
resignation and cheerfulness. 

For twenty-two years Mann & Marshall carried on 
a prosperous business, but after the "Boston fire," in 
which they were heavy losers, they were forced to 
abandon the enterprise, which ihey did in 1878. 

Mr. Mann was a business man of strict integrity, 
and the aD'airs of the company, in prosperity and 
adversity alike, were conducted on the highest prin- 
ciples of business honor. He was genial and kind, 
and his home at Mulberry Grove was one of generous 
hospitality. He died December 2, 1879, and his fu- 
neral at the First Congregational Church was largely 
attended. He was a member of the order of Knights 
Templar, and he was buried with Masonic honors. 



ALONZO WHITE. 1 

Alonzo White was born in Almond, Allegany 
County, N. Y., May 6, 1808. His father was a native 
of Spencer, Mass., and had emigrated to New York 
three months before. This was then " The West." 
Almond had all the characteristics of a new country. 
There were no. school-houses, no church buildings, 
and few of the conveniences and comforts of older 
settled communities. The girls of the family rode 
on horse-back thirty miles to purchase their gowns ; 
and the parish of the Presbyterian minister extended 
from Rochester to the Pennsylvania line. 

Mr. White was born, and lived when a boy, in a 
log-house. He worked upon the farm until he was 
twenty years of age. He then determined to seek 
his fortune elsewhere, and first went on foot to Dan- 
ville, twenty miles distant, where he earned the 
money for his proposed journey by carting wood, 
spending his extra time in making brooms. In the 
fall of 1828 he came to Spencer, where his uncle re- 
sided, and worked on the farm. In February of the 
next year he came to Leicester, and commenced his 
apprenticeship as a card-maker with Reubeu Mer- 
riam & Co. There was then no card-setting machine 
in the establishment, although the newly-invented 
machine was coming gradually into use. The holes 
and the teeth were made by machines and the teeth 
set by hand. The next year card-setting machines 
made by Mr. Merriam were introduced. 

I By Rev. A. H. Coolidge. 



After remaining with Mr. Merriam a year, Mr. 
White was engaged at one hundred dollars per year 
by Colonel Joseph D. Sargent, who was then making 
cards on the Auburn Road, in Cherry Valley. The 
machines were moved by dog-power. Upon Mr. 
Sargent's removal to the Brick Factory, Mr. White 
came with him, and was in his employ seven years. 
In 18.36 he, with his partners, bought out Colonel 
Sargent, and commenced business as the firm of Lamb 
& White. Colonel Sargent highly valued the services 
of Mr. White, and expressed his appreciation in a 
substantial manner. He expressed his confidence 
in him at this time by furnishing him the capital for 
the new enterprise. Mr. White's subsequent business 
career is given in the notice of the firm of White & 
Denny, and White & Son. 

Mr. White has served the town in the offices of 
selectman, assessor, etc. He was the contractor for the 
new town-house. For a short time he was a director 
of the bank. He united with the First Congrega- 
tional Church in September, 1831. 

In 1834, April 10th, he married Elizabeth Lincoln 
the daughter of Aden Davis, of Oakham, Mass., by 
whom he has had six children, four of whom, two 
sons and two daughters, are living. He has been to 
them a generous parent, and to the community and 
the church a free and generous helper. 

He built his house on the corner of Main and 
Grove Streets, in 1848. Here he, with his wife, with 
whom he has been united for almost filty-five years, 
still reside, in the enjoyment of the fruits of their 
industry and enterprise, and the society of their 
friends. He has the satisfaction of seeing his chil- 
dren and his grandchildren all settled in good homes 
of their own in Leicester. 



SALEM LIVEKMOEE.' 

John Livermore, ancestor of all the Livermores 
pro))ably in the United States, embarked at Ipswich, 
Old England, for New England, in April, 1634, then 
twenty-eight years old, in the ship "Francis," John 
Cutting master. He was admitted freeman of the 
Massachusetts Colony May 6, 1635. On the list of 
freemen his name was written Leathermore, and in 
other old documents and records sometimes Lether- 
more and Lithermore. He was a potter by trade. 
He was many years selectman, and filled other of- 
fices of trust and honor in Watertown, where he 
first settled and la»t resided, he being, for about 
eleven years, from 1639 to 1650, a resident of New 
Haven, Conn., after which he returned to Water- 
town, Mass., where he died, April 14, 1684, aged 
seventy-eight, and his wife, Grace, died there in 
June, 1691. He was probably son of Peter and 
Marabella (Wysback) Livermore, of Little Thurloe, 
Suffolk County, England, about seven miles north- 

2 By Caleb A. Wall. 



1U 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



west of Clare. On his removal from Watertown to 
Connecticut he was made a freeman of that colony, 
October 29, 1G40, and he sold out his estate in New 
Haven May 7, 1650, and went back to Water- 
town. Four of his nine children — Samuel', Daniel- 
and two daughters — were baptized in New Haven, 
and his oldest child, Hannah'^, who married John 
Coolidge, Jr., was born in England in 1633, the 
others in America. His four h child, and oldest 
son, John- Livermore, Jr., born in 1640, settled 
on an estate of fifty-two acres, called the " Cowpen 
Farm," in Weston, near the border of Sudbury, 
which estate was given him by the father. 

This John^ Livermore, Jr., who was a lieutenant in 
the military, had in Weston, by his first wife, Han- 
nah, who was mother of all his children, five sons and 
four daughters, born between 1668 and 1690, of whom 
the fifth child and third son was DanieP Livermore, 
born in Weston June 8, 1677, ensign, an original pro- 
prietor and settler in Leicester before 1720, on lot 
No. 29, which included what has since been called 
Livermore Hill. This DanieP Livermore died March 
26, 1726, aged forty-nine, and by his wife, Mehitabel, 
afterwards wife of John Parmenter, of Sudbury, had 
five sons and three daughters, born between 1707 and 
1726, as follows : 

1. Daniel*, Jr., born in Weston June 16, 1707, by 
wife, Mary, had in Weston three sons and three 
daughters, born between 1734 and 1748 ;' 2. Jonas* 
born in Weston May 13, 1710, married, October, 1735, 
Elizabeth Rice, of Sudbury, and settled near the foot 
of Livermore Hill, in Leicester, on. the east side of 
the road running north and south through his father's 
lot, No. 29, where Jonas* died in 1773, and his wife died 
in 1790~parent8, in Leicester, of five sons and three 
daughters ; 3. Mehitabel*, born March 13, 1713, mar- 
ried. May 14, 1736, Eliakim Rice, an early settler in 
Worcester, son of Elisha Rice, who was brother of 
Jonas, Gershom, James, Ephraim, Thomas and Jo- 
siah Rice, original proprietors and settlers in Worces- 
ter (see Caleb A. Wall's "Reminiscences of Worces- 
ter," pages 40 to 43); 4. Sarah*, born March 7, 1717 ; 
5. Isaac*, born May 11, 1720, resided on the west side 
of the road, opposite his brother Jonas, near the foot 
of Livermore Hill, where, by his wife, Dorothy, he 
had four sons and two daughters; 6. Hannah*, .born 
April 16, 1723 ; 7. Abraham*, born November 9, 1724, 
died of scarlet fever September 4, 1742 ; 8. Nathan*, 
born March 26, 1726, married. May 7, 1755, Lucy 
Bent, of Sudbury. 

The above-named Ensign Daniel ' Livermore's 
sister Hannah'', born in Weston, September 27, 1670, 
married, February 22, 1689, the above named Eph- 
raim Rice, then of Sudbury, who was an original 
proprietor of Worcester, where his children settled, 
near his brothers, on Sagatabscott Hill. 

Jonas* and Elizabeth (Rice) Livermore had in 
Leicester these eight children : 

1. Jonas^ Jr., born February 28, 1736, carpenter 



and farmer, married November 10, 1761, Sarah, 
daughter of Hezekiah and Sarah (Green) Ward, and 
resided in the south part of Leicester, near Au- 
burn, where Jonas' son, Salem Livermore, afterwards 
lived, and where Jonas* died, January 31, 1825, aged 
eighty-nine, and his wife, Sarah, died Sept. 10, 1832, 
aged ninety-four, parents often children ; 2. Micah% 
born in 1738, settled in Oxford ; 3. Mary \ born 1743, 
married Thomas Scott and resided on the estate in 
Auburn, near Leicester, where his father, John Scott, 
had lived, and where Thomas' son, David Scott, Sr., 
afterwards lived ; 4. David", born 1745, married, in 
1770, for his first wife Anna Hey wood, of Holden, and 
settled on the south part of lot No. 59, in Spencer, 
where they had seven children, and he died there De- 
cember 13, 1818, and she died June 12, 1794, his 
second wife being her sister, Mrs. Mary Osborne, of 
Holden, who died January 5, 1842, aged eighty, by 
whom he had three children, one of them, Melinda, 
wife of the late Benjamin H. Brewer, of Worcester ; 

5. Elizabeth, twin, born 1745, married Samuel Tucker, 
Jr., of Leicester; 6. Elisha, born 1751; 7. Beulah, 
born 1753, married Levi Dunton ; 8. Lydia, born 
1755, married Asa, son of David Prouty, of Spencer, 
and had there Aaron, Asa, Jr., Persis, Jonas and Joel 
Prouty, born between 1776 and 1784, of whom Persis 
was wife of Eli Mussy, son of John Mussy, Jr., of 
Spencer. 

Jonas* and Sarah (Ward) Livermore had in Lei- 
oeiter these nine children ; 

1. Hannah, born May 13, 1762, died August 24, 
1767 ; 2. Jonas", born April 13, 1764, died unmarried, 
at Leicester, April 20, 1790 ; 3. Sally, born June 28, 
1766, died unmarried, February 17, 1833 ; 4. Patty, 
born October 22, 1768, married in 1791 Captain 
Samuel Upham, Jr., of Leicester, and removed soon 
after 1800 to Randolph, Vt., where he died in 1848, 
aged eighty-seven, the oldest of their three children 
being the late Hon. Wm. Upham, Senator in Con- 
gress from Vermont, from 1843 till his decease, 
January 14, 1853, in Washington, aged sixty-one ; 

6. Salem, born September 26, 1770, married, first, 
Nancy Walker, who died March 2, 1838, and he 
married, second, Ruth Livermore, and resided on his 
father's estate in the south part of Leicester near 
Auburn, where he died April 20, 1858, father of nine 
children, all by his first wife; 6. Bathsbeba, born 
July 23, 1772, married John Page, and settled in 
Cambridge, Vt. ; 7. Louisa, born April 27, 1774, died 
December, 1800, married Abner Gale; 8. Daniel, 
born June 10, 1776, married May 29, 1801, Betsy, 
born in 1777, daughter of Thomas Parker, of Leices- 
ter, and resided on theestateof his grandfather, Jonas 
Livermore, Sr., near the foot of Livermore Hill, 
where Daniel Livermore died August 31, 1869, aged 
ninety-three, and his wife, Betsy, died November 2, 
1846, parents of Jonas Livermore, of Camden, N. J., 
Rev. Daniel Parker Livermore, of Melrose, Mass., 
Diantha, wife of Daniel Henshaw, Mary, wife of 




t 



"%~^""^^^~<^ 



^^£c^r 



^t^ 



CHARLTON. 



745 



David McFarland, late of Worcester, and Eliza, resid- 
ing with her brother, Rev. Daniel P., in Melrose ; 9. 
Rebecca, born November 13, 1778, married Lebbeua 
Turner, from Bennington, Vt., and had in Leicester, 
Stillman, now deceased, Jerusha, now iu Spencer- 
town, N. Y., Caroline, wife of Dexter Converse, and 
Roxana, wife of Thomas Wall, all now deceased. 

Salem'' and Nancy (Walker) Livermore had in 
Leicester these nine children : 

1. Mary, born August 25, 1795; died September 6, 
1841 ; married Jonathan Warren, and had, in Lei- 
cester, Jonas L. Warren, formerly railroad station 
agent at Rochdale ; now in Shirley. 

2. Sarah, born August 31, 1797 ; died May 1, 1827 ; 
married, August 10, 1823, Samuel Bottomly (his first 
wife), and had a daughter, Sarah, who married a 
Schofiekl. 

3. Nancy, born October 13, 1800 ; died December 
27, 1875; married, first, Moses Rockwood, of Grafton, 
and had John, Angeline and David Rockwood; 
married, second, February, 1837, Stephen Adams, 
and had in Paxton, Maria, June and Aaron Adams. 

4. Hannah, born May 21, lb04; died July 29, 
1836 ; married, January 9, 1828, Samuel Bottomly, 
and had, in Cherry Valley, Cornelia, Sarah, Levinah 
and Nancy Bottomly. 

5. Thomas, born September 7, 1805; died young. 

6. Salem, Jr., born April 23, 1809; died in Roch- 
dale Village March 4, 1865 ; married, November 26, 
1833, Roxa Darling, their only child being their son, 
Thomas Salem Livermore, born July 22, 1836 ; mar- 
ried, September 26, 1871, Mary Symons, daughter of 
John H. and Sarah (Crossley) Symons, of Rochdale, 
and owns and occupies the homestead erected by his 
father in Rochdale Village, nearly opposite the rail- 
road depot. 

7. Seraph, twin of Salem, Jr., born April 23, 1809; 
married James Hollingsworth, and died April 4, 
1832. 

8. Tamason, born May 28, 1812 ; married Liberty 
Beers, and died February 8, 1840. 

9. Moses, born March 11, 1815; died June 20, 
1854; resided on his grandfather's old place, near 
Auburn. 

Rev. Daniel P. Livermore, son of DanieP and 
Betsy (Packer) Livermore, of Leicester, is a Uni- 
versalist clergyman in Melrose, ordained in 1841. 
He married. May 6, 1845, Mary, daughter of Timo- 
thy and Zebiah Vose (Ashton) Rice, of Boston ; since 
that time distinguished as an eloquent lecturer and 
speaker on temperance, women's rights and other 
reforms. Their iwo surviving children are: Mary 
Elizabeth and Henrietta W., the latter wife of John 
Oscar Norris, master of East Boston High School. 

Dexter and Caroline (Livermore) Converse resided 
in Leicester, near Charlton, where they had a family 
of twelve children, among their sons being Edmund, 
Harrison and Lebbeus T. Converse, of Worcester. 

Salem' Livermore, Jr., like his father and grand- 
47 J 



father before him, was a carpenter, as well as a thrifty 
and industrious farmer and operator in real estate, in 
which kinds of business Salem, Jr., is well repre- 
sented by his son, Thomas S. Livermore, who suc- 
ceeded to and improves upon the five hundred acres 
of land in Leicester, Oxford and Auburn, including 
the homestead at Rochdale Village, on which he re- 
sides with his mother. Jonas ^ Livermore, Jr., was 
originally a Baptist, one of the pillars of the old 
Greenville Church; his son, Salem, Sr., was a Uni- 
versalist, as well as the latter's brother Daniel, and 
Salem, Jr., was a member of the Episcopal Church 
at Rochdale. 

Thomas S. Livermore has a specialty in the 
musical line, having officiated in a choir since he 
was fourteen years of age, and for the past few years 
he has been chorister and organist of the Unitarian 
Church at Leicester. 



CHAPTER XCV. 

CHARLTON. 

BY HON. RUFUS B. DODGE. 

The town of Charlton is situated in the south- 
westerly part of the county, about thirteen miles from 
Worcester, and may with good reason be called one 
of the " hill towns." The surface is very uneven, and 
it has within its litnita the highest land in the south 
part of the county. The Boston and Albany Railroad 
runs through the north part of the town, and the 
highest point on that road is a short distance east 
of Ch.arlton Depot. The highest land in the town 
is the summit of the hill called Little Mugget, 
a short distance southeast of the depot. The large 
hill east of Charlton Centre, known as Mugget, and 
formerly called Mashey Mugget, affords a better view 
of the surrounding country, and has for that reason, 
perhaps, been considered by many higher land. 
There are several other hills in the town nearly as 
high as the ones mentioned, and a number of broad, 
deep valleys. About three-fourths of the present 
territory of the town was formerly a part of Oxford, 
and was set off from that town in 1755. The re- 
mainder was a part of a tract of land adjoining the 
town of Oxford on the north, said to contain ten 
thousand acres, of which no persons had obtained a 
grant, and that had not been included in any of the 
adjoining towns when incorporated and called the 
"Country Gore." About seven thousand acres of this 
tract was annexed to Charlton in 1757. The part 
taken from Oxford contained about twenty-three 
thousand five hundred acres. In 1788 ab ut three 
hundred acres, and in 1807 about forty acres were 
taken from the southeast corner of the town and set to 
Oxford. In 1792 a small tract of land was taken from 



746 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



the southwest corner of the town and set to Stur- 
bridge; and in 1816 about three thousand acres were 
taken from the same part of the town to form a part 
of the town of Southbridge. On this latter tract was 
valuable water-power afforded by the Quinebaug 
Eiver. No alterations have since been made in the 
to^vn lines, although in 1831 an attempt was made to 
have a larg6 tract from the east part set to Oxford. 
The project met with strong opposition from a large 
majority of the inhabitants of the town and was de- 
feated. According to a survey made since the last 
tract was set off the town now contains a little over 
twenty-seven thousand acres, and is exceeded by few, 
if any, of the towns of the county in area of terri- 
tory. 

It has been said that the soil of the part taken from 
Oxford was considered as inferior in quality, and for 
that reason did not attract settlers, but the manner in 
which the land was held accounts sufficiently for its 
tardy settlement. 

All the land formerly belonging to Oxford had been 
granted in 1683 to Daniel Cox and others. About 
twelve thousand acres on the east part of the grant 
was allotted to settlers and called the village; the 
remainder was reserved by the proprietors. In 1788 
Daniel Cox and Robert Thompson, of London, Joseph 
Dudley, of Roxbury, William Stoughton, of Dor- 
chester, John Blackwell, of Boston, and Thomas 
Freake, of Hanningtou, England, were the owners of 
all the grant lying west of what was called ihe village 
line. In that year a survey and division of the land 
was made. According to this survey, the tract con- 
tained thirty thousand acres. By the terms of the 
deed of partition, Joseph Dudley took six thousand 
acres on the south side of tract, extending from the 
village line on the east to Sturbridge on the west. 
John Blackwell took an equal quantity of land north 
of and adjoining Dudley's lot. William Stoughton 
took a like quantity of land north of Blackwell's. 
North of Stoughton's land Blackwell took a second 
lot of about seventeen hundred acres. North of Black- 
well's second lot Daniel Cox took about twenty-six 
hundred acres. North of the lot taken by Cox, Thomas 
Freake took about seventeen hundred acres. Robert 
Thompson had the remaining lot, which contained six 
thousand acres, and lay between Freake's lot and the 
" Country Gore." When Dudley was incorporated, in 
1731, the six thousand acre tract of Joseph Dudley 
was included in that town. All the other tracts, with 
the exception of a strip of each, one mile wide, bor- 
dering on the village line, were taken from Oxford to 
form the district of Charlton. Mary Wolcott, of 
Salem, became the owner of the Freake land, and in 
1730 sold it to Edward Kitchen, of the same place, 
who caused the land to be divided into one hundred 
acre lots, and soon commenced disposing of his land 
to settlers. In October, 1733, Ebenezer Mclntire, of 
Lynn, and Obadiah Mclntire, of Salem, each pur- 
chased one of these lots, and they were probably the 



first settlers of the town. Daniel Mclntire and Eleazer 
Mclntire both purchased land of Kitchen soon after- 
wards. The two tracts of land that Blackwell had by 
the division were sold by his heirs, in 1720, to Captain 
Peter Papillion, of Boston. In 1727 they were divided 
into lots of suitable size to sell to settlers, and in 1738 
were divided, by commissioners appointed for the 
purpose, among the heirs of Papillion. In 1735 
Richard Dresser, of Thompson, bought one of the 
lots, and was probably the first person to settle in the 
south part of the town. The land purchased by 
Richard Dresser was part of the well-known Dresser 
Hill farm. His brother, John Dresser, soon afterward 
bought land lying west of Richard's. Isaiah Blood, 
Richard Blood and Nathaniel Blood, from Belling- 
ham, at about the same time purchased land, on which 
they settled, lying south of Dresser Hill. 

In 1750 probably thirty families were in the west- 
erly part of Oxford, and two-thirds of that number 
had settled in the Gore. In that year a petition was 
presented to the General Court, signed by seventeen 
of the inhabitants of the westerly part of Oxford and 
by nine of the inhabitants of the Gore, requesting "to 
be erected into a separate township." The petitioners 
met with opposition and were defeated. The inhab- 
itants of the easterly part of Oxford, as appears by a 
vote passed in town-meeting, were willing the west- 
erly part should be set off by a line one mile farther 
west than the line insisted upon by the petitioners. 

In 1754, William Alton and thirty-six other inhab- 
itants of the west part of Oxford presented a petition 
to the Governor, Council and House of Representa- 
tives setting forth the difficulties under which they 
labored on account of the distance they lived from 
a place of public worship and by reason of be- 
ing taxed for schools from which they received but 
little benefit, and from other causes stated in the 
petition. "They therefore prayed that his Excel- 
lency and the Honorable Court would be pleased to 
take their distressed circumstances under their wise 
consideration and erect them into a town or district, 
or otherwise relieve them as in their wisdom they 
should think best." A committee reported in favor 
of the petitioners and an act for making a district of 
that part of Oxford lying west of a line running 
parallel to and one mile west of the village line, and 
that part of the Gore lying north of the part of Oxford 
to be set off; but the act as finally passed included 
no part of the Gore in the district. The act passed 
January 10, 1755, and was as follows : 

" Be it enacted by the Governor and Council and 
House of Representatives that the inhabitants with 
their lands on the westerly part of Oxfurd, beginning 
on the south side of Oxford, one mile west of the 
village line, so-called, thence running north parallel 
with said village line to Oxford north line, be and 
hereby is set off and erected into a separate district 
by the name of Charlton, and that said district be 
invested with all the privileges, poweis and immuni- 



CHARLTON. 



747 



tie3 that towns in this province do or may enjoy, that 
of sending a representative to the General Assembly 
only excepted, and that the inhabitants of said dis- 
trict shall have full power and right from time to 
time to join with said town of Oxford in the choice 
of a representative or representatives, who may be 
chosen either in the town or district in which choice 
they shall enjoy all the privileges which by law they 
would have been entitled to if this act had not been 
made." 

By virtue of a warrant from Moses Marcy, of Stur- 
bridge, issued by order of the General Court to John 
Dresser, a principal inhabitant of the district, " the 
freeholders and other inhabitants " were warned to 
meet at the house of Ebenezer Mclntire on the 12tli 
day of March, 1755, to choose such town officers as the 
law required, and to see if the district would let swine 
run at large. At this meeting Richard Dresser was 
chosen clerk ; William Alton, treasurer ; Richard 
Dresser, Lieutenant Obadiah Mclntire, Jonathan 
Ballard, John Dresser and Ebenezer Mclntire, select- 
men ; Samuel Streeter, tything-man ; Isaiah Blood, 
constable; Ebenezer Mclntire, clerk of the market; 
Ebenezer Lamb and Edward Chamberlain, fence- 
viewers; Nathaniel Blood, Nathaniel French and 
Nathaniel Mclntire, surveyors of highways. Hog- 
reeves, deer-reeves and a brander of horses were also 
chosen, but no assessors. The name of the moderator 
wai not recorded. On the 24th of May, as recorded, 
the selectmen of the town of Oxford and the select- 
men of Charlton, with William Young, surveyor, and 
Captain Elisha Moore and John Nichols, chainmen, 
mutually agreed upon and sworn, run the dividing 
line between .said Oxford and Charlton. On the 27tli 
day of March of the same year, the second district- 
meeting was held, at which eight pounds, lawful 
money, was voted for schooling, and six pounds thir- 
teen shillings and four pence for necessary charges. 
In April following it was voted " that the centre of 
the district should be the place to build a meeting- 
house upon, if a convenient place, and if not, the 
nearest convenient place to the centre should be the 
place to build upon." At the same meeting it was 
voted that the schools should be kept in two places — 
one on the north side, the other on the south side of 
the district. At this time there were no inhabitants 
of the district living farther north than the north line 
of the Kitchen land, which ran just north of the house 
now owned by Wm. S. Wakefield, at Charlton Centre- 
Between the Kitchen land and the Gore lay the 
Thompson land, on which there were no inhabitants. 
This land had been divided in 1749 amongst the de- 
visees of Joseph Thompson, but at the time the dis- 
trict of Charlton was established none of the land had 
been purchased by settlers, and, in 1760, when a tax 
of two-pence per acre was granted by the General 
Court on the lands of the non-resident proprietors 
toward paying for building the meeting-house, sixty 
acres of the land were sold to pay the tax on three 



thousand five hundred and seventy-seven acres, still 
owned by non-residents. 

The Stoughton land, in 1718, was purchased by 
Samuel Brown, of Salem, and was afterwards owned 
by his son, William Brown. Elizabeth Danforth, Sam- 
uel Danforth, Elijah Dunbar and others became 
part owners, but no division was made nor any part 
of the land disposed of to settlers until after the 
right and interest of William Brown had been con- 
fiscated by the General Court in 1782. An agent 
was appointed to ascertain the right and interest of 
said Brown and to make and execute division deeds, 
so that the Commonwealth as well as the other pro- 
prietors might hold their several rights in severalty. 
A division of the laud was made and the part taken 
by the Commonwealth was sold at auction in 1785 
by a committee chosen by the General Court, Caleb 
Aramidown, of Charlton, being one of the commit- 
tee. Ebenezer Davis bought eight hundred acres of 
the confiscated land, Jacob Davis three hundred acres, 
Ebenezer Crafts three hundred acres; James Wolcott, 
Erasmus Babbitt and others were also purchasers. 
After this time the lauds of the Danforths, Dunbar 
and others were gradually disposed of. 

The land of Daniel Cox descended to his heirs, and 
was surveyed and divided into lots in 1751. Before 
this time some of the land had been sold for taxes, 
but no sales appear to have been made by the heirs 
for many years afterward. Most of the land was 
taken pos-session of and improved, and finally the 
occupants claimed ownership and refused to give up 
the lands. A suit-at-law, lasting several years, 
finally settled the matter in favor of the heirs, 
and the lands were sold by an agent or attorney. 

In December, 1755, Edward Chamberlain and Na- 
thaniel French were chosen a committee to provide 
preaching, and in January, 1756, a grant of seven 
pounds for the support of the Gospel was made. In 
June ^following the district voted seven pounds to 
provide a stock of powder, bullets and flints, and also 
voted that the schools should be kept in three places, 
but refused to allow any part of the money granted 
for schools to be laid out for hiring a school-dame in 
summer, as petitioned for by some of the inhabitants. 
March 14, 1757, it was voted that the district's stock 
of ammunition should be kept at Richard Dresser's, 
and, from a list reported by the selectmen, selected 
the names of such as they judged most suitable to 
serve as jurors. The persons selected were Obadiah 
Mclntire, Nathaniel Blood, John Dresser, Eleazer 
Mclntire, Samuel Streeter, Ebenezer Twiss, Isaiah 
Blood, John Stevens, Ebenezer Foskett, Joseph Twiss 
and Ebenezer Chamberlain. As soon as the district 
was organized the work of building a place of public 
worship and of providing schools was undertaken, 
but beyond deciding that the centre of the district 
should be the place to build a meeting-house upon and 
making slight provisions for schools nothing was accom- 
plished. Timber for a meeting-house had been pre- 



748 



HISTORY OP WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



pared before the separation from Oxford. The war- 
rant for a meeting to be held December 8, 1755, con- 
tained an article as follows: "To see if the district 
will agree to build a meeting-house, and if so, to 
agree upon ihe bigness to build the same;" and also 
the following: " To see if the district will choose a 
committee to take care of the timber that was hewed 
some time ago for a meeting-house, as also to provide 
materials for the same as may be thought most con- 
venient if the district agree to build a meeting-house." 
At the meeting held under this warrant it was voted 
to take no action on the*e articles ; and at a nieeting 
held February 7, 1757, it was voted to raise no money 
either for schools or for the support of the Gospel, 
for the reason probably that it was expected that the 
petition that had been presented to the General 
Court for the annexation of the Gore would be 
granted. The inhabitants of the district had become 
satisfied that they were not in a condition to carry on 
the afl'airsof a town or district, and, judging from the 
tenor of their petitition, did not consider their situa- 
tion had been improved by their separation from the 
town of Oxford. The district had voted, January 1, 
1756, not to accept the, Gore or join in a petition that 
it might be added to the district. A different spirit 
soon prevailed. 

The petition was as follows: 

To the Governor, Council and House of Representatives in General Court 
assembled at Boston^ January, 1Y56 ; 

TtiB petition of tlie snljscribers inliabitantB of Charlton and a place 
called the Gore Humbly shows, That the inhabitants of Charlton are 
now very sensible that it is wholly impracticable if not impossible for 
them to carry on the affairs of a district or in any measure support the 
charge necessarily arising fron' setting the Gospel amongst them. That 
the inliabitauts of the Gore are so situated that they can't be laid to any 
town with the least advantage and are so small as not to be tit for a dis- 
trict by themselves, but if they were added to Charlton they would make 
a good town or district and be able to support public charges. And as 
they lie very bandy to be laid to Charlton, they humbly pray that the 
land called the Gore with the inhabitants thereof lying westward of a 
line extending from the northeast corner of Charlton, northerly the 
same course as the east line of Charlton till it meets the south bounds of 
old Leicester, be added to tfio district of Charlton, there to do duty and 
enjoy privileges as other inhabitants of said district do enjoy. And as 
in duty bound will ever pray, etc. 

The petition was signed by Solomon Harwood and 
thirty-three others of the district of Charlton and by 
Jonathan Wheelock and twelve others of the Gore. 
John Chandler and twelve other non-resident owners 
of real estate joined in a request that the petition 
might be granted. June 8, 1756, the answer of Jon- 
athan Tucker, Nathaniel Jones and others was read 
with the petition, and the matter referred to the next 
fall session and further notices ordered. June 3, 1757, 
a committee having considered the matter, reported 
that the petition ought to be granted. "The report 
was read and accepted, and ordered that the inhabi- 
tants of the said Gore and the land within the bounds 
petitioned for, be, and hereby are, annexed to the dis- 
trict of Charlton and made part thereof, to do duty 
and enjoy privileges as the other inhabitants of said 
district do or by law ought to enjoy." The territory 



added to the district was about six miles in length and 
one mile in width on the east line and nearly three 
miles in width on the west line. All the " North 
Side " village, except the few houses on the road to 
Charlton Centre .south of the school-house, is on the 
Gore territory. The number of persons taxed in the 
district of Charlton in 1756, as shown by the tax-list 
for that year, was fifty three, and they were : William 
Alton, Richard Blood, Isaiah Blood, Nathaniel Blood, 
Jonathan Ballard, John Ballard, Edward Chamber- 
lain, Joseph Clemence, Jonathan Clemence, Philip 
Clemence, Philip Clemence, Jr., Richard Dresser, 
John Dresser, John Davidson, William Coburn, Lem- 
uel Edwards, Ebenezer Foskett, Nathaniel French, 
Benjamin Hobbs, Solomon Harwood, Adam Johnson, 
Ebenezer Lamb, James Lamb, Ob.idiah Mclntire, 
Ebenezer Mclntire, Eleazer Mclntire, Eleazer Mc- 
lntire, Jr., Daniel Mclntire, Thomas Mclntire, Thomas 
Mclniire, Jr., Nathan Mclntire, Joseph Mclntire, 
Philip Mclntire, Ezra Mclntire, Noah Mclntire, d 
Zebulon Mclntire, Robert Mclntire, Nathan Moore, ' 
John Oaks, Jacob Parker, Elisha Putney, George 
Pike, Paul Rich, Samuel Rogers, Obadiah Sabin, 
Samuel Streeter, Samuel Streeter, Jr., Samuel Scott, 
John Stevens, Ebenezer Twiss, Josei)h Twiss, Joseph 
Twiss, Jr., John Warfield. 

The number of persons' living on the Gore land that 
were assessed a tax the spring afttr it was set to 
Charlton was thirty-nine. They were: Joseph Bald- 
win, James Blanchard, David Brown, William Cum- 
mins, John Convers, Nathaniel Dewey, Nathan 
Dennis, Samuel Eustis, Nathaniel Eustis, Philip Gage, 
Aaron Gleason, Ebenezer Hammond, Jonas Ham- 
mond, David Hammond, Nathaniel Jones, Henry 
Merritt, Ephraim Morey, Joseph Parker, Thomas 
Parker, Thomas Parker, Jr., Malachi Partridge, Wil- 
liam Parker, Nehemiah Stone, Jonathan Tucker, 
William Tucker, John Thompson, Ebenezer White, 
Josiah White, Daniel Weld, Job Weld, Noah Weld, 
Daniel Williams, Benjamin Ward, Uriah Ward, Jona- 
than Wheelock, Paul Wheelock, David Wheelock, 
Peter Sleeman and Jonathan Upham. Of the persons 
above named who were prominent in public affairs, 
and whose names appear frequently on the records, 
Jonathan Tucker, Daniel Williams and the Welds 
were from Roxbury, Nehemiah Stone and the Ham- 
monds from Newlon, the Wheelocks from Mendon, 
and the Wards from Roxbury. 

A committee was chosen by the General Court in 
1719 to sell the Gore land, and it was divided into lots 
of three hundred acres, but, so far as the records show, 
no person living on the land at the time it was annexed 
to Charlton became an owner prior to 1735. In that 
year Jonathan Tucker, of Roxbury, deeded to his son 
Jonathan one-half of three hundred acres in the Gore, 
and the same year Jonathan Wheelock bought one 
hundred and fifty acres, and they were probably the 
first settlers in the north part of the town. The 
Hammonds bought land adjoining Tucker's on the 



CHARLTON. 



749 



west in 1739, and Nehemiah Stone became the owner 
of land in 1746 that was afterwards owned by his son 
Nchemiali, and by his grandson, Nehemiah B. Stone. 
Although Charlton, after the Gore was added, con- 
tained a larger population than many of the towns in 
the State, it remained a district, without the right of 
sending a Representative to the General Court, until 
a law v/as enacted in 1775, making all districts in the 
Coniniunwealth towns. 

With the addition of population and resources 
secured by the addition of territory, the inhabitants 
considered themselves in a condition to carry on suc- 
cessfully public affairs. Accordingly, July 28, 1757, a 
meeting was held, and the district voted ten pounds, 
lawful money, for the support of the Gospel, and 
thirteen pounds six shillings and eight f^nce for 
the support of schools. Ebenezer Mclntire, Jonas 
Hammond and Isaiah Blood were chosen a committee 
to provide preaching, and Ebenezer White, Ebenezer 
Hammond, John Stevens, Eleazer Mclntire and 
Nathaniel Blood, School Committee. The district also 
voted " to build a meeting-house at the centre of the 
district, if a convenient place; if not, at the nearest 
convenient place .thereto." The district before the 
Gore was annexed had passed a similar vote, but the 
large addition of territory made it necessary to select 
a new location, but failing to agree as to where the 
centre of the district was or the nearest convenient 
place thereto, at a meeting held November 22, 1707, 
a committee was chosen, consisting of Dea. Thomas 
Wheeler, of Worcester, Samuel Chandler, Esq., of 
Woodstock, and Col. Hezekiah Sabin, of Thompson, 
"to state a place for a meeting-house." The di^-trict 
voted to pay Richard Dresser six shillings eight pence 
for entertaining the committee, but refused to accept 
the " place stated." An article in the warrant for a 
meeting held January 16, 1758, was as follows: "To 
see it the inhabitants of the district will vote that the 
meeting-house shall stand at a stake that is set up 
north of Ehenezer Mclutire's house, and if not, to see 
if the inhabitants of the district will agree in sending 
to the General Court for a committee to find the 
centre of the district, and to state the place for the 
meeting-house." At this meeting it was voted "to 
build the meeting-house at the stake a little north of 
Ebenezer Mclntire's house." ' It has been stated 
that a committee from the General Court staked out a 
place for the meeting-hOuse ; but if the district records 
are to be depended on, the statement is incorrect. 
As recorded, the vote for accepting the place was six- 
teen to nine. Ebenezer Mclntire gave the district an 
acre of land, but it was stated in the deed that it was 
for the use of said district " for the meeting-house to 



' Ebenezer Mclntire owned all the land on Charlton Hill, on which 
the Centre Village stands, and he and his sons and their families were 
the only residents until 1775. His house was on the west side of the 
road that runs on the east side of the Common, and probabl.v a little 
farther south thun the house where George F. Cnmmins now lives, and 
stood on land that now is part of the Common. 



stand upon and for a training-field, and for no other 
uses." This piece of land, as described in the deed 
was twenty rods long and eight rods wide, and 
bounded easterly by the road. For many years it has 
not been used for either of the purposes specified. 
The first meeting for the choice of district officers 
after the Gore was annexed was held March 20, 1758. 
At this meeting Jonathan Tucker, Richard Dresser, 
Jonas Hammond, Isaiah Blood and Ebenezer Mcln- 
tire were chosen selectmen ; Richard Dresser, clerk, 
and Jonathan Wheelock, treasurer. 

At the same meeting it was voted to build a meet- 
ing-house fifty feet long and forty feet wide and to 
cover the whole with shingles. One hundred pounds 
was granted toward the expense of building and Na- 
thaniel Blood, Isaiah Blood, Jonathan Upham, Jona- 
than Ballard and Ebenezer Hammond were chosen a. 
meeting-house committee for the year and were 
authorized " to set a price upon materials and upon 
labor and to choose a master workman to set up the 
frame." In July, 1759, it was voted " to let out the 
framing of our meeting-house by the great," and for 
twenty-six pounds, thirteen shillings and four pence, 
Jonathan Upham undertook "to set up the frame and 
assist in raising the same." In September following 
the district voted "to provide victuals and drink for 
the raising of the meeting-house and other necessa- 
^ries," and a committee was chosen to see that provis- 
ions were suitably prepared. In March preceding 
forty pounds had been voted toward defraying the 
charges of building. In 1760, upon the petition of 
Jonathan Tucker and other residents of the dis- 
trict, a tax of two pence per acre for one year on 
land of non-resident proprietors was granted by the 
General Court " in order lo enable the inhabitants to 
finish the meeting-house." Nearly nineteen thousand 
acres of land in the district was at this time owned 
by non-resident proprietors, as the tax authorized 
amounted to one hundred and fifty-three pounds, 
fourteen shillings and eight pence. Although not 
completed, the house was in a condition to be used as 
a place of public worship by January, 1761. A meet- 
ing of the inhabitants for district business was held in 
it January 6th. There had been expended upon it, 
as reported by a committee, two hundred and eighty- 
two pounds, five shillings, three pence and two fai th- 
ings. In February following twenty pounds was voted 
"toward finishing the meeting-house." Before the 
district was incorporated some of the inhabitants had 
attended public worship at Dudley and a part at Stur- 
bridge. Afterward money had been voted from time 
to time for the support of the Gospel and meetings 
had been held probably at the house of Ebenezer 
Mclntire, where all meetings for the transaction of 
district business were held until the meeting-house 
was in a condition to be used. May 26, 1761, the dis- 
trict voted to concur with the church - in giving Rev. 

2 The members of the church were : Richard Blood, Jonathan Up- 



750 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



Caleb Curtis a call to settle in the ministry, and voted 
to give him one hundred and thirty-three pounds, six 
shillings and eight pence as settlement, and sixty 
pounds salary, i-o long as he should supply the pulpit. 
Mr. Curtis accepted the call and was ordained Octo- 
ber 15, 1761. 

In 1762 the district voted to put pillars under the 
gallery beams and to build seats from alley to alley, 
and appropriations were made from time to time to 
pay expenses. In 1766 a petition was presented to 
the General Court for a tax on the land of non-resi- 
dent proprietors towards finishing the meeting- 
house, but no tax was granted. 

In 1772 the district voted to give Jacob Davis 
£163 12s. to finish the inside of the meeting-house, 
"the work to be done as well and complete in all re- 
spects as the work was done in the meeting-house at 
Oxford and to be completed in eighteen months." It 
appears that the work was compleied according to 
the agreement, and in September, 1773, a committee 
was chosen " to Dignifie all the pews in the meeting- 
house." The business of this committee, judging by 
their report, which was accepted, was to number and 
appraise the pews. It was voted "that the man who 
paid the highest tax on real estate towards the meet- 
ing-house should have his first choice, paying the 
appraisal and so on by succession until all were dis- 
posed of." By this arrangement the choice fell to 
tax-payers in the following order: Jacob Davis, 
Ebenezer Hammond, Jonas Hammond, Paul Wheel- 
ock, Nehemiah Stone, Ebenezer Mclntire, Nathaniel 
Blood, Jonathan Tucker, John Stevens, David 
Wheelock, Nathaniel Goodell, David Hammond, 
Daniel Weld, Ebenezer Foskett, Henry Merritt, Wil- 
liam Tucker, John Nichols, Jonathan Mower, John 
Edwards, Benjamin Marsh, Benjamin Alton, James 
Blanchard, John Marble, Jona'han Ballard, Edmund 
Bemis, Joseph Parker, Ebenezer White, Jr., John 
Farley. As one pew was reserved for the use of the 
ministry, it appears there were twenty-nine pews in 
the house at this time. Besides the pews there were 
seats in the house for the use of persons who were 
not pew-owners. 

In 1788 it was voted to take up three of the body 
seats and sell at auction the room for pew ground. 
In 1790 Daniel Williams was granted leave to put a 
pew in the west end of the men's body seats. In 
1793 General John Spurr paid £6 2s. for pew ground. 
In 1775, as has been stated, the district of Charlton, 
by an act of the General Court, was made a town. 
March 11, 1776, the church voted to dismiss Rev. 

ham, Timothy Barton, Joaiah Towne, Jonathan Ballanl, Jonathan 
Mower, Jonas Hammond, Nehemiah Stone, Ebenezer Lamb, Elisha 
Putney, Nathanial Blood, John Farlee, Joaiah Robinson, Samuel Baker, 
Ebenezer Hammond, John Edwards, John Coburn, Aaron Gleason, 
Samuel Chamberlain, Jooathau Dennis, James Blanchard, Johanah 
Blood, Ruth Blood, Lucy Chamberlain, Elizabeth Hammond, Esther 
Hammond, Mehitable Dennis, Susanna Towne, Eunice Gleason, Eliza- 
beth Baker, Martha Upbam, Deborah Coburn, Alice Ballard, Hepsibeb 
Barton. 



Caleb Curtis, according to his request. The town, at 
a meeting held March 25th, voted not to concur with 
the church, but in July following voted in favor of 
dismissal. October 29th an ecclesiastical council, 
after considering the reasons of Mr. Curtis for asking 
a dismission and finding that at his desire, the church 
and the town had voted to dismiss him, the council 
approved of what had been done and accordingly 
declared Mr. Curtis dismissed. Mr. Curtis, like 
many other clergymen of the time, owned a farm.' 
After his dismissal he continued to live on his farm 
until his decease, in 1802, at the age of seventy-five 
years. He was active in public aflairs and was 
chosen a delegate to the Provincial Congress in 1775 
and a representative to the General Court in 1787. 

The tgwa continued to support ministers of the 
standing order until 1782. In that year the warrant 
contained an article, as follows: "To see if the town 
will vote to support for the future the public teacher, 
or teachers, of piety, religion and morality of said 
town by taxation or by free contribution." On this 
article the vote was, " for taxation, 55 ; for free con- 
tribution, 106." After this time no money was raised 
by the town for the support of preaching. A congre- 
gational society was incorporated in 1784. The act 
of incorporation was amended in 1786, and in 1798 
the amended act was repealed, and an act passed, 
incorporating Israel Waters, Salem Town, John 
Spurr, Jonas Ward and others a religious society, by 
the name of " The Proprietors of the New Congre- 
gational Centre Meeting-house in Charlton." A meet- 
ing-house was built for the society by Deacon Jonas 
Ward, which was probably raised about the 1st of 
June, 1798, as May 24th the society chose three stew- 
ards, " to provide such drink as they should think 
necessary for raising day," and three " to deal out the 
drink," and voted " that the carpenters on raising- 
day should inform the stewards what time to refresh." 
The house was dedicated November 26, 1799. It was 
very large, having one hundred pews on the lower floori 
and fifty in the gallery, and stood where the Univer- 
salist meeting-house now stands. The pews were 
divided amongst the proprietors by lot.' 

After Mr. Curtis was dismissed there was no settled 
minister until January, 1783, when Rev. Archibald 
Campbell was installed, and remained until April, 
1793, after which time there was n6 settled pastor for 
about four years. In 1797 Rev. Erastus Learned was 
ordained ; he was dismissed in 1802. In November, 
1803, Rev. Edwards Whipple accepted a call from the 
church and society at a salary of four hundred dollars 
a year. He was ordained January 25, 1804, and 
remained until February 20, 1821. 

The successor of Mr. Whipple was Rev. Thomas 

^ The farm is now owned by Reuben S. Eastman. 

- The tirst meeting-house was sold, in 18o:i, to Levi Davis for three 
hundred and fifty dollars, one-half of which was paid to the pew ownersi 
the other half to the town. The house was taken down and the mate 
rials used for a barn on the farm now owned by Moses D. Woodbury. 



1 



CHARLTON. 



751 



Kioh, whose term of service ended in 1825. A major- 
ity of the proprietors had become dissenters from the 
Calviiiistic Congregationalist doctrine, and, by an 
arrangement with the minority, became the owners 
of tlie meeting-house. In October, 1820, the minor- 
ity and other residents of the town organized a society 
and took the name of " The First Calvinistic Con- 
gregational Society of Charlton." Meetings were 
held in the hall of William S. Weld (afterwards 
called " Craig's Hall ") until a meeting-house was 
built. The house was commenced in 1826, and com- 
pleted in time to be dedicated June 5, 1827. The 
same day Rev. John Wilder, who had been invited 
by the church and society to become their pastor, was 
installed. Mr. Wilder remained until February, 
1833. Since that time the pastors have been — Eev. 
William H. Whittemore, from June, 1833, to Septem- 
ber, 1836 ; Rev. Isaac R. Barbour, Irom August, 1836, 
to June, 1839; Rev. George W. Underwood, from 
June, 1840, to March, 1843 ; Rev. John Wilder, from 
April, 1843, till his decease, in 1844; Rev. Alansou 
Alvord, from February, 1845, to March, 1846; Rev. 
Nelson Clarke, from June, 1846, to December, 1849; 
Eev. John Haven, from April, 1850, to October, 1879; 
Eev. Frank Jenkins, from .January, 1881, to July, 
1882 ; Rev. Charles M. Pierce, from August, 1883, to 
November, 1886. Rev. William Sewall, the present 
pastor, was installed June 24, 1887. 

In 1855 the meeting-house was remodeled and im- 
proved. The society has an income from a fund of 
about two thousand dollars, a bequest from Sally Wil- 
lis, who died in 1887. 

As early as 1757 there were people in Charlton who 
held Baptist sentiments. In that year the following 
certificate was tiled with the assessors : 

Leicester, November 15, 1757. 
This may Sertify all People to whom it may coDcern that Obadiah 
]>Iiickiutire, Seller., and Eleazer 3Iackintire, Sener., aud Ebenezer Twisa 
and Solomon Ilarwood, all of Charlton, do Usnally and frequently at- 
tend the annabaptis Meeting under the Pastoral care of Elder Thomas 
Green and do Desire the Liberty the Law gives in Being Clear<i from 
paying of Kates to those of other Way of thinking And Lickwise Elea- 
zer Miickintire, .Tunr. 

Test. Wee who are Chosen by the Church to Give Setiticates. 

Elder Thomas Green, 
Samuwili. Green, 
Thomas HoUiMAN. 

The same year Nathaniel Jones obtained a similar 
certificate from the Baptist Church in Sutton. In 
1761 twenty-three tax-payers in Charlton had filed 
such certificates with the assessors and, in conse- 
quence, were exempted from paying taxes for the 
supp(nt of the standing order. In July, 1762, a Bap- 
tist Church was formed at what is called the North 
Side, composed of members from Charlton, Leicester 
and Spencer. There is nothing in the society or 
church records to show when the first meeting-house 
was built, but, as in all warrants for district or town- 
meetings prior to 1780, the inhabitants had been 
warned to meet at the meeting-house in said Charlton, 
and after that date at the Centre meeting-house, it 



may reasonably be inferred that it was built in 1779. 
The society, for a time, increased quite rapidly in 
numbers, and, in 1793, a new house was built on 
land given for the purpose by Captain Levi Davis. 

The society voted to give to Elder David Rathbun 
the old meeting-house for a dwelling-house, provided 
he should settle with them, but at a subsequent 
meeting this vote was reconsidered. And when the 
new house was ready for use the old one was sold 
to Moses Dodge.' 

Elder Nathaniel Green, of Leicester, was the first 
minister. He was ordained October 12, 1763, and 
labored with the church aud society until his decease, 
March 20, 1791. After the death of Elder Green the 
pastors were Elder David Rathbun, from 1792 to 
1795 ; Elder Charles Thompson, from December, 1802, 
till his decease May 1, 1803 ; and Elder James 
Boomer, from 1803 to 1834, when his health failed 
and he was obliged to give up preaching. He died 
February 24, 1837. He was the last minister of the 
church and society. Soon after his decease letters 
of dismission and recommendation to other churches 
of the Baptist denomination were given the remain- 
ing members.^ 

Elder Boomer is remembered by the old residents 
of the town as an earnest, efiective preacher, who la- 
bored faithfully for the welfare of his parishioners. 
He enjoyed the respect and confidence of his towns- 
men, and was twice elected a representative to the 
General Court. Several causes contributed to the 
decline of the society. There were many removals 
from town. Some were so situated that they could 
more conveniently attend other churches of the de- 
nomination, and with a considerable number there 
was a change of religious sentiment. 

It is said that a Methodist Church was organized 
in the southwest part of the town in 1792, and that 
circuit preachers served the society until 1810, after 
which the society ceased to exist. Meetings were 
held in the hall at Dresser Hill and in other places 
in the south part of the town for a considerable num- 
ber of years before a house of worship was built. 
Some of the preachers were : Hezekiah Davis, 
Stephen W. Hammond, Otis Perrin and Joseph S. El- 
lis. In 1855, when it was decided to build a church at 
Charlton City, a legal organization was eflTected, and 
measures taken to carry out the project. The house 
was completed in 1856. Since the organization of 
the society the pastors have been as follows : William 
B. Olds, 1855-56; Jarvis Wilson, part of 18-57; 
Daniel Dorchester, 1858-59 ; C. H. Hanaford, 1860- 
62; J. S. Thomas, 1862; John Noon, 1803; J. W. P. 
Jordan, 1864; A. M. Osgood, 1865 ; D. K. Banister, 
1866-68 ; N. A. Soule, 1869-71 ; N. F. Stevens, 1872 ; 

1 The bouse was taken down and the materials used for a dwelling- 
house on the farm now owned by George J. Dodge. 

'- The last meeting-house after the dissolution of the society was taken 
down aud removed to the easterly part of Leicester aud set up for a 
factory. 



loz 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



J. J. AVoodbury, 1873-75; S. H. Noon, 1876; F. T. 
George, 1877; G. W. H. Clarke, 1878 ; P. C. Sloper, 
1879-80 ; W. A. Braman, 1881-83 ; G. O. Crosby, 
1884-85; O. W. Adams, 1886, '87-88. 

The society has an income from a liberal bequest 
from Sally Willis, lately deceased. 

After the division of the Congregational Society in 
1825, the meeting-house was purchased by the town, 
but was sold in 1826 to Dr. Dan Lamb, Samuel D. 
Spurr, John Davis and others, and passed under the 
control of the Unitarians. In 1827 a society and 
church of that denomination was organized, of which 
Rev. Edward Turner became the pastor. He was in- 
stalled June 18, 1827, and remained until May, 1831. 
He was the only pastor of the society, and soon after 
his services ended the society ceased to exist. Many 
of the members joined the Universalirtsin organizing 
the First Union Society of Charlton. 

A Universalist Society was formed in 1827, and 
held meetings at the North Side. The preachers were 
Rev. Massena B. Ballou, Rev. Gilman Noyes and 
Rev. John Boyden. In 1838 a society was organized, 
composed of Universalists and Unitarians, that took 
the name of " The First Union Society of Charlton," 
and voted to hold meetings at Charlton Centre. The 
old meeting-house was purchased of the proprietors 
and taken down, and a new house built on the spot 
where the old one stood. The basement was built by 
the town according to the terms of an agreement with 
the society, and is used as a place for holding town- 
meetings and for public uses. The house was com- 
pleted and dedicated in December, 1839. lu 1851 
the society took the name of " The First Universalist 
Society of Charlton." Rev. Aurin Bugbee was pastor 
of the society from 1838 to 1851. Since that time 
the pastors have been Rev. M. E. Hawea, 1851-52 ; 
Rev. Lyman Maynard, 1853; Rev. J. H. Willis, 
1854-55. From 1855 to 1858 there was no regular 
pastor ; the pulpit was supplied by Rev. Z. Baker and 
others. In March, 1858, Rev. Lucius Holmes became 
the pastor, and continued until March, 1863 ; Rev. 
Clarence Fowler was pastor the remainder of 1863 and 
1864; Rev. Edward Smiley, 1866-74; Rev. Anson 
Titus, 1875-78; Rev. I. P. Quimby, 1879-83. In 
1883 Rev, Lucius Holmes a second time became pas- 
tor and still continues in that office. 

Nehemiah B. Stone, who died in 1866, left by will 
five thousand dollars to the society, the interest of 
which was to be used for the support of preaching. 

In 1858 a society was formed at Lelandville of peo- 
ple of various religious beliefs. A meeting-house was 
built and religious services held regularly on the Sab- 
bath for several years. Rev. William B. Olds sup- 
plied the pulpit most of the time. From some cause 
interest in the meetings declined, religious services 
were discontinued, and the meeting-house, after re- 
maining unused for a considerable time, was sold and 
removed, 

About 1865 a Second Advent Society was formed in 



the southeast p.irt of the town. A chapel was built in 
which meetings have since been held. There has 
been no permanent minister. The preaching has been 
by clergymen of the denomination from other towns. 

The Roman Catholics held meetings at Charlton 
Depot for several years. In 1887 a building was pur- 
chased at Charlton City in which their meetings are 
now held. The church is under the care of Rev. 
Father Donahoe, of Southbridge. 

At the first meeting held in the district March 12, 
1755, no money was appropriated for any purpose. 
The second meeting was held the same month. An 
article in the warrant for the second meeting was " To 
make such grant or grants of money as the district 
may think necessary for the district's use as for 
schooling the children in the place or for other 
things that may be thought needful." Eight pounds, 
lawful money, was voted for schooling. At a meeting 
held in April following it was voted that the schools 
should be kept in two places, the one on the north 
side, the other on the south side of the district. At 
that time there were no inhabitants living farther 
north than the Centre Village now extends. It is 
probable that the school for the south part was on or 
near Dresser Hill, in the neighborhood of the Bloods 
and the Dressers. The school for the north part was 
without doubt farther south than what is now Charl- 
ton Centre. In 1756 it was voted that the schools 
should be kept in three places, and that no part of the 
money should be laid out for hiring a school-dame in 
summer, as petitioned for by some of the inhabi- 
tants who had small children. The Gore having 
been annexed to the district in 1757, in July of 
that year £13 6s. 8rf. was voted for schooling, and 
Ebenezer White, Ebenezer Hammond, John Stevens, 
Eleazer Mclntire and Nathaniel Blood were chosen 
School Committee. It was voted that each part should 
provide its own school-house and that the committee 
should provide sch(ioling as each part should choose. 
In 1760 the selectmen were chosen School Committee, 
and the appropriation for schools was fifteen pounds. 
In 1761 a committee was chosen " to state places for 
school-houses in the several parts of the district." The 
committee reported that they had agreed on six places, 
three on the east side and three on the west side of 
the district, and that the house for the soulhwe.st part 
should stand where it was already built. Tbe report 
was accepted. 

For several years after this time the number of 
schools was not increased, and the sum appropriated 
for their support in any year did not exceed twenty 
pounds. In 1767 the district was divided into eight 
school wards, one of which was called the Middle 
Ward, the school-house for which was to be at the 
southwest corner of the burying-ground. Before this 
time it does not appear that there had been a school 
at the Centre. The district voted that each ward 
should build its own school-house. In May, 1773, 
Ebenezer Hammond, Jacob Davis and Isaiah Blood 



CHARLTON. 



753 



were chosen a committee to act in defence of the 
town on an indictment for not keeping a grammar 
school. As the population increased additional schools 
were provided and the appropriations for their sup- 
port were increased. 

In 1780 there were ten school-wards in the town. 
In 177S the sum voted for schools was one hundred 
pounds. The currency had become of so little value 
in 1780 that twenty-five hundred pounds wiis voted. 
In 1781 the appropriation wa.s " 60 pounds in hard 
money or current exchange." In 1786 a committee 
was chosen " to regulate the schools for each ward 
and to select a place for a school-house in each ward 
where a school-house had not been built, the places 
selected to be reported to the town for acceptance." 
The committee were authorized to expend, under the 
direction of the selectmen, the money that each ward 
was entitled to receive. In 1788 the town granted 
the petition of the " middle ward'' for leave to build a 
school-house with the share of money raised for 
schooling belonging to said ward. The same privilege 
was granted the " east ward" the year following. In 
1795 three additional school-wards were made and 
the sum of two hundred pounds was voted for provid- 
ing schooling. A few years later two more school- 
wards were made and fifteen schools were supported 
until 1836, when the number was reduced to thirteen 
by uniting two at the Centre and two in the northeast 
part of the town. 

As for many years each ward or district provided 
its own school-house and the money raised for schools 
was divided amongst the several wards, in proportion 
to the amount of tax paid by the inhabitants of each, 
the wards or districts really provided the schooling. 
In 1854 a more equitable method of dividing the 
money was adopted, a portion of the money raised 
for school purposes being divided equally among the 
districts. In 1869 the town voted to abolish the 
school-district system and since that time has owned 
the school-hou.ses. A sufficient number of schools to 
accommodate all the school-children of the town are 
maintained thirty weeks each year. For several 
years the number of schools has varied from eleven 
to thirteen. The annual expense for their support is 
about .$3800. 

The No. 3 School District h.as a fund of $1000, a 
bequest by Jesse Smith, who died in 1835. The inter- 
est of this fund is used for the benefit of the school 
in the district. 

The No. 2 District has a fund of the same amount, 
the bequest of Nehemiah B. Stone, the income from 
which is used in like manner. 

Capt. Julius E. Tucker, who died in 1873, left a 
legacy of $1000 to the town, the interest of which 
will, according to the terms of his will, be mainly 
used for school purposes. 

In 1860 a Library Association was formed for the 
purpose of establishing a library. The undertaking 
proved quite successful and a good collection of books 
48 



was secured. In order that its use might be enjoyed 
by the public generally, in 1882 it was made over to 
the town for a Free Public Library, on condition that 
an annual appropriation should be made for the pur- 
chase of books and for necessary expenses. Since 
that time the town has annually appropriated $200 
for its benefit. April 1, 1888, the library contained 
1168 volumes for circulation and 365 books of refer- 
ence. In the future, in addition to the appropria- 
tions made by the toyrn, the library will have the in- 
come from a fund of .$500, bequeathed by Mrs. Eme- 
line Munroe, said income to be expended for the 
purchase of books. 

Pauperism was rare in the early history of the 
town. Occasional aid was rendered persons in indi- 
gent circumstances. In 1766 Nathan Mclntire was 
paid two shillings two pence '' for a pare of mittens 
and footing; 2 pear of stockings for James Butler." 
Other small amounts were paid from time to time. 
In 1773 Dr. William Ware was allowed twelve shil- 
lings three pence for doctoring the poor. Some 
families were warned to leave the town to prevent 
their acquiring a settlement. In 1766 it was voted 
"to allow Solomon Harwood, for warning out three 
families, by vertu of a warrant from the selectmen, 
fore shillings." Several times the town voted to build 
a work-house, but the votes were never carried into 
effect, and for a considerable time homes were found 
for paupers with such persons as were willing, for a 
stipulated price, to undertake the support of one or 
more of them for the year. Later they were " auc- 
tioned off to the lowest bidder." In 1836 a farm of 
two hundred acres was purchased, on which, since 
that time, the unfortunate poor of the town, in sick- 
ness and in health, have been comfortably provided 
for. In 1864 a new house was built on the farm, at a 
cost of $6125. 

According to tradition, the first place of burial was 
on the southwest corner of the farm of Obadiah Mc- 
lntire, which is now owned by David 0. Horn. The 
land is now covered by a growth of wood of consid- 
erable size, but the rough, unlettered stones, set to 
mark the graves, can readily be found. In 1762 it 
was voted " to lay out a burying-ground as near our 
meeting-house as the land will admit of, if the land 
maybe had." In 17G3 it was voted "to accept an 
acre of land, a little south of Ebenezer Mclntire's 
barn, for a burying-ground for y° district to bury 
theijr dead." 

A little later a burial-place was provided at the 
north part of the town, called the North Side Bury- 
ing-ground, and another in the south part, called the 
Dresser Hill Burying-ground. All these lots have 
been enlarged, and are still used as burial-places. 
Any family or person in town has had the privilege 
of selecting any unappropriated lot when needed, 
but no person has been allowed to select a lot until 
wanted. The town has an income from a legacy of 
five hundred dollars from Thomas J. Spurr, and also 



r54 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



from a legacy of two hundred dollars from Mrs. Ruth 
Twiss, which, according to the terms of the bequests, 
are used mainly for the improvement of the Centre 
Buryiug-grouud. 

In the war of the Revolution Charlton bore its 
share of burdens resolutely. There was no failure 
in furnishing the quotas of men required. Liberal 
bounties were paid the soldiers who served in the 
army, and they were, as far as possible, supplied by 
the town with clothing and blankets, and their fami- 
lies were provided for during their absence. A meet- 
ing was held August 19, 1773, to take into considera- 
tion a letter from the Committee of Correspondence 
of Boston. A committee was chosen, consisting of 
Deacon Jonas Hammond, Captain Richard Dresser 
and Captain Nathaniel Blood, " to draw up resolves 
relating to the unconstitutional burdens laid on the 
province." The report of the committee was as fol- 
lows : 

Geiillemen, — We Lave taken into Beriou6 consideration the pamphlet 
Bent us from Boston, wlierein the rights and privileges of this province 
are clearly stated, and the iut'ringonients made thereon justly pointed out. 
"We return uur sincere thanks to the town of Boston for the vigilance and 
'firmness in support of the country, which has heen very conspicuous 
in that metropolis, and will heartily join in all such meaaures as may 
appear moat conducive to the restoration of our invaluable privileges 
from the hand of oppression. 

The report of the committee was approved, and 
Jonas Hammond, Richard Dresser, Nathaniel Blood, 
Ebenezer Hammond, Stephen Fay, John Dresser 
and Ebenezer Foskett were chosen a Committee of 
Correspondence. 

September 12, 1774, it was voted to provide one 
hundred and fifty pounds of powder, three hundred 
pounds of lead and fifty dozen flints, and eighteen 
pounds, lawful money, was voted to pay for the same. 
Ezra Mclntire, constable, was instructed to make no 
return of jurors, according to the late order. October 
16, 1774, Captain Jonathan Tucker was chosen dele- 
gate to attend the Provincial Congress to be held at 
Concord the second Tuesday of the month. At the 
same meeting it was voted to furnish the regular 
troops with no implements, labor, etc. December 
22d the constables were directed to pay what prov- 
ince money they had collected, or might collect, to 
Henry Gardner, of Stow, for the use of the province, 
agreeable to the advice of the Provincial Congress. 
January 9, 1775, Captain Jonathan Tucker was 
chosen delegate to attend the Provincial Congress to 
be held at Cambridge the 1st day of P'ebruary follow- 
ing. And at the same meeting Captain Samuel Curtis, 
Captain Richard Dresser, Lieutenant William Tuck- 
er, Ezra Mclntire and Ebenezer Foskett were chosen 
a committee to see that the directions of the Conti- 
nental and Provincial Congresses were strictly ad- 
hered to. It was also voted to aid and assist and 
protect the constables in collecting the province tax. 
March 6th it was voted " to make the men in the dis- 
trict some allowance for disciplining themselves." 
May 22, 1776, Rev. Caleb Curtis was chosen a dele- 



gate to attend the Provincial Congress to be held at 
Watertown. March 4, 1776, Nathaniel Jones, Eben- 
ezer Foskett and Thomas Parker were chosen a Com- 
mittee of Correspondence, Inspection and Safety, 
and in June following Ezra Mclntire and Caleb Am- 
midown were added to the committee. At the meet- 
ing in March Daniel Streeter was allowed one pound 
and eight shillings for carrying blankets to the army. 
June 17, 1776, the town voted to support the Conti- 
nental Congress in declaring independence of Great 
Britain. 

March 18, 1777, the town voted to give their men 
who should enlist into the Continental service for the 
term of three years, or during the war, the sum of 
twenty pounds each, in addition to the bounty given 
by the Continental Congress and the State, and that 
the money for the purpose should be raised by a gen- 
eral assessment, in order that all the inhabitants and 
estates should pay an equal proportion in defending 
civil and religious privileges. This vote was passed 
in accordance with the recommendation of a commit- 
tee chosen to devise means to raise the quota of men 
required of the town as speedily as possible. 

June 9, 1777, Lieutenant John Edwards was chosen 
" to procure and lay before the court the evidence 
that might be had of the inimical disposition of any 
inhabitant of the town towards this or any of the 
United States who might be charged by the freehold- 
ers, or other inhabitants, with being a person whose 
residence in the State was dangerous to the public peace 
and safety." 

By a vote of the town, the names of Obadiah Mcln- 
tire, Eleazer Mclntire, Eleazer Mclntire, Jr., and 
Jesse Mclntire were placed on the list of suspected 
persons. It is not known that any evidence was ever 
procured and laid before the court tending to prove 
that the residence of either in the State was danger- _ 
ous to the public peace and safety. ■ 

January 20, 1778, it was voted to raise by tax the 
sum of eight hundred and eighty-nine pounds seven 
shillings and six pence, and to pay said sum into the 
treasury of the State by the 1st day of the next 
April, agreeable to an act of the General Court. 

February 2, 1778, Captain Richard Dresser, Lieu- 
tenant Ebenezer Hammond and Daniel Williams 
were chosen a committe to receive subscriptions for 
the Continental soldiers enlisted for the town, and to 
convey to them, as soon as possible, such things as 
should be subscribed. 

March 2, 1778, Nathaniel Jones, Ebenezer Foskett, 
Caleb Ammidown, Ezra Mclntire and John Dresser 
were chosen a Committee of Correspondence, Inspec- 
tion and Safety, and Ebenezer Hammond, Nathaniel 
Blood and Nathaniel Goodell were chosen to provide 
for the families of the men from the town enlisted into 
the Continental army for three years, or during the 
war. April 2, 1778, Peter Sleeman, Reuben Davis 
and Benjamin Alton were chosen a committee to pro- 
vide shirts, stockings and shoes for the town's quota 



J 



CHARLTON. 



•755 



of men in the array, and to appraise said articles ac- 
cording to their quality. The committee valued the 
articles collected by them at one hundred and ninety- 
six pounds six shillings, and the town voted two hun- 
dred ])0unds to pay for the same. 

March 1, 1779, John Dresser, John Edwards and 
Caleb Ammidown were chosen a Committee of Cor- 
respondence, etc., and Isaiah Blood, David Wheelock 
and Stephen Fay a committee to provide for the fami- 
lies of soldiers. In September following the town 
voted to raise nine hundred pounds to enable the 
committee to provide for said families. 

March C, 1780, Stephen Fay, David Hammond and 
Ezra Mclntire were chosen to provide for the families 
of the Continental soldiers. 

June 29th, the same year, the town voted six hun- 
dred and fifty pounds, old lawful money, to pay their 
soldiers for six months' service, and July 4th voted to 
pay such men as should enlist for three months forty 
shillings per month each, " to be paid in capital, arti- 
cles of produce, or money equivalent thereto." 

October 9, 1780, the town voted to raise three hun- 
dred and fifty pounds of the new or late emission, or 
other money equivalent thereto, to procure the town's 
proportion of beef, and Salem Town and David Rich 
were chosen to procure said beef, and in December 
following seven hundred pounds were voted for a like 
purpose, and a committee chosen to procure the beef. 
June 3, 1781, it was voted to furnish each soldier 
that should enlist from the town for three years, or 
during the war, with forty hard dollars, or other 
money equivalent thereto. 

July Kith, voted to give the men raised to go to 
Rliode Island forty shillings per month, and the men 
raised to go to headquarters for three mouths fifty 
shillings per month, and it was voted to raise three hun- 
dred and thirty pounds in silver and gold to provide 
the town's quota of beef, and Salem Town was chosen 
to purchase the beef. The pay-rolls, descriptive lists 
and other papers in the oflice of the Secretary of State, 
at Boston, contain the names of two hundred and fifty 
different soldiers from Charlton who were in service 
in the army. Of this number forty-one were in 
Colonel Larned's regiment at Roxbury from April, 
1775, till December 26th following, and twenty-eight 
were in Colonel William Campbell's regiment for a 
shorter period. In December, 1775, thirty men were 
raised to reinforce the army. In 1776 forty men en- 
listed for one year. In March, 1777, forty-eight men 
were raised to complete the quota of the town. In 
August of the same year one-fourth of the militia 
(thirty-six men) were marched to Rhode Island under 
command of Captain Abijah Lamb. 

There were enlistments of men for three years, or 
during the war, in 1780, and twenty-four men were 
drafted. Other drafts from the militia were made of 
men for short terms of service. 

Jacob Davis, Reuben Davis, John Nichols, Samuel 
Curtis, and Abijah Lamb each held a captain's com- 



mission in the service, and Jonathan Tucker, William 
Tucker, David Rich and Robert Kelley were lieuten- 
ants. 

According to a return made by the selectmen in 
1788, in compliance with a resolve of the General 
Court, the town paid in bounties to soldiers who 
served in the war a sum equal to seven thousand nine 
hundred and twelve pounds silver money. 

In May, 1782, the town voted to instruct their rep- 
resentative " to adhere strictly to the whole of the 
resolves and recommendations of the late county 
convention, held at Worcester, for the removal of 
divers grievances, which the good people of the com- 
monwealth labored under, and to take prudential 
care relative to the impost act, so-called, and also to 
use his best endeavor that there might be a more 
equal mode of taxation come into in the common- 
wealth, so that the laborer might not bear more than 
his just proportion of taxes." In 1783, and again in 
178-t, the representative was given similar instruc- 
tions. A town-meeting was held August 10, 1786j 
to take into consideration a letter from the commit- 
tee of the convention held at Leicester June 26th.. 
Caleb Curtis and Caleb Ammidown were chosen dele- 
gates to attend a convention to be held at Sutton, 
August 15th. The people of the town were earnest 
in their efforts to secure a removal of the grievances 
complained of, and there is no doubt that the men 
who organized the "Shays' Rebellion" had the 
sympathy of many of the prominent men of the 
town. Rev. Caleb Curtis, who had been a delegate 
to the conventions held, and who was arrested and 
held in custody for a short time for alleged encour- 
agement of armed resistance of the State govern- 
ment, was elected a representative to the General 
Court in 1787. 

In July, 1787, the town voted that " the se- 
lectmen, in the name and behalf of the town, should 
petition the Governor and Council to grant a full and 
free pardon to Capt. Henry Gale, of Princeton, who 
had been convicted of treason for his participation 
in the Rebellion, if it could be done consistent with 
the honor and dignity of the Government." 

Interest was taken in the War of 1812, and pay in 
addition to what was received from government was 
voted men in service. 

At a town-meeting held September 14, 1812, the 
following article was acted on ; " To see what sum of 
money the town will raise to pay each non-commis- 
sioned ofticer and private soldier per month who has 
been, or may be, drafted or detached from the mili- 
tia of the commonwealth, who is a resident of Charl- 
ton while the present war with Great Britain contin- 
ues, provided they perform the duties of the field." 

It was voted " to allow seven dollars per month in 
addition toVhe common pay to the militia that have 
been draftee or that may be drafted in future to 
serve in the present war with Great Britain and her 
dependencies." 



ibti 



HISTOKY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



Dr. Ebenezer Borden, Dr. Dan Lamb, John Brown 
and John Spurr, Jr., were chosen a committee to take 
into consideration the measures of government. A 
Committee of Safety was also chosen. 

No action was taken by the town in regard to the 
war with Mexico. 

During the War of the Rebellion the town was ever 
ready to respond to any call and to furnish men to fill 
any quota assigned it. 

At a town-meeting held May 9, 1861, the sum of 
ten thousand dollars was appropriated for raising a 
military company and for aid to the families of those 
who entered the service. Volunteers were to be paid 
one dollar per day for time spent in preparatory drill 
and ten dollai's per month in addition to government 
pay while in service, to commence when they left town. 
And one dollar and fifty cents per week was to be 
paid to the wife of any volunteer or to his family, and 
fifty cents per week to each child under twelve years 
of age. If any volunteer was killed, his pay was to be 
continued during the time his company was in the 
service. If the town failed to raise a company, volun- 
teers might join other companies on the same condi- 
tions, and any resident of the town who had joined a 
company of any other town and did not receive pay 
from said town was to be paid the same as persons 
joining a company of the town. R. B. Dodge, Erastus 
Winslow, Dexter Blood and Judson Mclntire were 
chosen a committee to take charge of the funds and to 
make payments. It was also voted to furnish such 
uniforms, equipments, etc., as the State did not provide. 

July 28, 1862, the town voted to pay each volunteer 
one hundred and ten dollars when mustered into the 
United States service. R. B. Dodge, Levi Hammond 
and Jonas Bemis were chosen a committee to aid the 
selectmen in obtaining recruits. August 2d, voted to 
pay one hundred and fifty dollars to volunteers and 
forty dollars to all who had previously enlisted, in 
addition to what they had previously been paid. 

At a meeting held August 20, 1862, "to see what 
action the town would take relative to the call of the 
President for 300,000 additional volunteers for nine 
months," it was voted to pay each volunteer one hun- 
dred dollars when mustered into service, and that the 
first five to enlist should be a committee to assist the 
selectmen in procuring enlistments. In accordance 
with this vote, Rufus N. Mofiit, Henry G. Lamb, 
Salem A. Spurr, Daniel S. Robbing and John A. 
Ward became the committee. The sum of four thou- 
sand dollars was appropriated to pay the bounties. 

August 29th it was voted that the town clerk should 
make a record of all the soldiers that had enlisted or 
should enlist from the town, with the company and 
regiment of each, the time when mustered into service 
and term of enlistment. 

September 24th, voted to pay the bounty to the wife 
or family of any volunteer who should go inio camp 
and die before being mustered into service. 

At a meeting held December 15, 1862, "to see what 



measures the town would take relative to furnishing 
their quota of men," it was voted to pay two hundred 
and fifty dollars to volunteers who should enlist for 
three years, and four thousand dollars was appropriated 
to meet such payments. 

January 15, 1864, the town voted to pay one hun- 
dred and fifty dollars for each volunteer to fill its 
quota under any call issued prior to March, 1865. 

The following is from "A History of Massachusetts 
in the Civil War," by William Schouler: " Charlton 
furnished two hundred and thirteen men for the war, 
which was a surplus of eighteen over and above all 
demands. One was a commissioned officer. The 
whole amount of money appropriated and expended 
by the town on account of the war, exclusive of the 
State aid, was twenty -two thousand dollars. The 
amount of money raised and expended by the town 
during the war for State aid to soldiers' families and 
repaid by the Commonwealth was as follows: In 
1861, $221.94; in 1862, $2455.99 ; in 1863, $4115.53; 
in 1864, $3153.22; in 1865, $1800. Total amount, 
$11,746.68. Population in 1860, 2047; in 1865, 1925. 
Valuation in 1860, $872,454 ; in 1865, $909,729. The 
selectmen in 1861 were R. B. Dodge, Almon Samp- 
son, Hiram Willis; in 1862, J. H. Hathaway, Eras- 
tus Winslow, Alfred E. Fiske; in 1863, J. H. Hatha- 
way, R. B. Dodge, Gilbert Rich ; in 1864, J. H. 
Hathaway, A. H. Marble, Andrus March; in 1865, 
J. H. Hathaway, Alfred E. Fiske, Reuben Rich. 
The town clerk and town treasurer, during all the 
years of the war, was Alfred E. Fi^ke. 

J. H. Hathaway, who was chairman of the Board 
of Selectmen for four years, was an efficient agent in 
obtaining volunteers for the service. 

Soldiers who were killed or who died from disease 
contracted in the service : Seymour Adams, Heze- 
kiahAldrich,ElishaW. Buxton, FrancisClarke, Alvan 
B. Dugar, Henry W. Dunn, George P. Davis, Cornelius 
Davis, Calvin J. Darling, Manson Gould, Patrick Gil- 
lespie, Michael B. Hayes, William H. Kinney, George 
Knight, Nelson Harris, Chauncy Harris, Van Buren 
McKinstry, Harry March, Andrew Moore, Living- 
ston Mower, Hartwell Newton, William O'Connell, 
Elbridge S. Perry, Elliott H. Robbins, Wilson D. 
Stone, Orman Stevens, Luther Spooner, Charles F. 
Sanger, Samuel Tourtellotte, Albert L. Williams, 
George W. Willard, Frederick E. Yeung, John A. 
Young, Juan Young, Charles H. Waite, Herbert 
Fuller, Henry S. Dealing. 

William H. King, who enlisted as a private soldier 
at the commencement of the war and continued in 
service until its close, was commissioned captain be- 
fore his services ended. 

Dr. George H. Taft was a surgeon in the army in 
1862. 

Mills for grinding grain and for sawing lumber 
were built at an early date. Before 1759 there was a 
mill owned by Jonathan Ballard on the place after- 
ward owned by Captain David Rich, and later by his 



CHARLTON. 



T57 



son, John H. Rich. Other mills were in use soon 
after this time, and at a date not much later there were 
several places where potash was made. 

In 1790 Thaddeus Marble and Aaron Marble com- 
menced the manufacture of scythes at the place now 
called Millward. In 180i Aaron sold his interest to 
Thaddeus, who continued the business alone. Aaron 
afterwards with a son engaged in the same business 
at the North Side. 

At about the s.ame time William Smith had a shop 
and manufactured scythes on the stream below what 
is now called Lelandville, in the southeast part of the 
town. The shop was afterward run by Joab May- 
nard and perhaps others. 

A tannery had been established at the North Side 
before 1770 by Jonathan Wheelock. In that year 
Wheelock sold to Ebenezer Davis. It was afterwards 
owned by Israel Waters, who carried on the business 
of tanning and currying to a considerable extent for 
several years. It was afterwards owned and run by 
Colonel Asa Bacon and by his sons, Berthier Bacon, 
Alvin Bacon, and Fiske Bacon. 

The business of distilling gin was quite extensively 
carried on at the North Side for a considerable time. 
Isaiah Rider and William P. Rider owned and run 
the first distillery there. Aaron Marble and Charles 
Marble commenced the business a little later, and 
Abner Wheelock was the last in the business at the 
place. 

In 1828 Charles Preston and Stephen Bartlett 
bought land and water-power in the southeast part of 
the town and built a stone mill for the manufacture 
of cotton thread. Before the mill was put in opera- 
tion Preston became the sole owner, and for a time 
carried on the business alone. Afcerward Asa Bald- 
win and James Boutwell were associated with him in 
business, which was continued until the decease of 
Preston, in 1839. After the death of Preston the 
property was purchased by Philip Potter, who con- 
tinued the manufacture of thread until the mill was 
destroyed by fire in 1849. It was never rebuilt. 

For many years there was in the easterly part of 
the town a mill where " home-made cloth," such as 
used to be made in almost every house, was dressed or 
finished. The last person who owned and run the 
mill was Amos Williams. There was a mill at Charl- 
ton City used for the same purpose owned by Henry 
Puffer. The properly was at a later date purchased 
by Caleb Torry, who built a mill for the manufacture 
of woolen goods. In 1848 Michael Coogan bought 
the mill and run it until 1856, when Andrus March 
purchased the property and leased it to Baker & Bot- 
tomly, who run the mill about three years, mak- 
ing a cheap grade of satinets. In 18G0 Baker and 
March entered into partnership and run the mill 
about six years, when Baker withdrew from the firm. 
March continued the business alone until 1875, and 
then rented the mill to Edward Akers and Nathan 
Norris, who manufactured a grade of goods that 



could be sold at a low price and afford the manufac- 
turers a profit. In 1878 Mr. Akers withdrew from the 
firm. Mr. Norris purchased the mill and continued 
the business alone until the mill was burned in 1885. 
He rebuilt the mill and commenced manufacturing 
again, but continued in the business but a short time. 

In 1877 Mr Akers purchased the Thayer privilege 
on the stream above the March Mill and built a fac- 
tory with a capacity for two sets of machinery, and 
when the firm of Akers & Norris was dissolved, in 
1878, he commenced business alone. In 1882 Fred. S. 
Taylor was taken as a partner in the business. The 
firm commenced making a better grade of goods, the 
buildings were enlarged and the machinery increased. 
Substantial picker and store-houses have been erected 
on the Berry privilege below. Eighty hands are em- 
ployed. The monthly pay-roll is two thousand dol- 
lars, and forty thousand yards of satinet are manu- 
factured monthly. 

In the spring of 1888 Akers & Taylor and William 
B. Carpenter purchased the Norris Mill and com- 
menced business under the firm-name of the Cady 
Brook Manufacturing Company, making the same 
kind of goods that are made by Akers & Taylor. 
Thirty-five hands are employed, and thirty thousand 
yards of cloth made monthly. In 1880 M. D. Aldrich 
fitted up a mill for the manufacture of satinets a short 
distance west of the city. In 1882 the mill was leased 
to Nathaniel Taft and J. O. Copp. In 1880 Taft 
withdrew from the firm, since wliich time Copp has 
continued the business alone. His business aftbrds 
employment to forty hands, and twenty-eight thou- 
sand yards of satinets are made monthly. 

Joel A. Chapman,, at Charlton City, runs a satinet- 
mill, employing twelve hands and making twelve 
thousand yards of cloth monthly. 

George Pike commenced the manufacture of satinet 
at Millward in 1887. He runs one set of machinery 
and makes about twelve thousand yards of cloth 
monthly, employing twelve hands. 

About 1815 Harvey Dresser, a young man of great 
enterprise and capacity for business, engaged exten- 
sively in the manufacture of furniture, carriages, har- 
nesses and farming implements on Dresser Hill. He 
continued the business until his death in 1835. 

In 1843, John P. & Samuel J. Leland commenced 
the manufacture of augers and bits in the southeast 
part of the town, at the place since called Leland- 
ville. They continued in this business until 1861, 
when they engaged in making ramrods for the gov- 
ernment. This government contract lasted about 
three years, in which time they manufactured three 
hundred thousand ramrods. While the Lelands were 
in business, quite a village was built up. In 1865 
they sold their shops and buildings to Henry H. 
Stevens, at that time the owner of the Dudley Linen 
Works. For several years some part of the work 
connected with his business was done in the shops, 
but of late no use has been made of them. 



758 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



I 



Granite of good quality for working is abundant on 
"Rockey Hill," in the southeast part of the town. 
Before 1800, Rufus Wakefield and Sylvanus Wake- 
field com menced working the quarries. Since that 
time the business has been continued and has been 
carried on by Gibbs Dodge, Joseph Woodbury, Hor- 
ace Lamson and others. At the present time, W. Y. 
Woodbury, J. L. Woodbury and Horace L. Lamson, 
who carry on business under the firm-name of W^ood- 
bury Bros. & Co., are the only persons working the 
quarries. Their business affords employment to 
about twenty men. 

George Marsh engaged in the manufacture of car- 
riages at Charlton City, about 1831. At a later date, 
Horace P. Hicks carried on the same business there. 

The sash and blind business has been carried on to 
a considerable extent, first by Harvey Forbush in 
the west part of the town, later by Charles Taft at 
Charlton City, and still later by Knight & Rich at 
the same place. 

Charles E. Morse commenced the manufacture of 
boots and shoes at the place that has since been 
called Morseville about 1850. He built large shops 
for his business, and dwelling-houses for the use of 
the help employed. The business was carried on 
quite extensively until the shops were destroyed by 
fire in 1884. For several years Rufus Dodge was 
associated in business with Mr. Morse. At a later 
date Andrew Partridge was a partner in the business. 
After he retired, C. E. Morse, Jr., and William C. 
Haven were members of the firm of C. E. Morse & 
Co. 

Jonas L. Rice was engaged in manufacturing 
shoes at the North Side from ,1850 till 1861, doing 
considerable business. 

In 1853 a company was formed at the North Side 
for the manufacture of boots and shoes, called the 
Charlton Boot and Shoe Company, of which Berthier 
Bacon was agent. The business was continued until 
1855, when the company was dissolved. 

The manufacture of boxes for boots, shoes, cloth 
and other merchandise has been an important busi- 
ness for a number of years, affording employment to 
a considerable number of men and a market for a 
large amount of lumber. Zina Grover, Henry C. 
Putniim, George Pike and William H. Young have 
been engaged in the business. Henry C. Putnam 
commenced in 1863, and is the only person in town 
now doing any considerable amount of business. He 
employs about twenty-five men and uses two million 
feet of lumber yearly. 

In 1867 Emory S. Southwick built a large shop at 
Charlton Depot, in which he manufactured boots and 
shoes for several years, doing quite an extensive busi- 
ness. In 1871 the shop was destroyed by fire and 
was never rebuilt. 

In 1875 H. G. Lamb and A. N. Lamb commenced 
the manufacture of shoes at Charlton Depot. In 1880 
A. N. Lamb retired and Charles Damon became a 



partner in the business, and remained until 1884, 
when he retired. In 1885 A. N. Lamb and William 
H. Lamb were admitted as partners in the business, 
which is still continued. The business affords em- 
ployment to about thirty hands and about two hun- 
dred pairs of shoes of fine quality are made daily. 

In 1865 the manufacture of wire was commenced by 
Ira Berry on Cady Brook, below Charlton City. In 
1868 George C. Prouty entered into partnership with 
Berry and continued with him until 1871, when the 
partnership was terminated. Berry continued the 
business but a short time after the withdrawal of 
Prouty. In 1871 Prouty built the wire-mill at Charl- 
ton City, and commenced business alone. He has 
built neat, substantial dwellings for the use of help 
employed. About one hundred and sixty tons of fine 
card-wire is made yearly. 

Although several men of enterprise and capacity for 
managing business successfully have engaged in man- 
ufacturing enterprises within the last few years, and 
have contributed essentially to the prosperity of the 
town, agriculture is the principal business of the in- 
habitants. The soil is of average fertility and there 
are some excellent farms owned and cultivated by en- 
terprising, progressive farmers, who contribute large- 
ly to the annual exhibitions of the agricultural socie- 
ties held at Worcester, Sturbridge, Oxford, Spencer 
and other places more remote. The town has been 
noted for its fine cattle, especially for its large, well- 
trained oxen, and although horses have, to a consider- 
able extent, taken the place of oxen for farm-work, 
there are still some farmers that rpar and train oxen 
that compete successfully with any found at fairs. 

According to the statistical tables of agricultural 
products and property, prepared by Carroll D. Wrighti 
Charlton ranks fourth among the towns of Worcester 
County in the value of agricultural products. 

Daniel H. Tucker is the owner of the three hundred 
acres of land which was owned by his great-grand- 
father, Jonathan Tucker. The one hundred and fifty 
acres of land which was the farm of Ebenezer Ham- 
mond is now owned by his great-grandson, Henry 
Hammond. Edward D. Blood is the owner of the 
farm on which his ancestor, Richard Blood, settled. 
The land bought by Ebenezer Foskett in 1739, and 
on which he lived, is now the property of his great- 
grandson, Dan Foskett, and Edwin Phillips owns 
the farm on which his great-grandfather, Jonathan 
Dennis, settled. No other farm in the town is now 
owned by a descendant of the first occupant. 

Representatives to the General Court have been as 
follows: Isaiah Blood, 1775; Jacob Davis, 1776; 
Jacob Davis, Caleb Ammidown, Isaiah Blood, 1777; 
Caleb Ammidown, 1778-79 ; Jacob Davis, 1780 ; Ebe- 
nezer Davis, 1782 ; Caleb Ammidown, 1783 ; Ebenezer 
Davis, 1784; Caleb Ammidown, 1786 ; Samuel Robin- 
son, Caleb Curtis, 1787 ; Samuel Robinson, 1788 ; Ebe- 
ezer Davis, 1789 ; Salem Town, 1790-91-92-93 ; Caleb 
Ammidown, 1794; Salem Town, 1795; Ebenezer Da- 



I 



CHARLTON. 



759 



vis, 1796 : Salem Town, 1797 ; Ebenezer Davis, 1798; 
Salem Town, 1799; Levi Davis, 1800; Salem Town, 
1801-2-3-4; Gen. John Spurr, 1805; Gen. John 
Spurr, Samuel Robinson, 1806-7 ; Gen. John Spurr, 
Dr. James Wolcott, 1808 ; Gen. John Spurr, Thad- 
deus Marble, 1809 ; Gen. John Spurr, Thaddeus Mar- 
ble, Ephraim Willard, 1810-11; Thaddeus Marble, 
Ephraim Willard, Wm. P. Rider, 1812; Gen. John 
Spurr, Isaiah Rider, 1813; Gen. John Spurr, Wm. 
P. Rider, 1814; Gen. John Spurr, Isaiah Rider, 1815; 
Ephraim Willard, Isaiah Rider, 1816-17-18-19; Sam- 
uel Hall, 1821-22; James Boomer, 1823; John Spurr, 
1824; James Boomer, 1826; Samuel D. Spurr, 1828; 
Samuel D. Spurr, John Hill, Jr., 1829 ; John Hill, 
Jr., Issachar Comins, 1830 ; Jonathan Wiuslow, 1831; 
Ebenezer White, Issachar Comins, 1832 ; Ebenezer 
White, Rufus Mixer, 1833 ; Rul'us Mi.Ker, Paul Rich, 
1834 ; Paul Rich, Jonas Tucker, 1835 ; Jonas Tucker, 
William P. Marble, 1836 ; William P. Marble, Amasa 
Stone, 1837 ; Amasa Stone, Moses Williams, 1838 ; 
Moses Williams, Aaron Marble, Alpheus White, 1839 ; 
Aaron Marble, Alpheus White, Simeon Lamb, 1840 ; 
John P. Marble, 1841-42 ; William B. Boomer, 1843- 
44 ; William Marble, 1845-46 ; Simeon Lamb, 1848 ; 
Nehemiah B. Stone, 1849 ; Luther Litchfield, 1851- 
62 ; Levi Hammond, 1853-54; Alfred Mower, 1855; 
Mason Marble, 1856 ; Rufus B. Dodge, 1857 ; Aaron 
H. Marble, 1858 ; Gilbert Rich, 1860 ; Dexter Blood 
1862; Henry Clark, 1864; Albert C. Willard, 18G6 ; 
J. H. Hathaway, 1868 ; Alfred E. Fiske, 1871 ; Moses 
D. Woodbury, 1873 ; Andrus March, 1876 ; George 
D.Woodbury, 1879 ; Dr. George H. Taft, 1882 ; Henry 
G. Lamb, 1885. 

In 1857 Charlton wasjoined with Sturbridge to make 
a representative district. In 1866 the towns of Au- 
burn, Charlton, Leicester, Spencer and Southbridge 
were formed into a representative district. In 1876 
Oxford, Southbridge, Charlton and Spencer were 
made a district. In 1886 Charlton, Dudley and South- 
bridge were united, the three towns being entitled to 
but one representative. 

The men prominent in public affairs until the close 
of the Revolution have been mentioned. They were 
mainly men who were among the first settlers. Quite 
a number who became large land-owners acquired 
considerable wealth. Ebenezer Davis, a man of 
sound judgment, prudent and exact in all his business 
operations, a large dealer in real estate and other prop- 
erty, left at his decease a larger estate than was ever 
acquired by any other man in the town. The late 
Hon. Emory Washburn, who was for several years 
Governor of the State, was his grandson, as was also the 
late Ebenezer D. Ammidown, of Southbridge. Jacob 
Davis, a brother of Ebenezer, was a man of remark- 
able enterprise, who dealt largely in real estate. He 
was one of the founders of Leicester Academy, and 
aided liberally in its establishment. Gen. Salem Town, 
Sr., was long in the public service. He was a rep- 
resentative to the General Court eleven years, several 



times a member of the State Senate, and one of the 
committee in 1807 to locate the Worcester and Stafford 
Turnpike, to assess the land damages, and to superin- 
tend the building of the road. He held other offices 
of trust and responsibility. His son, the late Gen. 
Salem Town, had command of a regiment of militia 
called out by the Governor in 1814, and stationed at 
South Boston. He was State Senator in 1821, '22 and 
56, being in the latter year the oldest member. Caleb 
Ammidown, who was a resident of that part of the 
town which was taken after his decease to form part 
of the town of Southbridge, was five years a represen- 
tative to the General Court. He did much business 
as a land surveyor and conveyancer, and was one of 
the agents of the State for selling confiscated lands. 

Gen. John Spurr, one of the " Boston Tea Party," 
was a prominent, influential man, and represented the 
town in the General Court ten years. Major John 
Spurr, a son of Gen. Spurr, was active in public af- 
fairs, much interested in political matters, and an 
efficient worker in the party to which he belonged. 
Isaiah Rider and William P. Rider were men of note 
and enterprise. Rufus Mixer and William P. Marble 
were men of prominence, well versed in the laws re- 
lating to town and Probate matters, and were careful, 
competent conveyancers and did much business in the 
settlement of estates. 

Mention may properly be made of Amasa Stone, a 
man of great enterprise and business ability, who ac- 
cumulated a large fortune in railroad business and 
other important enterprises ; Daniel Phillips, one of 
the pioneers in the express business, in which he was 
eminently successful ; Moses D. Phillips, a brother 
of Daniel, and enterprising bookseller and publisher, 
and who was the head of the firm of Phillips, Samp- 
son & Co., the founders of the Atlantic Monthly ; Li- 
nus B. Comins, a capable, successful man of business, 
who represented his district in Congress several terms, 
and Albern N. Towne, a noted railroad manager, who 
were natives of the town, as were Samuel D. Spurr, 
Dwight Woodbury, John P. Marble, Jerome Marble, 
Salem T. Russell, Daniel Stevens and Charles P. 
Stevens, all sagacious, capable business men. 

Franklin Gale, who was a lawyer of distinction in 
Columbus, Ohio, and for many years a judge of a 
State Court ; Turner Ellis, who was a lawyer of emi- 
nence in Indiana; Stephen P. Twiss, who was for 
sever.al years judge of the United States Territorial 
Court in Utah ; Dr. W. T. G. Morton, generally re- 
garded as the discoverer of the use of ether as an an- 
aesthetic in surgical operations; Rev. Julius H.Ward, 
a writer of distinction ; Rev. Caleb Blood, Rev. Ebe- 
nezer Lamson, Rev. David R. Lamson, Rev. Darius 
Gore and Rev. Lewis W. Hicks, clergymen of ability, 
and Joseph Whipple, a graduate of West Point, and 
who died in service in Mexico, were also natives of 
Charlton. 

' The town has been represented in the State Senate 
by General Salem Town, Sr., General Salem Town, 



V60 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



Jr., Major John Spurr, Rev. Aurin Bugbee and Rufus 
B. Dodge. 

Jacob Davia, General Salem Town, Sr.,and Samuel 
Lamb were delegates to the convention to form the 
State Constitution in 1779. Major John Spurr was a 
member of the Constitutional Convention of 1820, and 
William P. Marble was delegate to the Convention of 
1853. 

District and Toavn Clekks. — Richard Dresser, 
the first clerk, held the office eleven years; Nehemiah 
Stone, the second, served fourteen years and was treas- 
urer seventeen years. Samuel Lamb, Dr. Ebenezer 
H.Phillips, Dr. Dan Lamb, Leonard Towne, Julius 
E. Tucker, Luther Litchfield and Alfred E. Fiske, 
each held the office many years ; the latter was clerk 
thirty years and treasurer twenty years. 

The early physicians of the town were William 
Ware, Abel Waters, Ebenezer H. Phillips, James 
Wolcott and Ebenezer Borden. Later there were 
Dan Lamb, Charles M. Fay, Isaac Porter, Henry H. 
Darling, Albert Potter, George H. Taft and L. D. 
Fuller. Others have been in town for a short time. 
The only physician at the present time is Dr. George 
H. Taft. 

There have been four lawyers in the town— Eras- 
mus Babbitt, Liberty Bates, William Stednian and 
John Davis. Since the death of John Davis, in 1840, 
the inhabitants have been obliged to go out of town 
for legal advice. 

The population in 1765 was 739; in 1776, 1310; in 
1820, 2,134. After 1820 the census showed but little 
variation until 1840 ; since that date there has been a 
gradual falling oflF in numbers. In 1885 the popula- 
tion was 1,823. Number of families, 471. Number 
of dwelling-houses, 459. Assessor's valuation 1888: 
real estate, $758,760; personal, $155,710. Number of 
polls, 512. 



CHAPTER XCVI. 

LUNENBURG. 

BY EZR.\ S. STEARNS, A.M. 

Location — Ponds and Drainage — Original Grants — Settlements — Incorpora- 
tion — Proprietary AJinirB — Itoads — The Totvn Divided — Personal No- 
tices. 

Lunenburg, situated in the northeast part of the 
county of Worcester, is bounded on the north by 
Townsend, on the east by Shirley, on the south by 
Lancaster and Leominster, and on the west by Fitch- 
burg and Ashby. The adjoining towns, Ashby, 
Townsend and Shirley, are in the county of Middle- 
sex. The centre of the town is twenty-four miles 
north from Worcester, forty-tliree miles northwesterly 
from Boston, and is in latitude 42° 35' 30'' and in 
longitude 71° 43' 30" west from Greenwich. By the 



survey of Cyrus Kilburn, in 1831, the town contained 
an area of seventeen thousand four hundred and 
ninety-four acres, and by the estimate of the assessors, 
exclusive of water, fifteen thousand nine hundred 
and forty acres. Within the town are five natural 
ponds and three of them bear names of Indian ori- 
gin. The one situated near there-entrant angle in the 
line of Leominster contains ninety-five acres, and its 
name has experienced many orthographical changes. 
In the proceedings of the Colonial Legislature, in 
1713, it is written Unkachewalwick, and, ten years 
later, Francis Fullam, in the records of the commit- 
tee of the General Court, writes Unkechewalom, and 
about the same time comes Edward Hartwell, who 
wrestles with the name, and leaves upon the records 
Uncachawalonk, while Rev. Peter Whitney, in the 
" History of Worcester County " (1793), in writing 
Unkeshewalom nearly repeats the record of Francis 
Fullam, which has been the prevailing orthography of 
modern times. Wilder's "History of Leominster" 
(1853), dodges the issue and abbreviates the word 
into Chualoom, and frequently of late, when the 
name is expressed in vocal terms, only the last two 
syllables are employed. At best the old Indian name 
is not like the one loved and described by the Elder 
Weller as "an easy word to spell," and it is not 
wholly imaginative to say that in the olden times, 
when a new settler in these parts began to wrinkle 
his face and twist his mouth and utter a volley of 
hard and guttural sounds, his hearers knew he was 
not cursing, but only trying to tell them where he 
causht a string of fish. 

Massapog Pond, of sixty-two acres, also near the 
Leominster line, is one mile and nearly one-fourth 
southeasterly and receives the overflow from Unkeche- - 
walom. In 1713, in the records of the General Courtj I 
this word is written Masshapauge, and in Ma.shaporg 
the same sounds are preserved by the records of Na- 
than Heywood and Edward Hartwell, but from the 
earliest mention to the present time it has been spelled 
with considerable uniformity. From an early survey 
of a small marsh on the north, in 1750, a marsh near 
the pond is described as " not land nor water and 
partly both." The overflowing stream bears northerly, 
easterly and southerly, receiving tributaries on either 
hand, and empties into the Cataconameg, in the south- 
east part of the town, about one hundred rods from 
the line of Shirley. By Francis Fullam the name of 
the third pond is written Cataconamog, by Rev. Peter 
Whitney, Catatoonamog, and by Rev. Henry Chandler, 
in the " History of Shirley," Catecunemaug. The 
stream from this pond, having gathered the drainage 
of more than one-half the town, flows through Shirley 
and empties into the Nashua River. A little more than 
one mile east from the centre of the town is Lane's 
Pond, and nearly an equal distance south of that is 
Dead Pond. Neither of them exceeds five or six acres 
in area. They are not mentioned in the early records 
and it is not known when they were first discovered. 



LUNENBURG. 



761 



The northern part of the town is drained by Mulpus 
Brooli. The course of this stream is easterly and 
nearly parallel to the line of Townsend. It flows 
through Shirley and empties into the Nashua. Pearl 
Hill Brook, in the west part, flowing into Fitchburg, 
and Baker's Brook, flowing through the southwest 
corner, drain small areas in this town. 

At the time the territory constituting the town of 
Lunenburg was severed from the wilderness and fell 
into the possession and under the control of its 
grantees, the locality was well known to the dwellers 
in the older towns. Lancaster on the south and Gro- 
ton, including Shirley, on the east, had been settled 
many years. The echoes from the activities of those 
hardy pioneers and the presence of many scouting 
parties of white men, explorers and hunters within 
the confines constitute the first and the unwritten 
chapter of the history of the town. The earliest offi- 
cial act immediately appertaining to the soil of Lunen- 
burg, of which any record appears, is a grant of two 
hundred and four acres to Nathaniel Walker, June 6, 
1GG3. The limits of this chapter will exclude details. 
It was surveyed in October, 166G, and the title was 
confirmed by the General Court, May 27, 1668. This 
tract of land was situated near the present line of 
Shirley. It was subsequently owned by Ephraim Sav- 
age, and November 5, 1714, it was purchased by Jamej 
Kibby, of Heading. 

In May, 1G72, a grant of one hundred and fifty 
acres was made to Frances Adams, wife of James 
Adams, which was located in the east part of this 
town, and also was purchased by Mr. Kibby. A 
further account of these two early grants within the 
town of Lunenburg will be employed in explanation 
of later and more important events. In 1GG4 the 
General Court granted two thousand acres to the town 
of Woburn. The title was suffered to lapse, but was 
renewed in 1716. In May, 1717, this extensive grant 
was surveyed by Captain Joseph Burnap, of Reading, 
assisted by Edward Hartwell, then of Lancaster. It 
was located south of the centre of the town. Begin- 
ning at a point in Leominster line about mid-way 
between Unkechewalom and Massapog Ponds, the 
boundary line extended easterly almost one mile, 
thence northerly a little more than two miles, thence 
westerly one mile and one-half and then southerly to 
a point in Leominster line about two hundred rods 
west of the angle at Unkechewalom Pond. The north 
line of this grant was about one-half mile south and 
nearly parallel to a section of the old Northfield road. 
It included the pond and an important section of the 
town, but it remained unimproved until many settlers 
were located around it. In 1717 one thousand acres 
were granted to the town of Dorchester. It was 
immediately surveyed and located west of and adjoin- 
ing Woburn Farm. Its western boundaries were near 
Fitchburg. Such were the conditions when the grant 
of the township was made. The region for many 
years had borne the name of Turkey Hills, and the 



ponds and the rivers were known by their present 
Indian names. The major act was not deferred. On 
the 7th of December, 1719, the General Court, in one 
act, granted " two new towns on the west side of 
Groton west line." William Taylor, Samuel Thaxter, 
Francis Fullam, John Shepley and Benjamin Whitte- 
more, then members of the General Court, were 
selected to conduct a survey of the grants, to allot the 
same and to admit the grantees. The grant appears 
in Torrey's "Fitchburg" and in Sawtelle's "Town- 
send," but many interesting details of the early pro- 
ceedings remain unpublished. Three of the com- 
mittee, Fullam, Shepley and Whittemore, with Samuel 
Jones, surveyor, and four chain-men, began the survey 
of the boundary lines of the two townships December 
22, 1719, and completed the work in eight days. In 
April following, in connection with another com- 
mittee, they established the west line of Groton, or 
the east line of the new towns. Continuing a work 
well and seasonably begun, the committee, all being 
present, met at Concord May 11, 1720, and proceeded 
to admit settlers or grantees, or, in the language of the 
record of their proceedings, "to allott & grant out y' 
Lands contained in Each of y" Two Townships." By 
the committee the townships were styled North Town 
and South Town. The former at that time included 
Townsend and a part of Ashby, and the latter em- 
braced the present towns of Lunenburg, Fitchburg 
and a part of Ashby. This statement, however, should 
be qualified with a mention of tl'.e fact that the north 
line of Townsend and the west line of Lunenburg 
(now Fitchburg) were subsequently amended. At this 
meeting eighty proprietors were admitted. This 
number was subsequently increased, but never ex- 
ceeded ninety. In October, 1720, a house-lot was 
surveyed for each proprietor and for the two minis- 
terial rights, but the school and college lands were not 
defined until a later day. The remainder, and much 
the greater part, of the township was owned in common 
by the proprietors, and mainly distributed among them 
from time to time in second, third and fourth division 
lots. During the years that intervened between these 
proceedings and the act of incorporation the affairs 
of the township were conducted by the committee 
appointed by the General Court, and frequent meet- 
ings were held at the inn of Jonathan Hubbard, in 
Concord, and at the houses of Samuel Page and of 
Josiah Willard, in this town. Meanwhile the settle- 
ment slowly increa.sed. The early settlers were exposed 
to constant danger, and their hardships were many. 
The following petition, now published for the first 
time, represents that there were nine families here in 
1725. It was one of the first papers sent out from 
Lunenburg, and it presents a vivid picture of an infant 
settlement on the exposed frontiers. It is superscribed 
" to Honor'" Wiliam Dummer, Esgur, Boston." 

To the Honorhl Lnt. Govner: 

Sir, — We desire with thanks to acltuowlerlg your Honours care of us 
as well in time past as this presant spring in sending Colo. Buckuiaster 



762 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



to Be what postur of defence we war in & in fiirder desiring to Isnow 
our Afuyi-8 wliicli we eliould be glad to enform your Honour oftener of 
had we opertunity. we have liere this spring 9 fanielis posted in 5 
garisons wliich are all wiling to stand their ground if they can ; they 
have the liberty if 2 garisons will come together to haue the solders be- 
longing to each garisouwith them for ther suport. Our manner of 
eniproving tlie solders has been by scouting & sumtinies garding men at 
ther woork, sumtinies 2 or :J days together in the woods, but wee think 
it more for our safety to scout round the town so as to cum in the same 
day for the strengthing onr garisons at night & when our men gos out 
to woork they must have a gard or expose themselves & we must leave 
sume in our garisons or else they are exposed so that we canot keep a 
icout always out except we Ixave more solders. We have made no dis- 
covrey of the enemy yet among us, hut live in dayly expectation of 
them ; but knowing they [Indians] are in the hands of god who is abel 
to restrain them to whos name we desire to give the praise of our pre- 
Barvatiou the year past &. in whos name we desire still to trust with 
dependance on your Honour's protection, a means under god of presar- 
vation ; if your Honour shall think it needfull to make any ailition to 
our number of solders we leve it to your Honour's wise concedration & 
remain your Honour's most humbel servants. 



JOSIAH WiLLXRD. 
PUIUP GOODRIDQE. 



Turkey Hils, May y« 10 : 1725. 



Continuiag their trust in God and Governor Dura- 
rner and measuring their faith by the number of the 
soldiers, the settlement was prospered during the 
ensuing summer. In March of the following year, at 
a meeting of the committee held at Concord, it was 
recorded: "The Information ye Settlers then Gave 
ye Comm"° Was that there was 26 Houses Raised 
and Ten of them Settled and Inhabited." Concern- 
ing the actual number of residents in the town during 
the next few years the records present no accurate 
information, and omitting for the present particular 
mention of those known to be residing here, there 
remains ample evidence that the infant settlement 
made continued progress in population and improve- 
ments. With each year a few families arrived and 
new openings were made in the forest and in the ris- 
ing smoke above the clearings they saw the assurance 
of an enlarged community and the promise of increas- 
ing harvests. 

The town was incorporated August 1, 1728. The 
name of Lunenburg was suggested by one of the titles 
of George II., who had recently succeeded to the Brit- 
ish throne. By this proceeding South Town was sup- 
planted by a more sonorous term, and while Turkey 
Hills was perpetuated in the local vocabulary, the 
term no longer designated a community. Compared 
with the history of many towns, Lunenburg was incor- 
porated at an early stage in the progress of the settle- 
ment. The reason of a successful petition for incor- 
poration is probably found in the fact that within the 
settlement and among the petitioners were a few men 
of influence and character whose solicitation was 
potent with the Governor and the General Court. The 
cause which led the petitioners to desire an early act 
of incorporation is not concealed. From the first the 
affairs of the propriety had been ordered and con- 
trolled by the committee to whose proceedings fre- 
quent mention has been made. Their authority over 
the municipal and proprietary affairs of the settlement 
was absolute and in them was vested all power of leg- 



islation in the concerns of the settlement. Therefore, 
when the committee, in the autumn of 1727, ordered 
the proprietors to build a meeting-house, stated the 
dimensions and dictated its location, the issue was 
boldly met, and in the act of incorporation the author- 
ity of the committee was dissolved. The proprietors 
considered apart from the town owned in common all 
the undivided land in the township. They were 
either the original grantees or their successors, and 
their number could not exceed the number of grantees 
admitted by the committee, and generally the number 
was less, because a few owned more than a single 
right. The proprietors were not necessarily residents 
of the town and only a part of the original grantees 
ever lived here, but within a few years nearly all 
the non-resident owners sold their rights to men liv- 
ing In this town. The proceedings of the proprietors 
constitute an important chapter in the annals of 
Lunenburg and FItchburg. First they re-surveyed 
all the lots that had been distributed by the commit- 
tee and entered the title to each lot in a large record- 
book, which was the height of the art of book-making 
In those times and is now In an excellent state of 
preservation. Then they gave the five members of 
the committee collectively one thousand acres of land 
in compensation for their services. This tract was 
subsequently located in the southwest corner of Fitch- 
burg, bounding four hundred rods on the line of Leo- 
minster and four hundred on the line of Westminster, 
the other sides being parallel to these. That the com- 
mittee had left the affairs of the proprietors at loose 
ends Is seen in the following proceedings. 

By an adjustment of town lines a considerable 
tract was severed from Lunenburg, or what was 
supposed to be, and added to Lancaster new grant 
(now Leominster). Several house-lots had been 
located by the committee within this area, and to 
the unfortunate owners the proprietors gave an 
equivalent from the undivided land within the town. 
Then, to compensate themselves, they applied to the 
great fountain of land supply. The General Court 
granted their petition October 2, 1728, as appears In 
an extract from tbe court records : " A petition of 
Josiah Willard and Hilklah Boynton, agents for the 
town of Lunenburg, praying that the said town may 
be allowed an equivalent for two thousand nine hun- 
dred and twenty acres of land lately taken out of said 
town and added to Lancaster new grant, etc." 

October 2, 1728, " In the House of Representatives 
read and ordered that the town of Lunenburg have 
liberty by a Surveyour and Chainmen on Oath to lay 
out two thousand nine hundred and twenty acres of 
land on the west side of said town and contiguous 
thereto by a parallel line to their west line through- 
out, for an equiv.aleiit for the land taken from said 
town for and within Lancaster new grant." 

A portion of this addition is now in Ashby, but 
enough remains to constitute a considerable part of 
the area of Fitchburg. On account of this proceed- 



LUNENBURG. 



Y63 



ing the township of Ashburnham was subsequently 
located nearly a mile further west than otherwise 
would have been the case. 

In a former account of the grant and survey of the 
Walker and the Adams farms it was stated that they 
fell into the possession of James Kibby, of Reading, 
several years before the grant and settlement of the 
town. Soon after acquiring possession of these grants 
Mr. Kibby became insane and for several years no 
reference to the owner or to the grants is found. In 
the mean time, unconscious of the existence of any 
prior rights, the committee had overrun the obscured 
boundaries and had completely absorbed both grants 
in the distribution of land in that portion of the town. 
Soon after the incorporation of the town Zachariah 
Fitch, the guardian of Mr. Kibby, demanded posses- 
sion of the two tracts of land owned by his ward. To 
protect the titles of the new owners who were in 
possession, the proprietors compromised with the 
guardian by giving him one hundred and two pounds 
and a grant of three hundred acres in the southwest 
part of the town. This land, known for many years 
as the Fitch farm, was next north of the committee 
faim of cne thousand acres, and was bounded on the 
west by the west line of Fitchburg and on the south 
by a line four hundred rods from and parallel to the 
Leominster line. It was subsequently purchased by 
William and Joseph Downe. In this proceeding, in 
addition to money paid, the proprietors had suffered 
the loss of three hundred acres and again sought in- 
demnity of the General Court. The appeal was not 
in vain. A grant of four hundred acres was immediate- 
ly made, which in two parts was located on the east 
bank of the Connecticut River. This land was subse- 
quently deeded to Josiah Willard and Edward 
Hartwell in consideration of the money paid the 
guardian of James Kibby. By the conditions of the 
grant of the township two hundred and fifty acres 
each was reserved for the benefit of Harvard College 
and for schools. In 1729 the proprietors gave 
Harvard College two hundred and fifty and forty-one 
hundredths acres which was located in the northeast 
part of the town, adjacent to Townsend, but did not 
extend east to the line of Shirley. In 1774 the 
college sold the lot to Joseph Bellows for one hundred 
and twenty pounds. One hundred and sixty-nine 
acres of the school lot was located in 1764 on the 
easterly side of Pearl Hill. In 1764 a part of this lot 
fell in the limits of Fitchburg. The remainder of the 
school lands was located by a vote of the proprietors 
" at a place called Tofiet swamp " now in the south 
part of Fitchburg. For ministerial lands the pro- 
prietors laid out four lots. The town, apart from the 
proprietors, assumed control of the school and minis- 
terial lands, and near the close of the past century 
disposed of them in small parcels. 

Torrey, in his admirable sketch of Fitchburg and 
Lunei\burg, expresses surprise that with a grant of 
six miles square, the proprietors managed to secure a 



township so large. The General Court expressed an 
equal surprise one hundred years earlier, and ordered 
them to make a new measurement and report. What 
was subsequently done is briefly told in the Court 
records : 

November 28, 1729. A petition of Josiah Willard, Esq., and others, a 
committee of the town of Lunenburg, in the county of Middlesex, 
showing th.at the inhabitants have been at the charge of a new and 
more exact survey of the said Town and find thereby that they have 
Four thousand and one hundred and ninety-seven acres of Land within 
the limits of their Township above the original grant of six miles 
square, and forasmuch as they have been at great expense and Difficulty 
in their settlement by reason of the War; Therefore praying that the 
plan of said Town may be accepted and confirmed notwithetandiug the 
said overmeasure. 

In the House of Representatives read and ordered that the said plan 
be accepted and that the land therein delineated and described be and 
hereby is confirmed to the Grantees of Lunenburg, their Heirs and 
Assigns, provided it exceed not the contents set forth and does not inter- 
fere with any former grant. 

In Coimcil read & approved. 

Consented to 

Wm. Dummer, 

In this measurement no account was made of three 
thousand acres in the Woburn and Dorchester grants. 
They were included in the municipality ; but they 
were no part of the six miles square granted the pro- 
prietors. The ponds also were excluded. By the 
surveys of 1830 and 1831 Fitchburg has an area of 
17,879 acres; Lunenburg, of 17,494 acres; and esti- 
mating the area donated to Ashby at 1627 acres, the 
amount is 37,000 acres. Then to six miles square 
add the confession of the proprietors and the two 
independent grants, — the amount is 30,237 acres. 
Compared with other ancient surveys, the excess is 
not unusual. Not that acres then were larger than 
now, but that the practice of the time was liberal, 
and the methods of measurement not as exact. In 
the early surveys there was also an intentional allow- 
ance for uneven ground and generally one rod in 
fifty for what the early surveyors styled "swag of y° 
chain." 

The proprietors continued an organization over 
one hundred years and as long as any undivided 
land remained in Lunenburg, Fitchburg or a defined 
portion of Ashby. At a meeting in May, 1833, they 
adjourned to meet the next May at the house of Dr. 
Aaron Bard, and there the record ends. They re- 
ceived the grant from the General Court in commu- 
nity, and sold or donated It to individuals, and in 
their proceedings is vested the title to all the real 
estate within the original township. Except to re- 
ceive the school and ministerial lands, the town, as 
an organization, had no part in these proceedings. 
In two or three instances the proprietors sought the 
friendly offices and the superior influence of the 
town, which, through a kinship of interest, was in- 
variably granted. In this manner a few votes rela- 
ting to matters purely proprietary appear in the 
early records of the town. 

On the day following the act of incorporation the 
General Court adopted an order instructing Captain 
Josiah Willard to call the first town-meeting. Im- 



764 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



mediately the inhabitants of Lunenburg were duly 
warned to meet at the house of Ensign Jonathan 
Willard. This house was on the Lancaster Road 
and not far east of the Woburn grant. The first 
election ever made in this town called Captain Josiah 
Willard in parliamentary terms to the chair, but 
more probably he sat upon a block or stood through- 
out the meeting. The selectmen were: Lieutenant 
James Colburn, Captain Josiah Willard, Mr. Hilkiah 
Boynton, Mr. Ephraim Peirce and Mr. Samuel Page. 
Lieutenant Edward Hartwell was town treasurer, and 
for minor town officers choice was made of Isaac 
Farnsworth, Noah Dodge, Joshua Hutchins, Jona- 
than Willard, Nathan Heywood, Eleazer Houghton, 
Samuel Johnson, James Jewell, John Fisk, Jeremiah 
Norcross, Jacob Stiles and Jonathan Whitney. Isaac 
Farnsworth, who was the town clerk the first nine 
years of the town's history, made a record of the 
meeting and probably was chosen at this time, but either 
through modesty or carelessness he made no record of 
his first elt'ctiou. The record of the meeting pre- 
serves the names of many who were residents of Lun- 
enburg in 1728. Others who are known to be resi- 
dents at this time are: Rev. Andrew Gardner, Philip 
Goodridge, D.avid Peirce, David Gould, Moses Gould, 
Benoni Boynton, Jonas Gillson, Daniel Austin, John 
Grout and the sons of Samuel Pa?e and Philip Good- 
ridge. The town increased rapidly during the years 
immediately ensuing, introducing many new names, 
but quite nearly all who were here at the date of in- 
corporation are included in the foregoing list. The 
Hecond town-meeting, to raise money to meet public 
charges and to direct the building of the first meet- 
ing-house, was convened in September. The next 
meeting assembled in January, 1729. " It was voted 
and chose Capt. Josiah Willard Agent for y" Town of 
Lunenburg aforesaid to Join with Such other men as 
y' several neighboring towns shall appoint to Con- 
sider what may be best in order to divide y° Cofinty 
of Middlesex into two Counties." This proposition 
was met in 1731 by the incorporation of Worcester 
County. Excepting Woodstock, Conn., which, for 
some years, was considered a part of the county and 
State, Lunenburg in the order of age was the thir- 
teenth and youngejt town in the new county. 

Omitting mention of many roads extending from 
house to house within the town, one of the earliest 
exploits of the town was to make a road or amend the 
existing bridle-path, from Lunenburg Centre to the 
line of Lancaster. In 1743 a road was cut to the 
west line of the town " for the accommodation of 
Dorchester Can.ada (Ashburnham), Ipswich Canada 
(Winchendon) and the towns above us." In 1745 
the town voted that the men living in Captain Hart- 
well's company build a bridge over the North Branch 
"in the way that goes to David Goodridge's," and 
another bridge over the North Branch " in the way 
that goes to David Page's." The first place was at or 
near the bridge at South Fitchburg, and the other at 



the bridge on Laurel Street, in Fitchburg. At the 
same time the men residing in Captain Willard's 
company were directed to " build a bridge over Mul- 
lepus, in the way by or near Hezekiah Wetherbee's, 
and a bridge over said Mullepus in the way that goes 
to Townsend below Widow White's Mill." Subse- 
quently, money was r.aised at short intervals for re- 
pairing and building bridges at these points, but after 
the Indian wars the militia was not again detailed to 
do the work. The town refused to build a short piece 
of road for the accommodation of John Scott, and on 
his petition the court appointed a committee, who re- 
ported in 1754 that, '' having viewed the said road, 
have laid out y'' same to y" great satisfaction of Mr. 
John Scott and the owners of the land the road goes 
through, who freely gave their land for the road." 
This was a short and unimportant piece of road 
wholly within Fitchburg, and is described in the 
court records as " beginning at the land of said 
John Scott and running northeast on John Bridge's 
land, described by marked tree'", then on land of Mr. 
Mead, then on land of Joseph Eaton, then on land 
of Joseph SpoflTord to the road that comes from 
Isaac Gibson's." The presumption that it was a 
thoroughfare from Lunenburg Centre to the house 
of Mr. Scott is not sustained by the record. 

In the building of the Northfield road the town 
did not participate, yet this ancient road receives 
frequent mention in the records. In 1733 a town- 
ship bounding on Northfield was granted to Josiah 
Willard and his associates, many of whom were re- 
sidents of Lunenburg. The early name of the 
grant was Earlington and Arlington (now Winches- 
ter, N. H.), and the road became known both as the 
Northfield and the Earlington road. It was con- 
ditioned in the grant of the township that the 
grantees within two years " clear and make a con- 
venient travelling Road, twelve feet wide, from Lun- 
enburg to Northfield, and build a house for receiv- 
ing & Entertaining travellers on said Road, about 
midway between Northfield & Lunenburg afores''. — 
And for the Encouragement of a Sutable Family 
to settle in s"* House, It is resolved that there 
shall be granted to him that shall Dwell in s* 
House for the space of seven years from the Grant 
one hundred and fifty acres of land." 

Many residents of Lunenburg, of Townsend, and 
of " the lower towns " were employed, and the road 
was nearly or quite completed in the summer of 1733. 
There yet are many traditions handed down through 
several generations from ancestors who, in perpetual 
fear of the Indians, were engaged in this enterprise. 
The farm of one hundred and fifty acres on which 
was the house of entertainment was surveyed by 
Nathan Heywood, and located not far from where the 
west line of Winchendon was subsequently estab- 
lished. The survey was made October 7, 1733. In 
the autumn of 1734 Benjamin Bellows, Hilkiah 
Boynton and Moses Willard, a committee of the 



LUNENBUKG. 



765 



grantees of Arlington, petitioned the General Court 
for another traci of land on which to build another 
house of entertainment at a convenient point on the 
line of the road. This petition sets forth that the 
road from Lunenburg to Northfield is forty-two miles; 
that about twenty-four miles from Lunenburg there 
" is a house of entertainment set up to the great ease 
and comfort of persons travelling that road, and your 
petitioners, apprehending it would greatly accommo- 
date Travellers, more especially in the winter season, 
to have another House of Entertainment between 
Lunenburg and that already set up." The General 
Court promptly granted four hundred and fifty acres, 
which was surveyed by David Farrar and located on 
the line of the road in the northwest part of Ash- 
burnham. In 1735 a house was built, and for a few 
years a family occupied it. The Enos Jones farm is 
a part of this grant. After the obliterating influences 
of one hundred and fifty years, an attempt to accu- 
rately trace this ancient thoroughfare cannot be 
wholly successful. The ready voice of tradition offers 
too many .suggestions, and frequently points out roads 
that are known to have been built subsequently, and 
for other purposes. At several points the location is 
well-established by contemporaneous ricords. The 
old Northfield Eoad began at a point more than a 
mile southeast of the centre of Lunenburg, and 
probably on and using the Lancaster Road, it con- 
tinued past the Old or South Cemetery, and bearing 
northerly as far as the North Cemetery, and near that 
point making an angle, its course was nearly due west 
to near the present line of Fitchburg; then, possibly 
to avoid the rivers beyond, it bore north, and passed 
where John Fitch was subsequently captured, now 
the residence of Paul Gates, in Ashby ; thence it bore 
we-terly, and from the west line of Lunenburg, now 
in Ashby, to the east line of Northfield, it was cut 
through a wilderness of unappropriated land. The 
survey of an ancient grant in Ashburnham locates 
the road in its continued course at a point not far 
from where the present road from Rindge to Fitch- 
burg crosses the line between Ashburnham and 
Ashby. Then passing north of the North Branch of 
the Nashua and the South Branch of Miller's Rivers, 
its course, by the farm (formerly) of Enos Jones in 
Ashburnham, and near Spring Village in Winchen- 
don, is established by early records. 

In ] 757 an effort to divide the town was inaugurated. 
The eastern section was first settled, and continued 
to be the most populous. Here was the meeting- 
house, the pound and the stocks. Here was the re- 
pository of the records and of the standard weights 
and measures, and, in fact, the seat of government. 
The situation clearly demanded that in the event of 
a division by a north and south line, the western 
portion must be created into a new town. In har- 
mony with these conditions the issue was made. 
While the incorporation of a town was solely within 
the province of the General Court, the petitioners 



desired to fortify their solicitations by the consent 
and approval of the whole town. For a few years 
public sentiment was divided by the proposed geo- 
graphical line of division, and the larger number of 
voters in the eastern section denied the early petitions 
for a new town. The etfbrt was continually renewed 
and vigorously prosecuted, until in January, 1764, 
the consent of a majority of the whole town was 
obtained, and a line of division substantially the 
present town line was agreed upon. 

Immediately the inhabitants of the proposed town 
instructed John Fitch, Amos Kimball, Samuel Hunt, 
Ephraim Whitney and Jonathan Wood, who had 
been prominent in this affair, to obtain from the 
General Court an act of incorporation. Their mission 
was eminently successful, and Fitchburg, including 
more than one-half the area of the original township, 
was incorporated February 3, 1 /64. 

The limits of this sketch, excluding voluminous 
material and many interesting events and incidents 
in the early history of the town, has forbidden a fre- 
quent repetition of the names of committees and 
many other prominent characters ; but no apprecia- 
tive chapter of the early annals of Lunenburg can 
fail to associate the actors with the events, and to 
give some account of the early residents of the town. 

Of the committee of the General Court prominent 
in the early proceedings, Hon. William Tailer was a 
member of the Council, and the remaining four were 
members of the House of Representatives. Hon. 
William Tailer was boi^i March 10, 1677. He lived 
in Dorchester, where he died March 1, 1732. He 
was prominent in the early Indian Wars. In 1712 
he was chosen commander of the "Ancient and 
Honorable Artillery." He visited England, and re- 
turned with a commission as Lieutenant-Governor, 
and subsequently he was acting Governor of the 
Province. The name is here written "Tailer" to 
correspond with the usage of his time. Samuel 
Thaxter was of Hingham, and a son of Samuel and 
Elizabeth (Jacobs) Thaxter. He was a colonel, a 
magistrate, and from 1716 to 1719 a delegate or member 
of the House of Representatives. He died previous 
to 17-11. 

Francis Fullam was a magistrate and an influential 
citizen of Watertown. He was a member of the 
House of Representatives 1717-24, and a selectman 
of Watertown many years. At the incorporation of 
Weston his homestead fell in that town, where he 
died subsequent to 1752. He was the cltrk of the 
committee and his clear, ornate penmanship is pre- 
served. He wrote his name as here given, but in 
many records it is Fulham. Francis Fullam, who 
was residing in Fitchburg at the date of incorpora- 
tion, was his grandson. 

John Shepley was a son of Thomas, and was born 
in Charlestowu. He settled in Groton, where he 
died September 4, 1736. He was a prominent citizen 
and a member of the House of Representatives many 



TGG 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



years. Thia name in early records is written Shippie, 
Shiple and Sheple. 

Benjamin Wtiittemore, the fifth member of the 
committee, was born in Charlestown, September 1, 
1669. He was a son of John and Mary (Upham) 
Whittemore, of Charlestown and of Cambridge. 
Benjamin settled in Concord, where he became an 
active citizen, a selectman and a Representative sev- 
eral years. He died September 8, 1734. At the 
meetings of the committee Mr. Tailer was sometimes 
absent. The others, almost without exception, were 
present. 

Samuel Page, tlie first settler in Lunenburg, was 
born in Groton, June 4, 1672. He was a son of John 
and Faith (Dunster) Page. In 1719, when the com- 
mittee surveyed the township, they found him resid- 
ing on the province land and were entertained at his 
house. This Selkirk of the wilderness began a clear- 
ing on the Marshall place in 1718 or a year or two 
previously, and when discovered by the committee 
his family consisted of a wife Martha and seven chil- 
dren, the youngest an infant of ten months. Five 
other children were born in this town. In the ad- 
mission of grantees, he and his son Joseph became 
original proprietors of the town. He was a select- 
man, 1728 and 1731; collector, 1732; and School Com- 
mittee, 1738. The first pound was at his homestead, 
and he was chosen pound-keeper. He died September 
7, 1747. In sketches of the man and in tradition he 
is styled " Governor " Page, in recognition, perhaps, 
of the fact, that while his family constituted the pop- 
ulation of the locality he was the chief executive offi- 
cer of the domain, but there is no evidence that the 
title was employed during his life. Very probably, 
it is one of the pleasant fictions of tradition. 

Josiah Willard, whose active career would fill a 
volume, was a son of Henry and Dorcas (Cutler) Wil- 
lard. He was born in Lancaster, 1695. He removed 
to Lunenburg, 1723 or the following year, and was 
foremost in the affairs of the settlement. He was a 
captain on the frontiers and subsequently was a colo- 
nel and for a season was commandant at Fort Dum- 
mer. In 1733 he obtained, with others, many of them 
residents of this town, the grant of a township adja- 
cent to Northfield (now Winchester), N. H., and thither 
he removed, probably in 1737. During the remainder 
of his life his active energies .and achievements are 
conspicuous in the annals of New Hampshire. He 
died December 8, 1750. The following lines are 
copied from a journal announcing his death : " He 
was a gentleman of superior natural powers, of a 
pleasant, happy and agreeable temper of mind, a 
faithful Iriend, one that paid singular regard to min- 
isters of the Gospel, a kind husband and tender 
parent. His death is a great loss to the public and 
particularly on the western frontiers." 

Edward Hartweli, son of John and Elizabeth 
(Wright) Hartweli, was born in Concord May 25, 
1681. In early life he lived a few years in Lancaster, 



where he was a sergeant in the Indian wars in 1722, 
and a lieutenant a year or two later. He was in 
Lancaster in the spring of 1725, but in August of 
that year he wrote the Governor of the Province that 
he had removed to Turkey Hills, where he had built 
a house and made improvements upon his land. 
He closed the letter with an assurance that at his 
new home he was " in a good capacity to serve his 
King and country." He was one of the grantees of 
the town, and probably he had been engaged in clear- 
ing land and building a house during a part of the 
years 1721-24. He settled on the Lancaster Road, 
over three miles from the centre of the town. 

He was a man of great size and physical strength 
and power of endurance. Possessing an equally 
strong mind, energy and force of character, he con- 
tinually exercised a commanding influence over the 
rising fortunes of the settlement. In the troublous 
times on the frontiers he was much employed in the 
service, and rose to the rank of major. He was a 
deacon of the church, selectman, town treasurer, 
School Committee and frequently was elected to im- 
portant committees and to other office in town affairs. 
He was a Representative many years, serving in this 
capacity at eighty-five years of age. 

From an early date he was a magistrate, and in 
1750 he was appointed judge of the Court of Com- 
mon Pleas, succeeding Judge Joseph Dwight, and 
was continued on the bench until a reorganization of 
the court, in 1762. In addition to these accumulat- 
ing trusts and responsibilities, it is a surprise that a 
single life-time afforded opportunity for his well-man- 
aged private affairs and many other active employ- 
ments. With Colonel Willard and Colonel Benja- 
min Bellows, he was a manager of the Northfield 
Road, and was a grantee of several townships. 
Among the proprietors of Dorchester Canada (Ash- 
burnham) he was a controlling spirit from 1736 to 
'44, serving on nearly every committee, and was one 
of the men who cut a road from the Lunenburg 
line to the centre of the town. For many years he 
was the clerk of the proprietors of Lunenburg, and 
recorde4 the original title to every lot of land in the 
township, except a small area of undivided land, 
which remained unsold at the time his successor was 
chosen. He died February 17, 1785, " as full of piety 
as of days." He lives in every page of the early 
records, and there is found his only monument. He 
rests in an unknown grave. 

Isaac Farnsworth, son of Benjamin and Mary 
(Prescott) Farnsworth, was born in Groton July 4, 
1701. He settled near the centre of the town in 
1724. At this time his home was enlivened with a 
wife and one child. Six children were born in this 
town. He was an influential man, and was the first 
town clerk, serving nine years. He wrote a fair 
hand, and had more regard for the laws of orthogra- 
phy than many of his associates. About 1740 the JM 
family returned to Groton. ^ 



LUNENBURG. 



767 



Widow Jane Boynton came to this town in 1724 or 
'25, bringing witli her the memory of a deceased hus- 
band and lourteeQ living children. She did much to 
advance the settlement. She and her family came 
from Rowley, and, owing to the number of her 
grown-up sons, they settled in several places. One 
of her daughters became the wife of John Grout, a 
useful citizen, the owner of house-lot No. 83. and a 
selectman several years. Another daughter married 
Zachariah Whitney, who died in this town, 1781. 

David Page, a son of Samuel, who settled in the 
western part of the town, and often said to be the 
first settler in Fitchburg, married a daughter of this 
numerous family. Mrs. Boynton, the mother, died 
in 1761, aged only a few days less than one hundred 
years. Benoni Boynton, probably the eldest son, set- 
tled nearly a mile north of the North Cemetery. He 
married in Rowley, and lived a few years in Groton 
before he came to Lunenburg. His name is fre- 
quently met in the early records. He died Decem- 
ber 30, 1758. 

Hilkiah Boynton, another son, was much employed 
in town affairs, and was connected with some of the 
land speculations of his time. He died November 
16, 1745. 

Philip Goodridge, born in Newbury in 1668 or '69, 
settled here about 1724, and died January 16, 1729. 
On his tomb-stone is engraved " The first man in- 
terred here." His descendants to the present day 
have been numerous in this town, and are found 
throughout New England. This name is frequently 
written Goodrich. They have been distinguished by 
industry, ability and character. 

Benjamin Goodridge, eldest son of Philip, was 
born in Newbury February 3, 1701. He lived in the 
southwest part of the town, and was a most active 
and influential man, and prominent in both proprie- 
tary and town ati'airs. The number of his elections 
to office is without a parallel in the history of the 
town. He was a selectman thirty years, town clerk 
twenty-two years, and constable, collector, member 
of School Committee and a magistrate several years, 
and a captain in the French and Indian War. He 
died April 19, 1773. 

Samuel Johnson, son of Edward and Esther (Gard- 
ner) Johnson, was born in Woburn, February 21, 
1692. He was an influential man in the afl'airs of the 
settlement, the first deacon of the church, a town of- 
ficer many years, and by occupation an inn-holder. He 
accumulated a good estate and was one of the pro- 
prietors of several townships in New Hampshire. 

Nathan Heywood, son of John and Sarah Hey- 
wood, was born in Concord, September 24, 1698. He 
was a noted surveyor, and his name is attached to the 
surveys of many townships. He was one of the first 
settlers of the town, living at No. 175 on the Kilburn 
map. He was a town officer, a lieutenant and a deputy- 
sheriff. He was living here at the beginning of the 
present century, but there is no record of his death. 



Thomas Prentice, born in Lancaster, 1710, a son of 
Rev. John Prentice, was a man of ability, and while 
he remained here he was evidently popular and re- 
spected. About 1750 he returned to Lancaster, and 
subsequently removed to Newton. His mother, by a 
former marriage, was the mother of Rev. Andrew 
Gardner, the first minister of Lunenburg. 

Ephraim Wetherbee early settled in this town. He 
was a captain, a town ofiicer and actively engaged in 
land speculations. His name appears in the lists of 
grantees of townships in New Hampshire. He died in 
Boston, November 7, 1745. 

Benjamin Bellows, son of John and Mary (Wood) 
Bellows, born 1677, married, 1704, the widowed 
mother of Col. Josiah Willard. They resided in Lan- 
caster (now Harvard), where their four children were 
born. In 1728, or immediately following, the family 
removed to this town. He settled in the centre of the 
town, on the estate known as the Dr. King place, and 
in a i'evi years he owned many acres of land in this 
town. One daughter married Moses Gould, another 
married Fairbanks Moore, and the youngest became 
the wife of Ephraim Wetherbee. He died 1743 ; his 
widow died September 8, 1747. 

Col. Benjamin Bellows, only son of Benjamin, wag 
born in Lancaster, May 26, 1712, and removed to 
Walpole, N. H., 1752, where he died, July 10, 1777. 
From the time of his majority until he removed from 
this town he was the recipient of many honors, and 
in the conduct of public affairs he was associated with 
Col. Josiah Willard, Major Edward Hartwell, Ben- 
jamin Goodridge, Esq., and other worthies of the 
town, and among them all, except in years, he found 
no superiors. He was a surveyor, a farmer and was 
earnestly enlisted in the land speculations which were 
rife in those times. His subsequent career in Wal- 
pole and the eminent public services of many of his 
descendants enliven the annals of New Hamjishire. 



CHAPTER XCVIL 

LUNENBURG— (Co;; ;■/«;/«/. ) 

Indian Alarvt£ — The French and Indian Wars — Capture of John Fitch — 
The Bevululion—Tlie War of the llelcllion. 

From the time a number of men, sufficient to 
attract the vigilant attention of the colonial govern- 
ment, had gathered in the settlement until the decla- 
ration of peace in 1763 the town was almost contin- 
uously represented in the military service. In addition 
to stated service in the wars of the period, rumors of 
the presence of Indians at a near or remote point, and 
the frequent necessity of scouting through the un- 
settled country to the north and the west were con- 
tinually calling the hardy settlers to arms. In seasons 
of more imminent danger the men at work in the fields 
weie attended by an equal number of soldiers, and 



708 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS 



sometimes the harvests of the town were garnered by 
armed men going in a body from fleld to field. Many 
of the military rolls are not preserved, and the history 
of much of this desultory service cannot be recalled. 
The military affairs were directed by the government, 
and ignoring the agency of towns, it made demands 
upon the able-bodied men of the province at large. 
For this reason the local records furnish very little 
information of an important feature of the history of 
the time. Beginning with the French and Indian 
Wars, many of the rolls are preserved in the archives 
of the State, and these contain the names of many 
Lunenburg men. In a record of deaths is found the 
name of one of the sons of the first settler of Lunen- 
burg, who was a soldier in the unfortunate expedition 
under Admiral Vernon to the West Indies : " John 
Page, the son of M' Samuel Page, of Lunenburg, Dyed 
at Jamaica, Being there in y'^ Spanish Expedition, 
December y° twenty-ninth A. D. 1740, as they hear.'' 

It is certain there were several Lunenburg men in 
Col. Samuel Willard's regiment, who participated in 
the capture of Louisbourg in the summer of 1745; 
among these was Jonathan Hubbard, who was recom- 
mended for promotion and who subsequently was a 
major. He lived in Lunenburg from 1732 to 1756. 
He was a deacon, a town officer and a mest influen- 
tial citizen. Immediately after the capture of John 
Fitch, Capt. Jonathan Willard, of this town, was or- 
dered by Col. Samuel Willard to scout through the 
" upper towns." The following Lunenburg men were 
in this service July and August, 1748: Jonathan Wil- 
lard, captain ; Timothy Bancroft, Thomas Brown, John 
Dunsmoor, Isaac Gib.son, David Goodridge, Nehemiah 
Gould, Samuel Johnson, Amos Kimball, Ebenezer 
Kimball, Ephraim Kimball, Jonathan Page, Samuel 
Poole, William Porter, Thomas Stearns, Samuel Stow, 
Jonathan Wood, Paul Wetherbee, Ezekiel Wyman 
and Zachary Wyman. This John Dunsmoor subse- 
quently was a noted physician in this town. Jonathan 
Wood was a captain in the Eevolution, and several 
of these men were then residing in the west part of 
the town, now Fitchburg. Between 1736 and 1744 
a considerable number of families had settled in New 
Ipswich, Rindge, Ashburnham and Winchendon. 
Their presence on the border lent a feeling of com- 
parative security to the dwellers of Lunenburg, who 
for a season were protected from the dangers of the 
extreme frontier. 

In 1744 the younger towns were deserted and 
again Lunenburg assumed her former position on the 
border. For the defence of the undeserted frontier a 
series of block-houses or garrisons on the exterior 
llne< of Townsend, Lunenburg and Westminster were 
built, and here a line of defence was drawn. Soldiers 
under the pay of the province were detailed for the 
support of the garrisons. In 1748 a company of 
forty-seven men, under command of Captain Edward 
Hartwell, was raised for this service, and, while under 
one command, were distributed along the border of 



the defended towns. Ten of this company were 
assigned to the block-houses in Townsend, ten to 
Lunenburg, fifteen to Westminster and three to Leo- 
minster. The remaining nine was a staif of inspec- 
tion, comprising the officers and a body-guard. For- 
tunately, the official roll is preserved : Edward Hart- 
well, captain ; John Stevens, lieutenant ; John Hol- 
den, sergeant ; James Johnson, clerk ; Joseph Baker, 
Timothy Hall, Fairbanks Moore, Jr., corporals; Ab- 
ner Holden, William Bemis, Jonathan Farnsworth, 
Elias Stone, Ephraim Dutton, Simon Farnsworth, 
Ebenezer Hadley, John Thomson, Elisha Pratt, 
Ebenezer Wood, Jonathan Pett, Zaccheus Blodget, 
Samuel Wood, Joseph Jennings, Stephen Farns- 
worth, John Nichols, Nehemiah Wood, Benoni Boyn- 
ton, Benoni Boynton, Jr., Jos<iph Platts, Nicholas 
Dyke, Abel Platts, William Smith, James Preston, 
Ephraim Stevens, Joshua Benjamin, John Rumrill, 
Nehemiah Holden, Oliver Barrett, William Gilford, 
James King, William Graham, Jonathan White, 
Joseph Wheelock, Thomas Wilder, Thomas Stearns, 
David Dunster, Joseph Holden, Jr., Stephen Holden, 
Eli-sha Bigelow. Of these, thirty enlisted in April, 
two in May, the eight last named June 24th and the 
rest in June, July and August. In the column of 
expiration of service Zaccheus Blodget and Joseph 
Jennings are marked " .luly 5 ;" five were discharged 
at different date>( and the remainder were mustered 
out the middle of October. A minute upon the mus- 
ter-roll announces that the five last named were 
added to the Westminster detail, making fifteen -in 
all, and that Jonathan White, Joseph Wheelock and 
Thomas Wilder were stationed in Leominster. 

Notwithstanding these measures of precaution, on 
the morning of the 5th of July the Indians made a 
sudden attack upon one of these fortified places. 
The one selected by the enemy was the most northern 
of the garrisons upon the line of Lunenburg, which 
stood where Paul Gates now resides in the present 
town of Ashby. 

The house was on the Northfield road, seven miles 
from Lunenburg Centre, and was owned and occu- 
pied by John Fitch, whose family consisted of a wife 
and five children. The ages of the children were: 
Catharine, thirteen years; John, eleven years ; Paul, 
six years and six months ; Jacob, four years; and Su- 
sannah, sixteen months. Four soldiers were stationed 
at this house or garrison, but, on the day of the as- 
sault, only Zaccheus Blodgett and Joseph Jennings 
were present. The story of the capture has been 
told many times, and generally with the Surdody em- 
bellishment. Admitting that Surdody is a good name 
for an Indian, it remains very probable that the In- 
dians made an attack at the most exposed and soli- 
tary point in the line of defense, and if they came 
in the last stages of their march over the Northfield 
road, they were led directly to the point of attack. 
Previous to the moment of the assault no considera- 
ble number of the Indians had been discovered at 



\ 



LUNENBURG. 



769 



any point in tlie line, while during the following 
flays they were found in several localities in this im- 
mediate vicinity. Mr. Fitch, in a petition to the 
General Court December 10, 1749, says he had no 
neighbors within three and one-half miles to join 
with him in fortifying his house, " yet divers of the 
inhabitantsof Lunenburg, knowing the great security 
that a garrison at his plape might be, urged him to 
build one and assisted him iu it." After making 
known that four soldiers were stationed at his garri- 
son, in 1748, he proceeds in modest terms to give a 
narrative of the eventful day: "And on the fifth of 
July in the same year, by reason of bodily infirmity, 
there were but two soldiers with him, although others 
with tlie scouts were to come in that day. On that 
day, before noon and before the scouts came, the In- 
dian enemy appeared and shot down one soldier upon 
being discovered and immediately drove him [John 
Fitch] and the other soldier into the garrison. And 
after besieging the same about one hour and a half, 
they killed the other soldier through the port-hole in 
the fl inker. Then your petitioner was left alone 
with his wife and five children and soon after he sur- 
rendered." The Indians burned the house, killed 
an ox and conducted the family to Canada. It has 
been stated that the family were ransomed by " friends 
in Bradford, where he formerly resided." It has not 
been shown that Mr. Fitch ever lived in Bradford, 
and the fact is he was returned by the French with 
others at the suspension of hostilities. In company 
with five French officers and other prisoners, he ar- 
rived in New York, by the way of Albany, September 
23, 1748, not yet three months after his capture. 
When the complete exchange of prisoners was made 
ii not known, and the feeble health of his wife might 
have delayed his progress home. She died in Provi- 
dence, R. I., December 24, 1748. The capture was 
probably made and the house was in flames about 
noon, yet it is current tradition that no resident of the 
town was informed of the event until the following 
day. This is improbable. It is certain, however, 
that Captain Hartwell called his company together 
and that an alarm and great excitement pervaded 
the town. On the 8th of July, 1748, the inhabitants 
of Lunenburg and Leominster joined a petition to 
Governor Shirley setting forth that the Indians " very 
lately have beeu among us," and earnestly praying 
for an additional number of soldiers. Four days later 
the commissioned officers and selectmen of Lunen- 
burg forward a similar petition announcing that the 
family of John Fitch was captured and two soldiers 
killed on the oth instant, and that on the 7th instant 
the Indians " discovered themselves in a bold, in- 
sulting manner three miles further into town than 
was the garrison which they had destroyed, where 
they chased and shot at one of the inhabitants, who 
narrowly escaped their hands." They further state 
that three days the people were rallied by alarms and 
hurried into the woods after the enemy. It was ' 
49 



David Goodridge who was the hero of this exploit, 
and the scene was within the limits of Fitchburg. 
Mr. Goodridge subsequently was a lieutenant in one 
of the Crown Point expeditions. 

Joseph Jennings, one of the soldiers slain at the 
Fitch garrison, was a drafted man from Western 
(now Warren). He was an apprentice to Samuel Bliss, 
and when he came to Lunenburg he brought Mr. 
Bliss' gun, which fell into the hands of the Indians — 
perhaps the hands of Surdody. Mr. Bliss sent a com- 
munication to Governor Shirley alleging that the gun 
was worth ten pounds, and beside, that he had lost 
the time of his apprentice, and made it apparent that 
all in all he was neither blissful nor satisfied. The 
government was tender and compassionate, and while 
there appeared to be no spare men on hand, they sent 
him a new gun. 

Zaccheus Blodget was probably from Dracut. 
Oliver Blodget was residing there in 1749 and gave 
an order for the wages due his deceased brother, " who 
was killed by the Indians last year." 

John Fitch was born in the part of Billerica now 
in Bedford, February 12, 1707-8. His father, Samuel 
Fitch (a son of Samuel, grandson of Dea. Zachary 
Fitch, of Reading), married Elizabeth Walker and 
settled on a part of the Winthrop grant in Billerica, 
which he inherited from his maternal grandfather. 
Job Lane. John was the sixth of nine children. He 
was a second cousin of Zachariah Fitch, who was the 
guardian of James Kibby. Joseph Fitch, the father 
of the wife of William Downe, was a brother of Zach- 
ariah. John Fitch came to Lunenburg a few years 
after the date of incorporation. He married Susannah 
Gates, a daughter of Simon and Hannah (Benjamin) 
Gates, of Stow, and in 1735 he purchased a part of an 
original house-lot, No. 66, adjoining the lot of Eph- 
raim Pierce, about two miles south of the centre of 
the town (near No. 188 on the Kilburn map). Here 
he lived until 1739, when he bought of Ephraim 
Wetherbee one hundred and twenty acres " at a place 
called Rendevous in Lunenburg and adjoining Town- 
send." This land, now in Ashby, is the homestead 
of Paul Gates. Subsequently he bought a consider- 
able adjoining land. Upon his return from captivity 
he built a house on or very near the site of the gar- 
rison, and there resided over twenty years. He mar- 
ried, February 14, 1750-1, Elizabeth (Bowers) Peirce, 
widow of David Peirce, ef Lunenburg. About this 
date he received a substantial legacy from the estate 
of Simon Gates, the father of his first wife. By the 
division of Lunenburg in 1764 his homestead became 
a part of Fitchburg, and in 1767 it was included in 
the new town of Ashby. Occupying the same house, 
he was a citizen of three towns within a short space 
of time. He was the chairman of the committee to 
procure an act dividing Lunenburg and creating a 
new town, and in his honor the name of Fitchburg 
was bestowed. In his estate he was prospered, and 
for several years was one of the few names on the tax- 



i70 



HISTOKY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



Iist8 assessed for mouey at interest. He was moderator 
of the first town-meeting in Asliby, a constable and a 
member of the first Board of Selectmen. He became 
engaged in land speculation, and deeds of land bought 
or sold by him are very numerous in the registry of 
Worcester County and Cheshire and Hillsborough 
Counties in New Hampshire. In 1772 he removed 
from Ashby to Rindge, N. H., where he lived until 
1779, when he removed to Harvard. In 1780 he re- 
moved to Jaflrey, N. H. His wife was living in 1774. 
She probably died in Rindge or in Harvard. Alone 
and aged, and for some cause in poverty, the closing 
and fading scene of an active, eventful and useful life 
only remains. In 1785 he returned to Ashby, and 
finding a home in the family of a relative, he was sup- 
j)orted in part by the town. He died April 8, 1795, 
aged eighty-seven years. 

Succeeding these stirring times, a truce was main- 
tained a few years between England and France, and 
until 1755 very few men from this town are found in 
the service. 

In Col. Willard's regiment (a part of the expedition 
to Crown Point) was a company commanded by Capt. 
Samuel Hunt, containing twenty-four men from this 
town, eight from Townsend, four from Leominster 
and ten from other places. These men were in the 
service from August 11, 1755, to January 1, 1756. 
The names of the Lunenburg men are as follows: 
Samuel Hunt, captain ; Samuel Poole, ensign ; Jona- 
than Bradstreet, sergeant ; Gilbert Thornton, ser- 
geant ; Samuel Hutchins, corporal ; Samuel Stow, 
Timothy Bancroft, Archelaua Mcintosh, Phinehas 
Divol, Thomas Wetherbee, Stephen Foster, Timothy 
Darnell, Ephraim Peirce, Nathaniel Carlton, Jona- 
than Stevens, Moses Spofford, Scripture Frost, 
Thomas Stearns, Thomas Rand, Bezaleel Wood, Wil- 
liam Chadwick, Eliphalet Goodridge, Jewett Boyn- 
ton and Thomas Holt. 

In another company, but serving a longer time, 
were Patrick Delany, Pearson Eaton, John Scott and 
Thomas Jewett. 

An undated roll in the Crown Point service, and 
probably a part of this expedition, bears the names 
of Ebenezer Hart, Nathaniel Page, Silas Button, 
Abijah Wetherbee, Jonathan Wetherbee, John Mar- 
tin, Solomon Bigelow, Samuel Cummings, Jr., Reu- 
ben Wyman, Simon Smith, John Henderson and 
William Kimball. The last named was a servant or 
an apprentice of George Kimball, who enlisted under 
a name borrowed of his master. 

Among the rolls of the following year a company 
commanded by Cai)t. James Reed, containing thirty- 
eight men, was in Col. Ruggles' regiment at Fort Ed- 
ward. The roll is valuable, containing the name, 
age, birth-place, residence and occupation of each 
man. 

The names of the Lunenburg men are Thomas 
Brown, ensign; John Harriman, sergeant; John 
Moffet, clerk ; Samuel Hutchins, corporal ; Nehe- 



miah Bowers, Timothy Darling, Joseph Gilson, Ma- 
nassah Litch, Joseph Platts, Joseph Reed, Robert 
Spear, John Scott, Bradstreet Spofford, Reuben 
Smith, Benjamin Scott, Jonas Tarbell, Michael 
Wood, Phinehas Wheelock, William Holt. In this 
company Philip Goodridge was lieutenant, but he 
was sick and not with the company when the forego- 
ing pay-roll was made up. John Harriman died in 
the service. On the roll two others are reported dead 
who are known to have returned. 

In 1757 Jonathan Page, William Jones and Moses 
Spofford were in the service, and a part of the time 
were stationed at Castle William. 

On the rolls of 1759 are many I^unenburg names. 
These men were also in the Crown Point service, and 
omitting names who are found in the preceding roll, 
there remain David Pierce, David Carlile, Moses Page, 
Patrick Delany, Jonathan Peabody, Moses Eitter, Jr., 
Moses Platts, Dean Carlton, Zephaniah Buss, Simeon 
Burnham, Samuel iQibson, Samuel Parker, Nathaniel 
Page, Jr., Samuel Hammond, Josiah Dodge, Jr., Da- 
vid Chaplin, Jr., Benjamin Gould, Richard Fowler, 
John White, Patrick White and John Wyman. Jidin 
Wyman died in the service. During the years 1760 
and 1761, and in the final and successful effort for the 
conquest of Canada, a martial record is continued. 
Among the names of new recruits appear the names 
of William Kendall, Samuel Hutchins, Moses Platts, 
Samuel Hilton and Nathan Platts, and in the com- 
pany of Captain Aaron Brown, of Littleton, were 
John Martin, sergeant, Jonathan Boynton, Samuel 
Downe, Timothy Parker, John Simonds, Ezekiel 
Simonds, William Simonds and Simon Smith; also in 
the company of Captain Beaman, of Lancaster, 
Joseph Reed and Samuel Wyman are reported among 
" the invalids brought home from the westward." 
Other men in this company were Daniel Carlile, Pat- 
rick Delany, Joseph Gilson, John Hogg, Aaron 
Hodgkins, Jonathan Page, Samuel Peabody, Daniel 
Ritter, Ebenezer Wyman, Reuben Wyman, Oliver 
Powers. About this time John Spear and Silas Wy- 
man died in the service. Five Lunenburg men in 
1761 were in the company of Captain Aaron Willard: 
Jeremiah Stiles, drummer, John Hill, William Hen- 
derson, Joshua Page and Israel Wyman. These ex- 
tended lists do not contain the names of all the resi- 
dents of Lunenburg who were in the service, yet the 
most of them have never appeared in print before. 
With limited space at command, in some instances 
only one enlistment is given of those who entered the 
service again the succeeding year. It will be found 
that many of the persons named were subsequently 
rtsidents of other towns, but they lived in Lunenburg 
at the time the service was performed. 

The Revolutionary history of Lunenburg should 
include a series of patriotic resolutions which 
were debated and adopted during the mouths of active 
thought and excitement immediately preceding an 
open declaration of hostilities, and which, with the 



LUNENBUEG. 



771 



space at command, cannot be quoted. They cover 
several pages of the records and are clearly expressive 
of a sentiment and purpose that animated and sus- 
tained the patriots of Lunenburg through the trials 
and sacrifices of the war. Two companies of twenty- 
seven men each, exclusive of officers, were organized 
October 25, 1774. In the choice of officers all males 
over sixteen years of age were allowed to vote. The 
town approved of the selection made by the men as 
follows: George Kimball, captain ; David Wood, first 
lieutenant ; Jonathan Peirce, second lieutenant, and 
Benjamin Redington, ensign of the first company. 
Abijah Stearns, captain ; Jared Smith, first lieuten 
ant; Moses Ritter, second lieutenant, and Phineas 
Hutchins, ensign of the second company. The 
terms first and second did not have an ordinal signifi- 
cance. A geographical line divided the town in two 
parts and a company was organized in each section. 
On the 18th day of April the minute-men were 
called out for drill and a practice in the manual of 
arms. After a dinner, provided by the officers, they 
were marched to the meeting-house, where a sermon 
was delivered by Rev. Zibdiel Adams, from the text: 
"Though a host should encamp against me, my 
heart shall not fear." — Psalm xxvii. 3. 

The spring of 1775 was unusually warm and for- 
ward. On the morning of the 19th of April, 
the farmers of Lunenburg were sowing grain and 
plowing their fields. On the preceding day they had 
learned from their chosen commanders the discipline 
and from their esteemed pastor the duties of the sol- 
dier. In arm and mind the rustic toilers became the 
patriot soldiers. As they toiled on the war had be- 
gun, yet they knew it not. The swift messages of the 
morning were not long delayed. Some time in the 
forenoon, tradition says at nine o'clock, the alarm 
was fired in this town. 

A full company from Lunenburg marched for Con- 
cord — tradition says so early that they reached Con- 
cord and beyond that evening, but the muster-roll 
would indicate that they proceeded with more prep- 
aration and deliberation : 

'• A Muster Roll of a company or party of men that 
marched from Lunenburg on y"^ 20"" of April, 1775, 
for the Defense of the Colony against the ministerial 
troops under the Command of George Kimball, Cap' 
of a company in Lunenburg, who marched in Conse- 
quence of an alarm made the lO"" of April, 1775. 
George Kimball, captain ; David Wood, first lieu- 
tenant; Samuel Kimball, second lieutenant; Boman 
Brown, sergeant; John Searle, do.; Benj. Darling, 
do.; Samuel Farrar, do.; Samuel Hutchinson, cor- 
poral ; Samuel Hilton, do.; Daniel Holt, do.; Bar- 
nabas Wood, do.; David Chaplin, drummer; Silas 
Gibson, John Wood, Abijah Page, Nathan Johnson, 
Isaac Bailey, Andrew Mitchell, Edward Richards, 
Moses Sanderson, Charles Gilchrist, Pearson Eaton, 
John McCarty, Benj. Redington, William Prentice, 
Jacob Stile-', Solomon Hovey, Eli Dodge, Zebulon 



Wallis, Moses Ritter, Thomas Simonds, David Hough- 
ton, Jonathan Peirce, Obediah Walker, William Gil- 
christ, Jacob Sanderson, John Dole, Nehemiah Lane, 
Nathaniel Hastings, Joseph Hartwell, Joshua Reed, 
Benjamin Goodridge, Asa Carlton, Amos Page, 
Thomas Wetherbee, Thaddeus Cummings, Phinehas 
Divol, Benoni Wallis, George Henry, John Little, 
John Campbell, Joseph Foster, Caleb Taylor, Jere- 
miah Willard, Curwin Wallis, William Goodridge, 
Samuel Johnson, Joseph Priest, Nathan Chapman, 
Seth Harrington." Here are sixty names, and beside 
some who hastened forward independent of organiza- 
tion, there were two officers and five men from this 
town in the Leominster company, as follows : Joseph 
Bellows and Thomas Harkness, lieutenants ; Noah 
Dodge, Phinehas Carter, Israel Wyman, Richard 
Fowler and Jonathan Martin. 

From the men and companies thus gathered at 
Cambridge and from new recruits constantly arriving 
an army for the siege of Boston was organized. A 
full company, composed of Lunenburg and Fitch- 
burg men, were in Colonel Asa Whitcomb's regi- 
ment a part of the time at least and remained in the 
service at Boston until the close of the year. The 
roll is as follows : John Fuller, of Lunenburg, cap- 
tain; Ebenezer Bridge, of Fitchburg, lieutenant; 
Jared Smith, of Lunenburg, lieutenant. 

Hen from Lunenburg : — Josiah Hartwell, Samuel 
Farrer, Samuel Litch, Ephraim Martin, John Well- 
man, John Wason, John Hill, Jonathan Taylor, 
Eleazer Priest, Adonijah (or Darius) Houghton, Sol- 
omon Boynton, Manassah Divol, Timothy Carlton, 
Francis Henry, Sewell Dodge, Benjamin Walker, 
Jonas Hazeltine, David Wetherbee, Joseph Foster, 
Jeremiah Willard, William Goodridge, Caleb Taylor, 
Thomas Hazeltine, Cheever Fowler, Henry Cockman, 
Samuel Johnson, Curwin Wallis, Joseph Priest, 
Nathan Chapman, Ephraim Holden, Stephen Wy- 
man, Abraham Carlton, Abijah Goodridge, James 
Carter, William Ritter, William Alexander. 

Men from Fitchburg: — Jonathan Hunt, Edward 
Hartwell, Thomas Gary, Joseph Gilson, Ebenezer 
Harrington, Joseph Policy, Eleazer Priest, Nathaniel 
Gibson, William Bean, Ebenezer Policy, Samuel 
Downe, Jonathan Gibson, Daniel Harris, Stephen 
Bailey, Joseph Farwell, Thomas Platts, Roger Bige- 
low, John Goodridge, Clark Bancroft, Stephen Ful- 
ler, Aaron Hodgkins, Thomas Kimball, also John 
Taylor, of Hillsborough; Thomas Ball, of Concord ; 
and Charles Raley, residence not stated on the roll. 

In the same service and in Colonel Doolittle's reg- 
iment Captain Jo iah Stearns, of Lunenburg, com- 
manded a company of sixty-one men. In this com- 
pany William Thurlo, of Fitchburg, was lieutenant 
and the following were Lunenburg men : John Searle, 
Joi-ihua Martin, John Hall, Jacob Stewart, Barnaby 
Wood, Joseph Chaplin, Benjamin Bailey, John 
Brown, William Clark, Levi Dodge, James Darling, 
Pearson Eaton, Asa Jones, John MoB'at, William 



772 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



Prentiss, Thomas Peirce, John Ritter, John Stearns 
(died in the service), Joseph Siraonds, Moses Sander- 
son, Aaron Taylor, Seth Wyman, William Wyman, 
Joab Wetherbee; also five from Fitchburg and thirty 
from other places. 

There were other men from this town in the ser- 
vice during the summer and autumn of this year. 
The residence is stated upon the original rolls and 
there is no room for doubt concerning the identity of 
the men. While the following list increases the 
number of Lunenburg men who served in the siege 
of Boston, it is not presumed to include everyone: 
Elnathan Sawtell, Timothy Darling, Joshua Good- 
ridge, Samuel Priest, Kichard Gilchrist, Elijah Gould, 
Nathan Pushee, Joshua Reed, Peter Davis, Abraham 
Ireland, Abner Mitchell, William Hennessey, Joseph 
Chaplin, Joseph Chaplin, Jr., Thomas Hovey, Isaac 
Baily and Zebulon Willis. The last named probably 
is the same person as Zebulon Wallis in the roll of 
minute-men. 

On the 23d of May, 1775, Dr. John Taylor was 
elected a Representative to the Assembly, which con- 
vened at Watertown on the 19th of July. 

1776. — At the annual election of town officers in 
March a Committee of Correspondence, Inspection 
and Safety was chosen. They were: William Stearns, 
Abijah Stearns, George Kimball, Benjamin Reding- 
ton, Joseph Hartwell, Joaiah Stearns and Daniel 
Gardner. From this time town-meetings were no 
longer called " In His Majesty's Name," but " in the 
name of the government and the people of Massa- 
chusetts Bay," they found a greeting more congenial 
to a sentiment of independence. By a vote of the 
town Stephen Gorham was allowed " to take earth 
Irom undtr the meeting-house for to make saltpeter.'' 
During the remaining years of the war the inhabit- 
ants often assembled in town-meeting and the rec- 
ords furnish abundant evidence of a continued and 
patriotic effort in raising men to renew the decimated 
ranks of the army and in meeting the increasing 
burdens of taxation. The enlistments in 1776 were 
many and the rolls, to a considerable extent, repeat 
the names of the preceding year. A partial list of 
the soldiers for a longer or shorter period during the 
succeeding years include: William Pope, Aaron 
Buss, John Fuller, George Kimball, David Carlisle 
and Joshua Martin, who were captains in the service, 
and also the following lieutenants: Thomas Hark- 
ness, Jared Smith, David Wood, Jonathan Peirce, 
Benjamin Redington, Moses Ritter, Phinehas Hutch- 
ins and John Little. A partial list of soldiers not 
yet named are: Thomas Wetherbee, Zephaniah Wood, 
Abraham Lowe, Thomas Hill, David Wallis, Benoni 
Wallis, John Buss, George Landers, Benjamin Stew- 
art, Abijah Wetherbee, Ebenezer Wallis, Jonathan 
Messer, William Lowe, Ephraim Wetherbee, Daniel 
Wetherbee, Nathaniel Ha'^tings, Isaac Wetherbee, 
Calvin Graves and George Martin ; Peter Bathrick, 
Abraham Carlton, Jr., .Tames Carter, William Gil- 



christ and Charles Gilchrist, who died in the ser- 
vice. 

Col. Abijah Stearns was prominent in military 
affairs during the Revolution, and during a residence 
of many years in this town he was an active citizen 
and a worthy man. He was the youngest brother of 
Rev. David and Dea. William Stearns, of this tpvvn, 
and was born in Watertown, December 19, 1724. He 
came here as early as 1751, living at the centre of the 
town. He was often elected to office and during the 
war he commanded a regiment in two or more cam- 
paigns. He died November 6, 1783. 

Col. Joseph Bellows, a son of Col. Benjamin, the 
founder of Walpole, N. H., and a brother of Gen. 
Benjamin Bellows, was born in this town June 6, 
1744. After the family removed to Walpole he re- 
turned in early manhood to this town. He was a 
captain in the Revolution and commissioned lieutenant 
colonel of the militia by Governor Hancock. He 
was a man of influence and popular among his towns- 
men. Being bondsman for some failing contractors, 
his property was attached and his pride was humili- 
ated in the loss of the paternal acres. Feeble health 
and discouragement unfitted him for active life, and 
from 1784 until his death. May 13, 1817, he lived near 
his relatives in Walpole. 

Hon. Josiah Stearns, another of our Revolutionary 
worthies, was the son of Thomas and Abigail (Reed) 
Stearns. He was born in Littleton, July IS, 1747, 
and removed to this town several years before the 
Revolution. He commanded a company of minute- 
men and was a captain in the siege of Boston. He 
waM a selectman fifteen years, treasurer nine years 
and a School Committee, collector and town clerk, as 
well as a deacon and a magistrate. He was a repre- 
sentative four years, and in 1792 he was chosen to the 
Senate to fill a vacancy occasioned by the death of 
Hon. Abel Wilder, of Winchendon, and was subse- 
quently elected. He was a member of the Governor's 
Council, 1797 to 1799. He died April 7, 1822. 

Dr. John Dunsmoor, who was a surgeon in the 
army, was a native of Scotland, where he was born in 
1720. He was a physician of skill and ability and 
occupied a prominent position among the profession. 
Apparently he enjoyed the esteem of his townsmen 
and he was many times nominated on committees, but 
he generally declined to serve and probably tbund 
full employment in his calling. After a practice of 
many years in this town, he died November 22, 1794. 

Dr. John Taylor was a man of brilliant qualities. 
He was a controlling spirit in the town and a leader 
in the colony. He was born 1734 and probably in 
Townsend. Preceding Dr. Dunsmoor, he was the first 
physician of note in this town. Finding active em- 
ployment in his other business and in public affairs, it 
is probable that he was not engaged in active practice 
many years after the arrival of Dr. Dunsmoor. He 
was frequently chosen to town office, and was twice 
elected from this town to the Provincial Congress 



LUNENBURG. 



and excepting General Ward, his name appears upon 
the journals more frequently than that of any of his 
associates. At the session which convened at Cam- 
bridge, February 1, 1775, it was through his influence, 
as stated by his colleagues, that an adjournment to 
Concord was accomplished. He was named on the 
most important committees, being associated with 
Colonel Prescott, Governor Brooks and Vice-President 
Gerry. He was a brilliant debater, and in all the de- 
liberations of the convention he displayed an ability 
of thought and expression that permitted few super- 
iors. He was a member of the committee which drafted 
the spirited reply to the proclamation of General 
Gage extending a promise of pardon to all except 
Samuel Adams and John Hancock, and also one of 
the commission that took the historic depositions con- 
cerning the afiray at Lexington and Concord, which 
were sent to Dr. Franklin, then in England. Preced- 
ing and in the midst of this loyal and brilliant ser- 
vice Dr. Taylor, however successful in his professional 
treatment of his fellow-men, did not subdue in him- 
self a deep-seated fever for land speculations, and 
omitting mention of many transactions of considera- 
ble magnitude, in 1774 he bought a tract of land in 
Maine containing thirty-four thousand five hundred 
and sixty acres, now the town of Union. He em- 
ployed many men to clear and improve the land, and 
by frequent visits he personally directed the work. 
During the Revolution he removed from this town 
and in 1780 he was residing in Pomfret, Conn. Sub- 
sequently he removed to Douglas, and was a delegate 
from that town to the convention of 1788, which rati- 
fied the Federal Constitution. From the printed 
proceedings it is ^nown that he opposed the Constitu- 
tion and made a vigorous objection to several articles. 
Following the announcement of the final vote, stand- 
ing one hundred and eighty-seven to one hundred and 
sixty-eight, he said that " while he had uniformly op- 
posed the Constitution, he would now go home and 
infuse a spirit of love for the measure and harmony 
among the people." ' The closing years of Kis life 
were neither prosperous nor peaceful. About 1780 he 
sold his township in Maine, and in this and other 
business transactions he met accumulating troubles 
and became involved in vexatious and endless litiga- 
tion. Several times he was committed to jail, and for 
a season, at least, his courage was undaunted. He 
died at Dudley from an overdose of laudanum April 
27, 1794. 

General James Reed, who was a captain in the 
French and Indian Wars, and whose name appears in 
the early part of this chapter, was a resident of this 
town several years. He was a son of Joseph and 
Sarah (Rice) Reed, and was born in Woburn, 1723. 
He came from Brookfield to Lunenburg, 1751, and 
lived a part of the time at or near the centre of the 
town. (Jn the earliest military roll on which his name 
is found he is described by occupation a " Taylor." 
Subsequently he was a licensed inn-holder, and in 



April, 1758, the selectmen petition foi' a license to 
Joshua Hufchins " in place of Captain James Reed, 
who is now going into His Majesty's service." In 
1756 he was a captain in Colonel Ruggles' regiment. 
He held the same rank in two or more subsequent 
campaigns. He w^as a selectman of Lunenburg, 
1763 and 1764, being elected the last time in March, 
and a full month after the incorporation of Fitch- 
burg, and in a conveyance of land executed March 
4, 1765, he is called James Reed, of Lunenburg. 
These records are not propitious to a current tradi- 
tion that during these years he was living at the site 
of the City Hall in Fitchburg. He removed to Fitz- 
william, N. H., before the close of the year 1765. In 
June, 1775, he was appointed colonel of a New 
Hampshire regiment, and the following year was 
named by Congress a brigadier-general. In an ill- 
ne.ss, at Cr.iwn Point, he lost his eye-sight and was 
retired from active service soon after his promotion. 
He subsequently resided in Keene and in Fitzwil- 
liam, N. H., several years, and later he removed to 
Fitchburg, where he died February 13, 1807. 

Lunenburg, in the War of the Rebellion, was in 
full sympathy with the unexampled patriotism that 
pervaded the loyal States. The ardor and zeal of 
April, 1861, the ready response of the volunteers to 
the call of the President, the voice of loyalty upon 
the street and in public meetings and many general 
features of a patriotic record require no assertion. 
It would be a thankless task and a useless offering to 
summon the record in support of such a measure of 
good works, the summary of which will crowd the 
limits of this chapter. On the morning of April 22, 
1861, a flag was raised on Mount Pleasant by Micah 
W. Boutwell, Andrew Riley and Albert S. Marshall, 
and another, later in the day, between the Congrega- 
tional and Unitarian Churches. Within a few days 
thirty-eight flags were displayed within the town. 
Attending the second flag-raising a public meeting 
was organized, with Cyrus Kilburn chairman and 
George A. Cunningham secretary, and a series of 
resolutions, after several speeches, were adopted. 
Other meetings, both informal and oflicial, followed, 
and in the proceedings appear the names of Nathaniel 
F. Cunningham, Daniel Putnam, Cyrus Kilburn, 
Thomas Billings, George A. Cunningham, James 
Putnam, Frederic M. Marston, Lemuel Pitts, Daniel 
Liwe, Otis P. Abercrombie, John Howard, Merrick 
Wetherbee, William Baker, 'Ephraim Jones, Charles 
A. Goodrich and other citizens of the town. Five 
men enlisted for three months, as follows : Charles 
Kilburn, John E. Lyons, George H. Stall, Ansel W. 
Stall and Russell O. Houghton. 

Seventy-six enlisted upon the early calls of the 
President for three years' men. They were : Joseph 
C. Riley, Alfred Billings, Amos Billings, Charles C. 
Walker, Charles D. Litchfield, William F. Harris, 
Thomas Larghee, George L. Curtis, Henry L. Bur- 
nell, B. Frank Clark, Henry O. Adams, Francis A. 



HISTORY OF WOECESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



Hildreth, Joseph H. Pearson, William S. Boynton, 
William Hodgman, Amos N. Gleason, Isaac Newton, 
Jr., Roswell G. Adams, Marcus M. Spaulding, Charles 
Kilburn, Henry P. Kilburn, John E. Lyons, Charles 
B. Longley, James M. Hildreth, Peter Smith, 
Charles E. Oliver, Ansel W. Stall, William B. Stall, 
George V. Ball, Samuel Hartwell, Noah F. Winn, 
John A. Gilchrist, Calvin D. Sanderson, Alonzo 
Whiting, George Hudson, George A. Lancey, Luther 
A. Lancey, Gilbert Cook, Kussell O. Houghton, 
Dana P. Spaulding, James D. Fairbanks, William H. 
Boynton, George S. Smith, William D. Perrin, Al- 
bert W. Haynes, George H. Haynes, Henry Sander- 
son, William R. Graves, J. Frank Boynton, Charles 
Albert Harris, Hiram W. Longley, Joseph L Proc- 
tor, Albert Houghton, David Morrill, John Catin, 
Richard H. Wyeth, Joseph R. Graves, Foster E. L. 
Beal, George H. Mclntire, Leonard O. Bruce, Gard- 
ner Vaughan, George H. Merrill, Eli S. Lancey, 
Lemuel Pitts, .Tr., George S. Pitt<, Charles H. Neal, 
Orlando Holman, Ezekiel G. Bailey, James H. 
Smith, David N. Kilburn, Charles E. Marshall, Al- 
vin Seidelinger, William H. Wyeth, James L. Litch- 
field, Charles D. Page, John F. Butters. 

On the call of August 4, 1862, for three hundred 
thou.sand men for nine months', twenty men volun- 
teered : Henry P. Kilburn, Forester M. Jewett, George 
A. Howard, Levi Parker, George E. Brown, Clark Dut- 
ton, Henry H. Whitney, Frederic J. Lawrence, Ben- 
jamin F. Marshall, Samuel Wallis, Franklin O. 
Cady, Oliver F. Brown, Edward E.Carr, Levi, W. 
Goodrich, George W. Conant, Merrill B. Carlton, 
Andrew J. Green, Jesse A. Sargent, George H. Stall, 
Noble Fiske. 

Thirty-three re-enlisted veterans and new recruits 
were credited upon the early calls of 1864 : Alfred 
Billings, Charles C. Walker,. Charles D. Litchfield, 
George L. Curtis, John E. Lyons, James M. Hil- 
dreth, George V. Ball, Samuel Hartwell, Luther A. 
Lancey, Gilbert Cook, Dana P. Spaulding, James D. 
Fairbanks, William D. Perrin, J. Franklin Boynton, 
Albert Houghton, Joseph R. Graves, Charles H. 
Neal, Orlando Holman, William H. Wyeth, John F. 
Butters, Charles E. Oliver, Richard H. Wyeth, Eli S. 
Lancey, who were veterans. The following were 
new recruits: Edward C. Goodrich, Richard F. 
Burton, Thomas Billings, Josiah S. Houghton, John 
Snow, Albert Stall, Edward P. Hadley, George N. 
Burrage and Drs. C. C.-Topliff and E. C. Merriam, 
who were commissioned assistant surgeons. 

Seven volunteered in response to the call of July 
5, 1864. There were also twenty hired recruits, 
whose names are not included in this record. The 
volunteers were : John J. Ramsdell, Charles Boyn- 
ton, Martin Sanderson, George C. Jewett, Albert L. 
Heywood, William R. Neal, Jesse A. Sargent. The 
whole number of credits upon the several ijuotas, in- 
cluding re-enlistments and hired recruits, is one 
hundred and sixty-one, and the number of residents 



included in this record is one hundred and two. Of 
these, thirty died in the service or immediately after 
their return, from wounds or from disease contracted 
in the service; fourteen survived wounds, and fifty- 
eight were discharged at expiration of term of ser- 
vice without wounds or serious disability. 



CHAPTER XCVIII. 

LUNENBURG— ( Continued. ) 

ECCI,ESIASTICAI< HISTORY — SCHOOL,S — THE CUNNING- 
H.\M P.tPERS. 

To build a meeting-house and settle a minister 
were among the first duties of a New England settle- 
ment. The requisites were a hill on which to set the 
primitive house of worship and a learned orthodox 
minister. Generally a hill and a minister of a suita- 
ble elevation were selected with rare unanimity. In 
these proceedings the dutiful pleasure of the settle- 
ment was enjoined by the General Court and incor- 
porated in the grant of the several townships. In ac- 
cepting the grant of Turkey Hills the settlers were 
" obliged to build a good, convenient house for the 
worship of God within the term of four years.'' The 
conditions of the grant for several years remained un- 
fulfilled. This failure, on the part of the proprietors, 
did not pass unnoticed. In November, 1727, the com- 
mittee of the General Court, who had continued to 
exerrise a certain supervision of the settlementi 
ordered that " The Proprietors shall forthwith pro- 
ceed to the erection of a meeting-house, to be not less 
than forty-five feet in length and thirty-five in 
breadth." Immediately succeeding this action of the 
committee of the General Court, and before there was 
an opportunity to enforce the command, the proprie- 
tors secured an act of incorporation. By this pro- 
cedure the resident proprietors and settlers of Tur- 
key Hills became the independent inhabitants of the 
town of Lunenburg. Liberated from the conditions 
of the grant, and from the authority of the committee 
of the General Court, our worthy ancestors proceeded 
at once to perform voluntarily that which they had 
neglected to do when enjoined. 

September 24, 1728, not yet two months after the 
date of incorporation, the town voted "Two Hundred 
Pounds Money for y" building and finishing of a 
meeting-house in said town, so far as it will do or an- 
swer therefor." The site of the first meeting was 
where the orthodox church now stands. Concerning 
the progress and manner of building this primitive 
structure the records are silent until early in the year 
1731, when money was raised and a committee ap- 
pointed ''to build a pulpit and as many seats as there 
is convenient room for." In accordance with a recog- 
nized custom of the time, it was not intended by this 



LUNENBURG. 



775 



sweeping vote to build " seats " in front of the pulpit 
and through the central part of the floor. This space 
was reserved for more dignified structures, denomi- 
nated pews, which were constructed at the expense of 
the individual, and located by a conimiltee according 
to the wealth and dignity of the I'uiure occupant. 
Possibly through fear that their committee would not 
mauifest a proper regard for the dignity of their min- 
ister, our worthies took primary action in this particu- 
lar. It was ordered in town-meeting that the" min- 
isterial pew be located adjoining to y" foot of y" Pulpit- 
stairs, at y" Right hand of y'" Pulpit." In the same 
spirit, they next promptly granted a request, and 
courteously recognized the dignity of Mr. Gardner, 
their former pastor, who still remained a resident of 
the town. For his accommodation it was ordered that 
there be reserved " a Place in y" meeting-house at y' 
Eight hand of y'= Great Doors to build a Pew." These 
proceedings toward the building and completion of 
the first meeting-house occupied the space of four 
years, and while they were in progress it is reasona- 
bly certain that the edifice had been occupied for 
public worship from and after the summer of 1729. 

The names of the early and occasional preachers in 
the settlement are not known. The first settled min- 
ister was Rev. Andrew Gardner, who was installed 
over the church then organized, May 15, 1728. This 
date is over two months previous to the act of incor- 
poration and a year or more before the building of the 
meeting-house. By the terms of the grant of the 
township, Mr. Gardner, at his settlement, came into 
possession of one right of land, which he subsequently 
sold, and enjoyed the benefit, if any, of the use of the 
ministerial lands, and in addition he was promised 
twenty pounds as a settlement and a salary of eighty 
pounds. Of the character of the ministry of Mr. 
Gardner and the causes which led to an early dismis- 
sal, little is known. The records are silent. Torrey's 
'• History of Fitchburg and Lunenburg," written after 
one hundred years had obscured the facts and weak- 
ened the voice of tradition, says : 

Tlie reasons of his dismission, so fur afi I have been able to learn 
them, appear to be these: — He was not a man of that grave and sober 
demeanor, wliich the people of his time thought essential to the sacred- 
ness of his othce. He was apt to indulge in a levity of niaODer ou the 
Sabbath which was not in keeping with the solemnity of the day. He 
hail also quite a predilection for hunting, and, it is said, wild turkeys and 
other game, even on the Sabbath, sometimes bore evidence of his skill as 
a uiarksmaD. For the truth of these reports I cannot vouch. 

This estimate of Mr. Gardner has been frequently 
quoted, and sometimes with the omission of the last 
sentence, which qualifies and mitigates the severity of 
the whole. One important fact demands attention. 
The first reference to any dissatisfaction found in the 
records appears in the letter of Mr. Gardner, asking 
a dismissal, and while he admits the existence of con- 
siderable indifference on the part of the people, he 
boldly assumes the initiative in reference to a dissolu- 
tion of the pastoral relation. The letter bears date of 
September 18, 1730. It should be read in connection 



with the fact that the town, only three mouths pre- 
viously, had voted him his annual salary, without any 
espres.sed hesitation or qualification. 

To the Brethren of the Church of Christ in Lunenburg : 

Beloved Brethren: — I cannot but think, from what I have heard 
and also from what I have observed of the transactions and behaviour of 
tliis people, relating to me and my affairs, that there is not that affection 
borne towards me that there should be from a people to their Gospel 
minister; or that there is where a people are likely to profit under their 
minister. The consideration whereof has been very grievous and dis- 
couraging to me, and, therefore, think it best to separate. I do, there- 
fore, propose a separation. And if effectual care betaken that my dues 
be hoTiesfly paid me, the first settled minister's lot with its appurtenan- 
ces put upon record and attested, and a sufficient pew at the right band 
of going in at the great doors of the meetiug-house, — I shall be free to 
be dismissed from my pastoral relation, office and obligation to you, as 
soon as it can regularly be performed. 

From your loving pastor, wlio wisheth you the Divine direction and 
blessing and desires your prayers for the same to him. 

Andrew Gardner, Pastor. 

In the event the conduct of the pastor had grieved 
the faithful and either the church or the parish de- 
sired a separation, no recorded action appears until 
February 7, 1732, or nearly a year and a half after the 
suggestive letter of Mr. Gardner. 

At this time the town in its capacity as a parish 
" voted and granted to Rev. Andrew Gardner a 
dismission from his pastoral or ministerial office, 
according to his request." At the same meeting 
the selectmen were instructed to pay Mr. Gardner 
whatever was his due. Possibly the money was raised 
with difficulty, but it was not paid until the follow- 
ing October. The sum paid at this time was three 
hundred and ninety-four pounds, twelve shilling.^ and 
three pence, which included twenty pounds due him 
for a settlement and the amount of his salary from 
the beginning. It was the first money the poor man 
had received from the aggrieved inhabitants of Lun- 
enburg. If it is true, as alleged by Torrey, that he 
was frequently in pursuit of wild turkeys and other 
game, it is probable that hunger taught him " skill 
as a marksman," and "that he was oftener compelled 
by necessity than enticed by a love of the chase. 
However, the full sum was paid, and the church took 
the necessary action for the dismissal of their early 
pastor Xovember 3, 1732. 

Rev. Andrew Gardner, the first minister of Lunen- 
burg, was born in Brookline, 1694. He was a son of 
Rev. Andrew Gardner, the third minister of Lancas- 
ter, who began his ministerial labor in that town, 
1701, and previous to an installation he was accident- 
ally killed during an Indian alarm in October, 1704. 
His widow, Mary, however, became the wife of Rev. 
John Prentice, the fourth minister of Lancaster. A 
daughter of this marriage was the wife of Rev. Job 
Gushing, of Shrewsbury, and the mother of Rev. 
John Gushing, D.D., of Ashburnham. Rev. Andrew 
Gardner, Jr., was graduated at Harvard University, 
1712, and was ordained the first minister of Worcester 
in the autumn of 1719, and was dismissed October 31, 
1722. After preaching in Rutland, and possibly in 
other places, he was settled over the church in Lunen- 



776 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



burg, as heretofore stated, from May 16, 1728, to 
November 3, 1732. While a resident of this towu he 
built a house near Clark Hill, where Martin Johnson 
resides, which was considerably in advance of the 
dwellings of his time, and which, with its quaint 
windows and after-years of dilapidation, is remembered 
by many still living. After his dismissal he remained 
a few years in this town, and was at times employed 
by the town as " Grammar Scliool Master," the school 
being held at his house. In addition to the land 
granted the first settled minister, he acquired many 
acres by purchase and apparently maintained close 
business relations with Benjamin Bellows, Josiah 
Willard, Edward Hartwell, and his half-brother, 
Thomas Prentice. He was one of the grantees of 
Charlcstown, N. H., under the Massachusetts charter, 
which subsequently was vacated. In 1737 he removed 
to Earlington or Arlington, now Winchester, N. H., 
where he was a prominent citizen, receiving frequent 
and honorable mention in the records. Occasionally 
he was employed as chaplain at Fort Dummer, where 
he met many of his early associates from Lancaster 
and Lunenburg. About 1746 he removed to Charles- 
town, N. H. In 1761 his name was first in the list 
of the grantees of Bath, N. H., and thither he removed 
about 170.5, and became a controlling spirit in the 
new settlement. He lived between the Central and 
Upper Villages, and overlooking the scene of his 
declining years Gardner Mountain perpetuates his 
name and memory. He lived to an advanced age, 
but a record of his death has not been found. 

At a meeting assembled November 10, 1732, one 
week after the dismissal of Mr. Gardner, the town 
chose " Dea. Samuel Johnson, Dea. Ephraim Peirce 
and Isaac Farnsworth a committee to provide a min- 
ister, from time to time, to supply the town with 
preaching." Kev. David Stearns was immediately 
employed, and that the first impressions of the can-' 
didate were not unfavorable is found in a record of a 
meeting on the -Ith of the following month, when it 
was ordered that the committee hire Mr. Stearns to 
preach two months, after an existing engagement had 
expired. The conditions attending the frontier settle- 
ments at this time reminded them that ihe approach 
of a winter season would defer the ordination until 
another spring. A call was extended in February, 
and the candidate was ordained April 18, 1733. The 
pastorate of Mr. Stearns was the continued succession 
of palmy days. The town increased in population, the 
people were prosperous in temporal aflairs, and the 
church, preserved from any serious contention, was in- 
creased in membei'ship. The town voted him £300 as a 
settlement, and a salary of £120 the first year and £5 
added yearly, until itreached thesum of £110. In 1736, 
and a few subsequent years, an additional sum was 
voted to make good the depreciation of the currency 
in which his salary was paid. At the close of twenty- 
eight years of successful labor he died, March 9, 17G1. 

Kev. David Stearns, a son of John and Abigail 



(Fiske) Stearns, was born in Watertown December 
24, 1709; graduated at Harvard University, 1728. He 
married, April 7, 17.36, Ruth Hubbard, a daughter of 
Major Jonathan and Rebecca (Brown) Hubbard, of 
Lunenburg. She married (2d), November 9, 1768, 
Rev. Aaron Whitney, of Petersham, who died Sep- 
tember 8, 1779, and she died in Keene, N. H., at the 
home of lier youngest daughter, November 1, 1788. 
Rev. David Stearns was intimately connected with 
many families of the town. He was a brother of 
Colonel Abijah, Benjamin and William Stearns, and 
the wives of Benjamin Bellows, Joshua Goodridge 
and Samuel Johnson, Jr., were his sisters. His wife 
was a sister of John and Jonathan Hubbard, Jr., and 
of the wife of Colonel Josiah Willard. Mr. Stearns 
lived north of and near the present Methodist Church, 
where William Howard now resides. There is re- 
maining evidence that he was a man of good ability, 
a faithful and devoted minister, a i'riend of the people, 
and laborious for the public good. It is the testimony 
of Rev. Zabdiel Adams, who wrote with a full knowl- 
edge of his life and character, that " he lived gi'eatly 
beloved, and died no less lamented." 

In 1736 the town " voted and granted all that Room 
behind y" sects in y" Front Gallery in y° Meeting- 
House in Lunenburg to Jonathan Wood, Samuel 
Reed, Phinehas 0-good, Ezekiel Wyman, David 
Page, Stephen Boynton, John Fitch, Jonathan Abbit 
for to Build a Long Pew or Seet for themselves and 
wives forever to set in." The vote savors of a pro- 
tracted meeting, and in it and in other measures of a 
similar character providing for an enlargement of its 
seating capacity is read the doom of the first meet- 
ing-house of Lunenburg, which already was too 
small for the accommodation of the growing settle- 
ment. The building of the second meeting-house 
was a prolific subject of town legislation. No less than 
forty-three votes concerning the location, manner of 
building, appropriations and disposal of the pews were 
passed and recorded within the space of three years, 
and doubtless an equal or greater number of motions 
were made and seriously debated that did not pass 
and were not recorded. Omitting reference to many 
votei that were reconsidered at a future meeting, the 
narrative is abbreviated. May 22, 1749, the town 
" voted that they will Build a new Meeting-House in 
said Town," and May 25, 1752, it was ordered " that 
they will meet in the new Meeting-House Next Sab- 
bath day come fortnight to attend the public worship 
there." It was finally determined that the building 
should be located " in the end of the lane by the 
school-house," which was within the limits of the 
present Common and opposite the residence of the 
late Sawyer Kimball. The necessary land was do- 
nated in part by Benjamin Bellows, and the remainder 
was purchased of Thomas Prentice. It was a spa- 
cious house, sixty by forty-five feet, having porches 
on the east, south and west, and containing forty- 
eight pews on the floor and twenty-one in the galler- 



I 



LUNENBURG. 



n t 



ies. The frame w;is raised in tlie summer of 1750, 
and it was demolished in 1831, and many relies of 
the second meeting-house in Lunenburg are still pre- 
served. 

Immediately after the decease of Mr. Stearns Rev. 
Jo.siah Bridge, who was subsequently settled over the 
church in E ist Sudbury (now Waylaud),was employed 
a few SabbathE. He was succeeded by Rev. Samuel 
Payson, a brother of Rev. John Payson, of Fitch- 
burg. He was ordained September 8, 1762, and died 
February 14, 1763. 

The fourth pastor was Rev. Zabdiel Adams, who 
was ordained September 5, 1761. He died in the 
thirty-seventh year of a successful ministry March 1, 
1801. Mr. Adams was born in Braintree(now Quincy), 
Mas-f., November 5, 1739. He was a son of Ebenezer 
and Ann (Boylston)Adams and a double cousin to 
President John Adams, their fathers being brothers 
and their mothers being sisters. He graduated at 
Harvard University in 1759. He was a thoughtful 
and impressive preacher, and among the clergy of his 
time he was held in high esteem. At the inaugura- 
tion of Governor John Hancock, in 1782, he preached 
the first election sermon before the E.iecutive and 
both branrhes of the Legislature. This discourse 
was printed. He married, June 5, 171)5, Elizabeth, 
daughter of Rev. David Stearns. Their descendants 
are numerous and distinguished in many callings. 

Succeeding a brief season of temporary supply 
Rev. Timothy Flint was ordained October 6, 1802. 
He was a son of William and Slariha (Kimball) 
Flint and was born in Reading, Mass., June 17, 1780. 
He graduated at Harvard University, 1800. At the 
time of his ministry here and often at subsequent 
periods he was in feeble health. At times there was 
only one service on the Sabbath, and occasional evi- 
dence of dissatisfaction is found in the records. He 
was dismiss.ed June G, 1814. He removed from this 
town to Alexandria, La., where he established a 
young ladies' seminary and subsequently lived and 
traveled extensively in the West until he returned 
to his native town, where he died April 18, 1840. 
Mr. Flint was the author of a geography and of sev- 
eral standard works of fiction and once was editor of 
the Knickerbocker 31agazine. He married in 1802 
Abigail Hubbard, a sister of a later minister in this 
town. 

Soon after the dismissal of Mr. Flint a call was ex- 
tended to Rev. David Damon, who was ordained with 
the customary solemnities February 1, 1815. He was 
born in Wayland, Mass., September 12, 1787, and was 
graduated at Harvard College in the class with Hon. 
Edward Everett, 1811. He was a man of great sim- 
plicity of manner and an equal strength of character. 
An earnest faithful minister, he secured the respect 
and love of the church and the parish. He was dis- 
missed at his request December 2, 1827. Subse- 
quently he was settled at Amesbury and at West 
Cambridge (now Arlington), Mass., where he died. 



June 25, 1843. The greater part of the time covered 
by the ministry of Mr. Damon was a memorable era 
in the religious history of New England. The Trin- 
itarian and the Unitarian were engaged in a hot dis- 
pute and many churches were divided. Mr. Damon 
was a Unitarian, yet his pacific nature invited no con- 
tention, and finding a majority of his church and con- 
gregation were not In full sympathy with him, he 
withdrew before any serious d;scussion had begun. 
The controversy and the establishment of two churches 
was only deferred. In 1819 and during the peaceful 
ministry of Mr. Damon the First Congregational 
Parish was organized, and after ninety years of loyal 
service the town was relieved from a further control 
of parochial affairs. For several years the society 
was vigorous and prosperous. In 1830 a new meeting- 
house, sixty-four by fifty feet, was erected and was 
dedicated December 25th of that year. The cost was 
nearly three thousand dollars, which was fully met 
from a sale of the pews. The land for its accommo- 
dation was presented by Daniel Putnam, Esq., and a 
bell was procured by subscription. The entrance, with 
a recess and two imposing pillars, was at the east end, 
and in all respects it was a fair expression of the archi- 
tecture of the time. 

Rev. Ebenezer Hubbard was the next minister. He 
was installed December 10, 1828. Compared with the 
closing scenes, the first three years of this ministry 
were uneventful, yet in the records appear the mists of 
a gathering cloud that soon obscured the horizon of 
their former prosperity. In the rapid progress of 
events, numerous personal differences developed into 
open hostility, which, like an infection, spread through- 
out the town. In the mean time the society suffered 
in membership. Of one hundred and fifty-eight 
members in 1831, only forlyitwo remained at the end 
of two years. Apparently only the most pugnacious 
remained, who found a lively exercise and an equal 
combat in the fighting qualities and skilled parries of 
their irritated pastor. 

An acrimonious correspondence between the com- 
mittee of the parish and the minister was succeeded 
by ecclesiastical councils, lawsuits and arbitration. In 
the mean time Mr. Hubbard continued to preach to a de- 
creasing congregation, even after the society had voted 
that they considered his relations with them terminated, 
and that they would no longer pay his salary. After 
the door of the meeting-house was locked he regularly 
went to the steps on the Sabbath, displayed a sermon 
and continued to demand his salary and damages for 
the treatment he had received. A full account of this 
unfortunate controversy, employing all the interest- 
ing material at hand, would fill a volume. The end 
was found in a compromise, in M.iy, 1834. Rev. 
Ebenezer Hubbard, son of Rev. Ebenezer and Abi- 
gail (Glover) Hubbard, was born in Marblehead, 
Mass., November 12, 1783. He graduated (as did all 
his predecessors in the ministry in Lunenburg) at 
Harvard University, 1805. He read divinity in this 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUxNTV, MASSACHUSETTS. 



town with Rev. Timothy Flint, was ordained over the 
Second Church in Newbury, May 11, 18U9, and dis- 
missed October 1(5, 1810. He was installed over the 
church in Middletowu, November 27, 1816, and was 
dismissed April 29, 1828. After his residence in this 
town he was engaged in teaching and in farming in 
Tennessee an J in Kentucky. He died from a disease 
of the brain in an asylum near Nashville, Tenn., Sep- 
tember 2, 1858. Immediately succeeding these 
troublous times, and possibly hastened by them a 
considerable number of those entertaining Trinitarian 
proclivities organized an independent church and so- 
ciety. Without action on their part, tbe Unitarians, 
formerly in the minority, but including families of in- 
fluence, remained in succession and continued to be 
the First Parish of Lunenburg. The decade was an 
era of temporary supply. Rev. Thomas H. Pons and 
a score of others appear in the list of those who were 
briefly employed. 

May 12, 1847, Rev. William G. Babcock was in- 
stalled, and was dismis^^ed at his own request, April 
7, 1855. During the succeeding ten years Rev. James 
Thurstun, Rev. Charles B. Josselyn, Rev. Jacob 
Caldwell, Rev. William Farmer, who died in this 
town June 24, 1862, and Rev. John B. Willard sup- 
plied the desk, and their minislry completed a chap- 
ter in the annals of Lunenburg, fragrant of the relig- 
ion and suggestive of the customs of former genera- 
tions. The clo-ing act was not long deferred. In 
1867 the parish sold the meeting-house to the town, 
when it was removed about seventy yards north of its 
original site and remodeled into a spacious and con- 
venient town-hall. 

The Evangelical Congregational Church 
was embodied June 10, 1835. The first pastor was 
Rev. Thomas Bellows, born in Walpole, N. H., Sep- 
tember 23, 1807, a son of Thomas and Eleanor (Fos- 
ter) Bellows, and a grandson of Colonel Benjamin 
Bellows, prominent in the early annals of this town. 
He graduated at Dartmouth College, 1827, and pur- 
sued a course of study at Andover and New Haven 
Theological Seminaries. Succeeding a pastorate in 
Greenfield, he began to preach in this town early in 
1835, and through his etfurts a church was organ- 
ized. On account of failing heahh he was not in- 
stalled, and the following year he retired to a farm 
in his native town. The society '".connected with this 
church was organized in May, 1835. It purchased, 
and for a season occupied, the meeting-house of the 
First Parish. An influential minority of the old 
society was dissatisfied with the disposal of the house, 
and, after a few scenes of boisterous contention, the 
sale was rescinded, and the meeting-house was re- 
turned to the control of the First Parish. In the 
autumn of 1843 the society was reorganized, and while 
plans for building a new meeting-house were maturing, 
services were held in the hall of a private house. 
The present meeting-house «'as built on land purchased 
of Daniel Putnam, E q., aad completed in 1844. 



Early in 1837, and during the time in which ser- 
vices were held in the old meetinghouse. Rev. Eli W. 
Harrington began a successful ministry. He was 
ordained April 26, 1837, and dismissed, at his request, 
April 8, 1847. He vyas born in New Braintree, 
November 28, 1804, and was a son of Nathaniel and 
Nancy (Townsend) Harrington ; graduated Amherst 
College, 1833; Andover Theological Seminary, 1836. 
Subsequently he preached in Mason, N. H., Roches- 
ter, N. Y., and in Beverly, Mass. He now resides in 
Pepperell, Mass. The next pastor was Rev. Asaph 
Bouielle, who was installed in the spring of 1848, 
and remained tliree years. He was a son of Asaph 
and Anna (Stearns) Boutelle, of Fitchburg, where he 
was born October 7, 1804; graduated Amherst Col- 
lege, 1828 ; Andover Theological Seminary, 1831. 
Previous to his faithful ministry here he had 
preached in Ohio sixteen years, and subsequently he 
was fifteen years pastor of the church in Peacham, 
Vt., where he died January 12, 1S66. 

Mr. Boutt-lle was succeeded by Rev. Edwin R. 
Hodgman, who was installed February 8, 1852. On 
account of failing health he asked a dismissal, which 
was approved by a council, March 26, 1855. He is a 
.son of Buck ey and Betsey (Pratt) Hodgman, born in 
Camden, Me., October 21, 1819; partial course at Am- 
herst and a graduate of Dartmouth College, 1843 ; 
Andover Theological Seminary, 1844. His next pas- 
torate was in Lynnfield and later in Westford and 
Townsend. He is the author of a " History of West- 
ford." 

Rev. William A. Mandell was installed January 2, 
1856. In an eminent degree he enjoyed the merited 
esteem of the parish and of the town. He was dis- 
missed at his request November 16, 1865, and supplied 
the pulpit until the close of the year. He is a son of 
Daniel and Eliza (Patrick) Mandell and was born in 
Hardwick, July 13, 1811 ; graduate Amherst College, 
1838; Union Theological Seminary, 1841. He was 
city missionary in Philadelphia, Pa., and pastor at 
Dartmouth, Mass., from 1846 until he removed to this 
town. Since 1868 he has re-ided without charge at 
North Cambridge. Succeeding Mr. Mandell, the 
desk was supplied by Rev. Alfred Goldsmith and 
others about four years. Rev. William H. Dowden 
was installed February 2, 1870, and was dismissed 
February 22, 1875. He is a son of Thomas and 
Eunice (Simons) Dowden and was born in Fairhaven, 
January 15, 1836 ; graduate Andover Theological 
Seminary, 1866. His earlier pastorates were in Pel- 
ham and Carlisle and later he has supplied at East 
Jaftrey, N. H., and Rowley. Mr. Dowden was suc- 
ceeded by Rev. Walter Rice, who was installed in 
May, 1875, and remained about five years. He is a 
son of Silas and Almira (Corey) Rice, born in Ash- 
burnham, December 25, 1836; graduate Beloit Col- 
lege, 1862 ; Newton Theological Seminary, 1865 ; An- 
dover Theological Semiuary, special course, 1874. He 
has been a successful pastor in Brandon, Vt., since 



LUNENBUKG. 



779 



May, 1880. The past eight years has been an era of 
temporary supply. 

Methodist preachers have been stationed here, and 
a society has been maintained since 180.3. The first 
preacher was Kev. Joshua Crowell, who was followed 
by the Revs. Thomas Rawling, Hezekiah Field, Wil- 
liam Stevens, John Tinkham, Benjamin S. Hill, and 
to the present time about seventy-five names in all. 
The school-house in which the tervice was held 
several years failed to accommodate the increasing 
congregation. In 181.3, and during the ministry of 
Rev. Barzillai Peirce, a native of this town, a meet- 
ing-house was built upon a frame of a building pre- 
sented by Jonathan Peirce. It was situated on the 
old Northfield road, and beyond the North Cemetery. 
Previously the building had been used for the storage 
of bark, and after it had been dedicated to a more 
sacred use it was called by the profane the " Lord's 
Bark-house." Under the provisions of recent law a 
society was organized in 1825. In 1829 the present 
house was built on land purchased of Daniel Putnam, 
Esq. It is recorded by George A. Cunningham, Esq., 
that the frame was raised sixteen days after the first 
tree was felled in the forest. It was dedicated May 1, 
1830. In 1870 it was thoroughly repaired. There 
were seasons of unusual religious interest — in 1821, 
when a camp-meeting was held here ; in 1857, under 
the ministry of Rev. John Goodwin ; and in 1871, 
under the ministry of Rev. J. F. Bassett. With hope 
and with courage this society has been continuously 
maintained, and s-ometimes under embarrassments 
that have overcome more populous organizations. In 
1842 Josiah Litch, a native of this town, delivered a 
series of discourses announcing the second advent of 
Christ, and Rev. Samuel Heath, the Methodist min- 
ister, embraced the faith. From the puljjit, with the 
ardor of a new convert, he began to preach the doc- 
trines of Millerism. Many of the congregation be- 
came affected, and while he remained the steadfast 
attended church elsewhere. The world, however, was 
preserved, and with it the church in Lunenburg, but 
it was a season of trial and anxiety to many. William 
Harlow, in early life a sea-captain, and later a zealous 
steward of the church, in reference to these events 
has written : " The Millerite seceders from the Meth- 
odist Church in Lunenburg, after having worked 
themselves up to such a pitch as to believe they could 
not be saved while they remained on board the old 
ship ' Zion,' and thinking her unseaworthy, jumped 
overboard at the risk of their spiritual lives, and de- 
sired to have their names erased from the shipping 
papers, but notwithstanding their fears, and the storms 
of fanaticism, the old ship has weathered them all 
and has since landed many souls in the broad bay of 
Heaven, and has a full freight of others bound to the 
same place." 

Schools were established in this town at an early 
date. From December 11, 1732, when it was "voted 
that Col. Josiah Willard, Capt. Edward Hartwell 



and Mr. Benjamin Gqodrldge be aCom"° to Provide a 
School and School-Master for to teach children and 
youth to read and write," down to the last annual ap- 
propriation of .?1S50 for school purposes, the education 
of the youth of the town has been a subject of earnest 
legislation. In general features, the recorded history 
is like that of other places and presents no feature 
not common to the records of a New England town. 
In March, 1733, Nathan Heywood, Benjamin Good- 
ridge, Hilkiah Boynton and Josiah Willard, Jr., 
were granted seven pounds and one shilling " for 
keeping of school in said town." There is a tradi- 
tion that Mr. Gardner, the early minister, was the 
first school-master. It may be the truth, but his 
name does not appear in the records as a school- 
teacher until the following vote, December 31, 1733 : 
" Voted and chose Mr. Andrew Gardner to be y" 
School-Master to Keep y' School y" Term of Three 
monf^is, and voted that y* School shall be Kept at 
y"^ House of Mr. Gardner." The following year it 
was ordered that three schools be held at the houses 
of Lieut. James Colburn (near Clark Hill), Jonathan 
Willard (a short distance southerly from the centre) 
and Edward Hartwell, on Lancaster Road (about 
three and one-half miles from the centre), and for 
this purpose forty pounds was appropriated. In 
1735 the selectmen were instructed to provide a 
school " according to the best manner for the town's 
.safety and interest," and the following year they were 
instructed " to hire school-dames as they shall see 
meet." A vote in 1739 directed that one school be 
kept either in the house of Mr. Dowse, or of John 
Jennison (at the <entie), and ano.her at the old 
house of Ephraim Peirce. The house of Mr. Peirce 
was nearly two mile-s south or southeasterly from the 
centre of the town. When the first school-house was 
built is not revealed. In 1740 the town voted to 
build "two school-house.s," hut beyond this expres- 
sion of a good resolution nothing was accomplished ; 
but soon after there was a vote to build one school- 
house, to be located near the meeting house. It was 
built without delay, and probably in 1741. In 1783 
five school-houses were built, and in the progress of 
years the number has been increased to nine. Nearly 
fifty years ago an academy was sustained several 
years. The building was erected by Daniel Putnam, 
Nathaniel F. Cunningham, Thomas Wiley and Dr. 
Otis Abercrorabie. John R. Rollins was the first 
and a very successful principal, and while a resident 
.of this town was the town clerk several years. He 
was succeeded by Rev. Jacob Caldwell, a native of 
this town, William H. Boynton, James J. H. Gre- 
gory, now of Marblehead ; Charles A. Goodrich, an 
esteemed citizen of this town, and George E. Dun- 
lap. In 1806 the academy building was sold and re- 
moved to Fitchburg. The town has a valuable pub- 
lic library, and one of its institutions is its Farmers' 
Club, which was organized in 1848. 

Several meritorious sketches and well-matured pa- 



r8o 



HISTOIli' 01'^ WOKCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



pers relating to the early history of Lunenburg have 
been printed. Upon the open records, easily accessi- 
ble, a constant draft has been made by previous ex- 
plorers. The quaint and curious and many striking 
incidents in the records are familiar to the local read- 
er, and are not here repeated. In the preparation of 
this sketch the writer has been crowded out of the 
accustomed paths of research, and has found the or- 
dinary fountains drained by earlier and vigilant 
gleaners of material. And while dates and certain 
facts of necessity have been drawn from the original 
and worn records, very much of the material incor- 
porated into the narrative of the early grants — of the 
proceedings of the proprietors, f)f the military record 
of the past century and many incidents connected or 
explanatory — have been drawn from the State archives 
and from records which have escaped earlier notice. 
Many facts in the earlier history of the town are 
here printed for the first time. From an historical 
standpoint, Lunenburg, the mother of towns and the 
ancestral home of many families, occupies an 
important position among the older towns of 
Northern Massachusetts. For many years with the 
line of defense on the outer side, Lunenburg was on 
the border between the settlements and the wilderness. 
Many, pursued by the mania of immigration, were 
often temporarily delayed upon the borders within 
this town, and a few years later, when the younger 
and outer settlements for a season were abandoned, 
the fugitives from danger found safety and a tempor- 
ary home within the defences of this town. By fre- 
quent intermarriage, these sojourning strangers became 
allied to Lunenburg families, and at their departure, 
were often attended by many to the manner born. 
And, in addition to this accidental overflow from the 
town and during the burning fever of immigration 
that warmed the blood of the older towns, and which 
was only briefly allayed by the French and Indian 
War, there was a swelling tide of immigration from 
Lunenburg to the growing settlements in New 
Hampshire and elsewhere. In such numbers and in 
such types of sturdy men did the living current flow, 
that Winchester, Walpole and, in less degree, Charles- 
town, in New Hampshire, were New Lunenburgs on 
the border of the receding wilderness. In these 
vigorous movements the blood of the mother-town 
was widely disseminated. Two-thirds of the early 
population of Kindge were descendants of the early 
families of Lunenburg. It is impossible to find a 
town within an extended radius or to name a State in. 
the Union that does not contain many who trace 
their ancestry through the records of Lunenburg. 
For the pleasure and benefit of the multitude, the 
genealogical records of the parent-families have not 
been published. Continuous inquiries by interested 
persons have been kindly answered by obliging town 
clerks until the originsil records were defaced and re- 
stored by new copies. In a comprehensive study and 
arrangement of the genealogical records of the Lun- 



enburg families, George A. Cunningham, Esq., was 
laboriously engaged many years. In its scope, com- 
pleteness and accuracy, his manuscript copy is not 
excelled by any published woik of a similar charac- 
ter. The vigor of an intelligent mind and the earn- 
est labor of a life-time were exhausted in this treas- 
ury of genealogical knowledge. Mr. Cunningham 
also completed a manuscript history of the town. It 
is a voluminous supplement to the Torrey sketch, 
and quotes that work for the early history of the 
town. The supplement is brought down to the time 
when death stilkd his tireless pen. The names of 
the soldiers in the War of Rebellion, enumerated in 
this paper, are drawn from his work. To Mr. Wil- 
liam E. Cunningham, through whose generous favor 
the.'ie valuable manuscripts have been consulted, I 
extend a grateful acknowledgment. 



CHAPTER XCIX. 
SHREWSBURY. 

BY WimAM T. HARLOW. 
EARLY LAND GRANTS. 

Thk history of Shrewsbury properly begins with 
certain land grants of the Great and General Court 
of the Massachusetts Bay, in New England, located 
within the territory of which the town was afterwanls 
formed. These grants, called farms, named after 
the grantees and five in number, were: (1) Daven- 
port's Farm, 650 acres; (2) Haynes' Farm, other- 
wise called Quinsigamond Farm, 3200 acres; (3) 
Maiden Farm, 1000 acres ; (4) Rawson's Farm, 500 
acres, and (5) Sewall's Farm, 1500 acres. But the 
quantity of land in these grants was, in fact, greatly 
in excess of the number of acres named, and the 
aggregate was, doubtless, more than 10,000 acres, 

1. The Davenport Farm, granted to Captain Rich- 
ard Davenport, commander of Castle Island, in 
Boston Harbor, in consideration of public services, 
was laid out to him in the valley of the Nashua 
River, in that part of Shrewsbury now West Boyls- 
ton and BoyUton, and included very valuable mill- 
sites, as well as the finest parcel of intervale land 
lying in a body to be found in Massachusetts east of 
Connecticut River. Its final confirmation to thegrautee 
was May 28, 1659.' Capt. Davenport came to Salem 
with Gov. Endicott in 1628, and after many years 
of public service was killed by lightning (" tooke 
away by ye solemne strooke of Thunder''), while 
sleeping by his magazine, w-ith only the wainscot be- 
tween him and the powder. His son Richard, with 
his two sons, William and Nathaniel, came to 
Shrewsbury about 1736 and settled upon this 
grant.^ 

1 Colony Records IV., Part I, 314 and .■572. 

2 For rude p!ans, eeo Worcester Reg. Deeds, B. 3, p. 9.5. 



SHREWSBURY. 



781 



2. The grantees of the Haynes' Farm, who did not 
themselves give their own name to their grant, but 
called it by the more euphonious title gii'en by the 
Indians to " ye Greate Pond that lyeth West Pointe 
to ye sd farm," were the brothers John and Josiah 
Haynes, of Sudbury, and their brother-in-law, 
Nathaniel Treadway, of Watertown. The Haynes 
brothers, with their sisters, Sufferance and Mary, were 
the children of Walter Haynes, a Wiltshire linen- 
weaver, who, with his wife E izabeth and children, 
all under sixteen years, came in the good ship "Con- 
fidence'' from England in 1038, and settled in Sud- 
bury. This grjnt was originally made to Isaac John- 
son in consideration of " £400 adventured by the said 
Mr. Johnson in the comon stock of The Governor 
and company of ye Massachusetts Bay in New Eng- 
land," which, to begin with, was little else but an 
incorporated trading company founded on the East 
India plan. Johnson dying, this grant, as yet un- 
located and accounted personal estate, came into the 
possession of his executor, Increase Nowell. .John- 
son and Nowell were both original patentees of the 
colony charter of 1628 and had part wiih Winthrop 
in importing it to New England. Nowell also dying 
before location of the grant, his executor sold it to 
John Haynes and his brother Josiah and their 
brothers-in-law — Nathaniel Treadway, who mar- 
ried their sister Sufferance and Thomas Noyes, who 
married their other sister, Mary. It was finally laid 
out to the Haynes brothers and Treadway (Noyes 
having died), and confirmed by the General Court 
May 27, 1664.' The southwest corner of Haynes' 
Farm was at the going out of the Nipnapp River 
from the southernmost end of Quinsigamond Ponds, 
and both the islands there belonged to the farm and 
so to the town of Shrewsbury to this day. Another 
corner was where the town bound between North- 
borough and Shrewsbury now stands, by the Great 
Road near the house of Mr. William U. Maynard. The 
northwest and southeast corners of the grant can- 
not be fixed with exactness, but cannot have been 
very remote from where the two school-houses, Nos. 
3 and 5, now siand. The northern boundary curved 
northward and crossed the Boylston road near where 
Mr. Lowell Walker now lives, and thence passed on 
to the Northborough line. I have been thus par- 
ticular to trace the origin and show the location of 
the Haynes Farm, because it was much the largest 
of the five grants, because it was the owners of this 
large tract of land that formed the nucleus of the 
Marlborough colony that settled Shrewsbury, and be- 
cause the facts are not well known. 

3. One hundred of the one thousand acres of Maiden 
Farm were in Worcester. Its southern boundary line 
was three hundred and seventy rods long, and the 

'Colony Records III. 189 and 435 ; IV., Part I. 295; IV., Part II. 
7 and 8 and llj. See plan in Secretiiry's office, vol, — , Maps and 
Plans. 



southernmost point of West Boylston was the centre of 
this line, and the line running northerly for about 
two miles from this point, bet.ween the two towns of 
Boylston and West Boylston, divided this farm into 
two equal parts. Its northwest c.iruer is said in the 
lay-out to be about a mile distant from the Davenport 
Farm. The original grant to the town of Maiden, 
made May 9, 1662, was on condition that "ye ministry 
of Maulden do cause it to be bounded out and puc on 
improvement wiihin three years next ensewing." 
The location of the grant by metes and bounds was 
duly made and confirmed within the time prescribed. 
May 3, 1665, but the only improvements made were 
marking forest trees, at the corners, with the letter M.^ 
On this ground, want of improvements within three 
years, the validity of the grant was disputed by the 
proprietors of Shrewsbury, and their records contain 
frequent references to this grant as the "pretended 
Maiden Farm." In 1736 Rev. Joseph Emerson, of 
Maiden, and minister of God's Word there, brought 
suit in the Worcester Common Pleas against Ephraim 
Wheeler and David Crosby, of Shrewsbury, for pos- 
session of the nine hundred acres of this grant which 
lay in Shrewsbury. This suit was defended by the 
proprietors, by whose direction Wheeler and Crosby 
had taken possession of the land, and Nahum Ward, 
one of the proprietors, acted as their counsel in the 
suit. On trial in the Common Pleas the verdict and 
judgment were for the defendants, but Mr. Emerson 
appealed and prevailed in the Superior Court, final 
judgment for the plaintiff, October Term, 1736. But 
the proprietors were not content, and the next year 
Mr. Ward was sent to the Great and General Court to 
re-open the question determined in the suit, and for 
four years Mr. Ward continued to press petitions for 
a new trial and for re-location of the grant, in vain. 
Maiden Hill and Maiden Brook were both named 
from this grant, though neither hill nor brook is in it. 
From uncertainty about the location of the grant, it 
may have been supposed or claimed that its location 
was so as to include the brook and hill. 

4. Secretary Edward Rawson received from time to 
time grants of several parcels of land to eke out his 
pitiful salary, and among the rest a rectangle of five 
hundred acres lying between Marlboro', Lancaster 
and Worcester, about half a mile north of Haynes' 
Farm, and Deacon John Haynes located it for him. 
It was one mile (three hundred and twenty rods) long 
by two hundred and fifty rods wide. Rawsoii's Hill, 
called in the grant by its Inilian name of Ashant's 
Hill, was in it and Cold Harbor Brook ran through it. 
Some years before this grant to him the secretary had 
spent some money to no profit in experiments with 
saltpetre or something he thought was saltpetre, and 
the General Court, to encourage such patriotic experi- 
menting and compensate him for his los<es thereabout, 
granted him five hundred acre-s of land " near Pequot,'' 

= Col. Rec. IV. Pt. II. 45 and 148. 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



but afterwards gave him thirty pounds instead oi" the 
land. As no consideration is expressly named in the 
grant which was located in Shrewsbury, and the quan- 
tity is the same, it is probable tiiat this grant was a 
renewal of the other, modified so that it might be 
"layd out in any free place not prejudicing a planta- 
tion." The lay-out and confirmation of this grant 
was May 13, 1(386.' 

5. Sewall's Farm lay on the westerly side of Shrews- 
bury, with a narrow strip between it and Worcester 
line. Its south boundary line was a little south of 
the Great Road, its southwest corner near the head 
Quinsigamond Pond. Its given dimensions were seven 
hundred and eighty rods long, south to north, and 
three hundred and forty rods wide, east to west, or not 
quite two miles and one-half long by a little more 
than a mile wide — extending from its south line, be- 
fore mentioned, beyond and including Grass Pond, 
(once so-called, but for three generations last past 
known as Sewall's Pond), in Boylston. It was bounded 
for a considerable distance on its west side by Maiden 
Farm, and also for a less distance on the east by 
Haynes' Farm, and so connected the two. It had on 
it two mill-sites, — one a little below Sewall's Pond, 
where Banister's Mills were built, and the other, now 
unoccupied, but much the better water-power of the 
two, near the house of Mr. Frederick E. Abbott, where 
once stood Harlow's Mills, burned nearly forty years 
ago. Sewall's Hill, as well as Sewall's Pond, is within 
the farm limits, and both took their name from the 
grantee, Samuel Sewall, chief justice of the old Su- 
perior Court of Judicature, one of the judges who 
tried the Salem witches and the only one of them 
that is known to have repented thereof; author of 
Sewall's Diary, etc. 

The south part of Sewall's Farm — one thousand 
acres — was laid out and confirmed November 20, 
1695, to James Russell, sometime colony treasurer, to 
whom the grant (originally made to Deputy-Governor 
Francis Willoughby, in consideration of public ser- 
vice) came, unlocated, by descent from his father, 
Richard Russell, also sometime colony treasurer, who 
had bought it of the Deputy-Governor. Chief Jus- 
tice Sewall's title to this part of his farm in Shrews- 
bury was by purchase of Treasurer James Russell. 
His title to the north part — five hundred acres — was 
in right of his wife, who was the only daughter of 
Miutmaster John Hull, who "by minting made a 
mint of money " for himself, as well as for the colony, 
and became the richest man of New England. Hannah 
Hull married Samuel Sewall long before he was chief 
justice, or hung the witches, or had made much pro- 
gress in his famous diary, or was famous for anything, 
and brought her husband a marriage-portion of 
£30,000, all duly counted out to him on the wedding- 
day in "pine-tree" shillings, fresh from her father's 



' Col. Bcc. V. 41.'-,, 418 ; III. :78. 



mint.' This grant, which had come to Madam Han. 
nah Hull Sewall through her father, in some way 
that I have not yet been able to trace, was CDnfirmed 
to her and her husband, May 27, 1696. A rude plan 
of Sewall's Farm may be seen in the Worcester Reg- 
istry of Deeds,^with a deed, dated June 1, 1732, of a 
moiety thereof from William Pepperell, of Kiltery, 
et ux. et ah. to Nahum Ward, of Shrewsbury. 
This was thirteen years before the famed exploit of 
Louisbourg, and the thrifty trader of Kittery was then 
only a hero in posse, and tenant, in common with 
others, of fifteen hundred acres of real estate in 
Shrewsbury, in right of his wife, who was Mary 
Huist, and one of Chief Ju.stiee Sewall's three 
granddaughters, and so coparcener of the real estate 
aforesaid. This plan was made, as appears from the 
deed, from a survey made in November, 1714, by David 
Haynes, youngest son of Deacon John, of Sudbury, 
and one may read in the Sewall Diary the following 
entry, under date " 1714, 8' 6. Mr. David Hayns 
dines with us. . . . Gave him the Bounds of Quanssi- 
camon Farms, that he may review and refresh them." 
Whereby one may note that the Indians' name for 
Long Pond (whatever may be the Indians' spelling of 
it) was once applied to Sewall's Farm, as well as to 
Haynes'. Probably it was to distinguish the two 
that at a later period they were called after their 
respective grantees.^ 



CHAPTER C. 

SHREWSBURY— (a)«//;/?/^n'.) 
the; m.^rlborough men and when some of them 

SETTI,ED. 

It will aid to a better understanding both of what 
precedes and what is to follow to give a brief account 
of the road through Shrewsbury anciently called the 
Connecticut Road, — in later times the Country Road, 
the Stage Road, Post Road and Great Road. The 
original road from Massachusetts Bay to the Con- 

^So HutchiDSon i. 1G5, to which tradition adds that the bride, being 
set io tlie scalt-s, exiictly balanced the silver pine-trees. Blerely suggest- 
ing to the reader that a pine-tree shilling's prescribed weight was Ihreo 
pennyweights, Troy, I leave bini to compute "exactly" what was Mrs. 
Sewall's weight on her wedding-day. 

3 Book 3, page 91. 

*Since the above was in the hands of the publishers, I have discov- 
ered, under date of June 20, 171.'5, another gl'ant of si-vteen hundred and 
eighty-three acres to the heirs of John Haynes, lying in the southerly 
part of Shrewsbury and adjoining "Haynes' Old Farm " on the south 
side. Tins is what is ciUed in the I'roprietors' Records "RobUins' 
Farm," so named from .Toseph Robbins, a " Praying Indian" of Ilassani- 
misco, whose title Deacon Haynes in his life-time had bought, of 
which title this grant was a contirmation. See Court Records, 1715, 
and Maps and Plans, Vol. 5, page 3, Secretary of State's oflice. See also 
a plan of the original grant to the Shrewsbury Proprietors, vol. 16, 
paso 518, on which this grant, under the name of " Haynes' Indian 
Farm," is laid down. 



SHREWSBURY. 



783 



necticut River did not pass through Shrewsbury at 
all, but to the south of it. It was merely the old 
trail of the Indiana. The new Connecticut Road was 
laid out by Major John Pynchon, whose father Wil- 
liam had founded a town at either end of it.' The 
" worshipful " major's authority was an order of the 
General Court, under date March 30, 1G83, in these 
word.s : 

"Whereas the way to Kornecticut, now used, being very hazardous 
to travelers hy reason of one deepe river that is passed fower or tive 
times over, wliicli may be avoided, it is referred t > Major Pynchon to 
order ye said way to be layd out & well marked. He having hyred 
two injins to gu de him in tlie way for filty rfhillinge, it is ordered that 
the Treasurer pay them the same in country pay towards effecting this 
workc."- 

The principal change of the old way consisted in 
passing north instead of south of Quinsigumond 
Pond, and so through Shrewsbury. Departing from 
the old way, it passed northerly of Little Chauncey 
Poud in Northborough into Shrewsbury exactly where 
the Great Road enters the town to-day, and thence 
through the town to the head of Quinsigamond Pond, 
on substantially the same line as the present road. 
But in 1726 it was re-located by a jury sent out by 
the Middlesex Court of Sessions, whose accepted 
return, so far as relates to the re-location in Shrews- 
bury, is as follows (what immediately precedes re- 
lates to the way in Worcester): "And thence in 
Shrewsbury, keeping the old nay, crossing the Brook, 
running into Long Pond, and so keeping the old way 
south of Gershom Wheelock's house, and between 
the house and barn of Daniel How, & so still keep- 
ing the old road till it comes out of the woodland 
east of said How's, on the edge of the Great Rocky 
Plain, and so keeping very nigh a straight line a lit- 
tle south of Mr. Cu^hing's house, on the east side of 
the aforesaid Plain, and then in the old way till it 
come to Capt. Keyes' fenced land, and so crossing a 
small corner of said Keyes' fenced ground, and then 
in the old way running between said Keyes' house 
and barn, and so keeping the old road south of 
Widow Blair's, and so to the Westborough ' line in 
the old road, passing between Daniel Barnes' house 
and barn," etc. 

That is to say, the re-located road crossed the town 
line in exactly the same place where the old road 
crossed it, nor has there been any change had, either 
in the road or the town line from that time (1726) to 
this day, and the town bound by the road here stands 
precisely where it was established in 1717 by the 
viewing committee's report " at a heap of stones, 
called Warner's Corner, which is the most easterly 
corner of Haynes' Farm by the Country Road." 
Daniel Barnes occupied the sixteenth house-lot of ihe 
proprietors' records, " bounded easterly by the town 
line, northerly by Haines' old Farm . . . and" {the 

1 Eoxbury and Springfield. 

2 Colony Records, V. 394. 

3 Now Northborough. 



lot) " lyeth where Mr. Warner formerly improved." 
This is the place where Mr. William U. Maynard 
now lives, and is without doubt the earliest place in 
Shrewsbury occupied by a white man.* 

Whoever Mr. Warner may have been, and whatever 
may have become of him, certain it is that he had no 
title to the land " where he formerly improved." His 
corner makes a very noticeable and unexplained jog 
into the boundaries of Haynes' Farm laid out in 1664, 
and he was probably some daring pioneer who was 
either driven out or perished during King Philip's 
War. Widow Mary Blair, mentioned also in the re- 
location of 1726, lived with her children on the place 
where Mr. Samuel Johnson now lives. It was house- 
lot No. 12, " situated near where Warner formerly im- 
proved, bounded northerly on Haines' old Farm, east- 
erly by the 16th House-Lot,'"' etc. The widow's 
hu.-ibaud, William Blair, died shortly after coming to 
Shrewsbury, and the Barnes and Blair families both 
certainly here in 1726, not long afterwards returned 
to Marlb(jrough. 

The germ of the movement for settlement of Shrews- 
bury is described in a deed of pv.rtitiou' of Haynes' 
Farm, dated April, 1717, which, after reciting the 
"orderly" meeting of the owners, twenty-three ia 
number, heirs and purchasers of the rights of Deacon 
John Haynes, Lieutenant Josiah Haynes and Mr. 
Nathaniel Treadway,all deceased, the appointment of 
a committee to go with John Brigham, surveyor, and 
divide the farm into three parcels ready to draw lots, 
and a second meeting of said owners December 10, 
1716, at David How's house in Sudbury, then sets out 
the committee's report that they had divided the farm 
by east and west lines into three parts or squadrons — 
whereupon, lots being drawn, the North Squadron 
fell to the heirs and purchasers of the right of Deacon 
John Haynes, the South Squadron to the heirs of 
Lieutenant Joshua Haynes and the Middle Squadron 
to the heirs and purchasers of the right of Mr. 
Nathaniel Treadway. Of the twenty-three signers of 
this deed, the following or their children settled in 
Shrewsbury : John Keyes, Joseph Noyes, Moses New- 
ton, Daniel How, Elias Keye-", Samuel Wheelock, 
Thomas Hapguod, Edward Goddard and William 
Taylor. 

Samuel Wheelock's sou Gershom is reputed to 
have been the firot permanent settler of Shrew'sbury, 
and the place where he settled was on the share of his 
lather in Haynes' Farm — on the north side of the 
Great Road, between where Mr. Levi Prentice and 
Mr. William Fitzgerald now live. Tradition represents 



4 Distinguished also by a recent archwulogical iind of much interest. 
Ditching in his meadow in 1884 Mr. Maynard came upon the fossil 
molai-8 of a mastodon, and the next year, in the margin of the ditch, 
which it was known was to be explored by the amateurs of the Worces- 
ter Natural History Society was found a human skull, doubtless the 
plant of a practical joker, of which not only the amateurs, but a learned 
professor of Harvard became eager victims. 

6 " Cambridge Registry," Book 29, page 44. 



78i 



HISTOllY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



him as sleeping aloft in his cabin during the winter 
nights of 1716-17, and drawing up his ladder after 
him, " whistled an air did he," doubtless to keep up 
his courage. How long he continued to live there 
I have not ascertained, but certain it is that he was 
.still there in 172(5, as appears from the re-location of 
the Great Road at that time. In 1720 his father gave 
him a deed of this lot, and February 10, 1729, house- 
lot No. 26, which '' lyeth near the west bounds of 
Hains' old Farm," was in possession of Samuel 
Wheelock.' Gershom Wheelock, the first settler, who 
had both a son and a grandson of the same name, was 
commonly called in his life-time Captain Wheelock, 
from his militia rank, and his father was called the 
deacon from his office in the church, of which he was 
one of the founders. Deacon Wheelock was a mem- 
ber of the first Board of Selectmen and a very active 
man in church and town affairs for many years. 

Mr. Gushing, mentioned in the re-location, is 
Rev. Job Gushing, who and whose place of abode 
will be further noticed later. 

John Keyes, whose house, barn and fenced land is 
referred to in the re-location of 1726, son of Elias 
Keyes, of Sudbury, and grandson of Robert Keyes, of 
Watertown, who came from England in 1633, had his 
share of Haynes' Farm assigned to him on the south 
side of the Great Road, nearly opposite where the cur- 
rier's shop stands in the Lower Village. In 1723 he 
built a new house a few rods east of the rude and 
primitive cabin that he first lived in, but before it 
was finished both houses were burnt in the night and 
Mr. Keyes' three sons and two apprentices of Ebene- 
zer Bragg, the carpenter, who was building the new 
house, perished in the flames. Mr. Bragg, aUo sleep- 
ing in the same hou e, barely escaped. The old 
house was also burned, but the inmates, Mr. Keyes 
and wife and four daughters, were awakened by Mr. 
Bragg just in time to flee out of it. 

John Keyes held commissions as captain and ma- 
jor in the militia, and is traditionally known as the 
famous Major John Keyes. He is not to be con- 
founded with Deacon John, his cousin, who settled 
in the North Parish. In 1726 he evidently had 
built another house, as the relocated Great Road 
passed between it and his barn. A very active and 
energetic man, member of the first and many subse- 
quent Boards of Selectmen. He bouglit a moiety of 
Sewall's Farm, and thus became tenant in common 
with Nahum Ward, who was his uncle, of that large 
tract of land. 

Elias Keyes, who was the cousin of famous Major 
John, had his share of the farm assigned him near 



» Ward, pp. 20 and £6fi-2fi8, and Fee the deacon's deed of 1720 to his 
son in " Worcester Registry," Book 23, page 214. Mr. Ward is very 
wide of the fiict in supposing tliis deed to relate to lioiieelot No. 2G of 
the proprietoi's' records, and in supposing this lot (26) to he the place 
where Erastus Wheelock, greatrgreat-grandB(}n of the tirst deacuD, now 
lives. 



his cousin's, but, in 1741, with his family, joined an- 
other colony that swarmed out of the Marlborough 
hive and followed the star of empire on its westward 
way to New Marlborough, in far-off Berkshire. The 
surname of Keyes is now extinct in Shrewsbury. 
But the Flaggs, of Boylston, are descendants of 
famous Major John, by his daughter Hannah, who 
married Gtrshom Flagg. 

Daniel Noyes, of Sudbury, who settled on the 
South Squadron of Haynes' Farm, was descended 
both from Ensign Thomas Noyes and Lieutenant 
John Haynes. He was the son of Joseph, who 
signed the partition deed. His grandfather, also 
named Joseph, was the son of Ensign Thomas, and 
his grandmother was Ruth Haynes, daughter of Lieu- 
tenant Joshua. 

Neither of the Newtons, Moses nor Thomas, set- 
tled in Shrewsbury. They sold their shares in 
Haynes' Farm to Nahum Ward, who was their 
cousin, but their children came to Shrewsbury at an 
early day and settled here. Elisha Newton, son of 
Moses, was grandfather of the late Calvin Newton, 
of this town, and settled on the place, part of Sewall's 
Farm, where Peter Gamache now lives, where also 
Mr. Newton (Calvin), whose three sons, still living in 
this town, were all born there, lived and died. Eli- 
sha Newton's brother, Aaron, also settled in the 
North Parish (Boylston), and .so also did Thomas 
Newton, son of Thomas, who signed the partition 
deed. 

Nahum Ward, who bought the Newtons' share of 
Haynes' Farm, though not one of the twenty-three 
owners in 1717, was one of the first comers here and 
his purchase, a large tract, lay on the south side of 
the road opposite the Cummon, extending thence both 
easterly and westerly. His great-grandson, author of 
a history of Shrewsbury, supposes he was here before 
1718, and living near the Jonas Stone house (now 
owned by Mr. Frederick Stone, of Boston), but Wil- 
liam Taylor at that time owned the land where that 
house stands, and Mr. Ward owned no land nearer 
than the south side of the Great Road. Mr. Ward 
was colonel of a militia regiment in the Provincial 
Line, and chairman of the first and member of many 
subsequent Boards of Selectmen ; many times repre- 
sentative to the General Court, and a justice of the 
Worcester County Court of Common Pleas, 1746-62. 
He was admitted to the Worcester bar in 1731, but I 
have not found a case of his acting as coun.-el except 
in tbe Maiden suit elsewhere mentioned. He was 
father of General Artemas Ward and ancestor of all 
who ever bore the ^Va^d name in Shrewsbury. Wil- 
liam Ward, who came from York, England, to Sud- 
bury, about 1640, was his grandfather. The Ne«tons, 
of Shrewsbury, also are descended from William 
Ward. 

Daniel How settled on the North Squadron, and 
kept a tavern on the Great Road, where the Shrews- 



SHREWSBUKY. 



r85 



bury Poor-House formerly stood, on land now belong- 
ing to Mr. George H. Harlow. He was son of Josiah 
How, of Marlborough, and grandson of John How, 
who came from England and settled in Sudbury in 
1G3S, or earlier, and on his mother's side he was grand- 
son of Deacon John Haynes, one of the original grant- 
ees of Haynes' Farm. His mother, whose maiden-name 
was Mary Haynes, was in 1713 owner of a share of 
the " farm at Quinsigamond," and under the name 
and addition of Mary Prescott, of Lancaster, conveyed 
it to " her true and well beloved son, David How, 
of Marlborough." The North Squadron, by lot, 
^ as we have seen, fell to the heirs and purchasers of the 
right of Deacon John. In explanation of his mother's 
name and addition, it should be added that her first 
husband, Josiah How, Daniel's father, dying young, 
she afterwards married John Prescott, of Lancaster, 
son of the famous blacksmith, miller and Indian 
fighter, who was the first settler and founder of the 
first town in the county of Worcester. Daniel How 
was the first town treasurer, and held the office several 
years, and he was many years a member of the select- 
men, and let the reader note the re-location, in 1726, 
of the Great Road between his house and barn as 
showing where he lived and kept tavern, and also 
where the road then was. From his militia office he 
usually went by the name of Captain How. 

Thomas Hapgood was great grandson of Nathaniel 
Treadway, one of the original grantees of Haynes' 
Farm, to whose heirs fell the Middle Squadron, and 
he settled in Shrewsbury and built his house near 
where Mr. Albert, Clai)p now lives, and Mr. Clapp's 
farm is part of Thomas Hapgood's share of the Mid- 
dle Squadron. He was son of Thomas Hapgood, of 
Marlborough, who lived to see his great-great-grand- 
children, and had three hundred and thirteen de- 
scendants living at his death, and his (the said 
Thomas, of Shrewsbury) grandfather was Shadrach 
Hapgood, of Sudbury, who married Treadway's 
daughter Elizibeth, and was killed in the Indian 
fight at Brookfield, in 1675. Thomas Hapgood's 
name is twice signed to the partition deed with a cross 
— once for himself and again as attorney for another. 
He was a militia captain, and commonly called Cap- 
tain Hapgood, town treasurer ten years and often a 
selectman. His three sisters, Mary,' Elizabeth and 
Hepzibah, who were, of course, of the same descent 
with him, married and settled in Shrewsbury. 

Edward Goddard, who married the said Hepzibah 
Hapgood, was born in Watertown, where his father 
and grandfather — both also named Edward — lived, 
and where the latter, who married Elizabeth Miles 
and came with her from England about 1650, first 
settled. He settled in the North Squadron, on the 
place which Edward Howe now owns, and built the 
house in which Mr. Howe still lives, and which, under 
its modernized exterior, I suppose, retains the frame 

1 Mary Hapgood was the first wife of .John Wheeler. 

5<l 



of the oldest house in Shrewsbury. The Goddard farm 
extended to and was bounded on the northernmost 
boundary line of Haynes' Farm. Mr. Goddard, who 
is distinguished from most of the other new-comers 
to Shrewsbury by having no military title, was an 
active man in church and town, held the office of 
selectman and other town officers, and was a man 
of considerable means- 

William Taylor, who married Captain Hapgood's 
other sister, Elizabeth, was also a man of considerable 
means for his day, but did not wholly escape, like his 
brother-in-law, militia honors. His name in town 
and church-records, I believe, has the uniform prefix 
of sergeant. He settled on a lot of the North Squad- 
ron, adjoining Goddard's, being the place where Mr. 
Charles A. Holman now lives, and where the late 
Amasa Howe, great-grandson of Taylor, lived ; where 
lived also Amasa's father, Nathan, and his grand- 
father, also named Nathan, who was son of Captain 
Daniel How, and married Sergeant Taylor's daugh- 
ter, Hepzibah. The house which William Taylor 
built was taken down by Amasa Howe in 1849. The 
Taylor farm or share which he had in the North 
Squadron extended south to the Great Koad, and in- 
cluded the site of the house in which his great-great- 
grandson, Thomas Harlow, now lives, and all the 
other land to and including the Common and the 
site of the Sumner house. The Great Koad was sub- 
stantially on the line between the North and Middle 
Squadrons, and this was Taylor's south line. The 
name Taylor as a surname died in Shrewsbury with 
the first comer, but his descendants, by six daughters, 
are very numerous. His father and grandfather both 
lived in Marlborough, and were both named William 
Taylor. He was many years a selectman of Shrews- 
bury. 



CHAPTER CI. 

SHREWSBURY— ( Continued.) 

GRAXT OF TOWNSHIP — L.\Y-OUT OF LOTS — INCORPORA- 
TION — ORIGIN OF THE N.\ME OF THE TOWN. 

In colony and provincial records and early deeds 
recorded at Cambridge and Worcester one meets 
frequent reference to a tract of land, larger than any 
•existing town of this Commonwealth, as " lying 
between Marlborough, Worcester and Lancaster,'' or 
" joyning ye west side of Marlborough town bounds," 
or "lying east pointe to Quonsigamon Ponds," or 
as " Quonsiccamon Farms," or a " meete place for a 
plantation near Quansiggamog," the Indian name in 
our times uniformly written Quinsigamond, one to 
two hundred years ago, being differently spelt almost 
every time it was written, and being applied to the 
vicinity of Long Pond as well as to the pond itself — 
much oftener, too, as it were quite easy to show, to the 



786 



HISTORY OF WOKCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



east side, notwithstanding the complacent appropria- 
tion of it by our neighbors of Worcester, than to the 
west aide of the pond. The question why formation 
of this large tract of land into a town was delayed till 
after all the other territory in the vicinity was formed 
into towns has been often asked, but the answer is 
not far to seek, and in truth has been already given. 
The choicest portions of it had been already granted, 
and in the language of the report of a viewing com- 
mittee sent out to find a meet place for a plantation 
at Quinsigamond, it had been " spoiled by the grant- 
ing (if farms." 

After the death of the original grantees of the 
Haynes' Farm, several of their heirs sold their rights 
or shares therein, and in 1716 the owners of it, twenty- 
three in number, living mostly in Marlborough, but 
some of them in Sudbury and other towns, with a 
view to division and settlement of their three thousand 
two hundred acres at Quinsigamond, caused it to be 
surveyed and divided uj). Their surveyor was John 
Brigham, of Marlborough, who was the grantee of a 
large " farm " in the West Parish of that town, and 
was at that very time pushing a scheme for setting 
off that parish as a new town, to be called West- 
borough, and the owners of the Haynes' Farm em- 
ployed Mr. Brigham to draw up and present to the 
General Court a petition for the grant of the whole of 
the large tract between Marlborough and Worcester 
as a township. This petition, which was signed by 
John Brigham himself and thirty others, is said to 
have been lost, and it is not known who all of the 
petitioners were nor exactly what they asked for, but 
it was referred, together with another petition of 
which also John Brigham was the first signer, for in- 
corporation of his new town of Westborough, to the 
same viewing committee, who reported favorably on 
both petitions. But it is easy to see that Mr. Brig- 
ham and his committee, of which John Chandler, of 
Woodstock, was chairman, and to which the reference 
of both these petitions was of course no accident, were 
looking mainly to the interest of the new town and 
less to those of the new township. A good slice 
from the latter — to wit, a strip between the former 
boundary of Marlborough and Haynes' Farm— was 
added to the former by the committee, who thought 
that the petitioners for the township were competent 
members and likely to make a speedy settlement, and 
that the slice proposed to be taken would not so 
disadvantage the township but that it might make a 
good town — that is to say, if the owners of all the five 
farms at Quinsigamond would make common cause 
with the petitioners, there would be plenty of land 
left after parting with the slice in question. 

November 2, 1717, the General Court accepted the 
committee's report and " ordered that the tract of 
land protracted and described, together with the farms 
heretofore granted to particular persons contained in 
the plot, be made a township, excepting" the slice 
referred to, and appointed a committee to lay out the 



whole of said lands (except the lands before granted) 
to persons most likely to advance settlement of the 
place, who were to pay not exceeding twelve pence 
per acre to the use of the Province and the com- 
mittee's charge for laying out. 

The committee, of which Jonathan Remington was 
chairman, laid out forty-five lots of about seventy 
acres each, with a fifty-acre right to each, by which I 
understand a right in the settler to have fifty acres 
more in the undivided lands, and also laid out for 
each lot about six acres of valuable meadow often 
quite remote from the lot. The " valuable meadow " 
was swamp land, and is at the present day less highly 
valued than it once was. And the proprietors, 
March 28, 1722, granted " the committy to settle the 
town" fifteen hundred acres for laying out the lots. 
The Committee's Farm, so-called, was a parcel of 
good land in the northwest corner of the township, 
called the Leg, on the Stillwater River, now a part of 
Sterling. Many persons have been misleil by Ward's 
"History of Shrewsbury " into sujiposing that it was 
upon the lots laid out by the Remington committee 
that all the first-comers to Shrewsbury settled, and 
such appears to have been the belief of Mr. Ward 
himself. The number of the proprietors in 1718, as 
appears from the apportionnientof a tax, was forty-five, 
and a lot was laid out for each one, and a few of the 
men to whom lots were assigned no doubt settled up- 
on them personally. But it was upon the Haynes' 
Farm, which covered all the land on both sides of the 
Great road, extending southerly beyond where the 
Worcester turnpike was afterwards laid, that most of 
the new-comers from Marlborough settled. The lots 
numbered one to sixteen, were laid out on a strip of 
land extending along the south and east boundary 
lines of the town — that is between Haynes' Farm and 
the town of Grafton on the south, and the towns of 
Westborough and Northborough on the east — and if 
one will carefully examine the description of these 
lots, as taken by Mr. Ward from the proprietors' 
book, he will find frequent recurrence to the " town 
lines" and "Haines' Old Farm" as boundaries. Lots 
Nos. 17, 18 and 19 lay east of Rawson's Farm, whose 
locality has been before given, and Nos. 21, 22 (which 
was the minister's lot) and 23 lay between Haynes' 
Farm and Rawson's Farm, and the description of all 
these lots refer to these so-called "farms" as boun- 
daries. The other lots are more diflBcult to locate 
with exactness. Most of them were in that part of 
Shrewsbury now Boylston and West Boylston. No. 
24 is " bounded westerly by Judge Sewall's Farm ;" 
No. 20 " lyeth near the west bounds of Haines' Old 
Farm ;" No. 30 " Lyeth near the North End of Dav- 
enport's Farm;" Nos. 31, 32 and 34 are bounded by 
the " pretended Maiden Farm," etc., etc. Mr. Ward 
has copied these descriptions containing these refer- 
ences to the farms without inquiry as to what or where 
they were. 

Ten years after the township grant the town of 



SHREWSBURY. 



787 



Shrewsbury was incorporated — not by a formal act, 
but by an order upon application of the inhabitants 
for incorporation dated December 19, 1727. Mr. Ward 
thinks it was so called from the English town of that 
name, whence may have come the ancestors of some 
of the proprietors. Before Saxon scholars gave the 
true etymology of the name it was said to mean the 
borough of shrews, which may be either a kind of 
moles or a kind of wives. The Saxons, who took the 
English town in the fifth century, derisively changed 
its Welsh name to Scrobbes-Byrig (scrub town), of 
which the name Shrewsbury is a euphonious corrup- 
tion. But there is neither evidence nor reason for 
supposing any of the proprietors' ancestors came from 
the English Shrewsbury. Like many other towns, 
probably Shrewsbury took its name from a prominent 
man of the time when it was in want of one. Our 
neighbor on the south is well known to have been 
named from the Duke of Grafton, damned to everlast- 
ing fame in the letters of Junius. Charles Talbot, 
titular Earl of Shrewsbury by birth, was one of the 
Seven who signed the declaration inviting over the 
Prince of Orange on the abdication of James II., and 
became Secretary of State to King William, with title 
of Duke of Shrewsbury. On account of his winning 
manners Talbot is said to have been named by William 
of Orange King of Hearts, and habitually called by 
this pleasant title by the whole royal court. Under 
Queen Anne he held the offices of First Lord Cham- 
berlain and Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland, and finally 
with her dying breath the Queen gave him the staff 
of Lord High Treasurer, that a sure hand might hold 
the helm of state at her death and safely transmit the 
Protestant succession. As soon as the Queen had 
drawn her last breath Charles Talbot, Duke of 
Shrewsbury, August 14, 1714, proclaimed George 
Lewis, Elector of Hanover, King of England and 
Ireland. The Duke died 1718, between which time 
and Queen Anne's death our town was settling, and 
as a child born in some historical crisis is named from 
a prominent actor in it, so the town of Shrewsbury 
took its name from the statesman who, notwithstand- 
ing public apprehension of the Pretender, had safely 
transmitted the English crown in the Protestant line. 
But if the same partiality for Indian names had ex- 
isted in early times as now, probably Shrewsbury and 
Grafton would have continued to be called Quinsiga- 
moud and Hassanimisco to this day. 



CHAPTER CII. 

SHREWSBURY— ( Con tin tied. ) 

THE MEETING-HOUSE LOT AND THE HOUSES THAT 
WERE BUILT THEREON — THE P.\RISH FUND — ITS 
ORIGIN AND GROWTH. 

October 27, 1719, the proprietors of Shrewsbury 
voted " that the meeting-house be on Rocky Plain, 



near the Pines, and if the said spot cannot be obtained 
on reasonable terms, that then the meeting-house be 
set on Meeting-House Hill," whereby it appears that 
the hill laid down on maps and known to this day as 
Meeting-house Hill was so called as early as two 
years and a half after the first comers were here — 
doubtless because public opinion had designated this 
hill as the site of the house of worship that was to be. 
It belonged to the proprietors — which Rocky Plain 
did not — and it was nearer to the centre of the town- 
ship. Rocky Plain was part of Haynes' Farm and 
the portion of it which the proprietors wanted be- 
longed to one of their number, William Taylor. Its 
name. Rocky Pine Plain, indicates the boulders and 
forest trees that the pioneers had to deal with. On the 
4th of May, 1721, the very month when the first meet- 
ing-house in Shrewsbury was built, William Taylor 
conveyed to the proprietors, of whom he was one and 
retaining an equal right therein with any one single 
proprietor, fifteen acres of land situate on Rocky 
Plain and lying within the bounds of a fiirm pur- 
chased by him of one of the heirs of John Haynes, 
bounded westerly by land of John I'.alcom, northerly 
by land of Edward Goddard, southerly by the [squad- 
ron line and every other way by the remaining paits 
of said Taylor's own land. The squadron line here 
was the Connecticut Road, then so called. In making 
this conveyance Sergeant Taylor was actuated mainly 
by public spirit, though no doubt he expected advan- 
tages from having the meeting-house, which was sure 
to be the village centre, near where he had settled. 
On the 20th of May, sixteen days after his conveyance 
to them, the proprietors granted to him in satisfaction 
of his fifteen acres "5 acres and 24 rods of land on 
Pine Plain, westerly of Haynes' Farm on the south 
side of the country road," remote from the centre and 
of trifling value — a mere make-weight or nominal 
quid pro quo granted from some supposed legal neces- 
sity for a consideration. This fifteen acres, called 
"the common," beside the church site, the land 
around it and the graveyard, contained several other 
parcels, some of which were sold by the proprie- 
tors and some of which were appropriated without 
sale. The lot on which the Sumner house stands, and 
which was the southwest corner of the original Com- 
mon, was sold in 1754 to Artemas Ward, who after- 
ward sold it to Dr. Joseph Sumner. The house where 
Mr. A. J. Gibson lives, where formerly stood the old 
Crosby house, occupies the southeast corner. Both 
the Town House and the High School house are on 
the Taylor grant. Nor can any record of any convey- 
ance or grant of the proprietors be found of the sites 
of these public buildings. The site of the Andrews 
house and the field in rear of it are entirely within 
the old Common limits; so also is a part of the site of 
the Jonas Stone house, but the sites of these two 
houses and the fielil were sold by the proprietors, as 
by their records appears.' 

1 More than forty years ago Nathan Howe t'Ointed out to two of his 



788 



HIciTOKY OF WOECESTER COUiNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



Under date May 13, 1766, the day of raising the 
second ineeting-house of the First Parish, Dr. Sum- 
ner has a memorandum of the fact, accompanied with 
a note, that "The first meeting-house iu Shrewsbury 
was Erected in ye niounth of May, 1721." The site 
of tlie first meeling-house, according to tradition, was 
ji little northerly and easterly of where the present 
liouse now stands. lis dimensions, given in the pro- 
prietors' records, were " 40 feet in length by 32 in 
brcadtli, 14 feet stud." And the proprietors voted, 
June 22, 1720, to lay an assessment of five pounds on 
each, — aggregate of forty-two proprietors, two hun- 
dred and ten pounds. Tliis house had neitiier stee- 
ple nor bell. The first sermon ever preached in 
Shrewsbury was by Rev. Robert Breck, of Marlbor- 
ough, June 15, 1720, and the record of the meeting 
of the proprietors, when the assessment before re- 
ferred to was voted, contains also the proprietors' vote 
ti» apply to Mr. Brecl^ for the notes of his sermon, in 
order to have them printed.' 

For forty-five years (1721-60) the first meeting- 
house served its original purpose, but during the last 
five years or more there had been a growing feeling 

grandeoiis tile comers and boundaries of tbe Taylor grsmt, and told 
tbeiii tbut they were pointed out to bim wlien a boy by bis grandtatber 
Taylor. These grandsons were then scliool-hoys, of the age of seven 
teeu years, studying surveyiug in tbe Shrewsbury High School, and one 
of them, a youth of rare promise and mathematical capacity, surveyed 
and plotted tbe old Common .as bis great-great-grandfatlier originally 
granted it, and bis plot lies before me on my desk while I write. His 
field notes are " Began at S.W. corner on the road and ran east 31 rods, 
N. 4° W. 721^ rods, .S. 7U° W. 4:iU rods, S. 17° E. (ISH rods, to where 
we began, — area, 16 acres, 42 rods." Tbe other boy was the writer, who 
alone, of all William Taylor's descendants, has the honor to bear bis 
name. His cousin, who made tbe survey, and whose name was Nathan 
Howe, so called after his grandfather, untimely died at the age of twen- 
ty-one years of a malignant typhus, I have recently di-covered in the 
files of tbe Supreme Judicial Court, October Term, IS 12, at Worcester, 
Fitut Parish iu Siirewsbury rs. Daniel STuitb, a carefully made plan of 
the " MeetingHouse lands," by Henry Snow, for the use of the court 
on trial of that case, showing all the roads, buildings, hoi'se-sheds, tombs 
and fences, and tbe site of tbe meeting-house as it was in 1832, and I am 
both gratified and surprised at tbe almost exact coincidence of tbe sur- 
vey of this accurate and painstaking surveyor with that of my youthful 
cousin, 

A history of Shrewsbury ought not to omit some notice of tbe famous 
lawsuit of the parish with Daniel Smith, and I must crowd in some- 
where a brief account of it, — bore perhaps as well as anywhere. In 
1S31) Daniel Suiitb, who was a grandson of William Taylor, claimed 
title to the Common as his heir, plowed it up and sowed it with rye, 
whereupon the parish brought an action of trespass against bim. Of 
course Taylor himself bad no title after his conveyance to the pro- 
prietors, except as one of them, and even this title, since the proprietors 
were a corporation, did not descend to Taylor's heirs; and, even if 
Taylor h.ad never conveyed tbe Common at all, Smith would have had 
no other title than as one of Taylor's many descendants. But tbe 
proprietors were all dead, and their quasi-corporate organization w.os 
extiuct. And tbey had never, either personally or corporately, con- 
veyed the t'ommon to either the town or the parish, nor to anybody. 
In the action brought against bim by tbe parish. Smith's lawyers, Re- 
joyce Newton and Levi Lincoln, finding be had no title to stand on, 
boldly challenged tbe title of tbe parish. But the Court held that the 
pai-isb was tbe legal successor of the proprietors to at least so much of 
tbe Common as bad been actually used for parochial imrposes, and, 
being in actual possession, could maintaiu its action against a stranger. 
Tbe case is a leading authority upon parish law, 14 Pick., 2H7. 

• The sermon was printed, and a single copy of it still survives, in 
iiossesaion of Mr. George Sumner, of Worcester. 



that a new house of worship was needed. The town 
had grown, and, notwithstanding it had been divided 
into two parishes, the old house was too small. The 
building of the second meeting-house was long de- 
bated at town-meetings. Finally resolved upon, in 
the spring of 1766, it w.ts commenced in earnest and 
speedily completed. It was not jobbed off to the 
lowest bidder, but built by a building committee, who 
employed Daniel Heminway, of Shrewsbury, the 
famous meeting-house builder, who built the Old 
South, in Worcester, and many other meeting-houses 
and public buildings, to frame it. The committee 
was instructed, by vote of the town, in employing 
labor and in purchase of materials, to give the prefer- 
ence to inhabitants of the town. All the carpenters 
of Shrewsbury worked upon the meetinghouse. All 
the lumber grew in Shrewsbury woods, and was sawn 
in Shrewsbury mills. All the nails were made by 
Shrewsbury blacksmiths. The record of a town- 
meeting immediately preceding the meeting-house 
raising reveals the muuicipal estimate of the magni- 
tude of the undertaking. The question whether the 
town would procure a ginn to raise the meeting- 
house with was debated, and "determined in ye nega- 
tive." But the committee were directed to procure a 
lot of new spike poles; also " voted that ye committy 
provide Drinks & Provisions," and " voted to com- 
mence the raising at six o'clock in the morning." 
And lest ye committee should mistake their instruc- 
tion-', and also probably to encourage a good attend- 
ance and make everybody stay till the last rafter was 
in place and the last pin driven home, it was fur- 
ther " voted to provide a Good Supper, and to send 
to Boston for a Barrel of Rhum." 

The new house was fifcy-flve feet in length by 
forty-three in breadth, and had entrances on the east 
and west ends and on the south side. Like its prede- 
cessor, it had neither steeple nor bell. If one take a 
lantern and go up into the attic and look at the enor- 
mous plates and roof-timbers, resting where they 
were raised by the new spike-poles one hundred and 
twenty-two years ago, he cannot but wonder how 
they were ever got there with the use of no other 
machinery.- The original site where the house was 
raised, and stood till 1834, was about fifty feet south 
of its present location, and its longest dimension was 
east and west. Many hands make quick work, and 
jnst two months after the raising Dr. Sumner says, 
"July 16, 1766, Being Lord's day, we met ye first 
time in the New House, upon wh. occasion I 
Preached from Genesis 28 chapter & ye 17 verse." 

In 1807 the porch on the wast end of the meeting- 
house was replaced by a steeple with a belfry and dials 



2 Unless "rum done it ?" Itwasattbis raising that Artemas Ward, 
whose active drilling of his regiment directly after passage of the Stamp 
Act bad come to the ear of Royal Goveruor Bernard, received the revo- 
cation of bis commission as colonel. The reply which the reduced offi- 
cer sent the Governor that he bad been twice honored is worthy of in- 
scription on his monument — where it is. 



8HREWSBUEY. 



789 



for a clock. The bell, for which the money was raised 
by subscription, was not hung until next year. The 
clock was added still later. Why the steeple was 
built OQ the west end, thereby giving the building the 
appearance of facing Dr. Sumner's back-yard, it is 
difficult to say ; but so it was and so it stood until 
1834, when the house was swung quarter round so as 
to face the south and moved to its present site, raised 
up so as to construct a vestry underneath and re- 
modeled. Its porches were taken off so as to conform, 
outside and inside, to the then prevailing style of 
church architecture. 

In ISul Jonah Howe and eight others were incor- 
porated as trustees of a fund for the support of a Con- 
gregaiional minister in the town of Shrewsbury, by an 
act of the General Court passed February 18th of that 
year. The act recites the former appropriation of cer- 
tain securities and moneys, amounting to niue hundred 
and twenty dollars, by the town, and the recent sub- 
scription of 1^2,243 for support of the minister, limits 
the fund to a maximum of eight thousand dollars, the 
interest of which only is to be applied to the minis- 
ter's salary, provides for an annual meeting of trustees 
in April, each year, to elect a treasurer and clerk and 
fill vacancies in trustees, and makes the trustees re- 
sponsible to the town. If the interest should ever 
amount to more than enough to pay the salary of the 
minister, it was to be applied to the schools of the 
town. Dr. Sumner has left a memorandum that 
shows the origin of the fund : 

April, 1792. — According to a vote of ttie town of Shrewsliiiry, tlie 
hinder seats in the meeting-house was taken up, and six pews built, 
which sold fur about £1-10, which is to remain as a fund, the interest of 
which to be appropriated for support of the Gospel. 

Sundry contributious have, from time to time, been 
made by difterent persons to this fund, and the amount 
of it is now more than double the maximum prescribed 
in the original act. By chapter TiO, Acts of 186(5, its 
name was changed to a " Fund for the Support of a 
Congregational Minister in the First Congregational 
Parish and Religious Society in the Town of Shrews- 
bury," and the limitation of the original act to eight 
thousand dollars was raised to twenty thousand dollars, 
and the trustees are made accountable to the parish, 
instead of the town. Jonathan H. Nelson, who died 
in 1872, gave this fund a legacy of five thousand dol- 
lars, the largest contribution given by any donor at 
any one time, but less than the aggregate sums given 
by Amasa Howe, who in his lifetime (1869) gave 
eighteen hundred dollars, and who, dying in 1883, was 
found by his will, made in 1872, to have given a legacy 
of twenty-two hundred dollars to this fund, and also 
by a codicil made in 1882 another legacy of two thou- 
sand dollars,' making a total of six thousand dollars. 

1 The writer, who was the testator's nephew and one of his executors, 
being consulted by his uncle about tliis legacy, advised him against it. 
Ilia reply, characteristic wf the whole life uf the man— then eighty-eight 
years old— will interest all who knew him : "I want the same kind of 
preaching kept up in Shrewsbury after I am dead and gone that there 



And Thomas Rice, who died May 29, 1888, has left a 
legacy of one thousand dollars in trust with the trus- 
tees of this fund, one-half of the interest of which is 
to be applied by the trustees to the care of the testa- 
tor's lot and monument in the cemetery, and the other 
half to be applied to the payment of the salary of the 
minister of the Congregational parish. I am unable 
to give the amounts of any other donations or the 
names of the donors. The present total of the fund 
is about eighteen thousand dollars and its income 
about nine hundred dollars. 



CHAPTER CIII. 

SHREWSBURY— (a)////««ri/.) 

THE FIRST PARISH .\ND ITS MINISTERS : GUSHING, 
SUMXER, INGERSOLI,, WHIPPLE, GEORGE ALLEN, 
AVERELL, WILLIAMS, MCGINLEY, DYER, SCUDDER, 
FRANK H. ALLEN. 

The three years within which Shrewsbury was 
required to have at least forty families and an ortho- 
dox minister began to run November 2, 1717. The 
forty fiimilies were here in due season, but the first 
minister. Rev. Job Cushing, was not settled till Dec- 
ember 4, 1723, — more than six years after the time 
began to run. It would seem from the church records 
that the church was organized and a covenant 
adopted at Mr. Cushing's ordination. Let us note in 
pas^ing that this covenant does not contain any credi) 
— unless the following be regarded as such : 

" We resolve to make the blessed Scriptures our 
platform, whereby we may discern the blessed miml 
of Christ and not the new-framed inventions of men," 
— a favorite form of words with those who did not wi.sli 
either to commit themselves to dogmatic theology 
nor to repel others from uniting with them by an 
iron-clad creed. This liberal covenant, probably 
drawn up by Mr. Cushing himself, closely resembles 
that of many of the early churches of New England, 
commencing with the earliest, whose platform, 
brought in the " Mayflower'' and landed in 1620 on 
Plymouth Rock, remains unchanged in any clause or 
letter, the creed of the liberal First Church of Plym- 
outh, to this day. 

It does not appear that at Mr. Cushing's ordination 
or afterwards any question was raised as to his being 
an "orthodox minister," within the meaning of those 
words in the act of the General Court, but tradition 
is that some of the brethren suspected him of favor- 
ing the Arminian heresy. During his ministry 
only one controversy arose of which any memory 
has reached our times. This was not theological. 

always haa been, no matter how many rum-sellers and Roman Catholics 
come into the town." And he brought his aged fist down upon the table 
at which we were sitting with a vigor that silenced all further advice 
of that kind. 



790 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



One Simon Goddard, who came to Shrewsbury in 
1731, from Framingham, with the aid of his two 
brothers, who were here before him, and five or six 
others, whom he converted to his views, kept Mr. 
Gushing and the whole church in hot water for 
more than ten years about ruling elders. According 
to Brother Goddard, it was indispensable that every 
Christian church should have two elders to rule both 
it and the minister, and he wrote to Mr. Gushing 
and the church long letters about it and talked about 
it till one wonders at the long-suffering patience 
of pastor and people with such a crank and such a 
bore as he was. This contemptible controversy 
finally resulted in an ecclesiastical council, but what 
was the "result" of the council was unknown at the 
time and has never been discovered to this day. 

Rev. Job Gushing, whose father and grandfather 
were both named Matthew Gushing, and the latter of 
whom came from Norfolk, England, in 1088, was 
born at Hinghara, July 19, 1(394, and graduated at 
Harvard College in 1714. He was a farmer as well 
as minister, and at the moment of his death he was 
at work in his field binding sheaves of grain, where, 
without sickness or premonition, he fell dead. The 
minister's lot, No. 22, laid out on Meeting-house Hill 
when it was expected that the meeting house would 
be built there, being found after it was builton Rocky 
Plain too remote for the minister to live on, Mr. 
Gushing bought twenty acres and one hundred and 
fifteen rods of William Taylor, adjoining on the east 
side the meeting-house lot or Common, and built his 
house where Mrs. Arunah Harlow now lives. Mr. 
Gushing also bought of Nahum Ward fifty-six acres 
and seventy-one rods on the south side of the road 
opposite his house.' What with these purchases and 
his lot (No. 22), " made up the full of ninety acres," 
and second and third division lands received "in 
right of his lot " he became in time the owner of 
considerable real estate, which he cleared and tilled 
as well as any of the other original farmers of Shrews- 
bury. A portion of Mr. Cnshing's land on both 
sides of the Great Road, together with a moiety of 
Jordan's Pond laid out to him as second division 
land " equal," say the records, " to six acres of valu- 
able meadow," has descended to his great-grandson, 
Mr. .losiah G. Stone, and still remains in his posses- 
sion. At the time of Mr. Cnshing's settlement in 
Shrewsbury he was twenty-nine years old, and at his 
death, which occurred August 0, 17G0, he was sixty- 
six. 

In the interval between the decease of Mr. Gushing 
and settlement of his successor, the church covenant 
was re-enforced by the addition of the Calvinistic 
tenets. After the words in the extract before given, 
" new-framed inventions of men," were added the 
following, " And yet we are of the jtidgment that the 
whole of the well-known Westminster Gatechism, as 



' Mi.l.llesex Registry of Ueeits, Book 2.'>, Pages 123-124. 



explained by Calvinistic divines, contains a just 
summary of Ghristian doctrine as revealed in God's 
Holy Word," and after the name of Christ was 
in.^erted the words, " whom we believe to be God, 
equal with the Father and the Holy Ghost." Among 
the minority who protested and voted against these 
additions to the fair original, as incongruous therewith 
as patch of sow's ear upon silk purse, I note the name 
of Colonel Job Gushing, true t& the teachings of his 
sainted father. 

Before settling or even calling another minister, 
being jealous not only of ruling elders, but of the 
minister as well, the church voted not to settle any 
minister with power to negative its vote. At the same 
meeting when this vote was passed the church ex- 
tended a call to Rev. Joseph Sumner as pastor, and 
his ordination took place June 23, 1762. For want 
of room in the old meeting-house, and because it was 
not considered safe to crowd the old house with a 
large audience, the ordination services were conducted 
in the open air on a platform erected on the Common. 
Rev. Joseph Sumner was born at Pomfret, Conn.,i 
June 30, 1740, being son of Deacon Samuel Sumner, 
of that town, and graduated at Yale College in 1759. 
The degree of D.D., was conferred on him by Harvard 
College in 1814, and shortly afterwards by Columbia 
College, S. G. Like his predecessor, he was a man of 
liberal views and tolerant practice, and if all the minis- 
ters of New England had been like them, no division 
of the churches on the basis of mere theological dogma 
would have ever taken place. During Dr. Sumner's 
time the Calvinistic additions to the covenant were 
erased by vote of the church — doubtless through his 
influence. He was a man of great authority with his 
people, and of great personal dignity and weight of 
character. Of colossal stature — six feet four inches 
in height — he presented a most imposing presence. 
To the last he wore the costume of the la^it century : 
knee-breeches, silver buckles, cocked hat, white wig 
and all. A child was once so awe-stricken at sight of 
Dr. Sumner, as to run away and tell his mother that 
he had seen God. A characteristic story is told of 
him and Dr. Samuel Austin, of the First Worcester 
Parish. In a conversation at the house of the former, 
in Shrewsbury, where the latter had made a call. Dr. 
Sumner said, " I was brought up in the orthodox faith, 
and have always lived in it, and I expect to die in it." 
"•But," said Dr. Austin, "you clipped off its corners." 
" Yes," was Dr. Sumner's reply, "and they need clip- 
ping more." Let me add another story characteristic 
of Dr. Austin as well as Dr. Sumner. At a meeting 
of the Worcester Ministerial Association Dr. Austin 
and Dr. Aaron Bancroft, pastors respectively of the 
First and Second Parishes in Worcester, were both 
proposed for membership. Dr. Austin having been 
admitted without objection, he vehemently opposed 
the admission of Dr. Bancroft, and a majority of the 
association voted against it, whereupon Dr. Sumner 
arose, and declaring that he would not belong to such 



SHREWSBURY. 



791 



an illiberal body, withdrew from the association, and 
it never met again. 

It was during Dr. Sumner's time that division of 
Congregational Churches into Trinitarian and Unita- 
rian took place. In the last years of his ministry he 
had repeatedly suggested to his people the expediency 
of selecting a colleague pastor, and January 18, 1820, 
the church chose Rev. Samuel B. Ingersoll as col- 
league to Dr. Summer, and the parish concurring, the 
ordination took place June 14, 1820. This ordination 
being a sort of milestone in the history of the Con- 
gregational schism then in progress, I must give a 
brief account of it. Of the fifteen ministers who 
formed the ordaining council, five — namely : Dr. Aaron 
Bancroft, of Worcester ; Rev. John Miles, of Grafton ; 
Rev. Ward Cotton, of Boylston ; Dr. Joseph Allen, 
of Northborough ; and Rev. William Nash, of West 
Boylston — were Unitarians. At the examination of 
the candidate it appeared that he was a pronounced 
Calvinist. To his ordination on this account the 
Unitarian members of the council made no objection, 
but asked if he would fellowship with Unitarians. 
Mr. Ingersoll's reply was " I would not trust a Unita- 
rian in my pulpit one hour." This was explicit 
enough for Dr. Bancroft, who arose and was followed 
by all the Unitarian members of the council, pastors 
and lay delegates, nine in number, down the long 
aisle out of the meeting-house. A majority of the 
council was still left, and the ordination proceeded. 
Such is the account of this ordination given to the 
writer nearly forty years ago by Dr. Eleazer T. Fitch, 
professor of divinity in Yale College, who was a mem- 
ber of the council. 

Jlr. Ingersoll, after his ordination, preached but 
one Sunday, and died of consumption, November 14, 
1820, at Beverly, where he was born in 1787. He 
graduated at Yale College in 1817, and was thirty 
years old at the time. He was at his death thirty- 
three. Before going to college he had been a sailor 
and shipwrecked at sea. It is said that as he lay float- 
ing and perishing on a piece of wreck in mid-ocean 
he heard a call to go and preach the gospel, and an- 
swered it with a solemn vow that if he were saved 
from perishing then he would obey the call. A fu- 
neral service was held simultaneously at Beverly and 
at Shrewsbury. " I preached and Dr. Bancroft and 
Mr. Cotton prayed." Such is Dr. Sumner's brief en- 
try in the church records. I wonder if prayer or 
sermon contained any allusion to the drama played 
within the same walls only five months before. 
This ordination of Mr. Ingersoll was followed by 
important consequences both in Shrewsbury and else- 
where. In Shrewsbury, as we shall see later, a portion 
of the parish withdrew and formed a new S(jciety. Dr- 
Sumner was greatly annoyed at what had taken place- 
Doubtless he had hoped, by bringing together the 
clergy of the vicinity who were of opposing views, 
to do something towards healing the schism that was 
dividingand weakeningthe chuichesof New England. 



After Mr. Ingersoll'* death Rev. Edwards Whipple 
was settled as a colleague to Dr. Sumner. He had 
previously been ordained and settled in Charlton, 
and dismissed at his own request. His installation 
took place September 20, 1821. He died September 
17, 1822, of a fever after a sickness of only seven 
days, aged forty-four years. He was born in West- 
borough, November, 1778, graduated at Williams 
College in 1801, and studied his profession with 
the famous Dr. Nathaniel Emmons, of Franklin. 
Dr. Sumner continued in his ministry in Shrewsbury 
till his death, which occurred December 9, ]824, a 
period of more than sixty-two years, being at the 
time of his death nearly eighty five years old. His 
funeral sermon was preached by his life-long friend, 
Dr. Bancroft, pursuant to an understanding between 
them that whichever might die first, the other should 
preach his funeral sermon. 

But before Dr. Sumner's death still another col- 
league to him had been settled in Shrewsbury. Rev. 
George Allen was ordained here November 19, 1823. 
He was the son of Hon. Joseph Allen, born at Wor- 
cester, February 11, 1792, and graduated at Yale Col- 
lege in 1813. He remained in his pastorate at Shrews- 
bury till June 18, 1840, when he was dismissed by ad- 
vice of an ecclesiastical council. For sixteen of the sev- 
enteen years of his life here Mr. Allen's relations with 
his church and parish were exceptionally pleasant and 
amicable. At his funeral said Rev. Dr. Buckingham, 
of Springfield, formerly settled in MiUbury : "Years 
ago, when Mr. Allen was pastor of the church at 
Shrewsbury, we" (meaning the clergy of the vicinity) 
"remember to have thought that parsonage an ideal 
one. Looking off from that hill-top with his wife and 
chi dr^n about him and a large and intelligent con- 
gregation listening to him, it seemed as if such love 
and influence and happiness ought to satisfy any mor- 
tal. They did satisfy him so long as he was permitted 
to enjoy them." But in the seventeenth year of his 
ministry there arose in Shrewsbury one of the most 
implacable minister quarrels in the history of New 
England. It had its origin in a scandal about Mr. 
Allen's family, of which want of space, if no other 
reason, would forbid detail here. Indignantly deny- 
ing the truth of the scandalous stories in circulation, 
Mr. Allen in the pulpit and out of it castigated their 
circulators with a severity of language such as few 
men can equal and none ever exceeded, and his un- 
sparing denunciations of all who had talked about his 
family, which included probably the entire inhabit- 
ants of the town, had the efl'ect to estrange many of 
his warmest friends and to cause them to become dis- 
afiected. In a few months the disaflected party grew, 
so as to number full one-half the parish, "signed off," 
hired a preacher and a hall and had religious services 
on Sundays by themselves. It was a bitter feud, caus- 
ing enmity between old friends and near neighbors, 
and finally resulted in an ecclesiastical council, before 
which the opposition to Mr. Allen, under leadership 



r92 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



of Mr. Henry Dana Ward, laid charges against him. 
The council fully vindicated Mr. Allen from all in- 
tentional wrong and recommended him to the con- 
fidence of the churches; but, on account of the wide- 
spread disaffection which had impaired, if not entirely 
destroyed, his usefulness in Shrewsbury, they advised 
his dismissal with payment of full salary for the cur- 
rent year. These proceedings were directly followed 
by a slander suit brought by Mr. Allen against Mr. 
Ward. At the trial of this suit in the Supreme Court 
at Worcester, April term, 1841, the town of Shrews- 
bury turned out and packed the court-house. Nor 
was interest limited to the town. No trial at Wor- 
cester, for years, had excited such general interest. 
Verdict for plaintiff', damages $700, which, at the time, 
was regarded as heavy and exemplary. 

Eev. George Allen was unquestionably the ablest 
man whom Shrewsbury can boast to have ever had 
fbr a citizen. After his dismissal he returned to 
Worcester and lived there till his death, which oc- 
curred March 31, 1883. His age was ninety-one 
years. He had long survived his wife and children, 
of whom he once had four, two of whom had died 
within a year and a half before his dismissal at 
Shrewsbury, and one of whom was the subject of the 
scandal before referred to. For about thirty years 
Mr. Allen was chaplain of the State Lunatic Hospital 
at Worcester. A man of great learning and accurate 
scholarship, and holding the pen of a ready writer, he 
became in Worcester a public and influential man. 
He was interested in and performed efficient service 
in all the reformatory movements of the times. In 
the anti-Masonic movement which followed the 
murder of Morgan in Western New York, where he 
preached a few years before he came to Shrewsbury, 
he took an active and prominent part. He was one 
of the earliest and most pronounced anti-slavery men, 
and on formation of the Free-Soil parly in 1848 he gave 
valuable aid to his brother, who, more than any other 
' man, must be regarded as founder of that party. 
Though maintaining his connection from first to last 
with the Orthodox Congregational Church, he was a 
man of extremely liberal views, and had the honor to 
have his orthodoxy challenged many times in his 
life. Before settlement in Shrewsbury he was reject- 
ed by an ordaining council at Aurora, N. Y., where 
he had received a call, for " unsoundness on original 
sin.'' All his life he publicly repudiated the West- 
minster Catechism, and in 1865 at Plymouth, where 
the National Council of his denomination met, in 
eloquert words he solemnly protested against its re- 
affirmation as being too sectarian for the catholic 
spirit of the Pilgrim Fathers, over whose ashes they 
had met, and too narrow to comprehend the breadth 
of their principles of religious freedom. 

Mr. Allen's successor in the ministry at Shrewsbury 
was Rtv. James Averill, who was born at Griswold, 
Conn., May 2'.\ 1815. He graduated at Amherst College 
in the class of 1837, studied his profusion at the Yale 



Theological School and was ordained over the church 
and parish in Shrewsbury, June 22, 1841. He was 
dismissed at his own request November 15, 1848. 
Mr. Averill died in 1863 in the service of his country, 
chaplain of a Connecticut regiment. 

Rev. Nathan Witter Williams was the successor ot 
Mr. Averill. He was the son of Rev. Joseph Williams, 
and born at Providence, R. I., March 12, 1816; gradu- 
ated at Yale College in 1842; studied theology with 
Rev. Albert Barnes, of Philadelphia; was ordained at 
Shrewsbury, February 28, 1849, and dismissed at his 
own request April 27, 1858. After Mr. Williams' dis- 
missal he was elected Representative from Shrewsbury 
to the General Court and served as a member of that 
body in the session of 1859. 

The next minister of the Congregational Church 
and Parish iu Shrewsbury was Rev. William A. Mc- 
Ginley, who was ordained June 2, 1859, and dis- 
missed by his request July 27, 1865. He was an ac- 
complished scholar and eloquent preacher. He had 
originally selected the law for his profession and had 
read a year or more for admission to the bar before he 
studied divinity. He is now settled in Portsmouth, 
N. H. 

Rev. Ebenezer Porter Dyer was the successor of 
Mr. McGinley. He was born at Abington, August 
15, 1813, graduated at Brown University in the class 
of 1833, studied divinity at Andover and was first set- 
tled and ordained at Stowe, where he began preaching 
in 1835, and where he remained till 1846. Installed 
atHingham in 1848, he remained there till 1864. He 
was again installed here November 7, 1867, and re- 
signed his pastorate June 19, 1877. Beginning at 
Stowe in his youth, afterwards at several other places, 
Boston, Winter Hill, Somerville and elsewhere, he 
performed missionary labor, founding, it is said, by 
his direct efforts, three churches, and indirectly cans- j 
ing to be founded three others. He was author of \ 
several books, among others a metrical version of 
" Pilgrim's Progress," published by Lee & Shepard, 
Boston, iu 1869, while he was in Shrewsbury. He died 1 
at Abington, August 22, 1883, aged seventy years. 

Rev. John L. Scudder, who succeeded Mr. Dyer, 

was born in 1855, in India, where his father. Dr.. 

Scudder was a missionary of the American Board. 
He graduated at Y'ale College in 1874, and pursued 
his professional studies at Union Theidogical Semi- 
nary. Ordained here December 26, 1877, he remained 
till March, 1882, when he requested a dismissal and 
went to accept a call to Minneapolis. He is now set- 
tled at Jersey City. 

The successor of Mr. Scudder was Rev. Frank H. 
Allen, a graduate of Amherst College in the class of 
1874, and a classmate of his predecessor at Union 
Theological Seminary. He was ordained here Octo- 
ber 25, 1882, and resigned his office as pastor August 
23, 1888, to accept a call to Milwaukee. 



SHKEWSBUKY. 



793 



CHAPTER CIV. 
SHREWSBURY— (ro«/;««fa'.) 

THE SECOND PARISH — THE BAPTIST, UNIVERSALIST 

AND METHODIST SOCIETIES — THE ROMAN 

CATHOLICS. 

From December 17, 1742, to November 1, 1786, 
there were two parishes in Shrewsbury, and the sep- 
arate history of both is part of the history of the 
town. Both were territorial, and included all the 
inhabitants, — nolentes vnlenfes. The South or First 
Parish was identical with the present town of Shrews- 
bury. The North or Second Parish included most 
of Boylston and West B.iylston and all of the original 
town not within the limits of the South. The church 
in the North Parish was organized October 6, 1743, 
Rev. Job Gushing and his deacons going over to 
"assist y'' Bretheren in the north part to gather a 
church." A meeting-house was built, and Rev. 
Ebenezer Morse was ordained in the same month 
(October) of the same year. The house was of the 
rudest and cheapest pattern, and at the ordination 
had neither floor, door nor window. It was com- 
pleted later by voluntary contributions of labor and 
materials, and the interior being apportioned off into 
spaces for pews, each one built him a pew to suit 
himself. Mr. Morse was a man of varied learning 
and superior capacity, graduate of Harvard College 
1737, and master of all the learned i)rofes5ions, — law 
and medicine as well as divinity. He was a native 
of Medfield, born March 2, 1718, and twenty-flve 
years old at his settlement in Shrewsbury. The rela- 
tions of pastor and people appear to have been mu- 
tually satisfactory till the popular dissatisfaction 
about taxation of the Colonies, in which Mr. Morse 
did not participate, being a pronounced loyalist from 
first to last. The trouble between him and his par- 
ish be^an in 1770, and culminated in 1775. Of the 
action of the town in regard to Mr. Morse, an ac- 
count will be given elsewhere. The parish, June 12, 
1775, voted (thirty -seven yeas to twelve nays) " to 
dissolve the pastoral office of Rev. Ebenezer Morse." 
November 10, 1775, six minister.-^, being pi'esent at- 
tending a day of fasting and prayer, recommended 
dismissal of Mr. Morse, and the parish voted to dis- 
miss him "agreeably to y'^ advice of the Council." 
Of course, these proceedings were irregular and revo- 
lutionary ; but they were sustained by an irresistible 
public opinion, and Mr. Morse submitted under pro- 
test. He continued to live in the Second Pari^h and 
in the town of Boylston after it was incorporated as 
such to the end of his life, making a livelihood prac- 
ticing medicine and fitting boys fur college. It has 
been said derisively of Mr. Morse that he continued 
to style himself "settled minister of God's word in 
Boylston" as long as he lived, and ofien so signed 



marriage certificates. But nothing is clearer than 
that, according to law and congregational theory, he 
had a right to so style himself and so sign his name. 
In 1775 the parish appointed a committee " to notify 
Mr. Morse of his dismissal and to see that he do not 
enter the desk any more." He died at Boylston in 
1802, aged eighty-three years. 

Before incorporation of the Second Parish as the 
town of Boylston, two other ministers were called in 
that parish, — Rev. Jesse Reed and Rev. Eleazer 
Fairbank, and the latter was settled there March 27, 
1777. He was born in Preston, Conn., graduated at 
Brown University, and was dismissed at Boylston at 
his own request, April 22, 1793; afterwards settled 
at Wilmington, Vt., and again dismissed. He re- 
moved to Palmyra, N. Y., where he died in 1821. 

The founder of the Baptist Society in Shrewsbury 
was Luther Goddard, grandson of Edward, the pro- 
prietor. Simon Goddard, who so troubled the peace 
of good Mr. Gushing about ruling elders, was a brother 
of Edward and so great uncle of Luther. The latter, 
called captain from his rank in the militia, later in 
life called also Elder Goddard, from his powerful gift 
as a Baptist exhorter, was by trade a watchmaker and 
carried on his trade with thrift and profit, first at 
Shrewsbury and later at Worcester. I mention his 
kinship to Simon on account of his marked resem- 
blance to him. What with speaking in meeting and 
endless letter-writing, Simon had kept church and 
pastor in hot water upwards of ten years, and now 
fifty years afterwards Mr. Cushing's successor hath a 
like trouble. Captain Luther also can speak in meet- 
ing, likewise he can write letters, and he did both. 
He could not find in the blessed Scriptures either 
precept or example for baptism of infants, and he 
talked about it in meeting and out of meeting, and 
wrote long letters to the church and pastor about it, 
subscribing himself "your poor unworthy Brother, L. 
Goddard." This began before, and reached a climax 
in 1808, when Capt. Goddard was baptized by imnier- * 
sion and organized himself into a Baptist Church. He 
even requested by letter Dr. Sumner to allow him the 
use of his meeting-house for such organizing, &c. 
Mild Dr. Sumner's reply, lately printed,' is the most 
remarkable instance of mildness on record, and is 
witty as well as mild. He could not see the neces- 
sitv or propriety in the use of the meeting-house 
when there was no place within two miles where 
baptism by immersion could be administered. 

After his baptism Capt. Goddard wrote another let- 
ter to Joseph Sumner, pastor, wishing him "to pointe 
out some way for him to leave the church in this 
town and joyn to another of a different denomina- 
tion." And shortly afterwards he wrote another let- 
ter of great length to the church, to which the church 
by a committee replied that Mr. Goddard's connec- 



1 Slemoriala of Rev. Joseph Sumner, D.D., printed for private distribu- 
tion by his grandson, George Sumner, of Worcester. 



794 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



tion with it was dissolved by his own act. From this 
time Elder Guddurd preached in Shrewsbury and 
elsewhere as occa-ion offered. In 1813 a society of 
thirty-three members, called the Shrewsbury and 
Boylston Baptist Society, was formally organized, and 
the next year built a house of God. And there Elder 
Goddard often exercised his gifts, but no regular 
preacher was employed till 1818, when Rev. Elias 
McGregor)' was ordained over the church and society, 
and remained its minister till 1821, after which no 
other was ever regularly settled over it. Rev. Samuel 
W. Vilas was hired to supply the Baptist pulpit, and 
did so for about two years, when July 15, 1823, he 
died. About this time Elder Goddard removed to 
Worcester, and the Boylston Baptists withdrew and 
organized a society of their own. 

The Shrewsbury Baptists, however, kept up 
their organization and continued to hold services at 
their house for several years with more or less regu- 
larity, but had no regular minister. The Baptist 
clergy of the vicinity, who regarded the church here, 
as a sort of missionary outpost in the midst of the 
Gentiles, frequently came here and preached. This 
continued till 1835, when the church and society were 
formally dissolved. The Baptist house of worship is 
still standing, though so altered as to be no longer 
recognizable. It stands where it was built, on the 
Worcester Road, and is now owned and occupied by 
Mr. George G. Dowe as a dwelling-house. 

I have before referred to the ordination of Rev. 
Samuel B. Ingersoll as a milestone in the history of 
the Congregational schism. And now we run against 
this stone again, April 11, 1821, a religious society 
was formed in Shrewsbury under the name of the First 
Restoration Society. One of the main factors that 
contributed to the formation of this society was the 
avowal of extreme Calvinistic opinions by Mr. Inger- 
soll, and his refusal to exchange with the neighboring 
clergy of more liberal views. Among the solid men 
who formed this society were the Knowltons, Dr. Seth 
and his brothers, Asa and Joseph Hastings, who were 
sons of Deacon William, and grandsons of Deacon 
Ezekiel Knowlton, and had been brought up on the 
Westminster Catechism. Dr. Knowlton was chairman 
of most committees and boards of officers of the new 
society during his life. Full one-half of the members 
of this society were re-idents of other towns. The 
Universalist Society in Worcester was not formed till 
twenty years later, and the Shrewsbury society had 
among its members several strong men from Worcester, 
among others Mr. Joseph Pratt and Mr. David Sar- 
gent, the latter of whom was one of the deacons of 
the Restoration Church. The other deacon was Joseph 
H. Knowlton, before named. There were also several 
members who lived in Sutton, more still who lived in 
Grafton, and a few who lived in Boylston. The first 
business committee of the society were Dr. Seth Knowl- 
ton, Captain Thomas Harrington, Sr., Gershom Fiagg, 
of Boy Iston, Abner Slowe, Jr., of ( irafton. Captain Silas 



Allen, Jr., Lyman Howe and John Richardson. The 
cliurch building was located at the junction of the 
Grafton Road with the Worcester Turnpike, as a 
central point of a rather scattered parish. 

This society was organized under the statute of 1811, 
whicli guaranteed most of the advantages of incorpo- 
ration to societies so organized, and made them, as 
was afterwards held by the Supreme Court, (^iiasi 
corporations. The house of worship, begun in 1822, 
was completed and publicly dedicated to " Our Father 
which is in Heaven,'' June 17, 1823, at which time 
also was installed Rev. Jacob Wood, who served as 
minister of this society till 1829. For the next ten 
years there was no settled minister. Rev. Thomas J. 
Greenwood, who was settled in Marlborough, for about 
three years supplied the pulpit here on alternate 
Sundays, preaching also in his own pulpit in a similar 
way. During this period, 1829-39, several other min- 
isters, for longer or shorter terms, were employed, but 
I have not been able to ascertain even their names. 
In the spring of 1839 Rev. Jacob Baker was ordained 
over this society, and preached regularly for three 
years. After 1843 the society had no settled minister 
nor regular preaching. There were, however, occa- 
sional services in the church till about 1864. In 1868 
the few surviving members met and voted to sell their 
house and dissolve the society. 

If organization of the First Restoration Society had 
been delayed till after the death of Mr. Ingersoll, it 
probably would never have been organized at all, and 
if Dr. Knowlton and others, who withdrew from the 
Congregational Society, had remained in it, there can 
be little doubt that that society would have taken the 
Unitarian insteadof Trinitarian sideof the schism that 
was then taking place. The fate of the First Resto- 
ration Society in Shrewsbury is substantially the same 
as that of all the other Universalist Societies of the 
smaller towns. The one idea of the Universalists, 
seemingly an inadequate foundation for a separate 
denomination, has unquestionably permeated and 
leavened the whole lump of religious thought of the 
p-esent age, and though in Shrewsbury and elsewhere 
the dogma of wretched doom for all but an elect few 
of our race may still linger in creeds, not even heathen 
congregations will tolerate its preaching. When 
the American missionary for whose outfit Shrewsbury 
Christians have contributed, goes to far India's coral 
strand to bear the lamp of life to men benighted, he 
has to graft the infernal tenet of his written creed 
with the scion of future probation — a version of resto- 
ration heresy taken from Buddha himself And 
straightway all Andover takes up the cudgels to 
champion the Light of Asia. Shade of John Calvin! 
methinks the smell of a burning Andover professor 
would be scarcely less grateful to thy nostrils than was 
that of Servetus himself. 

In the spring of 1845 a Methodist preacher and 
temperance lecturer, held some religious meetings, 
interspersed with a temperance lecture or two, at 



SHEEWSBUKY. 



795 



School-house No. 5, in the western part of Shrews- 
bury, which were attended by Alonzo Stiles and 
Amasa Hyde, both members of the Congregational 
Church in Shrewsbury. Mr. Hyde, who lived to be 
known to the younger as well as the older of the 
three generations of living men, has recently died, 
at an advanced age. He was an excellent man 
and a leading member of the Methodist Church for 
many years. Mr. Stiles died nearly forty years ago 
while crossing the Isthmus of Panama on his way to 
California. He had formerly been an intemperate 
man and was at variance with the church of which 
he was a member on the score of temperance. He 
objected to and remonstrated against the use of intoxi- 
cating liquors in the comnmniou service because it 
excited his appetite and tempted him to return to his 
former habit of intemperance. It was a common 
zeal for temperance that first brought Mr. Stiles in con- 
tact with the preacher and lecturer aforesaid — whose 
name I am unable to give — which contact resulted in 
the school-house meetings, where a Methodist class 
was formed, of which Mr. Stiles and Mr. Hyde were 
both members. Then and there was planted the 
grain of mustard seed out of which grew the fair tree 
of Methodism in Shrewsbury. 

In the fall of the same year came from Holliston 
Rev. (rardner Rice, a Methodist clergyman, to teach 
a high school in Shrewsbury. He was a graduate of 
Wesley an University, and taught school in Shrewsbury 
for many years, and more than one generation of 
children bless the memory of Master Rice. Directly 
on coming to town Mr. Rice took charge of the 
Methodist movement, which before had lacked guid- 
ing and organizing leadership, and preached Sundays 
in a hall in the Haven tavern, which stood where the 
Town House now stands; in the spring of 1846 the 
Methodist Society was formally organized and con- 
nected with the Worcester Conference, and Rev. John 
W. Wheeler came to Shrewsbury under a regular 
assignment to duty here according to Methodist 
usage, and held services Sundays at the tavern hall 
till completion of the Methodist house of worship. 
The building of this house was said by an irreverent 
jester to have been the greatest instance of some- 
thing made out of nothing since the Creator made the 
world. Neither jester nor laughers at his jest knew 
the history of the Methodist Church. True it was, 
none of the original Methodists in Shrewsbury were 
rich men, nor had a single one of them any visible 
treasure laid up where moth and rust doth corrupt. 
But what the Methodists did in Shrewsbury is only 
a single instance of what the denomination has done 
all over the United States. Everywhere it has 
organized its churches and built its houses of worship 
in very literal imitation of the way the Creator is 
commonly supposed to have made the world. 

It was during building of the Methodist Church 
(1847-48) or immediately afterwards that Rev. Jeffer- 
son Hascall, presiding elder of the Worcester Con- 



ference, whose discerning eye saw a field here white 
for the harvest, moved into town and thrust in his 
sickle. Under his labors there was a great revival of 
religion, and over one hundred persons professed 
conversion. Mr. Hascall was born in Thompson, Ct., 
November 6, 1807, and died at Medford November 6, 
1887. He graduated at Wilbraham Academy about 
1829, and immediately entered upon the ministry. 
He lived in Shrewsbury about twenty years in all, 
and most of the time was in the presiding eldership. 
He was a man of great ability, energy and influence, 
a powerful preacher of his faith and a public-spirited 
citizen of the town. Interested in and favoring edu- 
cation and all public improvements, and an earnest 
advocate of a vigorous prosecution of the war to sup- 
press the slaveholders' rebellion, he was universally 
respected and beloved by the people of the town. I 
should be glad to add here some brief separate men- 
tion of each of the Methodist pastors who have min- 
istered to the church in Shrewsbury, and regret my 
inability to do so. According to the itinerant usage 
of the denomination, only ministering here for two 
years or less each, they have come and gone, and after 
considerable unsatisfactory inquiry I reluctantly 
abandon my purpose to notice them separately and 
merely subjoin a li.st of their names with times ot 
service : 



Rev. D. K. Banister 

1848-49, '5Y-68 

Rev. David Slinman 185U-61 

Rev. Wm. K. BagDall 1852-53 

Rev. Win. Gordon 1854-56 

Rev. H. P. Satclnvell 1S59-G0 

Rev. Wm. W. Colburn 1861-62 

Rev. .Toseph W. Lewis 1863-61 

Rev. rlias. T. Jobnson 1865-66 

Rev, John Peterson 1867-68 

Rev. Wm. MerriH 1869-70 



Rev. Jeffereon Hascall 1871 

Rev. Edwin Chase 1872 

Rev. A. Caldwell 1873-74 

Rev. S. H. Noon 1875 

Rev. W. JI. Huljbard 187G-78 

Rev. A. W. Adams 1879 

Rev. W. Wignall 1880-81 

Rev, W. S. Jaggar 1882-84 

Rev. F. T. Geovge 1885-86 

Rev. r. B. Graves 1887 

Rev. O. C. Poland 1888 



January 16, 1872, the Catholics of Shrewsbury 
bought three-eighths of an acre of land lor three 
hundred and fifty dollars and built a church thereon. 
The deed of this parcel of land runs "to Patrick T. 
O'Reilly, of Springfield, To Have and To Hold the 
same to him, the said O'Reill}', his heirs and assigns, 
to their own use and behoof forever." ' Patrick T. 
O'Reilly, of Springfield, is a Right Reverend Bishop 
of the Holy Roman Catholic Church, and his diocese 
includes the town of Shrewsbury. Nor does his ten- 
ure of the church property in this town difTer at all 
from that of all other property of the Catholic 
Church in his diocese. He is tenant in fee simple ot 
it all. The local (?) pastor of the Catholic flock here, 
as well as the Right Reverend Bishop, is a non-resi- 
dent of this town. 

If the reader be not content with this history of the 
Catholic Church in Shrewsbury, and shall attempt to 
pursue it farther, I hope he may be more successful in 
his inquiries than I have been. 

1 Worcester's Registry of Deeds, Book 892, page 266. 



796 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNT VT, MASSACHUSETTS. 



CHAPTER CV. 

SHREWSBURY— (ro«/'/««a/.) 

THE FRENCH WARS, THE REVOLUTION, THE WAR OF 
l8l2 AND THE MEXICAN WAR. 

Ok the two wars between England and France for 
possession of Canada (1744-63) the first was called by 
our fathers the Old War and the second the Last War. 
Only very meagre materials exist for showing the part 
taken by the people of Shrewsbury in these wars. 
That Artemas Ward, as lieutenant-colonel, Marshall 
Newton, as lieutenant, Nathan Howe, as ensign, and 
Dr. Edward Flint, as surgeon, all of .Shrew.sbury, 
served in expeditions to Canada in the last war is 
well known, but this implies much more. If there 
were officers to command there were soldiers to fol- 
low and obey. Doubtless from Shrewsbury there 
accompanied these officers the number of non-commis- 
sioned officers and privates appropriate to their rank. 
Colonel William Williams, whose diary and letters 
are quoted by Parkman, was commander of the regi- 
ment in which Lieutenant-Colonel Ward and Lieu- 
tenant Newton served. This regiment was in the dis- 
astrous campaign of the incompetent Abercrombie 
against Ticonderoga. Published extracts of a journal 
kept by Lieutenant-Colonel Ward fully bear out all 
that has ever been said or written of the disorder of 
the march, the lack of discipline of the army, the 
confusion of the battle and the folly of the retreat. 

Dr, Edward Flint was chief chirurgeon of the regi- 
ment of Colonel Timothy Ruggles, which served in 
the expedition of 1758 against Crown Point. Ensign 
Nathan Howe, who was a brother-in-law of Dr. Flint, 
served in the campaign of 1756 at Lake George, and 
with bis regiment a.'sisted in building the ill-fated 
Fort William Henry, which the brave Lieutenant- 
Colonel Jlonro, a Scotch veteran, was forced to sur- 
render to the French, who, after the surrender, aban- 
doned their prisoners to be pillaged, tortured, mur- 
dered and eaten by their Indian allies. John Wheeler, 
of Shrewsbury, who was one of the prisoners, sur- 
vived the massacre and returned home. Ensign Howe 
had been sent home before the siege and capture with 
a detachment of sick and wounded men. The town 
records of Shrewsbury show that the town granted 
him £5 16«. 9^'/. on account of his sickness. At the 
same time, and for like cause, to William Howe, 
brother of Ensign Nathan, an allowance was made by 
the town of £6 6d.; also to Ephraim Smith, on account 
of the sickness of liis son Aaron, £3 -is. -id., and to 
widow Sarah Smith for medical attendance of her late 
husband, Joshua Smith, upon sundry sick soldiers, 
£1 14s. 8(/. Caleb Parker, a youthful soldier from 
this town, of only sixteen years, was killed in this 
campaign. 

One soldier at least from Shrewsbury went on the 



romantic expedition in the old war against the Fort- 
ress of Louisbourg, on Cape Breton Island, built by 
the grand monarch of France to commemorate his 
grandeur in America, as well as to guard one of the 
avenues to New France, besieged and taken in forty- 
nine days by raw levies of New England fishermen 
and farmers, under command of General William 
Pepperell, a Piscataqua trader, who had never had 
before the least experience in war — one of the most 
amazing exploits in all the annals of time. From the 
volunteering of the soldiers to surrender of the fortress 
the campaign has all " the cloud and glamour of ro- 
mance,'' and was called a crusade. While CTOvernor 
Shirley was mustering his battalions like another 
Peter the Hermit, the eloquent Whitefield went up 
and down the land preaching the Holy War. 

Nil desperandum, Christo d^lce. 

The heart of New England took fire and sent the 
flower of its youth, only sons not excepted, to assault 
the Dunkirk of America, garrisoned by the veterans 
of France. Away with the crusaders went Jonah 
Taylor, of Shrewsbury, only son of his father, Wil- 
liam, and his mother, Elizabeth, only brother of nine 
sisters, and fell mortally wounded in the first assault 
upon the King's Bastion. He died on Cape Breton 
September 23, 1745. 

The first overt act of Shrewsbury in the Revolu- 
tionary War was to send delegates to the first Provin- 
cial Congress, holden at Concord October 11, 1774. 
Artemas Ward had been chosen Representative from 
Shrewsbury to the General Court, which Governor 
Gage had ordered to meet at Salem October 5th. 
The Governor countermanded his order, but the 
Representatives met at Salem all the same and ad- 
journed to Concord. Phineas Hey wood was chosen by 
Shrewsbury as a delegate to go with the Representa- 
tive-elect to the Congress at Concord. The recom- 
mendations of this Congress to the towns were forth- 
with carried into effect by the inhabitants of Shrews- 
bury. 1. They organized three companies of militia, 
one in the North Parish, Captain Asa Beaman, and 
two in the South Parish, Captain Job Gushing and 
Captain Asa Brigham. 2. They voted not to pay 
taxes to Mr. Treasurer Harrison Gray, but to Henry 
Gardner, of Stow, whom Congress had de.-ignated as 
its new Receiver-General. 3. They adopted the non- 
consumption agreement as to India teas and appointtd 
an inspection committee of fifteen, five to be a quorum, 
whose duty it was to be to find out all such persons 
as sell or consume so extravagant and unnecessary an 
article of luxury and post their names in some public 
place. The town also chose a committee of five to 
examine Rev. Ebenezer Morse, minister of the Second 
Parish, William Crawford and three others, all 
members of that parish, "as being suspected of 
Toryism." At an adjourned meeting the committee 
reported favorably as to the three others, but as to 
Rev. Ebenezer Morse, they said it appeared to them 
that he was not so friendly to the common cause as 



SHREWSBUKY. 



797 



they could wish, and as to William Crawford, it ap- 
peared to the committee that he was wholly unfriendly 
and inclined rather to take up arnn for the King. Mr. 
Morse came before the town to answer fur himself. 
He had prayed with much fervor in his pulpit for the 
King and royal family, and this was well known be- 
fore to all the town. He now, in open town-meeting, 
declared himself a loyalist and reproved his fellow- 
townsmen for disloyalty. The town thereupon di- 
rected the committee to take away the arms, ammu- 
nition and warlike implements of both Mr. Morse 
and Crawford, and voted that said Morse do not pass 
over the lines of the Second Parish on any occasion 
whatever without a permit, and that said Crawford 
remain within the bounds of his own land except 
on Sabbath-days, and then not go out of his parish 
without a permit. There is nothing in the town 
records, nor has anything come down to our time by 
tradition to indicate that any other inhabitants of 
Shrewsbury were ever " suspected of Toryism," and it 
was doubtless due to Rev. Ebenezer Morse, of the Sec- 
ond Parish, who was a strong man and had previously 
posiessed the entire confidence of his people, that 
there was any opposition in any part of the town to 
the prevailing spirit of resistance to the British 
Crown. 

In the time of the Revolution, regiments in Massa- 
chusetts were territorial — so many towns to a regi- 
ment. The county of Worcester was divided into 
seven regiments, and Shrewsbury, Grafton, North- 
borough, Westborough and Southborough were the 
Sixth Worcester Regiment, Jonathan Ward, of South- 
borough, colonel. Artemas Ward, of Shrewsbury, 
formerly colonel of this regiment, was elected by the 
first Provincial Congress, of which he was a member, 
with two others, to organize and command the mili- 
tia, and the next Congress issued to him a commission 
as commander-in-chief of all the forces of Massachu- 
setts and the other colonies, and shortly afterwards he 
was appointed by the Continental Congress major- 
general and commander-in-chief. Meantime the war 
had begun, and Captain Job Cushing, of Shrewsbury, 
had marched with his company to Lexington. About 
ten o'clock in the forenoon of April 19, 1775, passed 
like a flash through Shrewsbury a white horse, bloody 
with spurring and dripping with sweat, bearing a 
post-rider shouting as he rode : " To arms ! to arms ! 
the war has begun ! '" I have often heard my grand- 
father, Nath an H owe, the younger of that name, tell 
the story. He was then a boy fourteen years old, 
at work in the field with his father plowing, the team 
being a pair of oxen and a horse. His fiither, Ensign 
Howe, of the last war, now lieutenant of Captain 
Cushing's company, immediately detached from the 
team and mounted his horse and set off to rally the 
company. 

There was hurrying to and fro and mounting in hot 
haste. The younger Nathan wanted dreadfully to go, 
too, and cried because his father would not let him. 



Of course the company, like many others as remote, 
did not arrive in time to take part in the fight. Im- 
mediately after the Lexington alarm the principal 
occupation of able-bodied men in the province of 
Massachusetts Bay was organizing and drilling, and 
belbre the battle of Bunker Hill, June 17, 1775, a 
large body of troops was at Cambridge, under com- 
mand of General Artemas Ward, of Shrewsbury. 
Captain Ezra Beaman and Captain Job Cushing, with 
three companies from Shrewsbury, were both there. 

Who commanded at Bunker Hill ? There was 
General Artemas Ward over at Cambridge, comman- 
der-in-chief — such was his sonorous title-^but this 
was before his commission by the Continental Con- 
gress, and all his authority was subordinate to that of 
the Massachusetts Committee of Safety, nine in num- 
ber, who occupied the same headquarters with him,' 
and " planned the battle." And there was Putnam, 
and Prescott, and Warren, and Pomeroy and Stark, 
each fighting the British on his own hook, and with 
very little regard to what others were doing. Plainly 
there was nobody in command — in the sense of giving 
direction to the battle as a whole — that is, to compare 
small things with large, as Meade and Lee commanded 
their respective forces at Gettysburg. If only there 
had been somebody in command — some competent 
body — wbo had ordered over from Cambridge Cap- 
tain Beaman and Captain Cushing, with their com- 
panies, and put them where they could do the most 
good, the author of this history might have had some- 
thing to say about the men of Shrewsbury at Bunker 
Hill. The reason why re-enforcements were not sent 
over from Cambridge is not far to seek. The Com- 
mittee of Safety made a mistake in supposing the at- 
tack of the British at Charlestown was a mere feint, 
and held fast where they were, expecting that the 
real attack would be directly made at Cambridge. In 
his " History of Shrewsbury" Mr. Andrew H. Ward 
— evidently in defence of his ancestor from criticism 
— gives a prolix and not very satisfactory explanation, 
of which the substance seems to be that General 
Ward's order-book shows that Colonel Jonathan 
Wai'd, with his regiment, was sent over by way of 
Lechmere's Point to Charlestown during the battle. 
For some reason it never reached its destination. 
Captain Aaron Smith, of Shrewsbury, whom we met 
in the last war returning home sick from Crown 
Point, whom also we shall shortly meet again, and 
who, on the 17th of June, 1775, was a private in Cap- 
tain Cushing's company, and ran away without orders 
from Cambridge over to Charlestown, and alone, of 
all the Shrewsbury men, actually fought at Bunker 
Hill, fighting on his own hook, as every body else did, 
is given as authority for the statement that Colonel 
Ward, on his march, was met and halted by Dr. Ben- 
jamin Church, a member of the Committee of Safety, 
who afterwards turned out to be a traitor. 



1 The IioUBe in our timea known as the birth-place of the poet HolmeB. 



798 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



General Washington arrived at Cambridge July 2, 
1775, having been promoted over General Ward, and 
took command of the American army — about twenty 
thousand men. General Ward continued in the ser- 
vice as a subaltern under Washington till the evacua- 
tion of Boston by the British, May 17, 1776, when he 
resigned. The position of the British in Boston had 
become untenable by Washington's occupation of 
Dorchester Heights. Here Nathan Howe, of Shrews- 
bury, commanding a company, performed a service of 
great value, of great hardship also, working nights 
and in the cold rains of the spring months of 1776, 
throwing up fortifications on the heights, and con- 
tracted a severe cold that gradually developed into 
pulmonary disease and finally resulted in his death. 
In the latter part of the year 1777 he came home 
to die, but directly sent his son and namesake, 
then sixteen years old, to serve as a private in his 
regiment. 

The cause of General Artemas Ward's resignation was 
a painful disorder,' which rendered all active exercise, 
particularly horseback-riding, an excruciating torture. 
At the request of Washington, who, after ihe evacua- 
tion of Boston by the British, went with the greater part 
of the army to New York, General Ward remained in 
command of the Eastern Department till DecemberSl, 
1777, when his resignation was accepted by Congress. 
Notwithstanding the superhuman pinnacle now occu- 
pied by Washington in public esteem, certain it is 
that in his life-time he was quite human and not at 
all reticent in his correspondence of unworthy reflec- 
tions upon the personal courage of the officer over 
whom, for reasons of public policy, he had been pro- 
moted, and between whom and himself he was obvi- 
ously conscious of popular comparison. Some time 
afterwards, when Washington was President and 
Ward was a member of Congress, then sitting in New 
York, the latter having obtained one of Washington's 
letters containing offensive allusions to him, proceeded 
to the President's house and asked him if he was the 
author of the letter. Washington looked at it for 
Bome time without making any reply. While he was 
still looking at it. Ward impatiently said, " I should 
think the man that was base enough to write that 
would be base enough to deny it," and abruptly turn- 
ing on his heel, left the house.^ 

Job Gushing, of Shrewsbury, was promoted from 
rank to rank in the Sixth Regiment till he became its 
colonel. This regiment was from time to time re- 
cruited partly from the towns where it was originally 
formed and partly elsewhere. I think most of the 
Shrewsbury soldiers served in this regiment. After 



the success of Burgoyne at Ticonderoga public alarm 
was at the highest pitch, and Colonel Gushing went 
with his regiment to reinforce General Schuyler and 
took part in the battles of Bennington, August 16th, 
and Saratoga, October 16, 1777, when Burgoyne sur- 
rendered to General Gates, who had superseded Gen- 
eral Schuyler in command. Ezra Beaman, of Shrews- 
bury, was also present at Burgoyne's surrender (but 
in what rank I am unable to say), and probably also 
at Bennington. Colonel Job Gushing, of Shrews- 
bury, and his regiment were a part of the body of 
troops that General Benedict Arnold undertook to 
betray to Sir Henry Clinton at West Point. The 
materials for giving details of the service of Shrews- 
bury men in the Revolutionary War are as meagre as 
for the French Wars. Before the Government gave 
pensions, besides the many who had died or been 
killed in the service, many more had doubtless died 
in the course of nature. A list of pensioners, pre- 
pared by Nathan Howe, who for many years acted as 
agent for his comrades in the army in obtaining jjen- 
sions, contains exactly forty names. Of course, it is a 
mere remnant of the whole number who were in the 
Continental service from Shrewsbury. ■! 

In the time of President Madison, when occurred 
the War of 1812, a large majority of the people of 
Shrewsbury were of the Federal party, and wholly 
disapproved of the war, and I cannot find that the 
town or any citizen thereof in any manner partici- 
pated therein. 

And the Mexican War was generally considered 
morally wrong by the people of the town, always very 
radical in their opposition to slavery. Not a single 
citizen of Shrewsbury volunteered to go to Mexico, 
and I think the views of Mr. Hosea Biglow as to the 
Mexican War and its recruiting service, then newly 
l^riuted for him in the Boston Courier, were exactly 
coincident with those of the whole town. 



1 Gravel. 

2 Thisstory, having been preserved only by tradition, and having passed 
for now fonr generations of men from one to another, has come to have 
slightly differing versions. The one above given is taken from "Kemi- 
niscences of Uev. George Allen, by F. P. Bice, 1883." Another, differing 
in some details, may be seen in " Drake's Historic Mansions and Fields 
of Middlesex," page 260. 



CHAPTER CVI. 

SHREWSBURY— (ro«//«;^fa'.) 

SHOWING THE PART WHICH SHREWSBURY TOOK IN 
THE SHAYS' REBEI.I.ION. 

Daniel Shay.s had a strong following in Shrews- 
bury — in numbers. The regulators, as the Shays' men 
were called, controlled the action of the town with ir- 
resistible majorities ; but its two most eminent citizens. 
Gen. Artemas Ward and Col. Job Gushing, were con- 
spicuous by pronounced opposition, and had entered on 
the town-records, where one may read it to- day, their 
protest against the insurrectionary proceedings of the 
town adopted at a town-meeting in 1786. Wisdom may 
have been with the minority, but the men who took 
up arms with Shays were not unprincipled and aban- 



SHREWSBURY. 



799 



cloned wretches of the criminal class, and it was not 
for nothing that they took up arms. Shays himself, 
as well as Ward and Cashing, was a veteran of the 
Eevolutionary War, and so also were every one of his 
captains, so far as I have been able to ascertain. Adam 
Wheeler, of Hubbardston, who in Shays' absence 
acted in this county as commander of the regulators, 
was a captain of the Continental Line and deacon of 
the Congregational Church in Hubbardston. He was 
born in Shrewsbury and was the great-great-grandson 
of the famous Captain Thomas Wheeler, of the Indian 
fight at Brookfield in 1675, and the great-grandson of 
Thomas Wheeler, the younger, also a hero of the same 
fight, who, himself severely wounded there, rescued his 
more severely wounded father from the Indians, who 
were about to dispatch him, threw him upon the horse 
of the slain Shadrach Hapgood, and with his father 
escaped by flight. Captain Wheeler, of the Shays' 
Rebellion, was also on his mother's side a great- 
grandson of the slain Shadrach, four of whose de- 
scendants settled in Shrewsbury.' 

The leader of the Shrewsbury regulators was a 
brother-in-law of Wheeler, having married his sister, 
and a veteran whom we first met as a boy serving his 
apprenticeship as a soldier in the French War, and 
who fought for the independence of his coun(;ry from 
Lexington to Yorktown — Captain Aaron Smith, and 
the company which he raised for Shays in Shrews- 
bury were his foriiier companions-in-arms. They 
were the identical men who rallied to Lexington and 
Bunker Hill, Bennington and Saratoga. Their pur- 
pose was not to overthrow the government, but merely 
to restrain the courts temporarily from entering up 
judgments and issuing executions. The people of 
Shrewsbury were very poor. They had spent their 
little all for country. Acting under the advice of 
Governor Bowdoin and influenced by speculating Bos- 
ton lobbyists, the General Court had laid an enormous 
tax with a view to pay oft' the public debt. Most of the 
public creditors were holders of State securities or 
soldiers' certificates purchased at less than twelve per 
cent, of their face value. Claims against the bank- 
rupt citizens of the town were in the hands of lawyers 
and deputy-sheriff's, who held them under contracts 
for large percentages if collected. In the year 1784 
and 1785 about four thousand suits were entered in 
the courts at Worcester. Lawyers' offices were 
thronged with suitors, and the neighborhood of them 
presented the appearance of a public fair. Real and 
personal property was sold on execution at ruinous 
prices, nobody having money to buy with at sales. 
And the jails were crowded with debtors. Only twelve 
years before exactly the same thing had been done at 
Worcester — with universal approval — which the regu- 
lators now attempted. In 1774 about five thousand 
men, mostly armed, had assembled at Worcester to 
prevent and did prevent the sitting of the courts, and 

' See page 786, 



no courts were held for two years. This thtn recent 
precedent suggested to the distressed people ol Shrews- 
bury the means of relief from their distresses. 

The first demonstration of the insurgents at Wor- 
cester, in September, was successful in preventing 
the sitting of the courts. It was upon this occasion 
that General Artemas Ward, of Shrewsbury, then 
chief justice of both the Courts of Sessions and Com- 
mon Pleas, performed the act which will go to pos- 
terity as the crowning act of his life. Wheeler's 
company, which had marched into Worcester on 
Monday afternoon, September 4, 1786, the day before 
the courts were to sit, took up quarters in the court- 
house Mcjnday night, so as to be sure to be in possession 
when the judges should arrive next morning. Smith's 
company marched in from Shrewsbury early Tuesday 
morning, and was deployed and posted as sentries on 
Court Hill and around the court-house. An im- 
mense crowd of people had assembled thereabouts. 
Approaching the court-house, the judges were chal- 
lenged by an armed sentry at the foot of Court Hill. 
At the order of his old commander, now chief jus- 
tice, the sentry recovered his musket, presented arms, 
and the judges proceeded past him to the court- 
house. There, upon the broad step at the south en- 
trance, stood Captain Wheeler and Captain Smith, 
with drawn swords in their hands, and five soldiers 
with fixed bayonets. Right well did Artemas Ward 
know the men he had to deal with. Smith was his 
near neighbor, and lived on the opposite side to him 
of the Great Road through Shrewsbury. Wheeler, 
who was about Ward's age (nearly sixty years), had 
been his schoolmate in youth, and had formerly been 
a member of the same church. In his younger days, 
as a militia captain. Ward had drilled, in left foot ■ 
and shoulder arms on Shrewsbury Common, the very 
men now in array against him. Smith and Wheeler 
had both served under Ward at Cambridge and at 
the siege of Boston, and long after his retirement as 
mpjor-general he knew that they had, in humbler 
rank, endured the hardships of the Revolutionary 
War like good soldiers to its very close, and had been 
paid off in Continental paper. And he knew, too, 
that they were both poor, deeply involved in debt 
and harassed with suits. 

Proceeding to mount the court-house steps, the 
further progress of the judges was, by order of Cap- 
tain Wheeler, ariested by the soldiers, who brought 
their bayonets to bear directly on the chief justice's 
breast, so that their points even penetrated his 
clothes. After a parley, the officers consented to al- 
low him lo mount the steps and address the crowd. 
Though Artemas Ward, of Shrewsbury, had been 
much in public life, he was a man usually of slow 
and hesitating speech, had rarely taken part in de- 
bates and had never been accounted an orator. He 
was a graduate of Harvard College, but, though a 
judge, he was not a lawyer by profe.-sion. As soon 
as he had looked his audience in the face there 



800 



HISTOKY OF WOKOESTKR COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



seems to have come over him a sort of inspiration, 
and, with great fluency, fervor and eloquence, he 
forthwith proceeded to reason witli the i)eople, whose 
grievances he did not deny upon their mistaken 
metliod of relief. The newspaper man was not there 
to report, nor had the speaker in his pocket an extem- 
poraneous manuscript to privately send to the press, 
and only by tradition has anj' word of what he said 
survived the more than hundred years since the 
event; but more than anything he did say or could 
say — more than anything the greatest of orators 
could have said — was the dauntless courage and dig- 
nity of his conduct as a magistrate,' of which to 
find a historical parallel you will have to make a far 
research — reminding one of Horace's " Just and deter- 
mined man, unshaken in his firmness either by wrath 
of citizens commanding wrongful things or by ty- 
rant's frown or raging seas or thunder-bolt of Jove, 
whom the ruins of a crumbling world would strike 
undismayed.'' — Carmina, III. 3. But Captain Wheel- 
er was as unshaken as his old commander, and con- 
tinued firm in his determination that the judges 
should not enter the court-house, and they did not. 
At the conclusion of the chief justice's speech, which 
had been interrupted by cries "Adjourn without 
day," the judges retired to the United States Arms, 
opened court there and adjourned. 

In the last week of November following, Shrews- 
bury became the rendezvous of all the insurrection- 
ary forces. 

Rub a dub dub, Rub a dub dub, 
Tbe Bojprs are coming to town. 

And what with the drumming and fifing, marching 
and countermarching, tented fields and the ear-split- 
ting fife of morning reveille breaking slumber, you 
would have thought it a garrison town. Col. Cush- 
ing, chairman of the selectmen, had prudently re- 
moved the town's stock of gunpowder from the pow- 
der-house and concealed it. The regulators sur- 
rounded and searched his house, but found neither 
powder nor selectman. The purpose of this as- 
sembling of the Shays' men was to prevent the sit- 
ting of the courts at Worcester on the first Monday of 
December, and both courts were adjourned to Janu- 
ary the 23d. The crisis and climax of the rebellion 
was a week of unprecedented snow-storms ; without 
blankets, rations, quarters or money, in the public 
highways of Worcester, in the dead of winter, with 
the snow three feet deep under foot and more falling, 
what could the Shays' men do but disperse? It was 
the weather and the elements that put down the 
Shays' Rebellion, and not the distracted and ineffi- 
cient Gov. Bowdoin and his militia, who, before the 
dispersement of his followers at Worcester, had 



1 McMafiters says be cursed and swore, but an examination of the 
authorities he cites only shows that in his parley with Captain Wheel- 
er, before he mounted the steps and commenced his speech to the people, 
the judge said he did not care a damn for their bayonets. Hist. People 
of the U. S., Vol. I., p. 307. 



shown their heels to Daniel Shays every time ihey 
caught ?o much as a glimj)se of him. 

The Governor crowed lustily over his victory, ar- 
rested great numbers of the rebels and had fourteen 
of them convicted of treason and sentenced to 
death. But the Shays men shortly had their in- 
nings — at the spring election of 1787, when Gov. 
Bowdoin and his party were overwhelmingly de- 
feated by the popular vote. In the previous year 
James Bowdoin had received a large majority of the 
votes of Shrewsbury ; this year his votes in that town 
bore the exact ratio of one to five to those for John 
Hancock, who, after taking his seat as Governor, par- 
doned all his predecessor's convicts. 

Aaron Smith, of Shrewsbury, like Shays himself, 
and many of the more prominent of the rebels, 
went into exile in unknown parts — somewhere out 
of Massachusetts, doubtless — till alter passage of the 
amnesty act, when he returned, and spent the re- 
mainder of his days (not a few) in Shrewsbury. He 
died May 9, 1825, aged eighty-nine years, and to his 
last expiring breath gloried in the part he took with 
Daniel Shays. Less than a year before his death he 
walked to Worcester to meet his old commander, the 
Marquis Lafayette, who immediately recognized and 
greeted him with kisses and embraces, bringing tears 
into the eyes of all who witnessed the fraternal salu- 
tation. None of the regulators that I ever heard of 
ever took the attitude of repentant rebels. Within 
the recollection of the writer a considerable number 
of them were still living, among the rest his grand- 
father Howe, who was no more ashamed of his part 
in the Shays Rebellion than he was of his part in 
the Revolutionary War, and God forbid that his 
grandson should oft'er apologies for him and his com- 
rades or tell their story otherwise than he told it 
himself. 



CHAPTER CVII. 

SHREWSBURY— (ro«//««£'a'.) 

THE SL.WEHOLDERS' REBEI,I,ION. 

The news of Sumter taken came to Shrewsbury 
Saturday, April 12, 1861. Before the people of this 
town will feel such another shock as this news gave 
them, generations will come and go. Somehow or 
other the people of this town, until they heard this 
news, "had never really believed that the slaveholders 
actually meant war. When, on the morning of the 
19th of April, 1775, the post-rider |ust from Lexing- 
ton Common, on his foaming steed, dashed through 
Shrew.sbury and rallied her minute-men to arms, it 
was just what everybody expected, — just what the min- 
ute-men were for. But when the news of Sumter 
came to town there were no minute-men listening for 
rallying cry to arms. Nevertheless, as soon as the 



SHKEWSBURY. 



801 



news was duly authenticated, the people of Shrews- 
bury were just as resolved on what to do as their 
fathers had been eighty-six years before. And such 
a perfectly unanimous determination as there was ! 
When one looked in his neighbor's face he saw^ fight 
in his eye before he had time to speak. And Shrews- 
bury, in tills respect, probably did not much differ 
from other towns. But there is an aspect in which 
this town seems to me quite unique — different from 
other towns. In all the other towns that I know of, 
somebody, taking advantage of the war spirit so sud- 
denly awakened, started round with an enlistment 
paper to raise a company and be captain of it. Here 
patriotic spirit was wholly unalloyed with any taint 
of self-seeking or personal ambition. Plenty of vol- 
unteers there were already to enlist as soon as they 
could find out how to do it and meet somebody will- 
ing to be an officer and take command of them. 

May 2, 1861, was held in Shrewsbury a war-meet- 
ing, first of many. At this and subsequent meetings 
held during the four years of the war, money was ap- 
propriated to pay volunteers for drilling, to pay for 
uniforms, to support the families of volunteers, to pay 
bounties, to bring home the bodies of deceased 
soldiers, to refund money contributed by citizens for 
bounties, and for like purposes to the amount of about 
twenty-lwo thousand dollars. According to the 
"Record of our Soldiers," kept by the town clerk of 
Shrewsbury, pursuant to an act of the General Court 
of 1863 (ch. 65), this town furnished one hundred and 
forty-seven volunteers. No man was drafted in 
Shrewsbury during the war, the quotas demanded of 
the town being filled even before they were demanded, 
and at the close of the war it was found that the town 
had furnished twenty men above its requirement. 
The one hundred and forty-seven volunteers of 
Shrewsbury enlisted, a few in this regiment and a few 
in that, the earliest in the Thirteenth Massachusetts. 
They and their deeds are credited to companies raised 
in other towns and cities, largely to so-called Worces- 
ter companies, and the services of our soldiers reflect 
honor on our neighbors of Worcester and other 
places. 

If the Shrewsbury volunteers had organized them- 
selves into two companies and named six of their 
members for commissions as line oflicers, and one or 
two more for field or staff commissions, and insisted 
that they would only enter a regiment with these or- 
ganizations and commissions, they would have done 
just what others did, and would have been gladly re- 
ceived and their requirements granted. Our soldiers 
might not have accomplished any more towards put- 
ting down the Rebellion then they did, and the town 
of Shrewsbury might not be entitled to any more 
credit or honor on their account than it now is. But 
what with the exploits of these companies, and their 
officers, and their promotions, and their record in 
published reports, letters and official documents, the 
writer of this history would have found better mate- 
51 



rial for making a good showing for Shrewsbury in the 
war than he now can. 

The early officers of the volunteers were mostly 
taken from the militia. Shrewsbury had no militia 
company. In 1861, as was natural, a little knowledge 
of the tactics, such as militia officers were supposed 
to have, was immensely overestimated. If one could 
say "Shoulder armsl" with the militia accent, he was 
accepted as a proper commander to lead a thousand 
men to an assault upon artillery. It was doubtless 
from an overestimate of the mystery of the tactics 
that none of the Shrewsbury volunteers sought posi- 
tions as officers.' The writer himself, being a native 
of Shrewsbury, and though not, in 1861, a resident of 
the town, having inborn in him much of the native 
modesty of Shrewsbury men, declined a commission 
as captain. On entering the service in a lower rank, 
finding the army full of brigadiers not fit for second 
lieutenants, he plainly saw that he had been too 
modest. The real difference between the officers and 
men of the volunteer army of the War of the Rebel- 
lion was far less than has been commonly supposed. 
In 1861 two major-generals were wanted from Massa- 
chusetts, and two noted politicians, both Presidential 
aspirants, were appointed. They had both figured in 
the militia, and practiced the militia accent for the 
manual of arms at the dress parade of militia mus- 
ters. Such was their preparation to cope with Lee 
and Jackson. When the President was looking for 
two men to trust with the fate of his country and the 
lives of his countrymen, he had much better have 
looked over those one hundred and forty-seven men 
from Shrewsbury and made his selection from them 
than to have looked where and selected what he did. 
I don't believe that Lee would have bottled one of 
them up with a great army at Bermuda Hundred, nor 
that Stonewall would have caught another napping 
and sent him skedaddling, pell-mell, helter-skelter, 
head over heels, panic-stricken, out of the Shenan- 
doah Valley, nor that one would have been the hero 
of both Big Bethel and Fort Fisher, nor that the 
other would have both planned and executed the Red 
River campaign. 

Twenty-nine soldiers of Shrewsbury gave their 
lives for their country in the War of the Rebellion, 
to whose memory the town has erected an enduring 
monument, with their names inscribed thereon, on 
the Common fronting close upon the public thorough- 
fare. 

Several natives of Shrewsbury were officers of-rank 
in the War of the Rebellion, and their services for 
their country reflect lustre on their native town, 
though their residence was elsewhere. 

Calvin E. Pratt, of New York, who is the son of 



1 Since this statement, which was based upon examination of the pub- 
lislted rolls of Massachusetts Volunteers, was in priut I have learned 
that Will am E. Shaw, of Shrewsbury, served as a second lieutenant in 
the First North Carolina Volunteers, otherwise called the Thirty-sixth 
United States Colored Troops, Colonel Edward Beecher. ■ 



802 



HISTOKY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



Mr. Edward A. Pratt, late of this town, was born 
here in 1827. A practicing lawyer in the city of Kew 
York in 1861, he laid aside his practice to recruit a 
regiment and had it all ready for muster in June. 
As colonel of this regiment, which was the Thirty- 
first New York Volunteers, he was commissioned June 
20th to rank as of May 21st. With his command he 
took part in the first battle of Bull Run ; with it also 
he served in the Peninsula campaign of 18G2and par- 
ticipated in the Seven Days' Fight before Richmond. 
At the battle of Gaines' Mills he was severely wound- 
ed. He was promoted brigadier-general September 
13, 1862. General Pratt studied law in Worcester in 
the office of the late Judge Henry Chapin, was ad- 
mitted to the bar in this county in 1853 and practiced 
his profession in Worcester till about a year before 
the war, when he removed to New York city. He 
has been for many years and still is a justice of the 
Supreme Court of the State of New York. 

John Baker Wyman, of Chicago, 111., son of the late 
Seth Wyman, of Shrewsbury, was born here Novem- 
ber 18, 1816. He had been engaged in railroad busi- 
ness for several years and was, at the breaking out of 
the Rebellion, superintendent of the Illinois Central 
Railway Company. With the Chicago Light Guard, a 
military organization of which he was commander, as 
the nucleus, in the spring of 1861 he recruited the 
Thirteenth Illinois Infantry and was mustered into 
the United States service with that regiment as its 
colonel May 24th of that year. After a series of the 
most gallant and meritorious services he was killed at 
the siege of Vicksburg. 

Charles Edward Hapgood, born in Shrewsbury, 
December 11, 1830, and son of Captain Joab Hap- 
good, was at the breaking out of the war engaged in 
mercantile business at Amherst, N. H. He recruited 
a company for the Fifth New Hampshire Volunteers, 
and was mustered into service with it October 12, 1861. 
He served with his regiment till October 14, 1 864, when, 
on account of severe wounds, he resigned, having been 
promoted lieutenant-colonel, December 14, 1862, and 
colonel July 3, 1864. The Fifth New Hampshire was 
one of the famous regiments of the army of the Poto- 
mac and did distinguished service. Its first com- 
mander, Colonel Cross, was killed at Gettysburg July 
1, 1864. 

Dr. Henry Putnam Stearns, son of the late Asa 
Stearns, and born in Shrewsbury in 1827, entered the 
service of the United States April 18, 1861, as surgeon 
of the First Connecticut volunteers, a three months 
regiment, and was mustered out August 1st of the same 
year, when he was appointed surgeon of volunteers 
and ordered to report to General Grant in the Depart- 
ment of the West. The next spring he was assigned 
to duty as Medical Director of the Right Wing of the 
Array of the Tennessee, was afterwards Inspector of 
Army Hospitals at St. Louis, also medical director of 
the general hospitals of the Northern Army of the 
Mississippi. He was afterwards in the same position 



at Nashville, Tenn., where he remained till the close 
of war when (August, 1865,) he was mustered out of 
service with rank of brevet lieutenant-colonel. Dr. 
Stearns graduated at Yale College in the class 
of 1853, studied his profession in the medical schools 
of Harvard and Yale, and also at Edinburg, Scotland, 
and received his degree as M.D. at Yale in 1855; 
practiced medicine in Marlborough, Mass., till 1860 
when he removed to Hartford, Conn., where, with the 
exception of the period he was in the United States 
service, he practiced till January, 1874, when he wax 
appointed superintendent of the Hartford Retreat for 
the Insane, which position he still holds. He has also 
been lecturer on insanity in the medical department 
of Yale College since 1877. 

Charles Grosvenor Ward, who was the son of the 
venerable Thomas W. Ward, Esq., and born in Shrews- 
bury December 30, 1829; was mustered into the ser- 
vice of the LTnited States September 2, 1861, as second 
lieutenant in the Twenty-fourth Massachusetts Vol- 
unteers, the favorite regiment of the city of Boston, 
where he had resided for some years previous. He 
was promoted first lieutenant June 27, 1863, and as- 
signed to duty as adjutant of his regiment. After 
participating unharmed in sixteen of the great battles 
of the war and without having ever received any pro- 
motions at all commensurate with his long and meri- 
torious service, he was killed in the battle of Drury's 
Bluff May 11, 1864. His name is on the soldiers' 
monument. 

All the above, except Colonel Wyman, were about 
the writer's age and companions of his youth, and 
he takes pride in this opportunity for brief memorial 
here of their honorable and patriotic services. He 
will leave to others to recount his own humble eflbrts 
to save his country. He cannot claim to reflect 
honor upon his native town by high rank or great 
exploits, and it would be presumptuous to name him- 
self in a list of natives of Shrewsbury who performed 
distinguished service.' 



CHAPTER CVIII. 

SHREWSBURY— (a'»//«?/(?fl'.) 

AGRICUI,TURE— THE STAGE BUSINESS — THE T.A.NNING 
AND CURRYING BUSINESS. 

Agriculture hasalwaysbeen the leading industry 
of the people of Shrewsbury. According to tradi- 
tion, or, perhaps, it were better to say according to 
the btst information that can be obtained from liv- 
ing men as to what their grandfathers told them, 

1 Major Harlow recruited a company in 1861, in Spencer, Mass., 
where lie was then practicing law, for the Twenty-first MasBachnsettfl 
Volunteers, with which he was mustered into the United States ser- 
vice, and participated with that regiment in its engagements at Roa- 
noke Island, New Berne, Camden Court House, second Bull Run, 
Chantilly, South Mountain, .\ntietam, and Fredericksburg.— Editor. 



SHREWSBURY. 



803 



which covers a period of more than one hundred 
years, most of the lauds now in use for pasture and 
tillage was cleared of wood before the Revolu- 
tionary War and then used for pasture and 
tillage. In the earliest times all meadows whicli, 
without improvement or any kind of tilling, pro- 
duced grass, though of the coarsest quality, were con- 
sidered " valuable," and farmers often bad a few acres 
of " valuable meadow '' quite remote from their 
farms. These meadows, to begin with, were generally 
free from wood, or, at any rate, from large trees, and 
the quantity of natural meadow was much increa.sed 
and a much better kind of hay produced by bringing 
water whenever it could be done, by ditches upon 
uplands. Down until within the memory of living 
men, farm products in Shrewsbury were chiefly con- 
sumed within the town. Families were large and 
home consumption was large. Nor was there any 
market t > buy or sell in, nor much money in farmers' 
pockets to trade with. But early in the present cen- 
tury it was discovered by Shrewsbury farmers that, 
there was a market in Boston for butter, cheese, eggs, 
chickens, veal and pork, and for beef on the hoof in 
Brighton, and a class of middle men called drovers 
and market men, began to pass and repass back and 
forth from Shrewsbury and the market. From this 
time farming began to improve. Farmers were not 
so absolutely destitute of money. There were better 
tools, better methods of farming, better cattle and 
better crops, and with industry and economy it was 
possible for the Shrewsbury farmer to rise a little 
above the chill penury of the beginners. Rye, oats, 
Indian-corn and hay were the chief crops. Apple- 
trees were planted at the very outset, and, before 
1776, nearly every farm had its orchard, and if good 
fruit was not abundant, there was no lack of cider. 
About 1820 market-wagons began to run regularly 
every week from Shrewsbury to Boston, and return- 
ing they hauled for the storekeepers the groceries 
and dry-goods that they dealt in. This continued till 
about 1845, when it was found that the town of 
Worcester was a belter market than Boston as well 
as much nearer, and everybody could be his own 
market-man, and so put in his own pocket the com- 
missions on sales. Before the use of coal became 
common in Worcester, the Shrewsbury farmer had 
a near and growing market for wood as fuel, and be- 
fore the great forests of Canada and the.we=t were 
connected by rail with the east, the demand of Wor- 
cester ior Shrewsbury lumber was beyond the supply. 
But times in recent years, with the Shrewsbury 
farmer have greatly changed, and there is but one 
farm product in respect to which he is not obliged 
to compete with producers of remote States. On ac- 
ciunt of its quickly perishable nature, milk, which 
is in demand the year round, is in no danger of re- 
mote competition. It is to-day the chief product 
that goes to market from Shrewsbury farms. Except 
milk, and possibly apples, of which in alternate 



years the orchards of Shrewsbury produce a large 
quantity and of famous quality, I do not suppose 
there is any other farm product of sufficient amount 
to supply more than the home market. 

In recent years the salable value of farm lands in 
Shrewsbury has been steadily diminishing, and, in 
fact, they cannot be sold at all. Nobody will buy 
and many want to sell. There is not, probably, a 
farm in the town that would sell for enough to pay the 
cost of the buildings and fences standing on it. The 
reasons are not far to seek. " To diversify industry " 
the manufactures of Massachusetts have been so fa- 
vored at the expense of agriculture that the natives of 
Shrewsbury have been enticed away from the homes 
and occupations of their fathers to enter shops. The 
" home markets " which the cities and manufactur- 
ing centres of the State are reputed to furnish, are 
flooded with the farm products of other States, and 
the Shrewsbury farmer has to p.ay tribute not only to 
other occupations for every article of clothing he 
wears and every tool that he uses, but even for farm 
products CO farmers of sunnier climes and more fer- 
tile soils than his own living within his own country. 
Not a pound of sugar or rice can he buy without 
paying the fiivored growers of these necessities of 
life double pricts. Protection /or everybody else's 
products and free trade against his have ground the 
Shrewsbury farmer like upper and nether millstones, 
and no wonder he wants to sell his farm and no 
wonder nobody wants to buy it. 

In 1800 was formed in Shrewsbury a Farmers' Club, 
for the purpose of promoting the best methods of 
farming. The club holds occasional meetings in the 
winter season for discujsion of agricultural topics, and 
its annual cattle shows, held in October, have become 
lamous and the favorite resoit of the people of neigh- 
boring towns. In 181.5 was formed in Shrewsbury a 
like association, called the Agricultural Associates of 
Shrewsbury, and the next year another, with the 
name of the Agricultural Associates of Worcester, 
was formed in Worcester. In 1818 the two societies 
were merged in a county society and incorporated 
under the name of the Worcester Agricultural Society, 
which directly took and has ever since maintained a 
prominent position in the esteem, not only of the 
farmers, but of all the people of Worcester County of 
whatever occupation. 

Of other branches of business, such as the manu- 
facture of guns, of watches and of boots and shoes, 
which, to some extent never large, was formerly car- 
ried on here, the limits of this work do not admit of 
more specific mention. But I cannot omit some brief 
account of the famous stage business, whose founder 
and manager lived here, and with Shrewsbury as his 
headquarters, carried it on to places far remote ; nor 
of the tanning and currying business which, begun 
here in an humble way more than a century ago, has 
grown to a very extensive business. 

Captain Levi Pease, the founder of stage business 



804 



HISTORY OP WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



in this country, moved from Boston to Shrewsbury in 
1793. He was a son of Nathauiel Pease, born at 
Enfield, Conn., in 1739, and was by trade a black- 
smith. His father was a sailor, and reported to have 
been lost at sea. His mother married a second 
husband, named Parsons, after which her first hus- 
band returned. After one glance at the situation 
Nathaniel Pease went off to sea, and was never 
heard of at Enfield again. Levi's title as captain 
was earned in the Continental line. At the begin- 
ning of the Revolutionary War he was living at 
Blandford, Mass. He served with General Thomas 
in Canada, and later with General Wordsworth in 
the Commissary Department, — often employed in 
perilous enterprises, to bear dispatches and obtain 
supplies, — a resolute and tireless man, up early and 
down late. After the war he kept a tavern for some 
years at Somers, Conn. Afterwards he kept the 
Lamb in Boston, whence he removed to Shrewsbury, 
where he bought the tavern stand of Major John 
Farrar. 

But more than ten years before Captain Pease 
came here, he had projected and was running a stage 
line from Boston to Hartford. Farrar's Tavern in 
Shrewsbury had been from the beginning a night stop- 
ping-place on the line, and after becoming familiar 
with his route, he selected it as the best point from 
which to operate his business. He took into partnership 
with him a young native of Somers named Reuben 
Sykes, who was also a blacksmith. No man of capi- 
tal would invest a dollar with Pease and Sykes in 
their visionary stage line. Said a solid man of Bos- 
ton to Captain Pease : " The time may come when a 
stage line to Hartford will pay, but not in your day." 
The partners commenced business with an outfit of 
eight horses and " two convenient wagons," and 
their first trip was performed October 20, 1783. 
Pease drove one wagon from the Lamb, Tavern in 
Boston at six o'clock Monday morning, and reached 
Hartford on Thursday ; and Sykes drove the other, 
leaving Hartford at the same time, and arriving also 
in Boston in four days. Two of the night stopping- 
places were Farrar's, in Shrewsbury, and Pease's, in 
Somers. The other — when Tuesday night they met — 
was at Rice's, in Brookfield. And they ran in fair 
weather and in foul, in mud and in snow, passengers 
or no passengers, punctual as the stars in their 
courses. In two years this stage line was a great 
success, and was extended to New York. In 1786 
Pease and Sykes established a line of stages from 
Portsmouth to Savannah, and carried the mails. 
They also had, for several years, an exclusive con- 
tract with the government to carry the malls for all 
New England, re-letting to numerous others, who 
on branch lines collected and distributed the mails. 
It was Pease and Sykes that made punctual as the 
mail a proverb. 

Captain Pease learned his punctuality in one les- 
son, and his teacher was George Washington, who. 



when he was at Cambridge in 1776, wanted to buy a 
pair of horses, and made an appointment with Pease, 
who had a pair of horses to sell. Pease was a few 
minutes too late for the appointment, and Washing- 
ton did not wait for him. It was the last time Levi 
Pease ever got left. 

The founder of stage lines was also the first pro- 
jector of turnpikes. Of all the many companies 
chartered in Massachusetts about the beginning of 
this century to build turnpikes, it was the First Blas- 
sachusetts Turnpike Corporation whose charter (1796) 
was to Levi Pease and his associates, authorizing 
them to build a turnpike through Palmer and West- 
ern.' He put in his earnings and savings, and made 
a good road where there was a very bad one; but the 
turnpike never paid, and in consequence of his in- 
vestments in its stock Captain Pease died a poor 
man. But he lived and ran his stages many years. 
His death took place in Shrewsbury January 28, 
1824, and his age was eighty-four years. His honor 
and integrity, which were as famous as his punc- 
tuality, were inborn, and therein Washington him- 
self could have taught him nothing. Often in the 
army, often in his business as tavern-keeper and 
stage-driver trusted with uncounted money, the trust 
was sacredly inviolate. 

For many years four stages a day, two going east 
and two going west, passed through Shrewsbury on 
the Great Road. In 1806 the Worcester Turnpike 
Association was chartered to build a turnpike from 
Worcester to Roxbury. Its course was as straight as 
possible, and ran through the south part of Shrews- 
bury. After its completion in 1808, four stages — two 
each way also — ran daily on the turnpike. Another 
turnpike, having Shrewsbury for one of its termini, 
and Amherst for the other — the Sixth Massachusetts 
— sometimes called the Holden Turnpike — was built 
in 1800. A line of stages also ran daily on this turn- 
pike. Both of these turnpikes were abandoned many 
years ago by the corporations that built them, and 
were laid out by the county commissioners as high- 
ways. 

Col. Nymphas Pratt, whose father, Capt. Seth Pratt, 
was the founder of the tanning and currying business 
in Shrewsbury, was born April 5, 1786, in the old 
house owned by Henry Harlow, standing near the 
brick house in which he lives. The tannery was on 
the south side of the road opposite the houses, and 
was sold in 1796 with the old house then comjiara- 
tively new, and about twenty-two acres of land, by 
Capt. Pratt to the writer's grandfather, Thomas Har- 
low, who came from Duxbury, when he was twenty-one 
years old, to buy it, and paid $1000 for it. Here was 
the place where, and Seth Pratt was the man by whom 
the tanning business was begun in Shrewsbury. After 
sale of his tannery he moved to Barre, dammed the 
Ware River, built woolen-mills and founded the vil- 



1 Chnnged to Wiirren. 



SHREWSBURY. 



805 



lage of Barre Plains. Deacon Thomas Harlow, who 
was a farmer as well as tanner, carried on the tannery 
for nearly fifty years in connection with his farm, 
which he bought piece by piece of his neighbors. 

Col. Pratt, Capt. Seth's son (military titles both de- 
rived from militia commissions), about the year 1810 
built a new tannery in the Loner Village in Shrews- 
bury, where the business or the currying branch of it 
has been continued to tlie present day. Here Col. 
Pratt did the business, both tanning and currying, till 
from a small beginning it grew into a very large and 
prosperous one, and the owner of it became a man of 
great influence and was accounted to possess immense 
wealth. People said he was worth one hundred thou- 
sand dollars, which sounded bigger than a million 
does now. Col. Pratt was one of the principal foun- 
ders of the Citizens' Bank in Worcester, incorporated 
in 1836 with a capital stock of $250,000, and was its 
first president. In 1839 he failed in business and this 
bank, which had discounted a large amount of his 
paper, was a heavy loser. But the failure of Col. 
Pratt was due cot so much to his own business as a 
tanner and currier as to his courageous and honorable 
though rash attempt to sustain through such a financial 
crisis as that of 1837-40, the firm of S. H. Allen & Co., 
of which the partners were his son, William Pratt, 
who was a lawyer and lived in Worcester, and his 
son-in-law, Simon Hapgood Allen, who was the active 
manager of the firm business and lived in Shrews- 
bury. The business of this firm, which was formed 
in 1833 and carried on at the brick store in the Lower 
Village in Shrewsbury, was mainly the manufacture 
of ready-made clothing. Mr. Allen may be said to 
have been the founder of the ready-made clothing 
business. The firm employed a large force of tailors, 
who cut out the garments, which were taken home and 
sewed by women at their houses. Many of the sales 
of the firm were on credit at places far remote — in the 
South and West. In such a crisis as that of 1837 no 
wonder the firm failed. If Col. Pratt had allowed 
this firm to go down into its inevitable bankruptcy, 
probably he might have saved himself and his own 
proper business. 

Upon the winding up of Col. Pratt's affairs in 
bankruptcy, Lucius H. Allen, who was his foreman, 
bought of his assignees the tanning business, and 
continued to carry it on till 1862, and Jonathan H. 
Nelson and Thomas Rice, who had learned the trade 
of curriers in Col. Pratt's shop, took the currying 
business. With no capital except their trade to be- 
gin business with, by industry, laboring untiringly 
with their own hands they, by degrees, built up a 
very large and profitable business. In 1862 Mr. 
Allen, who had also done a large and profitable busi- 
ness, sold out to Nelson & Rice his tannery. Dur- 
ing the war the business of this firm became enor- 
mous and its profits immense — many times exceed- 
ing anything that Col. Pratt had ever done or 
dreamed of. Mr. Nelson died in 1872, leaving a 



large estate, and his partner, Mr. Rice, has recently 
died, leaving, doubtless, a much larger. The busi- 
ness is still carried on by Mr. Charles O. Green, who, 
after the death of Mr. Nelson, was associated with 
Mr. Rice as partner. Col. Pratt, Mr. Allen, Mr. 
Nelson and Mr. Rice were all men of public spirit, 
and deeply interested in all that concerned the town 
of Shrewsbury and the Congregational parish ; and 
they were, all of them, honored with the public 
trusts of selectmen and representatives to the Gen- 
eral Court. Mr. Rice was also, in 1869, a member 
of the Massachusetts Senate, and, having been for 
many years a director of the First National Bank of 
Worcester and president of the Northborough Na- . 
tioual Bank, he had an extensive acquaintance 
among business men. 



CHAPTER CIX. 

SHREWSBURY— (ro«//««ca'.) 

THE MEDICAL PROFESSION — GRADUATES OF COL- 
LEGES — PUBLIC EDUCATION. 

The first physician in Shrewsbury was Dr. Joshua 
Smith, 1719-56, who practiced here from about 1840 
till his death. He held the offices of town clerk, 
selectman and assessor for several years, and speci- 
mens of his elegant chirography are preserved in 
the town archives. But he set the example, followed 
by so many of his successors, of cavilling at sound 
doctrine, and Deacon Isaac Stone laid a complaint 
before the brethren of the church " that y° sd. 
Smith was defective in y" fundamental article of 
original sin." And therefore a committee of three 
Orthodox divines was appointed to discourse with 
him. Now, Dr. Smith was son-in-law of Rev. John 
Prentice, of Lancaster, and brother-in-law of Rev. 
Job Cushing, of Shrewsbury, and I strongly suspect 
that the ecclesiastical discipline of Dr. Smith was 
aimed less at him than at his kindred by marriage, 
whose defectiveness upon the Calvinistic fundamen- 
tals Deacon Stone did not choose to directly attack. 
All the same, to argue original sin against three 
learned divines all at once was nuts for " ye sd. 
Smith,'' who according to tradition, unhorsed his 
antagonists as completely as he had his neighbor, 
the deacon. 

Dr. Zachariah Harvey, who lived in "Shrewsbury 
Leg," now a part of Sterling, pi'acticed here from about 
1740 to 1750, when he removed to Princeton, and was 
directly chosen there moderator, clerk, selectman, 
assessor and delegate to the General Court. He is 
said to have been the introducer of the Harvey apple. 

Dr. Edward Flint, 1733-1818, came here from Con- 
cord about 1756, shortly after Dr. Smith's death. 
Besides his service in the French War, elsewhere 
mentioned, he also served as an army surgeon in the 



806 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



Revolutionary War. He was a famous doctor, had a 
large practice, and lived where Mr. George H. Harlow 
and his wife, who is Dr. Flint's grand-daughter, now 
lives. He was several years town clerk and one of the 
selectmen. His son. Dr. Austin Flint, 1700-1850, born 
here, practiced in Leicester many years and rose to 
eminence in his profession. At the age of seventeen 
years he enlisted iu the Revolutionary War, marched 
to Bennington and served till the close of the war. 
Dr. John Flint, 1779-1809, another son of Dr. Edward 
and a native of this town, practiced in Petersham. 

Of Rev. Ebenezer Morse's practice as a physician 
mention has already been made. His son, Dr. Elia- 
'kim Morse, 1759-1840, also practiced in the North 
Parish. 

Dr. Amariah Bigelow, born here 1757, also practiced 
in the North Parish. 

Dr. Samuel Crosby, born here 1732, lived on " Boston 
Hill," in the southeast part of the town, and practiced 
here till the Revolutionary War, when he entered the 
Continental service as an army surgeon. After the 
war he removed to Winchendon. 

Dr. Paul Dean came here from Franklin about 1790 
with his father. Captain Ebenezer Dean, who settled 
in the southeast part of the town on the place after- 
wards known as the Balch Dean Place, so called after 
Captain Ebenezer's nephew, who lived and died there 
within the memory of the present generation. Here 
in 1792, when the small-pox appeared in town, Dr. 
Dean opened a hospital, where people resorted to be 
inoculated and treated for that malady. He was a 
musician, taught singing-schools and led the church 
choir. After practicing here some years he went South 
and never returned. 

Dr. Silas Wheelock, 1769-1817, came here from 
Northbridge about 1800, and practiced till his death. 
He lived on the place now owned by Mr. Lewis E. 
Colton, whose wife was Dr. Wheelock's grand-daugh- 
ter. He had the reputation of a skillful physician 
and surgeon. 

Dr. Seth Knowlton, 1781-1832, a native of Shrews- 
bury whom we have seen leading the heretical revolt 
of 1821, practiced here about thirty years. He was a 
man of strong intellect and great influence in the 
town, and he was noted as much for his positive opin- 
ions and his ability to maintain them against all op- 
posers as he was for his skill as a surgeon and physi- 
cian. He built and lived in the house where his suc- 
cessor. Dr. Adolphus Brigham, afterwards lived. 

Dr. William Workman (Harvard College, 1825), 
came to Shrewsbury about 1826, and continued in 
practice here till about 1830, when he removed to 
Worcester, where he became eminent in his profession 
and had a large practice. 

Dr. Azor R. Phelps practiced here from about 1835, 
to 1843, when he died. He lived in the house now 
owned by Mr. Lcander Ware, and was proprietor'of 
Phelps' Arcanum, once a famous panacea. 

Dr. Adolphus Brigham came here from Marl- 



borough in 1827, lived in the house built by Dr. 
Knowlton, on Grafton Street, and succeeded to his 
practice. He was, in his time, "the Doctor of Shrews- 
bury," and his practice extended to adjoining towns. 
A good man, and well skilled, both as a surgeon and 
physician, he had the respect and confidence of all 
who knew him, and died much lamented. 

Dr. Alonzo Smith came here from Vermont about 
1834. In 1837 be returned to Vermont and died there. 

Dr. John Heard came here in 1847, and remained 
about a year. 

Dr. Joel B. Fay came from Northbridge about 1850, 
and practiced here till his death, in 1860. He lived 
in the house now the congregational parsonage. 

Dr. Dean Towne practiced here from about 1840 to 
18.'i0, when he removed to Worcester. 

Dr. Frederick A. Jewett, who moved from Alding- 
ton to this town in 1859, practiced here till 1870, 
whep he removed to Grafton. 

Dr. John T. Wetherbee, a native of Marlborough, 
came here from California in 1860, and continued in 
practice till 1863, when he entered the United States 
naval service as acting assistant surgeon. He died 
after a brief term of service on board the United 
States ship "Currier," in the Gulf of Mexico, and his 
name is on the Soldiers' Monument. 

Dr. Emerson Warner practiced here from 1863 to 
1865, when he removed to Worcester, where he still 
lives and has a large practice. 

Dr. Franklin Whiting Brigham, born here in 1841, 
and son of Dr. Adolphus, studied his profession at 
Harvard Medical School, and, after serving two years 
as acting assistant surgeon in the United States navy, 
settled here in 1865, and remains in practice. He 
lives in the same house, built by Calvin R. Stone, 
where his'predecessor. Dr. Warner, lived. 

Dr. Jeremiah C. Foster, who was an army surgeon 
in the United States volunteer service during the 
Rebellion, settled here in 1867. In 1873 he removed 
to Barre, and died there. 

Dr. J. C. Coburn came here in 1878 and remained 
till 1880, when he removed to Brooklyn, Conn. 

Dr. George L. Tobey practiced here from 1879 to 
1880, when he removed to Lancaster. 

Dr. Charles Sumner Pratt, a native of Shrewsbury, 
and son of the late Nathan Pratt, Jr., opened an 
ofl3ce here in 1879 in the "Old Store Block," and re- 
mains in ijractice. He is a graduate of the Medical 
Department of Michigan University. 

The following natives of Shrewsbury have been 
graduates of colleges : 

Rev. Jacob Gushing, 1730-1809 (Harvard College, 
1748), son of Rev. Job Gushing, was settled in Wal- 
tham. In 1807 Harvard conferred on him the degree 
of D.D. 

Rev. John Gushing, 1737-1823 (Harvard College, 
1764), another son of Rev. Job Gushing, was settled 
in Ashburnham. He also received (1822) the degree 
of D.D. from Harvard. 



SHRBWSBUKY. 



807 



Eev. Lemuel Hedge, 1734-77 (Harvard College, 
1759), son of Elisha Hedge, who came to this town 
from Boston about 1730, and built a mill-dam and 
grist-mill, called in later times Harlow's Mills, after a 
successive owner, and removed to Hardvvick in 1738, 
was settled in Warwick. He was the father of Pro- 
fessor Levi Hedge, over thirty years an instructor in 
Harvard College, and grandfather of the eminent Rev. 
Dr. Frederick H. Hedge, of Cambridge. 

Eev. Nehemiah Parker, 1742-18U1 (Harvard Col- 
lege, 1763), sou of Stephen Parker, who came here 
from Roxbury in 1740 or sooner, was the first settled 
minister in Hubbardston. 

Rev. Isaac Stone, 1748-1837 (Harvard College, 
1770), son of Deacon Jonas Stone, was settled in 
Douglas. 

Rev. Frederick Parker, 1762-1802 (Harvard Col- 
lege, 1784), son of Amos Parker, who removed from 
Lexington to this town about 1763, was settled in 
Canterbury, N. H., where, in the midst of his ser- 
vices as minister on a Sunday, he fell dead in his 
pulpit. 

Rev. Aaron Crosby, 1744-1824 (Harvard College, 
1770), son of Samuel Crosby, who lived on " Boston 
Hill," and was one of the first comers to Shrewsbury, 
was settled in Dummerston, Vt. Before his settle- 
ment there he had spent several years as a missionary 
among the Indians. 

Rev. Otis Crosby, 176G-95 (Dartmouth College, 
178G), nephew of the preceding and son of Dr. Sam- 
uel Crosby, was called to settle at (Jloucester, Me., 
but died before ordination. 

Rev. Samuel Sumner, 1765-1836 (Dartmouth Col- 
lege, 1786), son of Rei?. Dr. Joseph Sumner, was first 
settled in Southborough, and afterwards at Bakers- 
field, Vt. 

Professor Benjamin Stone, 1756-1832 (Harvard Col- 
lege, 1776), son of Jasper Stone, was the first precep- 
tor of Leicester Academy, subsequently also of West- 
ford Academy. Later in life he returned to this 
town, and died here. 

Colonel Benjamin Heywood, 1746-1816 (Harvard 
College, 1775), son of Phineas Heywood, who came 
here from Concord about 1739, and lived in the 
northwest corner of Shrewsbury, where some of his 
descendants still live, served through the Revolu- 
tionary War, in all ranks from captain to colonel, 
and was a justice of the Worcester County Court of 
Common Pleas, 1802-11. He was father of the late 
Dr. Benjamin F. Heywood, of Worcester. 

Rev. Wilkes Allen, 1775-1845 (Harvard College, 
1801), son of Elnathan Allen, was settled 1803 at 
Chelmsford, and dismissed, at his request, 1832 ; 
after which he removed to Andover, and died there. 

Xithan Goddard, 1746-1795 (Harvard College, 
1770), son of Benjamin Goddard, was a lawyer, and 
practiced his profession in Shrewsbury, Newbury, 
Vt., and Framingham. 

Hon. Calvin Goddard, 1768-1842 (Dartmouth Col- 



lege, 1786), — and so classmate of Rev. Samuel Sum- 
ner and Rev. Otis Crosby, before mentioned, — was 
son of Daniel and grandson of Edward Goddard, 
went from this town to Connecticut to practice his 
profession, the law; settled first at Plainfield, but 
afterwards removed to Norwich, where he rose to 
eminence at the bar and in public office. He was 
seventeen years mayor of Norwich and twice (1801 
and 1803) elected to Congress. And he was chosen 
by the Connecticut Legislature, and served as a dele- 
gate to the Hartford Convention, 1814. In 1815 he 
was appointed a judge of the Supreme Court. In 1818 
resigned his office as judge to resume practice of the 
law. 

General Arteraas Ward, 1727-1800 (Harvard Col- 
lege, 1748), was son of Colonel Nahum Ward. Be- 
sides the high civil and military offices which he 
held (to which reference has been made elsewhere), 
he received from his fellow-townsmen almost every 
mark of trust and honor they had to bestow. He 
was sixteen times elected Representative to the Gen- 
eral Court. In the year of the Shays' Rebellion, 
being defeated as a candidate for Representative by 
Captain Isaac Harrington, an ardent Shays' man, 
General Ward ever afterwards refused to be a candi- 
date for any office in Shrewsbury, but he was next 
year and twice afterwards elected to Congress. 

Hon. Artemas Ward, 1762-1746 (Harvard College, 
1783), son of General Artemas, commenced practice 
of law in 1785 at Weston, but afterward removed to 
Charlestown, and while there was several times 
elected a member of the Governor's Council. He 
next removed to Boston, and was thence elected to 
Congress. In 1820, on organization of the Court of 
Common Pleas as a State Court, he was appointed 
chief justice, and held the office till 1839, when he 
resigned it. 

Henry D. Ward, 1768-1817 (Harvard College, 1791), 
another son of Gen. Arteraas, settled in practice of 
the law at Charleston, S. C. He died at Middletown, 
Conn. 

Andrew H. Ward, 1784-1857 (Harvard College, 
1808), grandson of Gen. Artemas and son of Thomas 
W. Ward, who was about twenty years sheriff of 
Worcester County, practiced law at Shrewsbury from 
1811 to 1829, when he removed to Boston. He after- 
ward removed to Newton and died there. In 1826 
he published in the Worcester Magazine a, '^History 
of Shrewsbury." But this is not the work commonly 
known as Ward's History, which, published in 1847 
by Mr. Ward, is chiefly valuable for its family 
register. 

Rev. Henry Dana Ward, 1797-1885 (Harvard Col- 
lege, 1816), was another son of Sheriff Ward. After 
his graduation he remained some time at Cambridge 
as scholar of the house, but was not settled as a min- 
ister till 1845, when he was ordained over the Epis- 
copal Church in Portsmouth, Va. It was he whom 
we met before in connection with the dismissal of 



808 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



Rev. George Allen and the law-suit that followed it. 
Mr. Ward was buried with his ancestors in the family 
lot in this town. 

David Brighham, 1786-1843 (Harvard College, 
1810), son of David Brigham, Sr., was a lawyer and 
practiced in New Braintree, Leicester, Greenfield, 
Shrewsbury and Fitchburg. From the latter place 
he removed to Iowa and died there. 

David T. Brigham, 1806-69 (Amherst College, 1828), 
son of Edmund T. Brigham and nephew of the pre- 
ceding, practiced law in Worcester a short time. He 
removed to St. Louis, Mo., and thence removed to 
Keokuk, Iowa, where he died. 

Jubal Harrington,1803-77 (Brown University, 1825), 
son of Fortunatus Harrington, practiced law in Wor- 
cester. He was an ardent partisan of President 
Jackson, who appointed him postmaster of Worcester. 
He left Worcester in the phrase of the times " between 
two days," and was next heard of in Texas. He died 
in Columbia, Cal. 

William Pratt, 1806-39 (Brown University, 1825), 
son of Col. Nymphas Pratt, commenced the practice of 
law in Shrewsbury. In 1835 he removed to Worces- 
ter and formed a professional connection with Judge 
Pliny Merrick. 

Francis Dean, 1804-85 (Brown University, 1826), 
80n of Francis Dean, Sr., commenced the practice of 
the law at Southborough in 1830. He afterwards re- 
moved to Uxbridge, and again to Worcester, where 
he died. 

Rev. William Addison Houghton (Yale College, 
1840), came here in his youth from Berlin, and went 
to college from this town. He was first ordained and 
settled at Northborough. He afterwards was installed 
at Berlin, where he still resides. 

Samuel B. Ingersoll Goddard, born here in 1821 
(Amherst College, 1840), son of Perley Goddard, was 
admitted to the bar in 1848, and has practiced law in 
Worcester ever since. 

William Taylor Harlow, born here in 1828, son of 
Gideon Harlow (Yale College, 1851), has practiced 
law ' at Spencer, Red Bluff, Cal., and Worcester; was 
in the United States Volunteer service, 1861-63; an 
officer of the United States Internal Revenue about 
eight years, and since 1877 has held the ofiice of as- 
sistant clerk of the courts for the county of Wor- 
cester. 

For notice of Dr. Henry P. Stearns (Yale College, 
185;!), see page 802. 

Rev. Edward Henry Pratt, 1826-78 (Amherst Col- 
lege, 1853), son of Nathan Pratt, Jr., began to preach 
at East Woodstock, Conn., and was ordained there in 
1857. In 1867 he was appointed secretary of The Con- 
necticut Temperance Union , and devoted the remainder 
of his life with unsparing self-sacrifice to the cause of 
temperance. He was brother of Dr. Charles S. Pratt of 

iWitli sucli favor of Iiis jealous mistress as she is wont to bestow on 
her Toturies who per intervaUa iiUerQite alia pui'suc her. 



this town ; brother also of Rev. George Harlow Pratt, 
now of Barnstable, born here in 1839, who left Amherst 
College in 1862, when he was a student in the Sopho- 
more Class, to enter the United States service,' and 
who was first settled in the ministry in the town of 
Harvard ; brother also of William G. Pratt, of 
New Haven, editor of the iVcw Haven Journal and 
Courier. 

Rev. Franklin Charles Flint, 1836-76 (Tuft's College, 
1861), son of Henry H. Flint, was first settled in the 
ministry at Chatham, next at Sbuthbridge, and again 
at Attleborough, where he died. 

Rev. Benjamin Angier Dean, born here in 1840 
(Amherst College, 1862), son of James Dean, after 
spending several years on the Western frontier in the 
Home Missionary service, is now preaching at San- 
bornton, N. H. 

Mollis W. Cobb, 18.56 (Yale College, 1878), son of 
Albert Cobb, lives in Shrewsbury, but keeps an office 
and practices his profession as a lawyer at Worcester. 
He is one of the special Justices of the Central Dis- 
trict Court of Worcester. 

Florence H. Reed, daughter of Le Roy S. Reed, grad- 
uated at Wellesley College in 1885, and died in 1887, 
at Pasadena, Cal., where she had gone in vain pur- 
suit of health. 

Michael Edward Kelley, son of Kelley, gradu- 
ated at Harvard College 1888. 

Thomas Rice, son of Aaron B. Rice, graduated, 
1888, at the Massachusetts Agricultural College. 

In recent ycjirs the number of college graduates 
has been less than in former times. Without at- 
tempting to enumerate all the reasons therefor, prob- 
ably the greatly improved opportunities afforded by 
the excellent schools of the town for education may 
be one, and doubtless the higher requirement of 
American Colleges for admission is another. In the 
day of Rev. Job Cushing there was no Shrewsbury 
High School where he could send his sons to be fitted 
for college, and probably Jacob and John, who both 
bore off the honors of Harvard, were prepared for 
admission by their father. 

The original grant to the Shrewsbury proprietors 
provided for a lot for the school as well as one for 
the ministry, but the school lot, No. 20, laid out at 
Rocky Pond, was a worthless parcel of land which 
nobody wanted, and appears to have been assigned 
to the school for that very reason. And truth to 
tell, there can be little doubt that our fathers of the 
first generation, here in their poverty, and with 
many burdens resting heavily upon them, did dis- 
charge their duties as regards public education in 
rather a perfunctory way — not that they underrated 
the value of education to their children. Other 
parents, as well as Mr. Cushing, probably instructed 
their own children at home, and if they could not, 
like him, teach the classical tongues, they were mas- 

* In 1872 Amherst gave him the honorary degree of A.M. 



SHREWSBURY. 



809 



ters of the three Rs., and competent to transmit to 
posterity, reading, writing and aritlimetic. 

In the second generation, about the time of parti- 
tion of the town into two parishes, the whole town 
was districted — divided into squadrons, as the dis- 
tricts were at first called, and public schools have 
ever since been maintained. For more than one 
hundred years, with only slight interruptions, a sum- 
mer term for the younger children was kept by a 
female teacher, and a winter term for the older ones 
by a " master." These terms varied in duration 
from six weeks or less, to ten or more. Down until 
within the memory of people still living, young men 
and women frequently attended the winter term 
after they were twenty-one years old. It required an 
able man to keep a winter school in Shrewsbury in 
the olden time, and many a man who might have 
made a good mayor of a city or Governor of a State, 
failed in the attempt. A successful teacher bore the 
title of Master for life. The last bearer of the title 
in this town. Master Nathan Pratt, reputed to have 
been a model school teacher, both as regards govern- 
ment and instruction, died in 1847, in his eighty- 
eighth year. He was grandfather of Rev. Edward 
H. Pratt and his brothers before-mentioned. I well 
remember him — a venerable man of very benevolent 
aspect, much interested in and very kind to chil- 
dren. 

But in later days the schools of Shrewsbury have 
undergone considerable changes. The common schools 
are now taught entirely by female teachers, and with 
necessary vacations, are kept throughout the year. 
In respect to appropriations for its schools, to rate of 
wages paid its teachers and regularity of its scholars' 
attendance, Shrewsbury ranks high among the 
towns of the State in the reports of the secretary of 
the Board of Education. For more than thirty 
years the town has supported a High School, though 
not required by law so to do, having never had even 
the minimum number of families (live hundred), upon 
which the legal obligation of towns to support such 
a school rests. In 1883 the town built a handsome 
and commodious building for its High School. The 
only fund or source of income which the town has 
for support of its schools other than an annual tax, 
is a legacy of one thousand dollars, given by the 
late Amasa Howe. The "dog fund," so-called, 
which cannot legally be used for other than for edu- 
cational purposes, has been for many years applied 
by a vote of the town to a town library, which con- 
tains about one thousand two hundred volumes, and 
is an important educational force in Shrewsbury. 



BIOGRAPHICAI.. 

JONATHAN H. NELSON. 

Jonathan H. Nelson, son of Captain Jonathan Nel- 
son, was born in Shrewsbury April 26, 1812. He 



died May 20, 1872, aged sixty years and twenty-four 
days. In person he was square built, thick set, with 
black hair and eyes, of full face and of firm and elas- 
tic step. From early years he was a lad of industry, 
of perseverance and high resolve. Fortified against 
manifold dangers and temptations by the counsel and 
care of one of the best of mothers, he began his life 
as an apprentice at the tanner's trade. He and his 
late partner, the Hon. Thomas Rice, were fellow-ap- 
prentices in the establishment of Colonel Nymphas 
Pratt, whose counsels and example proved of great 
value to their riper years. 

Working more than the hours required, each of 
these young men accumulated a few hundred dollars. 
By diligence, industrj', economy, prudence, persever- 
ance and strict attention to business, these young 
men won the respect and confidence of the commu- 
nity. Mr. Nelson and his partner became at length 
the proprietori of the establishment in which they 
had been apprentices together, under the firm name 
of Nelson & Rice. 

Endowed with remarkable energ}' and business 
tact, vigorous health and strong constitution, and de- 
voting himself to personal labor daily, as many hours 
as required of any of their employees, prosperity 
crowned the establishment. 

Mr. Nelson was a man of truthfulness, of sterling 
integrity and every way reliable as a manuAxcturer 
and a man. Having no children, and being strictly 
temperate and prudent in his habit-, his means 
increased, his business expanded, and from time to 
time the manufactory was enlarged. From the com- 
mencement of the copartnership of the firm, in 1839, 
his wealth continued to increase, till, several years 
before his death, he was acknowledged to be the 
wealthiest man in Shrewsbury. 

It is highly creditable to the firm of which he was 
the senior partner, that they had been associated in 
business for a period of forty-two years in all, with 
the utmost harmony. It is true, when, in 1839, their 
late copartnership was formed, they entered on a 
business already established. It is true, as already 
stated in public, that the business experience and ju- 
dicious counsel and advice of Colonel Pratt were to 
them of inestimable value. On some men these 
would have been lost. 

Something more, however, than the wisdom and 
counsel of the sagest adviser was requisite to enable 
these men to carry on successfully a business so ex- 
tensive as to require, in various stations and services, 
the daily employment of one hundred and twenty-five 
men, and yet to maintain such promptnfss in the 
payment of all bills, that no bill, during the whole 
copartnership, was ever presented at their office a 
second time. Yet such, we learn, are the facts. 

With all his devotion to business, Mr. Nelson was 
eminently a social, genial, condescending man. He 
was liberal and humane, accommodating, benevolent 
and kind. He was a constant attendant on the Sab- 



810 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



bath services of the sauctiiary, a liberal supporter of 
the Gospel and a generous contributor to the vari- 
ous objects presented for benevolent or charitable 
aid. 

He made the following public bequests : To the 
Congregational Society, in Shrewsbury, $5000 ; Mas- 
sachusetts Bible Society, $2000 ; Home Missionary 
Society, $2000; Society for the Promotion of Colle- 
giate Theological Education at the West, $1000; 
American Missionary Association, New York, $1000. 



HON. THOMAS RICE 

was born in Marlboro', Mass., and came to thi^ town 
when a young man and served as an apprentice to 
Colonel Pratt, who carried on the business of tanner 
and currier. Colonel Pratt failed in 18-39, and Mr. L. 
H. Allen purchased of the assignees the tanning de- 
partment of the business, and about the same time 
Mr. Rice, in company with Jonathan H. Nelson, 
bought out the currying department. For a period of 
twenty years Mr. Rice and Mr. Nelson carried on a 
fine growing business, and during the war it increased 
largely. After the death of Mr. Nelson, in 1872, Mr. 
Charles O. Green, for several years book-keeper of 
the concern, was admitted as a partner; the firm-name 
being Thomas Rice & Co., Mr. Rice remaining head 
of the firm until his death, which occurred May 29, 
1888. Mr. Rice was always a public-spirited man ; 
his town honored him with many oflices of trust — 
such as selectman, representative — and he was a mem- 
ber of the State Senate in 1869. For more than half 
a century the interests of the town were his interests. 
His time, his money, his counsel were always available 
for the advancement of the public good. Progress in 
every direction, education, morality and religion 
found in him an earnest and steadfast sujjporter. Of 
a genial disposition he was ever on the watch to do 
a kindly act or speak a helpful word. He was tor 
many years a director in the Northboro' Bank and the 
First National Bank of Worcester, and president of 
the former at the time of his death; also a director in 
many other well-known financial institutions. 

As his business and wealth increased he grew in 
popularity. He built a fine residence where be dis- 
pensed a generous hospitality. 

Mr. Rice was twice married: for his first wife Caro- 
line P. daughter of Liberty Allen, of this town; for 
his second wife he married Ellen A. Lawrence, daugh- 
ter of the late David B. Lawrence, of Brimfield, Mass. 
By this union there are two children — Edwin L. and 
Edith A. 



CHAPTER ex. 

GARDNER. 

BY REV. WHLIAM .S. HE\^VOOD. 

SITUATION, TOPOGEAPHY, SETTLEMENT, INCORPORA- 
TION, ETC. 

The town of Gardner, which has recently (1885) 
completed the first century of its corporate existence 
and duly celebrated the memorable event with appro- 
priate exercises and festivities, is one of the most en- 
terprising and prosperous of all those in the county 
whose annals these pages record. Taking its place 
in the retinue of Massachusetts municipalities soon 
after the struggle for American independence, it was 
characterized at the outset by the spirit that gave 
birth to the rising republic, and, under the influence 
of the same spirit, has kept abreast of the advancing 
civilization of the land down to the present day. 
During the earlier part of its career, its growth in 
wealth, population and social standing, in indus- 
trial, commercial and political importance, though 
slow and uneventful, was yet sturdy and healthful. 
But in later years new life and greatly increased 
vigor have entered into and stimulated its various 
interests and activities, resulting in a rapid and 
notable development of its resources, and a highly 
honorable and gratifying progress in every depart- 
ment of responsibility and effort within its borders. 
Its advance for the last decade has been truly remark- 
able in many aspects of it, and reflects great credit 
upon those of every class and degree who have in any 
way contributed to it. Hardly to be reckoned, at this 
time, as one of the foremost towns of Worcester 
County in those things which appear to advantage in 
statistical tables, it yet is excelled, even if it is 
equaled, by few in general thrift, in durable pros- 
perity, in the tokens of comfort and happiness that 
abound on every hand, in the neatness, order and 
security of its homes, in the harmonious relations 
which characterize industrial and social life, in means 
and opportunities of intellectual, moral and religious 
culture, in public spirit, in the integrity, honor, virtue 
and happiness of all classes of its population. To 
sketch the history of such a town, to enter into 
the details of its genesis and growth, to search out 
the hidden springs of its unfolding and ever-rising 
life — to take account of the industry, the self-reliance, 
the persevering zeal, the unfaltering courage, the 
high resolve and all the worthy, grand qualities of 
mind and heart and character to which the existence 
and prosperous fortunes of such a town bear witness 
and of which it is the organic and living product and 
representative, — is a task fruitful not only of instruc- 
tion, but of satisfaction and delight. To a task like 
this, the considerate attention of whomsoever it may 
concern is herein invited. 



GARDNER. 



811 



The town of Gardner is situated in the northerly 
part of the county of Worcester, and belongs to what 
may be termed the second range or tier of townships, 
counting from the extreme limits of the county in 
that direction — the line separating the States of New 
Hampshire and Massachusetts. It is bounded on the 
north by Winchendon and Ashburnham, on the east 
by Ashburnham and \Ve.->tminster, on the south by 
Westminster, Hubbardston and Templelon, and on 
the west by Hubbardston, Templetoii and Winchen- 
don ; or, in a simpler way, northwest by Winchendon, 
northeast by Ashburnham, southeast by AVestminster, 
and southwest by Hubbardston and Templeton. The 
latitude of its Town Hall is 42° 35' north and the 
longitude 71° 59i' west from Greenwich, or G° Y east 
from Washington. Its distance from Boston, in a 
W. N. W. direction, by direct line, is not far from 52 
miles, and 65 miles by the Fitchburg Railroad ; and 
from Worcester, in a N. N. W. direction, it is about 
23 miles by direct line, and 26 miles by railroad. It 
includes within its boundaries an area of about 
14,000 acres, or 21 J square miles, of which some 180 
acres are covered by its several natural lakes and 
ponds, and probably a larger number by artificial 
bodies of water. Its highest altitude above the level 
of the sea (Reservoir Hill) is estimated at 1204 feet, 
and its lowest (where Otter River crosses its western 
boundary) at 890 feet. 

Glancing at the natural or physical characteristics 
of the town, it is to be noted that the surface of its 
territory is uneven and considerably diversified. 
Between its lowest and highest points of elevation 
above sea-level, measuring over 400 feet, an almost 
unlimited variety of hill and dale, meadow and up- 
land, lake, river and streamlet, is to be found. At 
the present day, after more than a hundred years of 
change and improvement that have transpired since 
the primeval wilderness prevailed in all the region 
round about, the town, with its existing proportion 
of forest and field ; with its well-tilled farms and 
accordant farm-houses and out-buildings; with its 
several villages, neat and orderly ; with its many 
clustering or scattered homes, and the gardens or 
orchards thereto belonging, some of them costly and 
elegant, few of them weather-worn, dilapidated and 
unsightly ; with its manifold manufactories, the hives 
of productive and remunerative industry ; with all 
the evidences of competency, thrift and contentment 
that greet the eye of the observer, presents, from any 
one of the commanding heights within its borders, a 
scene of unusual beauty and attractiveness. From 
such a point of vision, one may journey long and far 
to look upon a more picturesque and lovely sight 
than there reveals itself to the eye and mind, turn 
him whichsoever way he may. All about, near at 
hand and reaching to the utmost borders of the town 
and far beyond, are there pictures of surpassing 
beauty and enchantment ; while in the distance, at 
the northwest and southeast, rise in silent majesty, 



cleaving the sky and lending grandeur and glory to 
the view, Mouadnock and Wachusett, 

" Those mountains tliat like giants stand, 
To sentinel enchanted land." 

Hills. — The natural scenery of the town of Gard- 
ner is characterized by that constant and continuous 
variety of surface which relieves it of all tiresome 
monotony and renders it especially attractive and 
delightful. Scattered over all the length and breadth 
of its territory are there considerable elevations of 
laud, which contribute largely to the beauty of the 
view and satisfy the demands of the artistic sense. 
The highest of these rise to an altitude of several 
hundred feet above the general level, not by abrupt 
and broken ascents, but by gradual slopes, making 
them capable of culture and even available for resi- 
dential uses to the very summit. Indeed, some of 
them are already dotted with dwellings in every part 
and others are likely to become so at an early day. 
These hills took their names originally from their 
owners or from persons living near them, though in 
many instances those names have in later years been 
changed, either by change of ownership or by some 
other circumstance connected with their history. 
Their respective altitudes have been ascertained by a 
series of calculations made under the supervision of 
Mr. Aaron Greenwood, a skillful and accurate sur- 
veyor of the place, who assumed as the ba^ia of such 
calculations the correctness of the figures indicating 
the elevation of the railroad at given points along the 
line as fixed by its chief engineer. A few of the 
more prominent of these natural formations are 
deemed worthy of mention. 

Glazier Hill is the highest eminence in the town, 
rising to an altitude of one thousand two hundred 
and ninety-four feet above sea level and overlooking 
all the more thickly populated portions of its terri- 
tory. It stands a little to the northeast of the Cen- 
tral Village, now almost within its borders, the growth 
of the place within the last few years having caused 
the erection of dwellings far up its westerly and 
southerly sides. Its summit is now occupied by the 
distributing reservoir of the Gardner Water Com- 
pany, from which fact it is sometimes called " Reser- 
voir Hill." 

Bickford Hill or Parker Hill, as it is more recently 
designated, because owned and occupied for many 
years by the late Dr. David Parker, is located half a 
mile southeast of the one just spoken of, in full view 
from the town Common and quite near the junction 
of Elm and Temple Streets. It is one thousand two 
hundred and seventy-seven feet in height, and, like 
Glazier Hill, commands a fine view of the several 
villages of the town. It has no buildings upon it 
and is used for tillage and grazing purposes. 

Howe Hill, rising one thousand two hundred and 
fifty-six feet above tide-water, is about a mile north 
of the Common on the easterly side of Kelton Street, 



812 



HISTORY OP WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



in the miJst of a district wholly rural and sparsely 
populated. 

Barber Hill, one thousand two hundred and thirty- 
nine feet high, is in the southeast part of the town, a 
little north of the residence of the late Thomas Green- 
wood. On its easterly slope, one of the earliest set- 
tlers of the place — Mr. David Nichols, from Read- 
ing— located, clearing up and cultivating what proved 
to be one of the best farms in the vicinity. 

Temple Hill stands a short distance southeast of 
Bickford or Parker Hill, and is one thousand two 
hundred and twenty-four feet high, while Ray and 
Gates Hills, in the easterly parts of the town, rise re- 
spectively to an altitude of one thousand twoliundred 
and seventeen and one thousand two hundred and 
fifteen feet. Near the summit of the first of these 
two are a farm-house and out-buildings, long the 
residence of Mr. Asa Ray, and a sort of beacon or 
landmark to a wide region round about. 

Peabody Hill, originally known as Pork Hill, and 
for a long time as Lynde Hill, from Mr. Wm.S. Lynde, 
its owner for many years, occupies what is now 
almost the centre of the more northerly part of the 
thickly-settled portions of the town. It is one thou- 
sand one hundred and seventy-six feet above the 
level of the sea, and is for the most part covered 
with commodious and tasteful private residences, 
which have sprung up with marvelous rapidity during 
the past feyv years. 

Besides these more noticeable and commanding 
bights, there are Greenwood Hill, in the southwesterly 
part of Gardner, at the rear of the house of Mr. Ed- 
ward Greenwood, one thousand one huudred and 
Bevcnty feet in altitude; Kendall Hill, on the 
western borders of the South village, originally 
named Jackson Hill, after Capt. Elisha Jackson, one 
of the first settlers and one of the most notable and 
influential of the early citizens of the town, who lo- 
cated on its southerly side near the top, 1130 feet above 
sea-level ; Prospect Hill, on the southern side of the 
same village, formerly known as Wrighfs Hill, tak- 
ing its name from Mr. Joseph Wright, who came 
from Sterling and settled upon it, 1129 feet high. 
Attention is called also to the B. F. Kendall Hill, in 
the south section of the town, now being used for 
dwellings ; Cooledge and Bearaan Hills, in the north 
part; Martin and Brooks Hills, in the west, and Ban- 
croft Hill, near to Crystal Lake, on the southwest, 
the easterly side of which was taken up and settled 
upon by Mr. Jonathan Bancroft, whose name it has 
perpetuated to this day. 

Lakes and Ponds. — There are in Gardner but 
few natural bodies of water — those " eyes of the land- 
scape," as Goethe is reputed to have called them — 
though there are numerous artificial ones, which give 
variety and charm to the scenery. Of the former, 
the one lying to the northwe..t of the Common is 
largest and most worthy of notice. In the early rec- 
ords it was called Wells' Pond, though for what rea- 



son has not been asce''tained. For a long time it was 
known simply as Gardner Pond. A few years ago, 
however, it was christened Crystal Lake by vote of 
the town — a name peculiarly appropriate and signifi- 
cant on account of the purity and clearness of its 
waters and the mirror-like tranquillity of their surface. 
Its greatest length is not far from a mile, while its ex- 
treme width scarcely exceeds half a mile, giving it an 
estimated area of one hundred and fifty-two acres. 
It is variously bordered with cultured fields, untamed 
pastures and groves of maple, oak and pine, sloping 
gently down to where its murmuring ripples kiss the 
solid earth, giving it a setting which makes of it a 
picture of exceeding loveliness and of bewitching 
charm to every lover of nature and of nature's fairest 
scenes. The modern cemetery, which is located upon 
its westerly side, with its granite and marble monu- 
ments, its exquisitely chiseled memorials of departed 
loved and honored ones, glittering in the sunlight, 
while, in a certain way, subduing and chastening the 
scene, yet, on the whole, gives it a more tender and 
sacred interest and significance. This lake, so acces- 
sible from all directions, is in the summer-time a 
somewhat favorite resort for the diseii)les of Isaac 
Walton residing in the vicinity, its waters having 
been originally well-stored with various kinds of na- 
tive fish, and more recently stocked with those of 
foreign extraction ; and for country swains and dam- 
sels or others fond of boating in one or another of its 
various forms. In the winter its icy surface attracts 
those who enjoy the pleasant and health-imparting 
exercise of out-door skating, and the airs of the neigh- 
borhood are often, on sunny days and moonlit 
nights, made vocal with the merry voices of converse, 
laughter and song, breathing forth from those who 
relieve the tiresome round of study, toil and care, or 
fill th*^ fleeting hours with s])orts and pleasures which, 
while they exhilarate and thrill both body and mind, 
giving added zest to life, yet leave nesting behind. 
A delightful grove on the western margin, made at- 
tractive by the hand both of nature and of man, hav- 
ing been cleared of all rocks and underbrush and fitted 
up with numerous devices and appliances for the con- 
venience and gratification of pleasure-seekers, and 
moreover being readily reached by railroad as well as 
by private conveyance, has become within a few years 
a frequent rendezvous for Sabbath-school, Grand 
Army and other parties, seeking rest and recreation 
amid the beauty and glory of the material world. With 
its pleasing surroundings and multiform attractions 
of a various sort, this lake merits the encomium given 
it by the local historian, when he characterizes it as 
"tlie pride of Gardner, ' a thing of beauty and a joy 
forever." " 

In the southwest part of the town is another nat- 
ural body of water called sometimes Widow Wood's 
Pond and sometimes Kendall's Pond, from persons 
living near at difl'erent dates, but its location and 
surroundings are such as to give it little attractive- 



GARDNEK. 



813 



ness or interest except to sportsmen who sometimes 
are well repaid for tempting with well-baited hook 
and line the finny denizen of its waters. In days 
gone by it was deemed good fishing-ground, but in 
later years it has lost its reputation in that respect. 
Its surface measures about twenty-two acres, and lies 
scarcely above the level of Otter River, near by, into 
which its contents flow by a sluggish stream. 

In the same general locality, and not far away, is 
Snake Pond, crossed by the Templeton line, only a 
few acres of which are in Gardner. It is much like 
the last named in its general features, thoughmore in- 
accessible by reason of the low, marshy grounds 
which surround it. 

Quag Pond, in the easterly section of the town, is 
one of the sources of Pew Brook, and covers an area 
of about an acre. It is set in a bed of moss of vary- 
ing width, but many feet in depth, resting upon a 
substratum of soft mud. 

Of the artificial bodies of water mention will be 
made in connection with the manufacturing interests 
of the town to which they are tributary as conserva- 
tories of power for mechanical purposes. They are at 
present few in number in comparison with what have 
existed in days gone by. Several mill privileges in 
the outlying districts having been abandoned, the 
ponds, whence their motive-power was derived, have 
disappeared, while tliose formed successively by the 
stream flowing out of Crystal Lake, and used to run 
the several shops along the valley, have, since the es- 
tablishment of the Public Water-works, been almost 
wholly given up, the need they served being now bup- 
plied by the introduction of steam-power. 

Streams. — The situation of Gardner at the very 
summit of the highlands which divide the water- 
basin of the Merrimac River on the east from that of 
the Connecticut on the west, forbids the existence of 
water-courses within its borders, of any considerable 
size or importance. The only one that rises in any 
sense to the dignity of a river is that which enters its 
territory at the southwesterly side from Templeton, 
and flowing by a serpentine course in a general north- 
westerly direction some four or five miles, forming the 
greater part of that distance the boundary of the town, 
passes thence onward through the north part of Tem- 
pleton into Winchendou, where it falls into Miller's 
River, a branch of the Connecticut. This stream 
bears the name of Otter River, presumably from the 
fact that the otter once inhabited its waters. Its de- 
scent through the town is very slight, and its move- 
ment consequently sluggish, except that in the last 
part of its course there is sufficient fall to enable it to 
be utilized by two or three manufacturing establish- 
ments located on the Templeton side. 

Aside from Otter River the streams of Gardner are 
quite insignificant. And yet they have been an im- 
portant factor in the development of the industries of 
the town and in the promotion of its prosperity. In a 
certain way they have made the town what it is to- 



day. They not only furnished power for the produc- 
tion of lumber for building purposes in the earlier 
stages of its history, but they supplied an essential 
need of the same sort in the evolution of its leading 
manufacturing interests at a period when, but for 
such supply, that interest would have been compelled 
to seek other localities in order to obtain the mean* 
and facilities necessary to its growth and perfecting. 
As an intermediate link between hand or foot power — 
the power of human muscle — and steam-power in the 
making of chairs, the principal and distinguishing 
product of the town, and the one which has given it 
reputation, prestige and success, the comparatively 
convenient and inexpensive power furnished by these 
small streams was not simply useful, but indispensa- 
ble. But for this, so far as human vision can see, the 
fortunes of the town would have been entirely 
changed, its thrift and growth coming to an early and 
perpetual end. 

Chiefest of these small but most valuable water 
courses was Pond Brook, so-called, the outlet of 
Crystal Lake, flowing into Otter River, scarcely 
two miles from its source. The relation of this little 
stream to the business interests of the community and 
the growth of the place cannot be over-estimated. 
Though its former channel is now essentially dry, the 
waters which otherwise would fill it being diverted to 
important uses in other directions, yet, historically, it 
has been a stream of the highest importance and of 
incalculable value. 

Scarcely less worthy of notice and commendation 
is the stream flowing through the village of South 
Gardner, sometimes called Gardner Brook. In some 
respects, it stands at the head of the list of water- 
courses in the town. It began to serve the need of 
the public at an earlier day than any other, and 
more than any other at this date contributes to the 
business interest and prosperity of the town, as it 
promises to do for years and generations to come. It 
enters Gardner near the southern corner, from West- 
minster, and flowing northwesterly through the vil- 
lage, thence southwesterly a distance of two and one- 
half or three miles in all, increased in volume and iu 
value by several tributaries on the way, it finally 
falls into Otter River, near the line of Templeton. 
Nine manufacturing establishments are in ojieration 
along its course, the motive-power of which is de- 
rived mostly from its waters. 

Pew Brook is formed by several streamlets in the 
easterly part of the town, some of which come from 
Westminster, and running southwest and west, emp- 
ties into Gardner Brook, near the eastern extremity 
of South (xardner Village, below the lumber-mills of 
Lewis A. Wright & Co. It furnishes power for one 
chair-factory. 

Foster Brook rises in the easterly central portion 
of the town, and flowing southerly and westerly, dis- 
charges its waters into the South Gardner stream, 
just above where the Worcester Railroad croi-ses it. 



814 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



Kneeland Brook has several sources in the north- 
erly district, and by a southwesterly course finds an 
outlet in Otter River, near where the Fitchburg 
Railroad goes over it. Formerly several mills were 
run by power from th'n brook, but only one at the 
present time. 

Wilder Brook is a branch of the last named, and 
is located to the west of it. 

Bailey Brook, still farther west, rises in Winchen- 
don, add flowing southwesterly, empties into Otter 
River, just above where that stream passes beyond 
the limits of the town. 

Several small streams in the northeast part of the 
town constitute the head-waters of one branch of 
the Nashua River, flowing northwesterly through the 
so-called Nashua Reservoir into Ashburnham, and 
two or three others in a more easterly direction flow 
into Westminster. On two of these streams, one in 
the northeast and one in the east, mills formerly 
stood, but both have passed away. 

Soil. — The geological basis of the territory of 
Gardner, like that of most of the towns of the coun- 
ty, is ferruginous gneiss, an azoic formation which, 
according to Dr. Hitchcock, antedates all other de- 
posits on the face of the globe. Gneiss is a some- 
what demoralized form of granite, combining quartz, 
feldspar and mica in varying proportions, and tend- 
ing to stratification. Into this combination, in the 
case before us, a tincture or element of iron enters, 
which gives it a rusty appearance, and renders it 
easy of oxidation and consequent decomposition. 
These primordial deposits occasionally come to the 
surface in ledges and broken rock, as they are also 
sometimes unearthed by excivation, as in the con- 
struction of the railroads through the town. Upon 
them, in the order of geologic progress from untold 
ages past, there rest strata of secondary and tertiary 
formations composed of sand, pebbles and clay, the 
latter of which is to be found in exceptional 
quantities in the south part of the town, where 
it has been utilized to a very considerable and 
profitalDle extent, as will hereafter appear. Still later 
in the order of nature are there drift and alluvial 
stores brought from foreign localities by ice or water 
or other means, which, mingling with the decomposed 
products of older periods and of later vegetable 
growths go'iig on from the beginning, constitute what 
is called the loam or soil, of which the surface of the 
earth in this instance is composed, and in which are 
to be found the various chemical elements that give 
it native fertility and luxuriance and render it under 
proper culture capable of serving, by its productive- 
ness, the needs of all animal life, and of ministering 
in manifold ways to human comfort and happiness. 

The town of Gardner, considered with reference to 
the nature and quality of its soil, cannot be regarded 
as particularly adapted to purposes of agriculture. 
Occupying a position upon the very crest of the 
range of hills which separate two of the great water- 



systems of the State, its lands sloping and its waters 
running both east and west, it is constantly losing, by 
the operation of nature's forces, many of those ele- 
ments which serve the husbandman's need as fertiliz- 
ing agents in the earth he cultivates ; while for the 
same reason it is subject to bleak and chilly winds, 
which tend to diminish the productiveness of its 
fields and to retard and jeopardize the growth and 
ripening of whatever may be planted or sown in 
them. Naturally, therefore, the land is gravelly, cold 
and sterile, and, next to the production of wood and 
timber, is better adapted to grazing purposes than to 
the cultivation of fruit and cereal crops. There are, 
moreover, scattered through the town numerous cold, 
marshy swamp lands, saturated with sour waters, and 
produi ing a sort of wiry grass which is neither palata- 
ble nor nutritious, and of little value in any respect. 

Neverthele.-s, there are portions of the territory of 
the town which, by long and faithful husbandry, have 
been made to yield abundant returns for the labor 
expended upon them. On the slopes of some of the 
hills and in the intervening valleys the soil is deep 
and pliable and strong, and only needs thorough cul- 
ture to make it produce satisfactory harvests. There 
are, indeed, a goodly number of fine farms in the out- 
lying districts, whose commodious, well-kept build- 
ings, broad fields of grass and grain, large herds and 
flocks, bespeak not only enterprise, good habits and 
general thrift, but competency and independence. 
Besides these, every householder almost and every 
owner of a little homestead has his or her garden or 
plot of land devoted to the growth of both the larger 
and smaller fruits, different kinds of edible vegetables 
and usually also to a pleasing variety of flowers and 
foliage plants, whicli speaks well for the kindly char- 
acter of the soil and of what may come from it by 
proper care and nursing — by that sort of management 
which usually distinguishes a yeoman of New Eng- 
land. 

Climate. — The climate of Gardner, situated high 
above the level of the sea and far awaj' from the 
modifying influence of oceanic breezes and currents, 
is exceedingly inconstant and often disagreeable, 
being subject to sudden changes and great extremes 
of heat and cold, which determine to a large extent 
the annual fall of rain and snow, and also the general 
dryness and humidity of the atmosphere, with its at- 
tendant sanitary qual.ties, tendencies and effects. 
The winters are long and severe, characterized as 
they are by high winds and heavy storms, which 
cause a large accumulation of snow and ice and 
seriously try the powers of endurance in the human 
constitution. But the phy.-ical conditions and cir- 
cutiistances which subject the place to many of the 
harsher moods of the winter-time have their compen- 
sation in the fresh, cool breezes of the summer sea- 
son, which moderate the otherwise excessive heat, 
and make that part of the year more invigorating 
and agreeable. On the whole, the geographical situa- 



GARDxNER. 



815 



tion of the town and its climatic conditions are favor- 
able to both bodily and mental health and energy, 
indirectly, too, of moral soundness and force of char- 
acter. As a result, the town is an unusually healthful 
one, and cases of pulmonary or malarial diseases are 
of rare occurrence among its native-born population. 
So that among the factors which have entered into 
the problem of the growth and prosperity of Gard- 
ner, the influence of its climate is not to be over- 
looked or underestimated. 

" While tropic aire may tropic needs supply, 
Brave Bouls are nurtured 'neatb a sterner sky." 

Flora. — Of the one hundred and fifty thousand 
species of plants distributed over the surface of the 
globe, only a very small proportion can be indigenous 
to so limited an area as the territory of such a town 
as Gardner. And what are found within its borders 
are so like what grow throughout the county that 
even to name them would be needless repetition. It 
is not known that, in the matter of forest or fruit- 
trees, of berry-producing or flowering shrubs or 
plants of any sort, Gardner has a single specimen 
which would distinguish it from other towns in the 
vicinity, though of each and all of these it has a 
proportionate supply. Enough of wood and timber 
lots still remain to give pleasing variety to the land- 
scape, to impart salubrity to the air, to soften the 
fierceness of wintry blasts and break the violence of 
summer tempests, and to aid in keeping up the sup- 
ply of nature's water-fountains, to which the exist- 
ence of forests so largely contribute, while shrubs 
of many a kind and name cover many an untilled 
acre more or less densely, and wild flowers of rich 
and varied hues in great diversity lend grace and 
beauty in all directions to the view. Moreover, the 
introduction of a libeial supply of exotics, especially 
in the departments of fruit trees and flowering plants, 
as witnessed in the orchards, gardtns and conserva- 
tories so often seen, has enlarged and enriched very 
materially this feature of the natural history of the 
town. 

Fauna.— There is little to be said of the represen- 
tatives of the animal kingdom, either native or im- 
ported, in addition to what may appear elsewhere in 
the pages of this work. The same kinds of wild ani- 
mals originally prevailed here as in other parts of the 
county, only a few of the smaller and more prolific 
of which continue to this day, to vex the fields and 
gardens of the husbandmen or tempt the hunter 
through the still existing woods. Of the game birds 
scarcely one save the partridge remains, though the 
same winged songsters of the grove and field still 
make the air vocal with their melody in the spring 
and early summer m cheered and blessed the solitary 
way of the early settlers in these then wilderness re- 
treats. Various other wild bird;-, with less of music 
in their voices, are found at the proper season in 
plentiful numbers, some of them hardly to be de- 
sired by reason of their mischievous habits in respecj 



to the early sown or planted grain and corn. Most 
of these are migratory in their mode of life, coming 
and going with the warmer portions of the year, 
though a few remain the twelve-month through, 
fearless alike of winter's cold and of summer's heat. 
Of the finny tribes, dwellers in the waters of the 
town, the original stock siill prevails to some extent, 
though in considerably diminished numbers. The 
handsome trout still glides up and down the gurgling 
brook, finding rest only in its most secluded places, 
where it would s-eem to hide away from the ardent 
fisherman, or, if pursuing, he seeks his wily victim, 
tantalizes him with the rareness of a bite. The 
pride of the olden time in this respect — the pickerel 
— and its companion residents of the ponds bearing 
various names, which served the fathers and mothers 
so well in place of flesh and fowl less easily obtained, 
have been much reduced in these later days, partly 
because of the greater search for them and partly by 
reason of the introduction of foreign fish, some of 
which appear to be the natural born enemies of the 
native denizens of our New England waters, making 
war upon them and pursuing them with disastrous 
results, sometimes even to extinction. The experi- 
ment of bringing in these new tenanis of our inland 
lakes and ponds, though greatly commended a few 
years ago by certain classes of pisciculturists as of im- 
mense advantage to the fish-loving public, may be 
regarded, when judged by the test of experience, as 
of doubtful utility, even if it be not brought into 
utter condemnation. At any rate, the promises made 
in its behalf have rarely, if ever, been satisfactorily 
fulfilled. To let well enough alone is sometimes the 
highest wisdom. 

Early History.— Having made a somewhat de- 
tailed presentation of the natural features of the 
town of Gardner, it now seems proper to take up the 
thread of its history as a distinct body corporate, pos- 
sessing and exercising municipal right-, powers and 
privilegts under the jurisdiction and sovereignty of 
the Commonwealth of Massacht setts. In doing so, 
it is not needful to go back of the movement initiatid 
for the purpose of securing the formation and legal 
existence of the new township any further than to 
set forth the conditions and circumstances under 
which that movement was inaugurated and the pre- 
vailing reasons therefor. 

Oric/i/i.— Unlike most of theoldertownsof Worcester 
County, Gardner was not carved out of the primeval 
forest nor did its territorial possessions come from any 
of the unappropriated lands of the Province or state 
of Massachusetts, but from contiguous portions of the 
four neighboring towns. Of these Westminster con- 
tributed, in round numbers, six thousand acres; 4sh- 
burnham, twenty-eight hundred acres; Winchendon, 
forty-five hundred acres ; and Templeton, seven hun- 
dred acres, making in the aggregate the fourteen 
thousand acres already given as the extent of the 
town's surface. The early history of those several 



816 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



towns is therefore in part the history of Gardner pre- 
vious to its incorporation, for the essential facts and 
incidents of which the reader is referred to the 
sketches of those towns respectively on other pages 
of this work, only a few of the more important of 
them being mentioned in this connection. The 
townships named were first occupied by the present 
race of inhabitants at a date sufficiently indicated by 
the year 1740. As they gradually increased in popu- 
lation, portions of thoni far removed from their estab- 
lished centres, their area being very large, were in 
due time taken up and appropriated to purposes of 
permanent residence. 

As this process of extension and settlement went 
on, it came to pass at length that about sixty fami- 
lies were established within the limits of what sub- 
sequently was assigned to the town of Gardner. Sep- 
arated by long distances from the majority of their 
fellow-citizens and also from the recognized seat of 
public activity in their respective municipalities, the 
heads of these families began after a time to feel that 
it would be for their common convenience, interest 
and general welfare to sever the connection which 
had hitherto existed between them and their colleague 
townsmen, and unite in the formation of a new 
township more compact, so far as they were them- 
selves concerned, than those to which they belonged, 
the so-called centre of which — where the meeting- 
house should be built, where trade should be set up, 
where public business should be transacted and pub- 
lic gatherings of whatever sort held — would be nearer 
at hand and the recognized duties of which, as a cor- 
porate body, could be more easily and readily per- 
formed. 

The desirableness of a change like that outlined, 
by reason of the many advantages which would na- 
turally accrue to all parties concerned, became very 
soon so apparent and so urgent that as early as 1781 
a movement was started looking to its consummation. 
It does not appear, however, that any united and mu- 
tually concurrent action in relation to the subject 
was taken until the year 1784 or 1785, when the sev- 
eral towns liable to dismemberment were petitioned 
by the portionof their inhabitants favorably interested 
for leave to be set off with iheir families and estates, 
in order that they might join with others in neighbor- 
ing towns, similarly situated and similarly minded, in 
the formation of a new town. The prayer of the pe- 
titioners seemed so reasonable to their fellow-citizens 
that, with very little opposition or delay, indeed, with 
remarkable unanimity and cordiality, it was in every 
instance granted. Ashburnham led oti'in avote favor- 
ing the measure and granting the request passed Sep- 
tember 3, 1774; Tcmpleton i'ollowed in a vote to the 
same efl^ect April 6, 1775 ; Winchendon May 16th, and 
Westminster May 17th of the same year. The gen- 
erous and honorable spirit which animated the sev- 
eral towns involved in this movement is duly repre- 
sented in a report of a committee of the town of 



Winchendon, to which the subject was referred, where- 
in the following passage occurs : "Considering the 
situation of the petitioners, we think it reasonable a 
part of said town should be set otl' when those towns 
concerned have determined the respective bounda- 
ries of the district to be so formed as that the same 
may be properly accommodated." The report was 
duly " accepted and adopted." 

The consent of the towns having been obtained as 
stated, a petition signed by Mr. John Glazier, then of 
Westminster and about thirty others, was sent to the 
Legislature of the State at what was called its May 
Session, in 1785, praying that certain specified por- 
tions of the towns of Winchendon, Ashburnham, 
Westminster and Templeton, with the inhabitants 
thereof and their estates, might be set oft" from those 
towns respectively and erected into a new township 
bearing the name of Gardner. An appropriate map 
indicating the changes proposed accompanied the 
petition, and is still preserved among the State 
archives at Boston, though the petition itself is no- 
where to be found. The result of this appeal to the 
Legislature is clearly attested by its action, which 
culminated, on the 27th of June, in the passage of an 
" Act of Incorporation," of which the following, with 
the omission of the boundary lines, is a copy : 

An act for erecting tlie westerly part of Westminster, the southwest- 
erly part of ABliburuliain, tlie southeasterly part of Winchendon and the 
easterly part of Templeton in the county of Worcester, into a town by 
the name of Gardner. 

Wfiereas, the inhabitants of tlie westerly part of the town of West- 
minster, the southwesterly part of th« town of Ashburnham, the south- • 
easterly part of the town of Winchendon and the easterly part of the 
town of Templeton in the county of Worcester, have represented to 
this court the ditficulties they labor under in their present situation and 
request that they nuiy be incorporated into a separate town, and it ap- 
pearing to this court proper to comply with tlieir request : 

Be U enacted by the Senate and House of RepresniUdwes in General Court 
assembled and by the authority of the same: That the westerly part of the 
town of Westjninster, southwesterly part of the town of Ashburnham, 
southeasterly part of the town of Winchendon and easterly part of tlie 
town of Templeton in the county of Worcester (bounds omitted) be, and 
they hereby are, erected into a town by the name of Gardner, and the 
inhabitants thereof hereby are invested with all the powers, privileges 
and immunities which the inhabitants of other towns within this Com- 
monwealth do or may enjoy. 

And be it fiirther enacted : That where the lots that are now settled 
are cut by the above lines, every owner of such lot shall be holden to 
pay taxes for the whole of such lot to the town in which his house 
now stands. Froi-ided, 7tevertlieless, If any owner of such lot shall return 
a certificate into the secretary's office within six muntlis after the pass- 
ing of this act, expressing his desire to belong with his said lot to the 
other town, such lot and the owner thereof shall forever afterwards be 
holden to pay taxes to the other town accordingly. 

And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid: That the inhabit- 
ants of the said town shall pay their proportion of all taxes already 
granted to be raised in the several towns from which they were respec- 
tively taken. 

And be it further enacted : That Nicliohis Dyke, Esq., be, and hereby 
is, empowered to issue his warrant directed to some principal inhabitant, 
requiring him to warn and give notice to the inhabitants of the said 
town to assemble and meet at some suitable time and place in said town 
to choose all such otlicei-s as towns by law are required to choose at their 
annual town-meeting in tlie month of March. 

SiMi'EL Phillips, Ju., Prest. of the Senate. 
Nathaniel Gorham, Speaker of the House. 

Approved by the Governor, 
James Bowdoin. 



GARDNER. 



817 



Agreeably to the provision contained in the last 
clause of the above enactment, Nicholas Dyke, of 
Westminster, a justice of the peace, did, on the 3d 
day of August following, issue his warrant in proper 
form to Mr. Peter Goodale. one of the inhabitants of 
the town of Gardner, requiring him 

to warn aU the iniiabitants of said town to meet at the house of Mr. John 
Glazier in said town, on Monday, ihe fiflet-nth day of Angnst present, at 
nine o'cloclc forenoon, to act on tlie following; articles, viz.: 

]3i. To choose a moderator to govern said meeting. 

2"^. To choose all town officers as the law directs at annual March 
meetings. 

3^. To know the mind of the town whether they will grant money to 
defray town charges. 

4'1». To see what method the town will come into to collect taxes or to 
transact any matter or business as they think necessary. 

Pursuant to the requirements of this warrant, the 
inliabitants of Gardner came together and were called 
to order for the transaction of business by Justice 
Dyke, who was present. 

Captain Eli>ha Jackson was chosen moderator of 
the meeting, and tlie following-named gentlemen were 
elected as the first officers of the town, respectively: 
Clerk, Seth Heywood; Selectmen, Elisha Jackson, 
Samuel Stone, John White, Simon Gates, John 
Glazier, who were instructed to act as assessors ; 
Treasurer, Seth Heywood; Collector, Elijah Wilder, 
who agreed to collect the taxes for four ponce on the 
pound and give satisfactory bonds lor the faithful dis- 
charge of his duty. Subordinate officers were chosen 
in due form, and the oath of office, where required, 
was administered by Esquire Dyke. No other busi- 
ness was done and the meeting dissolved. 

The town of Gardner was now legally organized 
agreeably to the provisions of its act of incorporation, 
and had entered upon its career as one of those 
primary little republics which go to make up the 
good old Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Before 
proceeding to sketch the details of that career, how- 
ever, it seems to be desirable to dwell somewhat at 
length upon the conditions and circumstances at- 
tending the town's birth and its first starting into life. 

It may be of some interest and importance, both 
to the general public and to the present inhabitants 
ofthetown, to have indicated those portions of the 
territory which were taken from the towns con- 
tributing thereto, and where the Ijoundary lines of 
such towns originally ran. The northwesterly line of 
Westminster formerly extended from the present 
northeast corner of Gardner, nearly a mile southeast 
of Ashburnham Junction, in a southwesterly direction, 
crossing Glazier Hill just south of the reservoir, 
thence in a direct course through the central village, 
cutting tlie town-house lot into two nearly equal 
parts, and so along the southerly bounds of Lynde 
Street straight on to the westerly corner of Gardner 
near the old hotel below East Templeton, which was, 
in theold time, the westerly cornerof Westminster. All 
the territory south of that line originally belonged to 
that town. The line between Ashburnham and Win- 
chendon, running straight from the northward along 
52 



Stone Street, passed between Green Street and 
Crystal Lake, and met the Westminster boundary a 
little east of the junction of School and Lynde Streets. 
The lands to the eastward of this line were from Ash- 
burnham, those to the westward from Winchendon. 
Those derived from Templeton lay west of a line ex- 
tending from a point in the original Westminster 
boundary near where the railroad crosses it, north- 
westerly till it met the present northernmost bound- 
ary between Gardner and Templeton, of which it 
was the continuation. It will thus be seen that the 
lirst meeting-bouse site, (now occupied by the First 
Congregational Church), the old burying-ground and 
the publie common were on the Ashburnham territory, 
together with the north part of the central village, 
while Crystal Lake and the north part of West 
Gardner are on that coming from Winchendon. All 
iif South Gardner village, the principal railroad sta- 
tions and the southern part of the other villages are 
on territory originally belonging to Westminster. 

At whose suggestion or by whose means the name 
Gardner was given to the town cannot be ascertained, 
but it was in honor of one of the most gallant and 
heroic patriots of ante-Revolutionary times, who fell 
a martyr to his counlry's liberties at the battle of 
Runker Hill. Thomas Gardner was sun of Richard 
of Cambridge and a descendant of the fourth genera- 
tion from Thomas of Roxbury, the first of the name 
in the country, who died in 1633. He was born in 
1724, and early in life began to display those traits of 
character which in later years won for him the con- 
fidence and high regard of his fellow-citizens and 
qualified him for the important part he was to play 
in the stirring events of his time. He was of strong 
mind, of great practical judgment and unusual ex- 
ecutive ability, a natural adviser of men and leader 
in public atl'airs. He was called to fill imjwrtant 
civil offices in his native town, and entering military 
life, rose rapidly to a station of honor and command. 
As colonel of the First Middlesex Regiment he was 
at the battle of Lexington, but did no eff'ectual ser- 
vice by reason of the unsoldierly conduct of his men. 
Greatly chagrined thereat, he resolved to retrieve 
himself from disgrace at the first opportunity. En- 
listing in a regiment of the Continental Army, he 
was commissioned colonel June 2, 1775. On the 
morning of June 17th he was ordered from his 
station on Prospect Hill to Charlestown Neck as a 
reserve in the expected battle, and about noon ad- 
vanced to Bunker Hill, where, by command of Gen. 
Putnam, he with his men was engaged in throwing 
up earthworks for the protection of the patriot forces 
in case they should be driven from their intrench- 
inents in front of the enemy. Twice had the British 
made attack and twice had they been repulsed with 
great slaughter. On the third advance, tlie ammuni- 
tion of the Colonial troops giving out. Gen. Putnam 
rode in hot haste back to Col. Gardner and ordered 
him to the scene of conflict. Obeying, he bur- 



818 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



ried forward, but before reaching the place of action 
was struck by a musket-ball which felled him to the 
earth. Being raised from the ground, he shouted to 
his men, "Conquer or die," and was carried from the 
field. He lingered till July 3d, the day when Wash- 
ington took command of the army, one of whose first 
orders, issued the following day, was: "Col. Gardner 
is to be buried to-morrow at three o'clock p.m., 
with the military honors due to so brave and gallant 
an officer, who fought, bled and died in the cause of 
his country and of mankind." Such was the man 
whose name the town of Gardner perpetuates. May 
her children k«ephis memory green to many genera- 
tions by emulating his spirit of self-forgetting, patri- 
otic devotion to the ])rinciples of civil and religious 
liberty and to the inborn rights of man. 

It is to be regretted that no complete list of the 
families resident in the town at the date of its incor- 
poration is to be found among the generally well-pre- 
served records of the time. But by referring to the 
histories and records of the several towns, from which 
its territory was taken previous to that period, and 
to the books of the town clerk of Gardner, relating to 
what transpired immediately after, a table of such 
resident families has been prepared, which may be 
regarded as substantially correct. As nothing of the 
kind has ever been put in print before, it is herewith 
presented in full, to wit : 



Adanie, John. 
Bacon, .loeepli. 
Baker, George. 
Baker, .lohn. 
Baldwin, Josiah. 
Bancroft, Jonathan. 
Beard, Andrew. 
Bickford, William. 
Bolton, Ebenezor. 
Boyden, Joaejth. 
Brown, Jonathan. 
Childs, Daniel, 
Clark, Benjamin. 
Clark, Joseph. 
Comee, David. 
Uouant, Josiah. 
Cooledgo, James. 
Eaton, Ebenezer. 
Eaton, John. 
Eaton, Jonathan. 
Edgell, .Sainue!. 
Fairbanks, Levi. 
Fisher, Gideon. 
Fisher, William 
Foster, David. 
Foster, Samuel. 
Gates, Simon. 
Glazier, John. 
Goodale, Peter. 
Ooss, William 

Graves, . 

Green, Inrael. 
Green, Nathan. 
Greenwood, .lunathan. 
Hadley, Joseph. 
Haynes, Reuben. 
Heywood, Setli. 
Hill, Asa. 
Hill, Bezaleel. 
liill, Jesse. 
Hill, Maverick. 



Hill, Moses. 
Holland, Josejih. 
Howe, Ebenezer. 
.lacksou, Caleb. 
Jackson, Elisha. 
Kelton, Edward. 
Kelton, Samuel. 
Kendall, Benjamin. 
Keyes, Ebenezer. 
Kneeland, Timothy. 
Matthews, Jolin. 
Merriam, Nathan. 
Moore, Ezra. 
Nichols, David. 

Parker, . 

Partridge, Jabez. 
Payson, Joseph. 
Perley, Allen. 
Pratt, Ephraim. 
Priest, Joseph. 

Priest, . 

Putnam, John. 

Rice, . 

Richardson, Jonas. 
Sanderson, Samuel. 

Samson, . 

.Sawyer, Jude. 
Simonds, Elijah. 
Stone, Samuel. 
Temple, Ephraim. 
Upton, Oliver. 
Wlieelor, Joel. 
Wheeler, Jo-tiah. 
Whitcoinb, .Jonathan. 
Whitcomb, Jonathan P. 
White, John. 
Whitney, .foshna. 
Wilder, Elijah. 
Wilder, Josiah. 
Wood, Elijah. 
Wright, Joseph. 



The above, with rare exceptions, are old New Eng- 
land names, and suggest those substantial and exalted 



qualities of mind and heart and character which dis- 
tinguished the founders of New England and that 
great class of people in the mother country whence 
they sprang, of whom the eminent and brilliant Lord 
Macaulay said they were "the most remarkable, per- 
haps, the world ever produced." By a study of those 
names through their ancestral lines the interested in- 
quirer will notice how directly the town of Gardner 
stands connected in the order of historical continuity 
with the Plymouth and Massachusetts Bay settlements, 
and how closely related were her early citizens to the 
Pilgrim and Puritan immigrants to these shores. Such 
a study will show, moreover, how naturally it occur- 
red that what are recognized and honored as New 
England ideas and principles characterized the earlier 
life of Gardner and helped to shape, in a large degree, 
its whole subsequent history. The distinctive type 
of civilization which was brought from beyond the 
sea in the " Mayflower " and " Isabella " was the type 
that presided like a good genius over the birth of all 
the older settlements of this whole region of country, 
finding expression alike in the character and habits 
of the people at large and in the social, civil, educa- 
tional and religious institutions they established and 
sought to make jjerpettial. The town of Gardner was 
no exception to the general rule in this regard. In 
its mo.st striking features, in what is most creditable 
and honorable in its career, it is but the outgrowth of 
the influences that prevailed at the beginning of its 
existence, the product of the seed sown by the hands 
of those brave, devoted men and women who first 
cleared the forests, tilled the fields, built the homes, 
and lighted the altar-fires within its borders. 

In portraying the earlier history of the town, for 
the purpose of bringing into notice some of the prom- 
inent characteristics of its original inhabitants, 
together with the difficulties which they encountered 
at the outset, it is proper to call attention to the lim- 
ited resources then available for the varied uses of 
life. What goes by the general name of property, or 
material posse.ssions, consisted almost wholly of real- 
estate farm stock and the implements and utensils 
required for domestic and agricultural purposes, with 
a few tools and appliances for the simpler and more 
indispensable forms of mechanical handicraft. Very 
little money, of any sort, was in circulation, and what 
there was, being in the shape of Continental or ( 'olo- 
nial .scrip, was of uncertain value at the best and 
often wholly worthless. Government bonds, railroad 
stocks and other securities were not in those days at 
the command of the sturdy pioneers, whose available 
funds were chiffly the bones and sinews of their phy- 
sical systems, subject to the control of a resolute and 
unconquerable will. It was at times impossible for 
them to obtain sufficient current funds with which to 
pay their taxes, and the town was frequently placed 
under the necessity of receiving various farm pro- 
ducts as an equivalent therefor, the price of which 
was determined by public vote. Butter .seems to have 



GARDNER. 



819 



been the most common substitute for money, probably 
beciUise it was most convenient to handle and most 
sure of a ready market. The precise form of the 
town's action in this matter sliows the then existing 
condition of things and also what a wise economy 
required in the management of public affairs. Under 
date of June 6, 1787, it was voted "that the collector 
take butter of the persons that are in hi,s rate.s, pro- 
vided that they bring the butter by the first of July 
next, at seven pence per pound, and the collector to 
provide firkins to put said butter in and to deliver 
butter to the committee that are to provide nails for 
the meeting-house when called for. It is expected 
that the collector put the butter into firkins, well 
salted, and the butter to be good butter." The pro- 
vision in this vote for having the butter received for 
taxes delivered to the committee who were to procure 
nails for the meeting house, then in process of erec- 
tion, indicates the extent to which what was called 
" barter," the exchange of one article of traffic for 
another, entered into the commercial transactions of 
those days when money was scarce and of doubtful 
worth — a practice which, in country towns especially, 
continued until within the memory of persons now 
living. 

No data are known to exist by which to determine 
the actual amount of property in Gardner at the time 
of incorporation. The tax-lists of that day are not to 
be found, and whatever statistics may have been pre- 
pared, if there were any, have disappeared. The 
earliest available authority relating to this point is 
the general United States tax-lists made up in the 
year 1798 by order of the Federal Government, repre- 
senting the assessments laid upon the entire country 
for the purpo.se of meeting the demands upon tlie na- 
tional treasury. From a copy of those lists preserved 
in tlie library of the New England Historic-Genea- 
logical Society, Boston, interesting and trustworthy 
particulars have been gleaned, some of which in a 
condensed form are herewith submitted. 

At the date named, 1798, there were one hundred 
and fifty-five tax-paying residents in tlie town own- 
ing or occupying real estate, the appraised value of 
whose property in the aggregate was about $124,000, 
or a trifle over $800 each. Seven persons were worth 
$22,759 or an average of $3,251, ranging as follows: 
Elisha Jackson, .$(5,105; William Bickford, $4,710; 
James Cooledge, $2,634; Ebenezer Howe, $2,538; 
Seth Hey wood, $2,325 ; Simon Gates, $2,274 ; William 
Whitney, $2,171. Forty-three persons had between 
$1000 and $2000 each, aggregating $57,979. The re- 
maining $43,456 was distributed among one hundred 
and five persons, giving each one about .$415. Sev- 
eral lots whose owners were unknown were valued at 
$186. The actual taxable property of the town, which 
excluded all public buildings and common lands, and 
also the estate of Rev. Jonathan Osgood, was $124,380. 
No one was taxed for money on hand or at interest, 
nor for plate or securities of any kind. Of the one 



hundred and fifty-five tax-payers in 1798 there were, 
as far as can be ascertained, thirty-five not liv- 
ing in town, whose aggregate property was $6,283, 
which would make the actual amount of taxable 
property held by residents, exclusive of Rev. Mr. Os- 
good, $118,097. 

Of the citizens of Gardner at tlie date named, forty- 
nine with their families occupied dwellings, each of 
which, with a lot of one-quarter of an acre, was valued 
at more than $100, or at an average of $260. William 
Bickford owned the best one, doubtless the brick 
dwelling now standing at the South Village, which 
was appraised at $920. Other houses ranged as fol- 
lows: Elisha Jackson's, built two years before, $720; 
James Cooledge's, $550; Jonathan Bancroft, Seth 
Hey wood and Ezra Moore, $.500 each ; Joel Matthews 
and Joseph Simonds lived in dwellings taxed for $10 
each. One hundred and six dwellings, the whole 
number then standing in the town and deemed of suf- 
ficient value to be taxed, were appraised at $16,099, an 
average of $151.87. There were probably a few other 
rude structures occupied at the time, but of no ratable 
worth. 

The largest landholder in town in 1798 was Wil- 
liam Whitney, who had three hundred and sixty- 
eight acres. He was followed by Elisha Jackson 
with three hundred and sixty-four acres ; Wm. Bick- 
ford, three hundred and twelve acres ; Josiah Wilder 
and James Cooledge, two hundred and fifty acres 
each. Thirty-four persons had between one and two 
hundred acres each. Twelve thousand two hundred 
and twenty acres of land, exclusive of house-lots, 
were taxed for $104,595, or for less than nine 
dollars per acre, the average valuation of land in the 
town generally. The estimated value of land in the 
village at that date may be learned from the fact that 
Jonatiian Prescott, the first merchant in the place, 
residing on the site occupied for many years by the 
late Francis Richardson, Esq., was taxed for three 
hundred and forty-one dollars on an acre and a half 
of land, presumably attached to his house-lot, or at 
the rate of two hundred and twenty-seven dollars per 
acre. 

Taking now the appraisal of the property in Gard- 
ner in 1798, thirteen years after it was incorporated, 
and making due allowance for the probable increase 
of population and wealth, it can be easily seen, with- 
out attempting to give the precise figures, with what 
meagre pecuniary capital the original inhabitants of 
the town began their municipal life. Their brain 
and muscle were, in large degree, their capital — their 
principal stock in trade and pledge of ultimate suc- 
cess. Their enterprise and perseverance, their reso- 
lute purpose and readiness to labor and endure, 

" The itdoraitable will and courage uever to submit or yield ; " 

these qualities, under the circumstances, gave them 
strength of character and a sort of moral persistence 
and invincibleness which were full of promise for the 



820 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



years ahead, which made an impress upon the public 
mind and lieart, and became a force in the community 
not yet exhausted or overcome, the augury still of 
prosperous fortunes and happy destinies. 

In what has thus far been offered to the reader as 
the opening chapter of this historical sketch of the 
town of Gardner, he will find a sufficiently detailed 
presentation of its situation, topography, settlement 
and incorporation, together with a brief portraiture 
of its early inhabitants and of the conditions and 
circumstances under which they started out in their 
municipal career. He will also find an account of 
the first town-meeting, at which the town, as a cor- 
porate body, was legally organized, its officers chosen, 
and its complex machinery made ready for active 
service. The line of historic development and pro- 
gress will be taken up at that point in subsequent 
chapters and traced down to the present day by a 
separate consideration of several leading public in- 
terests in such order as may seem most convenient 
and appropriate. 



CHAPTER CXI. 

GA'RDN'B'R.—iCoii/iiiued.) 

TOWN AND COUNTY ROADS — FIFTH MASSACHUSKTT.S 
TURNPIKE — RAII^WAYS. 

Previou.s to the time of the incorporation of Gard- 
ner two county roads had been laid across its territory — 
one as early as 17.'>4, extending from Lancaster to 
Quopoage (Athol), and the other in 17.'>9 from Win- 
chendon to Worcester. The first of these crossed the 
town-line about half a mile east of the Lewis A. 
Wright Inniber-mill, and followed essentially the line 
of High, South Main and Kendall Streets to the junc- 
tion of the latter with Broadway, thence by a varying 
course, still partially traceable, not far at any point 
from the present highway, to the Templeton boundary. 
This was the principal thoroughfare through the place 
from Boston and other lower towns westward for nearly 
half a century, or until the construction of the Fifth 
Massachusetts Turnpike in 1799 or 1800. The other 
road, built by order of the county authorities, entered 
the limits of the town near where Chapel Street now 
strikes them, half a mile east of Ray Hill, and followed 
the course of said street for the most part till it reached 
what is now Pearl Street, thence cutting across the in- 
tervening country in a northwesterly direction to 
Winchendon Street, and continuing along that street 
past the present town-farm buildings to Winchendon 
line. In addition to these, the several towns from 
which the territory of Gardner was received had 
caused a few highways to be made for the convenience 
of the inhabitants in getting to and from the centres 
of those towns respectively, and for freer communica- 
tion with each other, but they were little more or 
better than cart-paths through the wilderness, quite 



unlike the well-graded streets of the present day. 
Aside from these, there were, no doubt, such other 
ways opened in different localities as might serve the 
temporary necessities of the settlers, without any 
formal survey or regard to permanent use. 

About the time of the incorporation of the town a 
third county road was laid and ordered- to be built 
from Royalston to Gardner. As far as can be ascer- 
tained, it rau along the line of Clark Street from the 
northwest till it reached the Jonathan Bancroft place, 
continuing thence, as seems probable, down the val- 
ley of the Crystal Lake outlet in a southerly direction, 
and along the general course of Mechanic Street to 
the Lancaster and Athol Road (now Broadway). The 
location of this road was not satisfactory to the people 
of Gardner, especially to those living at or near what 
had been fixed upon as the centre of the town. Hence 
at the second town-meeting, held September C, 17Sr), 
it was, pursuant to an article in the warrant calling 
the same, " Voted, that it is the opinion of the town 
that the county road ought to go through the centre 
of the town," and a petition, in accordance with that 
vote, was prepared and ordered to be sent " to the 
Court of Quarter Sessions now sitting in Worcester," 
stating that the road " as it is now laid will not con- 
vene this town nor the public so well as if it was laid 
through the centre of the town," and praying that it 
might extend from near Jonathan Bancroft's "through 
our centre and come into the county road that leads 
from Winchendon to Westminster Meeting-house," 
near Josiah Wheeler's, or where it will best serve the 
public. The court seemed to accede to the request 
of the petition and changed the location of the road 
accordingly. It ran substantially from the original 
Bancroft place along the course of what are now Park, 
Central, Pearl and Smith Streets to Chapel Street, 
near the present residence of Asa F. Smith, and was 
known, for many years, as the Westminster and 
Royalston Road. 

No other action appears to have been taken by the 
town in the matter of roads during that year except to 
vote, November 7th, to have them, when laid out, 
three rods wide, and then a week later to reconsider 
that vote and fix their width at two and a half rods. 
At the annual meeting in March, 178(5, however, the 
subject of highways was taken up in earnest. The 
selectmen, who evidently had not been idle since 
their appointment to oflice, reported in detail the lay- 
ing out of thirteen highways in different parts of the 
town, all of which were accepted and ordered to be 
built at an adjourned meeting held the following 
week. At the same meeting sixty pounds (about two 
hundred dollars) were voted for mending and making 
highways " this present year." By this action the in- 
habitants of the town were, for the most part, brought 
into ready communication with each other, with 
the Center, and with those larger thoroughfares by 
which access could be had to the neighboring 
towns to Worcester, the county seat, and to Boston, 



GARDNER. 



821 



^ the capital of the Commonwealth. Thus early in the 
f town's history were laid the first meshes of that com- 
plex net-work of streets and highways which after- 
wards spread over its whole territory, and which has 
been extended from time to time down to the present 
■ day, as the demands of busine.ss or the comfort and con- 
venience of the people at large might seem to require. 
An interesting circumstance connected with the lo- 
cating of roads in the early days of the town may be 
referred to at this point, not for its own sake alone, 
but because it illustrates somewhat the limited finan- 
cial resources of the town at the time, the motives 
oftentimes influencing men in their action upon ques- 
tions of public policy and the peculiar notions then 
entertained of what the public good would call for in 
coming years. In view of what has transpired since 
that date, the account of it is pleasant and suggestive 
reading. In the year 1793 some alterations were 
made in the County Road, running through the south 
part of the town, the principal of which was the 
straightening of it from near the head of Sawyer 
Street to a point near the present hotel site. By this 
change, travel would be diverted from the hilly, cir- 
cuitous route past the Capt. Jackson place to the di- 
rect and comparatively level course across the low- 
lands south of the Bickford Mill, where the turnpike 
was afterward located. The new i)art running across 
the meadow was difficult and costly to build, which 
fact somewhat embarrassed the town, and it moreover 
was calculated to affect unfavorably the custom of the 
tavern at the summit of the hill by taking the ])rinci- 
pal part of the travel away from it. 

Although the road had been so far completed as 
to be opened for use, yet the town voted, March 2"), 
1794, to ask for its discontinuance or re-location 
elsewhere. A petition corresponding to that vote 
was prepared and ordered to be sent to the County 
Court. In urging the discontinuance of the piece of 
road ill question, which was the result aimed at, the 
petitioners represented that it had been laid " to the 
great damage of the town and individuals in said 
town, and we cannot see that the traveler can receive 
any real advantage by the same, and a great number 
of them seem to choose the old road, rather than the 
new one, as it is a good road and has been travelled 
upwards of forty years," etc. " It will also be of 
great damage on account of having mills being put 
up at the lower end of the meadow [where the Bent 
Brothers' chair-factory now is], which we shall stand 
in great need of, for the mill at the upper end of the 
meadow [on the site of the shop of James Sawyer] 
in some seasons cannot grind for one-half of the 
town, now it is small, and when we come to have 
three times our [present] number, and lands cleared 
up, which will much shorten the water, it will 
make a wide odds, and we shall have to travel five, 
six, seven and eight miles for grinding, which will be 
a very great grievance; it also takes it [travel] 
from a public-house that has been occupied for that 



service upwards of twenty years, and of late has 
been at great expense for buildings to serve the 
public ; and as we have three county roads through 
this little town, and almost all our roads are new 
and very bad to make, and but a little while since 
our incorporation, and have had a meeting-house to 
build, and of late a minister to settle, and have 
school-houses to build, before we can reap any great 
advantage by schooling. We, therefore, pray your 
iionors to take our case into your wise consideration 
and discontinue the new laid road, . . . and to 
keep the old road as it is now travelled, which is but 
two tallies further than the new one, which, had 
there been a full bench, we cannot think would have 
been accepted." Nevertheless, the County Court did 
not see good reason for reversing their previous ac- 
tion, but re-affirmed it, and the road was in due time 
finished to the satisfaction of that body. Almost a 
hundred years of experience in the use of this piece 
of highway, whose value at the outset was so stoutly 
questioned, have vindicated the action of the parties 
in authority in this matter beyond all doubt or per- 
adventure. Few roads in all the town have rendered 
more important service to the general public, or con- 
tributed more to the convenience and needs of the 
community. 

Space will not permit a detailed statement con- 
cerning the different highways and streets that have 
been constructed since the opening of the present 
century. They have multiplied with the growth of 
the town until they number, at this present date, 
over one hundred, without taking into account 
numerous alleys and by-ways, opened for public or 
private convenience. 

In 1870 the town instituted measures for causing 
the different roads and streets throughout its territory 
to be designated by name, which resulted in the ac- 
complishment of the end sought before the expira- 
tion of the year, and in directing the selectmen " to 
cause sign-boards to be put up at the termini of each 
street in town," which was accordingly done. More 
recently considerable has been brought to pass in the 
way of having side-walks laid along the more fre- 
quented streets of the different villages, partly by 
public and partly by private funds, the town for sev- 
eral years appropriating a thousand dollars or more 
for that purpose. These are of great convenience to 
pedestrians, while the carriage-ways generally, not 
only at the business centres, but in the suburbs, are 
kept in excellent repair, rendering them suitable 
both for the heavier kinds of transportation and for 
the ordinary purposes of journeying or pleasure -driv- 
ing. The annual expenditure of the town for high- 
ways and bridges is about seven thousand five hun- 
dred dollars. 

The Fifth Massachusetts Turnpike.— To- 
wards the close of the last century the custom of 
forming private companies for the construction of 
important thoroughfares arose in the State of Massa- 



822 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



chusetts, and prevailed quite extensively for a score 
or more of years, or until public roads became so 
common and so good that the others failed of neces- 
sary support, and so had to be abandoned or trans- 
ferred to public management. 

These companies operated under an act of incor- 
poration received from the Legislature of the Com- 
monwealth, which act fixed for them the location of 
their roads, and gave them power to establish tax or 
toll-houses at given distances along their routes, 
whereat to demand and receive tribute, affixed rates, 
of the traveling and teaming public for the construction 
and maintenance of the same. Such roads received 
the general name of turnpikes from the turning-bar 
or gate, set up at the toll-houses to stop those desir- 
ing to pass until the stipulated fee was paid. 

Among those receiving a charter at the date named 
or thereabouts was what was called the Fifth Massa- 
chusetts Turnpike, its name indicating the place it 
occu]iied in the series, running through the South 
Village of Gardner. Its eastern terminus was Jonas 
Kendall's tavern, Leominster, whence it extended 
"through Westminster, Gardner, Templeton, Phil- 
lipston, Athol, Orange and Warwick, to Capt. Elisha 
Hunt's, in Northfield," with a branch "from Athol, 
through Montague, to Calvin Munn's tavern, Green- 
field." 

The corporation, under whose auspices this road 
was built, was composed of gentlemen of influence 
and property along the line, who obtained authority 
in the matter by an act of the Legislature passed 
March 1, 1799. It provided for the construction of a 
road " four rods wide, the path to be travelled not 
less than eighteen feet wide in any place," and for 
" the erection of five turnpike gates convenient for 
collecting the toll." One of these gates was located 
in Gardner, near the line of Westminster, but 
changed afterward to the Elijah Foster place, and 
finally to South Gardner Village. This road was a 
great improvement on what had previously existed, 
being very straight and well-graded, and for many 
years it formed the principal thoroughfare from Brat- 
tleboro', Greenfield and Albany to Boston, the amount 
of passenger and freight traffic over it being very 
large. This corporation continued till 1832, when it 
transferred its franchise to the county of Worcester, 
and dissolved. 

Railways. — As time went on, the common high- 
way and the old means of travel and transportation 
became insufficient to meet the increasing demands of 
business and trade, in this section of country as else- 
where. The railway system came in to supply the 
existing and growing need. It had been tried in 
different localities with satisfactory results. Several 
lines in the State were in successful operation. The 
" Fitchburg Road" had been chartered, and was 
approaching completion, when the project was started 
looking to its extension westward to the valley of the 
Connecticut. It took form, with Brattleboro' for a 



terminus in that direction, under the name of the 
Vermont and Massachusetts Railroad, and was duly 
chartered March 15, 1844, though it was not built and 
opened for through traflSc till 1850, 

This road, so far as Gardner is concerned, has a 
unique and interesting history. The prime mover in 
its behalf was Hon. Alvah Crocker, a prominent 
citizen of Fitchburg, largely associated with the 
industrial development of that place, somewhat known 
to the general public, and afterward a member of 
Congress from his Representative District. To him, 
no doubt, its construction at the time was due. Thor- 
oughly interested in the enterprise, he enlisted some 
of his responsible fellow-townsmen as co-workers 
with him, and visited most of the towns along the 
proposed route, holding public meetings and inter- 
viewing leading citizens for the purpose of calling 
attention to the matter, awakening interest and secur- 
ing at last subscriptions to the capital stock required. 
All this was done under the assumption that the road 
was to go through the towns where encouragement 
was solicited, to their very great advantage, and that 
the route was entirely feasible and suitable to the end 
in view. Gardner, which was at that time beginning 
to be animated with new life, and to give promise ot 
future growth and prosperity, was strongly appealed 
to on the grounds named, and responded liberally. 
Of course, this was done with the full understanding 
and expectation that the road would run through 
Gardner in such a way that it would greatly benefit 
the rapidly-growing manufacturing interest of the 
communily by furnishing more convenient as well as 
greatly increased facilities for transportation. It was 
greatly to the surprise and indignation of those more 
immediately concerned, therefore, to learn, some time 
after they had pledged their co-operation, that ]Mr. 
Crocker and others acting with him were laying plans 
to have the road laid through Winchendon instead of 
Gardner, thereby depriving the latter place of the 
chief benefit hoped for and promised by its construc- 
tion. So determined were the parties interested in 
these plans of turning the road away from Gardner, 
that before the Legislature of the State was called 
upon to grant an act of incorporation authorizing the 
building of the same, they had caused to be located 
and graded at their own expense what was called the 
eleventh section, lying between Ashburnham Junction 
and Winchendon village, apparently for the purpose 
of influencing the members of the General Court in 
their behalf. But they were doomed to disappoint- 
ment. By the intervention of influential gentlemen 
in Gardner and Templeton, for Templeton was also to 
be cut off from railroad facilities by the devices 
referred to, the original bill for the chartering of the 
road, drawn in accordance with the wishes of Mr. 
Crocker and his friends, was so far amended as to 
locate it "through the north part of the town of 
Gardner to Otter River, thence down Otter River to 
the village of Baldwinsville, in the north part of 



GAKDNEK. 



823 



Templeton." Mr. Crocker, dissatisfied with this 
result, petitioned to have Baldwinsville taken out of 
the charter, and appealed to the County Commis- 
sioners, who had authority to act in the matter, to 
change the location of the road in accordance with 
his wishes. The citizens of Gardner were now thor- 
oughly aroused to a sense of the danger that threat- 
ened them, and at a town-meeting held July 22, 1845, 
chose Levi Heywood, Samuel S. Howe and Edwin E. 
Glazier a committee to contest the appeal of Mr. 
Crocker before the commissioners, and to oppose the 
proposed alteration of the charter before the General 
Court, with power to employ counsel if deemed 
necessary. This committee, acting in hearty co- 
operation with gentlemen representing Templeton in 
the matter, succeeded in thwarting the designs of their 
opponents, and in preventing a change of the charter 
in the interest of those opponents. Finding them- 
selves defeated, the managers of the corporation, with 
Mr. Crocker at their head, resolved to secture by 
indirect means what they had lost in open and fair 
fight. They asked for and obtained an extension of 
the time for building the road, apparently with the 
hope that sometliing might transpire, or that some 
new way might be found, whereby their cherished 
purpose might be realized. But such hope, if it existed, 
proved delusive. 

A proposition for a branch road to Gardner from 
Ashburnham was rejected with emphatic protest, and 
an accompanying declaration, that if a brancli could 
be laid to Gardner, the main line could as well go 
there. And on the basis of the survey for the branch 
road, the Gardner committee and their allies con- 
vinced the Legislature of 1846 that their claim for the 
main line was reasonable and right, which resulted in 
the passage of an act on the l(!th of April, re-locating 
the road in accordance with their wishes as follows: 
" Commencing at some convenient point in Westmin- 
ster westward of Whitman's Village, or in Gardner, 
or in Ashburnham, and thence through the town of 
Gardner to the valley of Otter River, and thence, by 
such a line as shall be found most feasible, through 
Templeton to a point in their chartered line between 
Gibson's mill and the village of South Koyalston." 
This was substantially where the road now runs and 
where the interest and convenience of the community 
are well served. But, although signally defeated by 
the skill, energy and tireless vigilance of those whom 
the town appointed to care for its interests in the 
affair and secure justice to the town and to those in- 
dividuals who in good faith had, under the original 
representations, subscribed to the funds of the corpo- 
ration, yet it would seem as if even then the opposi- 
tion did not entirely abandon their former purpose of 
running the main road through Winchendon and of 
making the Gardner line ultimately a subordinate 
branch. No other supposition has been suggested to 
account for the adoption of what the author of the 
" History of Gardner " calls " that bewildering 



anomaly in railroad traveling " — the reversal of the 
engine and the turning of the seats of the passengers 
at South Ashburnham, which was in vogue for many 
years. The change in that regard enabling the trains 
to run by direct movement there as elsewhere, settles 
finally and forever the question of the permanent 
location of the road, and secures to Gardner for all 
time to come, no doubt, those railroad facilities east- 
ward and westward which it not only needed, but was 
justly entitled to by every consideration of equity and 
the public welfare. 

This railroad beyond all question has contributed 
largely to the development of the resources of the 
town and to the building up of its various manufac- 
turing establishments, as the town in turn has done 
much by its rapidly increasing traffic to promote the 
prosperity of the road. The advantages derived from 
it have been greatly increased since it came into the 
hands of the " Fitchburg" corporation, and its ser- 
vice in every department is constantly becoming more 
effective and satisfactory. The recent abolition of 
several grade-crossings in the town has conduced to 
the common safety in a way which might be wisely 
applied to other places of danger, especially in the 
more densely populated localities. A spur-track up 
the valley of the Crystal Lake stream, built in 1881, 
adds materially to the convenience and value of the 
manufactories which line the route. In the construc- 
tion of this spur, the interested parties were at the 
expense of the grading, while the railroad company 
laid the rails and furnished the rolling-stock. Under 
the present management of the road increased facili- 
ties and accommodations are supplied to meet the re- 
quirements of the business public and to minister to 
the comfort of travelers. A new Union Station, 
already in contemplation, will be another step in the 
right direction, and will secure the appreciation and 
grateful approval of the public. 

But, although the construction of the Vermont and 
Massachusetts Railroad was of great service to the 
town of Gardner, yet it did not meet all the demands 
of the community in the matter of convenient and 
rapid transportation. An outlet southward became, 
after a while, an important consideration, not only 
for the advantage it would be to the business interests 
of the place, but as opening easy and ready commu- 
nication with Worcester, the shire-town of the county, 
with which its people were somewhat intimately as- 
sociated in many ways and becoming more and more 
so every passing year. 

To satisfy this growing want, some of the leading 
citizens of Gardner united with those of other towns 
along the route in petitioning for a new railroad, to 
be called the Boston, Barre and Gardner Road. 
Some time previous to this movement, in April, 1847, 
a charter had been granted for a road from Worcester 
to Barre, to be called the Worcester and Barre Rail- 
road. It provided for a main line between the ter- 
mini named and for a branch therefrom to some 



824 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



convenient point on the Vermont and Massachusetts 
Kailioad in Gardner. The following year the name 
was changed to the Boston, Barre and Gardner Rail- 
road. For good reasons nothing was done towards 
building this road for twenty years, the time for its 
construction being extended at different dates and 
some changes in its location made by special legisla- 
tive enactment. 

At length, in July, 1869, certain Worcester gentle- 
men, liecoming deeply interested in the undertaking, 
authority was obtained from the General Court for 
the city of Worcester and towns along the line of the 
road to take stock in it, which gave new heart to its 
friends and new impetus toward its construction. Wor- 
cester subscribed liberally, as did Gardner and other 
towns, and private capitalists also helped in a similar 
way. By this action success was assured to the road, 
and measures were at once taken to carry the desires ol 
those concerned in it into effect. Hence, on the 15tb 
of the following September, the directors of the cor- 
poration voted to put that portion of the road lying 
between Worcester and Gardner under contract for 
construction at the earliest possible date, and two 
months later, terms were concluded with Messrs. Cook 
&Co., of Canada, in accordance therewith. Work was 
at once begun and pushed forward with energy and zeal 
under the general supervision of the efficient presi- 
dent, Colonel Ivers Phillips, of Worcester. On the 
26th of April following, that gentleman drove the 
first spike in the laying of the rails at Gardner, and 
on the 4th of July of the same year (1870), an excur- 
sion train from Worcester to Gardner passed over 
the road, though it was not until several weeks after- 
ward that it was formally opened for regular traffic. 
It proved to be of great convenience and value to the 
town, but, like roads similarly situ.ated elsewhere, was 
obliged to struggle on by varying fortunes for many 
years, on account of financial limitations and other 
unpropitious circumstances. 

Meanwhile the fact that immense quantities of lum- 
ber for manufacturing pnrjtoses were brought into 
town from the still extensive forest regions of New 
Hampshire, Vermont and Canada, created a need for 
better raeansof transportation in that direction, which 
the public recognized more and more, as the indus- 
trial interests of the community increased. Conse- 
quently a project was started in 1868 or '69 — even be- 
fore the opening of the Worcester road — looking to 
the extension of tliat road to Winchendon, which 
would give the facilities required. In furtherance of 
that project, a petition was forwarded to the General 
Court asking for such an extension under the name 
of the Gardner & Winchendon Railroad. Inasmuch 
as the enterprising citizens of the two towns interested 
had already pledged funds for the building of the 
road, it was confidently anticipated that a charter, in 
response to the prayer of the petitioners, would be 
granted without delay. But much to the surprise, 
annoyance and indignation of all interested parties, a 



vast amount of opposition to the enterprise was de- 
veloped, in which the Vermont and Ma.ssachusetts, 
the Boston, Clinton and Fitchburg, the Nashua and 
Worcester and the Worcester and Providence Cor- 
porations were notably active, using all possible 
monetary and other influence to prevent the accom- 
plishment of the object desired. This opposition 
prevailed temporarily, necessitating a vigorous fight 
of three years' duration, when, as in the case of the 
Vermont and Mass.achusetts road twenty years before, 
Gardner conquered and the act of incorporation 
asked for was granted by the Legislature in February, 
1872. In due time the location of the road was fixed 
and a contract for its construction was made with Mr. 
B. N. Farren, of Greenfield, who began work upon it 
in December following. In less than a year the last 
rail connecting the Boston, Barre & Gardner road 
with the Cheshire was laid, and on Thanksgiving Day, 
November 27, 1873, a train from Worcester, convey- 
ing the officers of the corporation and the mayor and 
other gentlemen of that city to Winchendon, arrived 
therein season for a substantial dinner at the Ameri- 
can House. The road was opened for regular busi- 
ness two mouths afterward, February 2, 1874. Thu«, 
in spite of all opposition, was consummated an under- 
taking which was of vast importance, both to the 
Boston, Barre & Gardner Railroad corporation and to 
the industrial pro.^perity of Gardner for all time to 
come. The road as completed was made especially 
conducive to the town's welfare, by furnishing the 
leading manufactory of the place with direct facdities 
for transportation, and, by laying spurs of track, for 
the accommodation of other establishments. Strug- 
gling on for a series of years under difficulties already 
referred to, it was at length delivered from its many 
embarrassments by an arrangement with the Fitch- 
burg corporation, according to the terms of which its 
entire management was tranferred to that body, which 
had previously secured control of the Vermont and 
Massachusetts road, so that at the present time all 
the railroad interests of Gardner are under the man- 
agement of the Fitchburg Company, in which the 
citizens of the town are well represented. The present 
railroad system of the place, reaching out to the four 
cardinal points of the compass, and furnishing ready 
and easy communication with all parts of the country, 
and with all the markets of the world, seems to 
meet the essential needs of the people at large, and is 
highly satisfactory. A common station for both 
roads at the point of crossing, commodious and attrac- 
tive, suited to the size of the town, the extent of busi- 
ness done and the style of public and private buildings 
in the place is an already existing need, and one 
which will undoubtedly be met at an early day. 



GARDNER. 



825 



CHAPTER CXII. 

GARDNER— (Co«//««fn'.) 

INDUSTRIAI, INTERESTS. 

At the outset the inhabitants of Gardner were, by 
the very necessities of the case, tillers of the soil. 
Indeed, one of the leading objects in locating upon 
its territory was to obtain a livelihood — an adequate 
supply of the necessaries of life for themselves and 
their households. And this was to be done by none 
of the modern methods of the industrial and business 
world, but by making levies, in good, primitive fash- 
ion, upon the products of the earth, to be obtained 
by earnest, honest and persevering work. It was 
each man's business, after making a clearing in the 
wilderness, and providing some sort of shelter for 
himself and his dependents, to break the sod and 
plant the seed of hoped-for harvests. So it was the 
town entered upon its career, beginning at the bottom 
and building up by slow but sure processes to larger 
and to better things. 

Most of these early settlers, in addition to their 
knowledge of agriculture, which was, of course, 
crude and limited, knew something of the use of 
such tools as were employed in the more essential 
trades, and were able to build their own rude dwel- 
lings, the cabin or log-house, and also whatever other 
structures they might need, together with many of 
the implements of husbandry. Time and necessity 
developed latent skill in various kinds of useful 
handicraft ; and some there were who, to their acquire- 
ments and toil as husbandmen, added, for their own 
and their neighbors' benefit, some special trade or 
branch of industry. Joseph Bacon, for instance, was a 
leading carpenter, and Andrew Beard and Timothy 
Kneeland pursued to some extent the same useful 
avocation. Seth Heywood, David Nichols and Jude 
Sawyer were blacksmiths; Jonathan Bancroft was a 
shoemaker, and no doubt " whipped the cat," as did 
others of that craft since that day. Gideon Fisher 
had the reputation of being '' a mighty hunter,'' 
though to what profit to himself or others does not 
appear ; and John Glazier, Jonathan Greenwood and 
Captain Elisha Jackson each kept an " ordinary," or 
public-house. Moreover, the first minister of the 
town. Rev. Jonathan Osgood, was a tanner by trade, 
though he probably never pursued that calling after 
coming to Gardner, except in a metaphorical sense. 
Albeit, like many another clergyman of days gone by, 
he was something of a farmer, and, moreover, a phy- 
sician of acknowledged ability — withal, a man of 
many gifts. 

For full fifty years farming was the principal occu- 
pation of the people of Gardner. Fathers trained 
their sons to the arts of the husbandman, and the sons, 
true to their training, succeeded to their father's calling 
and estate, each man's landed property usually going 



to his children. Mothers trained their daughters to 
be farmers' wives, and farmers' wives they usually be- 
came. By this honorable and honest vocation two 
generations of the first settlers of the town not only 
gained an adequate livelihood, but secured for them- 
selves a competency, with provision, with rare excep- 
tions, for misfortune and advancing years. Though 
the soil cannot be regarded as specially favorable to 
agricultural pursuits, yet it has always yielded fair re- 
turns for wise investments made, supplying many a 
household with the more substantial necessaries of 
life from the beginning and furnishing something for 
the growing home and outside markets with the flight 
of time. And while the farming interest of the town 
has relatively declined during the last half-century, 
yet it still, under the shadow of the more prosperous 
and imposing manufacturing and commercial activi- 
ties, maintains a respectable place in the catalogue of 
industries, some of the more substantial and thrifty citi- 
zens being followers of the plow and keepers of flocks 
and herds. The demand which the constantly in- 
creasing population engaged in various kinds of 
manufacturing makes upon the tiller of the soil for all 
sorts of fresh produce is an ever-present stimulus to 
the farmer, and that he is by no means indifferent to 
it is sufficiently attested by the improvements con- 
tinually going on in his department of the general 
industrial hive. To show what is being accomplished 
in his behalf, a few quotations are made from the last 
census reports sent to the Secretary of State, accord- 
ing to the requirements of the statutes of the Com- 
monwealth. They relate to the year 1885, and are as 
follows, to wit: Number of farm-houses in Gardner 
72 ; number of farm barns, 77 ; other farm buildings, 
27. Estimated value of property invested in farming, 
S!378,948. Valuation of land devoted to farming, 
$223,618; of buildings, $102,670; of tools and ma- 
chinery, .$13,893; of domestic animals, $33,499; of 
fruit trees, $5,268. Value of agricultural productions 
for the year, $92,476. Eighty-nine farms are owned 
by the men who work them and one is hired. The 
whole number of men engaged in farming is one 
hundred and eighty-five. 

Coopering. — A considerable number of the people 
in Gardner at an early day supplemented their farm- 
ing operations by the manufacture of tubs, barrels, 
pails and other kinds of wooden-ware of the same 
general sort, engaging in such work in the winter- 
time and at other seasons of the year when the weather 
was unsuitable for out door laboi'. After awhile this 
came to be in some instances the leading or perhaps 
the sole occupation, the call for such goods increasing 
as the town and country round about became more 
densely settled and householders more able to supply 
themselves with these conveniences of domestic life, 
or as the demands of the general market multiplied. 
Among those who carried on a considerable business 
in this line of production fifty or seventy-five years 
ago were Liberty Partridge, George Baker, Alvin 



826 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



Greenwood, Robert Powers, Benjamin Kendall, Lewis 
Glazier, Smyrna Glazier, John Dyer, Hubbard Duns- 
ter, Walter Greenwood and others. The work was 
all performed by manual labor without the aid of any 
machinery, save only perhaps some very .simple kinds 
that could be propelled by hand or foot-power. With 
the invention of mechanical devices, by which the 
same kind of goods could be produced much more 
easily and rapidly by water or other power, first 
introduced some siity years ago, this sort of craft 
fell into disuse, and "coopering," as it was termed, 
existed only as a memery of bygone days. 

Potash-Making. — In clearing up the lands of the 
new settlements of this region of country considerable 
quantities of wood, which otherwise would have been 
of no account, were utilized and made a source of 
income by the manufacture of potash, lor which there 
seems to have been a considerable demand at the 
time. A shop in which this article of commerce was 
produced once stood upon ground now covered by the 
extensive chair factory of the late S. K. Pierce & Co., 
owned and probably carried on by the William Bick- 
fords — father and son — who had large tracts of the 
primitive forest in their possession. A similar estab- 
lishment also occujiied the site of the First National 
Bank. By whom this was conducted has not been 
definitely ascertained, but it seems likely to have 
been built and owned by John Glazier, who resided 
in the house which is now the dwelling of William 
Austin, and who was a large land-holder in his day. 
Tliere were, without doubt, others in the early times, 
but no memorials of them have been found. 

Tanneries.— About the beginning of the present 
century there was a tan-yard located on the flat 
land directly below the lumber-mill of Lewis A. 
Wright & Co., owned by John and Isaac Nichols, 
sons of David Nichols, one of the first settlers on 
the Gardner territory. It passed from their hands 
into that of their brother, Asa, who sold it in 1811 
to Joseph Sweetser, of Watertown, and he, in turn, 
to George Scott. Mr. Scott was the last one engaged 
in the business in that locality, and is reinembered by 
the older inhabitants. A tannery once existed di- 
rectly below the old Bickford Milir(now James Saw- 
yer's), the vats of which could be recognized not 
many years since, but by whom it was run has not 
been ascertained. At a more recent date a Mr. 
Blaney carried on the same business on the west side 
of Green Street, just above the Elijah Brick place, 
the location of the vats being still plainly marked 
and readily recognized. 

Nail-Makins. — In the year 1808 Abram G. Park- 
er, of Westminster, and Francis Hill and David 
Perley, of Gardner, formed a co-partnership for the 
purpose of manufacturing nails and doing other 
kinds of iron work. They purchased the mill privi- 
lege now occupied by Wright & Read, built a dam 
and erected a factory, in which they placed machin- 
ery suited to their purpose, carrying on the business 



for several years. After some changes in the man- 
agement, the property was disposed of, and the 
building was converted into a fulling and carding- 
niill, as will presently appear. Allusion has already 
been made to several blacksmiths in town during the 
first years of its history. It is proper to note the 
fact that at that period the making of nails was an 
important department of that trade, little or no ma- 
chinery having been introduced or invented even for 
the jjroduction of that highly useful article. 

The Manufacture of Cloth. — A very impor- 
tant industry of the first half-century of the history 
of Gardner, and one deserving a place in this re- 
view, was the production of cloth for domestic uses 
and to meet to a limited extent such demands as 
might come from the neighborhood and the com- 
munity at large. Most of the goods from which the 
clothing (if both men and women, as well as chil- 
dren, was cut, were not only home spun, but home- 
woven, as the garments themselves were home-made. 
The farmers, as a rule, kept sheep, and grew their 
own wool, at least enough for the needs of the 
family, which was in time carded, spun and woven 
by members of the household, and made ready for 
any service to which it might be devoted. The card- 
boards, the spinning-wheel and the loom were as es- 
sential articles of household furniture and imple- 
ments of household use as were the plough, the hoe 
and the scythe for the proper equipment of the farm 
and tillage of the soil. And the wives and daugh- 
ters were as familiar with the former and as skillful 
in operating them as were the fathers and sons the 
latter. Little time for idle hands, either within or 
without the dwelling, was there in those days, when 
the grandparents of the present generation were do- 
ing their best to keep the wolf Irom the door, to pro- 
vide shelter, food and raiment for themselves and 
their children, and to guarantee themselves and 
theirs against any and every contingency of coming 
need, — laying in that way the foundations of a pros- 
perity for their town, in which those coming after 
them to their latest posterity might rejoice. 

Fulling and Cardinu-Mills. — After the aban- 
donment of the iron-works mentioned above, the 
building in which they were carried on was fitted up 
with machinery for cleansing and finishing the cloth 
produced in the homes round about, giving it, by 
what was termed the process of "ftilling," greater 
compactness of texture, which rendered it more ser- 
viceable and more pleasing to the eye. After a time 
also a machine for carding wool was introduced, which 
greatly facilitated the process and relieved the house- 
hold of a large amount of difficult and tiresome work. 
This mill was run until about the year 1829 by Colonel 
Ephraini Williams, who then disposed of his interest 
in it, and the building was converted into a .shop for 
the manufacture of pine furniture, as will be duly set 
forth hereafter. In 1822 John Merriam having pur- 
chased the Caleb Jackson farm, lying on both sides of 



GARDNER. 



827 



what is Winter Street, with the adjacent mill privi- 
lege, now utilized by S. Bent, Bros. & Co., erected a mill 
for fulling purjioses, which he afterwards enlarged 
sufficiently to enable him to jjut in a carding-ma- 
chine to run in connection with the other business. 
The mill was used for the purposes indicated for about 
a dozen years, when Mr. Merriam left town. In 18S6 
it was purchased by Sullivan Sawin and has been de- 
voted to the manufacture of chairs from that date. 

Cakd-Board Makixu. — The business of getting 
out boards to which cards were applied for purposes 
of hand-carding was carried on to quite an extent for 
a time in the history of the town. A shop devoted to 
this use belonging to .fosiah Wilder, Jr., situated on 
the Knowlton j)lace, in the north part of the town, 
was destroyed by fire in 1813. One Aaron Conant 
had a manufactory in the east part of the town. And 
as an adjunct to this industry Joseph Wright was 
engaged for awhile in getting out handles for such 
boards. The articles produced were readily disposed 
of at Leicester, where they were finished and made 
ready for the market. 

Pine Furniture. — The building standing on the 
site now occupied bv Wright & Reed's chair factory, 
and used for many years as a fulling and clothing 
shop, was afterwards bought by Daniel J. Goodspeed, 
who began the manufacture of toilet tables and wash- 
stands, with other articlej of pine furniture. In 1846 
the factory was burned, but immediately rebuilt and 
work resumed. Afterward Mr. Goodspeed left this lo- 
cality and engaged in chair-making at the Henry 
Whitney Mill, the site of which is now occupied by 
the Howe Bros.' grist-mill, where he, some years 
later, was again burned out. Meanwhile a Mr. Baker 
associated with himself Lewis H. Bradford and the 
making of pine furniture was continued at the old 
stand, the firm bearing the name of Bradford & 
Baker. They went on for a few years, when the busi- 
ness was given up altogether. 

Tubs and Pails. — One of the oldest existing in- 
dustries of the town, and one which has been prose- 
cuted with the fewest changes of any sort, is the 
manufacture of tubs and pails, now going on under 
the direction of Alfred Wyman, step-son of the late 
Amasa Bancroft, by whom it was represented for 
more than a half a century. It was established 
about the year 1832 by R. Heywood Sawin and his 
brother-in-law, John Damon, who had been previ- 
ously engaged in getting out chair stock and in chair- 
making at the old Joshua Whitney Mill site, known 
in later years as the Pail Factory. A saw-mill was 
erected at this spot soon after the town was incorpo- 
rated, or possibly before, by Mr. Whitney, who settled 
near by in 1778, or thereabouts, and who owned con- 
siderable land in the vicinity. From Joshua \V^hit- 
ney it passed into the bauds of his son Joseph, who, 
in the year 1822 or 1823, sold it to his brother-in-law, 
Luke Sawin. In 1824, Luke sold to his kinsman, 
Sullivan Sawin, of Westminster, who in the year 1820 



disposed of one-third of it to his son, Reuben Hey- 
wood Sawin, and one-third to his son-in-law, John Da- 
mon, retaining the remainder to himself. An addition 
w:is soon after put up, circular saws and turning lathes 
were introduced, and a large business was done in get- 
ting out chair stock, the rapidly increasing manufac- 
ture of chairs in the vicinity creating a great demand 
for that kind of production. A few years later, about 
1831, anew shop was erected and chair-making was 
introduced, carried on in part by Sullivan Sawin, Jr., 
and also by the before-mentioned parties under the 
firm-name of " Sawin & Damon." But the then 
recent invention of machinery for the turning of pails 
and kindred ware, together with the abundance of tim- 
ber near at hand suitable for the manufacture of such 
goods, induced the latter to go into that business, and 
they accordingly did so, associating with themselves 
Jonas Child, Moses Wood and a Mr. Vail, the last 
two of whom were located in Providence, and at- 
tended to the selling of what was made as part of the 
business of a general furniture house which they had 
established. This arrangement continued till 1836, 
when Sawin & Damon, having purchased a large 
tract of timber land in Fitzwilliam and erected a 
mill upon it, desired to dispose of their Gardner in- 
terests that they might devote themselves exclusively 
to the new enterprise in which they had enlisted. 
It was finally decided to dispose of the entire pail 
manufacturing business, which had been carried 
on under the style of the Gardner Pail Factory Co., 
and this was accordingly done. The purchasing 
parties were Amasa Bancroft, .Tared Taylor, Frederick 
Parker and Joel Baker, the firm being known by the 
name of Taylor, Bancroft & Co. In 1840, Mr. Ban- 
croft bought out his partners and continued the busi- 
ness alone for twenty-five years, when he associated 
with himself his son-in-law, John C. Bryant, who 
remained with Mr. Bancroft till his death in 1882, 
the name of the partnership being Amasa Bancroft & 
Co. About a year after tlie death of Mr. Bryant, Mr. 
Bancroft received his step-son, Alfred Wyman, as as- 
sociate in the business under the former name, and this 
relation continued till the decease of the original mem- 
ber of the firm early in 1888, who had the reputation 
of being the oide.st tub and pail manufacturer in the 
country. The busine.ss has always been carefully 
managed, without any effort to increase it to gigantic 
proportions, and has been attended with satisfactory 
results. For many years it has employed an aver- 
age of eighteen men, and has turned out, annually, 
goods amounting to the value of about $25,000. 

THE MANUFACTURE OP CHAIRS. 

The leading industry of Gardner, overshadowing all 
others and contributing more than all others to the 
prosperity and wealth of the town, is chair manufac- 
turing. It is this which distinguishes it above all other 
towns in the county, and has given it a name and an 
honorable fame far and wide throughout the length and 



828 



HISTORY OP WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



breadth of the laud, and even in foreign realms. iSo 
important a factor in the development of the material, 
social and civil interests of the community, in shaping 
its fortunes and determining its history, deserves a 
somewhat detailed and careful statement of its growth 
from humble and unpretending beginnings through 
the various stages of expansion and progress up to 
the grand and imposing proportions which it has, at 
the present writing, attained. And to such a state- 
ment the attention of the reader is hereby invited. 

It is generally understood and believed that the 
father and founder of the chair-making business in 
Gardner was James M. Comee, son of David Comee, 
who came from Lexington some ten or twelve years 
before the incorporation of the town, and settled near 
the junction of Pearl and Chapel Streets, in the east 
part. David was the son of David, who was the son 
of John Comee, the first of the family in the country, 
as is supposed, a resident of " Cambridge Farms," 
afterwards Lexington, at the time of its organization 
as a precinct in 1693. He is said to have served in 
the battles of Lexington, Bunker Hill and Benning- 
ton. He married (1) Christiana Maltman, also of 
Lexington, by whom he had seven children ; and (2) 
Hannah Maltman, the mother of eight more. Of 
these fifteen children James M. was the second, 
born April 18, 1777. He married Sarah Putnam, and 
located at the top of the hill on what is now Pearl 
Street about the year 1800, upon the estate now owned 
and improved by Webster Gates, who married his 
grand-daughter, Mary F. Jaquith. In the year 1805, 
so far as can be learned, he began the making of 
chairs, in a very small way, in one of the rooms of 
his dwelling-house, doing most of the work at the 
outset with his own hands. Finding the business 
profitable, Mr. Comee soon called in some of the 
lads or young men of the neighborhood to assist him 
as apprentices. Among those thus employed at an 
early date were Enoch, Elijah and Jonas Brick, while, 
later on, were Isaac Jaquith, Elijah Putnam, Luke 
Fairbanks, Joseph Jackson and others. Several of 
these men afterwards started the same business on 
their own account and prosecuted it for a longer or 
shorter term of years, more or less successfully. 

The chairs first made by Mr. Comee were undoubt- 
edly constructed wholly of wood, the seats being of 
solid plank, either in one ])iece or in several pieces, 
firmly glued together. Rocking-chairs constituted a 
considerable portion of the goods produced ; some 
having a seat entirely flat, except, it may have been 
hollowed out somewhat with an adze; and others, 
more easy and tasteful, having what was called the 
raised seat. Not many years transpired, however, 
before a new style of seat came into vogue, known as 
the flay seat, which proved to be very acceptable and 
salable, and which was in good demand for a quarter 
of a century, or until superseded by the more modern 
and more artistic rattan or cane-seat. This seat was 
manufactured from a plant often found in this 



locality, growing in marshy places and along the 
borders of sluggish streams, known to botanists as a 
form of the genus Typha Latifolia, and to people at 
large as the cat-tail flag. Being of a tough, fibrous 
nature, with considerable thickness of structure and 
of sufficient length, it was well adapted to the use 
designated. The leaves were wound around the four 
sides of a seat-frame, and, when carefully twisted and 
woven by a skillful hand in four compartments, whose 
intertwining lines converged from the corners to a 
common centre, presented a neat and attractive ap- 
pearance. It was much more pleasing to the eye and 
more comfortable than the hard, stiti" wooden seat 
which it largely supplanted, and was deemed a 
decided improvement upon it in many respects. 
Few, if any, chairs of this sort are now made, though 
specimens of them may be found in the dwellings of 
most of the older New England families. 

In the early period of chair manufacture, the work 
was done mostly by hand, even to the getting out of 
the stock, only a small turning-lathe, propelled by 
foot-power, being used for preparing the round stufl". 
What machinery was used was very simple and the 
tools were very few, so that the need of other than 
the force resident in the human muscle had not then 
been made manifest. Hence, for some years, chairs 
were made in the simple, slow, laborious way desig- 
nated. The industry was in the elementary, forma- 
tive period of its development, feeling its way along 
towards better methods and a well-assured success. 
An advance was made and a positive advantage 
gained when horse-power was introduced to facilitate 
the turning of stock and the doing of some of the 
more tiresome parts of the work, for which some 
simple mechanical apparatus had been invented. 

The chairs made by Mr. Comee were, for many 
years, taken to Worceste*-, Lowell, Springfield and 
Boston, with teams of one or more horses, driven by 
himself or by persons in his employ, who sold them 
in small quantities, as opportunity ofi'ered, — some- 
times even disposing of them from house to house, 
in the more sparsely-settled towns. In such a small 
way did ISIr. Comee begin this important manufac- 
ture, and by such unpretending methods did he 
prosecute the work by which he earned for himself a 
name long to be remembered in his native town and 
wherever the business he did so much to make a 
permanent interest in the community is pursued. 

Probably the first of Mr. Comee's apprentices to 
establish a business on his own account, and carry it 
on successfully for a long series of years, becoming 
thereby the second permanent chair-maker in Gard- 
ner, was Elijah Brick. He went to his trade in 
180(5, when fourteen years of age, and served in good 
old-fashioned style till he was twenty-one. Continu- 
ing with Mr. Comee as journeyman for a year, he 
bought, in 1814, a place half a mile north of the 
Common, on which he settled, built a small shop and 
commenced the making of flag-seat chairs. He em- 



GARDNER. 



S2n 



ployed his brother Enoch to assist him about the 
wood-work", and female help to make the seats. 
Later on, Benjamin Howe was in his service, and 
others, afterward, as his business increased. For 
many years he marketed his goods himself, carting 
them, with his own team, to Boston, Salem, Provi- 
dence and elsewhere. About 1840 he extended his 
operations and commenced making cane-seat chairs, 
which had then become somewhat popular, and were 
rapidly rising into favor, with the trade and with 
the general public. 

During the ten years following the date of Mr. 
Brick's setting up the making of chairs there were 
other persons who did the same thing, but their un- 
dertakings were small or of very brief continuance, 
and did but little towards building up the manufac- 
ture into a permanent and commanding position in 
the place. Among these was Jonas Brick, who be- 
gan in a shop near the Wright saw-mill in 1818, the 
first of the trade, so far as is known, in the south 
part of the town. He was in business, however, 
but a short time, and at an early date left the town. 

The chair-making era of Gardner history may be 
divided into two parts : the first covering a period of 
about twenty-five or thirty years, the second of fifty- 
flveor si.xty years. The former passed over or gave way 
to the latter with the introduction of machinery into 
chair-shops, to be run by water or other power, and 
also with the introduction of the use of rattan as an 
important element or constituent part of the material 
for the production of chairs. The transition from 
one to the other of these divisions may be regarded as 
having taken place substantially between the years 
1830 and 1835, during which period the germs of 
most of the existing large chair establishments were 
first planted and began their process of growth and 
development, as will hereafter appear. 

Recofrnizing the distinctive characteristics of the 
chair-manufacturing industry which marked the 
change alluded to, and looking over the list of those 
who were active and instrumental in bringing that 
result to pass, it is eminently just and proper to make 
special mention of the part taken in the matter by 
Mr. Elijah Putnam. Disappointed, as no doubt he 
was, in many of his plans and expectations, and not 
to be counted among the successful manufacturers of 
the town, he yet was, for a long series of years, con- 
nected with the chair business, and perhaps contrib- 
uted as much, in his way, to the development of this 
branch of production and to the new departure 
which ushered in the better day of chair-making, as 
any other individual. Fertile iu inventive resources, 
he yet was not gifted with that practical judgment 
and executive ability which were needful to use 
those resources to the best advantage, and make 
them productive of the most profitable and .satisfac- 
tory results. J^ull of new ideas in regard to the 
manufacture of chairs, and abounding in designs and 
devices of a mechanical nature, he lacked the power 



of embodying his ideas in a feasible working system, 
and of applying his contrivances in an effectual way 
to the attainment of the ends proposed. Nevertheless, 
he rendered e.ssenti.il service to his calling and to Ihe 
community by his suggestions, by his hints at im- 
provements or his imperfect conceptions of tools and 
machines, which he could not of himself work out 
to successful issues, but which others, of a more prac- 
tical turn of mind, getting possession of, could easily 
put to efficient and remunerative service. And it is 
believed that some of the more valuable kinds of 
chair-making machinery and various improvements 
in the business, which first came into use and ren- 
dered important aid in advancing to its present com- 
manding position the chief industrial interest of the 
town, originated in the prolific brain of this man, 
who, himself derived but little pecuniary advantage 
from them, but to whom credit for them in due de- 
gree should be assigned, even though others were in- 
strumental in giving form to the ideas and principles 
involved, and in putting them into successful opera- 
tion. 

Mr. Putnam wa.s one of the apprenticed workmen 
of James M. Comee. After closing his apprentice- 
ship and perhaps working as journeyman for a time, 
he married, and settled upon the estate opposite the 
Common, where Charles Scollay now resides, going 
into business for himself about the year 1825. He 
possibly began in one of the rooms of his dwelling- 
house, but soon erected a shop in which to carry on 
his trade. He employed numerous workmen as time 
went on, some of the oldest and best known chair- 
makers of the town having served more or less under 
him. The usual foot-lathe was the only machinery 
he had at the beginning; but following the bent of 
his genius, he afterwards made use of a steam-engine 
of his own invention, which, however, did n<it prove 
a success. He then constructed and put up a wind- 
mill, as some still living remember, but this also failed 
to serve the purpose intended and was removed. He 
finally introduced horse-power, which supplied his 
needs till 1838, when he bought the mill jirivilege, 
now occupied by John A. Dunn, of William S. 
Lynde, built a dam and removed his shop thither, 
continuing the business for seven years, when he 
sold out to Cowee, Collester & Co., from whose hands 
the property passed, after several changes, to its pres- 
ent ownership. Mr. Putnam also carried on business 
awhile on the site to which Conant, Ball & Co. have 
recently removed, but his shop was burned in 1839 
and the privilege was transferred after a time to L. 
H. Sawin, tlie predecessor of those now in possession 
of it. 

To Mr. Putnam, moreover, belongs, with but little 
doubt, whatever credit is due for the introduction of 
the cane-seat to the chair manufacturing fraternity of 
Gardner and for making the rattan business an im- 
portant branch of the predominating industry of the 
community. It was, so far as can be ascertained by 



830 



HISTORY OF WORCESTEE COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



extensive and painstaking inquiry, under his auspices 
that the first cane-seating was done in the town ; it 
was by his agency that imported rattan was first 
brought to the place, split, shaven and made fit for 
use; and it was under his management and in his 
name that cane-seat chairs were first actually pro- 
duced here and put upon the market, as will be more 
fully set forth in subsequent pages. 

Recurring once more to the date at which Mr. Put- 
nam began his career and when several others also 
were looking to the same calling as a means of liveli- 
hood and of worldly prosperity, it may be stated that 
the increased and increasing demand for chair stock 
occasioned thereby suggested the use of water-power, 
of which there was considerable not yet improved in 
town, as an easily available agency for meeting that 
demand. Mr. Ezra Baker seemed to be the first to 
turn the suggestion to practical account and appre- 
ciate the opportunity offered for a new and promising 
industrial pursuit. A plan of action presented itself 
to him, which he very soon proceeded to carry into 
effect. He purchased a small mill privilege on Knee- 
land Brook, situated half a mile northwest of the 
northern extremity of Crystal Lake, constructed a 
dam, erected a shop and put in one or more lathes for 
the turning of posts and stretchers and other parts of 
chair material. At that time the timber used was 
bought of the farmers round-about, who prepared it 
for the lathe by cutting it the required length, split- 
ting it and taking off the corners, as it was not then 
deemed possible to turn a square stick. The circular- 
saw had not come into use. But its day was at hand, 
and it was not long before Mr. Baker purchased one, 
put it into his shop and prepared his own lumber for 
the lathe. This was the first saw of the kind in 
town. In 1828, the business of Mr. Baker increas- 
ing on his hands, he purchased the Fairbanks grist- 
mill, afterwards sold to Elijah Putnam as stated, 
and transferred his machinery there, where he oper- 
ated for several years. Previous to this change on the 
part of Mr. Baker, Asa Parley erected a shop of con- 
siderable size on the same stream, near where Clark 
Street crosses it, and fitted it up for the same kind of 
work. It was not long after this that 8awiii & 
Damon engaged in the same business at the Pail 
Factory site, and about the .same time Merrick Wal- 
lace, who married the daughter of Ezra Baker, bought 
of Deacon Fairbanks the small privilege above his 
grist-mill, where the main factory of Heywood 
Bros. & Co. now is located, built a shop and went 
into the business of getting out chair-stuff there. 
Similar enterj)rises were started elsewhere in town 
and went on with a varying success, until the demand 
was more than met, or until chair-makers came to sec 
that it was for their advantage to prepare their own 
material, when the work of getting out stock as a sep- 
arate and independent calling was given up and be- 
came an integral part of the general business of chair 
manufacture. This was another feature of the transi- 



tion from the earlier to the later period of the chair- 
making era — from the old to the new system of ways, 
means and methods of chair production. 

A sketch of the existing chair establishments ot 
Gardner, such as is proposed, will involve a still fur- 
ther consideration of the change alluded to, since 
some of them date back to the time when it occurred, 
and since some of their founders were more or Ics 
active in bringing it about. But before going on to pre- 
sent such a sketch, it seems proper to submit as briefly as 
may be an account of the introduction and use of rat- 
tan as an important adjunct or component part of the 
manufacture in its more modern aspects and achieve- 
ments. Constituting as it does a distinct branch of 
the general industry under notice, and possessing 
characteristics peculiar to itself, it may be considered 
under the specific name of 

The Rattan Bu.sinesis. — Rattan is a species of 
the palm tree bearing the scientific name of Calamus 
Rotai^g and a product of the forests of the East In- 
dian Islands, especially of Sumatra and Borneo, and 
of the Malayan Peninsula. It is a slender ])lant, 
scarcely ever exceeding an inch in diameter and of 
great length. It is sometimes supported by the larger 
trees among which it grows and sometimes runs along 
the ground forming a tangled web, through which it 
is impossible to pass. The peculiarities which render 
it valuable for a great variety of uses, and which give 
it commercial importance, are its remarkable flexi- 
bility and strength, its extreme length combined with 
uniformity of size, its capability of being split into 
small strips and the hard,silicious glazing with which 
it is coated. It is gathered by the natives of the 
region where it is produced, and prepared for ship- 
ping at very little expense, and then sent to different 
parts of the world. The eastern nations of Asia have 
for a long time known its value and have used it in 
making various articles of furniture, baskets, sievesi 
mats, and even hats and shoes. Large quantities of it 
are employed in China as bands for tea-chests, to se- 
cure them against the perils of transportation. It 
was probably in this way that it first became known 
to Western Europe and to America, where its proper- 
ties are now so well understood, and where it is al the 
present day so largely utilized in the production of 
many kinds of house furnishing goods, children's car- 
riages, and numerous styles of fancy articles ; also for 
decorative purposes, being easily made to assume 
unique and newly-devised forms, pleasing to the eye 
and taste. Its adaptability to an indefinite but ever- 
increasing number of uses has given it in these later 
years a wide distribution and an unbounded popu- 
larity throughout the civilized world. 

At what date rattan was first used as a part of chair 
construction in this country has not been determined, 
nor in what locality, nor by whom it was thus origi- 
nally employed on these shores. It was first brought 
to the notice of the people of Gardner and vicinity 
in that connection about the year 1830, at which time 



GAKDNER. 



831 



chair-seats were being made of it in or near the City 
of New York, whence they were sent in different 
directions and put into chairs by those already en- 
gaged in chair manufacturing. It does not appear 
that any of tlie trade in Gardner made use of any of 
these New York seats in their business previous to 
the date at which what are called cane-seats were 
actually produced within its borders, though it is 
quite certain that they were purchased and used to 
some extent in neighboring towns about that time. 
The work of putting the rattan, or cane as it was more 
familiarly called, into these New York seats was done 
in part, at least, by the inmates of the penitentiary ol 
the State of Connecticut, and it was by that avenue 
that the "seating" of chairs and the making of cane- 
seat chairs first found its way into this town. 

It was in the year 1832 or 1833 that .Tohn Cowee, an 
employe'' of Mr. Elijah Putnam, visited the Connec- 
ticut State Prison, and, by going through the depart- 
ment wliere the inmates were engaged in "seating'' 
chairs and carefully watching their movements, ob- 
tained an idea of the way in which the work was done. 
Whether he did this on his own motion, or at the 
.suggestion of Mr. Putnam, is not known. After leav- 
ing the prison he purchased a seat and also some cane 
made ready for use and returned home, bringing the 
articles with him. Going to the shop of Mr. Putnam, 
he carefully took the cane from the seat, studying the 
process closely, and then went to work with the pre- 
pared cane, putting the seat in again and so producing 
the first scat of the kind that was actually " seated" 
in town. This point gained, it was not difficult to go 
on to tlie construction of a cane-seat chair in all its 
parts from beginning to end. And this Jlr. Putnam 
proceeded at once to do. Making the frames by facili- 
ties easily obtained, he engaged women to come to 
his house, where they were taught the mystery of 
seating, and where they were employed for a time in 
doing that part of the work, one of the rooms of his 
dwelling being devoted to that use. These seats he 
put into chairs which, when finished, were sold with 
other articles of his production, and the caneseat 
chair business was fairly inaugurated in the commun- 
ity where it was in after-years to attain undreamed-of 
proportions and achieve a most wonderful success. 
The " -seating " continued to be done on Mr. Putnam's 
premises until it was found that the demand for the 
chairs could not be met unless the seafs could 
be produced more rapidly than was possible in 
that small way, when the practice of " putting 
out" seating was inaugurated — that is, of distributing 
the frames and cane in families in the neighborhood, 
by the members of which the interweaving process 
was carried on. As the cane-seat chair grew in pop- 
ular favor and the business of manufacturing it in- 
creased, this work of "seating" was enlarged propor- 
tionally, expanding and extending itself until it 
became an important industry on its own account, 
affording employment to the inmates of hundreds and 



thousands of homes in the region round-about and 
contributing, as a source of income, largely to the 
comfort, prosperity and happiness of multitudes of 
people. 

To begin with, the cane put into the seats was 0I3- 
tained from outside, probably from New York, pre- 
pared for use. Very soon, however, in 1833, Mr. 
Warren Sargent, from Dummerston, Vt., and a little 
later his brother, John R. Sargent, came to the place 
and went to work getting out cane, as it was termed, 
in Mr. Putnam's shop, and, most likely, under his 
auspices, where they carried on business for a time, 
inducting others into it and establishing it upon a 
permanent basis. Leaving town after a few years, 
they were succeeded by Benjamin H. Rugg, a skillful 
and successful cane-worker, for a long while at the 
Heywood shop and at his own residence on Green 
Street ; Robert G. Reed, who worked first at Mr. Put- 
nam's and afterward at James M. Comee's; Edmond 
Newton, at South Gardner ; Asher Shattuck, who was 
first employed at Putnam's in 1838 and, after serving 
at several places, finally in the cane department at 
the Heywood establishment in the West Vill.-ige, and 
perhaps others. Probably Mr. Shattuck is the oldest 
living cane-worker in Gardner, and the one who has 
been longest connected witli that special industry. 

For twenty years or more the work of getting out 
cane was done by hand. It was a slow, difficult, 
laborious process, requiring care, skill and quickness 
of motion for its successful prosecution. Numerous 
steps intervened between the taking of the material 
in hand by the worker and the leaving it ready for 
the hand of the seater. It was received, as it is now, 
just as it was shipped from its native shores, just as it 
was taken from its native forests, indeed, except that 
the leaves crowning its top and the spines grown at 
its several joints had been removed, after which it 
had been put into bundles of one liundred stalks each, 
about sixteen feet long, doubled in the middle and 
compactly tied together. The first thing done with it 
was to straighten it, so that it could be easily handled 
and conveniently worked. Each stalk was then 
passed through the hand from end to end and every 
joint was taken off or pared down witii a common 
'knife, so as not to interfere with the further working 
of it, or with the drawing in of the strands when 
woven by the usual method into a seat. This was 
termed cleaning the cane. When this was accom- 
plished the act of sjilitting or slabbing took place, 
which consisted, in the case of the smaller rods or 
stalks, in quartering them from end to end, and when 
they were larger, in taking off from the several sides 
enough to make two strands, with the exception of 
the last one. perhaps, which would sometimes make 
but one. This was also 'done with a common knife 
and required special care and skill to prevent waste. 
Eacli strip thus produced was afterwards ploughed or 
passed under a sharp-edged tool, shaped like the 
letter V, being held in place by proper appliances, 



832 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



whicli would cut away most of the core or woody 
portion of the strip, and at the same time so nearly 
split it into two equal parts as that they could be 
readily separated. Each of these parts was then 
drawn between two properly adjusted cutters, which 
reduced it to a uniform width and was termed g.auging 
the cane. It was afterward planed or brought to a 
uniform thickness by passing it over another cutter 
set into a block of wood, likening it to the carpenter's 
tool from which this step of the process derived its 
name. This concluded the mechanical part of the 
work. The cane thus prepared was then parceled 
out into lots of one thousand feet in length in the 
aggregate, neatly tied in bunches of convenient size, 
and after being sufficiently bleached, was deemed 
ready for use. In this, the original method of getting 
out cane, each part of the work was distinct and 
separate from all others, and the power employed was 
that resident in the bones and sinews of the work- 
men, small pincers being used for holding the strands 
in the drawing processes and whenever the fingers 
could not conveniently and successfully serve the 
end desired. 

But this slow method was destined to be superseded. 
The invention of machinery and the use of water or 
other power for the purpose of preparing rattan for 
the various kinds of service to which it was applied, 
was only a question of time, and the time came many 
years ago. In the year 1849, Mr. Sullivan Sawyer, 
then of Templeton, but now of Fitchburg, secured 
letters patent on a machine " for splitting and dress- 
ing rattan," and also on one for cutting rattan, in 
18.51. These are the first inventions connected with 
the luisiness mentioned in the reports of the Patent 
OHice of the United States, but for ten years fi'om the 
date of the first of these they averaged one annually. 
A third patent was issued to Mr. Sawyer for a cane" 
working machine in 1854, and a fourth in 1855. In 
1852 one was granted to Joseph Sawyer, of Royal- 
ston, and another in 1854, as also one in the same year 
to Mr. A. M. Sawyer, Templeton. In 1855 Mr. U. C. 
Reed, of Philadelphia, was similarly honored ; also 
Mr. C. C. Hull, of Charlestown. In 1858, George S. 
Colburn, then of South Reading, but for many years 
a resident of Gardner, and the manager of the cane 
department of the Heywood Manufactory until a 
recent date, took out his first patent for a rattan- 
machine, as he has also received several since that 
period. Some of these machines were of only exper- 
imental service, not standing the test of practical 
use ; but they were helps to that more perfect system 
of mechanisms and devices by which cane is now 
prepared for the muliiform uses to which it is applied. 
As a matter of fact, out of these several inventions 
there were evolved two or three machines, differing 
from each other in some respect.s, which were put to 
effectual use, and for a time supplied very largely 
the needs of the cane-seat chair-making public. At 
what date these went into successful operation it is 



difficult to determine. Indeed, Ihey were being ex- 
perimented with and improved for several years, and 
turned out much imperfect work before they gave 
reasonable satisfaction, a result which was achieved 
about the year 1858 or, it may be, a little earlier ; but 
it was not far from that time that the problem of 
getting out cane by machinery was regarded as .solved, 
and tbat a new era had opened to that branch of 
business. For some years succeeding that period 
but little cane was worked in Gardner, that which 
was consumed in the town being prepared for the 
most part at Boston or Fitchburg, where large com- 
panies, organized for the purpose, had control of 
that department of the chair-making industry, and 
supplied the demand existing in this vicinity. Later 
on, however, arrangements were entered into by the 
partiesconcerned, under which the business of getting 
out caue was resumed in this place about the year 
1875, where it has been continued under diflx'rent and 
varying auspices to the present time. Numerous 
improvements have been made in cane-working 
machinery as the business has gone on, and many 
new inventions have been brought forward, some of 
which have proved valueless, while others have been . 
of great service. Of these (produced mostly in the 
shops where the work is carried on) but few have 
been protected by United States patents, and so do 
not appear in any i)ublic record. One of the most 
important of these later machines, however, it may 
be stated, was the fruit of the practical sagacity of 
Mr. George S. Colburn, for which he received letters 
in recognition of its originality and merit from the 
United States Patent Office, bearing date November 
18, 1879. It is substantially the machine now in 
operation in the only cane-producing establishment 
in Gardner, one of the largest in the world, and one 
from which all the cane used in the vicinity is now 
received, though it has been subjected since it was 
tir.-it started to sundry modifications and improve 
ments, whereby its work is rendered more perfect 
and satisfactory. 

But not only have there been great improvements 
in the methods of getting out cane or of preparing it 
for use, but also in the ways and means of working it 
after it is so prepared, as well as in the styles or forms 
it is made to assume, when it is finally adjusted and 
finished for the market. Originally the only seat 
produced was what has been called the Chinese 
pattern, whether because it was devised in China and 
brought thence to this country or not is not known, 
but probably for that reason. It consisted in arrang- 
ing the strands of cane passing from one side to ihe 
other of the frame and from front to back, in pairs, 
crossing each other at right angles ; each strand so 
interwoven with the others as that it passed first above 
and then below one running transversely, in regular 
order, all being attached to the frame by putting 
them in their proper place through holes made for the 
purpose. These pairs were adjusted according to the 



GARDNER. 



833 



distance between the holes, usually about half au inch 
apart, causing square openings of a corresponding 
measurement to be made. Through these openings 
other strands were interwoven diagonally in two 
directions, thus cutting off their corners and making 
them octagonal in form. This produced a firm, 
substantial piece of werk, which when well executed 
was strong, durable and pleasing to the eye. A bind- 
ing around the edge covering the holes in the frame 
gave it proper finish. This style of seat was the 
only one made for many years, and the same pattern 
of weaving was put into backs when cane-back chairs 
came into vogue. The work in it was always per- 
formed by hand, an adroit use of the fingers being 
necessary to a rapid execution of the diflercnt inter- 
lacing processes. This is the kind of seating substan- 
tially which was distributed far and wide throughout 
the community and furnished remunerative employ- 
ment to a multitude of families for a long series of 
years. After a time some variations from it were 
introduced, gratifying to the popular taste, but not 
changing materially the character or method of the 
work. 

It can be at once seen that seating according to this 
method was at best but a slow process, and so one 
not likely to satisfy the demands of this hurrying, 
fast-driving age. Seats must be made at a more 
rapid rate than was possible under the old, long-pre- 
vailing system. To meet the exigencies of the trade 
and of the times, a loom for weaving cane into a 
continuous web by the use of power was invented — 
the production of the mechanical skill of Mr. Gard- 
ner A. Watkins, formerly of Proctorsville, Vt., but 
at the time and since a resident of Gardner, whose 
ingenuity in this department of manufacture was re- 
peatedly recognized and honored by the United States 
Patent Office during the years 18G7-G9. Other looms 
have been invented by other parties since that period, 
and numerous improvements have been made upon 
the original designs. The product of the looms first 
brought into use and run to much profit was what 
may be termed the solid web, similar to that of the 
simpler kinds of woolen and cotton cloth. It made 
a strong, durable seat, but had no artistic merits, and 
hence, was not suited to the higher, nicer grades of 
goods. Changes have been going on. New appli- 
ances have been added and difl'erent patterns of web- 
bing have been devised, but everything thus I'ar 
brought out as the result of the introduction of the 
loom has been open to the same objection. No inven- 
tion for weaving cane, so far as is known, has yet been 
able to make the Chinese seat pattern or anything 
nearly equal to it in artistic excellence and attractive- 
ness. Yet a loom, or a device, has been invented by 
the USB of which the production of that precise iiattern 
has been greatly liicilitated. It admits of such an 
arrangement of certain jjarts of its mechanism as that 
the several pairs of transverse strands which enter 
into the constru tion of the ordinary seat, constitu- 
53 



ting what is often termed warping and checking, can 
be woven together in proper form to receive the 
oblique or diagonal strands. Moreover, au ingen- 
ious contrivance has been devised, by the use of 
which these diagonal strands can be interwoven with 
wonderful ease and dispatch. It consists of a large 
needle, long enough to reach in an oblique direction 
from one side to the other of a web of cane prepared 
as just stated, having a revolving point whicli works 
its wa}' through the pr.)per openings by the turning 
of a small crank on the part of the operator, carry- 
ing with it as it advances a single strand of cane 
which it leaves in its rightful place, when it is it-elf 
withdrawn. By the use of these two inventions in 
connection with each other, the work of making 
seats of the original Chinese pattern at an immense 
saving of both time and labor is accomplished, and 
their introduction is likely to affect very seriously the 
old practice of hand-seating, even if it does not 
eventually bring it to an end. Moreover, that prac- 
tice is threatened in another direction. There is a 
machine in process of construction, pas-^ing through 
its experimental stages, and promising success, 
which, while it may not produce the Chinese pattern 
exactly, will fabricate something .so much like it that 
the casual observer would scarcely notice the differ- 
ence, and hence can readily be substituted for it in 
many if not in all the nicer kinds of cane-chair 
manufacture. A.nd, besides, this machine, when per- 
fected according to the plan of those engaged in de- 
veloping it, as it is quite likely to be, will do not one 
style of weaving alone, but an indefinite variety of 
styles in form and figure, by simply changing some 
of its constituent parts relatively to each other, or 
some of its multiform and intricate movements. In 
view of what has already been accomplished and 
will probably soon be accomplished, the whole mat- 
ter of making even the better classes of cane-seats is 
very likely to undergo entire reconstruction at an 
early day. 

The invention of the loom, whereby a continuous 
web of the woven cane was rendered possible, neces- 
sitated the designing of some method of splicing the 
strands in some sure and effectual way. This neces- 
sity was met by Mr. Watkins, in the evolution of a 
machine or series of machines, about the year 1870, 
by the operation of which, in proper order, the ends 
of strands proposed to be united could be scarfed so 
as to exactly match each other, and then, the cor- 
responding scarfed parts being duly chareed with ce- 
ment, be brought together and subjected to pressure 
in such a way as to cause them to adhere firmly with- 
out perceptibly enlarging the size of the strand at the 
point of juncture. The several devices by which this 
result is secured are exceedingly ingenious, and re- 
flect much credit upon the inventor. The work is 
done so thoroughly and neatly that an inexpert eye 
will scarcely detect the place where the splicing is 
done, even in the strand, and much less when in the 



834 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



finished articles of productioD. Another method of 
gplieing, evincing considerable inventive skill, which 
has been widely employed, is that of brin;;ing the 
squared ends of the strands to be united together in 
line, and then bending about the two a little band or 
clasp of thin metal with serrated edges, which, when 
pressed closely into the substance of the cane, holds 
the parts securely together. This, though much 
used, does not make so neat a piece of work as the 
other method, and is nbt likely to be so durable or 
satisfactory to the chair-using public. 

The use of the loom-woven seat, or of a seat made 
independently of the frame to which it was to be fi- 
nally attached, also made it necessary to originate 
some plan of effecting that attachment, instead of the 
old one of passing the strands through holes bored 
for the purpose, which had to be abandoned. Two 
new ones have been employed with fairly satisfactory 
results. One of these is to turn the edges of the 
seat, cut to a proper size, down inside the frame and 
fastening them by a thin strip of wood on each side, 
firmly kept in place by screws. When carefully ad- 
justed, these strips would hold the seat securely, as in 
a vise, and being underneath, would not be seen to 
disadvantage. Another plan is that of making a 
groove or channel continuously on the four sides of 
the frame, then cutting the web or seat exactly large 
enough to have its edges pressed into this groove 
without protruding on the outer side, and made se- 
cure by a stri|) of wood or spline prepared for the 
purpose, and forced into place after a suitable appli- 
cation of glue, to render everything firm and sure. 
A contrivance for beading the spline, and also for 
embossing the frame around it, operating in connec- 
tion wiih the other processes, gives the whole a neat 
finish when completed. Every part of this work is 
done by machinery, the fruit of the inventive faculty 
of different persons, some of it being very inge- 
nious, complex and heavy and of immense power. 
It is capable of being worked with such rapidity that, 
operating in connection with the loom continuously, 
only four minutes are required to make an entire 
seat, reckoning from the time when the cane is in 
the strand ready to be woven, to the time when the 
work is completed ready to be put into the chair for 
the market. 

It is a noteworthy fact in this matter of the u^e of 
rattan as an element of chair and other manufacture, 
that a much larger portion of it is now made service- 
able than was formerly the case. For a long time 
after it was introduced it was believed that only the 
external parts were of any practical value, which 
must be put into the goods in such a way as that the 
wear would come altogether upon the smooth, silicated 
surface. It has been found, however, that what 
remained after the outer portions are removed may 
be utilized in a great variety of ways. And much of 
the reed and rattan work of the present day, so pleas- 
ing to the taste and so deservedly popular in the form 



of chairs and other furniture, children's carriages, 
ba.-kets, etc., is composed of these portions once 
dtemed of no account and consigned to the flames. 
These same portions are also split into strands and, 
after being properly dressed and made smooth, are 
put into seats and other parts of the chair, just as 
those strands are which have the silicated surface. 
Goods thus fabricated have a presentable appearance, 
are durable and acceptable to the trade. In the ways 
indicated, almost the entire substance of the rattan is 
now turned to some profitable account, the actual 
was.te being exceedingly small. 

Before proceeding to give an account of the several 
chair manufacturing establishments of Gardner, the 
history of which will present further details touching 
the development of this interesting and important 
industry, it seems desirable to offer a few general 
observations upon the business under notice. And it 
may be remarked, to begin with, that the practice of 
using labor-saving machinery, which was first resorted 
to fifty-five or sixty years ago, and which was one of 
the principal features of the change from the old to the 
new methods of production, has become essentially 
universal. Invention has kept pace with the ever- 
growing demand for goods and with the multiplication 
of styles, supplying every department of manufacture 
with mechanical devices suited to the ends it was 
designed to secure. Space will not admit of a descrip- 
tion of any of these devices, even of the most wonder- 
ful and valuable of them, nor yet of the simplest 
statement of the special use to which they are respec- 
tively put. It must suffice to say that they are multi- 
tudinous in variety, ingenious in design, thorough and 
complete in construction, wonderful in operation and 
in the execution of their appropriate work, many of 
them seeminglygifted with almost human instinct and 
practical sagacity. So completely do they supply the 
needs of the chair manufacturer, that nearly all of 
what is termed hand-work — that is, work done by 
human strength — is that of feeding the machines and 
of putting the different parts together afier they have 
been prepared as indicated. 

It seems needful also to state that much of the 
work of getting out stock, by which is meant cutting 
it from the original stick or log, and making it ready 
for the machine which shall put it into its final 
shape, is done in or near the lumber regions of New 
Hampshire, Vermont and Canada, or of more west- 
ern localities, what is thus prepared being sent in 
bulk to the factories for further manipulation and 
use. Tracts of wood-land are sometimes owned by 
the manufacturers themselves, as are also the mills 
employed in connection with them, so that the entire 
process, or series of processes, required in the pro- 
duction of chairs, from the time of the felling of the 
tree whence comes the material that enters into 
their construction to the time when they are finally 
put upon the market, is under one and the same gen- 
eral management. But usually the stock is brought 



GARDNER. 



835 



to the factories " in the rough," having been pur- 
chased of parties who make a distinct business of 
preparing it and supplying the demand which exists 
for it in that form. 

Manufacturers usually finish their own goods, — that 
is, they not only put them into proper shape as com- 
plete articles of furniture, but they paint and var- 
nish them and make them ready for final use in the 
dwelling of the consumer. It is not unfrequently 
the case, however, that in putting chairs together, 
they are left unglued; so that, after they have been fin- 
ished, they may be taken to pieces and closely boxed 
for convenience of transportation to distant places, 
where they may be " set up " and made ready for 
sale. Sometimes, too, they are shipped "in the 
wood," without having been put together or painted 
at all, to be completed and put upon the market at 
the place to which they may be consigned. All the 
larger chair establishments at this day have a repair 
department, well equipped with the fi.\tures and 
appurtenances of a machine-shop, in which not only 
is the necessary repairing done, but new machines, 
or parts of machines, constructed, and where any 
new invention brought out in any establishment 
may be put into proper form, tested, experimented 
with and, if proved to be of practical value, made 
ready for service. 

It is now in order to present as briefly as may be a 
sketch of the several establishments which are in 
successful operation in the town, and which, with 
their antecedents, to be incidentally noticed, may be 
regarded as fairly representing the industry under con- 
sideration during the more memorable part of its ex- 
istence. They will be introduced substantially in the 
order of their historic and commercial importance. 

Heywood Bros. & Co. — The history of this firm 
and of the business which it represents runs back 
more than half a century, to the early days of chair- 
making, and of those other activitie.s in the commu- 
nity which have been closely related to it. During 
all this period the family name has been identified 
with this industry, and has occupied a prominent 
place in everything pertaining to its expansion and 
prosperity. As early as 1826 Walter Heywood, third 
son of Benjamin Heywood, whose father was one of 
the first residents of the town, having then but re- 
cently attained his majority, began the work of making 
chairs in a little shop standing in the yard attached 
to his father's house, which occupied the site of the 
present Town Hall building. At this date his older 
brothers, Levi and Benjamin Franklin, were engaged 
in running an old-fashioned country store nearby, al- 
though it is probable that both of them worked more 
or less at chairs in the way of learning the trade. Not 
long after, a new shop was erected by Walter on the 
spot where now stands the dwellingof Asher Shattuck, 
at the corner of Central Street and Woodland Avenue, 
in which the business was carried on till 1834, when 
it was burned. Meanwhile, Mr. Heywood associated 



with himself his brothers B. F. and William, younger 
than himself, also Moses Wood, of Gardner, and James 
W. Gates, of Boston, and in May, 1831, bought the 
privilege and shop of Merrick Wallace, where the 
principal factory of the present firm stands, and at 
once enlarged the facilities so as to accommodate them 
to their plans of increasing business. About the same 
time Levi Heywood, who, with his brother Benjamin 
F., had previously given up the store, went to Boston, 
where he opened a warehouse for the sale of chairs on 
his own account. In 1835 he returned to town and 
entered the firm just referred to, which was operating 
under the name of B. F. Heywood & Co. In 1887 
the partnership was dissolved, the business being as- 
sumed by the Heywood Brothers, residing in town. 
A few years later Levi Heywood, who seemed to be 
more enterprising and progressive than his associates, 
especially in regard to the introduction of machinery, 
bought out their interest and went on for a while sole 
owner and manager of the concern. Subsequently, 
about the year 1844, he formed a co-partnership with 
Moses Wood, then of Providence, a member of the 
original firm, and his youngest brother, Seth, the firm 
name being Heywood & Wood. This arrangement 
went on till 1847, when Mr. Wood retired and Calvin 
Heywood, son of Levi, and Henry C. Hill, for some 
years manager of the painting department of the es- 
tablishment, came in to fill the vacant place; the style 
of the new partnership being Levi Heywood & Co. 
Four years after this the firm resolved itself into a 
joint stock association, to which employes were ad- 
mitted upon subscription to the invested capital, con- 
stituting what was known as the Heywood Chair 
Manufacturing Company. This new plan continued 
in operation for about ten years. In 18(51 the shops 
of the company were consumed by fire, when the joint 
stock experiment was abandoned. 

As a result of the burning of the shops and the 
consequent relinquishment of the joint stock experi- 
ment, a new firm was formed the following year, con- 
sisting of Levi and Seth Heywood, Charles Hey- 
wood, son of Levi, and Henry C. Hill, assuming the 
style of Heywood Brothers & Co., which has been 
retained to the present time. Early in 1868 Charles 
Heywood and Henry C. Hill withdrew from the con- 
cern, and Henry and George Heywood, sons of Seth, 
entered it. Subsequently, Alvin M. Greenwood, son- 
in-law of Levi Heywood, was admitted, and still 
later, Amos Morrill, who married the daughter of 
Benjamin F. Heywood, long before deceased. In 
1876 Charles Heywood re-entered the partnership, and 
remained in it till his death, in June, 1882. Before 
the year expired, his father, Levi Heywood, who had 
been connected with the establishment half a cen- 
tury, and to whose insight, energy, business ability 
and untiring persistency its success was chiefly due, 
as was in large degree the industrial prosperity of the 
whole town, also passed away. Seth soon retired, 
disposing of his interest to his sons, while Mr. Mor- 



836 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



rill bought Charles' share and part of that of Levi, 
which reduced the firm to four members at the open- 
ing of 1883, each having an equal interest under the 
re-adjustment. Four years later George, son of Seth 
Heywood, left, and George H., son of Henry, pur- 
chased an interest and become a partner with the 
remaining members, the charge of the Boston ware- 
house, then recently opened, being assigned to him. 
During the present year (1888) an interest in the 
business has been purchased by Calvin H. Hill, a 
clerk in the Gardner office, and also by John H. 
Welch, of the New York house. The firm at this 
writing consists of Henry Heywood, Amos Morrill, 
Alvin M. Greenwood, George H. Heywood, Calvin 
H. Hill and John H. Welch, and retains the name 
of Heywood Brothers & Co., which has distinguished 
it for twenty-seven years and by which it is known and 
honored throughout the land, and in realms beyond 
the sea. 

This company confined itself to the production of 
the line of goods usual in chair manufactories till the 
year 1874, when they started the business of making 
reed and rattan chairs and furniture, as a branch of 
their regular work. This department has proved a 
valuable adjunct to the establishment, having in- 
creased in extent and in variety of style and work- 
manship from the beginning, incorporating with it a 
few years since the making of children's carriages in 
every conceivable diversity of design and elegance, 
and attaining at length wonderful proportions and 
unexpected importance. It is carried on in a build- 
ing three hundred feel long, sixty feet wide and four 
stories high, well supplied with machinery, run by a 
Corliss eogine of eighty horse-power. The firm have 
had a large establishment for the manufacture of the 
same kind of goods in San Francisco for some year.^, 
and this very season have erected a building for the 
same purpose in Chicago, three hundred and sixty 
feet long, fifty feet wide and four stories high, in 
which some four or five hundred hands are to be 
employed. 

The bu^iness done by this immense establishment 
in the town of Gardner for the year ending August 
31, 1888, was upwards of $700,000, while its entire 
business for that period exceeded two and a half mil- 
lion dollars. Employment is given in the Gardner 
shops to about thirteen hundred persons, whose 
monthly pay-roll is not far from fifty thousand dol- 
lars, or six hundred thousand dollars per year. The 
extent of floorage in these shops is three hundred 
and forty thousand square feet, or a little less than 
eight acres. The several engines used to run the 
works amount, in the aggregate, to three hundred and 
twenty horse-power, while the boilers are capable of 
producing five hundred and sixty horse-power. The 
concern, including all its departments, is undoubtedly 
the largest of its kind in the couniry, and probably 
in the world. 

Philander Derby & Co. — The site occupied by 



the extensive manufactory of this enterprising and 
prosperous firm experienced varying fortunes during 
the first half of its history. It was originally pur- 
chased of William S. Lynde, in November, 1834, by 
Benjamin F. Heywood & Company, who built a dam 
and erected a saw-mill for the purpose of getting out 
lumber for use, probably in their chair factory already 
in operation on the stream above. The building was 
afterwards enlarged, furnished with machinery and 
used in part for the manufacture of chairs. At a later 
date it was sold to Martin Dunster, who removed to 
it the business of making boxes and various articles 
of wooden-ware which he had previously carried on 
in a shop located on what is now Broadway, near 
Otter River. A portion of it was let to Colonel Eph- 
raim Williams, who established there a machine shop 
for making repairs and doing incidental iron work. 
In 1844 the whole establishment was destroyed by fire, 
and the property was purchased by several gentle- 
men, the principal of whom were John Edgell and the 
late Charles W. Bush, who, under the name of Edgell, 
Bush & Company, rebuilt and began the manufacture 
of boxes, chairs, settees and house-finishing material. 
After running a few years, they sold to Nichols & 
Baker, who used the premises for a grist-mill and for 
carrying on a general flour and grain business. That 
being given up, the estate was bought at auction, in 
1863, by Philander Derby and Augustus Knowlton, 
who had been making chairs at the present shop of A. 
& H. C. Knowlton & Company, under the firm-name of 
Derby & Knowlton. They fitted it up as a chair factory 
and run it in connection with their other estab!i>h- 
nient. Two years liter, Henry C. Knowlton, brother 
of Augustus, entered the firm, and the name was 
changed to Derby, Knowlton & Company. Under 
this management business increased rapidly, neces- 
sitating new buildings and new machinery, which 
were snpjilic d from time to time as the case required. 
In 1868 Mr. Derby and the Knowlton brothers sep- 
arated, the former retaining this shop and continuing 
business on his own account for eleven years, when he 
received, as partners with himself, his son, Arthur P. 
Derby, and his sons-in-law Gec^rge Hodgman and 
George W. Cann, who have gone on together to the 
present, time under the style of Pbilander Derby & 
Company. From small beginnings this establishment, 
under the' general supervision of the senior member 
of the firm, who has displayed great enterprise, busi- 
ness sagacity and untiring persistence in the pursuit 
of purposed end-', aided latterly by his younger asso- 
ciates, has grown to immense jiroportions, enlarging 
its facilities from year to year, and increasing its pro- 
duction until it holds a place second only in import- 
ance to that of any other concern in town. The firm 
has warehouses in Boston and New York, and a half- 
interest in a house in Chicago, one of 'the largest of 
its kind in the great West. The amount of business 
done in Gardner the last year was about two hundred 
and fifty thousand dollars, which employed from one 



GARDNER. 



837 



hundred and twenty-five to one hundred and fifty 
men, while the entire business of the firm has reached 
in the aggregate nearly a million dollars a year. The 
commodious shops of the company are filled with a 
good supply of the best machinery used in the man- 
ufiiclure of chairs, some of the most ingenious and 
serviceable portions of which were devised, con- 
structed and perfected oq the premises, especially 
those pertaining to the rattan department, which is 
an interesting and important feature of the estab- 
lishment. 

S. K. Pierce & Co. — The extensive manufactory 
with which the familiar name of S. K. Pierce, recently 
deceased, was identified for more than forty year.-i, 
occupies the site where long ago stood the old 
potash works belonging to the estate of Captain Wm. 
Bickford, a large land-holder of his time in the vil- 
lage of South Gardner. It was purchased about the 
year 1830 by Stephen Taylor, SLproU-gf, it is said, of 
the Pierce family, who had been doing a small chair- 
making business for a brief period in the fulling-mill 
of John Merriam, located on the site of the present 
establishment of S. Bent & Bros. He fitted it up for 
a chair-shop, and began the manufacture under the 
old system, all the work being done by hand. The 
business soon outgrew its narrow accommodations, 
when the old building was removed and a new, more 
commodious and more convenient one took its place. 
A dam was built across thestream near by and water- 
power was introduced, with which to run the simple 
forms of machinery that were put in. Here Mr. 
Taylor, by industry, economy and careful manage- 
ment, built up a large and prosperous business, ren- 
dering it necessary for him to secure additional facili- 
ties in order that he might meet the increasing de- 
mand for his goods — a demand created by the excel- 
lent quality of his work and by the reputation he had 
acquired for integrity, trustworthiness and honor in 
all his dealings with his fellow-men. Desiring at 
length to relinquish business, he sold out to Mr. S. 
K. Pierce, who had learned the trade of making 
chairs when a youth, and who, after working at difier- 
ent places, had entered the employ of Mr. Taylor a 
year before. Mr. Pierce formed a partnership with 
his brother, Jonas Pierce, and the two went on to- 
gether for three years, when the relation was termi- 
nated by limitation. During that period a one-story 
building, sixty feet by thirty, served the purposes of 
the firm, in which eight men were employed, besides 
the proprietors, who themselves performed their regu- 
lar day's labor with the others. The chairs produced, 
which met with ready sales, were carried to Boston 
by the then existing methods of transportation, a 
single team of two horses doing all the work at first, 
though at the end of the three years of partnership the 
business had grown so much as to require two teams 
of four horses each to meet its requirements in that 
regard. After continuing alone for some time Mr. 
Pierce associated with himself Philander Derby, one 



of his workmen, who remained a partner only two 
years, when Mr. Pierce assumed once more the sole 
control of afliiirs, going on prosperously as before. 
With the rapid growth of business, additions were 
made as seemed desirable to the shop included in the 
original purchase, until in 1858 it was deemed wise 
to begin a thorough readjustment of the entire estab- 
lishment, with its fixtures and appurtenances. Accord- 
ingly, someof the old buildings were removed to make 
room for the first part of the present spacious struct- 
ure, whose full proportions and complete equipment 
were reached nine or ten years afterward. Since that 
time additional buildings have been erected for work- 
shops or store-houses as the interests of the business 
required. The main factory, as it now stands, is 
ninety feet long.by forty-five wide, four stories high 
above the basement, with an addition of the same 
height fifty-six by thirty feet. Numerous other 
buildingi devoted to purposes incident to the business 
added to this, complete the outfit in the respect under 
notice of this great concern. The mechanical equip- 
ment now in use is of the most approved kinds and 
patterns, and is operated by a water-wheel of forty- 
five horse-power, with an accompanying steam-engine 
for supplementary purposes of seventy-five horse- 
power. Over a hundred men are employed in this 
establishment, and a business is done amounting to 
about 1175,000 annually. Some six years ago Mr. 
Pierce associated with himself his son. Prank J. 
Pierce, who had grown up in the manufacture and 
was well acquainted with its details, and who was 
therefore qualified to share with his father the 
responsibility of its management. By a sad fatality 
the senior member of the firm was stricken with 
pneumonia in the latter part of the winter of 1887-88, 
and died after an illness of only five days. Arrange- 
ments have been made between the several parties 
financially interested in this establishment, whereby 
it is now going on as hitherto, under the name of S. K. 
Pierce & Son, Mr. Frank J. Pierce being manager. 

John A. Dunn. — The business of chair-making 
was commenced on the location where now stands the 
large and bu.sy factory of John A. Dunn, in 1838, 
when Elijah Putnam bought the water privilege of 
Win. S. Lynde, and, having constructed a dam, moved 
his shop there, and supplying it with machinery, put 
himself and his men to work. Seven years after, Mr. 
Putnam sold out to Thorley Collester, Ruel G. Cowee 
and Benjamin H. Rugg, who continued the business 
under the firm-name of Cowee, Collester & Co. for a 
short time, when Maro Collester and Edward Stevens 
purchased Mr. Cowee's interest, and the style was 
changed to Collester, Rugg & Co. At a later day Maro 
Collester and EdwardStevens retired, and Franklin and 
George Eaton took their p'aces, when the firm-name 
was again changed to Collester, Rugg & Eaton. 
When Mr. Collester died, in 18G2, Mr. Rugg and 
George Eaton left, and Nathaniel Holmes became 
associated with Franklin Eaton, forming the comjiany 



838 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



of Eaton & Holmes. Later John A. Dunn was ad- 
mitted to the firm, which then toob the name of 
Eaton, Holme.'* & Co. In 1875 Mr. Holmes sold his 
interest to Isaac J. Dunn, brother of John A., and the 
firm-name became J. A. & I. J. Dunn, under which 
business was carried on till 1886, when John A. 
bought his brother's share and has since conducted 
the enterprise on his own behalf. Up to the year 
1859 or 1860 the machinery of the factory was run 
wholly by water-power, at which date, a large addi- 
tion having been made, a twenty- five horse-power 
tteam-engiiie was put in for supplementary purposes. 
In 1870 Eaton & Dunn exchanged this for one of one 
hundred horse-power, which is still in use. In 1877 
another considerable enlargement was made to the es- 
tablishment. The business has been increasing rapidly 
in later years and promises well for the future. The 
amount done advanced from one hundred and forty 
thousand dollars in 1SS5 to one hundred and seventy- 
five thousand dollars in 1887, and the extent of shop- 
room at the present date is twice what it was ten 
years ago, while the facilities for doing work have 
been multiplied proportionally. A great advantage 
was gained to ibis establishment and to others in the 
vicinity in 1881, when a spur of the Fitchburg Rail- 
road wa.1 laid, furnishing greatly-improved and much- 
needed conveniences for the transportation of stock 
and manufactured goods. 

Samuel Bent Bros. & Co.— This is one of the 
more recently formed chair manufacturing firms of 
the town, and one which, by inherent energy, close 
attention to business and personal integrity and honor 
on the part of those concerned in its management, 
has attained a well-merited success. The privilege 
on Mill Street which it occupies was first improved 
by John Merriam in 1822, who used it for the purpose 
of carding wool and fulling cloth. In 1836 he sold it 
to Sullivan Sawin, who had recently left the pail 
factory and settled near by, and it was fitted up for 
chair-making, the business being carried on by his 
son, Sullivan Sawin, Jr., in a small way for a few 
years. Sullivan, Jr., was succeeded by his brother, 
John, who improved the premises, increased the 
business and continued it for about twenty-five years. 
Besides some of the cheaper grades of wood-seat 
chairs and stools, he manufactured what were called 
office-chairs, which had a large run for a time. For 
many years he made a specialty of school furniture, 
both chairs and desks, which he sold to William G. 
Shattuck, of Boston, a large dealer in that kind of 
goods, and which through him were scattered far and 
wide throughout the country. He also made large 
quantities of children's chairs of different patterns 
and sizes, employing some six or eight men in his 
business. About the year 1860 he retired, and was suc- 
ceeded by his brother-in-law, A. Allen Bent, who had 
been many years in his service, and who run the estab- 
lishment with satisfactory results until 1869, when he 
disposed of the property to his younger brother, 



Charles, then just returned from California. Mr. A. 
A. Bent made a specially of children's chairs, but he 
also turned out bent work, some styles of which, 
designed by hims-elf, proved very popular, and are 
still jiroduced and put upon the market. Mr. Charles 
Bent at once associated with himself his brothers, 
Samuel and Eoderic L., under the name of Samuel 
Bent & Bros., and the firm started out on its prosperous 
career. They soon found it necessary to enlarge their 
accommodations, and improve in many ways their 
facilities for business, an experience repeated several 
times during their history. The old buildings have 
been removed and new ones, adapted to the growing 
wants of the manufacture, have taken their places. 
Their main shop is one hundred and twenty feet long 
by forty wide, two stories high with a commodious, 
well-lighted basement in which the heavier work is 
done. There is also a building one hundred and sixty 
feet long by forty wide, two stories high, which is used 
for a paint-shop and store- house, and in which is the 
ofiice of the firm. A large barn has recently been 
erected for the convenience of the business. In 1880 
a spur track was laid to the factory from the B. B. & 
G. Railroad, greatly improving the shi])ping facilities 
— the firm doing the grading at an expense of $-1000 
and the corporation laying the rails and furnishing 
the rolling-stock. Besides the common style and 
grade of goods produced by this enterprising concern, 
they supply the market with a large number and 
variety of children's toy chairs, mostly of fanciful 
design, for which there has in recent years been a 
great demand. Besides an excellent water-power, 
which is rendered doubly valuable by reason of the 
South Gardner Reservoir, elsewhere described, the 
establishment is provided with a fifty horse-power 
steam-engine for heating purposes, and for supple- 
menting the water-wheel if necessary. About one 
hundred men are employed, and an annual business 
is done of $150,000. Mr. Samuel Bent, the senior 
member of the company, died in 1883, his son, Charles 
Leslie Bent, succeeding him in the firm, the style of 
which was changed to S. Bent Bros. & Co. 

CoNANT & Bush. — This company consists of Chas. 
W. Conant, formerly member of the firm of Conant, 
Ball & Co., and C. Webster Bush, the present clerk 
of the town. In 1875, Mr. Conant, having withdrawn 
from active participation in the business with which 
he had been connected for some years, took the lead 
iu establishing the enterprise of which he is now the 
head, for the purpose of manufacturing reed and rat- 
tan chairs, getting out cane and doing other kin- 
dred work. The firm c immenced operations in 1883, 
in the building known as the "Alley Paint-Shop," 
near the railroad stations, which they had purchased, 
fitted up and furnished with new and improved ma- 
chinery suited to their special line of production, in- 
cluding a steam-engine for the supply of needed 
power. The venture proved successful, the firm ris- 
ing rapidly to a creditable and commanding position, 



GARDNER. 



839 



having produced the first year over a thousand bales 
of cane prepared for use, besides what they did in the 
chair-making department of their establishment. 
Two or three years later they entered into an arrange- 
ment with other cane-workers, whereby they engaged 
to suspend for a time that line of work, and have since 
confined themselves strictly to the manufacture of 
reed and rattan chairs in a manifold variety of useful 
and ornamental forms. They have recently purchased 
the "Carney Building," standing near the "Kendall 
Crossing," on South Main Street, and have fitted it up 
for the manufacture of all kinds of children's rattan 
carriages, which will hereafter hold a prominent place 
in their establishment. They have been employing, 
on an average, about a hundred men, and doing a 
business of $140,000 a year, which, by the enlarge- 
ment referred to, will be considerably increased in the 
immediate future. With ample accommodations and 
all needful appliances for turning out work, the pros- 
perity of this firm, managing theit affairs with char- 
acteristic enterprise and sagacity, is assured beyond 
all peradventure. 

CoSANT, Ball & Co. — In or about the year 1852 
Aaron B. Jackson and Aaron L. Greenwood purchased 
the water privilege which for many years had been 
utilized by the father of the former for running a 
grist-mill, with lands adjoining, located on the north 
side of Broadway, three-fourths of a mile west of the 
Sjuth Gardner post-office, upon which they erected a 
factory for making various styles of cane-seat and back 
chairs. Here they started and carried on business till 
1857 or 1858, when they sold out to Abner and Leander 
White, who continued the same under the name of 
A. White & Co. The leading member of this firm, 
Abner White, had been engaged in chair-making for 
many years in Gardner and elsewhere, and occupied, 
for a time, a notable place in that industry, though 
he seems to have been a wandering, rather than a 
fixed star in the brightening galaxy of chair manufac- 
turers. In the year 1802, John R. Conant, who had 
been previously associated with Mr. White, entered 
the firm, from which, a year later, Mr. Leander White 
retired, Charles W. Conant, brother of John R., suc- 
ceeding him. Mr. Abner White withdrew in 1866) 
and the business went on under the management and 
name of Conant Brothers for two years, when Carlos 
E. Ball, who had charge of the Boston department 
established some time before, entered the partnership, 
the name being changed to ('onant. Bill & Co., which 
itstill bears. Seven years later Charles W.Conant retired 
from active membership in the concern for the purpose 
of inaugurating a new undertaking, though he re- 
mained a silent partner till 1884, when he severed hit 
connection with it altogether. Additions were made 
to the shop and fixtures from time to time as the require- 
ments of the growing business dictated. Beginningwith 
the use of water-power alone, a gradual change to steam 
was made, resulting in its exclusive use in 1882, when 
the Gardner Water- Works were established and the 



control of the stream issuing from Crystal Lake, on 
which this factory was located, passed into the haudi 
of the corporation having charge of those works, by 
act of the Legislature. Early in the year 1888, the 
firm bought out the stand occupied by L. H. Sawia 
fora generation, to which the business has been trans- 
ferred with reasonable expectation of railroad facili- 
ties not hitherto enjoyed, and of an increased produc- 
tion of goods. The buildings recently taken posses- 
sion of are undergoing renovation, enlargement and a 
general improvement, as are all the accessories of 
the establishment. The works are operated by an 
engine of forty horse-power attached to a boiler of 
twice that capacity. The production of this firm has 
hitherto been restricted to a fine class of goods, mostly 
of mahogany, cherry and black walnut stock; but a 
decline in the popularity of the hitter of these woods 
has necessitated somewhat of a change in the material 
used, though not in the quality or style of the work, 
which has been distinguished for excellence and good 
taste wherever it has been known. The business of 
the firm has nearly doubled in ten years, amounting 
now to about §100,000 annually, and furnishing em- 
ployment to forty men. Within a few weeks the 
main factory, so lately vacated by this concern, has 
been destroyed by fire. 

L. H. Sawist & Co — In this connection it seenn 
proper to mention the immediate predecessors of the 
last-named company as now located, even though 
their name has disappeared from the list of those en- 
gaged in the distinguishing industry of the town. The 
senior member of the firm of L. H. Sawin & Co. is 
one of the oldest practical chair-makers in town, and 
has been identified with the business as workman and 
as manager for more than half a century. When but 
eighteen years of age, Levi Heywood Sawin learned 
the trade of making chairs under Messrs. Amasa Ban- 
croft and Frederick Parker, who carried on a small 
business in an insignificant shop on Elm Street. He 
went thence to the Heywood factory, where he re- 
mained for fifteen years, when, in 1851, he purchased 
the shop and privilege, just below, of Ezra Baker, to 
whose hands it had reverted after the occupancy of it 
by Mr. Elijah Putnam. It had been used for some 
years previous to Mr. Sawin's purchase by the firm of 
Levi Heywood & Company for getting out stock. It 
was immediately put in order for the manufacture of 
chairs, and the business was carried on in a small 
way for four years, when, larger and better accommo- 
dations being needed, Mr. Sawin removed the old 
building and erected a new and more commodious 
one, the beginning of the spacious establishment now 
occupying the site. The work increasing, Mr. Sawin, 
in 1861, received as a partner Mason J. Osgood, con- 
stituting the firm of Sawin & Osgood, which continued 
till 1869, when Mr. Osgood withdrew, giving place to 
Reuben H. Twitchell, son-in-law of Mr. Sawin, and 
Edward H. Sawin, his son, thus forming the new firm 
of L. H. Sawin & Co., which conliaued till the ter- 



8i0 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



mination of business, as heretofore stated, and the con- 
sequent dissolution of the partnership. An enhirge- 
ment of the factory was made in 1865, bringing it to 
its prtsent size of one hundred and twenty by forty 
feet, to which later subordinate additions were afiixed 
for necessity or convenience' sake. As in all the 
shops on the Crystal Lake stream, water-power was 
originally used as the motor, but was gradually 
superseded by steam-power, which has alone been 
used in later years. For some years thirty-five or 
forty men were employed here, producing goods to 
the value of fifty thousand dollars annually. 

A. & H. C. KxoWLTON & Co. — The establishment 
of this prosperous and reliable firm is located on North 
Main Street, forming one of the series of chair factor- 
ies deriving power originally from the Crystal Lake 
outlet, which has now become practically extinct. It 
was started in 1848 by Abner AVbite, who, having ob- 
tained possession of the site, purchased the old Cool- 
edge house, in the northwest part of the town,and moved 
it thither, fitting it up with machinery suited to chair- 
making purposes. Going on alone for two years, he 
took as a partner his brother Leander, whose share was 
purchased later on by Philander Derby, and the busi- 
ness continued under the name of White & Derby till 
1857, when Mr. Derby became sole owner and man- 
ager. In 18G1 Augustus Knowlton became associated 
with Mr. Derby under the name of Derby & Knowl- 
ton. Two years later Henry C. Knowlton, brother of 
Augustus, entered the firm, the name being changed 
to Derby, Knowlton & Co. In 1868, Mr. Derby and 
the Knowltons, who had been operating the present 
Derby factory for half a dozen years, separated, the 
latter retaining the site which they still occupy and 
conducting business under the name of A. & H. C. 
Knowlton. In 1881, Alec. E. Knowlton, son of H. C, 
entered the firm, the name being changed to A. & H. C. 
Knowlton & Co. A large addition was made to the 
original shop in 1857, and still another in 1881, ex- 
tending it to its present capacity. The main factory 
is one hundred feet by thirty, a part of it three stories 
high, with a basement. Attached to this is a two- 
story extension and store-houses, afibrding ample ac- 
commodations for the business. The machinery, with 
which the factory is fully equipped, is of the best 
known to the trade, and is run by an engine of ninetj-- 
six horse-power. Both cane and wood-seat chairs are 
produced, of a grade and quality of material and work- 
manship that give them a high standing wherever 
known. The firui has a branch house in Philadel- 
phia and also in Los Angeles, Cal. Fifty or sixty 
men are employed in Gardner, and the sales in 1887 
amounted to eighty-five thousand dollars. The firm 
has an honorable reputation iu the business commun- 
ity. 

EpHR.iiM Wright & Co. — This firm manufac- 
tures the standard kinds of cane-seat chairs, and 
gives constant employment to about thirty men. It 
occupies a site first improved about the year 1845, by 



Abner White, a man with a seeming genius for start- 
ing new enterprises, who moved to it a two-story 
house from Green Street, which he furnished with 
suitable machinery, and associating others with liim, 
went on with the manufacture of chairs until about 
1853, when he sold to Ephraim Wright, who had 
been doing a small business previously at South 
Gardner, and his son William, the two being associ- 
ated under the name of E. Wright & Co., by which 
the firm is still known. Subsequently another son, 
Edwin L. Wright, was received into the partnership, 
who is the present head of the establishment. The 
father died in 186G, and the two sons went on to- 
gether till 1882, when William also deceased, leaving 
his interest in the business to his widow, who still 
retains it. In 1871 the present main factory was 
erected, one hundred and twenty-five feet long by 
forty feet wide, three stories high in part and partly 
two. All requisite out-buildings are attached. Ade- 
quate power for the machinery of the concern is 
supplied by a steam-engine, all of the most approved 
kin<l. Without ambition for display or for startling 
results of any sort, the management of this enter- 
prise is content to move on in the even tenor of its 
way, maintaining a well-earned prosperity and an 
honorable reputation for fair dealing and the produc- 
tion of an excellent quality of goods for the market. 
The annual business done is about fifty thousand dol- 
lars. 

Wright & Read. — The senior member of this firm, 
David Wright, is believed to be the oldest living chair- 
maker in Gardner, with the exception of S.imuel S. 
Howe, who exceeds him in connection with the trade 
by about two years. He began service with Elijah 
Putnam in 1826, and afterward worked for Horatio N. 
Bolton in the old Bickford potash-shop and for others 
till about 1836, when he entered a co-partnership with 
the late Calvin S. Greenwood, thus establishing the 
firm of CTreenwood & Wright, so well known in former 
days. This firm conducted business under varying 
auspices at the privilege now utilized by the C. S. 
Greenwood's Sons and elsewhere for many years, pur- 
chasing the present Wright & Read location, which 
they had previously rented about the year 1858 of 
Marcius L. Gates, who had bought the property after 
the relinquishment of the manufacture of pine furni- 
ture in it by Bradford & Baker. Upon the dissolution 
of the firm of Greenwood & Wright a few years later, 
and the consequent division of property, Mr. Wright 
received the shop and fixtures under notice. Asso- 
ciating with him John M. Moore, the manufacture 
went on under the name of Wright & Moore. A 
disastrous fire in 1866 destroyed the shops with their 
contents, but they were at once rebuilt substantially 
as they now are and made ready for occupancy. In 
1872 Charles F. Read, the son-in-law of Mr. Wright, 
took an interest in the business, and the firm-name 
was changed to Wright, Moore & Co. Five years 
after, Mr. Moore withdrew, and the business was con- 



I 



GARDNEE. 



841 



tinued by the others, taking the name, still borne, of 
AVright & Rend. The e.-tablishmeiit imludes a capa- 
cious, well-lurnirhed factory, partly four and partly 
three storie-f high, a two-story paint-shop and other 
needful buildings adjacent thereto. This firm pro- 
duces many kinds of bent work, facilities for bending 
constituting a part of their equipment. Dining, 
library and otfice chairs, with both fixed and rotary 
seats, are found among its goods; also children's 
chairs of different patterns and styles of finish. 
Forty hands are employed, with a yearly production 
of about fifty thousand dollars. The works are run 
by water-power, which has the benefit of the series of 
reservoirs above, while a steam-engine used for heat- 
ing purposes could be called into service as a motor 
if needed. Mr. Wright has practically retired from 
the management of the business, although he retains 
an interest in it, his good name contributing still to 
its prosperity and success. 

C. S. Greenwood's Sons. — This firm, consisting 
of Charles H. and Frederick M. Greenwood, occupy 
the site in the easterly part of South Gardner Village, 
opposite the Baptist Church, where Albert Bickford, 
in the early days of chair-making, built a dam on 
land belonging to his father's estate, erected a shop 
and fitted it up with sawn and lathes for the prepara- 
tion of chair stock. Mr. Bickford carried on this 
business for some years, when Greenwood & Wright, 
who had associated together for the manufacture of 
chairs, purchased the property and, having supplied 
the requisite facilities, commenced operations there. 
They went on, for about twenty years, increasing 
their accommodations to meet the demands of their 
growing business by enlarging their shops, by rent- 
ing additional room in the vicinity, and ultimately 
by the purchase of the premises referred to above, 
mw owned by Wright & Read. About the year 1857 
the partnership was merged into and succeeded by 
the Sauth Gardner Manufacturing Company, a joint- 
stock corporation, in which the employc-j and others 
were privileged (o hold shares and participate in 
whatever results might be realized. Not proving sat- 
isfactory, this experiment was abandoned at the e.\- 
])iralion of a year and a half, the several enterprises^ 
combined in it resolving themselves into their pre- 
vious conditions under their old names. Soon after. 
Greenwood & Wright dissolved partnership and di- 
vided the properly, the original stand being assigned 
to Mr. Greenwood. He continued the business, asso- 
ciating with himself about this time William Hogan, 
who subsequently died, by which event Mr. Greenwood 
became sole owner and manager, going on by himself 
till his death, in 1873. He was succeeded by his 
sons, named at the head of this sketch, who continue 
to this day. 

The large, though somewhat inconvenient, shops of 
the firm were burned on the day following the town's 
Centennial Celebration, in June, 1885, but a building 
better adapted to the special needs of the establish- 



ment was immediately erected and filled with im- 
proved machinery, so that work can go on with 
greater efficiency than before. About twenty men 
are employed, and business is mostly done under con- 
tract. Fancy chairs of various patterns are a spe- 
cialty, and much is done in the way of producing, 
upon order, new styles of goods, which are in great 
demand. 

Greenwood Bros. & Co. — The site upon which 
this firm is located has been in possession of the same 
family for four successive generations. It was in- 
cluded in the original purchase of the great-grand- 
father of the present proprietors, Jonathan Green- 
wood, who came from Sherburne to Gardner about 
the time of its incorporation. He located at first on 
the old County Road from Lancaster to Athol, — the 
first thoroughfare through the town, — some twenty or 
thirty rods ?outh\vest of the present mill-site, where 
he lived till the opening of the Fifth Massachusetts 
Turnpike, in 1800. He then erected the large two- 
story house now standing on the premises, opened a 
hotel which he kept during the remainder of his life. 
He died in 1821 and was succeeded by his son, Walter, 
who was a cooper by trade, carrying on business in a 
little shop near by, and having as an associate for a 
time one Jonas Childs. Thiit business failing, Mr. 
Greenwood converted his cooper-shop into a chair- 
shop, and began making chairs in 1827, with a single 
man, Joseph Maynard, to help him. The new busi- 
ness proving profitable, he built, in 1834, a dam 
across Pew Brook, which flowed in the rear of his 
house, erected a shop in which he put a few simple 
kinds of machinery to be operated by water-power, 
for carrying on the work. For some years he did 
quite a large business with flag-seats, but later used 
cane-seats, preparing the cane on his own premises. 
He continued in the manufacture until his death, in 
1861, when his son, Thomas, followed him in the 
same line of production. In 1870 the shop was con- 
siderably enlarged and an improved water-wheel was 
put in, greatly augmenting the available power. A 
large store-house was built in 1882, adding increased 
accommodations to the establishment. 

Thomas Greenwood died early in the year 1888, but 
the business is going on in the same lines pursued by 
him under the direction of hi-< two sons, Charles W. 
and Marcus J. Greenwood, who, with their mother, 
constitute the firm whose name appears at the head 
of this sketch. Cane rocking-chairs are a specialty 
among the goods produced. The lack of railroad 
facilities is a hindrance to the highest success of this 
enterprise, though it is otherwise well-equipped for 
bu>iness, has a good market secured and a reputation 
for honest and honorable work, all of which gives the 
young men upon whom the burden of management 
has fallen, an excellent opportunity to attain for 
themselves an enviable reputation and a successful 
career. They employ some twelve or fifteen hands 
and p.oduce an excellent quality of goods. 



842 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



James Sawyer. — Mr. Sawyer, whose place of 
business is on Travers Street, near its junction with 
South Main Street, occupies the oldest improved mill 
privilege in the town. It was first used in or before 
the year 1770, when Mr. Bickford, from Beading, came 
to the place, then Westminster, and, purchasing a 
large tract of land in the vicinity on which was this 
site, proceeded to erect a saw and grist-mill for the 
convenience of the new settlement. In this double 
capacity it served for many years, under the manage- 
ment of the builder and his son, Captain William 
Bickford, of later memory. In 1829 the property, 
still consisting of a saw and grist-mill, with the privi- 
lege and rights thereto belonging, was sold to Elijah 
Travers, who, after a time, added to his original pur- 
chase a shop for the manufacture of chairs, in which 
his sons carried on business under different auspices 
for many years. After their decease the property 
passed through the hands of Stearns & Whittemore 
to those of James Sawyer, who has since been en- 
gaged there in making cane-seat chair frames, doing 
a small but prosperous business in that department 
of the general trtide. 

Lumber Manufactuke.— In the early days of the 
history of Gardner tliere were six saw-mills erected 
in different localities upon its territory, for the tup- 
ply of the new and growing community with lumber 
for building purposes. These were severally the 
Bickford Mill, which stood where James Sawyer's 
shop now is, owned by William Bickford ; one where 
the Lewis A. Wright & Co.'s works now are, on High 
Street, owned by Jonathan Greenwood ; one at the 
Pail Factory, owned by Joshua Whitney ; one on 
Kneeland Brook, near Parker Street, where the Dr. 
Parker Mill now stands, owned by Simon Stone ; one 
on Bailey Brook, near the junction of West and 
Bridge Streets, and one on Wilder Brook, north of 
Clark Street, the ownership of the last two being un- 
known. Subsequently one was built in the northeast 
part of the town, near the present homestead of 
Ebenezer Ballou, and at a still later date one in the 
east part, on a stream running into Westminster, near 
where it is crossed by the railroad. The products of 
these mills found, for the most part, a ready home 
market, little being done in the way of exportation. 
After a time, the original growth of wood being cut 
off, some of these mills were abandoned altogether, 
while others were converted into shops for the getting 
out of chair stock or the making of chairs. Two 
only have remained true to their original purpose 
through all the passing years. One of these — the 
Simon Stone Mill — was for a long time run by the 
late Dr. David Parker, or by agents to whom he re- 
linquished the business in the latter part of his life, 
some eight or ten men being employed in getting out 
about twelve thousand dollars' worth of lumber an- 
nually. 

The other establishment of this kind, and the only 
one, practically, in operation, is that of Lewis A. 



Wright & Co., on High Street, occupying the site of 
the original Jonathan Greenwood Mill. Near the 
beginning of the present century, Mr. Greenwood 
sold to Joseph Wright, then recently from Sterling, 
whose descendants have retained possession of the 
privilege to the present day. It passed first to Jo- 
seph's sons — Joseph and Nathaniel — the latter of 
whom had charge of it for many years. Upon his 
death the property came into the hands of his son, 
Marcus A. Wright, who associated with himself Da- 
vid A. Wright and Calvin S. Greenwood, under the 
firm-name of Marcus A. Wright & Co., and continued 
business till 1S57, when the whole thing was united 
with other interests in the formation of the South 
Gardner Manufacturing Company. Upon the aban- 
donment of that undertaking, the mill, fixtures and 
appurtenances reverted to their former condition and 
management. In 1877 Mr. Marcus A. Wright bought 
out his partners and went on alone till his death, in 
1883. He was succeeded by his son, Lewis A. Wright, 
a young man just coming to maturity, under whose 
charge the business has been greatly enlarged and 
abundantly prospered. The enterprise bears the 
name of Lewis A. Wright & Co., the mother of the 
present manager having an interest in it. In addi- 
tion to the manufacture of lumber the firm deals 
largely in the product of other localities — -in Michi- 
gan and Canada pine, black walnut and a good as- 
sortment of the harder woods. During the present 
year this department has been greatly enlarged by 
the purchase of the extensive concern of George E. 
Utley & Co., wholesale and retail lumber dealers, lo- 
cated at the junction of North Main and Mechanic 
Streets, near the railroad, which will add very much 
to the convenience both of the firm and of their cus- 
tomers, it being the design to make this hereafter the 
chief depot for the sale of goods. The business of 
this establishment has doubled within the last ten 
years, and the present outlook is better than ever be- 
fore. 

Children's Carriages, Chairs and Toys. — In 
the year 1868, Levi Warren bought the premises on 
Mill Street, where this industry is now carried on, of 
Mr. Henry Whitney, building a dam and erecting a 
shop for the purpose of getting out chair-backs. 
Prosecuting this kind of work for awhile, he afterward 
converted the building into a factory for the manu- 
facture of toys. Subsequently he received as a part- 
ner John Lovewell, who at the expiration of three 
years purchased his interest and became sole pro- 
prietor and manager of the business. Not succeeding 
in the enterprise, Levi B. Ramsdell, one of Mr. Love- 
well's creditors, bought the property in 1877, and, 
associating with himself G. C. Goodell, under the style 
of Ramsdell & Goodell, continued the business for 
two or three years, when Mr. Ramsdell became sole 
proprietor by purchase, and has s-ince gone on by 
himself. The business has increased rapidly under 
Mr. Ramsdell's management, a large trade having 



GARDNER. 



843 



been built up, extending throughout the United 
States and even to England, necessitating an addition 
to the shop and greater facilities generally. Unfor- 
tunately, a destructive fire in April, 1887, resulted in 
a complete loss of buildings and their equipment. 
With commendable enterprise and zeal, the proprietor 
immediately rebuilt his establishment, supplied it 
with new and improved machinery, and is going on 
prosperously as before. The South Gardner stream 
furnishes power for running the works. Employment 
is given to thirty-five or forty men, who turn out 
goods to the value of forty thousand dollars annually. 

Eave Troughs, Pumps, Ladders, Etc. — In the 
year 1874 Charles O. Stone, with his brother E. A. 
Stone, came to Gardner from Hubbardston, where 
they had been associated in business for two years, 
and, after erecting what is known as the Carney Build- 
ing, at Kendall's Crossing, set up there their former line 
of manufacture. At the e.xpiration of five years C. O. 
Stone sold his interest to his brother, who was sole 
owner for a time, when Charles bought the whole and 
has been going on by himself to the present time. 

In 1882 Mr. Stone disposed of his building on 
South Main Street, and erected a new one on Chestnut 
Street, where he is now located. Without power till 
1885, he then put in an engine, and introduced ma- 
chinery suited to the manufacture of his own goods, 
many kinds of which he had previously procured 
ready-made. He also added to his original business 
that of getting out house- finishing stuff for carpen- 
ters' use. A Weymouth lathe and other facilities 
for variety-turning were put in a year later. Mr. 
Stone has recently sold the house-finish and turning 
department to A. Priest & Son, who conduct it on 
their own account, while he confines himself solely 
to his original line of work. His trade has increased 
one hundred per cent, during the past five years. A 
branch shop is maintained at Fitchburg, though all 
the manufacturing is done at Gardner. Sales are 
generally made in the region round-about, teams 
being upon the road for the distribution of goods 
through the greater part of the year. 

Chair Machinery. — As has already been sug- 
gested, the larger factories for the production 
of chairs have a machine-shop attached thereto for 
doing their own repair-work, and, in some instances, 
for making their own machines. Of these no note 
needs to be specially taken in this review. There is, 
beside these, one establishment devoted exclusively 
to the manufacture of chair machinery and appli- 
ances pertaining to such machinery — the only one 
of the kind, it is claimed, in the country. It was 
founded in the year 187G, when Levi G. McKnight, 
from Connecticut, came to Gardner and, associating 
with himself a Mr. Carter, leased shop-room of P. 
Derby & Co., and began business in the line under 
notice. At the end of two years they moved to the 
Foundry, where the business was carried on two 
yeare more, Mr. Carter meanwhile leaving the firm. 



In 1880 another change was made to a building be- 
longing to A. & H. C. Knowlton, Mr. McKnight 
taking another partner, the style of the firm being L. 
G. McKnight & Co. During that year the present 
spacious accommodations were provided, and at its 
close were occupied. They consist of a main build- 
ing, fifty feet by forty, two stories high, with a base- 
ment for storage purposes. A fifteen horse-power 
engine, with a twenty-five horse-power boiler, drives 
the machinery. Twenty-five men are employed and 
goods are sent all over this country, and also to Can- 
ada and some of the countries of Europe. Seventy- 
five machines, designed particularly for the making 
of chairs, are produced, many of them the fruit of 
Mr. McKnight's own inventive skill, who has the 
reputation of being a superior mechanic and a trust- 
worthy and honorable business man. . 

Iron Ca.stings. — The Heywood Foundry Co. was 
established in 1876, and prepared for business by 
erecting, off Chestnut Street, below Cross Street, near 
the railroad track, a brick building fifty feet square, 
two stories high, with a moulding-room attached, 
eighty feet by fifty, and furnishing the whole with 
fixtures and conveniences for making all kinds of 
iron castings. The furnace is of ample dimensions, 
and a steam-engine of thirty-five horse-power runs 
the works. Three tons of iron are melted per day, 
and the business amounts to about .'S-10,000 per year. 
Thirty men ai'e employed. The firm, as now consti- 
tuted, consists of Alvin M. Greenwood and Jonas K. 
Davis, Mr. Davis being the active manager of the 
establishment. As germane to their special work, 
the firm were interested for some years in the manu- 
facture of a cooking-range, which had an extensive 
sale. They are now making what is called the Royal 
Steam Heater, of which they have the entire control. 
It is said to serve an excellent purpose and is being 
introduced quite largely, in town and elsewhere. 

Oil-Stoves, Lamps, Etc. — This industry was 
started in 1884 by an incorporated body of gentle- 
men, of which Calvin H.Hill was president; Wil- 
liam H. Wilder, treasurer, and Charles A. Fletcher, 
business manager ; with a capital of $10,000. At the 
expiration of three years, Mr. Fletcher having sold 
out his interest, Messrs. Hill and Wilder, with Alvin 
M. Greenwood, formed a partnership, and have since 
carried on the business. The chief work done is the 
manufacture of oil-stoves of a special pattern (of 
which they are the exclusive owners), and lamps 
corresponding thereto, adapted to healing purposes. 
They claim to produce an article superior to all others 
of a similar kind, with none of their defects. The 
businet-s has had a remarkable growth, and is in an 
exceedingly prosperous condition, the demand for 
goods but recently put upon the market, exceeding 
the ability to supply them. Beginning four years 
ago, with a single workman, in a small room in the 
Foundry Building, they now employ forty hands, and 
occupy an entire factory, built and equipped for 



844 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



their own use in 1887. It is located in the rear of 
the foundry, and has unsurpassed railroad facilities. 
Every part of the articles produced is made in the 
establishment. Work is done mostly on orders 
received through special agencies at Baltimore, Chi- 
cago, Atlanta, Ga., and other large cities. A consid- 
erable export trade has also been secured. 

Tin-Ware Manufacture. — The establishment 
representing this industry is a lineal descendant of 
the little shop started in Templeton in 1825 by John 
Boynton, whose success in the business enabled 
him to found by bequest that excellent institution 
at Worcester — the " Worcester County Technical 
Institute." Mr. Boynton late in life associated 
with himself David Whitcomb (having had other 
partners previously), under the name of Boynton 
& Whitcomb. They were followed in the business 
by Colonel Henry and William Smith, brothers, who 
had charge of it till 1870, when, the former having 
retired, the latter formed a partnership with Andrew 
H. Jaquith, the senior member of the present firm. 
In 1877 the business was transferred to Gardner, the 
interest of Mr. Smith passing into the hands of 
Charles F. Kichardson. Buildings suited to the 
manufacture had been erected on North Main Street, 
near the railroad stations, which were destroyed by 
fire in 1883, when the more spacious and convenient 
ones, now occupied, took their place. For five years 
the present company, bearing the firm-name of Ja- 
quith & Richardson, restricted themselves to the old 
line of production, the making of tinware and cor- 
responding goods, but in 1882 a stove and furnace 
department was established, whereby the field of 
ojieration was materially enlarged, and the enterprise 
greatly benefited. The efforts of the proprietors have 
been duly rewarded by a healthful increase of busi- 
ness, including a large traffic in paper-stock, the 
whole amounting annually to about $50,000. They 
have one of the largest and best appointed ware- 
houses in the county, and are continually introducing 
new features to their trade, which inure alike to their 
own advantage and that of their patrons. 

Harness-Making. — This branch of handicraft was 
started in a small way in 1869 by George K. Godfrey, 
who, by close attention to business, excellence of 
work, promptness and reliability in the fulfillment of 
contracts and gentlemanly demeanor, has built it up 
to its present proportions and condition of thrift and 
prosperity. It is located in the Bank Building at the 
Central Village, where may be found not only a fine 
array of the proprietor's own manufactured articles 
but an extensive assortment of kindred goods, such as 
trunks, valises, carriage robes, whips, &c., and where 
there are ample facilities for carrying on the work. 
The production is largely custom made, though con- 
siderable supplies are furnished the general trade. 
The goods are regarded as of superior quality in respect 
to both stock and workmanship, and the Godfrey 
harness, the work of which is performed by hand, has 



attained an enviable reputation throughout New 
England. Some twenty or twenty-five men are em- 
ployed, who turn out twelve or fifteen thousand har- 
nesses a year, besides considerable corresponding 
work. 

Photo-Mechanical Printing.— Warren P. Allen 
is the oldest photographer in Gardner. He came to 
town in 1864, from Keene, N. H., with a traveling car 
fitted up for making pictures, and located at the South 
Village, where he remained several years. He then 
opened rooms in Market Block, on Chestnut Street, 
ne;ir Central, in which he practiced his art eleven 
years, and gained for himself a wide reputation as a 
faithful and skilKul workman. When the Lithotype 
Publishing Company, mentioned below, was first or- 
ganized, in 1879, Mr. Allen connected himself with it 
for a time, helping to give it a start and to put its 
work before the community. Afterwards he com- 
menced at the West VHlage what he denominates 
photo-mechanical printing, an invention partly his 
own, where he remained three years, developing and 
improving his specialty and getting his art recognized 
and appreciated by the general public. The demand 
for his style of pictures increasing, lie outgrew his ac- 
commodations and sought the larger and better ones 
in the building of Howe Bros., on Chestnut Street, 
near North Main, where he noAV is. He does his own 
work mostly, and his productions are deservedly pop- 
ular. Excellent specimens of what he can do are to 
be found in the views he has furnished for illustrated 
sketches of Bellows Falls, Vt., Holyoke, Mass., 
Elgin, III., Wellesley and Princeton Colleges, &c., 
the character, standing and high culture of his pa- 
trons attesting to the artistic excellence and thorough- 
ness of what he gives in his line to the world. 

Lithotype Publishing. — In the year 1879 Mr. 
A. G. Bushnell, who since 1869 had been connected 
with the Gardiur News as editor and general man- 
ager, becoming interested in a new style of producing 
pictures, associated with himself Mr. W. H. Cowee, 
Charles Hey wood, and perhaps others, and started 
what is called the lithotype publishing busine^s. Be- 
fore getting fairly established. Mr. Heywood, an im- 
portant member of the partnership, died, causing a 
partial suspension of the work for awhile, although 
Mr. Cowee assumed the care of it and continued it on 
his own responsibility for several years. In 1886 new 
interest in the enterprise was awakened, and a cor- 
poration was constituted called the Lithotype Print- 
ing and Publishing Company, with a capital of ten 
thousand dollars, of which Charles D. Burrage was 
president, W. H. Cowee, secretary, and Herbert S. 
Stratton, treasurer and manager. The following 
year the capital was increased to twenty-five thousand 
dollars, the business going on as before. In 1888 a 
private company, consisting of Burrage & Stratton, 
bought out the corporation and arc now going on 
under the name of the Lithotype Publishing Com- 
pany, prosperously and promisingly. Twenty-five lith- 



GARDNER. 



845 



otype presses are in use, and fifty-five or sixty persons, 
mostly young women, are employed in the large, well- 
Curnished establishment on Green Street. The work 
now done amounts to sixty or seventy thousand dol- 
lars a year, and is of excellent quality, growing con- 
tinually in popular favor. Much attention is given 
to furnishing illustrations for fami!_v and town his- 
tories, sketi-hes of interesting localities, popular re- 
sorts, manufacturing centres, educational institutions 
and .similar kinds of delineation for which there is a 
constantly increasing call. The company has re- 
cently purchased an engraving establishment in New 
York City, which is running in connection with the 
Gardner house, under the care of Mr. A. G. Bushnell, 
agent. 

Silver- Ware. — One of the later industries now 
in operation in Gardner is that of the manufacture of 
the more substantial and serviceable articles of 
silver-ware, which was started in the year 1887 by 
Frank W. Smith, who came from Concord, N. H. 
where he had previously been engaged in the same 
business. A commodious brick building three stories 
high, with a basement, was erected on Chestnut Street 
near the corner of Walnut, and thoroughly furnished 
with the most modern machinery and appliances for 
carrying on the work. Only skillful hands are em- 
ployed, of whom there are forty-five in number, in- 
cluding several women, and only solid sterling silver 
goods are produced. This is a valuable acquisition 
to the mauutacturing interests of the town, having 
the promise of a prosperous future before it, and 
destined to shine with a lustre distinctively its 
own, varied, enriched and beautified at times with 
golden hues. 

Buick-MakIjSTG. — A large section of territory in 
the southern part of the town has an aluminous or 
clayey subsoil unusually free from foreign substances 
and lying in many places quite near the surface of 
the ground, which renders the manufacture of brick 
at numerous points comparatively easy of accomplish- 
ment. At what particular date, or in what locality, 
this business was first started here has not been as- 
certained. But it is understood by the older inhabit- 
ants that the material of which the Bickford house 
in South Gardner was built, shortly after the town's 
incorporation, was obtained on the premises and 
moulded and burned theie ready for final use. Abel 
Jackson at an early day made brick near by where 
the yards and factory of George N. Dyer are now 
located, some tokens of which are still to be seen. 
And the present stand of Abijah Hinds has been 
devoted to this industry for a long term of years. 
For two generations or more the only brick made in 
town were the product of this establishment, the 
father of the present proprietor carrying on the 
business in his day. The demand of the com- 
munity could then be met by this one concern, and 
there was no necessity for another yard. With the 
growth of the place and the increasing tendency to 



put up brick buildings, even the home market was 
greater than Mr. Hinds, with all his facilities, which 
he had multiplied as time went on, could supply. 
And so Mr. H. N. Dyer, an old brick-maker of 
Templeton, seeing the opportunity, came to town, 
purchased the property where his son, George N. 
Dyer, now carries on the business, and there, near 
the site of the old Jackson yard, started anew. He 
soon gave way to his son, who has been highly pros- 
pered, his trade increasing from year to year, necessi- 
tating a constant increase of productive power. He 
has made the present year one and a half million 
bricks, for most of whiih he finds a ready sale 
within the limits of the town. For several years he 
produced a fine quality of pressed brick, the clay on 
his grounds being suited to that kind of goods, 
but at present he deems it more profitable to limit 
his production to the more common grades. Both 
Mr. Dyer and Mr. Hinds employ steam-power to run 
their machinery, which is of the latest and best 
pattern, and their iiicilities for speedy and etlicient 
work are excellent and unsurpassed in all the region 
round-about. Mr. Hinds turns out about seven 
hundred and fifty thousand bricks a year, making 
the entire production of the town two and a quarter 
millions. 

Carriages and Sleighs.— The principal estab- 
lishment fur the manufacture of carriages and other 
vehicles is located in South Gardner village, near the 
railroad crossing, and is conducted by Lyman Sawin 
and his son, Wm. O. Sawin. The senior member of 
the firm came to Gardner from Ashburnham more 
than thirty years ago, and entering into partnership 
with Amasa Lovewell, carried on the general black- 
smithing business for a dozen years, when he sold out 
and went to Ashby. After an absence of a year or 
two he returned, and having erected the buildings 
since occupied by him started anew, combining the 
wheelwright business with his former trade. The 
call for his work increasing, he took his son into com- 
pany with him and subsequently consolidated his 
business with that of Albert Barron, who had for 
some years made carriages in a portion of his shop, 
assuming the style of the South Gardner Carriage 
Company. Besides common carriages, the firm made 
a specialty of heavy team wagons and gained a repu- 
tation for thorough and substantial work. They also 
manufactured open and top buggies and sleighs of 
various patterns. The carriage business declining 
somewhat, more attention latterly has been given to 
repairs, other work being done chiefly upon orders. 
Half a dozen men find employment in the establish- 
ment. A similar enterpri.se of some years' standing 
has recently been re-organized, bearing the name of 
the Chestnut Street Carriage Manufactory, in which 
James D. Gay and others are interested, and Town- 
send L. Bennett, Ko. 10 Cross Street, does something 
incidentally in the same line of manufacture. 

Graik and Flouring-Mills. — The need of the 



846 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



early settlers of Gardner in respect to the grinding of 
corn and otlier cereals for domestic use was originally 
met by the putting in a set of stones in connection 
with facilities for sawing lumber by William Bickford 
as early as 1770 or 1775; and a few years later a 
gristmill was built in tlie north part of the town 
near the school-house on the site, probably, which 
was afterwards occupied by the Cowee Brothers as a 
chair factory. More recently an extensive business 
has been done in the same direction by T. Augustus 
and Marshall M. Howe, under the name of Howe 
Brothers, who succeeded by purchase the late Charles 
W. Bush in the nianutaeture of meal and flour at the 
factory on Mill Street near Sawyer. This privilege 
had a varied and somewhat unfortunate his'.ory dur- 
ing the earlier years of its occupancy. In or about 
the year 1824, Luke Sawin and Dr. David Parker, 
then a new resident of the town, bought the Abel 
Jackson farm, which covered a large tract of land in 
the vicinity, including the site under notice. Mr. 
Sawin soon built a dam and erected a shop, which he 
fitted up for the purpose of getting out chair stock. 
The business went on but a sliort time, the shop being 
burned. Henry Whitney then purchased the privi- 
lege and lands adjoining, erecting a saw-mill upon it, 
which was also destroyed by fire in 1834. The mill 
was immediately rebuilt and run a few years as be- 
fore, when it was sold to Daniel J. Goodspeed, who 
converted it into a factory for the making of chairs, 
having enlarged the facilities by putting up an ad- 
diliojial building to suit bi.s needs. In 1852 a third 
fire destroyed the buildings and their contents. 
Charles Travers bought the premises and put up a new 
chair-shop, which was run by himself for awhile and 
then sold to Charles Britton, from Westmoreland, N. 
H., who, being a carpenter, used it for getting out 
moldings, trimmings and stock in general for his 
trade. It afterward passed into the hands of Calvin 
Conant, who reconverted it into a chair-shop for his 
own use. Subsequently it came into the pos-ession 
of Charles W. Bush, who removed the old machinery 
and fitted it up as a meal and flour-producing mill, in 
which capacity it has remained till now. Howe 
Brothers, the present proprietors, have occupied it 
for eighteen years, doing a large and gi'owing busi- 
ness, amounting at this time to an annual value of 
$60,000. 

RiiADY-MADE Clothing. — The Monadnock Cloth- 
ing House may be regarded as the representative of 
one of the important industries of the place, inasmuch 
as the goods in which it deals are to a large extent 
manufactured on the premises. Its stock embraces 
every style, grade and quality requisite for the wear 
of men, boys and even children. The establishment 
was founded by E. Ballard and A. A. .Terould in 1809, 
it being the first ready-made clothing store in town. 
Passing through some changes, it came into the hands 
of Mr. Samuel Despeaux, a veteran in the trade, in 
1880, who gave it the name it now bears. It has one 



of the largest and best appointed sales-rooms in this 
section of the State, carrying a heavy stock and doing 
an extensive business. There are several other ready- 
made clothing stores in town, besides some half-dozen 
merchant tailors, so that the needs of the public in 
this regard are abundantly supplied. 

Marble-Cutting. — Mr. T. J. Staff'ord, an expe- 
rienced marble-worker, came from Cambridge in 1870 
and commenced the marble-cutting business in Mar- 
ket Block near tlie head of Chestnut Street. Building 
up a resi>ectable and satisfactory trade, he, after sev- 
eral changes, located in the shop erected for his 
use toward the lower end of the same street, where he 
now is. Numerous tomb-stones and monumental 
pieces of various design and styles of finish in the 
burial-places of the town and vicinity testify to the 
artistic excellence and superior quality of his work. 
Messrs. John E. Partridge & Co., located near the 
railroad station, and .loseph C. Sargent, 105 Chestnut 
Street, are engaged in the same line of business. 

Contractors and Builders. -Milton M. Favor, 
a native of Bennington, N. H., came to Gardner in 
1867, and after working awhile for Heywood Bros. & 
Co., started business on his own account. He has had 
a large patronage, having erected, since locating in 
the place, over five hundred buildings in this and ad- 
jacent towns, or about twenty-five a year. He em- 
ploys a force of from sixty to seventy-fi ve men, accord- 
ing to the season and demand for work. In the same 
business are John E. Hosmer, Wm. N. Moore, Cyrus 
F. Boutelle, Michael J. Ryan, George B. Hager, Jo- 
seph J. Gale & Son, Silas Holt and Thomas Wheeler. 

Printing and Publishing. — The first printing- 
office was opened in Gardner in the year 1868, when 
A. G. Bushnell, formerly of Templeton, took posses- 
sion of one room in the third story of the bank 
building, where he was engaged in doing job work 
till the following spring, when, his business having 
increased sufficiently to warrant it, he employed an 
assistant. About that time the project of starting a 
local weekly paper was agitated, resulting in the 
organization of an enterprise for the purpose of car- 
rying that project into effect. Charles Heywood asso- 
ciated himself with Mr. Bushnell under thefirm-uame 
of A. G. Bushnell & Co., and a prospectus for a paper 
was immediately issued. Satisfactory patronage be- 
ing promised, the first number of the Gardner News 
was published July 3, 1869. The original subscrip- 
tion price was two dollars a year, but the patronage 
increasing, it was soon reduced to one dollar and fifty 
cents. The size of the paper, to begin with, was 
twenty-two by thirty-two inches folio, containing 
twenty-four columns of matter, or six columns to a 
page, but has been much enlarged since. Though 
chiefly a local journal, it yet contains much general 
news, and has correspondents in all the neighboring 
towns, thus representing a wide constituency and secur- 
ing a circulation far beyond the limits of Gardner. It 
claims to be independent in religion and politics. 



GARDNEK. 



847 



fearless in expressing honest convictions upon ques- 
tions of private and public morality, and especially 
desirous of promoting the welfare and prosperity of 
the town. It has always been a bright, wide-awake 
publication, displaying more than average editorial 
ability and maintaining a creditable standing among 
its contemporaries. Upon the death of Charles Hey- 
wood, in 1882, Mr. Bushnell became sole proprietor, 
as he had been sole manager from the inception of 
the undertaking. In 1885 he sold the whole estab- 
lishment, including the paper, to Asa E. Stratton, of 
Fitchburg, who now has its several departments in 
charge, conducting the business on the .same general 
lines as before. The circulation of the Neim is twen- 
ty-one hundred. The business of job printing has 
increased from year to year, making frequent addi- 
tions of materials and machinery necessary as well 
as new accessions of room, so that the entire floor of 
the third story of the bank building is required for 
the use of the establishment, which now commands 
the service of from twelve to fifteen employes. 

In the year 1880 Mr. E. J. Fuller, from AVinchen- 
don, started a second paper in town, called the 
Gardner Record, having his headquarters in Stevens' 
Block, West Village. In the fall of 1883 the office 
was removed to the building of Howe Brothers, near 
the depot. The following June Mr. Fuller sold to 
Charles Adams and Daniel Rowe, when the name of 
the sheet was changed to the Worcester County Demo- 
crat, in order that its title might indicate the politics 
which the new proprietors designed to have repre- 
sented in its columns. Struggling on for two years 
under much difficulty, the experiment of a daily is- 
sue was tried for a few weeks in the hope, apparently, 
of retrieving its falling fortunes, but it had practi- 
cally the opposite eifect, and late in 1886 yielded to 
the inevitable, and ceased to be. At the end of 
about three months R. W. and C. A. J. Waterman, 
of Athol, purchased the stock and fixtures of the of- 
fice, removed them to Opera-House Block, Pine 
Street, near Lynde, and commenced the publication 
of the Gardner Journal under the firn'-name of 
Waterman & Son. The first number was issued 
April 12, 1887, and was favorably received by the 
public, obtaining at the start a respectable list of 
subscribers, which has increased since, until at the 
expiration of twenty months they number seventeen 
hundred and fifty. The paper is independent in 
spirit and purpose, and aims to be a general news 
sheet as well as a medium of local intelligence, 
seeking to maintain and promote the general welfare 
by fair dealing and an honest expression of opinion 
upon all matters pertaining thereto. A good busi- 
ness at job printing has been built up in connection 
with the publication of the Journal, the whole giv- 
ing employment to nine persons. 

Mercantile Interests. — A few general state- 
ments in regard to what may be called the mercan- 
tile affairs of Gardner will no doubt serve the speci- 



fic purpose of the present volume and satisfy the de- 
sire of those who may read it. The first merchant 
in the place was Mr. Jonathan Prescott, from Lan- 
caster, son-in-law of John Glazier, who located on 
the east side of Green Street, opposite the Common, 
where the residence of the late Francis Richardson, 
Esq., now stands. His was the only store in town for 
many years, and even down to a date within the 
memory of large numbers now living, a single old- 
fashioned country store supplied all the needs of the 
Central village and a large section around it, reaching 
in some directions into neighboring towns. A store 
was opened in South Gardner early in this century, 
or perhaps shortly before its opening, and for several 
decades this and the one at the Centre were amply 
sufficient to meet all the existing needs of the com- 
munity in this respect. But to-day the shop-keepers 
of the place are numbered by scores, if not by hun- 
dreds. Certain sections of the different villagts are 
almost wholly given up to traffic of one sort or an- 
other, and one in them need not go far to find, with 
rare exceptions, whatever may be desired in the line 
of merchandise for personal, domestic or more gen- 
eral use. Dry-goods merchants, grocers, clothiers, 
furniture and crockery dealers, druggists, jewelers, 
traders in hirdware, paper-hangings, gentlemen's and 
ladies' furnishing goods, cutlery, stoves and furnaces, 
sewing-machines, stationery, meat, flour, grain, 
farm produce and venders of all sorts of siuall wares, 
confectionery, fruit and peanuts — all these have a 
place in this busy town, and stand ready to serve the 
public need. 

Before leaving the manufacturing interests of Gard- 
ner altogether, it is desirable that a statement be 
made respecting an important adjunct to that portion 
of them located in the southern part of the town, to 
which reference has been several times made in the 
foregoing pages, to wit: — The South Gardner Reser- 
voir. This body of water covers an area of about one 
hundred and eighty acres, of which nearly three- 
fourths are in this town, the remainder in Westmin- 
ster. Up to a comparatively recent date the owners 
of what is known as the Wright Mill were allowed to 
flow the broad expanse of meadow-laud which the 
dam was high enough to cover, only through the later 
autumn, winter and early spring months, so as in no 
wise to lessen or damage the grass grown thereon. As 
a consequence, a large amount of water would pass 
by that and other privileges on the stream below when 
the pond was drawn down to its summer level, with 
advantage to no one, while, later in the season, a 
scarcity of water would compel the stopping of the 
machinery at all of those privileges for weeks, or per- 
haps months, before the autumn rains came on. It 
was evident to practical men that, if the amount of 
water which thus ran wholly to waste could be held 
in some way for use when needed, the mills, so often 
idle in the drj^er parts of the year, could, with rare 



848 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



exceptions, be kept in operation the twelvemonth 
through. It was for Mr. David Wright, who was 
eager for improvement, and who had sagacity to dis- 
cover chances for improvement, to turn tliis thought 
to practical account. He set himself about interest- 
ing his co-manufacturers on the stream with him in 
a project for a reservoir for the purpose indicated. 
The dam mentioned, as it was and had been for years, 
was capable of holding an immense body of reserve 
water, and, by raising it a i'esv feet, which could be 
easily done, the quantity could be greatly augmented. 
The rai.sing of the dam would involve some expense, 
and the using it for [jermanent flowage would involve 
still more, since it would necessitate the payment of 
heavy damages to the proprietors of the meadows 
above, or the purchase of those meadows. Mr. Wright, 
therefore, when the subject had been sufficiently dis- 
cussed, circulated a paper and secured subscriptions 
enough to buy the lands in question, which put the 
matter on a permanent basis. Previous to the con- 
summation of this scheme, however, a canal had been 
cut from the Walter Greenwood mi!l-pond to the pro- 
posed reservoir, in order ihat whatever surplus 
water existed there might be diverted i'rom its natural 
course, and held in reserve with the other, to the ex- 
tent of the capacity of the new pond. And so tho 
plan of Mr. Wright was carried out to the fullest ex- 
tent, and all the advantages to be gained from it were 
secured. The expense of keeping the reservoir-dam 
in repair is met by occasional assessments upon the 
owners of the privileges benetited by it. 

Nor was this all. The owners of certain mill-sites 
on the stream, desirous of gaining still other benefits 
of the same sort, bought two dams, and the meadows 
flowed by them, situated above the reservoir itself, 
while, still later, S. K. Pierce & Co. purchased a third 
one, — the Minot Meadow, so-called, — and dam there- 
unto belonging, which now constitutes a part of his 
estate. So that, in fact, there is a series of four reser- 
voirs on the upper part of the stream, eaoh one of 
which contributes directly to the value of every mill- 
property below, and indirectly to the prosperity of 
the whole town. 



CHAPTER CXIII. 

GARDNER— (ro«//«?;frf.) 

EDUCATION — SCHOOLS AND LIBRARIES. 

At an early day in the hi.itory of the Pilgrim settle- 
ment at Plymouth the subject of education became a 
matter of general interest and the question of the 
public instruction of children and youth entered very 
soon into the deliberations that pcrlaiiied to the i)er- 
manent policy of the colony. And the Puritan found- 
ers of Massachusetts, animated by the same spirit, 
soon after acquiring a foothold on these shores, made 



provision for the establishing of schools of different 
grades to the end, as they .said, "that learning may 
not be buried in the graves of our fathers.' So, under 
a wise inspiration and guidance, the founders of New 
England built the school-liouse beside the church, 
making education and religion, inttlli^'enceand piety, 
co-ordinate factors in the new civilization they pro- 
posed to establish on this virgin soil — living forces to 
energize, direct and give character to its advancing 
life. True to their noble descent, the founders of 
Gardner did the same thing. At the first annual 
meeting, held March 7, 178G, action was taken which 
resulted in the division of the town into four district', 
or squadrons, as they were called, in each of which a 
school was soon after established. These were re- 
spectively in the parts of the territory corresponding 
to the four cardinal points of the compass and were 
designated accordingly. One-half of the money ap- 
propriated for schools, which was thirty pounds, was 
to be divided equally between the four squadrons, 
and the other half according to the number of scholars 
in each between four and twenty-one years of age. 
The complex duty of providing a place for the schools, 
of selecting and employing teachers and of caring for 
and expending the money was assigned to four per- 
sons, one in each squadron respectively. The names 
of this first School Committee were William Bickford, 
David Foster, Ebenezer Howe and Jo^iah Wheeler. 
There was but one school-house in the town, which 
was built by Westminster some years before, " on Mr. 
Biikford's land on the County road, or the road lead- 
ing to Mr. Timothy Howard's (Hey wood's) house, 
where the major part of the squadron sh.all appoint." 
It actually stood on the site of the house built and 
formerly occu])ied by Amos B. Minott on South Main 
Street. It is likely that this building was used by the 
South Squadron for some years, although in 1791 it 
was declared to be " so old and shattered that it is 
not fit to keep school in." It would seem by this 
record, and by the absence of any record regarding 
the erection of school-houses previous to this date, 
that the schools in other squadrons were held for 
some years in private dwellings. At the annual town- 
meeting in 1795 it was voted to build four school- 
houses, but the appropriation of four hundred and 
fifty pounds to pay for the same was not made till 
April, 1796. In March, 1797, the town voted to pro- 
vide a chair and table for each house, so that it may 
be presumed that about this time Gardner was fully 
and satisfactorily equipped with the institutions and 
accompanying facilities for public education. The 
school-houses were indeed small, incommodious and 
unpainted, but they served the needs of the time and 
were important helps to the laying the foundations 
of that more complete system of common-SL'hool in- 
struction, with its large array of instninientalities and 
appliances, which now exists — a blessing unspeakable 
to the entire community and an honor to the town. 
In 1802 an article was inserted in the warrant calling 



GARDNER. 



849 



the regular March meeting, " to see if the town will 
choose a committee to see what repairs, if any, the 
school-houses need and paint them Spanish brown 
and lye." The town voted " to pass over the article," 
though it has an inherent interest to the present gen- 
eration, since it shows what was used in those impe- 
cunious days as a substitute for oil in the preparation 
of paint. In 1807 an attempt was made to increase 
the number of school districts by certain individuals 
asking the town " to build a school-house in tlie mid- 
dle of the town or otherwise give the petitioners and 
others the privilege of building on the Common." 
The town decided to do neither of the things desired. 
The same request was made at several times after- 
ward with the same result, though it appears from the 
records that a school building had been erected at the 
place designated about the year 1814, probably by 
private funds, for the special accommodation of the 
families living near. In 1809 the citizeas evinced 
their sense of the need of more careful supervision of 
the schools as well as an interest in their prosperity, 
by choosing "a committee of four men to inspect the 
schools " " at the opening and closing of said schools 
the year ensuing." This was the inauguration of a 
new policy in that regard. 

With the growth of the town came the demand for 
increased school accommodations. So far as the 
records show, the original plan of having four dis- 
tricts continued in operation till 1818, although, as a 
matter of fact, the people of those districts living 
near to the central village had for several years been 
privileged to draw their portion of the school-money 
and spend it in support of a teacher in the private 
school house referred to above. But in the year men- 
tioned, the desirableness of new districting the town 
became so apparent that a committee was chosen for 
the purpose of putting the matter in proper shape for 
final action. This committee reported in favor of 
making six districts agreeably to an accompanying 
detailed plan, which provided for a district in the 
east, the southeast, the southwest, the northwest, the 
north and the central portions of the territory, each 
in its order, and under the name designated by its 
locality. These six districts included in the aggre- 
gate one hundred and fifty-three families, — the east 
one containing thirty ; the southeast and southwest, 
twenty-seven each, and the remaining three twenty- 
three each. Each district was to build its own house 
and to locate it, if those concerned could agree upon 
a spot; otherwise the town should do it. This division 
continued for over half a century, or until the aboli- 
tion of the district system according to public statute, 
in 1869. 

Different rules prevailed at different times in regard 
to the division of the public-school money among the 
several districts. What the policy was at the begin- 
ning has beea stated, — that is, one-half equally be- 
tween the districts and one-half according to the 
number of children between the ages of four and 
54 



twenty-one. In 1820 the town voted that "the 
school money be divided according to the number of 
families that shall be in each district on the first of 
May next." This method prevailed till 1837, when 
it was decided to divide one-third of the money ac- 
cording to the number of scholars in the res[iective 
districts of the ages named before, the remainder 
equally between the districts. 

In 1840 the rule was so far changed as to have the 
children numbered between four and sixteen years of 
age. In 1844 one-half was divided equally between 
the districts and one-half according to the number of 
pupils, which proportion was changed in 1850 to one- 
fourth and three-fourths respectively, and in 1854 to 
one-third and two-thirds respectively. In the same 
year the " Annual Report of the School Committee " 
was first printed and circulated among the families of 
the town. 

The changes in the appropriations for educational 
purposes can be indicated only in a general way. 
The fir-it sum voted was thirty pounds, or about a 
hundred dollars in United States currency. Up 
to the year 1800 the annual amount averaged thirty- 
five pounds, or one hundred and seventeen dollars. 
In that year it was two hundred dallars. It rose in 
1806 to three hundred dollars, where it remained 
many years. In 1817 it was three hundred and thirty 
dollars ; in 1818 four hundred. The same figures 
prevailed till 1832, when they were increased to four 
hundred and fifty dollars, and in 1833 to six hundred. 
They rose to seven hundred in 1840 ; to eight hun- 
dred in 1847; to nine hundred in 1849; and to one 
thousand in 1852. From that time on, with the 
growth of the town and the increase of its inhabitants, 
the increase of school appropriations was rapid, reach- 
ing two thousand dollars in 1859 and 18G0, but falling 
off somewhat during the four years of the Rebellion. 
After that period it went up again more rapidly than 
before. It was thirty-five hundred in 1867, forty-five 
hundred in 1871 and five thousand in 1873. In 1875 
it had risen to six thousand five hundred dollars, and 
in 1878 to seven thousand dollars. Since that date 
the increase has been very rapid, reaching, in the 
year 1888, the generous sum of fifteen thousand dol- 
lars, which sufficiently indicates the degree of inter- 
est the citizens take in the public schools and the 
value at which they estimate the American system of 
popular education as related to the welfare of the 
community and to the strength, perpetuity and glory 
of the republic. Besides the High School, which has 
one principal and two assistants, there are twenty- 
four schools of the lower grades, each supplied with 
competent instructors and all in prosperous con- 
dition. 

At the time of the abolition of the old district sys- 
tem, in 1869, there were six school-houses taken by the 
town, whose appraised value was $19,758, of which 
that on School Street, built ten years before, was esti- 
mated at $10,666 ; the one in the Southeast District 



850 



HISTOKY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



at $2,550 ; and the one in the Southwest, on Broad- 
way, at $'5,150. In 1878 a house ibr two schools was 
erected on West Street, at a cost of about $5,000, 
which has recently been enlarged to double that ca- 
pacity at an additional expense of $3,500. Within a 
few years, also, a two-room wooden building has been 
put up on Park Street (Little Canada) at a cost of 
$3,600; a brick house with four rooms, on Pleasant 
Street, costing 110,000, and a very fine brick edifice, 
on Prospect Street, South Gardner, with all modern 
conveniences, costing about $15,000. Whole school 
property valued at $69,000. 

Gakdnek High School. — For some years previous 
to 1856 a growing interest in the establishment of a 
High School had existed among the more intelligent 
and thoughtful people of the town, but it was not till 
that date that such interest assumed a definite form 
and crystallized into a practical effort to accomplish 
the contem])lated result. But the time had now come 
when the statutes of the Commonwealth required such 
a school, and the matter was brought up in a meeting 
held February 5th, and referred to a committee of 
seven persons, who subsequently reported adversely to 
the proposition. The town accepted the report, and 
the subject rested for ten years. On the 2d of April, 
1866, " Voted, on motion of Allen Folger, that a High 
School be established in town, according to law, and 
that the Selectmen and Superintending School Com- 
mittee be a committee to carry into effect this vote." 
Pursuant to this action a High School was opened the 
following autumn in the old school-house of the Cen- 
tral District, which had been vacated upon the occu- 
pancy of a new building a few years before. This 
house furnished the best accommodations that could 
readily be obtained at the time, but it ere long be- 
came apparent that a more commodious and better 
arranged one, as well as one more centrally located, 
was needed, and in 1872 the town took definite action 
looking to the supply of the need. The subject was 
referred to a committee of three persons, who reported 
unanimously that " after examining the building now 
occupied by our High School, they were of the opin- 
ion that the accommodations and conveniences which 
it affords are not what the best interests of such a 
school demand." " Its location is also unsatisfactory 
to a large portion of those now sending children to 
the school, and to others who would send if its loca- 
tion was more central." They therefore recommended 
a new building to be placed on a lot selected by them 
lying on Chestnut Street, below the " Atherton 
House," so called, in the Heywood pasture. They 
also conveyed to the town the gratifying intelligence 
that after deciding upon this location they consulted 
with the owner, Mr. Levi Heywood, in regard to the 
terms upon which it could be obtained, who gener- 
ously proposed to donate it to the town, if it should 
be accepted for the purpose specified. The report was 
accepted, and steps were immediately taken to carry 
its recommendations into effect. As a result, the 



proper deeds transferring the site finally fixed 
upon from Mr. Heywood to the town were passed, 
plans for a building were secured and the present 
neat, commodious and attractive structure was built 
under the direct superintendence of Francis Kichard- 
son, Esq., since deceased, and made ready for occu- 
pancy December 21, 1874. It is a substantial brick 
edifice, with foundations of Fitchburg granite and 
brown sand-stone trimmings. The main partis forty- 
six by seventy feet with a front projection and porch 
seventeen by twenty-two feet, the whole being two 
stories high and surmounted by a tower rising to an 
altitude of ninety feet. It has three front entrances, 
reached through open porches and leading into spa- 
cious halls. Its internal arrangement, including a 
commodious basement with cemented floors, is such 
as to serve well the uses for which it was designed, 
and the grounds outside are ample and well graded. 
The entire structure with its furnishings and surround- 
ings, cost twenty-two thousand dollars, and is an or- 
nament and an honor to the town. The citizens are 
to be congratulated upon having so admirable a High 
School building, and upon the excellent standing the 
school has maintained since its establishment. 

Public Libraries — The South Gardner Social 
Library. — Some time about the year 1840 a number 
of ladies and gentlemen in the south part of the 
town became interested in a movement for furnishing 
themselves and the neighborhood a higher and more 
extensive range of reading than had hitherto been 
enjoyed. Enlisting a goodly number of their friends 
and fellow-citizeus in the matter, they secured the 
formation of a society bearing the name of the South 
Gardner Social Library Association, with a constitu- 
tion and by-laws duly providing for the orderly gov- 
ernment and administration of its affairs. It was a 
joint stock company, each member being required to 
pay two dollars on every share subscribed for, to be 
devoted exclusively to the purchase of books, for the 
purpose of founding a library ; all other expenses to 
be met by equal assessment on the shares in propor- 
tion to the amount thereof. This institution started 
out under favorable auspices, and for many years was 
liberally patronized and successfully maintained, 
deriving support from levies made upon the stock, 
from annual fees for drawing books and the contribu- 
tions of friends. In 1852 the association received a 
bequest of one hundred dollars from the estate of 
Abijah M. Severy, who died some years before, and 
in the following year it began to receive an annual 
income of about twenty-five dollars from a fund created 
by the same generous donor. This has continued 
year by year to the present time and of late has been 
the principal source of supplies for the purchase of 
new books, the fees of members, the number of which 
has become greatly reduced, and of book-drawers 
being little more than sufficient to meet current ex- 
penses. The multiplication of libraries connected 
with the Sunday-schools of the town, the increased 



GARDNEK. 



851 



facilities fjr getting reading matter from other quar- 
ters, and more recently the opening of the large and 
attractive library and reading room at the Central 
Village, have had a tendency to diminish interest in 
this institution and to weaken its suj^port. It has 
upon its shelves about twelve hundred volumes, to 
which additions are made from time to time as the 
condition of its finances will allow. 

Some years ago a public library was started at the 
centre of the town, which contained many valuable 
books and was well patronized for a time, but no 
records of it have been found and none of the details 
of its history can be given. The public lost interest 
in it, and as a result it gradually fell into decay and 
finally disappeared. 

The Levi Heijwood Memorial Library Association. — 
A few years before the death of the late Levi Hey- 
wood, he became personally interested in thequestion 
of a Public Library and instituted some measures 
with a view of making that interest felt and of turn- 
ing it to some practicable account. In order to call 
attention to the matter, he caused a lecture to be given 
in town upon the value and importance of such insti- 
tutions by Hon. Theodore C. Bates, of North Brook- 
field, at which many influential citizens were present. 
As a result of this lecture and of the impression it 
made upon the hearers, a paper providing for contribu- 
tions to a fund for the establishment of a library was 
circulated and money was pledged to the amount of 
about three thousand dollars for the realization of the 
object proposed, whereupon a petition was presented 
to the town for a vote authorizing the erection of a 
building for the proper housing of the contemplated 
library, "to be located within sixty rods of the Town 
Hall." The town, probably on account of the desig- 
nated location, refused to grant the request. This 
action put the whole matter at rest for the time being, 
and nothing further was done about it till after the 
decease of Mr. Heywood in 1882. 

A year or two subsequent to that event. Rev. Law- 
rence Phelps, then pastor of the First Congregational 
Church and Society of the town, revived the subject 
and brought it once more before the public. By per- 
sonal influence and efl^ort, aided by the co-operation 
of other interested parlies, he secured the formation 
of an association which took the name of the Gardner 
Library Club, afterward changed to the Gardner Li- 
brary Association, under which title it was chartered 
by the Massachusetts Legislature, June 19, 1884. The 
name of the corporation sufficiently indicated the 
object it was designed to promote. Under its auspices 
papers for subscriptions were again circulated, and 
pledges amounting to seven hundred dollars were 
obtained for the specific purpose of purchasing books 
and creating a nucleus of an institution, such as was 
hoped for at an early day. But as yet no place had 
been found in which to locate this germ of a library 
yet to be, and something must be done in that direc- 



tion before proceeding further in regard to purchasing 
books. 

Happily for the undertaking and for all concerned, 
while the question of a library building was under 
serious, if not anxious, consideration, Mr. Calvin 
Heywood and Mrs. Helen R. Greenwood, the only 
surviving children of Mr. Levi Heywood, recalling 
their father's interest in the matter of a Public Li- 
brary, and desiring to honor his name and memory, 
proposed, without solicitation, to erect or cause to be 
erected, a library building, at a cost of not less than 
$25,000, to be presented to the corporation, when 
completed and made ready for use, on condition that 
that body should take the name of the Levi Heywood 
Memorial Library Association, and provide for the 
running expenses and general proper maintenance of 
the institution, — the building to be called "The Levi 
Heywood Memorial Building." The corporation 
voted to accept the generous offer on the terms speci- 
fied, and work on the building began at an early day, 
and was carried on to completion as rapidly as 
possible. 

Meanwhile the corporation was busily engaged in 
carrying out their plans as best they could with the 
means in hand, and in preparing for the occupancy 
of the building when it was ready for use. The 
money subscribed for books was expended. An old 
library, belonging to the Young Men's Christian Asso- 
ciation, consisting of about two hundred volumes, was 
donated to the association, as was also a circulating 
library of James Emerson, M.D., numbering about 
one hundred volumes — making a collection of eight 
hundred books, which were properly arranged, cata- 
logued and offered to the public in February, 1885, in 
the drug-store of Dr. Emerson, under the Town Hall. 
The association also qualified itself for receiving the 
title-deed of the property to be conveyed to it, by a 
new act of the Legislature, passed April 14, 1887, 
authorizing the change of name required by the do- 
nors, and granting power to hold real estate to the 
value of $80,000. 

Before the completion of the library building 
Mrs. Fanny B. Heywood, widow of the late Charles 
Heywood, son of Levi, and her children, Mrs. H. S. 
Stratton, Mrs. Charles D. Burrage and Charles Hey- 
wood, came forward of their own free will and gener- 
ously offered to supply an appropriate room in it, to 
be called the Charles Heywood Memorial Reading 
Room, with a good variety of magazines, papers and 
current literature of the day and to make adequate 
provision for the continued support and renewal of 
the same: thus greatly enlarging the field of the 
association's influence and much augmenting its 
power for good as an educating and elevating force 
in the community. Moreover, for the perpetual 
maintenance and increased usefulness of the library 
itself, Mrs. Helen R. Greenwood, since the death of 
her last surviving brother, and her husband, Alvin 
M. Greenwood, have laid the public under renewed 



852 



HISTOKY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



obligations by creating an endowment fund of $25,000, 
the income of which is to inure, year by year, to the 
benefit of the iiistilulioD. In addition to the means 
thus put at the disposal of the Library Association, 
the town for the past two years has voted it the 
amount of the dog-tax, about $440 per year, (which 
will, it is hoped, be continued in time to come), and 
numerous donations of books, pamphlets and 
public documents from different sources have been 
received. 

The Levi H eywood Memorial Library Building 
was completed, lurnished and made ready for occu- 
pancy early in 1886, and on Thursday, the 4th day 
of February of that year, was formally dedicated to 
the important uses for which it was erected, an ad- 
dress appropriate to the cccasion being delivered by 
Mr. S. S. Green, the accomplished and widely-hon- 
ored librarian at the Public Library in Worcester. 
Since that date both the library and the reading- 
room have been open to the public— the former on 
Wednesday and Saturday afternoons and evenings 
from two o'clock to six, and from seven to nine; the 
latter every afternoon and evening during the week, 
except Sundays, at the same hours. The number of 
volumes in the library is now about twenty-six 
hundred, seven hundred and nineteen having been 
added during the present year. The whole number 
of books loaned in 1887 was 11,404. Two hundred 
and thirty-six new names were added to the roll of 
subscribers during the same period. Miss Nellie S. 
Osgood has had charge of the institution from the 
beginning, performing the duties of her position 
with credit to herself and to the satisfaction of all 
concerned. The officers of the Levi Heywood 
Memorial Library Association are: Rev. Lawrence 
Phelps, president; Charles D. Burrage, secretary; 
Volney W. Howe, treasurer; Herbert S. Stratton, 
James Emerson, M.D., vice-presidents ; Eev. Lawrence 
Phelps, Alvin M. Greenwood, Martha W. Burrage, 
Helen R. Heywood, Helen R. Greenwood, Laura A. 
Heywood, James Emerson, M.D., Sarah L. Conant, 
Geo. W. Cann, Herbert S. Stratton, Mrs. Franklin 
Eaton and Charles D. Burrage, directors. 

The library building is located in what is called 
the Central Village, directly east of the First Na- 
tional Bank, and is a neat and pleasing soecimen of 
the Romanesque style of architecture, with enough 
original variations to give it a character distinctively 
its own. It is fifty by seventy-eight feet in size, one 
story in height, with large gables on the south and 
east sides fronting spacious rooms on the second 
floor. Its foundations, which rise five feet above the 
sidewalk, are of faced granite, and are crowned with 
a fine-cut water table. It is built of pressed brick, 
with brown-stone and terra-cotta trimmings. In the 
upper part of the front gable is a triangular panel of 
terracotta, bearing the name "Levi Heywood," 
while underneath, on a brown-stone frieze, are the 
words ''Memorial Building." Below this are three 



large double windows, arched and flanked with deco- 
rated pilasters, giving ample light to the interior. In 
front is a massive open porch, nine by sixteen feet, 
floored with variegated tiles, and entered on either 
hand by broad circling granite steps. This porch 
has a large brown-stone arch in front with smaller 
ones at the sides, all supported by polished granite 
columns of a reddish hue, which rest on solid bases, 
and all surmounted by a terra-cotta cornice and bal- 
ustrade. 

Ou ornamented spandrels above the main arch 
are the figures 1885, indicating the date of the erec- 
tion of the structure. The entrance opens into a 
spacious waiting-hall, fourteen by twenty-eight feet 
in size, and twelve feet high. On the right is the 
directors' room, fifteen by twenty feet, and on the 
left the reading-room, twenty by twenty-five feet in 
size. Back of the reading-room is a large reference- 
room, and, correspondingly, on the other side are 
there a librarian's room, lavatory and a stairway to 
the second floor, where there are a parlor, ten by 
twenty feet in size, and a hall, measuring twenty-four 
by thirty-six feet. In the rear of the waiting-room, 
below, and occupying the entire back part of the 
building, is the book-room, thirty-eight feet long by 
twenty-five feet wide, in a semi-circular form, having 
a height of eighteen feet, which will allow a gallery 
and additional shelving when needed. Alcoves ra- 
diating from a common centre, but not extending to 
the walls, aflTord the necessary conveniences for 
books. This room is sufficiently lighted both from 
the sides and from above as the other rooms are from 
the sides, and all are finished in excellent manner 
and handsomely decorated. The basement is divided 
into various apartments, having cemented floors, and 
devoted to such uses as convenience requires. The 
whole building is heated by indirect steam radiation 
and lighted at night by gas, — both generated in a 
basement room, set apart for that particular service. 
The architects of the structure were Messrs. Fuller 
& Delano, of Worcester, whose skill and efficiency in 
their distinctive profession this piece of work abun- 
dantly attests. It is unquestionably the most chaste 
and elegant specimen of architecture in town, a beau- 
tiful memorial, not only of one of its leading citizens 
for half a century, but of the wise generosity of its 
donors. 



CHAPTER CXIV. 

GARDNER— (G?«//««i'a'.) 

RELIGION, HOUSES OF WORSHIP, PARISHES, ETC. 

" It concerneth New England always to remem- 
ber," said the pious old minister of Salem, John 
Higginson, " that these are a plantation religious and 
not a plantation of trade." And this she did remem- 



GARDNER. 



853 



ber through all her earlier history, to her own eadur- 
ing honor and glory and to the welfare and happiness 
of many generations, over whose fortunes and destiny 
she exercised, unconsciously to herself, magic and 
mighty influence. And so it was that the founders of 
the town of Gardner, sons and daughters of New 
England, true to their ancestral heritage, regarded 
well at the outset the moral and spiritual interests of 
the people at large and took active measures to have 
them properly guarded and promoted. One of the 
first things done by the new town as a corporate body 
was to provide a place for the public worship of God 
and a minister to serve at the altar of religion. A site 
for a meeting-house, with a burying-ground and Com- 
mon or train ing-field adjoining, according to the cus- 
tom of the time, had been selected midway between 
the extremes of population, so as to accommodate the 
largest possible number of people, probably by mutual 
arrangement of those most interested, and at a Jegal 
meeting held on the 7th of November, 1785, four 
months after the act of incorporation was granted, 
steps were taken to secure the same to the perpetual 
use of the town by proper title deed. That site was 
very near the spot where the present church of the 
First Congregational Parish stands — the burying- 
ground in the rear and the Common in front substan- 
tially as they are to-day. At the same meeting Jo- 
seph Bacon, John White, Captain Kelton, Moses Hill 
and David Foster were chosen a committee " to draw 
a plan of a meeting-house and to see what stuft'it will 
take; " and Simon Gates, Elisha Jackson and Captain 
Kelton a committee to hire preaching. It was also 
voted " To hire four days' preaching." At an ad- 
journment of this meeting a week later, the commit- 
tee on a meeting-house reported, whereupon it was 
voted " to build a meeting-house, forty feet wide and 
sixty-five feet long, with three porches," the size of 
which was afterwards modified to forty-five feet by 
sixty, with two porches. The material for the con- 
struction of said house was divided into more than a 
hundred lots, according to a schedule still preserved, 
and let out by auction to the lowest bidder. The 
work of providing material for and laying the under- 
pinning was divided into ten lots and let out in thesame 
way. The material was to be delivered before April 1, 
1787, and the underpinning was to be completed June 
20, 1787. The responsibility of erecting and finishing 
the building to the extent of framing and covering it, 
setting the glass, painting the outside, laying the 
lower floor and making the inside doors was com- 
mitted to Joseph Bacon, the leading carpenter in the 
place, who was to do it for £172 10«., "he assisting 
with his hands in raising " it. On the 27th of June, 
1787, the frame was ready to be put up, and that part 
of the work is supposed to have been done on that 
day. It was a great occasion. Help from neighbor- 
ing towns had been sought and was on the ground in 
due season. A crowd of spectators gathered to wit- 
ness the proceedings, which began early in the morn- 



ing and continued lill sundown. With commendable 
forethought, authority was given Joseph Bacon by 
the town to keep the Common so far clear of specta- 
tors as that they should not interfere with the raising 
of the house. With equal forethought, a committee 
was appointed to furnish food and drink for the work- 
men and instructed, with prudent hospitality, "to give 
the spectators one drink." An accident, whereby a 
Mr. Day, of Winchendon, and a Mr. Gregory, of 
Templeton, came near losing their lives by the falling 
of a stick of timber, marred somewhat the harmonies 
of the day and gave it a tinge of sadness. Neverthe - 
le;s, the frame was up, strong and sure, bsfore night, 
its pitiih-pine sills twelve inches square and posts of 
oak of equal size and other timbers in proportion , in- 
cluding two hundred oak braces, giving it a sol idity 
and power of endurance which might defy storm and 
tempest, if not time itself. 

But the building, though raised and soon after en- 
closed and covered, and so made available for public 
uses, was not completed according to the original plans 
for several years. Work in the way of finishing it 
and making it comfortable was done upon it as the 
means of meeting the expense involved would allow. 
To raise money, the pews, seventy-one in number, 
were sold in 1788, long before they were put in, a 
method of dealing in "futures" not unknown to 
the modern commercial world. At that date, in- 
deed, the galleries were not built, nor the floors 
wholly laid, nor the doors and windows cased, nor 
the lathing and plastering done. There was ihe 
shell of a building and nothing more. At length, 
in January, 1789, the town closed a contract with 
Lieutenant Foster to finish it, "as Westminster Meet- 
ing-house is finished," by the 1st of November, 1790, 
for £199,10s., all the material to be furnished as he 
needed it. Under this arrangement, the house was 
finally completed, though not to the satisfaction and 
acceptance of the town, till the summer of 1791, four 
years after the frame was erected. It was a plain, 
unpretending structure, scarcely larger than a moder- 
ate-sized chapel of these days, painted stone-color, 
with green doors and white trimmings, quite unlike 
the elaborate, complex, highly decorated, fully-equip- 
ped piece of ecclesiastical architecture which no w 
stands in its place. 

During these years of the building of the meeting- 
house, preaching had been maintained the greater 
part of the time, for awhile in private houses, but 
afterward in the unfinished building, seats and 
pulpit being improvised in true primitive style. 
Four days' preaching were provided for at first, then 
three months, then a year. There is no record of 
any action of the town in regard to the employment 
of a minister during the year 1787. Whether this 
was an omission of the clerk, or whether the citizens 
felt obliged to economize in this particular on ac- 
count of straitened circumstances, is left to conject- 
ure. If the latter, the experiment was never tried 



854 



HISTOKY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



afterward, no year having transpired since in the 
town, and but very few Sundays, when the voice of 
the preacher has not been heard, when public prayer 
and praise have not been offered to God. 

A place of worship having been provided, even 
though it was as yet unfinished and in a crude con- 
dition, some one must be found to preside at its altar 
and lead in its service as the permanent minister of 
the town. A church had been formally organized 
February 1, 1786, but under what auspices or by 
who.se agency, no one can tell. And who were the 
first preachers in the place — "the transient supply " 
— has not been ascertained. But after a time, Mr. 
Frederick Parker seemed to commend himself to the 
people as a suitable man to fill the responsible position, 
and received from the church a formal call " to settle 
in the work of the Gospel ministry in this place." 
Tile town, at a meeting held May 11, 1789, concurred. 
The terms of the proposed contract were : " for the 
settlement £150, to be paid in neat stock at the 
market-price, and for the salary, £60 a year for five 
years, and £66 afterwards; one-half to be paid in 
produce from the farm, viz. : beef, pork, grain, butter, 
cheese at the market-price ; also twenty cords of hard 
wood yearly, cord-wood length, delivered at his 
dwelling-house." Mr. Parker seems not to have been 
I'eady to accept the invitation on the terms proposed. 
The call was renewed the next year with the same 
result, and that ended all negotiations with Mr. 
Parker. 

The town in appropriating money for preaching the 
following year, 1791, instructed the committee on 
pulpit supply, in terms indicating a wise caution 
worthy of emulation in later times, " to hire some 
person of good character for four Sabbaths." The 
person of good character very soon appeared, and 
proved so satisfactory that he received an invitation 
to settle from the church in the usual order, which 
was ratified by the town, July 21st, the same year. The 
acceptable candidate vvas Jonathan Osgood, a native 
of Andover, Mass., and a graduate of Yale College in 
the class of 1789. The terms upon which the call of 
Mr. Osgood was offered, were, " £160 for his settlement 
and £75 annual salary," to which was subsequently 
added " twenty cords of hard wood, to be delivered at 
his dwelling-house, beginning three years after his 
settlement." On those conditions Mr. Osgood accepted 
the invitation in a letter dated September 21, 1791, 
which is preserved in the town records, with the pro- 
viso that "if at any future period, as you increase in 
wealth, I should stand in need, I trust you will be 
ready to afford me relief," adding significantly, "I 
shall depend that you punctually fulfill the proposals 
you have made." Mr. Osgood was duly ordained and 
installed as minister of the town of Gardner, October 
19, 1791, the five neighboring churches, together with 
the two churches in Andover, the second church in 
Boxford, the church in Littleton and the church in 
Bolton, ten in all, with their pastors, being invited to 



representation in the council called to aid in his 
settlement. Mr. Osgood was a "cure" ofbodiesaswell 
as of souls, and served in both capacities with such 
skill and efficiency as to secure the confidence, esteem 
and cordial support of the people of the town and 
community at large. For over thirty years he filled 
the two positions of minister and physician, his labors 
ending with his life, May 21, 1822. 

For two years the town was without a minister, at 
the expiration of which period Mr. Sumner Lincoln, 
a native of Warren, and a graduate of Yale College, 
in the class of 1822, having studied theology at New 
Haven, and qualified himself for the profession, was 
invited to the vacant place with the offer of "a salary 
of five hundred dollars and a pew in the meeting- 
house." Mr. Lincoln accepted the call and was regu- 
larly ordained and installed as pastor of the First 
Church in Gardner June 16, 1824. Mr. Lincoln was 
settled as minister of the whole town, according to the 
old custom, and served in that capacity for about three 
years, when the secular and religious interests of the 
inhabitants were separated, the town yielding all its 
hitherto exercised rights in ecclesiastical affairs to 
the newly-formed religious society called the First 
Parish of Gardner, which became the lineal successor 
of the town in such matters. Under this new regime 
things went on as before Until 1830, when the contro- 
versy between the Unitarian and Trinitarian branches 
of the Congregational denomination, which had been 
going on elsewhere in the State for several years, 
reached the place and became so decided and marked 
in its expression as to cause a division among the 
members of the church and parfsh, which resulted in 
a separation of the two opposing parties and the for- 
mation of a new religious organization, representing 
the views of those who withdrew from the previously 
existing body. The turning-point of this matter was 
the vote of the parish, dismissing Eev. Mr. Lincoln, 
who had assumed the Trinitarian position in the dis- 
cussion, thereby committing itself fairly and unmis- 
takably to a strictly Unitarian position. In accord- 
ance with the now declared views of the parish — the 
dissenting members having severed their connection 
with it — the Rev. Jonathan Farr, a minister of pro- 
nounced Unitarian views, was settled December 9, 
1830, by a council composed wholly of ministers and 
delegates in full theological sympathy with himself. 
He was dismissed, after a pastorate of two and a half 
years, in July, 1833. His successor was Eev. Curtis 
Cutler, a native of Lexington, and a graduate of Har- 
vard College and Divinity School, who was settled 
October 30, 1833. This relation was dissolved in 1839, 
when Rev. George W. Stacey took charge of the pul- 
pit. He remained but a year or two and was followed 
by Rev. William H. Fish, who was the last acting 
minister of the First Church and Parish of Gardner 
in its distinctively Unitarian character and fellowship. 

At the close of the ministry of Rev. Mr. Fish, 
the society and all its interests fell into a state of 



GARDNER. 



855 



suspended animation, whicli continued for several 
years, no minister being employed and none of the 
functions of a church being exercised, when, in 1846, 
the house of worship having been remodeled and 
made convenient and suitable for religious services, 
the question of a resumption of the public exercises 
of religion within its walls arose, awakening consid- 
erable interest and feeling in the community. This 
question involved another of deeper import, to wit: 
Under what auspices, theologically considered, shall 
the re-constructed edifice be opened ? In other words, 
Shall the old lines of religious opinion and affiliation 
be taken up and followed out, or shall a new de- 
parture be made, ignoring the history of the sjciety 
for the past sixteen years and starting out indepen- 
dently of all previous professions, declarations and 
alliances? It was finally decided by those who had 
been chiefly instrumenlal in re-constructing the 
meeting-house, and who had the larger pecuniary 
interest in it, that thenceforth the parish should act 
in sympathy with the more popular branch of the 
Congregational body, and maintain ecclesiastical re- 
lations with the so-called Orthodox Churches of the 
general community, retaining its old name and all 
the prestige, historical and ecclesiastical, properly 
belonging to it. 

In accordance with that decision, overtures were 
made to the Evangelical Congregational Society, un- 
der which name those withdrawing from the First 
Parish in 1830 had organized and were legally 
known, for a union of the two bodies, which were 
favorably received, but which finally failed, by rea- 
son of the inability of the two parties to agree upon 
the conditions of the proposed intermarriage. Where- 
upon a call was extended to Rev. Mr. Banister to 
become the pastor, which was so far accepted as that 
he acted in that capacity for about a year, when Rev. 
John C. Paine, a native of Ashfield, succeeded him, 
being formally installed in office January 12, 1848. 
Mr, Paine proved to be a man of ripe cultui-e, of 
pleasing manners and a popular preacher. After 
sixteen years of service he left, in May, 1864, and in 
the following October Rev. Wm. D. Herrick, a gradu- 
ate of Amherst College in 1857, who had studied 
theology at Andover, and been settled four years at 
Redding, Cnnn., was installed in his place. Rev. 
Julius H. Seelye; D.D., president of Amherst Col- 
lege, preaching the sermon. He remained four 
years, when the union of the two societies, attempted 
twenty years before, was consummated, and he was 
dismissed, agreeably to the terms of the consolida- 
tion of the two distinct organizations and the 
churches connected with them referred to. The Ar- 
ticles of Faith and Covenant of the Evangelical Church 
were to be retained, while the names of the religious 
and secular departments, under the new arrangement, 
were to be the First Congregational Church and the 
First Parish in Gardner, respectively. 

Thus it came to pass that, after t\fenty years, dur- 



ing which time there had existed two churches in 
town nominally of one form of theological doctrine 
and both struggling for existence, their houses of wor- 
ship only a few rods apart, yet with more or less of 
alienation, if not bitterness of feeling, between the 
members of them, not altogether becoming those who 
the same faith profess and " the same Lord obey," these 
separate religious bodies came together, their two lives 
blending in one common life thenceforth as time went 
on. If, at the time of the union there was not, as the 
historian of Gardner intimates, that spirit of cordiality 
and co-operation between all the parties concerned 
that could be desired, yet since then, we are assured, 
"the old lines of separation have become less dis- 
tinct," a growing harmony is displacing former un- 
friendliness or distrust, and there seems to be a dis- 
position prevailing more and more to "keep the 
unity of the Spirit in the bonds of peace." 

Under the new dispensation a call was extended to 
Rev. William Belden to become the pastor of the 
united Church and Society, which was accepted by 
him, and he was installed January 22, 1868. His 
pastorate was brief, being terminated by his dis- 
mission, March 22, 1869. August 25th, the same 
year. Rev. John E. Wheeler, a native of Amherst, 
N. H., and a graduate of Amherst College, was clothed 
with the honors and assigned the duties of the same 
office. He remained but about three years, closing 
his labors early in July, 1872. The parish was with- 
out a minister for nearly two years, several attempts 
to obtain one proving ineffectual. At length, on the 
15th of May, 1874, the parish united with the church 
in extending a call to Rev. AVm. D. Herrick, pastor 
of the First Parish and Church at the time of the 
consolidation seven years before, who, although he 
had declined a similar one made a few months pre- 
viously, finally accepted. Mr. Herrick was installed 
the second time in Gardner, June 11, 1874, and en- 
tered at once upon an active and useful career in the 
church and community. After two or three years' 
service, however, his health began to give way, and 
he was obliged to curtail his labors and, after a time, 
to suspend them for a season altogether, in the hope 
that he might find complete restoration of his depleted 
energies and be able to resume his ministerial work 
with his old-time vigor and promise of success. But 
he only partially recovered, and on taking up his pro- 
fessional duties again found himself unequal to the 
task of performing them to his own satisfaction, and 
seeing no prospect of entire recovery, deemed it due 
to his people as well as to himself to profler his resig- 
nation. It was reluctantly accepted, and he closed 
his labors not long afterward. During his ministry 
he prepared, under directions from the town, an 
elaborate and detailed history of Gardner from the 
date of its incorporation, including a genealogical 
record of many of the principal families, which was 
published in a large volume of five hundred and 
thirty-five pages, in 1878. 



856 



HISTORY OP WOKCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS, 



During the same period the parish greatly improved 
its property and facilities for prosecuting the various 
departments of ministerial, church and parish work. 
In 1875 it erected a commodious and attractive par- 
sonage, with stable and other conveniences attached, 
at an expense of about six thousand dollars. Early 
in the year 1878 the project of a new house of wor- 
ship was started, which resulted in the completion, 
the year following, of the present spacious, well-ar- 
ranged and well-equipped, imposing edifice, located 
at the head of the Common, very near, if not on the 
exact site, where the original town meeting-house 
was built. Until this was ready for occupancy, the 
church and society, subsequent to the union of the 
two parishes in 1867, had worshipped in the sanctuary 
of the Evangelical Congregational Parish, which 
stood on the east side of Green Street, fronting the 
Common. The present edifice is one of the finest 
pieces of church architecture in the northern part of 
Worcester County. It is of Gothic style, with steep, 
slated roof, and covers an area of sixty-four feet 
front, which is the width of the structure, and a 
length of one hundred and eighteen feet, having, at 
the southeast corner, a tower one hundred and twenty- 
five feet high, in which is a clock with four dials. 
The material is principally brick, with underpinning 
and steps of light-colored granite and brown sand- 
stone trimmings. The building is lighted by stained- 
glass set in lead sashes, a large rose window adorning 
the front part. It has convenient entrances in front 
and at the sides, the latter leading to the main au- 
dience-room and to the chapel in the rear. There 
are six hundred sittings in the auditorium, all facing 
the preacher's platform and desk, at the right of 
which is the choir and organ-loft, and at the left a 
pastor's room. Nearer the walls there are ample 
passage-ways to the other parts of the building, 
where there are on the lower floor a spacious lecture- 
room, an infant classroom, library room and parlor, 
with a stairway to the second floor, where may be 
found a dining-room, kitchen, lavatory and all the 
modern improvements and conveniences. The whole 
is warmed by hot water and steam and lighted by 
electricity. The cost of the building, including or- 
gan and furnishings, was thirty thousand dollars, 
which amount was raised by the persevering efforts of 
Mrs. Henry Heywood and Mrs. Alvin M.Greenwood- 
The present pastor is Rev. Lawrence Phelps, who has 
served the church and society about five years. 
Everything betokens prosperity and usefulness. 

The Evangelical Congregational Church 
AND Society. — As the history of the religious enter- 
prise represented by this name is so closely inter- 
linked with that of the First Parish and Church, it is 
noticed next to it in this review, although, chrono- 
logically considered, it would be assigned a later 
place in the list of the religious organizations of 
Gardner. The members of the First Parish who, as 
has been said, withdrew on account of marked theo- 



logical differences in the year 1830, were legally or- 
ganized on the 25th of June, the same year, under the 
title given at the head of this paragraph. A consti- 
tution was drawn up, approved and signed by forty- 
one male members, who were thus qualified for the 
transaction of business. Steps were at once taken to- 
ward the erection of a meeting-house, which was ac- 
cordingly built and dedicated June 16, 1831. The 
church connected with this parish was instituted 
agreeably to Congregational usages August 11, 1830. 
Rev. Mr. Lincoln, who had been minister of the old 
church and society, withdrew with the seceding mem- 
bers and by previous arrangement was at once chosen 
minister of the new body. The same council which 
was called to formally dismiss him in ecclesiastical 
order from his former pastorate installed him in the 
later one the same day, August 11, 1830. In addition 
to the regular salary of four hundred dollars in money 
voted Mr. Lincoln for his services, he was granted 
" his choice of all the pews in the house for his use." 
He remained pastor of this church and society until 
February 23, 1842, when the relation was dissolved. 
Mr. Lincoln is still living in the enjoyment of a fair 
degree of bodily and mental vigor, his heart warm as 
ever towards all generous and noble things, at the 
advanced age of eighty-nine years. Although at the 
time of the division in the First Parish of Gardner 
he sympathized with and became the minister of the 
Trinitarian party, he yet subsequently entered the 
fellowship of the Unitarian denomination and has 
been for a long time one of its most devoted and 
honored clergymen. 

The several pastors of the Evangelical Congrega- 
tional Church and Society succeeding Mr. Lincoln 
were. Rev. AVm. B. Stone, settled February 23, 1842, 
and dismissed in August, 1850 ; Rev. D. C. Frost, 
who served as acting-pastor about two years ; Bev. 
Abijah Stowell the same for five years ; Rev. J. W. 
Healey, who was installed December 3, 1857, and was 
dismissed July 11, 1859; Rev. Samuel J. Austin, in- 
stalled December 8, 1859, and dismissed in May, 1864. 
Subsequenfto this date there was no regular minister 
for about two years. Several persons had been 
favored with an invitation to the vacant place, but de- 
clined. At length Mr. George F. Stanton, of Lowell, 
a recent graduate of Bangor Theological Seminary, 
accepted a call extended to him, and was ordained to 
the work of the ministry and installed pastor of the 
church under notice, June 6, 1866, the sermon being 
preached by Rev. E. D. Foster, D.D., of Lowell. In 
the following May he retired in order to facilitate the 
union of this church and society with those repre- 
sented by the First Parish, which was at that date 
accomplished. Thus, after an existence of thirty- 
seven years, this body was reunited to the lineal de- 
scendant of that from which it seceded, the changed 
theological attitude of the latter making this step 
possible without offence to the distinctive religious 
convictions of the members of either party. 



GARDNER. 



857 



It is a fact worthy of record and remembrance, that 
this Evangelical Church and Society, besides repre- 
senting its own characteristic form of Christian faith, 
and doing the work incumbent upon it in its religious 
capacity, was, from the beginning, earnestly devoted 
to the reform movements of the age, maintaining a 
consistent and unequivocal position in their behalf, 
and displaying unusual fidelity, zeal and courage in 
the support and furtherance of the cause of temper- 
ance and of the abolition of American slavery. 

The first meeting-house of this parish, built in 1831, 
was remodeled in 184(5, and finally supplanted by a 
new one, more favorably located and better suited to 
existing needs, which was dedicated May 8, 1856. 
This house was used by the parly erecting it until the 
union spoken of was eflected, and by the consolidated 
churches until the occupancy of their present place 
of worship. 

The First Baptist Society and Church. — In 
the year 1827 a few individuals living in the village 
of South Gardner and vicinity, desirousof having bet- 
ter religious privileges than they had previously en- 
joyed, inaugurated measures for the formation of a new 
society in that part of the town. In a brief time the 
object aimed at was accomplished, the organization 
taking the name of The Baptist Society of Gardner, 
as an indication of the religious convictions and pref- 
erences of its members, who were encouraged in their 
eflbrts by the sympathy and co-operation of the Bap- 
tist Church and Society in Templeton. The original 
membership consisted of ten persons, among whom 
Messrs. Sullivan Jackson and George Scott occupied 
the most prominent position. The immediate object 
of the association was to raise money for the purpose 
of sustaining a meeting and supporting the preaching 
of the Gospel in South Gardner village. To more 
effectually promote this object, an auxiliary associa- 
tion, called the Parochial Society, which is still con- 
nected with the church, was legally instituted Janu- 
ary 30, 1828, for the management of the business in- 
terests of the enterprise. Moneys were raised, and 
regular religious services were opened at once in the 
house of Mr. Jackson, and continued for several years. 
Other activities of church life were established, among 
them a Sabbath-school, which consisted, to begin 
with, of fourteen members. The movement, once 
fairly started, attracted public attention and increased 
in numbers and importance. The need of a house of 
public worship was soon recognized, and steps were 
taken to provide one. Money was raised and a build- 
ing was erected in 1833, at a cost of three thousand 
dollars, which amply met the wants of the society for 
many years, and was used as first constructed, with 
slight improvements, till 1872, when it was much en- 
larged and greatly improved in many ways, at an 
expense of over seven thousand dollars. The 
audience-room \*a3 entirely remodeled and newly 
furnished, and a commodious vestry with ante-rooms 
in the basement, was fitted up. A new and graceful 



spire supplanted the former inartistic cupola or bel- 
fry, in which was placed an excellent clock for the 
convenience of the neighborhood. Ten years later, in 
1882, a good pipe-organ was introduced and other im- 
provements made, at an aggregate cost of three thou- 
sand dollars. At present the edifice is exteriorly neat 
and attractive, and also well-furnished and equipped 
within, rendering it admirably adapted to the uses of 
a living Christian body of believers. 

The church connected with this society was estab- 
lished in the year 1830, when twenty-three members 
of the Baptist Church in Templeton, who resided in 
Gardner, withdrew from that organization by mutual 
consent and in the spirit of brotherly love, for the 
purpose of having church privileges nearer at hand, 
and of exerting a greater influence for good upon the 
public mind and heart. An ecclesiastical council 
convened at the house of Sullivan Jackson on the 
loth of November of that year, under whose author- 
ity the First Baptist Church in Gardner was organ- 
ized, Mr. Jackson being chosen the first deacon. Its 
present deacons are Marcius A. Gates and Elmer L. 
Lovewell. The total number received into the church 
from the beginning is five hundred and forty, the 
present merabershi|) being one hundred and ninety- 
five. 

Fifteen pastors have served this church and society 
during the fifty-eight years since they were organized, 
the Kev. Robert F. Tolman being the present incum- 
bent of that office. In addition to the Sabbath-school, 
whose fourteen original members have increased 
to three hundred and ninety-six, there are, as auxil- 
iary agencies for interesting and benefiting those who 
may be reached and helped to the better life, and espe- 
cially the children and youth, " The Band of Hope," 
" The Cheerful Workers," " The Young Ladies' Mis- 
sion Circle " and " The Society of Christian Endeavor." 
It is proper to add that legacies left by Abijah M. 
Severy, Mrs. Susannah Stone and Mrs. Rebecca Green- 
wood, the benefits of which are now being shared by 
this church, are fully appreciated as assisting very 
substantially in maintaining " the preaching of a 
Gospel of Salvation, of Anti-Slavery, of Temptrance 
and of Peace." 

Church of the Sacred Heart. — Who the pioneer 
Catholics were, or when they settled in Gardner, is 
involved in mystery. The most reliable information 
dates their coming in the year 1845. For many years 
they were few in number, and it was not till 1856 that 
the first Catholic service held in town took place 
in a grove west of Baker's Lane, Rev. Edward Turpin, 
of Fitchburg, officiating. Subsequently Mass was 
celebrated from time to time in private houses by 
|)riests from neighboring parishes. At length Bishop 
Fitzgerald, seeing the need of a clergyman to minis- 
ter to the steadily increasing Catholic population of 
the northern part of Worcester County, sent feather 
Bannon to make his residence at Otter River, giving 
him jurisdiction over all the outlying districts north 



858 



HISTOKY OP WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



of Worcester and west of Fitchburg. Thither the Cath- 
olic people of Gardner went to attend divine worship 
until they became sufficiently numerous to warrant a 
separate service for themselves, when the town hall 
was secured for that purpose and used at stated inter- 
vals. Meantime the Catholic population grew apace, 
with which came a demand for more clergymen. 
Therefore, in 1872, Winchendon, Gardner and Ash- 
burnham were set off as a new parish, and Rev. D. C. 
Moran was appointed to administer its affairs, with 
headquarters at Winchendon. Father Moran was a 
man of great executive ability, and threw himself at 
once into the woik of building up the spiritual inter- 
ests of his people, and of putting the affairs of the 
parish into good working order. One of his first cares 
was to provide a suitable place of worship for his 
people in Gardner, who were adding to their numbers 
daily. He caused funds to be raised, selected and pur- 
chased a lot an Cross Street, and secured plans from 
Architect James Murphy, of Providence, R. I. In 
1874 ground was broken, and before the end of the 
following year a handsome wooden structure of 
Gothic style, capable of seating six hundred people, 
was reared and dedicated to the service of God under 
the title of the " Sacred Heart of Jesus." Its total 
cost was about $26,000, and it was, at the time, the 
finest church edifice in town, a monument of which 
both pa.stor and people might be proud. 

Gardner continued as a mission of Winchendon till 
1880, when it was deemed able to maintain a resident 
pastor, and Rev. M. J. Murphy was placed in charge. 
Father Murphy soon became a great favorite. He 
took an active part in everything calculated to pro- 
mote the best interests of the town, being a member 
of the School Board several years. He directed his 
efforts at the outset to a thorough organization of the 
parish, in order that his labors for the spiritual wel- 
fare of the people might be more efl'ective, and the 
beautiful ritual of the Catholic Church be carried 
out in all its splendor. Sodalities, literary and tem- 
perance societies were established, so that the old 
and young of both sexes might benefit by their good 
influence. 

The erection of a parochial residence next claimed 
his attention. Funds were collected, and the present 
substantial and commodious house was completed. 
The grounds about the church were graded at the 
same time, and concrete walks were put in. Much 
praise is due Father Murphy for the good taste dis- 
played in the laying out and care of the grounds, 
which made the site one of the most attractive spots 
in town. Not long after, the French Canadians, who 
had formed a large portion of the growing congrega- 
tion, wishing to have a clergyman of their own na- 
tionality, who could speak their own language and 
enter more fully into their feelings and sympathies, 
expressed themselves to that effect. Their desire 
was favorably considered, and in 1884 they with- 
drew, organized a church by themselves, and had a 



pastor installed over them. The Sacred Heart 
Church went on enjoying an era of prosperity, when, 
lo! on the evening of May 28, 1887, flames were 
seen to issue from the church edifice, and in one 
short hour it was in ruins. Soon after this, Father 
Murphy was transferred to another field of labor, 
and Rev. J. F. McDermott was intrusted with the 
work of rebuilding the church. On assuming his 
duties, the scene of desolation which met his view 
might have disheartened a less intrepid spirit ; but 
nothing daunted, he threw all his energy into the 
task before him. Infusing into his people soniething 
of his own hope and confidence, they met his appeals 
for funds with a liberal response, while willing 
hands volunteered to clear away the dSris and make 
ready for a new structure. Architect P. W. Ford, of 
Boston, furnished plans therefor on the old lines, 
with a slight addition to the rear, which will not only 
improve the outward appearance of the building, but 
give a hundred more sittings in the main audito- 
rium. Work was soon begun, and pushed forward 
with such vigor that the congregation were enabled, 
in the following January, to occupy a handsomely, 
finished basement, which has since served an a place 
of worship. The superstructure will be completed in 
the near future, and will surpass its predecessor both 
in beauty and design. Thus it will be seen that the 
Catholic Church has made wonderful progress in 
Gardner since the sowing of the little mustard-seed 
in 1845, which has grown to include in 1888 nearly 
half the population, numbering now about thirty- 
eight hundred souls, and destined, under favorable 
conditions, to keep abreast of the general advance of 
the town in years to come. 

The Universallst Church. — In the year 1864, 
Rev. Jacob Baker, State missionary of the Univer- 
salist denomination, began holding religious services 
in Gardner, at which he preached with earnestness 
and emphasis the distinctive doctrines of the body rep- 
resented by him. Those doctrines met with a hearty 
response in certain directions, and an effort was very 
soon made to bring together those who were in sym- 
pathy with them, and to provide for the regular and 
permanent advocacy of them in the community. On 
the 4th of June a society was organized pursuant to 
that effort, and a constitution was adopted for the 
orderly government of its affairs. One of its first acts 
was the api)ointment of a parish committee, who were 
subsequently instructed to secure, if possible, the ser- 
vices of Mr. Baker for half the time during the ensuing 
year. This purpose was carried out, and Mr. Baker's 
labors continued till the spring of 1867. Considerable 
interest having been awakened in the movement 
among the people of the town, and the society having 
increased its membershipproportionally.itwas deemed 
advisable, for the good of those concerned and to help 
on the cause, that a permanent minister be employed, 
and the Rev. Harrison Closson was called to that of- 
fice with the understanding that he was to serve the 



GARDNER. 



859 



Gardner Society on alternate Sundays, the others be- 
ing at his disposal to devote to the more general work 
of his profession, as opportunity oflTered. This plan 
was carried out for a year, when the financial con- 
dition of the society had so much improved as to war- 
rant the engagement of Mr. Closson for the whole 
time. Soon after this was done, the minister, who was 
possessed of much religious fervor and zeal, was in- 
strumental in establishing a church in connection 
with the society in accordance with New England 
usage, which was organized April 23, 1868, and pub- 
licly recognized with appropriate solemnities on the 
first Sunday in June following. This body was called 
" The Church of the Unity and Restoration," adopt- 
ing a "Covenant'' which embodied in a general way 
the principles of the Universalist branch of the Chris- 
tian church. 

A year later, Mr. Closson, who had been thus far 
employed annually as the incumbent of the minis- 
terial office, was installed as pastor of the church and 
congregation according to Universalist custom, the 
Rev. A. A. Miner, D. D., of Boston, preaching the 
sermon. Under the ministry of Mr. Closson the 
movement was greatly prospered for a time, though 
later there was some decline of interest occasioned 
by differences which grew out of the matter of a place 
of worship. Services had been held for several years 
in what was called "the bell meeting-house," which 
was the former house of the First Parish. But the 
time had come for a change, as was recognized 
by all. The old house must be repaired where it was, 
or moved to a new site and refitted, or a new house 
must be built. Failing of an agreement upon any 
one of these propositions, disaflection arose and the 
organization became much weakened. Mr. Closson 
left in 1871 and for three years there was no regular 
religious service. But at length new interest arose, 
and measures were taken to build a church edifice. 
Funds were raised to that end. Mr. Wm. S. Lynde, 
an influeutial member of the parish, gave an eligible 
site at the corner of Cross and Maple Streets and one 
thousand dollars in money, which revived the hearts 
of all engaged in the enterprise. The house was 
erected and dedicated on the 26th of May, 1874. 
Soon after. Rev. Royal T. Sawyer became pastor and 
remained three years. He was an earnest, able 
preacher and a faithful worker in and out of the pul- 
pit, and the church and society grew and prospered. 
Rev. Ephraim A. Reed was his successor, who ren- 
dered good service to his people for about two 
years, when he left and was followed by Rev. Mr. 
Barber, who gave way to Rev. James Taylor, a 
devoted minister and an excellent man, honoring 
his calling and sharing the esteem and confidence of 
the public. He took charge of the pastorate in 1884 
and remained about three years. Rev. H. W. Smith 
is the present pastor, who is laboring with energy and 
ability for the people of his charge and the building 
up of the " larger hope " in the hearts and lives of 



men. The pari-h has a pleasant place of worship, 
commodious and convenient, an efficient Sunday- 
school and various healthful activities tor the prose- 
cution of its own distinctive work and for the promo- 
tion of " peace and good-will among men." 

The Methodist Episcopal Church. — According 
to the records of the town clerk of Gardner, there 
were disciples of John Wesley and adherents of the 
so-called Methodist form of religious doctrine within 
its borders at an early period of its history. In the 
year 1797 Philip Wager, elder of a Methodist Society 
in Ashburnham, certified to the fact that Samuel 
Stone, of Gardner, "attended public worship" with 
that society and "contributed to the support of its 
ministry," which, under the provisions of a recently 
enacted law of the State, absolved him from the duty 
of paying a " ministerial tax " in his own town. In 
the following year a similar certificate was filed in 
reference to Mr. Simon Stone, also a resident of Gard- 
ner. It would seem, furthermore, from the same 
records, that in the year 1800 there actually existed 
in town a society of the same persuasion, of which 
one Henry Eames was public teacher, and Ebenezer 
Richardson and Samuel Sione were a standing com- 
mittee. Further than this, touching this organiza- 
tion, nothing has come to light, and it is probable 
that it had but an ephemeral being, of which no ac- 
count has been preserved. 

During the first quarter of the present century a 
growing interest in the doctrines of Methodism pre- 
vailed in the north part of Worcester County, and 
what was called a "circuit" of preaching stations 
was established, extending through about a dozen 
towns, of which Gardner was one. It was known as 
the Ashburnham Circuit, that town having an estab- 
lished church, as others had not, and being the cen- 
tre of operations. 

In the year 1826 Rev. John E. Risley was the 
preacher of this circuit and Rev. John Lindsay pre- 
siding elder of the district under the auspices of 
which its activities were carried on. It is under- 
stood that about that date, religious services were 
held from time to time in the town, though so far as 
is known no attempt was made to found a church. 
Occasionally a preaching service would be held in a 
school-house or private re-idence by some itinerant, 
temporarily in the place, zealous in broadcasting the 
seed-grain of the Methodist faith. Finally, the town 
having grown considerably, and evincing signs of 
increasing prosperity. Rev. Wm. P. Blackraer, 
preacher in charge at East Templeton, seeing, as he 
thought, an opportunity for instituting a church rep- 
resenting his own conception of Christian truth, early 
in 1869 conducted a few meetings in the lower town 
hall. A good interest was awakened and a stated 
preacher was asked for, of the proper authorities, to 
enter aud occupy the newly-opened field. In re- 
sponse to the request, the New England Conference, 
which met at Lowell, March 24, 1869, appointed Mr. 



860 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS 



Blackmer to take charge of the work already promis- 
ingly begun. He at once commenced his labors and 
prosecuted them with such success as that in July of 
the same year the Rev. Loranus Crowell, presiding 
elder of the Worcester District, formally organized a 
church with a membership of eighteen and aSunday- 
school of fifty persons, thus forming the nucleus of 
what has grown to be a large, active, useful branch of 
the religious brotherhood of Gardner. 

In April, 1870, Rev. W. M, Hubbard was appointed 
to succeed Mr. Blackmer. During his administra- 
tion of affairs a chapel was erected upon a site on 
West Street, donated for the purpose by Mr. Lewis 
H. Graham, which was dedicated September 14, 1870. 
Rev. Daniel Atkins followed Mr. Hubbard, who, at 
the end of a two years' pastorate, in 1875, reported 
ninety-nine members of the church and thirteen pro- 
bationers. Rev. Seth C. Carey became pastor in 
1875. The growth of the movement had been so 
great that larger accommodations for public worship 
and other departments of the general work were 
needed, and measures were started to meet the exist- 
ing demand in that regard. A lot on Chestnut Street 
was procured, ground was broken September 20, 1876, 
a new edifice with a seating capacity for six hundred 
persons was built and dedicated August 9, 1877, 
Bishop R. S. Foster, of Boston, preaching the sermon. 
The cost of the building, with its various appoint- 
ments for the use of a living, active body of Christian 
believers, was less than thirteen thousand dollars. 
At the close of Mr. Carey's ministry the church had 
one hundred and twenty-three members and thirty- 
four probationers. Revs. W. D. Bridge, W. P. Ray, 
J. H. Tworabley and M. H. A. Evans have succes- 
sively had charge of the field since Mr. Carey's re- 
tirement. Rev. E. P. King is the present pastor. 
Under wise and energetic administration all the in- 
terests of the church are well cared for and effectively 
promoted. 

St. Paul's Episcopal Chuech. — The Episcopal 
services in Gardner are yet held under the auspicej 
of the Missionary Society of the Diocese of Ma8.sa- 
chusetts. There is, therefore, no organized parish. 
The first service ever held here was conducted by the 
Rev. J. S. Beers, the Diocesan Missionary of this 
State, on December 10, 1882, in the Lower Town Hall. 
After said service, the Holy Communion was cele- 
brated at the house of David Parker, M.D. The 
following persons beside the Missionary partook : Dr. 
Parker, Mrs. L. D. Rose, Miss Kate Skein and Miss 
Sarah Muzzy (now Mrs. H. P. Upham). 

The work was put into the form of an organized 
mission February 9, 1883, at a meeting in the Town 
Hall, presided over by Rev. W. R. Huntington, D.D., 
then of All Saints' Parish, Worcester, but now rector 
of Grace Church, New York City. The mission was 
named St. Paul's by the suggestion of Mr. Wm. 
Briggs, a gentleman interested in the movement, who 
so named it after St. Paul's, New Castle-on-the-Tyne, 



England, v/here his father is buried. At its organiza- 
tion an Executive Committee were chosen, as follows : 
David Parker, M.D., Mr. Briggs, Jlrs. Geo. A. Ellis, 
George W. Black, J. W. Jefts, James H. Rose and 
Miss Kate Skein. Dr. Parker was elected senior 
warden ; Wra. Briggs, treasurer, and Mrs. G. A. Ellis, 
secretary. From February 9, 1883, services were led 
by different clergymen and lay-readers until July 
16th, when the Rev. John C. Hewlett took charge by 
appointment of the Massachusetts Diocesan Mission- 
ary Board. After a time Mr. J. W. Jefts and Miss 
Skein resigned by reason of removal from town, and 
Messrs. M. Shumway and Frederick Conant were 
chosen to fill the vacancies. May 25, 1883, Miss Sarah 
Muzzy was added to the Executive Committee. 

In the month of July, 1883, a Sunday-school was 
organized with the Rev. J. C. Hewlett, superinten- 
dent; Mr. Wm. Briggs, treasurer, and Mr. W. B. 
Ellis, librarian. Soon Mr. Ellis resigned, and Mr. 
Frank Allen succeeded him. The first person bap- 
tized was Mrs. Mary A. Van Benthuysen, by the Rev. 
J. S. Beers, in the Town Hall, April 15, 1883. The 
first confirmation service was held April 16, 1883, by 
the Rt. Rev. B. H. Paddock, D.D. Dr. David Parker 
and Mrs. Mary A. Van Benthuysen were then con- 
firmed. 

The Rev. J. C. Hewlett was in charge for about one 
year. He was followed July 22, 188-t, by the Rev. 
Thomas A. Hyde. During the pastorateof the latter the 
chapel on North Main Street, now occupied, was built. 
He continued in charge about one and three-fourths 
years. May 1, 1886, Rev. J. S. Lemon was appointed 
to follow the Rev. Mr. Hyde. The first marriage in 
town, by an Episcopal clergyman, was that of Mr. E. 
J. Rose and Miss Libbie E. Jacob, November 21, 1883, 
by Rev. J. C. Hewlett. 

Tlie first serious loss met by the parish was the 
death of the senior warden, David Parker, M.D., May 
8, 1886. The origin of the mission was largely due to 
his efforts, and was the realization of hopes indulged 
for over sixty years. He lived, however, only a short 
time to enjoy the services of his choice. . The next se- 
rious loss of the parish was the death of the general 
Diocesan Missionary, the Rev. J. S. Beers. At present, 
the Executive Committee consists of Messrs. William 
Briggs, G. W. Black, Frederick Conant, Alfred Wy- 
man, Herbert Morse, George Glazier and Mrs. George 
A. Ellis. The Sunday-School superintendent is the 
pastor; the assistant superintendent and treasurer, 
Mr. Briggs; the secretary, Alexander Hamilton ; the 
librarian, William Kennedy. The organist and 
choir-leader is Mrs. A. A. Williams. The treasurer 
of the mission is Mr. G. W. Black. The parish has a 
pleasant place of worship worth more than six thou- 
sand dollars. There are about fifty communicants, 
Rev. J. S. Lemon still filling the office of pastor. With 
the exception of the French congregation, St. Paul's 
is the only church in West Gardner. 

The Unitarian Church.— For more than forty 



GAKDNER. 



861 



years after the close of the labors of Rev. AVilliam H. 
Fish as minister of the First Parish there was no dis- 
tinctive Unitarian preaching in the town. At length, 
on the 27th of January, 188-1, the Rev. A. C. Nicker- 
son, pastor of the First Church and Society in Tem- 
pleton, to test the question of the existence in the 
community of sympathy with that form of Christian 
faith, held a service in the Lower Town Hall, the 
birth-place of several religious enterprises, with an 
attendance of thirty-five persons. A good degree of 
interest was manifested on the occasion and more was 
developed afterward, so that two months later, March 
27th, a legal organization of a society was effected, the 
necessary papers having been drawn up and receiving 
many signatures. At a later date the tirst permanent 
officers were elected, as follows: Webster Cowec 
moderator; Edgar V. Reynolds, cleik ; Edwin A. 
Colby, M.D., treasurer; Orange F. Smith, collector; 
Orange F. Smith, Jonas R. Davis and Julian P. 
Dunn, parish committee. Before the expiration of 
the year, steps were taken in reference to a site for a 
church edifice which resulted in the purchase of a lot 
in the Central Village, at the corner of Elm and 
Cherry Streets, on which a house of worship was sub- 
sequently built. 

From the time of the first meeting in January, 1884, 
until April, 188G,the movement was in charge of Rev. 
Mr. Nickerson, who supplied preaching regularly; 
the service being held in the afternoon for his accom- 
modation. Upon his removal from Templeton, at the 
date named, it was deemed wise to have a resident 
pastor, who should devote his entire time to building 
up the enterprise and establishing it upon a perma- 
nent basis. After hearing several candidates the so- 
ciety, on the 19th of July, by a unanimous vote, in- 
structed the Executive Committee " to extend a call 
to the Rev. Wm. C. Litchfield, of Berlin, to become 
our Pastor." The committee acted according to in- 
structions, and the call was accepted. The regular 
labors of Mr. Litchfield began on the first Sunday in 
August, and on the 28th of October he was duly in- 
stalled as the first pastor of the Unitarian Society of 
Gardner, Rev. Austin S. Garver, of Worcester, 
preaching the sermon. 

The need of the society for a house of worship be- 
coming more and more imperative, the effort to se- 
cure one was renewed and charged with fresh vigor 
and zeal. The necessary funds were soon pledged 
and the project was urged forward with commendable 
rapidity. On the 7th of May, 1887, ground was 
broken on the lot already bought, and on the even- 
ing of January 25, 1888, the building, which, with 
the exception of the basement, was finished and fur- 
nished suitably for church purposes, was dedicated 
with appropriate exercises, the sermon being deliv- 
ered by Rev. Minot J. Savage, of Boston. It is a 
substantial structure, eighty feet by forty in measure- 
ment, built of brick with granite trimmings and hav- 
ing a circular tower of ample height at one of the 



front corners, through which entrance is gained to 
the main auditorium and parlor adjoining. These, 
when opened as they may be to form one audience- 
room, will accommodate three hundred persons, con- 
stituting, with the furnishings and adornings, a neat, 
convenient and attractive place of religious service. 
The basement when completed will have pleasant, 
well-arranged and appropriate rooms for Sunday- 
school and other purposes. The society is slowly 
gaining in numbers, in public confidence, in efficiency 
of administration, in power of usefulness and in 
promise of future growth and prosperity. The con- 
gregation has more than doubled during the last two 
years; the Sunday-school, with a proportionate in- 
crease, is well organized and doing good service, and 
other activities are in successful operation. On the 
1st of April, 1888, one hundred families were 
connected with the various departments of the insti- 
tution. 

The French Catholic Church.— Some twenty- 
five or thirty years ago the first installment of 
French Canadians came to Gardner seeking employ- 
ment and a chance to better their worldly fortunes. 
The success attending their search induced others to 
follow them, and others still in constantly increasing 
ratio, until at the present time this element of the 
population numbers about eighteen hundred souls. 
At first, and for many years, these people contem- 
plated only a temporary sojourn here, as was the case 
in other places, — one long enough to acquire a com- 
petency or what was deemed such, then going back 
to their native boroughs to enjoy it. But latterly 
they are more disposed to a permanent residence in 
their new homes, and a desire and purpose of becom- 
ing part and parcel of the community in which they 
dwell and of the American people, by naturalization 
and other processes of afliliation and coalescence, 
have become widely prevalent and are shaping their 
lives to new issues, in all social and civil respects. 

These new-comers, by inheritance, education and 
conviction are, generally speaking. Catholics, and 
strongly committed to the faith and polity of the 
Papal Hierarchy. Very naturally, they at first at- 
tached themselves to the movement which ripened 
into the " Church of the Sacred Heart," becoming 
members with others of that church when it was fi- 
nally established and domiciliated in the community. 
This relation continued till 1884, when, the congre- 
gation having greatly outgrown the accommodations 
of the church building, and the French members 
feeling that they were able to maintain a church of 
their own, which should have a minister of their 
own nationality, a separation of the two distinct 
elements of the church was effected, with the ap- 
proval of all parties concerned, and the French 
Catholic Church was organized, the Rev. F. X. Soly 
being installed as pastor in November, 1884. The 
new parish first worshipped in the skating-rink, but 
soon built the structure now iu use on Nichols 



862 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



Street, which is designed to serve its needs until a 
more commodious and substantial edifice can be 
erected, in the near future. In this building, which, 
with the grounds, cost about eight thousand dollars, 
besides the main auditorium, with a seating capacity 
for five hundred persons, there are rooms for a pas- 
tor's residence, schools, social and society meetings, 
etc., etc. After two years of faithful service, Father 
Soly, on account of failing health, resigned his pas- 
torate, and was succeeded by the Rev. C. E. Bru- 
uault, the present incumbent. Under his wise and 
prudent management the parish has flourished, and 
grown to be the leading one in town in respect to 
numbers. Various activities have been instituted 
for purposes of charity, and to promote the material, 
intellectual and moral welfare of the people, among 
which are St. John the Baptiste's Society, for mutual 
help, a temperance society for men and also one for 
buys, a literary club, a club for naturalization purposes, 
the League of the Sacred Heart, St. Ann's Society 
for married women and a Society of the Immaculate 
Conception for girls. Two day-schools are in opera- 
tion, haviijg both French and English teachers, over 
which Father Brunault exercises a watchful super- 
vision. 



CHAPTER CXV. 

GAKVU^EK— {Con/ iiuied.) 

RELATIONS TO THE STATE AND NATION. 

The spirit of patriotism and of loyalty to those 
principles of civil and religious liberty which are 
embodied in the Declaration of Independence, and 
which underlie both the Commonwealth of Massachu- 
setts and the American Republic, has from the begin- 
ning animated the hearts and actuated the lives of 
the sons and daughters of this representative New 
England town. If at any time it has seemed to slum- 
ber or grow cold, it would, on occasion, revive again, 
and burn and glow with renewed ardor and zeal, 
ready to meet bravely any emergency, to stand fast 
in any lot, and to endure any hardship or sacrifice 
for liberty's sake, to vindicate the honor of the old 
Bay State or to save the imperiled country. 

Gardner was not incorporated until after the sign- 
ing of the treaty of 1783, whereby the English col- 
onies in America were acknowledged and declared by 
the mother country to be free and independent,— until 
the thunders of the Revolution had died away upon 
the air. Nevertheless, a goodly number of its early 
citizens had taken part in the great struggle, and had 
shared, with those better known to fame, the honors 
and rewards with which a h.ird-won but glorious vic- 
tory had been crowned. Thirty-five of the early 
ciiizens of the town are known to have been connected 
with the Continental Army in one capacity or another. 



or to have contributed by personal service in some 
difterent form to the mighty achievement which broke 
forever the bonds of colonial allegiance to despotic 
power, and it is more than probable that several 
others whose names are not found on any existing 
records belonged to the same triumphant patriotic 
category. The list of Revolutionary soldiers, as 
derived from trustworthy authorities, is as follown : 



Baker, George. 
Baker, John. 
Baldwin, Josiah. 
Beard, Andrew. 
BicUford, William. 
Bolton, Ebenezer. 
Clark, Josepli. 
Coniee, David. 
Katon, Jolin. 
Fairbanks, Levi. 
Foster, David. 
Foster, Samuel. 
Glazier, John. 
Goodale, Peter. 
Greenwood, Aaron. 
Greenwood, Jonathan. 
Haynes, Reuben, 
Heywood, Setb. 



Hill, Jesse. 
Hill, Moses. 
Holland, Joseph. 
Howe, Ebenezer. 
Jackson, Elisha, 
Kelton. Samuel. 
Kemp, John, 
Kneeland, Timothy, 
Matthews, John. 
Siinonds, Elijah, 
Simonds, Joseph. 
Stone, Samuel. 
Wheeler, Josiah. 
White, John, 
Whitney, Joshua. 
Whitney, William. 
Wood, Elijah. 



Several of these were commissioned officers, though 
it does not appear that any of them ro.'*e to a higher 
position than that of captain. Elisha Jackson had 
command of a company of minute-men raised by 
order of the Provincial Congress, and with those 
under him hurried away to Cambridge on receiving 
tidings of the battles of Lexington and Concord, 
April 19, 1775. William Bickford and Josiah Wheeler 
had been soldiers in the French and Indian Wars. 
Ebenezer Bolton and David Foster were at the battle 
of Bunker Hill, the latter helping to carry the body 
of General .Joseph Warren from the field. Jonathan 
Bancroft, Benjamin Eaton, Reuben Haynes and 
Samuel Stone were at the taking of Burgoyne at 
Saratoga, October 17, 1777, the most important of all 
the victories of the seven years' contest. 

It was about a year after the incorporation of the 
town that the general feelino; of unrest and disquiet- 
ude in the central and western parts of Massachusetts 
arose, which ripened later into that episode in post-Revo- 
lutionary history denominated "Shays' Rebellion.'' 
The citizens of Gardner at the outset sympathized 
very fully with the prevailing dissatisfaction caused by 
excessive taxation, a depreciated currency, and other 
conditions of political and social life consequent 
upon a long and costly war, which, combined with 
the poverty of the masses of the people, made the 
public burdens " heavy indeed, and grievous to 
be borne." They therefore, with commendable 
heartiness and dispatch, responded to a call for a 
convention, to be held at Paxton on the 26lh of the 
following November, for the purpose of consulting 
upon the existing grievances, and of finding some 
way of relief from the disabilities and burdens to 
which all classes of the population were subject, and 
at a legal town-meeting chose Captain Samuel Kelton 



GAKDNER. 



863 



as delegate thereto, and instructed him in regard to 
his action at its sittings. It cannot be learned from 
the records that the delegate made any report of his 
mission, or of the doings of the convention, or that 
the town took any further action in the matter. It is 
but reasonable to suppose that the citizens, seeing to 
what extremes the master-spirits of that and kindred 
gatherings were inclined to go, and that there was 
violence and treason in the movement as it was man- 
ipulated, could not find it in their hearts to have 
anything more to do with it. Their sense of justice 
and of patriotic duty would not allow them, probably, 
to be parties to the bloody designs of the leading 
agitators, and so quietly allowed the whole subject to 
go by default, so far as they were concerned. By this 
course they fortunately escaped becoming involved 
10 any extent in those measures which led speedily 
on to open insurrection or mad defiance of the State 
government, and which came to their tragic culmina- 
tion at Springfield on the 25th of the following Janu- 
ary, 1787, when five of the insurgents were killed by 
the United States troops stationed there, in an insane 
attempt to capture the arsenal of the Federal Govern- 
ment, and its military stores. The repulse of the 
assaulting party on that occasion virtually put an end 
to the whole wicked and foolhatdy aflfair. 

Although the town, in its corporate capacity, ap- 
pears to have been absolved from all complicity with 
the rebellion, yet there were several individuals who 
were so far implicated as to be required to go before 
a justice of the peace, take and subscribe to aa oath 
of allegiance to the State and National governments, 
and deliver up such fire-arms as might be in their 
possession. Certificates from magistrates attesting to 
the fact that at least three persons conformed to that 
requirement, and so may be judged guilty of some 
act of disloyalty in connection with the revolt, were 
received by the town clerk in the spring of 1787, and 
were copied in full into the records. The impartial 
historian, looking through the vista of more than a 
hundred years, sees some justification for the discon- 
tent which prevailed during the critical period under 
notice, even while pronouncing emphatic condemna- 
tion upon those violent, blood-thirsty spirits, who 
would not only have sacrificed human life to an 
indefinite extent to gain their ends, but imperiled all 
those precious interests which the recently-closed 
Kevolutionai-y War had been waged to secure. 

The year 179-t was a year of great discontent and ex- 
citement throughout the entire country. There were 
various causes for this unfortunate state of the public 
mind. The trouble with the Indians of the great 
Northwest, the so-called Whiskey Insurrection in 
Pennsylvania, which at one time assumed threatening 
proportions and called for the intervention of the gen- 
eral g )vernmeut, the complications growing out of 
the conduct of the minister of the new French Re- 
public, and, perhaps, most of all, the growing feeling 
that England was not fulfilling the terms of the 



Treaty of 1783 honestly and in good faith, arousing 
in many quarters a disposition to let loose upon her 
again the dogs of war — all these things served to un- 
settle the public mind and to jeopardize the public 
welfare. The wisdom and statesmanship of President 
Washington were taxed to the utmost to avert 
threatening ills and guide the Ship of State safely 
through the troubled waters to serener and safer seas. 
Pending eftbrts to secure by peaceful means and in 
quiet ways assumed-to-be-invaded rights, to allay 
popular disquietude and to promote public order and 
tranquillity, he deemed it wise and prudent to put the 
country in a state of defence and to prepare it for 
whatever emergency might arise. Measures were in- 
stituted to that end. State governments rallied to 
the support of the National authority, and seconded 
its methods and plans of action. The Common- 
wealth of Massachusetts issued a call to all the towns 
to raise certain quotas of men, who should be ready 
at the shortest notice for any service to which they 
might be called. Gardner responded with loyal good 
will. In town-meeting it was voted " to give a bounty 
of twenty shillings to men who should enlist, when 
they were called into service, and to make up their 
wages to ten dollars per month." A military com- 
pany was formed, with William Bickford captain, 
which was kept under drill till the crisis was passed 
and the statute requiring its formation repealed. 

Upon the issuing of the proclamation of war 
against Great Britain, in 1812, by President Madison, 
the people of Gardner were evidently largely in sym- 
pathy with the so-called Federal Party of the country, 
the members of which were disposed to regard the ac- 
tion of the Chief Magistrate with disfavor, and to 
look upon the conflict which such action was designed 
to inaugurate as not only unnecessary and unjustifia- 
ble on general principles of national polity, but as 
hostile to the best interests of the Kepublic. Under 
this prepossession, they were moved to join with their 
fellow citizens of other towns and localities in creating 
a movement or state of public sentiment which 
should have a tendency to terminate hostilities even 
before they had fairly opened, and avert the calami- 
ties which it was claimed by the Federalists would 
inevitably result from a continuance of the struggle. 
They accordingly sent Eev. Jonathan Osgood a dele- 
gate to a convention held at Worcester on the 12th 
day of August, only a few weeks after war was de- 
clared " to consult upon the alarming condition of 
our country " and " to petition the President of the 
United States to bring about a speedy and honorable 
peace with Great Britain. ' 

But the efforts of the opponents of the war were 
without avail. The national administration was 
fully committed to its declared policy, and was not to 
be dissuaded from its purpose to urge it forward with 
all possible vigor and efficiency. Seeing that there 
was no alternative in the matter, and deeming the 
cordial support of the regularly constituted govern- 



864 



HISTORY OF WORCESTEE COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



ment a token of loyalty to the nation, the citizens of 
Gardner, or at least a reputable proportion of them, 
responded to the call for enlistments in the public 
service. A company of militia was organized under 
the name of the Gardner Light Infantry, which was 
soon ordered to repair to South Boston for Ihe de- 
fence of the metropolis of New England against any 
possible attacks from British cruisers that were look- 
ing for vulnerable points all along the Atlantic coast, 
and there it remained on duty until the cessation of 
hostilities, early in 1815. The ofiicers of this com- 
pany were: Ephraim Williams, captain; Samuel 
Sawin, lieutenant; Joel Cowee, ensign; Ebenezer 
Bolton, Charles Hoar, Benjamin Stone and Reuben 
Wheeler, sergeants. The organization was main- 
tained for some twenty years, but, fortunately, there 
was no occasion for its being called again to swell the 
ranks of horrid war. 

But there are duties which the patriotic citizen 
owes his country in times of peace as well as when 
commotion fills the air, and armed foes threaten the 
public welfare and the nation's life. And these the 
people of Gardner discharged with more or less of 
constancy and fidelity, according to personal convic- 
tion or party preference, for nearly half a century, 
little apprehending the fiery ordeal through which 
they were to be called to pass. But it came never- 
theless, and they rose to meet it with wonderful una- 
nimity and alacrity, — with characteristic and praise- 
worthy loyalty and zeal. When the mutterings of se- 
cession first arose, after the election of Abraham Lin- 
coln to the Presidency of the United States in the 
autumn of 1860, and when, in the following April, 
by the firing upon Fort Sumter, open and armed 
rebellion against both the constituted authority of 
the nation and the Republic itself in the interest and 
for the perpetuation of chattel slavery was inaugu- 
rated, they girded the loins of their strength about 
them, and, in the name of outraged justice and an 
insulted flag, they rallied to the support of the Fed- 
eral Government, and furnished men and means to 
repel the domestic invader and suppress the unwar- 
ranted and traitorous revolt. 

On the 30th of April, in response to the proclama- 
tion of the President declaring the existence of an 
armed rebellion in the slave holding States, and call- 
ing for seventy-five thousand volunteers to meet the 
rising foe and overthrow the conspiracy, a special 
town-meeting was held for the purpose of taking 
appropriate action in the way of meeting the de- 
mands of the crisis. At that meeting it was unani- 
mously 

Voted, That the Belectmen be and hereby are authorized to purchase, 
at the expense of the town, clothing or uniforms (suitable for wear in 
actual service) sufli-ictit for the members of a volunteer militia com- 
pany, which may be raised by enlistment of the citizens or inhabitants 
of the town, and be organized agreeably to the laws of the Common. 
wealth, on or before the first day of June next. Provided, that said 
company shall pledge themselves to enter the service of the Common- 
wealth of Massachusetts, or of the government of the United States, to 



defend and sustain said government against the traitors and rebels, 
which now or may hereafter threaten its destruction, if called -for by 
the proper authority or authorities for that purpose at any time within 
one year from the date of the organization of said company. Also pro- 
vided that, if an entire company cannot be raised in the town of Gard- 
ner, the selectmen are hereby authorized to furnish uniforms or cloth- 
ing, as aforesaid, to such citizens or inhabitants of said town as shall 
enter the service of their country for the purpose aforesaid. 

Voted, That the selectmen pay to the order of the several members 
of a militia company, which may be raised from the citizens of the 
town, or to the order of their families in their absence, the sum of one 
dollar per day, payable monthly, for three months from the commence- 
ment of actual service. 

The same spirit which is manifeated in these initial 
votes of the town was displayed throughout the entire 
four years of the war, prompting corresponding action 
from time to time as the exigencies of the country 
required. In illustration of this fact, a few instances 
of what was done, and a few only, are here referred 
to. On the 23d of July it was " Voted, that the 
selectmen be and hereby are authorized to offer a 
bounty of one hundred dollars (in addition to the 
bounty now offered by government) for each and 
every volunteer who may enlist into the service of the 
United States on or before the fifteenth of August 
next as a part of the quota of forty men to be fur- 
nished by the town of Gardner under the late requi- 
sition of the Governor of Massachusetts, and that 
the sum of $4,200 be and hereby is appropriated by 
said town for the purpose of carrying the same into 
effect." A month later the same bounty was again 
voted, and the sum of six thousand dollars was 
appropriated accordingly. By vote of the town 
passed June 27, 1863, the selectmen were authorized 
to draw on the treasurer at their discretion for funds 
to render "the necessary aid to the families of those 
who have been or may be engaged in the military 
service of the United States." On the 4th of April, 
1864, one hundred and twenty-five dollars was voted 
to " each recruit under the recent call of the Presi- 
dent." Similar votes were passed at several success- 
ive dates during the remaining period of the conflict. 

According to a carefully prepared list of the num- 
ber of men sent by the town to aid in the suppression 
of the slave-holders' rebellion, there were two hun- 
dred and ninety -one in all, of whom one hundred and 
eighty-five, including half a dozen re-enlistments, 
were citizens or residents, the others being engaged 
from outside to fill the required quotas. Of those 
belonging to the place, seven were slain in battle, 
three died of wounds, seventeen were victims of vari- 
ous diseases incident to the fortunes of war, while a 
number of others, returning home, sunk slowly into 
their graves as the result of ailments contracted 
while connected with the army ; others, yet living, 
have been sufferers from maladies or disabilities in- 
curred in the same way. 

It has been estimated that the whole amount of 
money expended by the people of Gardner during 
the four years of the war, for the purpose of prose- 
cuting it and carrying it to a successful issue in the 



GARDNER. 



865 



complete suppression of the Rebellion, was sixty-two 
thousand two hundred and sixty-niue dollars, accord- 
ing to the following itemized statement: 

Raised and paid out by tho town U23,052 

Vuluutary subscriptions 13,344 

State aid paid soldiers or families 17,363 

Paid for twenty-five substitutes 7,500 

Sent to soldiers by Soldiers' Aid Society 1,000 

Making a total of. 562,209 

This sura, according to the census of 1860, would 
be nearly twenty-four dollars to each man, woman 
and child in the town, or at the rate of almost six 
dollars a year, which may be regarded as the actual 
annual cost of the Rebellion to every inhabitant 
during its continuance. Aside from this vast expend- 
iture, there has been paid what is called State Aid, 
which comes primarily and substantially from the 
citizens of Gardner, being included in the State tax. 
The amount of this at first was twenty -three hundred 
and twelve dollars, but has been reduced to about 
six hundred dollars a year. And this payment is to 
continue, though in constantly diminishing figures, 
as time goes on, indefinitely, or until the last man in 
Gardner who heard and answered his country's call 
during those years of her distress and threatened over- 
throw, 1861-65, shall have passed beyond the realm 
of all earthly conflicts and of all mortal needs, when 
it may be said of him : 

" He sleeps his last sleep, he has fought his last battle. 
No sound shall awake him to glory again." 

Since the close of the war the citizens of Gardner 
have been content and happy in following the pur- 
suits and fulfilling the obligations of their common 
every-day-life, in guarding and fostering their domes- 
tic and social interests, in providing for the general 
needs of the community, in giving encouragement to 
both private and public morality and piety, in pro- 
moting the growth and prosperity of the town, all of 
which things sustain definite relations to the national 
welfare, and in discharging the more quiet but highly 
iniportant duties of good citizenship in the spirit of 
true loyalty to those principles and institutions of 
civil and religious liberty which the republic prop- 
erly regarded represents and was founded to maintain 
and perpetuate. Their patriotism, though it may not 
display and report itself in those more open and strik- 
ing forms assumed in the time of the great uprising, 
is nevertheless, as may be believed and hoped, burn- 
ing, a steady, never-dying flame, within their breasts, 
ready as of yore to respond to any call of the country 
for brave defenders in the hourof peril, should it come 
again, and for true and noble men and women al- 
ways and forever, in whom alone, with the favor of 
God, is to be found its assurance of permanent pros- 
perity and of unfading glory. 



55 



CHAPTER CXVI. 
GARDNER -{Continued.) 

MISCEI,I.ANEOUS TOPICS. 

Gardner Water Works. — With the rapid growth 
of Gardner and the accompanying multiplication of 
wooden buildings in the more thickly populated dis- 
tricts, the need of some effective system of public 
water works, both as a protection in case of fire and 
as a means of domestic supply, became apparent to 
many of its leading citizens. After agitating somewhat 
the subject of providing for this need, a public meet- 
ing in the interest of the project was held March 10, 
1880, at which S. L. Wiley, of Greenfield, president 
of the Wiley Construction Company, who was familiar 
with such enterprises and who had looked the ground 
over to some extent with a view to practical results, 
was present and made a statement in regard to the 
feasibility of the thing proposed and the probable cost, 
both of the works and the water as it might be fur- 
nished to consumers. His representation made so 
favorable an impression upon those who heard it that 
a town-meeting was called on the 28th of April, when, 
after considering the subject at some length, a com- 
mitee was chosen "to contract with any Company or 
Corporation for sixty or more hydrants for a term of 
year-i for the use of the town, and to authorize such 
Company or Corporation to lay water-pipes along or 
across any highway and make necessary excavations 
for the same." This committee, after due inquiry and 
deliberation, closed a contract with the Wiley Con- 
struction Company in the autumn of the same year, 
and in the following June the work of laying the 
mains was commenced and carried forward to com- 
pletion four or five months afterward. During the 
succeeding winter, the reservoir on Glazier Hill was 
constructed, as was also the pumping-station at the 
southeast corner of Crystal Lake. At an adjourned 
annual town -meeting in 18S2 the committee reported 
their doin»;8 with the agreement made with the Con- 
sti'uc'.ion Company, which was as follows: "The 
Company are to put in sixty hydrants according to 
accompanying plans, and furnish water for extin- 
guishing tires for twenty years, at the rate of sixty 
dollars for each and every hydrant per year, the town 
to have the privilege of putting in new hydrants at 
its own expense on lines of pipe already laid, without 
additional cost. If new lines of pipe are laid, the 
Company will put in new hydrants on the same terms 
as the original ones were furnished. All hydrants to 
be accepted by the town and warranted to be kept in 
good working order. The Company to supply all 
public buildings, fountains and watering-troughs, 
without cost to the town, and all private parties at 
rates not to exceed those established in the town of 
Athol. The control of the hydrants to be in the 
hands of the Chief Engineer of the Fire Department. 



866 



HISTOKY OF WOllCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



At the end of twenty years the Coinpaiiy agrees to 
sell to the town at a price determincil by three disin- 
terested appraisers." This agreement was ratified by 
the town. 

On the lOlh of April, 18S2, the Gardner Water 
Company was incorporate<l by act of the Legislature, 
and given the privilege of taking water from Crystal 
Lake, with the additional " right of eminent do- 
main." The capital stock of the company was $100,- 
000. S. L. Wiley was chosen president, and Volney 
W, Howe secretary and treasurer. The water was 
first let into the mains May 4th, and a trial of the hy- 
drants took place May 1], 1882. Everything proving 
saiisfactory, the Gardner Water Company bought of 
the Wiley Construction Company all its interest in 
the undertaking, assuming all its stipulated obliga- 
tions to the town. The cost of the works, to the pres- 
ent time, has been about $80,000. More than sixteen 
miles of .street pipes have been laid, witli seventy-four 
hydrants and six public watering-troughs attached. 
About one-third of the families in the town are ac- 
commodated by the works. School-liouses and en- 
gine-houses, as well as other public buildings, re- 
ceive water free. About three hundred thousand 
gallons are used per day. The reservoir will contain 
live million gallons, and is supplied from Crystal 
Lake, the water of which is of superior quality and 
practically inexhaustible, by two compound, duplex, 
condensing pumping engines, made by the Deane 
Steam Pump Company, of Holyoke, which are capa- 
ble of pumping four million gallons per day. Henry 
W. Conant is the present skillful and efficient super- 
intendent of the works, and the officers of the com- 
pany at thi.'i date are C. H. Green, of Northfield, 
president ; Volney W. Howe, secretary and treasurer. 

Fire Department. — Few towns anywhere are bet- 
ter furnished with facilities for extinguishing fires than 
Gardner, and its immunity, in late years, from the de- 
vouring flame is worthy of note. Since the construction 
of the water-works, with more than seventy hydrants 
distributed through the densely-peopled sections of the 
town, it has been, under the efficient direction of the 
chief engineer of the Fire Department, comparatively 
easy to control a conflngration whenever one has 
broken out, and to prevent seriously disastrous re- 
sults. The pressure in the mains is sufficient, at al- 
most any point— except in close proximity to the 
reservoir — to throw water over the highest buildings, 
and the protection is therefore as perfect as possible 
from that source. The town has also four hand- 
engines, which are kept in good order and may be 
called into requisition in localities lying beyond the 
reach of the hydrants. Besides these, there are four 
hose-carriages and two hook-and-ladder trucks, for 
each of which there is a company of twenty men, with 
an ample amount of hose and other equipments 
equally complete. A patent life-saving apparatus is 
provided for cases of extreme danger. Two engine- 
houses, for the proper protection and care of the ap- 



paratus, are located in different parts of the town — one 
in South Gardner, built in 1880, for the erection of 
which $4,000 were appropriated, and one in the West 
Village, erected in 1883, at a cost of $5,000. There 
are also supplementary stations in the Town Hall 
building and at the depot. The department is 
thoroughly manned and under good discii)linc, and 
can be called into service at any point by a system of 
well-arranged signals at the shortest possible notice. 
The officers of the department for 1888 are : Chief 
Engineer, Charles N. Edgell ; Assistant Engineers, 
Benjamin T. Joslin, Dexter Gleason, Theodore W. 
Learned, Frank P. Cowan. 

Stkeet Lighting. — It is but a few years since 
anything like a systematic method was attempted in 
the way of illuminating the streets of the different 
villages of the town by night. The records of the 
clerk show that small sums were voted to parties wlio 
should maintain street lamps in localities approved 
by the selectmen. More recently a gas company has 
been formed, under whose t-uperintendence pipes 
have been laid, posts erected and lights kept burning 
along the more frequented thoroughfares. The com- 
pany was incorporated in the year 1888 with a 
capital of fifty thousand dollars, the officers being C. 
H. North, president; J. L. Robinson, treasurer ; T. 
King, secretary. The works and office are on Logan 
Street, with Charles A. Roebuck in charge as manager. 
Not to be behind the times in the matter of lighting 
streets, halls, ^hnps, stores and even private dwelling-", 
the Gardner Electric Light Company was also incor- 
porated in the year 1888, with Koderic L. Bent, pres- 
ident, and Charles F. Richardson, secretary and treas- 
urer. The capital is $15,000. AVorks have 
already been erected on Park Street, near Crystal 
Lake, illuminating stat'ons have been established 
and practical operations have been begun and are 
now going on. The machinery employed consists of 
one arc dynamo, capable of supporting fifty lights, 
and an incandescent dynamo with a, capacity of five 
hundred lights. The demand for the latter light is 
already so great thataseconddynamowill probably be 
put in at an early day. The machinery and ajipliances 
are from the manufactory of the Thomson-Houston 
Company, Boston. Mr. J. W. Thurber is the elec- 
trician and manager of the concern. 

Public Buildings and Halls.— The principal 
public building in the place, besides the churches and 
school-houses, is the Town Hall Building, located in 
the Central Village, at what was formerly the very 
heart of the community. It is a wooden structure, 
built originally in ISGO at an expense of twenty-one 
thousand dollars. It is two stories high, with spa- 
cious basement and high pitched roof relieved by 
dormer windows. Its exterior walls are broken by 
buttresses which are surmounted by well-proportioned 
rootlets and pinnacles. The main hall is on the sec- 
ond floor, occupying with its various accompanying 
side-rooms the entire area, above which is a commo- 



GARDNER. 



867 



dious, well- lighted aj^artnieiitusedasa Masonic lodge- 
ruom. There is a small hall on the lower floor which 
is Used as a District Cuurl-room aud for smaller gath- 
erings, also the central post-office and several stores. 
The edifice was greatly eulaiged aud improved in 
1883, at an additional cost of twenty thousand dol- 
lars. The seating capacity of the principal hall is 
now twelve hundred. It is not only well adapted to 
ordinary gatherings, but is provided with an ample 
stage, sets of scenery aud other conveniences for 
dram .< tic representations. 

Citizens' Hall is a spacious apartment on the second 
floor of the engine-house in South Gardner. In order 
to meet the need of some place for public gatherings 
in that part of the town, the residents of the neigh- 
borhood supplemented the appropriation made in 
1881 for better accommodations for the Fire Depart- 
ment in that locality by voluntai-y contributions to 
the extent of about !?30(J0, thus securing an addi- 
tional story to the structure proposed to be built, and 
the conveniences they desired. The hall is easily 
accessible and serves a most excellent purpose as a 
place for holding lectures, social parties and enter- 
tainments of whatsoever kind. 

Besides these more public places of assembly, 
there are several belonging to or occupied by difler- 
ent social and benevolent associations or orders — 
such as the Grand Army Hall, near the railroad sta- 
tions ; Odd Fellows' Hall, in West Gardner; and the 
Knights of Pythias Hall, in the Bank Building; 
Good Templars" Hall, on Chestnut Street; Unity 
Hall, near the Universalist Church; and still others 
owned by private p-irties, like Hager's Hall and 
Garland's Hall, in West Gardner. 

Hotels. — The first hotels in the town were kept 
by John Glazier, on the spot and in the house where 
Wni. Austin now resides; Capt. Elisba Jackson, on 
Kendall Street, near the summit of the hill; and 
Jonathan Greenwood, oti High Street, near Minott. 
In these several localities was furnished entertain- 
ment for man and beast after the fa-hiou of those 
primeval times. Numerous taverns or public-houses 
of varying grades, during the more than a century 
intervening, have accommodated the travelers and 
other people with food, drink and lodging, at other 
points within the town limits, of which no record has 
been sought. At present there is no lack of such 
establishments in the community for the benefit of 
either the transient or the jjermanent guest. The 
most spacious and imposing of them all is the Wind- 
sor House, in the Central Village, owned by a syndi- 
cate of Gardner gentlemen and kept by 'Colby & 
Hartwell, who have recently taken the place of the 
former landlord, Mr. W. H. Barnes. The building 
was put up in 1882, on the site of the old " Central 
House," for many years neither an ornament nor an 
honor to the town in any sense, nor a blessing to the 
community. It is constructed of brick, with granite 
and brown-stone trimmings, having a frontage of 



eighty-three feet on Green Street, where is the main 
entrance, and of eighty-eight feet on Pearl Street. It 
is three stories above the basement, which is high and 
commodious and is arranged and fitted up with ample 
facilities for mercantile purposes. The superstruc- 
ture contains nearly one hundred rooms, well-appor- 
tioned and elegantly furnished, and is provided with 
steam-heat, gas, electric bells and all the appoint- 
ments of a first-class establishment. 

The South Gardner Hotel is the oldest stand of the 
kind in town. It is located on the line of the first 
county road that was laid through the place aud of 
the Fifth Massachusetts Turnpike, and was probably 
erected and opened as a public-house about the time 
of the construction of that important thoroughfare in 
1800. It has been greatly improved within a few 
years and adapted to the requirements of the present 
time. 

The Gardner House is more favorably located to 
accommodate the traveling public than any other in 
the town, being directly opposite the Fitchhurg Rail- 
road Station and central to several important business 
interests. It was first opened in 1881 by Mr. L. H. 
Hoi ton, of the South Gardner Hotel, who died not 
long after, leaving the property to his widow. She 
had charge of it for about two years and then sold it 
to Mr. Frank Rafl^erty, of Claremont, N. H., who en- 
larged the building and made it more convenient and 
attractive to guests. It is heated with steam and well- 
supplied with modern improvements. 

Richards" House, on Parker Street, near Vernon, 
formerly the Methodist Chapel, is a pleasant aud com- 
modious place of public entertainment, dispensing a 
free and generous hospitality to its guests and ofl'ering 
special inducements to commercial travelers, by whom 
it is liberally patronized. 

Citizens' House, on Parker Street, near West, pre- 
sents a pleading and somewhat imposing external ap- 
pearance, being three stories high above the base- 
ment, with a double piazza on three sides and other 
corresponding architectural features. It contains forty- 
five rooms, besides a large hall, is heated by sieain 
and is furnished with due regard to both comfort aud 
beauty. The proprietor is Agnes Jacques, who is also 
manager. 

The American House, the Crystal Lake Hotel and 
the Montreal House are hostelries of smaller propor- 
tionsand of less note, yet claiming their share of favor 
and patronage from the general public. • 

Elegant Residences. — Gardner is honored and 
adorned with a goodly number of beautiful aud ornate 
private buildings — the homes of the better-conditioned 
class of its citizens, who, by the skill, care and good taste 
displayed in their dwellings and grounds, contribute 
not only to the general attractiveness of the place, but 
to the pleasure and happiness of all lovers of fair and 
comely things. Some of these, it is said, excel in 
architectural proportions, in artistic appointments, in 
chasteness and delicacy of ornamentation, in richness 



868 



HISTORY OP WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



of color and perfection of fiuish, anything elsewhere 
in ihe county outside of the city of Worcester, while 
others, less elaborate, costly and perfect, are yet mod- 
els of refined taste and elegance iu the line of art 
which they represent. Among these as worthy of 
special mention are the residences of Messrs. George 
and Henrj' Heywood, Alvin M. Greenwood, Philan- 
der Derby, Mrs. Fannie B. Heywood and Mrs. Ellen 
L. Pierce, while those of Seth Heywood, Roderic L. 
Bent, John A. Dunn, Charles D. Burrage, John D. 
Edgell and others are exceedingly pleasant and at- 
tractive. 

The Centennial Celebration. — On the 27th 
of January, 1885, it being the year on which the town 
would complete a full century of its corporate exist- 
ence, it was voted, at a legal meeting of its citizens, 
to celebrate the event with observances and exercises 
appropriate to so important and interesting an occa- 
sion, and the matter of providing ways and means for 
carrying this vote into efl'ect was entrusted to the 
charge of the selectmen. On the 2d of March, follow- 
ing, at the annual town-meeting, a large committee 
of citizens was chosen to advise and co-operate with 
the selectmen in arranging the details of the celebra- 
tion and in making due provif^ion for the proper exe- 
cution of whatever plans might be adopted in relation 
theieto. These parties addressed themselves to the 
duty assigned them with praiseworthy promptness, 
fidelity and zeal. The work in hand was wisely 
divided into numerous departments representing dis- 
tinct and important interest?, and the proper sub- 
committees were chosen to have these departments 
in charge, so that nothing should be neglected or 
omitted which might be deemed necessary to make 
the proposed demonstration a grand success. Fifteen 
hundred dollars had been appropriated by the town 
to defray whatever expenses might be incurred, and 
private contributions increased the sum to an extent 
that left the Committee of Arrangements great liberty 
in the adoption of measures suited to the ends they 
were appointed to ])romote and secure. The result of 
their labors furnished ample evidence of the wisdom 
and efficiency of their management. 

The exact day of the proposed anniversary was the 
27th of June, and that was the time fixed upon for 
the event to take ])lace, preparations for which being 
made accordingly. But as it had been deemed advis- 
able to unveil and dedicate the newly-erected sol- 
diers' monument on the same day as a prominent and 
attractive feature of the occasion, it was decided, in 
order to have time for carrying out the full [)rogramme, 
which was considerably lengthened by this arrange- 
ment, that the oration and the more formal exercises 
accompanying it should be given in the town hall on 
the evening of the preceding day, June 20th. The 
hall was elaborately and splendidly decorated and at 
an early hour was filled with an intelligent, earnest 
and expectant audience. The Honorable John M. 
Moore, one of Gardner's best known and most respected 



citizens, presided, calling the vast assemblage to 
order and conducting the proceedings according to 
the following 

PROGBAMUE. 

Opening Addrvss Hon. .Tobn M. Moore. 

j*ra>'er Rev. Liiwrence Plielps. 

SoiiK of Welcome Centennial Glee Club, 

Address of Welcome John D. Kdgell. 

Centennial Hymn Glee Club. 

Oration Rev. Wni. S. Heywood. 

Poeni Hon. John M. Moore. 

Closing Song Glee Club. 

The following day was ushered in by a reveille at 
sunrise from the camp of Battery B, Massachusetts 
Artillery, located just outside the Central Village, 
and responding bugle-calls from the neighboring hill- 
tops, followed by a salute of a hundred guns, the 
ringing of bells and the blowing of steam-whistlei. 
People were early astir, and as the morning advanced, 
crowds gathered from the adjoining towns and all the 
region round-about. The streets put on a holiday 
appearance, public and private buildings were pro- 
fusely decorated with the national colors, an indefinite 
number and variety of tasteful designs, emblematic 
figures, mottoes and words of welcome and rejoicing. 
The Governor of the Commonwealth, His Excellency 
George D. Robinson and suite, with other distin- 
guished guests, arrived about ten o'clock, being re- 
ceived with an appropriate salute, when the pro- 
cession formed, and passing through the principal 
streets of the different villages of the town, end- 
ed its march at length at the immense tent in the 
rear of the residence of Charles W. Conant, where 
an excellent dinner was spread and enjoyed, and 
where the post-prandial exercises were held. On its 
way the procession halted at the square where the 
soldiers' monument stood, and where services appro- 
priate to the unveiling and dedication of that tribute 
to patriotic virtue took place. The procession was 
nearly a mile long and moved to the strains of mar- 
tial music floating from several well-trained bands 
through the air, lending exhilaration and enchant- 
ment to the scene. 

After the dinner was over the president of the day 
assumed his proper place, and invited the Rev. James 
Taylor to offer prayer. He then introduced Geo. W. 
Cann, Esq., who was to serve as toast-ma-ter, and call 
out the speakers whom a large and eager audience was 
waiting to hear. "OurCommonwealth" was responded 
to by Governor Robinson in his usual happy style. 
Other well-selected sentiments opened the way for 
Col. W. S. B. Hopkins, of Worcester ; Hon. J. Q. A. 
Brackett, Speaker of the House of Representatives ; 
Hon. C- C. Coffin, the "Carleton" of the Boston 
Jovrnal; Philander Derby, an honored citizen of 
Gardner; Rev. W. D. Herrick, of Amherst; Rev. 
Wm. S. Heywood. of Boston, the orator of the day ; 
Harvey B. Whitney, of New Jersey, a native of the 
town ; Rev. Increase S. Lincoln, of Wilton, N. H., 
the second minister of Gardner, who had just passed 
the eighty-sixth year of his age, and Charles F. 



GARDNER. 



869 



Reed. The president closed the exercises witli a few 
well-chosen words. A dress par.ade on the Common 
by the local and visiting militia terminated the day's 
proceedings, and a grand illumination in the even- 
ing with fire-works, and concerts by Reeve's Band, 
of Providence, and the Fitchburg Band brought to a 
fitting end the celebration of the one hundredth 
anniversary of the incorporation of the town of 
Gardner. 

The Soldiers' Monumext.— Sometime in the 
year 1882 a committee consisting of John D. Edgell, 
Charles F. Reed and J. Warren Spring was chosen 
by the town to act with the selectmen in considering 
the matter of erecting some suitable testimonial in 
honor of the brave men of Gardner who, in the time 
of the great Rebellion, "died that the Republic 
might live." On the 3d of JIarch, 1884, that com- 
mittee reported in favor of such action, and $5000 
was appropriated for the purpose designated. Subse- 
quently the parties to whom the responsibility of 
carrying the project into execution was assigned 
made a contract with the Smith Granite Co., of 
Westerly, R. I., for the erection of a monument of a 
certain specified design and height, at a cost of $5000, 
to be completed before the 27th of June, 1885, which 
action was communicated to the town at its annual 
meeting that year. The conditions of the contract 
were iulfiUed, and the ceremony of unveiling and 
dedicating the beautiful granite structure constituted, 
as before stated, a prominent part of the proceedings 
of Centennial Day. The exercises consisted of a 
prayer by Rev. F. B. Sleeper, a poem written for the 
occasion by Elizabeth Stuart Phelps, and read by 
Comrade John D. Edgel!, a statement of the Monu- 
ment Committee by Ezra O-sgood, chairman, and an 
address by Captain John F. Ashley, interspersed with 
appropriate songs and martial music. They enlisted 
the attention of a large auditory, and were received with 
manifest favor and enthusiasm. The monument is made 
of Westerly stone and is of fitting design, of excellent 
proportions, well-executed and finely finished. It con- 
sists of a square shaft resting on a pedestal having a 
solid base with substantial foundations, the whole 
being surmounted by a color-bearer in bronze, sup- 
porting a flag. Appropriate symbolic illustrations and 
inscriptions are cut upon its different sides, together 
with the names of the principal battles in which sol- 
diers from the town were engaged. On the south or 
principal front, at the foot of the pedestal, in large, 
raised letters, is the word " Gardner," and beneath 
in three lines, " To her brave sons, who foughl'for the 
Union in the War of tlie Rebellion, 1861-1865." 

Military Affair.s. — Mention has already been 
made of the volunteer military companies formed in 
response to calls of the United States Government in 
the troublous times of 1797 and thereafter, and upon the 
declaration of war with Great Britain in 1812, or in 
consequence thereof. For nearly twenty years after 
the disbanding of the latter of these there seems to 



have been no organization of the kind in town, 
although the military spirit was somewhat rife iu the 
general community, and military companies were 
popular in many localities. In 184-1 one was formed, 
however, with James Cooledge 2d as captain, and 
David Kendall, Joseph Wood and Hiram Wood as 
lieutenants, which bore the name of the Gardner Greys. 
But it did not meet with general favor from the 
public ; interest in it soon began to decline and it had 
but a brief existence. People began to think the 
time had come when men should " beat their swords 
into plough-shares and their spears into pruning- 
hooks and learn war no more." But the Rebellion of 
18G1 dispelled that illusion, and the citizens of Gard- 
ner rose to meet the exigency thrust upon them in a 
spirit becoming the sons of Revolutionary sires, as has 
been duly narrated in another chapter. The Rebellion 
over, the military spirit did not altogether pass away 
with it. Kept alive by memories of battle scenes and 
valorous deeds, or awakened by other influences, 
that spirit came to the surface again and put on an 
outward form of existence in 1884, when, on the 20th 
of May, the " Hey wood Guards " was chartered agree- 
ably to the statutes of the State, and assigned a place 
in the volunteer militia of the Commonwealth, aa 
Company F, Second Regiment, with Solon T. Cham- 
berlain captain, and Charles N. Edgell first lieutenant, 
who are still in command. In the same year the 
town appropriated five thousand dollars to build an 
armory for the new company, and chose a committee 
to superintend the work, which was completed in a 
few months. The building is a fairly good-sized one 
of some architectural pretensions, and stands on Elm 
Street near the railroad stations. The company is 
under good drill and maintains a respectable standing 
among its compatriot organizations. 

The Town Poor. — Like most towns of the early 
times, Gardner availed itself of the privilege accorded 
it by the public statutes of "warning out" persons 
and families coming to settle within its borders with- 
out the consent of the authorities, whereby it was 
relieved of the responsibility of supporting them 
should they ever come to want. As a rule, most new- 
comers were thus treated, among whom may be found 
those who proved to be in after-years some of the 
most thrifty and honored citizens of the pl.ace. As 
to persons legally subject to the public charge, the 
policy generally prevailing years ago of letting them out 
to the lowest bidder to be cared for and supported, was 
at first adopted. The first case of this kind recorded 
is that of Oliver Upton and wife, with their children, 
early in 1789. Those having them were "to provide 
victuals and drink convenient for them and to take 
care of them." An effort was made the same year to 
have the town buy a farm with suitable buildings, and 
use it for the proper sustenance and shelter of those 
who had or might become public charges. But it did 
not succeed, and nothing was done in that direction 
for many years. The original policy of letting to the 



870 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



lowest bidder was continued as time went on until, 
out of considerations of kindness and humanity, the 
matter of proviiling lor the poor was Icit to the discre- 
tion of the selectmen. This course was pursued till 
1849, when the Abram Stone place, in the northwest 
part of the town, wa? purchased, and, with its build- 
ings, put in order for the proper care and maintenance 
of the unfortunate cla^*s under notice. Since that 
time thtxse desio;ned to bo benefited by such an 
establishment have been accommodated there. The 
farm contains two hundred and eighty-three acres, 
having a due proportion of wood, pasture and tillage 
lands, all in good condition. The house is large, 
convenient and, though old, is well suited to the pur- 
poses for which it is used. A new barn, seventy-two 
feet by forty, superseded the old one in 1872 at an 
expense of three thousand dollars. The present 
annual appropriation for the support of the \moT is 
six thousand dollars. 

PiiiLANTHnoPY AND REFORM. — The people of 
Gardner have never been iiidifFercnt to the great 
hunianilary movements which more tluin ever before 
in the history of the world have characterized the 
century now drawing to its close. A long list of 
benevolent and reformatory activities to be found in 
the annals of the town proves this. It has already 
been said that the E\'angelical Congregational Church 
and Society from the beginning maintained an open, 
unqualified, consistent testimony against the evils of 
society and in favor of all enterprises calculated to 
elevate and improve mankind. No doubt this fact 
did much to mold public sentiment and create an 
interest in the community in all good causes and in 
all ])liilanthropic endeavors. But outside of that 
communion, there was a respectable number of those 
who, out of their own best convictions and emotions, 
were devoted to the welfare of their fellow-men, and 
counted it a duty and a joy to do what they could for 
the advancement of truth and righteousness in the 
world. The great temperance relbrjn has had from 
its very lieginning friends and champions ready to do 
■what they could to destroy one of the greatest evils 
that ever afflicted human society, to overcome one of 
the greatest of the foes of God and man. Soon after 
the question of temperance began to be agitated, in 
1829, the Gardner Temperance Society was formed, 
with Rev. I. S. Lincoln as president, and later, to 
meet the new demands laid upon those who would do 
effectual service in this behalf— demands created 
by the increased light which had been thrown 
upon the nature and injurious effects of all kinds 
of intoxicating beverages^" The Washington Total 
Abstinence Society " was organized with Dr. David 
Parker as chairman and Thomas E. Glazier as 
secretary. At a still more recent date have "The 
Sons of Temperance" and the "Good Templars'' 
kept their respective ''Limps of Temper.mce" 
trimmed and burning, the rays of which might illu- 
mine some darkened mind or guide some lone wan- 



derer into paths of sjfety and of peace. Aside from 
these outside and special activities, the several 
churches of the town have combined more or less of 
temperance influence and effort with their other work 
in these later years, and maintained a Gospel broad 
ennugh to include the principles of temperance 
among the " good tidings of great joy for all people." 
The cause, so far as it assumes organic form, is at 
juesent represented by a Lodge of Good Templars, a 
Prohibitory Club, two branches of the Women's 
Christian Temperance Union, and perhaps other as- 
sociations of which no report has come to hand. 

As with the cau^e of temperance, so was it, in ils 
d.ay, with the question of anti-slavery. In the irre- 
pressible conflict between liberty and tyranny which 
antedated the Rebellion by more than a generation 
and prepared the way for the triumph of the right in 
that bloody strife— a conflict which " tried men's 
souls'' as few things in American history ever did be- 
fore, or ever will again— -the friends of the oppressed, 
the friends of impartial liberty were not a few, and 
they stood strong and fearless fir the right, coming up 
" to the help of the Lord against the mighty." And 
in the same spirit have other reforms and good causes, 
unpopular, perhaps but having the interests of jus- 
tice and humanity in them, been fiistered, upheld and 
advanced by men and women of this goodly town. 

Social and Benevolent Oeganizations.— Un- 
der this head are included those associations which, 
while partaking largely of the same spirit as the 
enterprises or causes just referred to, are more private 
in their nature and characler and more restricted in 
the sphere of their activity and influence. Of these, so 
popular at the present day and so numerous in the 
community at large, Gardner has its full share. 
Little more can be done than to catalogue them in 
these pages wiihout a detailed account of their ob- 
jects, methods of operation, officers or present degree 
of prosperity and success. They are mentioned in a 
miscellaneous way with little regard to their relative 
importance or any other principle of orderly suc- 
cession as follows: D. G. Farragut Post No. 116, G. 
A. R.; Women's Relief Corps; Sons of Veterans ; 
Hope Lodge of Free and Acccpteil Mas )ns ; William 
Ellison Lodge, No. 185, Independent Order of Odd 
Fellows; Gardner Encampment, I. O. O. F. ; Gard- 
ner Lodge, Knights of Honor, No. 1582; Gardner 
Lodge, American Order of Uniied Workmen ; Achil- 
les Lodge, Knights of Pythias, No. 48; Narragansett 
Tribe, Improved Order of Red Men, No. 48; Puritan 
Council, Royal Arcanum, No. JOIS; American Order 
of Hibernians, No. 0; American Legion of Honor; 
Crystal Lodge, Knights and Ladies of Honor, No. 
1072; Gardner Cummandery, No. 347; United Order 
of the Golden Cross, Charles Sumner Camp, No. 37, 
Massachusetts Division Sons of Veterans, and others, 
perhaps, of which no record has been obtained. 

The town is also honored with a Rifle Club, and a 
Knockabout Wheel Club, both duly organized and 



GARDNER. 



871 



equipped for service in their respective spheres of ac- 
tivity. No attempt is made to enumerate the many 
societies organized, under many different names, in 
connection with the several churches of Gardner, as 
agencies for aiding in the efficient prosecution of the 
recognized work of the church. 

Banks. — The First National Bank of Gardner was 
establislied early in 186.5, receiving its charter on the 
2.5th day of February, with a capital of one hundred 
thousand dollars, derived mostly from the citizens 
of the town. Mr. Amasa Bancroft was chosen first 
president and Mr. John D. Elgell, first cashier. In 
1875 its capital was increased to one hundred and 
fifty tlinusand dollars, the amount of it at the 
present time. Marcli 27, 1S7G, Mr. Volney W. Howe 
was appointed assistant cashier. In 1872, Mr. Ban- 
croft retired from the presidency and Mr. Charles 
Heywood was chosen his successor. At tlie death of 
Mr. Heywood, in 1882, Mr. John D. Edgell was pro- 
moted to the vacant position and Mr. V. W. Howe 
was made principal cashier. These persons serve in 
the places indicated at the present day. This bank 
has been under wise and prudent management from 
tlie beginning, building up for it an excellent reputa- 
tion and securing for it the confidence and support of 
the business conmiunity. It has a surplus of thirty 
thousand dollars. 

Tlie Gardner Savings Bank was established in 1808 
and duly incorpor.ited for the transaction of business 
under the laws of the Commonwealth. Charles Hey- 
wood was the first president and John E>. Edgell, 
treasurer. This in-titution has been of great value 
to the financial interests of Ihe town, especially those 
of the middling classes, by whom it is largely patron- 
ized. It has had a fortunate experience and may be 
regarded as thoroughly sound and trustworthy. Its 
present president is Mr. Franklin Eaton and Mr. J. 
D. Edgell is still the treasurer. The amount of its 
deposits to date is one million and thirty-eight thou- 
sand dollars and its guarantee fund is thirty-eight 
thousand dollars. 

Posr-OFFICES. — The first office for the reception 
and distribution of mail matter established in town 
was located in the village of South Gardner, that be- 
ing on the great line of travel between Boston and 
the towns lying westward in the Connecticut Val- 
ley. Mr. Clement Jewett was the first postmaster. 
His successor was Moses Wood, who, having liusiness 
interests at the Centre, moved the office there. The 
people of the south part of the town were much dis- 
satisfied, and petitioned the department at Washing- 
ton f )r a new office. Their petition was granted, and 
Abijah 51. Severy was given the charge of it. He 
was succeeded by Lewis H. Bradford, Samuel S. 
Howe and S. W. A. Stevens, who received the ap- 
pointment about the year 18-54. At the central office 
Mr. Wood was probably succeeded by Levi Heywood, 
C. Webster Bush and Miss Sarah E. Kichardsan, who 
has filled the position since 1873, to the entire satis- 



fiiction of all interested and concerned. An office 
was established in the West Village some years 
since ; it is now in charge of Mr. Albert A. Upton. 

Cemetpiries. — There are four of these cities of the 
dead within the liicits of the town — the old burying- 
ground in the rear of the First Congregational 
Church, lying lietween Green, Heywood and Wood- 
land Streets, w-hich was laid out about the time of 
the incorporation, and in which sleep the remains of 
nearly three generations of the earlier inhabitants; 
Green Bower Cemetery, off Union Street, South 
Gardnei» which is in control of an as-ociation or- 
ganized in 1849, though it had been used previously 
to some extent for burials; Cry.stal Lake Cemetery, 
purchased " for a cemetery for the use of the town " 
in 1858, and occupying a beautiful site on the west 
side of the lake which gives it its name; and St. 
John's (Catholic) Cemetery, off West Street. 

Police — The Police Department of the town con- 
sists of fourteen men, at the head of whom is Mr. 
Henry Carney, with headquarters in the basement of 
the Town Hall building. 

Physiciaks. — The first medical practitioner was 
Joseph Boyden, who came to town early in its history 
from Sturbridge, married the daughter of Seth Hey- 
wood, followed his profession until about the time of 
the settlement of Rev. Jonathan O-sgood in 1791, 
when he left for Tamworth, N. H., where he spent 
the remainder of his days. He is said to have been 
a man of superior ability and of wide reputation. 
Dr. Boyden was succeeded by Mr. Osgood, who was 
not only a minister, but a physician of acknowledged 
skill, serving in that capacity for more than thirty 
years with a good degree of success and to the satis- 
faction of his patrons. The third physician of the 
town was Dr. Howard, whose stay was brief and of 
whom nothing further is known. In 1822 Horace 
Parker, M.D., from Westford, began the pr.actice of 
his profession in the place and continued till his 
health failed in 1829, when he returned to his old 
home, resigning his place to his brother David, who 
had studied with him and who had already practiced 
somewhat in the community. Dr. David Parker 
came to Gardner well-qualified for the duties of his 
calling and cordially endorsed by the highest medical 
authority in the Commonwealth. He early evinced 
unu-ual skill in the treatment of disease and endeared 
himself to the people of the town and vicinity, both 
by his success as a physician and by his kindness and 
sympathy in times of sickness, anxiety and bereave- 
ment. Had he given himself wholly to his chosen 
work he would have risen to a high and commanding 
position in the medical world. For nearly sixty 
years he lived in Gardner, was familiar w-ith its 
afl'airs and with the great mass of its people, attending 
to the duties of his profession almost to the last, and 
passing away at the advanced age of more than four- 
score years in the spring of 1886. Others of the 
profession in town have been : Drs. Carpenter, Jew- 



872 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



ett, Harriman, Warner, Whittier, Sanborn and Saw- 
yer, Sr. The present physicians are: Drs. R. F. 
Andrews, C. H. Bailey, E. A. Colby, J. E. Gallagher, 
G. W. Garland, J. R. Greenleaf, H. P. Grise, F. E. 

Hale, Waldo Mason, — Mulligan, J. H. Pilardy. 

F. S. Riopelle, E. A. Sawyer, W. A. Smith, G. B. 
Underwood. 

Attorneys.— Among the first men who practiced 
law in Gardner were C. H. B. Snow, Esq. and C. W. 
Carter, Esq. Mr. Snow died many years ago, and Mr. 
Carter is still in the profession at Leominster. The 
present lawyers are Charles D. Burrage, Thatcher B- 
Dunn, Ephraim D. Howe, Edward P. Pierce and 
James A. Stiles. 

Population, Etc.— The population of the town, 
indicating its growth from the beginning, is given as 
copied from statistical tables preserved in the office of 
the State Secretary, at Boston, to wit : 1785, about 
300; 1790, 531 ; 1800, 667; 1810, 815; 1820, 911; 18.80, 
1023; 1810, 1200; 1850, 1533; 1855, 2183 ; 1860, 2666! 
1865, 2553; 1870, 3333; 1875, 3730; 1880, 4988; 1885, 
7283. 

Of the 7283 inhabitants in 1885, there were native 
males, 2650; females, 2630; foreign males, 1067; 
females, 891; mulatto males, 35; females 10. This 
population was distributed in 1673 families, who occu- 
pied 1148 dwellings. 

According to the assessor's estimates for the last 
year (1888) the property of the town is as follows : 



Tota! vnhie of personal estate.. 
Total value of real estate 



$1,000,070 
2,SS:!,47U 



Whole valuation.. 



From the same authority it appears that on the 
1st day of May the last year there were in town : 
horses, 732 ; cows, 511 ; sheep, 45; other neat cattle, 
139; swine, 119; dwelling-houses, 1251 J; land assessed, 
12,558.44 acres; number of tax-payers, 2,955; num- 
ber of poll.**, 2,635 ; amount of money to be raised by 
taxation in 1888, $71,313.29. 

The public property of the town of Gardner in the 
year 1888, as reported to the Tax Commissioner of the 
Commonwealth, Alanson W. Beard, was follows : 

School-houses 865,000 

Townhouse 30,0ilD 

Armory 3,0OD 

AInisfaouse — real and personal property 0,000 

Eighty-four shares in Fitchburg Bank 7,300 

Fire apparatus C,000 

Engine-houses 12,000 

Other assets (cash on hand) , 10,000 

Cemeteries 6,000 

Public grounds .5,000 



Total $152, SCO 

The liabilities of the town are : 

Funded debt $100,000 

Temporary loan 8,000 

Trust funds 405 



Total $U4,4->5 

The present town officers are : Clerk and Treasurer, 



C. Webster Bush ; Selectmen, Charles Bancroft, Web- 
ster Cowee, G. N. Dyer; Assessors, R. P. Adams, 
Marcus Whitney, Thomas F. Carney; Overseers of 
the Poor, Charles Elton, Charles Whitney, Jos. D. 
Frinney ; Collector of Taxes, Edwin H. Cady ; School 
Committee, Dr. E. A. Sawyer, Mrs. Clara Howe, J. 
M. Moore. 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 



LEVI HEYWOOD. 

Prominent among the business-men and inventors 
of this his native town stands the name of Levi Hey- 
wood, a sketch of whose ancestors' lives and inventive 
genius we here give. In connection with each of the 
varied industries which have made New England the 
work-shop of the country, there is in almost every case 
some single name, that of a pioneer, or especially 
successful manufacturer, which is at once suggested 
when the industry is named. In this relation to the 
chair manufivcture stands the name of Heywood. 
The various families of this name, widely dissemi- 
nated through Middlesex and Worcester Counties, 
are all of them, it is believed, descended from John 
Heywood, who, prior to 1650, came from England 
and settled in Concord, Mass. His son, well and 
widely known as Deacon John Heywood, was a man 
of large influence both in civil and in ecclesiastical 
affairs. One of his sons, Phineas, born in Concord in 
1707, removed in 1739 to Shrewsbury, Masg. He was 
selectman, a Representative in the Provincial Con- 
gres.s, a member of the Committee of Correspondence 
in 1774-75, and a man of large influence in public 
affairs. His son Benjamin, born in 1746, was com- 
missioned, in 1776, a captain and paymaster in the 
army, and served through the war. He was present 
at the surrender of Gen. Burgoyne. From 1802 to 
1811 he was one of the judges of the Court of Com- 
mon Pleas, and for many years was one of the most 
eminent citizens of Worcester County. His older 
brother, Seth, born in Concord in 1738, was carried 
with his father's family to Shrewsbury, and in 1762 
was married to Martha Temple, of that town. He 
soon after moved to Sterling, and served as lieutenant 
in the Army of the Revolution, purchasing a farm 
within the limits of what is now Gardner. He was 
living there at the time of the incorporation of the 
town in 1785, and, in connection with John Glazier, 
was one of the petitioners and chief promoters of that 
act, and was the first town clerk. His son Benjamin, 
born in Gardner in 1773, married Mary Whitney. 
He inherited his father's farm. He was for many 
years the town treasurer. His children were Levi, 
Benjamin F., Walter, William, Seth and Charles. 
He died in 1849, in his seventy-seventh year. 

Levi Heywood was born in Gardner, December 10, 
1800. His early advantages for education were only 
those of the common schools of that day, with the 



GARDNER 



873 



afklition of two terms at the academy in New Salem, 
Mass. He taught school for two terms, in 1820-21- 
22. In the spring of the latter year he went to 
Rochester, N. Y., and was employed for about one 
year in slone-work by contract. Returning in 1823 
to Gardner, he entered into partnership with his 
brother Benjamin, in the business of a country store. 
In 182G he commenced, in Gardner, the manufacture 
of wood-seated chairs. In 1831 he went to Boston, 
and opened a store for the sale of chairs, in wliich 
business he continued till 1S36. 

He also, in connection with W. R. Games and his 
brother William, under the firm-name of Heywood 
& Carnes, started a mill for sawing veneers from 
mahogany, etc., in Charlestown. This mill was burned 
in 1835. He then returned to Gardner, and entered 
into partnership with his brother Walter, who with 
others had been for some years engaged in the manu- 
facture of chairs on part of the premises now occupied 
by Heywood Bros. & Co. The veneer-mill in Charles- 
town was rebuilt, and Mr. Heywood retained his 
interest in it until 1849. The business of the new 
firm in Gardner was conducted with success, the 
manufacturebeingmainly by hand, the only machinery 
being the ordinary turning-lathes and circular-saws, 
which were operated by water-power, obtained from 
the pond now known as Crystal Lake. 

In 1841 it occurred to Levi Heywood that machinery 
specially adapted to the various processes of manu- 
facture might be introduced to advantage. His 
brother, of a more conservative disposition, hesitated 
to leave the well-worn paths in which they were 
achieving reasonable success. This difference of 
opinion led to a dissolution of the partnership, Levi 
purchasing his brother's interest. He at once gave 
his thoughts and labor to the devising and constructing 
of special machinery, as well as to the introduction 
of different kinds of wood-working machinery, which 
were already in use for other purposes, and were also 
adapted to his purpose. In the successful carrying- 
out of this idea he inaugurated a new era in the chair 
manufacture, and herein manifested nnich enterprise, 
together with the fertility of resource, mechanical 
skill and inventiveness, and the purpose to introduce 
constantly new and valuable features, both in methods 
of manufacture and in style of product, which have 
always characterized him, and have been large 
elements of his success. 

As an instance of his originality in the matter of 
mechanical devices, it may be said that as early as 
1835 he conceived the idea of the band-saw, now 
universally adopted as one of the most valuable tools 
in wood-work. The idea was not original with him 
though, nor really novel, for as early as 1808 Wm. 
Newberry, of London, England, had conceived the 
same idea, and made a crude model of a band sawing 
machine, but did nothing more with it. So thoroughly 
were its advantages anticipated by Mr. Heywood, that 
he consulted with B. D. Whitney, of Winchendon, 



and with Charles Griffiths, of Boston, as to the feasi- 
bility of constructing a machine of this kind. Both 
of these gentlemen, experts in such matters, agreed 
that with the quality of saw-blades then made, or any 
known methods of uniting them, so as to make an 
endless band, the idea could not be successfully carried 
out. As is well known, M. Perin, of Paris, France, 
has since that time accomplished what Mr. Heywood 
so many years before conceived to be both desirable 
and feasible. 

In 1844 he took into partnership General Moses 
Wood, then of Providence, R. I., and his brother 
Seth, the style of the firm being Heywood & Wood. 
This partnership continued till July 1, 1849. At 
that time General Wood retired from the firm, and 
Messrs. Calvin Heywood and Henry C. Hill were 
admitted, the style of the firm being changed to 
L. Heywood & Co. Mr. Heywood, in addition to his 
business relations as the head of the firm of Hey- 
wood Bros. e*c Co., in 1847 formed a partnership with 
Hon. W. B. Washburn, of Greenfield, Mass., in the 
manufacture of chairs and wooden-ware, at Erving, 
Mass., the style of the firm being Messrs. Washburn 
& Heywood. At this point it is proper to refer to the 
inventions of Mr. Heywood, which have been mostly 
to meet the demands of his own business, and have 
largely contributed to its success. Among them may 
be named one for wood chair-seat, one for tilting 
chair, three for machines for splitting, shaving and 
otherwise manipulating rattan, and four for machin- 
ery for bending wood. Of the merits of his wood- 
bending process it may be proper to introduce the 
testimony of M. Fr. Thonet, of Vienna, Austria, the 
head of the largest chair manufacturing firm in the 
world, employing some five thousand operatives. 
After visiting the factories of Messrs. Heywood, he 
wrote : " I must tell you candidly that you have got 
the best machinery for bending wood that I ever saw, 
and I will say that I have seen and experimented a 
great deal in the bending of wood." The Heywood 
patents have been combined with those of John C. 
Morris, of Cincinnati, Ohio, on which the patents of 
Blanchard have, after protracted litigation, been de- 
cided to be infringements. The combined patents 
owned by the Morris & Heywood Wood-Bending Co. 
it is believed cover the really effective methods for 
bending wood. 

Mr. Heywood represented the tow'n in the conven- 
tion for revising the Constitution of the Slate in the 
year 1853, and in the lower branch of the Legislature 
in 1871. He was a director in the Gardner National 
Bank, and a trustee of the Gardner Savings Bank 
from the organization of those institutions ; an at- 
tendant of the Congregational Church in Gardner, 
and a liberal contributor to its support. He was 
largely interested in educational matters, and made 
liberal donations of land and otherwise to the town 
in this direction. He was respected in the highest 
degree for his personal integrity and excellence of 



874 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



character, and his example wag for good to the large 
number of his employ(;j, and to ihe community in 
which he was long regarded as the most influential 
citizen. He died July 21, 18S2. 



CHARLES HEYWOOD. 

The subject of this sketch, Mr. Charles Heywood, 
was the second son of Levi and Martha (Wright) 
Heywood, and was born during the temporary resi- 
dence of his parents in Boston, on the 12th day of 
November, 1831. At an early age, having received 
a good elementary education in the public schools 
and at the Fitchburg Academy, he entered the office 
of E. D. Brigham & Co., commission merchants on 
Long Wharf, when he was subjected to a thorough 
training in mercantile affairs, which, in addition to 
liis native abilities and previous acquirements, admir- 
ably fitted him for his subsequent career in life. 
When nineteen years old he went into the counting- 
room of the rising establishment of which his father 
was the founder and head, and in which he himself 
was to become an important factor in later years. 
There he applied himself not only to the clerical 
duties pertaining to his position, but to the study and 
mastery of the details and practical workings of the 
great industry with which he was brought in contact, 
and of the means and agencies by which that industry 
could be carried forward to larger issues and a grander 
achievement than had as yet been attained or con- 
ceived of as possible for it. He thus became amply 
qualilied for membership in the firm of Heywood 
Bros. & Co., to which he was admitted a few years 
later, and for a responsible place in its multiform 
activities. For a while he had charge of the Boston 
department of the establishment, having his re-^idence 
at Winchester, a few miles out of the city. In 1866 
he returned to Gardner, where he was brought into 
more immediate relation to the processes of manu- 
facture and to the development and growth of the 
business, and when he assumed a more direct re- 
sponsibility in the control of the company's affairs. 
In 1868 he wilhrew from the firm, but returned to it 
six years later and remained in its active service until 
compelled to desist by failing health, which resulted 
in his death June 24, 1882. By his removal from 
the scene of liis earthly labors, Gardner lost one of 
its first citizens, and one of the best representatives 
of its important interests and prosperous fortunes. 

It is difficult to justly estimate such a man as 
Charley Heywood, to set in proper array his many 
estimable qualities, and to give him that complete 
and symmetrical portraiture which will reproduce 
him, as he was, to tlie reader's eye and mind. Only 
a few hints to this end will be attempted in this 
delineation. As a man of business, quick to grasp 
business problems and efficient in executing business 
demands, he was, by common consent, pre-eminent. 
Nature seemed to have made him, under the eye of a 



wise Providence, for business pursuits and achieve- 
ments, endowing him with a keen, clear insight in 
that direction and a discriminating, practical judg- 
ment which, acting with such spontaneity and pre- 
cision, was akin to genius, if not genius itself. An 
eminent citizen of a neighboring town, well qualified 
to judge in such matters, declared him to be " the 
ablest financier in the northern part of Worcester 
County." 

But he was more than a business man by far — a 
man of affairs was he in a large sense, built altera 
generous pattern, to serve many u:?eg, and to answer 
numerous ends in life. He was a many-sided man. Of 
versatile gifts, of wide sympathies, of broad views, of 
comi)rehenaive purposes and aims, of a liberal spirit, 
he w.as restricted to one line of effort, to no narrow 
field of desire or endeavor. Nothing relating to the 
public good or to the prosperity and welfare of the cora- 
numily was foreign to him or failed to enlist his 
interest and active support. His ability, his manly 
character, his disinterested spirit were recognized by 
his fellow-citizens, who were swift to acknowledge 
them and ready to honor them by suitable tokens of 
confidence and appreciative regard. At ditferent 
periods he held by election and appointment the re- 
sponsible offices of selectman, School Committee and 
town treasurer. When in Winchester in 1861 he 
was chosen Representative to the General Court, and 
again in 1868 in the district of which Gardner formed 
a part, though he was a jirononnced Democrat, while 
the district was decidedly Republican — his well- 
known ability, combined with his >ound judgment 
and fair-mindedness, securing for him the cordial 
support of many of his political opponents. As a 
Democrat, he was repeatedly nominated for Congress- 
man and State Senator. At the organization of the 
Gardner Savings Bank in 1868 lie was elected 
president, and in 1872 was called to the presidency 
of the Fir.-t Nalional Bank upon the retirement of 
Amasa Bancroft, a position which he held till his 
decease. He took an active part in the long struggle 
to secure the construction of the Boston, Barre and 
Gardner Railroad and contributed very largely of his 
personal effort and pecuniary means to that result, 
In recognition of his services the corporation made 
him, for many years, one of its vice-presidents and 
finally its president. An ardent admirer of the 
princij)les, ritual and objects of the Masonic order, 
he was greatly interested and chiefly instruuienlal in 
the founding of Hope Lodge in Gardner, of which he 
wai made first IMaster. Devoted to the mystic rites, 
he was held in high esteem by his associates, and rose 
by regular gradation to the thirty-second degree in 
the ascending series of honors conferred under the 
jurisdiction of the order. 

Whatever he deemed a benefit to the community 
and town received his cordial encouragement and 
support. His name was identified tor twenty years 
with almost every public improvejnent that was made. 




(S^.^//iy 





^^.£^- -m^'Tj-G-s/^ 



GARDNER. 



875 



He was the prime mover in ihe project for establish- 
ing a system of water worlcs. He toolj part in tl)e 
preliminary proceedings relating to the founding of a 
Public Library. He furnished means wherewith to 
start a printing-ofTice and a local paper in the place. 
The lithotype business, which has risen to consider- 
able import;ince and given the town a notoriety in 
circles which did not know of it before, was inaugurated 
mainly through his inilnence and by his help. Mr. 
Heywoodhad great interest in and sympathy for young 
men, and often aided such as manifested a laudable 
ambition to make a successful start in a business 
career and (ill an honorable place in life by his 
counsel and pecuniary means. He was liberal to 
benevolent and charitable movements and objects, 
and the deserving poor and unfortunate were often 
relieved and cheered by his unostentatious acts of 
kindne-s and good-will. He was a faithlul friend to 
the needy and suffering, and will long be held by 
such in grateful remembrance. A friend also to 
religion and to religious institutions, he contributed 
liberally to the activities connected with the First 
Congregational Church and Society, whose inHuence 
in the community he deemed most salutary and 
indispensable. Deeply interested in the erection of 
the church edifice which now graces the head of the 
Common, he was made chairman of the building 
committee, and to his inflnence and efforts its 
e.xistence was largely due. Not narrow and exclusive, 
but broad and tolerant in his religious views and 
sympathies, he respected those who honestly differed 
from him in opinion, and often, by his contributions, 
aided other churches than his own in their early 
struggles to get a foot-hold in the community in order 
to do some earnest Christian work for God and num. 
The high regard in which Mr. Heywood was held, 
not only by the people of his own town, but by the 
general community, as a businessman, a high-minded 
citizen and a public benefactor, was abundantly 
attested at his obsequies, when a vast multitude from 
all the region round, and from far-away places, 
gathered in the spacious church he had done s^o much 
to rear, to express by their presence the sense of los 
which filled their hearts, and to pay respectful and 
appropriate honors to his name and memory. 



SETH HEYWOOD. 

Seth Heywood was the youngest of the five sons of 
Benjamin and Mary (Whitney) Heywood who lived 
to grow up to maturity, all of whom were intimately 
connected with the chair-making industry in Gardner 
and elsewhere, and most of whom gained a creditable 
reputation for business enterprise and efficiency 
through their manufactured goods, distributed far and 
wide in this and other countries of the globe. He 
was born November 12, 1812, and spent the first 
twenty years of his life upon his fiither's farm, which 
then comprised a large portion of the territory now 



covered by the central village of the town. Having 
shared the educational advantages which the public 
schools offered him in his youth, he went to work, 
before attaining his majority, for his older brothers, 
then engaged in business under the style of B. F- 
Heywood & Co., and with the enterprise long identi- 
fied with the family name he has been connected to 
the present day — first as workman for several years, 
then as partner in the management from 1845 to 1882, 
and finally as confidential adviser and friend. He is 
the only surviving member of the original firm of 
Heywood Brothers & Co., reorganized and put upon 
permanent footing in 18(51. Less aggressive and ven- 
turesome than his brother Levi, with whom he was so 
long and so intimately associated, he yet has not only 
witnessed the growth of the gigantic establishment to 
which he has been attached from its very inception, 
but, in his more quiet, unobtrusive way, by his influ- 
ence and counsel, as well as by his pecuniary means 
and more active eflbrts, has done his full share, no 
doubt, to promote its development and wonderful suc- 
cess. Fortunately, when he desired to lay aside the 
responsibilities pertaining to the management of the 
still growing business, he had sons trained under his 
own care to something of his own wi?e and prudent 
methods, whose ability and efficiency had been thor- 
oughly tested, to whom he could resign the weighty 
interests he had helped to guard and conserve in the 
assurance that they would not sufi'er detriment by the 
change. 

Extremely modest and unassuming, Mr. Heywood 
has not only shrunk from everything that might seem 
to partake of the spirit of self-seeking or desire for 
popular favor, but also from taking positions of public 
trust which he was in every way well qualified to fill, 
and to which his fellow-citizens would gladly have 
called him had he consented to yield to their wishes. 
He has, however, been induced to accept the office of 
treasurer of the town, a position which he held for 
several years, discharging its duties with scrupulous 
fidelity and care. He was sent to the General Court 
in 18G0, his political opponents confiding in his good 
judgment, integrity and interest in the public welfare, 
helping to secure to him whatever honors a seat in 
the lower branch of the Legislature might be able to 
confer upon him. He has been officially connected 
with the management of the National and Savings 
Banks of Gardner, as director and trustee respectively, 
from the time they were instituted to the present day, 
and to his financial ability and conservative spirit is 
due, in proportionate dfgree, their acknowdedged 
strength and their good standing in the financial 
world. 

He is also a member of Hope Lodge of Free and 
Accepted Masons, and is in good repute as a brother 
of the mystic tie. Public-spirited and liberally- 
minded, kind and charitable, he is ready to do his 
part in all movements and enterprises in which the 
good of the people at large and the prosperity of the 



876 



HISTOKY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



town are involved. He is a Trinitarian Congrega- 
tionali.st by religious association, though of the more 
liberal type, and has always been a generous patron 
of the First Congregational Church and Society. As 
a man and a citizen he is above reproach and without 
guile. Of agreeable, though retiring manners, reti 
cent, but cheerful in disposition and countenance, 
eminently just in his dealings with all men, of incor- 
ruptible probity and honor unstained, no man in the 
community and town is more sincerely respected 
than he, and no one is deemed more worthy of trust. 



HENRY C. HILL. 

The subject of this sketch, Mr. Henry C. Hill, was 
the son of Bernard and Sarah More Hill, of New- 
port, E. I., where he was born November 8, 1821. 
Of his boyhood and early youth little has been 
learned. While yet but a lad he was employed in 
the paint shop of Levi Heywood & Co., at Boston, 
whence he was transferred in the year 1841, before 
attaining his majority, to the same department of the 
same firm in Gardner, where, by his fidelity and skill 
and manifest devotion to his employers' interests, he 
soon rose to ihe position of fnreman. Proving an 
efficient manager and displaying general business 
capacity, and, moreover, having shown himself to be 
a man of sterling principle and undoubted honor, he 
was deemed so i ssential a factor in the development 
and s.uccessful issue of the important industry with 
which he was connected, that in 1847 he was admitted 
as an active member of the firm, with which he re- 
mained through its several changes and under its 
varying names for twenty-one years, retiring with a 
satisfactory fortune in 1868. After severing bis old 
business relations he led a more quiet life, attending 
to, some less onerous but responsible public trusts 
which he had assumed, answering the calls that 
naturally came to him in a community whose inter- 
ests and well-being he desired to foster and promote, 
enjoying the society of his friends and the hallowed 
intimacies of his own household until his death, 
which occurred on the 13th day of February, 1878. 

Mr. Hill was a man of generous, noble nature, 
commending himself not only to his business asso- 
ciates and others with whom he met in a business 
way by his practical wisdom, financial ability, trust- 
worthy judgment and downright honesty of purpose, 
but also to the general public by those more general 
qualities of character which go to make up a com- 
plete manhood, and which are calculated to secure 
the confidence and regard of all classes of people. 
As a consequence and proof of this, he was called to 
fill numerous positions of responsibility and trust, 
the duties of which he discharged with such fidelity 
and care, with such cheerfulness and courtesy, as to 
constantly gain to himself new friends or to rivet 
more closely friendships formed before. For two 
years he served the town on the Board of Selectmen, 
and was an influential adviser in regard to many 



matters of public interest and concern. Upon the 
retirement of Mr. Charles Heywood from the presi- 
dency of the Gardner Savings Bank, in 1876, Mr. 
Hill was chosen to fill the vacant place, in which he 
served with highly creditable faithfulness and sagacity 
until his failing health obliged him to desist. He 
was for some years director of the First National 
Bank of Gardner, and to his valuable and highly ap- 
preciated services to that institution his associates 
furnished ample testimony in the resolutions passed 
by them at the time of his death. Interested in the 
principles and ritual of the Masonic fraternity, he 
assisted in the founding of Hope Lodge as one of the 
charter members, and served as its second Master to 
the acceptance of his brothers of the craft. He was 
also a member of the Jerusalem Encampment of 
Knights Templar of Fitchbnrg, and of the Worcester 
County Commandery. Politically attached to the 
principles and policy of the Democratic party, he 
was repeatedly honored, under its auspices, with the 
candidacy for Congress in his Representative dis- 
trict and for both houses of the State Legislature. 

Interested in public aflairs, he kept himself well- 
informed upon what was going on about him to the 
last. The prosperity and welfare of his adopted 
town he had much at heart, and contributed liberally 
to what he deemed conducive thereto. He cultivated 
literary tastes, and collected in his own home a con- 
siderable library of well-selected standard woi'ks, 
which he found to be a great source of comfort and 
satisfaction when failing health obliged him to with- 
draw from more active life. His habits and inclina- 
tions were largely domestic. He took great delight 
in making his home cheerful, pleasant, attractive, 
happy, and sought his chief enjoyment in the bosom 
of his family. His kind, thoughtful, constant effort 
in this direction and behalf fill that home, now that 
he has left it, with tender, touching, sacred memories. 

Mr. Hill was not formally connected with any 
church, but he held the Christian faith in sincere re- 
spect, and honored Christian institutions by his per- 
sonal influence, encouragement and liberal pecuniary 
support. He was a regular attendant upon the public 
religious services of the First Parish of the town, and 
one of the last acts of his life was to give two thou- 
sand dollars to aid in the erection of its present 
beautiful and commodious house of worship. Unas- 
suming in manner and in spirit, he abhorred shams 
and pretenses, and delighted in what is substantial 
and real, whether relating to articles of manufacture 
or to personal character, and sought to illustrate in 
himself the genuineness he professed to believe in 
and admire. 



PHILANDER DERBY. 

The second largest chair manufacturing establish- 
ment in the town of Gardner is that of which Mr. 
Philander Derby is the acknowledged head, and to 
which he, above all others, has imparted life, energy 



i 



^^ 




\ 



^ %- ^NS^^ ^\^^ . p ^. ^^^ V| 



v^ 



I 



GARDNER. 



877 



and indeed all the essential elements of its phenom- 
enal success. The career of this man is in many 
respects a remarkable one, full of interest, full of 
instruction, full of encouragement to all humble, 
honest workers in any and every field of human 
effort and achievement. Its more salient and sugges- 
tive features are herein brought to the reader's 
notice. 

Philander Derby was born in the town of Somerset, 
Windham Co., Vt., June 18, 1816. He was the son of 
Levi and Sally (Stratton) Derby, of the same place, 
graudson.of Nathan and of Abigail (Pierce) Derby, of 
Westminster, and great-grandson of Andrew Derby, 
one of the early settlers of the last-named town, and 
for many years clerk of the proprietors, previous to its 
incorporation. He worked upon the home farm till 
he was twenty-one years of age, when he left the 
familiar fields and hills behind him and went forth to 
seek his fortune. Coming to Massachusetts to visit rel- 
atives and friends, and to find, if 2)ossible, some favor- 
able opening for himself, he after a little time made 
an engagement with Phelps & Spoffbrd, of Sutton, to 
work in and about their factory, doing such incidental 
and odd jobs as might be a-signed to him in tte 
interest of his employers. There he remained two 
years and then went back to his old home and made 
an arrangement with his father to take the farm, with 
a view of settling upon it and devoting himself 
thereafter to the primitive calling of tijling the soil.. 
At the e.xpiration of three years, however, he changed 
his plans, gave up the place and again turned his 
steps to Massachusetts. He went to Terapleton, 
entered the chair-shop of Mr. Windsor White, in 
whose employ he continued two years. Having mas- 
tered the trade of making chairs, as he thought, and 
feeling himself competent to carry on business for 
himself, he removed to Jamaica, Vt., not far from his 
native town, and there, in the midst of a lumber 
region, where material could be easily obt.'iined, he 
began manufacturing on his own account. Not suc- 
ceeding to his satisfaction, he sold out his investment 
and the third time took his way to the old Bay State. 
Coming to Gardner — the place of all others for the 
chair business — he made an engagement with Ruge, 
Collester & Co. as a workman, at the termination of 
which he was employed by S. K. Pierce, with whom 
he afterward entered into partnership, which contin- 
ued but a short time. At its dissolution, Mr. Derby, 
thrown out of a place, tried two or three kinds of 
business, but, finding nothing that suited him, seized 
upon the opportunity offered him to purchase a half- 
interest in the chair manufactory owned and managed 
by Abner White, located at the site now occupied by 
A. & H. C. Knowlton & Co. Not long afterwaid he 
bought out his parlner and continued the business 
by himself for several years, covering the period of 
great financial depression in 1857 and reaching to the 
time of the breaking out of the war iu 1861, when 
the whole land was filled with uncertainty and alarm 



and all business interests and enterprises were 
seriously disturbed and imperiled. It was a time of 
trial to Mr. Derby, just fairly started in the chair 
manufacture, with the burden of heavy responsi- 
bilities resting upon him. But he nerved himself to 
meet the crisis iu a manly way. By various expe- 
dients requiring hard work, sagacity and a resolute 
will, he succeeded in going through the ordeal with- 
out serious harm, meeting his obligations as they 
matured, saving his business, maintaining his credit 
and his honor unimpeached and firmly established 
before the world. Taking a fresh start, he has gone on 
from that time to the present in a career of excep- 
tional prosperity, as detailed in one of the chapters 
preceding these sketches. 

The success of Mr. Derby is due chiefly to himself 
rather than to any fortuitous circumstances or outside 
aid — to his untiring industry, his determined purpose, 
his unfaltering perseverance, which no discourage- 
ments could check, no obstacles deter and no dark 
forebodings overcome. These native endowments, 
acting along the lines and according to the conditions 
of business prosperity, have given him the victory 
■and .crowned, him , wiih well-earned and durable 
honors. It is, however, a matter of simple jusiice to 
note the fact that he has had in his wife a valuable 
helper throughout his business caret r. Her faith 
and courage have reinforced and fortified his energies 
in some crf''ihis more trying experiences, while in the 
practical management of his afJaiis her cool judg- 
ment and clear-seeing sagacity have often rendered 
him essential service. 

Mr. Derby, though closely confined to the build- 
ing up and developing bis business interests, has not 
been disposed to ignore his relations to the general 
public nor to be indifferent to matters pertaining to 
the welfare of the community. He has been ready 
and happy to do his full share in supporting the 
institutions of society, to contribute to benevolent 
and charitable objects and to help in any enterprise 
which he deemed promotive of the good order, real 
prosperity and enduring welfare of the community. 
Declining all invitations to public office, he has yet 
consented to serve for some years as director of the 
National Bank and as trustee of the Savings Bank in 
his own town. A man of principle and honor, he 
shares the confidence and regard of his fellow-citi- 
zens ; a friend of temperance, he commends the 
cause by both precept and and example. A Republi- 
can in politics, he is true to his convictions, but holds 
no one in disesteem for honestly differing from him 
in relation to matters of public policy. An Orthodox 
Congregationalist in religion, he is tolerant of all 
faiths and seeks to honor his Christian profession by 
a Christian life. 



SYLVESTER K. PIERCE. 

One of the most active, enterprising, successful 
business men of the town of Gardner was he whose 



878 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



name stands at the head of this biographical sketch. 
Mr. Pierce was the son of Jonas and Achsah (Hayncs) 
Pierce, of We.stiiiinster, where he was born April 11, 
1820. He was a descendant in the seventli genera- 
tion of Anthonj' Pierce, who came to lliis conntry 
from England about the year 1G30, settled in Water- 
town, Mass., and was made a freeman there Septem- 
ber 3, 1034, becoming the common ancestor of a large 
posterity, whose representatives are scattered all over 
the United States. When Sylvester K. Pierce was 
but three years of age his father died, leaving him and 
several other children to the care and training of a 
mother who, with limited resources, struggled hard to 
provide for her dependent ones the means of subsist- 
ence, and to fit them for the duties and responsibili- 
ties of maturer liie. At tlie age of eleven he was sent 
to reside with a sister, who had married a farmer of 
his native town, where it was thought he could be 
better cared for than at home, and where he remained 
three years, going thence to spend another year with 
another sister similarly situated in Ashburnham. At 
the expiration of that period, when fifteen years old, 
he came to Gardner and engaged in the service of 
Elijah Putnam as apprentice to the trade of chair- 
making, under an arrangement by the terms of which 
he was to remain two years, and receive, besides his 
trade, board and schooling, the sum of $120 in money. 
After this he was for five years employed as journey- 
man in Ashby and Ashburnham, when he returned 
to Gardner and entered upon that career of business 
and financial prosperity which is sufficiently indicated 
in its appropriate place in the preceding historical 
sketch of the town of his adoption. That active and 
successful career was brought to a sudden termination 
by his decease January 28, 1888. A man of large 
frame and of robust constitution, he had enjoyed 
general good health until, having contracted a violent 
cold which in its early stages took the form of typhoid 
pneumonia, he came to his death five days afterward. 
Like many another successful manufacturer and 
prominent citizen of Gardner, Mr. Pierce was a good 
example of a self-made man. Starting out in life 
from humljle conditions, deprived of a father's pro- 
tection and guidance when but a child, put to manual 
labor at an early age, compelled by necessity to forego 
many of the comforts and delights so acceptable to 
youth and so desirable at all times, and to endure 
many privations and hardships, dispossessed of advan- 
tages and opportunities so helpful to the development 
of a self-reliant and well-balanced character, he yet, 
by his own energy, ambition, industry, sleepless vigi- 
lance and unfaltering perseverance in the pursuit of 
business ends according to business principles and 
methods, built up from inconsiderable beginnings one 
of the largest and most substantial manufacturing 
enterprises of the town in which he lived, and became 
one of the most active, prominent and influential, as 
he was one of the most wealthy, of its citizens. 'For 
a generation he was the leading man in the industrial 



interests of the community where he resided, and the 
renewed life and increasing prosperity of the villiige 
of South Gardner during these later years are largely 
due to his ellorts and inlliience. The enlargement of 
his business as the years have gone by called in 
workmen with their families from abroad, conducing 
to the material growth of that part of the town, as 
well as to its social, educational and religious ad- 
vancement and importance. The immense establish- 
ment with wdiich his name is especially identified is 
the most prominent feature of the neighborhood, 
while his residence opposite, with its imposing front 
of fine architectural design and stately proportions 
generally, arrests the attention of every passer-by. A 
furniture and carpet store erected by him, and put in 
operation in 1869, has attracted patronage from a wide 
circle of surrounding country, and his farming opera- 
tions, carried on as a sort of pastime or recreation 
supplementary to the more onerous duties of his regu- 
lar business, have won the recognilion of connoisseurs 
in that department of human activity. 

Politically Mr. Pierce belonged to the Republican 
party, but, while loyal to its principles and devoted 
to its interests, never aspired to leadership in its 
councils or to any office at its disposal. He hasi 
however, been called to, and has filled acceptably, 
important positions in financial enterprises both in 
his own and other towns, his business sagacity and 
integrity securing to him the confidence of those 
having important trusts in charge. He was for many 
years a director of the Wachusett Bank, Fitchburg, 
and of the First National Bank, Gardner; also a 
trustee of the Gardner Savings Bank, and of the 
People's Savings Bank, Worcester. To him have been 
assigned, from time to time, important interests in 
the mnnagenient of town aflairs. He was a member 
of the First Congregational Church and Society in the 
town, serving for many years on the board of man- 
agement connected therewith, and taking an active 
interest in all matters pertaining to church activity 
and usefulness. A kind husband, an affectionate 
and devoted father, an enterprising and honored citi- 
zen, his sudden removal from the midst of his earthly 
labors, while " his eye was not yet dim nor his manly 
force abated," was a loss to his family and to the com- 
munity widely felt and deeply lamented. 



EDWARD J. SAWYER, M.D. 

Edward Julius Sawyer, son of Rev. Pember and 
Laura Sawyer, was born in West Haven, Rutland 
County, Vt., August 3, 1829, and died at Gardner, 
Mass., May 10, 1883. He received his early education 
at New London, N. H., and Chester Academy, Vt., 
where were laid the foundations of that broader and 
more thorough culture which characterized his ma- 
turer life. 

Choosing the profession of medicine for a calling, 
he studied with Dr. Lowell, of Chester, and attended 




C^c^^^^^^-^^^-tCc j'u<^i-'t-^ ^ao<^yf^i-^ 



GARDNER. 



879 



lectures at the Medical College in Castleton, in the 
S-irae Slate, from whicli iustiuition lie grailiiatcd with 
the honors of a degree in June, 1853. He soon alt, r 
began the prai.-tice of his profession at Acworlh, N. 
H.; hut, at the expiration of five years, desiring a 
larger field and better opportunities, he removed to 
Gardner, Mass., where he found an opening and a 
sphere of activity more congenial to his tastes and 
belter suited to his ability and power of useiulness. 
Entering into his work here with earnestness and 
zeal, he soon gained the confidence of the community 
and secured a good practice, which grew year by year 
till his decease. 

Dr. Sawyer was well qualified for the duties of his 
profession and fully equipped for every department 
of service in it. Thorough in his diagnc sis and 
skillful in his treatment of disease, of deliberate 
judgment and high character, he was often called 
upon to act as professional consultant in difficult 
cases, where he proved himself as acceptable and 
trustworthy as he did in the more regular duties of a 
family physician. 

In the sick-room he was cheerful, sympathetic and 
encouraging, his presence and personal influence 
contributing to the benefit of his patients as well as 
his prescriptions. There was to him a sacredness in 
his work which called into exercise all his best 
powers, and to those committed to his professional 
care he gave unwearied and conscientious attention. 

But Dr. Sawyer commended himself to the confi- 
dence and esteem of the general public not only by 
his professional ability and success, but by his manly 
qualities, his courteous manners and consistent 
Christian life. He was a pleasant companion, a 
faithful friend, a public-spirited, honorable and hon- 
ored citizen. Well read in the current literature of 
the times, familiar with passing events, of broad 
sympathies and generous culture, and withal a ready, 
entertaining speaker, he was often called upon to 
address public gatherings ou important occasions, 
which he was able to do with ease and eloquence and 
to the edification and delight of his hearers. 

Dr. Sawyer was one of the founders of the Worces- 
ter North District Medical Society, and for two years 
its president. He was also a member of the Mjissa- 
chusetts Medical Society and of the American Medi- 
cal Congress. During the war he was appointed 
examining physician by Governor Andrew, a position 
which he filled with credit to himself and acceptably 
to all. 

Politically he was a Democrat of the "old school," 
and as such received the nomination of his party as 
a candidate for important offices in both the State and 
National Legislatures. But he was not guilty of 
"offensive partisanship," and so commanded the 
respe:t of his political opponents and received a 
commission of justice of the peace at three different 
times from a Republican Governor. 

As a member of the Masonic order he was held in 



high regard by his brethren, and was honored with 
repeated tokens of their confidence and favor. He 
was a charter member of II(ii)e Lodge, and ibr many 
years occupied in it the high and responsible position 
of Master. He received all the usual degrees of the 
order attainable in this country, and was well versed 
in its ritual and mysteries. In recognition of his 
ability and worth as "a just and upright Mason," he 
was appointed Deputy Grand Master for the Masonic 
district in which he resided. 

In religion Dr. Sawyer was an Orthodox Congrega- 
tionalist of the modern type, and a member of the 
First Church of Gardner ; one who proved the sin- 
cerity and intelligence of his Christian profession by 
the purity and uprightness of his character and life. 
He served the God he believed in and adored by 
serving well his fellow-men. 

As an indication of the high place which Dr. Saw- 
yer had gained in the esteem of those most intimately 
associated with him, the testimonials given below are 
respectfully submitted. The first is from the record 
of the actiiin taken by his Masonic associates with 
regard to his death, and the second from remarks 
made by Dr. J. P. Lynde, of Athol, President of the 
Worcester North Medical Society, in view of the same 
event, which were adopted as expressing the senti- 
ments of the members, and ordered to be placed upon 
the records of their association, as a fitting tribute to 
his memory : 

WiiERFAS, The intimate relntiuns so long held by the deceased with 
the nieiiiliers uf Hope Lud^c as their Blaster and otherwise render it 
proper and desirable that they should recurd their appreciation of Ilia 
many virtues and eminent services for the good of Masonry, whether 
as Utaster of Hope Lodge, or as District Deputy Grand Master, or in 
humbler positions, &c. ; therefore, 

Ecsoh-ed, That we extend to the family of the deceased our heartfelt 
sympathy in this their great affliction, and jissure tlieni that his memory 
will ever be treasured by us as an incentive to noble and right endeavor. 

Reaohed, That with profound sorrow and regret we mourn the loss 
of our brother, consoled ouly by the trust and confidence that what is 
our loss is his gain. John D. Edueli., Secretary. 

As jv physician he was pnidont, intelligent, sUillful and successful. In 
his intercourse with his patrons ho was kind, courteous, urbane, self- 
denying, and was held by thcni in high esteem, and had to a great 
degree their confidence and love. ... As a citizen and as a man 
among men, he was respected by his neighbors and all who shared his 
society. . . . lie had reached the meridian of life and was rapidly 
growing in usefulness and iulluence. . . . We shall remember his 
manly form, his dignified presence, his cheerful greetings, liis work and 
worth among us for twenty-five years past, and we will cherish his 
memory with alfectionato respect, and sympathize with his family in 
ttieir bereavement. Charles II. ItlCE, Secretary. 



CALVIN 8. GEEEIsnVOOD. 

Calvin S. Greenwood was born in Gardner, May 
18, 1810, and died there August 25, 1873, having 
scarcely passed the summit of an active, useful, 
honorable life. He was the son of Alvin and Mary 
(Childs) Greenwood, and the grandson of Jonathan 
Greenwood, one of the early settlers of the town, 
whose grcat-grandl'atlier was Thonuis Greenwood, a 
resident of Newton, Mass., in 1667, and probably the 
first of the name in this country. He shared the 



880 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



meagre educational advantages proffered him in his 
boyhood and youth, and early in life learned the trade 
which was then just beginning to present some signs 
of its future prominence in the community, and of 
which he was destined to become, in after-years, an 
efficient promoter and a worthy representative. In 
1837 he went into company with Mr. David Wright, 
and, the two having purchased the privilege now 
occupied by his sons with its appurtenances, and 
made the requisite changes and improvements, began 
the manufacture of chairs under the name of Green- 
wood & Wright — a firm long and favorably known 
in the vicinity and among business men. Mr. 
Greenwood was connected with the industry carried 
on at this stand, either as co-partner with others or 
as sole proprietor and manager, until his deatli, a 
period of thirty-six years, evincing more than usual 
native business capacity, which was improved by 
experience, and which crowned his efforts and 
endeavors with a well-darned and reputable success. 

Mr. Greenwood was an earnest, enterprising man, 
doing with his might what his bands ibundto do, and 
entering into whatever project secured his confidence 
and co-operation with unfaltering purpose and perse- 
vering zeal. He accomjilished much in the way of 
advancing the material interests and industrial pros- 
perity of the village of South Gardner, not only by 
developing and extending the special enterprise with 
which his name was identified, but by encouraging 
undertakings outside of his own particular field of 
activity even to the extent of furnishing at times 
personal credit and financial support, when those 
undertakings were entered upon with an honest pur- 
pose and were calculated to enhance the common 
welfare. Indeed, whatever seemed to him conducive 
to the real prosperity and happines.s of the com- 
munity, was sure to receive sympathy from him and 
such substantial aid as he could render it. 

But he was not only public-spirited in the general 
sense indicated, he was in every way large-minded 
and large-hearted, of generous impulses and disin- 
terested aims, desirous of making the world better 
and happier by his being in it. He had something 
of an "enthusiasm for humanity" dwelling and 
burning in his breast, causing him to be actively 
interested in moral and social reforms, in philan- 
thropic movements, in charitable objects, — in every- 
thing that had in its keeping the permanent good of 
his fellow-men, which he deemed consonant with the 
honor and glory of God. He was a decided, out- 
spoken anti-slavery man in the early days of that 
cause, when to be such was to subject one oftentimes 
to obloquy, scorn and open denunciation — a brave 
sjldier he was in the " irrepressible conflict " which 
was raging ibr twenty years or more before the strife 
at arms, summoning to service the horrid enginery 
of war, was inaugurated in the land; and which, 
while it no doubt hastened the ciisis, also determined 
its final issue in the victory of Freedom and the Re- 



public over their misguided and murderous foes. 
And when the outbreak came and treason struck at 
the nation's life in order that the slave-power might 
reign perpetual in the nation's councils, he, grasping 
the meaning of the fight and the mighty interests at 
stake, took an active and influential part in rousing 
the patriotic ardor of his fellow-citizens, and in secur- 
ing that action of the town which proved its loyalty 
in the time of the country's need, and contributed in 
due degree to the triumph of the riglit, wherein 
was included the proclamation of " liberty through 
all the land to all the inhabitants thereof." Mr. 
Greenwood was, moreover, a strong and tireless friend 
of temperance, adopting, as of vital importance in 
advancing the interests of that cause, the principles 
of total abstinence demonstrating, the sincerity of his 
faith by his personal habits in his daily life. Other 
reforms received the smiles of his approving favor 
and every good word and work found in him an 
advocate and helper. To him came the blessing 
pronounced upon those that consider the poor, and he 
distributed his benefactions liberally, but quietly, 
among such according to his means. 

He received undoubted assurances of the confidence 
and appreciative regard of his fellow-townsmen, in 
that he was repeatedly called to the service of the 
public in positions requiring sound judgment, im- 
partial justice, unimpeachable integrity and an un- 
selfish regard for the good of the community. He 
tilled acceptably positions of grave responsibility in 
the adminstration of town affiiirs and in the financial 
institutions of which he was an associate member. 
He also represented the town in the Massachusetts 
Legislature of 1869. He possessed qualities of mind 
and character, which, supplemented by a kind spirit, 
an enthusiastic manner and a pleasing address, 
gave him wide and salutary influence wherever he 
was known. 

An ardent Republican in his political convictions 
and associations, he was truly democratic in feeling 
and according to the principles of the Declaration of 
Independence. Of reverent and devout spirit and of 
Christian principles and faith, he entered the fellow- 
ship of the Evangelical Congregational Church of 
Gardner, and was earnestly devoted to its interests 
and prosperity. But he was not dogmatic nor sec- 
tarian, but gave a broad interpretation to the teaching 
of the Gospel, and was happy to recognize and con- 
fess the presence and power of the Spirit of God 
wherever the fruits of that Spirit were found. He 
was unusually domestic in his habits and tastes, 
delighting in his home, affectionate and happy in all 
his relations with those near to him there, to whom 
he was most dear, and by whom he is held in tender 
and sacred remembrance. Moreover, he was one of 
the most genial, approachable and affable of men, al- 
ways courteous and kind, and withal of cheerful, 
sunny countenance, making him an agreeable com- 
panion as well as a choice friend. To him, as to few 




7 7 et,.-£^~e^ 




Cy^O-, 



y/-~ 



GARDNER. 



881 



beside might be appropriately applied the significant 
and highly honorable title of a Christian gentleman. 



AMASA. BANCROFT. 

The subject of this notice, whose name appears 
above, was the son of Smyrna and Sarah (Whitney) 
Bancroft, and grandson of Jonathan and Sarah (Case) 
Bancroft, who were among the earliest settlers upon 
the territory now included within the boundaries of 
Gardner. He was a descendant of Lieut. Thomas 
Bancroft, who was born in England in 1622, and, 
coming to New England in his opening manhood, 
settled in Lynn for a short time, but before the year 
1648 was permanently located at Reading, Mass., 
where he became the common ancestor of a large 
posterity bearing his own and other names, among 
whom are those who have attained distinction and 
high honor, not only in this but in foreign lands. 

Amasa Bancroft was born March 16, 1812, on the 
place situated three-fourths of a mile northwest of 
the Common, first occupied and improved by his 
grandfather some years before the incorporation of 
the town. His boyhood and youth were spent in the 
manner that was usual with farmers' sons in this 
section of the country half a century or more ago. 
In the routine of his daily tasks, and under the 
responsibilities laid upon him, there were developed 
in him those habits of industry, prudence and general 
thriftiness, and that self-reliant spirit, so essential to 
a strong and reliable character, which, in after-years, 
served him so well in the various positions and rela- 
tions in life he was called upon to fill. Arriving at 
mature age, he did not go out to seek his fortune in 
larger communities, where there was greater promise 
of promotion and worldly success, but remained in 
his native town, content to enter upon whatever 
career of usefulness might open to him there. The 
business of chair-m.iking was at that time just be- 
coming established in the community, and beginning 
to display some indications of what it was destined to 
be in the future, and he spent three years in learning 
the trade. This accomplished, he formed a partner- 
ship with Frederick Parker, and the two carried on 
the manufacture for a year in a small shop standing 
near the present residence of Mr. Henry Lawrence. 
They then associated with themselves Messrs. Jared 
Taylor and Joel Baker, forming a company which 
bore the name of Taylor, Bancroft & Co., and bought 
the so-called " Pail Factory " property, in the south 
part of the town, of Sawin & Damon, who had 
started the making of pails, buckets and kindred 
wooden-ware by machinery not long before, fur the 
purpose of continuing the production of the same line 
of goods. This they did fur four years, or till 1840, 
when Mr. Bancroft purchased his partners' interest, 
and went on from that time, as represented heretofore, 
till his death, which occurred January 25, 1888, when 
lie is said to have been the oldest pail and tub manu- 
facturer in the United States. 
56 



Mr. Bancroft was a man in whom the town of 
Gardner might take a just and laudable pride. Born 
within its borders, trained in one of its homes, edu- 
cated in its schools and churches, aiding in the de- 
velopment of its industrial prosperity, and extending 
sympathy and support to whatever might promote its 
intellectual, social, moral and religious interests, he 
merited, as he received, the esteem and confidence of 
his fellow-citizens, and of all classes of the commun- 
ity. He was repeatedly called to fill places of respon- 
sibility and trust, and discharged the duti&s of those 
positions with conscientious fidelity, and to the satis- 
faction of all concerned. He was a member of the 
Board of Selectmen for five years; he was the first 
president of the First National Bank, an office which 
he held for seven years ; and he was trustee of the 
Savings Bank from its establishment in 1865 to the 
lime of his death. 

Endowed by nature with a good mental and moral 
constitution, Mr. Bancroft made it the foundation of 
an upright, useful, exemplary life. Among other 
native gifts, he was the possessor of an unusually 
mu.sical voice, combined with a quick ear and deli- 
cate taste for the concord of sweet sounds. These 
capabilities, improved by such culture as he could 
command, made him a favorite in musical circles 
wherever he was known. With pleasing address, and 
power of imparting whatever musical knowledge he 
had acquired, he was for many years an acceptable 
and efficient teacher of singing-schools in the neigh- 
borhood round about, and a respected leader of the 
choir of the church to which he belonged for forty 
years. His singing was with power and effect. His 
early pastor in characterizing it said, " He sang from 
his own heart into other hearts." 

A man of cheerful disposition, humane feelings, 
tender sympathies and generous impulses, every good 
work found in Mr. Bancroft a helper, and every 
phil.anthropic cause a' friend. He was considerate of 
the men in his employ, of the unfortunate and worthy 
poor, and his benefactions to such were many, but 
scrupulously kept from the public eye. He shrank 
from whatever might seem like notoriety or love of 
display, and many of his donations to objects he held 
most dear were not only unknown to the world, but 
to those nearest to him in life. 

In his home he was genial, affectionate, kind and 
helpful, making life there sunny and glad by his 
presence. His immediate relatives were very dear to 
him, and upon them he lavished the wealth of his 
tender, manly heart. He dispensed a liberal hospi- 
tality, and his friends were always met at his door 
with a warm and earnest welcome. 

Mr. Bancroft was a man of strong religious convic- 
tions and of deep religious feeling. A Congrega- 
tionalist of the Evangelical school, he was sincerely 
devoted to his church, and to the doctrines for which 
it stood. But with him religion was not simply a 
form of belief, but also a mode of life. He accepted 



882 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



the Christian faith as the basis and inspiring source 
of a Christian character, and liis daily walk and con- 
versation before God and men testified to the sincerity 
of his convictions, to the purity of his motives, and 
to the exalted quality of his purposes and aims. 
When he passed away the church lost a conscientious 
and faithful devotee, his native town a worthy son 
and citizen, and the world a high-minded, honorable 
man. 



GEORGE S. COLBTJEN. 

The student of local history who has carefully 
followed the pages of these volumes has not failed to 
be impressed with the record of mechanical devices 
produced and perfected by the men of Worcester 
County. To their inventive genius is due the thanks 
of all our citizens, for they primarily, have produced 
the whirling wheels of the mill and factory to sing of 
comfortable homes and good table for the operatives 
there employed. 

The manufacture of chairs, which forms by far the 
largest part of our industry, has materially changed 
during the past quarter of a century, and prominent 
among the names of the men who have by their brain 
invented and developed machinery for this particular 
branch of our industry is that of George S. Colburn> 
the subject of this sketch, who was born in Leomin- 
ster, May 5, 1820. His father, Simeon Colburn, died 
when the boy was but three months old, leaving his 
widow in straitened circumstances, and as soon as 
the boy was sufficiently large to " do chores " he was 
bent to live with an uncle in Cambridge, where he 
remained working for his board two years. Then he 
went to live with Deacon Joseph Dickenson in 
Swansea, N. H., with whom he remained until his 
seventeenth year, working early and late on the rocky 
farm nine months in the year, attending the district 
school the other three, and acquiring the branches 
then taught therein. 

A taste for mechanics developed itself early in Mr. 
Colburn's life, and in boyhood he was wont to arrange 
and adjust small mechanical devices. At the age of 
seventeen he apprenticed himself with Mr. James 
Clark, of Boyalston. to learn the shoe-maker's trade, 
remaining four years, receiving his board and 
$2.00 for his labor, out of which he had to clothe 
himself. At the age of twenty-four he went 
to work in a furniture shop. Here he was 
impressed with the lack of machinery for the 
treament of cane, and began to study and experiment 
upon machinery for doing this work. He was so 
successful that he gave his whole attention to the 
manufacture of this class of machinery and to the 
manipulation of cane. 

In 1857 he went to Wakefield to assist Mr. Cyrus 
Wakefield in the development of the " Wakefield 
Rattan Co.," one of the most important industries of 
that whole section. Here he remained until, his 



health breaking down, he was obliged to go out of 
doors and so purchased a small farm, .^fter about a 
year he recovered, and in 1875 came to Gardner to 
assist Messrs. Heywood & Co. in the development of 
that part of their extensive plant relating to the 
treatment of cane. He remained with them several 
years, and haviog acquired a competency, he retired 
from active business, and with his wife, who was Mi.ss 
Frances R. Sawyer, of Royalston, and whom he 
married in 1843, he occupies a charming home in 
the west village , conscious of having performed life's 
allotted tasks uncomplainingly and faithfully. 



8. W. A. STEVENS. 

Simeon W. A. Stevens, the oldest merchant in 
Garduer and the postmaster in the South Village for 
thirty-five years, was the son of Abel and Sally 
(Spaulding) Stevens of Westford, Mass., where he was 
born July 27, 1818, and where he lived until he was 
about eleven years of age. At that time, his father 
having died, he came to Gardner and worked as office 
and errand boy for his brother, Abel Stevens, who was 
then running the South Gardner Hotel. At the expi- 
ration of two years he returned to Westford, his 
mother still residing there, remaining nearly the same 
length of time employed in helping one of the towns- 
people about his farm and in supplementing his pre- 
vious district school education by a few terms' tuition 
at the widely-known Westford Acadeniy. He then, 
being fifteen years old, came again to Gardner, went 
into the chair-shop, learned the trade of making 
chairs and worked as a journeyman till he was twenty- 
one. His health having become somewhat impaired 
by continuous in-door employment, he left the shop 
and engaged in driving team for Mr. Stephen Taylor, 
by whom he had previously been employed at his 
trade. He continued in this service two years, going 
tKen to Leominster and running a team on his own 
account from that place to Boston. This continued 
till the opening of the Fitchburg Railroad four years 
later put an end to that method of transportation. 
Returning once more to Gardner, he carried on the 
same business for several years, having David Kendall 
for a partner a portion of the time, and serving the 
general public even after the railroad was built through 
the place, by carting goods to and from the depots at 
both ends of the line. 

On the 1st of January, 1850, Mr. Lewis H. Brad- 
ford, who had for some years been engaged in the mis- 
cellaneous merchandise traffic in South Gardner, being 
about to remove to Fitchburg, formed a partnership 
with Mr. Stevens and William Hogan, to whom he 
committed the care of the store previously occupied 
by him. A few years later, Stevens and Hogan 
bought Mr. Bradford's interest and went on in their 
own behalf. When the South Gardner Manufacturing 
Company was formed, they merged their special busi- 
ness in the general undertaking, which aimed to ab- 



882 



HISTOKY OF WOECESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



the Christian faith as the basis and inspiring source 
of a Christian character, and his daily walli and con- 
versation before God and men testified to the sincerity 
of his convictions, to the purity of his motives, and 
to the exalted quality of his purposes and aims. 
When he passed away the church lost a conscientious 
and faithful devotee, his native town a worthy son 
and citizen, and the world a high-minded, honorable 
man. 



GEORGE S. COLBDRN. 

The student of local history who has carefully 
followed the pages of these volumes has not failed to 
be impressed with the record of mechanical devices 
produced and perfected by the men of Worcester 
County. To their inventive genius is due the thanks 
of all our citizens, for they primarily, have produced 
the whirling wheels of the mill and factory to sing of 
comfortable homes and good table for the operatives 
there employed. 

The manufacture of chairs, which forms by far the 
largest part of our industry, has materially changed 
during the past quarter of a century, and prominent 
among the names of the men who have by their brain 
invented and developed machinery for this particular 
branch of our industry is that of George S. Colburn» 
the subject of this sketch, who was born in Leomin- 
ster, May 5, 1820. His father, Simeon Colburn, died 
when the boy was but three months old, leaving his 
widow in straitened circumstances, and as soon as 
the boy was sufficiently large to " do chores " he was 
sent to live with an uncle in Cambridge, where he 
remained working for his board two years. Then he 
went to live with Deacon Joseph Dickenson in 
Swansea, N. H., with whom he remained until his 
seventeenth year, working early and late on the rocky 
farm nine months in the year, attending the district 
school the other three, and acquiring the branches 
then taught therein. 

A taste for mechanics developed itself early in Mr. 
Colburn's life, and in boyhood he was wont to arrange 
and adjust small mechanical devices. At the age of 
seventeen he apprenticed himself with Mr. James 
Clark, of Boyalston. to leara the shoe-maker's trade, 
remaining four years, receiving his board and 
$2.00 for his labor, out of which he had to clothe 
himself. At the age of twenty-four he went 
to work in a furniture shop. Here he was 
impressed with the lack of machinery for the 
treament of cane, and began to study and experiment 
upon machinery for doing this work. He was so 
successful that he gave his whole attention to the 
manufacture of this class of machinery and to the 
manipulation of cane. 

In 1857 he went to Wakefield to a.ssist Mr. Cyrus 
Wakefield in the development of the " Wakefield 
Rattan Co.," one of the most important industries of 
that whole section. Here he remained until, his 



health breaking down, he was obliged to go out of 
doors and so purchased a small farm, ^fter about a 
year he recovered, and in 1875 came to Gardner to 
assist Messrs. Heywood & Co. in the development of 
that part of their extensive plant relating to the 
treatment of cane. He remained with them several 
years, and having acquired a competency, he retired 
from active business, and with his wife, who was Miss 
Frances R. Sawyer, of Royalston, and whom he 
married in 1843, he occupies a charming home in 
the west village , conscious of having performed life's 
allotted tasks uncomplainingly and faithfully. 



S. W. A. STEVENS. 

Simeon W. A. Stevens, the oldest merchant in 
Gardner and the postmaster in the South Village for 
thirty-five years, was the son of Abel and Sally 
(Spaulding) Stevens of Westford, Mass., where he was 
born July 27, 1818, and where he lived until he was 
about eleven years of age. At that time, his father 
having died, he came to Gardner and worked as office 
and errand boy for his brother, Abel Stevens, who was 
then running the South Gardner Hotel. At the expi- 
ration of two years he returned to Westford, his 
mother still residing there, remaining nearly the same 
length of time employed in helping one of the towns- 
people about his farm and in supplementing his pre- 
vious district school education by a few terms' tuition 
at the widely-known Westford Academy. He then, 
being fifteen years old, came again to Gardner, went 
into the chair-shop, learned the trade of making 
chairs and worked as a journeyman till he was twenty- 
one. His health having become somewhat impaired 
by continuous in-door employment, he left the shop 
and engaged in driving team for Mr. Stephen Taylor, 
by whom he had previously been employed at his 
trade. He continued in this service two years, going 
tlien to Leominster and running a team on his own 
account from that place to Boston. This continued 
till the opening of the Fitchburg Railroad four years 
later put an end to that method of transportation. 
Returning once more to Gardner, he carried on the 
same business for several years, having David Kendall 
for a partner a portion of the time, and serving the 
general publiceven after the railroad was built through 
the place, by carting goods to and from the depots at 
both ends of the line. 

On the 1st of January, 1850, Mr. Lewis H. Brad- 
ford, who had for some years been engaged in the mis- 
cellaneous merchandise traffic in South Gardner, being 
about to remove to Fitchburg, formed a partnership 
with Mr. Stevens and William Hogan, to whom he 
committed the care of the store previously occupied 
by him. A few years later, Stevens and Hogan 
bought Mr. Bradford's interest and went on in their 
own behalf. When the South Gardner Manufacturing 
Company was formed, they merged their special busi- 
ness in the general undertaking, which aimed to ab- 





,^. 



'^iy>7^ 



GARDNEK. 



883 



sorb and control nearly all the industrial activities in 
that part of the town. While the new experiment 
was going on and proving its incapacity, Mr. Stevens 
turned his attention for a while to the manufacture of 
chairs at the stand now occupied by Wright & Read. 
But not succeeding to his satisfaction, and the joint 
stock enterprise failing to meet the expectations of its 
friends and coming to an end, he, in the readjustment 
of afi'airs, took the store and its contents, and associat- 
ing with himself Mr. George Greenwood, went on as 
before under the name of S. W. A. Stevens & Co. 
Ten years after, in 1868, Mr. Stevens by purchase be- 
came sole proprietor of the establishment. In 187G 
he received as partner his son Ambrose, and the two 
have been in company since, the firm-name being S. 
W. A. Stevens & Son. They do the same kind of 
miscellaneous business that has always been transacted 
where they are located, after the manner of an old- 
fashioned country store. 

According to the above review it appears that at 
the opening of the present year (1889), Mr. Stevens 
has been in trade at the same stand tor a period of 
thirty-nine years, with the exception of the brief in- 
terval alluded to (and even then he was indirectly 
connected with it), and has fairly earned the title of 
tlie veteran merchant of Gardner. By close attention 
to his business interests and careful management, 
combined witli his gentlemanly manners and evident 
disposition to accommodate and please, he has gained 
for himself a widely-extended patronage, and achieved 
what may be regarded as an honorable success in life 
and a good standing among his business associates, 
and elsewhere. In addition to the personal qualities 
mentioned, he is characterized by a sense of justice, 
and a purpose to deal fairly and Iionorably with all 
men, that are calculated to inspire and secure that 
confidence and respectful esteem in the community 
where he has lived for nearly sixty years, which he 
seems fortunate enough to share to a very high degree. 
The fiiet that he has held the oflice of postmaster for 
more than a generation, having been first appointed 
to the position under the administration of Franklin 
Pierce in 1854, through all the vicissitudes of political 
life, and especially through six successive terms of 
the supremacy of his political opponents, he being an 
outspoken and well-known Democrat, and without any 
special effort on the part of himself or his friends, is 
an enviable testimonial to his kindness, courtesy and 
readiness to oblige, as well as to the honest, equitable 
and impartial manner in which he has discharged the 
duties of the station he has been called upon to fill. 
His ability, fidelity and trustworthiness in other di- 
rections have been recognized by his fellow-citizens 
and publicly acknowledged, in that they have chosen 
him selectman at different times, and assessor, and 
appointed him on committees to which important 
public interests have been referred. He was one of 
the first directors of the National Bank in Gardner, 
and has been a trustee of the Savings BAnk from the 



beginning. He is a member, and has been for some 
years the treasurer, of the Baptist Society, to the ac- 
tivities connected with which he has long been a 
cheerful and liberal contributor. He is also president 
of the Green Bower Cemetery Association. 

The career of such a man as Mr. Stevens is full of 
lessons of wisdom and practical utility for all classes 
and conditions of people, and especially for those 
who, having come to, or are approaching mature 
years, are soon to enter upon the more active duties 
and labors of life. It indicates to every aspiring, 
right-minded youth the direction in which true suc- 
cess lies, and the genera! conditions upon which a 
good standing in the world, the esteem of those whose 
esteem is worth having, usefulness, honor and happi- 
ness may be gained. It presents an example which 
furnishes instruction and encouragement for such and 
is commended to them as worthy of study and emula- 
tion. 



JOHN EDGELL. 

William Edgell, first of Woburn and afterward of 
Lexington, a tinman by trade, who married Elizabeth 
Norman, of Marblehead, about the year 1720 and died 
before 1734, leaving four sons, was, so far as is known, 
the common ancestor of the family in New England. 
The name was probably Edgehill at the outset, as it 
so appears in some of the earlier records, and, if so, 
was very likely derived from Edgehill in the mother 
country, a locality whence the emigrant may have 
come to these shores, and in which his ancestors may 
have for a long time resided. The youngest of the 
sons referred to, also called William, was an early 
settler in Westminster, where he purchased lands in 
1750, on which he soon after located, becoming a 
prominent man and an infiuential citizen in local and 
public affairs. Among the children of this second 
William was a third William, who married Thankful 
Puffer, of which union John Edgell, the subject of 
this notice, was born October 15, 1804. 

The first years of John Edgell's life were spent 
upon the farm of his father, but before arriving at his 
majority he learned the trade of shoemaking, which 
he followed for a time, going from house to house with 
his kit of tools, after the fashion of those days, and 
stopping where his services were required long enough 
to supply the existing family needs in that particular 
— a practice fiimiliarly termed "whipping the cat." 
He subsequently learned to make chairs, and was en- 
gaged in that business for many years under different 
auspices in his own and neighboring towns. An im- 
portant change occurred in his life when, in 183(5, he 
removed from Westminster to Gardner, just in season 
to take advantage of the tide, then beginning to rise, 
which was to bear the little town of a thousand peo- 
ple on to prosperous fortunes and an undreamed-of 
success. He resumed there his former calling, pursu- 
ing it for some years by himself in a shop attached to 



884 



HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. 



his dwelling-house, and attending personally to the 
transporting and selling of his own goods, and after- 
ward for a time, with the late Charles W. Bush and 
others for partners, in the oldest of the buildings now 
composing the large establishment of Philander Derby 
& Co., some other kinds of work being connected with 
that of manufacturing chairs. 

Long before this, however, he had been running a 
weekly coach to Worcester, going on Tuesdays and 
returning on Wednesdays, for the accommodation of 
travelers, the distribution of Worcester papers to pa- 
trons along the route and the transaction of a general 
carrying and express business in the interest of the 
public. This was but incidental and subsidiary to his 
regular vocation. As more rapid means of transit 
and more frequent intercourse between the towns 
through which he passed were established, his patron- 
age decline<l and his coach line was eventually given 
up. But his ex]ierience in this direction opened the 
way to the more satisfactory employment of his later 
years. His miscellaneous business at the county-seat 
brought him into contact with gentlemen representing 
some of the more important interests located there, 
with which he afterwards became permanently identi- 
fied. This was especially the case with reference to 
the matters of fire insurance, of settling estates and 
of conveyancing, to each and all of which he has de- 
voted himself as a means of livelihood and of profit 
for the last thirty or more years. He was the first 
regular underwriter in Gardner, and for a long time 
was without a competitor. No one probably in the 
vicinity did as much conveyancing for a generation as 
he, and no one in that northwest part of Worcester 
County has probably taken so many cases to the Pro- 
bate Court and carried them through satisfactorily as 
he has done. In actual knowledge upon all these im- 
portant matters, and in ability to transact business re- 
lating to them, he has rarely been equaled, perhaps 
never excelled. In all these matters, too, and espe- 
cially in the settlement of estates, — a department in 
which he has had much to do with people in the hum- 
bler walks of life, — there has been such confidence in 
his knovvle<lge, ability, impartial judgment, conscien- 
tious regard for what is just and right, and disposition 
to make reasonable charges for services rendered, as 
that the humblest and those least skilled in business 
of any sort would entrust their monetary affairs, some- 
times their all, to him, as to a tried and devoted 
friend, assured that their interests would be guarded 
and promoted with scrupulous watchfulness and care. 

Aside from the duties devolving upon him in the 
lines of activity indicated, Mr. Edgell has been called 
upon by his fellow-citizens to fill almost every office 
at tlii'ir disposal. To his eff'orts and influence the 
founding of both the National and Savings Banks in 
Gardner was largely due. Of the former he has been 
one of the directors irom the beginning, as he has 
lieen one of the trustees of the latter, and its president 
for three years after the decease of Francis Richard- 



son, Esq. He has always been on the investment 
committeee of the Savings Bank, a position to which 
he brought qualities fitting him pre-eminently for the 
efiicient discharge of the responsible duties it required . 
No man for a generation has been better acquainted 
with landed i)roperty and every kind of real estate in 
Gardner and vicinity than he, and the judgment of no 
one in regard to such property has been more earn- 
estly sought for or more implicitly trusted. 

Mr. Edgell is a man of decided opinions ujjon ques- 
tions of both private virtue and of public ))olicy, and 
is open and frank in the expression of them. But 
his recognized kindness of heart, sincerity of purpose 
and high character generally have prevented personal 
alienation or distrust on that account. Naturally 
modest and retiring, he yet shirks no duty when laid 
upon him and evades no responsibility when once as- 
sumed or made known. He has much of the spirit of 
a reformer, and has given aid and encouragement to 
the great moral movements of the age. He called 
himself an Abolitionist when the name was a re- 
proach ; he has been for long years in precept and 
practice a friend and promoter of the temperance 
cause, and other needful and important changes in 
personal and social life he has advocated and main- 
tained. Originally a Whig in politics, his sympathy 
with the anti-slavery cause inclined him, after a while, 
to withdraw from the support of that party and to 
look for the rising of a political movement which 
.should stand boldly against the usurpations of the 
slave power, inscribing upon its banner " Liberty " as 
well as " Independence." He was consequently ready 
with his sympathy and support for the Free-Soil party 
in 1848, and even more so for the advent or formation 
of the Republican party in 18.')6, to the principles, 
interests and fortunes of which he has ever been 
warmly and conscientiously attached. Elected to the 
Lower House of the Legislature of Massachusetts in 
1850 and 18r)l by the sufl'rages of his neighbors and 
friends, he counts it an honor to have belonged to 
that company of the faithful who, after a hotly-con- 
tested struggle extending through twenty-six succes- 
sive ballotings, at length succeeded in sending that 
noble son of the good old Commonwealth, Charles 
Sumner, for the first time to the Senate of the United 
States, where for more than twenty years he rendered 
valiant service for his country and for liberty. 

Though not of late years connected with any great 
industry or popular organization which would give 
him influence in the community, yet few men have 
exerted greater power for good than he or done more 
for the prosperity and enduring welfare of the town 
of his adoption. Withdrawn somewhat from active 
business and from open participation in public affairs 
by reason of his advanced age, lie nevertheless still 
retains in a marked degree the full possession and use 
of his intellectiuil and moral faculties, and his coun- 
sel and guidance are still much sought for and heided 
in the practical concerns of life. 



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